Guardian Music — Mike Smith sketched almost every band he ever watched, and now his pictures are collected in a bookYou can spot the industry executives at gigs – they're the ones lost in concentration, brains computing an artist's potential commercial value, while... more info

Guardian Music — From Bruce Springsteen to the White Stripes, see how this record exec recorded memorable gigs with a pencil drawing more info

Brooklyn Vegan — Smoke Fairies at iTunes Festival (via iTunes UK) Smoke Fairies kick off a tour with Rasputina later this month. As mentioned, the tour does not include any NYC dates, but Smoke Fairies will return to NYC on August 22 at... more info

Guardian Music — Loser singer working on comeback album for country musician who sold 25m records in the 80s and 90sBeck is reportedly working on a comeback album by country singer Dwight Yoakam. Yoakam, who sold more than 25m records in the 80s and 90s, is plotting ... more info

NME - The Daily Download — 1. Black Milk feat Jack White – ‘Brain/Royal Mega’ It had to happen sooner or later. Jack White, man, musician, Raconteur, flogger of red and white merch and memorabilia, he of NME’s recent iPad app, has only gone and done a Joaquin. However... more info

Gigwise — Have a listen now... more info

NME — 'Signed D.C' and 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' are doing the rounds on the web more info

LargeHeartedBoy — Harper's interviews Colson Whitehead about his new novel Zone One. 1. The premise of Zone One is that a plague has struck the world, forming legions of “skels” — zombies, essentially, though you never use the word. This would seem... more info

Stereogum — If you have been missing the White Stripes (because of how they are RIP), this post should be reassuring that somewhere in Nashville there is a tar-and-peppermint-colored vault with and endless trove of half-baked Jack and Meg collabo jams waiting to... more info

Guardian Music — From cover versions to city sessions, exclusive performances are burgeoning on the web, writes Chris SalmonWith George Michael busy being a compelling tweeter and maker of rather disappointing new material, a reminder of how great his songwriting ca... more info