ST. LOUIS, MO.: The nationally-popular band “Cowboy Mouth” will open the much-anticipated, 5th annual “Denim & Diamonds” celebration to benefit the Saint Louis University Liver Center, November 9 and 10.

A New Orleans-based rock band whose performances have reached a wide range of audiences from the Roxy on Sunset in Hollywood, to the Ellen DeGeneres Show and even a Disney animated movie, Cowboy Mouth has a strong local following in St. Louis as well. Cowboy Mouth will appear at The Pageant Friday, November 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets, which are $25, go on sale September 14 to the public (age 21 and up only).
An Internet pre-sale begins September 13 at www.thepageant.com and through 106.5 The Arch radio station. Tickets will be available from September 14 at The Pageant box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone
at (314) 421-4400 or log on to www.ticketmaster.com.

The “Denim & Diamonds” event, sponsored by Friends of the SLU Liver Center, supports the research efforts of the world-renowned Saint Louis University Liver Center for the treatment and cure of liver diseases, and to promote understanding and awareness of liver disease. All money raised by the organization stays in the
St. Louis area to perform life-saving research and treat patients in St. Louis.

“Each day we are discovering that more people are suffering from liver disease, including hepatitis C and B, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, auto immune liver disease and liver cancer,” said Dr. Bruce R. Bacon,
co-founder of the SLU Liver Center. “Many believe there’s little hope after being diagnosed, but there are
new treatments and there is hope.”

One of the Center’s better-known patients is Grammy-winner Naomi Judd, who after being diagnosed with hepatitis C, was given just three years to live and now credits Dr. Bacon and his team for saving her life.

Dr. Bacon believes there are critical reasons to support Friends of the SLU Liver Center:

• The SLU Liver Center enjoys worldwide recognition as a center of excellence for research and treatment of liver diseases.
• Hepatitis C affects five million people in the United States. One in 50 people have hepatitis C and nearly two-thirds of those people don’t know they have it.
• Hepatitis C can be diagnosed through a simple blood test and is curable in about 60 percent of patients.
• There are over 30 other liver diseases which can be diagnosed and treated.
• All the money raised by the Friends of the SLU Liver Center stay in our region to
• support local research and treatment at the SLU Liver Center.

Information about the November 10 black-tie gala at The Ritz-Carlton hotel can be found at http://livercenter.slu.edu or call (314) 576-3078.