Coming together tonight at Theatre 80 to help the victims of the 2nd Avenue explosion

[GVSHP executive director Andrew Berman speaks at a community meeting on April 1 at the William Barnacle Tavern]

Text and photos by EVG contributor Stacie Joy

Tonight's all-volunteer benefit concert for those affected by the deadly Second Avenue explosion has shaped up nicely — and very quickly.

The event is at Theatre 80 starting 8 pm, preceded by a 5 pm public rally led by local activist/artist Penny Arcade.

The sold-out concert, spearheaded by East Village-based writer Alan Kaufman and artist Jim Storm, has pulled together donations (including from Sting and Trudie Styler and Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard) and volunteers both near and far to lend support. The emcee of the event is Randy Jones of the Village People, and scheduled performers include:

Patti Smith
The Blood Oranges
Kayvon Zand
Mollie King
Edgar Oliver, poet
Chris Riffle
David Peel and The Lower East Side
Roderick Romero
Malachy McCourt, writer
Spencer Tunick, photographer
Cast of The Grindr Project
Antony Zito, artist
Pablo Lopez, singer
(Visit the Facebook event page for more details)


[Theatre 80 proprietor Lorcan Otway]

The donations raised tonight will be managed by the Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES), which has aided displaced residents in the explosion's relief efforts.

The concert came together as Kaufman walked by the rubble of the three fallen buildings on Second Avenue. He wondered what he could do to help. Kaufman started talking to friends and acquaintances, and before he knew it, everyone was on board with this idea of a fundraising event. (The idea gelled during a community meeting on April 1 at the William Barnacle Tavern adjacent to Theatre 80.)

An author by trade, he seemed surprised and pleased with all the help he's received as he tries to assist others. Kaufman said he hopes to "raise money for the victims, to go to directly to restoration and recovery," and that he's "exceeded his original hopes 10 times over, money-wise." He's hopeful that people can begin to rebuild with the money raised tonight.

Starting with the 5 pm rally and continuing to the 8 pm performance, Kaufman is excited to see the community get active and help those whose lives were ruined by the tragedy … to join together in the spirit of generosity.

Theatre 80 is located at 80 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue.