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(From left) Eric Heiberg, Velpo Robertson and Robbin Thompson in a performance of the Robbin Thompson Band last February at Lancaster Middle School to raise money for the Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department. The show included the first public performance of the recently recognized Virginia state popular song, "Sweet Virginia Breeze," co-written by Robbin Thompson and Steve Bassett. (Photo by Skip Rowland)
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(From left) Velpo Robertson, Robbin Thompson and Audie Stanley in a performance of the Robbin Thompson Band last February at Lancaster Middle School to raise money for the Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department. The show included the first public performance of the recently recognized Virginia state popular song, "Sweet Virginia Breeze," co-written by Robbin Thompson and Steve Bassett. (Photo by Skip Rowland)
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(From left) Rico Antonelli, Audie Stanley, Robbin Thompson, Velpo Robertson and Eric Heiberg in a performance of the Robbin Thompson Band last February at Lancaster Middle School to raise money for the Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department. The show included the first public performance of the recently recognized Virginia state popular song, "Sweet Virginia Breeze," co-written by Robbin Thompson and Steve Bassett. (Photo by Skip Rowland)
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(From left) Audie Stanley, Rico Antonelli, Robbin Thompson, Velpo Robertson and Eric Heiberg in a performance of the Robbin Thompson Band last February at Lancaster Middle School to raise money for the Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department. The show included the first public performance of the recently recognized Virginia state popular song, "Sweet Virginia Breeze," co-written by Thompson and Steve Bassett. (Photo by Skip Rowland)
Drummer Bob “Rico” Antonelli remembers the date and place that he and his musician colleagues first played as the Robbin Thompson Band. He was there and he has the T-shirt. During a recent phone conversation — between quick bites of dinner prior to rehearsal — he rummaged in his closet and found the garment. The show occurred at Lynchburg College’s Wake Field House on Nov. 10, 1978, when the group opened for Mother’s Finest. At 3 p.m. this Sunday (Feb. 28) onstage at The National, Antonelli and those same members of the group will gather in a memorial and benefit concert for singer-songwriter-frontman Thompson, who died in October after a 15-year struggle with cancer.
The T-shirt from the Robbin Thompson Band's first show. (Photo courtesy Bob “Rico” Antonelli)
In 1978, Antonelli, Velpo Robertson (guitar), Eric Heiberg (keyboards) and Audie Stanley (bass) played for studio and session work. When Thompson sought a quality rhythm section for his next album, his manager turned to them. “We just had lunch and became Robbin’s band,” Antonelli recalls. Their debut concert was an “interesting pairing.” Mother’s Finest was (and is) an Atlanta-based funk band.
“It was our first gig, but none of us were inexperienced,” Antonelli says. “We were still young but not star-struck. This was the first time we were on a stage, though, with the lights and the whole setup, not a club. We thought, ‘This is cool.’ ” Thompson himself had already fronted Richmond’s Mercy Flight, which rounded the bill with a New Jersey group called Steel Mill and its lead, a lanky, shaggy-haired fellow named Bruce Springsteen. After a few shows together, Thompson joined Steel Mill and played with the group for about six months during a crucial phase of Springsteen’s early career.
The 1978 Lynchburg show put the Robbin Thompson Band on a trajectory of playing college gigs, during which time they began working on an album that became "Two B’s Please." The ensemble then included bass player Mike Lanning. The recording, that occurred from June 4 to July 15, 1979 (Antonelli has the T-shirt for that, too), featured “Candy Apple Red,” and “Brite Eyes,” which enjoyed radio airplay. “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” pertained to the Tom Robbins novel, and “Sweet Virginia Breeze” in March 2015 became Virginia's official state popular song thanks to the patronage of since-retired state Sen. Walter A. Stosch, R-Henrico, who is scheduled to attend Sunday's event.
“Right after Robbin died, I mean right after, we started getting calls,” Antonelli says. Well-meaning people wanted to organize a tribute concert. Some were more empathetic than others. “We were in this situation where, 'Hey, man, give us a break. Our buddy died and we’re kind of busy and not exactly in the mood to play a little music.' ”
More than that, the group now had no lead singer or player. The band members didn’t sing the songs. “What were we going to do? Play the rhythm tracks and tell the audience, ‘You do the harmonies?’ ” He manages a weary chuckle. “A lot of musicians offered to play that part.”
The time and place needed to be right and logistics sorted out. And that took time. In early November, the band conferred with Vicki, Thompson’s wife of 41 years, to discuss the possibility of the show. What wasn’t wanted was a conglomeration of 15 bands playing one or two songs apiece. The organizational challenges are great and somebody invariably is annoyed by their lack of inclusion.
The solution was simplicity, which meant narrowing performers to those who wrote music or recorded with Thompson. “We sat down and matched songs with different singers,” within a smaller group of musicians. Mike McAdams of The Good Humor Band was brought in for acoustic guitar and another friend, percussionist Jody Boyd to provide a good full sound with tambourine, congas and drums. Steve Bassett played with Thompson for years and co-wrote “Sweet Virginia Breeze.” Other participants include Marna Bales, Leetah Stanley, Gregg Wetzel, Mike Lucas and youngsters from the School for the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC).
Once these plans began unrolling during the early winter, a venue choice opened up when Bill Reid, co-founder of the NorVa in Norfolk and a partner in The National here, offered the place free of charge on a suitable unbooked night. “He’s been a saint to us,” Antonelli says. “He just said, ‘Let me know a date and The National is yours.’ ”
The event will involve a total of 21 musicians and at least 15 backstage crew members and a full five-camera video component. The show is receiving a full multitrack recording. Sales of this, in addition to proceeds from the concert, will benefit two nonprofits that meant a great deal to Thompson: JAMinc. and SPARC , both of which promote music education and performance participation for young people.
What to call the evening was prompted by Thompson’s music. He made frequent trips to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute in New York City and during one visit, his doctors told him that the course of medication was failing and that his time was short. Thompson had a habit of getting up early when at home and going into the basement to play and tinker with music.
“And he was down there and feeling pretty bad and this had followed a series of bad days and he needed a good day,” Antonelli says. Thus, the artist made one for himself in a song. “A Real Fine Day” was written in the throes of depression. This became the title song of his last album. “We want this to be a real fine day for Robbin, his family, and his music.”
Tickets are selling briskly.
Tickets are $25, $35 and $45 and available on The National's web site or in person at The National box office (708 E. Broad St.). The box office is open Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and one hour prior to the doors opening the night of the show. For more information, call 612-1900.
