Lubbock Doctors Form Band to Help Fight Cancer
I have a friend who has recently undergone cancer surgery recently and she called me to see if I wanted to see the band The Attendings.
"Who are they," I asked. She told me that it's group of doctors and surgeons from here in Lubbock who've formed a band and put out a Christmas CD. Better yet, they are donating all the proceeds to the Lubbock chapter of the American Cancer Society.
I went with them to hear the guys and were blown away at the talent.
The band consists of: Jeff Paxton on bass and MD of sports medicine; Richie Rosen, an MD and surgeon who's also pretty darn good on guitar, as well as being named one of Texas Monthly's Super Doctors; Lowry Shaub, an MD of anesthesiology and a rock guitarist with riffs that make Eddie Van Halen jealous; Brad Snodgrass, MD of internal medicine and killer on the drums and last; and last but not least, Tom Windisch, MD of neuroradiology who splits time between rockin' the guitar and the keyboards.
Most of The Attendings' CD, "Another Christmas on Call; Doctors & Guitars Against Cancer," is instrumental, with songs projecting the true meaning of Christmas. Their version of Feliz Navidad is one of the coolest versions I've heard.
It also includes What Child Is This?, Joy To the World, Little Drummer Boy (which has some killer guitar and drum solos) Carol of The Bells, Silver Bells, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, El Noi de la Mare and Canon in D, which you may not recognize the name, but when you hear it, you will know it. It breaks into an awesome guitar riff that will blow you away and rolls right into the most amazing reggae/ska vibe.
Surf Christmas starts out with a killer version of Wipe Out and transitions into a medley of your favorite Christmas tunes. You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch rivals Gary Hoey's version, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas is the only song with vocals, including those of Lubbock music legends Mike Pritchard, Mark Wallney, Kenny Maines and Junior and Tori Vasquez.
The children's voices on the song are kids with cancer. The last little one will bring joy to your heart and a tear to your eye.
The photo on the back cover of the albm was taken in the living room of a colleague of the doctors. According to Richie Rosen, the lady in the painting above the mantle was the wife of their colleague. She died a short time after this session of metastatic cancer.
The CD is for sale at the Lubbock American Cancer Society office, located at 3511 10th St. It's open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also give them a call at (806) 792-7128.
It's The Attendings' second album have put out. The first was called "Holidays Blues In Greens" was released in 2004 and has since raised over $200,000.
The guys had the CD produced at Amusement Park Studios under the exacting eyes and ears of Scott Faris, an incredible musician and arranger in his own right. They also received instruction and arrangement collaboration from one of the great guitar aficionados, not just of Lubbock but anywhere, David Brandon. Hence, the Spanish guitar-classical guitar vibe on several of the tunes.
If you don't have time to run by the American Cancer Society to get a copy of the album, you can also order it through Amazon.