ABILITY Corps Benefit Concert

"No Moon Festival"

Tucked alongside the railway that cuts through Laguna Niguel, the Mugs Away Saloon has perhaps been best known for its boisterous patrons, frothy drinks, and its unique "train mooning" ritual. But Saturday night's visitors to the hangout may have noticed that a new moon is dawning at Mugs Away--and it's the sort that doesn't require unbuckling of pants.

Long into the night, the saloon played host to a fundraiser concert for ABILITY Corps, a volunteer organization through which people with disabilities aid in the construction of homes for others with disabilities. The organization, founded by Orange County local Chet Cooper, aims to help people with disabilities secure employment and shatter misconceptions about limitation. With a mix of local rock bands, stand up comedy, and a raffle that offered everything from a boudoir photo shoot to a motorized scooter, the fundraiser drew visitors away from the train tracks and toward a stronger sense of community and philanthropy.

Jeff Charlebois, a self-described "sit down" comic, kicked the evening off with self-effacing witticisms about his life as a wheelchair user. Big Toe, a rock band fronted by guitarist Mark Goffeney, jammed on covers of Collective Soul and Green Day. Some Mugs Away regulars were so caught up in the music they failed to notice that Goffeney, born without arms, manipulates his instrument entirely with his feet.

Led by vocalist Tobias Forrest, the funk rock band CityZen offered up an eclectic, high-energy performance that incorporated electric violin, saxophone, keyboards, and every sound under the moon. Forrest, who was 22 when an accident at the Grand Canyon left him a quadriplegic, demonstrated no shortage of stage presence or vocal command.

Also included in the entertainment line-up were local bands—the StubBurns, Opal Jones, Lobster Repair and Lazy Brad Lewis. All rocked the house.

The fundraiser was a rousing success for ABILITY Corps, for the friendly staff at Mugs Away Saloon, cinematographer Mike Neved, photographer Nancy Villere, event producer Darcey Stubblefield and perhaps most of all for the notion that disability is no obstacle for raw talent.

And a special thank you from Darcey Stubblefield:

Thank-you to all the Bands and...

To Billy Bell for the sound work, and the set-up and breakdown and spending your valuable time and resources on us! We really threw you in it, with our tiny underpowered PA. Thanks for your sweet patience and kindness!

Vicki Beato for working so hard selling tickets! You were my gaurdian Angel!And for keeping watch over the cash all day and into the wee hours of the morning! She was the only friend that I had asked to help, that did not have a grandmother pass away that weekend,(amazing, all these grandma's passing on the same day?)

Thank-you Brad Lewis and Band for your Patience and generosity and for hanging out to the end to play your hearts out at midnight!

The LazyBrad Lewis Band for being there everytime I put out the call. Thank-you for all of your, Generosity, Patience, and your big ol hearts!

Thank-you to Ken Jordan for driving all the way from Washington State to play with the StubBurns!

Thank-you Opal Jones, StubBurns, and LobsterRepair for being there everytime I put out the call, well knowing that you may end up playing Late, and have to cut songs from your set.

And "Daisy" Kristy Burns from the StubBurns who sang her heart out, cut songs from her set when we ran behind and who paid huge bucks for a Babysitter so she could be there!

And Cynthia Cade who lugged the pedal steel around and set it up for the Lobsters.

Jude Bacca for bringing a group of friends and taking photos!

Andrew Speilberg who went out in search of Donations for the raffle and came back with hundreds of dollars in Prizes!

Thank-you Nancy V for always supporting us with your Photos and kind words.

To Mary for submitting the event to online publications

And thanks to Dar and Mike for video!

To Annelies and Matthew for coming all this way and supporting our cause!

Thank-you Pete Bromley for donating a boat load of cash and for celebrating your birthday with us!

Thank-you to Debra Lacy for spending 2 days with me building the Yellow Submarine gift.

Thank-you Shaun Shelton for coming out and sitting in with the Lobsters.

And James for rebuilding the scooter!

And Andrew for gathering raffle gifts!

Thank-you Karen Cobb for staying untl 3:30 to help break down equipment and driving us to Ladera Ranch for Breakfast.

Thank-you Jeff, BigToe, And Cityzen! Wow!!!...

But Most of all,

Thank-you to my sweet husband James, who puts up with, endorses, and funds, all of my wackiest ideas.

xxxoooDarcey