News …

Isn’t this the way life is supposed to work? A student calling for opera tickets is offered role in the production – Telegraph U.K.

Wanna visit an authentic “dive bar” the next time you visit New York City? Sure you do – New York Post

Bored with your everyday MP3 players? Than you need this – Softpedia

Bev Bevan talks about the Sabbath days – Sunday Mercury U.K.

Matt Nathanson does the Q&A – Northern Star Online

Views …

Yes in Reading, Pennsylvania – “The newly assembled quintet’s 2 1/2-hour show almost was entirely devoted to the band’s early-’70s peak, including the entire Close to the Edge album.” – Reading Eagle

Metallica in Tulsa – “The foursome’s formidable musicianship – united with an impressive display of lights and pyrotechnics and the frenzied adulation of the fans – made for a triumphant return to Tulsa, where Ulrich said the band hadn’t played since 1992.” – The Oklahoman / NewsOK.com

Madonna in Detroit – “Madonna wowed a crowd of about 30,000 at Ford Field, serving up the sort of oversized oomph to match her stature as pop queen.” – Detroit Free Press

Eagles in Cincinnati – “an enthusiastic audience through their hit parade at U.S. Bank Arena on Tuesday night, but also proved they have no intention of taking it easy during a tour that will take them around the world over the next year.” – Cincinnati Enquirer

AC/DC in Philadelphia – “Pyrotechnics and large-scale props accompanied AC/DC’s monster-truck riffs and thundering choruses, whether it was the inflatable title character of ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ or a remarkably realistic locomotive for the set opener ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Train,’ the first single from Black Ice.” – Philadelphia Inquirer

Carlos Mencia in Binghamton, New York – “Mencia had little time to stop and explain any rapid-fire jokes that ‘dee dee dees’ (i.e., stupid people ‘who reverse the evolutionary chart all by themselves’) just couldn’t get.” – Press & Sun Bulletin / PressConnects.com

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

Pete Moore (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) is 69

Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) is 48

Travis McNabb (Better Than Ezra) is 39

Tony Rich is 37

Jason Albert (Heartland) is 35

Billy Currington is 35

Chad Jeffers is 33

Tamika Scott (Xscape) is 33

Lil’ Mo is 31