Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam has scheduled a July 20 benefit at Portland, Ore.'s 2,800-capacity Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. All proceeds

will benefit the Northwest Chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), with whom Pearl Jam guitarist Mike

McCready has worked closely since the 2002 disclosure of his battle with Crohn's Disease. Comedian David Cross and other acts

to be announced will also perform at the event.

The show will precede a July 22-23 stand at the Gorge just outside Pearl Jam's Seattle homebase, which will also serve as

the last dates of the band's North American tour. A European run kicks off Aug. 23 in Dublin.

In related news, Cross and fellow comedians Todd Berry and Jon Benjamin will serve as judges for the music/comedy

competition "Iron Composer," to be held June 30 at the Showbox in Seattle as part of the fundraiser A Drink for the Kids.

"Saturday Night Live" comedian Fred Armisen will square off against the Shins' Martin Crandall and Dave Hernandez to

compose a song in 45 minutes based on an interview with an audience member. All the while, they must stay focused while being

heckled by the audience and drinking five mandatory shots of vodka.

A Drink for the Kids raises funds for Seattle's Vera Project, a non-profit community center geared toward music and arts

performance for young people.