Friday Music Blogging: Special American "Pass-the-Hat" Health Care System edition

Mr. Brilliant and I first heard Peter Karp at a blues concert at the Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery a few years ago. In an age of geezer bands and $100 concert tickets, we like to find new local bands you can see for $15-$20. Peter Karp's Roadhouse Band was one of those.

Karp used to play in this area at venues like the Stanhope House in Stanhope (which closed earlier this year), the Paramus Picture Show (also closed) and The Turning Point in Piermont. Now he lives in Nashville, and rarely comes around this way. But this morning came an e-mail from Karp's mailing list with some very sad news about an upcoming benefit:

On Sept. 23 at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ, music lovers will get a glimpse of what the brotherhood of musicians is all about.

Five national acts will donate their time and talent, and Maxwell's the space, to raise money for the Karp family. Marylou Karp, wife of Blind Pig recording artist and singer-songwriter Peter Karp, was diagnosed in June with Stage 4 ovarian cancer.

Marylou, 50, is the mother of two children, James and Courtney. Her illness was initially misdiagnosed as a herniated disc, and she is currently undergoing aggressive treatment at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Gina Fox, who is organizing the event and will perform, said of her friend's diagnosis, "this is a fight for life. The physical, financial and emotional stresses that go along with this fight are overwhelming, and this benefit is meant to help the Karp family with crippling medical bills."

Ovarian cancer, referred to as a silent killer, is often at stage 3 or 4 before it is properly diagnosed. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women, with one out of 100 women succumbing to it.

The show begins at 7 pm, and donations are $20 at the door. All proceeds will be donated to the Karp family.

Anyone who wishes to help but cannot attend the event is asked to visit www.ginafox.com, where a secure PayPal link is in place.

Performing that evening are:

· Nicole Hart & NRG featuring Gil Paris
· Charlie Jones & Paul "Hernandez" Unsworth featuring Dave Keyes
· Gina Fox
· Dave Malachowski & The Woodstock Allstars-Pete Levin & Jill Stevenson
· Dennis Gruenling & His Tribute to Little Walter Band
· Popa Chubby

Please direct all inquiries to gina@ginafox.com.

Obviously I don't know what kind of health insurance the Karp family has, if any. But this is a reminder that here in the United States, there are people battling cancer who have to rely on the kindness of family and friends in order to pay their medical bills in the face of a ruthless killer like ovarian cancer.

If you're in the Hoboken area (Barry, I'm talking to you), please consider going to this show. I'm not familiar with everyone playing, but Dennis Gruenling's band and Popa Chubby are definitely worth the price of admission.