shooting in fredericksted

As of yesterday:

"They are keeping Phil in the ICU...he is breathing on his own for a few hours a day. He still can not speak and is still in alot of pain. He is getting a little better each day, however he does still have a fever as well as blood infection. It does look like he will pull through though. The recovery is going to be a very long one so any & all donations thru paypal will help. dappband@yahoo.com

Give thanks for the upful thoughts...they are definitely helping guide his way."

thank you for the update. alot of us here have been wondering

Phil is still in ICU. His fever goes up and down & he is still having issues with his lungs. He is now experiencing muscle waste since he has been there for nearly 4 weeks. He is expected to pull through, but will of course have some after effects, to what degree they are not sure as of yet. He is still not talking yet, but they continue to take the breathing tube out so that he can try to breathe on his own. He will have a very long recovery.

Once again if there is anyone there who can donate anything, it will be greatly appreciated as he has two youth to care for. Any donations can be made thru his paypal account dappband@yahoo.com.

Give thanks.

Good news!!! Phil pulled through and has now been discharged from the hospital. There was a LARGE benefit concert last weekend in California to raise funds to help him with the hospital bills. THIS SUNDAY there is one here in St. Croix. Below is the announcement. If you can help out in anyway (besides coming out), please call Liz Llanos:

You can stream last weekends show here: www.riceandpeas.tv/securedem

More artists than list list have agreed to play. If i find the latest list, I'll post it here. Please come out for a fund time at Island Center, this Sunday March 29!

“Shift the Energy: A Family Movement Towards Non-Violence” Festival will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2009, at Island Center in St. Croix, VI. The event is both a "Stop the Violence" awareness campaign, as well as a benefit in support of Phillip "Pixs" Merchant & his family. This family event merges various genres of art forms, including music, poetry, art, fashion, and dance.

Confirmed Artists & Bands for VI Benefit include:

Bambú Station
Batch
Black Star
Danny-I
Excalibur
Jr. P
Mada Nile
Route 1 Band

Additional artists - poets, music, dance, art - are invited to participate in this event. Please contact Liz at marketing@mtneborecords.com, 202.270.3966 or 340.277.4149 by March 18 to indicate your interest.

Children accompanied by an adult are free; adult tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Ticket Outlets:

Riddims in C'sted
Pancho Ras in Sunny Isles
Natural Mystic in Estate Diamond
3inity Dawtas in F'sted

Phillip "Pixs" Merchant, native son of St. Croix, founder of D.A.P.P. Band, reggae artist, musician, music producer, and former bassist of Midnite Band, was critically wounded on January 9, 2009, in a random shooting that also left three other innocent bystanders wounded. Phil's condition has improved, yet he will need extensive therapy.

Phil on myspace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=59503276

Shift The Energy Video in Hawaii - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjztozHreck

Listen to Phil's music: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=185011948

Shift the Energy - Acoustic Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74qc1QOXqVE&feature=related

What time is the event?

12:30 to 7:00pm

Just trying to see if this link works here:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=6244645&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=132300310143&aid=-1&id=524890437&oid=132300310143

Glad to know he's out of the hospital....What a great community event Sunday!

Some of the BEST reggae artists in the WORLD are currently coming out of St. Croix. This will be a blessed event, and an uplifting one. Please stop by and support the cause (non-violence) and the man (Phil Merchant). If you do come out, look for me. I'll be the one wearing some Red Green and Gold!

Please stop by, even for part of the day...Terrance Positive Nelson will be MC for the event

greets

wish i was there today fi true....

i am going to see midnite two nights in a row this coming week in ashville, nc.

i know many stateside reggae artists and lovers alike have contributed to phil's plight.

the show this light should be a spiritual vibe indeed and just the thing ones should support in view of the reasonings on stx today.

a perfect way to contribute to not only phil, but to the end of guns and violence on the island, and to get to know one another in a relaxed setting, as this is an example of what i meant by getting involved on a grassroots level.

if i were there i would be so into the vibe.

i tell ya.....to see all of these most ilaful artists in one place is a treat indeed.

you are ALL so very lucky to live there and be able to witness such talent.

just to see bambu station stateside is 20 bucks, so to have ones such as BATCH along for the ride with the others is an AWESOME vibe to be able to be a part of.

these artists are conscious and vibe the plight of violence and poverty and issues in a most honest and positive way.

please go out and support this opportunity to be involved if it is possible.

bless
Sis Irijah