The ultimate:
(via Mad Decent)
For those who like to dance by themselves:
(via the Fader)
For all you hxc kids:
For those who like their dancing a little more organized:
(via a Family Force 5 myspace bulletin)
In case you didn't get the point, I don't think that those who are standing still are really enjoying the music. Get up. Show your appreciation.
2/18/09
Homeboy Music: Alex Brubaker
Homeboy Music is a series I'm starting where I will cover one friend of mine who is also a musical artist of some kind once a week until I run out. This week's artist is Alex Brubaker.
I met Alex when I hitched a ride with him to see August Burns Red at the Champ freshman year and then again to see Haste the Day. He's a really good guy who also happens to be an amazing musician, which makes going to shows with him interesting since he's always analyzing the guitarists' technique.
Alex is a guitarist whose technical proficiency never ceases to amaze me. He makes frequent use of tapping (yeah, that crazy August Rush ish), looping, and a bunch of other techniques that I don't fully understand, similar to artists like the recent indie darling Kaki King. He cites King, Trace Bundy, and Angel Vivaldi, among others, as influences. I just saw him do his thing at a Messiah coffeehouse the other night and it was awesome.
Check out this video of him playing "Horse in the Clouds" on his couch:
Go see him with singer/songwriters Sam Coakley (expect an upcoming profile) and Brian Turner for free at South Side Cafe this Friday @ 8 and/or next Saturday at Juice and Java in Mechanicsburg (a 2-hour show he tells me will involve 2 guitars).
I met Alex when I hitched a ride with him to see August Burns Red at the Champ freshman year and then again to see Haste the Day. He's a really good guy who also happens to be an amazing musician, which makes going to shows with him interesting since he's always analyzing the guitarists' technique.
Alex is a guitarist whose technical proficiency never ceases to amaze me. He makes frequent use of tapping (yeah, that crazy August Rush ish), looping, and a bunch of other techniques that I don't fully understand, similar to artists like the recent indie darling Kaki King. He cites King, Trace Bundy, and Angel Vivaldi, among others, as influences. I just saw him do his thing at a Messiah coffeehouse the other night and it was awesome.
Check out this video of him playing "Horse in the Clouds" on his couch:
Go see him with singer/songwriters Sam Coakley (expect an upcoming profile) and Brian Turner for free at South Side Cafe this Friday @ 8 and/or next Saturday at Juice and Java in Mechanicsburg (a 2-hour show he tells me will involve 2 guitars).
Blink-182 Reunion: Part One - Travis Barker
In the light of the recent announcement of a Blink-182 reunion at the Grammy's, I thought it would be interesting to explore what the members have been doing with their time since the band went on hiatus in 2005. Since there are 3 band members, this will be a 3 part series.
Since he has been arguably the most visible member of the band, I decided to start with Travis Barker. Originally the drummer for The Aquabats, Travis joined Blink-182 in 1998 between their first commercially successful album Dude Ranch and their most successful album Enema of the State.
While a member of Blink-182, he participated in "Dischord emo/post-hardcore" influenced side project with Tom DeLonge called Box Car Racer and the hip-hop and dub influenced Transplants with Tim Armstrong of Rancid.
After Blink-182 broke up, he and Mark Hoppus formed +44, an alternative-influenced pop punk band with electronic elements that had been absent from Blink-182. +44 still theoretically has another album in pre-production since May or July of '08. He also founded LaSalle Records and expanded his Famous Stars & Straps clothing line. Outside of music, he had an MTV reality show called Meet the Barkers with his then-wife and former Miss USA and Playmate Shanna Moakler.
Barker has done a lot of hip-hop material since the Blink-182 breakup, including the Expen$ive Ta$te group/mixtape with rapper Paul Wall (who also did a chopped'n'screwed version of the Transplants album) and Skinhead Rob (also of the Transplants), his amazing free mixtape and tour with DJ AM as TRVS DJAM(which included backing all the artists at the VMAs and the much-publicized plane crash sometimes credited as a catalyst for the Blink reunion), remixes of Bubba Sparxxx, Pharrell (of N.E.R.D. and the Neptunes), Rich Boy, the Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Soulja Boy, the Federation, Flo Rida, Busta Rhymes, The Game, Bun B (of UGK, RIP Pimp C), Wale and most recently Jay-Z, as well as production work for T.I.
On a more pop level, he has also played drums for Pink and Avril Lavigne. I'm just wondering how much of these influences will be incorporated into any new Blink-182 material. Obviously I don't think Blink should become a rap-rock band, but the hip-hop aesthetic might creep in, and I don't think that would be a bad thing. Travis's connections in the hip-hop world could also make for interesting guest spots and remix possibilities (a chopped'n'screwed Blink album?). Just throwing that out there...
Here's some links to give you a taste of what that might sound like:
Expen$ive Ta$te mixtape
DJ AM mixtape (amazing! tracks from Johnny Cash, Public Enemy, M.I.A., Led Zeppelin)
Travis Barker remixes
Watch this video of the Soulja Boy remix:
Since he has been arguably the most visible member of the band, I decided to start with Travis Barker. Originally the drummer for The Aquabats, Travis joined Blink-182 in 1998 between their first commercially successful album Dude Ranch and their most successful album Enema of the State.While a member of Blink-182, he participated in "Dischord emo/post-hardcore" influenced side project with Tom DeLonge called Box Car Racer and the hip-hop and dub influenced Transplants with Tim Armstrong of Rancid.
After Blink-182 broke up, he and Mark Hoppus formed +44, an alternative-influenced pop punk band with electronic elements that had been absent from Blink-182. +44 still theoretically has another album in pre-production since May or July of '08. He also founded LaSalle Records and expanded his Famous Stars & Straps clothing line. Outside of music, he had an MTV reality show called Meet the Barkers with his then-wife and former Miss USA and Playmate Shanna Moakler.
Barker has done a lot of hip-hop material since the Blink-182 breakup, including the Expen$ive Ta$te group/mixtape with rapper Paul Wall (who also did a chopped'n'screwed version of the Transplants album) and Skinhead Rob (also of the Transplants), his amazing free mixtape and tour with DJ AM as TRVS DJAM(which included backing all the artists at the VMAs and the much-publicized plane crash sometimes credited as a catalyst for the Blink reunion), remixes of Bubba Sparxxx, Pharrell (of N.E.R.D. and the Neptunes), Rich Boy, the Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Soulja Boy, the Federation, Flo Rida, Busta Rhymes, The Game, Bun B (of UGK, RIP Pimp C), Wale and most recently Jay-Z, as well as production work for T.I.
On a more pop level, he has also played drums for Pink and Avril Lavigne. I'm just wondering how much of these influences will be incorporated into any new Blink-182 material. Obviously I don't think Blink should become a rap-rock band, but the hip-hop aesthetic might creep in, and I don't think that would be a bad thing. Travis's connections in the hip-hop world could also make for interesting guest spots and remix possibilities (a chopped'n'screwed Blink album?). Just throwing that out there...
Here's some links to give you a taste of what that might sound like:
Expen$ive Ta$te mixtape
DJ AM mixtape (amazing! tracks from Johnny Cash, Public Enemy, M.I.A., Led Zeppelin)
Travis Barker remixes
Watch this video of the Soulja Boy remix:
2/16/09
Show Review: Mae & The Color Fred
Hey! Sorry I didn't get around to this sooner, I was entertaining my sister for lil' sibs weekend here at school, which awesomely coincided with the Mae show...
For anyone not familiar with the bands, The Color Fred is the current band of Fred Mascherino, who was in Philly punk band Brody, Philly emo band Breaking Pangaea, and most famously replaced John Nolan as guitarist/back-up vocalist for Taking Back Sunday when Nolan left to form Straylight Run. Mae formed in Norfolk, Virginia in 2001, has released 3 full-length albums (Destination: Beautiful and The Everglow on Tooth & Nail, 2007's Singularity on Capitol), and is currently releasing one song a month via their website as a charity benefit for Habitat for Humanity, since they are no longer on a record label.
Interestingly enough, I was told by members of the band that the show here at Messiah would be former (and recent touring) bassist Mark Padgett's last show with the band. He will be replaced (touring) by Josiah Schlater of Virginia Beach's Tokyo, touring keyboardist Robert Smith's band.
The show was a lot of fun, despite the complete lack of moshing. The music, luckily, was enjoyable for its own sake. The Color Fred opened up with a high-energy set of Mascherino's music, fully fleshed out with a touring band (He told me the next tour will be solo and acoustic). Catchy hooks were easily picked up and people were singing along despite the fact that most had never heard/seen them before.
Mae started off with one of their lesser-known songs, then a completely instrumental number before seguing into their more popular material with songs like "Embers And Envelopes", closing with "Someone Else's Arms" before an encore of the obscure fan favorite "Tisbury Lane". They have an amazing ability to replicate their sound on CD live, as well as improvise and arrange for the live show, but the deviations are always intentional. They are consummate musicians.
It was a great show, though I would suggest seeing both bands in more mosh-conducive venues unless you are extremely familiar with their music. Though both bands put on a good show, The Color Fred is definitely more of a performance-oriented group, as many Mae songs can become shoegaze anthems-a difficulty they handle fairly well with video and visualizations projected on a screen behind them.
Check out this video of The Color Fred performing "Get Out" Saturday night (courtesy of Colin Riddle, otherwise known as McLovin):
For anyone not familiar with the bands, The Color Fred is the current band of Fred Mascherino, who was in Philly punk band Brody, Philly emo band Breaking Pangaea, and most famously replaced John Nolan as guitarist/back-up vocalist for Taking Back Sunday when Nolan left to form Straylight Run. Mae formed in Norfolk, Virginia in 2001, has released 3 full-length albums (Destination: Beautiful and The Everglow on Tooth & Nail, 2007's Singularity on Capitol), and is currently releasing one song a month via their website as a charity benefit for Habitat for Humanity, since they are no longer on a record label.Interestingly enough, I was told by members of the band that the show here at Messiah would be former (and recent touring) bassist Mark Padgett's last show with the band. He will be replaced (touring) by Josiah Schlater of Virginia Beach's Tokyo, touring keyboardist Robert Smith's band.
The show was a lot of fun, despite the complete lack of moshing. The music, luckily, was enjoyable for its own sake. The Color Fred opened up with a high-energy set of Mascherino's music, fully fleshed out with a touring band (He told me the next tour will be solo and acoustic). Catchy hooks were easily picked up and people were singing along despite the fact that most had never heard/seen them before.
Mae started off with one of their lesser-known songs, then a completely instrumental number before seguing into their more popular material with songs like "Embers And Envelopes", closing with "Someone Else's Arms" before an encore of the obscure fan favorite "Tisbury Lane". They have an amazing ability to replicate their sound on CD live, as well as improvise and arrange for the live show, but the deviations are always intentional. They are consummate musicians.
It was a great show, though I would suggest seeing both bands in more mosh-conducive venues unless you are extremely familiar with their music. Though both bands put on a good show, The Color Fred is definitely more of a performance-oriented group, as many Mae songs can become shoegaze anthems-a difficulty they handle fairly well with video and visualizations projected on a screen behind them.
Check out this video of The Color Fred performing "Get Out" Saturday night (courtesy of Colin Riddle, otherwise known as McLovin):
2/14/09
February Fun: Shows This Month
There are some sweet shows coming up the rest of this month. Here they are, in chronological order:
TONIGHT Saturday 2/14
Ben Folds, Miniature Tigers @ Electric Factory $35
OR
Mae, The Color Fred (ex-Taking Back Sunday) @ Messiah
OR
Texas in July, An Early Ending, Combat the Panda, Kyrie, Carousel Kings @ Chameleon $12
OR
Automatic Loveletter, A Cursive Memory, The Friday Night Boys, Solidlines, The Down Low @ Croc Rock $14
TOMORROW Sunday 2/15
Bloodhound Gang, J.J. Sinatra, El Destructo @ Chameleon Club $17 (SOLD OUT)
*you and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals* hahahaha
Monday 2/16
Ben Folds @ Club Zoo (Pittsburgh) $25
Tuesday 2/17
State Radio @ Croc Rock $14
Wednesday 2/18
Micah Dalton @ B-sides FREE
OR
Ludo, Sing It Loud, This Providence, The Morning Light @ Croc Rock $14
Friday 2/20 *Messiah people: this wknd is one of the $5 Philly trips*
M. Ward, Vivian Girls @ The Troc $19 (SOLD OUT)
OR
Escape the Fate, Black Tide, Attack Attack, Burn Halo @ 1st Unitarian $14 (SOLD OUT)
OR
Take Action Tour (see below) @ Rams Head Live $18
OR
Lovedrug, Kingsfoil, Cinder Hill, Captain of Compliments @ Chameleon $12
Saturday 2/21
Ludo, Sing It Loud, This Providence @ The Troc $14
OR
Take Action Tour: Cute Is What We Aim For, Meg & Dia, Breathe Carolina, Every Avenue,Anarbor @ TLA $?
OR
George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic @ Rams Head Live $40
OR
Jadakiss & a bunch of people no one ever heard of @ Croc Rock $18
Sunday 2/22
Take Action Tour (see above)@ 9:30 Club (DC) $16
Monday 2/23 OR Tuesday 2/24
Sara Bareilles @ World Cafe Live $30
Tuesday 2/24
The Number 12 Looks Like You, Our Last Night, Catherine, I See Stars, We Came As Romans @ Croc Rock $15
Wednesday 2/25
Jim Bianco @ B-sides FREE
Friday 2/27
Ben Kweller, Watson Twins, Jones Street Station @ TLA $23
Saturday 2/28
An Early Ending (video premiere), Texas In July, 19 Marks (CD release/1st show), Remember Tomorrow, The Rise Inside, Facing the Giants @ Champion Ship $7
OR
Thievery Corporation @ Electric Factory $38
OR
Tapes'n'Tapes, Wild Light (ex-Arcade Fire) @ Johnny Brenda's $13 (21+)
GO CHECK THEM OUT!
TONIGHT Saturday 2/14
Ben Folds, Miniature Tigers @ Electric Factory $35
OR
Mae, The Color Fred (ex-Taking Back Sunday) @ Messiah
OR
Texas in July, An Early Ending, Combat the Panda, Kyrie, Carousel Kings @ Chameleon $12
OR
Automatic Loveletter, A Cursive Memory, The Friday Night Boys, Solidlines, The Down Low @ Croc Rock $14
TOMORROW Sunday 2/15
Bloodhound Gang, J.J. Sinatra, El Destructo @ Chameleon Club $17 (SOLD OUT)
*you and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals* hahahaha
Monday 2/16
Ben Folds @ Club Zoo (Pittsburgh) $25
Tuesday 2/17
State Radio @ Croc Rock $14
Wednesday 2/18
Micah Dalton @ B-sides FREE
OR
Ludo, Sing It Loud, This Providence, The Morning Light @ Croc Rock $14
Friday 2/20 *Messiah people: this wknd is one of the $5 Philly trips*
M. Ward, Vivian Girls @ The Troc $19 (SOLD OUT)
OR
Escape the Fate, Black Tide, Attack Attack, Burn Halo @ 1st Unitarian $14 (SOLD OUT)
OR
Take Action Tour (see below) @ Rams Head Live $18
OR
Lovedrug, Kingsfoil, Cinder Hill, Captain of Compliments @ Chameleon $12
Saturday 2/21
Ludo, Sing It Loud, This Providence @ The Troc $14
OR
Take Action Tour: Cute Is What We Aim For, Meg & Dia, Breathe Carolina, Every Avenue,Anarbor @ TLA $?
OR
George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic @ Rams Head Live $40
OR
Jadakiss & a bunch of people no one ever heard of @ Croc Rock $18
Sunday 2/22
Take Action Tour (see above)@ 9:30 Club (DC) $16
Monday 2/23 OR Tuesday 2/24
Sara Bareilles @ World Cafe Live $30
Tuesday 2/24
The Number 12 Looks Like You, Our Last Night, Catherine, I See Stars, We Came As Romans @ Croc Rock $15
Wednesday 2/25
Jim Bianco @ B-sides FREE
Friday 2/27
Ben Kweller, Watson Twins, Jones Street Station @ TLA $23
Saturday 2/28
An Early Ending (video premiere), Texas In July, 19 Marks (CD release/1st show), Remember Tomorrow, The Rise Inside, Facing the Giants @ Champion Ship $7
OR
Thievery Corporation @ Electric Factory $38
OR
Tapes'n'Tapes, Wild Light (ex-Arcade Fire) @ Johnny Brenda's $13 (21+)
GO CHECK THEM OUT!
2/13/09
Show Review: The Explorer's Club
Speaking of b-sides, I would hardly be a blogger if I didn't tell you about one of the most fun shows I've been to recently: The Explorer's Club, another one of the free Wednesday night shows at my college. The Explorer's Club is a band that definitely wears its influences (The Beach Boys and other oldies/rock'n'roll acts) on their sleeves, covering classics like the Beach Boys' "Do You Wanna Dance?" and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode". Their own material is in a similar vein, but even those who aren't fans of the sound have to appreciate the sheer talent of these seven multi-instrumentalists from South Carolina. Their live show has a definite oldies dance party feel, which I loved, but is also filled with gorgeous harmonies and phenomenal guitar solos... the keyboardist ended the show by playing a slide guitar solo with his foot. Anybody looking for memories of the "good ol' days" of rock'n'roll, impeccable musicianship, or just a good time need look no farther than The Explorer's Club.
Already featured on the OC and chosen as the USA Today critics' pick of 2008, The Explorer's Club will hopefully continue getting more recognition. Contribute your own little piece by seeing them live, buying their music, or at least checking out their music video right here:
Already featured on the OC and chosen as the USA Today critics' pick of 2008, The Explorer's Club will hopefully continue getting more recognition. Contribute your own little piece by seeing them live, buying their music, or at least checking out their music video right here:
Show Review: Six Chasing Seven
Lynchburg reggae/funk-influenced rockers Six Chasing Seven played a pretty good show at my school on Wednesday. We have a weekly free concert series called B-sides where up-and-coming bands perform in the Student Union on Wednesday nights, and they were the featured band this week. Their infectious original material and great cover of "Superstition" made for a great, upbeat night. I got to talk to the guys after the show, and the keyboardist and saxophonist and I discovered we had a lot of connections, which was pretty cool. I'd been looking forward to this one for a while, ever since we got their Direction EP at the radio station. The live experience just improved on their already impressive recording. If I had to make a comparison, I'd describe them as a reggae band fronted by a cross between John Mayer and Tom Chaplin of Keane. The lyrics are almost uniformly positive, and frequently contain strong Christian messages since the frontman turned his life around and converted to Christianity in the process of going to prison for drug-related offenses. I'll be seeing them again later this year when they play at the summer camp where I work, and I suggest you check them out too.
Here's a video of them performing that "Superstition" cover a little over a year ago. I must say that their personal style and stage presence have improved since then, but it'll help you get the general vibe:
Here's a video of them performing that "Superstition" cover a little over a year ago. I must say that their personal style and stage presence have improved since then, but it'll help you get the general vibe:
2/11/09
Swagger Like the Grammy's
Big news from the Grammy's:
Unfortunately, Diplo & M.I.A. did not win, but fortunately neither did the Jonas Brothers.
The odd choice of album of the year was possibly compensated for by these two performances:
M.I.A., Kanye, Jay-Z, Weezy, and T.I. - Swagger Like Us
Radiohead & the USC marching band - 15 Step
Also check out Diplo's hilarious Twitter posts from the ceremony here
Unfortunately, Diplo & M.I.A. did not win, but fortunately neither did the Jonas Brothers.
The odd choice of album of the year was possibly compensated for by these two performances:
M.I.A., Kanye, Jay-Z, Weezy, and T.I. - Swagger Like Us
Radiohead & the USC marching band - 15 Step
Also check out Diplo's hilarious Twitter posts from the ceremony here
2/7/09
Lil' Wayne's Grammy interview with Katie Couric
2/6/09
Young Jeezy & Jay-Z vs. Bill O'Reilly
I've been following the story of Jay-Z's remix to Jeezy's "My President" since I saw this video of a live performance in DC inauguration weekend (via The Fader):
Bill O'Reilly & Dennis Miller severely criticized Jay-Z and Jeezy in this segment on the O'Reilly Factor:
The YouTube has already been removed for copyright violations. Shout out to my friend Alex for posting that when it was still up.
Fox News commentators had this to say about the "controversy":
Finally, Jeezy added a Bill O'Reilly diss verse to Jay's "DCmix". Stream/download the mp3 here.
Bill O'Reilly & Dennis Miller severely criticized Jay-Z and Jeezy in this segment on the O'Reilly Factor:
The YouTube has already been removed for copyright violations. Shout out to my friend Alex for posting that when it was still up.
Fox News commentators had this to say about the "controversy":
Finally, Jeezy added a Bill O'Reilly diss verse to Jay's "DCmix". Stream/download the mp3 here.
2/5/09
Jonas Brothers Rant & New Jazmine Sullivan Video
I was in Wal-mart yesterday (everyone's favorite record store, of course) and saw the new Grammy compilation (purchase here). This unfortunately reminded me that the Jonas Brothers were nominated for "Best New Artist", so I checked and-you guessed it-one of their so-called songs was on the album. Now I don't know about anyone else, but for me, popularity with 12-year-olds does not equal "best". They're up against Adele, Duffy, and Jazmine Sullivan-all of which have other nominations for artistic quality! This is ridiculous! As if it wasn't enough of a travesty to pretend to cover the Beatles and Coldplay... Is there any artistry left in the world? Or will I have to put up with over-processed pop crap created and forced on the American public by mega-corporations for the rest of my life?!
While on the subject of Jazmine Sullivan, the Philly songstress who just made it big this year and is up for 5 Grammys, check out her new video for "Lions, Tigers, and Bears" (via 51:51):
By the way, do music videos even need sets anymore? Seems like it's all green-screen these days...
While on the subject of Jazmine Sullivan, the Philly songstress who just made it big this year and is up for 5 Grammys, check out her new video for "Lions, Tigers, and Bears" (via 51:51):
By the way, do music videos even need sets anymore? Seems like it's all green-screen these days...
2/4/09
Awesome Cover Song
August Burns Red covered Britney Spears' "Hit Me Baby One More Time" for the Punk Goes Pop 2 compilation. Stream it on the Punk Goes Pop myspace here.
Lancaster metalcore band August Burns Red peaked at #81 on the Billboard 200 with their 2007 album Messengers, is about to release a b-sides compilation, and has previously covered the Christmas classic "Carol of the Bells".
Lancaster metalcore band August Burns Red peaked at #81 on the Billboard 200 with their 2007 album Messengers, is about to release a b-sides compilation, and has previously covered the Christmas classic "Carol of the Bells".
2/3/09
Buzz Band: Phantods
Just got a great CD today from Colombus, Ohio's Phantods. They have a unique sound, sort of a sugary-sweet waltz, polka, or indie pop feel with intermittent heavy guitars, all brought together under the magical vocals of Gretchen King.
Their ten-track self-titled release earned a spot on the playlist at my college radio station, as well as a lot of repeat listens from me and my fellow managers.
Check them out on their official website and myspace.
Here's their zombie-fied music video for "Lost Highway":
Their ten-track self-titled release earned a spot on the playlist at my college radio station, as well as a lot of repeat listens from me and my fellow managers.
Check them out on their official website and myspace.
Here's their zombie-fied music video for "Lost Highway":
Music Blogging
Here goes nothing...
I've been reading a lot of music blogs for a while now, and I'm always talking about music anyway, so I figure I might as well start one. I'm going to try to post fairly frequently about the music-related stuff in my life, which is quite a lot.
My musical taste is kind of all over the place, so it may not seem to make sense initially, but hopefully over time it will develop into a consistent aesthetic that somewhat accurately communicates my views on music. Enjoy.
I've been reading a lot of music blogs for a while now, and I'm always talking about music anyway, so I figure I might as well start one. I'm going to try to post fairly frequently about the music-related stuff in my life, which is quite a lot.
My musical taste is kind of all over the place, so it may not seem to make sense initially, but hopefully over time it will develop into a consistent aesthetic that somewhat accurately communicates my views on music. Enjoy.
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