Students who need a break from studying for finals and would like to see Otto’s open again, should attend an all-ages benefit concert on Sunday at The Jungle.

The benefit to reopen Otto’s is from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Clyde Brown, Master of Ceremonies for the benefit and former host of “Open Stage on Sunday Night” at Otto’s, has been working hard to get donations for raffle prizes and bands to perform in the concert.

There will be a variety of raffle prizes to win including CDs, gift certificates and Elvis stamps because of the donations made by many local businesses. The raffle tickets may be purchased for $2.50 each or six tickets for $10.

The benefit will feature eight different acts that have performed at Otto’s in the past. Their time will be donated because they want to see the bar reopen.

The bands performing will be The Tommyknockers, Felix, Shatterday, The Blues Police, Rockfish, The Renfields, Hairball Willie and special appearances by Ken Rodd and Brian Beer of the Shades and Good Time of the New Duncan Imperials.

The tickets will be $15 and can be purchased at Genesis Bazaar, Austin Music Center, Record Revolution, Appletree Music, DeKalb Schwinn and Downtown Discs.

All of the proceeds will go towards a substantial down payment and help owner Bob Daniels get on a payment plan for the debt he has accumulated, Brown said.

“It will be a big party to show support for Otto’s and it will also give people under 21 a chance to hear these bands,” Brown said.

Brown’s goal is to raise about $20,000. If they do not get a substantial amount to make a difference, then all of the money that has been raised will be returned to the community in the form of a donation to the United Way.

There is a lot of general support for Otto’s and Daniels. Mark Mathews, the general manager at The Jungle, said, “The Jungle is looking out for the community, we are even holding a benefit for the Pikes on Wednesday.” He continued with his support for Daniels, “We are friendly with Bob, and we don’t want to see him go out of business, even though he is our competition.”

Brown said he thinks the concert will be a sell-out. “A lot of people want to see Otto’s reopen.”

The Illinois Liquor Commission gave Daniels a March 31 deadline to get his finances straightened out, or they would revoke his license, which would close him down. He was given two options, he could either get a loan to pay off the debt or sell his business.

Brown did not want to see Otto’s go, which is why he organized the benefit. “I’m doing this because I have nothing but respect for Bob (Daniels) and quite a bit of admiration.”

He knows there is a lot of support for Otto’s and for Daniels, “People have thanked me for organizing this thing. Somebody had to. It is time to do something about it.”

Brown and other Otto’s supporters are circulating petitions to get the State Liquor Commission to allow Otto’s to reopen, and give Daniels his liquor license back. They are also distributing letters to the people of DeKalb to gain support for Otto’s.

The petition states, “We request that the license at Otto’s in DeKalb, Ill. to be reinstated.” The letter states, “We appeal to the community to give to the Save Otto’s fund, so people can enjoy Otto’s again.”

“Otto’s is the one place of its kind in DeKalb, the only place where you can get live music 5-6 nights a week. On the weekends, you pay a cover to get into places and don’t get anything. At Otto’s, you pay a cover, but the money is not going into the owner’s pocket, it goes to pay for the bands,” Brown said.

Brown said Daniels made Otto’s what it is. Daniels hires bands that no one has heard of, the bands that “won’t get a shot anywhere else.”

“If Otto’s goes, we’re stuck listening to canned music, like at Amnesia. If it’s gone, there will never be another Otto’s,” Brown said.

If people would like to make a donation they can send a check made out to Save Otto’s Fund, care of First National Bank of DeKalb, 141 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, IL 60115.

“People have thanked me for organizing this thing. It is time to do something about it.”

Clyde Brown, Master of Ceremonies