News & Views For Friday, February 20

News …

Gossip site posts alleged photo of Rihanna after Chris Brown allegedly beat her. Police now allegedly investigating how photo allegedly leaked – Associated Press

Music Festivals & the ever-worsening economy – Reuters

Tupac Shakur film stalled stalled as Hollywood players fight for the dollars – The New York Times

Catching up with Kathleen Edwards – “As with the best artists, you can’t pigeonhole Edwards or her music.” – The Washington Post

Views …

Styx in Salinas – “Hundreds of fans cheered and sang favorite Styx songs Thursday night as the lyrics and music of the legendary ’70s “progressive” rock band propelled them back in time.” – The Californian

Andrew Bird in Los Angeles – “At the Orpheum, though, backed by a surprisingly muscular three-piece band, Bird roughed up his music in appealing ways, dismantling some of its knowing affectation and taking obvious pleasure in the destructive impulse that exists nowhere on his records.” – Los Angeles Times / Pop & Hiss

David Byrne in Seattle – “A sold-out Benaroya Hall crowd greeted the former head Talking Head with a standing ovation, the first of several he would receive.” – Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Ne-Yo in DC – “Whether the 29-year-old Grammy album-of-the-year nominee was moving his feet with the speed and grace of an NFL running back, down on his knees serenading a female fan or simply standing stage center in his sharp three-piece suit and fedora, Ne-Yo made it work.” – The Washington Post

Lykke Li in Dallas – “Her blond tresses flailing, her chic frock and tattered leggings a blur of fabric, the Swedish pop sensation lost herself in the rhythms of her set’s first song (and latest single) ‘Dance Dance Dance,’ shimmying all around the Granada Theater stage Wednesday night.” – The Dallas Morning News

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

Buffy Sainte-Marie is 68
J. Geils is 63
Walter Becker (Steely Dan) is 59
Kathie Baillie is 58
Leland Martin is 52
Sebastian Steinberg is 50
Ian Brown (Stone Roses) is 46
Brian Littrell is 34
Chris Thile is 28
Rihanna is 21