“The Rocker” contest hits close to home; Mercury Prize noms; Nas vs. O’Reilly; ‘Sunday Night Music Meeting’ returns; Kanye West helps vets on ‘Homecoming.’

Lots to do; lots of Who; we can all be Kanye; Smashing Pumpkins to tour; and ‘Christmas on Mars.’

A birthday gift everyone can afford for Ringo; 4th of July movie marathon; House of Billy (Idol); Eleven singer Natasha Shneider dies.

Events scheduled for the new Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario; Largo; be ready to travel to audition for ‘American Idol’; John Oates’ mustache.

‘Sea No Evil’ with Matt Costa, Shepard Fairey; Barker and DJ AM ; GNR clips leaked; 50 Cent isn’t biting; Russert memorial; ‘Largo’ movie.

Tim Russert; new Radiohead; Ashanti controvers; STP vs. label; Plant wants to continue work with Krauss, while Page and Jones play with Foo Fighters; White Stripes tease Detroit.

Hootenanny plus; U2 reissues; sing with Aimee Mann; Viva Chuck Todd; and ABC gives in to Japanese game shows.

ZZ Top due at Glen Helen; final tour for Boss and the E Streeters?; McClellan book; Weezer meets YouTube; Spinal Tap on Stonehenge; maybe Ashlee Simpson wants to be White House press secretary.

Street Scene may return to streets; ‘Recount’; Mike Rowe as modern-day Indy; Kenny Chesney speaks his mind; “Monty Python” remastered.

No Ozzfest for IE; Bill O’Reilly Dance Remix; Music Builds — literally;OK Go headlines Darfur benefit; Cee-Lo and Jack Black do ‘Kung Fu’ together; Barack rock; Stern vs. Parton; Jonas Brothers will be everywhere.