Although tickets don't officially go on sale until Monday, you can purchase $20 advance tickets through a special pre-sale thanks to Roger Creager and All Access Today. "Comin' Home" is set for 1-9 pm on Sunday, August 7 at Carlos 'n Charlies out on Lake Travis.

Roger Creager, Cory Morrow, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Deryl Dodd, Eli Young Band, Honeybrowne, Drew Womack, Max Stalling, Aaron Watson, Stoney LaRue, and Bleu Edmondson are among the artists slated to appear and honor their departed friend.

I bought my tickets today, and my wife and I will be at the show. Let me know if you'll be there, too.

David Brown, host and senior editor of "Marketplace" on public radio, is leaving his current post at the end of July. Next up for Brown: "Texas Music Matters" on Austin's KUT. Set to debut mid-August, according to the Austin American-Statesman, the program will feature in-depth interviews and, of course, music.

Watching the All-Star Game last night on Fox, I was shocked to see a Chevy ad use a clip from Steve Earle's "The Revolution Starts Now."

Not exactly known as a musican who resides in the hip-pocket of corporate America, Steve Earle has grown increasingly political and—some might say—incindiary on his albums in recent years.

In this title track from his 2004 album, Earle encourages listeners to engage in the political process and help spark a revolution in the American way of life:

Last night I had a dream
That the world had turned around
And all our hopes had come to be
And the people gathered ‘round
They all brought what they could bring
And nobody went without
And I learned a song to sing
The revolution starts now

How does this gibe with the world's 5th largest corporation? And how could Earle, a strong supporter of union labor (just think of his "Sweet Little '66"), lend his art to a company, GM, that recently announced it is eliminating 25,000 jobs?

I don't watch much TV, so maybe this ad has been playing for a while. But, frankly, I was stunned.

Has Steve Earle given up on the revolution and succumbed to corporate America?

POSTSCRIPT—Another curiosity: GM is a significant contributor to the GOP, which isn't exactly Steve Earle's favorite party.

Kirby Standley, tour manager for Roger Creager, passed away in May at the young age of 30. A host of generous musicians still grieving the loss of their friend will gather at Carlos 'n Charlies on August 7 to help raise money for the Kirby Standley Memorial Fund.

Cory Morrow, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Roger Creager, Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, Drew Womack, Eli Young Band, Deryl Dodd, Honeybrowne, Jack Ingram, and Aaron Watson are among those scheduled to perform.

You can purchase tickets for $20 each. Or, if you cannot make the show but still want to help, consider an online donation to the Memorial Fund.

The generous help of family, friends, and perfect strangers was such a tremendous help to my family in the wake of my sister's passing earlier this year. My heart goes out to the Standley family, and I hope they find some measure of peace and comfort through the support of the Texas music community.

If you haven't bought a wristband yet for ACL Fest, you now can buy a 1-day ticket for $45 ($59 after service and delivery fees).

I just ordered one for Friday. I'm hoping my media credentials application gets approved, and that my wife can then join me in Zilker Park on Friday. But I won't find out about that until August. So just in case, I can be sure of going at least one day.

Everyone has their favorites, I know, but Friday looks to be the killer day for me. I plan to be at Austin Collins' opener, then camp out at the Cingular stage for Asleep at the Wheel, Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, John Prine, and Lyle Lovett. Wow.

Friday
Saturday
Sunday

What does your early ACL schedule look like?

Last month some of Austin's finest musicians gathered at the Continental Club and the Saxon Pub in a benefit for Willie Graham, Jon Dee Graham's young son.

Willie is battling Legg Perthes disease, a rare degenerative disorder of the femur. The Grahams had health insurance, but their provider has gone bankrupt and other providers consider Willie's disease a pre-existing condition.

James McMurtry, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ian McLagan, Bob Schneider, Shawn Colvin, Alejandro Escovedo, Roky Erickson, and Stephen Bruton were among those who performed at the benefit, which was recorded for a forthcoming live album.

According to Joe Gross of the Austin American-Statesman, a second benefit is planned for September; and rumor has it that the True Believers will reunite onstage for one night only.

Jon Dee Graham and Alejandro Escovedo are playing a series of dates together this summer, including a set with Charlie Sexton at the June benefit. If true, the September reunion would be the True Believers' first performance since the band dissolved in 1987.