Concert to Benefit Ill Friend

Four Southland Christian alternative-rock groups are practicing what they preach tonight with a benefit concert in Anaheim for an ailing friend.

The O.C. Supertones, Violet Burning, Fanmail and Slick Shoes are doing the show to help pay medical bills for Lori Myers, a musician and artist who has Hodgkin’s disease.

The idea of a benefit concert came from Violet Burning’s bassist, Herb L. Grimaud Jr., who also is Myers’ brother-in-law.

“First, he asked me, ‘Hey, don’t you think we could put together a benefit show for her?’ ” said Violet Burning front man Michael Pritzl by phone from his Long Beach residence. “Those good intentions became a reality when ‘what can I do to help?’ was the response from those contacted. Since then, [Fanmail singer-guitarist] Scott Silletta and [O.C. Supertones bassist] Tony Terusa have really gotten behind it.”

Others have volunteered to help as well.

“There are also about 20 other volunteers--doing fliers, production work and such--who are working very hard to set it all up. It’s just good-hearted people coming together so all of the proceeds can go directly to the Myers family.”

Myers is scheduled to begin chemotherapy Monday for the disease, which is characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes. She is a visual artist and former member of the Inland Empire-based rock group Cafe Noir. She has no health insurance.

Pritzl said Myers helped him during a recent period of grief over the death of his friend, Christian music producer Gene Andresco, also known as Gene Eugene.

“He died about a month ago from either a stroke or some kind of aneurysm,” Pritzl said. “He was only 39. Even though Lori was feeling a lot of her own pain at the time, she still painted a portrait of Gene just for me. That really touched me.”

* The O.C. Supertones, Violet Burning, Fanmail and Slick Shoes play Saturday at the Stadium Vineyard Church, 1532 S. Sinclair St., Anaheim. 6 p.m. $15. (714) 573-0245.