There! I did it. Came up with another Useless Trivia (Wednesday) quiz while waiting for Kate Nash to call.

Anyway, if you read this blog very often, you know I love me some Portishead. My column on Friday is about their first album in 11 years. So let’s see who else is with me. Warning: This is the toughest trivia challenge yet. And if you know more than 70 percent of the answers, congratulations. You really are a pop music geek.

The Portishead quiz

1. The band is named after an English town.

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Had a killer migraine yesterday, and didn’t get around to posting a new Useless Trivia Tuesday quiz. But let me see if I can come up with a fitting challenge for all my fellow pop music geeks out there later this afternoon — you know, once I get a couple of interviews out of the way. Useless Trivia Wednesday, anyone?

I’ve had April 29 marked on my calendar for weeks, with a new Roots disc on the way, not to mention Portishead’s first studio album in 11 years. Speaking of which …

Album opener "Silence" and this, the last track, are the most evocative of Portishead’s sound in the ’90s. But those two tracks bookend some serious departures. Some work better than others. Of the questionable variety are Beth Gibbons singing over ukulele and distorted doo-wop harmony, and sounding a bit like a wounded Tiny Tim, on "Deep Waters." Not too crazy about that

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Puyallup Fair organizers just announced additions to their lineup. The Black Crowes will play the Puyallup Fair & Events Center grandstand on Sept. 8, Kid Rock on Sept. 10 and Fergie on Sept. 16. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and you can find cost and other relevant details here.

And in other rock news, KISW-FM (99.9) just announced details for its Rock Girl Gala, which will feature performances by Candlebox, Chevelle and Another Black Day at the Tacoma Dome’s West End at 7 p.m. June 4. The event is also the finale

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Last night’s rap-rock show at Jazzbones featured appearances by headliner Outtasite (top), Sir Mix-A-Lot and opening act Farchild (vocalist Jane C pictured above during Outtasite’s set.) Outtasite’s sound has grown since his solo debut "Right Side Down" a few years back. Last night’s show was a CD release party for the follow up "Careful What You Wish For," which features a more pronounced funk-rock vibe. And Mix had even revamped some of his classics, which included a death metal

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If you’ve read this blog for a while, you probably know I’m a big fan of Faith No More/Mr. Bungle’s Mike Patton and his art-pop project Peeping Tom. Here’s a performance from “The Henry Rollins Show” I stumbled onto on You Tube. Can’t wait to see Crudo, his new group with Dan “the Automator” Nakamura, at next month’s Sasquatch Festival.

If you hadn’t noticed, it’s Sir Mix-A-Lot week on the ol’ Bring the Noise blog (the occasion being his appearance with Outtasite tomorrow night at Jazzbones.) And as promised, here are a few clips from my latest interview with the always fun and engaging Mix.

Clip 1: South Sound references in “My Hooptie”

Clip 2: Support acts Tomeka Williams and Farchild

Clip 3: His new (and possibly last) album

You can learn more about this guy this weekend. We hear he was good at playing guitar or something.

AP FILE PHOTO

Just a few hot tickets for the next few days …

Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound opening day (Friday, EMP): EMP unveils its first major Hendrix exhibit in five years. And Friday’s fanfare includes a presentation by Jimi’s friend and band mate, Billy Cox and a showcase of songs inspired by the man, featuring Jeff Fielder (Sera Cahoone), Mike Musburger (The Posies, Fastbacks), Ty

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Who: Outtasite is the stage name for Seattle-born, Federal Way-based rapper Mike Singleton

Style: Don’t call it "rap rock" or "nu metal." Outtasite’s blend of agro riffs and street savvy rhymes is inspired by early Run DMC, not Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock. .

In his own words: Listen up here.

You may also know him from years of collaborating with Seattle rap legend Sir Mix-A-Lot and Seattle supergroup Subset (Mix-A-Lot and the Presidents of the United States of America). Plus, he’s half of Seattle alt-pop outfit, the Feelings Hijackers, with the

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Whatchoo know about Mix-A-Lot, sucka? Here are the answers to Tuesday’s quiz. Avoid spoilers and take the original quiz here.

1. Sir Mix-A-Lot’s debut album is called …

A. Return of the Bumpasaurus

B. Seminar

C. Mack Daddy

D. Swass

2. Which of his songs is essentially about a night out in Pierce County, with reference to Hilltop and Ft. Lewis nightclub, NCO?

A. Posse on Broadway

B. My Hooptie

C. Bremalo

D. Beepers

3. Who dropped the pickles on Mix’s rug in that song?

…

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