By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Jan 21, 2016 at 1:06 PM Photography: Royal Brevvaxling

The seventh annual benefit concert for the Pablove Foundation takes place Saturday, Jan. 23 at Turner Hall Ballroom, 1034 N. 4th St.

This year, the event features six bands that will all reunite for the event, including Carolina (11-11:45 p.m.), Goran of The Gufs (10:15-10:45 p.m.), Oil Tasters/Haskels tribute (9:15-10 p.m.), The Lovelies (8:30-8:55 p.m.), Pet Engine (7:45-8:10) and Eagle Trace (7-7:25 p.m).

"There have been so many great acts in the past, and this year won't be any different," says Carolina drummer, Biju Zimmerman. "Just a bunch of hometown cats sharing the stage once again and bringing that Milwaukee rock 'n' roll. It will be more than reunion of bands, but a reunion of friends as well."

Guy Hoffman, former drummer for the Violent Femmes as well as Oil Tasters, is returning to Milwaukee from Los Angeles to perform in – and help out with – the event. According to Hoffman, it was 38 years ago this month that Oil Tasters held their first rehearsal.

"If the good old business behind rock ’n' roll is to have fun and make a lot of noise, perhaps its higher calling is to bring awareness to a worthy cause," says Hoffman. "You might say I am here to reunite and celebrate at this seventh Pablove benefit concert for all of the reasons above."

The Pablove Foundation is an organization that funds pediatric cancer research and advances in treatment, educates and empowers cancer families and improves the quality of life for children living with cancer through hospital play, music and arts programs.

The foundation was founded by former Milwaukeean Jeff Castelaz and his wife, Jo Ann Thrailkill, who lost their 6-year-old son, Pablo, to a rare form of childhood cancer in 2003.

"We are so grateful for the love and support Milwaukee has always given us," Thrailkill told OnMilwaukee in 2014.

The couple, which now lives in Los Angeles, organizes a Pablove fundraiser every year in Milwaukee with the help from friends, primarily Scott Ziel, Doug Johnson, Mike Stefaniak, Marc Solheim and Louie Lucchesi.

"I’d like to think that it brings together an interesting group of musicians who have heart and want to support children's cancer research," says Ziel.

Tickets to Pablove 7 cost $20 each and are available here. The show starts at 7 p.m. and the doors open at 6 p.m. 

"Anyone who attends should feel good that they are making an impact locally with financial support," says Ziel.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.