As you might have figured would happen, the Randy Travis show at the Fox Theatre, scheduled for August 26, has been cancelled.

Travis, if you recall, has been in recovery from brain surgery intended to relieve pressure caused by a stroke suffered earlier this month.

From ABC News:

“As a result of his heart condition, acutely, and the stroke, he was put on a ventilator to help him breathe during his hospitalization. He remains on that, but we are decreasing that support daily,” Dr. Gary Erwin said. “He is breathing spontaneously with the help of the ventilator and hope to have him weaned off of that very soon breathing completely on his own.”

Erwin added that Travis responded well to the surgical procedure he had to relieve the pressure in his brain caused by his stroke. “He is awake and alert, interacting with his family and friends and beginning to start doing some early physical therapy,” he said.

No word from the Fox on refunds, but I'd be absolutely shocked if they didn't get something started by the time they return from summer break on July 30, if not sooner.

What seems to be among the first pressings of The Beatles' self-titled double-album, widely known as The White Album thanks to its all-white cover with "The Beatles" embossing, is going up for auction. The opening bid: $10,000.

From Dangerous Minds:

The album comes with all of its original inserts, and a letter of authentication from Mr. Yamasaki [the album's long-time owner], which reads:

“This is to certify that ___ purchased Beatles ‘White Album’ number: A0000001 in mint condition on this date. It is one of approximately two dozen copies given out as early promotional items to the Beatles and top Capitol Records executives. I purchased said copy from one of the above executives in the early 1970’s. Said executive was head of the classical division at Capitol Records. The ‘White Album’ number A0000001 was shown at a Beatles Convention one time only. ‘White Album’ copies with this number A0000001 were never sealed with records or sold to the public. I certify that all of the above is true and correct.”

According to Dangerous Minds, White Album #A0000023, sold for more than $13,000 in a bidding war, so...this one might fetch a fair chunk of change.

To bid on it yourself, Heritage Auctions is running the show.

Heather " Li'l Mama" Hardy's many Tucson friends threw a concert for her Tuesday, July 9, at Boondocks. Sometime Tucson Weekly contributor Jim Lipson organized the shindig to raise funds for replacing gear stolen from the popular Tucson blues singer and fiddle player. The occasion featured musicians and friends including Sabra Falk, Marie O'Hagin, Mitzi Cowell and the Valiants and the Wayback Machine. More than enough funds were raised, and Hardy promises others will benefit, too.

• Mitzi Cowell and the Valiants at the 'People Who Steal Really Suck' Concert

After taking some time off to visit Bozeman and Yellowstone (which were lovely, thanks!) I came back in time to find that our rock-star photographer, C.E. Elliott, was gallivanting through New Mexico en route to an Alabama Shakes concert.

The Shakes skipped over Tucson on their Southwestern jaunt, but I'm feeling better about it now that Vampire Weekend has scheduled the Rialto for Tuesday, Oct. 1 (tickets here.) Remember when we thought they were only playing Comerica in Phoenix?

But I digress.

Elliott took some fine photos of Dylan Pratt's show at the Hotel Congress patio on Friday, July 5, when I was away, so here they are. Photos of the July 9 concert to raise funds to replace Heather Hardy's stolen equipment will be along shortly.

• Dylan Pratt, Friday, July 5, Hotel Congress Patio

I don't get the Juggalo thing, guys. I mean, I tend to think that Insane Clown Posse's music is, at most, vaguely listenable, and at worst, f—king terrible. Personally, I prefer when they stay around the middle ground of absolute inanity, as with the widely "loved" song, Miracles.

The point is, the Insane Clown Posse is abso-damn-lutely hitting above their weight class in terms of popularity, and their annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival is proof — somehow, they draw thousands upon thousands of people (allegedly 20,000 in 2009) to Cave-In-Rock, Illinois to party, listen to music, and get completely fucking ruined on substances (for eyewitness accounts, check out Deadspin and the Village Voice).

And one of the high points of the yearly experience, as someone who doesn't want to be given a handjob in a tent by a stranger wearing facepaint, is the yearly infomercial, which tends to be ridiculous as hell. See for yourself:

A few viewing notes for folks before they watch the entire thing:

- The Insane Clown Posse do their damnedest impressions of TV news anchors — or what they think TV news anchors sound like, since I'm not sure they've actually seen a legitimate news program at this point. Though they are wearing ugly suits, wigs, and facepaint, which I still assume is less makeup than actual broadcast journalists wear for their newscasts.

- There's nothing worse than hearing two people "riff" on explaining a band's name (see: Soulfly and Sevendust, who I'm actually surprised still make music, to be honest with you). And it'll happen over and over again.

- Pro wrestling references (including a promo for their Juggalo Championship Wrestling show)!

- Of course, DJ Clay's "Horney Nuts and Big Butts" party gets a shoutout.

Yeah. You need to watch the magic (nearly 30 minutes worth!) for yourself — just be warned, it is NSFW. And might make you dumber.

Apparently, today is a banner day for race-relations in this country.

A Tribe Called Red, an EDM group comprised of people from Canada's aboriginal First Nations, apparently has to deal with their white fans dressing in "redface" — as Indians.

For why that bothers them, we point you toward this interview with the Huffington Post and ATCR's Deejay NDN:

So what's the part about them that you and your counterparts are finding the most offensive? Is it the lack of specific nation represented, or is it that it's by non-First Nations wearing them, or something else?

Both and more. It's creating a false idea of what it means to be Indigenous today. It's "Pan-Indianism". It's robbing the First Nations of their nationhoods and nationality. It's making us all "Indian" instead of recognizing me as an Anishnabe or Ojibway. I'm NOT an "Indian". I'm of the Anishnabe Nation. Also, it gives the impression that Natives are something from the past. Not here today. If you were to think of an "Indian" you certainly aren't going to think of me, tattooed in a hoodie with a Sens cap on. We, as First Nation people, have never had control of our image in colonial media since its birth.

But you use the name "Deejay Ndn", and your act is called "A Tribe Called Red". Do you use those names as a type of sarcasm?

"A Tribe Called Red" we came up specifically to appeal to both Natives on the Rez and to the Urban Aboriginals. "A Tribe Called.." has been used for years by different drum groups and Nations on letterman jackets and such. [i.e. A Tribe Called Mi'kmaq] So we knew the term would be recognized by Natives in rural and isolated communities as well as the obvious "A Tribe Called Quest" reference to the First Nations in urban settings.

Right, but you say that you're "not an Indian" but your moniker is Deejay Ndn.

"NDN" is a spelling for "Indian" that I have only seen used by Indigenous youth. It was also something that would be recognizable to rural FN youth and urban FN youth. Like Keith Secola's anthem "NDN Car."

So it's reclamation of the word? Like "queer" or "nigga"?

NDN also stands for "Never Die Native" which is in retaliation for "the only good Indian is a dead Indian." It can be seen as a reclamation. I prefer to use the term "decolonization."

Now's probably a good time to note that we've been dealing with a similar Native naming issue in the States as of late, regarding the name of the Washington Redskins, who (incredibly humorously) hopefully unknowingly brought aboard a fake "chief" to talk about how the Redskins name doesn't bother him while the rest of the country shouts down at them to change their name because it's 2013 and having a team name like the Redskins is not unlike having a team called the Beaners, Coons, or Cracker-Ass Crackers running around.

Things I've learned today: Andrew W.K. and Marky Ramone are still relevant in Russia; Russian music videos appear to be roughly a decade or two behind American music videos (Skateboards! Awkward hipsters! Someone that reminds me of Queensryche!); and apparently, Maxim Russia thrives on awkward interactions.

You can see all this for yourselves below, as two generations of rockers (and one sincere favorite of Weekly boss Dan Gibson) interact in a Russian bar, watching videos and hangin' out. It's like a more objective, intelligent version of Beavis and Butthead watching music videos on the couch, with fewer dick jokes.

[h/t: Dangerous Minds]

Country music musician Randy Travis is currently recovering after surgery on Wednesday to relieve pressure on his following a stroke suffered earlier this week. From USA Today:

Travis remained in critical condition after surgery Wednesday night to relieve pressure on his brain, publicist Kirt Webster said. The 54-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer had been improving while being treated for heart failure caused by a viral infection when he had the stroke.

...

It was not clear what kind of stroke Travis suffered. The most common type of stroke is caused by a blood clot that travels to the brain. The other kind happens when a blood vessel in the head bursts or leaks. Stroke patients who get treatment quickly are usually given a drug to dissolve the clot that caused the stroke.

William Gray and Michael Mack of the Baylor Health Care System in Texas described Travis' condition and hospitalization in a video statement earlier Wednesday.

"His condition has stabilized, and he has shown signs of improvement," Mack said in the video. "On behalf of Mr. Travis' family, friends and associates, we would like to express our extreme gratitude for the overwhelming affection and support that Mr. Travis has received."

No word on how this is going to affect Travis's scheduled performance at the Fox Theatre on August 26, but I wouldn't have high hopes about that quite yet, given the severity of his condition.

Leave the tough jobs to our rockin' photog C.E. Elliot.

More photos after the jump.

Reporting on the 'commitment' of a high school kid to a college is far down on my list of noteworthy news items, especially considering my personal recollection of being able to commit to something at age 17 was limited to whether I'd get the Chicken or Steak Soft Taco at Taco Bell.

That being said, the level of interest in a prospective new addition to the University of Arizona football team seems to become that much higher for everyone when said athlete has some sort of lineage.

Thus, I am blogging about the announcement yesterday — during an incredibly pretentious high school athlete showcase known as 'The Opening' — that highly regarded prep defensive back Naijiel Hale plans to play for the Wildcats in 2014.

Why is this important? Because he's a four-star-rated prospect? Well, sort of.

It's most noteworthy, apparently, because Hale is the son of moderately well-known 90's rapper Nate Dogg. Hence, Hale's Twitter handle of @YoungNateDogg. Creative.

I'm sure word that the son of the man best known for a little ditty called Regulate has Weekly editor Dan Gibson all in a tizzy, but that's because he has a rather unhealthy obsession with rap music (not to mention Juggalos). [Note from web producer David Mendez: This is an office that gleefully discussed going to the Kings of the Mic tour at AVA. Watch your step, Pedersen.]

Nate Dogg died in 2011 at age 41 from complications resulting from numerous strokes he had over the last four years of his life. His son, who plays for highly touted St. John Bosco Prep in Bellflower, Calif., is the fourth so-called 'four star' athlete the UA has gotten a commitment from for next season, though none of those are binding until the official signing day next February. Lots more can happen between now and then, and probably will.

Hale joins a growing list of celebrity siblings to come to the UA of late, including Trey Griffey, son of baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. (though Trey is a football player who redshirted in 2012 as a freshman) and noted German pop music sensation David Hasselhoff's daughter Taylor Ann Hasselhoff.

Who's next? Maybe offspring of the Backstreet Boys or NKOTB?