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When an accident on a wet Massachussetts road took the life of Day By the River sound engineer Lee Laurence last August, it was only the beginning of the Athens band's troubles. Immediately after the accident they discovered the insurance on their Dodge Ram van had lapsed, much of their equipment was destroyed and tens of thousands of dollars of debt was staring them in the face. A week later, the band broke up after 10 years together. The debts still loom.

Fortunately the jam band community and its fans are very tight-knit, and some of the scene's biggest names are pitching in to provide relief. Phish, the Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic have all doanted items to be auctioned off before a benefit concert from Athens bands Bloodkin and Barbara Cue January 27 at the Georgia Theatre in Athens. The silent auction will take place across the street from the theatre at 7 p.m. with music starting at 10. Tickets for the show are $15. When asked if any members of Day By the River will play, ex-bassist Patrick McDonnell says the members of DBR are scattered at the moment and vocalist/guitarist Ted Lahey's arm is still healing from the crash. Day By the River will not be performing as a band, but individual members may appear.

There will be some special musical guests from another major Athens band (we're pretty sure its not Peter Buck and Michael Stipe). This big band's managers don't want the group's name to be used. Playing the show under their proper names are

Barbara Cue, featuring Todd Nance of Widespread Panic on drums, and Bloodkin, who have composed some of Widespread Panic's most-loved songs.

For those who would like to bid on items but can't make the auction there is help. Gail Patty, the mother of the band's late sound man, says, "I'll take my laptop to Athens on the 27th and try to communicate to potential bidders via (the DBR discussion e-mail list) if I can get on-line from the Georgia Theatre. I'll do my best to get a list of bid items published on the site (www.daybytheriver.com) as soon as I can." Patty also recommends appointing a "proxy bidder" to be on-site to bid for you. If you would like to make a donation to the band but can't be present, mail checks to Gail Patty, 2906 Sussex Road, Augusta, GA 30909.

The ball got rolling for a benefit after Patty put in a phone call to Richard Kherlopian of Widespread Panic Merchandising. Prior to working with Day By the River Lee Laurence had worked with Widespread, and Kherlopian and Laurence had been roommates. Upon hearing the news of DBR's debt Kherlopian booked the Georgia Theatre. Kherlopian is also responsible for getting Widespread, Phish and the Brothers to donate items for the auction, Patty says.

Gail Patty also says DBR's fans have been incredibly supportive in her time of grief, "I can't begin to tell you about the number of e-mails, cards, personal visits, and phone calls I have received and continue to receive from Lee's friends. There were over 400 people in attendance at Lee's funeral here in Augusta -- including a large number of the Day By the River fans who travelled cross-country to be here. Almost all of them had a funny or touching Lee experience to share with me. You just cannot imagine what that magnitude of sympathy and comfort does for a grieving mother's heart."

The official title of the benefit is "The Lee Laurence Memorial Concert Benefitting Day By the River."

Lee Laurence would have been 30 on January 4th.

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