News …

David Byrne to turn New York building into giant musical instrument – Associated Press

Peace at last! World sighs with relief as Paul McCartney / Heather Mills divorce finally draws to a close. – The Times Online U.K.

Gracenote and Clear Channel ink deal to provide song lyrics to the latter’s radio station Web sites – Marketwire / Gracenote / press release

Move over, Peter Parker. Neil Young immortalized as a web spinner – ScienceDaily

N.E.R.D. ramps up the production – The Boston Globe

New Zealand opera star Laura Casey critically injured in car crash – The Press / Stuff.co.nz

Views …

Madonna in the U.K. – “Madonna wowed a 12,000-strong crowd with tracks from her new album, Hard Candy, at her only UK festival appearance of the summer – at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Maidstone, Kent. – The Independent U.K.

KIIS-FM “WangoTango” in So Cal – “They came for the Dey. They came for Shwayze. They came for Cherish and Danity Kane. Many, many came for Miley Cyrus. Those on the verge of adulthood came for Snoop Dogg and Pitbull. But above all, it seems, they came for the Jonas Brothers.” – Los Angeles Times (registration may be required)

Panic At The Disco in Boston – ” … the band arrived on stage last night at Bank of America Pavilion to deafening cheers, kicking off their short-but-sweet set with “We’re So Starving,” which led directly into the kaleidoscopic single “Nine In the Afternoon.” – Boston Herald

Alicia Keys in San Jose – ” … delivered a nearly two-hour show that was consistent, classy and musically varied, marked by a quiet confidence that made even the lesser songs from her three-CD catalog appealing.” – San Jose Mercury News (registration may be required)

Queens Of The Stone Age in Toronto – “From twitchy opener “Misfit Love” through the lockstep, drill-punch thud of “Walkin’ on the Sidewalks” and “Turnin’ On the Screw” to a blistering, pre-encore assault on “Battery Acid” and “Sick Sick Sick” that left one fairly gasping for breath, the night was a daunting display of elevated musicianship deployed in service of maximum, gut-level kicks. – The Toronto Star

Jethro Tull in the U.K. – “The group’s amazing eclectic mix of blues, rock, jazz, folk, classical and heavy prog rock was a joy to behold as for two hours the band showed why, even after 40 years, they are still unique in British popular music.” – News & Star U.K.

Kansas in Reading, PA – “The band performs its hits and other songs with the prog-rock signatures of multiple sections, intricate arrangements and odd time signatures.” – The Reading Eagle

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

Burt Bacharach is 80

George Carlin is 71

Billy Swan is 66

Steve Winwood is 60

Billy Squier is 58

Kix Brooks (Brooks & Dunn) is 53

Billy Duffy (The Cult) is 47

Eddie Kilgallon (Ricochet) is 43