News …

MTV Europe Music Awards’ American Theme – Telegraph U.K.

Related: Fans rickroll MTV Europe Music Awards into awarding Rick Astley Best Act … Ever! – The Times Online U.K.

Is MySpace cooking up its own digital player? – Reuters

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake join Madonna onstage in Los Angeles. But not at the same time – E! Online

Martha Wainwright talks about her musical family – Courier Mail (Australia)

Benoit David on going from Yes tribute band to the real deal – The Canadian Press

Henry Rollins rages through a Q&A – Colorado Springs Post Independent

Views …

Metallica in Omaha – “Just over 16,000 fans packed the Qwest Center Omaha on Thursday night to see the heavy metal band tear through a set that lasted more than two hours.” – Omaha World-Herald

Sara Bareilles in Hartford, Connecticut – ” …and when she talked to the audience between songs, it was with a gleefully conspiratorial air, as if she was sharing a juicy secret she just couldn’t keep to herself.” – Hartford Courant

Atmosphere in Iowa City – “Slug is one of few rappers who can successfully combine empathy with anger, and this excellent show made it clear there’s a huge audience for Atmosphere’s uncommon brand of hip-hop.” – The Gazette

Joan Baez in Alexandria, Virginia – ” … was in exceptionally high spirits on the evening after the historic presidential election, peppering the 22-song set with humorous stories about her nonagenarian mother, her friendship with King and her reaction to Obama’s victory …” – The Washington Post

Al Green in London – ” …swept on to the stage with a presidential flourish, and began distributing red roses to the front row.” – The Times Online U.K.

David Byrne in Albany, New York – “It was a party. And quite a glorious one at that.” – Albany Times Union

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

Johnny Rivers is 66

Joni Mitchell is 65

Nick Gilder is 57

Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne) is 40

Zach Myers (Shinedown) is 25