Overnight Sensation …
Our overnight crew would really appreciate if it you could spend some time reading the following items. So much, in fact, that they promise to write something nice about you if you read their stuff. What's more, they also promise to write something about you if you don't read their stuff. But it won't be nearly as nice.
Clannad Returns - The Celtic superstars reunite for their first U.K. tour in 10 years.
Clapton, The Police Headline Hard Rock Calling - Organizers haul out the big guns for the two-day event in London's Hyde Park.
Here & There …
Looks as if Qtrax did more than make a premature announcement claiming major label support for its ad-driven P2P. It also spent about £500,000 ($989,900 U.S.) promoting the uncompleted deal at MIDEM - The Times Online
U2's manager wants ISPs to "engage in the fight against piracy …" - Los Angeles Times (registration may be required)
Recording industry calls on ISPs to disconnect music pirates - Business Week
Garth Brooks donates mementos to American History museum, stays for Q&A - Smithsonian.com
Who would have guessed that Russia's presidential frontrunner candidate, Dmitry Medvedev, is quite the rock fan? - The Moscow Times
Britney Economics 101 - Associated Press
Dates, Dates & More Dates …
R.E.M. Those three uppercase letters that say so much. The first announcement from the R.E.M. camp includes three dates for May and ten for June. Cities include Burnaby, BC, Toronto, ON, Mansfield, MA, and Philadelphia, PA.
The "Vans Warped Tour" is far from carved in stone, but Pennywise, G.B.H. and The Vandals are supposed to be on some of the dates, along with Street Dogs, The Bouncing Souls and The Bronx. As in past summers, Warped starts in late June and runs through mid August. Cities include Buffalo, Detroit, Milwaukee, Boise, Fresno and Toronto.
New dates for Tim McGraw are for May, June and July. The new May stops are Tampa, Pelham, Raliegh, Noblesville and Tinley Park, June now includes Atlanta, Virginia Beach, Bristow and Albuquerque, and July gives us Cuyahoga Falls and Burgettstown.
During the day we also updated the schedules for "Hard Rock Calling", Chris Duarte Group, Louis XIV, Mae, Eve 6, Joe Bonamassa, Gin Blossoms, James Taylor, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Carrie Underwood, Saul Williams, Hal Ketchum, Murali Coryell, Riders On The Storm, Fu Manchu, Eric Jerardi Band, David Benoit, David Copperfield, Al Stewart, Widespread Panic, Kenny Chesney, Roger McGuinn, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Bad Manners, Social Distortion, Boyz II Men, Dianne Reeves plus more bands and artists than can fit on Steve Jobs' iPod. And we're told Jobs has a really big iPod.
And that's the story for today. We really enjoyed working for you today, and we hope to work for you again tomorrow. That is, as long as you spring for our medical coverage. Good night, and good health.