February 7, 2012

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Concert Preview: STS9

January 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

STS9 is touring the Midwest this month.

By Mackenzie Gilchrist

STS9
Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium 1/13 & 1/14
Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater 1/20 & 1/21

We have all heard about the hype surrounding the supposed cataclysmic changes coming for the planet in 2012. Some have predicted an apocalypse and others simply a new era for humanity.  No matter what you believe however, world famous “jamtronica” group STS9 has given us a great way to celebrate these changes by providing a musical spectacle like never before! On January 13 and 14 the group will be kicking off their “Great Cycle Spectacles” series in Denver, CO at the famous Fillmore Auditorium.
This exciting series of performances will start with the two nights in Denver next weekend, then jump to Chicago, IL at the Congress Theater for another two nights January 20 and 21. They will then travel down to Mayan Riviera, Mexico for a four night run January 26-30. The group will continue through a limited number of locations in 2012 promising a series of “one of a kind performances celebrating the end and beginning of the Mayan calendar cycle as well as a spectacle of music, art and imagination.”
Despite all of the crazy theories surrounding the 2012 phenomenon, there is no doubt that this series will help fans welcome the new “cycle” with enthusiasm…and of course a whole LOT of dancing. Any “average” STS9 show is filled with mind-blowing music, astonishing light shows and an energy that is truly unique—one can only imagine what is in store for this upcoming series of “one of a kind” performances.
To no surprise both nights in Denver are already sold out, however tickets are still available for both nights in Chicago at the Congress Theater.  To those of you hanging around the Midwest for winter break, this could be the perfect way to end it, and to those of you lucky enough to already have your tickets for the shows in Denver—start preparing to dance your way into this new cycle in the presence of some truly remarkable musical spectacles.
Tickets for the shows at the Congress Theater in Chicago January 20 & 21 can be found here. Be sure to get them while you still can!

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Concert Preview: Yellow Ostrich

November 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Yellow Ostrich is playing at San Diego's Belly Up Tavern on Wednesday, November 9.

 

By Haley Earl-Lynn

Yellow Ostrich
Belly Up
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 

From the perspective of a twenty-something year-old lady on the prowl, the dating scene here in San Diego can seem pretty complicated.  That poor little lady may wonder, “Are we dating? Are we just friends? Are we supposed to ignore eachother next time we are both ordering a So-Cal chicken sandwich at Urbane during our lunch break?” Lucky for that lady though, the up-and-coming band Yellow Ostrich has put all of her worries and ponderings to rest.

On their newest album, The Mistress, Yellow Ostrich breaks it down and makes it real simple for distressed ladies. Their track “Hate Me Soon” could easily be made into a how to guide: Hooking up for Dummies. The most helpful line: “You’re gonna hate me soon if you don’t understand that what we’re doing here has got no long term plan… I’m gonna love you soon when you are out of reach and when I see you ‘round, you never wanna speak.”

Spreading the word about this song until it reaches as many twenty-something year-old lady friends as possible is the best way to clear up the whole hookup culture confusion. Yellow Ostrich is just what modern women need. Beyond that, the rest of their music happens to sound darn good as well.

Yellow Ostrich began as Alex Shaaf’s solo project. He found himself in New York with a lot of music, but no band. He hooked up (platonically, unfortunately) with drummer Michael Tapper of the band Fool’s Gold. The two began collaborating and found themselves with a complete album. The Mistress hit the Internet and built up enough fan support to allow for Shaaf and Tapper to head out on a mini tour around New York. Early this year the band added Jon Natchez to round out the trio.

Yellow Ostrich is best categorized as an indie-rock band – go figure, right?! Shaaf’s strong vocals define the band’s sound. Their distinct sound is comparable to that of San Diego natives, Dirty Gold. Both bands represent youth and inexperience in the best ways possible. The Mistress has a fun, free sound. It can’t be compared to a band like Coldplay’s perfectly-crafted pieces or a band like !!!’s intricately produced beats.

“Whale” is Yellow Ostrich’s biggest hit. Unlike “Hate Me Soon”, “Whale” is much more friendly sounding. While the former provides a valuable lesson to the needy, the latter wins hearts over. Other eargasmic tracks include “Hold On” and “Mary”.

Yellow Ostrich stop by San Diego’s Belly Up Tavern this Wednesday night, along with Ra Ra Riot and Delicate Steve. Fans can expect a notably charismatic live performance. Critics have raved that Yellow Ostrich have a notably strong presence on stage. If you can’t make it out Wednesday, fret not. Even though the band won’t be playing in San Diego again soon, they will be just a short drive away in L.A. at El Ray Theatre on Thursday night. Tickets are moving fast.

What’s to come for the band is still unknown. After the tour they will be recuperating and relaxing back in New York. They have high hopes for future albums. Taking inspiration from the likes of Neil Young and the Velvet Underground, The Mistress was wildly more successful than originally anticipated. Fans can only hope for more lessons and charming tunes in a sophomore album from Yellow Ostrich.

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Concert Preview: Jason Aldean

October 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Jason Aldean is playing in Chula Vista on October 28.

 

By Tom Roth

Jason Aldean
Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
Friday, October 28, 2011

In 2005, a star rose in Nashville. With the release of his debut, self-titled record, Jason Aldean began his rapid climb to country-music fame, aided by his single, “Why” which reached the number one spot on the US Country chart.

Since then, Aldean has established himself with three additional studio albums and five number one hits.  In an unexpected pairing with Atlanta rapper, Ludacris, Aldean released a remix of his current hit “Dirt Road Anthem”, a version of which will surely be performed on his upcoming tour stop in San Diego.

The Friday night performance on October 28 at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater in Chula Vista promises to be a lively show with opening acts including Chris Young and husband-wife duo, Thompson Square of “Are You Kiss Me Or Not?” fame. Aldean’s set has already been much anticipated. University of San Diego senior, Yasamin Mahallaty, says “I’ve heard a lot of people around campus talking about the show. The radio stations are promoting it too so I expect it to be well-attended and a lot of fun”.

Entertainment starts at 7:30. Tickets are available here and start at $25 for lawn seating.

Click here to listen to “Dirt Road Anthem”.

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DO NOT MISS: Lucent L’amour, a festival of art, music and creativity, brought to you by The Do Lab

February 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lucent L'amour 2009, courtesy notcot.com

Got any Valentine’s plans yet? How about at the wee hours of the morning on Valentine’s Day? Well now you can be busy all day long thanks to the great guys at The Do Lab, the proprietors of events like Coachella. They are hosting Lucent L’amour, something that they call a “festival of art, music and creativity.” Because they know how awesome this show is going to be (as well as the knowledge of the shallow pockets of college students), they have been kind enough to offer a pretty hefty discount to anyone with a “.edu” e-mail, for more details click on this link to the Lucent L’amour website http://lucentlamour.com/student.  With over 5,000 attendees expected, this is one show you should not miss.

BASSNECTAR

The headliner for this year’s Lucent L’amour, Bassnectar (Lorin Ashton) will get you moving whether you like it or not. Hailing from San Francisco, Bassnectar is known for his eclectic style and stimulating visuals. From his slow, trip-hop sounds to his pounding dance beats, Bassnectar’s show will leave you tore up from the floor up.
“Cozza Frenzy”

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STANTON WARRIORS

The breakbeat duo from Bristol is back in the States for this epic street festival, and their set will be sure to blow your mind. These DJs are masters of the remix and will undoubtedly please your audio senses with both their creative edits and original tracks. With these breakbeat champions on the bill, Lucent L’amour is an event you won’t want to miss.

N.A.S.A.

North America South America, better known by their acronym N.A.S.A., truly brings a unique sound to the bill. Comprised of DJs Squeak E. Clean and Zegon, this duo strives to bring about a sense of unity in the musical community by putting together sounds from different genres around the world. Whether it be bars from Kanye West’s tracks or funky Brazilian riffs, this diverse sound is sure to get you moving.

YARD DOGS ROAD SHOW

Lucent L’amour is chalk full of unique acts, and the Yard Dogs Road Show is no exception. With an unusual mix of cabaret, rock and roll and other strangely entertaining acts, this band will undoubtedly be a musical experience.

BEATS ANTIQUE

Hailing from Oakland, Calif., Beats Antique provides a new twist to the electronic genre.  With sounds and beats from the Middle East fused with dubstep and hip hop, Beats Antique offers a sound that you won’t find anywhere else. With live horned and string instruments, this sound will be something new for you to sink your teeth into.

ANA SIA

This California native understands the value of dance. Her live set will force you to work muscles that you had no idea you had. As a front-runner in the West Coast future sound movement, Ana Sia is an act to listen and dance along to for sure.

LAZER SWORD

Lazer Sword is the fusion of Low Limit, from San Francisco, and Lando Kal of New York. Regardless of the Star Wars allusion, Lazer Sword is pretty boss. With an ever-growing fan base, these guys are something to watch for in 2010, and you’ll experience them live at Lucent L’amour.
“Gucci Sweatshirt”

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LYNX & JANOVER

Though they have only recently released their first collaboration, this duo has been tearing up the live circuit. They spit an interesting blend of low-tempo techno with rapping and acoustic instruments. This year at Lucent L’amour, their smooth beats will be sure to keep you entranced and wanting more.

PATRICIO

Having been a DJ in the greater Los Angeles area since the ‘90s, Patricio is what you could call a seasoned veteran. His sets are practically guaranteed to raise the energy level so high that the only thing higher is the sound level. For all you rump shakers out there, check out Patricio this year at Lucent L’amour.

ROBOT LOVE

This mysterious group is something that must be experienced first hand. The best information only claims that their influence is “static” and their biography is “music for life forms.” After sampling some tracks, it becomes clear that the latter is more appropriate. Their songs, without a hint of static, will make any “life forms” within their sphere of influence begin to boogie down. Get to Lucent L’amour early enough to hear these guys kick off the event.

In addition to the amazing musical lineup that Lucent L’amour offers, a series of art installations, as well as interactive art, will be present at the inside portion of The Shrine. This should be as much as the concerts themselves. I am envisioning a type of awesome street festival. The website even describes one of the artist collectives, Lucent Dossier Experience, as “a playground for the innovative genius child in all of us.”  It should be a very good time, to say the least.

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Concert Preview: This Time Next Year

January 27, 2010 By 1 Comment

This Time Next Year

Winter Break is over and its time to get back to the grind of school. What better way to start your semester than with a show at SOMA? This Friday, January 29 at 7:00PM, This Time Next Year, Strike Anywhere, Title Fight, and Four Year Strong are playing at SOMA sidestage.

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to interview Brad Wiseman of This Time Next Year and we talked about their new album and touring experiences. TTNY (as they are commonly known by their fans) is a classic pop-punk band looking to avoid the clichés of the scene in effort to make genuine music. With hints of New Found Glory and Saves the Day recognizable in their sound, it’s evident that they are looking to go back to the roots of the scene in order to make music that comes from the heart. They take an interesting approach by using duals vocals, often complementing each other to show drive and passion within the song. When listening to them, you can feel the emotion behind their music and lyrics, bringing an incredible freshness into what is becoming an all too bland genre. If you’re interested in checking them out, Brad suggested you first explore their song “Alex in Wonderland” of their new album Road Maps & Heart Attacks. Critics and record labels recognized the potential of this band and their label, Equal Vision Records, made sure that their first full-length release received the production that it deserved. For this reason, the band was able to work with producer Brian McTernan on Road Maps & Heart Attacks. McTernan is notable producer in the genre, having worked with bands such as Thrice, Senses Fail, & Circa Survive. The overall partnership between McTernan and This Time Next Year has produced a strong album reminiscent of pop-punk from the past. I would suggest that everyone who enjoys Blink-182 or New Found Glory go out and give This Time Next Year a listen.

Update: Concert Review added.

Last Friday I had the privilege to attend the aforementioned Enemy of the World tour when it made its stop down at SOMA. I had a fantastic time and all of the bands put on a great show. I was especially impressed when This Time Next Year took the stage. They sounded great live and every member of the band had an awesome stage presence and brought a lot of energy in their performance. After their set, I had the opportunity to just chat with vocalist Pete Dowdalls who was really down to earth and had the right mindset about music. The success that is coming to This Time Next Year is well deserve and it couldn’t happen to a better group of guys.

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Street Scene Preview (Part 2 of 2)

July 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Street Scene Countdown: 45 Days!

In my opinion, I consider Street Scene the Coachella of the Coast. Rather than in the desert during the day, it’s in the middle of the city in the evening. What better way to end your summer and kick off the school year?

M.I.A.: Recently named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2009, M.I.A. has remained consistently in the public eye thanks to her role in the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, the birth of her first child and her guest vocals on T.I.’s “Swagga Like Us.” I missed her at Coachella so I’m definitely gonna try and hit up her performance at Street Scene.

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“20 Dollar”

Modest Mouse: Modest Mouse is yet again providing fans with new tracks to devour, but before you automatically say, “I hate their new stuff,” take a listen. Their new stuff is actually old stuff that didn’t make it onto their last two albums. They have the classic Modest Mouse wordplay, (“I drew a blank and put it into a frame”) and they have various styles of guitar distortion. Right up my alley. I’ve seen them play four or five times and can guarantee that you will not be disappointed. Here is my favorite of their newest released tracks.

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“Autumn Beds”

Bassnectar: Bassnectar is my new favorite electronic dubstep band. I put their album on when I’m headed to a party of some sort because it makes me smile, makes me headbang and it gives me chills. This is a band that is passionate about what music can do for people and is passionate about the live show experience. I’m most excited for their performance at Street Scene because after snooping around their website and hearing the live set they did for KISS FM, I realized what I have been missing at all of the electronic shows I’ve gone to and I refuse to pass up the chance to experience this kind of environment. Their track “Art of Revolution” features the vocals of Tapper Zukie.

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“Art of Revolution”

Silversun Pickups: I never really got a chance to hop on the Silversun Pickups bandwagon, but thanks to MTV I’ve heard tidbits of their song “Panic Switch” and I was instantly drawn in. I like the vocals and I like the overall vibe of their music; it’s pretty easy to take in. Peter Cho described it best when he wrote in his album review that “The music maintains a serious nature throughout the album, while also maintaining a sound that feels like wisps of smoke entering your ears into your dreams. Seriously.”

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“Panic Switch”

West Indian Girl: This summer I’ve been getting into more eclectic, transcendent, experimental hippy shit, and I like it. West Indian Girl reminds me of the little known bands I’ve been exposed to, so I already know a live show by a band of this nature will be incredible. Their sound is a little ethereal and ambient and altogether an experience. Ps their name is a type of LSD that was popular in the ‘60s. I look forward to the lights at this show.

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“Beach”

Matt and Kim: Matt and Kim are the smiley-est musicians I’ve ever seen. I tend to be enthralled by their music videos and in them they look like they are having more fun than I ever thought possible on a music video set (but I would be too if I got to have a food fight while pounding my heart out on the drums). Matt and Kim are energetic and from what I can tell by viewing their music videos, they like to get messy. I’m gonna try and avoid the center of the crowd for this show. In a past interview the band did with The Vista they said some kids like to mosh at their shows…to each their own, I suppose.

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“Daylight”

LA Riots: LA Riots have played at HARD and have done remixes of many enjoyable songs. In fact, they put together a 2008 Coachella playlist for the LA Times. They know a good beat when they hear it, thus they know how to manipulate a good beat and make it even better. They’re fast, they’re furious and they’re fun. I don’t think it’s possible for their live show to disappoint.

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“N.A.S.A. Music Remix”

Deerhunter: Deerhunter has received encouraging words from Pitchfork (a rarity) and a ‘two thumbs up’ on my behalf (with my first listen at that). Their music is a type of psychedelic pop rock that’s catchy while maintaining an underscore of intelligence. The band associates with fellow musicians Grizzly Bear and Liars. Sold.

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“Nothing Ever Happened”

Holy Fuck: I describe their music as somewhat of an ear fuck, as they use live instruments to create electronic sounds and the result can be a bit intense, and equally inspirational. Radiohead chose the band’s track, “Lovely Allen,” to be on a playlist they did for BBC Radio, and also picked their remix of “Nude” as the winner of the remix contest they held. Holy Fuck was also deemed one of top three performers at Glastonbury, with their live show described as a “force to be reckoned with.” Mix all these delicious facts together and you get a potentially life-changing experience. I most definitely will not be missing out.

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“Jungles”

Girl Talk: Girl Talk’s name was uttered by many at USD after his rumored performance fell through. But weep no more, as the famed mashup artist returns to San Diego via Street Scene. I heard he jumped into a raft on top of his Coachella crowd, and judging from my past experiences at his live shows he’s a very entertaining artists, to say the least. You can check out my interview with him here.

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“Play Your Part, Pt. 1″

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