Insert Heat Metaphor Here

Ben Folds - March to Re-Energize Iowa

Full disclosure: This is promotion for my day job, but given that it's still arguably relevant to our site, and it's a good cause, I felt like it was ok to post this--I hope you don't mind indulging.

There's obviously been a lot of talk about Global Warming this year, and a lot of celebrity involvement. As an environmental advocate, I think this is a good thing, as a serious music fan, it's been a mixed bag at best. I mean, I loved Spinal Tap's video and the army of bassists playing Big Bottom, but there's no denying that there's a right way and a wrong way for celebrities to get involved in causes and the risk of tedium is never far away.

So here's my favorite recent example of the right way to do it: Ben Folds was in Des Moines a few weeks ago for a show and was handed a flyer on the street for Sierra Student Coalition and Sierra Club's March to Re-Energize Iowa which is taking place from August 2-5 (also in New Hampshire!). In the dressing room he literally set the flyer to music and performed the new song that night. It's kinda funny, energetic, and it gives people some kind of action to take on the issue. And personally, as cheesy as it might get, that tune is catchy as hell and will get stuck in your head.

So thanks to Ben Folds for getting it right and helping my friends in the Sierra Student Coalition get word out about taking action to fight global warming. You can learn more about the Iowa and New Hampshire marches here . The marches are August 1-5 in New Hampshire and August 2-5 in Iowa--each will end with a big rally on the 5th in Des Moines and Concord respectively. We need all the folks we can get so if you'll be in one of those states, please join in. And any other rockers want to lend a hand, by all means let me know!