Laura has had a tumor and it has had to go...

After a recent trip to the doctor to have a pain in her midsection checked out, Laura Hunt, my girlfriend of the last 15 years was told that she has had an ovarian tumor. Needless to say the news came as a shock and, as it turns out, the tumor is about the same size as the ovary itself. It’s what’s called a Dermoid tumor and although only about 10% of these kinds of tumors are cancerous it is growing and will ultimately cause what’s called an Ovarian torsion to occur. It has to be removed.

The bottom line is that even with insurance through GSU we have to raise 20% of the total cost of the surgery. That 20% is somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000-$8,000 and Atlanta Medical Center wants it up front before they operate.

In the meantime we’re trying to raise money by any means possible. There are a couple of benefit concerts being organized around Atlanta, and I will update this post with information about the shows as it becomes available.

The first show is at Blind Willes on Sun., Sept. 19. Chickens & Pigs, The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, Rocksploitation (formerly the A-Sides), the Bob Page trio, the Rod Hamdallah Band, and Western Union Messenger are playing, and maybe more (details coming soon). The cover will be a $10 donation. Music starts at 4 p.m.

A second show is happening at 529 on Sun., Sept. 26. Howlies, Mermaids, the Clap and Knaves Grave are playing. The cover will be a $10 donation. Music will start at 8 p.m.

For the time being we have set up the following Paypal link for anyone who would like to make a donation.

UPDATE: Laura had surgery on Wed., Sept. 8. Her tumor was removed successfully, along with a second tumor that we did not know about. Not really sure what the case is with the second tumor, but should know more about it soon. She's at home recovering now.

DJing @ 529 on Tues., Sept. 15 w/ Pillow Talk, Parking Lot Paul and more. FREE 9 p.m.

I am DJing at 529 on Tues. night with Rachel and Michelle from Pillow Talk, Parking Lot Paul, Lindsay Long and GG King (I think).

We will be playing a good mix of punk rock, '60s frat rock, new wave, now wave, power pop, garage rock, girl group stuff, noisy stuff, good stuff.

I personally will be spinning a set of all local stuff from the 1980s to now, which covers everything from Neon Christ to the Balkans, Selmanaires, Nightporters, Electrosleep, Gaye Blades, Carbonas, Rock*A*Teens, Abby Go Go, Carnivores, Howlies, Coathangers, Herb & Jason Harris, Gentleman Jesse, ANDPW -- pretty much whatever I can pull off of my record shelves. Hit me up if there's any local stuff that you're dying to hear.

It's free and the records start spinning around 9 p.m.