Dave Matthews Band to throw 'free' concert Sept. 12

Oakland Tribune, Jul 22, 2004

FREE concert -- sort of. Just when the fever for pop-oriented, world beat explorations and taffy-pulled spiritual jams had begun to wane, the Dave Matthews Band has come back to save the day. That day is Sept. 12, to be precise, when DMB, the darlings of college radio, will perform a free concert at the Polo Fields in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Although the concert is free, tickets are required, and members of the Dave Matthews Band Warehouse Web site get first dibs. A yearly membership costs $35. Member tickets were available as of Tuesday. Any remaining tickets will be offered for free through the DMB official Web site beginning Saturday. Because the concert will benefit several Bay Area charities, Warehouse members are encouraged to make voluntary donations in exchange for their free tickets in the amounts of $25, $50 and $100. These donations are tax deductible. In addition, a limited number of VIP passes are available for $250 (not tax deductible). All tickets -- free or paid -- will be sent Aug. 30 via Federal Express, and recipients must pay for shipping and handling. For information on the Dave Matthews Band Warehouse, go to https://whsec1.davematthewsband.com. For the band's official Web site, visit www.dmband.com -- Candace MurphyTrade spaces

If you're dying to take over your neighbor's house and redecorate, time is running out.

TLC's "Trading Spaces Family" will film two episodes in the Bay Area this fall, and applications to be on the show are due July 31.

The premise of the hit home-remodeling show "Trading Spaces" and its spinoffs is this: You have $1,000, two days, a professional carpenter and an interior designer to completely redo one room in your neighbor's house. At the same time, your neighbors get to redo a room in yours. Homeowners are strictly forbidden to see their room until it's finished.

Because this is "Trading Spaces Family," each team must include at least one member ages 9 to 19.

Applicants apply together with their neighbors. The homes to be remodeled can't be more than four minutes apart by foot.

Rooms to be redecorated must be at least 14-feet by 14-feet, and master bedrooms are ineligible.

In addition to an application, applicants submit photos of the room from all angles, photos of the exterior of the house and photos of all potential team members. Renters are eligible, too, but must get written permission from the owner.

To apply, visit www.discovery.com and click on TLC, or e-mail ckeenan@banyanprod.com to get an application.

-- Elizabeth Jardina

Signs point to Aries

He plays men, women, dumbbells and smarties. The thing they have in common is that they're all funny.

Aries Spears, star of the FOX comedy sketch series "MadTV," is in San Francisco this week at The Punch Line in San Francisco to promote his new two-disc album. One disc is Spears' stand-up routine, and the other is a collection of prank phone calls.

Spears is best known for creating "MadTV" characters El Diablo Negro and Mother Love and for his imitations of Bill Cosby, Mike Tyson and Eddie Murphy. In addition to his comedy work, he has also appeared in movies such as "Malcolm X" and "Jerry Maguire" and on the TV shows "A Different World" and "Def Comedy Jam."

He is developing a feature film based on one of his "MadTV" characters and a thriller about a young black man immersed in hip- hop culture.

Spears' stand-up act is at 9 tonight; and 9 and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at The Punch Line, 444 Battery St., San Francisco. Tickets are $20 plus a two-drink minimum. Call (415) 397-0644 or visit www.punchlinecomedyclub.com

-- Chad Jones