Musicians rally around Douglas artist hospitalized with sudden illness; concert and album release planned
Rachael McElhiney is a prolific musician in the region who grew up in Gardnerville, and thought she just had a run-of-the-mill illness when she first got sick in early August.
“But I was just getting worse and worse,” she said. “I didn’t realize I had a bad blood infection. Luckily, it was caught at the right time — but I ended up spending over week in the (ICU) and am still working on fully recovering.”
When she came home to recover, she also came home with a huge hospital bill following right behind.
Musicians are a tight-knit group, and several of her current and former band members, friends and colleagues immediately came together to help.
In only a few short days, they compiled an album of songs from multiple different local bands that McElhiney plays on, named “Hospital Bed & Breakfast.”
Bands and artists included range from Buffalo Moses, to Aaron Ross & The Peach Leaves, Moondog Matinee, Rainbow Ranger, and many more.
“These are all songs she’s been a part of,” Brencer Jonpatrick, one of the organizers and another Douglas native, said. “Some are previously unreleased and I bet a lot of folks don’t know how integral she is in so many projects. We’re hoping this release will let people have a glimpse of the range of talent she offers, and what she contributes.”
The album can be preordered through Bandcamp, and, if purchased on Oct. 6, 100% of the proceeds will go toward McElhiney as a part of Bandcamp Friday.
“Rachael has really come into her own in the last few years as a fiercely unique musician and songwriter,” Jonpatrick said. “I knew she wouldn’t ask anything of anyone, … and the musicians involved were so helpful with getting us the tracks and wanting to get her back on her feet and back at it. I’m really grateful to them; this couldn’t have happened without the support of the community of musicians around her.”
In addition, bands and artists are coming together Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. at Cypress in Reno, located at 716 S. Virginia hosting a show to help raise even more funds.
The event is hosted by Spike McGuire, who is also the director of the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City. Reno’s Moondog Matinee is headlining, with Greg Gilmore opening the show.
There will be a raffle with prizes from several local businesses. Click the flier above for more.