"Rock For Relief" Tonight!

Danielia Cotton
Photo:
Chia Manning

Riding a new wave of critical acclaim from A Different War, her incredibly timely and most politically charged album to date, widely heralded Biracial blues-rocker DANIELIA COTTON has risen again into the light, fiercely and defiantly, to join a star-studded lineup for “Rock for Relief,” the star-studded benefit concert supporting Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund on July 3 at 8pm ET and again at 11pm ET broadcasted at www.rockforrelief.net.

Presented by United Stations Media Networks and Storic Media Podcast Network, “Rock for Relief” is the latest national spotlight event to heal this tattered nation for Cotton, following her performance at the Juneteenth Tulsa Block Party with Sen. Kamala Harris, Alfre Woodard and others.

“Rock for Relief” arrives as Cotton is entering a “new normal” touring mode with her “Virtual Album Release Tour,” which kicked off last weekend at Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, PA, simultaneously launching the theater’s virtual concert series as well. Her next stop is July 8 at Tanzman Park in Woodbridge, NJ. More dates will be announced shortly.

The “Rock For Relief” benefit show, to raise awareness and donations for families in local communities across the nation, will be hosted by Lou Brutus and Riki Rachtman with talent interviews conducted by Alice Cooper and Joe Satriani. [View Trailer]. Cotton joins a stellar line-up of performers that includes headliner Corey Taylor alongside Gavin Rossdale, George Thorogood, Don Felder (formerly of The Eagles), Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge), Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger (Halestorm), Jesse Hasek (10 Years), Filter, Lisa Loeb, The Dead Daisies, Chris Robertson (Black Stone Cherry), Starset, Brandon Saller (Atreyu), Ricky Byrd, Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel, Joe Grushecky, Kathy Sledge, Bones Owens, BJ Thomas, Matt Bigland (Dinosaur Pile-Up) and more, with special appearances by Peter Frampton and Adam Gontier of Saint Ansonia.

Feeding America estimates that an additional 17.1 million people could be food insecure in 2020 as a result of this crisis – for a total of 54.3 million people, or 1 in every 6 people. This is a 46% increase over the 37.2 million people who were food insecure prior to the COVID-19 crisis.

Cotton will be performing an acoustic version, on piano, of “A Different War,” the title track from her latest album, which finds the woman whose music is “soulful enough to fill a revival tent” (The New York Times) and whose voice gives her songs “stunning power” (No Depression) speaking to these extraordinary times by unloading her sin while the world around her is gripped in a turbulent spin.

She will be joined for this special live performance by prominent Bronx hip-hop artist Mickey Factz, reprising his guest appearance on the original album track. “A Different War” examines how the reality of people of color getting called into battle as a result of being marginalized informs their entire existence. The song also urges us to press ahead because of the ongoing need for substantive change.

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"We're All In This Together"

D.O.A.'s Joe Keithley takes action on COVID-19 pandemic 

by releasing benefit single "We're All in This Together"

Now Available On iTunes

Burnaby, BC CANADA - A punk legend / city councillor and local mayor have combined forces to create the seemingly impossible: a COVID-19 rock anthem.

Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and Councillor Joe Keithley celebrate the spirit of our communities and our frontline workers with the release of "We're All in This Together," a passionate, upbeat song for our times.

"Joe wrote this great song, and I hope it energizes and fortifies people to stay strong," said Hurley. "It captures the community's grit and determination that we see all around us today, and calls on us to double down on our commitment to each other and beat COVID-19."

Keithley and Hurley performed the song - with appropriate physical distancing - for a video shot at Burnaby's Deer Lake Park. The song is both a salute to the resilience and perseverance of residents during the COVID-19 crisis and a rallying call:

"We're all in, this together We've got to brave, this stormy weather You can count on us, we're your neighbours We're all in, this together"

Councillor Keithley sings lead vocals and plays guitar for the arrangement, while Mayor Hurley, a lifelong guitar player, accompanies Keithley on bass and backup vocals.

"Writing this song was just a natural as I saw the growing effort by our fellow Canadians to keep as many folks as possible safe throughout the pandemic," said Keithley, who is also the front man for legendary punk band D.O.A. "It's my way of thanking and expressing my admiration for the nurses, doctors and all the front line workers. They are the best!"

Considered a 'godfather of Canadian punk,' Keithley founded D.O.A. in 1978. The band is known for its consistent thread of political activism and its diverse sound rooted in punk rock.

In 2018, Keithley took the band's slogan TALK-ACTION=0 to the next level when he was elected to Burnaby City Council. Hurley, a former fire fighter, was elected mayor in the same election and since then, the two musicians have performed together for a number of charitable events around town.

TIME TO FIGHT BACK AND CHANGE THIS WORLD

TALK - ACTION = 0

Ya Hey! D.O.A. - Forty years and going strong

Follow Joe on Instagram and Twitter, and the D.O.A. gang on Instagram and on Facebook

Hump Day & Chill: Ariel Beesley

Ariel Beesley
Photo:
Anthony Deeving

"Here it is !! The “Palm Springs” music video. I wanted to do something different with this video, to show people a little window into the things I care about outside of the music. On a personal level this video stands for what I can accomplish when I take myself out of toxicity and love myself instead. I hope you love it" - Ariel Beesley 

Let your inner activist Hump Day & Chill today in one of the best ways I can imagine, with Ariel Beesley. This young woman who I have know since she was, oh never mind, no need to go there. But she is a complete source of inspiration to me in everything she does. Trust me, it takes some kind of special to inspire me.

The video for her latest single "Palm Springs" has dropped and I LOVE what she co-directed along with Lili Peper. It documents Ariel putting together a benefit for the ACLU called "Front Line Girls" (which I attended) and I couldn't be more blown away by this young woman's passion. She puts her money where her vocal chords are.

Thus, I'm going to leave you with the video and a way to find Ms. Beesley on Instagram, as well as a link to donate to the ACLU to honor the artist and humanity. 

Hump Day & Chill minions! 

"Women's bodies are not battlegrounds for a political agenda" 

Ariel on IG - 
https://www.instagram.com/arielbees/

Donate to the ACLU -
https://www.aclu.org   

Let's Get Charitable! Sweet Relief III: Pennies From Heaven

SWEET RELIEF lll: PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
TO BENEFIT THE SWEET RELIEF MUSICIANS FUND

FEATURES RECORDINGS BY ARTISTS INCLUDING
JACKSON BROWNE, SHE & HIM, BEN HARPER, RON SEXSMITH,
k.d. lang, SHELBY LYNNE AND MORE!

AVAILABLE ON SEPTEMBER 3rd

 “Musicians are always among the first to give their energy and talent to help other people in times of emergency, though they are very often without health insurance themselves, and need our support when they fall prey to illness and hardship. Sweet Relief has been helping musicians for years, and has helped some whom I am very much indebted to for enriching my life. I am very happy to take part in this CD project, and for the chance to support Sweet Relief's very soulful work.” – Jackson Browne

“Getting a chance to do something that benefits Sweet Relief combined with working with my dear friend Sheldon Gomberg is an opportunity I jumped at and something I can't wait to do again.” -  Ben Harper

Sweet Relief Ill:  Pennies From Heaven - The third compilation album in support of the Sweet Relief Musician Fund - features new recordings by various artists including Ben Harper, Jackson Browne, Shelby Lynne, Victoria Williams, She & Him, Ron Sexsmith, Rickie Lee Jones and Joseph Arthur. The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling while facing illness, disability or age-related problems.

Click here for a look at the live in-studio video of Joseph Arthur with special guest Pearl Jam guitarist Jeff Ament performing the song “If I Needed You” from the upcoming release.

Each of the artists on Sweet Relief lll: Pennies from Heaven chose songs with a theme of support and assistance such as “How Did You Find Me Here?” (k.d. lang), “King of the Road” (She & Him), “Crazy Love” (Ben Harper), “Change is Gonna Come” (Victoria Williams) and “Big Spender” (Sam Phillips) plus many more.  Click here for a sneak preview of some of the songs.  See full track listing below.

At the helm for this third installment, producer Sheldon Gomberg stated, “Making this record for Sweet Relief has been such a great experience. I got to work with all these fantastic artists, while at the same time giving something back to the music community that has been so good to me over the years. A huge thanks goes out to all the artists that participated in the making of this record!” 

This latest recording commemorates the 20^th anniversary of the first highly successful inaugural release Sweet Relief: A benefit for Victoria Williams - a project inspired by Williams who founded the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund upon being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. That collection and the subsequent Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation – The Songs of Vic Chesnutt included contributions from artists like R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Indigo Girls, Garbage, Smashing Pumpkins, Cracker, Dog’s Eye View, Live, Lou Reed, The Jayhawks, Lucinda Williams, Soul Asylum, and more.

Sweet Relief III: Pennies from Heaven features cover design by acclaimed artist Peter Max. To learn more about the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund visit www.sweetrelief.org

SWEET RELIEF III:  PENNIES FROM HEAVEN Track Listing

Ron Sexsmith                  Pennies From Heaven                                              
Shelby Lynne                  Brother Where Are You                                                                       
Sam Phillips                     Big Spender                                      
k.d. lang                           How Did You Find Me Here
Ben Harper                      Crazy Love               
Genevieve Toupin            Heart Of Gold
Joseph Arthur                   If I Needed You                     
Rickie Lee Jones              Surfer Girl                             
Tina Schlieske                  With A Little Help From My Friends 
Victoria Williams               Change Is Gonna Come                   
She & Him                         King Of The Road                                                     
Eleni Mandell                    I'll Be Home
Jackson Browne               Don’t Let Us Get Sick
 

World AIDS Day

"Science has brought the world to the point where the end of AIDS – though not necessarily HIV – is in sight" according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

And, she added, "It is science that will allow us to finish this job."

The job, she has famously said, is to create an "AIDS-free generation" – something that once seemed like a pipe dream and now, after more than 30 years, seems increasingly possible.

This statement was made just yesterday by my President - Ms. Hilary Clinton, in honor of World AIDS Day December 1, 2012.

In honor of today I am posting an amazing video that was and still is way ahead of it's time and is inclusive of everyone AIDS has touched.

Neneh Cherry's brilliant cover of "I've Got You Under My Skin" by Cole Porter off of the first of it's kind CD to benefit AIDS "Red Hot + Blue" 

"No knowledge of the facts, kept in the dark, Scolds my soul and it hurts my heart, the young and elderly just running blind, Hurts so bad they denied their own kind, Papa turned around and said that ain't mine, It just made it hard for life on the line, and it's a shame to see a little child mature, Growing up knowing that there ain't no cure" Neneh Cherry "I've Got You Under My Skin" Red Hot + Blue