Thanks Reddit.

As part of a series of coast to coast benefit shows, the reggae sounds of Santa Barbara’s own Rebelution will be resonating across the walls of The Roxy this Thursday, July 1st.  100% of the proceeds from this (and all the day’s benefit shows) go toward victims of the Gulf Coast oil spill.

Check out what you can expect from Rebelution and learn more about the Coast to Coast Concerts by clicking more.

Rebelution has been spreading their positive, socially conscious lyrics all around the U.S. lately, most notably at this years Bonaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee.

You can check out the guys doing Outta Control live at Bonaroo here.

Fortunately for the victims of the Gulf Coast spill (but unfortunately for you) tickets to their Roxy benefit show are sold out. But feel free to check back here in case any tickets free up. Or you know, just hang out around the Roxy on Thursday night and see if you can get friendly with the bouncer.

But this Rebelution show isn’t the only local Gulf Coast benefit show taking place that day.  The Mint, The Comedy Store, and the Viper Room (who will be hosting Mickey Avalon) will all be throwing benefit events that night.  Check out all the shows that are part of the Coast to Coast Concerts and learn how you can donate to the cause on the Gulf Coast Benefit website here.

In addition to the environmental devastation that BP’s oil disaster has caused, the spill has also destroyed the livelihoods of countless people who live on the southeastern coast of the United States who depend on jobs based along the Gulf of Mexico. Florida’s Capitol News Service reports today that food stamp applications have “soared” along the Florida coast following the spill:

Applications for food stamps in Panhandle counties have soared since oil began gushing from the broken BP pipe leak. Since May 1st application are up 15 percent. The Department of Children and Families is keeping separate data to track people who qualify for food stamps because the oil has destroyed their careers. Don Winstead is the Welfare Advisor for DCF. He says along with the growing need for food assistance is a growing need for councilors to help families going through hard times.

“Being not only in the food stamp program and other benefit programs but also seen through our mental health program also. One of the things we typically do after disaster is increase our counseling capacity because people are going to be affected in a variety of ways,” said Winstead.

The number of people seeking assistance in coastal Louisiana has reportedly gone up as well. Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans tells McClatchy newspapers that it has seen “at least a 15 percent jump in new families requesting services.” Additional funding for food stamps benefits was originally in the Senate’s unemployment “extenders” legislation, but it was removed in the hopes of getting conservative votes — a tactic that didn’t work as the bill once again failed to advance today.

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On July 1st, 2010, in the spirit of Independence Day, a nationwide effort on behalf of independent music venues will take place to benefit those directly affected by the Gulf Coast Oil Spill.

See you there Los Angeles.

This is so sad and so terrible. It's times like these I'm very glad I don't own a car.