THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:

...with THE RASPBERRIES!  Live on the Sunset Strip, your setlist includes: "I Wanna Be with You," The Who's "I Can't Explain," "Play On," "Tonight," "Should I Wait," "Nobody Knows," "Makin' It Easy," "Come Around and See Me," "If You Change Your Mind," "Let's Pretend," "Last Dance," The Searchers' "Needles and Pins," "I Can Remember," "Party's Over," "Don't Want to Say Goodbye," "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)," "Hard to Get Over a Heartbreak," "I Don't Know What I Want," "Ecstasy," "I'm a Rocker," and "Go All the Way."

JD McPHERSON stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set.

THE LONE BELLOW, Live at Rockwood Music Hall.

STEVE EARLE plays the blues for KUTX.

KEVIN MORBY covered Bob Dylan, The Germs, and Silver Jews for Aquarium Drunkard.

THE KNACK: "Frustrated."

BLUR gave DIY the first interview about The Magic Whip, their first record in 13 years.

RICHARD THOMPSON & JEFF TWEEDY? Yes, please.

JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD talks to Stereogum about getting dropped by Warner Bros and their new LP.

BECK, ranked by Stereogum, uninterrupted by Kanye West.

NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases include Hot Tub Time Machine 2, which is currently scoring 16 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; Mc Farland USA, which is scoring 74 percent; and The DUFF, scoring 64 percent.

BILL COSBY thanked EDDIE MURPHY for not mocking him on the SNL40 special.

EDDIE MURPHY: talked to The Guardian about his music and why Beverly Hills Cop 4 is taking so long.

ALLISON WILLIAMS defends BRIAN WILLIAMS, admits his troubles have delayed her wedding.

JAY Z was slapped with a paternity suit.

ALIEN: Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium, Chappie) will direct a new installment of the franchise.

UKRAINE:  Fighting raged in eastern Ukraine on Thursday despite European efforts to resurrect a stillborn ceasefire, a day after pro-Russian separatists spurned the truce by forcing thousands of government troops out of a strategic town.

TURKEY and the US signed an agreement to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition fighters, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday.

THE ISLAMIC STATE may be in danger of losing a main supply route.

AFGHANISTAN: The Obama administration distanced itself from claims by two senior militants that members of the Afghan Taliban were due to hold direct talks with U.S. officials in Qatar on Thursday.

A CAT calms a puppy.

SAUERKRAUT: Grumpy Cat has a rival.

BEES need codfee and cigarettes.

DOGS are like catnip to the ladies.