Comstock musicians to sing for Fernley flood victims

Some of the Comstock's best-known musicians, including Lacy J. Dalton and David John and the Comstock Cowboys, will perform a benefit show for flood victims in Fernley.

The performance will be from 3-8 p.m. Saturday at Piper's Opera House in Virginia City.

Piper's program director Bill Beeson said Piper's Opera House workers Ash and Donna Allen and he came up with the idea during a brainstorming session.

"It was a discussion of, hey, what can we do," he said. "Piper's historically has been a community center, a place where the community could come together to help out. They did a lot of that in the 19th century for miners."

The idea is only two weeks old, Beeson said, adding they realized they had to do it soon and get on it while the need was still great.

One of the first musicians Beeson called was Lacy J. Dalton, who wasted no time in enlisting David John and the Comstock Cowboys and Virginia City native and cowboy poet and singer Richard Elloyan.

"It became kind of a ripple effect," Beeson said, as the musicians started calling others.

Elloyan was performing at a cowboy poetry and music festival in Arvada when Dalton's call came. Elloyan was still working on which of the many songs about Nevada he will perform.

"It depends on how much time I get," he said. "I have a brand new CD called 'Rodeo Bones' and the very last song is a song about overcoming obstacles and tragedy, and that's probably what I'm going to play."

In between his concerts, he works for the state Bureau of Health Protection Services, and spent a day last week in Fernley.

"They were using the school as one of the Red Cross shelters, so we had to check it out, and make sure the food service there was being handled correctly," he said.

Others slated to perform are the bluegrass band the Back Forty, Virginia City regulars Will Strickland, Bobby Kittle, John Kirin, Doug Tarrant, Glenn Buschine and more.

In addition to the music there will also be a silent auction, and organizers are seeking donations. A no-host bar will be available, but the organizers decided against an originally planned potluck buffet because of how much they already had to do to put the show together in such a short time, Beeson said.

The cost for the show is whatever visitors donate, and there will be a jar for additional donations. Proceeds from the show, donations and silent auction will go to the Fernley Assistance Fund, the organization recommended by the Lyon County Human Services Department, Beeson said.

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 881-7351.

If You Go

WHAT: Benefit for Fernley Flood victims starring Lacy J. Dalton, the Comstock Cowboys and more.

WHEN: 3-8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Piper's Opera House, 12 N. B St., Virginia City

COST: Voluntary donation

CALL: 847-0433 or (866) 422-1956 toll free