Wow. That event was simply amazing! It was so good to see so many people last Saturday night. Thank you to everyone who came out at rocked!

The event was somewhat bitter/sweet for me. As some of you know, my grandmother had passed away. I found out she had died right after I was on Fox 25 last Thursday morning. Doctors had discovered cancer in her liver and colon (and it was probably in other places as well). They had given her 6-12 months to live.

She lived for a week.

I had been going to her hospice facility every day at the beginning of the week. She passed away late Wednesday night, and I found out a few minutes after my television appearance Thursday morning. After seeing her earlier on Wednesday, I knew she didn’t have much time left.

I don’t have to tell you that seeing somebody close to me die of cancer is really tough for me...especially with my fight against cancer AND a fundraiser coming up that weekend. We held her wake Sunday and her funeral yesterday (Monday). It was a very emotional long weekend for me. I was so excited to see so many friends and family come out Saturday night to help support me, Jenn and Dante...and at the same time, I miss my grandmother terribly.

Saturday night began with some serious stress for me. If you showed up early or just on time, you would have known that there was a bit of a problem. There was an accident with an oil tank in the basement of the Paradise that caused an oil spill. Of course, oil is a pretty hazardous material, and the boston police and fire department were soon on the scene. We weren’t sure the night was going to get off...and I felt like I couldn’t catch ANY break at all. But knowing the significance of the night pushed some people to work a bit harder, and the night got started albeit a bit late.

The cats from Uncle Shaker had given me a small book on fatherhood. The guys in the band all signed it for me. They were so excited to be a part of the night, it was touching. Their CD is awesome, and its available on iTunes if you can’t make it out to one of their shows. Harriet Street gave a performance filled with such raw emotion, it was unreal. I was amazed at how their relatively simple set-up stirred such passion. Then they stuck around to back up Mieka Pauley (who I have to say is now my new best friend). She appeared with me on the Fox morning show the other day, and Dante was mesmerized by her guitar playing...if you saw our appearance then you saw a drooling baby completely focused on Mieka. Mieka’s music is also available on iTunes (yeah, I get all my music there). I am so glad that I am now “hip” to her music. Parkview finished the night with a “kick in the rear!” They came to the stage and showed everybody that they were a rock band to the fullest. They played my fav tune, Devil’s Queen! Their set started later than expected because of all the set backs (read: oil problems), but they stuck around and rocked. Now I know why they won Boston’s Battle of the Bands.

I want everyone to know how much I appreciated their support Saturday night. I was touched that so many people came (especially people who I haven’t seen in a long time).

I have so much to say, that I need to spend a little more time collecting my thoughts.

More to come!