A City Serene Needs Your Help Following Accident
Until a few days ago I’d never heard of the San Diego-based screamo band A City Serene. Sadly, it took a tragic car accident during the young (the oldest member is twenty) sextet’s first tour to get them more attention. Traveling in a converted church bus, the band was struck head-on when a pickup truck…
Wilson’s Son Defends Father’s Outburst
Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst during the President’s healthcare speech has put him in hot water. He was obviously disrespectful but some, such as President Jimmy Carter, point to racism as a motivator. Wilson’s son, Alan, disagrees: “It’s unfortunate people make that jump. People can disagree — and appropriately disagree — on issues of substance,…
Bonerama, Umphrey’s McGee Deliver Added Value
Quite possibly inspired by drummer Josh Freese’s now-legendary tiered album price packages, which ranged from a thank-you phone call ($50) to the opportunity to “take shrooms and cruise Hollywood in Danny from TOOL’s Lamborgini” ($75,000), other bands are figuring out new and exciting ways to give fans ye olde added value. As part of the…
Juanes Peace Concert Draws Hundreds Of Thousands To Havana
More than 700,000 people showed up for Colombian singer Juanes’s somewhat controversial five-hour Concert for Peace in Havana’s Revolution Square yesterday. So far I’ve only had a chance to catch up with X Alfonso’s wonderful cover of Michael Jackson’s “Black Or White” (complete with rocking children’s chorus) and equally thrilling “Revolucíon.” Puerto Rico’s Olga Tañon…
Max And The Marginalized: ‘What Is It We’re Doing There Again?’
This blog’s former editor, Max Bernstein, has written, performed, and videoed a great rock protest number called “What Is It We’re Doing There Again?” And by “there” he means Afghanistan. We asked Max to tell us about how he came to be a political rocker: I started Max and the Marginalized in October of 2007…
Road Safe America Petitions For Highway Safety
As a fan of a couple of bands that have inspired me to drive as far as possible, whenever possible, to see them, I’m no stranger to road trips of every variety. Countless hours in the car have provided me with great memories and cemented many a friendship. During my freshman year of college in…
Cuban Musicians Awarded U.S. Visas For First Time Since 2003
The U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchange has announced that Cuban musicians will be allowed to perform in the United States and Puerto Rico for the first time since 2003! The State Department has supplied visas to singer-songwriter Pablo Milanés and composer-conductor Zenaida Romeu. Milanés will perform in Puerto Rico next month and possibly later in the…
Update: Financial-Aid Amendment Withdrawn
Although an estimated 200,000 students since 1998 have already lost their financial aid due to the Higher Education Act’s anti-drug provision, Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) withdrew his amendment to the House’s new Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. Souder’s amendment would have continued denying financial aid to students with drug-possession convictions. The bill is…
Should Students Convicted of Pot Possession Lose Financial Aid?
A vote is expected today on a controversial amendment to the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 introduced by Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN). The amendment seeks to strike out reform in the SAFRA that would allow students with drug possession convictions to receive financial aid for college, while barring only those convicted of…