Still getting my post-vacation bearings straight. But from what I've been hearing today, Josh Gracin's appearance next Tuesday at the Varsity Grill will be the hot ticket among local "American Idol" and country fans.

The former marine and up-and-coming country star placed fourth on "American Idol." Expect to hear "I Keep Coming Back,” the lead single from his forthcoming sophomore disc "All About Y’all" which, according to Gracin's Web site, was written by the Steve Robson and Jeffrey Steele, the creative team that penned Rascal Flatts hits “What Hurts The Most” and “My Wish.”

Gracin's Varsity appearance is also part of a one-year anniversary party for KKWF-FM (The Wolf, 100.7). Gracin will go on at about 6 p.m., but you have to win tickets from the station to get in.

Gracin's show will also mark the first public performance in the Varsity's upstairs performance space. In coming weeks, you can expect an influx of comedians at the Varsity as Taboo/Comedy Underground – another downtown holding of Varsity owner Emerging Market Development – shuts down for remodeling.

Varsity owners have discussed holding a variety of concerts and special events upstairs – everything from live music and fundraisers to TV and salon themed parties. And Tuesday's show may go a long way in determining what direction the Varsity goes in with its live entertainment, according to event coordinator Kathryn Schwarz.

"Once we get going we want to do lots of different things," she said.

Just got back from vacation. And the first call I got this morning was from my source at House of Blues. He wanted to let me know that Helmet had signed on to fill the Eagles of Death Metal's vacated opening slot for Guns N' Roses.

Helmet rocks! And the GNR show is again marginally worth shelling out your hard earned ducats. Maybe. And who knows? Maybe we'll get to hear a few more of those "Chinese Democracy" songs Axl Rose has been talking about for the last decade. 'Cause that album will see the light of day soon, right?

Well, the Guns N' Roses tour's cool factor just plummeted several notches after mercurial front man Axl Rose booted the Eagles of Death Metal from their opening slot after just one date. Click here for Pollstar's account of what went down.

But don't fret. Local fans can still look forward to opening act Sebastian Bach when the latest GNR lineup (which includes only Rose from the original lineup) stops at the Everett Events Center on Dec. 10. Maybe. We're assuming the tour makes it to the West Coast without any more riots.

Won't be back at the TNT for a few more days yet. But check back later this week and maybe I'll give you a few highlights of all the trouble I managed to rustle up in Canada. No near riots this time, like the one that nearly sparked outside the Boom Boom room last time I was there.

Many recognize Glenn Danzig as one of the most influential shapers of modern hard rock from his days as the voice of the Misfits, Samhain and Danzig. But many don't know about his other artistic forays into the worlds of film, comic books and – classical music? (Echo, echo.)

"Black Aria II," the sequel to his first classical album from 1992, recently saw the light of day after years of delay. And when I caught up with Danzig we talked quite a bit about the non-rock stuff before circling back to his Blackest of the Black tour (which will drop in on the new Fenix on Friday, Nov. 17) and other related Danzig projects.

Here's what he said about ...

... scripts he's working on.

... plans for filming "Gerouge."

... the Blackest tour.

... a forthcoming box set of Danzig rarities.

... his lasting influence and lame pseudo punk.

As promised, here are some more clips from my interview with George Clinton, who will appear during the 420 Funk Mob set at Jazzbones on Saturday. Along with the Wu-Tang news (see previous blog) we talked about ...

... his plans to release a box set and funk's comeback.

... the difference between what he does with 420 Funk Mob vs. P-Funk All-Stars.

I grew up on the P-Funk. So it goes without saying that I was shocked and excited to hear that George Clinton – the mad genius behind Parliament-Funkadelic – would be playing Jazzbones. (Granted, it’s not his show, per se. He’ll make a cameo with the 420 Funk Mob, a Funkadelic tribute band that features members of his backing band, P-Funk Allstars, on Saturday. Details here.

But I was even more surprised when he gave me the 4-1-1 on an as yet unannounced tour for next year. Guess who he’s hookin’ up with. To find out, check this clip out. It’s a pretty big deal.

On this second clip, we start out talking about the forthcoming album. And at one point he passes the phone to the Wu's business manager, Saddiq.

And check back later. I'll add more audio as I edit it down to the best parts.

The Democrats took back Congress on Tuesday, and secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld tendered his resignation the next day.

So you had to figure that Natalie Maines – recovering pop pariah and infamous basher of George W. Bush – might gloat a little Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome.

And so she did towards the end of the Dixie Chicks’ lively and sometimes powerful two-our set. She joked that many of the more than 15,000 on hand must have been thinking “I can’t believe she didn’t say anything about the elections.”

So she asked, “How ‘bout those elections?” And the crowd roared its approval; louder, even, than when the singer’s infamous “we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas” comment -- the catalyst for protests and removal from radio play lists in 2003 -- appeared in a trailer for the new Chicks flick “Shut Up & Sing” before the popular country trio’s performance.

“It’s Christmas. Santa got my list a couple of years late,” a vindicated Maines added before she and fellow Chicks Martie Maguire and Emily Robison continued with early hit “Wide Open Spaces,” backed by a large supporting band.

But the Dixie Chicks aren’t exactly what you’d call a political band, despite all the fuss that’s been made about Maines’ leanings since ‘03. And the only other thing that remotely passed for a political statement was their tongue-in-cheek entrance to “Hail to the Chief,” a nice if slightly obvious touch.

For the most part, the Texas threesome let tunes do the talking. And they spoke volumes, reminding fans of how the Chicks stood out in the formula-laden world of top-40 country even before all the controversy – with sass, sweet vocal harmony and plenty of spicy bluegrass flavor.
Their performance was also a testament to how good the backlash may have actually been for them in the long run, for that matter.

Their sales continue to soar even if many country stations still don’t play them. They’ve found a new niche on VH1 and lighter rock stations. And rockin’ opener “Lubbock or Leave It” -- from the new “The Long Way Around” album -- was an example of an invigorating new vibe that’s crept into their sound now that they quit caring about catering to country radio.
Of the new songs, the soul-inflected “I Hope” provided one of the set’s high points, as did the gently cascading “Lullaby,” a song about their kids. And Maines delivered “Not Ready to Make Nice,” a musical response to all the Chick bashing, with such arresting conviction that you really believed her when she sang “I’m still mad as hell/ can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should.”

Of course, there were plenty of old favorites, too. Fans first stood up and clapped en masse for “Goodbye Earl,” the trio’s quirky revenge fantasy about whacking an abusive hubby. The trio’s popular and affecting tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” went over similarly well a few songs later.
And Maines was funniest when she dedicated the rowdy “White Trash Wedding” to Kevin Federline, K-Fed having just split with pop tart wife, Britney Spears.

Fans were eager for more by the time the Chicks took a bow with the rowdy “Sin Wagon.” They cheered for several moments before the trio re-emerged, sans backing band, to start the encore with the plaintive “Travelin’ Soldier.”

The encore also included Bob Dylan’s “Mississippi” and “Fly” era favorite, “Ready to Run.”

With great performances like Saturday’s, the Chicks continue to make a mockery of all those radio stations that still won’t play their new album despite the quality of it’s content and its undeniable popularity (1.7 million sales and counting.)

But the Chicks even seemed to thumb their noses at the notion that they need pander to country radio in subtle ways, from between set music that included the Rolling Stones and Green Day to opening act Bob Schneider.

Sure, the Austin singer-songwriter delivered with a hint of twang. But Schneider’s was a jammy rock sound, something akin to a southern fried Dave Matthews. And his most impressive feat may have been closing with a gender-bending delivery of Aretha Franklin’s hit “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and making it work.

That probably wouldn’t go over quite as well at the Toby Keith show.

Lubbuck or Leave It
Truth No. 2
Goodbye Earl
The Long Way Around
Landslide
Everybody Knows
Neighbor
Cowboy Take Me Away
Lullaby
White Trash Wedding
Lil Jack Slade
Not Ready to Make Nice
Easy Silence
Long Time Gone
Some Days You Gotta Dance
I Hope
Top of the World
Wide Open Spaces
Sin Wagon

Encore:
Travelin' Soldier
Mississippi (Bob Dylan)
Ready to Run

Aw, give Faith Hill a break, people.

I didn't catch the CMA Awards last night. But since everyone and their grandma has been talking about what a bad sport Hill is, after her "controversial" reaction to losing to Carrie Underwood in the Female Vocalist of the Year category, I felt compelled to go to You Tube to examine the evidence. You know, to see if she'd really gone all Kanye West on us.

And look at her. Before she does it, she's pacing around and trying not to look at the camera, as if she's afraid she might crack up or something. Then her reacting is so stilted and stiff that it reminds me of - what's the word I'm looking for? – really bad acting. Click on the video below and judge for yourself.

P.S. Having seen both of them live this year, Underwood was the right choice.

I dropped in at the Cedarwood Dome in Milton over the weekend (formerly Atlantis), and there I met a brother named Kenny. If you listen to KISW-FM's morning show, the BJ Shea Experience, you know him better as regular caller They Killed Kenny.

Nice guy, but here's the weirdest thing I learned about ol' TKK. He once branded "Tool" onto his chest to win tickets to go see the band Tool. No, really. There it was, in keloid letters, after DJ Ricker called him up to the mike and asked him to show everyone in the approving and increasingly drunk throng.

I must admit that I'm not that big of a fan of any band. Except maybe Hootie & the Blowfish.

Just kidding. Or am I?

Anyway, Kenny didn't have to go to such masochistic extremes to win tickets to the station's Holiday Hangover Ball. He just had to enter the best Ricker impression contest. Gratuitous use of the words "gangter," "kickballs" and "whores" were involved.

Ricker spilled a few details on his station's holiday gala on Friday night. The rest came out today. The main attraction is Army of Anyone (featuring former members of Stone Temple Pilots and Filter), Saliva, The New Originals and KISW American Idiot contest winners, Surface Tension. It's set to go down on Dec. 1 at the Fenix (formerly the Premier.)

Tickets are free, but you have to call into the station to win 'em. Details here.

Lady Sovereign's American debut “Public Warning,” just dropped on Tuesday (Oct. 31), well after everyone and their grandma had already heard the first single “Love Me Or Hate Me,” courtesy of that Chocolate cell phone commercial.

She’s Jay-Z’s favorite new rapper. And she’s totally kicked @#%@ this week on “TRL.” So far be it from me to say I told you, but I told you all that Lady Sovereign – the self-proclaimed “biggest midget in the game” – would blow up by year's end. (Now if only the American masses will get hip to other brilliant grime rhymers from the UK, the likes of Dizzee Rascall, Roots Manuva and Mike Skinner.)

Lady Sov has already visited Seattle twice this year. (I wonder if they ever found that gear someone stole from her bassist at Bumbershoot.) And on Nov. 11 she’ll return for her first headlining date in Jet City at Neumo’s.

I caught up with her for a few minutes last month. And here is what she had to say about …

Lady Sovereign interview (part 1)

Lady Sovereign interview (part 2)

Between loveable spaz Sebastian Bach and curmudgeonly carnivore Ted Nugent, I was totally hooked on VH1’s “Supergroup” a few months back. So that took up a healthy chunk of the conversation when I caught up with drummer Jason Bonham on Monday.

But anyone who recognizes the name knows there was a lot more to cover. Bonham’s dad was, of course, John Bonham, the late drummer of Led Zeppelin, arguably the most influential hard rock act of all time. And the whole reason for our chat was that the younger Bonham would be in town next week in the newly realigned Foreigner’s rhythm section. (Hey, don’t hate. That's the second best selling act of all time on Atlantic’s roster, only behind Bonham’s dad’s band. No, really.) Find show details here.

So here are a few things Bonham had to say about …

… the behind the scenes action on “Supergroup.”

… how he hooked up with Foreigner and carrying on with a new lineup.

… memories of growing up in a rock household.

… what career he might have chosen if dad was, say, a bus driver.

… those rumors that have been floating around this year about Led Zeppelin possibly reuniting for a tour with him on drums.

This announcement arrived in my inbox early this morning:

Seattle Theatre Group (STG) announces the 6th annual “More Music @ The Moore” call for outstanding teen musicians. Set for two performances on Friday, March 2, 2007 at The Moore Theatre, the event will highlight student performances in such diverse styles as rock, jazz, R&B and classical music. Serious musicians between 14 and 17 years of age who are interested in a career in music are encouraged to apply.

Aspiring contestants can find out more here.

Strait performing in Kansas City in 2003.
DAVID EULITT/KANSAS CITY STAR

Next year is already looking pretty bright for the Tacoma Dome with the announcement of another big show for January. Country titan George Strait -- among the most formidable musical forces of the last quarter century -- will headline on Jan. 27, Front Page Publicity announced Wednesday.

Strait has sold more than 62 million records over the course of a 25-year career. And he holds Billboard's all-time record for No. 1 country singles with 53, including "All My Ex's Live in Texas," "Ace in the Hole" and "Fool Hearted Memory." He'll also be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during "The 40th Annual CMA Awards," which will be broadcast 8 p.m. Monday on ABC-TV.

Here's what the AllMusic.com had to say about Strait's 29th and newest album "It Just Comes Natural":

"It's just too easy to say that 'It Just Comes Natural' ... applies to the man himself, but that doesn't mean that it isn't true. Few singers have ever sounded as natural as George Strait. Throughout his long career, it has never seemed like he's had to work hard at his music -- not in its performance, not in the songs he chooses to sing, nor in the records he makes. Over the course of 25 years he's not released one bad album and 2006's It Just Comes Natural keeps country music's longest winning streak rolling."

Ticket info is forthcoming.

Nomeansno is one of the most inventive punk bands to hail from the Pacific Northwest. (Or maybe I should say Southwest since they're Canadian types. They hail from Victoria, BC and live in Vancouver.)

Monday I caught up with drummer John Wright, who will appear with his bro’, bassist Rob, and guitarist Tom Holliston, Saturday and Sunday at Hell’s Kitchen. You’ll be able to read more about the band in Friday’s GO section.

Here’s what John had to say about …

… making weird music.

… keeping it indie.

… selling out. But not with Nomeansno – with side project, the Hanson Brothers.(Click here if you need a quick primer.)

… the approach they took for their excellent new album, “All Roads Lead to Ausfahrt.”