Bad news, good news and not such great news about Kurt Cobain's legacy.

In the bad news column, I learned from Sound on the Sound that Nirvana's entire "Nevermind" album will be featured on the latest Wii guitar game, Rock Band. While another, more popular video game series, Guitar Hero, has earned credibility amongst most folks (except real musicians, who prefer playing real instruments), Kurt should still be rolling over in his grave about this commoditzation.

Of course, put Courtney Love in charge of your catalog and estate (She reportedly made $50 million selling 25% of Nirvana's song catalog in 2006) and you get what you deserve. More recently, she gave some "collectibles association" permission to use Kurt Cobain's likeness on tacky stuff like lunchboxes and key chains.

In the good news column, Love says that she'll be auctioning off most of Cobain's remaining memoriabilia. Good news for collecters and music enthusaists who know she doesn't deserve to sing a Nirvana song.

"I'm going to have a Christie's auction," Love tells Spinner. "[My house] is like a mausoleum. My daughter [14-year-old Frances Bean] doesn't need to inherit a giant Hefty bag full of flannel fucking shirts ... A sweater, a guitar and the lyrics to 'Teen Spirit' -- that's what my daughter gets. And the rest of it we'll just fucking sell."

And finally in the not so great news column, filmmaker A.J. Schnack has made a new film called "Kurt Cobain: About a Son." The indie, scheduled to screen and film festivals this fall, is a "moving meditation on the late singer" culled from 25 hours of conversations between the singer and writer Michael Azzerad. According to the Seattlest, it features Cobain talking and a score by Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service frontman Ben Gibbard. R.E.M., David Bowie and Iggy Pop are slated to be on the movie's soundtrack.

Why is this in the not so great news column? Well, because every other Nirvana or Kurt Cobain movie has sucked. But perhaps this one has hope. See the film's trailer below.

Warning: Annoyance and Road Rage Imminent

The following is from the WSDOT...

How will this affect traffic?
Major lane closures. The work on northbound I-5 will require some of the most extensive lane and ramp closures Seattle drivers have ever seen. I-5 will be reduced to two or three lanes during the daytime, and sometimes just one lane overnight, during the intensive 19-day period, Aug. 10-29.

During the 19 days WSDOT will also close ramps, including the Spokane Street and Columbian Way on-ramps, and the exit to Fourth Avenue South.

  • The Spokane Street on-ramp will be closed for two weekends.
  • The Columbian Way on-ramp will be closed throughout construction from Aug. 10-29.
  • The exit to Fourth Avenue South will be closed for three workdays.
  • For one weekend drivers on northbound I-5 will be unable to access the northbound on-ramp to I-90 and exits to Dearborn, James and Madison streets. James and Madison streets exits will remain accessible from westbound I-90 or eastbound SR 519.
  • Drivers should also expect additional nighttime closures of these ramps.

Drivers will likely face lengthy backups and significant delays on freeways and city streets. The August construction lane closures will create long backups on northbound I-5 and will push traffic onto other routes, including city streets in Georgetown, SODO, Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill. WSDOT anticipates I-405 and State Route 99 will be popular freeway alternatives . Trucks will be encouraged to use I-405, East Marginal Way South and Airport Way South.

Will there be a detour route?
There will not be a designated detour route because the interstate will remain open throughout construction.

Will speeds be reduced on I-5 during construction?
Speed limits near the construction area will decrease from 60 mph to 55 mph, and decrease further to 45 mph through the work zone.

What is WSDOT doing to minimize traffic effects?
An aggressive 19-day construction schedule will allow WSDOT crews to get in, get the work done and get out of drivers' way as quickly and safely as possible. WSDOT and the Seattle Department of Transportation are scheduling other construction projects to avoid conflicts with the I-5 Spokane Street to I-90 Bridge Repair project.

The contractor will have major incentives to finish early. For every day that the work is completed ahead of schedule, the contractor will be rewarded with $100,000. For every day the project goes over the 19-day schedule, the contractor would be fined $100,000.

What can drivers do?

Drivers can help minimize backups and make their own commutes easier during the project by:

  • Using carpools or vanpools
  • Riding the bus or train
  • Working from home or an alternate worksite
  • Adjusting work schedules to come in earlier or later than normal
  • Using alternate routes
  • Delaying or rescheduling discretionary trips
  • Taking a vacation between Aug. 10-29

For more detailed information:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/SpokaneStreetBridgeRepair/default.htm

Update: Due to The Rocksport double-booking, the focuspoint show this Saturday is cancelled.

Don't worry! We're playing the High Dive in Fremont Saturday, Aug. 18, the day after Nina's wedding! See ya there.

Yes, I'm still taking photos. In fact, I worked on post-processing and resizing so late last night that I slept through my alarm this morning. Kudos to Moos for waking me so that I got to work on time today. See more photos here.

Did I go to the Capitol Hill Block Party this weekend? Well, yeah. Duh. I'd recap, but really, Three Imaginary Girls wrote a better review than I could, so read that instead.

I will say that the standout band at the show was Penn.-based The Shackeltons. Both (Sm)Ashley and I thought they were so great that we ditched the Block Party a little early to catch them again at The High Dive that night. You can check out their MySpace page, but most of The Shackelton's appeal is their live show. The lead singer is incredibly dramatic and engaging, and they've got an AMAZING 16-year-old drummer that makes his small, 7-piece drum kit sound like a warzone.

Speaking of The High Dive, guess who's playing there Saturday, August 18?