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FLICKER
The Band From TV
Madelyn Hoerr
Seven of America's highly admired television actors fulfilled their event slogan, “Hollywood Rocks Chicago,” as Band From TV performed at The Vic Theatre Saturday, June 26, 2010. Greg Grunberg, Hugh Laurie, Jesse Spencer, James Denton, Bob Guiney, Adrian Pasdar and special guest Scott Grimes took the stage to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. South of 80, a cover band from Chicago, opened the concert.
Inspired by the overwhelming interest from fans at a celebrity gig at the House of Blues, the challenges of his son's epilepsy and the need to give back, Greg Grunberg, “Heroes” star, formed Band From TV in 2006 to raise money and awareness for charities around the world. All proceeds raised at concerts and through merchandise sales are donated to the sponsored charities. Each member of the band represents a different organization. As stated on the band's website, www.bandfromtv.org, “The list of organizations [they] support may change, but one thing remains constant, Band From TV is here to help.”
Approximately 1,000 guests attended the concert to support the Epilepsy Foundation while watching their favorite television actors rock covers of popular rock and blues classics. Early calculations estimate the night's event raised approximately $65,000 for the charity, as reported by Garett Auriemma, Vice President of Marketing and Communications of the foundation. This total includes ticket sales, merchandise, raffle tickets and an improvised auction of two watches worn by band members, which went for $1,000 apiece. “That's what Band from TV is all about,” said Bob Guiney, who first won America's heart as a contestant on the first season of “The Bachelorette,” in response to the auctioning of the watches.
Before Band From TV came to stage, the CEO and president of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, Phil Gattone, made a compelling speech about the necessity of supporting the treatment of and raising awareness about epilepsy. He said, “People with epilepsy deserve to live the life we live, and tonight we're making that happen.”
The line up, sans Hugh Laurie, who is praised as Dr. Gregory House in “House M.D.,” opened the show with a strong performance of “Hard to Handle,” originally recorded by the “King of Soul,” Otis Redding. As Laurie entered the stage before the second song, the entire band knelt on one knee to honor him as he danced across the stage. They may not be musical prodigies, but by the time the third song began, the men had proved have more fun performing together than most musical acts.
Twice during the set ladies in the audience were pulled on stage to dance with the band. The first group was only three women who had personal connections with the members. Before allowing the women to leave the stage, the band vocalized gratitude for their generous help. A larger group of seven was later brought on stage to draw raffle tickets for a Chicago Blackhawks jersey autographed by Brian Campbell.
An evening with actors would have been incomplete without comedic teasing of fellow bandmates and audience members. Adrian Pasdar, a fellow cast member, commented, “Greg Grunberg is my favorite Hero.” To conclude an entertaining performance Elvis' “Viva Las Vegas,” Grunberg said, “In a few years we'll be singing 'Viva Viagra'.” Jesse Spencer, recognized as Dr. Robert Chase on “House M.D.,” wittily responded to Grunberg, who is 13 years Spencer's senior, with the teasing question, “In a couple of years?”
Band From TV spent the weekend of July 25-27th entertaining Chicagoans and visitors all around the city. Along with the performance at The Vic Theatre, they played at Harry Caray's on Navy Pier, at Taste of Chicago and at the pre-game of Sunday's Sox vs. Cubs game at U.S. Cellular Field. |
