Hailing the chief

Other presidents have come into office concerned about the arms race. This one, the economy.

But when you’re planning the parties that celebrate a new president’s inauguration, the real issue on your mind is the battle of the bands.

Right now, anyone who can turn on a microphone or knows somebody who plays an instrument probably could get a gig in Washington the week of Jan. 18. Simply put: The laws of supply and demand seem to apply to musical talent just as they do Wall Street.

Party planners who score A-list acts can consider themselves lucky.

Here’s a glimpse at the lineup so far at various parties:

This week, Feeding America, the nation’s hunger reliever, and the Recording Industry Assn. of America announced that “multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning global superstar” Rihanna will perform at their inauguration charity ball on Jan. 20. (In this competition, the booking is the equivalent of Obama’s Iowa victory.)

The chief executive and president of Feeding America, Vicki Escarra, said in a statement, “As the prevalence of hunger in America increases at an unprecedented rate, we are most grateful to Rihanna and to RIAA for helping us bring greater visibility to this tragic reality and helping us feed millions more people in need.”

David Arquette, chairman of Feeding America’s entertainment council (and husband of Courteney Cox), added: “We are hopeful that President-elect Obama’s pledge to fighting hunger in America and ending child hunger by 2015 will bring relief to . . . Americans at risk of hunger today. We can all do our part by raising money, donating food or volunteering.”

Last week, the Inaugural Purple Ball announced that Il Divo, an operatic quartet that toured with the real diva, Barbra Streisand in 2006, will perform along with crooner Peter Cincotti.

The host committee includes Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., Patricia Arquette, Amy Brenneman, Ed Harris, Ashley Judd, Josh Lucas, Amy Madigan, Brad Silberling and Kate Walsh. Hill Harper will give the toast (sponsored, of course, by Moet & Chandon). Proceeds go to support the Eracism Foundation, a group started by Gossett to address the effect of racism.

Meanwhile, the Creative Coalition, which started planning its inaugural party before the last midterms, announced that Sting, Sam Moore and Elvis Costello would be performing at its gala. (Now that’s a bill.)

Confirmed guests include Tim Daly, Tony Goldwyn, Anne Hathaway, Ron Howard, Kate Walsh, Spike Lee, Tim Robbins, Marcia Cross, Kerry Washington, Susan Sarandon, Seal, Jane Krakowski, Adrian Grenier, Ashley Judd, Bradley Cooper, Alfre Woodard, Blair Underwood, Barry Levinson, Dana Delany, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Wendie Malick, Josh Lucas, Matthew Modine, Rachael Leigh Cook, Alan Cumming, Connie Britton, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Richard Schiff, Ellen Burstyn, Giancarlo Esposito, Gloria Reuben, Phillip Bloch, Tom Cavanagh, Lynn Whitfield, Tamara Tunie, Tom Fontana, Sue Kramer, Kim Raver and Maura Tierney.

No word yet on Oprah Winfrey’s lineup for her Obama bash. And we’re still waiting to find out who will be playing the National Mall.

Within the next week or so, all the major acts are likely to be spoken for. By the time the Obama inaugural rolls around, it won’t be just policy wonks who are polishing up their resumes but garage bands as well.

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tina.daunt@latimes.com