How do we know when it's OK to like Kelly Clarkson ? Why, the same way we know when it's acceptable to enjoy anything: when rockers tell us so. After Ted Leo & the Pharmacists covered "Since U Been Gone," many rock stars came moping out of the closet and declared themselves fans of the chanteuse as well. Some choice testimonials: "[S]he's an amazing singer, and you can't fault her for that," says Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump; "[S]he's the real deal," pronounces Yellowcard's Ryan Key. Simple Plan's Pierre Bouvier gives as his final diagnosis: "[S]he's real." So there you go. Now that these and many of your other beloved real musicians have exposed the truth that Kelly is, in fact, not filled with unicorns, Smurfs, and lollipops -- gee, thanks, guys -- she's finally been given the credit she so richly deserves. But if you don't believe what these Seth Cohen look-alikes say, or what thousands of teenage girls knew when Clarkson was just a cog in the American Idol machine, beautifully belting out pop classics, come hear her for yourself. Kelly hits the stage this Sunday, Sept. 4, at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley; call (510) 642-9988 or visit www.anotherplanetent.com for more info. -- Brock Keeling
Once upon a time, Olivia Tremor Control was the coolest, weirdest pop band on the planet. Not only did these musicians release the lowest of lo-fi pop snippets that were like two-minute condensations of "Good Vibrations," they balanced that out with completely cracked-out 10-minute musique concrète dream sequences. Their 1996 album Dusk at Cubist Castle was a pop masterpiece with a huge incense break in the middle. And did we mention the beards? Jesus, some of these guys had beards in 1996 -- the only people who had beards back then were stepdads! Three years later, they released Black Foliage, which was even more freaked out. Then ... silence. It's nothing but side projects for six years until incessantly hip blow-job king Vincent Gallo gets the group to play at the All Tomorrow's Parties event in the U.K. Now OTC is rocking psych-pop nationally and I should probably tell you that Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Magnum hopped up onstage with the band in New York and the whole crowd went completely batshit. So cross your fingers when OTC performs on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7-8, at the Great American Music Hall; call 885-0750 or visit www.gamh.com for more info.-- Jon Pruett
