Paducah Beer Werks, Project Pomona, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, and local bands Comedown Kings and Two Weeks Notice have partnered to present a Memorial Day weekend benefit concert to address food insecurity for western Kentucky veterans. Comedown Kings bassist Bruce Brockenborough speaks with Tracy Ross about the upcoming event.
Local rock and roll bands, the Comedown Kings and Two Weeks Notice, both have veterans in their line-ups, which made the decision to return to live music post-pandemic in the form of a Memorial Day benefit an easy one. "Our drummer is an Air Force veteran, and he made fast friends with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, and they're some of our best fans," Brockenborough says.
"They come to every show and support us," he continues. "I think most people really appreciate veterans. This is the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, so that's really cool. These guys look like any biker club, except they have hearts of gold, and all they do is try to help out their fellow veterans. We're really lucky to be able to do that. The bass player for Two Weeks Notice is also a Marine veteran, so it just kind of ties in."
The two bands share bills often, Brockenborough says. "We love playing with Two Weeks Notice because you can juxtapose us so well. We play mostly originals with a few covers; they play mostly covers with a few originals. We're five guys who stand around and play music. Two Weeks has a lot of energy, a lot of stage presence; they're fun to watch."
In addition to live music, the event hosted at Paducah Beer Werks will feature food from Project Pomona. "We feel fortunate that...the governor announced bars will be fully opened by the time we have our show. So, we'll have it rain or shine," Brockenborough says. "It's going to be a nice welcome back of things being a little more open. Music's a part of it. But to us, the biggest part is the fundraising aspect of it."
"We're trying to benefit combat veterans, and that's a cause I think we can all buy into readily. Have fun, have some great music, and really have an impact on people's lives who have made a sacrifice for us," Brockenborough concludes.
The Memorial Day benefit will take place on Saturday, May 29th, at 8 pm at Paducah Beer Werks.
For more information, visit Paducah Beer Werks' or the Comedown Kings' Facebook page.
