1/26/08

'Lies' by Abby Travis and The Bangles to Benefit Displaced Musicians


Check out the brand new track: "Lies" at: i-tunes.

“Lies” by Abby Travis with The Bangles to Benefit New Orleans Musicians:

Abby Travis featuring the Bangles I tunes exclusive track “Lies” ramps up for the Primaries and Carnival Season, and will benefit the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. Travis' amazing track has a sparkling contribution from the Bangles for a punk/cabaret style feel. "Lies" has elements of classic Queen, Camper von Beethoven and the Ronettes if they were all very, very pissed off about the state of things in New Orleans and the level of corruption. Lyrics include “We’re making progress, everything’s under control . . . “

In addition to writing, performing, recording and producing “Lies,” Travis’ is known for her previous three releases "GlitterMouth", "Cutthroat Standards & Black Pop" and "The Abby Travis Foundation" The Washington Post described Travis as “ … a Brecht-Weill epiphany.” and The Los Angeles Times calls Abby “ … alternately brainy and sensual, and consistently engaging.”

Travis' collaboration with The Bangles on "Lies" resulted from her career as touring bassist for the band.

"I sang the song for them on the tour bus last year and they were all happy to jump on board the back up vocal train! Kristian Hoffman (Travis' longtime keyboardist who was songwriter for Klaus Nomi and The Mumps) and I had a great time arranging the vocals for such wonderful voices. We're all stoked to have them involved in the track. " Travis says.

In addition to playing bass in The Bangles, Travis has filled bass duties for a wide array of acts including Beck, Elastica, KMFDM, Exene Cervenka's The Original Sinners, Michael Penn, and Gibby Haines, to name a few. Travis also comes from a politics/ news background: her mother, Alice Germond, is secretary of The DNC and her father, Larry Travis, was an Emmy Award winning documentary cinematographer.

All of the artist’s proceeds from the “Lies” download will be donated to The New Orleans Musician’s Relief Fund, Inc. After the levee break, thousands of musicians lost instruments, gear, home studios, merchandise and their homes, and t he grass roots certified 501c(3), provides direct financial assistance. The Fund was started by displaced musicians post-Katrina, and grant recipients are spread throughout the country. Along with grants, NOMRF has offered housing, furniture, instruments and transportation. MySpace has nominated the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund twice for its Community Building Impact Award.

Dr. John told Entertainment Weekly he was grateful to the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, and added that “Small organizations — they've done more than these big organizations with a lot of money. Everything is f---ed up with the politicians and all. There's nobody taking care of business but the people.'

The progress of rebuilding has been slow and difficult, but it is happening. By downloading this .99 track on i-tunes, you'll be helping displaced New Orleans musicians keep receiving the help they need.