It might be helpful to know who’s playing when. And you can find just such information here. See you up there tonight.

I hate it when two incredible bands are headlining on the same night. While I’m pretty amped to see Nine Inch Nails Saturday night at KeyArena, I’m also bummed that this means I’ll miss the Hold Steady, one of my favorite new bands from recent years, as the Minnesota-bred outfit headlines day two of the Capitol Hill Block Party. But that doesn’t mean you have to, assuming you’re not headed to Seattle Center like me.

And if you’re not up to speed on these guys or you’re on the fence about spending a few ducats to

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You remember a few years back when Ludacris and neo-con pundit Bill O’Reilly went back and forth, after O’Reilly called for a boycott of Pepsi, the soda Luda was pitching for. Well guess which rapper has beef with O’Reilly now. Check this out, in case you didn’t see it on “The Colbert Report.”

And while we’re at it, I found this video from YouTube:

A lot of people bash emo kids here in the United States, but usually not literally. But get a load of Russia’s response to the emo menace. And if you think that’s ridiculous, wait’ll you get a load of Mexico’s emo riots. Holy @#%@%@! All that for a little eyeliner?

Note to self: Don’t forget flak jacket and riot shield before next Fall Out Boy concert you have to cover.

The Wild (North) West Fest was scheduled for Sunday at Cheney Stadium, with Clint Black and Jo Dee Messina as the main attractions. But it’s been called off. Find ticket refund details here.

Sounds like it based on this Rolling Stone report.

Here are some answers. Avoid spoilers and take the original Nails quiz here.

The NIN challenge

1. Trent Reznor didn’t start out all loud and angry. Before Nails, he was in a Cleveland new wave outfit called …

D. Exotic Birds

2. Reznor produced the soundtrack for which controversial cult classic film from the 1990s?

D. "Natural Born Killers"

3. Before moving to Los Angeles in recent years, Reznor made his home in this goth-friendly American city.

A. New Orleans

4. "Metal" from the "Things Falling Apart"

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Nine Inch Nails is awesome. There shall be no further debate on this subject. And since NIN will be the main attraction at KeyArena on July 26, I thought I’d test your knowledge of all things Reznor-related.

The NIN challenge

1. Trent Reznor didn’t start out all loud and angry. Before Nails, he was in a Cleveland new wave outfit called …

A. Pretty Hate & the Machines

B. Misery Index

C. Latex & Velvet

D. Exotic Birds

2. Reznor produced the soundtrack for which controversial cult classic film

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… I might post a couple of shots of the Miss Summer Jam finalists. But let’s just say a “wardrobe malfunction” occurred. And I’ve got to say it was a little shocking to see a woman taking off her top off to win a hot body competition and getting booed. Soundly. By the guys. Weird! Score one for wanting to see Lil Wayne, zero for predictable responses and objectification of women. But I digress. Here’s my last batch of photos from Sunday’s Summer Jam show.

Lil Wayne shows up fashionably late,

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More scenes from Sunday’s Summer Jam show.

Nope, that wasn’t the "Lil" Bow Wow you grew up with. You know, the kuddly Kris Kross klone that starred in "Like Mike.” This was raunchy, 21-year-old sex symbol Bow Wow — the guy looking for "dirty girls" to go backstage and causing 15-year-old girls to scream uncontrollably at the sight of his naked torso. Eeeeeeeeee! Good job on the makeover, but you didn’t need to drop the drop the "lil" from your name, dude. Just ask Wayne, Jon and Flip.

ERNEST A.

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