Foxy Python's Flying Circus

Get Free Music from NoiseTrade

2012-01-18T14:41:00.004-05:00

While SOPA and PIPA threaten our ability to obtain free music of questionable legality and iTunes virtually monopolizes the market in paying for music, various websites have attempted to provide an alternative, and one of the best of these is NoiseTrade. They offer free downloads, frequently of entire albums, in exchange for a simple e-mail address and ZIP code, while simultaneously offering a Girl Talk/Radiohead-style pay-what-you-want 'tip' system and easy social network sharing. Today I got some excellent material from plenty of Flying Circus favorites, and I figured I could compile a list here. Click the artist name for a link to the relevant NoiseTrade download page, and I will put a link to my past show review of that artist next to it just in case you aren't sure who they are or need some help deciding whether it's worth the hard drive space.

Josh Ritter - [show review]

Joy Ike - [show review]

Derek Webb (with Sandra McCracken) - [reviews on old blog: {1} {2} {3}]

Paper Route - [relevant post]

Show Review: The P.O. Show

2012-01-18T13:14:00.007-05:00

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, my day job threw a benefit concert for Covenant House Pennsylvania, a children's homeless shelter in North Philly. The show started off with the musical complexities of guerrilla sticker warriors Out of the Beardspace, a prog rock outfit featuring the Berklee College of Music dropout talents of our very own Sam Gutman on keys, as well as shifting time signatures, lineup shifts, and the occasional saxophone solo. The fact that they groove a bit harder than most prog I've heard helped get the party going, and the band members were quite enthusiastic about raging on with the other acts, extreme talent not translating into extreme arrogance in this particular instance.

Out of the Beardspace by Out of the Beardspace

As you may remember, I like Lost in Company quite a bit, and not just because our own Ryan Reese plays a mean guitar. It's not too often that a band remembers the dance music origins of rock'n'roll without overusing synthesizers, and when it does the results are not often this delectable. Frontman Chris Johnson has a powerful voice, fully capable of the whispers-to-wails dynamics called for by their soulful sound. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Little Bar makes use of the same Behringer powered speakers as I do, and that they conveyed LiC's set at least as well as the more expensive setup at Hard Rock.

Banned Books is buzzing quite a bit now, and with good reason. Their spastic, overdriven beats shift tempos almost as often as those of Out of the Beardspace, while remaining consistently rhythmic enough to accompany some dope freestyle raps from our resident rappists Mikey Mo, Trizz, and La Chameleon before Banned Books frontman and our coworker Zane. As they moved into their own material, the contrast between Zane's laid back, frequently falsetto vocals and the gritty instrumentation competed for attention with the propulsive impact of the sheer noise level they were putting out. With such a compelling live show, it is no wonder they are currently leading The Deli's Philadelphia poll for the breakout artist of 2011. [vote here]

By the time resident DJ Aaron Ruxbin took over for one of his usual all-vinyl sets at the regular rock weekly, we had raised $300 for Covenant House, and had ourselves an excellent time doing it.

Division 87 Records

2012-01-14T12:04:00.004-05:00

Since releasing Shadows, The New Division has been focusing on building their record label, Division 87. With releases from TND side projects as well as Argentinean electronica duo Doleips, they've been quite busy.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://division87.bandcamp.com/album/dol-ips-sonrie-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Dolëips - Sonrie EP by Division 87&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

TND synth player Mark Michalski has been releasing some excellent tracks, primarily with vocalist Brooke Lohman, under the moniker Datsyuk (to be confused with the hockey player, not dubstep producer Datsik).

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://datsyuk.bandcamp.com/track/puzzles"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Puzzles by Datsyuk&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
We can be looking forward to lots more great things from Division 87 as The New Division builds their electronic empire.

Show Review: The Great Socio

2012-01-14T11:39:00.003-05:00

Around the time I got holiday busy and stopped posting, I caught one of The Great Socio's December residency shows at The Grape Room in Manayunk. The guitarless band, fronted by singer/trumpeter Alberto Munoz, throws down some serious rock'n'roll. Keys, bass, and drums round out the lineup for a full sound that almost physically impacted in the intimate space through a consistently entertaining set of originals and covers. I was most impressed by their excellent covers of songs with iconic guitar riffs rendered with keys or bass instead, like The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" and Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name". This year they are taking a brief break from playing shows to focus on recording, so we can look forward to new material in the near future.

Show Review: Lost in Company

2011-12-29T20:54:00.005-05:00

I finally got around to seeing Lost in Company when they opened for JaE and Darienne Rose at the Hard Rock Cafe. After some brief protestations from one table, our group settled in comfortably dancing immediately in front of the stage. Funky originals mixed well with excellent covers of notables like Teddy Pendergrass for a sexy, soulful sound that left me thirsting for more. Immediately after their set we all left to try and catch mass stickering gurus Out of the Beardspace at a house party west of Temple campus, but were unfortunately unsuccessful and missed out on both shows. Luckily we'll be having both Lost in Company and Out of the Beardspace (as well as Banned Books) at a benefit for Saving Grace Orphanage at Little Bar on MLK Day.

DJ Gigs

2011-11-29T21:51:00.004-05:00

A couple weeks ago I got to play the KNO Clothing One Year Anniversary Party and fashion show down in Rittenhouse Square, which was awesome. After a week off for Thanksgiving, DJ LOS and I are going extra hard for Thirsty Thursdays. New fliers are in production and we also have our Saturday monthly this weekend. Hit me up if you need some tunage for any holiday shindigs, etc., because slots are filling up quick.

[RSVP for Thursday]

[RSVP for Saturday]

If anyone is interested, I may post up the mixes from the African Student Union and KNO Clothing parties on the Mixcloud page. Don't forget to check Flying Circus Entertainment for all the latest news!

Saturdays are a bit more open format, so when it gets late and everybody's been enjoying the $3 specials, I can drop jams like this:

[Download via Pants Dance]

Show Review: Holy Ghost!, Jessica 6, Midnight Magic

2011-11-29T20:14:00.004-05:00

I finally managed to make it to Union Transfer this weekend. I've been on the mailing list for R5 Productions' new venue since well before it opened, but I've been so busy I haven't had an opportunity to catch any of the great shows they've been putting on there. I am so glad I finally did! The space is gorgeous in every detail, from stained glass windows to the sleek industrial grates serving as railings between balconies, bars, and the main floor. I look forward to many more nights spent in a club so simultaneously intimate and spacious.

Desire Promo Mix by EliEscobar

The show I made it out for was excellent as well. Mountain Dew's Green Label Sound curated what was essentially a tour to bring the NYC underground dance scene to the rest of the country, and did an excellent job of it. I primarily went to see Eli Escobar spin before and between sets, and he did not disappoint. Dance and disco, flawlessly mixed with CDJs, no laptop, provided the perfect warmup for each and every artist, keeping the crowd moving. Midnight Magic was first to perform, and frontwoman Tiffany Roth took it upon herself to pack the dancefloor, instructing the crowd to stop staring and start dancing at every opportunity afforded by interludes in which her powerful vocals and enthusiastic dancing took a backseat to the excellent horn section.

Held together by a common bassist and keyboardist, Midnight Magic and Jessica 6 are both partially made up of members of Hercules & Love Affair, in the latter case fronted by transwoman H&LA vocalist Nomi Ruiz. Musically, the vibes began to skew darker and more sexual when they took the stage, with dirtier, more electro-oriented leads and no horn section. After a significantly longer set from Eli Escobar, Holy Ghost! finally took the stage. As the pop project from the members of defunct DFA hip-hop project Automato, Holy Ghost! has been putting out phenomenal remixes for artists like MGMT, Phoenix, and LCD Soundsystem, as well as excellent original dance tunes. Their live show was more fully fleshed out than the others, complete with an enormous lighting console and analog synth equipment presiding over the center of the stage. By this point, the crowd was euphoric and the dance party was in full swing, having mostly emptied the back bar area onto the floor with the underage kids. I went home satisfied, having danced my Friday night away to excellent music in a beautiful new venue.

Speak! Drops Inside Out Boy

2011-11-29T19:56:00.004-05:00

Speak! finally let his album loose to wreak mayhem on these internets, and I for one am excited to have the majority of the tracks that impressed me at It's the Common Ground collected in one place for free download. The release party, with Odd Future associate Vince Staples and Inland Empire stalwarts Cashius Green and Pheo, is sure to be a rager. If you're in LA Friday, hit up the Gravel Pit for a good time. Whether you can or you can't, though, download the album [here].

I Miss The Streets

2011-11-29T19:34:00.003-05:00

For one reason or another (willful disbelief perhaps), I failed to post about Mike Skinner's retirement of the moniker The Streets, UK grime's iconic pop crossover. Skinner's humorous and insightful ramblings over skittering garage beats have been a part of my life for years. I first heard The Streets when I was on one of those all-inclusive high school European tours watching MTV Europe somewhere in Spain. The above video for "When You Wasn't Famous" was on the TV, and my mind was blown. All that to say Skinner recently dropped a mix for FACT, which includes some great house music, Streets edits, and one track from his new project The D.O.T. If you haven't experienced The Streets before, consider this your point of entry. [FACT mix here]

Show Review: Wildebeast and Turning Violet Violet

2011-11-13T15:15:00.005-05:00

There are two ways to arrange straightforward pop songs and maintain underground credibility. The first could most easily be called the Nirvana method: submerge the vocals in the mix and crank up the distortion to make it all sound more alienated. The second is to use extreme dynamics and shifting beat patterns to make a sort of audio collage that sounds unlike a traditional verse-chorus structure even if there is one. Judging by artists I've reviewed (Brand New, mewithoutYou, Colour Revolt, etc.) it should be clear that I prefer the latter. Last night I journeyed to Cedar Street Studios in Port Richmond to see Wildebeast open for Last Full Measure at Cedar Street's second Saturday monthly. I ended up leaving before the headliners due to public transportation schedules, but was impressed by both Wildebeast and Turning Violet Violet as purveyors of subverted pop music primarily differentiated by the gender of their frontperson and the variety of pop on which their compositions are based.

South Jersey's Wildebeast works with an arena rock palette both lyrically and in the basic guitar/bass/drums/keys setup, an impression emphasized by frontman Sam Morales' sardonic take on rock star swagger. The firm planting of his tongue in cheek, occasional digressions into epic post-rock breakdowns, and bassist Adam Catell's arrival straight from work at Philly Pretzel Factory complete with uniform ensured a safe distance from the odd sincerity/commercialism dynamic of the arena and the near-flawless sound quality provided by performing in a professional recording studio kept Nirvana away. This show has me hoping Wildebeast has a longer and more extensively recorded run than sideman Chris Small's previous work in Troubador.

Turning Violet Violet stays far away from the arena, working with the varied instrumentation of chamber pop and mixing it up with dance grooves rather than post-rock theatrics. A healthy dose of clarinet and violin can help any local band stand out from the rest, and the technicians at Cedar Street allowed both to shine. This studio has put some serious effort into developing the local music scene, and hopefully I'll be back there again soon, probably to see Lost in Company since they were stuck working doors and merch on this one.

OnCue - Better Than Before

2011-11-06T17:36:00.002-05:00

OnCue and CJ Luzi again visualized by Adam Ross over at Visual High Life. Maybe in a couple months we'll see this one on MTVU too. In the meantime, Can't Wait drops in 10 days.

Upcoming Gigs

2011-11-04T11:37:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow Jared and I start the monthly throwdown at Liberty Bar that I'm currently calling The Shindig. We'll be playing ridiculous party jams and helping people enjoy $3 Miller Lites, Yuenglings, and kamikaze shots, all for no cover as usual. The Fox and the Hound are back!

Eventually we will be getting DJ LOS involved. He started splitting Thirsty Thursdays with me last night, and hopefully we can build that weekly to even greater levels.

Tonight I'm playing solo for the African Student Union's Karibu Afterparty at SouthSide Cafe at Messiah. For those of you who have missed me in central PA, here's your chance to hear what I think are the most danceable sounds of the African diaspora.

Make sure to follow Flying Circus Entertainment on Facebook for more info about upcoming shindiggery in various locations!

Mob Device Dropping Beats

2011-10-30T19:19:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since we heard from Tim Kolstrom aka Mob Device, but this week he decided to bless the interwebs with two brand new tracks. "Astral Projection" is continuing his trek into more of a laid-back dubstyle, while "You Call That" is a banger I'll definitely be playing out in the near future. Listen and download for free! Mob Device - Astral Projection Mob Device - You Call That

Feel Tall on MTVU

2011-10-30T19:04:00.004-04:00

Cuey and his fans successfully voted the video for "Feel Tall" into rotation on MTVU over tracks by Ninjasonik and 50 Cent weedcarrier Hot Rod, among others. Congrats to OnCue, producer CJ Luzi, and director Adam Ross. Make sure you watch that jawn at J & H during Temple's 4th meal, or wherever else they play MTVU.

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy

2011-10-29T16:32:00.003-04:00

Listen to the new single from The Black Keys' forthcoming album El Camino. Also, this video is awesome.

B.O.B. - Epic [feat. Playboy Tre & Meek Mill]

2011-10-22T11:02:00.002-04:00

As I have been saying forever, B.O.B. is not a cheesy pop rapper, he just got tired of not being famous. Proof is right here. Hopefully he can railroad Playboy Tre into enough money to get security for his house so he doesn't get robbed again.

New Website/Fan Page

2011-10-09T22:26:00.004-04:00

In tandem with the launch of my new weekly at Liberty Bar, I've finally officially launched the Tumblr page my sister and I have been working on for a few months. Flying Circus Entertainment is the name of my djing/promotion company, and all my future events will be under that moniker. Check it out at flyingcircusentertainment.tumblr.com and become a fan on Facebook [here].

Weekly Shindig at Liberty Bar

2011-10-09T22:09:00.004-04:00

This past Thursday began my weekly residency at Liberty Bar on Market Street in Philly. The management there is awesome and we're working on developing a rock'n'roll night at this great spot between University City and the business district. The kickoff went pretty well, but we're trying to build it up bigger and better each week, which shouldn't be hard with drink specials like a $15 open bar from 10 to midnight.

Last time I played a bunch of old-school Weezer, Sublime, and the occasional pop hit and the bar regulars requested classics from The Clash and Dinosaur Jr. If you want a great place to hang out on Thursday nights in Philly, we got your back. Shoutout to all the kids who came out and supported the opening, and especially to Dominic Cruz on the flyer design.

Shadows Released Yesterday

2011-09-28T16:44:00.002-04:00

The New Division just released their first full-length, Shadows, on Division 87. Pick it up on Bandcamp [here].

OnCue - All The Way

2011-09-25T22:30:00.003-04:00

My boy CJ Luzi collabs with Manicanparty on the track, Visual High Life again on the visual, and Cuey sticking to his guns with introspective thoughts and a catchy sung chorus.

Caveman - Great Life

2011-09-20T00:49:00.004-04:00

This song is proof that polyrhythms make any genre more exciting. Unfortunately, Fader informs me that Caveman does not have this many drummers live, so for that fix perhaps I'll have to see Grandchildren play again. In the meantime, Caveman's debut album was released exactly a week ago. Check it out!

Odd Future > Tyler the Creator

2011-09-20T00:20:00.003-04:00

In all the flurry of attention surrounding Best New Artist Tyler the Creator and his horrorcore-for-the-swag-generation, other members of Odd Future have been getting shortchanged. For example, pop/r&b mastermind Frank Ocean has been consistently flooding Vimeo with gems like "Thinking About You" and the heartbreaking "Swim Good". Watch those two videos and download the latest from OF's Domo Genesis [here] to get a sense of all that this crew has going for them before their upcoming Adult Swim show spills the beans:
(via The Fader)

Belated Block Party Review: Mad Decent LA

2011-09-19T22:27:00.005-04:00

My first (and somewhat lasting) impression of the LA edition of this year's block party is that the boys from Philly have finally 'made it' now that they've moved out to the west coast. It's gone somewhat corporate. I remember the first block party in Philly; everything was free-food, drinks, merch-all free. This time around there were serious food trucks, and giveaways were sporadic and temporary.

My second impression was that the 'block' they selected was too long and narrow, meaning a substantial amount of space went unused and another substantial amount of space around the booths and such was out of reasonable hearing distance from the music. This worked nicely when you wanted to relax, but made the experience somewhat more disjointed than the Philly editions have generally been.

My musical impressions (to the extent that I remember them) are as follows:

A live set from Major Lazer is everything it's cracked up to be. Diplo spun literally everything, mixed into that very specific electro-reggae vibe, and Skerrit Bwoy is insane.
Death Grips is an instance of some white producers getting a mediocre at best rapper to work with them because having a black front man provides street cred. They do manage to focus on sounding like the apocalypse enough to almost distract from the fact that Spank Rock, King Fantastic, and Atari Teenage Riot all do this sort of thing much, much better.
Dawn Golden & Rosy Cross is just one guy, and he is the American James Blake like Owl City is the Christian Postal Service. Not that that's a bad thing.
Mad Decent is a great electronic/hip-hop label. They are a terrible rock label.
Dillon Francis is a great LA hometown hero. Kids went nuts.
Lunice is fun to watch and fascinating to listen to. He makes Soulja Boy and Lil' B listenable.

Meek Mill - I'ma Boss [Video]

2011-09-08T15:46:00.003-04:00

Meek Mill finally put out a video for summer anthem "I'm a Boss", dragging Rick Ross up to Philly to do a ridiculously fun street video like he used to independently with Maybach Music label money. Ross tries to pretend he can have fun in a video without a boat by hiding in a Bentley, while Millz spits triumphantly in front of Geno's Steaks (RIP Joey Vento) like a northern Young Jeezy.

Countdown to Shadows

2011-09-08T14:38:00.006-04:00

The New Division just released "Shallow Play", the second single from upcoming debut LP Shadows, which is already getting attention from Prefixmag. Catch them performing this and other jams at Soda Bar in San Diego tomorrow or at the Shadows release party in Claremont at the Hip Kitty on the 29th [RSVP].

If you're not in SoCal to catch a show (my current situation), console yourself with frontman John's latest solo effort, "The One Thing I Can't Have":

WHYY Connections Festival

2011-08-31T03:49:00.004-04:00

Watch the full episode. See more On Canvas.

If you're available Saturday (which I won't be), go check out the free concert local PBS affiliate WHYY is putting on at Penn's Landing. Expect great music from Kyo Daiko, Toy Soldiers, Birdie Busch, Kuf Knotz, The Baseball Project, Justin Townes Earle, and local legends Dr. Dog.

Grab a free download from blues outfit Toy Soldiers [here] and be there at 2 PM Saturday for the show!

Joy Ike - Sweeter

2011-08-31T03:22:00.002-04:00

Check out Joy Ike's new video for "Sweeter" and download the mp3 for free [here]!

Free Boosie

2011-08-26T03:14:00.004-04:00

Some of those screaming free Boosie aren't exactly helping his case, though in situations like this one, perhaps their feelings are understandable:

His mother sets things straight in an interview [here].

Low - Especially Me

2011-08-25T22:57:00.002-04:00

Minnesota indie darlings Low still deliver their trademark relaxing sound 18 years later, this time with a video treatment that reminds me of listening to I'm From Barcelona on the subway in Philly, which may be the highest compliment I've ever paid a music video. Download "Especially Me" [here] and get familiar with their extensive back catalog if you haven't already stopped reading this to do so. (via Buzzgrinder)

It's the Common Ground

2011-08-24T15:42:00.003-04:00

This week's It's the Common Ground was a producer showcase, which was an enjoyable night out, but not so easy to review for you. Peep tracks from the dudes showcasing their skills [here] and enjoy the above video of Speak's throwdown last week.

Blitzen Trapper and Dawes EP

2011-08-24T15:27:00.004-04:00

To celebrate their upcoming co-headling tour, the purveyors of country-folk music known as Blitzen Trapper and Dawes are releasing a split EP for free on NoiseTrade. NoiseTrade is a service that allows artists to upload and distribute music for free in exchange for an email address and a zipcode, serving as an excellent promotional vehicle for up-and-coming artists. Catch the tour at the TLA October 27th.

OnCue - Feel Tall [Video]

2011-08-19T05:15:00.003-04:00

The CJ Luzi-produced Cuey jam I posted about a while back got the video treatment as of Wednesday courtesy of Adam Ross at Visual High Life.

TND - Opium - Remixes & Free Download

2011-08-17T02:31:00.003-04:00

Opium [single] by The New Division The New Division's latest single "Opium" is up for free download this week only at their Bandcamp page. The single comes with the original track plus remixes by band members Juan the Tiger, John Glenn, and Vaab, who each take it in a very different direction. Juan the Tiger makes it into an ambient dub, John Glenn takes it international with an Italo disco rework, and Vaab moves into glitch territory with an epic 8 minute rendition.

Show Review: It's the Common Ground

2011-08-17T01:12:00.007-04:00

Sunday night myself and a few coworkers ventured down to The Vibe, a dive bar near UCR, for long-running local hip-hop showcase "It's the Common Ground". Though the hosts were a bit talky, it seemed like a genuinely good, open-minded crowd with a positive attitude; in other words, a great place to discover new local talent. The Facebook event advertised appearances by Machete, A. Cain, Raw Class, The Future 3, Andre Damar, A.R.S., Kev Martin & Edgar Sosa, and Speak.

After a few acts of the quality I was expecting from the evening had performed and one no-show, I was thoroughly impressed by the headliners. The first of these was Kev Martin and Edgar Sosa, performing as each other's hypeman, each with a smooth flow laced over the mixture of old-school boom-bap and electronica samples that has become a college party staple.

Before the DJs returned and my friends and I left to catch some shuteye before work in the morning, Moreno Valley-based Speak wrapped up the live action for the evening. We had noticed this Zach Galifianakis lookalike earlier, chatting with the girls inexplicably selling what looked like thrift-store clothing from a rack in the back over a PBR. Now he took the stage in a Jesus costume, playing off the resemblance in the lyrics to his opening track. Thumping, bass-heavy beats propelled his set forward as he bounced around the stage, yelling "SWAG!" at every conceivable interlude and shouting out such hip-hop luminaries as "Mac Miller's Unibrow" and "Big Sean's Mustache". From this description one would dismiss him as simply another hipster rap flash in the pan, but his versatile flow and acerbic wit had even the thugs in the room on their feet and nodding along. It was then I realized this was the very MC whose Spaceghostpurrp collaboration inspired this rap-royalty-baiting piece from LA Weekly, and decided the number of freelance photographers encircling the stage were more than mere vanity. I went home with all my expectations for an Inland Empire rap showcase well exceeded.

Motown/Reggae Blends

2011-08-12T00:17:00.003-04:00

Emynd and Kenny Meez put together this collection of Motown classics over one-drop reggae riddims just in time to ride out the summer properly. Listen to Emynd's take on Stevie Wonder's "Uptight" and download them all zipped up [here]. (via Crossfaded Bacon)

Lil' B Can Still Rap

2011-08-12T00:07:00.003-04:00

For those of us who remember the greatness that was "Vans" (or The Pack in general for that matter), the recent #based nonsense Pack alumnus Lil' B has been spouting has been a frustrating experience. If you can do this:

Why would you do this?

Joseph Milligan's Sins

2011-08-03T14:47:00.003-04:00

Joseph Milligan, lead guitarist of Anberlin, recently started a side project called Sins. Judging by the first two tracks released, this will consist of driving punk instrumentals with vocals leaning more toward the stadium-sized pop ambitions of his regular gig. Personally I enjoy the distorted vocals at the beginning of "Keep Quiet", as it is here he most steps into his own musical territory. [stream on Facebook] (via IndieVisionMusic)

The Hood Internet - Trillwave 2

2011-08-01T12:47:00.005-04:00

The Hood Internet - Trillwave 2 by Мишка Bloglin

Mishka presents this excellent barbeque soundtrack from indie/rap mashup magicians The Hood Internet. To paraphrase a classic track "bang this in the yard baby". (via Mad Decent, whose NYC block party they recently rocked.)

Osama Throws An Eighties Party Mixtape

2011-07-29T06:00:00.005-04:00

As an 80's baby who never really experienced the decade, I put this mix together as a 21st century perspective on the second-to-last decade of the 20th. It is a musical answer to the question "What do the 80's look like in a post-Michael Jackson, post-Osama bin Laden world?" And besides, girls love 80's parties.

Joy Ike's Summer Tour

2011-07-28T14:01:00.005-04:00

Pittsburgh singer-songwriter Joy Ike, who did an excellent show at B-sides this past year, is hitting the road and stopping by some of my favorite venues. If you get a chance, go.

7/30 - One World Coffeehouse (Columbia, MD) w/ Nelly's Echo
7/31 - Ocean City Beach Project (Ocean City, NJ)
8/3 - WJTL "New Tunes at 9" [listen here]
8/4 - Stage on Herr (Harrisburg, PA) w/ Maura Jensen & Brooke Annibale
8/5 - Fuel House Coffee Co (Vineland, NJ) w/ Lindsay Katt
8/6 - Burlap & Bean (Newtown Square, PA) w/ Jeffrey Gaines
8/7 - Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival (Atlantic City, NJ)
8/9 - Van Gogh's Ear Cafe (Union, NJ) w/ Amanda Duncan
8/10 - Public Assembly (Brooklyn) w/ Paul Luc, Kevin Garrett, Charlene Kaye, Ohene Cornelius
8/11 - Pianos (Manhattan) w/ Dead Flutes & Fleetweek (DJs)
8/12 - World Cafe Live @ The Queen (Wilmington, DE) w/ Caleb Hawley & Jessi Teich
8/13 - Purple Door Arts & Music Festival (Lebanon, PA)

Download her album Songs That Sound Like Spring for free [here] for a preview of the goodness you are about to enjoy.

The New Division - Opium

2011-07-25T01:20:00.003-04:00

The New Division just released "Opium", from the forthcoming Shadows LP, out September 27th. Give it a listen and then buy it [here].

Watch the Throne Drops in August

2011-07-25T00:44:00.005-04:00

Kanye and Jay-Z's long-awaited collaboration Watch the Throne is scheduled to drop August 8th. Despite early worries of trend-chasing with disappointments like the Lex Luger showcase "H.A.M.", the latest leak "Otis" shows Kanye back at the peak of his production game, flawlessly sampling Otis Redding and going toe-to-toe with the greatest retired rapper alive thereon. Production on other tracks will come from 88 Keys, Q-Tip, The Neptunes, RZA, Hit-Boy, Swizz Beatz, Southside, No I.D., Mike Dean, Sak Pase, and S1, with guest spots limited to Beyonce, Mr. Hudson, and Odd Future crooner Frank Ocean.

Stream "Otis" at Jay-Z's Life + Times [here].

VMA Nominations & Voting

2011-07-22T01:41:00.005-04:00

Nominated for 'Best New Artist' and 'Video of the Year', I finally have an excuse to post Tyler the Creator's self-directed "Yonkers". In other categories, I am also opinionated:

Best Pop Video: Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"
Best Rock Video: The Black Keys' "Howlin' For You"
Best Hip-hop Video: Chris Brown/Busta Rhymes/Lil' Wayne's "Look At Me Now"
Best Female Video: Nicki Minaj - "Super Bass"
Best Male Video: Cee-Lo Green - "F*** You"
Best Collaboration: Kanye/Rihanna - "All of the Lights" (sort of a runner-up hip-hop)
Best Art Direction: Death Cab For Cutie - "You Are A Tourist"
Best Choreography: LMFAO/GoonRock/Lauren Bennett - "Party Rock Anthem"
Best Cinematography: Eminem/Rihanna - "Love the Way You Lie"
Best Direction: Beastie Boys - "Make Some Noise"
Best Editing: Adele - "Rolling in the Deep"
Best Special Effects: Kanye/Katy Perry - "E.T." (winning this was the point of this song)

You can vote for these (or your favorites) [here].

Christina Grimmie - Advice

2011-07-20T18:08:00.002-04:00

She's come a long way from covering System of a Down at my birthday show. Currently on tour with Selena Gomez & the Scene, Grimmie just released this music video for single "Advice", from her debut EP Find Me. This one certainly fits into Radio Disney's dance-pop-lite format, readying young listeners for the club-centric sounds of 21st century American pop music.

New Mixtape Weezy

2011-07-19T04:54:00.006-04:00

I'm about a week late on this, but Lil' Wayne just dropped a new mixtape called Sorry 4 the Wait. On it, he takes on Kreayshawn's "Gucci Gucci", properly demonstrates how awful of a rapper Lil' B has become since his days in The Pack by demolishing him on my favorite Waka Flocka track, and shouts out everybody and their mom over Beyonce's Major Lazer-sampling "Run the World". (via The Fader)

Old People Listen to Music Online, Record Industry Survives

2011-07-18T13:47:00.003-04:00

The AARP has now launched their own internet radio service to cater to the listening tastes of the 55+ crowd, but despite this drastic expansion of internet listeners to an entirely new demographic, the first half of 2011 has seen a 1% increase in record sales, the first such increase since 2004. The increase comes with the strength of Eminem and Adele's record-breaking digital numbers (over a million each). Maybe the AARP will get the old folks into Adele? (via Paste)

Kalibur - Arch Dat Back

2011-07-18T03:13:00.004-04:00

DC rapper Kalibur rides this track to club banger heaven. Simple, infectious, and danceable. What happened to this kind of rap music?

Show Review: The Dimepiece Party Summer Kickoff

2011-07-17T12:04:00.006-04:00

The members of VCR Monster (the headlining band I missed at The Crescent Jewell) throw a monthly party at Rancho Verde Golf Club in Rialto. Evidently they have been trying to get The New Division to perform for quite some time, and this month they finally did.
As the youthful crowd gradually filled the room to the electro sounds of The 1200s (Snatch, Inglish the DJ, Androids Don't Stop), I was thoroughly impressed by the lighting. The atmosphere was much more dance club than golf club, despite the heavy concentration of smokers out on the patio with a clear view of the course. TND went on around 11, sans guitarist Brock Woolsey due to work commitments. Their set noticeably altered the enthusiasm of different crowd segments, for the most part switching the casts of smoking patio and dancefloor. Focusing on their more club-ready tracks, their set was significantly more 'thumping' than usual, though that was perhaps due to a bass-heavy soundsystem that buried John's vocals in the mix in favor of basslines and synth leads to keep the kids moving. "No Health" was definitely a crowd favorite, with a circle briefly opening for ravers and b-boys to do some odd cross-genre battling.
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thenewdivision.bandcamp.com/track/no-health"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;No Health by The New Division&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

The 1200s kept the party going following The New Division with tracks like Armand Van Helden and Dizzee Rascal's "Bonkers" and a dubstep remix of Kreayshawn's "Gucci Gucci". In all, quite the evening; significantly better than one would expect when hearing "club night at a golf club".

The Warrior Art Rebel

2011-07-12T02:49:00.003-04:00

<a href="http://daquan.bandcamp.com/album/the-w-a-r-warrior-art-rebel-personal-listening-devices">The W.A.R.: Warrior Art Rebel (Personal Listening Devices) by DaQuan</a>

I wish more music sounded like this. As Dev79 put it "this is what it would sound like if Andre 3000's cousin recorded a rap dubstep crossover project in a spaceship hovering over Jamaica". (via PalmsOut)

Farewell Flight - Out For Blood

2011-07-09T03:39:00.002-04:00

The single from Farewell Flight's split with Deas Vail (as well as their upcoming Mono vs. Stereo debut) now has an official video, but Alternative Press has it exclusively for the time being, so listen to the lyric video above and then go check it out [here].

Pusha T & Tyler the Creator - Trouble On My Mind

2011-07-09T02:45:00.003-04:00

Tyler the Creator (of Odd Future) finally holds his own on a mainstream track. Pusha T (of Re-Up Gang), who recently signed to Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music as a solo artist, grabs a feature from the divisive OFWGKTA mastermind on this boom-bap Neptunes number. (via First Up!)

New Vaab Mix

2011-07-08T16:20:00.008-04:00

If you are in need of some dance music to fill your summer nights, or at least your drives to and from whatever you're filling them with, Vaab's latest mix of progressive house, electro, and trance might be just what you're looking for.

Tracklisting:
Bjork - Venus As A Boy
DJ Zilos - Always Changing [feat. Sophia Cruz][Rev-Players Remix]
Melleefresh vs. Deadmau5 - Cocktail Queen
Cevin Fisher - You Got Me Burning Up [feat. Loleatta Holloway][Tim Davison Remix]
Moguai - ZYVOX [Steve Duda Remix]
Arno Cost - Lise
Chrizz Luvly - Amen
Rihanna - Rude Boy [Tommie Sunshine's 5 AM Edit]
Josh Gabriel presents Winter Kills - My Friend [Francis Preve Remix]
Rihanna - S & M [Sidney Samson Club Mix]
Mord Fustang - Lick the Rainbow
Arty - Hope [Club Mix]
ATB with Dash Berlin - Apollo Road [Club Version]

Chanes - The Bird Cage

2011-07-08T04:23:00.002-04:00

For those who can't get enough of Wiz Khalifa's rhymes over Lex Luger's beats, this just might be the next best thing: frequent OnCue collaborator Chanes flips Arcade Fire's "My Body Is A Cage" into a churning organ loop for Wiz to spit "Youngin On His Grind". Taken from Chanes "The Subherbs" Arcade Fire vs. Wiz mashup project, which you can download [here]. (via OnCue)

Dr. Freecloud's Record Shoppe

2011-07-08T03:32:00.005-04:00

I was searching for a spot to grab The Decemberists' The King Is Dead LP for my girlfriend for our anniversary when I stumbled across Dr. Freecloud's phenomenal reputation on Yelp. Despite the unlikelihood that they would have what I sought specifically, I just had to stop in. Proprietor Ron D Core, who has a great reputation as an all-vinyl hardcore DJ going back 25 years, was behind the decks demonstrating something to a customer, and I took some time to browse the huge collection of dance records available.

Since rent was due recently, I only purchased Young MC's "Bust A Move" single, but I will hopefully be back, if not for the $75/hour DJing lessons, then for one of the free Sunday barbeques with guest DJs like this.

Paste Magazine mPlayer

2011-07-05T03:42:00.003-04:00

As the music director of WVMM my sophomore year at Messiah, I was encouraged to read Paste as a way of determining what music we should be putting on the playlist and purchasing for the library. I was hooked. A magazine covering pop culture in all its aspects, focusing on independent manifestations thereof rather than the ordinary industrialized bits. Unfortunately, I caught the tail end of this wonderful trove of culture, as Paste ceased its print publication in September 2010. While I have still followed their blog(s) and e-mail blasts, I've missed the long-form pieces (like this) especially.

It turns out I'm in luck, as Paste is returning as a weekly multimedia subscription service called the mPlayer. It will be in beta for free all summer and start up in earnest in the fall. (via Paste)

The Return of Marc Seeley

2011-07-04T04:25:00.004-04:00

For those of you who don't know, I once managed Marc Seeley, who recorded and performed under the moniker Letters from the Prom. Last summer he essentially dropped off the face of the earth, depriving us all of his musical genius in the ensuing months. He is now writing a new album as Tokyo Quest, the first song of which is the above "Eloise".I had a rare opportunity to discuss music with Marc recently, and the forthcoming album is tentatively entitled Play My Tiny Tune, Big Orchestra, and will be made up of folk tunes like the one you just enjoyed above.

Erika Ricchini Does A Pop Song

2011-07-01T00:56:00.003-04:00

The first music we've heard from Erika Ricchini since Troubador is a pop song with lots more sheen than we're accustomed to hearing her vocals with, courtesy of producer Jay Criss. I could get used to this. Especially with that '80s snare.

New OnCue/CJ Luzi

2011-07-01T00:33:00.005-04:00

My boy CJ Luzi has been back in the lab with OnCue, and the first result we get to hear is "Feel Tall", a pop gem on which Cuey brings his singing chops back out to play: And in case you missed it, here's the official video for their Eisley-sampling jam "It Usually Goes":

The New Division Crew & Its Ever-Expanding Repertoire

2011-07-01T00:13:00.005-04:00

Though we've covered founding members John Kunkel and Michael Janz' production efforts, it seems that guitarist Brock Woolsey's work as Juan the Tiger has been missed. He has done his own remix of The New Division's "Saturday Night":

as well as some original productions, my favorite of which is his latest, "Orange":

Somewhat Unfinished Track

2011-06-29T03:28:00.003-04:00

I've been holding off on posting this because I never finished it to my satisfaction. I've played it out once to a decent response, and it has a few plays and downloads on SoundCloud. I mashed up Lady Gaga's "Telephone" with "Beeper" by The Count & Sinden, which has some great phone type sound effects and additional rhythm, then added an interlude from "The Telephone Hour" in the musical Bye Bye Birdie. Let me know what you think!

Things Bothering Me About Mainstream Hip-hop

2011-06-29T01:31:00.008-04:00

1)Rick Ross is a correctional officer, but no one is calling him out on naming himself after a dealer, continuing to constantly rap about cocaine, his supposed source of wealth, and promoting drug dealers like Big Meech and Larry Hoover to youth. He is encouraging kids to engage in the same sorts of behavior the convicts he once guarded did. On top of that, he cannot even use the excuse of describing his life: he never did any of the things he talks about, and has no regretful or admonishing songs to speak of like other rappers with questionable content.

2) Drake constantly talks about coming from nothing, despite being a freaking child television star. Degrassi was huge. Every girl I knew watched it at age 12ish. I want to hate his music, I really do, but unfortunately I don't. His one of his first hits was a ripoff of an old Kardinal Offishall mixtape track. Kardi gets considered a one-hit wonder, but Drake is taken seriously as an artist? You've got to be kidding me.

3) Why did they make Nicki Minaj a singer on her album? Enough said.

Guess I'll just have to mope and listen to underground stuff til I cheer up:

My First Mixtape

2011-06-22T04:03:00.006-04:00

This was the first mix I ever made with MixMeister Fusion. I was trying to learn how to use the program, so I went back through several times to work on the details. I tried to keep it around 130 bpm in the key of C. Having just begun growing beyond iPod DJing Sweet 16s and such for Warped Tour kids, primarily through the influence of Diplo and his Mad Decent blog, I assembled what I thought was about as diverse a tracklisting as I could after listening to Flosstradamus' 3 Peat Mix at least once a day for about a month.

Tracklisting:
Alex H - Champion Floss
August Burns Red - Truth of a Liar
Girl Talk - Dance With Me (Baila Baila) [Club Mix]
Girl Talk - Dance With Me (Baila Baila) [Dub Version]
Missy Elliott - Lose Control [feat. Fatman Scoop & Ciara][Radio Edit]
Martha & the Vandellas - Dancing in the Street
Sister Sledge - Everybody Dance [Live] vs. Afrika Bambaataa - Just Get Up & Dance [Hip-Hop-a-Lula Remix]
Bodyrox - What Planet You On [feat. Luciana]
Kanye West - Stronger [A-Trak Remix]
Kanye West - Stronger [Tyler Fedchuck 1/2 Alive Remix]
Hellogoodbye - Here (In Your Arms) [2006 Tommie Sunshine Mix] vs. Dr. Dre - The Watcher [Instrumental]
Hollywood Undead - No. 5
Ciara - 1, 2 Step [feat. Missy Elliott][X-Mix Dance Series 79]
Jokers of the Scene - Juggle It [William Russell Remix]
DJ Laz - Feel the Funk
Daft Punk -Phoenix vs. Robert Randolph & the Family Band - I Don't Know What You Come To Do [Live]
Funkerman - Speed Up
Armand Van Helden - This Ain't Hollywood [Sinden Remix]
Britney Spears - Piece of Me [DJ Biggie Mashup]
Erick E - The Beat Is Rockin'
Meg - Party Time [Club Mix]
Get 'Em Mamis - Push It [Freestyle]
Bob Sinclar - Sounds of Freedom [Whole Album Mix]
Bamboo - Bamboogie [Radio Edit]
Rihanna - Please Don't Stop The Music [Mr. Slaughter Soca Remix]
Say Wut - Drop
Kissy Sell Out - Gonna Make You Mine [Kissy's Ghetto Fabulous Mix]
Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor [LA Riots vs. Villains Remix]
DJ Earworm - I Like the Way Jenny Scrubs
Brit & Alex - I Like Boys
The Hush Sound - Wine Red [Tommie Sunshine's Brooklyn Fire Retouch]
Tommie Sunshine - Dance Among the Ruins
Fall Out Boy - Dance, Dance [Tommie Sunshine's Brooklyn Fire & Brimstone Dub] vs. Lloyd - Get It Shawty
Family Force 5 - Earthquake
Casper - Cha-cha Slide (Part 2)
Hurricane Chris - Hand Clap
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean vs. Spank Rock - Shake That
Afrika Bambaataa - Just Get Up & Dance [Party Mood Remix]
Chromeo - Fancy Footwork
Daft Punk - One More Time [Foxy's Hip-hop Voiceover Edit]
Aaron LaCrate - Blow [feat. Spank Rock & Amanda Blank][Low Bee Remix]
Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams [DJ Stranger Remix]
The Four Tops - It's the Same Old Song [Acapella]
Fergie - Fergalicious vs. The Count & Sinden - Beeper
MSTRKRFT - Bounce [feat. N.O.R.E.]
Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Let's Make Out
Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor
Spoiled Bratz- Roc 2 Da Beat
Robi-Rob's Clubworld - Make That Money
Panic! At the Disco - The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage [Tommie Sunshine Brooklyn Fire Remix]
Alex H - Imperial Bombaclaat
Spank Rock - B.O.O.T.A.Y. [Stereobait's Technics Edit]
O-zone - Dragostea Din Tei
Sean Paul - Private Party
Spank Rock - Blow
Usher - Nice & Slow [Remix][feat. Twista] vs. Benny Benassi - Love Is Gonna Save Us
Mr. Mixx - Freak Dance (Let Me See Ya)
Chemical Brothers - It Began In Africa
Daft Punk - Rock'n'Roll
Trina - You Ain't Ready [feat. Paul Wall]
Pitbull - Fuego
Twista - Overnight Celebrity [Remix][feat. Kanye West]
Klever - Kryptobounce
Brandtson - Nobody Dances Anymore
DJ Assault - Play It Again
Pitbull - Fuego [DJ Buddha Remix][feat. Don Omar]
Eurofrog - Chariots of Fire [Dance Remix]
Izza Kizza - Red Wine [Clean]
Vengaboys - We Like To Party
2 Live Crew - Shake a Lil' Something
Flo Rida - Low [feat. T-Pain][Foxy Edit][feat. Pitbull & Travis Barker]
DJ Laz - Move, Shake, Drop [Remix][feat. Pitbull & Flo Rida]

Artists I Was Evidently Riding Hard: Tommie Sunshine (5), Pitbull (4), Spank Rock (4), Kanye West (3), Daft Punk (3)

Jeff Waters' Manhattan Blues

2011-06-18T03:26:00.002-04:00

My RA from freshman year, as mentioned previously, is a rather excellent singer-songwriter. As 2007 Messiah College homecoming king, and current employee of the Harrisburg Institute, it is perhaps appropriate that many of his songs focus on travel and places both near and far (Messiah's primary advertising point is their nationally ranked study abroad program). "Manhattan Blues" is no exception thematically, but stands out to me for some reason. Apparently I am not alone in this, as Jeff has chosen to post this particular tune on his YouTube channel:

Show Review: The New Division at The Crescent Jewell

2011-06-17T06:57:00.003-04:00

The Crescent Jewell is a restaurant and lounge in downtown Riverside that generally hosts jazz musicians, but occasionally allows certain promoters to bring in pop acts. On one of these occasions, I ventured in to see TND play, along with local rapper and TND collaborator David Reddix, Jr. Unfortunately, the blown sound system had other plans.

After a brief attempt at a set, including an admirable rendition of recent single "Saturday Night" that went over remarkably well with the gathered hipsters, all things considered, Kunkel and company called it a night. Reddix took the stage squad deep, ran through abbreviated versions of a couple of possible bangers, and then did the same. I left before the touring headliner to save my ears the harassment, went back to the apartment I now share with TND beatmaker Janzie (aka Vaab), and consoled myself with the recently released official video for "Starfield":

Christina Grimmie - Find Me EP

2011-06-16T02:51:00.002-04:00

YouTube sensation and Selena Gomez associate Christina Grimmie released her debut EP Find Me yesterday, beginning a rapid climb to (as of this posting) #3 on the iTunes albums chart. Lead single "Liar Liar" currently sits at #88 on the iTunes singles chart with some assistance from Radio Disney airplay, and a summer tour with Gomez and Allstar Weekend is in the works. She has worked long and hard for this: I remember "Liar Liar" as possibly the only original in her set of metal and pop covers at my birthday show last year. Pick up Find Me on iTunes here.

The Fox and the Hound Show - Last Time on the V

2011-06-13T15:52:00.005-04:00

Alas,all good things must come to an end, even The Fox and the Hound Show on WVMM. This was our final show, broadcast during senior week after pretty much everything at school had already been shut down. We will be looking for another station that will allow us at least a modicum of freedom in the future, but for the time being are on indefinite hiatus. Our live DJing, while substantially different, is still going on.

In more positive news, Mixcloud now has an iPhone app, so go download that to take The Fox and the Hound with you wherever you go.

Show Review: Death Cab For Cutie

2011-06-13T14:29:00.005-04:00

Death Cab is currently finishing up a tour of the rock clubs they used to play before they blew up, and my sister, my girlfriend, and I were fortunate enough to be able to get tickets to see them at the Troc in Philly, despite Ticketmaster frustrations verging on LCD Soundsystem proportions. Despite it being my birthday and the day of my sister's high school graduation, we arrived just after the doors opened and were soon inside and up front in plenty of time for openers The Lonely Forest to take the stage.
photo by my sister
Frontman John Van Deusen got the crowd's attention immediately with his Philadelphia Flyers jersey and apparently self-tailored Dickies, then locked it in with sharp pop vocals kept front and center in the remarkably good live mix. There were a few definite earworms in the Washington state outfit's repertoire, and myself and many others began picking up on choruses right away. The entire band seemed enthralled just being on stage playing their music, and their cheerful, upbeat demeanor successfully distracted from the sometimes too overt Death Cab influences of an opening act signed to and produced by guitarist Chris Walla's Trans Records. Here's the video for standout track "Turn Off This Song And Go Outside", filmed on the Fourth of July in their hometown:
Say what you like about the resounding successes of Ben Gibbard and company; they are genuine artists with a real love of their music and its fans. Sellouts don't play sets including tracks from cassette tape releases and more songs from before Transatlanticism than from Codes and Keys, which they are ostensibly touring. This was not a show for the uninitiated, with a deep track selection spanning the length and breadth of the Death Cab oeuvre. Their stage presence was compelling, and in general substantially more rock-oriented than I expected-Gibbard's acoustic guitar only took a dominant role for his solo rendition of Plans hit "I Will Follow You Into The Dark". A lengthy first set, brief respite filled with a deafening roar from the crowd, and an encore verging on second set status left a very well satisfied audience. In a trope becoming somewhat familiar given the number of shows I've seen at the Troc, the band apparently loves the venue. I think their music is better suited to more intimate spaces, and the former burlesques is nothing if not intimate. I'm very glad I caught them there, rather than at the Mann for their next Philadelphia show.

The New Division: New Single

2011-06-10T04:58:00.003-04:00

TND just released "Saturday Night"/"True Lies", a promotional single for "Shadows", their debut LP, which is coming in September. The two songs and a pair of remixes of each are available for free download at their Bandcamp page. Not included in the release is Vaab's dub of "Saturday Night":

Show Recap: Gradswag Shindig

2011-06-10T04:14:00.007-04:00

A while back, some friends and I invented the word "gradswag" as a sort of positive spin on "senioritis". I combined this idea with the old plan The Hound and I had for a straight up graduation party somewhere off campus and my love of the word "shindig", and the Gradswag Shindig was born. Alex Brubaker and Mob Device (fka Kolstrom) had both played at a local BYO restaurant called The Whole Cannoli, so I figured they would be open to the sort of thing I was proposing. Nik Seitz, the proprietor, was not only open but cautiously optimistic about it, and so on the Wednesday between finals and graduation, it happened.We kicked things off with some tunes from singer-songwriter Anthony Francesco, who played so passionately that his set was cut short by his fingers bleeding all over his guitar. Next up was Darry Miller & the Veil, whose full band show fit better in this venue than they had in a loft bedroom at the last show I asked them to play. Their set, as usual, was very tight and professional, perfectly conveying Darry's songs directly into one's head, from which they are unlikely to leave.
From there, things got a bit more dance-centered. We (The Fox and the Hound) played a diverse set of hip-hop, Bmore club, electro, and the occasional dubstep track to warm the crowd up for the main event. Mob Device, formerly known as Kolstrom, threw down a ridiculous dubstep set. He rarely DJs, preferring to focus on school and his production, but this made it clear that it is well worth the trip if you can catch him live somewhere. By 1 AM, things were beginning to wind down, but DJ KiB kept the party alive with his own selection of dubstep chunes. It was a great party: the music was great, YESNOCO sold some sweet I heart Dubstep and Gradswag t-shirts, and feedback was all positive.
If you missed out, be sure to catch Darry & co. at North Star Bar on Tuesday and Mob Device at Club XS June 24th.

The Fox and the Hound Show - 4/26/11

2011-05-29T19:48:00.006-04:00

The last time we had Bishop's Garden perform on the show, we crammed their full band into the green room of the WVMM studios. They rocked a bit too hard for such a small space and the microphones couldn't quite handle it, which left our listeners with an incorrect impression of the Annapolis outfit's sound. This time around, frontman Joe Memmel and guitarist/songwriter Paul Bowers gave us a stripped-down acoustic performance that left us even more impressed than we had been previously.

Catching Up with House Exit

2011-05-29T18:30:00.003-04:00

My former roommate Matt Hannigan and his band House Exit finally got in a real studio and did some proper recording. I'm a bit behind on posting this (we premiered it on The Fox and the Hound back when it came out), but the resulting single "Focus on You" is available on iTunes and CDBaby. The upgrade in quality does a lot for House Exit's sound, demonstrating growth beyond the lo-fi faux-Blink-182 that has served as a muse for Hannigan's graphic design work for the past few years. Hopefully these improvements will continue and we'll have much more to look forward to from House Exit!

Show Review: Brand New w/ Robbers

2011-05-26T23:20:00.009-04:00

The last concert of my Messiah career was both sold out and substantially harder than any other. Unlike the last time I saw them, Brand New was not touring an album, and was therefore free to fill my night (and everyone else's) with the old songs we fell in love with as teenagers. But before Brubaker Auditorium erupted into a massive sing-along, we were subjected to some rather strange experiences.

photo courtesy of Angela Darte

True to form, the difficult-to-classify Long Island rockers brought another genre-busting hometown act with them on tour. Robbers are an upbeat bunch with a histrionic frontman whose Afro and mannerisms had the audience incessantly shouting for various Hendrix songs. Unfortunately for any other impressions they may have made, their set was abruptly interrupted by a kid in the front row who was having a seizure. Security inexplicably chose to keep him in the middle of the floor and stop the show until EMS arrived, truncating the performance drastically.

photo courtesy of Amanda Fox

As Brand New took the stage, the crowd erupted with cheers and cameras (despite a regulation attempting to deter the latter). Peppering a set of songs that the college-age and up crowd had grown up to with a few recent roars from Daisy and college radio staples from the critically-acclaimed The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me, Jesse Lacey and company masterfully worked their audience into a frenzy. As Lacey was left alone on stage for a more intimate set, it became clear just how much Brand New means to their fans, and "Soco Amaretto Lime" seemed the perfect sendup of and sendoff to our college days:

Farewell Flight Signs With Mono vs. Stereo

2011-05-26T23:00:00.004-04:00

photo courtesy of http://lyricsfever.net
After many years of hard work as an independent outfit, Harrisburg's Farewell Flight have signed with the re-opened Mono vs. Stereo, a joint effort between Gotee Records and Matt Thiessen and Matt Hoopes of Relient K. After fans protested a proposed name change to 'Indian Summer', the label relented, and the confessional indie-pop stalwarts will release a split EP with newfound labelmates Deas Vail June 7. Hopefully this means the songs from 2008's excellent Sound. Color. Motion. will get the promotion they always deserved.

Stream new song "Out for Blood", the title track from their upcoming MVS debut:

Vote for Dinner and a Suit

2011-05-23T12:31:00.004-04:00

When we advised all our unsigned friends to submit a song or two for the soundtrack of Renee, the upcoming movie from To Write Love On Her Arms, it seems only South Jersey pop-rockers Dinner and a Suit took us up on it. [Click here] to go to page 9 of the submissions and vote for their track "It's Not Over", currently 169th in the standings. Voting continues until the 30th of this month, so hopefully we can move this uplifting anthem from local stalwarts up the rankings.

photo courtesy of Rebecca Cicione

The Fox and the Hound Show - 4/19/11

2011-05-22T21:46:00.004-04:00

The April 19th edition of our radio show featured a guest appearance by The Hound's dad, Duane High, who did college radio back in the day as "The Rough Surf Show", as well as a phone interview with bassist Mike Elliott of Darry Miller & the Veil.

The New Division: Electronic Production Crew

2011-05-21T03:55:00.005-04:00

The New Division are not only a Southern California band with their own twist on the Depeche Mode/New Order redux that is going on right now, they are a group of talented guys with an interest in all forms of electronic music. Solo productions, remixes both by the band and its individual members, and DJ gigs add to the electronic movement TND is building. Until their double single "True Lies/Saturday Night" drops on the 30th, content yourselves with these goodies:

The New Division Remix of Keep Shelly in Athens' "Hauntin' Me":

(or their takes on Keilan's "Dying for a Change", Phoenix's "Armistice", or Houses "Endless Spring", as well as original trance production [as GALA] "San Diego")

John Glenn (aka frontman John Kunkel) has done a couple of original prog house tracks:

(as well as remixing Phoenix's "Countdown" and Keep Shelly in Athens' "Hauntin' Me", among others)

Vaab (aka programmer Janzie) just picked up a Top 40/House club residency with this audition minimix:

(in addition to remixing John Glenn's "Naia", Short Circuit's "Late Night Drive", The New Division's "Art Kraft", and producing a few original tracks)

For the original tracks, check out:
Phoenix
Keep Shelly in Athens
Short Circuit
Keilan
Houses photo courtesy of Aerial Noise

Show Review: Zola Jesus

2011-05-21T03:13:00.004-04:00

Every once in a while, Messiah gets an "important" artist to grace our stage for B-sides. For the last show of his two year reign as B-sides maestro, Ryan Faus got us such a show. Zola Jesus is an operatically trained princess of minimalist goth pop whose government name is Nika Danilova. Lady Gaga cites her as an inspiration, and Pitchfork and NME give her rave reviews, comparing her music to Fever Ray and Florence + the Machine. Equal parts music and performance art, her live shows have sold out legendary venues like The Bowery Ballroom, and yet we got to see her for free.

Before we could feast on this audio-visual experience, however, we were subjected to an endurance test: an opening set by Australia's Naked on the Vague. As Pitchfork put it:

Naked on the Vague churn out stripped-down and monotonous post-punk. The rhythms are primitive; the most animated songs rely on little more than the incessant thud of a bass drum. Likewise, any pretense of harmony is chucked out the window.

Somehow Pitchfork turned that into a positive thing, but I've seen noise rock, minimal, and virtually everything else I could construe them as done drastically better. The majority of the audience missed out on Zola Jesus because they were unaware that there was an opener and thought the entire show would be similarly abrasive.

To those who did miss out: I am truly sorry. Danilova and her band took the stage and immediately commanded attention with intricate sound textures emanating from not one but three synthesizers, whose churning was soon joined by pounding drumbeats. After a brief instrumental introduction, she began singing in a kneeling position, face still covered in a flowing red hood. Once the hood was removed, she stalked about the stage, compelling all eyes to follow with vocal power and sheer emotional force. For once, the echoing chamber that is the Student Union seemed suited to the stadium size of an artist's stage presence. Climbing up on trashcans, examining the screen of one student foolish enough to be doing homework, dancing and thrashing about on the floor in front of the stage-nothing is beyond the theatrical performances of Zola Jesus. At show's end, she rushed off the stage, seemingly in anger, only to return moments later to affably interact with all and sundry. In short, Zola Jesus was even better than the hype led me to expect.

photo courtesy of The Guardian

Updates Forthcoming

2011-05-21T03:04:00.002-04:00

For anyone who was wondering, the temporary hiatus of Foxy Python's Flying Circus was due to decreased free time surrounding my graduation from Messiah College and move to Riverside, California for the summer. Several posts are already in the works, and I should be back to business on the regular for the rest of the summer. In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful track and its excellent found-footage video:

The Fox and the Hound Show - 4/12/11

2011-04-24T19:54:00.003-04:00

Our second show in April featured the premier of Mob Device's new track "Muscovite". We also encouraged unsigned artists listening to submit a song for the soundtrack to the upcoming To Write Love On Her Arms film, Renee. Don't forget to become a fan!

The Life After Death of Biggie Smalldust and the Hustlers from Mars

2011-04-23T00:02:00.004-04:00

Nathan Leigh recently collapsed a lung due to "spontaneous pneumothorax". Fortunately he has recovered (just played a show tonight with Super Mirage), but while he was in the hospital, he could not stay away from music. Based on a friend's suggestion, he decided to mash up two masterpieces: David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and Biggie Smalls' Life After Death. The results, of course, are legendary. Listen and download on Nathan's website [here].

Show Review: Caleb Hawley

2011-04-22T15:26:00.004-04:00

Caleb in 2007:
It's not often a former American Idol contestant comes to B-sides, but this week singer-songwriter Caleb Hawley returned to our stage after almost three years, including his stint on Idol and a move to New York. His quirky music-nerd persona still comes through in the revamped act, but in a much more professional package. Constant joking and a winning smile carried Hawley through original music, renditions of the Mario soundtrack, and a jam session with his student doppelganger, Alex Brubaker. As someone who has been in artist management, it was fascinating for me to see such a talented musician attain much greater levels of success through marketing. His new and improved show pulls out all the stops, even bringing his dog on stage for a song about being jealous of the affection his wife shows their canine companion. A graduate of both Berklee College of Music and the Stephen Tyler school of "YES!", Hawley is sure to be a fixture in the industry now that his excellent musicianship is more popularly packaged. Caleb in 2011:

The Fox and the Hound Show - 4/5/11

2011-04-22T14:31:00.003-04:00

Our first show in April included the world premiers of The New Division's "Walk in the Dark" and Taylor Smith's "Beautiful Eyes", among other goodies. Probably too many jokes on this one, but that's why you love us!

Show Review: O'Death

2011-04-22T12:25:00.003-04:00

photo courtesy of Frederick Foxtrott
"Apocalyptic folk metal" act O'Death comes straight outta Brooklyn with gothic lyrics embedded in jammed-out headbanging music played on traditional folk instruments. The apocalyptic themes were more difficult to detect at b-sides this past week, however, as they came even more deeply hidden in a muddy bass- and violin- heavy mix than their indie aesthetic requires. The mix, while poor, was admittedly propulsive, emphasizing the driving bass and spasmodic fiddle more than enough to get me moving several times during the show. If Mumford & Sons did a record consisting entirely of their occasionally spastic breakdowns produced by Trent Reznor circa "Head Like A Hole", that would sound approximately like O'Death. To give them a better listen than I got to, stream their new album Outside at Paste [here].

Kolstrom = Mob Device

2011-04-22T12:14:00.002-04:00

Tim Kolstrom is going the way of all electronic musicians and diversifying his sound, working on house music under the name "Mob Device", though it seems likely the new AKA will take over his music more generally. Maybe his real name just isn't awesome enough to describe his music. Speaking of which, his latest track "Muscovite" does the trick nicely:

Show Review: Koji on the Resolve Tour

2011-04-22T11:31:00.002-04:00

Local singer-songwriter and social activist Koji dropped by B-sides on The Resolve Tour, raising awareness for an advocacy organization working against the Lord's Resistance Army in Africa. This is the same issue Invisible Children began fighting, but has both a wider and more specific focus: it works beyond Uganda in the other effected nations and works expressly as an advocacy group rather than a charity.

Koji played a selection of his own tunes, developed over the years through many different projects, as well as some covers. The crowd favorite was probably Josh Ritter's "To the Dogs or Whoever", probably because of the excellent show Ritter played here a while back. After the show, he and the volunteers from The Resolve hung out for a 'town meeting' with interested students.

Vote for The New Division

2011-04-16T10:52:00.002-04:00

The New Division has an opportunity to play live on Jimmy Kimmel if they hit 5,000 'likes' on Facebook by the end of the month. [Click here to like their page] and then download the free mp3 of their latest single "Walk in the Dark" at their Bandcamp page.

Show Review: First Friday

2011-04-02T21:00:00.008-04:00

This year, Alex Brubaker started First Fridays, an event to help campus musicians gain experience performing actual sets instead of just single songs at Coffeehouse. Each month he hosts a few artists either outside the Union on the patio or in the Fishbowl. Sometimes he brings in outside guests, which have included Suzi Brown and Joseph Strider. I've made it out for a few, but for some reason haven't gotten around to reviewing them and probably shouldn't try to remember that far back to do one after the fact.

This month featured Matt Wagner, Natalie Ness, and Jeff Waters. Wagner opened up, bringing along a few accompanying musicians for some songs as he did at the Sycamore House show. His guitar work was more complex than the average singer-songwriter, probably because he's a music performance major. He closed the show with an acoustic rendition of his dance-pop tune "Vienna", which has since become a staple in my indie-dance sets.

Next up was Natalie Ness, a regular performer on campus whose multi-instrumental performances always bring a mix of originals and covers rearranged to fit better with them, like her popular medley of Lady Gaga songs.

Closing out the evening, my RA from freshman year, '08 homecoming king Jeff Waters returned to campus with an abundance of new material written since graduating. The focus of his latest album is on travel, as all of the songs were written while aboard planes, trains, and automobiles or backpacking across Europe. Standout tracks "Manhattan Blues" and "Postlude" were as beautiful live as they were when I first heard the demo recordings, as Waters' perfect pitch never failed us.

Be sure to come out to the final First Friday on May 6 for another evening of local music curated by Alex Brubaker.

Show Review: Tim Be Told

2011-04-02T19:59:00.004-04:00

Asian Student Association and Middle Eastern Student Association sponsored a celebration of Asian Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern heritage month in the Union on Friday featuring student performances capped off with a show by pop-rockers Tim Be Told, 3 of the 4 members of which are of Asian descent.

Hip-hop-inflected drums and funky six-string bass support bluesy guitar and Tim Ouyang's bouncy piano playing and soulful vocals, providing a sound reminiscent of a rock take on John Legend or pop variant of The Black Keys. Lyrically, Tim Be Told is a product of the intimate confessionals that have become emo's lasting legacy in the music industry, letting doubts and insecurities shine through between hopeful moments born of the band's Christian background. With everything from wailing solos to catchy singalongs, Ouyang and company bring an appealing live show, right down to self-deprecating humor and compelling explanations of song's content. Pick up their latest effort Humanity [here].

Vote for Talain Rayne

2011-04-02T19:35:00.006-04:00

Former Messiah student and Sandy Cove employee Talain Rayne has been making music for a while now, gradually focusing his efforts after attending the Contemporary Music Center. I caught his set on the Main Stage at Purple Door last summer, and his stage presence and integration with his band were impressive for what is essentially a piano-driven electronica act. He is currently entered in a Radio 104.5 contest to open for Weezer and Panic! at the Disco May 20 on the Festival Pier in Philly. [VOTE HERE]

Show Review: Miami Horror

2011-04-01T17:35:00.003-04:00

This week, B-sides brought us 80's-obsessed Australian act Miami Horror, whose disco stylings and guitar solos were well-received by the student audience. I personally kicked off the dancing, soon to be joined by scads of revelers bouncing around like sober people imitating ravers, which is essentially what we were. "The Hound" even overcame a track-related injury to dance his heart out with the rest of us as synthpop gems floated to our ears and compelled our bodies to move. Not having brought some of their equipment from down under for this tour (they're currently in Canada), Messiah provided the band with a drum kit, instrument stands, and other necessities, which I spent about an hour tearing down after the show. The band members seemed to be affable guys that genuinely enjoy playing their music, joking with each other throughout. Enjoy the above video and check out their remix of Gorillaz' "Empire Ants" below:

The Fox and the Hound Show - 3/29/11

2011-04-01T17:22:00.003-04:00

This week's show was supposed to include guest DJing by Jared "The Hound" High's parents, who were kept away by weather, and a live performance by Natalie Ness, who was under it. It did not, but it did include the usual inane joking and bizarre 3-song genre explorations. Listen & enjoy (?)

Be sure to catch Natalie, Jeff Waters & Matt Wagner at First Fridays [RSVP here] and Iron & Wine coming through this area later this month (Philly, Bmore, etc.) If you want to hear more dance music from us, Matt Pfeiffer and myself will be 'spinning' for Relay for Life here at Messiah next weekend.

Show Recap: Sycamore House on the Hill Benefit

2011-04-01T16:45:00.006-04:00

This past weekend I dropped some jams on some cool kids at the Sycamore House on Allison Hill for their fundraiser benefiting the community garden they are starting. Before that happened, Matt Wagner, Craig Kile & co. played a set, ending with this hilarious acoustic rendition of Das Racist's "Combination Pizza Hut & Taco Bell":

You can catch Matt later tonight at First Fridays in the Fishbowl, along with Jeff Waters and Natalie Ness (who bailed on The Fox and the Hound Show this week due to illness). The residents from the house played a short set of covers as well before we all adjourned upstairs for a great performance by Darry Miller & the Veil. As many people as possible packed into the loft, overflowing down the hall and stairs to see/hear what was universally described as an incredibly tight performance. Since the last time I saw them at my birthday show, the band has picked up a new drummer and added Derek Jenkins on keys and background vocals, filling out their sound with both a blues feel and pop sheen I never knew they lacked. Despite my jury-rigged microphone stands and the small space, the guys played a great show. Definitely catch them live at Drexel on the 7th if you can!My set to close the show included this song, among other goodies:

Show Review: Kyle Rictor

2011-03-27T21:36:00.002-04:00

Former Messiah student Kyle Rictor and his wife Kelsey graced the b-sides stage with their tight harmonies and thoughtful lyrics this Wednesday. Seeing Kyle under lights on a stage in a huge space was a much different vibe from when he played an apartment in the SALT House last semester, but the contrast between his imposing frame and beautifully fragile vocals was just as striking. The two of them had an impressive command of the crowd, with audience chit-chat remarkably subdued for such a laid-back act. Rictor's clever personification of addiction on cigarette sendup "Little Miss Nicotine" was a crowd favorite. Listen to the MP3 on his blog here.

Sycamore House Garden Fundraiser

2011-03-24T20:25:00.004-04:00

photo of Darry Miller & the Veil courtesy of Reverb Nation

For those of you in the Harrisburg area, Flying Circus fam Darry Miller & the Veil, along with Matt Wagner & friends will be playing tomorrow around 8 PM at the Allison Hill Sycamore House as part of a fundraiser for a community garden they are starting. I'll be DJing the afters, thanks to my man Phil Wilmot. [RSVP on Facebook]
I'll probably be playing jams like this:

The Fox and the Hound Show with Bishop's Garden

2011-03-24T20:06:00.005-04:00

This week's show featured a live performance by Maryland pop-rockers Bishop's Garden. Pick up their EP at CD Baby here. If you aren't already at their show tonight at the Recher, catch them at the Manhattan Beach Club April 22.

RIP Troubador

2011-03-24T19:57:00.004-04:00

Flying Circus favorites Troubador, who played my birthday show, among other fabulous events, have officially broken up. Don't know how it took a month for this to come to my attention, but Erika broke the news on her blog. The South Jersey music scene (such as it is) will miss them.

Getting Some Artist Love

2011-03-19T17:28:00.006-04:00

Every once in a while an artist is impressed enough by what I've said about them here to link to it or quote it in one of their media outlets. While many might post a link on Facebook or Twitter, a few have paid me the respect of doing so in a more permanent way:

Will Gray posted my review of his show at b-sides on his blog. [this review]

Alex Brubaker has a link to one of my show reviews up on his M yspace. [this review]

MC Psalmist quotes me in his SonicBids EPK under "Press". [this review]

Kyle Rictor includes me on his website under "Fan Testimonials". [this review]

Photo of Kyle & Kelsey Rictor courtesy of Megan Kelley

For those interested, you should come see Kyle Rictor at B-sides on Wednesday.

MC Psalmist recently put out the Friends'n'Family mixtape with some of the artists who also played the show I reviewed at MCPC.

Alex Brubaker will be playing with Suzi Brown, who has been on The Fox and the Hound, at The Whole Cannoli on Saturday the 26th (I'm missing it for my sentencing in Wilmington, DE).

Will Gray has a great documentary out about the music business called *Broke. It features interviews with everyone from John Legend to vice presidents of labels like Sony and Columbia.

Show Review: Joe Whyte Band

2011-03-19T16:40:00.005-04:00

Whenever a band is advertised as a country act, I get nervous. While I love classic acts like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, and country-skirting genres like bluegrass and folk are among my favorites, the average country radio hit is more likely than almost anything else to elicit a cringe. Joe Whyte Band, therefore, went to work from the bottom of a pretty deep hole.

That said, I enjoyed the show. Turns out NYC country means hipster Americana posturing, something I've been semi-guiltily consuming in mass quantities since the beginning of my collegiate experience. While contrived identification with our parents' or grandparents' era working class is an odd cultural contrivance, someone once said that all art comes from someone loving something so much that they wanted there to be more of it. From that latter, more generous perspective, Joe Whyte's NYC origins are merely an easy liberation from the annoying twang and unconsciously derivative songwriting that makes me despise most country, and for that reason this is a band that I can enjoy, even if only as background music to what turned out to be a better-than-expected evening with friends. By the time the band left the stage for Joe's solo acoustic closer, the hole they'd been working out of had been left far behind.

Jack White's Rolling Record Store

2011-03-10T20:26:00.004-05:00

Jack White is awesome. His record label, Third Man Records, built him a record store/DJ booth/recording studio on a bus to travel around and bring the joys of records to kids everywhere. Big up the indie rock soundman! (via Paste)

P.S. Somebody get me one of these!

The Fox and the Hound Show - Mardi Gras & The Deacon Cross

2011-03-09T22:55:00.005-05:00

This week's radio show was jam-packed with visitors; people literally stood outside the studio in the hall hanging out with the door open. We had the author of The Deacon Cross, the editor of The Swinging Bridge, the former president of Alpha Gamma Rho at Penn State, and Emilio Estevez, among others.

Be sure to become a fan of The Deacon Cross to receive a free copy of the first chapter!