The Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Citizen Cope and Justin Jones will
play an inaugural concert dubbed "Hey, America Feels Kinda Cool
Again" on Jan. 19 at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club. Tickets go on
sale tomorrow (Jan. 10); net proceeds will benefit Rock the
Vote.
The Beasties and Crow previously teamed for a series of get out the
vote shows last fall in support of President-elect Barack
Obama.
-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Comedy icon Steve Martin is also an accomplished banjo player, and
his skills will be on full display on "The Crow: New Songs for the
Five-String Banjo."
Due Jan. 27, the 15-track album is exclusive to Amazon.com for
three months. It features vocal contributions from Vince Gill,
Dolly Parton, Mary Black and Tim O'Brien, as well as instrumental
work from Earl Scruggs, Pete Wernick and Tony Trischka. The Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band's John McEuen produced.
"I have loved the banjo my whole life," Martin says. "The songs on
this record represent the influence of a dozen players and a
thousand tunes, and I thank them all. But it's the banjo itself I
thank most for generating nostalgia for experiences I never had,
joy I was yet to experience and melancholy that was yet to
come."
-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
In celebration of Black History Month, rapper/actor Ludacris is set
to headline Hip-Hop 101. The Feb. 21 concert is being staged at the
Los Angeles Sports Arena. Among other acts slated are Common, Keri
Hilson, Mix Master Mike and Janelle Monae.
Hip-Hop 101 will feature additional attractions including a
dance-off between three of L.A.'s top dance schools (Debbie Allen,
Millennium and the Edge); live graffiti art and an elaborate light
and laser show.
The show is being produced by Derek Patterson of the financial
company Champ Funds Inc. and executive produced by Ken Andrews of
Andrews Entertainment Group.
-- Gail Mitchell, L.A.
