Sunday night three Sacramento-area musicians were brutally attacked by a man with a knife in midtown.
Blake Abbey, of Musical Charis, and Alex Lyman and Wes Richmond of the band Slaves ended up in the hospital with serious injuries.
The man allegedly commented on their skinny jeans, called them a homosexual slur and stabbed them. Yesterday the alleged assailant turned himself in and the police classified the incident as a hate crime.
When the news broke people were shocked and then took action.
Musician James Cavern was one of the first to put together a benefit show.
“I wanted to act quickly to help with immediate costs and set a tone in the community," explains Cavern, who's organizing an event at Pourhouse on Saturday night.
Cavern will also perform at the fundraiser. The event is called I Wear Skinny Jeans and attendees are encouraged to wear their tightest pants. Cavern will be joined by fellow musicians Carly DuHain, Joe Kye, Century Got BARS, Kylie Anderson, Erica Ambrin Burnett, and Danny Secretion.
All donations will go to help the victims of the stabbing.
“I want this to be a celebration that there are people in this town who will come together at a drop of a hat to help somebody in the community,” says Cavern.
Carly DuHain was one of the first musicians to join Cavern's lineup.
“I’ve been friends with Blake and his wife for a really long time," she says.
DuHain says it's really hard for independent musicians to miss out on work, they don't have the financial buffer of other professions.
“Anytime you’re physically unable to do your job you’re up a creek without a paddle,” says DuHain.
Cavern says after he got over the shock he was angry. "Playing music is basically who I am," he explains. "The thought of anyone who could take that away from me is mind boggling.”
Cavern's event on Saturday is one in a long list of benefit shows. Here are some of the others:
We reached Abbey yesterday via text message.
"The community has responded with love and compassion. I’m very proud of the city and our small musical community."
Abbey's wife and bandmate, Jessie Abbey, posted this on Facebook yesterday:
"I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, compassion and support Blake Abbey and I have received today...our phones were lit up the whole day with love and encouragement from friends and family."