The Briefs are officially on hiatus. But the bad news for the Seattle punk band’s fans is that it may be of the permanent variety. At least that’s how it sounded recently when I caught up with singer-guitarist Steve E. Nix.

“The Briefs just aren’t doing anything,” he said. “Maybe we’ve broken up. There’s just no plans. Some members moved away, and I’m concentrating on the Cute Lepers. So you never know. We may play again, or we might not. Bands aren’t supposed to go on forever.”

The good news is that “Cute Lepers” thing he mentioned. That’s the name of his new band, which will headline Hell’s Kitchen’s all-ages show, set to kick off at 6 p.m. Friday (Aug. 1). Click the link below to hear clips from my interview with Nix and snippets of "It's Summertime, Baby," "The News Is Always the Same," "The Day After the End of the World" and "Terminal Boredom" from the band's debut "Can't Stand Modern Music," which Joan Jett's Blackheart Records released last month.

Steve E. Nix (the blonde guy in the middle) will bring his new punk outfit, the Cute Leppers to Hell's Kitchen on Friday.
ELIE GORAL

People always ask me what I listen to when it's not for a paycheck. So here's what's in heavy rotation on my iPod this week.

How many ways can Trent Reznor convey the message, “By the way, I’m a little messed up?” He shouts it over blaring guitar riffs. He whispers it over weepy piano melodies. And on this underrated track from 1999’s “The Fragile,” he says it robo-funk style. This one’s been stuck in my head since Nails blew up KeyArena last weekend.

The Bug (aka British dubstep producer Kevin Martin) sure takes his sweet time to release an album. Five years lapsed between 2003’s “Pressure” disc and Tuesday’s “London Zoo,” a release I was antsy for last year as Martin released a series of singles, “Skeng,” “Jah War” and “Poison Dart,” each sicker than the last. And with all that ridiculous bass finally at my disposal, how long does it take me to blow out one of my speakers? About 53 minutes. REEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHH! See you later, Car Toys.

This band’s initials stand for Cansei de Ser Sexy, Portugese for “tired of being sexy.” This fun Brazilian dance-punk band shows just how international Sub Pop has gone. And not to ruin the metaphor for you, but I don’t think singer Lovefoxxx is talking about listening to Bob Marley into the wee hours.

When I met lead howler David Yow a decade ago in Bellingham, we talked about the time he got arrested for taking his pants off onstage in Cincinnati. I’d witnessed said event, and thought it was funny that he’d worried about his mom finding out, thanks to an MTV news report, afterward. Then we talked about Puff Daddy for some reason (you know, back when he was still Puffy.) Then later, during the that night’s show, Yow gave me the coolest shout out ever. “I’d like to dedicate this song to EJ!” he declared, maybe a little drunkenly. “It’s a dance song like Puff Daddy does.” Memory is a little fuzzy, but it may have been this song. Huh huh, huh huh. That ruled.

Here are some answers to yesterday's car song trivia challenge. Avoid spoilers here.

Useless Trivia Tuesday answers

1. “Jesus Built My Hotrod”, N. Ministry
2. “Car Wash”, L. Rose Royce
3. “Keep the Car Running”, O. Arcade Fire
4. “Gasoline”, B. Audioslave
5. “Automobile”, H. N.W.A.
6. “Fast Car”, P. Tracy Chapman
7. “Drive”, A. The Cars
8. “Black Cadillacs”, D. Modest Mouse
9. “Car Thief”, F. Beastie Boys
10. “Fast Cars and Freedom”, I. Rascal Flatts
11. “I Can’t Drive 55”, M. Sammy Hagar
12. “Rental Car”, G. Beck
13. “All I Wanted Was a Car”, E. Brad Paisley
14. “When It Comes to Cars”, J. Post Stardom Depression
15. “Drive (For Daddy Gene)”, K. Alan Jackson
16. “Price of Gasoline”, C. Bloc Party

I've noticed a couple of decent videos from last Saturday's Nine Inch Nails show. This is my favorite cut from "The Slip," performed at KeyArena in the first clip and in a rehearsal clip below that. Ain't it cool how they build that giant Kaos Pad (or whatever that was) Reactable for the live show?

Flowmotion's eighth annual Summer Meltdown will be take place from Aug. 8 to 10 at Darrington's Whitehorse Mountain Amphitheatre. And I just got this environmentally friendly announcement from organizers. Take that, Neil Young and Willie Nelson!

The Summer Meltdown, having garnered critical acclaim for its diversity of musical acts - is proud to announce that they will be the first festival in the state to be run on 99% recycled biodiesel. In partnership with Bid For Green, (provider of event biodiesel solutions for Willie Nelson, Keb' Mo' & others,) and national diesel generator supplier Sunbelt, this year’s Summer Meltdown is setting a new benchmark for the use of alternative fuels in Washington State and underscores the festival’s commitment to sustainable living, responsible action and community building.

Find a schedule of performers -- which include Buckethead, Blake Lewis, Flowmotion and more -- on the festival website.

With Hotrod-A-Rama coming up this weekend at the Swiss, I thought I’d come up with a car mix to get you all in the mood. But it would be too easy to just list the songs in order though, right?

Useless Trivia Car Challenge
Match the car song with the artist behind it.

1. “Jesus Built My Hotrod”
2. “Car Wash”
3. “Keep the Car Running”
4. “Gasoline”
5. “Automobile”
6. “Fast Car”
7. “Drive”
8. “Black Cadillacs”
9. “Car Thief”
10. “Fast Cars and Freedom”
11. “I Can’t Drive 55”
12. “Rental Car”
13. “All I Wanted Was a Car”
14. “When It Comes to Cars”
15. “Drive (For Daddy Gene)”
16. “Price of Gasoline”

A. The Cars
B. Audioslave
C. Bloc Party
D. Modest Mouse
E. Brad Paisley
F. Beastie Boys
G. Beck
H. N.W.A.
I. Rascal Flatts
J. Post Stardom Depression
K. Alan Jackson
L. Rose Royce
M. Sammy Hagar
N. Ministry
O. Arcade Fire
P. Tracy Chapman

You can count on Nine Inch Nails to do at least two things in concert – to rock intensely and to dazzle with lots of unconventional special effects. And Nails did not disappoint on either front Saturday night during the U.S. tour launch at Seattle’s KeyArena. Trent Reznor’s outfit served up two hours of powerful cyber-rock, enhanced by some of the slickest and most innovative L.E.D. effects I’ve ever seen in concert.

The daring set list (photo here) will have fans talking, too, though some will surely grumble that some of their favorite staples didn’t make the cut. After two decades as America’s favorite industrial rocker, Reznor could have easily sleepwalked through a parade of hit and "best of" material. But instead he spent a surprising amount of time with the newer albums. Six of 10 tracks showed up from “The Slip,” the free album Reznor gave to fans free this year as a token of appreciation for their support. And during the part of the show where many rockers would put the acoustic set, Nails focused on instrumentals from “Ghosts I-IV,” the other album Nails released this year.

That massive, 36-track set is full of hit and miss musical sketches that appeal to diehard fans a lot more than the casually curious. But in the live setting those songs really came to life with flamethrower riffs, overpowering, depth charge bass and Reznor adding a few possibly improvised lyrics here and there. “Breathe us in – slowly,” he whispered menacingly, as his spectral face appeared on a semi-transparent partition that had dropped between audience and band. Speaking of which, that was also the part of the show where the spectacle really kicked into high gear – but not without glitches.

“Someobody’s supposed to push a button and the lights are supposed to come on,” Reznor barked during an awkward pause. “As soon as we find that guy and put his finger on the button, we’ll continue the show.” Yikes! Somebody’s looking through the want ads today.

But the screw-up was soon forgotten as the band was obscured by dazzling, impressionistic imagery – blood red hues, crackly static, torrential downpours. If you’ve seen the past few Nails’ tours, you’ll know that aesthetic is not entirely new; but it was more refined this time around, thanks to some great new toys. When Reznor neared or touched the screen, a smudge would open in the imagery and reveal him more clearly. And at one point, a roadie wandered onstage and appeared to be checking the screen for glitches with his flashlight. The "ooh ah" moment came when he "erased" the static from the partition wherever he swept his beam.

The band was backed by a set of surveillance screens during “Survivalism,” recalling the song’s Big Brother police state-themed video. Grainy, split-screen footage showed the band performing alongside seemingly live footage that may or may not have been shot at KeyArena. Fans bobbed their heads in the front row and wandered arena hallways. A tattooed female fan sat on a commode talking on her cell phone, unaware her privacy had been invaded. But I’m guessing the footage was actually shot with willing participants since timing of captured private moments seemed convenient. Plus, none of the fans in "the front row" got excited upon seeing themselves on the screen. Nice illusion that drove 2007 album "Year Zero's" dystopian themes home.

“Hurt” was a sing along favorite during the encore. But “In This Twilight,” my favorite track from “Year Zero,” took over as set closer, with a shimmery city burning in the background before being washed away by white light.

And in a totally unrelated matter, guess who showed up behind the scenes. Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan, a Seattle boy, was on Nails' guest list and snuck in through the band entrance to check things out. But you’ll be able to catch that guy with his other band, Loaded, on Aug.22 at Hell’s Kitchen.

Trent Reznor (top of page): Still angsty after all these years. This time around, the touring band includes Robin Finck (with dreads, above), Josh Freese (last pic) Alessandro Cortini and Justin Meldal-Johnson
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Nine Inch Nails kicked off their U.S. tour just a little while ago at Seattle's KeyArena. And it was just the sort of amazing, effects heavy show we've come to expect from our man Trent Reznor. Coolest LED effects I've ever seen. I'll elaborate more later, but I just wanted to post the set list for starters. Note how heavily it draws from the new albums. Tune in later for more. [Update: The review and photos are posted here in case you Googled your way to this post and don't see it above.]

Day two of the Capitol Hill Block Party featured two of Western Washington’s hottest acts, Olympia folkie Kimya Dawson (top) – featured on the “Juno” soundtrack, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 earlier this year – and Seattle’s Fleet Foxes (singer-guitarist Robin Pecknold, bottom), a band making a big splash with its blissful, reverb-drenched vocal harmonies. "I haven't felt nerves in a while, but I feel really nervous today," Dawson declared as she got started. Her butterflies added an endearing quality to her demeanor, and she was funny and witty throughout her set, drawing the most laughs as she told a story about being asked to play Block Party two years ago when she was pregnant. "I had this huge plan that I was going to go into labor during the show," she said. I won't describe the punchline, something about quenching festivalgoers' thirst; but let's just say it was as gross as it was hilarious. Several songs, including one about "Bobby-O, skinny younger brother of Fabio," came from a children's album called "Alphabutt" to be released by Olympia's K Records on Sept. 19. Many kid-pleasing lyrics about farting are involved, adding welcome levity to a sometimes poignant set. ("You said bottoms up as I bottomed out," she sang in a song about her time living on Capitol Hill.) And Dawson brought out her brother (middle photo) to perform one song. "I've been trying to convince him to make an album for 10 years, but he's like ehhh.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

A few scenes from the Capitol Hill Block Party last night …

Vampire Weekend was the biggest name on the main stage at day one of the Capitol Hill Block Party. “So far we have one album, and today we actually played every song we know,” lead singer Ezra Koenig (top) declared near the end of the band’s set. And that included a new song which the band debuted in honor of Seattle’s KEXP-FM, radio station that broke the band nationally. The highlight of the set for me, though, was “Oxford Comma,” easily my favorite song from the band’s self-titled debut.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Who said Gov. Christine Gregoire isn’t hip? She showed up with her daughter to ask for votes, stump for Barack Obama and introduce Vampire Weekend.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

We straggled in a bit late to the Block Party. But we made it in time to catch one of my favorite Seattle bands, Thee Emergency, at Neumo’s. Sassy mouthpiece Dita Vox had a Mohawk, a look I hadn’t seen her sport before. And their new songs had less of that Detroit ’69 influence for which the band is known.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

It might be helpful to know who's playing when. And you can find just such information here. See you up there tonight.

I hate it when two incredible bands are headlining on the same night. While I'm pretty amped to see Nine Inch Nails Saturday night at KeyArena, I'm also bummed that this means I'll miss the Hold Steady, one of my favorite new bands from recent years, as the Minnesota-bred outfit headlines day two of the Capitol Hill Block Party. But that doesn't mean you have to, assuming you're not headed to Seattle Center like me.

And if you're not up to speed on these guys or you're on the fence about spending a few ducats to see 'em, you can check out my pics and read my report from the band's show last fall at the University of Washington's HUB ballroom. Or you can listen to parts of my interview with guitarist Tad Kubler,

You remember a few years back when Ludacris and neo-con pundit Bill O'Reilly went back and forth, after O'Reilly called for a boycott of Pepsi, the soda Luda was pitching for. Well guess which rapper has beef with O'Reilly now. Check this out, in case you didn't see it on "The Colbert Report."

And while we're at it, I found this video from YouTube:

A lot of people bash emo kids here in the United States, but usually not literally. But get a load of Russia's response to the emo menace. And if you think that's ridiculous, wait'll you get a load of Mexico's emo riots. Holy @#%@%@! All that for a little eyeliner?

Note to self: Don't forget flak jacket and riot shield before next Fall Out Boy concert you have to cover.

The Wild (North) West Fest was scheduled for Sunday at Cheney Stadium, with Clint Black and Jo Dee Messina as the main attractions. But it's been called off. Find ticket refund details here.

Sounds like it based on this Rolling Stone report.

Here are some answers. Avoid spoilers and take the original Nails quiz here.

The NIN challenge

1. Trent Reznor didn’t start out all loud and angry. Before Nails, he was in a Cleveland new wave outfit called …

D. Exotic Birds

2. Reznor produced the soundtrack for which controversial cult classic film from the 1990s?

D. “Natural Born Killers”

3. Before moving to Los Angeles in recent years, Reznor made his home in this goth-friendly American city.

A. New Orleans

4. “Metal” from the “Things Falling Apart” disc is a remake of a song by …

D. Gary Numan

5. What country legend had a hit with his poignant remake of Nails' ballad “Hurt?”

B. Johnny Cash

6. Which of the following is a hidden track from the “Broken” EP?

A. “Suck”

7. What Joy Division song did Nails cover for the soundtrack of “The Crow”?

D. “Dead Souls”

8. Fans could legally download two free NIN albums this year, “The Slip” and …

B. “Ghosts I”

9. Nails recorded 1994 album “The Downward Spiral” at what creepy setting?

C. L.A. residence Charles Manson's minions murdered actress Sharon Tate

10. What recent Nails album was cleverly promoted using an alternate reality game featuring cryptic web sites and clues hidden on tour merch?

C. “Year Zero”

Nine Inch Nails is awesome. There shall be no further debate on this subject. And since NIN will be the main attraction at KeyArena on July 26, I thought I’d test your knowledge of all things Reznor-related.

The NIN challenge

1. Trent Reznor didn’t start out all loud and angry. Before Nails, he was in a Cleveland new wave outfit called …

A. Pretty Hate & the Machines
B. Misery Index
C. Latex & Velvet
D. Exotic Birds

2. Reznor produced the soundtrack for which controversial cult classic film from the 1990s?

A. “Pulp Fiction”
B. “True Romance”
C. “Doom Generation”
D. “Natural Born Killers”

3. Before moving to Los Angeles in recent years, Reznor made his home in this goth-friendly American city.

A. New Orleans
B. New York
C. San Francisco
D. Miami

4. “Metal” from the “Things Falling Apart” disc is a remake of a song by …

A. The Cure
B. Ministry
C. Adam Ant
D. Gary Numan

5. What country legend had a hit with his poignant remake of Nails' ballad “Hurt?”

A. Willie Nelson
B. Johnny Cash
C. George Jones
D. Loretta Lynn

6. Which of the following is a hidden track from the “Broken” EP?

A. “Suck”
B. “Last”
C. “Burn”
D. “Get Down Make Love”

7. What Joy Division song did Nails cover for the soundtrack of “The Crow”?

A. “She’s Lost Control”
B. “Shadowplay”
C. “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
D. “Dead Souls”

8. Fans could legally download two free NIN albums this year, “The Slip” and …

A. “Fixed”
B. “Ghosts I”
C. “All That Could Have Been”
D. “The Perfect Drug”

9. Nails recorded 1994 album “The Downward Spiral” at what creepy setting?

A. Serial killer John Wayne Gacey’s house
B. The warehouse where the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre took place
C. L.A. residence Charles Manson's minions murdered actress Sharon Tate
D. The castle where Vlad the Impaler lived

10. What recent Nails album was cleverly promoted using an alternate reality game featuring cryptic web sites and clues hidden on tour merch?

A. “With Teeth”
B. “The Downward Spiral”
C. “Year Zero”
D. “The Fragile”

... I might post a couple of shots of the Miss Summer Jam finalists. But let's just say a "wardrobe malfunction" occurred. And I've got to say it was a little shocking to see a woman taking off her top off to win a hot body competition and getting booed. Soundly. By the guys. Weird! Score one for wanting to see Lil Wayne, zero for predictable responses and objectification of women. But I digress. Here's my last batch of photos from Sunday's Summer Jam show.

Lil Wayne shows up fashionably late, but Weezy still rocks the heezy. The guy's got a lot of personality, but I'm still scratching my head over why his latest album “Tha Carter III” was able to go platinum in one week, and that whole “greatest rapper alive” tag that’s somehow stuck to the guy. Brilliant marketing, or is there something I'm missing? Discuss.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Talent trumps hot pants: Before Wayne took the stage, a dance team got a much better response than the Miss Summer Jam contestants.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

The Game’s set included all the expected hits: A little “How We Do”; some “Love it or Hate It,” with 50 Cent’s vocals still dubbed in, despite The Game's ongoing beef with his former mentor and G-Unit. A few songs in, The Game's "weed man" paid him a visit with some herbal party favors.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

“I gotta pay homage to everybody,” he declared at one point. The Game played to the Auburn crowd with a snippet of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” inviting a few female fans onstage to show just how much “back” they had. He also honored fallen rappers Tupac Shakur, Eazy E and Big Pun with bits of their hits. And in case you were dying to know who he was endorsing in the 2008 presidential race, he had everyone hold up their cell phones in honor of Barack Obama and pursuing their dreams. "I ain't even into politics. I don't know s--- about it." We'll see how quickly Obama embraces the endorsement of "gangsta dude who just smoked a fat blunt on stage." But seriously, The Game had a lot of positive messages about believing in yourself and that kind of thing. But lest you think he's gone soft, he tossed in a "f--- G-Unit" for good measure. My biggest regret of the night, by the way, was leaving the photo pit moments before The Game "made it rain" by showering the front row with a fistful of bills. “I’m still rich,” he said. Well, I'm not. And I could use the gas money.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Run! It's a Juggalo! No, wait. That's just one of T-Pain's backup dancers, and they seemed more into collecting phone numbers between sets than drinking Faygo and beating people up at the park. Hype man Tay Dizm (bottom) also displayed some fancy footwork.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

More scenes from Sunday’s Summer Jam show.

Nope, that wasn't the “Lil” Bow Wow you grew up with. You know, the kuddly Kris Kross klone that starred in “Like Mike." This was raunchy, 21-year-old sex symbol Bow Wow -- the guy looking for “dirty girls” to go backstage and causing 15-year-old girls to scream uncontrollably at the sight of his naked torso. Eeeeeeeeee! Good job on the makeover, but you didn't need to drop the drop the “lil” from your name, dude. Just ask Wayne, Jon and Flip.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Bow Wow’s set included hits as “I Think They Like Me” and “Fresh Azimiz” and other hits, plus a tribute to plus-sized women from his forthcoming album. He invited a big girl on stage with him for that last number, a common theme of the evening as you’ll see when I post my shots from The Game’s set.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

T-Pain (center) showed up towards the end of Bow Wow's set for "I'm a Flirt" and, strangely enough, "Good Life," a song he recorded with Kanye West. That hit actually turned up later during T-Pain's vocoder-enhanced set. "Now put a damn shirt on!" T-Pain joked as Bow Wow left the stage. “I’m gonna get skinny one day and I’m gonna take my shirt off.” By the way, did anyone catch the after-party at the Loft? Tell us about your Bow Wow sightings in the comments section.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Ribcage rattling bass and kinetic krumpers. Jiggly chicks in hot pants and, in one case, pasties; and raunchy references to consensual acts that are still technically illegal in parts of the Bible Belt. I'm also recalling some kind of a gangsta rap presidential endorsement. Weird! Now where did I witness all of that on Sunday?

Oh yeah! At KUBE 93’s yearly raptacular, Summer Jam, which brought Lil Wayne, The Game, T-Pain, Bow Wow and Ray J to White River Amphitheatre. You’ll have to forgive the foggy memory as I may have gotten a contact high during the Game’s performance. From where I was I was standing (and inhaling) that was definitely wacky tobaccy in that blunt he smoked a few songs into his set.

Still, I managed to capture many of the most memorable and bizarre moments from Sunday, just in case you weren't among the 20,000 in attendance. I’ll post some pics in installments, so check back later this morning for more.

Better late than never. And so much for that Summer Jam schedule I posted Sunday afternoon. KUBE 93 DJ Karen Wild announced that Lil Wayne, aka Weezy, aka the hottest rapper on the planet had just touched down at Seatac right around the time people expected to see him walk onstage. But he had a police escort, she said, and wound up starting a mere 2 1/2 hours after he was originally scheduled to go start. "My flight was a little f----- up. But I'm here," the diminutive rapper said, flashing a sparkly, devilish grin. No big whoop. The other acts had run a bit late, too, mostly, it seemed, due to technical issues. And fans loved Weezy's set, which included the best of "Tha Carter" parts one, two and three.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

I couldn't find a schedule for today's Summer Jam show on KUBE 93's web site. But after a quick call to the office at White River Amphitheatre, I came up with this:

Ray J (3 p.m.)

Bow Wow (4:05 p.m.)

T-Pain (5:10 p.m.)

The Game (6:25 p.m.)

Lil Wayne (7:50 p.m.)

Did you know R.E.M. has appeared on "Sesame Street?" Neither did I until I read Spins list of creepiest musical cameos on "Sesame Street." Weird! And how did we convince people stuff like this actually happened before YouTube?

Blabbermouth.net reports that Rage Against the Machine vocalist Zack de la Rocha and ex-Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore, aka One Day As A Lion, have a new track called "Wild International" posted on their MySpace page.

I gave it a listen. It's no "Bulls on Parade," but it's kinda tight. Listen for yourself here.

Blabbermouth reports:

The song comes off the group's eponymous debut EP, which is scheduled for release on July 22 via Anti Records.

[snip]

According to the band, ONE DAY AS A LION's name was "taken from the infamous 1970 black-and-white, captured by legendary Chicano photographer George Rodriguez, featuring a center framed tag on a white wall in an unspecified section of Boyle Heights. It reads: 'It's better to live one day as a lion than a thousand years as a lamb.' This record is a stripped down attempt to realize this sentiment in sound."

Read the rest of that report here. But while that's all good and well, inquiring minds want to know whatever happened to that solo album Zack de la Rocha has supposedly been working on for the last decade?

This just in from Associated Press. And really, how can you call the game "Guitar Hero" without music from the greatest guitar hero of all?

LOS ANGELES (AP) Jimi Hendrix is coming to "Guitar Hero."

The Seattle-based company Experience Hendrix, which controls the rock icon's musical legacy, is providing Hendrix's music and likeness for the latest "Guitar Hero" video game, Aaron Grant, a spokesman for publisher and developer Activision and Red Octane, told The Associated Press today.

It's the first time Hendrix's likeness will be showcased in the game.
An avatar of Hendrix as well as the song "The Wind Cries Mary" and a live version of "Purple Haze," which was recorded in 1969 at the San Diego Sports Arena, will be included on "Guitar Hero World Tour," the fourth edition of the popular game franchise scheduled for release Oct. 27.

"World Tour" will be the first "Guitar Hero" to feature playable drums and a microphone.

Experience Hendrix provided Activision and Red Octane with various songs from Hendrix, who famously played the Woodstock music festival in 1969 and died of a drug overdose in 1970. Other Hendrix tunes would be released in the future as downloadable content for the game, Grant said.

You know, I was just talking to somebody the other day about what happened to Eminem. And thanks to Rolling Stone, now we know.

People always ask me what kind of stuff I listen to in my spare time. And here's some of what I've had in rotation on my iPod lately:

Yup, Beck made another weepy album with “Modern Guilt,” which echoes the world weary echo of 2002's "Sea Change," but in more of a psych-pop meets hip-hop kind of way. And that may be a problem if you're still craving “Odelay,” part 10. But the first five cuts and this, the last one, rank with the Beckster's best as far as I'm concerned.

I’ve been listening to a bunch of Stevie Wonder since last Friday’s show at White River Amphitheatre. And after he kicked off with several tracks from “Hotter Than July,” I revisited that 1980 album and fell back in love with one of Stevie's most underrated protest tracks.

Ever notice how when you put your iPod on shuffle it seems to like one artist in particular -- a lot? Well, the other day mine was in a Pixies mood, which lead me back to this, the last track from “Doolittle.” Nope, Nirvana wasn’t the only late '80s, early '90s alt-rock band to perfect that soft-loud-soft dynamic.

Just when you thought political hip-hop was dead. For fans of cats like KRS-One, Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine.

Here are some answers to help you sort out yesterday’s summer songs. Avoid spoilers here.

Summer Song Challenge answers

1. Len, J. “Steal My Sunshine”
2. Roy Ayers, L. “Everybody Loves the Sunshine”
3. The Go-Gos, A. “Vacation”
4. Bruce Springsteen, I. “Girls in Their Summer Clothes”
5. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, E. “Summertime”
6. R.E.M., C. “Nightswimming”
7. Eddie Cochrane, O. “Summertime Blues”
8. Ice Cube, P. “It Was a Good Day”
9. Pink Floyd, G. “Summer ‘68”
10. The Time, D. “Ice Cream Castles” (at Zoobilee this week, by the way)
11. Alice Cooper, B. “School’s Out”
12. Kool & the Gang, H. “Summer Madness”
13. Alice in Chains, K. “Sunshine” (OK, not the best example of a “summer song” ever, but gotta love the A in C)
14. Beach Boys, M. “California Girls”
15. Taylor Swift, N. “Tim McGraw”
16. The Ventures, F. “Hawaii 5-0”

Bonus points: Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s “Summertime” features a sample of Kool & the Gang’s “Summer Madness”

For those of you who still care whether or not that supposedly in the works Guns N' Roses album ever comes out and the larger group of people that care about the forthcoming Rock Star 2 game, read NME's report here.

If you've seen Pearl Jam in concert more than a couple of times, odds are you've seen the boys cover "Baba O'Riley" or "Love Reign O'er Me," among other Who cuts. And RollingStone.com has a nice piece on Eddie Vedder talking about the impression the Who made on him as a kid. Read it here. here. It's connected with PJ's participation in VH1's Rock Honors tribute to the Who.

Yesterday, the folks at One Reel posted the complete Bumbershoot 2008 lineup, including a performance by Seattle's Death Cab for Cutie. You can see it here. And you can listen to my last interview with Death Cab here.

Ah, summer. A time for inner tubin’, fair hoppin’ and drivin’ with the top down. And every year there are those particular songs that provide the perfect soundtrack for all of the above.

Summer Song Challenge

For this week’s quiz, match the artists with their summery songs. And if you wanna feel extra smart, point out which hit below is built around a sample of one of the others.

1. Len
2. Roy Ayers
3. The Go-Gos
4. Bruce Springsteen
5. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
6. R.E.M.
7. Eddie Cochrane
8. Ice Cube
9. Pink Floyd
10. The Time
11. Alice Cooper
12. Kool & the Gang
13. Alice in Chains
14. Beach Boys
15. Taylor Swift
16. The Ventures

A. “Vacation”
B. “School’s Out”
C. “Nightswimming”
D. “Ice Cream Castles”
E. “Summertime”
F. “Hawaii 5-0”
G. “Summer ‘68”
H. “Summer Madness”
I. “Girls in Their Summer Clothes”
J. “Steal My Sunshine”
K. “Sunshine”
L. “Everybody Loves the Sunshine”
M. “California Girls”
N. “Tim McGraw”
O. “Summertime Blues”
P. “It Was a Good Day”

Sub Pop’s 20th anniversary festival, SP20, continues through Sunday. And for Friday’s GO, I wrote about how proto-grunge band Green River (featuring members of Mudhoney and Pearl Jam) will perform for the first time in 21 years tomorrow at Redmond’s Marymoor park. You can read that story here or get up to speed on all the people Mark Arm is talking about in the clips below here. Otherwise, just click away and get a little grunge history lesson.

Pt. 1: It's been a long time, disappointing Pearl Jam fans

Pt. 2: Forming the band and how he and Steve Turner “totally stalked” Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament

Part 3: Why Green River broke up, unknowingly to the future joy of grunge fans everywhere

Part 4: The enduring legacy of Sub Pop, which buddies Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman founded 20 years ago … Or is it 30?

Proto-grunge band Green River was (in this '80s photo) Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mark Arm, Bruce Fairweather and Alex Vincent.
COURTESY OF SUB POP

I was only about 80 percent it was Sanjaya during the early part of Stevie Wonder’s set last night at Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre. The wavy Farrah Fawcett ‘do was hard to miss down there in the good seats. The gal dancing next to him during “Did I Hear You Say You Loved Me?” certainly looked like his sis, as seen on “American Idol” last year. But it wasn't until Wonder got around to “Superstition” two hours later that I had confirmation.

“Did I hear there was someone from ‘American Idol?’ Where’s he at? Get him up here,” Wonder blurted out midway through a fiery “Superstition” jam.

A handler whispered the name in his ear. “Sanjaya!” he called. Then – bam! – Federal Way’s most famous reality show contestant was with him on stage. And you know what? As much as the kid made his reputation with sub par singing (and the hair), he didn't sound half bad; especially if his appearance was, indeed, spontaneous and not planned in advance. Perhaps he will parlay his “Idol” experience into a few more minutes on that fame clock. But is America ready for another round of Sanjayamania?

Sanjaya’s wasn’t the only guest vocalist to make a splash, by the way. Brynn Berger, a Lynnwood woman who won a chance to sing with Wonder from a KBSG-FM radio competition, looked stunning (if a bit stiff) as she knocked it out of the park on “All in Love Is Fair.” And Wonder’s daughter, Aisha Morris, sat next to her father for a smoky torch song, Nat King Cole’s “I’m Gonna Laugh You Out of My Life.” Morris appeared on “How Will I Know,” from Wonder’s Grammy-winning 2005 album, “A Time to Love.” And can a solo career be far behind?

“Who you in love with?” Wonder huffed playfully as his daughter started to walk back to her spot with the other backup singers.

“Nobody,” she replied, innocently. “I love my daddy.”

“OK. He betta do you right,” Wonder said. Then playing just a couple of notes, he promted the audience to help him serenade his daughter with “Isn’t She Lovely,” the song she made her vocal debut on back in 1976. (She’s the baby you hear on that track.) And unlike last year’s show at Chateau Ste Michelle, daddy's little girl smiled nervously, looking endearingly embarrassed by the attention.

Otherwise, it was a great if not perfect show. I liked the flow and content of the last year's set list better, with a couple more songs from the classic “Songs in the Key of Life” and funkier numbers grouped more effectively. But it was a treat for me personally this time around when Wonder kicked his set off with several in a row from his 1980 album “Hotter Than July," with "As If You Read My Mind," the reggae-inflected “Master Blaster (Jammin’),” “Did I Hear You Say You Love Me?” and “All I Do” starting things off. I remember digging through my big sisters’ record collection in elementary school, and that being the first record I ever became obsessed with. You know, back when you had to play it on these things called “turntables.”

Other highlights included “Visions,” during which Wonder went on a rant about racial equality, mentioning something about a friend being denied a table at a Seattle area restaurant, presumably for racial reasons. The R&B legend sang a decent new song called “Keep on Foolin’ Yourself, Baby Girl,” from his forthcoming project “Through the Eyes of Wonder.” And among the lesser known selections that Wonder snuck into the set was “Creepin’,” from his “Fulfillingness’ First Finale" album.

“Expect the unexpected,” Wonder declared by way of introducing the jazzy number, perhaps even catching a couple of his band members off guard.

Here are some more clips from that Stevie Wonder conference call. In the first one, the R&B legend gives advice for young performers and talks about some of the new school artists that he’d like the collaborate with and that inspire him. And the second one is a long one but a really good one. Wonder talks about some of the losses he’s suffered in recent years, including his mom. And he talks more about the advice he says his mother gave him from beyond the grave and “Gospel Inspired by Lula,” the album he’s working on inspired by her. Enjoy.

Pt. 4: Stevie’s advice

Pt. 5: Stevie on his mom, loss

And scroll down or click here to hear the three clips I posted yesterday.

Recently, I sat in on a 50-minute conference call with Stevie Wonder, one of the most amazing and influential artists of our times (and also the main attraction Friday night at White River Amphitheatre.) So needless to say, I have some great sound bites for you this week, some of which are posted below. Look for more tomorrow. And in an unrelated matter, I also hope to have some stuff posted from my interview with Mark Arm between now and Green River’s reunion show at SP20 on Sunday.

Pt. 1: Putting together set lists for this tour

Pt. 2: Speaking out on social issues

Pt. 3: Details on two new projects, "Gospel Inspired By Lula" and "Through the Eyes of Wonder," that he's working on while on tour

Expect lots of classics and maybe a few new songs when R&B legend Stevie Wonder when he headlines Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre on Friday (July 11). And if the show is anything like last year’s gig at Woodinville’s Chateau Ste Michelle, he’ll speak out on a few social issues. When asked during a recent conference call about hitting the road after taking so much time off from touring he said, “I do enjoy being at home, being with family, but I just think there’s a lot that needs to be said.”
DAVE MARTIN

“Band in a box.” That’s the general concept behind Saturday night’s electronic music showcase at Bob’s Java Jive, according to Tacoma singer-songwriter Deborah Page, one of the acts scheduled to perform.

For the past several months, Page and band mate Paul Uhl have cut their teeth at the Jive, Sanford & Son Antiques & Auctions and other local venues. Page’s singing reminded me a bit of Natalie Merchant when I spun her CD “Stay.” And the duo produces a breezy style of pop that melds folky guitar melodies with electronic textures and looped drum beats.

That combination makes the outfit a bit of a square peg on Tacoma’s rock scene. Page recalled drawing interest about performing at a local festival, only to have it wane once organizers learned her band was a laptop-enhanced duo.

“They wanted to see a drummer, and they wanted to see a bass player,” recalled Page, who goes by Deborah Ritchie offstage. “And that’s a little bit of the trouble we’re running into. People think one guy and a guitar or two people and guitars. They’re not gonna have the sound we want, even though we sound huge.”

The aim of Saturday’s gig was to bring together like-minded, digital music enthusiasts on one bill. Bandolier, Bumtech, the Story of Light and Dark and DJ Darrren Select will also perform.

“The genre of what we fall into is kind of difficult,” Page said. “So we talked to some of the people at the Java Jive and tried to get a like-sounding group together. Some of it’s more electronica. But it’s all integrating the computers with the live vocals, with the guitars and music that we’ve all written.”

Making music digitally has afforded the group great freedom, she said. “Everything we’ve written ourselves, recorded ourselves and mastered ourselves. That’s why it’s cool with the band in the box thing. You’re just like this one unit that just goes around, and you can present your music, and we sound like a full band.”

Saturday’s show kicks off at 8 p.m., and there is a $5 cover charge; 253-536-5729 for more details.

But Old Town will be the place to be for blues fans on Saturday when the 16th annual Old Town Blues Festival takes over Slavonian Hall, the Spar Tavern, the Mountaineers Club and Old Town Park.

This year’s lineup includes Portland’s JoeMcMurrian Quartet, Billy Roy Danger & the Rectifiers, Becki Sue & the Big Rockin’ Daddies, Loose Gravel, Junkyard Jane, Alex Weed, Jay Mabin, Tim Hall Band, local legends Little Bill & the Blue Notes and more.

Many of Saturday’s performances are free. But cost is $5 each or $20 for an all-day pass to catch Brown & Blues Band, Billy Roy Danger & the Recftifiers, Angel Grace and local legends Little Bill & the Blue Notes at the Mountaineers Club and the Blues Café at Slavonian Hall; 253-759-2518.

“We didn’t come here to put on some b------- hour and a half show,” Dave Grohl declared a few songs into a fun Foo Fighters set at KeyArena. And the guy wasn’t kiddin’. The Foos served up more than 2 ½ hours of steamin' arena rockin’ goodness last night. The band was bigger this time around, with bleached blonde guitarist Pat Smear notably back in the fold. And they got the party properly started with “Let It Die,” “The Pretender” and “Times Like These,” with Grohl wandering back and forth along a catwalk that ran nearly the length of the arena floor. The concert's most memorable moments took place on a second smaller stage lowered onto the far end of the catwalk for the semi-acoustic part of the show. That included a life-affirming sing-along to “My Hero,” Grohl’s ode to fallen Nirvana band mate Kurt Cobain. And as the rest of the Foo Fighters headed back to the main stage, Grohl stayed back for subdued solo start on "Everlong" before rejoining his band mates in bringing the hit to a rockin' close.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Granted, the set was bogged down by a few self-indulgent stretches. “This is a Call” and “Stacked Actors” were stretched thin during epic but unfocused jams. And Grohl acknowledged that he'd done a lot of yapping (albeit, funny yapping) during parts of the show. He feigned being hurt when fans chose a five-song encore over four songs and a funny story. “F--- you, guys!” But of course, he told the story anyway. It was about a night in the '90s when he and a buddy named Ernie got drunk and spray painted “Foo Fighters” onto a Michael Jackson mural at the Seattle Center Tower Records, which used to be at Fifth and Mercer. Grohl got busted after Ernie slipped a Polaroid of the rocker posing in front of his handiwork under the record store door, leading to a call from his old boss from Tower Records and the photo running in defunct alt-weekly, the Rocket, which Grohl rated as one of the coolest things that had ever happened to him. Earlier, he acknowledged his South Sound roots. “First I lived in Tacoma, which was beautiful,” he said, referring to when he moved from Virginia in 1990. “Then I lived in Olympia where the nightlife was f------ amazing. For me, it’s either Paris or Olympia, Washington.” Hmm. Snotty hipsters make nice stand-ins for rude Parisians, I guess. Oh, wait. He was being sarcastic, right? Anyway, Minus the Bear and Supergrass opened the show. But those weren't the only rock stars on hand. I spotted Wade and Jesse from Tacoma's own Seaweed, who will soon to play Sub Pop's SP20 festival, as I headed into the arena.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Whoops! Apologies to anyone who checked in for the answers earlier, 'cause I -- um -- forget to delete the wrong ones when I posted the Wednesday. As always, avoid spoilers here.

The Stevie Wonder challenge

1. Before he became a "Wonder," people knew him as Stevland …

D. Morris

2. Little Stevie Wonder signed to Motown at the age of …

B. 11

3. His first hit was …

A. “Fingertips (Pt. 2)”

3. Stevie Wonder’s classical period generally refers to a string of classic '70s albums the begins with …

A. “Music of My Mind”

4. Wonder’s first wife was a member of his backing group Wonderlove in the ‘70s. And her name was …

C. Syreeta Wright

5. Wonder is featured on the last known recording featuring Paul McCartney and John Lennon playing together, a bootleg called …

C. “A Toot and a Snore in ‘74”

6. Speaking of McCartney, the hit he and Wonder teamed up for the uplifting '80s hit ...

A. “Ebony & Ivory”

7. “Happy Birthday,” from the 1980 album “Hotter Than July,” is a tribute to what American hero …

B. Martin Luther King, Jr.

8. Which of Wonder’s song’s features his daughter Aisha's recording debut? (Not that she knew what was going on at that age.)

B. “Isn’t She Lovely” (the baby you hear is Aisha)

9. Wonder recorded this song with Tony Bennett for Bennett’s “Duets” album.

B. “For Once in My Life”

10. Wonder performed his first Puget Sound performance in 21 years at what King County venue last August.

D. Chateau Ste Michelle

Tons of big stuff happening this week, between Foo Fighters, Sup Pop 20 and American Idols Live. But the biggest event of all is Stevie Wonder's show Friday at the White River Amphitheatre. But before you go check out some "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," see how much you know about the man behind the music.

The Stevie Wonder challenge

1. Before he became a "Wonder," people knew him as Stevland …

A. Jackson
B. Wilkins
C. Wallace
D. Morris

2. Little Stevie Wonder signed to Motown at the age of …

A. 15
B. 11
C. 13
D. 8

3. His first hit was …

A. “Fingertips (Pt. 2)”
B. “Superstition”
C. “My Cherie Amour”
D. “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)”

3. Stevie Wonder’s classical period generally refers to a string of classic '70s albums the begins with …

A. “Music of My Mind”
B. “Talking Book”
C. “Songs in the Key of Life”
D. “Hotter Than July”

4. Wonder’s first wife was a member of his backing group Wonderlove in the ‘70s. And her name was …

A. Minnie Riperton
B. Chaka Kahn
C. Syreeta Wright
D. Roberta Flack

5. Wonder is featured on the last known recording featuring Paul McCartney and John Lennon playing together, a bootleg called …

A. “A Day in the Life of the Beatles”
B. “A Hard Day’s Fight”
C. “A Toot and a Snore in ‘74”
D. “Yoko’s Last Stand”

6. Speaking of McCartney, the hit he and Wonder teamed up for the uplifting '80s hit ...

A. “Ebony & Ivory”
B. “Ribbon in the Sky”
C. “I Just Called to Say I Love You”
D. “Overjoyed”

7. “Happy Birthday,” from the 1980 album “Hotter Than July,” is a tribute to what American hero …

A John F. Kennedy
B. Martin Luther King, Jr.
C. Duke Ellington
D. Crispus Attucs

8. Which of Wonder’s song’s features his daughter Aisha's recording debut? (Not that she knew what was going on at that age.)

A. "You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
B. “Isn’t She Lovely”
C. “I Wish”
D. “That Girl”

9. Wonder recorded this song with Tony Bennett for Bennett’s “Duets” album.

A. “Ebony and Ivory”
B. “For Once in My Life”
C. “Lately”
D. “Love’s In Need of Love Today”

10. Wonder performed his first Puget Sound performance in 21 years at what King County venue last August.

A. White River Amphitheatre
B. Marymoor Park
C. Seattle Center for Bumbershoot
D. Chateau Ste Michelle

Will the Mayhem Festival pick up where Ozzfest left off? We’ll have a good idea Wednesday (July 9) when the massive metal tour kicks off at Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre with a lineup that includes Disturbed, Slipknot, Dragonforce, Mastodon, Machine Head and more on multiple stages.

I’m most excited to see Atlanta prog-metal outfit Mastodon, especially after learning that the band is in the studio with producer Brendan O'Brien this week and may unveil new songs. Singer-bassist Troy Sanders phoned in just before yesterday’s recording session to give me the skinny on the sound his band is toying with this time around.

“We’ve been able to dive in and uproot some of our early ‘70s influences a bit more,” he said, citing early Yes, King Crimson and Pink Floyd. “We’ve been able to tap into broader, more spacious guitar sounds as well as dipping into a bit of psychedelia here and there. Overall, it’s rather dark and creepy. But it’s very energetic and rocking at the same time.”

There’s a good chance fans will get to hear a new song called “Oblivion,” which Sanders described as “very dark and mellow with tons of dark energy.” The new disc doesn’t have a name yet, but he expected it to be out in early 2009. Just click on the links below to listen to more of what he had to say along with clips of Mastodon's massive sound.

Part 1: "Workhorse" -- Mayhem Fest takes over -- "Crystal Skull" -- '70s influences on "dark and creepy" new songs -- "Colony of Birchmen"

Part 2: "Birchmen" -- new song titles and dark matter that dominates the universe -- "Iron Tusk" -- working with producer Brendan O'Brien -- "Blood and Thunder"

Atlanta’s Mastodon – from left, Brann Dailor, Troy Sanders, Brent Hinds (front), Bill Kelliher – will open the main stage at Mayhem Fest next Wednesday (July 9) at Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre.
J. HUBBARD

Nashville legend Ronnie Milsap will headline the Puyallup Fair & Events Center grandstand on Sept. 15, Fair organizers announced today. The country vet -- known for "A Woman in Love," "Any Day Now," "Never Had It So Good" and other hits -- will have support from Tacoma Symphony.

Ticket are set at $15 to $35, and will be available through Ticketmaster beginning 10 a.m. on July 12. Find the Puyallup Fair's full concert lineup here.

Eddie Vedder isn't the only Pearl Jam guy with a side project to keep him busy this summer. Drummer Matt Cameron will unveil his new jazz trio, Harrybu McCage with a new, self-titled CD on Tuesday (July 8), Pearl Jam publicist Vanderberg Communications announced today.

The trio – also keyboardist and guitarist Ryan Burns and bassist Geoff Harper (Herbie Hancock, Bill Frisell) – recorded 10 tracks, including originals “Rhodes Jam" by Cameron and "Jetskiing on Priest Lake" by Burns.

Other selections are inspired by renowned jazz drummers Art Blakey, Roy Haynes and Max Roach. Five songs are interpretations of material by Thelonious Monk, and the disc closes with a cover of Funkadelic’s 1974 funk classic, “Alice in My Fantasies.” Track listing below:

1. I Mean You (C. Hawkins, T. Monk)
2. A Little Max (D. Ellington)
3. Sneakin? Around (R. Bryant)
4. Evidence (T. Monk)
5. Monk's Mood (T. Monk)
6. Jetskiing on Priest Lake (Ryan Burns)
7. Ask Me Now (T. Monk)
8. Off Minor (T. Monk)
9. Rhodes Jam (M. Cameron)
10. Alice in My Fantasies (G. Clinton, Jr.)

The album will be released on Pearl Jams’s Monkey Wrench label and be available through the band's Ten Club.

... Amy Winehouse and now Travis from Gym Class Heroes for being involved in concert scuffles this week that make his own "Tim McBrawl" incident in Auburn pale in comparison. Jeez! It's gettin' so you can't throw stuff or yell slurs at the singer without winding up on the receiving end of a musical smackdown. What is this world coming to?

They just posted some more solo dates for Ed over at PearlJam.com. But there's still no Seattle date. What's up with that?

Rockstar's Mayhem Festival kicks off at Auburn's White River Amphitheatre on July 9. And the most exciting part of that is the return of the mighty Mastodon, as far as I'm concerned. That's why I was on the phone with Troy Sanders early in the a.m. today, right before he and his Mastodon crew headed back into an Atlanta studio where they're laying down new tracks with super-producer Brendan O'Brien. So look out for clips of Sanders talking about the new disc, which he says will be colored by more '70s prog-rock and psychedelic influences, among other things.

But as one of three people on the planet that don't yet need "Guitar Hero" 12 step, I didn't realize who the festival's biggest hit might be. My home skittle, pop culture writer Bill Hutchens, tells me that his boy and his friends are all crazy for the Dragonforce. That's thanks to the insanely difficult to master number "Through the Flames" from GH3. Oh, and Bill tells me what that knucklehead in the video pretends to be doing is impossible. I'll take his word for it. Funny, though.

Here are the answers to yesterday's trivia challenge. Avoid spoilers here.

1. Johnny Cash, M. “Ragged Old Flag”
2. Toby Keith, I. “American Soldier”
3. Team America, G. “America, @#%@ Yeah” (hilarious, for the record)
4. John Mellencamp, B. “Our Country”
5. Alan Jackson, O. “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)?”
6. Grand Funk Railroad, D. “We’re an American Band”
7. James Brown, N. “Livin’ in America”
8. Neil Diamond, L. “America”
9. Darryl Worley, H. “Have You Forgotten?”
10. David Bowie, E. “I’m Afraid of Americans”
11. Smashing Pumpkins, C. “United States”
12. Montgomery Gentry, F. “You Do Your Thing”
13. Woody Guthrie, A. “This Land is Your Land”
14. Morrissey, P. “America Is Not the World”
15. Brooks & Dunn, K. “Only in America”
16. Sugarland, J. “Everyday America”

Friday is the Fourth of July, a day for celebrating this great nation of ours – and, you know, blowing stuff up with cherry bombs. So for this week’s trivia challenge, I thought I’d focus on artists who have expressed feelings about this land of ours, whether fervently patriotic, solemnly critical or just plain funny.

Match the artist with their Patriotic (or at least U.S.-related) song

1. Johnny Cash
2. Toby Keith
3. Team America
4. John Mellencamp
5. Alan Jackson
6. Grand Funk Railroad
7. James Brown
8. Neil Diamond
9. Darryl Worley
10. David Bowie
11. Smashing Pumpkins
12. Montgomery Gentry
13. Woody Guthrie
14. Morrissey
15. Brooks & Dunn
16. Sugarland

A. “This Land is Your Land”
B. “Our Country”
C. “United States”
D. “We’re an American Band”
E. “I’m Afraid of Americans”
F. “You Do Your Thing”
G. “America, @#%@ Yeah”
H. “Have You Forgotten?”
I. “American Soldier”
J. “Everyday America”
K. “Only in America”
L. “America”
M. “Ragged Old Flag”
N. “Livin’ in America”
O. “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)?”
P. “America Is Not the World”