I was thinking Tuesday night why “Grease” could still entertain us so, especially considering how alien the late ’50s must seem to this generation that just last summer faced a complete collapse of its economic system. The ’50s marked an extended era of unprecedented prosperity. Back then a man could get a job that would support the whole family while his wife raised the kids.

The answer, of course, is simple: nostalgia. “Grease” was similarly popular when it debuted on stage in the early ’70s as the country wrestled with the turbulent hangovers from the cultural wars of the ’60s and the Vietnam conflict; and then, of course, in 1978 when the movie version was released the gas shortages of 1973 and Watergate were still on our minds and by the spring of 1979 another oil crisis loomed. We just pined for simpler times — as if the Korean War, the Jim Crow South and post-World War II reconstruction actually marked such a bright era. Nostalgia has a way of clouding our memories.

Or, perhaps, it’s just that good music and dancing take our minds off our troubles. Of that I’m certain. But even as I wallowed in the fun nostalgia of “Grease” Tuesday night, the troubles of some good musician friends of mine were ever on my mind.

This economy has hurt nearly all of us, but it’s especially trouble for us working stiffs who are one or a few paychecks away from losing it all. My buddy Bobbo Byrnes, the frontman for The Fallen Stars, is no exception. His main source of income is piano tuning, but a lot of people are cutting that out of the budget these days. At least he had his band’s recent good fortunes to smile about. They recently won an OC Music Award and Best Live Electric Band and Best Live Acoustic Band in the SoCal Music Live competition.

“Then I was coming home from a gig the other night and the AC compressor on my van seized up,” Bobbo said.

The mechanic told him it would cost $1,415 to fix it. Bobbo and his wife Tracy can’t afford that so they’re selling the Minirak electric guitar the band won in the SoCal Music Live contest. They’ll take $300 or the best offer. That guitar usually goes for $550. Bobbo’s also selling his Gibson Les Paul Jr. for $450. He got that from bandmate Gregg, who played it on the band’s most recent album, “Where the Road Bends.” He’s also selling his painting, called “Election Year,” that I have pictured above.

Wednesday night the band gathered at the Marlin Bar in Huntington Beach, after taking several trips in their car to lug all the equipment over there, to play a benefit concert with some help from friends Anna Tudor and Tommy Miller and Bobbo’s side-band for fun, Rokken, which plays goofy, hair-metal songs from the late ’80s.

It’s tough to give up the guitar the band earned in the competition, but, as Bobbo put it: “It’s all right. Our van takes us to more gigs than that does,” he said, pointing to the guitar.

I know most of you are stretched pretty thin, but if you can spare a few bucks feel free to send it to the Fallen Stars. They’re really decent people grinding it out in a cool band. They do a lot to take our minds off our troubles, maybe some of you fans can return the favor. Probably the best way you can help is to buy a T-shirt or record from their site. Or contact Bobbo via e-mail at Bobbo@thefallenstars.com.

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