Corona's Covers For a Cure: Saturday, March 30th, CD 102.5 Big Room Bar - by Ricki C.

I’ll be playing a set at the third annual Corona’s Covers For a Cure cancer benefit at the CD 102.5 Big Room Bar this Saturday, March 30th, right around 5 pm. The show runs a full eight hours, 4 pm-midnight, details and a full schedule can be found here.

Corona’s Covers For a Cure is a cause that’s kinda near & dear to my heart. Two years ago – late-winter 2017 – I was leaving the Zangmeister Cancer Clinic where my sister Dianne was receiving chemotherapy treatments for colon cancer and I used to go along to hang out with her during her treatments. As I was driving home I heard a commercial on CD 102.5 for the inaugural Corona benefit show, detailing the idea that local rockers would be doing covers by artists lost to cancer. “Hey, I know some Velvet Underground songs,” I said to myself in the car. (Velvets guitarist Sterling Morrison had died in 1995 of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.)

I contacted the station to cadge my way onto the bill and they kindly accepted. That first year Colin Gawel’s League Bowlers also played the show. Bowlers drummer Jim Johnson and myself had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in previous years, so that was another compelling reason to give back to the cause. What none of us could have known in March 2017 was that Mike Parks – the genius lead guitar player of The League Bowlers – would be diagnosed with a particularly virulent strain of stomach cancer in July of 2017 and be taken from us in January 2018, before the SECOND Corona’s Covers For a Cure show even took place.

Dianne passed in November 2017 and my brother Al from complications of congestive heart failure in February 2018, so that second benefit in March 2018 was a tough one to play. But I worked up an original tune to honor all those passings, and deployed my usual helping of Velvet Underground and Mott The Hoople covers. This year will be a little easier, and I’m happy that CD 102.5 and Corona have again given me the privilege of being able to honor the memories of the musicians AND relatives & friends that we’ve lost.

The show is eight hours long, the money you’re gonna pay at the door will help people, you’re gonna get to down some Coronas and kill a few brain cells to aid a good cause for once, rather than just for the hell of it, so you should come out. I’ll see you there. – Ricki C. / March 26th, 2019.

 CORONA’S COVERS FOR A CURE SCHEDULE, 2019

4:00 Doors

4:30-4:55

Dave and Leanna Buker - The Bee Gees

5:05-5:35

Ricki C. - Ramones/Velvets/Mott The Hoople

5:45-6:30

Gregg Molnar - David Bowie

6:40-7:25

Sean Woosley - The Tragically Hip

7:35-8:20

The Kosher Salamis - The Ramones

8:30-9:15

Methmatics - The New York Dolls

9:25-10:10

Loud Pedal - The Beatles

10:20-11:05

Electro Cult Circus - The Beastie Boys

11:15-12:00

Brian Clash & the Coffee House Rebels - The Velvet Underground

Introducing THE Pencilstorm Hall of Fame Class of 2016

It wasn't easy, but after thousands of emails, hundreds of beers, countless text messages and even a cold stare or two around the Pencilstorm office, we are proud to announce the 2016 class of THE Pencilstorm Hall of Fame. As happy as we are for the winners, I'd like to remind those that didn't make the cut that there is always next year so don't give up hope. And thanks to all who packed the CD102.5 Big Room Bar for the induction ceremony and an amazing set by Willie Phoenix and The Soul Underground. 

THE Pencilstorm Hall of Fame Class of 2016:

Willie Phoenix   (Click here to read Ricki C. making the case for Willie)

Galaga               (Click here to read Colin making the case for Galaga)

Guns and Roses Live from The Ritz 1988    (click here to read Big $ making the case for GnR)

The CD1025 Andymanathon      (more on this coming soon)

Goodfellas "What's So Funny About Me?" scene.  (Click here to read Wal making the case)

Mean Mr. Mustard's AC/DC - Cult night. ( Click here to read Wal making the case ) 

Mr. Show - Episode 22 "Show Me Your Weenis  (more on this coming soon)

The Knack - Get The Knack  (Scott Carr explains why he supports The Knack) 

Ice Cold Canned Beer  (more on this coming soon)

Pencilstorm Hall of Fame Happy Hour Featuring Willie Phoenix and The Soul Underground. Thursday, April 14th - CD1025 Big Room Bar. 6-9pm FREE.

Please join us Thursday April 14th at the CD1025 Big Room Bar as we announce the very first class of THE Pencilstorm Hall of Fame. Even better, Hall of Fame nominee and music legend Willie Phoenix and his band The Soul Underground will be playing a set starting at 8 pm sharp. It is also your first chance to pick up a copy of Willie's new CD "Blues My Soul".

Doors are at 6pm. The Hall of Fame announcement will happen at some point and then Willie takes the stage at 8 pm.

To review: 6-9pm. FREE. CD1025 Big Room Bar. Willie Phoenix. All your favorite Pencilstorm Contributors. Booze. Food.

 Miss this and you are truly a world class jackass.

 Did I mention it's....FREE!! Click here for info on the Big Room Bar

I hope to see you there. - Colin

ANNOUNCING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2016 INDUCTEES TO THE PENCILSTORM HALL OF FAME

The nomination phase is over

The ballots are in and counted.

It’s time to announce the winners and induct them into the most prestigious Pencilstorm Hall of Fame.

You, the fans, are cordially invited to attend this once in a lifetime event. April 14 at the Big Room Bar in Columbus, Ohio. Happy Hour starts at 6pm and the one and only Willie Phoenix will headline the event with a one hour set beginning at 8pm. In addition to the announcement of this year’s inductees, Willie will be releasing a new CD, “Blues My Soul.”

This will be the greatest three hours in Columbus history.

More information is available here.