This Thursday, my friend over at Actual Records is throwing a farewell party for Noncanon & Lillie Ruth Bussie over at Slingluff Gallery at the end of Girard (11 W. Girard). What I love about this stuff is how simple and stripped down it is. I'll get down with any music that fits my current mood which is all over the place in an Age of ADD. Here is a link to a man who puts it in much better words than I do: Aaron Ruxbin.
Here are two tracks that really caught my earballs:
Starts with a little salsa ditty, into a fast O'er the Rainbow type tune, which the stop midway through to get the timing right. It works out great and its cool to hear em find their timing. Ends back with some salsa. Bueno.
This next one is a song that swings back and forth on a acoustic pendulum, great build ups, which I was definitely feeling. The lead singer reminds me of that newly signed singer/songwriter Lissie. Check it out:
Here is their entire set live at the same venue you can see them for zero dollars this Thursday. So come check out good music and art because its definitely better then whatever you haven't got planned.
Taking a quick break from finishing the bender diaries to tell you that you should be listening live/streaming this new show on xpn that is Friday's from 11pm-1am. Click on that xpn link and check out some of the stupid good acts he's brought to town, I've mentioned it before, but it needs repeating. If you like rediculously eclectic collections of music and dancing then you will be streaming this non-stop. It's Dave P from Making Time & RVNG Intl. and here is the first installment. I hope it's here for awhile, cause I'm lovin it. That is all...
FIRST SET FROM 7.31.10
Chicken scratch playlist
I will update this with last week's show once its streaming...
Its totally like that movie where I ride a mythical creature in the sky to my next destination. Which happened to be the Mad Decent Block Party. Missed last years for reasons unknown, but remembered how much fun I had two years ago and everything was just fallin into place. My obsession with Diplo and all things MD are well documented and I push it on my friends AA 24/7. I have a large puerto rican friend I chum around with who has also caught the fever and has been busy getting his business off the ground. As the gods would have it, he magically had the day off. I mentioned nothing of the fantasticness and ludacity (I'm starting my own dictionary) that would take place only that we were going to a block party on 12th and Spring Garden. Here is what we were in store for:
I decided when I started writing this that I would make a conscious effort to go see a lot more music than I normally do. Fucking little did I know what I was getting into. Let me take your ass on a sweet lil journey with many twist and turns detailing the nonsense I got into over the past week:
First off, I want to thank everyone again who made it out to support Actual Records, Shane Sixten, & DJ Sega for his mixtape release. I'm telling you every single person I play this CD for is blown away. This shit is the fucking truth and if you don't bob your head or shake your ass then you must not have a pulse. NON STOP FUCKING BANGERS! I have no choice but to continue to promote the shit out of this guy until you all know the name SEGA@!@! Medusa was wild, made some awesome new foto friends in Teresa over at tresmack and Mario of fame lust, exposed my coworkers from my big boy job to the debauchery that I get into off hours. Still deciding if that last one was a good idea or not. Thought about attending snacks after the party shut down, but seeing as how I needed to be at work in Bensalem by 7:00 the guy on my right shoulder prevailed.
Moving on to Friday, which drug on like a son of a bitch. Left work as soon as legally is allowed to still be considered a "day of work" and got right back on the horse. Put on the flops and headed down to the Great Plaza to see the Black Keys. Which by the way is so much better than that parking lot with a stage they call Festival Pier. Only issue I have is that if you aren't on the stairs and more in the concourse, good luck seeing the stage. Had to make some serious moves to get a good view and my buddy Sanchez who is 5 foot nothing in lifts had NO SHOT. Have seen them a couple of times now, and they are always good, so my bigger goal was to see the opener Morning Benders. Guess what, they cancelled or didnt play or who gives a fuck, they weren't there. Sweet consolation prize though, Kurt Vile. A little slow for my taste but they held the crowds attention. Back to the point, Black Keys just bring it. So much sound from just two dudes.
A lil festivus miracle took place as soon as their set ended and fireworks started on the other side of the river much to my chagrin. Who knows what they were celebrating in Camden but huzzah for the effort.
From here my night takes a left turn and I end up at Club Risque, at the request of a lady, with a handful of ones and less self respect. I have zero self control in these places. I beg of you, keep me clear of the nudez. Here is they're playlist from that night cause I am lazy and didn't write down (read: drunk & such) what they played:
thickfreakness
10 am automatic
girl is on my mind
the breaks
stack shot billy (bad ass guitar intro)
busted
everywhere i go
strange times
same old thing
everlasting light
next girl
chop and change
howlin' for you
tighten up
she's long gone
ten cent pistol (bad ass drum intro)
no trust
i got mine
Encore:
too afraid to love you
sinister kid
til i get my way
Next part 2 at the biggest & baddest block party of the year: MAD DECENT BLOCK PARTY
It's been bothering me a lot lately and the other day while reading the Simmons mailbag I caught an exchange that, while about sports in particular, was exactly how I currently feel about music. Here is the exchange:
Q: Soccer still isn't going anywhere in America for this reason: People like me, who only watch soccer whenever the World Cup is on, are hated by actual soccer fans. They would rather have us not watch soccer at all rather than start watching soccer and rooting for the U.S. during the World Cup. It kills them to see people watching who don't normally. I have heard people say things to other people along the lines of "you don't even know the rules" and "if you don't know what's going on then don't watch." Ironically, diehard soccer fans here are actually hurting soccer's progress here in the U.S..
-- Brandon P, Zanesville, Ohio
SG: You just introduced a premise called "The Cult of Status Quo." Sometimes when people become die-hard fans of something that isn't mainstream -- a writer, a band, a player, a TV show, a sport or whatever -- they want to keep that thing the way it is over seeing that thing take off. Why? Because it's cooler to like something that isn't mainstream popular. Because mainstream popularity begets bandwagon fans and people who aren't as sophisticated about that product. Because it's more fun to love something before it takes off than after it takes off.
Hence, it's easier for original fans to dump on newer fans than to tolerate them and hope they advance the cause of whatever they like. I notice this every time I mention the UFC or poker -- there's this bizarre (and totally dismissive) backlash, as if I'm not allowed to watch those sports or even mention them because I'm not a real fan. Well, how do you become a real fan? By liking a sport without disliking the core people who like it. So it's a self-perpetuating cycle, and as weird as this sounds, the original fans like it that way. It maintains their ownership of the product. When the product outgrows them (specifically in the case of a creative entity), that's when the core fans start throwing around phrases like "jumped the shark" and "sold out," mostly because they're bitter it's not just them and the product any more.
With soccer, die-hard American fans love the World Cup itself, but they hate everything that comes with it; the World Cup drudges up the same storylines they've learned to despise ("Soccer can't take off unless X, Y or Z happens," "Our best athletes don't play soccer," "It can never be big here unless there's more scoring" and "They should get rid of offsides," to name four). I don't blame them for reacting negatively to that stuff, but you wouldn't call them welcoming, either. And they have taken a ton of crap over the years, which tends to harden the line between real fans and everyone else. I can tell you that in the past 15 months, when I wrote about soccer a few times and it became clear that it was more than a bandwagon thing, and that I was actually starting to understand what I was watching -- the feedback from die-hards has been tremendous (and much appreciated). They just need to be a little less condescending with neophytes.
For fun, I asked David Hirshey (soccer historian, author of "The ESPN World Cup Companion") and Michael Davies (TV producer, World Cup blogger) for their takes:
Hirshey: "The question of authenticity among fans is hardly soccer-centric. I started watching 'Mad Men' after the third episode had aired. I have a friend who became obsessed with the series once the first season DVD came out. Now he never misses an episode. Are we bandwagon jumpers? Sure, if you want to view it that way. Me, I just want everyone to love soccer the way I fell for it back in the late 1960s -- when you had to walk 10 miles (OK, blocks), in the snow, just to hear the score of a Man U-Arsenal game. Does being a fan for the past 40 plus years make me any more legitimate than someone who embraced the sport this summer because Landon Donovan scored a dramatic goal in the World Cup or Diego Forlan has great hair? Absolutely not. Are there still so-called 'die-hards' who want soccer in this country to remain a kind of secret Skull and Bones society where membership is passed down through generations? Sadly, yes. I say De Jong them in the chest and tell them to get over themselves."
Davies: "I completely agree that many die-hard soccer fans in the U.S. have learned to become just as annoying and condescending as die-hard soccer fans in England and all over the world. Globalization is a wonderful thing. But that doesn't seem to be the main premise of the Q from Zanesville. What BP is actually arguing is that soccer still isn't going anywhere in the U.S. And whatever Glenn Beck says, it's just tough to argue against the empirical data -- TV ratings, website traffic, bar tabs. They're all going up during and around soccer games. That seems to indicate that however annoying or casual the fans are, or however annoying they are to each other, they are still watching. Yes, the World Cup more than anything else. But U.S. interest in the English Premier League and Champions League and the ratings and website traffic surrounding those leagues is growing significantly, too. There are even people who watch Major League Soccer. And that may be the biggest miracle of all. And the biggest proof that soccer must be going somewhere here. It's like Daniel Kellison's [former executive producer of 'The Man Show' and 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'] heterosexuality test: Any man can have sex with a model, but only the most heterosexual of men can bring himself to have sex with a truly unattractive woman. The fact that American soccer fans can sit through 90 minutes of MLS is proof of a love of soccer beyond anything the rest of the world can possibly fathom."
I'm 100% on board with how the Sports Guy feels about this subject and I feel the same way about music these days. I mean don't get me wrong, I have been guilty of this as I'd like to think everyone is at some point in their braggeries. I'm still coping with Kings of Leon turning into U2 and cancelling gigs for shitty reasons. But it's really not worth it. I am making a conscious effort not to hold a band over someone because I found them first or saw them before they blew up. I'm getting douche chills just writing that. No one can be aware of it all, so at some point we are all bandwagon jumpers. Just because you jumped on first, is there a badge or a cookie that comes with that? I think finding out about new music/sounds is one of the coolest and most exhilarating things out there, and I know people feel the same. Ever listen to a song for the first time and it gives you the shivers its so good? Everyone should find out about that. Don't bogart that music man!
A lot has happened, that is of interest to me, in the last week. Phils have gone on a tear as of lately, finishing up a sweep of the Rockies today. Training camp started for the birds. Union, betrayed me, and played their biggest game of the year against Man U in a stadium other than the one that was built for them. Those S.O.B's...see what I did there? You can't teach that.
More to the fact, while most summers are normally devoid of concerts I'm pumped to see. This summer has been jam packed full of them. In the last week I jumped in on Kid Sister & GANG, unfortunately I missed majority of the xPonential festival which had some real good acts over 3 days, saw the spectacle that is Die Antwoord while being pleasantly surprised by Midnight Juggernauts at Vuvuzelafest 2k10, sweated my ass off at Deadmau5 (he apparently plays better when he's angry - Adv. Rusko), and capped it off by perusing the mart at the Punk Rock festival. Some general thoughts:
GANG played a kick ass set which included a cover of "Killing in the Name Of". You pull off Rage, you win in my book. Kid Sister will be a big deal soon enough, IMO.
I'm over Die Antwoord, I'll admit I bought into the schtick but after Making Time on Friday, I have no doubt that they are not for real. God bless the hype machine built around the Ninja & Co. but it's not cutting it. Don't agree and think their sliced bread good, go read someone who may/may not also care.
Wearing an American flag mau5head was a bunch of dreams come true all at once. They include loving/repping America hardcore, wearing costumes for no reason, and generally being the most awesome you can be at all times. And yes, that's a Triple P shirt, that is how I roll.
When it rains it pours my friends. I was led to believe that Making Time had an announcement to make today at 5 and what did they lay upon us. That this years Making Time Summer of Radness finale will be headlined by the band I never stop telling people about LCD Soundsystem. If you haven't started listening to them, most people in my shoes would mock you and point and laugh, but hear at exact change we realize that will get you nowhere except being a music geek with no friends to share it with. I encourage you all to start listening now, because as a friend once told me, LCD could be the Talking Heads of the blog generation (too soon to tell?). Influential beyond comprehension to majority of the music I talk about on here and amazingly catchy dance tunes. Visit the making time is rad site and get your tickets ASAP. You can also get them at the Last Drop Coffee Shop. You should follow these people on twitter to keep updated: David Pianka & Making Time is Rad as well as read Phrequency cause they are one of the few sources of good music knowledge in the city. So to recap, that Friday I will be dancin myslf clean and I will wake up uber early and go check out a ishload of free music in Baltimore here. Again you are welcome for bringing you the funk.
...and he wants his shoes back. I can't believe I've only been doing this a few months and I've already managed to sneak two Sandlot references in. Effing love that flick. Anywho, it is rare that anyone comes up to me and says "Hey, you have fantastic style/taste in clothes, etc", in fact it's more like "You're going out like that?" or "You can't wear flip flops with a suit...". So I reach out to others in the know when it comes to such things, so today I direct you to Uristocrat. And while sneakers aren't high on my list of style items, these fucking shoes will be in my collection STAT. If I am to believe the folklore, they'll make me run faster and jump higher than any of my friends. So when you see a bolt of lightning followed by a gust of wind and swirling newspapers that's just me strolling around the city. NO BIG DEAL. Thanks guys.
I'm going to need someone to come clean up this mess I just made in my pants after reading the lineup for Virgin Free Fest at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 9/25. LCD, Neon Indian, MIA (i'll still watch a car crash), Yeasayer, Sleigh Bells, Die Antwoord, Edward Sharpe and more. Did I mention it's free?!! WTF are these guys doing different then pitchfork and Lolla? I'd feel raped if I just got back from what was a decent line up at the pitchfork fest this past weekend only to hear I could go see all those bands for free in the fall when it'll be gorgeous out. SUCKERS!
Seeing as how there is a rediculous flood happening outside right now, what better way to waste time then to watch music videos. Enjoy that while I kayak down 95 back to the city!
Flying Lotus, who kicks the asses of all blips and noises that get in his way, has released the first video for MmmHmm off his new Cosmogramma album. (via okayplayer)
The brains behind the beats/production from TV on the Radio Dave Sitek has a solo album under the name Maximum Balloon coming out in late August with guest spots galore (see pitchfork stuffs). Here is a video for the first single off that album.
The Music Slut (why couldn't I come up with a clever blog name like that?) threw up a video of We Are Scientists who performed live for NME. So jealous of that site name. Srsly.
Another of my enjoyments du jour is Maps & Atlases, who are coming to Philly on 8/14 at Kung Fu Necktie (See you bitches there!). They worked with Yours Tru.ly and a high school marching band to bring you this stupendous display:
And finally, here is one that is freaking all over the intertubes today, Kid Cudi/Best Coast/Rostam from Vampire Weekend sold out to Converse and release a song called "All Summer". They wear these silly big heads in the video, its like they are playing with Wii in real life. Its good, and I kid about the selling out part. Anytime i've been offered money for anything, I've done it without thinking. I have no on switch on my morals. (Again thanks to Pitchfork)
First things first, I want to say thank you to everyone who wrote me while I was away on vacation. The exact change inbox was full of emails worried about when I'd be back and would the music industry collapse while I was away, but most of all full of emails about how I can make my junk 3" bigger in just a few weeks or lottery opportunities in third world countries where I was the potential recipient of a small fortune. Just want to personally say how thoughtful it is of you guys to be thinking about my financial gains and unrelated short comings (insert rimshot).
But, uh, back to the lecture at hand. Perfection is perfected, so I'm 'a let 'em understand. From a young G's perspective (there I go again). I want to put this new act that we've discussed on here before back in front of your face. Persistence breaks all barriers I'm told, so here we go.
Teen Daze is a Canadian by way of Vancouver group has been dubbed by some outfits as the chillest band alive! Here is their myspace page (other than music geeks, does ANYONE use myspace?). It is more of that bliss sounding music that I am pushing and pushing upon the 10's of readers I have. They are set to release their first album via Arcade Sound Ltd.on 7/27, which also has Memoryhouse and Millionyoung under its wings (wOOt). Ambient synths galore!! Don't believe me about these up and comers? I got 40 (more like 3) nations ready to roll son:
Listen, I like MIA as much as the next person. My obsession with all things Diplo is well publicized. But this new album is hurting my ears and I believe that is the consensus. Pitchfork (who run the indieverse) gave her new album a 4.4, diplo may/may not have criticized the tracks not made by him (to which I say people in glass houses....), and it seems as though the public is tiring of her antics. She gave out the number of a writer of a unflattering NY Times article, her Hard Fest in LA was cancelled due to security concerns (see: ticket sales), and she's doing wacky stuff like this on Letterman:
I hope she gets through all this nonsense and start just making the good music that got her to this point. I'd like to think she's got the capacity to make bigger and better music and not have her peak with a clash-sampled song on a trailer for an Apatow movie. Godspeed lil' doodle!
I have left America on her birthday and I'm sick about it. Will be in Punta Cana until Tuesday. Coming back full force after that, I can feel how excited you all are for my return. Until I get back, some Hogan to hold you over. Cause he's the real american:
Quick recap of a concert I went to on Friday at Voyuer "Making Time". Always love these parties and was pissed I missed Neon Indian earlier this year. Holy Ghost! opened up and I was interested to see them play as a band, as I was only familiar with their remix work of Phoenix and the like. They did not disappoint and kept the crowd riled up for the main act. The Rapture killed it, per usual, and it was a sweaty sweaty dance fest that had more cowbell involved than I know what to do with. You could have rung out my shirt when I left there. Caught up with some good friends, saw some awesome music, and cut a rug. All in all a bueno Friday night. Check out phrequency's review/photos of the show for a pro's take. It's amateur hour here at the exact change offices.
Gonna flip the switch on y'all and write about a collection of links, music, and other goodness from the world of hip-hop. Cause I'm as hood as it gets, Yo! Hip-hop was cool when wearing backwards baseball jerseys was where it was at. Am I right people?
Let's start with the funny. Cause that's really what I'm about, the funny:
I enjoy a good fail, and apparently so does complex, because they posted the 50 biggest hip-hop fails of all time. A little aside, I love that "FAIL" has become a noun. Feels right, don't it? Highlights for this guy are: the Game getting the ax on 'Change of Heart', Lupe Fiasco not remembering the lyrics to a Tribe song at VH1's hip hop honors (srsly??!?), Brian Austin Green (of 90210 notoriety) working with the Pharcyde, Vanilla Ice's blockbuster 'Cool As Ice', Jay-Z's mom making him apologize to Nas and Lil Kim's plastic surgery debacle. Here's the article: 50 Worst Hip-Hop Fails
IN THE NEAR FUTURE
Big Boi is twittering and bopping around the internets as much as anyone these days promoting his solo album "Sir Lucious Left Foot - The Son of Chico Dusty". Does he want me not to tell people about this thing? I mean I only have 140 characters to post on something and that title is just obnoxious. Anywho, every track I have heard I have loved, and we talked previously about the track that Andre 3k shows up on, which is the bees knees. Listen to the entire album on his myspace page and here is a track for free and one to listen to while you read. Please read more, my family is hungry...
So last week, the "Brian Wilson's Smile" of hip-hop (sorry Pitchfork already used the Chinese Democracy joke) got its first leak. Dr. Dre's collaboration with Jay-Z was posted on Nah Right, fully accompanied by the tag department. Track is called "Under Pressure" and its good even without a hook. Stoked to hear more. Funniest part of it all is how hood the dude over at Nah Right got on Twitter after people were busting his stones about taggin the song and Dre coming out and saying the song wasn't done. Sorry bro, you have a blog, there is nothing about you that scares anyone. Its science. Regardless, they do awesome things and find great music, so I can't knock em. Enjoy. (Originally found by me on Pitchfork)
Last on the new album from well known Artist front, is Round 2 of The Roots and John Legend. John (we are on a first name basis) popped up on a couple of tracks on "How I Got Over" and also played with the gang during the Roots Picnic. Apparently it is going well because they are in the studios now ready to put out an album in Sept of "60's and 70's soul". Check out more over at okayplayer and here is a video of one of the new tracks.
Read on for more sweetness about other Roots' aquaintences and a couple of awesome (yet completely unrelated) free tracks I found:
Exact Change is teaming up with Actual Records to throw a cassette tape and CD release party at Medusa Lounge on 21st between Market & Chestnut. Spinning all night will be DJ Sega and DJ Ruxbin and leading off will be a set by Shane SixTen. DJ Sega will have his live set from 5/1/2010 available on cassette and will also have the first run of a sick mix CD called "Back for the Last Time" for your listening pleasure. This is just the beginning of the fantastic goodies that will be available, and as I know about what else we have in store for you I will let you know. We here in the IHEC laboratory are cooking up a best of twentyten mixtape and plan to have that for you as well.
Top 5 Reasons you should be there:
Its over a month away, so I know none of you plan that far in advance.
It's on a thirsty thursday and they are coming back in a big way.
These guys rock and you should know about em.
Probably the most important, is to support up and coming local music.
You can't ask for a better time than hanging out with this guy and company, this I can guarantee. Try to find one, I dare you.
Here are some samples from their soundcloud pages. Get yrself some ear candy:
Philadelphia based space/dance rock awesomeness GANG has a handful of tracks from their new album available here, thanks reverbnation. Show these local gals some love:
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse have their entire album up for stream on NPR, here it is as one full album. This is their second collaboration, and if you are not familiar, it is more of the broken bells/flaming lips variety then the gnarls barkley. Head over to their site to listen to individual tracks:
Here are some sweet new videos for your viewing pleasure:
Tame Impala - Half Full Glass of Wine (via yvynyl/proaudiostar). Seems like we are on the same page, because as I've mentioned here before I think this band is going to blow up. Love that psych-rock sound.
Interpol is putting their new album out on Sept. 14th and here is a music video for the song ""(via Vulture):
Music Video for the first single off of Rusko's O.M.G "Hold On". Probably the most mainstream of the tracks on this album. Let us thank NME, Mad Decent, & Downtown Music:
This new trend of acts/bands throwing up their entire new album to stream and spread is freaking amazing. I have nothing else to say, other than this is the best Roots album since Phrenology, which is what put them on the national map. Now listen away and spread the word about the best representation of Philly music out there:
Both of these mixtapes rocked my world today and for completely different reasons. One is all about the old school funk and the other is all about the new school dance. You are welcome in advance...
First up to bat is a split mixtape released by Luis Angel Cancel and Kid Queasy released on Concrete Umbrella. The A side is titled "Come to the Bedroom" and it is awash with chillwave and other dreamy gems including: Washed Out, MillionYoung, JJ, and Miike Snow. The B side is from Kid Queasy, who we've mentioned before, and it lights your feet on fire and doesn't stop till the end. My choice samples are: Hot Chip and Mylo. They've set this mixtape up how I set up all of the many many woman who have fallen for Mr. Change. Win you over blindly with our smooth ass jamz and then BAM! Take it up a notch caveman style, back to the room. What's wrong? Isn't that how everyone does it?
And as I mentioned in the beginning of this post, another local awesome DJ gang, has also dropped some stupendous old school funk/soul in our laps. Rocktits! has been bringing it all day every day for some time now, also play a weekly gig at the Pope and last month they gave us this gift: Turnaround Vs. Immediate Summer 2010 Mix by rocktits!
Check out this tracklist:
The Message - Cymande - 0:00
Me Libertei - Toni Tornado - 1:04
Mothership Connection - Parliament - 3:28
Foxy Lady (Rob Tex Mix) - Jimi Hendrix - 6:48
Superjock - Rueben Bell - 9:12
You Got The Love - Rufus and Chaka Kahn - 10:53
The Beast Day (Todd Terje Edit) - Marsha Hunt's 22 - 12:22
Happy Birthday - Jimi Hendrix & Curtis Knight - 14:28
The Next Message - EGB and the Mikey 7 - 14:44
Dance and Hum Along - Rare Earth - 15:58
Strike - Union - 20:02
I Believe in Miracles - Jackson Sisters - 21:36
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp - Led Zeppelin - 23:54
Let Me Clear My Throat - DJ Kool - 27:29
Hollywood Swinging - Kool & the Gang - 30:43
Green Tambourine (Bombs Edit) - Lemon Pipers - 32:20
Apache - The Sugarhill Gang - 34:23
Dance with the Devil - Cozy Powell - 35:20
I'm a Man (Rub 'n' Tug Edit) - The Chicago Transit Authority - 37:51
I Can't Stand Myself - James Brown - 39:41
Love City - Sly & The Family Stone - 42:17
Stuck in the Middle (Rusty Seger Edit) - Steeler's Wheel - 43:59
Some Kind Of Wonderful - Soul Brothers Six - 46:41
Papa Was A Rolling Stone - The Temptations - 49:16
T.V. Eye - The Stooges - 52:44
Nutbush City Limits - Ike and Tina Turner - 55:43
Prodigal Son - The Rolling Stones - 58:47
Tenere - Group Bombino - 1:01:33
