Altruism

[VAXman]

altruism |'altroo,izem| noun.

the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others



As many of you may already know, my wife Martha was hospitalized for a week last month at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (http://www.rwjuh.edu/) in New Brunswich, NJ. I visited her there every day for as long a period as I could. On one of the first days there, I was making my way to the hospital's cafeteria to grab some lunch. As I approached the elevators, I heard a guitar. I poked my head around the corner and gazed into the room where the guitar sound emanated. There on a bed was a fellow with long thinning hair playing an old Martin acoustic. He invited me in and we struck up a conversation.

I was wearing my favorite YES 35th Tour tie-dye with the beetle. He asked me what sort of music I was interested in and I said, "Progressive Rock." The occupant of the bed told me he was in the band The Red Masque (http://www.theredmasque.com/). This man on the bed was Brian Van Korn (http://www.theredmasque.com/images/0017-2006.gif), percussionist and more for The Red Masque.

Brian has been stricken by a disease called "Transverse Myelitis" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_myelitis) and has been hospitalized since mid-June. It has left him, more or less, paralyzed in his legs. Brian is a wonderfully enthusiastic soul despite this affliction, and I wish him the best of luck and hope for a recovery.

Martha and I have kept in touch with Brian and we hope to get to visit him in the hospital soon. I am asking the Aural Moon community to post some well wishes for Brian, or call or write to him. Spending 2 months in a hospital is tough and isolating. Some kind words from a concerned Prog community like here at Aural Moon will be a welcome diversion for him.

He can be reached by calling: 732.937.4275 (direct number to his room at RWJUH)

In lieu of a phone call or letter, please post some kind words here and I will relay this thread to him.

Ad(Thank you)vance

[Rick and Roll]

I've not been around Orion of late...Red Masque is local to me and I've seen them. Good stuff.

Certainly, for what it's worth, I will chime in with my hopes for a recovery (if it is possible...the muscular diseases are especially tough).

I'll pass this on to the Baltimore area proggers.

[mailotron]

Dear VAx and Martha,

Please give him my best compliments ( don't know the right word in english)
I bought all the Red masque CDs from Big Balloon music half and a year ago and find them very interesting despite their uncompromise approach of music ( that's probably why I was seduced, the more you listen the more you like, that's prog)

mailotron:heart:

[KeithieW]

Brian,

I am not familiar with your music but given that I have never been given a bum steer by my friends at Aural moon I will listen out for sure.

As someone who has had their fill recently of hospitalisations I really feel for you and wish you the best of luck for the future both in health and happiness.

My thoughts are with you my friend.

Take care.

With love.

[AngelSings4u2]

Dear Brian,

My husband Phil is a fan...I am just entering the prog community now after 13 years of him begging me to listen. We want you to know that we will keep you in our prayers daily for continued healing and peace. I am proud to be a part of Aural Moon and if VAX says it's good...it's good...so I'll try a listen...Many regards. Keep your head up and keep the music flowing...and by all means keep on proggin'...

Much Love, Angel and Philip Terry :angel:

[mailotron]

dear LGT..

. beware if VAx says one day " Microsoft is good ":rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: ...
Yours,
Mailotron

[Avian]

VAX - is it OK if I link to this post from Progressive Ears and some other sites that may want to send their thoughts?

[roger]

Brian,

best wishes and good energy your way from this moonie.

[sharcnorris]

Brian, its very hard as Vax knows when your body betrays you. I had a stroke 5 months ago that has turned my life atizzy. We feel so helpless as our body's try to regain normalcy. Time heals but also curses and I know the endless time without being able to do normal things is crushing at times. So what can be done? One is that there is a 24 hour Music community here at the Moon to chat with. When your alone for hours its a great place to rest awhile. I look forward to hearing your tunes and hope you keep it touch, I know I could use more friends, join this wonderful Family when your feeling low, -Kind Regards, Marc

[VAXman]

VAX - is it OK if I link to this post from Progressive Ears and some other sites that may want to send their thoughts? I don't see any problem.

[Elric68]

Dear Brian, I may be only 18, but I have had my fill of hospitals too during the last year. I've found friends and almost a family here in our little music community and I think everyone would welcome you as they did with me.

I will listen to your music, and would be glad to share my opinions about it with you.

Best wishes.
Elric

[mossy]

Brian, hello!

It could be any one of us in your situation, and change can happen in a flicker of an eyelid.

Sending you good thoughts and energy for your recovery, and that you can find a bit of peace and something to enjoy each day. Glad you've got the Martin, glad you and Vax connected.

mossy

[zatoth]

Sorry to hear about your illness. get well!

[ViolinCyndee]

Best wishes to you Vonorn... It was so nice to see you at Lynnette and Brandon's...

Cyndee

[podakayne]

dear brian,

i am so sorry for your illness, yet VAX says you have an uplifting spirit about you and that is priceless medicine...supernatural magic...whenever you're feeling a bit tapped in that department i hope you come here to refuel. i've heard your music and look forward to your being involved in future music making. as a musician you're intrinsically creative, you will find a way to channel that.

in the meantime know that those of us here will be wishing & praying, and sending thoughts of healing for your recovery.

much affection
podakayne

[jtmckinley]

Hang in there Brian, at least you've got your Martin to play with, I'd be doing the same in your situation :). Best wishes for your recovery!

[VAXman]

Hang in there Brian, at least you've got your Martin to play with, I'd be doing the same in your situation :). Best wishes for your recovery!
Brian actually has quite a few musical toys in his room. Guitar, drums, and even a small toy accordion.

I allowed Brian to use my Powerbook for an afternoon and he composed some music in GarageBand.

FYI, M and I will be visiting him this afternoon... I'll take a printout of all of your well wishes to him.

[rick_wakeman]

Hello from France and know that The peace of God bathes your spirit and your heart. That You are resting in the eternal arms of beauty, truth and wisdom. These blessing words can link your spirit to your body to heal it. Keep on prog rocking, bro. Take care,

Cédric.

[VAXman]

I printed out the forum posts that you made here to date and Martha printed out the Progressive Ears thread that Avian began. Martha and I took the printouts to Brian last evening (16-Aug).

When we arrived at Brian's room at RWJUH, he was in his bed and on the phone. The partioning curtain which divided his half of the room by the window was partially drawn and there was no bed on the other side by the door. Brian's guitar was placed on the bed by his legs. I snuck into the room and announced our presence there by reaching around the curtain and plucking the low E string of his guitar.

Surprised, Brian quickly terminated his conversation on the phone. Martha and I got to spend about half an hour with him before we needed to leave for another appointment. He was delighted to see us. He welcomed the printout of the responses from you here and the people that contributed on the Progressive Ears list. He says, "Thank you!"

We were once again treated to a preview of his current musical composition which he has been inspired to write by his ordeal.

Brian was supposed to be moved to a rehab center but that plan is on hold for the moment. There seems to be some issues with various beaurocracies involved. There always seems to be more red tape than surgical tape in medicine today. :rolleyes2

He's showing improvement in movement in his left leg; not so much that he'll be up and about dancing a jig in the next few days but there is movement. It is still too weak for him to really manipulate and, before we left, his lef fell between mattress and bed guard rail and I had to intercede to put his leg back on the bed. His IV tubes have been removed; however, he still has the large catheter in the juglar (http://sjtest.biznetis.net/StaywellTesting/img.aspx?2482) which was used for plasmaphoresis.

Many of his musical toys have been sent home from his room in anticipation of his relocation. He still has a drum and guitar as well as his note and sketch pads.

That's it for now. We'll try to get in to see him again in the next week assuming he is still a resident at RWJUH.

[Velvet]

HI Vaxman/Brian

This is Lynnette from The Red Masque. Thanks for setting up this topic and taking these greetings here and on ProgressiveEars.com to Brian. He really appreciates it.

I have faith that Brian will recover eventually but it is a long process and, unfortunately, he is mired in red tape at the moment, which is keeping him from getting out of the hospital and into the rehab clinic. I know he talked to his lawyer andthey are trying to move things along so hopefully this will speed things up.

In the meantime, if anybody is in the area, Brian loves visitors. I've been visiting whenever I can on the weekends (I'm about an hour and half to two hours away from his hospital (during normal traffic -- much longer if there is bad traffic), so it makes it difficult to visit him during the week when I am at work).

HOPEFULLY he won't be in the hospital much longer though.
Anyway, thanks again.
Lynnette

[VAXman]

HI Vaxman/Brian

This is Lynnette from The Red Masque. Thanks for setting up this topic and taking these greetings here and on ProgressiveEars.com to Brian. He really appreciates it.

I have faith that Brian will recover eventually but it is a long process and, unfortunately, he is mired in red tape at the moment, which is keeping him from getting out of the hospital and into the rehab clinic. I know he talked to his lawyer andthey are trying to move things along so hopefully this will speed things up.

In the meantime, if anybody is in the area, Brian loves visitors. I've been visiting whenever I can on the weekends (I'm about an hour and half to two hours away from his hospital (during normal traffic -- much longer if there is bad traffic), so it makes it difficult to visit him during the week when I am at work).

HOPEFULLY he won't be in the hospital much longer though.
Anyway, thanks again.
Lynnette
Hi Lynnette,

We are about 35 miles south which by proNJ driving standards means it will take us between 1 hour and eternity to get there.

We would love to drop in and visit him more often but, as Brian can attest, we're having some issues with one of our offspring making our free time a real premium these days.

I spent a week in the hospital back in '99 and I couldn't stand it. I can't believe he's still sane -- albeit, I wonder sometimes if he ever was ;) -- after 2 months.

I let Brian borrow my Powerbook and EVDO card one afternoon when I was there visiting with my wife. He was so happy to be able to have some interent access to touch the outside world. He also started on his Overture for his latest creation using my GarageBand that day. If I would have met up with Brian earlier on in his stay, I would have worked on getting him a Powerbook and EVDO internet access for the time he was in the hospital.

Everyone is pulling for his recovery and I hope to see him and the rest of The Red Masque at the NJ Prog House. Fingers crossed!

Let me know when/if you're going to visit him this weekend. Maybe we can drop in when you're there.

[Velvet]

Hello again
I wont' be down this weekend because it's my father's birthday and my family is having a get together so I have to drive all the way to my parent's house in the complete opposite direction from brian's hospital (which would put me about 4 hours away from Brian). But I plan on going up the following weekend - either sat or sun - not sure yet. but I'll let you know.

yeah, brian told me about you letting him use his powerbook. He was quite happy with that. He told me yesterday he is thinking of buying a lap top with his credit card.

and no, you are correct, he never WAS sane ;) But in a good way.
actually, this might be kind of weird to say, but he's actually been more focused since he's been in hospital. I guess in times like these you really understand what's important. anyway, he's a unique guy and we're all pulling for him. I told him he was getting out of the band that easy so expect to see us in November (or sooner if I see you at the hospital). I really hope they figure out this SSI stuff though. THAT is driving him mad and me too.

Lynnette

[VAXman]

Hello again
I wont' be down this weekend because it's my father's birthday and my family is having a get together so I have to drive all the way to my parent's house in the complete opposite direction from brian's hospital (which would put me about 4 hours away from Brian). But I plan on going up the following weekend - either sat or sun - not sure yet. but I'll let you know.

yeah, brian told me about you letting him use his powerbook. He was quite happy with that. He told me yesterday he is thinking of buying a lap top with his credit card.

and no, you are correct, he never WAS sane ;) But in a good way.
actually, this might be kind of weird to say, but he's actually been more focused since he's been in hospital. I guess in times like these you really understand what's important. anyway, he's a unique guy and we're all pulling for him. I told him he was getting out of the band that easy so expect to see us in November (or sooner if I see you at the hospital). I really hope they figure out this SSI stuff though. THAT is driving him mad and me too.

Lynnette
The SSI issue pisses me off too. There's so much waste in the medical/hospital community and then, when somebody really needing a hand up has the need, there's nothing left to go around. It's one of the reasons I hate governments too. Not that I believe they should be in the business of giving out handouts; however, since they do, they should be seeking to give out where it's due.

If we do meet up in his hospital room, do you mind if we call you Brian too? It will help alleviate the confusion in a monty phythonesque way. ;)

VAX (Brian)

[VAXman]

I've worked in health care in an admin capacity for 23 years. The problem lies in inadequate insurance for those who cannot find steady employment. It's ok to hate the government, but you have to have a solution. Privatization of health care also breeds waste. It's very complicated. And very expensive. Most of my early days in health care concentrated on the uninsured.

You're not going to hijack this thread as a soapbox for socialism. I worked for the government (DoD) for 10+ years and NASA for 1 before I had enough. Waste, waste, waste abounds everywhere and everywhere you find waste it's augmented by graft and sheer utter management stupidity.

In light of your other comments, I have my share of medical issues. In insurance terminology: I have one foot in the grave and the other firmly seated upon a banana peel (ie. I'm uninsurable! I might be insurable but I can't afford the outlay of money equivalent to the GDP (http://www.answers.com/topic/gross-domestic-product) of some countries to pay for it.). Through no fault of my own (as is with Brian's "Vonorn" as this thread relates), I have medical needs that the government won't address. It pisses me off to no extent that I have to outlay $100 a month for syringes alone but drug addicts are being provided them free of charge. I know the 'gummint's' intent is to stop the spread of HIV, which is all fine and good, but they're promoting the use of illicit drugs in the process. (http://www.drugpolicy.org/reducingharm/needleexchan/) What happened to the "equal protection under the law" of our US Constitution? It's been distorted by the government pigs-- "all animals are equal; some animals are more equal than others". (http://www.bartleby.com/59/6/allanimalsar.html)

My mom always asks, "What to you do with all the money you make?" Well mom, I spend more than $25K/year on medicine alone. This last year has been exceptionally tough with the crap my daughter has pulled and with Martha being out of work for her medical issues and mine getting worse.

Here's just a short narrative about hospital waste as it relates to Brian's situation.

Martha was tiring of the food in the hospital so I brought her a meal from outside. The hospital dietician's office called and asked her why she didn't order dinner. She told them she had eaten and that I brought in food for her. Brian, on the otherhand, had not eaten because his meal was delivered and then taken away as "garbage" because he was asleep when they brought his meal. Later that same evening, just before I was to head home, the hospital brought Martha a meal -- even though she said she had not wanted a meal. We were on the phone with Brian at the time who said he wanted the meal as his was discarded. The hospital staff would not oblige him and the food was trashed. Two meals in the garbage. I can bet that the price tag on that hospital swill was higher than a fine dinner at a top rate establishment.

In 1999, I was presented with a bill for $20K for a week long hospital stay. All I did was lay upon a bed whilst the hospital filled me up with rat poison (http://www.chemsoc.org/ExemplarChem/entries/2002/hook/warfarin.htm) to get my prothrombin time (http://www.webmd.com/hw/lab_tests/hw203083.asp) to a "theraputic" level. There was no need to be tortured and fed swill for a week. My Dr. routinely changes my rat poison dosage and I get prothrombin time/INR blood tests as an out-patient at a local lab for 1/1000th the cost of that hospital stay. You cannot convince me that hospitalization is not grossly over-valued and over-priced and wasteful... as is most doctoring. If I am called in to fix a problem and I don't do it right the first time, I'm expected back on my time to finish the job. Not so with doctoring. You keep paying and paying and paying while they practice and practice and practice. It's the only job I know where the government provides documentation on your ability to be incompetent... it's called the licence to practice medicine. I suppose it takes a beaurocracy of incompetents to recognize incompetence.


Those of you that are not covered by a health plan...DO IT.

Sounds like Rick's buying... sign me up. :D

[Velvet]

some good news today:
brian's left leg is getting stronger by the day, he says. In therapy today he could do some things he couddn't do even two days ago.

also looks like the red tape issue to get into the rehab clinic might be expidited as his lawyer is getting on SSI's case.

also he went outside (he took a 'walk' in his wheelchair) for the first time in 2 months which he enjoyed immensely,a nd also 'discovered' the children's section and their teaching piano and waspracticing red masque keyboard sections. so all in all a good day.
Lynnette

[Rick and Roll]

some good news today:
brian's left leg is getting stronger by the day, he says. In therapy today he could do some things he couddn't do even two days ago.

also looks like the red tape issue to get into the rehab clinic might be expidited as his lawyer is getting on SSI's case.

also he went outside (he took a 'walk' in his wheelchair) for the first time in 2 months which he enjoyed immensely,a nd also 'discovered' the children's section and their teaching piano and waspracticing red masque keyboard sections. so all in all a good day.
Lynnette

That is good news. By the way, I've deleted my other posts. Discussion about the other topic is pointless, and this is not the appropriate place for it.

Good luck!

[VAXman]

some good news today:
brian's left leg is getting stronger by the day, he says. In therapy today he could do some things he couddn't do even two days ago.

also looks like the red tape issue to get into the rehab clinic might be expidited as his lawyer is getting on SSI's case.

also he went outside (he took a 'walk' in his wheelchair) for the first time in 2 months which he enjoyed immensely,a nd also 'discovered' the children's section and their teaching piano and waspracticing red masque keyboard sections. so all in all a good day.
Lynnette

I found that piano looking for an ATM machine I was told was in the Children's Wing. I played it for about an hour. Sometimes I get lost like that...

Glad to hear that they gave him the wheels again. When my wife was in there with him, he got the "wheels" for the first time. He was delighted.

[Thor]

Brian,

Here's to renewal.... an instant karma has moved, sent your way. Positive waves and thoughts to you for renewed strength of body and balance of mind and inner spirit.

[Velvet]

i am leaving now to go visit Vonorn at the hospital and i'll be there with the rest of the TRM crew so if anybody feels like coming by, please do so. we'll be there in a couple of hours.

[VAXman]

Martha had an appointment with the neurologist at Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center on Monday. We dropped in to see Brian. He was sitting in his room playing his guitar when we arrived. He was very happy to see us again. This time, Brian had obtained a set of "Wheels", so we took him downstairs to the children's wing of the hospital where a digital piano is located. We spent about an hour down there while Brian tinkered away on the keys. He's a good piano player, BTW.

Martha used her cell phone to get some pix. Next trip to visit, we will take along a "proper" camera and get some better quality pix. In the interim, if you are interested, there are 6 JPGs and 2 QT movie files here: http://www.gigsofpixofgigs.com/Vonorn

I'm finally doing something with my new domain name. :rolleyes2

[Velvet]

Martha had an appointment with the neurologist at Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center on Monday. We dropped in to see Brian. He was sitting in his room playing his guitar when we arrived. He was very happy to see us again. This time, Brian had obtained a set of "Wheels", so we took him downstairs to the children's wing of the hospital where a digital piano is located. We spent about an hour down there while Brian tinkered away on the keys. He's a good piano player, BTW.

Martha used her cell phone to get some pix. Next trip to visit, we will take along a "proper" camera and get some better quality pix. In the interim, if you are interested, there are 6 JPGs and 2 QT movie files here: http://www.gigsofpixofgigs.com/Vonorn

I'm finally doing something with my new domain name. :rolleyes2

Hey thanks for posting these pics.
the ones I took got screwed up for some reason. my camera ate them, for lack of a technical term ;)

[VAXman]

Lynnette emailed me these pix. I've uploaded them here for you to view.

[AngelSings4u2]

Lynnette emailed me these pix. I've uploaded them here for you to view.


Hey VAX,

These are awesome pics...Lynnette did a great job of putting the face with the name...

Much love, Angel

[VAXman]

Hey VAX,

These are awesome pics...Lynnette did a great job of putting the face with the name...

Much love, Angel
What face? What name?

[Rick and Roll]

What face? What name?

What gun? You're a policeman!

[Camel]

I know I'm coming late to this wonderful thread, but I'd really like to add my voice to the well wishes - and a hearty note of 'stick in there'. For the past six years I've been in permanent chronic pain thanks to failed lower spinal surgery; they say I'm lucky to be walking again - and I do believe them. But some days it's really hard - particualrly with all the tests and the continual having to find energy to fight it all the time.

Hang in there. You meet the most wonderful people who can challenge and enrich your life in so many ways. Keep the music close to your heart; it's the best therapy you can ever have! I wish you all the very best for a gradual recovery. It'll come: slowly, slowly, but surely.....

Warmly,

Rob

[Velvet]

some good news
vonorn started walking with a walker this week......
-Lynnette

[VAXman]

some good news
vonorn started walking with a walker this week......
-Lynnette
Wow. This is great news Lynnette.

Is Brian still at RWJUH?

Tell him we said "Hello". Out life has become complicated again by our "little problem" or we would have dropped in to see him.

[Velvet]

HI Brian
Yes Vonorn/Brian is still at RWJUH.... I went and saw him yesterday and took some pictures including one of him standing. I'll email them to you later today when I download them off the camera..... He also had other improvements this week too, so overall (except for getting another GI infection) he's doing very very well.
Lynnette

[VAXman]

Lynnette (Velvet) sent some pix of Brian "Vonorn" Van Korn... on his feet and looking much much better than when I first saw him in his room at RWJUC.

[edpampani]

hi brian this ed pampani aka a pleasant symmetry you gave me a few drum lessons way back and you did sound for a band called the rock band ill never forget that

also i saw you at the rail playing an african drum with nasty ned

its been a long time im praying for you bro get better soon i want to see the red masque perform !

i heard some of the stuff you did with simon lake very cool indeed see you soon

[Velvet]

Here is the latest update with the band and with Vonorn.....



October Newsletter
Breaking Announcement:
Paul Sears of the Muffins to play with The Red Masque on November 4
Plus The Red Masque’s Vonorn has major breakthrough in his recovery!

For those of you following the news about The Red Masque’s drummer/keys/multi-instrumentalist Brian “Vonorn” Van Korn’s illness, we have some very good news to report. He has started walking again last week, aided by a walker, and continues to improve in his strength and abilities. We expect to see him back to his old self in the weeks to come. Click http://www.theredmasque.com/images/092406.gif to see a picture of Vonorn standing up with TRM’s Brandon Ross (bassist) and Kiarash Emami (former TRM guitarist). Brian Schenkenberger (aka "VAXman") from the Aural Moon (www.auralmoon.com) website took a few pictures and a couple of videos of Vonorn playing the piano in the children's section of the hospital and posted them online here: http://www.gigsofpixofgigs.com/Vonorn/. Vonorn was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis (see http://www.myelitis.org/tm.htm) this past June and has been hospitalized since at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. For those of you who missed the newsletter announcing this, please visit www.theredmasque.com/news.html to see the full report.

The Red Masque has an upcoming gig on November 4 as part of the New Jersey Proghouse series. Vonorn is working on a hospital release by this date (he should have been release weeks ago, but has been mired down in hospital red tape), but in the meantime, we are bringing in drummer Paul Sears (of The Muffins and Thee Maximalists fame) to play with the band for this performance.

Paul, who is also a producer as well as a drummer, has played with a really wide variety of folks ranging from Fred Frith, John Greaves, Peter Blegvad, The Muffins, Daevid Allen, Pepe Gonzalez with Magick Theatre, Thee Maximalists (with Keith Macksoud (of Present), Mark Stanley (of Farquar), Yanni Papadopoulus (of Stinking Lizaveta), Werbinox, Jim Rezek , Cyndee Lee Rule, Henry Kaiser, Bill Laswell - way before he was a producer) several ex MAGMA members, PRESENT, Clearlight, Marshall Allen from the Sun RA Arkestra, to festival jams with guitarists Mike Keneally and Glenn Phillips in 2005, and, in ancient history Bob E Rock & Steve Stills long ago in nightclubs in Washington DC and a zillion others.

Most recently, Paul with The Muffins played a spellbinding performance at the sold-out 2005 Northeast Art Rock Festival (NEARFest) in Bethlehem, PA, as well as appearing at various Prog Day festivals in North Carolina (read about the Muffins at http://www.paulsears.net/muffins/), and is currently gigging with Thee Maximalists. The Muffins are also working on a new CD. Read more about Paul here: http://www.paulsears.net. If Vonorn is released he’ll be joining us for the show as well.

For information on the November 4, including advance ticket information, please go to www.njproghouse.com or http://www.njproghouse.com/upcoming.html. The show will take place at the Old Franklin Schoolhouse in Metuchen, NJ. See http://www.njproghouse.com/venue/oldfranklin.html. The Red Masque plans on performing songs off their forthcoming album, as well as some improvisations, and older material. Tickets are $20 for online orders (via Paypal) and $25 at the door, and the venue has a limited seating capacity so advance ticket sales are recommended.

Opening for The Red Masque will be the New York band Skeleton Breath. According to the band’s bio: “Not just your average Middle Eastern-disco-prog-metal-meets-noise-surf-Klezmer-bass-drum-violin-trio, skeletonbreath also has a modest repertoire of Patsy Cline covers.” See their website at http://www.skeletonbreath.com for more info.

The Red Masque will finish up their latest CD “Fossil Eyes” as soon as Vonorn is released from the hospital. In the meantime, you can hear a three minute clip of the song “Carbon 14” on the band’s Myspace page at www.myspace.com/myredmasque.

We hope to see you soon,
Lynnette Shelley, Brandon Lord Ross, Vonorn, Andrew Kowal
The Red Masque
www.theredmasque.com
www.myspace.com/myredmasque
theredmasque@theredmasque.com

[Rick and Roll]

Paul Sears of the Muffins to play with The Red Masque on November 4
Plus The Red Masque’s Vonorn has major breakthrough in his recovery!



Excellent news! And Paul's a good egg, albeit a bit demented :)

[KeithieW]

Excellent news! And Paul's a good egg, albeit a bit demented :)
A bit like you then Rick........:haha:

But seriously it IS good news and thank you for keeping us informed...even those of us the other side of the swamp.

[Velvet]

great news.... knock on wood.... Vonorn just had some major red tape baggage get fixed and he might be getting released in enough time for the show!!!

[VAXman]

great news.... knock on wood.... Vonorn just had some major red tape baggage get fixed and he might be getting released in enough time for the show!!!

GrrreaT!

[Velvet]

Vonorn is being released from the hospital THIS friday.
His disability money issues are not cleared up so this is a case of good news/bad news However, I am glad he is getting out of the hospital.... we just have to figure out the details now......

[VAXman]

Vonorn is being released from the hospital THIS friday.
His disability money issues are not cleared up so this is a case of good news/bad news However, I am glad he is getting out of the hospital.... we just have to figure out the details now......
Excellent! Will he be at the NJPH?

We're doing another photo shoot in Florida on Friday night but we booked early morning flights home so we can be at The Red Masque show.

[roger]

glad to hear that Von is doing better! now if you could only get his financial predicament boing-boinged...

[Velvet]

[QUOTE=VAXman;22581]Excellent! Will he be at the NJPH?

YUP! he'll be there with bells on! (or at least a keyboard and a theremin at any rate):rawk:

[VAXman]

[QUOTE=VAXman;22581]Excellent! Will he be at the NJPH?

YUP! he'll be there with bells on! (or at least a keyboard and a theremin at any rate):rawk:
Wonderful.

I just heard from Cryptic VIsion and they were dropped from the billing next weekend because the Kansas show was moved to another venue. We've cancelled our flights. I'm out the price of the tickets at $22.50 a pop plus the TicketBastard.com usurious processing fees but better than losing the whole deal. We would have trekked down if the air fare was not refundable as Cryptic Vision would still be there, but several $100 to party with the band is just not worth it, especially considering the hectic day to fly home and get to the NJPH for you guys. See you at the NJPH bright and early!

Anybody need tix to see Kansas in Clearwater Florida? I've got 2 tix and they're free!

[Velvet]

Just another update
vonorn is getting around better and better. he has a physical therapist now, who is having him do Pilates. He can get around without a cane at times as well, though he is still having pain obviously. We (the band) went over and fixed up his studio and his living space the past couple of weekends and got his drumset out as so he can start practicing on the skins again.
we're also working out our plans for getting the album finalized. I still don't know where vonorn is going to be living long term yet (freakin' red tape with regards to his benefits is worse than ever) but we'll work on one day at a time at present....
Lynnette

[VAXman]

Just another update
vonorn is getting around better and better. he has a physical therapist now, who is having him do Pilates. He can get around without a cane at times as well, though he is still having pain obviously. We (the band) went over and fixed up his studio and his living space the past couple of weekends and got his drumset out as so he can start practicing on the skins again.
we're also working out our plans for getting the album finalized. I still don't know where vonorn is going to be living long term yet (freakin' red tape with regards to his benefits is worse than ever) but we'll work on one day at a time at present....
Lynnette
He looked great, considering where he'd been for months, at the NJPH!

I need to talk to you about getting some TRM recordings for Aural Moon.

[podakayne]

thank you velvet for keeping this thread updated. i hope vonorn had lots of love, friends & family around for thanksgiving (and that goes for you as well). it will be so wonderful when all this pain and red-tape is a memory. convey my wishes for a continuous improvement.

podakayne

[miketheorganist]

Brian, I don't know you or your band or your band's music. (Of course now I will be looking it up!) But I do know that believeing equals receiving which is easy to say when you're not sick, I know. I have often thought of how I would handle it if it happened to me, as it will happen to all of us, and I'm 54 feeling like I'm totally living by the grace of God myself. I will put you in my prayers and believe with you that the healing which is a gift from God is yours NOW. I'm also sending you this link, www.mikevisaggio.com, and I hope the music you hear there will brighten your days. May God's love be with you. Mike Visaggio

[Velvet]

For anybody who is interested in seeing Brian/Vonorn and the rest of the band at the NJ Proghouse show, we have archived it up on YouTube. the sound quality is decent, though the video is darkish. we're still working on uploading hte finale, but in the meantime please check out the links below.


Recorded at the NJ Proghouse on November 4, 2006.

Thanks to Raymond Ricker for video and Miroslaw Kozyra for video editing.

The Red Masque:
Brandon Ross: bass, theremin
Lynnette Shelley: vocals, percussion
Andrew Kowal: guitar
Vonorn: keys, theremin, percussion, didgeridoo
Special guests Paul Sears & Dave Kerman: Drums/percussion

http://www.theredmasque.com
http://www.myspace.com/myredmasque

We still have some more sections to put up, but we had some errors with the DVDR copy that I have (specifically the end of the concert seems to be corrupted, so I'm waiting on a fresh copy so I can upload the finale of the concert). the files I uploaded cover the whole concert, and up to 6 minutes of the last 20-minute finale with Dave Kerman as our special guest drummer extrordinaire.

A little background info: this particular concert was our first show in a while as Vonorn (drums, keys etc) had been in the hospital for the previous 4 months after contracting a viral infection which effectively (temporarily) paralyzed him. He had to relearn how to walk again and this had only been out of the hosptial a few days (and had only been actually walking with aid of a walker and cane just a couple of weeks previously) prior to this concert and was still not in good enough shape to play drum kit.(He's fine now, however). this is also Andrew Kowal's first live performance with us as a guitarist.

Enjoy!


PART 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr9Ne6OyKo0

PART 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhevU3_OtqQ

PART 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMFr7Stw6eE

PART 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOvMN95vr9A

PART 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqsDK9wcU34

PART 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sFOY5Cpsco

PART 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxFRSW5Vs74


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The Red Masque
www.theredmasque.com
www.myspace.com/myredmasque
NOW ON iTUNES!