After a run in with Scandinavian law, the subsequent cancellation of her appearance at the mtvU Woodie Awards ceremony, and finally her battle against the drug charges barring her U.S. entry, Brit songstress Amy Winehouse has finally been granted a U.S. visa, confirms a spokesperson. But Winehouse, who was scheduled return to the U.S. and perform on Saturday Night Live this week, has once again been plagued by misfortune, this time arriving in the form of a writer's strike. Damn writers.

According to the spokesperson, fans can expect Winehouse, now with U.S. visa in hand, to hit stateside cities on a lengthy tour "scheduled to begin in January 2008." Details have yet-to-be revealed.

Electrelane Announce 'Indefinite Hiatus'

In an utterly disappointing news tidbit, Brighton, England-born quartet Electrelane have announced an "Indefinite Hiatus" today via a band website post. "We have decided that the upcoming gigs will be our last for the foreseeable future," the post read, referring to a handful of gigs wrapping Dec. 1 in the band's hometown. "After ten years of much fun and hard work, we have realised [sic] that we all need a break and time to do other things. This was a tough decision for us to make, but ultimately a positive one."

The all girl band released four albums since their 1998 inception, including this year's acclaimed LP, No Shouts, No Calls. "A big thank you to everyone who has come to our shows, put on our shows, and bought our records over the years," continued the post. "We're really grateful to have had the opportunity to play gigs all over the world and to meet so many lovely people. This last year has been especially enjoyable and we feel happy about moving on with all these good memories to look back on. At the moment we haven't made any band plans for the future but we're going to have a break and see what happens."

Tokyo Police Club, Vampire Weekend Play Ra Ra Riot Benefit

In honor of late Ra Ra Riot drummer John Pike, who died this past June, Vampire Weekend and Tokyo Police Club will join with Pike's former band Dec. 15 at Cambridge, MA's Middle East Downstairs for "Friends of John," a show benefiting the memorial foundation set up the drummer's family. Proceeds from the event with will be utilized by the foundation to create a lending library of instruments for underprivileged children, and ultimately, to construct a rehearsal/recording space. If you aren't in the Cambridge area Dec. 15, make your donations with PayPal via johnryanpikememorialfund@gmail.com, or by mailing checks to the below address. [Via Pitchfork]

Send donations to:

John Pike Memorial Fund c/o Citizens Bank 37 Enon Street Beverly, MA 01915

Rumble Strips Unveil North American Tour

Blossoming Brit rockers and SPIN.com Artist of the Day alums the Rumble Strips will hit the highways and byways of the U.S.A. this fall and winter beginning with a show at Washington, DC's 9:30 Club Nov. 27. Supporting their first ever stateside release, The Alarm Clock EP, due Nov. 27, the Rumble Strips will open five gigs for the Cold War Kids in cities like Philadelphia and New York, the latter in which the band will also hit the streets, gigging in Washington Square Park and near the Union Square Subway Station. Next, the band will head out on its lonesome across the nation, and perform in West Coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco before capping with a free gig in Chicago's Darkroom Dec. 9.

Rumble Strips tour dates:

11/27, Washington, DC (9:30 Club) *
11/28, Washington, DC (9:30 Club) *
11/29, Philadelphia, PA (TLA) *
11/30, New York, NY (Webster Hall) *
12/1, New York, NY (Webster Hall) *
12/3, New York, NY (Washington Square Park/Union Square Subway Station) #
12/5, Los Angeles, CA (Spaceland)
12/6, San Francisco, CA (Popscene)
12/7, San Francisco, CA (Apple Store)
12/9, Chicago, IL (Darkroom) ^

( * w/ Cold War Kids) ( ^ Free Show)