The Jennys, a band of four Binghamton University students, will perform a benefit concert on Thursday. All proceeds will go to an organization that provides relief for Haiti.
The band will ask for at least a $2 donation from all attendees at their 10 p.m. concert at Scoreboard at 86 State St. in Downtown Binghamton.
“We are not requiring you to pay, but we are asking for a $2 or more donation,” said Greg Bennett, lead guitarist of the band. “I am hoping people will care enough to give up $2; it is not even the cost of drinks you will buy.”
The proceeds of the benefit concert will go to Partners in Health, an organization that works to provide health care in poor countries.
According to Bennett, a senior majoring in economics, Partners in Health was recommended to him by his cousin who was working in Haiti and was rushed out after the earthquake.
To promote the event, the members of The Jennys created a Facebook event and are hoping to raise at least $500 with their personal donations included in the total.
“Most of our gigs have had a solid turnout. If we fill it out like we usually do, it should be a good turnout,” said Mike Ludwig, a junior majoring in accounting and the band’s bass player.
The band consists of Bennett; drummer Rick Calzi, a senior majoring in art; lead singer and guitarist Mike Linkens, a junior graphic design major and Ludwig.
“We actually just started [playing together] toward the end of last semester,” Bennett said. “Rick and I have been playing together for a while, we met Mike and Mike and got together to play a little. The next night we played our first show.”
Since they formed, The Jennys has been playing at Tom and Marty’s every Tuesday night and Scoreboard every Thursday.
The band has also played at fraternity parties, as well as On the Roxx Bar and Grill located on Court Street.
“We are a cover band, and we are always trying to please the crowd,” Bennett said. “We started with alternative and indie music and are moving toward party music.”
The name of the band was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Since the band literally formed overnight, the members had to come up with a name very quickly.
“We couldn’t agree on anything so we took a piece of paper and pointed to a word on it and it was ‘Jenny,’” Bennett said. “So we are The Jennys, we had all these fliers printed out for our first concert so we kept it. Short, quick, catchy.”
The band’s following is growing at a fast pace, especially since its fan base includes the entire rugby team, which Bennett is a part of.
“We actually have a couple of people I’ve never met who will buy us a round of drinks and tell us they go to every one of our shows,” he said.
According to Ludwig, being in a band with all full-time students does not create a problem, outside of exam weeks.
“When there is a lot going on it gets a little hectic,” he said. “The end of last semester, when we all had a lot of work going on it was hectic trying to practice and learn new songs.”
Despite their busy schedules, Bennett said that working with the band is effortless, since all the members are committed and talented.