News …

Sirius completes XM acquisition. Music fans throughout the world rejoice for no longer having to choose when selecting satellite radio – Reuters

Faith Hill to perform theme song for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” –UPI

Looks like George Carlin will get the last laugh after all – Associated Press

Ludacris, Keith Sweat and Widespread Panic among the artists and bands to be inducted into the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Access Atlanta

Catching up with Melanie – The Intelligencer / PhillyBurbs.com

Record producer Michael Berniker passes at 73 – The New York Times (registration may be required)

Views …

Little Feat in Edinburgh – “With seven excellent performers on stage at once, the problem is who to concentrate on, not whether there’s anything to look at.” – Edinburgh Evening News

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings in Seattle – ” … are the real R&B deal” – Seattle Times

Tom Waits in Scotland – “During the two-hour performance that followed, Waits wove a spell as intricate and engaging as that of any performer I can remember seeing on a musical stage.” – The Times Online U.K.

Wilco in Alaska – “Though reviewers and record labels like to define the band’s music – every band’s music – Wilco defies catagories.” – Anchorage Daily News

Jonas Brothers in Cincinnati – “The brothers – and their four-man band and eight-piece string section – played upon a huge multi-level stage set with moving lifts and risers and a catwalk stretching into the crowd.” – Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati.com

Seal and Nikka Costa in Costa Mesa, California – ” … had no problem heating things up at Pacific Amphitheatre.” – Orange County Register

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

Neal Doughty (REO Speedwagon) is 62

Geddy Lee (Rush) is 55

Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band) is 55

Martina McBride is 42

Chris Gorman (Belly) is 41

Wanya Morris (Boyz II Men) is 35

Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley) is 31