March 28, 2008

Friday [all times Eastern]: Later with Jools Holland welcomes Crowded House, Richard Thompson and Battles [Rave HD 8:00 PM] Classic Albums looks at Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast [VH-1

We tend to stay away from politics at HT, but with the presidential election rapidly approaching we thought it was finally time to jump into the fray. Let’s welcome Jennifer Kirk who will provide a weekly column discussing politics and music. Here’s Jennifer’s first column, which is about her experience with HeadCount:

Since 2004, I have been involved with HeadCount. HeadCount is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that’s primary purpose is to register voters that are involved with the live music community. HeadCount staffs volunteers at concerts and festivals across the country. HeadCount is endorsed by many artists including: Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Ratdog, Gov’t Mule, Foo Fighters, and many, many more. So I thought it would be a good idea to share some of my HeadCount experiences as a volunteer as well as address issues surrounding music and politics.

Teams of HeadCount volunteers in several major cities across the country register concertgoers before, during and after shows. Recently, the Drive-By Truckers made a pit stop in Nashville to promote their new release Brighter Than Creation’s Dark. The HeadCount volunteers arrived to the venue an hour prior to doors opening in order to set up our table and organize our clipboards, voter registration forms and other supplies. HeadCount was allowed to have four volunteers for the show, so some of us staffed the table while others signed people up outside the venue. We were also allowed the opportunity to take turns watching some of the rock show.

There is a reason that I have been involved with HeadCount so long — passion. Not the passion I possess (though it is required to work the long shifts at Bonnaroo in June) but the passion and excitement that I see in the faces of the people that we register. It’s an exciting feeling to empower these people to make their voices heard; not just in Tennessee but all across the country.

Read on for more of the debut edition of Land of Confusion…

The Grateful Dead and The Band came together in the summer of 1973 to play a magnificent run of shows at Watkins Glen and Jersey City. Now, 35 years later GD bassist Phil Lesh and The Band’s drummer/vocalist Levon Helm are teaming up for seven shows during Lesh’s lengthy summer tour. Larry Campbell will do his best Warren Haynes imitation by playing with both bands.

• Robert Plant hints at future Led Zeppelin one-off gigs
• Stream the Rolling Stones’ Shine A Light soundtrack
• Billy Joel’s The Stranger gets the reissue treatment
• Dean Ween shares photos of his recent fishing trips
• Juliana Hatfield rants against MTV’s The Hills
• ESPN’s Wright Thompson can’t get enough of Panic
• Jimmy Herring sits for the Jambands’ reader interview

We leave you with the latest episode of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ This Is video podcast series. Read on after the jump to see Grace play Sneakin’ Sally with The Meters on Jam Cruise and a whole lot more…

We don’t cover too much comedy around these parts, but when I saw that the sketch comedy troupe Kids In The Hall were heading out on a rather lengthy tour