Here & There …

Man suing Busta Rhymes for assault is also suing rapper’s record label, saying it encourages its artists to commit violent acts – The Age

Forget The Police and Van Halen. In Latin America the big reunion tour is Soda Stereo – The Chicago Tribune / McClatchy / Tribune

Not the top ten best songs or the top ten best selling songs. Instead, here’s a list of the top ten infectious songs of the year – The Vancouver Sun / CanWest News Service

Hmmm, wonder if they tested anything recorded by Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Cranberries or Cake? Researchers say some people can “taste” music – Melbourne Herald Sun

Have you heard the new song by the police? No, not the band. The police – Edinburgh Evening News

What did you do during the loudness war, Daddy? – Rolling Stone

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

311 is going to Canada, and the band is taking Slightly Stoopid with them. Dates include Montreal on March 19, Toronto on March 21 and Vancouver on March 30 as well as points inbetween.

Looks like Bill Frisell will do a residency at NYC’s Village Vanguard. So far, Bill will appear at the Vanguard April 15 – 20 and 22 – 27.

New dates for Lang Lang have an international feel. Look for the Chinese pianist to play China, United Kingdom, Italy and Germany in January, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland and additional shows in Germany in February and Canada and the U.S. in March.

Medeski Martin & Wood update with new dates for Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York; moe. add several U.S. dates for February including Washington, DC, Albany, NY, and Northampton, MA; Musiq Soulchild play Atlanta in May, Houston, Chicago and Charlotte in June and Columbus, Ohio, in August and The Bacon Brothers touch down in Memphis in January (place your own jokes about “the six degrees of …” here).

During the past couple of hours we also updated the schedules for The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Tea Leaf Green, Sister Carol, Rory Block, Foreigner, Kathleen Battle, Sue Foley, Rogue Wave, Les Claypool and Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes.

And we’re at the 50 yard line! Or the half way point. Or half time. Or something. It’s high noon on the West Coast and we have more tour-date processing hours ahead before management unlocks the doors and gives us back our car keys. Don’t miss the newest tour dates in Your Latest Update, coming up around 3 PM, from Pollstar.com!