The Rock Bottom Remainders, a group of literary superstars and wannabe rockstars -- Mitch Albom, Dave Barry, Amy Tan, Scott Turow et al -- are getting together for a four-city East Coast tour for Haiti relief in April. Unfortunately the cities -- Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston -- don't include Baltimore. How can they ignore the home of Frank Zappa and Edgar Allan Poe, and of Joan Jett's favorite baseball team?
But let's not hold a grudge, because the Wordstock tour is for a good cause. The band will work with the Pearson Foundation to support World Vision's relief efforts Haiti, as well as local organizations such as the Free Library of Philadelphia. The foundation is donating five new children's books to public schools for each ticket sold in each tour city.
The band features Barry on lead guitar, Tan on vocals, Albom on keyboards, Scott Turow on vocals, Greg Iles on lead guitar, Kathi Kamen Goldmark on vocals, James McBride on saxophone, Ridley Pearson on bass, and Roy Blount Jr. Roger McGuinn of the Byrds will make a guest appearance in Washington, where the band has events April 20 at Sidney Harman Hall and April 21 at the 9:30 Club. Details of all tour stops can be found on the group's website.
You've gotta love the band's approach to music. Here are a couple of FAQs from the website:
Q. What chords does the band know? A. Most of the band knows "E." and "A." A couple of the band members also know "B." We think Mitch Albom may know "F-sharp," but we do not allow him to play it except in emergencies.
Q. What kind of songs does the band play? A. Mainly songs that use the chords "E." and "A."