Well, this just about never happens. A politician who at least modestly comprehends what sampling is all about:

“I want to tell a little story about a local guy done good,” says U.S. Congressman Mike Doyle (D – PA) in a recent statement during a hearing on the future of radio. “His name is Gregg Gillis and by day he’s a biomedical engineer in Pittsburgh. At night, he DJs under the name Girl Talk. His latest mashup record made the top of 2006 lists from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Spin Magazine among others. His schtick, as the Chicago Tribune wrote about him, is quote ‘based on the notion that some sampling of copyrighted material, especially when manipulated and re-contextualized into new art, is legit and deserves to be heard.’ In one example, he blended Elton John, Notorious B – I – G, and Beyonce all in the span of 30 seconds. While the legal indie music download site eMusic.com took his stuff down for possible copyright violations, he’s now flying all over the world to open concerts and remixing for artists like Beck.”

The full hearing can be found here.

Girl Talk live:

04/06 Baltimore, MD Ottobar

04/07 Cincinatti, OH Alchemize

04/13 Buffalo, NY Soundlab

04/28 Indio, CA Coachella

05/04 Providence, RI The Living Room

05/11 Millvale, PA Mr. Smalls

05/25 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater

05/26 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge

05/31 Barcelona, Spain Primavera Sound Festival

06/09 Vancouver, BC Richards on Richards

06/16 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo

06/28 Winnipeg, MB Pyramid Cabaret

06/29 Ottawa, ON Babylon

07/15 Chicago, IL Pitchfork Music Festival