Wilco, Bright Eyes, Wrens on Rock the Net Compilation
Also: Portastatic, DJ Spooky, They Might Be Giants, more to come

DC-based non-profit Future of Music Coalition is celebrating the first anniversary of its Rock the Net campaign. To celebrate a year of fighting the good (and somewhat confusing) fight for network neutrality, the campaign is assembling a compilation called Rock the Net: Musicians for Net Neutrality.

The full list of the compilation's contributors has yet to materialize, but it is shaping up nicely with confirmations from Wilco, Bright Eyes, the Wrens, They Might Be Giants, Portastatic, and DJ Spooky. And there is still time for other artists to join the fold, as Thirsty Ear Recordings is preparing the comp for a June release.

On the legislative tip, strides are still being made for net neutrality. Congressmen Ed Markey (Democrat, Massachusetts) and Chip Pickering (Republican, Mississippi) recently introduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act to the House of Representatives in an attempt to set guidelines for net neutrality. And on March 11, singer Damian Kulash of founding Rock the Net band OK Go will testify to the issue's importance for musicians before the House Judiciary Committee.

Ex-Cop Shoot Cop Dude Attempts Boneheaded Robbery

File this one right up there with the former Lifetime bassist who hoarded body parts in her basement. Michael Kaminski, onetime guitarist and percussionist for defunct New York City noise-niks Cop Shoot Cop, was charged with aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon after attempting to hold up a video store in Akron, Ohio (the city he now calls home) late last month, according to an Akron Beacon Journal report [via Cleveland Scene's C-Notes blog].

The concealed "weapon" in question? A Stetson cologne bottle shaped like a gun, the Beacon Journal report reveals, that Kaminski tried to make more convincing through the application of some black marker. Well done, son! Once Kaminski's ruse became apparent, an employee of a nearby store tackled the would-be thief, shattering the cologne bottle gun and dousing Kaminski in the alluring fragrance of justice.

"America's Stupidest Indie Rock Criminals", coming soon to a Fox network affiliate near you.

Final Fantasy Tangles With Canada's Healthcare System
Still more fun than dealing with an HMO

Photo by Zach Vowell

Final Fantasy, meet the grim reality of bureaucratic bullshit. It exists even in Canada, believe it or not, and even within the country's state-subsidized healthcare system that is-- while certainly not without flaws-- still the envy of quite a few folks here in the U.S.

Here's the sad tale [via Torontoist]: Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett recently went to renew the card that entitles him to health insurance coverage under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). As is customary, he was asked a number of questions, and in the process of answering them honestly, there arose some doubt as to Pallett's eligibility.

OHIP requires that those receiving health insurance coverage "are in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period." Pallett, as a touring musician and in-demand collaborator with neither car nor housing lease to his name, could not prove this to the Ministry of Health clerk.

"So, [the clerk] took my health card away," explained Pallett in a message board post quoted by Torontoist.

"I went back, very distraught, with some friends and a notarized document and my high school yearbooks and my diploma. I brought 12 months of cell phone records and Interac [debit card] purchases to prove that I had been in Toronto for 'a lot' of the last year, if not a total of five months' worth. Pathetic, perhaps, and it didn't work. I don't have a lease agreement, or own a car, or have any way to prove (legally) that I'm an Ontario resident.

"She then told me that I could appeal her decision, but that appeals rarely go through. She sneered as she told me this.

"So, if you travel for work, lie, lie, lie."

Some people in high places have already come to Pallett's aid, prompted to an extent, perhaps, by the fact that Pallett has some degree of celebrity in his home country, having won the prestigious Polaris Prize in 2006 for He Poos Clouds.

Two members of Ontario's Legislative Assembly, France Gélinas and Rosario Marchese, sent an open letter Tuesday (February 26) to the province's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, George Smitherman, on behalf of Pallett [also via Torontoist].

The letter, the full text of which resides below, chastises the hasty revocation "made simply on the basis of a brief conversation" and cites an overlooked exemption in Pallett's case "on the basis of him being absent from Ontario for employment purposes."

Gélinas and Marchese call Pallett "an award winning artist who deserves our support," and ultimately declare that "Owen deserves to have his OHIP coverage immediately reinstated." So there may be hope yet for Pallett and others whose livelihood depends upon travel. We'll keep our violin and piano strings crossed.

And speaking of travel, Pallett's very own, uniquely-funded Maximum Black Festival tour hits Vienna tonight.

Finally, this wouldn't be a bad time to remind folks of the U.S.-based Future of Music Coalition's valiant efforts in the area of musician healthcare. [MORE...]

TVT Files for Bankruptcy, Trent Reznor Rejoices

Current home to Lil Jon, the Ying Yang Twins, Pitbull, Dude 'N Nem, the famed Crunk Hits compilation series, and (why not?) the Polyphonic Spree, NYC-based TVT Records has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, according to an official statement released today.

The independent label made the move "in order to address urgent financial challenges and to support its future development," according to a press release, although it plans to "continue to market and promote its current projects and schedule upcoming releases." Affiliate company TVT Music Publishing will not be affected by the filing.

"The downturn in the music business has affected all of us, independents and majors alike," said TVT president and founder Steve Gottlieb in the statement. "We all seek to adapt to a new business model. I believe our history of innovative marketing, creative branding, and artist discovery are as much in demand today as ever before and that we will emerge from this reorganization a stronger entity."

While focused primarily on hip-hop and the odd indie band in recent years, TVT originally gained prominence with early releases from Nine Inch Nails and KMFDM, and went on to release records from Guided by Voices, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Autechre-- among many others-- over its 23 years so far in the business.

A representative from TVT tells Pitchfork that the label plans to continue to put out new records by all of its artists, including the Polyphonic Spree, Dude 'N Nem (check out these amazing new songs), Ambulance LTD, the Holloways, Lil Jon, and others. However, the label's financial setbacks will slow down business as usual, naturally.

For commentary on the situation, we turn to Trent Reznor, mastermind behind former TVT signing Nine Inch Nails. "Not ALL news about the music industry is bad these days," wrote Reznor in a posting on the NIN site yesterday that included a link to AllHipHop.com's breaking story about TVT's bankruptcy. The title of that post: "you're gonna get yours." No hard feelings, huh Trent?

Amplive's Radiohead Remixes Now Available

After a bit of legal wrangling, Bay Area DJ/producer Amplive's Rainydayz Remixes project is here to stay. (Rainydayz being the Zion I member's reimagining of Radiohead's In Rainbows with assistance from MCs like Too $hort, Del the Funky Homosapien, Chali 2na, and his Zion I partner MC Zumbi.) And it's available for download now by following this very link.

In addition to the MP3s, Amplive is releasing a track from Rainydayz Remixes to his iLike iCast every 24 hours until he's all out, which apparently means you can put it on your Facebook or something. Seeing as we're all still trying to add each other on Friendster over here, we'll just stick to what we know: Rainydayz tracklist and Amplive, er, live dates after the jump. [MORE...]

The Game Sentenced to 60 Days for Gun Charge

Live and learn: you can't whip out a piece on a school basketball court without upsetting a few people. Jayceon Terrell Taylor found this out the hard way yesterday (February 11), as the rapper-- better known as the Game-- was sentenced to 60 days in jail for possession of a firearm in a school zone (a felony), according to a Billboard.com report.

As previously reported, the Game was charged for the aforementioned offense and two others way back on June 4, 2007. During a February 24, 2007 pickup game of basketball at a Los Angeles school, the rapper allegedly "punched a player on the opposing team, went to his red Cadillac Escalade to pull out a gun, and came back threatening to shoot the other player."

After Taylor's defense's scrapped its claim that it was the Lupe Fiasco metaphysical character on the basketball court that day and not their client (jk), the Game pleaded no contest and received the 60-day sentence, which also includes 150 hours of community service and three years' probation.

White Stripes Sued for Sample Used Eight Years Ago

A long time ago (the year 2000) in the far, far away land of Detroit, Michigan, the White Stripes released an album called De Stijl. It was the duo's second full-length release, and while it earned some praise, it's still probably best known as the album that came before the Stripes' 2001 breakout smash White Blood Cells.

Buried amid the furrows of the De Stijl LP and within the rainbows on the CD is a tune called "Jumble, Jumble", track number 11. And found among the less than two minutes of recorded sound on said track are 10 sampled seconds-- 10 seconds which may end up costing the Stripes $70,000.

According to a Canadian Press report, former Quebec radio host and current university lecturer Dominique Payette alleges the above-mentioned sample is taken from her radio show and was used without permission. She insists her privacy has been violated and is suing the band, Third Man Records, and BMG Music Publishing Canada for the above-mentioned amount. What's more, she's seeking an injunction that, if granted, would force the Stripes to remove De Stijl from stores.

The fuzzy sample in question apparently features Payette exchanging a few words in French with a girl during the call-in portion of Payette's radio show. Listen for yourself here [via Cyberpress.ca].

Payette claims to have become aware of the sample in March 2007, hence this lawsuit some eight years after the fact (to say nothing of the dubious notion of "privacy" on a public radio program). No word yet from the Stripes on the matter, but hopefully all the love they showed Canada last summer will afford them some karma points here.

Many thanks to reader Frédéric Tremblay for the tip.

We'll assume Nigel Godrich got the Stripes' permission when he filmed them for his "From the Basement" web/television show. Americans with high definition satellite TV can catch Meg and Jack, as previously reported, on Rave HD February 22.

Lil Wayne Arrested on Drug Charges

According to a TMZ report, Lil Wayne was arrested last night (Jan. 22) near Yuma, Arizona on three felony drug counts: "possession of dangerous drugs, possession of narcotics, and possession of drug paraphernalia."

His previous legal trouble (not to mention his claim on Da Drought 3 of being "so high I could eat a star") may make Wayne's arrest less than surprising, but considering that police told TMZ the Drug Enforcement Agency was involved, the charges are still pretty serious.

An MTV.com report says that "the border patrol found a .40-caliber pistol, 105 grams of marijuana, 29 grams of cocaine, 41 grams of ecstasy, and various drug paraphernalia" in Wayne's tour bus. The rapper was arrested along with two other men.

At the moment, Wayne is in the custody of the Yuma County Sheriff's Department.

In an unrelated story, MTV.com reports that Tha Carter III is now due for a March 18 release.

U-God Sues Wu-Tang Clan's Label
Cash continues to rule everything around us

For a minute there, everything seemed to be going OK for the Wu-Tang Clan. Despite tensions between RZA and the other members, 8 Diagrams turned out fantastically (even landing at #38 on Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2007 list) and the tour seemed to be going pretty great.

But apparently all is not well in Wu world. According to TMZ.com, on January 8, Lamont Hawkins, aka U-God, filed a lawsuit against Wu Music Group, the Clan's label, alleging breach of contract. U-God seeks $170,000 from the Universal Music Group subsidiary for its "failure and/or refusal to fulfill its financial payment obligations" in exchange for his contributions to 8 Diagrams and several tours. (TMZ has the court documents here.)

The Wu trek in support of 8 Diagrams continues tonight in South Burlington, Vermont. U-God has been appearing with the group on this tour so far. But now, who knows. UPDATE: U-God will still be performing with the Wu-Tang Clan. [MORE...]

Fogarino/Franklin's Setting Suns Forced to Nix Name
Band to be henceforth referred to as Magnetic Morning

Photo by Christy Bush

Band nomenclature: it ain't what it used to be. Pretty much every second nowadays a perfectly serviceable bandname gets snapped up, forcing musical types to resort to atrocities like Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Does It Offend You, Yeah? (A: It does), and P4k HQ's current LOL of choice, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong.

For Interpol's Sam Fogarino and Swerverdriver's Adam Franklin, a blah name like the Setting Suns was just blah enough to have been used before (well, almost) for a musical undertaking. And now, under pressure from a fellow NYC act called Setting Sun, Sam and Adam have obligingly retired their blah moniker and opted instead to be forever known as-- wait for it-- Magnetic Morning. Expect a cease-and-desist any day now from my seven-year-old sister, who once used that name for a tweegazer outfit she started with a Rainbow Brite doll and two My Little Ponies.

Under their former name, Magnetic Morning played a gig and dropped their debut EP digitally late last year. The Setting Suns EP-- no word yet whether it will retain that title-- has been bumped from its original February 5 physical release date and will emerge in CD form this March via DH Records.

Between the Swervedriver reunion, Interpol's next round of live dates, and plans to record the Magnetic Morning full-length debut this year, these guys are in for a busy 2008. Ooh, and Adam Franklin has a few solo dates in queue too. Check those and the Interpol dates below. [MORE...]

Marty Crandall Domestic Abuse Case Dismissed

Detail from photo by Brian Tamborello

The unfortunate saga of Shins keyboardist Marty Crandall and ex-girlfriend Elyse Sewell came to an abrupt end today as the former couple's respective domestic abuse cases were dismissed, according to a spokesperson at the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office quoted on The Portland Mercury's blog, Blogtown, PDX.

The Mercury spoke to Diane Richardson at the D.A., who said the following: "Both defendants have not been charged. The case was rejected due [to] insufficient evidence."

Following the dismissal of her own case, Sewell claimed via her blog that she has "no intention of pursuing any further legal action." She went on to express surprise at how quickly the story had taken off, and declared, "I will never speak of this again, nor malign Marty in this space."

Sub Pop Responds to Arrest of Shins' Crandall

Detail from photo by Brian Tamborello

As reported yesterday, Shins keyboardist/utility man Marty Crandall and his now former girlfriend, model Elyse Sewell, both found themselves in a Sacramento County jail this weekend facing domestic abuse charges following a scuffle in a hotel Friday night.

Sewell was released Saturday on bail; Crandall followed suit yesterday. A post on Sewell's blog explaining the incident and cited in our previous story, meanwhile, has since been removed. "I've decided to heed the advice of many commenters (lawyerly types) and friends," wrote Sewell yesterday, "[and] lock my last entry about the legal foibles between me and my ex-boyfriend."

Today the Shins' label Sub Pop came forward with a statement regarding the arrests. It reads as follows:

Marty Crandall and his ex-girlfriend Elyse Sewell were both arrested over the weekend following an argument at a Sacramento hotel which resulted in hotel staff calling the police.

They were both taken into police custody and released over the weekend.

There will be no further comment at this time and we would appreciate their privacy being respected.

The Crandall case goes before a judge tomorrow, January 8.

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)