Pittsburgh-based mash-up maestro Gregg Gillis, a.k.a. Girl Talk, just wrapped up a little while ago at the University of Puget Sound Memorial Fieldhouse. And while the main attraction was basically a dude playing music on a laptop, Gillis’ set was even more bonkers than I remembered from last year’s at Sasquatch! Festival.

You know, there were a few dozen kids on stage jumpin’ around and shakin’ their money makers with wild abandon; ginormous, confetti-filled balloons being batted around; Gillis’ homies firing off makeshift TP guns (actually leaf blowers rigged with paint rollers); and sick, new remixes featuring pirated hooks from Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Arcade Fire – and even a little “Tiny Dancer,” which is never a bad thing.

Just hit the “more” button and check out some pics I took tonight and you’ll see just how much fun was had by all. Then you can guess how many rolls of toilet paper wound up strewn all over the arena floor. At a rate of three or four a minute over a couple of hours I’m going with – ummm, let’s see, carry the one – a gazillion!
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Country legend Willie Nelson is the first musical act announced for the 2010 Puyallup Fair.

Nelson, known for “On the Road Again,” “Always on My Mind” and other hits, will headline the Puyallup Fair grandstand at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 16, fair organizers announced today. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday (March 6) with prices ranging from $25 to $50. Find more details here.

Girl Talk, a.k.a. mash-up mastermind Gregg Gillis, will be the main attraction Sunday night (Feb. 28) at the University of Puget Sound Field House. And if you caught this guy at last year’s Sasquatch! Festival you know to expect quite the spectacle; ribcage-rattling bass, toilet paper guns, kids jumping around onstage – maybe Gillis dancing around in his tighty whities.

Recently, I caught up with the Pittsburgh-based producer on the phone. I’ve got a related story coming up in the Friday’s GO section. Meanwhile, click the link to hear a clip of him talking …

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So what is this I spy on the Pollstar site?

Does it say M.C. Hammer? June 26? The Emerald Queen Casino?

Granted, this has yet to be confirmed on the official EQ calendar. But still, inquiring minds want to know. At 47, can Stanley Burrell still turn that mutha out? Does he still rock the ginormous pants?

God, I hope so. It would be sad to show up and witness a Hammer with bad knees, trying to be hip in a pair of skinny jeans he just picked up at Hot Topic. …

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Almost forgot to mention that local hip-hop sensation Quincy “Q. Dot” Henry landed a spot opening up for the reunited Goodie Mob Wednesday night at Seattle’s Neumo’s. Here’s a video for Q’s cut “Supafresh” featuring some Sound Sound settings you may recognize.

Seattle buzz band, the Cave Singers, could fill Showbox at the Market or the Crocodile Cafe on any given night. But the alt-country trio is warming up for their upcoming West Coast tour and appearance at South by Southwest with a bunch of intimate shows all around Washington.

Lucky for us, that included Tacoma’s New Frontier Lounge last night. And of course I was there with point-and-shoot in hand. Here are a few clips for anyone who missed out or just wants to relive a really killer set.

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Over the weekend I spotted this Rolling Stone piece with former Rocket editor Charles Cross talking about the future of Universal Pictures’ Kurt Cobain biopic, which is in pre-production and will be based partly on Cross’s best-selling biography “Heavier Than Heaven.”

The RS piece says “The Messenger” director Oren Moverman is on board. And there’s a fun link soliciting fans picks for who should play Nirvana, Courtney Love and company.

I’ll take a stab at that one. Based on looks alone, I’m going with Charlie Hunnam as Cobain. Every time I watch …

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Bon Jovi can lay on the Veltveeta (i.e. “Love’s the Only Rule” and “We’ve Got It Going On,” among other songs played at tonight’s tour launch at KeyArena. The band’s second Seattle show is Saturday, Feb. 20.)

And yes, I rolled my eyes whenever stilted but hunky front man, Jon Bon, shook his skinny moneymaker, triggering conniption fits in half the 30- and 40-something women in the arena.

But all that said, how can you not like the Jovi, at least a teeny, tiny bit? For starters, you can’t front on the sheer pop genius of karaoke …

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I heard through the grapevine that local girl and rising gospel star Crystal Aikin is back in town, fresh from her big night at the 25th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Aikin was recognized for last year’s self-titled debut for Zomba with wins in the best new artist and contemporary female of the year categories.

More recently, on Tuesday, Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland declared Sunday, Feb. 21, to be Crystal Aikin day. Then Aikin put in a call to her alma mater, …

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They’ve sold more than 120 million albums. They recently rocked the Grammys. And someone somewhere is howling an enthusiastic karaoke rendition of “You Give Love a Bad Name” as you read this.

Take that, critics! Bon Jovi is still bigger than the ‘dos they sported as they stormed MTV in the ‘80s. And as I blogged earlier this month, I was in on the teleconference the band held to fill in some details on what to expect from their upcoming shows.

Click hear to listen to guitarist Richie Sambora talk about the Circle Tour set lists and …

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