Black 47, that great Irish rock 'n' roll band, has added a bunch more gigs at Connolly's this December. If you only go to one show, head out this Saturday, December 8, to their benefit show for Brian Kelly (5 to 9pm), a long time friend of the band.
Brian was born with a rare form of liver disease called Biliary Atresia. A big part of his childhood was spent in the hospital. At 16, he was on the list for a liver transplant, which he received on December 25, 1990. Brian was a big fan of rock and listened to DJ Vin Scelsa (then on K-ROCK). Brian's father called Scelsa and told him one of his biggest fans was in the hospital. Scelsa called Brian to cheer him up and sent him lots of CDs and other get well presents.
Not long after, Scelsa started playing Black 47 on his show. A year later, Scelsa and Black 47 appeared at The Bottom LIne and Brian and his father attended. After that, Brian and his father went to a lot of their New York shows and became tight with the band and introduced his friends to the band. His buddy Russ liked them so much he got the Black 47 fist and chains tattooed on his leg. Over the years, Brian and Russ went to their shows, appeared in their videos and even collected money for them at the door.
Fast forward to July of this year, just after graduating from acupuncture school and just before his one year wedding anniversary. Doctors told Brian that he had an aggressive case of B-cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, most probably caused by the anti-rejection medication he was taking for his liver. Brian has just finished his sixth and last treatment. By all accounts he is responding well and his lymph nodes are normal.
Brian hasn't worked since July. In addition to the physical and emotional trauma he's experienced in the past months, he now faces enormous medical expenses. When they heard Brian's friends and family was organizing something for Brian, Black 47 stepped up in a big way. Larry Kirwin said, "Brian is a great guy who has always been there for other people and now it's a chance for others to help him."
Also appearing: Ashley Davis, The Bossa Nova Beatnicks and Baby Monroe.
Saturday, December 8
45th Street between Sixth and Broadway
212-597-5126
Show starts at 5pm
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