News …

Grammy Awards strike interim deal with writers – Associated Press

EU’s top court rules ISPs are not required to give entertainment industry names of suspected copyright bandits – BBC News

Arctic Monkeys snag 7 NME Award nominations – The Times Online

Can this be? Is Marilyn Manson actually … happy? – New York Post

Man upset over music changes torches radio station – NBC 5 / Associated Press

Atomic Kitten is back and ready to rock – The Press & Journal / This Is North Scotland.co.uk

Views …

Garth Brook’s Los Angeles marathon – “Although the concerts drew from the same pool of material with just a few variations, each had its own personality” – Los Angeles Times (registration may be required)

Mika in Montreal – “The exuberant, charismatic and vastly talented performer was irrepressible, bringing his ridiculously peppy songs to the stage with a wildly infectious enthusiasm” – The Montreal Gazette

LeAnn Rimes in Manistee, Mich. – “…shares her own struggles in life in the lyrics, including the pain of a strained relationship with her parents, making her vulnerable and all the more lovable” – Ludington Daily News

The Blind Boys Of Alabama in Woodstock, NY – “… your soul feels happy, your face can’t help but smile and your hands don’t stop clapping. Don’t even try to fight it” – Times Herald-Record

James Blunt in Belfast – “He may well be small but he’s got one hell of a big belting voice” – Belfast Newsletter

B.B. King in Eureka Springs – “At once legend and regular guy, King is gracious, grateful and sincere” – Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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

Bettye LaVette is 62

Tommy Ramone (Ramones) is 56

Louie Perez (Los Lobos) is 55

Johnny Spampinato (NRBQ) is 49

Eddie Jackson (Queensryche) is 47

Jonny Lang is 27