plus 2, Shooter Jennings paints new songs "Black" - YAHOO!

Shooter Jennings paints new songs "Black" - YAHOO!
Poker benefits humane society - Marion Star
Congressman Donnelly meets with SBA officials and local small business ... - Kokomo Perspective

Shooter Jennings paints new songs "Black" - YAHOO!

Posted: 05 Feb 2010 04:33 PM PST

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LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – On the title track to his 2005 debut, "Put the 'O' Back in Country," Shooter Jennings, the son of country legend Waylon Jennings, sang about "playing hillbilly music, like I was born to do." The Southern rocker takes an unexpected, darker turn on his fourth studio album, "Black Ribbons," by tapping novelist Stephen King to help narrate a 70-minute concept album that explores an apocalyptic future.

With the help of his new band, Hierophant, Jennings moves beyond the country-rock barriers by experimenting with multiple genres, ranging from electronic to punk -- and even Auto-Tuned vocals -- on the set, which is scheduled for release March 2 on Black Country Rock/Rocket Science Ventures.

Billboard: "Black Ribbons" is darker and more experimental than your past releases. How did you develop the concept?

Shooter Jennings: There were many elements in my life that led to this record; I went through a lot of big changes. I had a daughter and left my label and management in Nashville. So I had all this swirling emotion. In 2008 I moved across the country again from New York to Los Angeles. I drove in an RV with my fiancee, our daughter and our dog. That was the week when the economy completely fell apart. There was this feeling of being in the middle of the U.S. while all of this craziness was happening and hearing the fear from people on the radio. It opened my eyes to the injustice of how society is panning out. So I had a concept for the album by the time I got to L.A.

Billboard: There are only a few songs that could work for country radio. Was this album a planned departure from country music?

Jennings: It was 100 percent natural. There were some songs that didn't end up on this record that were country-esque. With all these changes, part of that was also examining who I am. That includes all the work I've done before, which I'm very proud of. My past records were exactly where I was in my life at that time. For now, I feel like there's more of a bigger picture to my tastes and what I can offer.

Billboard: The fictional talk-radio host/album narrator Will O' the Wisp paints a post-apocalyptic picture of the world. Did anything other than the poor economy inspire this?

Jennings: I've always been drawn to the darker side of things. When I was doing this record, I was reading a lot on everything, from past civilizations to government conspiracies to UFOs to the brief history of time to books on the occult. I was soaking up this dark counterculture of the world. We're in a very grim time. So I needed to paint the grim picture to let the colors of the positive message of the record shine.

Billboard: How did you get Stephen King to be the voice of Will O' the Wisp?

Jennings: The idea popped into my head by the time I reached L.A. Someone at Entertainment Weekly hooked us up and forwarded an e-mail from me to him. It didn't hit me that I got Stephen King wrapped into some scheme until he e-mailed me back. But I knew he was a fan. Eventually I sent him my idea for what Will O' the Wisp should be and he liked it. The next thing I knew, there was a CD of his recording on my doorstep, with a photograph of him in the studio and a transcript.

Billboard: In 2008, you and your band the .357s worked on "Waylon Forever," a tribute to your father. Do you have any similar projects lined up?

Jennings: We're doing some "Waylon Forever" shows, where we play the whole record and then play some other stuff. There's a Waylon tribute record (being put together for ScatterTunes) that has a lot of different people on it. I have a couple songs on it, and my mom (Jessi Colter) is on it a few times. I took part in that, but it's not necessarily anything of my artistic creation. But you never know. The "Waylon Forever" thing was important for me to get out there. Once I did that, I felt like I had achieved one of my goals.

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Poker benefits humane society - Marion Star

Posted: 05 Feb 2010 09:59 AM PST

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MARION - Proceeds went to the Marion Area Humane Society from the Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament hosted by the Stephen J. Chaney Post 7201 recently.

There were 40 players in the field. The top six winners received money and more than $1,800 was raised for the Humane Society though donations, sponsors, raffle tickets, a 50/50 drawing and part of the entrance fees. The Humane Society thanked those sponsors the players and the post.

More than 50 local businesses donated raffle items: Stofcheck Ambulance Service, Kroger, Payne's Pizza, Ron Gist RV Sales, Marion County Club, JD Equipment Inc., Anytime Fitness, Family Video, Carroll's Jewelers, VIBES Spa, Marion Animal Hospital, Edgefield Animal Care Clinic, Tractor Supply Co., Advanced Auto, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Regal Cinemas, Auto Tech, El Campesino, Godfather's Pizza, Papa Murphy Pizza, Perkins, National Tire & Battery, Denny's Restaurant, Petco, Pizza Brothers, Goldrush Jewelers, Pet Zone, Southland Lanes, Community Market, Marion General Hospital, Auto Zone, Shirk's Candy, Fairpark Pizza, CiCi's Pizza, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, Smith Brothers Hot and Classics, Kantzer Vet Clinic, Andrew Pastries, Blue Streak Wash and Shine, Miller Lawn and Power Equipment.

Contact the animal shelter at 2264 Richland Road by calling 740-389-6548 to make a donation or arrange for a pet adoption.

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Congressman Donnelly meets with SBA officials and local small business ... - Kokomo Perspective

Posted: 05 Feb 2010 08:05 AM PST

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Elkhart, IN – Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly met with Small Business Administration (SBA) officials and small business owners from across north central Indiana to discuss several ways our small businesses can more easily access credit. SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access Eric Zarnikow from Washington, D.C. and SBA Regional Administrator Marianne Markowitz from Chicago came to hear from north central Indiana small businesses on how the SBA can better assist them through existing or new programs.

"In these tough economic times, one of the ways our Hoosier small businesses can be successful is through increased access to capital," said Congressman Donnelly. "I invited SBA officials to north central Indiana to talk to our business owners and see how we can get them the resources they need to invest in new equipment and hire new workers."

"We know that if we give small businesses the tools they need, they will create jobs in communities all across the country," said Marianne Markowitz, SBA Regional Administrator. "One of the most important tools is capital, which small businesses need not only as they weather this tough economic time, but also for when they're ready to grow. Over the past year, SBA has supported over $408 million dollars in Recovery Act loans to Indiana small businesses which have helped save jobs and create thousands of new ones. But we know there is more work to be done and continue to work with the President and Congress to provide additional tools, including tax relief and new programs to further increase small business lending."

First, Congressman Donnelly and SBA officials met with retailers and manufacturers of RVs and marine products and banks to discuss ways in which the SBA's new floor plan financing program could be improved. The program, Dealer Floor Plan Financing, was created in July 2009 to assist these businesses in getting loans to finance their inventories.

"Roundtables like this one hosted by Congressman Donnelly are an important way not only for small businesses to learn about the resources SBA has to offer, but also for us to hear from small businesses about how we can continue to strengthen our loan programs and other support," said Eric Zarnikow, SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access. "Our Dealer Floor Plan Financing Pilot Program is one of the many tools we have deployed over the last year to help small businesses, and in this case auto, marine, and RV dealers, whether they're trying to get back on their feet or looking to expand."

Next, the Congressman and SBA officials met with small business owners from across north central Indiana at Mack Tool & Engineering in South Bend, where the group discussed how to secure SBA financing in a tight credit market including 504 and 7(a) programs for existing businesses and start-up enterprises. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law last February, small businesses have increased opportunities to apply for 504 and 7(a) loans to help them invest in new equipment and hire additional workers.

Finally, the Congressman visited the Thanhardt Burger Corporation in LaPorte, to show the SBA officials one of our many successful Hoosier small businesses. LaPorte Mayor Kathy Chroback, Greater LaPorte Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Tim Gropp, and Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce President Mike Seitz joined the group touring the small business.

ARTICLE: Congressman Donnelly Nominates 19 Students for U.S. Service Academy Admissions, one from Kokomo ARTICLE: Congressman Donnelly Supports Financial Regulatory Reform ARTICLE: Donnelly Asks that ACORN Not Receive Federal Funds ARTICLE: Congressman Donnelly Requests Assistance for U.S. Pork Industry

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