Springsteen rocks for flood victims

In less than an hour, Heinz Hall was sold out.

Word that rock music legend Bruce Springsteen… In less than an hour, Heinz Hall was sold out.

Word that rock music legend Bruce Springsteen would lead a program of local musicians caused people to overload the phone lines and e-mail accounts of the Cultural District venue, as Pittsburghers and non-Pittsburghers attempted to get tickets. The 2,600-seat home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra was completely reserved in a matter of minutes.

The concert, named Flood Aid ’04, was organized to raise funds for distressed victims of September’s Hurricane Ivan. According to the office of Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, ticket sales raised at least $200,000 for Allegheny County flood victims.

Springsteen played with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, a local band that recently released the album True Companion. Grushecky’s band lost a car to the flooding in the nearby city of Carnegie, but the large-scale devastation in the area “took [his] breath away.”

Flooding from Hurricane Ivan damaged more than 11,000 buildings throughout the county. It was Grushecky’s idea to plan a benefit concert in Pittsburgh, and Springsteen gave national attention to the event by agreeing to appear.

Other performers included Rob James of the Clarks, B.E. Taylor, Blues Attack, and Grushecky’s son, Johnny Gruschecky.

Springsteen has been busy this year, having performed at several events for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., during his bid for the presidency. He wrapped up the presidential campaign with an acoustic performance in Cleveland on Nov. 1, the night before the 2004 election.

The revenue from tickets, which started at $75, is slated for donation to the Salvation Army, which will distribute the money t