Local pub to hold benefit show for two deceased local musicians - East Idaho News
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Local pub to hold benefit show for two deceased local musicians

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POCATELLO — Rumors Pub in Pocatello will be hosting a benefit show this Sunday for the families of two members of the band “Country Drive” who died in February.

Harold Ricky “Smitty” Smith, 68, and Lori Weltz, 61, died on Feb. 9 and 10, respectively. The two had been members of Country Drive for nearly 30 years.

Organized by Annie Daulton, owner of the band Whiskey Hangover, and Kris Miner, who owns Rumors Pub, the event will be on Sunday from 1 p.m. until the music ends. While there is no cover charge to get in, lasagna soup, salad and bread will be available for $10 a plate. There will also be donations buckets and raffles, with “every penny” of the proceeds going to support the families of the deceased musicians.

Daulton and Miner agreed that the two deaths have been felt deeply by, what they called, a tight-knit southeast Idaho musical community.

“They’ve played with a lot of musicians in the area, not just with Country Drive,” Daulton told EastIdahoNews.com. “Most of the music scene is in Pocatello, we all know each other pretty well.”

Not only have many local music lovers enjoyed their music, Daulton explained, but many other bands have also played alongside them.

“Both of the musicians have been very prominent in the area for a really, really long time, not just with Country Drive but with multiple bands,” she said.

Rumors Pub, located at 2227 Garrett Way in Pocatello, is one of few remaining local venues for live music, Daulton said, making it an obvious location for this event.

There are currently four bands confirmed to make up the setlist for this event. Hired Gun Co., Whiskey Hangover and Rockin Hillbillies will be featured acts at the show. Country Drive will also be performing, with fill-ins playing in place of Weltz and Smith.

For those unable to attend that would like to donate to the families of the deceased, donations can be made on Venmo at @KrisMiner7. Miner asks that those taking this route include the name of the one or both of the deceased musicians in the note accompanying the Venmo donation.

This event will be 21 or over as it will be held inside of a bar.

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