HUNTINGTON - On Sunday night, bassist Ian Thornton played Mountain Stage for the first time rocking out with William Matheny and The Strange Constellations.
But just as soon as Thornton got off stage, his cell phone began ringing and Thornton got back to work. That urgent work was doing some fast and furious connecting to organize the West Virginia Flood Relief Benefit Concert set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 28 at the V Club, located at 741 6th Ave., Huntington.
There is a suggested $10 (or more) donation at the door and music will start promptly at 7 p.m. with a who's who of area artists doing 20-minute sets. Folks can also drop off needed supplies and there will also be a silent auction with donations from area artists and businesses with all proceeds going to help flood victims and impacted communities.
Thornton, who owns the new artist management and booking agency Whizzbang Booking and Management, said he had seen benefit concerts popping up in the larger cities around the state such as Morgantown and Charleston, and wanted to make sure the close-knit Huntington music community gathered for a similar quick response to the recent devastating floods that killed 24 people and ravaged parts of the Mountain State.
"As soon as I got off the stage I started calling people and I got it all squared away between playing Mountain Stage and The Empty Glass," Thornton said Monday afternoon. "It was one of those things where we want to do something in the artists community but we can't always donate a lot of money. What we do have is our art and music which is our passion, and which together can create relief. I just got on the horn and I wanted to bring in the best ensemble of bands I could muster."
Thornton, who also organizes the Huntington Music and Arts Festival set for Labor Day Weekend, said he wanted to put together a best of the best of area bands who are traveling regionally and really making a scene right now.
The schedule for Tuesday night's show is 7 p.m. DJ Charlie Brown Superstar; 8 p.m., Tyler Childers; 8:30 p.m., Jeremy Short and Company; 9 p.m., Of The Dell; 9:30 p.m., Jeff Ellis & 40 Days, 10 p.m. William Matheny; 10:30 p.m., Ona; 11 p.m., Qiet; 11:30 p.m., The Horse Traders and midnight, DJ Charlie Brown Superstar.
Thornton said that all-star lineup of WV's best indie music acts (including Ona, William Matheny, Tyler Childers and Jeff Ellis, who have all played Mountain Stage, and Qiet, which is set to play the famed radio show), came together really quickly as it had to since the V had every other night booked for the holiday weekend.
"A lot of these bands are coming from Whizzbang artists and HMAF veterans so everybody did not hesitate for a second," Thornton said. "As soon as I contacted people they were in and it was really fast moving. Now I am trying to team up with some local businesses and want to use social media to put the money to use right away. We are splitting the money between the bands and we're working with stores to get discounts on supplies to get the biggest bang for the buck. We are looking for any stores that want to donate. The idea is that the bands will pick a store and will then go out and buy stuff to donate, so they will all be involved."
While the bands as well as such well-known music poster artists such as J.J. Waters and Jimbo Valentine have already jumped on board to donate merch and art, Thornton said they are looking for more art and neat local items for the silent auction to generate some extra relief funds.
Any business or artist with an auction donation can contact Thornton by email at whizzbangbooking@gmail.com or can bring items to the V Club.
While the V Club will be packed Tuesday night with folks from the Huntington music scene, the V Club's sister business, Black Sheep Burritos @ The Brewery, 702 Quarrier St, Charleston, in downtown, is hosting a fundraising concert too on Tuesday, June 28, for flood victims.
Black Sheep as partnered with The American Federation of Music Local 136 to hold a benefit concert at 6 p.m. Tuesday with such acts as West Virginia Music Hall of Fame member Bob Thompson and his trio, 600 lbs Of Sin as well as The Carpenter Ants. A silent auction and raffle will also be held. Any local restaurant, bar or business that would like to donate an item, call 304-343-2739 and speak with Kevin or Jessica.
The Charleston Brewing Company, which is located adjacent to Black Sheep in Charleston, will release its Elk River Revival IPA at 4 p.m. Tuesday with $1 of every beer sold the entire week donated.
And on Friday, in Charleston, a crew of West Virginia comics are going to have a fundraiser at Fireside Bar and Lounge, 1604 Washington St E, Charleston, with Lee Hale, Ian Nolte, Andy Frampton, Jacob Hall, Cody E. Lambert, Angela Davis, Nathan Thomas and others.