MATT DRISCOLL: WORTHY SHOW, WORTHY CAUSE TONIGHT AT HK >>>

I’ve said it before, and undoubtedly and unfortunately, I’ll say it again.

Sometimes really shitty stuff happens to undeserving people. It’s the cruel way of the world. As long as there is humanity there’ll be pain, grief and people stricken by unforgiving sickness.

But the good thing about humanity is â€" we have the power to fight through the crap. If we didn’t, we would have all given up a long time ago. As long as there have been people dealt crummy hands by life, there’ve been people fighting the odds.

Early this year Alex Macomber got sick. He was 17 at the time. According to his mom, Melissa, Alex just started to feel off his game â€" and the problem only got worse. He was tired, and average, everyday things became taxing. No one knew what was wrong â€" even doctors.

Eventually, though, the doctors found out. Alex Macomber â€" who’s a guitarist and music fanaticâ€"had a rare form of cancer. He now spends most of his time at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center undergoing hardcore treatment. According to his mom, there are only 21 diagnosed cases of the type of lymphoma Alex has.

It’s a bummer, but Alex fights on. And his friends, family and even some around town who don’t even know him are doing what they can to support him.

An example of that support can be found in tonight’s show at Hell’s Kitchen, called “Alexpalooza” and featuring the Drug Purse, Mercy Pirates, Silver and Paris Spleen. The night will be both a monetary and moral benefit for Alex Macomber, organized by friends of the family â€" specifically the locally well-known Julia Harms and Rick King of Guitar Maniacs.

King helped put the impressive musical lineup together.

“It’s the kind of bands you think are kind of hardcore, but you find out they’re all softies,” says King of enlisting bands from around town to help with Alexpalooza. “It’s just such a bad scenario. The show won’t really help much, really, with the expenses, but it’s a gesture.”

“We love both of them,” says Alex’s mom, Melissa, of King and Harms â€" who played a huge role in setting Alexpalooza up, and who King classifies as “a super angry chick with a really big heart.”

“We’re just hoping Alex is well enough to make it to the show,” says his mom, bringing home the graveness of the situation.

So is Tacoma. Support a good bill and a show for a great cause tonight at Hell’s Kitchen.

[Hell's Kitchen, 5 p.m., $7, all ages, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

Photo courtesy of Myspace