Musicians band together for fundraiser

In addition to offering up an impressive array of musical possibilities week in and week out here in the Lowcountry, the musicians who make up the local music scene treat each other like family for the most part.

Musicians show up at each other's gigs, lend each other equipment and generally look out for their peers.

In a world where other cities have music scenes that are almost comically competitive, the Charleston scene is refreshingly cohesive.

Anyone needing any sort of confirmation of that needs to head down to the Hippodrome on Saturday, as some of the finest local and regional musicians join forces to help out one of their own.

Say the name Mac Leaphart and any local music fan worth their weight will have a positive story about his music. From his days with the local band Five Way Friday to his recent success with songs such as "Confederate Roses," Leaphart seems like he was born to write and play music.

Life took an unexpected turn for Leaphart last summer, when he started having headaches.

After normal consultations with his doctor didn't get any results, Leaphart saw a neurologist and eventually had an MRI done. The results were the last thing Leaphart wanted to hear; a brain tumor.

The mass had apparently been growing in his brain for years, and had only recently started to affect him physically. A recent car accident Leaphart was involved in didn't help the situation.

Fortunately for Leaphart, surgery to remove the tumor was successful, but he now faces a long road to recovery. He isn't able to perform or tour for the next few months following the surgery, which is basically like telling Kobe Bryant he can't set foot on a basketball court.

Here comes the part that proves how giving the local music community really is in Charleston.

Saturday night, the Hippodrome will host Mac'n at the 'Drome, a benefit performance that will combine live music and video to pay tribute to Leaphart's musical passion.

Organized by local music promoter Joel Frank and Follywood Productions founding agent Ben Bounds, Saturday's event will feature such notable local musicians as Mark Bryan, Danielle Howle, Guilt Ridden Troubadour, Five Way Friday, John Wesley Satterfield, Luke Cunningham, Ryan Bonner, Jamie Resch, Shovels & Rope, Donnie Blackwell and Doug Jones, among others.

On a recent chilly Sunday morning, Frank and Bounds were filming local music types telling their favorite stories about Leaphart on the back deck of the Pour House.

Listening to the various stories, including a funny one about a broken bar chair in Tijuana, Mexico, one couldn't help but see how highly regarded Leaphart is in the local music community.

When Bounds heard about Leaphart's medical crisis, he went into action.

"I called Eddie (White of Awendaw Green) and Mark (Bryan) to see if they could lend a hand, and I literally received replies from both in minutes. Then once I got Joel on board, everything started coming together."

Frank is quick to call attention to the sacrifices folks are making to lend a hand.

"People have canceled gigs to be here," Frank said. "These folks are coming in on their moneymaking days to do this. We also could never have pulled this off without Amber Posey and Andrew Walker at the Hippodrome."

In addition, Awendaw Green is donating sound equipment, and everyone involved has provided their services and products either free or at the lowest possible cost.

Frank also points out that Leaphart has always been among the first to jump in and help in the past for any charitable effort, so now it's time to reflect the love back at him.

"Fundraisers are fundraisers, and they happen every weekend," Bounds said. "But this is one of the best concerts you'll see in Charleston in 2012. If you go, you'll be telling your friends about it. If you don't go, you'll be kicking yourself."