KAT @ KROQ has been giving away tix & playing bands from the lineup which is super exciting..... incase you missed KROQ LOCALS ONLY this past week, here's a taste of what you can expect to hear tomorrow:
So yeah, those tunes don't suck . . . so neither should you! COME ON DOWN TO THE VIPER ROOM and see our favorite new bands before everyone else does!!!
xoxo! Nicole / HPeggs
p.s. make sure and come say hi to us in the DJ booth . . . and please, no tequila shots. I've had my fill thx. ;)
This will be delicious night of music. Venus Infers have been heard on KROQ, MTV2 "On the Rise," MTV ProjectZ, two songs on TankFarm's Clothing Compilation, and heard frequently on MTV shows. I love this band, if you love Kings of Leon, this will be your new favorite band. The Growlers are yummy psychedelic Doors-esqe awesomeness. Dave Segal of the OC Weekly says "The Growlers play party music that's shot through with an undertone of melancholy. It's as if their sepia-tinted rock songs come equipped with both the drunken cheeriness and the nauseating hangover." Dynamite Walls is also on MTV2 On the Rise and recently opened up for Dahni Harrison’s band Thenewno2 at the Key Club. Picture Atlantic opened for Coldplay in San Fran recently.
Of course Hell Ya! Deejays will be spinning fresh indie in between sets.
KROQ is giving away tickets this Sunday, 10/5, so listen up!
Last night I caught thenewno2 (The New # 2) for their last show at the Key Club series in West Hollywood. It was a packed house full of everything from Beatles fanatics waiting the very front even during the openers Dynamite Walls, to hippies to hipsters, to people who had never been to the Key Club before, confused walking over to the vip section asking "may we sit there?". The hippies were priceless, long grey hair, beards, tye die t-shits. I loved seeing them at the show. Even Matt Sorum was in the audience.
Dahni Harrison is George's twin, and by twin I mean son. He looks JUST like him it's eerie. It was a psychadelic meets singer/songwriter show. The music is all over the place and I loved it. Weird keyboard effects, weird shit on the projection screen, with mellow lighting. Musically I love it, it's out there and strange and I wouldn't expect more from the son of a Beatle. Songmanship-wise, I was a little confused, I'm gonna be honest here. The songs were about broken hearts, love, relationships, girls, etc. The two didn't seem to match. But who cares? It's George Harrison's son on stage who looks just like him! If you squint you might actually see George! My favorite song and moment of the night was the song "Yomp" it's got a great retro sounding riff and he sings over the melody. This song also somewhat sounds like it could be a Beatles song.
Although I saw some amazing bands over the three day period for Next Big Nashville like Dukes of Daville, The Champion and His Burning Flame, Roman Candle, and Brenn, the highlight for me was the Ten Out of Tenn show Saturday night at the Cannery Ballroom. This is what makes Nashville, Tennessee an amazing place to see some of the best music in the world. It is why I refer to it as "the songwriting capital." Some of the best songwriters in the world live in this little town and and due to it's super casual nature, you will often times see many of them on one stage together, popping in to sing a song, be in the audience supporting each other and be asked to come up on stage. No other city in the world has such a strong community as Nashville. Los Angeles, the city I come from is a great city for music, but everyone is so concerned with getting deals, they sometimes lose sight on what they are really there for, the MUSIC!! Who cares how it will make you look, how you will sound, just be a part of the team and play music. Every night of the week I go out, I always see something that gives me chills, whether it's an amazing song about the songwriter's son that was killed in an accident ("What Hurts the Most" performed by Rascal Flatts written by Jeffrey Steele), or Mark Slaughter singing "Fly to the Angels" acoustically with Big Kenny of Big and Rich on harmonies, Jack White surprising audiences with special shows, bands like Autovaughn playing to their hometown crowd, to artists like Ricky Young pouring their heart and soul into their songs. This town is a community. Everyone supports each other. When one band is playing a big show, every other band, even those signed to major recording/publishing deals- American Bang, Autovaughn, Paper Route, Jeremy Lister, etc, will show up to support. These artists and writers usually co-write together also, which contributes to the community aspect.
These are the voices of Nashville. Sure there are the huge writers like Jeffrey Steele, Craig Wiseman, who have written some of the biggest country hits in the world. But these faces are the ones that matter to me. They are the ones bringing Nashville to the 21st Century. Making this city matter to the rest of the world, not just those who are country fans. But fans of music. For people who love to seek out the newest and best music. People who go to festivals, concerts, shows, South By Southwest, CMJ. These artists may not become huge "stars" but you can always guarantee one thing: you will always here the best SONGS with this group and from Nashville. Sometimes the songs are sad, sometimes they're happy. But they will always be songs from the heart. Every artists in Ten out of Tenn is having great success. You may have already heard of a few Jeremy Lister, I'm sure, and Katie Herzig has has songs all over TV. The fact that they have been on tour together is brilliant. It's a team effort! Here are a few tracks:
Not only was the show amazing, but they way they left the stage gave me chills. They walked off and into the audience with instruments in hand singing Bob Dylan with unplugged guitars in the middle of everyone. Like a drum circle. And got everyone in the packed house singing along while they walked off. It was amazing. I thought to myself "this is what makes Nashville so badass....this right here!"
I texted my friend Heather Peggs who was by the mixing console setting up to spin some fresh tracks with a Hell Ya! set before the afterparty and set of the Features and she agreed "this is amazing," she said in return. Chills I'm telling you, chills.....
Next BIG Nashville Music Festival & Conference 2008 has officially commenced. I'm stoked. I've been waiting one year- since I moved here since I went to NBN last year for this. One year to see GREAT local indie bands, like-minded people (non music row people) who are into film, left of center music, etc, and to hopefully see some friends from LA. This year, however thus year there are TONS of people from LA, NY and beyond coming in and I'll be seeing good friends and hooking up with some industry pals.
There are sooooo many great shows I'm looking forward to....and I'm so proud to have been here a year and can say "I live here and I know about the newly growing scene" and spread the love to friends visiting.
Today I'm hitting up the panels on management....
Saturday, May 17, 2008
I better see you at the Exit/In tonight to see my favorite local indie artist RICKY YOUNG for his CD release party tonight.
Tin Pan South has officially started, which means, a continuation of CRS, and more drunk Nashivlle people carrying themselves to songwriter venues throughout town. Yes, another excuse for Nashville people to DRINK themselves silly and watch people play country songs.
If you would rather not be out during TPS, fear not, here are some shows to hit up: 4/4 Next Big NashvillePresents Megan McCormick, Erin McCarley, Kate York, and Butterfly Boucher, 12th & Porter, 7pm 4/4 Kate Voegele with the Whitest Light and Kelley James, Rocketown, 6:30 $12.00 **4/5 GRAND OLE PARTY with The Loft, Mellow DOwn Easy, Javelinas, Bullet Called Life, The Rutledge, 9pm $12.00 **4/8 TOKYO POLICE CLUB with Eagle Seagull, Exit/In, 9pm $14.00 4/10 Tyler James, Peter Bradley and Eric Wilson 12th & Porter 9pm 4/13 Matt Whitewith Brad Passons, Exit/In 8pm $12.00. I had the pleasure of being in the studio with Matt when he was recording his album. He's poppy but fun. 4/18 The New Pornographers Mercy Lounge, 9pm $25.00 4/30 Jay Reatard with Cheaptime, High on Life, and the Curse of the Drinking Glass, Mercy Lounge 9pm (**OTR Music picks)
Steve Aoki has done it again this time a full length release of his remixes and the remixes of his friends... I love Steve Aoki, as a person, I love everything he does and everything he represents (not to mention we went to the same college, University of CA, Santa Barbara). I admire him so much, he is so passionate about everything he does and works VERY hard at it. He's literally in 5 states or more in one week, I never knew half the things he does were humanly possible. (see my blog on him here).
I randomly went to the music section at Target and I was as happy as a small child going into Toys 'R Us seeing their favorite toy when I saw this I remember seeing it when it was released in December and knew as soon as I saw a hard copy I would have to grab it. I ran to my car (literally, I actually ran to my car) and popped this in there and had a few minutes to scan through each song while on my way to The End for a show, and haven't stopped listening to it since. It is jam packed with all my favorite electronic artists, as well as some indie rock favs, and even Franz Ferdinand, all remixed by the best of the best. Everyone from Justice, to Bloc Party, to Klaxons to Peaches are on there featuring remixes by MSTRKRFT (one of my favorites), Soulwax, Erol Alkan, and Steve himself (Weird Science).
*Track listings below There are of course the Justice gems on there that you would have already heard had you listened to the tracks on their album. The MSTRKRFT remix of D.A.N.C.E has made circulation in the digital world already, but nonetheless it's my favorite way to listen to this track. There is also the Durrdurrrrr Re-Edit remix of Waters of Nazareth is by Erol Alkan with Pase Rock's Guest Drop. And then there's Steve Aoki's Weird Science remix of HELICOPTER (Bloc Party) which features Peaches responding to Kele's "running on" "some things will never be different" with things like "you want it, you want it all," "go further further." I LOOOOOVE this remix so much I could listen to it over and over and over and over. What a great song to begin with and this is a whole new song. Two amazing ways to listen to Helicopter. I'm still thinking about Kele spinning at the Bloc Party after party after their show here in town back in summer. I also love Peaches "Boys Wanna Be Here" which is already a great tune but has the greatness of Steve Aoki behind this remix. "Boys wanna (boys wanna).........girls wanna (girls wanna).......boys wanna, girls wanna...." DO YOU WANT TO is instrumental and its intro is a blend with the song with a very familiar song we all know. The verse transitions into Eron Alkan's Glam Racket Remix with bits of the melody tied in between. BRING IT ON remix with Todd Fink guest drop is sooooooo f'in cool, this is a fun one. LA Riots remix of Low Life by Scanners is my favorite. I am of course biased because DJ Dan of LA Riots is a friend of mine and I generally love all of their remixes, but I think this one is really appealing. It sounds like a totally different song. Low Life is a great indie tune and it has been transformed into electronic dance gold. I got to see LA Riots at SXSW. (they spun at the Vice Party opening for MSTRKRFT Saturday, March 15 302 E. 6th St. 11:00 p.m.). Their myspace has free downloads.
Long story long: if you are a fan of electronic remixes you don't want to let this one pass you by. Buy it on iTunes here. $9.99 album only (believe me it's worth it)
1. REFUSED New Noise 2. JUSTICE Waters Of Nazereth (Erol Alkan's Durrr Durrr Durrrrrr Re-Edit) w/ Pase Rock's Guest Drop 3. DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH? We Are Rockstars w/ Spank Rock & Amanda Blank's Guest Drop 4. SERVICES Element Of Danger (MSTRKRFT Remix) w/ Har Mar Superstar's Guest Drop 5. GOOSE Bring it On w/ Todd Fink's Guest Drop 6. LARRY TEE & PRINCESS SUPERSTAR Licky (Work it Out) [Herve Goes Low Remix] w/ Santogold’s Guest Drop 7. GREEN VELVET Shake and Pop w/ Kid Sister's Guest Drop 8. KLAXONS Gravity's Rainbo (Soulwax Remix) 9. MYSTERY JETS The Boy Who Ran Away (Riton Re-Dub) 10. PEACHES Boys Wanna Be Her (Weird Science Remix) 11. DATAROCK Fa-Fa-Fa w/ Steve Bays' Guest Drop 12. YELLE Je Veux Te Voir 13. FRANZ FERDINAND Do You Want To (Erol Alkan's Glam Racket Remix) 14. KIM Wet 'N Wild w/ Mickey Avalon's Guest Drop 15. BLOC PARTY Helicopter (Weird Science Remix feat. Peaches) 16. JUSTICE D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix) 17. SCANNeRS Low Life (L.A. Riots' Remix) w/ Uffie's Guest Drop
Join the Nashville community for this great event Thursday night for Pico Vs. Island Trees, Tommy and the Whale,Cassino, Ricky Young, and the Features. Most importantly come out to support the cause of this event; to raise money for a young victim of cancer and by doing so bringing awareness to the community with support from American Cancer Society. There is a minimum donation of $10.00 which is a small cost to see some of the best bands in town and help a young local fight her disease.
Imagine being 23 years old and hearing the words: "You've got squamous-cell cancer". Carolyn Benedict had the world at her fingertips when she was struck with the news. In 2007, She had a canker sore in her mouth that didn't seem to go away and immediately went to get it checked out. The mass in her mouth turned out to be squamous-cell carcinoma. Strange for a girl who was healthy and happy as a clam and never smoked a day in her life. She underwent major surgery on her mouth and on her neck, where the doctors removed her lymph nodes as a precautionary measure. The surgery was a success and they believed they removed all of the cancer cells. The world is at her fingertips once again.The current problem lies in her financial situation. At the time of her diagnosis, Carolyn was working as a coffee barista at Fido and did not have health insurance. Because of this, she's been stuck with an exorbitant amount of medical debt, and you can only imagine what kind of burden this is on a young girl just starting her adult life.... for more please visit the myspace page
With the help of a strong community of caring individuals in the music industry here in Nashville, F**K Cancer Benefit Concert came to fruition.
The purpose of the F**K Cancer Benefit is to raise money for Carolyn's Medical Fund and entertain you with some of Nashville's finest talents. There will be a silent auction full of goodies for people to bid on, t-shirts, posters, information about cancer provided by the American Cancer Society. A Reverend at Brentwood United Methodist, Carolyn's childhood church, set up a fund for her. People can make additional tax-deductible donations (in addition to the $10 minimun for the show) to the BUMC Ministerial Discretionary FundWITHOUT Carolyn's name on the check so she won't be taxed for it. The church will send the money straight to Vanderbilt to cover her medical bills.
*3/27 F**k Cancer Benefit with The Features, Tommy & the Whale, Ricky Young, Cassino, Pico vs Island, Mercy Lounge 9pm, $10 min donation *3/28 Disappointed By Candy, Rutledge 8pm *3/28 KS Rhoads, Erin McCarley 12th and Porter 8pm *3/28 Luna Halo, Mercy Lounge, 8pm *3/29 AutoVaughn, Brenn, The Lonely Hearts, The Effects, Mercy Lounge 8pm
.....with American Bang, The Jane Shermans and Cougar Fight
American Bang just got back from kicking everyone's ass in Austin for SXSW '08. They played NINE times and haven't stopped since. High school friends from Nashville, TN, American Bang (formerly Bang Bang Bang) is in your face, balls off the wall (they literally jump all over the place), rock 'n F-in roll. With AC/DC riffs and Paul Stanley meets Chris Robinson vocals, Jaren Johnston is guaranteed to give you weils and yells to his songs, and Ben Brown will blow your mind with Angus Young style riffs and blistering solos. This band will remind you of all the rock n roll bands you love and make you feel like you're right here in 2008. Their October release EP Move to the Music (Warner Bros.) is available now and currently doing some major damage.
Playing with American Bang is The Jane Shermans who will be celebrating their new release.
American Bang The Jane Shermans Cougar Fight Exit/In 9pm, $8
Oh Austin, it's always so sad to leave you at the close of SXSW.
SXSW 2008 has officially come to a close and I'm without a voice and barely alive but smiling BIG.
Great bands, great parties and great company. Since I left LA in summer for Music City, USA, I haven't seen any of my friends and old co-workers from LA. Maaaaaan I missed my people.
Friday was my best day. One of my favorite annual events is the BMI Accoustic Brunch at the Four Seasons. Almost at delirious from the few nights before, but yet just getting started, you trek over to the Four Seasons for great acoustic performances (this year was Brooke Waggoner, Eldar, Kaki King, James Yuill, Rachel Goodrich, Cecil Batista, Pricilla Ahh, Laura Marling, Jacol Jeffries) for a full breakfast, fresh juice, and bottomless mimosas and bloody marys! Need I say More? Plus nearly everyone goes to this so it's a great way to get with everyone at one place (when it's usually impossible to hook up with people). When we had a good mimosa buzz going and saw a few great performances, we walked out to Stubbs for the annual SPIN day party for more free drinks and great performances. We stayed for most of the party to see The Whigs, The Raveonettes and Vampire Weekend.
I had the treat of seeing a bunch of friends from my Geffen days at the Suretone Party where one of my favorite indie bands The Black Angels played along with Meriwether, Eastern Conference Champions and Shwayze. I also caught the Deadly Syndrome at the Dim Mak party and popped into the ASCAP Rock Showcase. There was a Perry Farrell sighting at Bank of America and a long conversation about our hometown and all the annoying yuppies that have chosen to reside there with Hermosa Beach punk rocker/American Punk Hardcore founder Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks) at the Little Radio showase at Red Eyed Fly. Pretty awesome to talk about my hometown in Austin with him. Of course as a founder of the hardcore scene in the south bay he had a lot to say about how much our little beach town that could has drastically changed with acquiring people from all over the country and turning it into an upscale conservative beach community. Yuck. The Alternative Press party is always a good place to get good swag (skateboard deck, Vans wallet, headphones, I needed a new deck so this was perfect), and see some tattooed, peirced punk rockers. I got to chat with my good friend Mike of MXPX and met some people from the South Bay punk scene.
I also made sure to be in attendance at one of my favorite bands from my current neck of the woods: Cage the Elephant. I knew when I looked out into the crowd that there were people who had never experienced their show and were about to witness something beyond what they would expect in the least bit, which is exactly the point, you never know what to expect at a Cage the Elephant show. Halfway through their first song Soil to The Sun the band realized Matt's vocal mic cable was out and rather than making a fuss about it, he said "fuck it" and kept singing. He proceeded to walk through the crowd over to the bar, it begins. He climbs the bar and up the balcony, facing the crowd and holding on from behind. He mouths "will you catch me" to those below and jumps and starts crowd surfing. Now imagine that this place is smaller than The End with about 10 feet between the end of the stage and the bar. Whenever Matt starts to feel his music run through his veins he is unstoppable and purely AMAZING. He even stepped outside to sing for the people outside looking in who seemed to love it. You always leave satisfied at a Cage the Elephant show.
Another party I enjoyed was the Chop Shop Records party sponsored by Atlantic Records. Since I had spent some time at Universal Music Publishing Group in the Film/TV Department, this was a reunion party for me. Got hooked up with my old colleagues and boss from UMPG and back in touch with some great music supervisors (including the amazing one who founded Chop Shop). I stayed for The Republic Tigers and Yael Naim and waited for everyone to cheer at the sound of the song from the current Apple Air campaign, had a few beverages before leaving for the Filter Magazine Cedar St. Courtyard to see Sea Wolf and Levi's Fort Fader House to see Birdmonster. By the end of the night I even got to hang with Rolling Stone Editor Joe Levy who is now the Editor-in Chief for Blender Magazine. My week ended at the Vice Party where my friend DJ Dan of LA Riots opening for MSTRKRFT which was grrrreat.
Most interesting performance was from electro-dub Santogold based out of Brooklyn, NY. They played at the Levi's Fort FADER Magazine house (click here for a photo gallery from the Fader house) around 6 pm on Saturday. There were three girls up front, one singing, one on each side of her dancings, with one white guy in the back line spinning. The two girls on each side of Santagold's Santi White alternated between standing completely still like soldiers (see video below) to breaking into little dances to the alternating beats of the DJ. Santi White was wearing purple velvet pants with a multicolored and purple top, short hair and big sunglasses. The Two girls up front were wearing sailor style outfits with berets and collared shirt suits. There was everything from reggae, dub, new wave, hip hop, jamaican and electronic incorporated into their performance. Electronic spinning with hip/hop beats mixed in. This was the most unique and entertaining show of the whole week. The Fader House was over capacity at this point and I had to get in especially since my friend DJ Dan of LA RIOTS was spinning in between sets so I walked over to exit area and the dude let me in.
From myspace- Santogold is a survivor of a half-century worth of living along musical evolution’s most cutting edges. The only live act that can boast of having out-aged Barbara Bush, having outlived Mr. Miyagi and out-styled Liberace, Santogold is here with future flavor. Already receiving weighty club rotation and airplay in urban Afghanistan and downtown Beirut, Santogold is the first act of the century to boast a post-war following on the International Space Station Mir. Following a live performance broadcast from three thousand miles off the Cape of Good Hope last June, inmates at Leavenworth Penitentiary received Santogold with a celebratory confetti parade. Just another first for the modern super group that knows no bound. Composed of absolutely no members, Santogold is also the first musical outfit capable of claiming the planet’s broiling collective consciousness as their front woman. Longtime collaborator, singer and songwriter Santi White says of her work with Santogold, “We began trying to write pop songs to sell, which made us depressed, so we started writing songs for ourselves instead.” The results of that self-centered conceit is the songwriting work heard for the first time on the full length Santogold album, as yet untitled, to be released in 2007 on the Lizard King label. As unmastered tracks leaked over the internet this past November, the request lines of radio stations from Miami to Hanoi began freezing with a flood of calls from listeners eager to hear the new Santogold sound over their frequencies. From his radio show in the United Arab Emirates capital city of Abu Dhabi, Michael Jackson (the King of Pop) played what Santogold snippets he had been able to pirate from a bootleg MySpace page dedicated to the group. Days later, BBC Radio One reported that the unreleased Santogold debut was heard blasting from the iPod shuffle of Libyan ruler Moammar Qaddafi as he entered an international summit in the Nigerian capital of Abuja. Recognizing the urgent need to address the uproarious buzz, Santogold released the following statement through their label reps at Lizard King: “The response to our unmastered songs has been both premature and phenomenal! We were happy to hear that the children of Darfur have found hope in our melodic interpretation of life on the battlefield of love! We’re hoping that each and every 20-something from downtown San Francisco to central Mumbai will also learn something from our work! And to the people dropping no-knock fire on old ladies in Atlanta: shame on you! Santogold ain’t with that shit!” The trajectory of such early successes leading to newfound political clout is nothing new for Santogold, whose debut album, though half a century in the making, is sure to rock glass pipes from the Lincoln Memorial to Buckingham palace. The flavor of the gold is guaranteed: Santogold!
Most of the bands I saw at SXSW '08 The Deadly Syndrome The Wombats Color Revolt Birdmonster Franki Chan Steve Aoki Spindrift Working For A Nuclear Free City Gliss The Black Angels Meriwether Eastern Conference Champions Swayze Grand Ole Party Brooke Waggoner Nada Surf Vampire Weekend The Raveonettes The Whigs American Bang Cage the Elephant Castledoor Republic Tigers Yael Naim Sia Santagold Sea Wolf Spankrock LA Riots Liam And Me Action! Action! Mstrkrft DJ Z Trip The Little Ones Henry Clay People
1:00 The Republic Tigers FILTER Cedar St. Courtyard 208 W. 4th ** (below) 2:00 The Black keys La Zona Rosa 612 W. 4th 2:30 Low vs. Diamond Filter Cedar St. Courtyard 208 W. 4th St. 3:00 Grand Ole Party Levi's the Fort FADER HOUSE*** (below) 204 E. 4th St. The Ravonettes Little Radio Red Eyed Fly 715 Red River 3:15 The Duke Spirit Filter Mag Cedar St. Courtyard 208 W 4th Meiko Viper Room Orchid 405 E. 7th 3:30 Color Revolt Paste/Stereogum Volume 612 E. 6th Free gift bags 4:00 Be Your Own Pet Filter Mag Cedar St. Courtyard 208 W 4th / Hello Stranger, Girl in a Coma HUNNYPOT MoMo's 618 W. 6th 4:00-7:00 Alternative Press party Congress Ave 4:15 Birdmonster Levi's the Fort FADER HOUSE 4:30 Franki Chan iheartcomix BEAUTY BAR 617 E. 7th & 4 more electronic djs after 4:30- 6:30 Orchard's Happy Hour Driskill Hotel 604 Brazos St. 5:00 Spindrift little Radio RedEyed Fly 715 Red River 5:30 The Black Angels little Radio RedEyed Fly 715 Red River 7:00-9pm Ben Harper, American Bang, & special Guests Stubbs (might not be right at 7 find out) 7:30 Greg Laswell The Parish HOTEL CAFE in Austin 214 B E. 6th 8:00 Kate Havenvik The Parish HOTEL CAFE Eleni Mandell The Ale House 310 E. 6th alley 9:45 Working for a Nuclear Free City iheartcomix Beauty Bar backyard 617 E. 7th 10:00 Rocco Deluca The Parish HOTEL CAFE in Austin 214 B E. 6th Man Man Cedar St Courtyard 208 W. 4th 11:00 Meiko The Parish HOTEL CAFE in Austin 214 B E. 6th My Morning Jacket Austin Music Hall 208 Nueces St. 11:30 Flyleaf (Songs pub) La Zona Rosa 612 W. 4th 11:40 The Presidents of the USA Cedar Door 201 Brazos 12:00 Serj Tankian La Zona Rosa 612 W. 4th Perry Farrell Punaga 409 Colorado St. 1:00 Darker My Love BD Riley's 204 E. 6th The Octopus Project Emo's Main 603 Red River The Wombats Maggie Mae's Roof 323 E. 6th NOFX Red 7 611 E. 7th Gliss Spiro's 615 Red River Halifax Spiro's Amphitheater 611 Red River
Wednesday Little Radio The Fader Viper Room Pure Volume Aussie Hoe Down Under Party at the Moon
Thursday Bay Area Takeover British Music Expo Filter Mag Showdown Great Tailgate NME The Fader Under the Radar Paste/Stereogum Hunnypot Viper PureVolume Alternative Press iheartcomix Sink or Swim Little Radio
Friday BMI Acoustic Brunch Filter Next BIG Nashville Australian BBQ Viper Paste/Stereogum Little Radio SPIN Mag iheartcomix PureVolume Bug/Windswept 6 Degrees of TX Blender House
Saturday Viper SF Showcase Filter SXSeattle ChopShop/Atlantic Feedback Dim Mak
....you can catch him in Austin at two SXSW showcases both on Thursday, March 14th
If you were there, you had the pleasure of hearing Ricky's beautiful songs, including; Sing me A Song, Acoustic Guitars, Suitcase Afternoon, Queen, Tom Petty's American Girl, and a few others. People screamed, people danced, people sang along, and everyone had a smile on their face. Ricky's show is guaranteed to make you happy. Even when he introduces himself as Jeremy Lister "thanks for coming out."
If you missed the show, catch Ricky in Austin:
Friday, 3/14 Official SXSW Next BIG Nashville Day Party 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm @ The Tap Room at Six Lounge (114 W. 4th St.) and also the
Friday, 3/14 Red Gorilla Music Festival 6pm @ Nuno's Upstairs (422 E 6th St)
Later this month back in HonkyTonkville: March 27, F**k Cancer Benefit Concert with The Features, Tommy and the Whale and more, 8pm Mercy Lounge
If I could choose the soundtrack for my life….it would definitely be Brooke Waggoner’s music. It’s brilliant, charming, melodic, beautiful, sweetly unassuming in moments and epic in others. It satisfies that longing in your soul for something ‘nostalgic’ and ‘other’ while being completely fresh & new. Discovering Brooke’s music is like finding carefully wrapped 8mm reels of film in your attic…and as you begin watching it for the first time you realize it’s of your parents when they were young & in love—there’s something so special and significant and magical about it. To listen to Brooke's music or find out how you can seize her latest EP Fresh Pair of Eyes, go to http://www.brookewaggonermusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/brookewaggoner .
And then there’s her live shows…I am proud to say that I’ve been ‘in’ on the Brooke Waggoner secret back since 1 year ago when she started playing shows here in Nashville…I've caught everything from her simple 3 piece band to a modest crowd show at the Basement to her sold out CD release show at 3rd & Lindsley (complete with a full string section--whoa!) to one of her latest shows at Mercy Lounge where we literally missed her set because the line was so long to get in! Each and every single show is incredible—it takes the unique sounds from her record and brings it to a whole other level.
If you have not yet discovered & experienced the treasure that is Brooke’s music ….then do yourself a favor and do whatever it takes (run, hitchhike, scooter, MTA….or considering our freak snowy weather this weekend….snow shoe, cross-country ski) to go to her show at 3rd & Lindsley tomorrow (Saturday, March 8th) at 9pm with Jeremy Fisher & Christopher Denny. I promise you will not be disappointed…in fact you’ll wanna thank me…you can send all thank you notes & gifts to me by contacting the lovely peeps who run this site. –Miss Kat
I'm not gonna pretend to be experienced in the ways of blogging--this is my first time.
I've got friends though who are...........quality bloggers that is........don't get the wrong idea.......they're not blogging whores. I don't read their blogs everyday (who's got that kind of time?!), but when I do, their brilliance, profundity, and humor blow me away and honestly, they make me say, "This is freakin insane! I can't believe I get to be friends with this person! "
Which leads me to a little secret I'm gonna let you in on: I don't know how it happened (I know it's nothing I did to deserve it), but I somehow get to meet & know some of the most brilliant, witty, inspiring, and amazing people currently on the planet. I know you're thinking, 'Yeah right, not possible, everybody says that!" but I'm tellin' you, if you spend a week with me, you will run into these people and you'll believe it. They are the most ridiculously talented, creative, generous, funny, deep, compassionate, and wonderful people you will ever meet.
(I would go on and on, but they're really humble too, so I know this'll embarrass them that I'm even saying stuff like this in reference to them but who cares...this is a public service announcement...people need to know the truth.).
In any case, don't be jealous. All this can be yours too--I don't keep them all to myself. I'll freely share them with you. They can be your friends too (well, I guess they'll need to decide that for themselves, but knowing them, they're pretty open & warm-hearted, so you've got a really good chance...
So anyway, enough of my ramblings--let's reveal who a few of these people are so you can start reading their awesome blogs & figuring out your social strategy on how to become their friends too!They are....drum roll please.......in random order:
STEVE AOKI: The King of the Hipsters.there is NO one like him
What doesn't he do? Where HASN'T he dominated? What deejay does not want to be him? What hipster kid does not want to be him?
Okay maybe I'm speaking of him as if he is one of the greatest of our time - I AM!!! He IS one of the GREATEST of our time. We have never had anyone like him! There have been The Beatles movements, the 60's Summer of Love Movements, Nirvana and the Grunge movement, and the hip hop movements in the 90s. Everything since has been copy of something from our past -which doesn't devalue any of it, or make it less cool, it's just not innovative. No one has been an innovator of all sorts since the 90s quite like Steve Aoki has been. Yes, he is still pretty underground and not mainstream at all so the whole world doesn't not know about him. But those who don't use MTV for their source of music do follow him. Those who read indie magazines, streaming radio stations, listen to indie music, or follow underground fashion. Steve Aoki has brought what so many people probably thought they could bring but haven't been able to do so in such a way as he has.
By starting off deejaying at his University's quaint party neighborhood in Santa Barbara, and now deejaying around the world, literally, he has created an EMPIRE. From remixes, to his record label, to bringing and breaking artists from around the world to the United States, to his T-Shirt and hoodie designs, to his own headphones and shoes, Steve Aoki has created a BRAND.
With Dim Mak Records, he has made Bloc Party successful around the world, imported and developed artists such as MSTRKRFT, Klaxons, and and signed the best indie bands around today: The Deadly Syndrome, Scanners, Whitey, Mystery Jets, Oh No! Oh My!, Datarock, The Icarus Line, Foreign Born, The Willowz and more.
Steve has taken club promotion and Deejayig to another level. By remaining completely loyal to his independent and underground roots, his club nights have become the hottest spots in Hollywood and Tokyo. He somehow manages to be all over Los Angeles running Dim Mak, to club nights, to New York, to London, Tokyo, Germany, Atlanta, Austin, Paris, Canada all within a matter of weeks. This man does not sleep, he is constantly working. His wheels are always turning. Also an artist, his logo designs have turned into designing T-Shirts, tank tops, hoodies, and even shoes. His products are not cheap, but GUARANTEE once you see them you will want them. Steve Aoki has brought back the nostalgic art direction for clothing. All his designs are 100% pure from the heart. He doesn't follow a model, trends, or even keep within the lines, the shirts are the most unique you will ever find. They may represent anything from an album cover from a Dim Mak artist, to a totally random creature, to a tic tac toe sketch. There is no rhyme nor reason to his art. THAT is why he is amazing. Not many people have been able to be 100% true to their heart without following ANY rules and developed an empire, and here's the best part WHILE remaining totally independent.
Steve Aoki is the true hipster. Whatever he does, wears, says, listens to, or spins, everyone around him will follow in his lead. People who are new to the hipster world think it's cool to be snotty, elitest, and a dick. Growing up in LA I can say what IS cool is to be totally true and honest to everything you do. If it's music, listen to what you like not what others tell you to like, if it's clothes, where what you like. Steve is one of those people that you see everywhere and think "he's so awesome, he's probably a dick." Totally on the contrary, he's one of the coolest, nicest, yet passionate guys I know who does what he does. Some other amazing things from Wikipedia: *Under the moniker Weird Science, he has remixed everyone from Lenny Kravitz, Bloc Party, Snoop Dogg, Robin Thicke, S.P.A., Duran Duran to Timbaland, & Peaches. *Aoki and friend Greger, the owner of WESC, came up with the idea together to do the "Aoki headphones." Each season Aoki plans to design new headphones for WESC. *Aoki also is endorsed by KR3W Apparel and Supra Footwear, where he develops and designs an entire range of clothing and shoes for both companies under his name. For more information go to kr3wapparel.com and suprans.com *Aoki also is a co-owner in a Korean BBQ restaurant called Shin alongside Danny Masterson, Julian Casablancas from the Strokes, Mark Ronson, Laura Prepon, Jerry Butler, Chris Masterson among others. *Aoki co-owns a management company called Deckstar with Adam Goldstein otherwise known as DJ AM along with their managers and manager mogul Paul Rosenberg who also manages Eminem and Shady Records. Underneath the Deckstar Management division, Dim Mak management has been formed to manage some of the label's artists and other djs. *Aoki was featured in the video game NBA 2K8 as a special celebrity player, even though he admits to be horrible at basketball. He is featured again in NBA 2K9 with The Cool Kids, Quest Love, among others.
Tonight will be a special treat; all artists will be playing brand new music from their upcoming and recent releases. Ricky and Kyle from their upcoming albums and Horse in the Sea from their recent debut release.
Ricky Young has been busy working on his album and playing sold out shows all over Nashville, most recently Mercy Lounge, Exit/In, and 5 Spot. His new full length album Learn to Steal is in the final stages of production and will be available in April. I've been listening to the roughs, they're yummmmmmmmy. Join mailing list to keep up to date with his new release.
Make sure you catch him in Austin for SXSW '08, he's playing two great shows next week including the official SXSW Next BIG Nashville Day Party which is 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm @ The Tap Room at Six Lounge (114 W. 4th St.) and also the Red Gorilla Music Festival 6pm @ Nuno's Upstairs (422 E 6th St)
Ricky's an East Nashville guy. Tonight at the 5 Spot will be a great show to catch him at.
Kyle Andrews' release of Find Love, Let Go has made impact on KCRW's Top Tune on Februrary 28, 2008. Kyle also has written a song on the new For The Kids III compilation which also features Moby and Barenaked Ladies, the track is called The Wheels On the Bus. Not only has he been working on his own music and finishing up his next release, but as an artist on Bad Man Records, he is has been working with other artists as well. New album by Horse in the Sea (who play first tonight)I Order the Sun to Shine On Everyoneis actually produced by Kyle himself.
Tonight's show starts at 9pm. Hope to see you there.
Horse in the Sea Ricky Young Kyle Andrews
The 5 Spot 1006 Forrest Ave, Nashville, TN 37206-2736
Mar 29 AutoVaughn, Brenn, The Lonely Hearts, The Effects 8pm, Mercy Lounge May 6 Katie Herzig CD Release Show with Jeremy Lister and others, 8pm The Rutledge
Although some may think nashville should be called country music, usa, it is rightfully called music city, usa. Like LA, NY, Chicago, Austin, and all it's competetors , there is always live music all over the damn city. With the exception of electronic and good reggae, - you can catch most every genre every night. After I left the office, I head over to Music Publisher's writer's Night. A Writer's Night always means songwriters in the round, taking turns playing their songs they hope to get "cut" which is in deed in the Country world. A "Cut" from a major artist. We saw 4 writers, each play 2 songs, one which has been "cut" by George Strait, who in this world is VERY highly esteemed. See Nashville Music Guide here
After talking to a few people, I went over to the Sommet Group to see Linkin Park. I'm not generally a Linkin Park fan at the least bit - don't have a single album, don't plan to, not interested at all by them, saw Chester at the House of Blues once and he was struggling to sing. BUT I recognize the genre they created and I get why people like them. That being said though, since I'm obsessed with music and wouldn't want to do anything else for an hour, I saw then in concert. Show was pretty good actually, and I enjoyed seeing them live. Stage was very basic and I appreciate that. Chester hada LOT of energy. After one hour, I drove to East Nashville to see The Jane Shermans, our friends Brenn, and also Mona who was recently showcased by Rick Rubin in LA.
I love Brenn. Their show was full or pop driven beats, apathetic beautiful vocals, blistering guitar leads, and thick rhythm section. Their sound reminded me of Muse-like riffs which full of fuzzy guitar goodness, a loud, noisey and great sing along chorus, high tone guitar melodies and unexpecting guitar solos.
Paper Route had an amazing show at the Basement last night, some thought it was a private showcase, some thought it wasn't, this is perhaps because there were a lot of label interest at this show. I personally bumped into one of the best A&R guys in the business, and a good friend, (@RCA Records) who flew in from LA for the show. Knowing him and the decisions he makes, he would not fly in if he did not love the band, and knowing his taste in music, well, any band he signs I immediately become a fan.
"This is the nicest show I've ever been to. I just heard say someone say "excuse me."
Last night LA came face to face with country's greatest. Dierks Bentley hosted a private show at the Knitting Factory to celebrate his 4 grammy nominations.
The show started at 11:00PM . Dierks performed for close to 45 minutes. Showing LA what it's like to be a true artist. Dierks had announced that he had some surprises for the night but I could guarantee that no one in the room could have guessed what was about to happen.
As Dierks told the crowd that he had invited some of his friends, Miranda Lambert made her way to the stage. The crowd was in awe, completely shocked and excited. Miranda sang 2 songs with Dierks and then left the stage. Right as she made her way off the of the stage Dierks began to tell a story about how he had tried to get a hold of Brad Paisley to ask him to come perform with him tonight but that "Brad was too big of a star now." As he finished his sentence Brad Paisley made his way to the stage to perform a few songs with Dierks. The crowd went crazy, not really knowing what was going on and how it was possible to get such amazing performers on one of the smallest stages in Los Angeles.
After Brad left the stage anticipation grew stronger, everyone knew that the night had just begun and there were certainly more surprises in store. The biggest surprise of the night was Matt McCreedy of Pearl Jam to the stage. The crowd just went nuts. Everyone looked at each other and just mouthed the words "seriously." It felt like we were in some alternate universe. Under normal circumstances this would have never happened. Meaning, you could not get Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert in a 400 person capacity room in Nashville, TN. It's just not possible. Fans would take over the venue and the fire marshall would have to close the show down because people would have heard about it and demanded to get into the show.
Anyways, the show was not over. 2 big surprises made their way to the stage. The first being Haley and Josh from Paramore. Dierks knew them because they live in the same city, Franklin and he invited them to sing some Johnny Cash with him. Her bright red hair and powerful vocals caught everyone's attention.
The last surprise of the night was the legendary Dwight Yokon. A few of my friends saw him walking around earlier in the night. Never would they have thought that he was actually going to get on stage and perform with Dierks.
"What a night.." is what everyone said as they left the Knitting Factory that night. A rare night in Hollywood and definitely a night that no one will ever forget.
MON, FEB 4TH *Kevin Devine w/The Jealous Girlfriends, Rcktwn, 8 pm *8 off 8th feat. November, Erik Hamilton, Sam Stone, Shadows of Light, Caesar Brown, Gunslinger, Mellow Down Easy & Inglewood, Mercy Lounge, Free *Grey Market w/The Golden Gears & The Koo, The Rutledge, $5 TUE, FEB 5TH *Matt King, Grimey's In-Store, 6 pm *Tyler Hilton with Sean McConnell, , Lori Mckenna & Barry Dean, In the Row, Bluebird Cafe, 6 pm, Free *Mando Saenz CD Release show, The Basement, 6 pm, Free *New Faces Nite w/ Brett Rosenberg, Don Pedigo, Derek Hulquist, Molly Irene, Andrew Johnson, Adam Burrows, The Basement, 7 pm, Free *Dax Riggs w/The Attack, Exit/In, 9 pm, $10-$12. *Swagger w/The Clantons & The Wrecking Bal, The End, 9 pm WED, FEB 6TH *Circean w/Julietta & Talking Like Red Solo, The End, 9pm, $5 *Fiery Furnaces, Exit/In, 9pm, $14. THU, FEB 7TH *Nashville Noir Label Showcase feat. The Janissary, The Running & Beta Macks, The Rutledge, 8pm, $8 *Mechanical Birds w/Patrick Sweany & the Cheeksters, The Basement, 9 pm, $7. *Hammertorch w/Wildcard Family Revival, The End, 9 pm, $5 FRI, FEB 8TH *Dan Baird & Homemade Sin w/The Sways, Exit/In, 9pm, $15 (Neil Young) *Mike Farris w/The Mike Younger Band, Mercy Lounge, 9pm, $10 *The Lonely Hearts w/Redwhiteblue & Courtney Jay, The End, 9pm, $6. Harrison Hudson w/Disappointed by Candy** & Carswell, The Rutledge, 9pm, $5-$8. SAT, FEB 9TH Parachute Musical w/Daria Farmer, Born Empty & Eureka Gold, Exit/In, 9pm $5 *Days of the New w/Saving Abel, Mercy Lounge, 9pm, $15.
Overall, I thought the commercials in general were just OK. However as usual, there were some really BIG ones with celebrities, but the others were just average I thought. Here are my favorites, if you have another favorite or think these ones suck, tell me! Audi/Godfather- I loved this one because it captures one of the most significant scenes of motion picture history in one of the best films ever, also one of my favorites. Can't help but think "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse":
Diet Pepsi Max- Best part, Chris Kattan at the end of the commercial:
Bridgestone - wildlife is always fun:
Budweiser/Rocky- another great film reference:
Pepsi Stuff/Justin- it's always fun to see a pop star get thrown around and poked at, Justin gets his ass kicked!
E-Trade/ Baby Talking #2
Will Farrell/Bud Light- Probably my favorite, who doesn't love to see Will Farrell be funny:
*I also found these outtakes from the same commercial
If you missed Superbowl 42, here are the last few incredible moments:
Manning escapes sack, and passes to Tyree
...and of course, the last 50 seconds, Eli Manning's pass to Plaxico Burress for the winning Touchdown!
SPACE CAPONE CD Release Party and Show will be at the Mercy Lounge this Friday, Feburary, 1st at 9:00 pm. Admission is $10 but you get a free CD. Sounds like a deal!
BAND OF HORSES graced Nashville with an amazing performance last night at the Exit/In. A packed sold-out show, there wasn't an inch to move around and rock out, but everyone was thrilled to be there. Nashville indie kids belted out the words of the songs and their arms wailed in the air in total bliss. People were shouting out different song titles, which is a further reason to appreciate that Band of Horses has incredible songs. They are amazing songwriters and everyone has a favorite. When a band plays for ninety minutes and there is not one moment that is not breathtaking, I'll say it was a well spent ninety minutes.
The show opened with Tyler Ramsey, the magnificent folk guitarist of Band of Horses who delivered songs from his recent release A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea including "These Days", and "Night Time." The men of Band of Horses; Ben Bridwell Rob Hampton Creighton Barrett Ryan Monroe Tyler Ramsey and Bill Reynolds were mysteriously covered by their thick beards, hiding away their faces. Their show was full of the unique blend of seventies folk and their usual massive echoing Seattle guitar sound, Ben's eerie vocals harmonized by keyboardist Ryan Monroe and a beautiful delivery of their expressive lyrics. Although my favorite song of the night was Ben singing "The world is a wonderful place" (from Ode to LRC), my favorite moment of the night was the second to last encore song "The Great Specific" Ben smacked a tambourine with a drum stick to the explosive sing along verses and choruses. With the exception of occasional feedback from the mic which seems to be inevitable at the Exit/In, the show was incredible. You should have been there.
From Bowling Green, Kentucky, local favorite rockers CAGE THE ELEPHANTrocked the shit out of the mom 'n pop hangout, Bread & Bagel. One look at this place and your first thoughts would not be "there is going to be a killer rock show tonight." A friend said to me "we got beer on the way because we didn't think there would be any there, since it's an all ages show." Not only was he wrong about that, but people who came to the venue for the first time had no idea what to expect from the show. Locals know this is a regular spot for CAGE THE ELEPHANT, but this time they had a special treat, one of Nashville's own rockers AMERICAN BANG shared the same stage opening for them.
SXSW 2008 has officially come to a close and I'm without a voice and barely alive but smiling BIG.
Ricky Young has been busy working on his album and playing sold out shows all over Nashville, most recently Mercy Lounge, Exit/In, and 5 Spot. His new full length album 
