This spring, venerable Lower East Side venue Cake Shop was in trouble: fines and legal fees threatened to shut down one of the last remaining places in Manhattan where you could pick up a cheap beer and feel the flecks of sweat fly off a soon-to-be famous musician. The owners set up a crowdsourcing fundraiser (with perks!) and lo, on the day it was to expire, Cake Shop reached 100% of their goal.
Cake Shop had help from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Surfer Blood, who both played secret shows in support. If you pledged, you'll be receiving info on your perk soon (full disclosure: we tossed in $50 for some discounted drinks because DISCOUNTED DRINKS). Also: a portion of the money donated will go to Musicians on Call, a charity that brings performers to hospital patients. We've reached out to the owners to see if they're going to throw a rager to celebrate and will update if we hear back.
Here's a song from Surfer Blood's secret show last month:
