There’s a long history of bands with striking female singers rising to stardom while the oft-neglected guitarist/bassist/drummer dudes grumble behind the scenes, leading to what the lawyer folks call irreconcilable differences. And if this cryptic post on Paramore’s blog is any indication of things to come, they might be next. Says singer Hayley Williams:

“There are a lot of internal issues that have been going on in this band for quite a while now. A lot of it started right around the time we were gearing up for the RIOT Tour in the US. We were able to fight through all of it for this long but unfortunately we weren’t able to keep it together long enough to make it through ’til the end of this tour. We really feel that taking this time is going to give us a chance to get away and work out our personal issues at home and on our own terms.”

Of all the Fueled by Ramen bands, Paramore has some of the sharpest tunes and a refreshingly un-navel-gazing charisma. Nothing sounds certain yet, so let’s hope they can get this particular misery business sorted out before Atlantic Records execs slink any closer to the window ledge at the prospect of one of their last rising rock bands ditching for a life behind a diner counter.

– August Brown

Photo by Josh V. Rothstein

Presidential candidate John Edwards wasn’t the only person moved by the story of Nataline Sarkisyan, the 17-year-old from Northridge who died in December of complications from leukemia and whose family’s battles with its insurance carrier became headline news. Two local musicians, producer-beatmaker-lyricist ailment (Tony Barkodarian) and rapper-lyricist eye2eye (Mike Chakrian), were touched too.

“We didn’t know Nataline personally, but I grew up in the same area and the whole story hit very close to home,” says Barkodarian, a Northridge native who now lives in Glendale. “The best catchphrase I heard was ‘murder by spreadsheet’ — that’s exactly what it was.”

After Sarkisyan’s death, Chakrian posted some lyrics on MySpace; upon seeing them, Barkodarian was inspired to write a beat. The pair got together and recorded a song, “Nataline,” and have made it available for download. Proceeds from the download ($1.99) go to the Sarkisyan family.

Learn more and download “Nataline” here.

Highlights for tonight, Feb. 20

Shane Alexander’s album release show goes off at the Troubadour. … Halestorm rocks the Viper Room. … And the Minor Canon and the Snow perform at Club NME at Spaceland.

– Kevin Bronson

Without much fanfare, single-day tickets have just gone on sale for Stagecoach, California’s country-music festival, for $95. That’s a pretty good deal, especially for Friday when you can catch the hard-partying side of country with Shelby Lynne, Shooter Jennings and Glen Campbell as well as a local L.A. band of some renown called “the Eagles.” Goldenvoice golden-boy Paul Tollett has taken heat for less-than-inspiring headliners at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, but you have to give him credit for a Stagecoach lineup that packs plenty of horsepower.

–Geoff Boucher

Ever wondered how Wu-Tang Clan superproducer the RZA managed to sonically construct those icy yet grimy, sample-based soundscapes heard on Wu-bangers such as Chef Raekwon’s “Incarcerated Scarfaces,” the Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me),” Method Man’s “Bring the Pain” or even Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya”?

Of course you have.

Now’s your chance to ask the RZA himself. The Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling kung fu flick aficionado and de facto Wu-Tang leader (who is also known by his second tier nom de rap, Bobby Digital) is offering eight lucky Wu-Tang fans the chance of a lifetime: limited enrollment in a hip-hop masterclass – call it Sampling 101 — taught by none other than the RZA-rector.

But there’s one small catch. You have to buy a limited edition Roland Forat/RZA Customized MV-8800 -– just eight of them are available at Guitar Center for $5,999 -– and a RZA tutorial on how to use the studio gizmo is thrown in for free.

Each machine has been given the personal touch of Bruce Forat, the master customizer behind drum machines for Dr. Dre, the Neptunes and Prince. Plus, the things come with either a nifty I Ching symbol or a signature Wu-Tang “W” on them.

For his part, the RZA can barely contain his excitement about the collabo. “The public will be able to buy these and keep these. And we become part of two different histories. One, Forat; I think what he’s doing for hip-hop machines is legendary,” RZA said in an announcement. “I mean, it’s original and he’s going down in history as a legend for that. I’m glad that we’re doing this campaign right here, ’cause this is bong.”

– Chris Lee

[Emptying the notebook from a busy week of music …]

Color me disappointed in having missed the Mika spectacular Monday at the Wiltern. Yes, I fall distinctly on the “hater” side of this Europop phenomenon — his cringe-worthy exuberance reminds me of every girl in my high school who ran for class president. He seems to acknowledge and even play to his detractors too, as Mikael Wood’s excellent review of the show pointed out.

But more than one faithful Buzz Bands correspondent who attended found it as entertaining for the audience dynamic as the wildly choreographed stage show. Here was the reaction of the pal who sent the above photos:

The crowd would have followed him off a cliff if he asked them to. There were three O.C.-type college girls with homemade “I” “Heart” and “Mika” on their T-shirts, and they always walked around in order, so they would read “I Heart Mika.” I was floored by the number of straight guys in the audience — guys who did not come with girls. Not hipster metro straight, but baggy jeans, sweater, baseball cap and glasses straight. The performance was totally solid, completely charming, with tons of energy — even with the multiple extended intros to songs while the set changed. There was a puppet, snow, a giant inflatable doll, plush costumes, costume changes, characters, dancers — if Peaches got a lobotomy, tons of money and was forced to watch children’s programming all day, this show would be the result.

So take that, haters.

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Also missed a moment at the Echoplex on Monday night: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony did a cameo with Rickie Lee Jones.  I simply need to be in three places at once.

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Local tidbits: The Front plays its final show tonight at the Prospector in Long Beach. There’s a note about the band’s breakup here.  That brings to three the number of band breakups I’ve heard about recently — the nice fellows in the Prix and Simon Dawes, respectively, also called it quits.

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Happy Valentine’s Day: On Tuesday, the Greg Kurstin/Inara George force known as the Bird and the Bee released a digital-only, Feb. 14-themed EP called “One Too Many Hearts.” I’m not one for V-Day mush, but the four-song effort is pretty sublime. Did you forget flowers, guys? Head to iTunes.

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Happy Mondays guitarist Kav has been around town DJing, and now he’s assembled a full band (including some collaboration with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) to play his own music. The full-band version of Kav debuts Sunday night at the Whisky; he’s playing stripped-down on Feb. 25 at the Troubadour.

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Things: Electrelane has remixed the Little One’s single “Ordinary Song” and you can download it here. … Styrofoam has remixed Cassettes Won’t Listen’s “Paper Float.” … Moby has a downloadable from his new album at RCRD LBL — right this way. … Taken by Trees, a.k.a. Victoria Bergsman from the Concretes and a Peter, Bjorn and John collaborator, plays the Roxy on Feb. 28, and here’s her song “Lost and Found.” … Rock Insider, via GorillavsBear, has the scoop on Radiohead remixes here — as well as an item on Wallpaper signing to local imprint Eenie Meenie (complete with download). … And speaking of V-Day sounds, here’s something from Daedelus (from the recent release “Live at Low End Theory” on the AlphaPup imprint): “Now’s the Time.”

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Spaceland celebrates its 13th year with a March 2 show featuring 13 bands for $13. All the performers will be alumni of the venue’s Monday night residencies over the years — that’s a formidable cast. Confirmed so far: The Tyde, the Vacation, Oliver Future, the Blood Arm, Run Run Run, 400 Blows and the Movies. I have a hunch there might be a big-name surprise or two in store, but it’s just a hunch …

– Kevin Bronson  

Easy as “1 2 3 4″ — Feist, the 32-year-old Canadian torch singer and Grammy nominee for best new artist, will be coming to the Hollywood Bowl for a headlining gig on July 20. The Toronto native’s striking chamber pop will be counterposed that evening by the stirring soul stylings of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. There’s no on-sale date for tickets yet, and a third artist is likely to be added to the show.

The Bowl’s pop/rock offerings are shaping up for the summer. Earlier this morning, a May 27 show featuring the Police with Elvis Costello and the Imposters was announced (tickets on sale Feb. 24). Mary J Blige and Jay-Z have an April 16 show; the Cure are scheduled for May 31; Sgt. Pepper’s Revisited with Cheap Trick goes off June 20; Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers play on June 25; Gilbert Gil and Devendra Banhart team up on June 29; Gnarls Barkley parties on July 27; and UB40 pays a visit on Aug. 3.

Update: It’s not on the Bowl’s website yet, but it’s on the band’s: R.E.M. is playing the Bowl on May 29. And it should be pointed out that the Feist, Gil/Banhart, Barkley and UB40 shows are part of KCRW-FM’s World Music series.

–Kevin Bronson

Photo of Feist playing KROQ-FM’s Almost Acoustic Christmas show by Lawrence K. Ho / LAT

This just in:

The country Coachella has added a little band called the Eagles to its line-up. California’s finest classic country-rockers (who won a Grammy last weekend for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group) will headlining the newly added third day of the festival Friday, May 2. Now all those “officially” country bands who copped the band’s sound — like, say, Rascal Flatts, who also hold a headlining spot — can take ‘em out for a date shake in Indio to say “thank you.”

– Ann Powers

Photo of Joe Walsh performing at Nokia Theatre in October: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times.

The Viper Room, the venerable Sunset Strip venue, has been sold. As of Feb. 1, the new majority owner is Pink Taco founder Harry Morton, whose father, Peter, founded the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Harry Morton, who might be best known in pop-culture circles for once dating Lindsay Lohan, plans to keep the Viper Room name, and he hopes to capitalize on the club’s international cachet by opening other Viper Rooms in cities such as Las Vegas and Scottsdale, Ariz. Former owners Blackhawk Capital will retain a minority stake in the new venture.

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Dolly Parton has been forced to postpone her U.S. tour to recover from a back condition. No “Jolene” for now, unless you do it at your local karaoke establishment.

Okay all Soundboarders, here’s out first shot at Grammys liveblogging. Settle in for some WGA-waivered action and let us be your Virgil.

-August Brown

8:06 PM- As one who saw Celine Dion’s “A New Day” before it closed, I must say, Alicia Keys’ turn with the reanimated Ol’ Blue Eyes is much classier. Well, as much as you can be dueting with a projection screen.

8:10 PM- The next time I break up with Carrie Underwood, I’ll be sure to keep my bike locked up out of view. Country gets better the more vengeful the ladies are, and “Before He Cheats” warrants the fact that she pretty much had the emo version of the cast of “Stomp” as her backing band.

8:17 PM- Jimmy Jam has a keytar. This can only end well.

8:18 PM- Where does one get a paisley jacket downtown? Or that handmirror? Wow, Rihanna just came out of nowhere with a bunch of umbrellas and is in full-on medley mode. Why is “Don’t Stop The Music” only now getting love? Still, her dress looks like Bjork’s swan after a few decades of neglect.

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