Lance Armstrong "Creeps"

Ok, so a friend sent me this link, and I have to say this is a clever video. Who doesn't love Radiohead's "Creep" and finally the confession about doping from Lance Armstrong???

Check it out:


http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/lance-armstrong-does-radioheads-creep

"We Come Running"

Bring summer back!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6ECw5DTULQ8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Pretty awesome concept as well with JamInTheVan.com. Check out the site and get lost in a world of underground acoustics.

http://jaminthevan.com/

Manchester Orchestra

Manchester Orchestra is from my area in Atlanta. Lead singer, Andy Hull, is so talented and my bf used to play guitars with him back in their high school days. I've been a fan for a couple years now and recently stole my bf's CD, Mean Everything to Nothing of Manchester to shake up my CD scroll for a bit.

Fell in love with this song, "I Can Feel A Hot One." Apparently this was on an episode of Gossip Girl. According to Andy Hull in an interview with Denver's Westword, "The way that song is written is, in the first half I'm basically just describing touring and kind of my relationship with God and my wife," he explains. "And the end is about this dream I had about us being in the van and getting sideswiped and hit by a huge truck. I dreamed my wife was pregnant at the time and I lost her. But this life was inside her, and in some weird way I was able to celebrate that there was some new life coming with one ending." Check out the full interview here.

Ben Wells and The Middle Names - "Lullaby"

Australian band that has a great sound. They just came out with a new single called "Bear in A Birdcage." Download it for free on their page. 

Molly Marlette

I know it's been a while since I've posted and for sure a while since I've posted any concert reviews, but such is the life of a busy working girl who now has little time on her hands :). However, I still want to keep up with providing you with new music and those underground musicians that haven't quite found mainstream yet.

Molly Marlette- She is so cute!

"Be Mine"

Monster Experiment

For the music lovers who like last minute free shows, check out the Music Experiment!!

4 Cities (New York City, Chapel Hill, Portland, and Los Angeles)
4 Shows (Of Monsters and Men, Santigold, The Jezabels, Diplo)

Tweet and unlock the secret place and get free tix before everyone else discovers the secrets!

http://www.musicexperiment.com/new-york

My Top Love Songs

Do you have a song that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, especially when you realize you're in love? A song that you never truly get over listening to or smile when you hear it? These are a few of my top love songs that are not so new, but never get old!

1."I Miss You" by Incubus  

2. "Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie 

3. "Don't Take The Girl" by Tim McGraw 

4. "Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop" by Landon Pigg 

5. "Sometime Around Midnight" by Airborne Toxic Event -This one is about a broken up couple, but they still have those lingering feelings and it's one of the prettier songs I've heard. 

6. "All My Mistakes" by The Avett Brothers  

7. "Wonderwall" by Oasis 

Tell me what your favorite love songs are!

Mates of State "Palomino"

Check it out peeps!

New Album For The Avett Brothers

The Avettt Brothers are releasing their album, The Carpenter, on Sept. 11. I am so excited to hear their new music because hopefully it means more touring!! I truly love this band and their energy. If you've never heard them before take a listen to a preview of the album on NPR.org. Check out the my first review for 99X on The Avett Brothers when they came to Atlanta for the Krush Tour last October.

Song of The Day: "Beach House" by Myth

Party In The Park

Check out the pics I posted on 99X for Party In The Park at Centennial Park this past weekend! They feature Awolnation, Young the Giant, and The Flaming Lips!!

Young the Giant

Awolnation Also check out the Party in The Park video from 99X. If you look close my friends and I are in the video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1q8oBsYgBw&list=UUi9N0V8B6PX-IuVXEn_ZE6g&index=1&feature=plcp

Song of The Day: The Look by Metronomy

Been listening to this one on Sirius XM's Alt Nation station. Love how they have a girl drummer!

Song of The Day: "Same Mistakes" by The Echo Friendly

Found this little gem while watching HBO's alternative show Girls at the end of episode 4, "Hannah's Diary." Absolutely love that show. It is the 20-something, struggling, modern Sex and The City.

No Rain by Blind Melon

This song never gets old! I love 90s Alternative.

Young The Giant and Music Midtown

So, yes it has been awhile. I apologize to my readers. You would think me losing my job I would have all this time to indulge in my blog writing, but it really is a full time job trying to impress people with my credentials and prove that I'm worthy of hiring. If someone would just pay me to blog all day about music I would be a happy woman. Perhaps I can get a movie deal like Julie and Julia ;)! That would be the day! Ah well must find a full time job until then...hopefully something that will allow me to spread my creative wings! But enough about my personal endeavor to be part of the employment statistic instead of the unemployment one. I promised Young the Giant stories and you shall have them!

One of the things I do love about my internship with Cumulus is learning photography, though somewhat intimidating, and meeting music artists in the process. A few weeks back Young the Giant came into town to play at Center Stage in Atlanta and did a promotional Sweetwater Brew Tour before the show. Good idea or bad? These guys are in their early 20s for the most part and riding the waves of new fame. Getting drunk with fans is still a novelty. The band was very comfortable and low key while giving every fan their time for undivided attention. Jokesters at heart they drew original pictures on each other on the signed posters and got behind the bar to try out their tap pouring skills, while also sampling the several flavors of course. I have to say it was one of my favorite experiences at Cumulus. It was a chill environment and allowed me to talk to the band members without being hurried and take several pictures to make sure I got the right shots. Payam Doostzadeh (bassist) revealed to me and another fan how he wanted to cut off all his hair and donate it to Locks of Love. He has really nice, thick hair, and I think it's great he wants to give back. I playfully argued with Eric Cannata (guitar)about the Apple products (I don't see the point of having the best and newest as soon as it comes out on the market), and Jacob Tilley (guitar) even offered to put those without tickets on the list for the concert later that night. After my kickball game my boyfriend and I enjoyed free entry to the show! Unfortunately, we missed openers Grouplove, but the concert was a great time! Check out 99X for the pics I took of the Sweetwater Brew Tour! Also, Music Midtown is back! It will be in September again, but will include 2 days. Foo Fighter and Pearl Jam will headline. I'm excited about the lineup and to see what other bands will be added to the bill! Below is all the info taken from Q100's Bert Show website: FOO FIGHTERS AND PEARL JAM TO HEADLINE MUSIC MIDTOWN 2012 The Meadow @ Piedmont Park | Friday, Sept. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22 Tickets on Sale THIS Saturday, April 28 at 10 a.m.! ATLANTA: At a press party held at Greystone in Piedmont Park tonight, Live Nation’s Peter Conlon, along with other city notables Atlanta City Councilmen Alex Wan and Kwanza Hall, announced the 2012 Music Midtown lineup and official expansion to a two-day music experience. “We will continually endeavor to bring amazing artists to Music Midtown, making sure that everyone has the best experience they could want at this festival,” says Festival Promoter, Peter Conlon of Live Nation. “Last year we moved quickly to re-introduce the festival and this year, we have expanded our dates to encompass Friday, making this a two-day experience with a more diverse lineup.” “One of the best things about Atlanta is its thriving arts and culture community,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “This is a city that is deeply tied to the music, film and entertainment industry. The Music Midtown concert series, which returned to Atlanta last September, is a world-class event which attracts thousands of music lovers to the heart of the city for unparalleled live music, food, energy and excitement.” Tickets go on sale this Saturday, April 28 at 10 a.m. at www.musicmidtown.com, http://www.livenation.com, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. As the official credit card of Music Midtown, Citi® card members will have access to presale tickets beginning Wednesday, April 25 at 10 a.m. through Citi’s Private Pass® Program until Friday, April 27 at 10 p.m. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com. Early Bird general admission tickets are $55 for a one-day pass or $100 for a two-day pass + $1 for Centers for Hope.* VIP packages will be available for an enhanced festival experience to include: Citi® VIP Club $ 250.00 per day/ticket · Admission to the festival · Private VIP entrance · Private Hospitality area with complimentary food and beverage · Private air-conditioned restrooms Super VIP $ 1,000.00/ticket · Admission to the festival with complimentary commemorative t-shirt · Private VIP entrance · Valet parking · Backstage Viewing Area of both stages · Private Hospitality area with complimentary food and beverage · Private air-conditioned restrooms · VIP Laminate All tickets are subject to applicable service charges and acts, event time and date are subject to change. For more information, visit www.musicmidtown.com. Produced by Live Nation. Music Midtown 2012 is sponsored by: Toyota, Citi®, Red Bull, Vitamin Water, Dasani, MillerCoors, SweetWater Brewing Company, Jack Daniels Honey, El Jimador, Rex Goliath Wine, Dos Equis and SOUL by Ludacris. * General Admission ticket prices will increase to $65 for a one-day pass and $120 for a two-day pass + $1 for Centers for Hope at a later date.

Avalanche City

TV shows are really stepping up their game when it comes to new music. I seem to find some of the best songs when watching TV. The other day I was catching up on the Cougartown episodes online, and the latest episode features a song by Avalanche City called "The Streets." Check it out below! Tune back in later to read about my Sweetwater Brew Tour with Young the Giant with pics!

Song of The Day: "Blood" by The Middle East

Watching the Indie flick Accidents Happen I stumbled upon this great song, which sounds a lot like Bon Iver. The film is about a dysfunctional family during the the 70s who struggle with a tragic car accident. It is centered around a boy who deals with the accidents in his life by honoring his vegetable brother with mischief around the community. The Australian band, The Middle East, are unfortunately no longer together, breaking up last year. The song, "Blood," is also featured on movies It's Kind of A Funny Story and Crazy, Stupid Love.

Check out the song and trailer below:

Rachel Platten Gets Her Foot In The Door

Back in the summer, the beautiful Rachel Platten graced Unplugged in the Park with her beautiful voice and sunshine personality! You can read what I had to say about her performance here. She has been busy touring all over the nation and making the theme song, "Work of Art," for ABC Family's Jane by Design. Songs "1000 Ships," "Nothing Ever Happens," and "Little Light" have also made it into the show's episodes. Good Luck to her!

Check out the "1000 Ships" official video:



Learn more on her website, including tour dates!

Song of The Day: "Wait" by M83

Pretty and relaxing. First heard it on the TV show Revenge. Their new album Hurry Up We're Dreaming is a good listen. Check it out!

Fun.

I discovered this song with the new Chevy commercial. Fun. created a "fun" new song with "We Are Young" featuring Janelle Monae. It is a great road trip song to a sunny destination! Check it out!

Cheerleader by St. Vincent

NME.com is a great alternative website where you can check out new music and stay updated on news. It is a UK based one, so it focuses more on European festivals and concerts, but still a good one to check out. Found "Cheerleader" by St. Vincent on the site. It's a slow melody, but pretty. Let me know what you think of the song!

Someone That I Used To Know

My friend showed me this on YouTube, and it has been all over the internet this past month. I've recently become addicted to this version of the song.



Thought this was really cool and the vocals are better than the original.

Here is the original song by Gotye:

SOPA

As many of you have heard now, 2 bills in Washington are being debated regarding piracy laws (downloading illegal music, movies, etc.). Internet companies like Google and Wikipedia took a stand and blocked out their pages to get people motivated to stop the bills from passing. Protesting has already helped, since certain pieces of the legislation have been deleted. For example, the government would have the ability to block certain domain names, but has since taken out that part of the bill. However, others like Time Warner are supporting Washington's proposed legislation. Get the full story at Journey 97.9 , and decide if the anti-piracy acts should pass in the House and Senate. If you are against the motion, contact your state representative to help win the fight against internet censorship!

There Will Be Blue Skies On The Horizon

This post if for my best friend who is going through some love troubles. This is a Noah and The Whale's "Blue Skies" off their 2009 The First Days of Spring album. I think singer Charlie Fink sounds very similar to Pete Yorn. Especially off this album, since the songs are mellow.

Enjoy!

RHCP Reschedule Tour

Well it seems singer Anthony Kiedis is suffering from injuries and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are going to delay their tour a bit, so now the Atlanta show is on April 30th at Gwinnett Civic Center!

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS RESCHEDULE TOUR DATES
Tags: dates, red hot chili peppers, reschedule, tour

Red Hot Chili Peppers regret to announce that they must postpone the start of their upcoming U.S.tour due to multiple foot injuries sustained by lead singer Anthony Kiedis. Kiedis recently underwent surgery to remove a crushed sesamoidbone and correct a detached flexor tendon in his foot and is expected to make a full recovery.

Tickets for the postponed dates will be honored at the rescheduled dates. The band is touring in support of current Grammy-nominated album I'm With You.


Old Date New Date City Venue

01/20 04/02 Sunrise, FL Bank Atlantic Center*
01/21 03/31 Orlando, FL Amway Arena*
01/23 03/29 St. Petersburg, FL St. Pete Times Forum
01/25 04/06 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
01/27 04/04 Raleigh, NC RBC Center*
01/28 04/07 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena*
01/30 04/10 Atlanta, GA Gwinnett Center*
01/31 04/09 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
02/03 04/12 Memphis, TN FedEx Forum*
02/04 10/04 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena*
02/17 08/14 Oakland, CA Oakland Arena*
02/18 08/15 Oakland, CA Oakland Arena*
02/26 08/11 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center*
02/27 08/12 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center*
02/29 09/23 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino
Center*
03/02 09/25 Phoenix, AZ Jobring Arena
03/04 09/27 Denver, CO Pepsi Center*
03/06 09/29 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center*
03/08 10/20 Houston, TX Toyota Center*
03/09 10/02 Dallas, TX American Airlines Arena*
03/13 10/24 Tulsa, OK BOK Arena
03/15 10/22 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Arena
03/16 10/25 Little Rock, AR Verizon Arena

* denotes the show is sold-out

From 99x.com

The Best Brothers Band

It has been a fun and busy concert year for 2011, and I can’t wait to attend even more in 2012. Drive by Truckers, Big Gigantic, and Hang Out Festival are already on my agenda for the next coming months. While I’m excited to see the big-named bands, I enjoy checking out the local ones because of the intimacy of a smaller venue that doesn’t necessarily sacrifice sound quality. Before the holidays, I had a chance to check out some local talent at Atlanta’s Vinyl. On December 17th, the Best Brothers Band wanted to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season with an EP release party, with openers James Corbin and Cody Marlowe.

James Corbin was influenced by his three tours in Iraq and took up writing music again with an old country sound and quirky lyrics like “I’ll be right here with a cold beer when you want to say sorry to me.” Be sure to check out his band The Roamin’ Lonelies and latest set Baghdad to Bisbee for that down-home-simple-life kind of music. The next performance with Cody Marlowe brought a more alternative sound to the party. The show was spot on with Marlowe’s strong voice and creative lyrics. He has that slight Kings of Leon tone with his southern twang drawing out in rock and roll fashion. Marlowe played his just released single “Feel It” from album Eighty Nine, but I preferred the songs they performed like the one about a girl they call trouble and “Devil Eyes.”

The Best Brothers Band’s indie pop sound is similar to bands like Safetysuit, Gavin DeGraw, and Maroon 5. Singer John Best serenaded his audience with a boyish grin and controlled vocals that I expect to be popping up on the air waves soon. Truthfully, I could see all three acts making a name for themselves in popular music, especially with how comfortable they are performing. John and Daniel are a great duo as musical brothers, and after playing together for many years included guitarist Eric Sumner in on the act to create The Best Brothers Band. What I like about their music are the electrical guitar introductions, with lingering and somewhat complicated notes flowing in between lyrics. The band had a decent crowd with about a hundred people coming to listen and good friends coming out to dance and support them, making for an entertaining live music set. Their first song “Play With Fire” is a sure hit from the new CD. Guest bassist Adrian Lawrence, whom also helped produce their latest CD, added his own swift finger work to the performance with songs like “Listen to The Music.” Drummer Nick Lacis was the last to join the band, and provided his own flare to the act to coincide with the electric beats and keyboard additions (Daniel Best). John claimed they tend to stay away from covers, but couldn’t help playing a beautiful, sorrowful acoustic version of “Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel.” The brothers took turns with lead vocals and instruments, and gave the audience a new song they finished that morning about moving on in life. The band played some of their older songs like fun-loving “Doesn’t Mean It’s Over,” and John really connected with the audience for song “Lovely Lady,” which he explains is “about a lady who can take your hear and sometimes your soul.” Daniel invited military “brother” James Corbin back up to the stage, whom he called an inspiration, to help sing. Even what seemed to be a third Best brother took to the bass to help play some more acoustic tunes showing that the Best family has produced a bevy of musical talent. At the end of the set, the boys weren’t quite ready to stop the party and decided to prolong the set past midnight to the delight of their fans. John stood on stage by himself to play a new song that had never been played before about someone struggling with alcohol addiction.The night was perfect for live music and getting the Christmas season in full season. All three performances had charm and original music, and The Best Brothers Band introduced some hit, new songs. Check out some of their music here, or like their Facebook page!

Some pics from the night:

Cody Marlowe

James Corbin

The Best Brothers Band

Acoustic version of "Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel"

Year in Review

As the year comes to a close, see what alternative news made the top ten list this year:

1. Gallagher Brothers’ Legal Troubles:

Liam and Noel battled it out in the media and in the court system this year. The Oasis brothers went back and forth with name-calling, possible Oasis reunion, and claims of alcoholism and violence. As it stands, with both brothers touring separately on new projects and fair-weathered apologies, fans will have to wait and see if a reunion will actually happen.


2. Biggest New Artists: Foster the People, Awolnation:

Foster the People hit number three on Billboard’s “Top 100” list for Torches. Their hit single “Pumped Up Kicks” crossed several genres of music and also made it to the number three spot in the same list for eight weeks; the song getting a Grammy nomination for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.” Aaron Buno finally found his niche with Awolnation and their first single, “Sail,” has been on the charts for 44 weeks, peaking at number five. They’ve recently released their third single “Not Your Fault” off their hefty 15-track album Megalithic Symphony.


3. Bush Tours:

After several years Bush finally came back on tour this fall (with Chevelle and Filter) to promote new album The Sea of Memories. Their single “Sound of Winter” is currently at number one on Billboard’s Rock Songs and has been in the running for 19 weeks now. The album reached to the number five spot for “Top Independent Albums.”

4. Big Boys of 2011: Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Arcade Fire:

The Foo Fighters had the longest run of being number one this year (13 weeks) on Billboard’s Alternative Songs list for their hit “Rope.” The band has six Grammy nods, including Album of The Year for this year’s released album Wasting Light. The Black Keys had a huge year receiving 3 Grammys regarding their Brothers album and are up for category “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for the 2012 Grammys. They are currently number one on Billboard’s Alternative list for “Lonely Boys” off their just released album El Camino. Cage the Elephant has made several appearances this year in Atlanta promoting album Thank You, Happy Birthday, which was released at the beginning of this year. The album made it to number two on the Billboard charts and had three hit singles, “Shake Me Down,” “Around My Head,” and “Aberdeen.” Arcade Fire had a big year with awards, winning the 2011 Grammy Album of the Year; the band up against top 40s heavy hitters Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry. The group also won the 2011 Juno Award for Album of the Year and 2011 Brit Award for Best International Album for Suburbs.

5. R.E.M. Disbands:

The Athens, GA band that has been around since 1980 and many of us grew up with decided in September to say their goodbye to fans. Mike Mills explained, “…there’s no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off. We’ve made this decision together, amicably and with each other’s best interests at heart. The time just feels right.” They reached stardom with many hits like “Losing My Religion” and Friends favorite “It’s The End of The World,” and were inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2007. We will miss you R.E.M.!

6. 2012 Hall of Famers:

Legends Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beastie Boys have been chosen to be inducted in the Rock Hall of Fame, and will be included with Guns N’ Roses, Small Faces/Faces, Donovan, and Laura Nyro. The Beastie Boys will be the third band in the hip-hop genre to have the prestigious honor. The ceremony will be on April 14th at Cleveland’s Public Hall.


7. Blink 182 Back Together:

The trio made their appearance at the Grammys earlier this year proving they were back together for good, or until they decide to call it quits again. Each had their own separate projects going on since they broke up in 2005. It seems they’ve settled their differences and released single “Up All Night” from released album Neighborhoods. The single debuted at number two on the charts, so it seems fans are welcoming them with open arms.


8. Steve Jobs Dies:

The genius of Apple died on October 5, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. He had announced his resignation as CEO less than two months before. Jobs had helped changed the face of technology with Apple inventions, and was also a quietly known philanthropic who used his ideas to help those in need.

9. White Stripes Breaks Up:

The previously married eccentric duo is no more. The band took a break, but still released a reissue of some of their albums. However, in February it was officially announced that they would no longer be recording together. Jack White continues to play for The Raconteurs.

10. Kings of Leon Tour Troubles:

Only days after coming to Atlanta for their tour to promote album Come Around Sundown, the band had to playing stop mid performance in Dallas. Lead singer Caleb Followill claimed voice issues and that he would finish out the concert, but never returned on stage. This led to a cancellation of the rest of the U.S. tour. Rumors spread of internal issues, alcoholism, and a break-up. The band did not talk about resuming any dates in the U.S. at this time, but their documentary, Talihina Sky, is available in stores.

Foo Fighters Cause Earthquake

In New Zealand, a Foo Fighters show caused an earthquake because of the 50,000+ people who attended. Check out the full story here.

99X's Year In Review

Here is the Year In Review I did for 99X.com. Let me know what else should be on the list!


In no particular order

1. Gallagher Brothers’ Legal Troubles:
Liam and Noel battled it out in the media and in the court system this year. The Oasis brothers went back and forth with name-calling, possible Oasis reunion, and claims of alcoholism and violence. As it stands, with both brothers touring separately on new projects and fair-weathered apologies, fans will have to wait and see if a reunion will actually happen.

2. Biggest New Artists: Foster the People, Awolnation:
Foster the People hit number three on Billboard’s “Top 100” list for Torches. Their hit single “Pumped Up Kicks” crossed several genres of music and also made it to the number three spot in the same list for eight weeks; the song getting a Grammy nomination for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.” Aaron Buno finally found his niche with Awolnation and their first single, “Sail,” has been on the charts for 44 weeks, peaking at number five. They’ve recently released their third single “Not Your Fault” off their hefty 15-track album Megalithic Symphony.

3. Bush Tours:
After several years Bush finally came back on tour this fall (with Chevelle and Filter) to promote new album The Sea of Memories. Their single “Sound of Winter” is currently at number one on Billboard’s Rock Songs and has been in the running for 19 weeks now. The album reached to the number five spot for “Top Independent Albums.”

4. Big Boys of 2011: Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Arcade Fire:
The Foo Fighters had the longest run of being number one this year (13 weeks) on Billboard’s Alternative Songs list for their hit “Rope.” The band has six Grammy nods, including Album of The Year for this year’s released album Wasting Light. The Black Keys had a huge year receiving 3 Grammys regarding their Brothers album and are up for category “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for the 2012 Grammys. They are currently number one on Billboard’s Alternative list for “Lonely Boys” off their just released album El Camino. Cage the Elephant has made several appearances this year in Atlanta promoting album Thank You, Happy Birthday, which was released at the beginning of this year. The album made it to number two on the Billboard charts and had three hit singles, “Shake Me Down,” “Around My Head,” and “Aberdeen.” Arcade Fire had a big year with awards, winning the 2011 Grammy Album of the Year; the band up against top 40s heavy hitters Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry. The group also won the 2011 Juno Award for Album of the Year and 2011 Brit Award for Best International Album for Suburbs.

5. R.E.M. Disbands:
The Athens, GA band that has been around since 1980 and many of us grew up with decided in September to say their goodbye to fans. Mike Mills explained, “…there’s no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off. We’ve made this decision together, amicably and with each other’s best interests at heart. The time just feels right.” They reached stardom with many hits like “Losing My Religion” and Friends favorite “It’s The End of The World,” and were inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2007. We will miss you R.E.M.! 

6. 2012 Hall of Famers:
Legends Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beastie Boys have been chosen to be inducted in the Rock Hall of Fame, and will be included with Guns N’ Roses, Small Faces/Faces, Donovan, and Laura Nyro. The Beastie Boys will be the third band in the hip-hop genre to have the prestigious honor. The ceremony will be on April 14th at Cleveland’s Public Hall. 

7. Blink 182 Back Together:
The trio made their appearance at the Grammys earlier this year proving they were back together for good, or until they decide to call it quits again. Each had their own separate projects going on since they broke up in 2005. It seems they’ve settled their differences and released single “Up All Night” from released album Neighborhoods. The single debuted at number two on the charts, so it seems fans are welcoming them with open arms.

8. Steve Jobs Dies:
The genius of Apple died on October 5, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. He had announced his resignation as CEO less than two months before. Jobs had helped changed the face of technology with Apple inventions, and was also a quietly known philanthropic who used his ideas to help those in need.

9. White Stripes Breaks Up:
The previously married eccentric duo is no more. The band took a break, but still released a reissue of some of their albums. However, in February it was officially announced that they would no longer be recording together. Jack White continues to play for The Raconteurs.

10. Kings of Leon Tour Troubles:
Only days after coming to Atlanta for their tour to promote album Come Around Sundown, the band had to playing stop mid performance in Dallas. Lead singer Caleb Followill claimed voice issues and that he would finish out the concert, but never returned on stage. This led to a cancellation of the rest of the U.S. tour.  Rumors spread of internal issues, alcoholism, and a break-up. The band did not talk about resuming any dates in the U.S. at this time, but their documentary, Talihina Sky, is available in stores.

Digital Media

This is a cool digital project a friend of mine did for class. These pics were taken at Hangout Festival and a Pretty Lights/Bassnectar show.

Ticketmaster To Pay Up

Ticketmaster is being sued for making money off of processing fees and not declaring the fact to their customers. Looks like they're settling and customers from 1999-2011 will receive $1.50 per ticket order up to 17 orders per person. Not a lot of money per customer, but hefty for Ticketmaster. The company will still be able to make money off future processing fees, but have to let the customers know. However, don't expect to get the credit until after April 15, 2012.

See full story here: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/everyone-used-ticketmaster-last-12-190940783.html

99X's The Stuffing II Review (November 23rd)

Here is the review of 99X's 2nd Annual Stuffing event with Manchester Orchestra, Cage the Elephant, Dear Hunter, and several more upcoming bands from Favorite Gentlemen Recording. Hope you guys like it!

The Stuffing II sold out again for its second year and brought all the creepy mustaches of “No Shave November” and students coming home for Thanksgiving to fill up on one night of local music before Turkey Day. 99X and Rival Entertainment featured several artists from headliner Manchester Orchestra’s independent record label, Favorite Gentlemen . Kevin Devine, Death on Two Wheels, All Get Out, Junior Astronomers, O’Brother, Big Jesus, and Gobotron took the stage, as well as some other local acts at venue Center Stage/Vinyl/ and The Loft.  It seems the record label is one big happy family as several members have a heavy hand in several of the side project bands under Favorite Gentlemen, obviously encouraging them to explore the different sub-genres of rock--Andy Hull and Kevin Devine for Bad Books, MO’s Robert McDowell as Gobotron, Johnny Dang guitarist for O’ Brother and Big Jesus, etcetera, you get the point. The music ranged from indie alternative rock towards an edgier metal sound; add some 50s pop rock and roll with a pinch of the eclectic and you have a recipe for The Stuffing Part Deux.
Big Jesus might have looked young to be serious musicians up on The Loft stage, then again Manchester Orchestra started in high school, but they delivered to a good-sized crowd that enjoyed the deliciously dark lyrics which teetered into the realm of a Pearl Jam sound. A: The Color downstairs at Vinyl created more of a Muse vibe with style and lingering high-pitched notes from singer Ethan Jack, who held onto a bright fluorescent light the entire set for effect and imagery. Guitarist Zach Beachman impressed with intense guitar riff creations heading into heavier songs. Back up at The Loft I watched Death on Two Wheels give a charged classic hard rock performance. Considering the band title and alluring badass persona they gave, I fully expected some motorcycles on stage to rev fire. The band invited Kevin Devine, whom performed later solo, on stage where he calmed the rough sounds to the melodic ominous tune “Brother’s Blood.”
Harrison Hudson took his turn on the Vinyl stage, and introduced the crowd to early Beatles sounds and cutesy lyrics dressed up in bad boy image-- think Johnny Depp’s Crybaby character without the cheesiness. Hudson offers endearing lyrics for love advice in happy-go-lucky tunes like “Cherish The One You Got” and “Every Girl” from his just released album American Thunder. All Get Out upstairs kept the crowd laughing with their jokes and even welcomed a fan all the way from Australia. The band ventured into the indie side of things while singing radio worthy “Bring It Home,” but weren’t all about pretty tunes; some songs loud and fervent kept the energy alive in the audience.  Andy Hull’s solo side project Right Away, Great Captain! played an acoustic set on the small Vinyl stage, and with the intimate setting it was as close as fans could get to the bearded musician.
Center Stage finally opened to the crowd as they rushed in to gain prime spots in the mini arena-like venue for the last three main acts, The Dear Hunter, Cage the Elephant, and Manchester Orchestra. Hailing from Rhode Island rather than Atlanta, The Dear Hunter kept the crowd’s taste buds satisfied. Singer Casey Crescenzo electrified the audience with songs “He Said He Had A Story” and “Home.” The band likes a congruency between their albums such as The Color Spectrum compilation, and delivered the same to their performance. While Kevin Devine finished out as the last act for the smaller stages, Cage the Elephant sidelined once again with Manchester Orchestra in Atlanta for the third time this year. This time we saw from frontman Matt Shultz several multiple dives into the crowd, in fact within the first few songs, and audience members actually holding him up vertically before jumping into the sea of hands again. He showed us his quirky side by wearing little bows in his hair as he stood still and with eyes closed crooned “Flow,” a gem that shows the band’s softer side before taking it up a notch again. The grungy rockers played several songs from latest album Thank You, Happy Birthday including radio favorites “Shake Me Down,” “Aberdeen,” and “Wicked.”
Then there was only one band left to top us off with that last slice of musical pie to make sure we really were stuffed, Manchester Orchestra. Andy Hull has the ability to cast a spell over a crowd and taking them on a rollercoaster of rises and falls through his songs from slow simple notes with just his voice and fans murmuring lyrics with him to fevered beats and screams connecting the pieces of the whole band back together in the same tune, such as in “End of The World.” The band played songs mostly from Simple Math like “April’s Fool,” “Pensacola,” and “Pale Black Eye.” Manchester played a slowed down version of “The Only One,” without the full band having so much of a part, entrancing the audience even more.  Keyboardist Chris Freeman impressed with his ability to pay attention to electronics, keyboard, and rock out on drums during the performance. For encore, I was expecting Cage the Elephant to return to the stage like they did at The Tabernacle for a duo performance. However, Kevin Devine came out and charmed us with an acoustic duet with Andy Hull for their Bad Books song “You’re A Mirror I Cannot Avoid,” before a slew of several drum sets and drum players finished out the night with “Where Have You Been.”
I am excited to see how the newbie bands under Favorite Gentlemen’s wing will progress in the competitive Atlanta music scene, but they have a good fighting chance from the talent I saw at The Stuffing event. Until next year when we come together again to fill our ears with great music! Check out pics from the photos here.

Orlando Calling 2011 Review

My review is officially up on the 99X website. Check it out and the pics I took too!

http://www.99x.com/common/more.php?m=15&r=1&item_id=72

Here is the full review since it won't be on the 99X site much longer. However, you can still check out the photos I took here.

Festival Republic’s Melvin Benn decided Orlando needed a music festival and felt the Citrus Bowl was the perfect place to do it. The Citrus Bowl housed the main stage with 4 smaller stages spread outside the west and south side of the stadium. The festival wanted to remain green, so they conveniently set up the line-up schedule next to the Heineken tent, rather than pass out glossy printouts. For a festival in its infancy, Festival Republic’s Orlando Calling experiment was organized and efficient for the most part regarding information, travel, bathrooms (real bathrooms instead of just porta potties); combine that with a stacked line-up and great weather, and I can see the festival returning next year. However, don’t expect the festival to turn into a Bonnaroo--think more Music Midtown.

Saturday offered a line-up for the younger crowd with favorites like Kid Cudi, The Avett Brothers, The Raconteurs, and The Killers. Freecreditscore.com had their own stage and to push the sponsorship even more, The American Secrets band responsible for the company’s catchy commercials made an appearance at noon. South African band Civil Twilight enraptured the crowd with single “Letters from The Sky” at the tented stage, and brother/guitarist Andrew McKellan joined the talented of those, (festival performers David Mayfield and Buddy Guy) who can play upside down. Iron and Wine just coming from Atlanta’s concert from Friday night appeared refreshed and ready to perform songs like “Freedom Hangs Like Heaven,” a bluesy, catchy tune and endearing “Tree By The River.”

I moved over to the Main Stage during the end of Kid Cudi’s act with song “Pursuit of Happiness,” a slow and quiet, but no less memorable “rap” about living life to the fullest in any circumstance. The Avett Brothers took the stage next with Seth Avett’s notorious beard shaven since I last saw them in Atlanta. The band usually likes to get the crowd going early and they were no different this time around with “And It Spread” and “Go to Sleep,” getting the crowd to clap and “lala” along. The brothers surprised the audience with a traditional gospel song, but perhaps not so surprising since religion is buried into many of their songs. However, don’t put the Avetts on a pedestal yet, a couple songs later they sang fast-paced “Wanted Man,” which Seth explains is “about killing your girlfriend’s boyfriend.” The Pixies next on the bill received a cheer from the crowd as they announced their performance would consist of the whole 1989 Doolittle album. One fan gushed, “The bass player is adorable! I like girls that can rock out,” when talking about the quirky Kim Deal. The album’s off-the-wall numbers like “La La Love You” and “Monkey Goes to Heaven” kept in theme with the different videos playing behind the band, such as psychedelic purple tunnels and walking cartoon hearts. After the finale, the band played about four more songs, such as “Nimrod’s Son” and “Gigantic” for encore; they were the first act to come back on stage of the night. Next were The Raconteurs, and I was interested in seeing Jack White perform with his project band, since the last time I saw him was for a White Stripes concert at 99X’s “On The Rocks” back in 2003. White pairs well with fellow singer/guitarist Brendan Benson, both giving thrilling shrills of the electrical guitar for “Level” and “Broken Boy Soldier.” White asked the crowd, “Do you guys feel good? Well, so do I damn it! Let’s do it!” before leading into the dark jam of “Blue Veins” before encore and leaving the crowd in awe of the band’s unmistakable talent. Fan Jon Staples declared the intricate guitar sounds of the song reminded him of Led Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” unable to suppress his admiration for his first Raconteurs show. The crowd called for more naturally, and The Raconteurs returned to grace us with a vengeful “Salute Your Solution,” and a free style rendition of “Steady, As She Goes.”

With an hour between sets until The Killers, many of us in the front camped down after five hours of stellar music to rest our knees and backs, trying to push through the next two hours without food or bathroom breaks. The Killers made a special appearance for some lucky fans that waited hours for a last-minute free private performance at The Beacham in downtown Orlando on Friday night (Nov. 11). A double performance was what die-hards needed, considering The Killers have been touring in Europe the past couple of years. The band took to the stage starting with “Spaceman” and “Somebody Told Me” while singer Brandon Flowers constantly moved across the stage jumping onto speakers casting a black silhouette against the colorful backdrop of lights and video screen. A bright bulbed “K” keyboard was set up for Flowers’ disposal during songs like “All These Things I’ve Done,” with the final number ending in an explosion of white confetti that looked like snow falling down onto the crowd. Drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. got his solos at the end and threw out not one, but several drumsticks after the main set and encore. Encore included “This Is Your Life,” “Jenny Was A Friend of Mine,” and “When You Were Young,” while fiery desert sunsets played in the background and real fire sparkles rained down on the band.

Day two brought out the rocker fans of the sixties and seventies decked out in rocker cowboy attire for well-established musicians Buddy Guy, Del McCoury, The Warren Haynes Band, Kid Rock, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, and Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band. It was all about the complex guitar playing and saxophones for Sunday. I started the day off with 99X’s “Unplugged In The Park” alum the David Mayfield Parade at the freecreditscore.com stage, excited to see David Mayfield’s peculiar and humorous stage persona just as much as his guitar techniques. The band did not disappoint, and I think converted many passer-bys who were unaware of the talent that claimed the stage. Mayfield and his band seduced the crowd with fluttery lashes, mock arrogance, and trance-like, get-down-on-the-floor playing for songs like “Human Cannonball” and “Rye Whiskey.” Mayfield introduced his ability to play guitar upside down rapidly, claiming “That’s really difficult to do,” and tune his strings to a coherent beat while surprisingly not breaking a string.

The Warren Haynes Band performed on the main stage and performed for a sizeable enough audience really starting off the day for classic rock fans. Kentucky boys Ben Sollee (cellist/singer) and percussionist Jordon Ellis brought us something different and intimate on the Festival Republic stage, crooning slow and prettily with traditional cello for “Prettiest Tree on The Mountain” and entering the jazzy folk sound for “I Want to Be Close to You.” One of the unforgettable acts to see was legendary Buddy Guy at the Authentic stage whose youthful personality and good-natured, if somewhat dirty, humor kept the crowd begging for more. True blues and jazz man Guy introduced his track “74 Years Young” from his latest album Living Proof as “I’m going to play something so funky you can smell it!” He certainly didn’t run out of ways to play his guitar…against his silk shirt, with a towel, behind him, with his teeth, and even one handed. Commenting on legends that taught him what he knows today, bits of John Lee Hooker and Jimi Hendrix appeared from the grave in Guy’s fingers. Those who caught one of the several picks he threw out to the crowd were lucky to now own a piece of Rolling Stones magazine’s thirtieth out of a 100 declared “Greatest Guitarist of All Time.” Blake Shelton was the next main stage act and the only modern country-pop act, since Kid Rock is more of a combination of hard rock and country. Shelton’s good looks and sweet lyrics of “Arizona” and new single “Honeybee” certainly kept the women in good spirits. Kid Rock’s performance created frenzy, however, electrifying the audience. Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” paused at “Just a city boy. Born and raised in south Detroit,” for Kid Rock to come out full force with his ready-to-party and rock and roll attitude and led into “Devil Without A Cause.” Kid Rock approached the DJ table to spin with his elbow, while drinking and smoking, and even with his feet for “Fuckin’ Forty,” his tribute song to him getting older. There were crowd pleasers like fireballs for “You’re So Hot” and sing-alongs “Feels Good To Me” and “Cat Scratch Fever.”

Just missing the end of The Drive-by Truckers, I wandered to the Festival Republic stage to see what the band there had to offer while waiting for Bob Seger’s performance. I seemed to have stumbled on a golden nugget of the festival that had me dancing to reggae punkish vibes. For Sublime fans, local Florida band The Supervillians is one to watch out for, dreadlocks and all. Singer and drummer Dominic “Dom” Maresco’s magnetic personality and the band's dynamic performance pumped up the crowd with songs like“Car Sex (Get It On)” and “Johnny Too Bad.”

Back at the main stage, Bob Seger headlined the last day of the Orlando Calling festival and rocked out to songs like “Going Back to Birmingham” and “Sunspot Baby.” Across the stadium fans sang along to “Turn The Page,” the saxophonist showcasing his melancholy notes for the crowd. Seger didn’t disappoint, tapping into those true rock and roll concerts where there are back-up singers, and at least ten people playing an instrument on stage ready to prolong any song for an intense jam out session. Kid Rock, not quite done with Orlando yet, returned to the stage during Seger’s performance for “Real Mean Bottle.” A fitting duet since Kid Rock inducted Bob Seger into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2004.

It is unknown yet if Festival Republic will return Orlando Calling for 2012, but if it pulls out another impressive line-up I think the festival will survive because who can really turn down a chance to see legendary artists all in one place in sunshine weather?


Check out some of the videos here:

The Avett Brothers



Iron and Wine



The Raconteurs

Orlando Calling: Last music fest of the year

Going to Orlando Calling this week and will write a review of the music fest next week, which will be posted on 99X.com. While the weather won't be too much warmer than it is here in GA. I'm excited to get away for vacay...even if my boss is a little miffed because I told her last minute. Oops. It's been one of those weeks where one thing after another keeps happening, and seems to be draining my pockets with each mishap before I can even reach Friday. Trying to stay on the bright side though! The line-up is ridiculous, and I'm most excited to see The Avett Brothers (top choice) and 3rd time this year I'll see them live. However, you also have the Pixies, The Killers, Blake Shelton (a random but interested in seeing), Pete Yorn (Unfort. on at same time as AB), Iron and Wine, The Raconteurs David Mayfield Parade (inspired my first post), Civil Twilight, and a friend suggested seeing the Ukraninan funk Borat king Gogol Bordello. Intrigued? Of course. Check out the line-up and tell me which bands you would be most stoked to see!


http://lineup.orlandocalling.com/

Artist of The Day: Luke Reynolds

I really like the sound of "One Step At A Time" that was featured on MTV's Chelsea Settles show.

Weezer and Foster the People Switch

It seems Weezer did their own version of "Pumped Up Kicks" in Cali early August. Foster the People returned their admiration by playing "Say It Ain't So" at a concert a week later. Check out the performances!

Weezer "Pumped Up Kicks" cover:




Foster the People "Say It Ain't So" Cover

Foster the People in Commercials

Love Foster the People's new single "Don't Stop (Color On The Walls)." They are part of the new commercial for the Nissan sedan. Check it out here:



Here is the song in full:

Recommended "Chill Out" Albums

1. Gauntlet Hair Gauntlet Hair:

Distant vocals and trippy beats. Creative Loafing's M.T. Richards describes them best:

"Denver's Gauntlet Hair is a band that defies easy comparison. The group's dreamlike, reverb-saturated showgaze tracks are rheumy in the most complimentary sense possible, at times recalling Grizzly Bear or even Band of Horses circa 'The Funeral.' But whereas those bands tend to prey on public nostalgia for 1970s psyche-folk, Gauntlet Hair is utterly timeless. Full of textural sprawl and breathy, disembodying atmospherics, this self-titled album stands out even in a 2011 crowded with extraordinary eponymous debuts (see James Blake and Cults). "Keep Time" boasts some of the most vicious drums committed to record this year, but it's a tender and devastatingly genial track. So too is the easy-riffing, piano-looping first single "Top Bunk." From the sounds of it, Gauntlet Hair was recorded on fuzzy audio equipment, but to call the aesthetic at work here 'lo-fi' would be a gross mischaracterization. These guys weave an amazing sonic tapestry. (4 out of 5 stars)"

-Check out number 5 "Lights Out"

2. Brown Shoe The Gift Horse:

Four brothers from northern Cali influenced by Band of Horses. Check out song 4 "Diving Bell."

3. Danger Mouse, Daniele Luppi Rome:

More instrumental with a lot of bass involved than voice work, but some good beats and Norah Jones and Jack White make cameos on some tracks.

-Check out number 7 "Two Against One" (feat. Jack White)

4. Agnes Obel Philharmonics:

Breathy vocals with hauntingly pretty piano tunes.

-Check out number 2 "Riverside"


Recently discovered Spotify, which seems to have blown up. This is a good, free way to listen to full albums to see if you like it before you buy.

New 99X Website

Just a heads up to all my readers. 99X has gotten a new website, so the Bush article and photos are not on there currently. They will be back up soon though! You can still check out the article on the blog, but the photos will have to wait. Thanks to all my readers who support my blog!

Bush/Chevelle/Filter at The Masquerade (Oct. 18, 2011)

99X has put up the review, but I will post the whole article here. I was lucky enough to take photographs for the concert and the Bush Meet and Greet for 99X. I have to say that meeting Bush was an awesome experience, and they couldn't have been more gracious.

Here's the review:

Tuesday night’s downpour didn’t keep poncho-clad fans from pouring into the Masquerade Music Park for Bush and Chevelle with Filter concert. Luckily, the rain let up for in time for Filter to take the stage. Filter had the duty of getting the crowd charged for the rock heavy line-up, and it wasn’t long before everyone was singing/screaming along with singer Richard Patrick in true mosh pit fashion. Patrick, who grew up in Kennesaw and still holds onto a southern twang, absorbed himself in the Atlantan crowd for much of the set by standing up against the railing and shaking hands with fans. Bassman Phil Buckman came out shirtless and ready to impress with a muscled body despite being 41 and moved his pecs to the beats of the music. Filter kept the crowd pumped with heavier rock beats, but did not fail to play the softer sounding “Hey Man, Nice Shot” and “Take A Picture” songs that everyone knows.

Chevelle helped continue the testosterone-infused energy permeating through the mass of people with their own hour long set. Fog, green spiraled lasers, and flashing lights decorated the band as they performed well-knowns “Send The Pain Below” and “The Clencher.” Singer Peter Loeffler chose to lend his guttural screams to “Sleep Apnea” and “Forfeit,” which is supposedly about overzealous concert mosh pitters such as Tuesday night’s show.

After two great heavy rock sets, and fans screaming for Bush singer Gavin Rossdale to come out, the alternative-rock band meandered out on stage around 8:45pm and led into oldies “Chemicals Between Us” and “Machinehead.” After Rossdale’s stint as a solo artist, Bush has come back together to tour and promote their new CD release The Sea of Memories, which has been received well in the alternative music world. Rossdale reminisced on his previous times to the Masquerade mentioning, “Place is filled with memories for me. I feel like I’ve been here a million times…It’s good to see you.” Getting into the groove of the songs with bouncing and head-banging, he donned his jacket and let his hair down literally to lose himself in the music and jam sessions with returned Bush guitarist Chris Traynor. The band showed true appreciation for its fans, as Rossdale seemed in awe of introducing the new single “Sound of Winter,” stating “I have this insane, manic, pleasure to introduce the number one song in the country, and that’s factual and not egotistical.” Sweaty and rain-drenched bodies bounced along with orange jack-o-lantern styled balloons included to commiserate the festive mood. Bush played some songs from the new album like “All Night Doctors,” a ballad about wasting life while bassist Corey Britz played the piano. However, Rossdale wanted to make sure he included songs that shot Bush to stardom in the first place, reassuring his fans, “I’m going to play the old songs and the new songs. I’m never going to let you down. I swear.” Encore included Beatles cover “Come Together” and Bush’s earlier singles “Glycerine” and “Comedown.” True rock fan Liza Palmer, 25, enthusiastically gave her opinion on the night’s concerts claiming, “Filter was old school. Chevelle was fucking awesome, and Bush is even better than both put together.” Each band could easily have headlined themselves, but thankfully decided to tour together bringing a stacked lineup for budget-conscious wallets. Congratulations to Bush for returning to the stage where they rightfully belong.

Here are some photos from the concert:

You can see more photos of the concert at the 99X site.

Coldplay's "Paradise"

New video for Coldplay's new song, "Paradise."

The Head and The Heart (9-21-11)

Sorry for the delay! So I was one of the lucky people Dave 92.9 FM chose to attend a private showing of The Head and The Heart before their concert at Variety Playhouse. I had tickets already to see Foster The People later (conundrum of 2 great bands on the same night), so I was very excited to get a glimpse of the Seattle-based band...if even only for a few songs. The six-person band came out barefoot and casual ready to play for a small group of about 20. Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell took turns with vocals and guitar-playing, sprinkling in some tambourine beats and shakers. Violinist Charity Rose Thielen lent her husky voice, sounding similar to Florence and The Machine's Florence Welch, even stringing out notes long enough warranting the audience's praise in "Rivers and Roads" (fan choice). Chris Zasche(bass),Kenny Hensley (piano), and Tyler Williams (drums) tied in the rest of The Head and The Heart's indie-folk sound. You can tell the group is dedicated to the music and collaborate well together, proof showing in the fact that they self-released their album The Head and The Heart; a mix of catchy tunes about family, religion, and life in general. I like how you can really hear each person's contribution to the songs, whether with instrument or voice. After the three-song set, the members came down and talked with the fans at length, signing autographs and answering questions. They had a nonchalance to their demeanor, almost timid, making them seem like down-to-earth people just wanting to make music for others to enjoy. Make sure to buy their CD; it's good on those long drives. I can't wait until they come back to Atlanta, so I can see a full show. In fact, you can check out their hit "Lost In My Mind" on my September 15th post, "Golden Nuggets."

The Head and The Heart Set:

1. Down In The Valley
2. Lost In My Mind
3. Rivers and Roads


Here are some pics and video from the show:

"Lost In My Mind"




"Rivers and Roads"

Death Cab For Cutie Remixes

DCFC announced on facebook today that they are releasing a remixed EPs of their Codes and Keys album. Each week they will release a new EP, and the collection will be available Novemeber 22. Today they started off the promotion with Cut Copy's remixed "Doors Unlocked and Open." It's interesting that they are choosing their latest CD to remix instead of some of their older albums, but it's worth checking out the songs.

You can pre-order the EP collection at http://store.deathcabforcutie.com/

Here is the video for the first EP:



Don't expect anything like Postal Service though...it is a remix after all. Seems that Death Cab is trying to jump on the electronic indie pop bandwaggon. Interesting sound pairing Ben Gibbard's voice with electronica.

Foster The People Masquerade Show

When I walked into the grassy area of the Masquerade Music Park, the weather warmer than expected, I didn’t think much of the band playing before me. I thought maybe Foster the People were choosing local bands for each city, but Atlanta/Athens/Asheville boys Reptar are officially touring with Foster, only really making news this year and considered as Spin’s “20 Must Hear Artists at Lollapalooza.” The band parallels well with Foster’s genre however, both producing versions of spacey 80s electro pop. The guys are still in college (two of them at UGA) and will probably be putting school on hold with their newfound fame and new record label signing. Check out more of their bio here . It’s hard to describe what Reptar is trying to accomplish, but here are some magazine interpretations of the eclectic group:

“'Where did these guys come from?' he asked with amazement. I started to explain that they had just played their first show back in May when I was interrupted by a an explosion of glitter."

Flagpole Magazine Live Review

"These Southern-fried electronic Afro-poppers are known for the sticky dance riots of their live shows. And now, thanks to producer Ben Allen (Animal Collective), who stumbled upon a Reptar show in Atlanta and booked studio time with the band the very next day, they've got an upcoming EP that whirs and palpitates like their signature sweat-on-the-walls gigs."

Paste Magazine “Best of What’s Next”

"[Reptar] thought the crowd was so wonderfully raucous they decided to hold a dance competition, to which the winner received a golden spatula. The ease with which Reptar was able to form a formidable connection with their crowd only added to the enthusiasm of the already electrical ambiance"

Performer Magazine 11-12-09

After listening to their music a little more they are starting to grow on me, so perhaps I’ll check them out again when they come back this way.

Listen to “Blastoff” from Oblangle Fizz, Y’all

Oblangle Fizz, Y'all! (Preview) by reptarmusic

The second act featured the Cults, a look-alike duo with long brown hair and thin frames from New York City. Also a newbie band, Madeline Follin sang with a girlish innocence for song “Oh My God” and "Go Outside," while Brian Oblivion played keys and back-up vocals…creating a futuristic 50s-60s pop sound.

Madeline in a shockingly short black dress claimed they were Clairmont Lounge lovers stating, “We always go to Clairmont Lounge. It’s our favorite place in the world.” Interesting place for such a claim, but hey parts of Atlanta have their own special charm for some people.



Cults "Go Outside"

After a long intermission, Foster the People decorated the stage with multiple keyboards, full drum set, and a moveable single drum for any member to come play rapid beats on it. The California trio added a couple more people to allow for full musical license to translate to the crowd. Lead singer Mark Foster would dramatically play the piano one moment, only to get up and do head-banging jigs around stage, beat the drum, and lean out to the crowd to make his connection with the audience. He was all over the place in a good way and can sing those high notes pretty well for such a deep voice when speaking. The band’s adrenaline filled show had people of all ages jumping up and down to the whirlwind notes with songs “Houdini” and “Miss You.” What I love about this band is that they are truly appreciative of their new lives and try to remain grounded by helping out local communities. Foster the People started a project while on tour to contribute to each city and helped clean up Piedmont Park earlier that day. Instead of zooming in and out of places they try to leave a positive mark.

Foster the People ended their set with new single “Helena Beat.” The crowd got a special treat with encore featuring a piano solo of unreleased track “Ruby,” a prettily romantic song that didn’t make it onto Torches, but rightfully so because I don’t know where they could have placed it on the album. The band ended their show with overplayed, but still much-loved for its catchy beats “Pumped Up Kicks,” carrying out a longer and more electronic version of the song. The show was definitely a fun time, and being up front against the railing reminded me how absorbed into the music a fan can be when a band can make that connection with good music.


1. Houdini
2. Miss You
3. Life On The Nickel
4. I Would Do Anything For You
5. Broken Jaw
6. Waste
7. Call It What You Want
8. Don’t Stop (Color On The Walls)
9. Helena Beat

Encore:
Ruby
Pumped Up Kicks

Standing in front of their bus.

Cults

"Pumped Up Kicks"


A big thank you to my personal photographer/helper Terrie Bechdol!!