Brian Setzer Recruits Visionary Arranger Frank Comstock For Film Noir-Inspired Album

Photo credit: Collin Stark

What does a modern-day big band leader do when they want to re-create the sounds of classic 1950s film noir music?

For Brian Setzer, the answer was simply to go to the source, the legendary Frank Comstock, who wrote arrangements for Benny Carter, Stan Kenton, Les Brown, and Judy Garland, penned the theme songs for Rocky & Bullwinkle, Adam 12, and Dragnet, and recorded the cult classic ‘Music From Outer Space’.

Comstock wrote the horn charts for nine of the twelve tracks on ‘Songs From Lonely Avenue,’ (Surfdog/ Oct. 13, 2009), having also worked with Setzer on his last album ‘Wolfgang’s Big Night Out’. As Setzer saw it, only Comstock was capable of putting together these electrifying, sophisticated and yet emotionally raw horn charts, evoking the big-band scores of half a century ago in a language that would connect immediately with the contemporary listener.“Frank is the only one left,” Setzer says of his collaborator.

“He helped invent this sound and, at 87 years old, he’s still got it.”

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to release live anthology

TOM PETTY and The Heartbreakers to release multiple disc, career-spanning 'The Live Anthology' in November 2009

Configurations and unique features of Definitive Live Set will include a first-of-its-kind Blu-ray Audio Disc andThe Super Highway Tour online music experience

Burbank, CA – The week of November 22, 2009, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Reprise Records will release "The Live Anthology," a multiple-disc set of recordings drawn from 30 years of live performances. The collection brings together material from 1978-2007 culled from hundreds of hours of live concert recordings covering every era of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ tours and represents the best tracks as chosen by producers Tom Petty, Mike Campbell and Ryan Ulyate.

"The Live Anthology" will come in multiple configurations including a 5-CD collector’s deluxe box set available only at Best Buy that will include a first-of-its-kind audio-only Blu-ray disc. The collector’s deluxe package will be in Best Buy stores on November 22, 2009. All other configurations will be in stores and available online on November 24, 2009.

The release of "The Live Anthology" comes on the heels of two sold out tours, the Grammy winning documentary "Runnin’ Down A Dream" (directed by Peter Bogdanovich), and a headline performance at the Super Bowl XLII halftime show. Now, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - one of rock and roll’s greatest touring bands – will mark their unparalleled string of successes with the release of this landmark collection of live recordings that is unlike anything previously available—the band’s story told through the music alone.

The producers made no fixes or overdubs, letting the newly-mixed original recordings showcase the invention, spontaneity, craft, and the musicianship that has made Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers among the most celebrated live performers of their time. Along with powerful interpretations of their own classic hits and originals, "The Live Anthology" features the band tackling some of their best-loved cover material, from classics to obscure beauties to unexpected adaptations. The theme from Goldfinger, the Zombies’ “I Want You Back Again,” the Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil,” early Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well,” Booker T. and the MGs’ “Green Onions,” James Brown’s “Good, Good Lovin’” and many more. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers travel wide, paying their musical debts through song and showing just how confidently the band moves across genres and over time.

The Live Anthology will be available in the following five configurations featuring artwork and packaging by renowned contemporary artist Shepard Fairey http://www.studionumberone.com/, http://www.obeygiant.com/
A deluxe box set available only at Best Buy featuring 62 tracks on 5 CDs PLUS
- Two previously unreleased DVDs including the 1978 New Year’s Eve concert from Santa Monica , CA and the Martyn Atkins documentary 400 Days shot during the recording and tour for Wildflowers.
- A re-mastered vinyl of the 1976 Official Live ‘Leg bootleg.
- A High Resolution Blu-ray Audio Disc featuring all 62 tracks in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound. This disc has 256 times more audio resolution than a CD.
- AND MORE (see details below).
A four CD set of 48 tracks
A 48 track digital album
A seven LP vinyl box set of 51 tracks mastered directly from the uncompressed 24-bit 96K files and pressed on 180-gram audiophile quality high performance vinyl.
The entirely unique Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers SuperHighway Tour (http://www.tompettysuperhighwaytour.com/)

The Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers SuperHighway Tour is a first of its kind, online-only music experience that delivers 24 of the 48 Live Anthology tracks as high-quality digital downloads and on-demand streams over 8 weeks in advance of the Live Anthology’s release. Ticketholders will receive an insider’s view of those 24 tracks, through archived memorabilia reproduced on the site, new band commentary, classic reviews, and curated content from the Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers vaults. Fans will also be able to share their photos and stories from their favorite Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers shows. Then on the album’s November 24th release, ticketholders will receive the remaining 24 tracks on The Live Anthology, thereby completing the digital album.

Access to the SuperHighway Tour will be available to fans that purchase tickets from Ticketmaster.com or through the Superhighway Tour box office. Tickets for the entire 8-week SuperHighway Tour go on sale September 29th at 10am EST/7am PST through Ticketmaster.com and TomPettySuperHighwayTour.com. The price of a SuperHighway Tour ticket includes all 48 The Live Anthology digital tracks plus the 8-week online experience for $24.98 without any additional service fees. Downloads will be available in 256kbps MP3 or FLAC formats - fan’s choice.

A FREE PREVIEW of the SuperHighway Tour also starts on September 29th at http://www.tompettysuperhighwaytour.com and includes a FREE DOWNLOAD of a track from the 1981 run of shows at Los Angeles’ Forum.

The Live Anthology Configurations:
Standard Set
48 tracks on 4 CDs plus booklet.

Deluxe Box Set- Available Only at Best Buy.
- 62 tracks on 5 CDs including 14 exclusive tracks on the 5th disc only available in the collector’s deluxe box set.
- DVD of 400 Days, a previously unreleased documentary film by director Martyn Atkins, made during the 1995 Wildflowers Tour.
- DVD of previously unreleased New Years Eve 1978 Santa Monica , CA concert.
- Vinyl of the re-mastered 1976 Official Live ‘Leg bootleg album.
- One Blu-ray disc of all 62 tracks in both stereo and surround sound. This high resolution Blu-ray is an audio only disc with basic song navigation and information displayed on the screen. The 96K 24-bit audio on the disc has 256 times more resolution than a CD providing greater detail and reproducing the music’s full dynamic range, from the softest to the loudest sounds.
- Deluxe book with liner notes offering personal perspective by Tom Petty, Warren Zanes, Bill Flanagan, Robert Hilburn, Joel Selvin, Austin Scaggs, and Phil Sutcliffe.
- Lithograph reproduction of Shepard Fairey Cover Art (12” x 12” on high quality stock)
- Reproduction of 1997 twenty night Fillmore stand concert poster (8” x 12” on high quality stock)
- The Live Anthology notebook.
- Assorted authentic vintage backstage satin passes.

Vinyl Deluxe Box Set
- 51 tracks mastered directly from the uncompressed 24-bit 96K files and pressed on 7 180-gram audiophile quality vinyl LPs.
- Deluxe book with liner notes offering personal perspective on the band and their music by Tom Petty, Warren Zanes, Bill Flanagan, Robert Hilburn, Joel Selvin, Austin Scaggs, and Phil Sutcliffe.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers SuperHighway Tour- A First-Of-Its-Kind Online-Only Music Experience
- The entire 48 track Live Anthology delivered digitally via TomPettySuperHighwayTour.com.

- 24 tracks from The Live Anthology will be delivered over a period of 8 weeks prior to the album’s release and the remaining 24 tracks will be delivered on the album’s street date of November 24th.
- The first 24 tracks include an insider’s online experience including new band commentary, archival memorabilia, vintage photos, videos, classic reviews from the shows, access to the SuperHighway Tour merchandise booth with limited edition authentic t-shirts, and even more vintage material.

U2: THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE REMASTERED

How is this U2 fans? Two days after the Irish quartet performs at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, one of U2's greatest albums arrives in several remastered formats. Here is the news release! The links to Amazon.com are also provided so you can secure your advance orders now too.


U2: THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE REMASTERED

“this ain’t mere genius, this is rock ‘n’ roll” - Kerrang, October 1984

U2’s fourth album, The Unforgettable Fire has been remastered and will be released by Mercury Records on October 27, 2009.

This special edition marks 25 years since the album's original release in October 1984. Recorded at Slane Castle, Ireland, The Unforgettable Fire was the first U2 album to be produced by Brian Eno and Danny Lanois, and spawned two top 10 UK singles – “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” and “The Unforgettable Fire.”

Special formats of The Unforgettable Fire will also feature bonus audio material, including two previously unheard tracks from the Slane Castle sessions: “Yoshino Blossom”, and “Disappearing Act” (a track which the band recently completed), and a DVD including music videos, a documentary and unreleased live footage from the Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope Tour in 1986. The Unforgettable Fire has been remastered from the original audio tapes, with direction from The Edge.

The album will be available in four formats:

· Limited Edition Box Set: containing 2 CDs (remastered album and bonus audio CD), a DVD with live footage, documentary and videos, a 56 page hardback book with liner notes by The Edge, Brian Eno, Danny Lanois, Bert Van de Kamp and Niall Stokes, and 5 photographic prints

· Deluxe Edition: containing 2 CDs; the remastered album, and the bonus audio CD which features
B-sides and previously unreleased material, a 36 page booklet with liner notes by The Edge, Brian Eno, Danny Lanois and Bert Van de Kamp

· CD format: featuring the remastered album

· 12" vinyl format: 16 page booklet with liner notes by Brian Eno, Danny Lanois and Bert Van de Kamp

The Unforgettable Fire track listing is as follows: A Sort of Homecoming, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Wire, The Unforgettable Fire, Promenade, 4th Of July, Bad, Indian Summer Sky, Elvis Presley and America, MLK

The Zombies celebrate 40 years of 'Odessey and Oracle'

The Zombies are truly one of the great bands to come out of the 1960s. I wanted to share this news with all the other fans of this great band.

During March 2008, The Zombies performed their legendary 1968 psychedelic album Odessey and Oracle for the first time in 40 years since its original release.

The band played three consecutive sold out concerts at the London Shepherds Bush Empire. One of these nights was filmed for this DVD.

Mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound and boasting an exclusive 2008 filmed interview with the entire band, the live DVD lovingly documents the historic night when the original members of The Zombies reunited to perform the premiere of "Odessey & Oracle," preceded by a veritable banquet of Zombie connected material, from Argent hits to Colin Blunstone's string quintet material from his beautiful album "One Year."

The DVD begins with 8 tracks performed by The Zombies 'Touring Band', consisting of Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Jim and Steve Rodford, and Keith Airey, playing a collection of classic Zombies' tracks prior to 'Odessey...', songs from Rod's later band Argent as well as Colin Blunstone solo material, augmented by a string Quartet.

After a short interval the four remaining original members of The Zombies (Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Chris White, High Grundy) arrive on stage to perform landmark 1968 album Odessey & Oracle in all it's glory and, after an introduction from recording legend Al Kooper (The man responsible for Odessey's existence), kick off with 'Care of Cell 44', instantly letting you know you're in for a treat with it's beautifully escalating harmonies, excelling all expectations when experienced live. This is followed by many further highlights including the layered harmonies of 'Maybe After He's Gone' and 'Beechwood Park', the soaring vocals during 'Hung Up On A Dream' and an amazing performance of 'Time of the Season' heralds a standing ovation before they close with their much loved debut hit 'She's Not There'.

Track Listing:*

I Love You / Sticks and Stones / Can't Nobody Love You / What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted / Misty Roses / Her Song / Say You Don't Mind / Keep On Rolling / Hold Your Head Up / Care of Cell 44 / A Rose For Emily / Maybe After He's Gone / Beechwood Park / Brief Candles / Hung Up On A Dream / Changes / I Want Her, She Wants Me / This Will Be Our Year / Butchers Tale / Friends Of Mine / Time Of The Season / Tell Her No / She's Not There

Guitarist Marc Seal set to return to Coach House

Guitarist Marc Seal

This article was first posted on the Orange County Register Web site on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.

Throughout the 1970s, '80s and early '90s, several guitarists were celebrated for their virtuoso skills on the fretboard, including Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Steve Morse and Eric Johnson.
The art of accomplished guitar playing is making a comeback, with Orange County's own Marc Seal helping to return strong musicianship to the foreground of popular music.

Seal, a musician and an instructor, will headline Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, where he recorded his concert album "Live at the Coach House" on May 21, 2005. "Live at the Coach House," released in September that year, is highlighted by "Strat Boogie," "Above the Clouds, Pt. 1" and "Running Alone."

In addition to his recordings and live performances, Seal has extended his influence via his "Ultimate Guitar Show," which appears three times a week on local cable channels throughout Southern California and on the Internet. The show has been viewed in more than 40 nations via the Web and features performances and appearances by other musicians, including Jason Mraz and Toby Lightman.

For more information on Marc Seal, visit his official Web site at www.marcseal.com. For more details about the show, visit www.thecoachhouse.com.

Jack's Mannequin-related documentary, 'Dear Jack,' set for release

Photo credit: James Minchin

Monday, September 14, 2009

DEAR JACK, THE LONG-AWAITED DOCUMENTARY FROM JACK’S MANNEQUIN FRONTMAN ANDREW MCMAHON, TO BE RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 3RD
FANS WHO PRE-ORDER VIA BAND’S WEBSITE BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 14TH WILL RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE CONTENTFILM WILL SCREEN THEATRICALLY IN NYC, L.A., AND CHICAGO IN OCTOBER

Burbank, CA – On November 3, 2009, Sire Records will release the DVD and digital download editions of "Dear Jack" — a deeply personal documentary made by Jack’s Mannequin frontman Andrew McMahon — that chronicles the year that McMahon, then 22, spent battling acute lymphoma leukemia while trying to release Jack’s Mannequin’s 2005 debut album "Everything in Transit."

"Dear Jack" chronicles Andrew McMahon on a rollercoaster year, through the highs of recording and releasing the first Jack's Mannequin album, and the lows of being diagnosed with leukemia and breaking up with the love of his life.

Using a DV camera Sire Records bought him to capture the making of his album, McMahon shot everything before and after that crucial day in May of 2005 when he both finished the project and was diagnosed with cancer.

Directed by filmmakers Cory Moss and Josh Morrisroe and narrated by Tommy Lee, this documentary is a raw look at the battle that is leukemia, from spinal taps to radiation, from using a lint brush to remove your hair to infusing your body with someone else's stem cells (in this case, Andrew's sister Kate).

"Dear Jack" is a breathtakingly emotional film as well as a testament to family, friends and, perhaps more than anyone will ever know, a love of making music.

The DVD of Dear Jack will be available for pre-order from Jack’s Mannequin’s website (http://www.jacksmannequin.com/) beginning September 14, 2009. Those who pre-order will get access to an exclusive newly recorded and previously unreleased track, “Swim (Music Box)" as an instant audio bonus, and an exclusive movie lithograph poster. Cost of this limited edition fan bundle will be $29.99. The film will also be available for digital download on iTunes.

Three theatrical screenings of Dear Jack will also be held for fans and press in October. The film will also be shown at the Landmark Theater in Chicago on October 8th, the IFC Theater in New York City on October 22nd, and a theater location yet to be confirmed in Los Angeles on October 28th. McMahon will hit the road for a solo tour, just him and a piano, in October to raise awareness about Dear Jack. Confirmed dates are listed below.

In other news, “Swim” — the second single and video from Jack’s Mannequin’s current album "The Glass Passenger" — can be seen and heard as one of the primary visuals in promo spots teasing the premiere of CBS’s new fall drama Three Rivers. A show about organ transplantation, Three Rivers deals with second chances, what you do with them, and who deserves them, according to executive producer Carol Barbee. “Swim,” a powerful, layered song about fighting for the goodness in life at all costs, dovetails perfectly with the show’s theme.

Andrew McMahon’s upcoming solo tour dates are as follows:

Sun Oct 4 Denver, CO Daniels Hall
Tue Oct 6 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
Wed Oct 7 Chicago, IL Lakeshore Theater
Sat Oct 10 Newport, KY The Southgate House
Mon Oct 12 New York, NY Highline Ballroom
Wed Oct 14 Somerville, MA Arts at the Armory
Thur Oct 15 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
Sun Oct 18 Washington, DC Sixth & I Synagogue
Mon Oct 19 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Sun Oct 25 San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall
Tue Oct 27 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
Thur Oct 29 West Hollywood, CA Troubadour

As always, keep an eye on http://www.jacksmannequin.com/ for news, information, tour dates, Andrew’s blog, merch, and much more.

Dave Matthews Band wows crowd in Irvine

My concert review was originally posted on the Orange County Register Web site earlier today (Monday, Sept. 14, 2009).

There was so much to love about Dave Matthews Band’s incredible show Sunday night (Sept. 13, 2009) at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. The 155-minute set undoubtedly ranks as one of the best gigs ever staged at the Irvine venue.

Touring in connection with the troupe’s most recent album, the excellent Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, and coming on the heels of the group’s first shows at the Greek Theatre and a stop in Chula Vista, singer-guitarist Matthews and his six-man outfit performed most of songs off that release, as well as epic versions of material from earlier albums and an infectious cover of Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” that, well, brought down the house.
Long recognized as one of modern rock’s best live ensembles, the group has a surprisingly simple secret to its power. DMB’s lineup of regular members and touring players explode on stage without ever losing their sonic footing and, more importantly, without ever letting the song itself slip away.

Despite their individual virtuoso skills, there wasn’t a single moment when they didn’t play as a team. Extended drum solos tend to kill a performance, whereas Carter Beauford’s showcase enlivened the momentum of the night. Typically, a guitarist as skilled as Tim Reynolds can be a distraction when the nuances of a song are at odds with blazing fretwork. Yet, throughout performances of “Seven” and “Funny the Way It Is” early in the set and “Why I Am” later on, his superlative skills only enhanced the proceedings.
Saxophonist Jeff Coffin (like Reynolds, a touring member of the group) and violinist Boyd Tinsley had equally strong moments where their work shined across DMB’s 20-song set.

If there were any kind of common formula revealed on Sunday before an enthusiastic, near-capacity crowd at Verizon, it was how DMB might launch a song with an instrument or two positioned around Matthews’ emotive vocals. The song would then build to a blazing finish with plenty of impressive improvisation offering along the way. “Funny the Way It Is,” “So Damn Lucky” and “Squirm” were among many that flourished thanks to that approach.
However, the band occasionally proved that formula wrong. On the instantly charging “Why I Am” and night-ending “Ants Marching,” DMB put the pedal to the metal from the get-go.

Pity the fools who left the show early to beat the traffic.

San Diego rock quintet Switchfoot pleased the crowd with a set of solid modern-rock originals (notably the bluesy “Dirty Second Hands” and the hard-rocking “Meant to Live”) as well as a mostly faithful cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”

Set list: Dave Matthews Band at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine, Sept. 13, 2009Main set: Bartender / Stay or Leave / Seven / Spaceman / Funny The Way It Is / So Damn Lucky / Everyday / Shake Me Like a Monkey / Alligator Pie / Burning Down the House / Jimi Thing / Why I Am / Squirm / Dancing Nancies / You And Me / Two Step

Encore: Baby Blue / Granny / Ants Marching

DAN FOGELBERG’S LAST SONGS FEATURED ON 'LOVE IN TIME'

Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009 Media Release:

The first song on his first album began with strings, sustaining a hauntingly beautiful chord which faded into the song "To The Morning;” a song of hope invoking the day with the lyric, "There is really nothing left to say but 'come on, morning.'" "Birds", the last song on this, his last studio album, ends with the lyric, "It's over," and a similar sustained chord, fading to end the album. Long time fans, upon hearing the final chord of "Birds”, have said they expected to hear "To The Morning" begin to play. And so the ending meets the beginning, “In a spiral never-ending”.

In 2006, Dan Fogelberg, the renowned singer-songwriter whose career spanned three decades and helped define introspective ballads and the acoustic-based rock music of the ‘70s and ‘80s, completed the recordings for an album he titled "Love In Time" and put them in a safe deposit box. Diagnosed with cancer two years earlier, he had not performed since, and asked his wife Jean to release the album after his death. Fogelberg, at age 56, passed away on December 16, 2007. Released digitally on August 13, 2009, which would’ve been Fogelberg’s 58th birthday, Love In Time (Full Moon/UMe) will finally be released physically to retail on September 22, 2009.

Filled with great melodies and heartfelt lyricism, "Love In Time" is lifted up by Fogelberg’s versatile voice; at times soft and angelic, at times gravely and bluesy. Both a reflection of his beginnings and a testament to where his talent had taken him, the project began in 2003, before his diagnosis. While compiling material for a CD of live recordings, Fogelberg came upon several rough demos he had made earlier in his career. Inspired to finish them, he worked on the songs until May 2004, when he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

During his subsequent battle with cancer, he also recorded three completely new songs in 2005 -- “Come To The Harbor,” written in Maine on his boat while waiting for his wife Jean to join him for a harbor dance; “Sometimes A Song", a Valentine for Jean; and "Birds", which he dedicated to her. They joined “Soft Voice,” “So Many Changes,” “A Growing Time,” “The Colors Of Eve,” “Diamonds To Dust,” “Nature Of The Game,” “Days To Come” and the title track to round out "Love In Time," which Fogelberg produced, recorded, sequenced, and played all the instruments on. All of the tracks make their physical debuts on "Love In Time"; only “Sometimes A Song” has been previously released digitally, as a download on Valentine’s Day 2008 to benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

"Love In Time" was preceded by 2003’s Full Circle, his first studio album of original songs since 1993’s River Of Souls. Celebrated by fans and acclaimed by critics, Full Circle was considered Fogelberg’s return to the artistic heights he had previously scaled.

The Peoria-born Fogelberg was performing in coffeehouses around the University of Illinois when he was discovered. His 1972 debut album, "Home Free," led to 1974’s Joe Walsh-produced "Souvenirs" and stardom. Each of his first eight albums earned at least gold, with "Souvenirs," "Nether Lands" (1977), "Phoenix" (1979) and "The Innocent Age" (1981) double platinum, and "Captured Angel" (1975) and "Twin Sons Of Different Mothers" (1978), featuring flutist Tim Weisberg, platinum. His 1982 "Greatest Hits" album went triple platinum.

He kicked off a string of 11 Top 40 Pop hits (four Top 10s) with “Part Of The Plan” and “The Power Of Gold,” and included eight straight Adult Contemporary Top 10s among them, starting with the wedding standard “Longer” (#1/#2 Pop), and continuing with “Heart Hotels,” “Same Old Lang Syne,” “Hard To Say,” “Leader Of The Band” (#1), “Run For The Roses,” “Missing You” and “Make Love Stay” (#1). Fogelberg later scored four other AC Top 10s, including the #1 “Believe In Me.”

With "Love In Time," as his wife Jean has written: “His music continues-- a living legacy to one of the most versatile and talented musicians, singers, and songwriters of his generation.”

"In a spiral never-ending are we drawn toward the source Spinning at the mercy of an unrelenting force So we stare into the emptiness and fall beneath the weight Circling the Nexus in a fevered dance with fate Wealthy the spirit that knows its own flight Stealthy the hunter who slays his own fright Blessed the traveler who journeys the length of the light"

From the song, "Nexus" by Dan Fogelberg.

'Rock a Little, Feed a Lot' benefit concert set for Sept. 29

SHERYL CROW, BEN HARPER, BENJI & JOEL MADDEN, and JONNY LANG ANNOUNCED TO PERFORM AT FEEDING AMERICA ’S “ ROCK A LITTLE, FEED A LOT ” CONCERT SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

“Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” Concert to Raise Awareness About Domestic Hunger

CHICAGO (September 2, 2009) – Feeding America is pleased to announce that Grammy Award-winning artist Sheryl Crow, Grammy Award-winning artist Ben Harper, Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, and Grammy Award-winning artist Jonny Lang will all perform at the “Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” concert on Tuesday, September 29th at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, a special concert being held during Hunger Action Month (September) to help raise awareness and funds for the 35 million people who are at risk of hunger in America. Tickets for “Rock a Little, Feed a Lot ” are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

Celebs confirmed to be a part of the event include David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and others. Adam Shankman, producer and director of “Step Up,” “Hairspray,” “Bringing Down the House,” and “17 Again” is directing the event. Proceeds of the concert will go to the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank and Feeding America.

“It is so important for everyone across the country to dare to be conscious and aware of the struggles of those around them—even if those struggles are not the same as their own. Feeding America does just that, and it’s a great privilege for me to unite with them in their cause,” said Crow.

“Rock a Little, Feed a Lot ” is one of many initiatives in the works for Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month and will benefit both Feeding America and its local member, the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. Hunger Action Month, formed to help those in need, bloomed from a day of service into a month-long campaign as the economy has taken a turn for the worse and the demand for food assistance has increased.

“Many Americans are unaware of the great demand for food assistance throughout the country. The need for food assistance nationwide has increased 30 percent throughout the last year and in many communities the increase is much higher,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “We are excited to team up with so many talented artists to shed light on Hunger Action Month and the issue of hunger in America .”

“We are so grateful for the generous support of these artists -- and residents of Los Angeles -- for their time and efforts to raise awareness about hunger in America ,” said Michael Flood, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. “The agencies we serve are experiencing unprecedented demand for food assistance and this event will help shine the bright spotlight of the entertainment community on the issue of hunger in America .”

To take part or learn what is going on in your community during Hunger Action Month, please visit: www.FeedingAmerica.org

About the Los Angeles Area Foodbank
The Los Angeles Regional Foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 1973 and is one of the largest food banks in the United States . Through a network of 900 charitable agency sites, the Foodbank distributes more than 1 million pounds of food every week in Los Angeles County . The Foodbank is affiliated with Feeding America. For more information, visit www.lafoodbank.org.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Our mission is to feed hungry Americans through a nationwide network of 205 food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. Each year Feeding America provides food assistance to more than 25 million people, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors, distributing more than 2 billion pounds of donated food annually. The Feeding America network supports approximately 63,000 local agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, Kids Cafes and Backpack Programs.