On Saturday, July 21st, reports began to circulate about multiple incidents of violence during the three-night Phish run at The Gorge in George, Washington. Police confirmed that two individuals were hospitalized, and social media confirmed that the two victims were Samir Poles and Joe Louis Allen Jr., both men of color. Many have speculated that the two attacks were coordinated, given the similarities between the victims, the assaults, and their timing. You can read a full rundown of confirmed facts about the assaults here.
Given that the assaults took place in Pacific Northwest, the live music community in the region has banded together to organize a benefit concert called “Troubled Water: A Benefit for Samir Poles & Joe Louis Allen Jr.”, with all proceeds going to the two victims. The concert, which will be held on Thursday, September 13th at Nectar Lounge, will feature music from Adam Williams Bathtub Kin and Weener. Nectar Lounge and The PBJ Present will lead this effort. Notes the announcement press release,
[The concert hopes to] share some love and light and a little money with the victims, and to remind them that they have our support and that we haven’t forgotten about them. … [and] is also an opportunity to bring community together to promote diversity in a music scene that suffers from a lack of it, and to acknowledge the presence of racism, aggression and close-mindedness that lurks in the shadows, and to stand in defense of our most sacred values of equality, respect, love, and acceptance.
In addition to the benefit concert, a number of Seattle music venues—Nectar Lounge, Neptune Theater, Tractor Tavern, Showbox, El Corazon, and others—have donated concert tickets for a fundraiser raffle, with all net proceeds similarly going to Samir and Joe. A number of tickets to shows of high-profile artists will be raffled off, including moe., David Crosby, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Dweezil Zappa, Billy Strings, Reverend Horton Heat, Polyrhythmics, Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, MarchFourth, Kung Fu plays Steely Dan, Jeff Austin Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, Robert Walter’s 20th Congress, and more.
Tickets for the upcoming benefit show are on sale now, priced at $10 in advance and $15 at the door, here.
The investigation into the assaults at Phish’s shows at the Gorge is still on-going, and detectives are asking anyone who witnessed first-hand either of the assaults to contact the Grant County Sheriff’s Office at 509-762-1160, or send information to crimetips@grantcountywa.gov. To make a direct donation to Samir Poles, head here, and to make a direct donation to Joe Louis Allen Jr., head here.
