News & Views

News …

It’s a little piece of Cleveland in NYC as the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame opens an annex in the Big Apple – The New York Times (registration may be required)

Audioslave’s Tom Morello and the President-Elect. Separated at birth? – The New York Daily News

Medeski Martin & Wood are perfectly happy doing what they want to do – The Los Angeles Times (registration may be required)

A quick primer on The Ting Tings – The Times Online U.K.

Views …

Vampire Weekend in NYC – “Over the course of a short, 14-song set Wednesday, the quintet turned the Nokia Theatre in Times Square into a beer-soaked frat party where boys banged heads and girls went wild.” – New York Post

John Legend in Chicago – “Marching from the rear of the theater to the stage to join his seven-piece band and three backup singers for ‘Used to Love You,’ was a harder version of our boy-next-door, in black leather jacket a shades.” – Chicago Sun-Times (registration may be required)

N*E*R*D in Norfolk, Virginia – “From the moment they arrived on stage, singing ‘Anti-Matter,’ from their latest album, N.E.R.D.’s show remained a high energy ride.” – The Virginian-Pilot / HamptonRoads.com

Of Montreal in Seattle – “Maybe it’s not as professional as a Flaming Lips bonanza, or as completely danceable as an LCD Soundsystem show, but no one plunges into the wonderful mess of hysterical creativity like Kevin Barnes.” – Seattle Post Intelligencer

The Mighty Boosh in Bournemouth, England – “Some of it worked really well and was as funny as the TV show, if not funnier, and some bits didn’t work quite as well. But who cares?” – Bournemouth Daily Echo U.K.

Dolly Parton in Des Moines – “Parton stepped out smiling, with hair piled high and silver-spangled fringe dripping off her yellow dress. Sunrises have been dimmer.” – Des Moines Register

They Say It’s Their Birthday … (Or so says Associated Press)

Jean Shepard is 75
Dr. John is 68
Lonnie Jordan (War) is 60
Livingston Taylor is 58
Lorna Luft is 56
Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes) is 48
Steven Curtis Chapman is 46
Bjork is 43

Chauncey Hannibal (BLACKstreet) is 40
Alex James (Blur) is 40
Pretty Lou (Lost Boyz) is 37
Kelsi Osborn (SHeDAISY) is 34