It's always hopeful when an ailing musician can perform at a benefit that was organized in his or her honor.

Rob Morsberger is headlining tonight, in the Olde Mistick Village Art Cinemas, which is very cool, considering he was diagnosed last autumn with a stage 4 gioblastoma tumor - a particularly vicious form of brain cancer.

Morsberger, a terrific and sophisticated, literate and melodic songwriter, will be accompanied onstage by his good friends, Steely Dan guitarist Jon Herington and songwriter Marshall Crenshaw. The musicians will perform a mixture of their respective tunes as well as the debut of a new Morsberger song called "Mystic Redemption" - which was commissioned by Olde Mistick Village Arts Cinemas owner Bill Dougherty as a way to help out the cause.

All proceeds go to help Morsberger and his family defray expenses.

- RICK KOSTER

An Evening with Rob Morsberger featuring Jon Herington and Marshall Crenshaw, 8 tonight, Olde Mistick Art Cinemas, Olde Mistick Village, 27 Coogan Blvd, Mystic; celebrating the release of "Mystic Redemption"; $25 includes free copy of "Mystic Redemption," and all proceeds benefit Morsberger; (860) 536-4228, oldemistickflicks.com.