News …

You’re not the only one having trouble filling the gas tank. Tours are feeling the gas crunch pinch too – Los Angeles Times

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss go up against Radiohead for Mercury Prize. Other nominees include British Sea Power, Elbow and The Last Shadow Puppets – The Guardian U.K.

Sting, Dave Matthews, Alanis Morissette, Moby, John Mayer and Suzanne Vega among the artists appearing on Songs For Tibet album – AFP

Coldplay to be the first to play Dublin’s new O2 – The Herald

Venues are closing and musicians are hungry. Is Austin losing it’s live music edge? – CBS 42 – KEYE TV

Guitarist, songwriter, producer and folk singer Artie Traum dies at 65 – The New York Times (registration may be required)

Views …

Foo Fighters in St. Louis – ” … no man is happier to be playing music than Dave Grohl.” – Riverfront Times

Coldplay in Vegas – ” … as they demonstrated at a packed MGM Grand Garden on Saturday night, this bunch is skilled at making big rooms feel small.” – Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Hold Steady in Madison, Wisconsin – “As the final strains of the keyboard wore on and the chorus echoed throughout the Majestic, a more jubilant crowd – and band – couldn’t have been found.” – The Capital Times

Yaz in DC – “British dance music from the 1980s has a signature sound, and it belongs to Yaz.” – The Washington Post

Steely Dan in Phoenix – “Kicking their set off with ‘The Royal Scam,’ the title cut from their 1976 album, Steely Dan proceeded to dazzle the appreciative crowd with their nuanced, complex compositions, including such deep cuts as ‘I Got the News,’ ‘Two Against Nature,’ ‘Godwhacker,’ and ‘Babylon Sisters.'” – East Valley Tribune

Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters – “With a serious face, Thornton sang upbeat country, or “modbilly,” songs with his 7-man band, the Boxmasters.” – Abilene Reporter-News

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

Chuck Jackson is 71

George Clinton is 67

Bobby Sherman is 65

Estelle Bennett (The Ronettes) is 64

Don Henley is 61

Keith Sweat is 47

Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls) is 45

Pat Bader (Extreme) is 41

Daniel Jones (Savage Garden) is 35

Rufus Wainwright is 35