Susan Pataska Benefit a success!

August 11th we played a benefit show for Susan Pataska who is fighting stage 4 breast cancer. Now most folks would think Noise Pollution isn't exactly a "breast cancer benefit" kinda band, but I'd say we certainly are. For one thing, when you're invited to perform at a benefit, you almost have to accept--unless you're physically unable to do the show. Second, when someone thinks your band is good enough to play their event, you certainly don't want to let them down. And third and foremost, we may be hard rockers trapped in the 80s, but we do have heart...and we have mothers and sisters and aunts and wives. So yes, we are totally a "breast cancer benefit" type of band.

Anyway, the event raised over $12,000 for Susan. Granted, that wasn't because Noise Pollution was on the stage...but I'd have to believe that some of those in attendance were there because we were the night's entertainment.

Here are some pictures from the show....

Nick's Near-Death-Experience

This will teach him a lesson about wishing things into existence...

Wednesday night we were wrapping up rehearsal and Nick told the story of being in a nasty car accident a week before a show in our previous band. Even though he was pretty banged up and had totalled out his car, he still played the show, partially seated atop a bar stool.

Then today, Nick's driving along HWY P in Kenosha County when a big sneeze hits him. As he sneezed, his car was heading into one of the many substantial curves on Hwy P, and he swerved into the ditch along the right side of the road, then over-corrected and spun across the Hwy again into the ditch on the opposite side of the road, but not until he hit an oncoming Geo Storm.

He managed to get out of the car to make sure the people in the other vehicle were OK--they seemed to be alright. So he called his boss to let her know he wasn't coming back into work, and shortly thereafter police and paramedics were on the scene.

Nick's boss called me to let me know what was up, and my wife and I headed to Burlington Memorial Hospital to check in on our friend.

When we arrived, Nick was in a neck brace, on a gurney, awaiting a CAT Scan.

Fortunately, everything came back OK--except his car which is surely a complete loss.

The passengers in that Geo Storm were ok, too--a broken wrist and a sore hip were their only injuries.

As we took Nick to get his prescribed pain killers, we talked about Saturday night's show at Bindelli's Safari--The Susan Pataska Benefit. I told Nick we'd figure out a revised setlist since he'd be staying home. Nick told me, "No Way. I'm not missing this show."

So we may be a bit banged up, but all of Noise Pollution will be in attendance tomorrow night at the Susan Pataska Benefit show. We hope you'll join us!

[Paul]

Finger Cuts

We've been joking about this one for a bit...

And have decided we will no longer permit Chris to use power tools within a month of any scheduled show.

Seems that Saturday Chris was busily trimming the hedges when he decided to cease paying attention and start trimming his fingernails.

6 Stitches in his left index finger, and he's in a bit of discomfort.

Why can't he be like the rest of us and just use the hedge trimmers to cut through those pesky electrical cords?

Oh well, he should be fine for the upcoming Susan Pataska Benefit show at Bindelli's Safari on August 11th.