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."

http://www.billboard.com/...1001052053

Edited By Jonathan Cohen. September 01, 2005, 12:00 AM ET

Top Stars Join Multi-Network Katrina Benefit

By Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Green Day, Usher, Alicia Keys, Dave Matthews Band, Rob Thomas, Ludacris, Gretchen Wilson, John Mellencamp and Linkin Park's Chester Bennington are the first acts confirmed to appear at a live performance special set for Sept. 10 on MTV, VH1 and CMT. The event will raise funds via call-in donations for relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and several other Southern cities earlier this week.

Performances will air from New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Nashville and will also be broadcast live on MTV2, mtvU and VH1 Classic.

"If we can offer a platform to contribute in some meaningful way, all of our MTV Networks brands will be there," says MTV Networks CEO Judy McGrath. "Our goal is to join forces on every medium to get involved, to volunteer, to contribute in any way we can."

As previously reported, Tim McGraw, Wynton Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr. will perform at a Katrina fundraiser airing tomorrow (Sept. 2) on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC.

http://www.billboard.com/...1001052875

C'mon you have to admit that Usher does have one hell of a voice. I don't like his recent attitude though.

SEXYMOFO said:

Ushers voice ain't anything special, and his ballads are often oversung (whats with those stupid looooong notes)

I give him props for that.

C'mon you have to admit that Usher does have one hell of a voice. I don't like his recent attitude though.

Um, Prince has done more charity work in a month of a tour (which he's had umpteen of 'em) than Usher's done his entire career, so enough with the dumb ass comparisons, 'k?

Who let this kid on the Internet today???? School over already?

SEXYMOFO said:

one hell of a voice? nahh not to me,

Ain't that the truth. I rather hear cats fighting in an alley than her his ass.

He is benefiting a fundraise concert show for New Orleans victims. Who else will step up to the plate. Do i see or hear Prince soon, michael, janet jackson, Madonna. Hello anyone other than Usher.

alexnvrmnd said:

and? ur point is? if u got it to give, and the time to do it then u should help those in need. ESPECIALLY since prince is all super religious now.
[Edited 9/1/05 23:49pm]

C'mon you have to admit that Usher does have one hell of a voice. I don't like his recent attitude though.

purplecam said:

Me too....but that's it!

Ooh look, he's got braces. And don't his upper teeth look like veneers?

[foil teeth were here]

My point is is that you have no idea what Prince is doing to help out the victims of this disaster. Are you his accountant or banker or something? Just because the "artists of today" want more name recognition and face time and will, therefore, be the first ones to sign up for shit like this half the time, doesn't mean that others don't help out in ways that the press some times don't even know about. And I'm not just talking about Prince, either

What's more disturbing - the bottom tooth bling or that chick's fuckin' makeup

who the f*ck is that with usher? my lord woman...