Concert alert! To all you NOVA kids:
Wings of Apollo will be playing a show at Jaxx Night Club on January 7th!
They're a really cool band and I've written about them before in The Breeze.
Here's a video of JMU student, David Martin:
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Kanye's 'Monster' Feat. Rock Ross and Nicki Minaj Sneak Peek via hiphopconnection.com
I found this sneak peak of the new "Monster Video" from Kanye West on hiphopconnection.com. The full video does not yet have a release date.
Christmas Music Playlist: What's Your Favorite Christmas Song to Hear, JMU?
So, all week I've been listening to 96.1, which is playing Christmas music non-stop. It's great, especially when 105.1 goes on a Pearl Jam kick (nothing against Pearl Jam, I just like them in moderation.) and WNRN starts playing nothing but ambient electro-pop.
Anyway, I've decided to create the perfect Christmas playlist:
And feel free to comment! What are your favorite Christmas songs?
Monday, December 6, 2010
TONIGHT! Operation Santa Claus 6-7
Operation Santa Claus is an annual event that hosts JMU's finest a cappella and dance groups in a search for Father Christmas. Student Ambassadors organized the event, which costs $5. All proceeds go to Harrisonburg Social Services to provide toys for less fortunate children in the Harrisonburg area.
Here is a video of last year's entertainment (The little kids are adorable!):
This year's line-up includes:
Casey Cavanagh Band
The Madison Project
Mozaic Dance
Low Key
The Overtones
Madison Dance
BluesTones
Chinese Lion Dancer
Note-oriety
Exit 245
Exit 247 B Flat Project
Lad in a Battle
Into Hymn
The Madison Project
Mozaic Dance
Low Key
The Overtones
Madison Dance
BluesTones
Chinese Lion Dancer
Note-oriety
Exit 245
Exit 247 B Flat Project
Lad in a Battle
Into Hymn
Sex Leads To Ban of 30 Sec. To Mars New Vid: Watch
The new video for 30 Seconds to Mars' song, "Hurricane," off their This is War album is causing controversy on the air, particularly MTV. The 13-minute video shows highly sexual scenes, such as a girl stroking another girl's crotch. MTV has refused to play the video until after edits have been made.
The video itself is gorgeous. Apparently, Jared learned how to jump off buildings and survive while on his overseas tours. He also got into bondage... But, hey, it's their business.
The editing is superb, similar to other videos like "From Yesterday." 30 Seconds to Mars has a habit of adding racy material to their videos (see the teddy bear scene in "The Kill"). This isn't their first, and won't be their last battle with censorship.
It's frustrating trying to watch the video when every 30 seconds there's another censored screen. It takes away from the video itself. Maybe they shouldn't play it on MTV or Fuse, but seriously? I can't find the real video even on their website. I just think that if they are going to produce something racy, they should be allowed to show it somewhere. I mean, it's a lot cleaner than other things your kids could be viewing on the internet.
You can view the entire [edited] video for yourself at (but you have to verify your birthday, first):
P.S. They will be playing at The National in Richmond on Jan. 31.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Dear Blank Please Blank Fanaticism
My friend showed me this site over the Thanksgiving break, and it's hillarious! Everyone on Facebook is talking about it. If you ever need something to do between classes, this is where it's at.
http://www.dearblankpleaseblank.com/index.php
My personal favorite today?
Dear Diary,
Mood: Apathetic.
Sincerely, Emo Kid.
JMU's UPB Survey/ Sara Bareilles Concert
The survey is up! JMU's University Program Board Spring Concert Survey is located on THIS SITE. Just click the link and let UPB know who you are hoping will take the stage next semester. Whether or not your pick actually come or not is another matter, but UPB is currently looking for the best picks, and your vote hopefully will help them narrow it down.
Tomorrow night JMU's UPB will host Sara Bareilles, based on the survey from last semester. The concert will be held in Wilson Hall at 7 p.m. Here's one of her most recent hits:
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Caps Mike Green to host Charity Concert Dec 13
For all you NOVA kids out there, here's a pretty sick concert going on at the 9:30 club. Mike Green, the Washington Capital's fantastic defenseman, is hosting a benefit concert with Elliot of DC101's Elliot in the Morning show. The concert will feature G. Love and Special Sauce, an alternative hip-hop band from P.A. Proceeds go to KABOOM!, a non-profit that helps to build playgrounds. Tickets range from $50-$500.Chiddy Bang - Opposite Of Adults: MGMT meets Hip Hop
This song came on my Pandora station today, and at first I thought it was MGMT's "Kids." Then all the sudden the beat dropped and so did my jaw. It's fantastic! One of the best remixes I've heard in a while. Check it out!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Green Day Musical on Macy's Parade: They Killed GD!
Did anyone watch the Macy's Parade this morning?? One of the first acts was the cast of American Idiot the musical playing "Good Riddance." If you haven't heard it before (listen below), it's like High School Musical meets punk.When I heard about the musical, I was expecting something along the lines of an extended rock-opera acted out on stage, not a Disney Chanel orignal movie. It's horrible! They killed Green Day... or maybe Green Day killed Green Day.
Either way, definitely not going on my "Thankful For" list this year.
Monday, November 15, 2010
It's a Plane! No, really, it is...
This song came on the radio yesterday and I have to say, it's pretty fly. (haha... >.>) But as I was showin' off my moves to everyone at the Cantrell stoplight, a question popped into my head: WHAT IS A G6!??
I realized when I looked it up that I'm not the only one with that question. There are dozens of blog postings about it, but to give you an official source...
According to Urban Dictionary, a G6 is a very expensive airplane built by Gulfstream (Gulftream 650), usually running a price tag of around $58 million. It's what all the celebs and rappers and people cooler than me travel in.
So when you say you're "fly like a G6," you're really referring to a plane. Now you know.
Monday Headline Mashup: My Chem Coming, Bruce Springsteen, Apple Surprise!
Hello Everyone!
Here's a few of today's biggest headlines. Check it.
What is Apple' s Huge iTunes Surprise?
We break down the most likely scenarios for tomorrow's announcement.
Rolling Stone Magazine
Apparently, Apple is releasing yet another app, gadget, or otherwise better aspect of technology, which will probably change history, as always. This article boasts a few suggestions, including a Netflix-style streaming capability. We find out what this big surprise is as of 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Exclusive Listen: Fifteen Bruce Springsteen Songs
Hear 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' outtakes one week before they hit shelves.
'The Boss' is back to release a six-disk release of his 1976 album and you can hear fifteen of them here!
Download the New Girl Talk Album for Free Here
Girl Talk's new album, All Day, is F.R.E.E. FREE! Right here.
Kid Cudi
"Man on the Moon II: Legend of Mr. Rager"
This is a review of the newest, highly anticipated Kid Cudi album. It hit shelves November 9, and 8 on iTunes' top 10 list. This is a really interesting review of it.
My Chemical Romance Plot Spring Tour
My Chem is off on tour again to promote their new album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. They'll be playing at the 9:30 Club in DC on 5/10.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Pachelbel (Canon) meets U2 (With or Without You) -Jon Schmidt: piano, St...
So it's that time of the year, again. Yes, it's time for major corporations like Walmart to get their holidays mixed up and start playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving even gets here.
In the holiday spirit, I made a Christmas music Pandora station based on Mannheim Steamroller (awesome band, check them out). I'm just sitting there, getting filled with holiday cheer (long before I need to, I know) and all of the sudden, I hear a Christmas song turn into "With or Without You." I'm baffled. It's fantastic, and here it is:
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday Headline Mashup
Here's a list of some of the top entertainment headlines for today!
Listen: Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Deerhoof, Optimo, Megafaun Take on Congotronics
What exactly are Congotronics? Only the most epic remixes of Congo music done by top Alternative bands like Wilco and Animal Collective. The remixes will be featured on a two-disk set called "Tradi Mods V. Rockers: Alternative Takes on Congotronics" which is set to come out tomorrow.
Jack White Guests on New Danger Mouse Project
Spaghetti western-inspired project called Rome
Along with their numerous other side projects (Really, how many can you have? Isn't there a limit?), Jack White and Danger Mouse will be teaming up this year to produce a spaghetti-western inspired album. Jack White+ Danger Mouse+ Italian Cowboys... this should be interesting.
He has overcome his depression and anger. Now the comedy genius is ready for one last late-night ride
This article talks about how Conan went from the top, to the bottom, and is now working his way back up that mountain of night-time entertainment again. It also has a bunch of videos and pictures of Conan's best moments, so definitely check it out. It's also the cover story of the new issue, so you can pick it up at Barnes and Noble.
First song posted online from posthumous album 'Michael'
So, apparently the new track by the late Michael Jackson was released last night. The track was recorded before Michael passed, and starts with a bunch of reporters talking about him. It has only been out for less than 24 hours and it is being criticized all over the internet. To get the full scoop, check out the article and also check out the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqZNxcuSoVk.
'Welcome Home Tunechi' bash attended by Drake, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross
Yes, that's right, Weezy's out! This article has a few pictures of his extravagant "I Finally Got Out" party in Miami on Sunday night.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Muse Concert Pics! at the JPJ on October 27
Hey everyone! So, it's been a crazy week, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get these up, but here they are- MUSE CONCERT PICTURES!
Muse lit up the John Paul Jones Arena Wednesday night with their Resistance tour. The guys came out standing on 3 LED pillars, one for each of them. A camera in front of them projected their faces onto the screens while they played. Of course, they started off their set with Uprising.
Muse's light shows are always phenomenal. I mean, really, they may even surpass something Disney would come up with.
An up-and-coming band, Metric, opened for them. They were okay... mediocre live at best, but it's hard to be good live when most of your music is synth-based. And they came before a pretty tough act to beat.
What I thought was really cool was that, in between songs, the guys played bits and pieces of generally-recognized American music, including the national anthem, ACDC-Back to Black, House of the Rising Sun, and the no-named man's theme from Once Upon a Time in the West. They became an all-American British-Rock band.
In all, it was an amazing show. Muse is probably one of the best bands to see live, ever, and I've seen them twice now. Videos of the concert may be coming soon, if I can figure out how to post them.
Here is the set list from the concert:
Uprising
Map of the Problematique
Resistance
New Born
Hysteria
United States of Eurasia
Feeling Good
(this is when Bellamy whips out the Keytar)
Undisclosed Desires
Time is Running Out
Starlight
Plug in Baby
(this is when they break out the timpani!)
Stockholm Syndrome
Knights of Cydonia
Here's a neat video of Metric: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRtd8ArvH_s&feature=artistob&playnext=1&videos=LXIEkESlCjA
Here's one of my favorite videos from Muse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhduQhDqtb4&ob=av3e
Monday, October 25, 2010
Taking Back Sunday - We All Love Our Pets
I have never been more proud of the children's entertainment business than I was when I found this. This show, Yo Gabba Gabba, has been on Nick Jr. since 2007. It is hosted by a character called DJ Lance Rock and has hosted numerous bands, including The Shins and MGMT.
Earlier this month, Taking Back Sunday (my favorite band in all of existence who have a new CD to be out in 2011) was featured on the show. The video is of them playing their song about pets, and how cool our pets are.
Good music and wholesome fun??? Way to go Yo Gabba Gabba!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
My Chemical Romance- New Song and Thoughts
Remember these guys? Their last CD, The Black Parade, came out in 2006. Since then the band has been going on tour, getting married, having children, and... well, getting old. Lead singer Gerard Way is now 33. And yet their new album sounds more like a teeny-bopper pop medley than the My Chemical Romance I grew up with.
The new CD, The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, is set to come out November 22.
Just for comparison's sake, here's one of their first videos:
And one of their bigger hits:
Here's the video for their first single off the new CD:
Let me know what you think.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Wings of Apollo, JMU drummer covers Katy Perry
David Martin is a senior business major at JMU. His Chantilly, VA-based band, Wings of Apollo has played at Jaxx Night Club and Jammin' Java (where they hold the record for selling the most alcohol during their set.) They recently got their first radio play. Their goal is to make pure, 100 percent rock and roll.
Check them out: http://www.myspace.com/wingsofapollo
Each of the band members has a youtube channel, where they feature videos of their songs and covers of other songs, like this one.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Loose Gravel Loosens Up Harrisonburg's Panera
So, I walked into Panera today and instead of hearing the soft, old-man-in-a-Lexus jazz they normally play, I was surprised to hear these guys:
Loose Gravel, a local bluegrass band, plays at Panera every second Tuesday of the month. They started playing there after their manager (and bassist) dared them to ask the owner if they could. He said, why not, and they've been playing there ever since.
The band formed about 7 years ago and has been touring all over the Shenandoah Valley ever since. They consist of Anthony VanPelt (fiddle, vocals), Pat Velanzon (bass, vocals), Dale Wegner (banjo, vocals), Rick Hensley (guitar, vocals), and Jim Gallaher (mandolin, vocals).
The band has such a great chemistry. All of them have years of experience making music. Anthony has been playing violin since he was 4 years old and has a masters in Music Composition. He has a few classical albums for sale on iTunes. Dale Wegner has been playing guitar since he was 6 and has been playing in bluegrass bands since he was 16.
All of these talented performers come together to produce a sound that you don't always hear from a bluegrass band. They blend classical music influences with bluegrass for a more contemporary sound.
"It's not traditional. This is stuff they make up," said Pat Velanzon, the bassist.
Velanzon was sitting out for the performance today because he recently had surgery on his knee, and has been fighting off an infection. Dawn Miller, a friend of the band, has taken over as bassist until his return.
They played a two-hour set, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. One of my favorite songs of the night was called
The band currently has a few cds, which you can find by contacting Velanzon at their website, http://www.loosegravelbluegrass.com/ or looking them up on iTunes.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Smuin Ballet: oh, inverted world premiere HD
Trey McIntyre, a world renown choreographer, has combined ballet and indie-rock (as impossible as that may seem) in his most recent work, "Oh, Inverted World."
Premiering last week at the Smuin Ballet in San Fransisco, the ballet is set to music from The Shins' album, "Oh, Inverted World," the band's 2001 debut. The Smuin Ballet has been working on featuring new and upcoming choreographers, and McIntyre is already getting widely recognized. This video, along with a bunch of others and some interviews can be found on Youtube.
Here's a review:
Here's more about the Smuin Ballet:
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Thirty Seconds To Mars - Closer To The Edge
"Music is everything to me. That's all I can say."
My friend sent this to me. This is the newest video from 30 Seconds to Mars off their recent(ish) album, This is War. It really struck me, not only as yet another blaring youth anthem from the band, but also as an example of how they connect with their fans.
The video is sort of like a video diary of their tour, going through all of the cities that they visited. It also has documentary-style scenes from kids who are just explaining how hard life gets.
One thing they talk about is bullying, which I thought was really interesting because it is becoming a real issue in schools today. Bullying affects a teenager on so many levels, keeping them from getting good grades, contributing to lack of focus, and even leading to depression/ suicide. Cyber-bullying especially is becoming a major problem that people are just beginning to identify and do something about. It's real. A lot of kids don't talk about it, because they figure it's not a big deal or they don't want to sound like a wuss. I think that the fact that 30 Seconds to Mars is giving kids a chance to talk about this problem shows that it is serious and it's something that it's okay to talk about.
Okay, off my soap-box.
This is a really cool video, and you should definitely check it out. (p.s. Read the fine print.) And I'd like to hear what you think of the mohawk. Personally, not a fan.
Friday, October 8, 2010
W N R N= W I N
WNRN is probably THE best radio station in the Harrisonburg/ Charlottesville/ Richmond area. They are a public radio station, so all of their funding comes from, as PBS used to say, listeners "like you." In the mornings, they usually play more folksy stuff, but in the afternoons, they play all my favorites- alternative/ new rock. At night... well they play a rap station at night. I can forgive them, 'cause it's actually a pretty decent mix of rap.
Anyway, I figured I would give you a link to their concert calendar, so you could see some concerts coming to the surrounding areas in the next month. (Notice the 27th... yeah... I might be a little overly excited.) There's also a lot of really cool links on their website, so check it out.
In our area, their station is 95.1. If you head west toward C'Ville, it changes to 101.1 or 91.9. And for those of you in Richmond, its 103.1.
Also, they have an iPhone app, so you can listen wherever you are!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Home, Home on the Range
Willie Nelson was "on the road again" this past weekend as he and a list of other big-name performers played at Farm Aid's annual fundraising concert.
The proceeds from the concert go to Farm Aid's main goal: supporting family farms. The concert campaign was developed in 1985 by Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and John Mellencamp. This year's concert featured Willie, Young, Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Amos Lee (in the pic), Band of Horses, Jason Mraz, Norah Jones, and Kenny Chesney, among others.
Farm Aid also develops television, radio, and other campaigns to raise support for family-farm initiatives, hoping to make the food that comes from these farms more available.
For more info and more pics:
For info on Farm Aid:
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Lil Wayne (aka. "Best Rapper Alive") gets Solitary Confinement
I don't normally talk about rappers, but I saw his face on a shirt at Hot Topic as I was walking by. It said "Free Lil Wayne." I was amused.
Rap star Lil' Wayne is getting the "penalty box" for an incident in May where he had a charger and MP3 player/watch in his cell.
For one: I think it's extremely cool that he had a watch that doubled as an MP3 player. Way to go, modern technology.
For two: Come on, you can't keep a man from his daily Bon Jovi fix. He was just rockin' out. And then the cops had to go and take away his one bit of happiness. I almost feel for the guy, despite his drug possession and the fact that he was carrying around a .44 in his Louis Voitton napsack. (I mean, of course, I always carry my guns in my designer fanny-pack, myself.)
The rapper, who has been in jail since March, is set to get out on November 4. He has a concert scheduled on the 5, so for the sake of those who bought tickets, I hope he doesn't prolong his visit to the hotel of the hottest celebs.
Here's a link to an article on why he's there:
Here's the MTV article about his solitary confinement:
And then, as I like to do, here's a video (perfect party song, if I must say):
Sunday, October 3, 2010
iTunes, meet Facebook.
Have you s
een the new version of iTunes 10? Well, I'm lazy about downloads, so after my boyfriend finally got me to upgrade my iTunes last night, I discovered musical genius.
een the new version of iTunes 10? Well, I'm lazy about downloads, so after my boyfriend finally got me to upgrade my iTunes last night, I discovered musical genius.PING!
It's like Facebook, Twitter and iTunes combined. Ping allows you to create an account (much like Facebook) within iTunes. You can put up your picture, tell where you're from, and even write an "About Me."
Once you do that, you enter into a world of social music networking. You can follow your favorite artists and iTunes will provide you with status updates, CD releases, and even comment on what they are doing. There is even a box where you can see what artists your favorite artists are listening to. You can also follow your friends, sharing band information and making suggestions on who you should check out next.
One of the coolest features is that, based on the city you enter as your hometown in your profile, iTunes will provide local concert updates for the bands you are following.
Basically, this application is like the social networking future for iTunes junkies. It not only improves the way you connect with your music, it also increases your music stalking capabilities by over 9,000. Another epic win for Apple.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Timberlake, Napster, and Facebook...Oscar-winner? I think, Yes.
As many of you know, I have a bit of an addiction... to Facebook. It's been a problem since freshman year in college, and it's only gotten progressively worse. I really can't go a day without it, and I don't have to now that I have the iPhone4 (ah, product placement)!
Anyway, when "The Social Network" came out, OF COURSE I went to see it on the day it was released. I didn't know too much about the legal disputes behind Facebook, but as it turns out a lot of the company's business success, according to the movie, was prodded on by Napster creator, Sean Parker.
The irony was that Sean Parker, who some praise and some rebuke for forever turning the music indstry around, was played by a music artist- Justin Timberlake. In the movie, Timberlake (as Parker) says Napster would "change the music industry for the better." As an avid fan of LEGAL downloading, I would have to say that point is arguable.
Timberlake portrays Parker as the snakey cold-hearted business man, the devil on Mark Zuckerberg's shoulder. After the movie, you kind of can't help but hate him. He's exactly the kind of guy you "de-friend."
But what I really found amazing: this former N'sync heart-throb (I know I was obsessed with him) can actually be a really good actor. Whowouldathunk?
Just for the sake of nostalgia (I got myself thinking about N'sync), here's a fun video:
Oh, EVEN BETTER!:
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Muse Promotes MTV Exit: Human Trafficking Effort, Music Videos, Radiohead, and The Killers
Okay, so if you don't know already, Muse is by far one of my favorite bands... ever. I'm going to see them at the John Paul Jones Arena on Oct 27, and I'm super psyched. According to ABC Entertainment, they are next in the line behind U2 for the category of "biggest band in the world." Now, that may be an overstatement, but the band is huge, and their music is aural nectar. Last week, Muse officially released their video for MK Ultra (off their recent "Resistance"album). Unlike their usual dystopian cries against corruption and abstract videos, this video is a gut-wrenching commentary on human trafficking and exploitation. The video uses a lot of still imagery, which takes the viewer through the life of a victim of the human trafficking market. She is sold and bought into prosttution, and the pictures show the emotional struggle she faces.
They released it in association with a branch of MTV called MTV Exit, an "international initiative to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking and exploitation," according to their website.MTV Exit has paired with USAID to produce music videos that will, through the power of music and lyrics, promote thier cause for awareness and prevention. Basically, human trafficking involves the selling and trading of human beings for sexual exploitation (prostitution) or forced labor (modern day slavery). It is illegal.
Muse is joining the ranks of two other bands in the program: The Killers and Radiohead. Their videos are on display on the MTV Exit website and on youtube.
Here's the link to the website, where you can find
the video and learn more about MTV Exit's motives:
Here's the
YouTube video of the song:
And here's some information on human trafficking:
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday Headline Mashup
So, I've put together a "mash-up" of interesting music news headlines, just to give you a taste of what's going on in the wonderful world of music today.
Dish Dogs debut first CD
New rock band rises from the ashes of Red River Rollercoaster
Let's start with the local, Rocktown Weekly. If you've ever been to the Little Grill in downtown, the owner is the founder of this band. It also includes an acquaintance of mine, Josh Vana, a recent James Madison University grad, who was actually hall director at one of the dorms just last year. The band plays an eclectic mix of americana, or what they call "donkey-tonk." Their CD release party is this friday at 8 p.m. at The Little Grill.
FALL MUSIC PREVIEW: FROM KANYE WEST AND KINGS OF LEON TO TAYLOR SWIFT AND ELTON JOHN, A FIRST LISTEN TO 2010'S HOTTEST ALBUMS
Rolling Stone has put together a (moderately) interactive list of all the major artists that will be releasing their albums this fall. Definitely a must see. For one, hellooooo Soundgarden. Glad to have you back. And might I direct your attention to the Kings of Leon release? SUPER psyched. You'll hear more about that later. Also, My Chemical Romance is coming out with a "party record"? What happened to the My Chem we all know and love? Obviously, they died with "The Black Parade."
Yet Another Naked NSFW Flaming Lips Video
So this one caught my interest. The Flaming Lips put out their CD, Embryonic, last year around this time and this is one of their new videos. Clothes? Who needs them! It's not the weirdest thing I've ever seen, but it's up there.
http://pitchfork.com/news/40170-metric-want-you-to-create-their-remix-album/
Got a skill for mixing? Metric is holding a contest where listeners can submit remixes from their latest album. Each song will have a different winner, which will be made into a remix album. (P.S. this is another band you will hear more about as I am going to be going to their show in exactly ONE MONTH :D)
Billy Joe Armstrong to Appear in 'American Idiot' Musical
Billy Joe Armstrong? A drug dealer? Haha, just kidding. The show is based off their "American Idiot" CD. They'd been talking about it since the CD came out like six years ago, so I'd be excited to see it, if only to see Billie Joe's Broadway debut.
Those are some of the music headlines today. Hope it keeps you entertained on this dreary Monday morning.
Keep jammin' 'til we meet again.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Square One
Hello there! Welcome to my very first blog. It's pretty epic (0r it will be). This blog is designed for those about to rock (or roll or jive or jam or shimmy, whatever be your fancy ). It will give you something to read, something to talk about, and something to do other than going to some lame party where the music probably isn’t nearly as good. Basically, I’m going to be talking about: local music, national music, reviews, band videos, concert updates, and local band profiles.
As this is the first day I’m posting, and it’s a Thursday, I want to start the weekend off right with a concert update. Here’s a list of all of the concerts in the area this weekend and a little bit about some of the bands:
Thursday:
Balthrop, Alabama (7:30) and DJ Neals Barkley (9:00) @ Clementines
Balthrop, Alabama is quite an eclectic mix of 13 musicians out of Brooklyn, NY. Their music had been described as antebellum to anti-folk, and even "barnyard epic indie rock." I'd describe them as bluesy-indie-folk. If you like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, I definitely recommend checking them out. They have one full-length on End Up Records titled "Your Big Plans and Our Little Town" and they released two new EPs, "Subway Songs" and "Cowboy Songs" this year.
Here is their website: http://www.balthropalabama.com/
Here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pSlA0kf3P8
Casey Cavanaugh@the Blue Nile
9:00-10:00
Casey Cavanaugh brings a futuristic sound to his music. His main thing is drumming. Most of his music is percussion based, but he also incorporates synthesizers and a bit of sporadic electric-guitar playing. To get a taste of his music on your own, check out his myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bufferoverflow .
Friday:
Trent Wagler & The Steel Wheels w/ Round Mountain@ Clementines
9:30
The Steel Wheels offer an americana blend of blues, bluegrass, and folk. Their band consists of four members- Trent Wagler (vocals, guitar, banjo), Jay Lapp (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Brian Dickel (bass, vocals), and Eric Brubaker (fiddle, vocals). Fun fact: the band went on a 300-mile tour last year around Virginia, but they didn't use a bus. In order to save gas, money, and the environment, the guys rode their bikes, and carried their gear with them.
To check out the band, watch this video (but from what I've heard, they are fantastic live, so you'll definitely want to check this one out): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ePtwmkq7RI
DJ Kimsey@ the Blue Nile
DJ Dance Party @ the Artful Dodger
Saturday:
DJ Williams Projekt@ Clementines
9:30
Les La Britanica w/ Born Movments w/ ST/MIC w/ DJ Ragz (of Jazz Addixx)@ the Blue Nile
Les La Britanica is a two-member band based out of Richmond, Va. bringing a blend of Electronica, Dance, and Pop music. They're pretty much party music with an indie twist. Here they are on lastfm.com. It has a few free downloads: http://www.last.fm/music/Les+La+Britanica
That's the line up for this weekend. I recommend checking some of them out. Either way, keep jammin' 'til we meet again.
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