It would appear that I am in a hip hop sort of mood tonight. That’s not such a bad thing you know…
Shwayze’s Cisco Adler has created his own music video for the hip-hop duo’s new single “Get U Home” off of their upcoming album Let It Beat. The video gives you a look into the fun and crazy lifestyle that the Malibu-based duo lives behind the scenes and on tour.
P.O.S. continues to drop cool videos, his latest is for “Purexed” and it debuted via MTV2‘s Unleashed and on MTVu earlier this week. I love this song and the idea of the video just makes it that much more appealing. Check it out here:
I got the chance to check out the opening track of the album and thanks to the good folk at Thirty Tigers I can share it with you. The song titled “If You Ever Get Famous” really has this haunting Simon & Garfunkel feel to it. I really can not wait to check out the rest of the album.
Check out The Duke and the King in their cabin kitchen performing “The Morning that I Get To Hell”:
The Duke and the King are going to be on tour too:
Aug 4 – Mercury Lounge – CD RELEASE SHOW – New York, New York
Aug 6 – LOCAL 506 – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Aug 7 – EDDIE’S ATTIC – Atlanta, Georgia
Aug 8 – BOTTLETREE – Birmingham, Alabama
Aug 10 – THE BASEMENT – Nashville, Tennessee
Aug 11 – SOUTHGATE HOUSE (PARLOUR) – Newport, Kentucky
Aug 13 – LOCALS ONLY ART & MUSIC PUB – Indianapolis, Indiana
Aug 14 – SCHUBAS – Chicago, Illinois
Aug 15 – CLUB CAFE – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Aug 16 – IOTA CLUB & CAFE – Arlington, Virginia
Sep 11 – SALISBURY – End Of The Road Festival Southwest
Sep 12 – SWANSEA – THE CHATTERY Wales
Sep 13 – GLASGOW – KING TUTS Scotland
Sep 15 – LEICESTER – THE MUSICIAN Midlands
Sep 16 – LEEDS – THE BRUDENELL Northwest
Sep 17 – NEWCASTLE – THE CLUNY Northeast
Sep 18 – LONDON – THE GARAGE (Club Uncut) London and South East
Sep 19 – NOTTINGHAM – THE MAZE Midlands
Sep 20 – BIRMINGHAM – THE GLEE CLUB Midlands
Sep 22 – BEDFORD – THE CIVIC East
Sep 23 – BARCELONA – BAM FESTIVAL Barcelona
Sep 27 – BELFAST – Open House Festival Northern Ireland
Minnesota hip-hop duo Eyedea & Abilities just dropped a new video for the song “Junk”. The song was taken from their latest release By The Throat that was released in late July. I have always appreciated the duo as artists with their interesting beats and fast paced rhymes. Hearing this song today is making me think that they are taking a darker approach with the almost industrial sounding guitars. Still the song is interesting as the Matrix inspired video that accompanies it.
The heavy on the synthesizer pop act Lights, also known as Valerie Poxleitner, has been getting a lot of hype for not even having a full length release out yet.It could be solely from her beauty seeing as she is capable of turning one or two hundred heads, but in all honesty this girl is more than just a looker.She is a musician and has the voice to prove it.
The Canadian born singer actually wrote her first song when she was only eleven years old.At twenty-two Valerie Poxleitner was discovered when she casted to be a model for corporate giant bastards Wal-Mart.The modeling supervisor asked if she was a musician while looking at a picture of the hopeful model holding a guitar.Without hesitation she began to sing for them and the rest is pretty much history.
Her songs were first featured in Old Navy commercials and before long,Lights was playing the Facebook party at the 2009 SXSW, appearing on Canada’s MuchMusic, and even playing live for MTV.After grabbing a Juno award for being the best artist of 2009 she jumped on board for a summer tour with the Van’s Warped Tour.All of this happened within a four year period and Lights is still going. With plans on releasing a full length album this September and also acting as a supporting artist for a Fall Keane tour, Lights certainly as a lot on her plate.
So what is the hype about Lights you ask?Trust me I was asking myself the same question.While at the Warped Tour this summer I missed out on seeing this Lights act everyone was talking about. I read the schedule wrong and completely missed her set.Finally I have obtained a copy of her EP and I must say it was an interesting listen.
Opener “Ice” reminded me of all the cheap pop acts out there I just never cared for.You know, the one time Mousekateers that grew up to be pop stars that have everyone else do the work for them while they look pretty.I had to keep reminding myself that this was an honest musician.This song aside from the poppiness was catchy and I loved the Vanilla Ice throw in.
“Drive My Soul” was down shifted a few gears from the opening track as was “February Air”.At times I though of Gwen Stefani when she ditched No Doubt to go solo.The one song I actually enjoyed was “I Owe You One”, a thank you song for someone special.I think if Ben Gibbard did some back-up vocals on this track it would have been awesome.I guess it’s me, but I feel the song was very reminiscent of The Postal Service.
Think of a modern day Cyndi Lauper, Tiffany, or Debbie Gibson with keyboards galore and that pretty much sums up Lights.Honestly while listening to the EP I kept hoping for Lights to break into “Goonies Are Good Enough” cover.All I could image was 80’s style throughout the six songs.It was just too much for me.
Björk may be Lights’ most major influence but there is not any egg laying on the red carpet crazy experimental anything going on in this EP.It is straight forward syth-pop music for all the pop fans out there and not for me.
Lights certainly has an amazing voice, and the looks as well. I think it is just the music that backs her vocals that turned me off from most of the tracks.I think with a full band backing her she would sound amazing in my ears and others for that matter.With her full length debut The Listening dropping in a little over a month I can honestly say I am curious to see what is to come.
Kid Koala in my opinion is one of the most amazing vinyl manipulators out there. His ability of scratching vinyl is more of an art form at times especially when he lifts the needle from one groove on a record and drops it to the exact location of the next without missing a beat.
I have been a huge fan of him since I was first introduced to him on his debut Carpel Tunnel Sundrome on Ninja Tune. I loved the experimental feel and the constant scratching that was more of an instrument to the album over just your typical beat interjections.
I have been a fan of scratching for as long as I can remember. Thanks to acts like Praxis as well as RUN DMC I was fond of the style. I used to take my old records and try to emulate them on my Fisher Price record player. Sadly I never acheived the sound.
Recently I learned that the DJ is back with an all new project titled The Slew Tour. The tour is rather a score for a film turned into live set featuring Dynomite D as well as the former rhythm section of Wolfmother. The film was actually scrapped while Kid Koala was working on it but thanks to interest from the Austrailian rockers and Kid Koala’s determination the score was turned into a traveling show.
Armed with six turntables Kid Koala and master mixer Dynomite D will be taking stage with Chris Ross and Myles Heskett of Wolfmother. This is going to be one of those performances not to miss.
Of course the tour is skipping Cleveland. Every opportunity I have ever had to see Kid Koala live has failed. Years ago he came to nearby club in Oberlin with his jam band project Bullfrog. For reasons unknown I did not go and I regret it.
Let me give you a hint of how much I dig Kid Koala. Two of my tattoos are Kid Koala inspired. Actually they were taken from his graphic novel Nufonia Must Fall.
I hope one day to see Kid Koala live. His turntable abilites blow me away while listening, I can only imaging what would happen if I were to see it with my eyes. Oh well, there is always next time
Info about The Slew from an email I received from the fine people of Terrorbird Media:
A couple of years back Eric San (aka Kid Koala) and Dylan J. Frombach (aka Dynomite D) were approached to soundtrack a new documentary feature film that was in production. Koala was already well known for his uncanny turntable manipulation, whilst Dylan had remixed Money Mark and collaborated with the Beastie Boys, amongst others. The duo worked for a long time on the psych rock-influenced score, only for the filming to collapse and any release to be canned. Although the film may never see the light of day, its music is about to be brought to life on stage.
Recently Koala & Dylan met the former rhythm section of Grammy Award-winning Australian rock band Wolfmother and began telling them all about the film and its lost music. Chris Ross and Myles Heskett loved the clips and urged that the material had to be heard; subsequently Kid Koala and the guys decided to put a show on the road.
After intensive rehearsals the show is now ready to go. Featuring drums, bass/keys and the DJs working across a truly excessive six turntables, the set is seventy minutes of raw guitar cuts and heavy beats. We can guarantee that you will never have heard anything quite like this and also that you are unlikely to again. It’s a one-off tour, so when it stops in your town you’ll either be there or will have missed it forever.
Anyone who has seen previous Kid Koala events will not be disappointed – from Kid Koala’s incendiary solo turntable spectaculars to the Nufonia book launch, Deltron 3030 live to the Short Attention Span Theater.
Brash, loud and defiantly turned up to eleven. The Slew Tour is coming to your town. Don’t miss it.
TOUR DATES:
WED 9/23
VANCOUVER, BC
Commodore
THUR 9/24
SEATTLE, WA
Nectar
FRI 9/25
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Independent
SUN 9/27
LOS ANGELES, CA
Key Club
WED 9/30
BROOKLYN, NY
Music Hall Of Williamsburg
THUR 10/1
BOSTON, MA
Great Scott
FRI 10/2
MONTREAL, QC
La Tulipe
SAT 10/3
TORONTO, ON
Lee’s Palace
SUN 10/4
CHICAGO, IL
Abbey
Here are a couple MP3’s from the tour only album 100% for your listening enjoyment:
Kid Koala