​Surely it says something about the quality of a performance when the middle finger of one's sidekick gets more attention during the biggest gig of your career than you do. But even if Madonna's Super Bowl set was a little ... lackluster, there's no doubting that she's put on some of the most extravagant shows in pop history. And it's a safe bet that when she brings the caravan 'round to KeyArena on Oct. 2 to promote her forthcoming record, MDNA, the show will be one of special magnificence. Even if nobody gives the crowd the bird.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday via LiveNation.com.

​Of the Valentine's Day (that's Tuesday, February 14, remember, boyfriends?) live music options that are available in town--Columbia City Theater's Love Songs with Kaylee Cole, Matt Bishop of Hey Marseilles, and Tim Wilson of Ivan & Alyosha; the Comet's benefit for Jubilee Women's Center with Lisa Dank and Vox Mod; the Nectar's reggae Valentine's Blaze; and the Funhouse's St. ValenGRIND's Day Massacre, to name a few--I'd go with seeing Philadelphia's Dr. Dog at the Neptune. It's a beautiful setting, and Dr. Dog is a Great Equalizer--everyone likes their winsome pop songs.

You'll also be able to celebrate in style--yesterday I had a conversation with Seattle Theatre Group's ever-helpful Jason Ross; I was wondering if the Neptune bar offered champagne. It's not something that's usually on the menu, but Ross spoke with the Neptune's bar manager, Dan Reinharz (aka Tiki Bob's Tiki Dan), details were hashed out, and now, in honor of hearts and love and all things Valentine's Day, champagne will be available! A limited supply will be available upon request; prices will vary with brand; and you'll have to purchase by the bottle, which should be the perfect amount for you and your date to get in the mood for a night of dancing. May the sound of corks popping ring through the evening.

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​If you're a club/promoter/band and you have canceled your show due to our snow situation, shoot me a note: ckornelis@seattleweekly.com. I'll update any and all cancellations here.

UPDATE: 3:10, Thursday: Cancellations keep rolling in:

List list of Thursday shows that have been canceled or postponed:

-- Tonight's show at El Corazon featuring Oral Crux, Koozbane, Kids On Fire, and Conniption Fits, has been postponed.

-- Gabriel Teodros' show tonight at Chop Suey has been rescheduled for Sunday night. Tickets for tonight's show will be good on Sunday.

-- The Funhouse will be open, but the show tonight is canceled.

-- The Fremont Abbey show tonight with Ben Fisher, Taylor Bolibol, Nick Drummond & Tyler Carson has been canceled and rescheduled for either Friday or Saturday.

-- Youth Lagoon's show at Neumos tonight has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 23. Tix are good for the new date, and refunds are available at point of purchase.

-- The Tractor is closed tonight, and the Milk Carton Kids' show has been canceled.

-- Jeff Ross' show at the Neptune has been rescheduled for Feb. 19. All tickets will be honored. Contact Seattle Theatre Group for refund details.

-- SHAPRECE, Reva Devito, and Zach Bruce at the Croc is being rescheduled.

-- JK Pop (J-pop/K-pop dance night) at the Alibi Room has been rescheduled for Jan. 26.

-- Jeff Lorber Fusion w/Randy Brecker's set at Jazz Alley tonight is canceled. Friday and Saturday's shows are a go, however.

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​OK, so the last record was a little on the ... tepid side. But the Cold War Kids still put on one of the best, sometimes violent shows around. And putting them into the Columbia City Theater for three nights (March 1 to 3) sounds a lot like a cage fight.

If you wanna/need to go to these ridiculously intimate shows, tickets are $20 a night or $50 for all three, and go on sale Friday via ColdWarKids.com.

​People! It's gonna be alright! I've talked to more people in the last 48 hours stressing about getting in to see Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum at the Moore (April 16) than I've ever experienced for a show. And with good reason. The notoriously reclusive singer/songwriter ... doesn't get out much. For those of you stressing, well, you can breathe a little easier.

STG just announced that Mangum has added an April 17 date, also at the Moore. Tickets to both shows appear to still be available. If you are lucky enough to get tickets, they cost $33.50 and you have to pick them up at Will Call the day of the show. Yes, there's going to be a crazy line/situation out front of the Moore the day of the show.

Bring a sac lunch and a fresh Moleskin.

​No offense, but Thom Yorke's lazy eye and Radiohead's increasingly ponderous noodling are mainstays of the touring circuit, and while it's good news they're not shirking the rest of the West Coast for Coachella, they're hardly the most interesting items on yesterday's line-up announcement for the California mega-festival. No, the big news is the festival's usual batch of reunions and un-retirements: Brit pop gods Pulp, post-hardcore bomb-throwers Refused and At The Drive-In, and Neutral Milk Hotel recluse Jeff Mangum. Mangum and Pulp have both been playing reunion shows already--and update: it has been pointed out that Mangum is already set to play Seattle's Moore Theatre April 16th, so that's one down--but Refused and At The Drive-In's reunions were announced specifically for Coachella (Refused have promised to announce more tour dates soon). So, Radiohead, yay--but what are the odds these acts will make it up to Seattle (or Sasquatch! or Bumbershoot)? Pulp is a must see (at least) once in my lifetime band--is this gonna be the first year I actually have to go to Coachella?

​We had our money on a Radiohead stop at Sasquatch! But it turns out that the British kids with the Midas touch prefer KeyArena. We're going to have to go back into the archives to find the last time Radiohead played within Seattle city limits. Their last area show, in support of 2007's pay-what-you-want In Rainbows, was at Auburn's White River Amphitheater. Tickets to Radiohead's April 9 stop go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday via Ticketmaster.

But, speaking of Sasquatch! ... the festival announced yesterday that its lineup-release party will go down Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Neptune. Junip, Nada Surf's Matthew Caws, and The Physics are playing. Unlike last year, when the show was free, tickets are $15. We'll tell you the lineup for 12 dollars less right hear as it's announced.

​Neumos has of late been doing a stellar job booking some powerhouse local lineups, and tomorrow, Tuesday the 10th, is a bright example.

Reverb faves (and Reverb Fest 2011 veterans) Stephanie will be headlining with a unique and eclectic set of openers--dance-rockers Flexions, a solo set by Erik Blood--who just produced Stephanie's upcoming full-length, One Glove (out this spring), and a DJ set by OC Notes, whose recent Emerald City Sequence was raved about by Todd Hamm in this month's Reverb Monthly reviews.

The show starts at 8 p.m., and there's a $7 cover. If you need a Stephanie introduction or refresher, check out this quality video of their November in-studio at KEXP; you'll get to hear and see four of their best songs.

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James O'Mara

​Elvis Costello's bringing his "Spinning Songbook Tour" to the Paramount with the Imposters on April 12 (Tickets range from $39.50 to $79.50 and go on sale Saturday via LiveNation.com). It's a non-traditional tour that includes as its centerpiece a wheel that select fans are invited to spin to help determine the night's set list.

Hokey? Who cares. If any pop culture institution needs to buck tradition, it's the live concert. Say what you will about the recent trend of bands performing classic records in their entirety (and we have), at least it's mixed things up a bit. Costello's wheel, by all accounts, has been a hit with fans, and something he hasn't done for decades. More of this, please!

OK, so, where do you want the wheel to land? I must admit, that I'd be happy with an evening that covered the standard bases and surprised with some notable covers.

The three guys on the left are playing the Tacoma Dome on May 5 without the guy on the right.

​I was talking to a couple guys recently about the Van Halen reunion (David Lee Roth, Alex/Eddie VH, and Wolfgang VH on bass) recently and brought up the fact that it's not a true reunion because Michael Anthony isn't playing bass. One of my "friends" said something to the effect of: "What, it's not a reunion because the guy who stood in the corner and played bass isn't on the tour?" Alright, well, we've got a couple bass players who like to post up here, so I know them's fightin' words. Personally, I don't think it's a true reunion. Doesn't mean it won't be a good show. And that show, btw, is coming to the Tacoma Dome on May 5. No word yet on when tickets go on sale.