The following is from a mass mailing that arrived in my inbox. A must-be-at gig, April 25th at the Commodore, featuring an amazing host of local musicians (the Pointed Sticks, the Furies, and I, Braineater are the selling points for me), going to benefit Scott Harding. Read on for more, or visit the Hardstock site. I'm told tickets are selling fast, so don't delay!
On Feb 15 2008, Scott Harding was badly injured in a hit and run collision in NYC. He has no health insurance. He is a musician, artist and friend. 100% of the net proceeds from this show go to help him.
This benefit show, which features the cream of Vancouver musicians from the last 30 years, will take place April 25 at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC. Headlining is a super group we have created for the occasion called The Hard Ones, featuring (in alphabetical order) Barney Bentall, Doug Elliot, Paul Hyde, Colin James, Simon Kendall, Colin Nairne, Craig Northey, Pat Steward...and others; The Pointed Sticks; The Jazzmanian Devils; John Mann from Spirit of the West with his son; Bughouse 5; Hardrock Miners; the Furies; I Braineater; Go for 3, and the Mike Webster band. Doors open at 7:00 and Music starts at 7:30 sharp. Did we say that 100% of the net proceeds go to Scotty Hard? Why? Because he needs it, and we love him and he deserves it. Our number one goal is to raise money for him in this time of need.
Another goal is to honour the universal health care program we have in Canada, which helps to make us a civilized country. While Scott is a citizen of Canada, he has been living in the US for some time with a green card. As a musician, engineer, recording producer and artist, he is like so many other Americans who do not have health insurance. Barack Obama says there are 47 million of them. Which is a number that means nothing until you know someone personally who needs help, and can't afford to pay for it. This is why we have come together to help.
Another reason is the real sense of community and love and friendship that binds musicians in Vancouver. We call it Hardstock to honour the spirit of the individuals who came forward, and made changes to their busy schedules, and offered without ego and without thought of renumeration or thought of loss of possible renumeration, to come together and put on a show for one of our own.Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster, and will available Wednesday April 9. With 10 bands and many more guest musicians, this show will sell out very quickly. We have tried to keep the ticket price affordable for all, and recommend that you purchase what you need for yourself and friends as soon as they go on sale.In the coming days, I will profile the various musicians that will play, and the man himself Scotty Hard aka Scott Harding.
For more info, visit
There you will see many pictures and words of love from myself and the many friends of Scott.
Love,
Dennis Mills, promoter of Hardstock 08
aka Dense Milt
The Golden Hardstock Guitar is now on the auction block at www.scottyhardsuppers.com
ReplyDeleteIt began its performing life in the hands of Craig Northey of The Odds/Colin James fame. From there it became "kind of like the Stanley Cup, passed around from champion to champion and maybe lost on a street corner in Winnipeg."
Today, it has become a symbol of the musical community that has rushed to the aid of Scotty Hard.
"On that night at the Commodore I had every performer sign it and some people played it," said Northey. "It has become the "Gerry Cheevers Mask" of Hardstock 08."
What's it worth? "I think its retail value is around $650," says Craig Northey. "Its sentimental value, however — or hoodoo with all those signatures — is probably closer to $1 million."