Paul Shaffer, band to play 30th anniversary benefit for Auditorium

THUNDER BAY -- Paul Shaffer is returning to his hometown for a Thanksgiving weekend benefit show in support of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

The Oct. 7 show, which will feature his former Late Show with David Letterman band known on the iconic show as the CBS Orchestra, will celebrate the facility’s 30th anniversary.

“We are tremendously excited to have been able to work in partnership with Paul Shaffer to get this special concert booked,” said Auditorium general manager Bob Halvorsen in a release.  “All members of this band are phenomenal talents who are in very high demand. It wasn’t easy to get them all, but Paul really worked hard to pull it all together and make this a reality.”

Shaffe, whose name adorns the street sign outside the Auditorium, and his band have played together rarely in the year since Late Show host Letterman called it a career.

“There are no plans to take the band out on tour or take the band out on the road, so bringing them all together for a single concert at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium really is an incredibly rare and unique opportunity,” Halvorsen said. 

The event will feature plenty of music, but will also include plenty of stories shared by Shaffer of his many musician friends who have performed on the Late Show, with the band then playing corresponding songs.

Band members expected to appear include drummer Anton Fig, guitarists Sid McGinnis and Felicia Collins, bassist Will Lee and trombonist Tom (Bones) Malone.

“There will be a limited number of VIP tickets available that will include an opportunity to attend a reception with Paul and the band,” Halvorsen said.

Tickets go on sale on Friday and are available in person at the Auditorium box office, by phone at 684-4444 or online at www.tbca.com.