Paul K., iconoclast, cult rocker and occasional hack writer for LEO, is the cover feature for the February issue of Louisville Music News, on the streets beginning today.

Javacia Harris has a piece on Louisville rapper Griot in this week’s issue of Velocity.

Meanwhile, over at LEO, Mat Herron’s picks of the week include show’s by Sick of It All, John Cowan, Tiger Army and The Asylum Street Spankers. Herron also has a short feature on Clint Lowery, former Sevendust guitarist.

Damien McPherson, writing in LEO, has a big plug for Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on the question of whether or not music releases in the form of an ‘album’ - not necessarily a CD - has a future. Before you say WTF re: WSJ, remember that these folks are all about following the money and, hence, predicting where the money will be, so if you are a musician, it’s worth a few minutes of your time to read.

R.E.M. has announced their North American tour; the closest the band will come to Louisville is … Chicago. The list is here.

Current.com has a teaser video of My Morning Jacket’s appearance with The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.

As usual, J. L. Puckett’s Tuesday column in the Courier-Journal has a list of this week’s CD releases. Wille Nelson tops the list.

The ‘free download’ P2P site Qtrax, which claims to have 30 million songs available, apparently has gotten ahead of its legal department. Only one of the four major labels has entered into a deal with the company to make their music available. The company plans to make money with advertising that runs while the file downloads. There are various commentaries at idolator.com, Kings of A&R, hypebot.com and advertising age. Wheee.

Vivendi Chief Executive Jean-Bernard Levy said at MIDEM that he thinks the doom and gloom prevalent in the record business is overblown and that the sales of physical CDs will be profitable for years to come. He says he has no plans to spin off Universal Music Group. FMQB has the complete story.

Andrew Adler has a substantial review of Sunday’s performance by the Ceruti Chamber Players in today’s C-J.

In fire that destroyed the LAVA house on Shelby Street and killed Bill Christie took more than one life and several buildings - it pretty much wiped out an interesting and vibrant arts and music scene. The building that housed many artists workshops was a total loss, as were all the productions in it. Operating fairly quietly in the neighborhood, the LAVA houses artists were doing their work, making their art and displaying it whenever they felt like it. No doubt, they feel like a family that has lost a grandfather - and a whole slew of ‘children.’ Whether any, all or some of them can pull together another scene of the same sort remains to be seen. It is a plus that they understand viscerally that such a thing can happen and even what it takes to make it happen. The rest of us can only watch, offer encouragement and see what phoenix rises from the ashes.