The Closing Bell

Okay, friends. It’s time to go home and think weekend thoughts. But before we go we want to call your attention to new dates for Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Simple Minds, A.C. Newman and John Pizzarelli, and links to items about Blur reuniting, Australia’s , Usher and yet another Smiths reunion rumor.

Overnight Sensation …

We proudly present the following tasty morsels of journalistic profundity scheduled to post during the next 18 hours.

Secondhand Serenade Marches On – Singer / songwriter John Vesely, aka Secondhand Serenade, has added a slew of new dates to his winter headlining tour in support of sophomore release, A Twist In My Story.

Flaming Lips Curate NY ATP – The Flaming Lips have been chosen to act as the Sunday curator for the second annual in New York City.

Link-O-Rama …

How important is a Blur reunion anyway? – The Times Online U.K.

Photo: AP Photo / PA
Blur’s Damon Albarn gets close to the fans at London’s Brixton Academy.

40 police and sniffer dogs are tasked with the challenge of “weeding” out drug use at this weekend’s in Australia – Australian Star

Hey, kids! Do you know what time it is? It’s time for another Smiths reunion rumor – The Mirror U.K.

Usher welcomes his #2 son – Associated Press

Photo: Rick Diamond
Philips Arena.

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

Former New Pornographers member A.C. Newman lines up a very elegant club tour for the winter months. Details include February 20 in Vancouver, British Columbia, at Biltmore Cabaret; February 26 in West Hollywood, California, at the Troubadour; March 11 in Toronto, Ontario, at Lee’s Palace; March 18 in Washington, DC, at Black Cat and March 28 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at Andy Warhol Museum.

Dickey Betts & Great Southern updates today with new listings for March and May. Stops now include March 12 in Milwaukee at Northern Lights Theater; March 20 in Chicago at Beverly Arts Center and May 22 in Alexandria, Virginia, at the Birchmere.

Photo: Jeff Moore
When the band pays a visit to the Constant Center in Norfolk, Va.

Simple Minds update with a few new stops in Germany. Dates include June 11 in Gelsenkirchen at the Amphitheater; June 12 in Bonn at Museumsplatz; June 16 in Berlin at Spaudau Zitadelle; June 17 in Hamburg at Freilichtbuhne Stadtpark and June 19 in Bielefeld at Ravensberger Park.

Jazzman John Pizzarelli new listings include January 25 & 26 in Minneapolis at Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant; March 22 – 26 in Atlantic City at Atlantic City Hilton and April 1 – 3 in Houston at Jones Hall For The Performing Arts.

During the day we also updated the schedules for Joey Gilmore, Last Waltz Ensemble, Lucero, Luis Miguel, Murder City Devils, Sam Roberts Band, Snoop Dogg, The Bellamy Brothers, The Real McKenzies, Trace Adkins, Vienna Teng, Zac Brown Band, Joe Bonamassa, David Gogo, Blues Traveler, Bjorn Again plus billions and billions of artists and bands, with each one carrying the Carl Sagan / Cosmos seal of approval.

And that means Thursday is in the can. Thank you for visiting our little corner of the Web today and we hope you can return tomorrow. G’night!