Well, the Justice Department has approved the Live Nation/Ticketmaster monopoly merger. What does this mean for you, the average concertgoer? Well, even more inflation on the already-ridiculous $6 Lone Stars at House of Blues. Free Press Houston had a well-written cover story last spring about the other possible pitfalls of the deal.

New music videos from local artists abound. Here's Flowers to Hide, Benjamin Wesley and Peekaboo Theory (loves it). Muhammad Ali wants to see you nekkid for theirs, and Hell City Kings' video should be out soon.

Houston's music scene got some coverage in national blogs last week too. Street Boners and TV Carnage linked to Late Nite Pie as an awesome music venue, but MCM hasn't seen a show there since the restaurant was in the old garage on Elgin. But they do praise Whataburger, so all is forgiven. And Minnesotan fanzine blog Cultureal Sindicate recently ran a two part story on Houston's underground hip-hop scene.

If you missed MCM's current obsession Roky Moon & BOLT at Rudz this past weekend, here's their un-glittery leader in Joe Mathlete's living room, playing a touch of Bowie.

Speaking of the BOLT crew, they'll join the Wild Moccasins at SXSW in March. And here are the Moccs, along with Tyagaraja, Live from SugarHill.

Yo La Tengo is playing Warehouse Live on Thursday. Ten years ago (give or take), they played in Houston at Rudys. If you missed that, have a listen to the live concert audio, courtesy of Hands Up user jvan. MCM thinks this is awesome and should happen more often.

Do you have your tickets for Artopia yet? Forget all that artsy fartsy crap. Runaway Sun, Ryan Scroggins and the Trenchtown Texans, Benjamin Wesley and Ceeplus Bad Knives are all playing. Plus, you could meet some hawtsome art-school lover there and be freaks for the rest of your young lives together.

Speaking of art plus music, local artist Jenny Schlief has incorporated inspiration from Michael Jackson, DJ Screw and low-rider culture into her most recent exhibition, on display through February 13.

One more art thang. Houston's eventual successor to the throne of Uncle Charlie, Jason McElweenie, is having a poster show at Warehouse Live Thursday night, before the Yo La Tengo show. While supplies last, he'll be giving away some of his prints and selling others.

And if you ain't got plans for Sunday night, Something Fierce is having their 7" release party at the Mink. Isn't that cover perty?

Have something that should be included in Magnolia City Mixtape? Leave a comment below or email brittanieshey (at) gmail (dot) com.