Working For The Weekend …

There’s nothing like spending the weekend reading the following news items set to post on Pollstar.com during the next 72 hours. That is, unless you somehow scored a free trip to Hawaii for this weekend. But even that’s debatable.

Saturday: J.D. Souther Returns To The Road – Iconic ’70s singer/songwriter J.D. Souther has announced dates for his first tour in 24 years.

Eight Is Hardly Strictly Enough – Hardly Strictly Bluegrass returns to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Oct. 3-5 for its eighth free year.

Sunday: WWE Invades Japan – World Wrestling Entertainment, the U.S. firm that produces the weekly programs “Raw,” “SmackDown,” and “ECW,” is making a concerted effort to export its story-line brand of professional wrestling to the land of the rising sun.

Monday: Eagles Of Death Metal Have”Heart On” For Fans – Jesse “Boots Electric” Hughes and Joshua “Babyduck” Homme have announced dates for a headlining run in support of upcoming release.

Dead Confederate Goes West – The Athens, Ga., psych-rock outfit has answered the prayers of left-coast fans and added new dates in that part of the country. Free download!

Our HotStar next week is Lila Downs

Link-O-Rama …

Myths and facts about royalties, Internet radio and what’s really fair – Radio World

Chemo therapy for hepatitis C sends Natalie Cole back to the hospital – E! Online

Incubus’ Brandon Boyd talks about the group’s charity, the Make Yourself Foundation – MSNBC

Former frontman for The Darkness, Justin Hawkins, talks about his new band – The Guardian U.K.

Questions and answers with Amanda Palmer – Los Angeles Times / Soundboard (registration may be required)

Musician who played trumpet on Beatles albums A Hard Day’s Night, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road can’t afford the ticket to see Paul McCartney’s Israel gig. Guess he’ll just have to stay home and listen to his Wings albums. – Haaretz.com

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

Check it out! A whole month’s worth of dates for Eagles Of Death Metal! Shows include October 30 in Seattle at Neumo’s, November 2 in Vancouver at Commodore Ballroom, November 10 in Chicago at The Bottom Lounge and November 25 in Houston at The Meridian.

Dead Confederate updates this afternoon with new listings for the western states. New stops include Tucson on November 11 at Plush, November 13 in Vegas at Beauty Bar, November 20 in Boise at Neurolux and November 22 in Denver at Sidecar Bar.

Smooth jazz guitarist Craig Chaquico adds new listings for this year and next. For this year, look for Craig in Modesto, California, on October 24 at The State Theatre Of Modesto, Crystal Bay, Nevada, on October 25 at Crystal Bay Club Casino and Orlando, Florida, on November 16, venue TBA. The new 2009 listing is June 5 in Austin at One World Theatre.

We wrap up the week with a string of Ray Parker Jr. dates in Tokyo. November 6 through 10 is the span and the venue is the Cotton Club.

And that’s a wrap for this week. Remember, it’s not a real weekend unless you catch some live music. Rock on!