Exene Cervenka, singer for the legendary punk band X, The Knitters and The Original Sinners, is currently recording the first release for her new label, Bloodshot Reords, part of a worldwide, multi-album deal scheduled for release in 2009.

The Beastie Boys are currently in the midst of a swing state voter awareness tour, playing selected dates in battleground states. They will be joined on various shows by Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Crosby & Nash, Tenacious D and other guests, along with representatives from Rock The Vote distributing information on local polling sites, including early voting locations where available. In a recent fan e-mail they wrote: “We are going to do a few shows in hopes that we can remind people to vote, the band wrote in a recent e-mail to their fans, “this election is too important, too much is at stake to stay at home. we hope that you can come out, have a nice night, dance, sing, get your freak on, and then wake up the next morning and get everyone that you possibly can to get out and vote. if they have early voting in your state then ask people to vote early, lets get everyone we can out here on election day. We are very excited about obama. hope you all feel the same. see you shortly,
adam, mike and adam”

Dates and lineups announced include: Oct. 28 in Richmond, VA at the Richmond Coliseum with Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones and Santogold; Nov. 1 in St. Paul, MN. at Roy Wilkins Auditorium with Beastie Boys, Ben Harper and Tenacious D and Nov. 2 in Milwaukee, WI at the U.S. Cellular Arena with Beastie Boys, Ben Harper, Crosby & Nash and Tenacious D.

Les Claypool will play a special New Year’s Show:
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA - LES CLAYPOOL PLAYS ZAPPA this year at San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House. The venue offers private, premium box seating for groups of 6 or 8, available only through a special seating auction and will include souvenir posters, complementary champagne and drinks, waitress service and an excluive lounge bar with video broadcast of the show for seat holders only. Buy tickets online or bid on box seat auctions at www.lesclaypool.com. Coming in 2009, Claypool Cellars presents...Purple Pachyderm, 2007 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (240 cases). Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, back in Dunedin...
Got Wine and Cigars hosted a benefit for Dunedin Doggie Rescue that brought a ton of pet lovers and cute four-legged friends. Dog owners could get their pets nails clipped, treat them to a bath by loving volunteers and get them microchipped, all while enjoying the other type of suds (beer), food from Filling Station 580, and great music from Pat Barmore and Friends.

The Trailside Shops Wine Walk this month was a great chance to visit some of the most interesting shops in town in the evening hours. A welcome chance to visit The Celtic Shop after regular hours revealed that owner Colleen Coble is already set for the holidys with some great Celtic Christmas ornaments and items. I’m putting up a Celtic Themed tree this year.

Our Lady of Lourdes Annual Fall Festival was a field full of fun as always, with the church’s outer grounds transformed into everyones classic fairground memories with all the best rides including a waterslide, fun house, Ferris Wheel, and even a mini roller coaster, bumpercars and a speedway ride. Favorite fair games, face painting and classic fair food treats and great tunes provided by An Actual Band put smiles on the faces of all the kids of every age.

GOSSIP