Rock Band? Played out! Guitar Hero? Chyuh! Sooooo yesterday. I'm trying to get my hands on this hot, new video game that all the kids are playing: Rock Journalist Hero.

You can play as play in Lester Bangs or as a condescending Pitchfork critic as you “transmogrify inarticulate responses from lithe idiot savants into passably meaningful comments” and “challenge yourself to write more than 70 by-the-numbers profiles and reviews, including: The fatuous British band that thinks it’s the new U2!”

Hilarious! But, sadly, not a real game. It’s a spoof dreamed up by Vanity Fair’s David Itzkoff. Check it out here.

Pollstar is reporting that Janet's show last night in Montreal was called after after the pop star "got suddenly ill" and had to be rushed to the hospital. Click on the link for more details.

Turns out Led Zeppelin fans don't need to worry after all. This report from NME is definitely good news. I had visions of that Doors 21st Century tour, sans half the Doors, for a second.

Photographer Charles Peterson made a name for himself as he documented the Northwest's burgeoning grunge scene. That iconic shot with Kurt Cobain looking like he's spinning on his head while playing a solo? He shot it. The funny one with Kurt sprawled awkwardly over Dave Grohl's drum kit? Yup, him too.

And what musical subject could be as visually dynamic as the most mosh-tastic, stage divinest scene of the '90s. Why, breakdancing, that's what. And I just learned about Peterson's new coffee table tome about b-boys and b-girls, called "Cypher." Find details here.

Whenever I run into guitarist Ron Heathman at the Parkway or his own (coffee) watering hole, Satellite Coffee, I bug him about when the new Supersuckers album will see the light of day. And now I can leave him alone since the latest 'Suckers e-newsletter revealed all:

Supersuckers have confirmed the long awaited, long overdue release of their brand new full-length album, "Get It Together" for November 25, 2008. This will be the tenth recording released by the band's self-owned label, Mid Fi Recordings. The November release date also coincides with the band's 20th Anniversary.

In addition to the audio CD, Get It Together will include a bonus DVD featuring 90 minutes of exclusive archival live footage featuring classic Supersuckers songs, as well as a few from the new album. The DVD was filmed during a Southern California performance in September 2007. Click here to check out the tracklist from the DVD.

Fame eluded talented Washington, D.C. area singer-songwriter Eva Cassidy when she was alive. Cassidy died of melanoma in 1996, but with the help of Gig Harbor’s Blix Street Records her music lived on. And by 2001 she'd become a cult figure in the U.S. and Great Britain.

Blix Street recently issued another posthumous Cassidy release, called “Somewhere.” So I caught up with label chief Bill Straw to talk about her powerful voice, how the new album came together and the odds of Cassidy's life making it to the big screen.

The songs from the new album you'll hear are, in order, “Ain’t Doin’ Too Bad,” “My Love’s Like a Red Red Rose” (the guitar melody you hear looped in the background), “Somewhere,” “Chain of Fools” and Won’t Be Long.”

P.S. There'll be a related story in Sunday's SoundLife section.

Just got off the phone with Randy Chertkow and Jason Feehan, who wrote "The Indie Band Survival Guide" ($14.95, St. Martin's Griffin). And I thought a few of you South Sound rockers would want to check out their site for a few ideas on building a fan base. Their site covers tons of related topics, from how to sell your music through CD Baby to using "podsafe" music collectives to get heard.

Here are a few cuts I'm obsessed with this week.

I've had this Brazilian dance-rock outfit's sophomore album “Donkey” loaded onto my iPod for weeks. But I didn’t get my hands on the band's Sub Pop debut “Cansei de Ser Sexy” until I went to catch C.S.S. at Neumo’s last week. And this track now narrowly beats out “Let’s Reggae All Night” as my favorite C.S.S. cut.

The lead track from TVOTR’s new “Dear Science” disc is one of the Brookly band's best. I especially love how lead singer Tunde Adebimpe’s melodic falsetto works with David Sitek’s lush production in the chorus.

Don’t let the dreamy psych-pop vibe fool you. This is one of the normally quirky Beck's most existential songs, as he sings eerily detached lines about the masses “down by the sea, swallowed by evil / already drowned.” (That image is menacing enough before you even read into the whole "chemtrail" reference.) Among other things, this song's phenomenal drumming made it a perfect number to walk off with at Bumbershoot.

Led Zeppelin fans will get to see Robert Plant when he and Alison Krauss headline the Qwest Field Event Center on Oct. 1. But apparently, they may not be able to see him on that Zeppelin reunion tour that's been rumored to be on the way for the last couple of years. Click here and prepare to be disturbed.

I checked out Pollstar the other day and noticed a bunch of electronic musicians and DJs listed for Halloween at Seattle's WaMu Theater: Moby, DJ Icey, Paul Van Dyk, etc. Hey! Must be USC Events' annual Freak Night rave!

The event is also part of the Crystal Method's just announced national tour, too. Here's a snippet from a related press release that just arrived in my inbox:

THE CRYSTAL METHOD--the electronic duo of Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland--have been hard at work crafting their fourth studio album. Details of the still-untitled release (due out in early 2009) will be revealed at a later date, but fans around North America will be able to experience the new recordings on a buzz DJ tour bringing the duo to WAMU THEATRE in Seattle, WA on October 31.

The tour launches in Newport Beach, CA and consists of over 30 weekend DJ appearances that will carry on to the end of December. Every weekend the duo will appear at the hottest clubs in America such as Ruby Skye in San Francisco, Ampersand in New Orleans and Vision in Chicago, testing out their new material along with their favorite tracks. They’ll also dip into secondary and tertiary tour markets like El Paso, Knoxville and Columbus.

Judge for yourself as you read about the new album format that's about to get a big push in time for Christmas. I, personally, don't plan to invest right away, having just bought a new blasted iPod.

Rolling Stone is reporting that Brit pop star George Michael got arrested in a London loo for possession of "a 'small amount' of crack cocaine and marijuana." The kicker is that the arrest was on the 10th anniversary of that infamous "lewd behavior" bust at Will Rogers Park in Los Angeles. Wouldn't it be weird if this somehow turned out to be a twisted publicity stunt? And the whole drug thing aside, hasn't this knucklehead learned anything about staying away from public bathrooms yet? Just sayin'.

Hey, George! Remember when your parents told you to go to the bathroom before you went on a trip? Just in case? Didn't get that lesson? Oh.
JUNJI KUROKAWA/AP

So what does Nick Lachey do when he's not recording pop hits, running the Tacoma Rainiers and organizing celebrity softball games? Apparently, he likes to catch some football down at the Varsity Grill. At least, that's what he did this afternoon. That's Tacoma resident and Puckertime podcast host Sto Bailie with him (and he tells me Lachey is a Bengals fan.)
COURTESY OF STO BAILIE

Alicia Keys Saturday night at Seattle's WaMu Theatre.
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“Superwoman?” Yeah, I’ll buy that; especially after R&B sensation Alicia Keys delivered one of the most triumphant performances I've seen this year Saturday night at Seattle’s WaMu Theatre. Forget that demure piano woman you might have seen on television. When she made her entrance, Keys was a fierce diva, more along the lines of Beyonce, minus the shimmery dress. And she was all sass and hip-swiveling sensuality during an early set that included smash “You Don’t Know My Name.”

But don’t get the impression that she neglected her instrument of choice for too long. “Is it OK with y’all if I play my piano for you,” she asked coyly a few songs into the show. Of course, the crowd roared its approval as she sat down to a black Yamaha that shifted and rotated into different positions throughout the performance.

Piano highlights included an epic, jazzy riff on Prince’s “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore,” with members of Keys’ 10-piece band firing up the crowd with a series of flashy vocal and instrumental solos. Then Keys dedicated feminist anthem “Superwoman” -- a song she said she wrote at a time when she lacked encouragement – to “all my superwomen in the house, and all my supermen that can recognize a superwoman.” Jermaine Paul, one of Keys backup singers, stepped up impressively during duets of “Diary” and a cover of the Force M.D.’s ‘80s hit “Tender Love.” (Man, that one took me back, y’all.) But none of that compared to how Keys’ “No One” galvanized fans for the big finale. You couldn’t help but feel a bit cathartic as hundreds of fans belted out keys soaring chorus, index fingers extended to the ceiling.

[Correction from earlier version of this blog: The opening act was called Novel.]

Keys took some time to strut her stuff before she sat down at the piano Saturday night at the WaMu Theatre.
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Journey guitarist Neal Schon rips off a soaring guitar solo during the early part of his band’s set Friday night at White River Amphitheatre. And yes, “Don’t Stop Believin'” was killer.
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I just couldn’t decide. Should I head over to the Puyallup Fair Friday night for Carrie Underwood, one of America’s hottest young country starts and one of the few “American Idol” alum really worth getting excited about? Or should I check out the homecoming of Seattle rock legends Ann and Nancy Wilson, the dynamic duo better known as Heart, at White River Amphitheatre? Decisions, decisions.

Witnessing Fergie mangle “Barracuda” at the Fair the other night was the clincher. I had to hear the real deal. Ditto on headliner Journey’s resurgent '80s hit “Don’t Stop Believin',” since I've heard approximately 5,837 crappy karaoke versions (and maybe five good ones) over the last two years. And that's not to mention it appearing everywhere from “The Sopranos” to Kanye West’s last tour. How the hell did that happen?

Decision made, my girlfriend and I embarked on a horribly snake-bitten trip to Auburn. The traffic took its toll first, even though we took our normally time-saving, Highway 18 eschewing route through Federal Way (which, she told me yesterday, winds through Green River Killer territory. Creepy!) Road rage and the homicidal urges it invoked nearly landed us in jail several times as we spent 40 minutes at one blocked Auburn Way intersection, watching six carloads of idiots trying to squeeze into three lanes. REAAAAARRGGH! HULK SMASH STUPID LADY WHO CUT HIM OFF! Where’s a traffic cop when you need one? And needless to say, we missed opener Cheap Trick.

Heart had even gotten started as I limped through the rocky parking lot (the result of a recent kickboxing injury.) I managed to reach the photo pit in time to snap a few shots, including the ones on this page below. Then I missed more of Heart’s set as I hobbled over to the White River office to sign some release forms, which apparently pave the way for that Heart and/or Journey to sue me into permanent poverty. But I finally got settled in my seat in time to catch the portion of Heart’s set dedicated to their ‘80s power ballads.

Ann Wilson’s voice is still a powerful instrument, even after three decades, and she sounded great on “These Dreams” and “Alone.” Then there was the payoff -- "Barracuda,' which Windexed those horrible (but amusing) Fergie memories out of my head. (Well, for a couple of hours, at least. Ugh! There they go again.) The Wilson sisters never an unquenchable fascination with Zeppelin, and their encore included Zep’s “Going to California” along with their own hard rockin’ “Crazy On You.”

Then I felt conflicted again when it came to Journey. Friday night’s show was sold out, and as I anticipated being trapped in the White River parking lot for at least an hour, I started to rationalize reasons to bounce early, before “Don’t Stop Believing.” Steve Perry – the guy who sang the blasted song on Journey’s best-selling 1981 album, “Escape,” was long gone, right? I’ve heard the song a trillion times. What’s one more? And really, my threshold for late ‘70s and early ‘80s arena rock – with all those brassy, squealing guitar solos and confectionary power ballads – isn’t really that high. But then my ol’ lady provided the voice of reason: “We came all this way. We’ve at least gotta hear the song.”

OK, fine. And to be honest, newest singer Arnel Pineda is quite a likeable guy, even if a segment of Journey fans, reportedly, haven't accepted him yet. The guy has pipes and loads of energy. And it was magic, if not goose-bump-raising, when he and his bandmates eased into the biggest, rehased hit of the decade.

And they also earned major points for playing a few more songs, allowing my partner in crime and I to escape, along with a few thousand other like-minded fans, before the big post-concert rush. But wouldn’t you know it? We pulled up to her apartment, a stone's throw from Choptix, in time to hear yet another bar sing-along to “Don’t Stop.” Was it requested from a pack of just returned Journey fans, still buzzing from their White River experience? Nah, I choose to believe it was just fate; a cosmic reminder that only one band can truly pull that tune off. Or a sign that it's time to retire "Don't Stop" mania.

But if drunken bar crooners need to keep the Journey revival alive, I vote for “When the Lights Go Down in the City” as the next hit that needs dusting off. So get to work, karaoke people!

Ann Wilson (top) was more pleasing to the ears than Fergie. Sister, Nancy can still shred. Say, where was she on Rolling Stone’s list of rock’s all-time greatest guitarists from a few years back?
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Bassist Ross Valory makes a face at a fan. Singer Arnel Pineda, who Schon discovered on YouTube, had killer pipes and loads of energy. And was it just me, or did he seem to be pleading his case – just a little bit – with “Change for the Better.”
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Just woke up and read the news here as I was working on my Heart/Journey photos. Condolences to friends and families of the victims, and let's hope Travis and AM pull through.

Serni Solidarios, the student programs director over at UPS, sent me this show update this afternoon:

The temporary closure of the UPS Fieldhouse is going to benefit all ticketholders for the Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood “Whose Line Is It Anyway” show (Sept. 27) because they will now get to enjoy it in the cozy Schneebeck Concert Hall. The 8pm show is nearly sold out, and a second show will then be added at 930. Tickets are still available for the public through all Ticketmaster locations.

Oy! Got a little tied up this morning and didn't get my Goldy McJohn audio edited and posted as soon as I wanted. But the ex-Steppenwolf keyboard player and his band, Goldy and Friends, will be at Jazzbones on Saturday with Jimi Hendrix's bro, Leon. (Click here to listen to clips from my interview with him.) And you can click on the link to hear Goldy talk about Steppenwolf (and Skynyrd) songs he might play Saturday, falling out with his old band mates and finally bouncing back from hard times.

No disrespect to Sabina Sciubba and company with that headline. I love me some Sabina Sciubba and all. But unlike New York’s Brazilian Girls, Sub Pop buzz band Cansei de Ser Sexy (Portuguese for “tired of being sexy,” C.S.S. for short) actually hails from Sao Paulo. And aside from bassist Adriano Cinta, the group is all "girls.” I fell in love with their kitschy, kinetic and kinky style of dance rock with this year’s “Donkey” album. But to get the full effect -- and to realize that 2006's "Cansei de Ser Sexy" album is twice as rad -- I had to check the C.S.S. crew out Thursday night at Neumo’s. And man were those guys a kick!

Luísa Hanaê Matsushita, aka Lovefoxxx (above) came across as “Brazilian Bjork,” in part because of the Bjork-at-an-awards-show ensemble she showed up wearing (think “untrimmed rose bush”) and partly because of the quirky, free-wheeling vibe she channeled as she sang and shimmied her way through arty rump shakers “Music is My Hot Hot Sex,” “Meeting Paris Hilton” and “Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above.” About midway through the hour-long set, she introduced “special guest” Britney Spears (actually a cutout), and she had stripped down to a form-fitting, floral "onesie" by the time her band took its pre-encore boy with awesome, lo-fi funk cut “Reggae All Night” (which is also about getting’ it on.)
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C.S.S. also includes bassist Adriano Cinta (the only dude, above), awesome guitar, keyboard and cowbell player Luiza Sa (below him), Carolina Parra and Ana Anjos. And, uh, Spongebob. Assuming you know the band's music enough to glean the real song titles from the shorthand below, I've got a set list for you, too.
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Jimi Hendrix died 38 years ago today. And in honor of that sad occasion, I thought I’d share a few clips from my interview with his little brother, Leon Hendrix, who will also perform Saturday at Jazzbones.

Pt. 1: "Your brother's not gonna make it" and a musical epiphany decades later

Pt. 2: Watching the money, meeting Band of Gypsys drummer Buddy Miles on the road with Jimi

Pt. 3: Groupie gatekeeping and partying at Eric Burdon's house before the fun came to a tragic end

Pt. 4: Getting over the loss of his legal battle with Experience Hendrix CEO Janie Hendrix

Regarding that last clip, Experience Hendrix publicist Bob Merlis said he consulted legal counsel and had been told that the company had not taken legal action to prevent Leon from performing Jimi's songs. But his band, the Leon Hendrix Mysterience, plays mostly original music anyway, which you can hear on Leon's MySpace page.

Jimi Hendrix will forever be 27 in our minds, but would be 65 had he not died 38 years ago today.
AP FILE PHOTO

Crikey! I cannot stop adding gratuitous "-iciouses" to everything since I saw Fergie last night at the Fair. Anyway, here are the answers to yesterday's trivia challenge.

The Useless Trivia Tuesday Fergie challenge

1. Fergie is short for …

A. Stacy Ferguson

2. Before she made it big with Black Eyed Peas, Ferg was a member of what girl pop group?

A. Wild Orchid

3. Finish the lyric: “My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump/ My hump, my hump, my hump …”

D. “… my lovely lady lumps”

4. Her first Black Eyes Peas album was …

A. Elephunk

5. Finish the lyric: “How come every time you come around …”

C. “… my London Bridge wanna go down like?”

6. In the ‘80s you could see her on what kids show?

A. “Kids Incorporated”

7. Fergie has talked candidly about her past problems with …

B. Crystal meth

8. Finish the lyric: “I blow kisses …”

B. “… that put boys on rock, rock”

9. Finish the lyric: “I be up in the gym …”

A. “… just workin’ on my fitness.”

10. The camera normally loves ol' Ferg'. But she didn't look so hot with her brains gnawed out in this horror flick.

D. “Grindhouse”

Alas, Fergie is no Ann Wilson.
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Seattle rock legends Heart recently denounced John McCain’s presidential campaign for co-opting their ‘70s hit “Barracuda” during the RNC. And I’m thinkin’ maybe Fergie should be next in line for one of those official cease and desist orders.

The cover of Heart’s classic that her Fergaliciousness wailed her way through before nearly 6,000 fans Tuesday night at the Puyallup Fair was karaoke-worthy at best; ditto on occasionally cringe-worthy snippets of Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die," Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog," the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" and Sublime's "Santeria" that she worked into a mid-set medley. (Uh, which one of these does not belong? And when did Fergie turn into a rocker? Anyway, at least Heart fans will be able to hear the real version of "Barracuda" Friday at White River.)

A few pitch problems aside, Ferg' did better on her own hits, which included, “London Bridge,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Glamorous” and Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps.” And between songs, she offered up such zen koens as, “I think God gave us Taco Supremes for a reason” and (talking to her guitarist after being distracted by a carnival ride in the distance), “That ride kind of reminds me of your hand – going up and down.” Huh?

She seemed a little listless and out of it early on compared to previous appearances I’ve seen her make with the group that made her a household name, Black Eyed Peas. And the rambling, 10-minute band and dancer intros she tacked onto the end of her set would have been totally anti-climactic had they not been so entertainingly graceless and raunchy. The little girls that got up onstage with her right about then were pretty cute, though, as they griped about not being able to get backstage earlier and, strangely, bragged about getting backstage to meet Springsteen. Didn't know 'tweeners loved the Boss, did you? And just to end on a positive note: Ferg’s “lady lumps”? On the lovely side.

The Dutchess busts a Fergalicious dance move, something she did surprisingly little of Tuesday night at the Puyallup Fair. Her one-handed cartwheels were a hit, though.
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Fergies in training: Adorable or cause for concern? You know, I was surprised at the number of little squirts running around, considering Ferg's occasionally raunchy banter and, you know, the fact that she sings about "lady lumps."
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There are run of the mill, disposable pop stars. And then there artists of such undeniable genius that their music will live on for generations: Dylan, Lennon -- Fergie! And since her Fergaliciousness is headlining the Puyallup Fair grandstand tonight, let’s see just how much you really know about the Duchess.

The Useless Trivia Tuesday Fergie challenge

1. Fergie is short for …

A. Stacy Ferguson
B. Shauna Ferguson
C. Sandra Ferguson
D. Shelly Ferguson

2. Before she made it big with Black Eyed Peas, Ferg was a member of what girl pop group?

A. Wild Orchid
B. Pussycat Dolls
C. The Mary Jane Girls
D. The Cheetah Girls

3. Finish the lyric: “My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump/ My hump, my hump, my hump …”

A. “… I should really get that checked out”
B. “… is what you’re starin’ at.”
C. “… is no reason to objectify me.”
D. “… my lovely lady lumps”

4. Her first Black Eyes Peas album was …

A. Elephunk
B. Monkey Business
C. Behind the Front
D. Bridging the Gap

5. Finish the lyric: “How come every time you come around …”

A. “… I wanna jump your bones and get down?”
B. “… I wanna take you downtown?”
C. “… my London Bridge wanna go down like?”
D. “… not so subtle euphemisms for naughty acts come to mind?”

6. In the ‘80s you could see her on what kids show?

A. “Kids Incorporated”
B. “The Mickey Mouse Club”
C. “You Can’t Do That on Television”
D. “Nick at Nite”

7. Fergie has talked candidly about her past problems with …

A. Compulsive gambling
B. Crystal meth
C. Kleptomania
D. Schizophrenia

8. Finish the lyric: “I blow kisses …”

A. “… that make boys want to rock, rock”
B. “… that put boys on rock, rock”
C. “… that make boys run into rocks, rocks”
D. “… that hit you like rocks”

9. Finish the lyric: “I be up in the gym …”

A. “… just workin’ on my fitness.”
B. “… sweatin’ through a spin class.”
C. “… lookin’ dope in my hot pants.”
D. “… lookin’ spicy in the sauna.”

10. The camera normally loves ol' Ferg'. But she didn't look so hot with her brains gnawed out in this horror flick.

A “Shawn of the Dead”
B. “28 Weeks Later”
C. “Zombie Nation”
D. “Grindhouse”

Funnyman Robin Williams will headline Seattle's Paramount Theatre for two shows at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 6, Live Nation announced today. His Weapons of Self-Destruction tour will be William's first cross-country trek since 2002.

“It’s an election year, which is basically Christmas for stand-up comics,” Williams is quoted as saying in a related press release. “And I figured I should get my ass on the road while the Shrub is still in office. A lot has happened in the world and in my life since I last did this six years ago and there’s no better thrill and no better therapy than getting on that high-wire in front of a live audience.”

Tickets are $50 to $95 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday (Sept. 19). Click the Live Nation like above or check Ticketmaster for further details.

KQMV-FM (Movin' 92.5) just sent over details for their third annual House Party, a free concert that will bring Nelly, Tone Loc, Baby Bash and the Sugar Hill Gang to Seattle's Paramount Theatre on Nov. 8. The only way to get in is to listen to Movin' 92.5 and call in, according to a station press release. And your first chances to win will be at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 18).

Got a call from Girl Trouble camp over the weekend letting me know they're opening the Sonics' big Halloween homecoming show at the Paramount. Two bands that have defined Tacoma garage rock over the years? Hearing "He's Waitin'" and "My Hometown" in the same night? How killer is that?

Live Nation filled in ticket details today for AC/DC's Nov. 30 stop at the Tacoma Dome.

Tickets are $90.50 and go on sale Saturday, September 20 at 10:00 a.m. at www.LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster or charge by phone (206) 628-0888. All tickets subject to applicable service charges and fees. Dates and times subject to change without notice.

Note the update to my item from yesterday on ACDC. Today, KeyArena spokeswoman Lisa Joslin informed me that the Aussie classic rock band won't be stopping at her venue, just in Tacoma. Stay tuned for details.

By now, most of you have heard about Kanye West's latest freak out (and subsequent arrest) at LAX airport. But for the three of you out there who haven't already looked up the video, this TMZ clip allegedly shows what went down. And between this and all the awards show meltdowns, maybe it's time to try meditation. Or medication.

Legendary Aussie rockers AC/DC have unveiled their Fall tour plans, which include a Nov. 30 stop at the Tacoma Dome. [Update: The band's web site listed a stop at KeyArena, as well. But I've learned that the band's only Puget Sound stop will be in T-town.) Tickets will go on sale some time next weekend, according to the announcement on the band's web site. And in a related matter, you may recall that our friends over in the Supersuckers camp were responsible for breaking the good news that the classic rock band was recording a new album. "Black Ice" will see the light of day on Oct. 20.

Who knew Kid Rock would still be going so strong after nearly 20 years in the music biz? Yeah, believe it or not, the guy's been at if for close to two decades. Granted, it doesn't seem that long since he wasn't a household name when he released a couple of mediocre rap albums, "Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast" and "The Polyfuze Method," in the mid-'90s.

He really struck pay dirt by remaking himself as a rap n' roller on “Devil Without a Cause” in '98. And he could have easily fizzled out when rap-rock went out of style a few years back, but was savvy enough to revamp his style again, this time as a Southern (by way of Detroit) rocker. And with his newest album, “Rock N’ Roll Jesus,” he may be more popular than ever. That disc surprisingly crept back up to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 recently, despite being nearly a year old, thanks to Lynyrd Skynyrd-appropriating smash hit “All Summer Long.”

He's that wife-beater clad rock everyman that fans – including nearly 11,000 at the Puyallup Fair grandstand Wednesday night – strongly identify with; the guy whose down home, kinda grimy vibe is just right for gettin' the party started. And I’ve gotta admit that, I kinda like the guy, too -- even if he is, basically, the P-Diddy of rock; a guy who, like Diddy, has mastered the art of cashing in by rehashing other people's old hits. But the guy's also got charisma and that intangible "it" that makes him a great performer. What he lacks in originality, he makes up for with a killer, feel good live show, one that included rockin’ renditions of his biggest hits Wednesday night -- "Cowboy," "Bawitdaba," "American Badass." But what made the night for me was a cameo by Run DMC’s Rev. Run.

Kid Rock talked Run into going out on the road with him on hit reality show “Run’s House.” I’m a fan of Run DMC from way back, but never got to see the legendary rap trio. So finally getting to hear “Rockbox,” “King of Rock” and “Here We Go” live was a major highlight to my summer concert season, even if DMC and the late, great Jam Master Jay were nowhere to be seen.

It was definitely a PG-13 set, in contrast to most Puyallup Fair shows. And among other set highlights were “Half Your Age,” a funny battle of the sexes that had drummer Stefanie Eulinberg come from her behind the kit to deliver a raunchy counterpoint to Kid Rock boasting that his new girlfriend is “half your age and twice as hot.” (Can’t quote it here, but use your imagination.)

And another accidentally funny moment occurred when backup Stacy Michelle joined Kid Rock for “Picture,” the hit duet he recorded with Sheryl Crow. Michelle had blended into the background for most of the show and got one of the night’s biggest ovations as she stepped forward because of her uncanny resemblance to Crow. Hey, I’ll admit it. I was fooled for a minute, too.

Al Green, injuries and car trouble conspired to keep me away from the first few grandstand shows of Puyallup Fair 2008. But I finally did the Puyallup Wednesday night and caught Kid Rock's show. Here's what it looked like and what he played.
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Apparently, Chris Cagle got his hands on a copy of last week's column, which was about our interview that imploded a few days ago. And he gave me a call before his show on Friday to apologize for losing his temper.

It seems appropriate to skip the audio on this one, but I can say the guy sounded pretty sincere and humble. And among other things he said, "Some things get triggered and they're hard to deal with." Half jokingly, at one point he added, "Man, if I wasn't singin' tonight I'd come and see Al Green with ya, dude."

That was pretty big of the guy. And having flown off the handle and embarrassed myself a time or two, apology accepted.

But on the flip side, at least one reader thinks I should quit focusing on tabloid gossip. "You've got some things to learn," she said, leaving an stern voicemail. Well, could be worse. Could be like the time I ticked off Clay Aiken's fans and got flamed by all those Claymates.

Trust me, you don't wanna mess with the Claymates, people.

Parental advisory: Your pre-teen daughters will soon be obsessed with these guys. Varsity Fanclub is (L-R) Drew Scott, Thomas Fiss, Bobby Edner, David Brandt, Jayk Purdy.
MARINA CHAVEZ

Boy bands are back! Well, we should probably call some of them “grown man bands” at this point, with members of the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block either pushing or well into middle age as their bids hit the road.

NKOTB will appear at the Tacoma Dome on Nov. 18. And their descendants, Varsity Fanclub, are hoping the general public is ready for another round of boy band mania. Those guys, who are based in Los Angeles, will headline a tweener-oriented show that will also feature Prima J, Jordan Pruitt and Clique Girlz at the Puyallup Fair grandstand on Friday (Sept. 12).

And I remembering how huge the Jonas Brothers got after they appeared at the fair. So I thought I'd jump on this pop bandwagon early. So I caught up with VFC’s Jayk Purdy, who will join his homies Thomas Fiss, Drew Ryan Scott, Bobby Edner and David Lei Brandt on Friday. (I'm guessing he's the edgy, A.J. McClean archetype since he’s got a trucker hat and skull & crossbones medallion in the promo shots I've seen. He needs some tats, though.)

Here's some of what Purdy had to say, and that's the instrumental version of the band's single "Future Love" playing in the background.

Part 1: How the group formed, what he has in common with the Killers' Brandon Flowers and a few musical influences

Part 2: Overcoming boy band backlash, recording the debut album with One Republic's Ryan Tedder

Part 3: The live show, how the Mariners rule and kickin' it with Miley Cyrus

If you tuned in to the Republican National Convention this week, you may have noticed that the GOP used Seattle rock icon Heart's "Barracuda" to get the crowd in St. Paul all revved up. And that made those Wilson sisters none too happy. Perhaps some of you noticed this related item.

"You don't know who you're messin' with," declared Al Green, mock posturing early during his set earlier tonight at the Emerald Queen Casino. Then he let loose with one of those trademark, falsetto wails, proving that at 62 his voice is still as pristine and arresting as it was during his '70s heyday. Of course, these days his shows have a more religious vibe than they did back then. "We came here to rock the house," Green said at one point. But we're gonna have to let God go first." He tossed copious amounts of roses to the ladies in the audience, and erupted in spontaneous fits of rump shakin', showing he's still having a blast after all these years. And his set included lots of old favorites ("Let's Stay Together," "Tired of Being Alone," "Love and Happiness"); impressive new songs (The title track and "Stay With Me (By the Sea)" from his phenomenal new album, "Lay It Down"); and a few covers (including gospel standard "Amazing Grace," The Temptations' "My Girl," The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself (Sugarpie, Honeybunch) and Otis Redding's "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay.") My only complaint is that his set was a bit on the short side. The soul legend delivered about an hour of immaculate material. And I just knew he'd be back for "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)". But nope! The lights came up right away, and there was no encore. Still, it was easily one of the best shows I've seen this year.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Let’s just say my interview with Chris Cagle didn’t go so well last week.

That guy will kick off the Puyallup Fair’s 2008 concert season on Friday night (Sept. 5). And I’m guessing he was a bit testy because he doesn’t want to talk about stuff like this …

… and more recently this.

Understandable, I guess. But if the guy didn't have such a hair trigger maybe we could have gotten around to talking about, I don't know, his music.

Guess this guy had no comment. Hopefully, he'll be more chatty and in a better mood Friday night at the Puyallup Fair.
FRANK MICELOTTA/GETTY IMAGES

This week, I'm asking which was the best act on Bumbershoot's main stage last weekend. Vote here.

The Decemberists' Bridesmaid Revisited tour will include a Nov. 30 stop at Seattle's Moore Theatre, the Portland band's publicist just announced. And a limited number of tickets will be released today. Check here for details.

And here's the rest of the tour itinerary.

The Decemberists Bridesmaid Revisited 2008 Tour

Nov. 5: New York, NY (Terminal 5)
Nov. 6: Boston, MA (The Orpheum)
Nov. 7: Philadelphia, PA (Electric Factory)
Nov. 8: Baltimore, MD (Ram's Head Live)
Nov. 9: Ithaca, NY (Cornell University, Barton Hall)
Nov. 11: Montclair, NJ (Wellmont Theatre)
Nov. 24: Los Angeles, CA (The Wiltern)
Nov. 25: San Francisco, CA (Warfield Theatre)
Nov. 29: Portland, OR (Crystal Ballroom)
Nov. 30: Seattle, WA (The Moore Theatre)

Another Bumbershoot is history. And among other things that means I have more time to come up with Weekly Weigh-In surveys. Ones that aren't as silly as that last on about Ice Cube's gangstaism, even. Yaaaaay!

And this week, I wanna hear from everyone who made the trip north for the big Bumberevent. Click here to cast your vote for which main stage act was best at Bumbershoot 2008.

Del the Funky Homosapien was a hit over on the Fisher Green stage with a set that included some of the songs he recorded with Deltron and Gorillaz along with his solo material.
ERNEST JASMIN

Bay Area singer-songwriter John Vanderslice (right) delivered one of my favorite performances of Bumbershoot '08. "Tablespoon of Coedine" is a pretty mellow number on last year's Sept. 11-themed "Emerald City" album, but it reached some seriously rockin' crescendo's in the live setting. "They Won't Let Me Run" and "Kookabura" also provided moving highlights of that set.
ERNEST JASMIN

Officially, I took Labor Day off. But you knew I’d check out Death Cab for Cutie’s homecoming show and post a set list for you, right? So here it is, y’all.

Death Cab for Cutie set list
Bumbershoot, Sept. 1, 2008

Bixby Canyon Bridge
The New Year
Why You’d Want to Live Here
Crooked Teeth
Long Division
Grapevine Fires (Ben Gibbard: “Sometimes beautiful things happen. They do happen.”)
Movie Script Ending (Ben dedicates to anyone from Bellingham)
Company Calls
Summer Skin
Soul Meets Body
I Will Follow You into the Dark (Ben dedicates to previous main stage band, Superchunk: “This band would not be here today without Superchunk.”)
I Will Possess Your Heart
Cath
Expo ‘86
Sound of Settling
Marching Bands of Manhattan

Encore:
Title & Registration (Nick Harmer: “Not to get all heavy here. But I want everyone to keep New Orleans in their thoughts.”)
No Sunlight
Tiny Vessels
Transatlanticism (with spark shower finale)

I kind of liked Stone Temple Pilots back in the early '90s, but I'm not especially nostalgic for their sound. Plus, part of me blames them for all those increasingly annoying grunge ripoff bands that made rock radio suck so bad at the turn of the millennium.

So I would have much rather kept kickin' it over at the Fisher Green stage with 72-year-old reggae icon Lee “Scratch” Perry Sunday night at Bumbershoot. But a lot of people seem to think the STP reunion is a pretty big honkin' deal. And I felt it my obligation as a rock critic to at least catch part of the band's main stage set over at Memorial Stadium. Besides, you never knew if embattled singer Scott Weiland would show off any of the "erratic onstage behavior" that got him booted out of Velvet Revolver.

My girlfriend and I showed up just in time to catch the guy making a request.

“Please don’t throw beers cans," he said, speaking in a spacey, disconnected voice before his band launched into grunge-era rocker, "Crackerman." I’m not particularly in the mood for beer right now.”

What? I hadn’t seen anything fly up there (granted I was pretty far back.) And I’m almost positive no one was selling canned beer at Seattle Center. Recalling how visibly wasted Weiland had appeared last time I saw STP at the Tacoma Dome years ago, I figured this could get interesting. But to his credit, the singer was charismatic and remained coherent during the tail end of the STP set, which included some of the bands biggest hits – "Creep," "Sour Girl," “Interstate Love Song” -- all delivered in front of a psychedelic backdrop of kaleidoscopic color, cascading rose petals and sub-oceanic views.

“There’s a song off our first record that even if you don’t own it you’ve probably heard it once or twice. It goes like this,” Weiland said by way of introducing “Plush,” which sparked big cheers.

The material mostly went over well, with fans singing along with their favorite parts. I enjoyed some of the catchier numbers, but it mostly sounded pretty dated. If I'm going to party like it's 1993, I would have much rather have been watching a recently reunited Soundgarden. But who wouldn't, huh? We took off a few minutes early to beat the traffic.

Ewww! What’s that smell, mon?: Reggae titan Lee “Scratch” Perry lights his incense hat early during his set on Bumbershoot's Fisher Green stage. "I don't smoke ganja anymore," he once told PopMatters.com. "I smoke incense. Because when you smoke incense, your senses are in."
ERNEST JASMIN