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SXSW Day 3: Battlehooch, An Horse, Suckers, Groove Session…

Andy Keil — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:55:13 +0000

On day 3 of the SXSW Music Festival, Austin, TX is exploding with people. Walking down 6th street can take ages while trying to navigate the bustling crowd. My Friday afternoon started out with The Golden Filter, a band that shows a lot of promise based on their presence in the blogosphere. Penelope Trappes has got one wicked voice and the recent addition of a live drummer has added all the more presence to their electropop set.

After The Golden Filter I caught a few street musicians including Battlehooch and a rap battle that took place right in the middle of 6th. Then it was off to the French Kiss party at the Galaxy Room outdoor tent where Freelance Whales, Local Natives, An Horse, and Suckers all played. Both Local Natives and Suckers turned out to be personal favorites.

While trying to get into the last portion of the Biz3 showcase at Mohawk I stumbled upon a funk group playing just outside of Jaime’s Spanish Villa that amassed a respectable crowd and literally had people “dancin’ in the streets.” That band was Groove Session and they commanded my attention for the rest of the night because at that point, there was no way I was going to get back into Mohawk.

Check out my photos below…

What do you think of my adventures from Day 3 of SXSW?

SXSW Day 3: Leslie and The Badgers, Uffie, The Ruby Suns, Freddie Gibbs, Broken Social Scene

Seraphina L. — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:00:10 +0000

By day 3 of SXSW, my fellow colleagues and the festival goers surrounding us were all complaining about lower back pain, feet on fire, and legs feeling like they were about to fall off. However, that didn’t stop us from going to see some great shows for the day and well into the night.

Friday was a bit chillier than the last two days, but the Austin sunshine was still there to greet us as we decided our next moves. First stop for me was Los Angeles’ Trailer Fire Records’ day party where Justin Gordon, Olentangy John, We Are Country Mice and Leslie and The Badgers were playing at Shakespeare’s Pub.

I walked into the party just as Leslie and The Badgers were about to go on and as a pub that naturally pulled in many country fans, their crowd exponentially grew with every song. There was a crowd both upstairs on the patio and downstairs outside and cheers and feet-tapping could be heard throughout the set. As I got chills from Leslie Steven’s vocals again, I felt a bit odd that I was seeing a Los Angeles band while I was in Austin. However, as they proved with their set, the musicality in this band is beyond solid. Although LA is mostly known for noise rock bands, Leslie and The Badgers’ consistency with every single instrument in the band.

Afterward, I quickly hopped over to the The Hype Machine’s day party (which went on every day from 12 pm to 2 am – talk about commitment!) over at the dance club, VICE. After seeing Fenech-Soler the night before (See Day 2), I was curious to see if there were any new fun bands I could discover. I walked in because I saw New Zealand’s Bachelorette on the set list and had always been meaning to catch one of her shows. However, I was utterly disappointed when I walked in and saw press photos of Uffie projected onto the walls. I look over and sure enough, rapper-singer, Uffie was hyping up the crowd.

If you know who Uffie is, you know that Ke$ha has been compared to her a lot lately because of their similar conversational tones in their songs. Even though I’m not sure if Uffie really raps or sings (much like M.I.A.), I knew that her vocals were already much better than Ke$ha’s. Uffie had a new DJ and the crowd was going crazy for her, but Ke$ha’s existence may have just ruined her for me. Uffie started her career at an early age when she teamed up with label mates, Justice on a song, and I had a feeling I may have been able to get into her as an artist. It’s just too bad her association with Ke$ha was not wavered enough. I managed to (unfortunately) catch her entire set only because I was meeting a friend who was helping out with the party. I also discovered that she was on instead of Bachelorette because Uffie was missing earlier in the day. So when she showed up, I suppose they have her priority in the lineup.

After hearing that nonsense, I went over to I Guess I’m Floating’s day party over at Love Joy’s for Ruby Suns. The line was a bit long though, and I was afraid I was going to miss their set. However, after I settled in with a beer, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that they had not even gone on yet. The Ruby Suns, another band hailing from New Zealand, is definitely a band that should be on anyone’s to-see list. Although they are considered an indie pop band, The Ruby Suns gives off an Animal Collective/Miike Snow vibe, and for such a crowded and stuffy place, they pulled off a great performance. It was nice to see band member, Ryan McPhun, on stage again doing his own thing outside of The Brunettes or The Tokey Tones. The Ruby Suns excel in staccato rhythms but also know how to take it down with some ambient tones. In fact, one of their songs even had a festival goer believe that it was Washed Out (who was up next) playing instead. (If they had heard the upbeat songs played first, they would have known that there was a vast difference in style.)

Next up was the Gorilla Vs. Bear party since I had been meaning to see The Golden Filter for over a year. It seems that no matter when they came around to any location I’ve been in, circumstances have kept me from seeing them live. Unfortunately, the line for the day party was incredibly long, and I managed to get in the door right after they finished. Seeing Best Coast again was fun, but I was also beginning to feel a little guilty for giving so much LA love while I was in Austin scouting new music for everyone.

I then headed down Red River to see if any of the other acts across from Stubb’s (I was definitely not going to the Muse show) and ended up at The Mohawk because people were in line for Miike Snow. Hoping to see Miike Snow soon, I was disappointed as I entered the venue and realized that they were running incredibly behind and Freddie Gibbs was still on stage. It was Gibbs, followed by Donnis and then Miike Snow as the the closer. Hip-hop is a great genre but as soon as Gibbs finished his set, I only stayed for one song from Donnis and bounced before Miike Snow because I knew Broken Social Scene was playing again this night at The Parish. However, I did leave with one thought: I need to get back into hip-hop. Seeing Freddie Gibbs and Donnis was more refreshing than I expected.

Of course, there was a line at The Parish. It was a free show for only badges and wristbands and I finally decided to take advantage of my wristband capabilities and see a big act. If you are unaware of how the system works at SXSW, badges are first, wristbands are second and those without registration credentials are sometimes given the option of paying a cover. However, this was Broken Social Scene, so this was definitely not a free show for everyone. By some miracle, I was able to get in right as BSS was starting and the upstairs venue continued to quickly thicken. Broken Social Scene is undoubtedly one the more well-known bands in Canada for having a massive amount of people on stage. It was no different this night as there was about ten band members on stage at one point. Lisa Lobsinger was also there to provide backing and duet vocals as was Jason Collett since he was already playing SXSW earlier in the week (See Day 1).

Broken Social Scene played well into the night. At 1:15 AM, they were still going strong. For some reason, they seemed keen on repeating how intimate this party was (I suppose it was, in a sense) and that Sandra Bullock should join their group – as if they needed more band members! They played “Love Is New” for the second time ever in history, again with Lisa Lobsinger on accompanying vocals. Jason Collett also sang lead on a couple of songs and they decided to premiere their song, ‘Ungrateful Little Father” for the first time that night as well.

Although I’m aware of the fact that I could have seen Broken Social Scene any time they come around on tour, I’m very glad that I got to catch such a special set from the band at one of the biggest festivals in the nation. Seeing a band like them on a small stage feels like a rare opportunity and my time in line was well worth-spent.

SXSW continues for Day 4! Stay tuned for more recaps and photos.

Barenaked Ladies Return After Split With Singer

Jeffrey Hyatt — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:50:01 +0000

It seems like a long time since we’ve heard from the Barenaked Ladies, but the Toronto pop-rock band responsible for some really good albums like Maybe You Should Drive and Gordon are back with a new album and revamped line-up. Singer/guitarist Steven Page left the Ladies in February 2009, but that didn’t stop the band from carrying on and recording All in Good Time, due March 23 in Canada and March 30 in the U.S. The first single is the ballad “You Run Away.” See the video below!

The new, four-piece Barenaked Ladies start a North American tour April 6 in Victoria, British Columbia. Check out the full tour schedule below.

“It is absolutely a rebirth and reinvention of the band,” Ed Robertson, the band’s lead vocalist, told Billboard. “It was something we’d worked hard at for 20 years — I wasn’t going to let it die away.”

Page left the group following his 2008 arrest for cocaine possession, just before the band released a kids’ album, Snacktime! That left Robertson, Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn and Tyler Stewart to keep the Barenaked Ladies train rolling. Since leaving the band Page has begun work on solo projects.

Besides severing ties with Page, the also band split with Nettwerk Music Group CEO/manager Terry McBride, who helped guide the act to its major U.S. breakthrough — 1998’s Stunt.

All in Good Time appears on the band’s own Raisin Records.

“It could have just as easily been called It’s About F—ing Time,” Robertson told the Toronto Sun. “We’re ready to be in the next chapter, but it’ll happen. Just give it some time.”

Hearing “If I Had $1000000″ and “Hello City” – to name just two good ones – in concert without Page might be strange, but still happy to have the Ladies back.

Barenaked Ladies / Tour

April 2010

6 – Victoria, British Columbia – Save on Foods Memorial Centre
8 – Calgary, Alberta – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
12 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – TCU Place
13 – Regina, Saskatchewan – Conexus Arts Centre
14 – Edmonton, Alberta – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
17 – London, Ontario – RBC Theatre @ John Labatt Centre
20 – Kingston, Ontario – OLG 1000 Islands Casino Theatre @ K-Rock Centre
24 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – Metro Centre
28 – Hamilton, Ontario – Hamilton Place Theatre
30 – Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis

May 2010

1 – Oshawa, Ontario – General Motors Centre
10 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
11 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theater
12 – Grand Rapids, MI – DeVos Hall
14 – Toledo, OH – Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre
15 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Palace Theater
16 – Davenport, IA – Adler Theatre
17 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
20 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma Theatre
21 – Boise, ID – Idaho Botanical Gardens
22 – Spokane, WA – Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox
23 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
25 – Santa Rosa, CA – Wells Fargo Center
28 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre, Grand Sierra Resort
31 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall

June 2010

1 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theatre
3 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
4 – Richmond, VA – Innsbrook After Hours
5 – Charleston, SC – N. Charleston Performing Arts Center

SXSW Day 2: Crystal Method, Admiral Radley, Challenger…

Andy Keil — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:10:14 +0000

Day two of the SXSW festival didn’t start until about 3pm for me thanks to a late night taco spot and plenty of free drinks to go around. I caught the tail end of The Low Anthem at the Paste party before moving outside to see Black Prairie. Next up was Crystal Fighters who put on one hell of an energetic show. More on that interesting event to follow…

Unfortunately during the Crystal Fighters’ performance, all the light in the venue was coming through open doors and windows that the band were playing in front of. Needless to say, it was tough to grab their energy with such poor lighting. After that, a quick stop at Hype Machine’s Lose Control 2 for Admiral Radley and then it was off to the Rolling Stone’s party to catch Challenger.

After eating at Jaime’s and running into Andrew W. K. who was also eating there, I stepped in for the last few songs of Henry Clay People at Club de Ville. After a little more wandering around and careful assessment of the night’s schedule, we decided to take on the Crystal Method and Steve Aoki who were playing Elysium. While the guys in Crystal Method may be nearing their mid-life crisis’, they can still hold it down on the 1’s and 2’s.

Check out the photos from my latest SXSW escapades…

What do you think of the bands from Day 2 of the SXSW Festival?

Patti Smith To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Laura Aguirre — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:33:32 +0000

The woman behind the rise of punk is getting a lifetime achievement award — Patti Smith. Word around town is the singer, poet, and political activist hates being called the ‘Godmother of Punk,’ but the truth is she’ll always be remembered for the beginnings of the 70s New York punk scene.

Due to her 40-year career, ASCAP is honoring Smith with the Founder Award at their annual pop music awards dinner, which honors the composers and publishers of the most-performed songs of 2009. The event will be held at Hollywood’s Renaissance Hotel on April 21.

Here’s what ASCAP president and CEO Paul Williams said about Patti Smith:

“She expanded the boundaries of artistic expression, musically and otherwise, inspiring generations of rockers worldwide. She continues to be a vibrant, prolific artist, working in a wide variety of media.”

Smith has already joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2007), and with this award she will join a very prominent list of recipients which includes artists such as Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney, Neil Young and Tom Waits — nice list to be on and Smith is well-deserving to be added to it. Congrats to Ms. Smith!

Are you happy for Patti to be recognized?

via Reuters

Concert Picks: Jolie Holland, White Mystery, Bellmer Dolls…

Lindsey Darden — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:46:52 +0000

Our concert picks for this weekend include musical acts that will stir, shake and shimmy you out of what’s left of the buzz you’ve been nursing since St. Patrick’s Day. No judgments here. Take off those green-colored lenses and make your merry way into the start of spring with a rainbow array of folk, alternative and experimental rock. Check out our picks below:

Jolie Holland | Friday, March 19 | 8:00 pm | $20 | 92YTribeca, New York, NY – Map | Sultry songstress Jolie Holland comes with quippy lyrics and a style akin to radio in the 1920s-1930s. Classy, modern, with country/jazz influences, we’re thinking the name Jolie isn’t merely the result of happenstance. With Rain Machine (Kyp Malone of TV On The Radio) – Buy Tickets

Diving Bells | Friday, March 19 | 8:30 pm | Free| 21+ | Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA – Map | It is possible, yes, to conjure up and maintain an unconventional style of rock with – oddly enough – conventional undertones. Look to this quirky local-to-LA band for reference and a helluva stimulating time. With Haunted Tiger and Castano – for more information, call (323) 661-4380.

White Mystery | Friday, March 19 | 9:00 pm | $8 | 21+ | Hideout, Chicago, IL – Map | The local-to-Chicago female-fronted punk-slash-classic rock duo brings to mind the likes of Heart and Janis Joplin upon first listen. Alex and Francis White’s alarmingly clever execution of sound has us hoping our exposure to them lasts a lot longer than that. With Charlie Slick and Other Minds – Buy Tickets

Database | Saturday, March 20 | 9:00 pm | $10 adv/$12 dos | 18+ | The Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA – Map | Database is their name, the layered, glittery, thunderous mix is their game. Of course they play it well. Wear comfortable shoes. With The Glass, Stretch Armstrong, and The Penelope[s] – Buy Tickets

Bellmer Dolls | Sunday, March 21 | 9:00 pm | $7 | 21+ | Coco 66, New York, NY – Map | The final performance of Brooklyn-based post-punk band Bellmer Dolls is sure to be bittersweet, but rockin’ hard as well. We’re more than positive that every show has been their best for effort’s sake, but what better opportunity than this to go out with guitars, drums, and vocals blazing? With Bootblacks and Moozid – for ticket information, call (718) 389-7392.

Those are our picks and we’re sticking to ‘em. Whose ticket stub will you be retaining this weekend?

Photo by Kate Kunath

SXSW Day 2: The Love Language, Titus Andronicus, The xx, The Rocketboys, Fenech-Soler

Seraphina L. — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:30:04 +0000

SXSW continued for day 2 as I woke up on Thursday ready to see some more great music. Although Austin isn’t that huge, SXSW, itself, is quite large as there can be shows happening right in the middle of 6th street, beyond the freeway or a bus ride away. Thursday morning was the day I took the initiative to take a bus and see a show further away, and it turned out that it was very well worth it.

The first place on my schedule was Home Slice, a pizzeria. It may sound odd when I say I went to all the way to S. Congress to see a band at a pizzeria, but the best part about this mini trip is that Home Slice is one of the more well known pizza places in Austin. In fact, next to the original Home Slice, there was a building called More Home Slice. After having a slice of their Marguerita pizza, I could see why there needed to be an extra building of the same deliciousness.

As I sat down and ate this new found glory for my taste buds, I could hear Surf City at the end of the back alley where there were two stages set up. While I followed up my meal with a cannoli, the band Brazos (like the street in Austin) seemed to be in charge of providing music in between the bigger sets. Brazos is a small three-piece band, and at some point the lead vocalist went acoustic solo, but Brazos shines its best when the entire band is together.

Then finally The Love Language came on stage. This has been one band I have been meaning to cross off my list for some time, and with the suggestion of a friend, seeing them live only reignited more curiosity of out me. There was a mixture of old and new songs in the set, but their overall sound was such a great way to open up the day of music. They could come off as the average indie rock band to the novice. However, the more you listen the more, the influence of Spanish pop becomes apparent. Spanish pop incorporated into anything is always a unique idea and The Love Language does it so well as they combine it with a few Soul elements as well as a hint of shoegaze.

Next up was Titus Andronicus at Republic Live. However, when I arrived at the venue it turned out that the set times were horribly mixed up and bands were both behind and swapping around in the line up. However, I did endure bands such as Jukebox of Ghost as I waited for my chance to finally see Titus. Not only are their albums great, but lead vocalist Patrick Stickles really knows how to connect to his audience in the midst of all that punk shoegaze. Stickles made jokes about lending out his DVDs and asking for more of the fog machine, but what was great for us (yet unfortunately for Titus) was that the venue wasn’t packed as much as it could have been. In fact, with a band such as Titus Andronicus, a venue should always be packed. I highly recommend grabbing your earliest chance of seeing this band live. Not only are they not afraid to color outside of the lines with their arrangements, but every single one of their songs is just a fun time.

Seeing two bands who were not from Los Angeles somewhat made me a little homesick, and I decided to cure this with a remedy in the form of LA band, Casxio, who happened to be performing at The Blind Pig Pub. Everyone and the mother in Austin had the chance to get to know Casxio a little bit better this week. Their posters sporting their lyric, “I just wanna have sex with you,” above mysterious eyes haunted everyone on the streets. It’ll be a shame if at least 50 people weren’t enticed by that poster. However, I did have to leave their set early to catch The xx next at The Lawn Party.

With a location beyond the freeway, the walk was lengthy and I arrived to see a ridiculously long line. Knowing that The xx went on at 6 PM and that it was well past that point already, I regretted hiking all the way to a party to see a band I didn’t even particularly like. I’ve had an odd relationship with The xx’s latest album. There was an incredible amount of hype surrounding it during the end of 2009 and out of curiosity, I took a listen. My initial conclusion was that this was an indie rock band slipping into R&B territory, and that it sounded good but it also wasn’t anything extraordinary. My decision to walk to this party anyway was a way to give them a second chance. I thought perhaps I would enjoy them more live.

Boy, was I wrong. The line was so long that people were attempting to jump the wall when security wasn’t looking, but I did manage to get in on time. They were also running late but that happiness didn’t stay with me for too long. Although The Lawn Party is a nice area to relax and hear some music in the background, it isn’t the best situation for a short person like me, nor for a band as big as The xx. Performing under a tent, there was a massive gathering under and around it, but the sound was completely horrible. The speakers weren’t working outside as they should have been and the vocals were drowned out. Ironically, the sound was better as you walked away from their tent.

So with five or six songs, I decided I was over The xx (and probably will be for quite some time). After grabbing some grub, I decided to head into The Parish where The Hotel Cafe showcase was being held – and to my surprise, singer-songwriter Laura Jansen was up next. I had been curious about her as an artist for a while but only because I tend to fall in and out of my relationship with the singer-songwriter genre. There is no doubt that performers who play shows like The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles are talented, but sometimes it isn’t enough to entice me to go out and see a show. However, I am glad I got a chance to see Laura Jansen. Just a little thing with brown bangs, in a sparkly blue dress, she sat and played her piano as she also sang out with this butter smooth voice. It’s great to have a wide range vocal wise, but this girl’s vocals slide in and out of octaves like syrup. Singers often have breaks that make listeners notice their vocal limitations, but Jansen is a break-less gem that has to be heard live.

With my satisfaction at getting in touch with the singer-songwriter scene again, I decided to go out and explore in celebration. It didn’t take me long to find another showcase. I just hopped across the street to Maggie Mae’s and stayed because I saw The Rocketboys on the set list. With the grace of my wristband, I was lucky enough to up go upstairs and see these guys live. I was excited to see an authentic band from Austin as well and I walked right up into a crowd enjoying some raw indie rock tunes which included unexpected ambient layers of harmonies, keys, and guitars. There were six members altogether on stage and even if that does go on the verge of Canadian-esque trends, all six members were equally contributing something powerful with their performance. After seeing The Rocketboys here in SXSW, I can’t wait until they come to Los Angeles.

What I could have done next was go to Band of Horses and Broken Social Scene at the well-known Stubb’s venue of SXSW. All the big names play there, and I did manage to get into line at a decent time that would obviously have had me in there even before the show started. However, I changed my mind and decided to see if there were smaller shows that my wristband could quickly get me into. One band that caught my ear as I walked up Red River was called Generationals from the New Orleans. Playing at Club Deville next to The Mohwake (who was playing some obnoxious music at the time), Generationals put on a basic feel-good show for the evening. Their sound is absolutely great pop but there is a glimmer of pride as their sound sports a bit of the celebration of New Orleans roots. I could be listening to this band during Mardi Gras, but it goes beyond that in the sense of pop hooks. Generationals is definitely a band I could listen to on a daily basis.

Up next was a random We Are Scientists show at The Phoenix which was on 4th and Colorado – a good couple of blocks from the madness that was going on 6th street. We Are Scientists have enough of an established name to sell out a show, but the crowd for The Phoenix was perfect. Because the venue wasn’t in such a high traffic area, the crowd wasn’t unbearable. Although I had always liked WAS yet thought they ran in the mediocre realm with OK Go, there is no doubt that they are fantastic live. However, what surprised me the most was the banter that went on between vocalists Keith and Chris. They could be the next Flight of the Conchords as far as I’m concerned because as much as I was shocked by banter, it was actually quite good.

To cap off the night around 12:45 AM, I popped into the club Vice where The Hype Machine was holding their daily/nightly “Lose Control 2″ party. The club was crazy as expected; they had everything from DJs to strobing lights to people dancing for a crowd. It was a nice environment to let loose in after a long day. Just as I thought I was going to dance the night away to some DJ’s, a UK group by the name of Fenech-Soler took the stage. Apparently they were supposed to go on a half hour earlier but as special guests, the delay might have favorably gone toward them.

Fenech-Soler is definitely a band for those who like to dance. It made complete sense that they were to play a dance club that was pumping out hard beats and flashing lights because this band had its own swagger. Every single band member was dressed up to the nines in glittery shirts or jackets! With a sound that went about 5 more electronic steps than Los Angeles’ Casxio, Fenech-Soler definitely came off European, but they were damn good at sounding like they came from there. Cheers was right. Fenech-Soler is definitely a band to check out if you’re into rock bands who play dance music – rock bands who fool you into think they’re just all electronica.

So that was SXSW Day 2! Stay tuned for photos and more recaps.

Do you already have a love for these bands? Do you suggest any other bands to see?

On The Road To SXSW With Vanaprasta: Day 2

Seraphina L. — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:13:57 +0000

So, it’s the second to last day of our stay at SXSW Music 2010 and we’ve got more exclusive reviews and photos coming your way, but let’s back it up a bit and go back to our trip out here with Vanaprasta. As you’ve seen in our video log (vlog) #1, the band seemed to having a great time out on the long ride out to Austin. However, as the event drew closer, we all grew excited, anxious, and even a little nervous.

After getting dinner/breakfast at 3 am on Monday night/Tuesday morning at IHOP, we all awoke from our slumber at the hotel and set out again. However, before we could actually continue we had to make a stop in El Paso once we enter Texas. Pit stop #1 was Guitar Center for these guys and the moment we walked in, everyone seemed to ask if they were a band. As a person who normally doesn’t enter Guitar Center on a regular basis, it was quite weird to have people stop and ask if you needed help or with the band. Smiley needed new cymbals and with the help of Steven, we found a manger’s special where he got the first cymbal 50% and the second one free.

Next up was Best Buy as their engineer, Chad, had to stop and get a flip camera. If you haven’t noticed by now, catching the boys of Vanaprasta in candid moments is pure money and knowing how these boys can turn anything into something hilarious Chad had the right idea.

With a few more stops including dinner at Dairy Queen and one at The Smiley Show (which you’ll see below), we finally arrived into Austin around 1 AM. Vanprasta performed twice on Wednesday and will be performing again today on Friday. If you’re in town, make sure you catch them at Triple Crown Tattoo Parlour starting at 1 PM. Until then, check out the second half of our trip down to Austin as well as some live footage from Vanaprasta’s show at The Belmont as part of Manic Fest Destiny Showcase!

BeatCrave Goes On The Road To SXSW With Vanaprasta: Day 2 from BeatCrave on Vimeo.

Big Star, R.E.M. Will Give Alex Chilton Tribute At SXSW

Travis Woods — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:44:47 +0000

MTV reports that members of Big Star, R.E.M., She & Him, the Posies, and X are joining together Saturday night at the South By Southwest Music Festival to honor Alex Chilton, the Big Star/ Box Tops singer and guitarist who died of a heart attack on Wednesday. He was 59.

Chilton was scheduled to front Big Star during a SXSW performance on Saturday night at Antone’s. Now, the occasion will be transformed from a simple rock concert to a howling rock ‘n roll elegy: the remainder of Big Star will be joined by Mike Mills of R.E.M., M. Ward of She & Him, John Doe of X, and many others for a live performance of Chilton’s music and a tribute to his legacy.

Original Big Star drummer Jody Stephens recently spoke to Billboard about the tribute performance:

“Certainly where Alex and I connected over the years was through music, either in the studio or onstage, so I think that’s a great way for us all to tip our hats to Alex and celebrate his life.”

For those readers who happen to be in Austin this weekend, I highly suggest you get in line early for this one—like Chilton’s indelible music, it’s not something you should miss.

What do you think of the tribute show lineup?

Concert Tickets: Kings of Leon, Lady Gaga and Jack Johnson

Brian Spiegel — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:28:59 +0000

There are three big on sales this weekend featuring three of the biggest artists in recent memory. They all have hypnotic beats, catchy lyrics, and transcendent melodies that get stuck in your head for days. Why ruin this moment with a long intro, let’s just get down to business shall we?

Headliner: Kings of Leon

Opener: TBA, I don’t expect them to get anyone too big, that’s not really the band’s style…

Dates: June 5th in Atlantic City thru September 23rd in Dallas (there are a couple of month-long breaks in there). Find all dates here.

Price: $30-$70

What’s The Deal?: Well, you can’t call the Kings of Leon homebodies as they have booked their third major US tour is the last 18 months. This should be one of the biggest tours of the summer and proof enough that there are enough people who aren’t tired of hearing “Use Somebody” and “Sex On Fire” to fill up an amphitheater.

Tickets on Sale: This weekend.

–

Headliner: Lady Gaga

Opener: TBA but I’m thinking B.O.B. would be a good match (that or Dillinger Escape Plan… which would be awesome…)

Dates: June 28th in Montreal thru September 19th in Raleigh, NC. Find dates here. In the mean time watch this video. Wow.

Price: $50-$150

What’s The Deal?: For the second leg of her The Monster Ball Tour, Gaga takes the next logical step by taking her sure-to-be subtle stage show to arenas. I can’t imagine what her tour rider looks like. Can you say a diamond studded deli platter?

Tickets on Sale: This weekend.

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Headliner: Jack Johnson

Opener: TBA but I guess they won’t be loud.

Dates: July 9th in Hartford, CT thru October 14th in Santa Barbara, CA. Dates here.

Price: $25-$60

What’s The Deal?: Acoustic guitars. Board Shorts. Curious George songs. Maybe some pot. You know, Jack Johnson stuff.

Tickets on Sale: This weekend.

What shows will you buy tickets for this weekend?

Lady Gaga Gets Sued For $30 Million By Ex-Boyfriend

Travis Woods — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:07:04 +0000

Today in “Really? She was in a relationship?” news, an ex-boyfriend of Lady Gaga is suing the oddball popstar and “Poker Face” singer’s company for $30 million. The ex is Robert Fusari, a New Jersey record producer responsible for producing such horrors as “Wild Wild West” for Will Smith and “Bootylicious” for Destiny’s Child. According to the L.A. Times, Fusari claims he was unfairly cut out of Gaga’s merchandising and recording royalties.

His story goes like this, in 2006, Fusari was on the hunt in New York to find a “dynamic female rock-n-roller with garage band chops” to be the frontlady for a girl-group version of The Strokes, which led him to a performance of one Stefani Germanotta, the future Lady Gaga.

He then allegedly met with Germanotta at his studio, and “decided to invest all his time into making her a super star.” Further, Fusari claims he would often greet the singer with a version of Queen’s “Radio Gaga,” and that he once texted the song title to Germanotta—but his cell phone’s spell check somehow switched ‘radio’ to ‘lady.’ You figure that one out.

Eventually the relationship turned romantic before nosediving once Fusari realized he was not included in Gaga’s royalties. The singer’s camp has yet to comment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to text every ex-girlfriend I’ve ever had a series of misspelled song titles and nicknames—one of ‘em is bound to strike gold. Ch-ching.

Do you think Fusari’s lawsuit has merit?

Album Review: Lou Bond Re-Release

Lindsey Darden — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:31:33 +0000

It’s rather ironic that one of the most influential names and forebearers of style in the history of music is also the one that the world knows the least about. Many artists come out of the woodwork and onto the stage for that reason alone – to be remembered by the mark they left on the music world, not by their private lives through the lens of the paparazzi or the twisted words of the tabloids. While it would have been a privilege to have more accessible resources on who Lou Bond was as far as his agenda and of course, more music, you could say that he achieved the gold status of such a marked existence.

Bond’s work has been recognized and sampled by such contemporary R&B acts as Outkast and Mary J. Blige, breathing new life into our generation. The re-release of his self-titled STAX / We Produce LP is now available in deluxe format, with all audible bases covered (read: for the first time on CD, a vinyl re-issue, and naturally, digital).

A treat on the album of course is Bond’s lyrical commentary on things political and personal, as well as the instrumental backing by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. The resulting clarity from remastering boosts the amount of intensity contained in Bond’s collective soulful sound, with the ability to reach listeners even more so regardless of age or background.

And what good would the re-release be without a few extra goodies? Featuring additional songs, the track “To the Establishment” as sampled by Outkast, and a 32-page color CD booklet with photos and lyrics are just a few of the bonus materials that take the once obscure, off-on-its-own album to an even more classic height where it deserves to be.

Lou Bond is available via Light in the Attic Records – Click to Buy

Rating: 10 out of 10

Tracklist
1. Lucky Me
2. Why Must Our Eyes Always Be Turned Backwards
3. To The Establishment
4. Let Me Into Your Life
5. Thats The Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be
6. Come On Snob
7. Im So In Love With You / Motherless Child
8. Im For You

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