This is the Sacramento music scene in the age of COVID-19: JonEmery & the Unconventionals had a show scheduled for March 25 at the Torch Club in Sacramento that, along with every other public gathering in California, was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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The four-piece, alt-country Americana band decided to go on with the gig anyway. The group performed an hour-long set as a Facebook streaming event from an almost empty Burgie’s, a house concert venue in Arbuckle operated by Steve and Jaedra Burgess.
Proceeds are benefiting the 10 employees of the Torch Club, who are all currently unable to work but are planning to return once the club opens.
“Usually this place is packed with people, but tonight it’s just us in here and you out there in Facebook land, being safe and taking this COVID-19 thing seriously,” band leader JonEmery Dodds said during the show.
The event received almost 2,000 live viewers tuning in from Southern California to Idaho, Dodds says, and the Torch Club’s Dana Moret reported that viewers raised $2,000.
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Comments
Great performance and a great venue!!!
Once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, this livestreaming option can be added for those who can't physically for whatever the reason. Meanwhile, may live music never be rendered obsolete.