News & Views

News …

IFPI says 95 percent of music downloads during 2008 were illegal.  Of course, an optimist would say 5 percent did the right thing – Tech Digest

Checking out D.C.’s 9:30 Club. Is it really one of America’s best nightclubs? – The New York Times

Rebels without a pause – BBC documentary chronicles the evolution of the protest song – The Times Online U.K.

Meanwhile, here in the States we get “Rock Wives: The E! True Hollywood Story” – Los Angeles Times / Pop & Hiss

Views …

Adele in New England – “For a Grammy nominee, Her performance was confident and assured. For someone with only one album under her belt, it was a richly varied delight. For a 20-year-old, it was extraordinary.” – The Boston Globe

Tina Turner in Germany – “She may be 70 in November, but Turner gave it every ounce of commitment from first note to last, a swaggering, bawling, head-shaking advertisement for the joy of 69.” – Telegraph U.K.

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band in Idaho – “The Big Damn Band’s songs felt like a steam engine about to jump the track; all speed, zero subtlety.” – The Idaho Statesman

Lil’ Wayne in Toronto – “It took half an hour for Lil Wayne to take his shirt off, but just seconds for a capacity crowd at the Air Canada Centre to embrace him as hip hop’s reigning king.” – Toronto Star

Eagles in Charlotte, North Carolina – “What followed was nearly three hours of music that made all Eagles fans remember why they don’t want this band to die.” – Charlotte Observer

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

Bob Bogle (The Ventures) is 75
Marilyn Horne is 75
Barbara Lynn is 67
Ronnie Milsap is 66
Jim Stafford is 65
Debbie Allen is 59
Sade is 50

Paul Webb (Talk Talk) is 47
Maxine Jones (En Vogue) is 43
Nick Valensi (The Strokes) is 28