Naturegirlgroves’s Weblog

George Tabb (www.myspace.com/helpgeorgetabb) is an activist, punk musician, and well known author. He is also severely ill due to World Trade Center Syndrome (WTCS), and PKD polycystic kidney disease, due to WTCS. He is one of an estimated 70,000 people who are sick as a result of breathing the poisonous air created by the fall of the Twin Towers, after 9/11. The aftermath has been recorded as one of the most toxic debris masses in the history of the world. On Thursday, March 13, Safari Sam’s in Hollywood, CA will serve as the place to support George. All funds raised will help him pay for his medical expenses and much needed treatments. Sam Lanni has generously donated his venue, Safari Sam’s, and all production costs for the evening. When organizer, Shawni D asked Sam about his generosity and willingness to host the night, he replied “I want to bring together artists and the people in need and connect all of us to make a better future and hopefully a healthy future. What has befallen George is a catastrophe and even worse there are tens of thousands of people with the same problems.” Safari Sam’s is known as one of the best original live music venues in Southern California, and is a monthly host of benefit fund raisers.

After reading about what he and thousands of others have gone through and continue to go through to this day since 9/11, Shawni was saddened and surprised by the lack of care he was not receiving. She first learned about George on the Go-Go Guitars page located on the popular social networking website, MySpace.com She then promised her friend Paul Ulino, friend of George, and co-owner of the NYC based and now located in Long Beach guitar shop, that she would help George in some way, some day. That day has arrived.

The confirmed line-up for the evening includes: punk icon Mike Watt + the Missingmen joined by performance painter – Norton Wisdom, Arc Welders, OO Soul, the D*Magg’s, Woolly Bandits, former Frank Zappa guitarist, Mike Keneally and friends. Also featured will be dj’s, spoken word artists and a few other surprises. An extensive art and memorabilia auction will also be held the night of “In support of George and all sick or injured WTC response victims, Safari Sam’s will be co-curating an art exhibition featuring many artists influenced by punk rock. The works will be for sale the night of the show and for the following month.” states, Amber W., Sam’s curator. Works by Norton Wisdom, Mark Mothersbaugh, LA Artist Collective, Scott Aicher (who created the flier), and many more will be featured. George describes his current condition via e-mail to Shawni: “I have been in and out of the hospital a lot lately. I’m suffering from rampant fevers, random bouts of blindness, very high blood pressure, crazy pain, and of course, PTSD.”

He has been told he shouldn’t even think about traveling until he can walk more than a block without keeling over in pain. Shawni goes on to say, “The money we raise will help him get tests and treatments he desperately needs which are not covered by insurance and that he cannot afford. I am very grateful to Sam, Mike Watt, Monica Nelson of Whirlwind Coalition, Paul, and all contributing people, artists and musicians helping to put this together, for George. We hope to raise a lot of money as well as awareness of these people who have somehow been forgotten. Tickets can be purchased by going to www.safari-sams.com and are $15 pre-sale and $20 at the door.

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For more information please e-mail: Shawni.D@gmail.com