'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.

New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund Has Been There, Done That, Sells the Tee Shirt

Two thirds of America is wary of where their New Orleans charity donations have gone, according to a new UNO survey, so this is some basic information on what the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund has done during last two years:

None of your Tax Dollars have gone into the funding of this nonprofit.

Our staff has never bought airline tickets to attend a benefit. We rarely even get to drive to them. Amazing volunteer efforts have led to events around the world, and the Fund distributes those proceeds to hundreds of displaced musicians.

NOMRF is a very green charity. We have never mailed out glossy brochures to solicit donors, but have asked musician friends to support us. Thanks to founder Jeff Beninato's dB's background, those friends include Wilco and REM. We're also blessed to have new musician friends like Dr. John and Jake, who has again collected 500 toys to distribute including BluzKat books. Jake is 11 and lost everything to Katrina, which shows the indominable spirit of New Orleans.

After starting NOMRF while being displaced, we learned it does not take renting an office to mail checks to displaced musicians. Our volunteer tech support team created the database and our staff of two screens applications. Volunteer publicist Urban Panda helps spread the word, and a team of volunteer accountants keep our corporate filings in order. Volunteer attorneys helped process the title of the donated New Birth Brass band, which sadly was just stolen.

Our Fund focuses on direct relief to professional musicians who are displaced because of Hurricane Katrina, not on event production or referrals. This is how we've stretched over a quarter million in individual donations as far as it could go. MySpace has nominated NOMRF twice for its prestigious Community Building Impact Award, and we're waiting to see if the third time's the charm.

The new Saving NOLA Store in downtown New Orleans (First floor, Jax Brewery) has started selling gear to benefit NOMRF. Last year they raised enough to build a Habitat for Humanity home, so our nonprofit is in good company with Drew Dat, Make it Right, Musicians Village and Global Green merchandise.

Speaking of merch, New Orleans artist Dennis Procopio has just donated his Fleur de Mains image (click tee shirt above to browse), and it perfectly represents the city's renewal. There are two days left for standard shipping gifts to arrive before the holidays. Donations have naturally slowed down as public awareness subsides, so if you like how NOMRF rolls, renewed support would be very, very welcome.