The Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival today announced their support of the RESPECT! CampaignSM – an innovative new campaign to end domestic and sexual violence by starting with respect. The campaign benefits the Family Violence Prevention Fund and encourages everyone to do their part to prevent abuse by giving and teaching respect to the young people in their lives.

In support of the campaign, a variety of performers at the November 22 festival at Chicago’s Congress Theater will be sharing stories about the people they respect most and asking the audience to support the campaign by texting the keyword “respect” to 41010, adding a $5 donation to the Family Violence Prevention Fund to their mobile bill.

To learn more, visit GiveRespect.org

Got questions about what the show will be like, what the rules will be, or what we’ll be wearing? Feel free to e-mail us at Michael.raspatello@gmail.com. Hopefully, however, here are some of the answers you were looking for….

SHOW SCHEDULE

*2 Stages, a Balcony, 18 Acts, and Costumed Marching Band “Environmental Encroachment” parading throughout the venue at impromptu times

MAIN STAGE
12:30-1:15pm – Donnie Biggins
1:15-1:30 – Tangleweed
1:30-2:15 - Dollar Store
2:15-2:45 – Tangleweed/Chicago Sketch Comedy Troupe “Cell Camp”
2:45-3:30 – Billy Childers
3:30-4:00 – Tangleweed/Chicago Sketch Comedy Troupe“Cell Camp”
4:00-4:45 – Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
4:45-5:15 – Tangleweed/Chicago Sketch Comedy Troupe“Cell Camp”
5:15-6:15 – Majors Junction
6:15-6:45 – Tangleweed/Chicago Sketch Comedy Troupe“Cell Camp”
6:45-7:45 – Ha Ha Tonka
7:45-8:15 – The Giving Tree Band
8:15-9:45 - David Grisman Quintet
9:45-10:15 – The Giving Tree Band
10:15-However Long They Want – The Avett Brothers

Jambase.com’s 312 PAVILION STAGE
Noon-12:45 – Blue Room Hero
1:00-1:45 – Cobalt & the Hired Guns
2:00-2:45 - Lindsey O’Brien Band & Friends
3:00-3:45 - Mike Mangione
4:00-4:45 – Jessica Lee
5:00-5:45 – How Far to Austin
6:00-6:45 – Blue Mother Tupelo
7:00-8:00 – Blackdog

• This show is All Ages, runs from 11am-Midnight-ish, tickets are $31 until day-of, when it increases (if there are any left)

• Unlimited Re-Entry: Can come and go freely to and from the theater until 5pm.  AFTER 5PM YOU CAN STILL ARRIVE.  All this means is that once you’ve left the building after 5pm, you can’t come back in.  As in, if you leave at 4:59 you can still get stamped and come back any time throughout the night.  However a minute later that would not be an option. 

• Smoking lounge access without leaving the theater. Security is about as strong as a one-armed swimmer (as in “weak”)

• Sketch Comedy throughout the day from Chicago Sketch Comedy Group “Cell Camp”

• An open jam session and picking circle from the second the doors open. Musicians are all invited to bring their instruments and participate. There’ll be an “instrument check” along with the coat check so that you don’t have to lug your noisemaker around with you all day.

• Over 50 booths of artists, vendors, and charitable causes. Artists will be creating their art on-site and selling it while the Saving Tiny Hearts Society will be raffling off swag from the artists

• The theater is located at 2135 N. Milwaukee (just north of Armitage). There is street parking available all around the theater, as well as very cheap reserved parking by clicking here

• Traveling to the theater is easy via the CTA, as it is within two blocks of the Blue Line train stations at California (& Milwaukee) and Western (& Milwaukee) which operate twenty four hours a day. The theater is also served by the following bus routes: #52 Kedzie/Calfornia, #56 Milwaukee, #73 Armitage, #49 Western (www.transitchicago.com)

• The theater is also a quick walk or bus ride from the METRA train station at Clybourn & Ashland on the Union Pacific District Northwest line. Exit the station to the south to transfer to the #73 Armitage bus going west on Cortland Ave. to the theater.

• The “Official After-Party” will be held at Chicago’s #1 rock club The Elbo Room immediately following the show. Entry is free with your festival ticket. Check out more details at elboroomchicago.com

•A WARM FUZZY FEELING FOR MAKING THIS EVENT AMAZING AND HELPING PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME!

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had a handful of our artists featured on podcasts around the land, including the Chicago staple that is Michael Teach’s Chicago Acoustic Underground , In Search of a Song, and Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour.

Throw these on in your new fancy earbuds and enjoy the sweet stylings of The Giving Tree Band, How Far to Austin, Majors Junction, and Eli Jones (who played our official pre-party at Fitzgerald’s last week)

Radio Relics Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival Special from WRLR: http://www.mypodcast.com/cached/radiorelics_20081118_0903-332937-159989-2-25.mp3

Green Arrow Radio’s Preview: http://www.greenarrowradio.com/2008/11/18/chicago-bluegrass-blues/

The Giving Tree Band: http://www.woodsongs.com/showlist.asp

The Giving Tree Band: http://isoas.wordpress.com/category/1-americana/the-giving-tree-band/

David Grisman Quintet: http://isoas.wordpress.com/category/1-americana/david-grisman/

Eli Jones: http://chicagoacoustic.net/podcasts/episode-167—eli-jones.html

How Far to Austin: http://chicagoacoustic.net/podcasts/episode-166—how-far-to-austin.html

Majors Junction: http://chicagoacoustic.net/podcasts/episode-169—majors-junction.html

And for the greatest acappella performance in the history of anything:

CHICAGO’S MOST SOUGHT-AFTER ROCKUMENTARIANS POISED TO FILM A FIRST FOR CHARITY: WIGGLE PUPPY PRODUCTIONS ON BOARD TO CAPTURE INAUGURAL CHICAGO BLUEGRASS & BLUES FESTIVAL

An event boasting such a diverse bill piled into such a historic building couldn’t go unrecorded.  Wiggle Puppy Productions, the enigmatic filmmakers behind popular High Definition concert films of icons like Phish,, The Flaming Lips, Umphrey’s McGee, Matisyahu, and the Secret Machines, have offered their services to ensure that it won’t.

From WPP's "Umphrey's McGee: Wrapped Around Chicago"

While David Grisman, The Avett Brothers, The Giving Tree Band, Ha Ha Tonka, Lil ‘Ed and the rest of the artists lead the foot-stomping on-stage at the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival (www.cbbfestival.com), director Mark Krieglstein and producer Sara Yule will coordinate the filming of 18 sets and 24 hours of music. The duo will use their footage to create a live album and concert documentary of Chicago’s historic winter music festival, available for digital download in return for a donation to the Saving Tiny Heats Society’s (www.savingtinyhearts.org) research efforts.

In addition to helping a righteous and homegrown cause, the production will mark the first performance to be filmed inside the historic Chicago City Landmark.

Upon completion of the feature length documentary, Wiggle Puppy’s cinematic tribute to this needed addition to the city’s winter concert calendar will be available on cbbfestival.com and leading download destinations.  All profits from the sales of these HD video downloads will go to support the Saving Tiny Hearts Society’s mission to find cures for America’s #1 birth defect.

ABOUT WIGGLE PUPPY PRODUCTIONS:

WPP has cut out a small niche making films and videos working with an eclectic group of organizations and bands including but definitely not limited to: Phish, The Flaming Lips, Super Furry Animals, Dios (Malos), Ingrid Michaelson, Candylion (w/ Gruff Rhys of SFA), The Benevento Russo Duo, Dead Meadow, Preface 73, Califone, Dan Wilson, Meiko, Natalie Walker, Bustle in Your Hedgerow, Grace Potter, The Benevento Russo Duo, Addison Groove Project, The North Mississippi AllStars, Taj Mahal, Los Lobos, moe, Matisyahu, The Mink Lungs, Burning Spear, Jennifer Hartswick Band, Big Frog (”Japan’s only Jamband”), Chris Berry & Panjea, The Violent Femmes, Raq, Joshua Radin, Panavision, The Hotel Café Tour 2008, The Art of Being, etc. as well as local Chicago talents such as: Umphrey’s McGee, Ultra Sonic Edukators, Gio, The Giving Tree Band, Future Rock, Todd Carey, Dearborn, Andreas Kapsalis Trio, Oucho Sparks, Treologic, Wicker Park Festival, Silver Wrapper Presents, Triple Dat Mas, amongst many many other

by Josh Downs, Senior cbbfestival.com Correspondent, dtrain692@yahoo.com

From Left: Derrick Mitchell, a bunch of Oak Parkers

On November 22nd, Chicago’s Congress Theater will host the first annual Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival.  This all day festival will offer music fans a diverse range of acts, including bluegrass music pioneer David Grisman and red-hot American Recordings poster boys, the Avett Brothers.  For Oak Parkers, however, the festival offers a special treat as several native talents are featured on the bill, including How Far to Austin, Blue Room Hero, and contest winner Donnie Biggins.

Also included in the mix is festival director Mike Raspatello, a River Forest resident who graduated from OPRF in 1999.  “As expected, Oak Park had a lot of great talent to choose from in finding artists for this event.  I knew a lot of these guys in High School and have enjoyed watching their careers grow.”

Blue Room Hero is a three piece rock ensemble that formed at the University of Wisconsin when OPRF alumnus and current teacher Doug Hill brought his drums to Mike Neeb’s bass and Jason Napp’s guitar.  They built a large and loyal following in Madison as well as back home in Oak Park.  The festival represents not only their highest profile gig, but also their last performance together.

How Far to Austin features guitarist Tate Troelstrup, drummer Paul Obis, bassist Colin Fahey, and saxophonist Nick Ranucci, all alumni of Oak Park River Forest High School.  The band likes to think of themselves as “hot as a pistol rock ‘n roll laced with incredible lyrical depth; keen musicianship; and unforgettable vocal melodies that border on the addictive.”  Last year, they released their first LP, “The Moment has Arrived” and are now preparing to go back into the studio with legendary producer Stuart Epps, fresh off of recording an album for Oasis at the studio he co-owns in Wales with Jimmy Paige.

When asked about how growing up in Oak Park has influenced his musical stylings, Troelstrup said, “I went to Holmes school on the north side of town, great music program and I tried my hand at a new band instrument each year on top of piano.  Once I got my hands on a guitar I popped over to see Sal Salvato at Guitar Fun and started my rock ‘n roll journey.”

Donnie Biggins in the blazer, Doug Hill on the set

When Donnie Biggins entered the “Last Banjo Standing Contest” to determine the final act on the mainstage, he knew he had the support of an entire community behind him.  A truly grassroots voting effort propelled him to victory in the contest.  “When I won this contest, my Father sent me a text message that said “It takes a Village.” The support from Oak Park helped get me into the top 5 artists. It is because of the community’s belief in me that I was selected to play at the festival. I think there is a lot of young talent in Oak Park just waiting to be released into the world. We come from a community unlike any other. The environment we surround ourselves with, whether it is the schools, block parties, or backyard gatherings, sets us up to be successful.”

Both Troelstrup and Biggins credit some local Oak Park businesses with helping their musical development.  Biggins spoke glowingly about Val Camilletti, owner of Val’s Halla Records.  “I went to Val’s in August looking for advice on advancing my music publicly. We talked for about an hour about current music and the musical experiences she’s had in her lifetime. She told me to go to The Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park, Chicago. Conveniently I was moving to Rogers Park at the end of the month to begin my student teaching in the Chicago Public Schools and have been playing at The Heartland Cafe once a week. It will be nice to go back to Val’s with the CBGB Festival ad with my name on it and thank her for the advice.”

Troelstrup also spoke magnanimously when asked if any local music hotspots had an influence on him.  “Most definitely!  Guitar Fun is where I took my first guitar lessons, and where I turned to any time I had a gear question.  Val at Val’s Halla always special ordered whatever random record I absolutely had to have any given week.  I was always pretty loyal to Val’s, but Second Hand Tunes did have a great t-shirt selection and often times had newer records in a lot faster.  All three were important because my experiences at each was positive – really nice people very interested in music, and in the case of Sal at Guitar Fun, very supportive of t

Val of Val's Halla and her trusty friend and coworker

he endeavors of young musicians just cutting their teeth.”

Raspatello says “The idea of this festival was to give some up and coming artists a chance to share the bill with some big name acts, and help out the Saving Tiny Hearts Society while doing it.  I’m happy to be able to include some native Oak Parkers in what will be a wonderful celebration of art and music.”

Tickets are $31 and are on sale now on cbbfestival.com, ticketmaster.com, and frontgatetickets.com,   A portion of the sales will go to benefit the Saving Tiny Hearts Society (Savingtinyhearts.org)

About the Festival:

On November 22nd, 2008, the Congress Theater will host the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival (cbbfestival.com). While rooted in the foot-stomping influences of bluegrass and blues, the festival will transport the concertgoer through the genre-defying evolution of music today.  The one-day event will serve as a tribute to two schools of music that continue to shape and inspire contemporary rock, jamband, funk, folk, roots, Americana, and indie cultures, while allowing festivalgoers to save a heart.  A portion of each $31 ticket will be donated to the Saving tiny Hearts Society (www.savingtinyhearts.org), an non-profit organization that raises money for America’s #1 birth defect, congenital heart defects (CHD).

by Josh Downs, Senior cbbfestival.com Correspondent, dtrain692@yahoo.com

David Grisman is known as a pioneer of the newgrass movement in Folk music.  His unique musical style incorporates elements of traditional bluegrass, as well as jazz, folk, and stringband and has influenced countless numbers of musicians and collaborators during his storied career.

However, when he takes the stage at the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues and Festival this November, on display will be the influence of one of the most celebrated voices of American music upon Grisman.  The friendship between Grisman and Jerry Garcia has been well documented, it was Garcia who famously gave Grisman his nickname “Dawg,” but within that friendship blossomed a musical partnership that both fed off and contributed to the immense talents of both individuals.

The two met at a Bill Monroe concert in 1964 and began a camaraderie stemming from a common love of traditional American folk music that would ultimately become the bluegrass quintet Old and in the Way and lead to countless as of yet unreleased collaborations at Grisman’s house famously documented in “Grateful Dawg.”  The traditionally trained Grisman and the mercurial Garcia inspired and tempered one another as the two shaped their evolving personal styles.  While Garcia brought several traditional folk numbers into the repertoire of the Grateful Dead, Grisman began journeying into free-form, jazz-inspired movements that helped define his idiom.

Sadly, while Jerry’s passing has left the world lacking one of the more inspiring and inventive musicians ever, his influence forever lives on in the creativity of David Grisman.  Witness this firsthand at the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival at the Congress Theater, November 22.

Tickets are currently on sale at www.cbbfestival.com/tickets

About the Festival:

On November 22nd, 2008, the Congress Theater will host the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival (cbbfestival.com). While rooted in the foot-stomping influences of bluegrass and blues, the festival will transport the concertgoer through the genre-defying evolution of music today.  The one-day event will serve as a tribute to two schools of music that continue to shape and inspire contemporary rock, jamband, funk, folk, roots, Americana, and indie cultures, while allowing festivalgoers to save a heart.  A portion of each $31 ticket will be donated to the Saving tiny Hearts Society (www.savingtinyhearts.org), an non-profit organization that raises money for America’s #1 birth defect, congenital heart defects (CHD).

MORE RAUCOUS FOOT-TAPPERS AND CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BALLADS TO BE EXPECTED FROM BILLY CHILDERS, ONE OF COUNTRY’S FASTEST RISTING TALENTS

When the inaugural installation of the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues festival touches down at the historic Congress Theater later this month, the city’s surprisingly-vast mainstream country music fan base won’t go unfulfilled.

That’s because the Midwest’s latest country music sensation will be there to greet fans from the festival’s main stage, showcasing a range of styles that has perked the ears of mainstream and alt country fans alike.

After upwards of 400 fans filled the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Chicago last June to help Billy Childers land a spot in Kenny Chesney’s “Poets and Pirates” shows at Soldier Field, Billy’s career ascension was unstoppable.  First up: Sharing the stage with an all-star lineup comprised of Chesney, Luke Bryan, Gary Allan, LeAnn Rimes, and Keith Urban at the Midwest’s biggest venue.  Next came premiere spots in front of the region’s biggest country music gatherings, including Country Thunder and the Chicago Country Music Festival, and the growing legion of fans that inevitably followed.

Fresh off a set of Vegas dates, Childers is ready to take his modern honky-tonk stylings to one of Chicago’s most historic stages, alongside a roster of Roots and Americana powerhouses that includes David Grisman, The Avett Brothers, Ha Ha Tonka, Lil ‘Ed, Giving Tree Band, and Waco Brothers offshoot Dollar Store.

Learn more about Billy’s November 22 date at Chicago’s only winter music festival at www.cbbfestival.com  Learn more about Billy at www.billychilders.com

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

On November 22nd, 2008, the Congress Theater will host the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival (cbbfestival.com). While rooted in the foot-stomping influences of bluegrass and blues, the festival will transport the concertgoer through the genre-defying evolution of music today.  The one-day event will serve as a tribute to two schools of music that continue to shape and inspire contemporary rock, jamband, funk, folk, roots, Americana, and indie cultures, while allowing festivalgoers to save a heart.  A portion of each $31 ticket will be donated to the Saving tiny Hearts Society (www.savingtinyhearts.org), an non-profit organization that raises money for America’s #1 birth defect, congenital heart defects (CHD).

We wish we could brand these ten tasty facts on all of your mid-sections, but we can’t, so we’ll just blog about it instead.  So here are a few nuggets about the fest that you may not have heard about yet.

1. Squeeze-Bot, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, and Off-the-Wagon Bluegrass Band have all been added to the 2009 festival lineup due to their great efforts in this year’s Last Banjo Standing Contest

2. There will be in-balcony performances by Chicago bluegrass bands The Giving Tree Band and Tangleweed.  When the curtain goes down on the big stage at the end of each set, the spotlight goes up on the balcony.

3. ATTENTION EVERYONE: Bring your instruments and join in on the continuous pickin’ circle. You’re all welcome to join in with whatever you’re hittin’ or strummin’.  These jam circles will pop up throughout the lobby in between sets on the Jambase.com Pavilion Stage (http://www.congresschicago.com/galleryc/images/o.jpg)

4. There’ll be a smoking lounge that does not require you to leave the building.  See what we’ve done here?  A huge favor for you, and a huge necessity in making this as close to the true summer festivals we all know and love.  Tricky, yes, but awesome and necessary in the Chicago winter.

5. Live art exhibits, merch & food vendors, and causes everywhere you look.  Artists will be performing their respective crafts while selling their goods to help raise money for charity.  No art form is too obscure, so be ready for some heady sensory input.

6.  Improv comedy performances from Second City’s “Cell Camp” (http://cellcamp.blogspot.com/) also in-between sets on the main stage.  When the balcony bluegrass subsides, focus your attention back on the stage for this troupe of heathens.  They’re funnier than whomever else you’d be talking to at the time, I promise.

7. Door Open at 11am, and music will push on until midnight. Re-entry (going outside and coming back in) is allowed until 5pm, after which you have to stay inside and enjoy yourself instead of cutting out to get high in your car every five minutes.

8. There’ll be some costume-clad marching bands parading through the event at opportune times. I expect it to be as cool as that Nick Cannon movie that came out years back. If you’re in a marching band or know someone in one, have them e-mail me at michael.raspatello@gmail.com, because the more the merrier.

9.  There’ll be an after-party at the one and only ELBO ROOM, with free admission for those with a festival ticket-stub.  The music at the after party will go until 3am and performers will be from the festival lineup and be announced at the show throughout the day.

10.  And if you pay attention to only one thing we bring to your attention, let it be the amazing work of the The Saving Tiny Hearts Society (www.savingtinyhearts.org)

BONUS:  If you like wasting time on the internet like the rest of humanity, check out the 50 Worst Billboard #1 Hits of All-Time

No matter how many millions of people like and support a certain thing, like age-of-consent laws, there are some things I just can’t agree with. So here they are, the 50 Worst Songs to ever reach #1 on a Billboard Chart, somewhere in this world. If judging the pantheon of #1s on musical and lyrical merit alone, I obviously could have included every chart-topper since ‘93 and made this a Top 1000 list. But I instead only included the 50 songs that I couldn’t even see or understand someone taking a liking to, no matter how many tokes of the tasty turtle I took or relationships I melodramatically ended.

50. Celine Dione – My Heart Will Go On (1998)

49. Uncle Kracker – Follow Me (1999)

48. Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe (1995)

47. Minnie Riperton – Lovin’ You (1975)

46. Will Smith – Wild Wild West (1999)

45. Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All (1986)

44. Toby Keith – Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (2001)

43. Mr. Mister – Broken Wings (1986)

42. Bryan Adams – Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman (1995)

41. Chicago – You’re the Inspiration (1985)

40. The Rembrandts – I’ll Be There For You (1995)

39. Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry, Be Happy (1988)

38. Limp Bizkit – Rollin’ (2000)

37. Billy Ray Cyrus – Achy Breaky Heart (1992)

36. Starship – We Built This City (1985)

35. Donna Summer – MacArthur Park (1978)

34. Terry Jacks – Seasons in the Sun (1974)

33. Elton John – Crocodile Rock (1973)

32. The Eagles – Best of My Love (1975)

31. Bee Gees – How Deep is Your Love (1977)

30. A Taste of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie (1978)

29 Peabo Bryson & Regina Bell – A Whole New World (1993)

28. Los Del Rio – Macarena (1996)

27. Hanson – MMMbop (1997)

26. Destiny’s Child – Independent Woman Part 1 (2001)

25. Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight (1976)

24 Bobby Goldsboro – Honey (1968)

23. Rick Dees – Disco Duck (1976)

22. Debbie Boone – You Light Up My Life (1977)

21. Clay Aikens – This is the Night (2002)

20. Zagar and Evans - In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) (1969)

19. Nelly – Grillz (2006)

18. Jermaine Jackson – Don’t Take it Personal (1989)

17. The Association – Windy (1967)

16. Lonestar – Amazed (2000)

15. Nickelback – How You Remind Me (2001)

14. Captain & Tennille – Do That To Me One More Time (1980)

13. D4L – Laffy Taffy (2006)

12. Bobbie Gentry – Ode to Billie Joe (1967)

11. J-Lo & Ja Rule – I’m Real (2001)

10. Elton John – Candle in the Wind 97 (1998) - I never really had any beef with the paparazzi until I realized that this song was their fault too. Hopefully the tune EJ writes when Princes Harry ODs won’t become as popular.

9. Barry Manilow – I Write the Songs (1976)- Yes Barry, you do write the songs…. that make my parents 69 on their anniversary and my lunch shoot back up my esophagus like an eighth Jager shot.

8. Dawn feat. Tony Orland0 – Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree (1973) -From Wikipedia: The symbol became widely known in civilian life in the 1970s. It was the central theme of the popular song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree“, Written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown and recorded by Tony Orlando and Dawn among many others. It referred to the sign a released convict requested from his wife or lover, to indicate that she still wanted him and that he would therefore be welcome to return home. He would be able to see it from the bus driving by their house, and would stay on the bus in the absence of the ribbon. He turned out to be very welcome: there were a hundred yellow ribbons. Wow Miss Convict-Monger, I thought you said when he hit you the first time that it was over for good?

7. Crazy Town – Butterfly (2001) -I always wondered what happened to the anal cyst that got lanced off the butthole of that 311 cover band I used to see back in South Venice.

6. Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder – Ebony and Ivory (1982)
This song is so bad it makes you wonder if those Segregationists may have been on to something. That asshole Strom Thurmond reportedly co-produced this record as part of a red-state conspiracy.

5. Snow – Informer (1993) - Dude, my cousin in Cleveland totally knows all the words to this.

4. Black-Eyed Peas – My Humps (2005) – If we’re talking looks alone, I’d say the lumps Fergie left on boyfriend Josh Duhamel’s testes were more attractive than the fat-girl mosquito bites on her chest.

3. Cher – Believe (1999) – Maybe Cher should have gotten plastic surgery on her voice?

2. All 4 One – I Swear (1994)- Attention! Attention! T-minus 4.5 minutes until that 8th grade ginger feels his first over-the-bra tatas!

1. Santana feat. Rob Thomas – Smooth (1999) - Santana, It should have been you instead of Richie Valens in that plane that night. Just go back to playing the bad guy in Three Amigos and stop ruining your own reputation.

The Giving Tree Band planted its roots more than five years ago, built on a foundation of Americana and a sustainable philosophy. The Chicago Blue Grass and Blues Festival is not quite the one year anniversary of their first release, Unified Folk Theory. Since then, TGTB have been the first band ever reviewed in Mother Earth News. They have recorded 2.5 more albums: the ‘world’s greenest album’; a Concert for Peace celebrating the Dalai Lama; and several songs inspired by the upcoming movie, “Public Enemies” with Johnny Depp as John Dillinger. TGTB submitted the songs live one Saturday and so impressed the casting director they were extras in scenes by that Monday. Studio versions include Casey Driessen of Sparrow Quartet on fiddle.

Their positive and accessible personalities, including appearances at music and eco fairs, make them a media friendly interview. NBC, ABC, WGN and RedEye have all ran pieces on TGTB. November, the same month as the CBGB Fest, “Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour” will have TGTB ask guest November 3. That Monday at 7 PM the live recording will stream from Woodsongs.com, then again two and three months later on 500 stations and XM respectively, with PBS a possibility.

Songs from all their projects will be performed in prime time at the Chicago Blue Grass and Blues Festival, November 22 at the Congress Theater. Playing two slots before David Grisman and the Avett Brothers, The Giving Tree Band is set for special main hall balcony performances in the classic one mic tradition.

What to Expect at CBGB November 22:
The Giving Tree Band Rocks Green Festival 2008-
“For those of you who were not one of the 30,000 attendees at the Green Festival that took place at Navy Pier in Chicago last weekend, here’s what you missed…an outstanding performance by Chicago’s very own eco-folk rockers, The Giving Tree Band. The largest audience of the weekend gathered as the band took the stage.”     — EcoRazzi.com

Interviews available before or at the festival… Thanks for your support of the band and the first annual “indoor all day fest” dubbed Chicago Blue Grass and Blues Festival.

World’s Greenest Album Recorded at Aldo Leopold ‘Studios’–
Great Possessions, the now named album mentioned below, is finished and will be released Spring/Summer ‘09. The Giving Tree Band presents the World’s First Carbon Free Album. Recording the ‘world’s greenest album’ took place at the ‘world’s greenest building’, the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center. Carbon Free meaning no pollutants are made during the recording and production, a step farther than offsetting emissions (Carbon Neutral).

The Giving Tree Band produced their second album using only renewable energy and recycled materials. The album was created in the most environmentally friendly way currently possible and is 100% carbon neutral. No electricity came from a grid source. All of the power used in the recording, editing, mixing, mastering, post-production, even the manufacturing and CD duplication, comes from renewable wind and solar energy. The CD packaging will also be made from 100% recycled materials of the highest post-consumer content, and after the completion of this project, ten trees will continue to be planted for every thousand CD’s produced to offset emissions created in the shipping process. Essentially, this album will be the greenest ever and do no ecological harm to the planet.

Mother Earth News Magazine First Music Review Ever!-
Giving Back to the Trees, The Giving Tree Band makes music with a mission.
The Giving Tree Band’s “Unified Folk Theory” is worth a listen.

“Folk fans will appreciate the varied American music traditions found on The Giving Tree Band’s double-CD set, “Unified Folk Theory.” The acoustic quartet from Chicago seamlessly combines their traditional folk style with plucky bluegrass, then tosses in a dose of early Bob Dylan for good measure.

Even better, the band’s on an eco-mission: the CDs were manufactured at the wind-powered Earthology Records using recycled materials; manufacturing and shipping pollutants are offset by planting 10 trees for every 1,000 CDs sold, and the band’s instruments are made of naturally fallen trees and recycled wood. The Giving Tree Band encourages a spirit of community through artful expression, with lyrics that give an uplifting boost to like-minded souls who care for the Earth.”      –Stephanie Bloyd

SAMPLE REVIEWS
“They’re an all-acoustic folk music group that sings about cherishing the earth and living simply.”
-Steve Edwards, Chicago Public Radio

“They write songs worth hearing.”
-Richard Milne, 93WXRT Chicago

“The band sounds awesome, absolutely. The music has a serious atmospheric quality to it, mighty fine stuff.”
-Cary Allen Fields, Columnist for Bluegrass Now

“Their music is real and vibrant; a good piece of Midwestern Americana.”
-Brian Campbell, ChicagoAtHome.com (CBS radio)

“The best folk songs you’re likely to hear in a long time. The Giving Tree Band’s status as a band to watch is undeniable.”
-Anthony Bennett, CDREVIEWS.COM

“Great songwriting and passion for the concepts behind the words and music and stands up to the best in the folk/newgrass/Americana music industry.”
-Rich Reardin, “In Search Of A Song” (Syndicated Radio)

“Living what they sing, transforming words into a journey through time, The Giving Tree Band promotes wholesome, earth friendly living, giving back to the community through their songs.”
-Nina Goodrich, JAZZREVIEW.COM

For Interviews with David Grisman, The Giving Tree Band or Chicago Blue Grass and Blues Festival Organizers…
CONTACT: Anthony Scott Piatt
fly@flyonthewallmedia.com
812.336.7938

Press kits for TGTB, Grisman and CBGB here…
(Press Ready Pics, Music, Bios)
www.FlyOnTheWallMedia.com