Posted on 08/31/2005 5:32:54 PM PDT by doug from upland
Edited By Jonathan Cohen. August 31, 2005, 3:20 PM ET
DMB Show To Benefit Katrina Victims
By Ray Waddell, Nashville
Dave Matthews Band is the first act to come forward with a benefit show for Hurricane Katrina victims, Billboard.com has learned. It is expected to be announced tomorrow (Sept. 1) that DMB will add a fourth date to its Sept. 9-11 sellouts at Red Rocks near Denver, with proceeds from the Sept. 12 show to benefit Katrina victims. Tickets will go on sale next week.
Meanwhile, Katrina is making its presence felt in the touring industry. Among the large venues in the region impacted by Katrina are the Louisiana Superdome; New Orleans Arena and Keifer UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans; the Cajundome in Lafayette, La.; the RiverCenter in Baton Rouge, La.; the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi; the Mitchell Center and Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, Ala.; the Pensacola, Fla. Civic Center; and the Grand Casino Gulfport, Miss.
Of all of these facilities, the only one that could be determined to have a major immediate booking was the RiverCenter, which had to cancel an Aug. 28 appearance by Disney Live.
Philadelphia-based venue management firm SMG is very active in the territory, managing the Superdome and New Orleans Arena, the buildings in Pensacola and Baton Rouge, and the Mobile Civic Center.
Of the SMG buildings, the Superdome was the most high profile in Katrina's path, serving as a shelter for some 10,000 hurricane refugees and taking a beating from the storm.
In Florida, Pensacola Civic Center director Cyndee Pennington tells Billboard.com that her building received minimal damage, as did the Mobile Civic Center. She says the RiverCenter in Baton Rouge is operational, as well.
"We all stand by ready to coordinate with corporate and the other buildings if they need our assistance," says Pennington. The Pensacola Civic Center is currently serving as a shelter for some 500 people (down from 800 at one point), after previously serving the same function for hurricanes Arlene, Cindy and Dennis. A Papa Roach/311 show set for Sunday (Sept. 4) is still scheduled.
New Orleans is the home base for promoters Beaver Productions and Superfly Presents, as well as the grounds of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Promoter Don Fox, president of Beaver Productions, and his partner Barry Leff, rode the storm out in Memphis and Houston, respectively, but the devastation of Katrina on their home city was lost on neither.
"It's going to be a long road," Fox tells Billboard.com. "There won't be any concerts in New Orleans for a while, at list three to six months. If anybody wants to help, tell the acts to come play for free."
I'm sure that it will stay unpolitical for....oh, about 10 minutes or so.
Hope they don't unload their poop tanks on anyone this time.
Donate to the Salvation Army.
Naw...They are just looking for a place to refill them.
I'm puting politics aside on this one. Any and all help is appreciated to the victims.
This attitude beats the Stones by a long shot. Probably better ticket price too.
I've been to several of Dave's concerts, and I have yet to see him do or say anything political. He barely talks at all, actually. Just good music and good fun. Of course that was before his latest album which I hear is not only terrible but more political-centric than any of his other albums.
Good to hear. This is not the time for anyone to get a captive audience and pull political crap. This is the time to help our fellow Americans.
then you weren't at the kerry anti-bush concert before the last election
No, I missed that season. Sounds like I didn't miss a whole lot.
With all they're worth, why don't they just donate? They seem just so full of themselves this way. Here, buy an expensive ticket to watch me perform and some of the money will (might) go to help hurricane victims. Just donate to a reputible organization and more of your money will get where it's needed.
I read this morning (MSNBC) that Harry Connick Jr, Tim McGraw, and a couple of others with LA roots were doing a benefit concert.
I hope they can just shut up and sing. I doubt it somehow. How long till they break out and start distributing the free condom emergency packs? Somewhere, Planned Parenthood is smiling.
But seriously, if he can manage to shut up and sing and help raise money, well, more power to him. I hope he's up to the task.
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