Great crowd. Great bands. Check out the locals who got honored … http://whatsup-magazine.com/2010/02/03/whats-up-2010-awards/

Local music and the folks who create it will be celebrated this weekend.

Go get a DVR. If you’re a fan of these movie award shows that usually clock in at 3-4 hours, which are mostly filled with actors gushing about themselves and each other,  get on the phone with Comcast or whoever and get yourself a DVR — digital video recorder — now, especially before the Academy Awards fill up your tube on March 7.

Those who snoozed on nabbing tickets to see local improv comedian/actor Ryan Stiles put on a couple of shows with friends at his Upfront Theatre this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 8-9, are too late. Both nights, not too surprisingly, are sold out. But fret not.

Jamie Foxx’s ‘Blame it’ among best singles of 2009

Last year’s songs dominated the airwaves, but there’s still some gems from 2009

Been out and about for the last couple of weeks for vacation. Went home to Boise and even knocked out a few songs at a studio called Whisky Hound Studios down in Redding, Calif. with my buddy. Hopefully I’ll have something to put out this year. Niiice.

I’d argue with anyone who says they miss the late Layne Staley more than I. His distinctive vocals, along with Jerry Cantrell’s fine riffage and songwriting, helped define Alice in Chains during the good days of grunge.

Wow, a couple of pretty great concerts are schedule for this weekend at the Nightlight.

My wife and I braved the crowds last weekend to catch “New Moon,” the second chapter of the “Twilight” story (If you haven’t seen them, don’t bag on them until you have). Needless to say, vampires were nothing close to as scary as that experience. Still, other than a few too many close-ups of Taylor Lautner’s bare chest, the movie was actually worth the $30 we threw at tickets, popcorn and soda. Also, without having read the books, I’ve already decided to pull for the Wolves instead of the Vampires. Anyway, just to stoke the pandemonium, here’s a link to every single “New Moon” trailer known to man. Or you can just go see the movie: New Moon trailers

My name is Ben Fletcher. I officially work at the Bellingham Herald as a sports/outdoors writer, but I’ve recently also been given license to blog a bit about the fun times here in Bellingham, Whatcom County, the greater Northwest and even beyond.

A bearded Doug Martsch, pictured in this slightly-less-than-high-quality courtesy photo next to guitarist Brett Netson (to Doug’s left), and Built to Spill treated a packed house at the Nightlight on Tuesday, Nov. 17, to a fine show. It was nice to hear the band play tunes from its recently released “There Is No Enemy.” Unfortunately, BTS failed to treat the crowd to a proper “Carry the Zero.” But a raucous version of “Goin’ Against Your Mind” to close their set more than made up for that single misstep. Come back soon, Doug.

It’s been some years since Doug Martsch began channeling his penchant for sing-song melodies, quirky lyrics and guitar weirdness into a band called Built to Spill.