It’s really hard to enjoy the weekend with all the craziness going on in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Our hearts go out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Right now, there is an immediate need for food, drinking water and other emergency supplies. Rescue and relief efforts depend on our generosity. We hope you’ll consider helping in any way you can. In an effort to spread the word and show our support, we’ve posted some links below to make it easy for you to find ways to help the victims. You can help by making a contribution today to the American Red Cross. This is an opportunity for each of us to help our neighbors in need. Please consider a making a contribution online or by calling them at 1-800-HELP-NOW. Also, CD Baby artists are donating their profits of CD sales to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Links:
http://www.redcross.org
www.cdbaby.com
http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hurricanes/?source=AOL&cmpgn=NEWS&RTP=http://news.channel.aol.com

CALENDAR
Friday, Sept. 2
6:00pm-11:30pm
La Fiesta de San Gabriel, San Gabriel Mission

8:00pm
Dredg @ Velvet Jones, Santa Barbara

9:15pm
Judge Jackson @ Angel's Roadhouse, Yucaipa (21 and over)
9:30pm
Zac Harmon and the Mid-South Revue @ Cozy's, Sherman Oaks (21 and over)

Saturday, Sept. 3
10:00am-12:00am
Labor Day Celebration @ Navy Pier: Summer’s almost over, so party hard.

11:00am-6:00pm
Long Beach Blues Festival @ CSULB athletic field.
Fiesta Hermosa, downtown Hermosa Beach.
Art and Soul Festival @ Oakland City Hall: Goes all weekend long. Food, crafts, jewelry and performances by Blues Traveler and Edwin Hawkins, among others.

5:00pm
Notre Dame @ Pittsburgh (ABC): Two pro coaches, ND’s Charlie Weis and Pitt’s Dave Wannstadt, attempt to make the transition to big-time college football. Pittsburgh is favored over the Irish, who fave a brutal early schedule.
8:00pm
A Concert for Hurricane Relief (NBC)
Faith Evans w/The Score @ House of Blues, WeHo (21 and over)

9:00pm
The Knitters w/ Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash & Los Mysteriosos @ House of Blues, Anaheim (all ages)

The Black Dahlia Murder @ Beta Bar, Tallahassee, FL (all ages).

Sunday, Sept. 4
10:00am
Camarillo Outlets: School starts back up next week, so take your kids shopping at the clearance stores.

1:00pm
Arthurfest @ Barnsdall Art Park: Featuring performances by Sonic Youth, Sleater-Kinney, the Black Keys and more (4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz)

Labor Day, Sept. 51:00pm
Arthurfest @ Barnsdall Art Park: Performances by Yoko Ono, Spoon and others.

3:00pm
Late-Summer BBQ: Head to the beach or just stay home and grill up some good food on the grill. Invite some good friends over for margaritas and burgers.

7:00pm
Check out Serena at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship (CBS).

8:00pm
Metal Skool @ the Key Club: If you’ve forgotten what th ’80s were like (or are tryin' to forget), let this band remind you (21 and over).

JE-C’S NEW-MOVIE RUNDOWN
The Transporter 2
Starring: Jason Statham, Alessandro Gassman, Amber Valletta, Hunter Clary, Jeff Chase, Keith David and Tim Ware
Synopsis: Ex-elite commando Frank Martin (Statham) has retired to Miami and become a driver for a wealthy family with two young boys, Jack and Devon. When the two boys are kidnapped and injected with a potentially fatal virus, Martin defies the FBI to get the boys back safely.
Thoughts: Hmm… Although I really liked the first one, I didn’t think it was a big hit—but I guess they make sequels for just about everything these days. So I guess I will be seeing this one.

The Sound of Thunder
Starring: Edward Burns, Catherine McCormack, Ben Kingsley, Wilifried Hochholdinger, Corey Johnson and Jemima Rooper
Synopsis: In the near future, a company called Time Safari takes hunters back through the ages to kill dinosaurs. The scientist running the operation pegs dinos that are about to die and allows the hunters to kill them so as not to disrupt the future. But when someone accidentally steps on a butterfly, Travis Ryer, the lead dinosaur hunter, must team up with Sonia Rand, the inventor of the time-machine technology, to stop the mistake from destroying humanity.
Thoughts: This has a pretty good cast. Haven’t seen many previews or picked up much early buzz about it, which leads me to believe it’s either really bad or a potential sleeper.

FAVORITE TRACKS OF THE WEEK
Nickelback, “Photograph”
Trapt, “Stand Up”
Cold, “Happens All the Time”

ALBUM TO CHECK OUT
Kanye West, Late Registration (Def Jam/IDJ): According to the early numbers, Kanye’s follow-up to the breakthrough College Dropout is going to sell big. I’ve been listening to the album for a week and have to say it’s one of the best hip-hop CDs to come out this year. The funny thing is, I’m not a Kanye fan, but I have to give it up to him on this one. If you haven’t heard it yet, I suggest you go out and get a copy.

VIDEO TO CHECK OUT
John Legend, “So High”