Columbia bands play concert for families of shooting victims at Conundrum Music Hall
Columbia musicians, led by local singer/songwriter Daddy Lion, will play a benefit concert for Sandy Hook Elementary School tonight at Conundrum Music Hall. Daddy Lion, or Jeremy Joseph, planned to host his fourth of a series of benefit concerts before the Sandy Hook Shooting took place three months ago in Newton, Conn. He wanted to raise money for a foundation, but he couldn’t pick a cause or organization.
After the Dec. 14 shooting, Joseph decided to direct the upcoming concert toward the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy.
“I couldn’t imagine working on another cause when something so tragic like that happened,” Joseph said.
Joseph was nervous that Sandy Hook may not be an issue on people’s minds three months after the shooting.
“I wondered if people will even still be talking about Sandy Hook,” he said. “I hope that this can serve as at least a reminder to get people thinking about gun violence and what happened and not forget about it.”
The fact is, though, Sandy Hook has not been forgotten and is still heavily involved in national conversation. Proposals for gun control have been discussed since the event, and legislation is now in the works. President Obama wants background checks, limitations on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, gun violence research, gun safety, school safety and mental health checks.
Joseph is looking forward to the concert and “hopes that this will further reinforce people to talk about what happened and then figure out a solution.” The money raised at the concert will benefit the United Way Sandy Hook School Support Fund that provides support and resources to the affected families and community.
The headliner for the concert is The Restoration, a local band from Lexington. Its five members — Aleks Amer, Adam Corbett, Lauren Garner, Sharon Gnanashekar and Daniel Machado — generate the evolving sound of both traditional and regional music.
The Restoration creates “concept albums about the American South,” according to Daniel Machado, who sings and plays banjo, guitar, violin and percussion for the band. Machado also described the music as “a way to explore social issues” which is inspired by “a lot of fiction, mostly Southern fiction.”
The style of The Restoration takes on a blend of various American songbook eras, including delta blues, old time, Dixie land jazz and early rock ‘n’ roll.
The second headliner for tonight’s concert is the Company, a band from Charleston. The Company, also known as Co., is signed with Exit Stencil, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based indie music label. The band plays “indie rock music with an inspirational soul, spiritual and energetic feel,” Company Lead Singer Brian Hannon said.
Two local bands, Ghost @ The Feast and about.theWindow are also scheduled to play at Friday’s benefit concert. And, of course, Joseph will take on his Daddy Lion persona to perform a set of his dream pop music.
Tonight’s show is at Conundrum Music Hall, 626 Meeting St. in West Columbia. It starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door. All ages are welcome.