WILCO - CAUSES | Free Downloads to Support Haiti

With an extended trip north of the 49th parallel just around the corner the timeliness of this news may be of interest to those clutching tickets to any of those shows. More important though, your keen fandom can benefit the people of Haiti. Wilco have just posted two shows for free download on Wilcoworld. The band have asked in exchange for the free music downloaders make a minimum donation of $15 to one of the organizations listed below if you are able .

OXFAM - http://www.oxfam.org/en/haitidonate

Doctors Without Borders - http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

Both organizations ask that you donate to their Emergency Relief Funds which allows them to spend the money on situations such as Haiti, but, not expressly limited to Haiti.

The shows are:

07-13-09 - Keyspan Park - Brooklyn, NY
11-04-09 - HMV Forum - London, UK


A reminder that Wilco will be playing Centennial Hall in London with the amazing Califone on February 24th.

Into the White and Nerdy

My twelve year old son recently asked why I seldom extend his musical tastes to pages of this blog and lo and behold a story emerges to bridge our little cultural gap. This story too, about a musical conduit the likes of which are far from ordinary. In what might be a white and nerdy family’s dream, a planned collaboration between comic singer Weird Al Yankovic and members of alt-rawk stalwarts the Pixies might just be artistic collaboration of the decade.

Mild hyperbole aside, Yankovic will appear with the band at the Dec. 8th show in support of Winston's Village at the Echoplex in Los Angeles. It's part of a two-night event that's intended to raise funds for the organization, which supports the family of Winston Bertrand. (He's a nine-month-old baby with lymphatic and venous malformations.)

Pixies frontman Black Francis will be hosting the event, and will also perform over the course of the evening, appearing solo, with wife Violet Clark – Grand Duchy and of course, with members of the Pixies, with (Red Hot, New Yorker) Flea filling in for Kim Deal. (He better be wearing sweat pants). Members of Love and Rockets and She Wants Revenge are also scheduled to perform, while the second night will feature comedy by Tim and Eric, Bob Odenkirk, and Pixies drummer David Lovering. (Let’s hope he brings his magic kit!) Black Francis is also scheduled to perform on the second night.

Road trip to L.A. Jack? We can take turns at the wheel. This might just be the father son outing of the year!

People Got a Lotta Nerve – New Neko Case for FREE Download

Today, a download treat. “People Got A Lotta Nerve,” the first single from Neko Case’s forthcoming album Middle Cyclone (out March 3), because for every blog that reposts the song and/or iLike user who adds it to their profile, Neko Case and ANTI- will make a cash donation to Best Friends Animal Society.




Download here and consider a blog post if so inclined.

‘Before the Goldrush’ Revisits Classic Singer Songwriters to Benefit Teach For America

Not an entirely new release but new to me, a worthy tribute that may be of interest to you. Although a digital only release at this time the song list is a stellar one. This one is certainly worth your investigation, the cause entirely worthy. So part with those bones, you won't be disappointed. (Song listing is incorporated at the bottom of this post).

26 contemporary music artists pay homage to James Taylor, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and others.

Louisville, Ky., December 4, 2008 — In a tribute to the great singer songwriters who influence their music and the teachers who helped open the doors to their creativity, 26 contemporary singer songwriters contribute recordings to Before the Goldrush, a new project benefiting Teach For America.

Before the Goldrush pays tribute to artists and mentors alike with a collection of tracks performed by contemporary musicians in homage to the singer songwriters who inspire them. Contributions include songs written by James Taylor, Leonard Cohen, Tim Buckley, Joni Mitchell, and others who laid the groundwork for today's generation of musicians.

“It's rare to meet an artist whose creativity wasn't buoyed by a teacher,” said Gary Guthrie, the project’s producer. “Whether it was an art teacher, band director, literature professor, speech coach, or the kindergarten teacher who told them that it was OK to color outside the lines, there's usually someone who provided a key with which to open the artistic soul.”

A virtual open call was made to singer songwriters around the world to participate in the project. Some are the children of teachers, some are teachers themselves, but all believe in the importance of great teachers in shaping the next generation.

Many of those in the participating musicians’ audiences are recent college graduates who have joined the Teach For America corps. Teach For America's corps members commit two years to teach in under resourced public schools and become lifelong leaders in the pursuit of educational excellence for all children.

Before the Goldrush features tracks from established artists and those whose work is gaining traction through touring and song placement on TV shows and in movies. Before the Goldrush is a digital only release. It is available exclusively through Amazon.com, with other music etailers to follow. All profits go to Teach For America.

Contact information:
Gary Guthrie, Project Producer; Brett Shepherd, Project Coordinator for A Nest of Eggs LLC: beforethegoldrush@anestofeggs.com
Trevor Stutz for Teach For America: trevor.stutz@teachforamerica.org

About Teach For America

Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. This year, 6,200 corps members are teaching in over 1,600 schools in 29 regions across the country while more than 14,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excellence and equity. For more information, visit
www.teachforamerica.org.

“Before the Goldrush” – Artist and Track List

Alicia Wiley Little Green Joni Mitchell
Ana Egge Johnny's Garden Stephen Stills & Manassas
Carey Ott Twilight The Band
Dawn Landes Dear Boy Paul and Linda McCartney
Jake Newton Lover's Cross Jim Croce
Jim Boggia Girl The Beatles
John Mann Just Like a Woman Bob Dylan
Kassia Conway Today Jefferson Airplane
Korby Lenker Heart of Gold Neil Young
Matt the Electrician Duncan Paul Simon
Neko Case Bowling Green Everly Brothers/Jesse Winchester
Nels Andrews I Hope I Don't Fall in Love with You Tom Waits
Okkervil River Blonde in the Bleachers Joni Mitchell
Pete & J America Simon & Garfunkel
Pieta Brown Birds Neil Young
Rebecca Elliott You're My Home Billy Joel
Sarah Kramer It Be Your Will Leonard Cohen
Shane Alexander Love Song Elton John
Teneia Sanders Once I Was Tim Buckley
The Swell Season Into the Mystic Van Morrison
Tracy Bonham In My Heart Bill Withers
Tyler James Shiver Me Timbers Tom Waits
Vandaveer Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye Leonard Cohen