Local Musicians Band Together for a Good Cause

Local musicians, including Fords-based blues rock group The Knight Owls, banded together at Rug's & Riffy's Bar & Grill Saturday night to play a benefit concert for Nikolai Ruck, a 24-year-old college student who was severely injured in a car accident last October.

performed a 45-minute set of songs from their debut album Who Gives a Hoot.  Though plagued by sound issues throughout the set, the band delivered a solid performance for a good cause - helping out by offering up 50% off all CD sales to the fund to help offset Ruck's medical expenses.

"I grew up with Jimmy," explained John Check, singer/guitarist for the Knight Owls, of Ruck's father.  "They've been friends of mine for twenty-five years."

Ruck has been in a coma since the October 26th accident.  After three months of struggles, his condition stabilised, according to the website set up to keep friends, family, and supporters abreast of Ruck's status. 

"He's fighting," said Knight Owls drummer Ron Wagenhoffer.  "He's definitely a fighter."

The benefit concert included live performances by six local bands, a Chinese auction, a 50/50, and wristbands that could be purchased to get drink specials at the bar, with proceeds going to help offset Ruck's medical costs.

"I had friends in some of the bands," said Jenna Frolich, who organized the event with her brother, Chris.  "They played here before and I thought, we should do something like this for Nikolai."  They wrote to several local companies and sports teams, who provided items such as tickets and memorabilia for the Chinese auction.

Other bands on the bill included Go Falcon!, Old Nick, Pyroclast, and Gentlemen's Thieves.  Avenel-based Onto Something opened the show with a set of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty influenced rock, closing their set with a cover of Springsteen's "10th Avenue Freeze-Out" aided by a six-piece horn section.