Lungapalooza brings musicians together for a cause

ALBANY — After years of watching his mother suffer from the effects of emphysema and chronic obstructive pulminary disease (COPD), Albany native Zackery Horne, decided he wanted to do something about it and called on some of his best friends to help him out.

Thus was born Lungapalooza, a benefit concert featuring eight local bands being held this Saturday night at Albany’s State Theater, designed to raise funds so that Horne’s mother, Marcy Horne Delaney, can quality for a double lung transplant.

“She’s in end stage emphysema,” Horne said. “The way the transplant system works, unless you show financial backing and everything like that, they really don’t look at you that much unless it’s a dire emergency. You have to show financial backing for before and after the surgery because once you have the surgery you have to live near the hospital.”

Horne said he’s been thinking of ways he could help her since she was diagnosed in 2003, but only recently was able to put any ideas into action.

“I’ve been wanting to put together a benefit show or something for her for a while now but I didn’t live here before,” said Horne. “I just got out of the Air Force and haven’t lived in Albany for a while.”

The idea to pull together a group of local bands and musicians to help the cause made logical sense to Horne, as he’s long wanted to do something to help the local music scene as well.

“I’ve always wanted to put a bunch of bands together because it also helps out the local music scene,” Horne said. “When I was younger it was a lot bigger than it is now, so I figured this kind of helps out everybody.”

Making contact with area musicians proved to be easier than expected thanks to Horne’s connections in the Albany music scene; chiefly through his management of local alternative rock band Mopeland, which features his wife Kristen on vocals and keyboards.

Other members of Mopeland also had connections to the Albany music scene and were more than willing to help their friend organize the event.

“Getting in touch with everybody took some time but once we actually sat down and explained what it was and what it was for, they were all more than willing to help out,” Horne said. “Everybody’s been really cooperative.”

Mopeland bass player Matt Copeland was more succinct in his assessment of the situation.

“Everybody knows everybody, so it just came together,” he said.

For the groups who have agreed to play the event, Horne’s plan of bringing together local musicians for a good cause was an easy one to buy into.

”We are very excited about the Lungapoolza fundraiser,” said Jay “OZ” Osborne of headliners Unbreakable Bloodline (UBL). “Anytime time we can play for a cause, and have a positive effect on the community we are all more than willing to help out.”

Chris Hayes, bass player for local group Blastov, echoed Osborne’s comments saying the band was thrilled to be asked and not only looked forward to helping, but also getting to play at the State Theater, one of the group’s favorite venues.

”We’re stoked to be playing the storied State Theater, one of our favorite stages, and honored to be doing so for such an important and worthy cause alongside so many other great artists and bands,” Hayes said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Along with Mopeland, UBL and Blastov other local groups playing the festival include Corvus and Canis, Barbara and Chip Cornett, Sydney and Andrea, Vajelly and Meow Kapow.

In addition to pulling together a diverse group of local musicians, Horne and his friends have also had a lot of support from the community and from the State Theater, whose owners Lane Rosen and Sean Hatcher, provided a discounted rate for the event.

“The guys at the State have been great,” said Horne. “They’ve worked with us and really helped us out.”

Hatcher, who has been Horne’s main point of contact for the event, said he and Rosen are always looking for ways to help with charity functions which he feels always seem to bring to the community together.

“We’re always trying to help,” said Hatcher. “The community always bands together for charity events and it’s good to be a part of that. It’s really one of the good things about this community; it seems to come together for good causes.”

In addition to the help he’s gotten from Hatcher and Rosen, Horne said he’s also gotten a lot of support from 340 Creative Group which is donating lighting and helping to run sound for the night.

Horne said the event has also gotten help from a variety of other sponsors including 229 Yoga, Buffalo Wild Wings, Austin’s Firegrill and Wildside Running.

While Horne said he’s been amazed by all of the support he’s received from the community, his mother, said she is amazed at all the support she’s gotten from her son and his friends.

”I’m very proud and touched that my son and his friends have taken up so much of their time, heart and money to do this for me,” she said.

Tickets for Lungapalooza are $10 and will be on sale at the door. The event is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. with the first band set to go on at 6 p.m. In addition to the concert, the benefit will also include a silent auction and raffle.

Local artists Danielle Brock, Casey Miller and Rick Osborne have all donated artwork to be auctioned off. Anyone else interested in donating items to the auction or wanting more information about the event or the cause can contact Horne through the Lungapalooza event page on Facebook.

Anyone wanting to make early donations to Horne Delaney’s transplant fund can do so at www.gofundme.com/4ux1vk.