For those looking for a chance to give back to a worthy cause while also enjoying a night of fun, something special is in store. Several of Long Island’s most popular tribute bands will be partaking in a Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert, for which all proceeds will be donated to the Plainview-Bethpage Lions Club to help victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, which greatly impacted residents of Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, respectively. The event, promoted by Friend Entertainment USA, received a slew tribute bands willing to participate, according to Friend Entertainment USA President Norman Wasserman.
“I called a friend of mine and he put a Facebook ad out. I had 25 responses from the Long Island tribute music world. They all jumped in,” Wasserman said. “If it wasn’t for the tribute bands—anyone can do a concert, but you’ve got to have the wherewithal to go and do it. It was the tribute bands of Long Island that made it happen.”
The concert will take place at Bethpage High School and will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 7 to 10 p.m. General admission seats cost $30, and children younger than 12 are admitted for free. Bands on the bill include Almost Journey, a tribute to Journey; 2U, a tribute to U2; All Revved Up, a tribute to Meat Loaf; Pumped, a tribute to Aerosmith; Uppercut, a tribute to Chicago; Bloodlines, a tribute to Blood, Sweat & Tears; Back In Time, a tribute to Huey Lewis and the News; and 45rpm, a tribute to 1970s AM radio.
“The name recognition is very good. We just need support. We need people to show up,” said Wasserman. “A couple of people have called and said, ‘I can’t go because it’s during the week, but I’m buying the tickets, I’m going to give them away. At least that’s my donation.’ If they used it even as a donation, that would be great.”
In addition to the aid provided for hurricane victims, Wasserman also expects the concert to succeed on a spiritual level, citing the fact that all who attend will be subject to the healing powers of music.
“If it were a bike riding event or a walkathon, what’s the thing that’s missing here?” Wasserman asked rhetorically. “There are people who walk that don’t cycle, and there are people who cycle that don’t walk. But everybody loves music.”
The Long Island Tribute Band’s Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert will be held at Bethpage High School on Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 7 to 10 p.m. For more information, call 631-698-9696.
