Pitchfork

While working in the music industry is considered a dream job by many, it certainly has its downfalls. One of the biggies? The rampant lack of health insurance. Fortunately, music-types tend to stick together, and help each another out when one of them stumbles and falls.

For the past two decades, Chicago scene veteran Gary Schepers has manned the soundboards at venues like the Empty Bottle, the Abbey Pub, Schubas, and the now-defunct Lounge Ax, and worked as the sound man for local stars Eleventh Dream Day, Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, Material Issue, and John Parish. He has also produced and engineered records for the Bloodshot label, and played tuba with the alt-country band Devil in a Woodpile.

Unfortunately, Schepers was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and spent the most wonderful time of the year in the hospital. To lessen the financial blow of medical bills for the insurance-less Schepers, Bloodshot has organized a series of benefit concerts taking place at various Chicago venues later this month. Jeff Tweedy, Jay Farrar (no, not together!), Califone, Devil in a Woodpile, Edith Frost, Jeff Tweedy's son Spencer's band the Blisters, and more have volunteered their services.

Current benefit show schedule:

01-20 Chicago, IL - Fitzgerald's (main room) - Robbie Fulks, Jay Farrar, Corky Siegel
01-20 Chicago, IL - Fitzgerald's (side bar) - Devil in a Woodpile
01-20 Chicago, IL - Fitzgerald's (side building, front room) - Dolly Varden, Bunker Town, Prohibition Orchestra
01-22 Chicago, IL - Hideout (day show) - The Blisters, Wee Hairy Beasties (featuring Jon Langford, Sally Timms, Kelly Hogan, and Devil in a Woodpile), Nora O'Connor
01-22 Chicago, IL - Hideout - Califone, Edith Frost, Chris Mills
01-25 Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub - Jeff Tweedy, Devil in a Woodpile
01-27 Chicago, IL - Schuba's - Bottle Rockets, Tijuana Hercules, Great Crusades

More shows are planned for the near future, with Jim Bohquist, Kelly Hogan & the Wooden Leg, Yellowhammers, Bakelite 78, New Duncan Imperials, Mr. Rudy Day, Jane Baxter-Miller, Hoyle Brothers, James Conway, Eric Nodon, and Diamond Jim Greene expected to participate.