Odds & ends

Ûž Starbucks is selling the new Pearl Jam album. No wait, listen. Starbucks. Is selling. The new Pearl Jam, alongside Norah Jones. Let’s just ponder that for a little while. I am not sure how I feel about that, but then again, *I* was in Starbucks. And I like Pearl Jam. So that means either I am not as youthful and rebellious as I once thought, or else I am just becoming a yuppie (in denial, but one nonetheless?). Hmmm. Depressing.

Ûž Well, that settles that. The Arctic Monkeys have officially beaten Noel Gallagher in a drinking contest after a show at London’s Brixton Academy. With tequila nonetheless. It’s because the Arctic Monkeys’ livers are younger and fresher. Noel says, “Normally when somebody asks if you want one you say ‘no’.” Remember that, Heather. Tequila, my nemesis. The article is funny as all get out.

Ûž In the wake of the defunction of Grandaddy, you can catch some in-stores with frontman Jason Lytle. He’ll be at Easy Street in Seattle tonight, and at Amoeba in San Fran on Saturday performing songs off Just Like the Fambly Cat (V2).

Ûž One of my all-time favorite bloggers gets in on the music commentary. Read dooce’s “Potentially Shamed By The Shuffle.” Another Heather doing the world proud.

Ûž FUEL’s 100,000th visitor received the Nicolai Dunger promo CD I sent him (see, you didn’t even know there was a contest going on! Neither did I!), and as a sort of thanks he posted up a “superb gig” with Jens Lekman over on his blog. Enjoy!

Ûž I also just got an email from Ticketbastard: “Heather, Don’t Miss Nickelback! We thought we’d let you know about the following events you might enjoy: Nickelback VIP Packages, Coors Amphitheatre, 08/09/06.” Tempting. Glad I am somehow on their list for them to let me know about that one.

Ûž Death Cab For Cutie will be on the Henry Rollins Show tomorrow night, you can watch it online. The ULTIMATE in scary tattooed manliness meets the gentle emo boys of indie rock.

The person who let me know about this show also told me that the band name of Death Cab comes from the Beatles movie Magical Mystery Tour. Perhaps I am the last person to know that, but I guess it makes the band name seem a percentile cooler and less annoying to know that provenance.

Ûž Fascinating article about the hidden rootkits/spyware scandal from Sony BMG Music.

Ûž Penn State University of Pennsylvania gets all the best commencement speakers. I think I got the Smothers Brothers. What? I’ll take me a rapping Jodie Foster any day. Wait, no, actually that makes me feel mightily uncomfortable. It’s like when your dad tries to quote Nas or something.