Thank you Kate Miller-Heidke, for ruling so hard.

Sidenote: I always forget that the singer of this band is a dude, because he totally sounds like a woman. Anyway, check out the homegrown indie rockers as they let us in on how a small beginning at the Silversun liquor store (on Silverlake and Sunset Blvd) grew into a 2 year world tour. Watch the Silversun Pickups interview on Risers, and download the old hit cause I kinda think the new one is overrated.

DOWNLOADS:
Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye

The most common disposition that I’ve come across is how much they appear to ape New Order.  I agree, but I’m also totally fine with this, as they execute it well: “Trash,” their most popular single off their full-length X Marks Destination, makes great use of sequenced beats and hypnotic, repeated vocals.  Though a bit repetitive after a while, it’s pretty hard not to dance to it.  “Blackout” mixes a slightly distorted bass line pushed against new-wave synths and clean, choppy guitar riffs.  “Sister Siam” is probably the best example, going with borderline-technoesque beats, steady kick drum, and the typical riding of the hi-hats expected from this particular vein of dance music.  The vocals sometimes go a little too breath-y towards the end of lead singer Danny Saville’s phrases, especially “Trash” (think of the “James Hetfield effect” if you must), but he emotes well.  And “Divebomb,” their instrumental tour-de-force… well, it hits like a ton of bricks, and remains kind of a cult favorite.  All in all, as played-out as this style of music is becoming, the Whip does what they do consistently well, both on record and live.

Speaking of which, dudes and lady just jumped off their US tour with DeadMau5 and Late of the Pier (I myself caught both acts at the TLA, but ironically not the Whip) and are now making the summer festival rounds.  They also just appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, playing “Trash” and one of my personal favorites “Muzzle #1.”  You can check “Trash” here:

FULL DISCLOSURE ALERT: I think female drummer Lil Fee looks amazing in this video. Crushing just a little bit over here.

DOWNLOADS:
The Whip - Trash

Visit soundcheck.walmart.com/lil-wayne for the full interview, and dig the rest of the photos here:

DOWNLOADS:
Lil Wayne - La La La

Passion Pit is having a pretty creative remix contest for “Little Secrets” a single from their upcoming, monstrous-hype-generating full-length, Manners . Basically, you take the snippets they provide and build a remix.  Then everyone votes and the top 5 get a spot on the vinyl, with the 5 runners-up getting the vinyl and an autographed CD of Manners.

My roommate and good buddy “Amplifya“  is currently #2.  His remix is actually the best, in my COMPLETELY unbiased opinion (although the others are pretty good, too).  Take a listen, and if you like it, help him stay in the top 5.

The remix contest is located HERE.  Voting ends May 15th.

And if somehow you’ve missed the ridiculous hype surrounding this band, check out their other tracks so you stay in the ever-fickle blogosphere loop.  “Sleepyhead” from their Chunk of Change EP is the hipster track of choice (and yes, I like it a lot too).

DOWNLOADS:
Passion Pit - Moth’s Wings
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
Passion Pit - Little Secrets
Passion Pit - Little Secrets (Amplifya Re-Edit)

This event is FREE!!! The first 200 people to RSVP (send an email to BlackEyedPeasTaping@gmail.com) will be given location details and placed on the guest list for tomorrow’s event.

NOTE: We are taping a concert video and need high energy, stylish folks to join the audience. Slobs and couch potatoes need not apply!

- Event is INVITE ONLY
- You must be at least 18 years old to attend!
- Bring your ID, because it will be checked.
- Your name MUST be on the guest list or you WILL NOT BE ADMITTED. Seriously.
- Send an RSVP email to BlackEyedPeasTaping@gmail.com
- Location info will be emailed to the first 200 people to respond.
- No cameras please!

Facebook event page: Black Eyed Peas in Hollywood - FREE - Friday May 1st, 2009

Props to Flickr-mastr an93 for this sick shot of SMD.

So I’m gonna wing this the best that I can; as I mentioned before, Simian Mobile Disco played an absolutely mindblowing set at Pure in Philly this past Friday… to the best of my knowledge.  I say this because I myself was awash in the venue’s generous open bar, free pizza, and some unnecessary personal drama that we won’t get into here, heh.

…Again, I’m going to wing this the best that I can.  Please feel free to chime in with any excellent moments you have from the show, as my memory is fuzzy at best.

Essentially, despite the doors being opened at around 9:30-9:45 instead of 9 (how DARE they cut into our 9-11 open bar time!) and a surprisingly small amount of people waiting in line at the door, the atmosphere was still pretty electric.  Pure itself has 3 floors to go crazy on, with plenty of DJs like Making Time regulars Dave P, Dave Pak, Adam Sparkles, Russ Alexander, and the dudes in Broadzilla spinning some electro/funk hits as well.

Initially I spent the majority of the evening in the basement area, where the DJs like Russ Alexander were spinning.  It was a bit more mellow and low-key (R5 touted it as a “rock-tits event!”), and the vibe was definitely an interesting counterpoint.  Free Sparks and PBR at this particular bar would eventually be my downfall.  Hipsters were everywhere; I half-expected the infamous Hipster Grifter to take my wallet or steal my identity.  It wouldn’t be the first time that kinda stuff has happened to me (if you know me personally, *ba-dum-ching,* that one’s for you).  But yes: a more down-tempo ambience and smaller-scale light show via projectors definitely did the trick for the time being.  Philly’s local DJ scene is pretty legit, I’ll say.

I didn’t really venture two floors up from the basemetn to the mezzanine level, as things tend to get a little too crazy up there.  I’m all for some chaos, but it tends to be a bit much, even for me, up on that level.  Last time I was at Pure I hung out there for about 15 minutes, got creeped out, and left.

As for the first floor, the main level and the SMD dudes’ set itself, all I know is that the light show was absolutely mind-blowing.  Their material works way better with light shows than, say… Justice (who in all reality just flash a lot of lights on the quarter note beats, which works pretty damn well too), but mostly because SMD’s tunes tend to be a bit more minimalistic and melody-driven.  That’s not to say they didn’t bring the club bangers as well; to be completely honest, I was so entranced in the bass thumps and light theatrics that the only song I recognized was an amazing re-fix of Cut Copy’s “Lights and Music,” which I’m pretty sure every single person in there went ape shit for — even my non-hipster friends.  I was definitely shocked to see the sheer amount of people bouncing around, if only because it seemed pretty dead waiting in line to get in.

Also, I heard Puff Daddy might’ve been there?  Apparently according to R5 Productions he’s a huge Simian fan.  Anyone know for sure?

Sorry about the lack of real content on this one, guys.  Lesson learned: next time, less open bar, more attention to detail for awesome DJ sets.  To tide you over, here’s a link to an mp3 for a set the guys played in Japan a while back.

DOWNLOADS:

Simian Mobile Disco - Live In Japan

…HEY!  Get the hell back here.  These guys really aren’t just another shitty Justice-wannabe.  I promise.

Honestly, they make some of the most exciting house you’ve heard in a while.  Yes, you can hear some slight Justice-aping, but really these are the perfect spring/summer jams to grind on that random person to.  Their two main singles (and accompanying EPs) are absolutely epic: “Burn It Out!” is an immediate bombastic freakout with grimy-as-hell synths and massive four-on-the-floor beats, while “We Are …” is less harsh and leaves a lot more space in the mix, but builds up to some impressive electronic washes and warbles while maintaining an adrenaline rush of a backbeat.

As for the B-sides? “Vulgar Display” from Burn It Out! could’ve been a single in its own chaotic right, with flipped and chopped vocals and grandiose kicks that you’ll be feeling in your chest for days.  “Aaargh !!” fromWe Are … is… well, you get the idea from the name.  They’ve also done some banging remixes for the likes of Acid Jacks, Thieves Like Us, and Alex Gopher.

I don’t normally get all ga-ga and overhype-y over random groups or artists, but I find it criminal that these bros only have about 20-30,000 Last.fm plays and 160,000 or so MySpace plays (at the time of this writing).  Their new EP ‘To Hell With Gravity’ comes out on 5/18 courtesy of Home Work Records.

For now, take a listen and enjoy the bangers.  Hopefully you’ll dig it as much as I do.

DOWNLOADS:
Just A Band - Burn It Out!
Just A Band - We Are …
Alex Gopher - Belmondo (Just A Band Remix)

So I’m TOTALLY bummed that I dropped the ball on every single chance I had to see Throbbing Gristle while they were here. But thanks to my obsessive combing of the interwebz and some good friends, I managed to peep some awesomeness in real time AND find enough resources to quench my thirst for the gristle. Check it:

Boingboing.com has some sweet coverage of an interview/video shoot they did with the band. View that here.

Here are some twitpic photos from Coachella, SF, and LA.

LAist posted a lengthy review and some great photos/videos of the show @ the Ricardo Montalban Theater in LA. Here’s one:

And this photo was sent directly to me from the San Francisco show, courtesy of popjohnpaul12, who used to write for us and is now the brains behind minorprogression.com.

How’s that for not even being at the show? Thanks guys.

&bnsp;

A little more about that: this dude’s name is Rome and he sounds like Brad but you’d never know it just by looking at him. Check out his myspace though, cause in addition to performing with Sublime he writes his own music and it’s pretty fucking fantastic. I think he’s just some fan they found who happened to be a pretty sick songwriter. Here’s what the kid has to say about playing with one of his favorite bands:

Well this year really started off with a bang id say. i now have a manager. thats pretty fuckin cool. I always wanted that. I got a new van its pretty cool , very molester -ish but has yet to fail on me. I also am endorsed by a REALLY awesome guitar company called COLE CLARK. I also got to play with my favorite band of all time… SUBLIME. Very huge accomplishment on my behalf. first i would like to take the time to say THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! to all of the fuckin awesome fans who have sent countless messages and comments and emails saying the nicest and most inspiring words ever! and….(read more)

Even so, these videos remind me of an American Idol audition which means he’s probably a professional. I don’t think they held auditions or anything though, cause my sister knows someone who knows someone who said he’s like, related to one of the band member’s or record label’s friends. Hahahah that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever written in a NEWS post and should strip me of all credibility for the rest of forever. Sorry dudes, but the point is that I don’t have much information on the matter - I’m just really stoked. Did Sublime really play at Bamboozle in May? Anybody know anything else? Cough it up! And watch/listen/love:

&bnsp;

DOWNLOADS:
Sean Kingston - Beautiful Girls
TI - Whatever You Like
Sublime - Roots of Creation
Rome Musica - Keep It Up Cut
Rome Musica - You Better Listen

Videos recorded by Raw Session
Buy the Sublime box set @ insound.
Download more at last.fm, and buy Rome’s music from his myspace page.
Visit Skunk Records