Rolling Stone is reporting that Bothell-born beatboxer B-Shorty (aka Blake Lewis) was dropped from his deal with Arista Records—the folks who brought you Whitney Houston and other stars. These developments just go to prove that no damn American Idol contestant has the skill or staying power of Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood. The show clearly peaked with Underwood's win, and has been hard pressed to find an actual star since. Oh well, we guess it's back to slumming in Seattle clubs for Blake Lewis. It's a shame, since he actually has some formidable talent to speak of. Here's hoping he'll do better as an indie artist. more ›

Kristy Lee Cook may be the closest we get to a local hand in the pot this year. Which basically means Blake Lewis might get to keep his crown. (Did he get a crown for coming in second?) more ›

, and our guess would be that it applies even more to the latter. We've heard it from several people that adults don't vote, either. After last week's grossly misguided injustice, we're fairly certain both rumors are true. That's why we're making it a point to head off further sadness the best way we know how: with a blog post. more ›

Notes from a day when even Iranians are probably paying more attention to Blake Lewis than to Dick Cheney. more ›

Last week's high-profile, faux low-profile United States of Electronica show at the Comet should convince you to check them out at the Firehouse in Ballard Old Fire House in Redmond this weekend. Maybe this was supposed to be a Lashes show but now is an ersatz Lashes benefit due to Eric Howk's injury. more ›

For some reason we're more willing to devote an hour of our Friday lunch than an hour of our Tuesday evening to the American Idol cause. Seattlest hasn't seen a whole lot of the show but we decided to run down and check out Blake Lewis just now and we're glad we did. We showed up at noon on the dot and were subjected to 15 minutes of banter from some Q13 chick trying to interview Blake's old bandmates. "You're not giving us any dirt on Blaaaake!" she whined over and over. Kind of a performance art piece, that. He finally showed, fussed with equipment for another 15 and then did a Jamiroquai song and a Sublime song and an orignial which was, of course, full of the beat box. Oddly, B Lewis wasn't the best rythmist on stage as K.J. Sawka was backing him. If a friend hadn't told us that they used to appear at the Seamonster on 45th together we'd have figured Sawka for a straight-up poaching, K.J. remains the only percussionist we can think of who can carry a show on his own, and this was the most subdued we've ever seen him. And then Blake wasn't the best MC on the stage--Common Market showed and Blake rightly groveled at the feet of Scion. And then Mix-a-lot showed up and made Blake beat box for "Baby Got Back." And then Kenny G got on stage. Ok, he didn't, but a city councilwoman did drop his name to muted cheers and confused looks amongst the kinder set. We had to shuffle off through the crowd as Blake, Scion, Mix-a-lot, Sawka and the rest of Blake's band wrapped up an all-hands number. For the entire time Blake Lewis was the best final-3 American Idol contestant in the square. more ›

Adios Lakisha. Did we call it, or what? more ›

stage since Clarkson and Guarini, had to show for themselves. more ›

Holy crap, our hearts are pounding so hard, nervous that our beloved adopted Seattleite Jordin Sparks is about to get kicked off American Idol. Just when we thought she'd take it all. Damn you, Phil "Blaze of Glory" Stacey, for being born to lead a Bon Jovi cover band. Damn you, Lakisha Jones, for finding the one soul song Jon Bon ever wrote. We don't even need to mention Melinda "The Winner" Doolittle, since she's clearly going to take the whole damn competition, even if she has to do it by singing some stupid Bon Jovi song. more ›

Well, in case you missed the paper, the television, and all the blogs in the world last week, Sanjaya is off American Idol. When Ellen Degeneres asked him on her Monday show who his favorite is to win Idol this year, he dodged it awkwardly by saying Ellen is his favorite. more ›

Tony Bennett: "I like [Sanjaya] because he dares to be different." more ›