Goodbye Irene! Woodstock's Flood Relief Benefit A Shining Success

WOODSTOCK, Vt. - Music is alwaysgreat medicine for whatever ails ya… and the town of Woodstock received a large dose, recently by hosting the Goodbye Irene Caberet Benefit concert at the Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, to benefit the Vermont flood relief efforts. However, it turns out that the event was about more than just raising money. It was simply an opportunity for folks to gather and support one another, enjoy some great local music and forget about the devastation and problems for a while.

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Photos by Joe Milliken. 1. Joe Perry and Joey Leone jam onstage 2. Woodstock student Jack Snyder and his father John Snyder 3. Folk singer Tom Rush 4.Joe Perry.

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The line up of artists featured a little something for everyone, which was evident by the diverse audience of all ages that began gathering outside the theatre some two hours before the doors opened. Of course, everyone was there to support the cause and enjoy the local talent. But for some, to also catch a close-up look at legendary Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, who owns a farmhouse in nearby Pomfret and on-hand to entertain and support the efforts.

The Master of Ceremonies and owner of Woodstock's Kedron Valley Inn, Max Comins, opened the show with classy renditions of "Cabaret" and '"My Kind Of Town", complete in a rather dapper suit and cane. This was followed by vocalist Jeri Lynne Fraser performing a powerful vocal performance on "I'm Gonna Build A Mountain", accompanied by Bob Merrill on piano, who would also appear throughout the show.

Performing next was the father-son-guitar duo of John and Jack Snyder performing two songs. Jack is a very talented student at Woodstock High School who also played some jazzy drums later in the set. Jack also sang a moving, acappella version of the Vermont State Song.

Then came the acappella vocal group Sweet Music, to perform the Beatles "When I'm Sixty Four" and the 70's pop-disco hit "Turn The Beat Around", which surely got the crowd tappin', clappin' and laughin'! Then, the mood swung slightly with the Woodstock Union High School Speak Chorus.

Seven students performing aninteresting number that combined excerpts from Calvin Coolidge's 1927 flood speech, with the student's personal observations of Irene... all wrapped up in a dramatic combination of vocals, expressions and gestures.

After the Bridgewater Elementary School choir melted the audience's hearts while performed "I Want To Walk A Mile In Your Shoes", nsome cool-jazz ensued from The Almost Legendary Thundering Muskrats (with vocalist Sabrina Brown performing "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" and "Honey Suckle Rose." This was followed by another moving vocal performance, this time from Sabrina Brown with "Moonlight In Vermont", accompanied by Fred Haas on piano.

The most anticipated momentof the show, however, was clearly the appearance of the iconic Joe Perry. Who walked on stage clad in black leather jacket to a rousing applause, as the Joey Leone Chop Shop Blues Band createded the perfect backdrop for Perry's rock-n-blues guitar style.

"I was down in Boston watching it all on the news and it didn't look good," Perry proclaimed to a now frenzied audience, many storming to the front of the stage to get a closer look. "But I'm glad to be here and glad to see everyone is happy and smiling." Perry and the Chop Shop's set included a rousing version of Howlin' Wolf's "How Many More Years", a favorite of Joe's in Jimi Hendrix's "Red House", a surprising version of Bob Dylan's "Man Of Peace" and the Freddy King classic (also made popular by Jeff Beck)"Goin' Down".

Needless to say, the set brought down the house! "Thanks a lot for coming out tonight," Perry exclaimed before disappearing stage right. "Please empty those pockets!"

"Joe was truly a pleasure to work with," Joey Leone said in a phone interview the following day. "Being a rock star, he could have simply showed up five minutes before going on, taken over the stage and done his thing... and then left. "But Joe not only came early to work out the set with the band, but also took the time to thank everyone involved after the set. I've been onstage with a few famous musicians in my day, (including Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Otis Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughn) and Joe was probably the easiest to work with out of them all."

The show concluded with Tom Rush, who had the unenviable task of following up Perry to end the show, but the folk icon took it in stride and with a bit of humor. "So, I get follow Joe Perry, huh," Rush said scratching his head, as the crowd laughed and applauded. "Thank you, very much," as he proceeded to play "Making The Best Of A Bad Situation"… a fitting end to a truly inspirational show.

The event raised over #18,000 for relief efforts, which is extraordinary for a three-hour show in a small theatre that seats less than 200. The non-profit group Sustainable Woodstock, along with other community leaders, created the relief fund and subsequent cabaret show to assist in raising money for area folks most effected bythe storm.

If you would like to contribute to the flood relief efforts, contact Sustainable Woodstock at 802.457.2911 or mail a check to Sustainable Woodstock Flood Relief Fund, P. O. Box 611, Woodstock, VT. 05091.