Members of R.E.M, Sleater-Kinney, The Shins and more came together last night (January 5) to play at a benefit for Scott McCaughrey.

McCaughrey, who is the frontman of The Minus 5 and was a longtime touring member of R.E.M, suffered a stroke last year.

The Help The Hoople event took place at the Star Theater in Portland, and saw R.E.M’s Mike Mills and Peter Buck, Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker and Janet Weiss, The Shins’ James Mercer, Chris Funk of The Decemberists, and M. Ward all perform. Count Kellam, Patterson Hood, Justin Townes Earle, Mike Coykendall, Kurt Bloch, Fernando, Alejandro Escovedo, and Jerry Joseph also appeared.


McCaughey himself also made a return to the stage at the event, which was held to raise money for his medical bills. You can watch fan-shot footage of some of the performances below, via Stereogum.

A second benefit will take place tonight (January 6) at Portland’s Wonder Ballroom. Mercer, Tucker, Buck, Bloch, Mills, and Weiss will all return to the stage, where they will be joined by Casey Neill, Dharma Bums, and The Decemberists.


Last year, fans raised nearly $82,000 in one day after McCaughey’s wife set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his medical bills, as well as the extensive physical and speech therapy he will need in the future.

You can donate to McCaughey’s cause here.