Full-time musician Phil Pierle remembers what is what like when he was facing treatment for melanoma in 2006 with no insurance.
Suffice it to say, it made for a big sour note at the time — so much so that he quickly had to find a job beyond music offering solid medical coverage just so he could proceed smoothly in his recovery.
“The price for an independent policy at the time was horrible,” he said, speaking by phone from his Indianapolis home.
So Pierle and his 10 bandmates in the Indianapolis-based Woomblies Rock Orchestra, among the favorite groups performing in Columbus for the past several years, are only too happy to help others in similar situations.
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The classic rock ensemble will serve as the musical entertainment for Columbus Regional Health Foundation’s virtual reverse raffle fundraiser “House Party 25: Quarantining for a Cause” on Nov. 13.
The gathering normally held at The Commons in recent years raises money for needy patients at the foundation’s VIMCare Clinic.
The Woomblies, known for covers of such groups as varied as Electric Light Orchestra, The Moody Blues and The Beatles, figure to play for about an hour in the event that has featured a festive, party-style atmosphere in the past.
The band, slated to perform from a rented studio space in Indianapolis, will be making its first internet appearance. Pierle, the band’s lead singer, has been especially pointed about the group’s high-energy ways somehow translating to an online audience going into the concert.
“It’s not necessarily going to be easy,” Pierle said of generating audience excitement. “You have to realize that, with some of our more popular songs, when we hit that last note in a live show, the crowd just explodes with applause. With this, it might be tougher to draw energy since there’s no audience standing in front of us to give it to us.
“But we have talked about it. And we’ve had a meeting of the minds. And we do realize that we WILL be in front of an audience — even if it is one watching us live on their TV.”
He mentioned that the band has played only four shows this year instead of the usual 30 to 35 concerts that would include the smaller Woomblies pop group that he performs with.
“I don’t think I know of anyone else hit much harder economically than those in the music industry,” he said, mentioning that his entertainment career has now spanned more than 40 years.
He began playing bars at age 15.
“I used to have to hide in the kitchen until it was time to play,” Pierle said.
Recently, Pierle has been able to perform regular, online solo concerts, with supporters donating financially to keep him and his music progressing. But he made it clear that he’s excited to finally get the entire group together again for the local show.
“For me personally, the biggest thrill still is doing ‘Kashmir’ by Led Zeppelin,” he said.
Or The Beatles’ classic “The Long and Winding Road,” which seems entirely fitting for what seems to be precisely that.
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What: House Party 25: Quarantining For a Cause, Columbus Regional Health Foundation’s annual Reverse Raffle to benefit the uninsured and the underinsured at the local VIMCare Clinic.
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 13.
Where: At a link to be posted at crh.org/raffle as the date gets closer.
Music: The Woomblies Rock Orchestra.
For raffle tickets and to make donations: crh.org/raffle
To purchase raffle tickets: Text 2020tickets to (202) 858-1233
To make a donation: Text 2020donate to (202) 858-1233
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