Montreal musician loses equipment in break-in
Montreal musician Jeff Louch came home to his new apartment late this past September to find his collection of keyboards gone.
He'd left the equipment in the living room after a show. Thieves had come in the side window and walked out the front door with keyboards and computers. The keyboards are his instruments for his work as a sideman in Montreal, and the computers contain music written for theatre and a new CD in production for his band Victory Chimes.
"The hours spent writing can't be replaced so that hurts even more than losing the hardware" says Louch.
But losing the hardware hurts as well. He'd put together his set of keyboards over several years.
"As a musician, it takes years to save up and buy these things. These are tools you need and they're impossible to replace."
Now, friends like Brad Barr from The Barr Brothers and the guys in Plants and Animals have volunteered to play at a fundraiser for Louch Wednesday evening at the Bar Le Ritz PDB.
Emma Baxter is a Montreal musician who works in music management. She's also a friend of Jeff's.
"This kind of thing has happened to a lot of people in Montreal — getting musical instruments stolen. It prevents you from doing anything, from paying your rent. It's pretty debilitating so we wanted to do something quick."
Louch takes comfort from the quick response of fellow musicians.
"What's keeping me all together is knowing the community and musicians are so supportive" says Louch.
Doors open at 8 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 7 at Le Ritz PDB. The concert starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are 20$ and all proceeds go to Jeff Louch.
