Obama Nights! w/ Priscilla Ahn, Greg Laswell, Cary Brothers, Jim Bianco, Butch Walker, Marié Digby, Rocco DeLuca, Ben Lee, Brett Dennen & More @ Hotel Cafe, 10/12 & 10/13/08

Last Sunday and Monday was Obama Nights! at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. The sold-out Barack Obama Presidential Campaign fundraisers, featuring an all-star lineup of 23 singer-songwriters, included Marina V (MySpace), Caitlin Crosby (MySpace), Laura Jansen (MySpace), Charlotte Martin (MySpace), Charley Turner (MySpace), Brother Sal (MySpace), Terra Naomi (MySpace), Priscilla Ahn (MySpace), Greg Laswell (MySpace), Cary Brothers (MySpace), Jim Bianco (MySpace), and Butch Walker (MySpace) for Sunday, while Monday included Kelly Dalton (MySpace), Marié Digby (MySpace), Tim Myers (MySpace), Schuyler Fisk (MySpace), HoneyHoney (MySpace), Rocco DeLuca (MySpace), David Ryan Harris (MySpace), Chris Pierce (MySpace), Tom Freund (MySpace), Ben Lee (MySpace), and Brett Dennen (MySpace).

Due to the sheer number of artists performing each night, the majority of their setlists were limited to about 15 minutes, or three or four songs apiece, but with the quick changeover between performances, the schedule was kept at a brisk pace. The exception were headliners Walker, Lee, and Dennen, whose setlists were mostly improvised, and with requests taken from the audience, their set times ran closer to an hour long.

Meanwhile, the alley immediately outside the main entrance was specially decorated for the fundraisers, just as it was for the recent Hotel Cafe Tour stop. Designed as a smoking and drinking lounge for the overflow crowd, the decor included several rows of lights strung on cables overhead, tables and stools, and even a piano.

In addition to the existing Obama campaign merchandise that was available, there was also a one-of-a-kind lithograph, signed by all of the artists from Monday night, available for silent auction.

Butch Walker

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