Akron, OH-bred bands DEVO and The Black Keys will team up for a Barack Obama benefit. Both groups will make a rare hometown appearance at Akron Civic Theatre Friday, October 17 in an effort to move the swing state’s vote left. According to a statement from DEVO, the official purpose of the benefit is to “to raise awareness and support for the candidacy of Barack Obama and democratic candidates in Summit County.” Along with The Pretenders, DEVO and The Black Keys are the most famous bands to emerge from Akron.

A limited number of tickets are on sale now at the Akron Civic Theatre Box Office by calling 330.253.2488 or visiting akroncivic.com, and through Ticketmaster by calling 330.945.9400 or 216.241.5555 or visiting ticketmaster.com.  Reserved seats are available for $25, $35 and $50.  A limited number of VIP tickets, which include a post show reception with band members, are available for $150.  All proceeds will benefit the Summit County Democratic Party.

On Monday night, an eclectic mix of musicians celebrated the life of electric music pioneer Robert Moog at New York’s annual Moogfest. The event, which traditionally takes place a few blocks north at the nearby B.B. King Blues Cub, was held at the Manhattan Center’s Grand Ballroom, a general admission room located above the Hammerstein Ballroom. Though he worked on a number of musical instruments throughout his life, Moog is best known as the creator of the Moog synthesizer. He died in 2005 at the age of 71.

In addition to speeches from members of the Moog Foundation, the evening featured short sets by a number of musicians who frequently utilize Moog’s instruments: Pink Floyd tribute band The Machine, the Eric McFadden Trio featuring Bernie Worrell, and Umphrey’s McGee. The evening also included the debut performance of the spacey, all-improvisational group Prison Shank, a jam-centric supergroup featuring keyboardists Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits) and Jamie Shields (New Deal), drummer Joe Russo (The Duo), bassist Ryan Stasik (Umphrey’s McGee) and guitarist Jake Cinninger (Umphrey’s McGee). Throughout the night, Cinninger honored the evening’s namesake by performing on the new, limited-edition Moog guitar.

As expected, a few musicians also collaborated. During the Eric McFadden Trio’s set, Late Show keyboardist Paul Schaffer presented Worrell with the annual Moog Award and later sat in for a jam. Umphrey’s McGee closed out the evening by inviting Shields out for a duel-keyboard jam during an extended version of  “Abacab.”

Neil Young’s next archival release will revisit his first solo performances following the demise of Buffalo Springfield. On May 5, 1968, the now classic-rock stalwarts played their final show, leaving a then 22-year-old Young to try his hand at a solo career. In November of that year he ran through a batch of new songs during a series of gigs at Ann Arbor, MI’s The Canterbury House. Forty years later, Young will release his second performance at the venue as Sugar Mountain Live At Canterbury House 1968. Armed only with his acoustic guitar, an at times nervous Young mixed songs written during his Buffalo Springfield tenure with newly written material that would appear on future solo albums and short, often personal stories. One of the most famous “raps” finds Young discussing his hapless “day job” experience working in a Toronto bookstore. Musical highlights include the album’s title track, which Young wrote at the age of 19, as well as “Mr. Soul,” “Expecting To Fly” and “The Loner.”

Young’s camp cautions that Sugar Mountain Live is not slated for inclusion in the highly anticipated Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963 - 1972). That 10-disc Blu-ray and DVD package will be released early in 2009, with a specific date forthcoming.

Yo La Tengo will once again host a series of Hanukkah shows at Hoboken, NJ’s Maxwell’s. Last week the group confirmed that it would celebrate New Year’s Eve at Montclair NJ’s Wellmont Theater and, today, the trio has announced that it will return to Maxwell’s December 21-28. As in years past, each show will feature a comedian, a surprise opener and an eclectic mix of covers. The performances will benefit a variety of charities and other non-profit organizations.

“Inflation may be rampant, but not here: tickets will be $30, just like last year,” a message on the group’s webpage says. “Shows will begin at 9:00 on Friday and Saturday, and 8:30 every other night. There'll be a musical act in addition to Yo La Tengo, some comedy, and maybe something else. We'll see. But just like last year, we will be enforcing a strict ‘don't ask, don't tell’ policy about the lineups. Mostly because we won't know until the last minute, but--we cannot tell a lie--also because we're ornery that way. Tickets will go on sale October 15 at 12 noon eastern time. Ordering links provided below.”

Yo La Tengo reminds fans that it does not “take a penny from these shows, and no performer receives anything beyond their expenses.” Fans are encouraged to contact the group about potential charities for the shows to benefit.

In other news, noise-rockers Vivian Girls will join Yo La Tengo and previously confirmed opener The Feelies at the Wellmont Theater “Tickets will be $35, or a mere $115 less than it costs to see Steely Dan,” the group jokes.  “To be fair, if you're paying per chord, Steely Dan is priced competitively.”