Rock band The Who donates sound gear to LIC Bar!

LIC music curator Gus Rodriguez was delighted this week to open the first consignment of sound gear to be donated to LIC Bar by British rock band “The Who” following the destruction of the bar’s equipment in the flooding from hurricane Sandy. LIC Bar’s cellar was flooded to a depth of 8 feet on the night of the highest tides, destroying bar stock, appliances etc; and also sound and musical equipment stored there for the bar’s regular music nights. Drums, a keyboard and PA gear were lost and the bar has relied on borrowed equipment for its four-nights-a-week shows whilst trying to raise funds for replacements. Gus is looking forward to receiving a new Peavey PA system in the next consignment of gear.

LIC Bar regular patron and music lover Rob Basch attended The Who’s concert in Brooklyn and contacted the band explaining the LIC Bar’s plight and was overwhelmed to get a positive response with this week’s delivery proof of the band’s generosity. As a band that started in the pubs of North London and progressed to the stages of the world they have shown that they still respect venues like LIC Bar, from which new music will be generated and stars will be born.

The Who are no strangers to lost and damaged equipment. As leader of an aggressive and exciting band in the 1960s and 70s guitarist Pete Townsend would regularly smash his guitar and amplifier; and their drummer, the late Keith Moon, placed fireworks in his kit to create explosive endings to the band’s stage shows. The band is older now, with two of the original members no longer with us; so their offer of new equipment to a little bar in Long Island City came as a welcome gesture, glowing with wonderful irony.