Morning Music Notes – Don’t Even Hum The Black Keys When You Walk Around
The Mars Volta are No More
Given that At The Drive-In recently reunited for a few shows, and the fact that Omar Rodríguez-López is in a new band called Bosnian Rainbows, people might have wondered what is happening to the Omar / Cedric Bixler-Zavala founded band, The Mars Volta. Bixler-Zavala tweeted “I can’t sit here and pretend any more. I no longer am a member of Mars Volta” followed by “sadly it’s over.” I guess I shouldn’t sit here and pretend I’m in the Mars Volta any more either.
The band released Noctourniquet last year. Bixler-Zavala tweeted that he had wanted to tour after the album release, but Rodríguez-López “did not want to.” Now he doesn’t have to!
The Black Keys Now Suing a Casino, Next Up: The Government and Martians
The Black Keys really don’t like their music to be copied and used in commercials. Advertisers have been using ‘soundalikes’ to try and replicate the Black Keys style so that they don’t need to license their songs for ads. Unfortunately, the band has taken notice and made sure their lawyers are on speed dial. First up was the lawsuit against Pizza Hut and Home Depot, which was settled in the band’s favour. The band have now sued Pinnancle Entertainment for using its song Howlin’ for You in commercials (via Consequence of Sound).
Pinnacle owns the L’Auberge Baton Rouge casino. Interestingly, L’Auberge Baton Rouge tweeted that they bought a “fully licensed musical interpretation of the song”. That is, Manhattan Production Music were hired to replicate and produce the arrangements for Pinnacle to make a Black Keys ‘soundalike’ (via Digital Music News). Soundalikes are a way companies try to get around licensing issues, but the Black Keys don’t care – they’ll sue your ass!
Jack White Added to Line Up for the Grammys
In an attempt to make the Grammys watchable, they have landed several good acts to perform. The latest addition is Jack White, who is up for 3 major awards. Also playing are the Black Keys (if they’re not in court at the time), Mumford & Sons, and, um, Taylor Swift. Can we get that Bonnie Bear guy to show up, too?
Watch! 50 Cent – Major Distribution featuring Snoop Dogg and Young Jeezy
After releasing a few not so great albums and then somewhat disappearing for a bit, 50 Cent is back, and he’s brought some of his famous friends. I personally didn’t like the Adam Levine / Eminem track My Life – it was more of the Levine-sung chorus than anything else.
This latest track is vintage 50, which is a good thing if you like the man. The song pulls in Young Jeezy and Snoop Dogg, so you can guess what the subject matter of the track is. We get plenty of guns, women, and boastful gestures in the video for Major Distribution. Check it out below.
50 Cent – Major Distribution featuring Snoop Dogg and Young Jeezy
