Ghetto Gas John Overholt (left) adds a few notes on his Fender Telecaster to one of Nicole Good Pierce's original songs as she is accompanied by Michael Iott - Medicine Crow.

The fourth of December, 2005 was a magical night. With next to no notice, Michael Iott, also known as Medicine Crow was asked by the Rainbow Emergency Management Assembly (REMA) to set up a benefit show in hopes of aiding remaining relief and clean up efforts in the gulf coast regions destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Calling on his longtime friend and occasional fellow Medicine Crow band member Miko Fossum, he set up a concert at her Lansing, Michigan establishment, Magdelana's Teahouse and started preparations for the event. Looking to his fellow Illegible Records label mates for support, Michael called out a general invitation to his new friends to participate in the show.

One by one, they responded, some enthusiastically - some nervously. Illegible Records founder Eric Blades, for one, had never played out live in his musical career. "After watching practically all of the label's artists jump on board for this," he says, calmly "I didn't feel anything but compelled to perform." The stage at the tea house was warmed by the talents of other Illegible Records artists Nicole Good Pierce, Perry McDonald, Shelby Blades Ghetto Gas John and Chara Love all sharing their time and talent for charity. Videographer Dave Collins, currently assembling material for a Illegible Records documentary, brought out a fleet of cameras to capture everything while Eric brought along a large chunk of his studio equipment to record the night for a proposed CD and possible DVD to be released of the event. A few hundred dollars were raised but more importantly, a new glow was seen in Lansing that evening...

Perry McDonald shares one of his songs with Chara Love (right) joining him in harmony.

Seizing the rare moment and with little opportunity to rehearse, Nicole Good Pierce wowed the audience with her material and exuberance at the same time in hopes to help the needy.

In between pieces in his instrumental set, Illegible Records founder Eric Blades relates the story of his failed string changing and the subsequent requisition of a new electric guitar for the charitable event - his first live performance.

Benefit organizer Michael Iott commands the stage as he effortlessly plays through the Medicine Crow catalog.

With interruptions only from his daughter in California, Perry McDonald delivers a heartfelt set from his forthcoming album on Illegible Records.

Recently signed Illegible Records artist Ghetto Gas John performs a piece from his upcoming release in between backing up other artists.

Surviving her own guitar stringing fiasco, Chara Love arrives later in the evening to deliver a strong set to a stunned crowd.

Her own album in pre-production, Shelby Blades lends her cello beautifully to the night.

A crowd favorite, Medicine Crow serve as anchors to the evening as examples and inspiration.

The performances were immortalized by the expertise of videographer Dave Collins and his arsenal of cameras and equipment.

The decision was made to record the event on Illegible Records' often maligned console equipment with fantastic results. (It should be noted that a PC also on site at the time failed to record so much as an "Oh Crap - why can't I get this damn thing to work...?")

A last minute moment before the end of the evening. (left to right) Medicine Crow, Nicole Good Pierce, Shelby Blades, Chara Love and Eric Blades