(La Porte, IN) - When you’re running a big country music festival, it’s always handy to have a well-stocked music store just minutes away. Just ask Carey Garwood, who helped organize last weekend’s Red, Wine, and Brew.
On Saturday night, she had a problem that only La Porte’s Roxy Music Store could solve. “Somehow the sound crew had missed that they needed a couple of Telecaster guitars,” Garwood said. The performance contract with bands calls for certain equipment to be provided, and right before sound check, they realized they were a couple of guitars short.
According to Garwood, it’s not unusual for musicians to need equipment the day of a show. The guys in the Jesse Daniel Band had just flown in from Texas— and telecasters don’t exactly fit in overhead compartments.
That’s where Roxy Music Owner Ken Grace comes in. Just last summer, Grace purchased the long-time music store at 1012 Lincolnway in downtown La Porte. When he received a frantic call from Garwood, he rushed to help.
“The staff and I just kind of went through our shelves here,” Grace said. “We found a couple of great teles that we could pull off the wall and turn into used guitars, and we were able to get them backstage to the band.”
Grace said his store doesn’t have much used equipment for rent. Once a new guitar is played, it becomes “used,” but he was willing to take the hit.
“Within half an hour, they had figured this out and brought some out to us,” Garwood said.
According to her, the show went on without a hitch.
“It was great to be a part of what they were doing,” said Grace. “They sent me some clips, and they were awesome; they were killer.”
Garwood said Roxy’s help is just further proof that it’s great to live in a small town.
“There’s a benefit to being in a small town and knowing the right people,” said Garwood. “We’re lucky, not a lot of towns have a Roxy Music. That is a unique thing. You can’t really get that kind of musical equipment in a lot of small towns.”
The situation turned into a win-win. After the concert, members of the band singed the guitars. Concert organizers bought the instruments and auctioned them off for the Red, Wine, and Brew first responder charity.
