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With talented singers like Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Kris Kristofferson and Rosanne Cash! This should be awesome. I really loved the song Sheryl Crow sang.

im not trying to stir anything up, however, on different places of the internet i read from different posters that john and meg split up a month ago. one picture showed she wasnt wearing any band on her finger. anyone know bout this? tonyb im sure you might know something.

Really nice photos... like Howard Stern told him, John is a good looking man! 

These are great shots!  It really looks like they are having a great time.  Thanks for posting.

hiya...today I took a baby step up to "Music you like" just to see if a picture's worth a thousand words...put your money where your mouth is, so to speak...
and refer all to sh...... Tom Cruise with the wind in his hair and ...the great white way, where johncougarmellen is beginning his overtures!
my best girlfriend "down the road" has a sweetheart of a relation of hers who played at the Bitter End last year, and she is very, very, talented...apparently your violinist who passed away from cancer, mindy j., taught her...and when I heard that, I knew that standing tall and squeezin' in your butt and sagginaw...right down the ...you know how to sing, man...
and especially my mother...you have to just hold on to that squeeze and sag...for a long time to stop from screaming...and so I have finally found a solution! So? My niece graduated from Carnegie Mellon last weekend and she majored in opera...escuse my "milky way" any old day. But that's a mother to Reisa thing because our multi parasubnormal
poem gets ignored...
"I was still dropping bombs down south,
when you opened up your big old mouth..I walked down the hall in a huff and puff-
you make like you never seen me stuff!" kind of like "the ghost of our love as it echoes down the hall...if you can't say nothing good, then don't say anything at all...and you mean to stop being so mean!
Note to Miss Rondstat...the disappearing act...an interest in other musicians! Sure it matters! The poor guy died of cancer in 1999...Often, I wish I had some, too...Don't waste
your breath but DO comment that "It appears she has other musical interests than jcougarmellen! So I also love Tom Petty's "Last Dance for Maryanne..."...and Allison is sweet...right? Sooooo, the secret of all time...for those who have serious insomnia like me!
There is a special cherry flavor dropper-type administrator looking on as you take it called
"chloral hydrate"...I took so little, that it was like a child's dose...and I have what they call a
team meeting today, and I will pass it the doctor's way. Thanks and please print, man and T-man?

any word on how ticket sales are doin??..i got mine for bloomington...

[Six out of 10 stars]

Six out of 10 stars

John Mellencamp and Stephen King may receive higher billing on ‘Ghost Brothers of Darkland County,’ but the album really belongs to T Bone Burnett.

This collaboration between the singer-songwriter and horror novelist stemmed from a story Mellencamp told King about a pair of Indiana brothers whose tragic fates were tied to a girl. King in turn relocated the action to Mississippi, made the brothers ghosts and, with Mellencamp’s help, wrote a musical about them.

The play debuted in Atlanta last year, and like many of King’s tales, it winds for a while until stopping at its inevitable supernatural conclusion. Mellencamp’s songs – some hauntingly familiar in tone, some just plain haunting – fit the story so far as keeping the narrative flowing. But the project’s strongest ties come from musical director Burnett’s ghostly production, which says more about the nature of the evocative songs than anything Mellencamp and King can conjure up.

Mellencamp himself shows up only once on the soundtrack, on the last track, ‘Truth,’ the show’s redemptive epilogue. The other performances are handled by a mix of veteran heartland rockers and singer-songwriters from Burnett’s stable, including Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Kris Kristofferson and Rosanne Cash.

The best songs on ‘Ghost Brothers’ strike a balance among the misty musings of spirits, plot line progressions and bluesy numbers that come with a side of front-porch country: Costello’s sinister ‘Wrong, Wrong, Wrong About Me,’ Ryan Bingham’s gently piercing ‘You Are Blind’ and a handful of cuts performed by Crow and Dave and Phil Alvin. But the best track belongs to Neko Case, who injects the playfully confessional ‘That’s Who I Am’ with a sensual torchy twang.

But like so much of Burnett’s work – especially his celebrated ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ soundtrack and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ ‘Raising Sand’ album — he buries ‘Ghost Brothers of Darkland County’ in thick, hazy production that dusts up the songs with a bit too much grit and fog at times. And there they settle, at the center of the project. It might be Mellencamp and King’s words, but it’s Burnett’s music.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/ghost-brothers-of-darkland-county/

MARTIN SHORT AND JOHN MELLENCAMP HEADLINE 2013 TOYS“R”US CHILDREN’S FUND GALA, HELPING RAISE OVER $4.5 MILLION

Among the Largest Single-Night Fundraising Events in New York City, the Annual Benefit has Generated More Than $100 Million Since its 1985 Inaugural Gala

WAYNE, NJ (May 17, 2013) – More than 1,200 leaders and influencers from the toy and juvenile products industries gathered last night at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City to celebrate the 2013 Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Gala. During this special evening of entertainment and fundraising, more than $4.5 million was raised for the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys“R”Us, Inc., to aid in its mission to keep children safe and help them in times of need. The star-studded gathering drew support from guests and was hosted by Emmy®and Tony Award®-winning comedian Martin Short. The evening’s entertainment included an unforgettable performance by award-winning rock musician John Mellencamp, who is widely known for his philanthropic work, including co-founding Farm Aid, an organization that supports family farmers.

“The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Gala is a celebration of the love the toy and juvenile products industries have for all kids. It also serves to showcase the Fund’s most significant efforts in charitable giving over the past year and its ongoing commitment to keep kids safe and help them in times of need. Children are the heart of our brand and our many philanthropic initiatives to support them is a source of great pride for the “R”Us organization,” said Kathleen Waugh, Chairman of the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund.

The evening featured a special opportunity for guests to help the thousands of individuals and families whose lives were impacted by Superstorm Sandy through the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund (HSNJRF). To date, the HSNJRF created by Governor Chris Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie has raised $34 million against the estimated $37 billion in damage to New Jersey. Gala attendees rallied to contribute thousands of dollars to this cause, which will provide housing assistance to displaced families, social and counseling services to those affected and economic development support to the communities impacted, among many other programs. In attendance was New Jersey’s First Lady, Mary Pat Christie, who spoke passionately about the HSNJRF and thanked attendees for their donations.

Based in New Jersey, Toys“R”Us, Inc. employs more than 4,200 team members throughout the state. As a result, this ongoing crisis is very personal to the “R”Us family. In the wake of the superstorm, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund made a $1 million donation to the HSNJRF to help provide relief and support rebuilding efforts.

Below are highlights of some of the company’s key philanthropic initiatives from the past year:

Taking a “Stand” for Childhood Cancer
In 2012, Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund reaffirmed its commitment to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), an organization dedicated to helping find a cure for childhood cancer, providing a $100,000 grant through the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund. What started as a front yard lemonade stand hosted by 4-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was diagnosed with cancer just before her first birthday, has turned into a national effort continued today by children and families holding lemonade stands across the country. The company’s second consecutive in-store and online fundraising campaign raised more than $1.9 million in 2012 and helped teach the importance of giving back by encouraging children to host their own official Alex’s Lemonade Stands. Since the partnership began in 2011, donations from customers, Toys“R”Us, Inc. and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund together have provided more than $3.9 million to the organization.

Granting Wishes, One Child at a Time
This past year, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund and Toys“R”Us, Inc. provided Make-A-Wish with $500,000 in grant funding and gift cards. A visit to Toys“R”Us is a top request for many “wish children” who are facing life-threatening medical conditions, and throughout the year, Toys“R”Us stores nationwide created numerous celebratory events during special shopping trips. Over the past 16 years, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund and Toys“R”Us, Inc. have supported Make-A-Wish with more than $2.3 million to help make wishes come true.

Shaq-A-Claus Spreading Holiday Cheer
The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund and Toys“R”Us, Inc. teamed up for the fourth consecutive year with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to help Toys for Tots bring toys and smiles to America’s neediest children. The 2012 “Give Back With Shaq” in-store and online fundraising campaign raised $4 million, and nearly 350,000 toys were collected. The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund also provided a $250,000 grant to Toys for Tots to kick off the program. As the largest retail partner in the history of the organization, more than $31.6 million and 3.75 million toys have been collected throughout the nine-year partnership. In addition, grants totaling more than $5 million have been awarded to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation from the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund.

Hosting Joyful Baby Showers for Military Moms-to-Be
In 2012, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund and Babies“R”Us joined forces with Operation Shower, an organization that hosts joyful baby showers for military wives to ease the stress of their husbands’ deployment, to co-host baby shower events nationwide. The organization ensures these women receive some of the basic essentials they need for their newborns. Operation Shower began with a simple act of kindness when one woman sent a “shower in a box” to a few expectant wives whose husbands were deployed. After the first large-scale shower was organized at Fort Bragg, N.C. in June 2007, Operation Shower was officially born. Since then, the organization has helped more than 1,300 military moms through hard work and generous donations. Showers are held on bases across the country for all branches of the armed forces – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and National Guard. To kick off the partnership, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund donated $100,000 to Operation Shower so they may purchase gifts for these moms, as well as to help host festive occasions to celebrate their new arrivals.

Supporting the Special Needs Community
Toys“R”Us, Inc. and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund have a long history of supporting the special needs community through the Toys“R”Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids. In collaboration with the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making play accessible for children of all abilities, this valuable resource is released annually, providing qualified toy recommendations to aid in the skill development of children who have physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. Mom, TV Host, Best Buddies Board Member and Philanthropist Nancy O’Dell graced the cover and lent her support to the 2012 Guide. Additionally, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund provides ongoing grants to many leading special needs organizations, including Autism Speaks, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Down Syndrome Society and Special Olympics, among others.

About the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund
The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund is a public charity affiliated with Toys“R”Us, Inc., a company that unabashedly declares “We love kids!” The core mission of the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund is to keep children safe and help them in times of need. Since it was founded in 1992, the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund has contributed millions of dollars to qualified organizations that support that mission, including those providing disaster relief to children and families who are victims of large-scale crises. The Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund also provides grants to leading organizations that assist children with special needs.

Primary fundraising activities include the annual Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund Gala, a private, invitation-only event that showcases the work of the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund and raises money to support its many beneficiaries. This annual benefit has raised more than $100 million since its inception in 1985 and is one of the largest single-night fundraising events held in New York City.


Set List
AUTHORITY SONG
KEY WEST
CHECK IT OUT
JACK AND DIANE
SMALL TOWN
HYMN
SCARECROW
PAPER IN FIRE
CRUMBLIN' DOWN
PINK HOUSES
BAND INTRO
CHERRY BOMB
R.O.C.K IN THE USA

[10. Stealers Wheel Stuck in the Middle With You'Stuck in the Middle With You'Stealers Wheel]

Hand claps can make or break a song. A well-placed set of claps can carry a tune into an entirely different stratosphere if timed correctly. They can also sound like a clumsy attempt to overstep the basic beat laid out by the drummer if they don’t hit it just right. The tracks on our list of the Top 10 Hand Clap Songs turbo boost already-excellent cuts into levels of sheer awesomeness. Give them a hand, won’t you?

10. Stealers Wheel Stuck in the Middle With You
'Stuck in the Middle With You'
Stealers Wheel
 
From: 'Stealers Wheel' (1972)
The hand claps in this Top 10 hit play against both the acoustic-guitar shuffle and the subtle rhythm laid out by the drums and bass. In a way, they're the driving force of this Dylanesque song, which went on to score one of the most iconic, and bloody, movie scenes of '90s: the severed-ear slice from 'Reservoir Dogs.'
 
 
9. T-Rex Electric Warrior
'Bang a Gong (Get It On)'
T-Rex
 
 
From: Electric Warrior' (1971)
Glam rock was all about hand claps. In fact, there was a study in the late '80s that estimated that 97.4 percent of all glam songs contained hand claps. But don't quote us on that. But just trust us when we say that hand claps were as prevalent in glam as honking sax, androgyny and glittering stardust. 'Bang a Gong (Get It On)' is one of the genre's all-time best.
 
 
8. Billy Joel Only the Good Die Young
'Only the Good Die Young'
Billy Joel
 
 
From: 'The Stranger' (1977)
A horned-up Joel tries to (Catholic) guilt a girl into bed over a steady stream of hand claps that ride 'Only the Good Die Young''s backbeat like a 10-foot wave. Unlike 'Stuck in the Middle With You' (see No. 10 on our list of the Top 10 Hand Clap Songs), 'Only the Good Die Young' stays on rhythm, adding more fuel to the percussion fire.
 
 
7. Steve Miller Band Take the Money and Run
'Take the Money and Run'
Steve Miller Band
 
 
From: 'Fly Like an Eagle' (1976)
The Steve Miller Band's hit song is not like most of the usual rhythm-guided claps on our list of the Top 10 Hand Clap Songs. Instead, the rapid-fire claps of 'Take the Money and Run' show up in bursts throughout the verses, punctuating the song rather than helping steer it. Either way, it's a great use of two hands.
 
 
6. Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand
'I Want to Hold Your Hand'
The Beatles
 
 
From: 1963 Single
Can you imagine 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' without the hand claps pushing along the verses? They're as integral to the mix as the band's celebrated harmonies. Like in most pop music from the period, the claps almost seem like an afterthought in the Beatles' breakthrough hit. But the group knew the power of a well-placed hand clap (see various other songs in their catalog).
 
5. Badfinger No Matter What
'No Matter What'
Badfinger
 
 
From: 'No Dice' (1970)
Like glam rock (see No. 9 on our list of the Top 10 Hand Clap Songs), power pop was basically built on hand claps. But Badfinger's best song uses claps sparingly. In fact, they don't show up until the guitar solo, and they're so underscored, you hardly notice them. Until one final run through the refrain near the end of the song unleashes a flurry of them. Gloriously.

 
4. Queen Another One Bites the Dust
'Another One Bites the Dust'
Queen
 
 
From: 'The Game' (1980)
Queen stole the beat and rhythm for their No. 1 hit from Chic's great disco song 'Good Times.' But the hand claps that show up about halfway through the song, during the breakdown after the bridge, are all theirs, and they carry the song from just another dance-floor period piece into a realm where hand claps get together to cheer each other on.
 
3. The Stooges
'No Fun'
The Stooges
 
 
From: 'The Stooges' (1969)
For a proto-punk band that loved noise, chaos and, um, noise, the Stooges sure do get behind the feisty hand claps that propel this cut from their debut album. The claps run alongside 'No Fun' for its entire five-plus minutes, never missing a beat, not even during the super-fuzzy guitar solo that erupts all over Iggy's vocal cords during the final couple minutes.
 
 
2. Cars My Best Friend's Girl
'My Best Friend's Girl'
The Cars
 
 
From: 'The Cars' (1978)
For 'My Best Friend's Girl''s first 30 seconds, it's just bass, Ric Ocasek's voice and one of the most famous hand claps in rock history. After that, the claps disappear until a brief appearance during the song's fade. But for that first half-minute, they set up the song, guide it along and make sure it's ready to take on the next three minutes. In other words, the hand claps do all the heavy lifting.
 
1. John Cougar Jack & Diane
'Jack & Diane'
John Cougar Mellencamp
 
 
From: 'American Fool' (1982)
The hand claps in 'Jack & Diane' do so much for the song -- they drive it, keep it in shape, power it, make it a much better song than it'd be without them -- we're just gonna name them the MVP of our list of the Top 10 Hand Clap Songs. The main instrumental passages and verses of John Mellencamp's (still going by John Cougar back then) only No. 1 would be an empty vessel of a song without the claps. A round of applause, please.

Courtesy: QFM96 in Columbus, OH