• If you’re in Chicago tonight, you should head down to Martyr’s for what’s sure to be a good time at the USTORM Benefit/Party at Martyr’s. Mike Rakie and Friends kick things off with an acoustic set, before Jack Straw takes the stage for the best Dead covers this side of the DSO. Then strap on your funkiest shoes to dance the night away with Lubriphonic, before the always entertaining SuperJam featuring members of UM, Jack Straw, Mr. Blotto, Family Groove Company, DSO, Jennifer Hartswick and Cornmeal.

• I don’t know what’s more surprising - that Neil Diamond had never scored a number one album before, or that he finally reached the top this late in his career. That’s right, Home Before Dark took the top spot on this week’s Billboard 200. It’s nice to see that Jewish Mothers everywhere came out in force to support their boy.

• If you happened to catch the traveling Sumer of Love exhibit last year, then you’re probably familiar with the magnificent psychedelic art from the collection of Peter Golding. Golding’s collection includes works from Rick Griffin, considered the genre’s grand master, Gary Grimshaw, Alton Kelley, Dennis Larkins and Stanley (Mouse) Miller. For those heady brahs with deep pockets head to Bonham’s Auction Site right now for your chance to buy some of the best shit in Golding’s collection. And please buy me this poster.

We’ve got some more details about Sub Pop’s 20th anniversary festival that will be taking place on July 12th and 13th at King County’s Marymoor Park near Seattle.

The seminal indie-label has revealed the initial line up that includes current label artists Fleet Foxes, Flight Of The Conchords and Iron & Wine. Also on the bill will be the reunited Beachwood Sparks, Green River and label staple Mudhoney. Discounted single-day and two-day passes will go on-sale on April 26th.

If an indie-rock festival in the Pacific Northwest isn’t your idea of fun then maybe one these newly announced tours will get ya goin’…

• The band with the hardest name to Google, !!!, plan a July run
• The Black Crowes put together an epic 90 date summer tour
• Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson hits the road for select dates
• Al Green will tour behind his brand new ?uestlove produced album
• ‘80 Hair Metals fans will have two summer tours to choose from : Cruefest and the package of Poison, Dokken & Sebastian Bach
• Yonder Mountain and Keller Williams join forces for a summer jaunt

Let’s end with a note for my mom, as her favorite artist Neil Diamond (and probably every Jewish mom’s right?) will hit the road for 37 city North American tour in support of his latest Rick Rubin produced album, Home Before Dark. The tour, which consists predominantly of arena shows, will include a notable performance at Boston’s Fenway Park on August 23rd. So do your mom proud, and grab her some tickets to see Neil for Mother’s Day. It’s the least you can do.

We don’t cover too much comedy around these parts, but when I saw that the sketch comedy troupe Kids In The Hall were heading out on a rather lengthy tour - their first in over six years - I figured it was worth a mention here.

If you’re not familiar with their comic stylings, take a peak at them in action:

If you don’t like to laugh, then maybe one of these recently announced tours are for you…

• They should probably just dubbed this the I Love The 80s tour as Journey, Heart & Cheap Trick join forces (begins: 07/09)
• Legendary L.A. punk-rockers X hit the road (begins: 03/28)
• Here’s one you’re girlfriend will probably be dragging you to as Maroon 5 and Counting Crows head out together (begins: 07/25)
• The Godfather of Indie Cool Lou Reed lines up a handful of shows (begins: 04/20)
• British folkie Kate Walsh comes across the pond for some club dates (begins: 05/12)
• Los Lobos put together a smattering dates over the next seven months (begins: 03/28)
• Prog legends King Crimson put together a mini-tour with multiple nights in New York, Philly and Chicago (begins: 08/06)

Finally, here’s something your mom has probably been waiting for: the announcement of the Today Show’s Summer Concert Series. Some of the acts scheduled to perform outside of 30 Rock include Neil Diamond, The B-52’s, Coldplay and Sheryl Crow. There will also be with a special “surprise” reunion scheduled for May 16th - anyone want to venture a guess on what craptastic nostalgia act will play?

The truth about that “song from Fenway” hath been revealed: “Neil Diamond held onto the secret for decades, but he has finally revealed that President Kennedy’s daughter was the inspiration for his smash hit Sweet Caroline.”