March 31, 1949 - RCA Victor Records released the first commercially available 45 RPM record.. The first single was "Tekarkana Baby" by Eddy Arnold.  RCA developed the new format in response to Columbia Records introducing the 33 1/3 RPM long playing LP the previous year. Pressed on vinyl rather than the fragile shellac discs that 78's were manufactured from, the 7" discs eventually overtook the 78 in sales by the mid 1950's becoming the dominant physical single format until the end of the 1980's.

Van Halen will tour North America this summer and fall in support of their first ever live album, Tokyo Dome Live in Concert. The tour will kick off at the White River Amphitheater in Washington State on July 5th and wrap up in Los Angeles in October at the Hollywood Bowl. 

The band's lineup consists of original lead singer David Lee Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen; his son, Wolfgang, on bass andAlex Van Halen on drums.

Van Halen will also perform March 30 on Hollywood Boulevard as part of a live telecast for "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Kenny Wayne Shepherd will support all dates along the tour. Tickets go on sale beginning April 4 at www.ticketmaster.com 

I swear I'm not making this up.

I recently auditioned for a local market commercial that will air on the east coast for the role of "Traffic Reporter".

As an example of what they wanted the character to sound like, the client added a link to the audition notice of me doing traffic reports on King5 News a few years ago. That's right, they were looking for a "John Nelson" type! You'd think I'd be a shoe in for the job, right?

(wait for it....wait for it) I didn't get the part.... WTF?!!!

Another major band is skipping the Seattle area on its wold tour. Touring to promote the album “Songs of Innocence,” (an album they literally couldn't give away) U2 will perform 44 shows in 19 cities including San Jose, Los Angeles, Boston and New York City. The only Pacific Northwest appearance will be two sold out shows at Rogers Arena in Vancouver B.C

NORTH AMERICA DATES

May 14  - Vancouver  (Rogers Arena)
May 15  - Vancouver  (Rogers Arena)
May 18  - San Jose  (SAP Center at San Jose)
May 19  - San Jose  (SAP Center at San Jose)
May 22  - Phoenix  (US Airways Center)
May 23  - Phoenix  (US Airways Center)
May 26  - Los Angeles   (Forum)
May 27  - Los Angeles   (Forum)
May 30  - Los Angeles   (Forum)      
May 31  - Los Angeles   (Forum)
June 12  - Montreal   (Bell Centre)
June 13  - Montreal   (Bell Centre)
June 24  - Chicago   (United Center)
June 25  - Chicago   (United Center)
July 6  - Toronto   (Air Canada Centre)
July 7  - Toronto   (Air Canada Centre)
July 10  - Boston   (TD Garden)
July 11  - Boston   (TD Garden)
July 18  - New York City   (Madison Square Garden)
July 19  - New York City   (Madison Square Garden)
July 22  - New York City   (Madison Square Garden)
July 23  - New York City   (Madison Square Garden) 

EUROPE/UK DATES

Sept. 4 - Turin, Italy   (Pala Alpitour)
Sept. 5 - Turin, Italy   (Pala Alpitour)
Sept. 8 - Amsterdam (Ziggo Dome)
Sept. 9 - Amsterdam (Ziggo Dome)
Sept. 16 - Stockholm, Sweden  (Globe)
Sept. 17 - Stockholm, Sweden  (Globe)
Sept. 24 - Berlin   (O2 World)
Sept. 25 - Berlin   (O2 World)
Oct. 5 - Barcelona  (Palau Sant Jordi)
Oct. 6 - Barcelona  (Palau Sant Jordi)
Oct. 13 - Antwerp, Belgium  (Sportpaleis)
Oct. 14 - Antwerp, Belgium  (Sportpaleis)
Oct. 17 - Koln, Germany   (Lanxess Arena)
Oct. 18 - Koln, Germany   (Lanxess Arena)
Oct. 25 - London  (O2)
Oct. 26 - London  (O2) 
Oct. 29 - London (O2)
Oct. 30 - London  (O2)
Nov. 6 - Glasgow  (The SSE Hydro)
Nov. 7 - Glasgow  (The SSE Hydro)
Nov. 10 - Paris  (Bercy)
Nov. 11 - Paris  (Bercy) 

Friday
Graceland 5 (Punk Rock Elvis tribute), Hotroddin' Romeos, Jack Rabbit Starts, Shaken Growlers @ The Highway 99 Club
Fan Halen (Van Halen Tribute) Second Sting (Scorpions Tribute) @ Louie G's (Fife)
5th Annual Women Who Rock Community Conference, Music, Arts, and Media Festival @ Rainier Valley Cultural Center (Fri & Sat)
Adam Bomb, Scott Earl @ The Mix
Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ The Neptune Theater
Kevin Devine @ Vera Project
Constant Lovers @ Chop Suey
The Crying Spell, Jeff Angel, Kris Orlowski, Star Anna @ Columbia City Theater
Country Lips, the Lonesome Billies, and Jamie Wyatt @ Sunset Tavern
Mental Rex and Strange Lovers @ El Corazón
Lucky Machete, Sun Crow @ Darrell's Tavern
Planet of Giants, The Bog Hoppers @ Slim's Last Chance Saloon
Zebra Hunt, Detective Agency @ Rendezvous
the Twilight Sad @ Tractor Tavern
The Vinyleaters @ Runway Cafe
Martyn Joseph @ Triple Door
The Smokin' Js  @ The Oxford Saloon (Snohomish)
The Pindrops @ Rocko's Fireside Bar & Grille (Everett)

Saturday
The Crue (Motley Crue tribute). Heart to Heart (Heart Tribute) @ Blue Lightning Brew (Woodinville)
Eddie Spaghetti, Hartwood, Junkyard Amy Lee, Sioux City Pete @ El Corazón
Her Majesty, Jilly Rizzo @ Admiral Benbow
Hot Buttered Rum, Weatherside Whiskey @ Tractor Tavern
Shady Bottom @ Triple Door ( Lounge)
Dead Combo @ Triple Door (Main Stage)
Toyboat Toyboat Toyboat, Power Skeleton, Le Shat Noir, @ Highline
Seattle Rock Orchestra Performs Beck @ Moore Theater
The Roy Kay Trio @ Salmon Bay Eagles
Bastille Back Bar, Babraham Lincoln @ Tim's Tavern
Pelvis, Shaken Growlers @ Darrell's Tavern
American Wrecking Company @ One Eyed Jacks Roadhouse (Lynnwood)
Disco Ballz @ Wilde Rover (Kirkland)
Blues Union @ Wilde Vine Bistro (Bothell)
Big Dog Revue @ Emory's (Everett)
Adam Bomb & Scott Earl @ Flights Pub (Everett)
Blake Lewis, Mother of Pearl @ Jet Bar (Mill Creek)
Dana Osborn & The Mellow Heads @ The 907 Grille & Lounge (Snohomish)
Platinum Spandex, Fan Halen @ The Point Casino (Kingston)

Sunday
Fan Halen (Van Halen tribute) @ Tulalip Casino
The Davanos @ The Little Red Hen
Sunday Night Jazz Jam Hosted by The Paul
Miranda Syndicate  @ Darrell's Tavern
Seattle Singer Songwriter Showcase @ Tim's Tavern
Sunday night Blues jam @ Sound Check Bar/Grill (l.ynnwood)
British Beats @ Central Club (Kirkland)