From today's Akron Beacon Journal, by Malcom X. Abram:

Still in need New Orleans is still screwed -- to put it bluntly. Among the thousands of people forced out of their homes and now out of the hotels/shelters in which they were temporarily residing are many musicians who aren't Wynton Marsalis or the Neville Brothers, who still need a helping hand.

Friday night at the Lime Spider in Akron, there will be a ``Displaced Musicians Benefit'' featuring music, videos and a curated art show. The music will be provided by headliner Big Daddy & the Hoo-Doo Men, blues guitarist Ian Penter, The Satisfiers, the all-female zydeco band SugarTwang, Derek DePrater Blues Band, area rockabilly favorites Honkytonk Damnation and a rare live appearance from Trial of Lucy. featuring members of Unit 5, The Mundanes and a guy who makes a mean grilled-cheese sandwich.

The videos will be provided by Karen Kilroy of the Ohio Hysterical Musical Society and the art show will be curated by artist Vincent Packard. Numbers Band main man Jack Kidney will host along with Chris Butler of the Waitresses and Tin Huey.

All proceeds will be donated to New Orleans' Tipitina's Foundation, which helps musicians find temporary housing.

NEW VIDEO - NEW ORELANS REVISITED

Also, please see my film partner Chris Chandler's new slideshow of his recent photos of New Orleans - "Little Pink Houses / 9th Ward New Orleans #3" This will be shown at the Akron benefit.

Also showing will be 9th Ward New Orleans, which can be viewed online here: http://chrisvids.org/videos/9th_ward_new_orleans.html