In music news, musical icon Bruce Springsteen announced yesterday he would play a series of concerts in swing states as part of a beat-Bush tour that will also include REM, the Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam and several other bands. Proceeds from the benefit concerts will benefit the group America Coming Together.

Springsteen writes in today’s New York Times “Personally, for the last 25 years I have always stayed one step away from partisan politics. Instead, I have been partisan about a set of ideals: economic justice, civil rights, a humane foreign policy, freedom and a decent life for all of our citizens. This year, however, for many of us the stakes have risen too high to sit this election out.” Springsteen goes on to write “Our goal is to change the direction of the government and change the current administration come November.”