Some of America's coolest rock acts visit some of America's most boring cities.
America Coming Together, a liberal interest group committed to defeating President Bush, has enlisted some A-list rock stars, to include Bruce, Dave Matthews, the Dixie Chicks and Jurassic 5. They'll try to raise money and get young voters out. Only about one-third of 18-24 year olds vote; not much better among 25-34. Those voters are often Democratic, especially the ones who don't vote; hence, the pop stars, though some of them -- Bruce, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne -- will probably appeal more to Boomers, but whatever.
Here's the lineup:
Hand it to the stars for accepting these dates, which are in some pretty lamo cities, but in important states: Michigan, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa.
Pearl Jam and Death Cab for Cutie play Reading, Penn., Toledo, Ohio, Grand Rapids, Mich. We're pretty sure "Real World Grand Rapids" got cancelled after the pilot.
Bruce and REM are treated to bigger cities, capitols of the rapidly deteriorating steel kingdom -- Philly and Cleveland. They also play St. Paul, Minn., Orlando and Ann Arbor, Mich., a legitimately cool town that plays host to Hash Bash every April.
Other acts include Keb Mo and John Mellencamp, in places like Kalamazoo, Mich., Des Moines, Iowa, Wilkes-Barre, Penn., Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and some place called Kissimmee, Fla.
"Hello Kissimmee! Are you ready to rock?!"
BTC has actually spent a lot of time in these places, or driving through them, and has a special place in his heart for them, so take no offense, Grand Rapids reader(s).
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