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Farewell, Vern Gosdin

The country star known as the Voice was also a talented songwriter. He died late Tuesday in Nashville. He was 74. In the early 1960s in southern California, Gosdin was in a bluegrass band with Chris Hillman, who left to join the Byrds. In this obit in the Nashville Tennesseean, he is remembered by friends and peers. Above, he sings "Chiseled in Stone" in 1999.

Review: Dolls' 'Sez So' says 'We still rock'

It was supposed to be an endless party. After six years, two highly influential records, and an avalanche of bad business and substance abuse juju, the New York Dolls took a twenty-eight year vacation. In the meantime they became the icons of proto-punk, the forerunners of glam-rock, and the victim of every lazy critic who got a deal at the hyphen store. What’s a great rock & roll band to do?

Tonight's the Night: Neil Young at Sprint

Tickets are still available. Looks like they're expecting about 6,500 people -- about the size of the crowd that saw him at Starlight for the Greendale tour. Seating legend below. Also below: a setlist from Monday's show in Denver.

Pitchfork hearts Life and Times

The grade (6.9/10) doesn't match the writer's comments, which are positive and a few dozen watts short of glowing in some places. These days, one review neither makes nor breaks any album. But viral momentum (or the lack of it) can. So read about "Tragic Boogie" by the Life and Times of the KCMO. Even better, listen and then buy. And then spread the word. For a second opinion, read what we said about "Boogie" a few weeks ago:

John Prine presale: Tomorrow

It's from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 30. The password:OHBOY. More here. The show is Sept. 12, a Saturday, at the Midland by AMC. Prices: $29.50 to $59.50.

Howie Day, in the dark

The power went out in parts of KCMO last night, including all over Westport. Howie Day was at RecordBar, and the power blew right after his first song. Howie went on, not un-plugged but un-powered. Here's a synopsis, from Pam, a fan (via Facebook):

Band members brawl after KC show

If you're headed out to the Jackpot Saloon in Lawrence tonight to see Wayne "The Train" Hancock you should know he's touring with a different band than the one that played at Knuckleheads recently. After that show, Hancock's pedal steel player, Tony Locke, was beaten savagely by guitarist Izzy  Zaidman. Locke is recovering; Zaidman was fired (one show later) and faces assault charges. Read about it here (with a link to a disturbing photo of Locke).

On the way: Summer Jam

It's coming to Sandstone Amphitheatre on June 13. The lineup includes Soulja Boy, Plies, Rick Ross, Tech N9ne, Hurricane Chris, Young LA, Murs and Blocklife. Tickets: 10 a.m. Saturday.

Jane's, NIN and your cameras

Here's what you can and can't do if you're going to the show at Starlight on May 27, according to Trent.

Review: Franz Ferdinand

Monday night, a big crowd at the Beaumont Club saw a band living at its peak. It's probably safe to say that Franz Ferdinand won't be larger than it is right now, at least not in America. It drew about 1,200 people to a Westport nightclub on the first day of a normal work week, without a hit to speak of on Top 40 radio or a reality show to inflate its reputation. These days, that's a reasonable measure of success.