Pet Sounds

According to Stacey Waterman of DMR
Booking Agency, which helped arrange the concert’s logistics, its
impetus came from Peg Newell, schoolteacher by day and lead guitarist
of The Reissues by night. Newell, a self-proclaimed animal lover, was
upset with reports earlier this year that the SPCA was short on cash.

“Peg called and, not ever doing anything
small, we decided that rather than take a bunch of phone calls from
local bands we decided the best thing was to organize a larger concert
to help out,” Waterman says. Planning began in January and largely
banked on Waterman’s experience as organizer of the Inner Harbor Block
Party series in previous years. This year Waterman has moved her summer
beerfests to the Regional Market on Park Street.

“I chose the Inner Harbor for Woofstock,
because it’s the best venue for animals,” Waterman said. “Before I
started the Block Party there, it was a multimillion-dollar dog park.
It’s a natural choice, because Woofstock needs a grassy area.”

That’s because animal lovers will be
encouraged to bring their pets to the show, although the event’s
organizers clarify that the noise and hoopla of the concert may be too
much for dogs past 4 p.m. While Waterman has hired a cleanup crew to
dispose of droppings left on the Inner Harbor’s lawn, she hopes that
pet owners will be responsible enough to clean up their own pooch’s poo
amid the rock’n’roll glories.

If this year’s Woofstock is successful,
Waterman hopes that the SPCA and local musicians will continue their
volunteer efforts to help the worthy cause. The rockin’ lineup includes
a veritable smorgasbord of local bands: Turnip Stampede (1 p.m.), Merit
(2:15 p.m.), Dead Rose (3:30 p.m.), Under the Gun (4:45 p.m.), 3 Inch
Fury (6:15 p.m.), The Reissues (7:45 p.m.) and Los Blancos (9 p.m.). 

Admission is $5, with additional donations welcome. For more information, call 475-2500. 

Bowwow blast: Jason Vaughn and Peg Newell of local
modern rock cover band The Reissues will be among the acts playing at
Sunday’s Woofstock at the Inner Harbor. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO