It's Donation Time
By Julene McCoy in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 6, 2006 7:44PM
Gary "Elvis" Schepers is one of those cogs in Chicago's music scene that works tirelessly and is never noticed. Gary plays the rock tuba with Devil In A Woodpile and also works as the sound guy at many venues and for a veritable who's who of the last 20 years. He worked with The Service before they reincarnated into the New Duncan Imperials, Material Issue and Uncle Tupelo and at Lounge Ax, Empty Bottle, the Abbey Pub and Martyr's.
Gary, like a lot of people in the music industry, took the gamble that the rest of us in the real world don't always have to - he doesn't have health insurance. This gamble always seems fine until that insurance is needed. Gary was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and has also contracted a flesh eating bacteria (Eww!). He has spent the holidays receiving treatment and being hospitalized. Things that add up to a ton of bills that aren't easy to pay off when not being able to work.
A Gary Schepers Benefit Trust account is being set up through National City Bank, 1520 N. Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622. (Donations accepted and forwarded to this account through Bloodshot Records.)
The sheer number of musicians and venues who have donated their time to put on fundraisers for Gary are a testament to how important these unsung heroes are to Chicago's music community. 100% of all ticket, door and other donations gathered at the following shows will go directly to help Gary defray his medical costs. Please don't scalp the Jeff Tweedy tickets - it's a fundraiser, people!
Full listing after the jump.
Friday, January 20th
FitzGerald's Main Room, $25
Midnight: Robbie Fulks
11 pm: Jay Farrar
9:45 pm: Corky Siegel
8:45 pm: Bakelite 78
Fitzgerald's Side Bar: Devil In A Woodpile (Hat passed for donations)
Fitzgerald's Side Bar Music Room, $10 minimum donation requested
11:15 pm: Dolly Varden
10:15 pm: Bunker Town
9:15 pm: Jane Baxter-Miller
8 pm: Prohibition Orchestra
Abbey Pub
New Duncan Imperials
Mr. Rudy Day
Diamond Jim Greene
Sunday, January 22nd
Hideout Kids Show, Noon - 4 pm, $10 adults, $5 kids over 5
The Blisters
Wee Hairy Beasties
Nora O'Connor
Hideout Evening Show
Califone
Edith Frost
Chris Mills
Wednesday, January 25th
Abbey Pub, $30, Doors at 8 pm, Show at 9 pm
Jeff Tweedy
Devil In A Woodpile
Thursday, January 26th
Martyrs (time and price TBA)
Kelly Hogan & the Wooden Leg
Mark Sheehy
(more bands TBA)
Friday, January 27th
Schuba's, 9 pm $12
Bottle Rockets
Tijuana Hercules
Great Crusades
Saturday, February 4th
Hideout, 4:30-7 pm Price TBA
Freakwater
(more bands TBA)
Other bands who are not yet slotted for a fundraiser, possibly at the Empty Bottle, include: Hoyle Brothers, Jim Bohquist (ex-Son Volt), Deanna Varagona, James Conway, Eric Noden, Yellowhammer, Talkin Shoes, and Billhouse.