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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Bar Fundraiser Thanks British Rockers The Who for Sandy Help

LONG ISLAND CITY — You can call it rock star karma.

A Queens bar and music venue that got a helping hand from British rockers The Who after Hurricane Sandy is returning the favor, hosting a fundraising concert for the band's favorite charity.

LIC Bar, at 45-58 Vernon Blvd. in Long Island City, was hit hard by flooding during the October storm. Much of its sound equipment was destroyed.

In an effort to help out, bar regular Robert Basch contacted the management team of The Who, which he'd recently seen in concert.

"I said, 'You know what, let me reach out to The Who, maybe they’ll help us out,''' Basch recalled. "I was surprised a couple of days later they sent an email back saying yes."

The band donated replacement amps and microphones, helping LIC Bar get back to its regular line-up of live music shows. Soon after, well-known The Who tribute band Who's Next offered to play a free concert at the bar — and the owners saw that as an opportunity to give back.

On Feb. 23, LIC Bar will host a fundraising concert featuring Who's Next as its headliner to raise money for Teen Cancer America, a group that works with hospitals to provide teen-focused cancer care to its young patients.

The organization is the American arm of a United Kingdom-based charity, which The Who members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend helped launch. The band is teaming up with Elvis Costello to play Madison Square Garden later this month to raise money for the charity's effort to open a teen and young adult unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Tickets for the LIC Bar event will cost $20, with all proceeds going to Teen Cancer America. A Gibson guitar autographed by Pete Townshend will be raffled off to raise additional funds.

“We are thrilled by The Who’s gesture and we are equally thrilled to be in a position where we can give something back the band,” LIC Bar owner Brian Porter said in a statement.

LIC Bar's fundraiser for Teen Cancer America will take place on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. at 45-58 Vernon Blvd. in Long Island City. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.