I'm sure everybody knows about the incredible disaster in New Orleans by now.
The effects of this hurricane could not have been any worse. There are many many thousands of people, our poor unfortunate brothers and sisters, who are in dire need of help. They are having to endure extreme heat without any hope of air conditioning, extreme thirst with no hope of clean drinking water, they're hungry and getting hungrier every minute...
What can we do about it?? Obviously we need to send these poor victims some real aid RIGHT AWAY.
I am not a politician, not affiliated with any government or private agency, I'm just (and have always been) a musician. My name is Jimmy Messa, I play bass and guitar with a band called the subdudes and I live (or I used to live) in Slidell Louisiana. One other guy in the band, our lead guitarist and lead singer Tommy Malone has (or had) a house in Mid City New Orleans. Although Tommy & I have not had any concrete information yet, it's very probable that both of our houses are destroyed. He and I are pretty lucky though. We both managed to evacuate the city before Katrina hit and we and our families are safe (although, unfortunately, we're refugees for who knows how long).
Anyway, here's my point:
The only thing I can think of to do to help in this horrible situation is to do what I've always done, play some music. I'm writing to ask you (and some other people) to please try to organize a benefit concert whose proceeds can be sent to help the devasted people in New Orleans. I'm 100% sure I can guarantee the subdudes will be willing to appear (for expenses only) on the bill and since I've been a musician from that beautiful city for all of my adult life, I can ask many of my musician friends to help and I'm sure they'd be willing to. I'll speak to (as soon as I possibly can) The Radiators, Anders Osbourne, Theresa Andersson, Papa Grows Funk, Rockin' Jake, Doug Duffey, Liz Barnez, Brint Anderson, George Porter, etc., etc., etc...I'm sure they and others would gladly help for only the price of transportation and lodging.
Also, what about those bigger name acts who always cite New Orleans as their 'favorite city' and who (rightly) acknowledge it as the spiritual mother of most modern music? Artists such as Little Feat, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Joe Cocker, Keb Mo, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, etc., etc., etc....maybe we could possibly get them on board too if we only ask. I'd like to think these guys would also help if just their expenses were covered.
So, there's my proposal. Please think about this and get back to me ASAP. We might be able to make the difference between life and death for many many people if we can organize this and if we act quickly and unselfishly, And, we can put on a great concert.
Thanking you in advance,
Jimmy Messa
P.S. PLEASE forward this letter to anybody you think might be able to help.
Jontomas7@aol.com <mailto:Jontomas7@aol.com>
www.subdudes.com <http://www.subdudes.com/>
