Josiah Mazzaschi of the band Light FM has organized an impressive line up for the concert, which starts at 5 PM and costs a mere $12 per ticket. (ALL proceeds go to Laura Ann. This ain't UNICEF. The Echoplex's Liz Garo has generously donated use of the venue.) To appear: The Happy Stars (Brian Young from Fountains of Wayne and Joe Skyward from The Posies), The Pulsars (Dave and Harry Trumfio), Tim Rutili (Red Red Meat, Califone), Syd Straw (Golden Palominos) Pity Party, Light FM, and The Backward Clock Society, featuring Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, Kerry Brown of Ancient Chinese Secrets and Mark Tulin of the Electric Prunes. Rotary Rachel (Rachel Lichtman of luxuriamusic.com) will emcee and DJ between band sets.

JAM FOR LAURA ANN is more than a concert. There will be items raffled all evening long; a fortune teller (none other than Madame Pamita from cult all-girl surf band the Neptunas); and a BBQ in back of the venue. Jars of Laura Ann's Jams, made artisanally by Laura Ann this past summer, will be for sale. (In fact Laura Ann was on her motorcycle, en route to a farm for strawberries for the jams, when a car hit her.)

Laura Ann Masura, a respected drummer and founding member of the bands Evil Beaver, the Prescriptions and Motorhome was a major presence on the Chicago music scene. Moving to Los Angeles several years ago, she quickly became a favorite personality on the East Side. A lifelong gourmet, she began making artisanal jams from local ingredients for friends and a few local restaurants. Word got out, and customers at the Redwood, the downtown bar where she worked, would ask to buy jars. The hobby was growing into a business (see lauraannsjams.com) until the accident put a hold on everything.

Leading up to the November 8 event, two very special items from the early days of the Smashing Pumpkins will be auctioned off starting this Wednesday without reserve via Ebay to help defray Laura's medical bills from her accident. The first item up for auctionisthe drum kit that Jimmy Chamberlin used onthe Smashing Pumpkins' influential and platinum Gish album in 1991 and subsequent tour. The kit will be signed by both Jimmy and Billy. Billy will also be auctioning off the original Smashing Pumpkins bass guitar that he played at the band's very first show (it is also the bass that he used for the early demos). Both items will be available for bidding via the official Smashing Pumpkins memorabilia ebay site here.

Despite surgery scheduled for October 29th, Laura Ann will attend the benefit show-"Even if we have to wheel a bed in!" she says. People unable to attend the event may donate to Laura Ann's recovery fund (no amount too small!) at lauraannsjams.com