Today’s appetizer selection includes yummy features about a New York City benefit for Sen. Barack Obama that’s shaping up to be quite a show, Vinyl continuing to make a comeback, what’s in Peter Hook’s record box, trading drumsticks for a paint box, a kinder, gentler Panic at the Disco and what’s really up with Miss Jackson.

Of course folks come to Camp P for our famous tour itineraries and today’s selection is a winner with new dates for Depeche Mode, Tesla, Shemekia Copeland, Jon McLaughlin and Matt White.

Link-O-Rama …

The stage for the October 16 Obama benefit at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom is starting to get pretty crowded – Hartford Courant

It’s the format that wouldn’t die! “Vinyl is the new books,” says one label exec – Chicago Tribune

Joy Division/New Order bassist-turned-DJ Peter Hook describes the perfect playlist – Guardian U.K.

This different drummer wields a wicked paint brush – Houston Chronicle

Panic at the Disco dials back the spectacle – Las Vegas Sun

People are beginning to whisper about all of those canceled Janet Jackson shows – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

Fans of gloomy synth-pop rejoice! Depeche Mode is hitting the road for a tour of the universe (man, those fuel bills are going to be murder). Stops include Israel, Germany, Italy, Norway and Croatia. And that’s just the beginning – to infinity and beyond!

If you like your music a little meatier, you’ll find today’s selection of new Tesla dates are just the ticket. Just in shows include Kansas City, Mo.; Allentown, Pa.; Hartford, Conn.; and New York City.

For something smokier, check out Shemekia Copeland. The second generation blues singer (her dad is guitarist/singer Johnny Copeland) has just added stops in Cambridge, Mass.; Londonderry, N.H.; Mount Vernon, Wash.; and Yakima, Wash.

Today’s choices also include singer/songwriter in two varieties: Jon McLaughlin and Matt White.

McLaughlin’s itinerary now includes stops in Louisville, Ky.; Los Angeles; Indianapolis; Salt Lake City; Seattle and San Francisco.

White, who wins the great hair contest hands down, just beefed up his schedule with shows in Spokane, Wash.; San Diego, Austin, Nashville, Indianapolis; Minneapolis, New York City and more.

So that’s it for now. You kids get outside and get some fresh air. A couple of quick notes before you go though.

No using the junior campers as targets for archery.

Knot tying should not involve binding and gagging.

And finally, remember what mom always said. Wait at least an hour after eating before throwing your counselor into the lake.

See you at 5 pm PST for The Closing Bell.