The Secret Machines' Brandon Curtis announced that his guitarist brother Ben has left the band. Ben will start a new project called School of Seven Bells. Meanwhile, the remaining Machines will hit the studio in May to begin work on their follow up to Ten Silver Drops.

Mp3s:
Ela: Checks Getting Cashed
Nicole Adkins: The Way It Is
Swati: 2 O' Clock in the A.M. and Blackjack
Astrid Swan: Good Girl
Haley Bonar: Captain Captain
Cynthia Mason: Like a Lifer Out for Good

The latest news in the Van Halen saga is a report that the band will not perform at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction. Velvet Revolver is rumored to be doing a tribute to Van Halen. I have no doubt that David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar will both contemplate jumping on stage with Slash and crew. If they do, I'd love to see the look on Eddie's face.

Reuters is reporting that the payola probes have benefited indie music. With big labels left with less ability to blatantly bribe radio stations to play certain songs consumers are reportedly getting more variety and the playing field is seen as somewhat more level for smaller indie acts and labels. The story also reports that "Clear Channel Communications Inc., CBS Radio, Entercom Communications Corp. and Citadel Broadcasting Corp. have agreed to a consent decree that includes a $12.5 million payment to settle payola allegations raised by the [FCC]." It would be nice to get more variety from radio - but if they won't give it I guess that's why mp3 blogs were invented!

Labels: Mp3s, Nicole Adkins, The Secret Machines, Van Halen