Check out British pop star Lily Allen’s harsh (and perhaps tasteless) dis of Courtney Love on the Rolling Stone site. And read some of the hilarious responses. Seems that even Courtney Love haters don’t take kindly to seeing the late Kurt Cobain’s name uttered in vain.

So is this a feud in the making or what? And wasn’t Lily Allen already busy hating on Amy Winehouse?

And while we’re on the topic of Ms. Allen, I also mentioned her in a post a few days ago about artists whose influences are showing. And

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Before David Beckham, the Arctic Monkeys were the most overly hyped British export of the moment – a band that, we were told last year, was the best thing since the Libertines. Who were, of course, the best thing since Oasis. Who were …

Well, you get the picture. Bollocks, I say! But don’t blame those lads for the vicious hype cycle they inspired after breaking all manner of British sales records. Just enjoy them for what they are on Sept. 29 when they headline Seattle’s WaMu Theater: Cheeky, funny and kinda cool – just not that

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Forget what those Green Day guys say. You probably do want to be an American Idiot if you’re in a local band that needs exposure. And Seattle’s KISW-FM (99.9) just sent me details on its American Idiot contest for Northwest rock bands.

Interested bands should e-mail americanidiot@kisw.com or check the station’s Web site for further details. The top nine will be interviewed on the BJ Shea Morning Experience (which airs from 5 to 10 a.m. weekdays) between Aug. 6 to 24. And KISW listeners will vote for their favorites from Aug. 27 to Sept. 5,

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This just in: Alice in Chains finally has a date in this market. The Seattle metal mavericks (with roots in Spanaway) will open for Velvet Revolver on Sept. 8 at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Live Nation announced this morning. I can’t wait since the last time I saw those guys was when they unveiled William DuVall as the new lead singer in May of ’06 at the Moore.

And just as close is the Sept. 9 show at the Clark County Amphitheatre in Ridgefield – you know, if you want to go kick

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Barsuk recording artist Rocky Votolato is among a handful of up-and-coming Seattle singer-songwriters that usually get filed under “alt-country.” You can hear him play songs from his excellent new album, “The Brag & Cuss” later today at Hell’s Kitchen. But earlier this week, I called him when he was still in Reno and asked if he thought there was an alt-country scene developing around these parts. And

here’s what he had to say.

My column for Friday’s GO was inspired by Avrilgate – you know, recent accusations that Avril Lavigne ripped off the Rubinoos and Tony “Mickey, you’re so fine” Basil for her single "Girlfriend."

In the column, I also mention a few other songs I’ve heard in recent years that inspire a sense of deja vu. None of us (presumably) were there when the songs below were written. So I’ll let you be the judge regarding whether they’re intentional ripoffs, examples of the artists’ influences being just a little too transparent or just — um — total coincidence. There are

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It appears that Club Vertigo is one step closer to opening at 5402 S. Tacoma Way, the former location of restaurant and metal hot spot, the 54.

The company Club Vertigo LLC applied for a liquor license earlier this month, a company owned by James Foss and wife Janine Ploegman. [Correction to earlier version of this entry: The Washington State Liquor Control Board listed the couple as being part of Spinden & Associates, the group that owned 54. But Foss said he did not know the previous owners and that he bought the business recently.]

The

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There are a couple of new live music options I’ve been meaning to check out.

The first is Cans which opened downtown in the former Taboo space a few weeks ago. I ventured down there for an ale opening weekend before their musical lineup had shaped up. But I missed the Boss Martians a couple of weekends ago. So I had catching New Mexico’s Soular on Saturday on my to do list.

And decks are always a big attraction during the hot summer months. And Masa has upped the ante by

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The Rubinoos recently sued Avril Lavigne, claiming the pop princess ripped off their late ’70s track “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” for her hit “Girlfriend.”

Avril Lavigne’s music derivative? I know, I know. Say it ain’t so! But the bright side of that scandal is that it gives me something fun to write about. My column in this Friday’s GO focuses on popular musicians whose “muses” should probably demand back royalties.

And as I researched my topic, wondering how painfully obvious it was to everyone else that Lavigne likely lifted a hook from Toni Basil,

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