In a new chat with the Associated Press, Galactic bassist Robert Mercurio opened up about he and his bandmates’ battle to maintain ownership of beloved New Orleans venue Tipitina’s in the COVID-19 era.

“It’s terrifying,” he told the AP. “It’s extremely difficult to be a now-nonworking musician owning an unopened nightclub.”

These statements echo Mercurio’s sentiments from earlier this summer, which stressed the financial uncertainty for live music professionals nationwide.

Galactic purchased Tipitina’s in December 2018, and while the pandemic presents almost-insurmountable problems, the venue already had its own history of financial uncertainty before COVID-19.

“We can certainly go for another month and a half or two months,” added Hank Staples, owner of another legendary NOLA venue The Maple Leaf. “But we need some way to generate income because the money I’ve squirreled away — it’s depleted severely.”

Click here to donate to Tipitina’s.

Click here to donate to The Maple Leaf.