RIC Bar in Rockridge is hosting private shows to cure musicians’ blues

Oakland bar proprietor and musician Scott Ayers is aware of what it is prefer to be an up-and-coming musician who continuously travels to play gigs, with out the protection web of a gradual paycheck and medical insurance in case an emergency arises alongside the best way.

Ayers, a musician from Burlington, Vermont, moved to Oakland in 1997 and shaped the band The Lovemakers underneath the stage identify Scott Blonde with bandmate Lisa Gentle within the early 2000s. In 2016, Ayers bought the bar in Rockridge together with producer and music legal professional Jeff Saltzman, finest recognized for representing bands akin to Inexperienced Day, The Offspring, Primus, Testomony, Papa Roach, Rancid, Mudhoney and Filter. Saltzman can also be the producer of The Killers’ debut album, ‘Sizzling Fuss’.

“Yearly we [traveling musicians] would meet at South by Southwest. And what we’d dread yearly was to see which band did not make it that 12 months, both on account of sickness or a freak automobile accident. There’s a fixed worry deep inside each band that makes us unable to imagine that we have now remained sane.”

Ayers met Kirk Crenshaw three years in the past by way of a mutual good friend when Crenshaw wanted a venue for a present by Tommy Stinson, the Replacements’ former bass guitarist. The present was alleged to happen in Crenshaw’s yard, however wet climate and the necessity for a brand new location for the present changed into an sudden collaboration.

After that efficiency, Crenshaw Ayers pitched the thought of ​​internet hosting personal exhibits on the bar, with proceeds benefiting musicians in want of well being care subsidies. Ayers was on board instantly.

Crenshaw is the founding father of the Rockridge Bowla group group supporting the humanities and stay music, in addition to co-founder of Sofaburn Inc.a company that gives healthcare subsidies for musicians.

Sofaburn Inc. was born in 2020, when pandemic lockdowns closed live performance halls and musicians’ incomes plummeted as a well being disaster descended on the nation.

Crenshaw joined Chris Mueller, founding father of SofaBurn, a Kentucky document label, Lynn Baker, a medical insurance specialist, and musician Adam Nurre, the only survivor of a deadly crash whereas on tour, whose restoration was paid for by organizations akin to Well being Alliance for Austin Musicians, the SIMS basis and MusiCares. The quartet based SofaBurn Inc. as a non-profit group to assist musicians pay health-related prices, cut back well being care payments and help with enrollment.

SofaBurn Inc. is staffed completely by volunteers and 100% of donations go to supporting musicians, Crenshaw stated. Since its launch, SofaBurn Inc. helped greater than 100 artists. Thus far in 2025, the group has raised greater than $30,000 to proceed supporting artists subsequent 12 months.

“Essentially the most attention-grabbing factor we encountered as a company is that folks did not imagine we had been actual as a result of musicians are being taken benefit of on a regular basis,” Crenshaw stated. “It was like we pay on your well being care, and so they’ll ask, ‘What would you like from me?’”

Wil Overman, a singer-songwriter from Virginia is without doubt one of the musicians who make up Sofaburn, Inc. has helped. Overman stated he discovered navigating the well being care market unappealing and unaffordable.

Overman met Chris Mueller, one of many group’s co-founders, by way of his supervisor. Though Overman knew Mueller, he doubted the group’s potential to assist.

“I might be fairly suspicious on the whole, particularly as of late,” Overman stated. “But when one thing sounds too good to be true, it normally is, and this wasn’t the case, which was nice.”

In keeping with Overman, Sofaburn, Inc. paid his month-to-month premium for the previous two years. “There is a good likelihood I would not have insurance coverage if Sofaburn did not assist me,” Overman stated.

SofaBurn Inc. takes the same method to different organizations, akin to MusicCares, that present short-term monetary help for private wants, dependancy restoration, and well being care funds.

One wrestle Crenshaw and the group at SofaBurn, Inc. face. at present coping with is the rise in premiums. One of many main funds points at present dealing with the federal government shutdown is the strain Republicans are dealing with from Democratic colleagues in Congress to expanding billions of dollars in federal tax credits for well being care plans by way of the federal market. A KFF analysis The medical insurance premiums discovered will enhance by a median of 75% if the subsidies usually are not prolonged. Moreover, the evaluation additionally concluded that premiums might enhance to offset greater tariffs on imported medicine.

“We’re involved about it, we’re anticipating an enormous enhance in premiums,” Crenshaw stated. “We now have made one of many largest efforts of any 12 months to boost more cash this 12 months, not solely as a result of we have gotten extra seen. But additionally as a result of we’re seeing greater medical prices.”

The collaboration between Ayers and Crenshaw has given SofaBurn Inc. assisted in her advocacy, given their deep ties to the music business. Crenshaw based Rockridge Bowl when he was planning his spouse’s fortieth party, and so they each wished Fountains of Wayne to play her party. From there, Crenshaw started internet hosting exhibits in his yard, every benefiting a unique nonprofit, like Deliberate Parenthood or RocketDog Rescue. The exhibits featured artists akin to nation artist Jeremy Pinnell and indie band Ellettrodomestico, that includes Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s.

Crenshaw’s unique idea for the yard exhibits was to have musicians play an intimate present, the place they’d each be pretty compensated and assist assist varied charities. Followers get a stripped-down present from an artist they love, whereas supporting a superb trigger.

What the idea of the intimate exhibits on the RIC Bar, the place Sofaburn, Inc. advantages from, distinguishes, is that it isn’t marketed; there are not any flyers and no ticket hyperlink accessible. Folks normally discover out by way of phrase of mouth, conversations on the bar, or when the artists announce the exhibits on social media. In lieu of buying tickets, attendees are requested to make a donation to Sofaburn, Inc.

“When John Doe performed, he donated the proceeds from his merchandise gross sales to the group,” Crenshaw stated.

Final fall, nation artists Logan Ledger and Jeremy Pinnell performed a sold-out present on the RIC Bar, and Ayers stated it was some of the particular exhibits he had ever seen. Each Crenshaw and Ayers stated that even in case you’re not a rustic fan, Pinnell’s voice will make you one. Ayers stated “connections are made” by listening to the artists who come to play on the bar.

“I used to be in tears. I’ve seen plenty of exhibits, however the exhibits Kirk and I did right here had been a number of the finest I’ve ever seen in my life,” Ayers stated.

Ayers stated the exhibits are particular not solely as a result of the artists know the proceeds assist fellow musicians, but in addition as a result of the intimate setting with fewer than 60 individuals within the room permits for absolutely immersive performances.

“The caliber of people that play right here is unimaginable,” Ayers stated. “It is one thing particular.”

This 12 months, The Lovemakers’ album “Instances of Romance” turned 20, and the celebration included an intimate present on the bar.