Last Thursday, Mayer Hawthorne made a stop in New York City for a concert at Webster Hall. The singer, who hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan, was joined by The Country, whose four members wore matching crimson v-neck sweaters and button-down shirts. Mayer Hawthorne (real name: Andrew Mayer Cohen) stepped up to the microphone dressed in a gray three-piece suit paired with custom-made red Nike Dunks. This geek-chic look is just the surface of the infusions that make Mayer Hawthorne’s style interesting.

Hawthorne engaged the audience at Webster Hall with his unique play on revival soul and jazz. When he sang “Green Eyed Love,” he sparked a mellow sensation that inspired a collective shimmy and sway. The boys held on to their girls, listened and sang along is if the performance were just for them. With guitar, drum and key solos, his show is built on progressive transitions for an audience that is familiar with his songs and words. Hawthorne’s sound breaks the expected format with surprises that included covers of N.E.R.D’s “Fly or Die” and Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend”. The band stopped abruptly during “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” which prompted Hawthorne to ask the audience if they wanted to hear a remix. And just like that, he flipped a switch to falsetto over reggae to the audience’s surprise and delight. Hawthorne’s encore came with a tease of a Doctor Pepper jingle before the quirky singer closed with the song “When I Said Good Bye”.

The singer/producer brings new meaning to old-school classics. With a richness in song that can be pulled from a library of records from the 1960’s, Hawthorne can swing his vocals and beats to a melody that may serve as a harmonious soundtrack for couples – his debut single, “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” was released on a red heart-shaped 7″ vinyl in 2008.  While he may be a newcomer to an old genre, he demonstrates a refreshing youthful grasp on soul and translates it into ‘retro’ fashion that is beyond charming on the stage. Mayer Hawthorne is clearly an intelligent musician who takes his music seriously – citing Isaac Hayes, Leroy Hutson, Mike Terry and Barry White among his influences. The audience could relate to what was saying and felt it in how he said it. It takes talent and showmanship to convey these qualities and character on a stage. (Especially to demonstrate and teach the audience the Errol Flynn dance from Detroit)

In collaboration with Converse and Wax Poetics, Mayer Hawthorne and James Pants will release a 7” vinyl, in which Mayer Hawthorne covers the James Pants track “Thin Moon” and James Pants covers Hawthorne’s “Green Eyed Love”. If you’ll be in Austin for SXSW, Mayer Hawthorne will appear at 45 Live on March 17, where Stones Throw will be giving away limited edition copies of the record (you can grab the early digital release here).

CLICK HERE to view photos of Mayer Hawthorne’s performance at Webster Hall. Be sure to listen to Mayer Hawthorne’s cover of James Pants’ “Thin Moon” below and click through for his latest video for “I Wish it Would Rain”.

For the curious: Mayer also goes by the moniker Haircut. Check out some of his hip hop infusions on his MySpace page.

Mayer Hawthorne – Thin Moon
http://www.stonesthrow.com/jukebox/mayerhawthorne-thinmoon.mp3

Mayer Hawthorne – I Wish It Would Rain

This Friday, One Step Beyond, The Fader’s monthly party at the American Museum of Natural History, will return with live performances by The Very Best, Theophilus London and Ninjasonik. One Step Beyond, which is held in The Rose Center for Earth and Space, pairs the museum’s unique ambiance with top musical acts from around the world. Past performers include  Kanye West, Talib Kweli, Simian Mobile Disco, Switch, Matthew Dear, Jazzy Jeff, Amanda Blank and Kid Sister.

The Very Best and Theophilus London have crossed paths (so to speak) on London’s remixes of “Warm Heart of Africa” and “Julia”, and while we’ve witnessed stellar independent performances of “Julia” by both artists, we look forward to the prospect of a live collaboration. As for Ninjasonik, they’re the type of band you just have to see live.

Make sure you get your tickets in advance; the last installment of One Step Beyond - featuring Animal Collective and Fischerspooner - was completely sold out.

After the jump, catch a sneak peak of Theophilus London’s latest mixtape, I Want You, with a behind-the-scenes video from Va$htie, who is featured on the song “Flying Overseas”. The songs previewed on the video reveal a more laid-back side of London, who has clearly evolved since his last two projects, Jam! and This Charming Mixtape. Be on the lookout for I Want You when it drops this spring.

Behind The Scenes with Theophilus London, Dev Hynes, & Va$htie

This Wednesday, Trouble & Bass‘ No Escape from New York returns to The Studio at Webster Hall with special guests 12th Planet and Flinch. 12th Planet (aka John Dadzie) got his start in the drum & bass scene as Infiltrata. He evolved into 12th Planet when his sound – inspired by the likes of Skream, Benga and Technical Itch – took a turn towards dubstep, with influences of electro and hip hop.

Flinch (aka Adam Glassco) got his start with the LA-based electro team True Pseudo, that also counts 12th Planet as a member. On his own, Flinch has been breaking genre barriers with what RCRDLBL calls “Dutch Step”, a cross between cumbia dubstep and Dutch house.

As always, the Trouble & Bass Crew – The Captain, Star Eyes, AC Slater and Drop the Lime – will shake the walls with their bass-heavy beats. This is a party you don’t want to miss.

CLICK HERE to RSVP for reduced $5 admission. When you RSVP you will be automatically entered to win a pair of tickets to the party. To prepare for the madness, listen to 12th Planet and Flinch’s remix of Dave Nada’s Apocalypse Theme (streamed below), and be sure download the third installment of the Trouble & Bass Smashcast, which is free on iTunes.

Trouble & Bass will be taking over Miami at the end of the month with some massive events. Check out the HiFi Cartel Guide to the Winter Music Conference for more.

Last week, the third and final phase of the Ultra Music Festival was posted, adding LMFAO and Sander Kleinenberg (among others) to the already massive line-up that includes Damian Marley and Nas, Passion Pit, Tiesto, A-Trak, Bassnectar, Crookers, The Bloody Beetroots, Major Lazer, and hundreds more.

This year will feature some special collaborations – Florence (from Florence and the Machine) will join Swedish House Mafia on the Ultra Main Stage on Saturday, and Kelis, whose sound as taken a turn towards electro, will team up with Benny Benassi for a few songs.

Four new arenas have been added to the festival grounds – the UMF Ibiza Tent, the UMF Brazil Tent, the Root Society Dome, and the Heineken Dome Experience – bringing the total to a staggering ten (yes, TEN) stages.

Another new addition to Ultra is Sonic Forest, an interactive installation by artist/composer Christopher Janney that will entice festival goers into a unique environment with aural and visual components. Sonic Forest is composed of eight-foot tall aluminum poles that trigger melodic and environmental sounds as people move through the “electronic trees”. Independent drummers will be present in the Forest during various parts of the installation. Sonic Forest has been featured at Bonnaroo, All Points West, and Coachella in the US, and various festivals around the world.

This is shaping up to be the best Ultra to date, and is certainly not to be missed if you’re going to be in Miami for the Winter Music Conference. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets, and be sure to check out The HiFi Cartel Guide to the Winter Music Conference for more events in Miami that week.

Last night, Chiddy Bang, Outasight, 2 AM Club and Cocoa Sarai performed for a sold-out crowd at the Studio at Webster Hall.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL ALBUM

Last night, Neon Indian packed the house for a special live performance with DJ sets by Holy Ghost, RekLES, and Alex English.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL ALBUM

Every March, the top DJs in the world gather in Miami for the Winter Music Conference. With six straight days of music and hundreds of events to choose from, the schedule can be a little daunting, which is why we’ve put together this guide to help you with the planning process.

CLICK HERE to view the guide, which we will continue to update in the coming weeks. If you know of any awesome events that we’re missing, please EMAIL US your suggestions or leave them in the comments section below. And for those of you who will be staying in New York – fret not, there are tons of great events in NYC… CLICK HERE to check them out.

Check out photos from the night by Oliver Correa and Click through for more and Guetta’s latest music video, “Memories” featuring Kid Cudi.

Well before his set, the crowd screamed for his appearance. The convulsion started with will.i.am, who set the stage and the decks for Guetta. When Guetta stepped into the DJ booth, the crowd moved forward like a wave in the ocean; going back and forth for a footing to get closer.  Every inch of floor space was taken. Bouncing off each-other, Guetta and will.i.am went back and forth in a collaboration that included Bloody Beetroot’s “Cornelius,” and  Justice’s “We are your friends,” among others, as the audience exploded into excitement and sang along with every word.

When Guetta played “American Boy,” Estelle was on hand to sing a verse. When he dropped a song by the Black Eyed Peas, Fergie and will.i.am were there to hype-up the crowd. Beyond that, the eclectic choice of mixes would have satisfied a variety of audiences. When he threw on AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” he set the night off at new pace. The audience went wild as he stretched the underlying treble and held it to an apex. He then let it go and dropped the bass as he went into some Benny Banassi while  a gush of air and fog hit the audience, adding to to the experience. With the flux of crazy beats on many different levels and directions, the night accentuated the particular sound Guetta has created over his career. Along the way, will.i.am and Swizz Beats jumped on the set and free-styled on the microphone. When the accolades in support – including Lil Cee, Dj BeatBreaker, Armand Van Helden and others – became too much, Guetta pulled the plug and cleared the booth. There’s nothing better than a DJ mixing and having the vocal artist present, but it was Guetta’s showcase and he had to claim the stage. At four in the morning, he announced it was midnight again in Paris, adding “the party is just starting.” Pacha was still packed, and in fervor, the audience couldn’t have asked for more as he unleashed some serious house on them – this is what brought him there.

Capitalizing on his exposure (and why wouldn’t he?), Guetta is still able to demonstrate feasibility behind the decks that only comes with experience. He is self-aware and rules his crowd – who cling on to every word and beat he throws their way. While favoritism may differ between the “house” Guetta and the “radio” Guetta, his ability to reach the charts as the number one house DJ while providing top-ten tracks on the Billboard Charts is of  a triumph that only several producers can claim, let alone DJs.

From his audience to artists and his peers alike, Guetta commands a level of respect that is admirable in any career. When the mist and fog of the night cleared inside Pacha, it was Guetta that brought the masses in the room together.  At the end of the night, the plethora of songs he played could keep a play-list going for a year, but it also became apparent how many songs David Guetta has produced.

It was clear in the crowd’s interaction and reactions that the show was definitely something they would be talking about for a month… because what good is a party if the music isn’t stellar?

For Guetta’s latest mix and compilation from his Fuck Me I’m Famous series (released 02-21-2010), Click Here.

David Guetta feat Kid Cudi – Memories

Last Sunday, Donnis, Izza Kizza, 88 Keys and Kidz in the Hall kicked off the Crowd Control Tour with an explosive show at Highline Ballroom. Each artist delivered an engaging high-energy performance that kept the crowd going from start to finish. The camaraderie between the artists was clear – Izza Kizza popped in for a song during 88 Keys’ set, and Donnis joined Kidz in the Hall as they brought the show to a close. Other guest appearances included Spree Wilson, The Kid Daytona and Choc Mic, who helped Izza Kizza deliver a spirited performance.

Click here to check out photos from the night, and be sure to get Kidz in the Hall’s Land of Make Believe when it drops on March 9.

Full list of tour dates after the jump…

Mar. 4: Baltimore, Md. (Rams Head)
Mar. 5: Richmond, Va. (Alley Katz)
Mar. 6: Norfolk, Va. (Norva)
Mar. 8: Washington, D.C. (930 Club)
Mar. 9: Cleveland, Oh. (Peabody’s)
Mar. 10: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Intersection Live)
Mar. 11: Pontiac, Mich. (Pike Room)
Mar. 24: Denver, Col. (Cervantes)
Mar. 25: Murray, Utah (Murray Theater)
Mar. 26: Las Vegas, Nev. (TBD)
Mar. 27: Los Angeles, Calif. (Key Club)
Mar. 31: San Francisco, Calif: (Independent)
Apr. 1: Seattle, Wash. (Studio 7)
Apr. 3: Portland, Ore. (Wonder Ballroom)

This past Saturday, we joined Congorock, Nick Catchdubs, Jubilee, and DJ Ayres for another dose of Flashing Lights at the East Broadway Mall in New York City’s Chinatown.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL ALBUM

Next Thursday, Simian Mobile Disco will kick off their quarterly residency with Fixed’s JDH and Dave P. Jas Shaw and James Ford wowed the crowd at Webster Hall last October with their synths, Moogs and drum machines. Don’t miss the UK duo when they return to our side of the pond to tear up Le Poisson Rouge next week.

Enter to win tickets to this massive event after the jump, and be sure to listen to Simian Mobile Disco’s BBC Essential Mix below.

http://www.hificartel.com/audio/Essential Mix_Simian Mobile Disco_2010_01_09.mp3

The contest has closed, thanks for entering!

Advance tickets available HERE.

Yesterday, Thom Yorke took to Radiohead’s official website to announce the name of his latest project, Atoms for Peace, along with a handful of tour dates this April. The band, which was listed as Thom Yorke???? on the Coachella line-up, consists of Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich,  Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco, both of whom worked on Yorke’s solo project, The Eraser.

Atoms for Peace will be joined by Flying Lotus for this five-city tour, which will include two dates at Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Thom Yorke will appear on the track “…And the World Laughs With You” on Flying Lotus’ upcoming album, Cosmogramma, which will be released on May 4th through Warp Records.

The tour will kick off at Roseland Ballroom on April 5th and will end at Coachella on April 18. Tickets for the New York shows will be available on Tuesday (March 2) through the W.A.S.T.E. website and on Friday (March 5) through Ticketmaster. See the full list of tour dates after the jump…

4.05 – New York City, NY: Roseland Ballroom
4.06 – New York City, NY: Roseland Ballroom
4.08 – Boston, MA: Citi Wang Theatre
4.10 – Chicago, IL: Aragon Ballroom
4.11 – Chicago, IL: Aragon Ballroom
4.14 – Oakland, CA: Fox Theatre
4.15 – Oakland, CA: Fox Theatre
4.17 – Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara Bowl

New Yorkers are spoiled in terms of music; in a night where great parties run simultaneously, people must pick and choose which way their doldrums must go. In the end, the best way to go is with the anticipation of the vibe of the party that one goes to. With the Magical Properties tour (which features Jogger, Nosaj Thing and Daedelus), the sounds go between earthy, muddled, spastic and euphoric all at once. With a lineup that personifies audible contrast, the trio of acts would come to the art-deco-basement that is Le Poisson Rouge and provide a plethora of audible treats that ranged from IDM to dubstep all at once. Starting late into the early morning (quarter past midnight to be exact), openers Jogger came on and played a set that had its moments of unusually ethereal to downright weirdly trippy. Fiddling between MIDI controllers and guitar pedal boards, the duo found ways to include sweet melodies into near-WARP-like rhythms. While this was interesting, it certainly did not have a flow to its purpose. Jogger showed signs of musical curiosity but will need more to prove their weight in their tracks live. However, they did do their job in hyping the crowd up for what was to come; which was artistry through blinking lights and beat pads.

Nosaj Thing came on to a healthy dose of claps and woos, set up his MPD32 and did he what he does best; blow the roof off the place. The crowd went nuts with every changing beat pattern, every trick he had in his sleeve, and every time he fiddled with the knobs of his controller. The dancefloor shook with a definitive intensity that was powerful as much as it was passionate. Playing for almost 60 minutes, Nosaj Thing went between playing his own tracks and remixes while stopping by to France via a drop of Mr. Oizo’s “Z”, which got a screaming applause from a few particular audience members. Closing out subtly, the crowd applauded wildly while he gracefully bowed out to the final performance of the night, which would be provided by Victorian revivalist Daedelus.

The performance art that is a Daedelus live set is centered around the controller that is now famously know as the Monome, which provides custom control between sequencing, looping, editing and all other sorts of nerdy musical gigs. With the Monome facing the crowd, Daedelus let the audience savor in the artistry that took place live. Breaking bits of current dubstep tunes into crazy synth lines and vocal sample cut-ups, new songs were formed almost instantaneously, and with that a collective force of loud and aggressive crowd that seemed to have emanated from the ground up, starting with foot stomps and ending with fist pumps.  Piecing together bits from tunes of artists such as Untold, James Blake and Joy Orbison, the craftiness of Daedelus showed that he was in charge of the night’s destiny, taking the souls standing on the dancefloor to an entirely new world of mashed-up euphoria. The result was a crowd full of smiles, excitement and longing for the next time these artists would come together to dominate a floor like they did on this night. One may never know, but one will remember the night’s peaks and valleys; from the occasional shouts of sample-heavy love to the knee-shattering bass wobbles, there will be no way to get the sounds, sights and sensations felt on this night out of anyone’s mind.

Be sure to check out our recent interview with Nosaj Thing and have a look at the rest of the night’s photos.

Last Thursday, we caught the third installment of Chilly Gonzales‘ Piano Talk Show, a four-part series with a featured guest performer at each show. Gonzales, who recently set the Guinness World Record for longest live piano performance (27 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds), wore a robe and slippers when he took the stage for his cabaret-style performance. He played songs that ranged from classical pieces and traditional Jewish tunes to songs with spoken lyrics, amusing the crowd with witty and brutally honest banter in between.

Special guest A-Trak joined Gonzales on stage during a jazzy piece, and took over by recording a snippet of the song, replaying it with a beat, and adding his trademark scratching. After some more banter, where Gonzales called A-Trak “the Michael Jackson of the turntables”, the duo went into a medley of songs where A-Trak added vocal instrumentals and scratches to Gonzales’ piano melody. The medley included Stevie Wonder’s “Uptight (Everything is Alright)”, R. Kelly’s “Fiesta”, Tears for Fears’ “Shout”, Steely Dan’s “Back Jack”, Chaka Khan’s “Sweet Thing”, and Clipse’s “Wamp Wamp (What it Do)”. The duet (or “Jewet”, as Gonzales put it) presented a unique take on each song that showcased the two artists’ significant talents.

In the past two years, we’ve seen A-Trak perform more times than we can count, most often in a club setting where he typically spins a blend of hip-hop and electro with his signature scratching and beat juggling thrown into the mix. You can always count on his club sets to get a crowd moving, but its in special performances like this where A-Trak really shines.

Last October, A-Trak was among the momentous roster of scratch legends who came together to pay tribute to the late Grandmaster Roc Raida. Turntable veterans, including the members of the X-Ecutioners and Beat Junkies, took turns recreating some of the Grandmaster’s celebrated turntable routines. As the youngest DJ to win the DMC World Championship (at age 15), A-Trak is comparatively new to the scratching scene, but he more than held his own among his older cohorts, eliciting an overwhelmingly positive reaction from a surprised crowd.

Like the Roc Raida tribute, A-Trak and Chilly Gonzales’ duet for the Piano Talk Show was a collaboration so rare, it is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The performance revealed a new layer of skill and creativity that reaffirms A-Trak’s position as one of the top DJs in the world. MTV recently announced that A-Trak and Travis Barker are building a live show that will debut in Los Angeles on March 9 and 10. Needless to say, we’re looking forward to seeing what comes out of this new accord.

Check out Nicky Digital’s video of A-Trak and Chilly Gonzales’ performance below, then click through for a round-up of photos from A-Trak’s various exploits around town. Don’t miss Chilly Gonzales’ final performance of the Piano Talk Show at Joe’s Pub this Thursday where he will be performing with Princess Superstar, and be sure to download his Pianist Envy mixtape HERE.

Chilly Gonzales and A-Trak perform at Joe’s Pub on February 18, 2010

Photo Gallery: A-Trak

Click here for more photos of the Piano Talk Show by Loren Wohl.

Last Saturday, the Trouble & Bass Crew (Drop the Lime, The Captain, AC Slater and Star Eyes) shook the walls of Santos Party House with the help of DZ and Kanji Kinetic.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL ALBUM