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:

http://www.mtvexit.org/muse.php

Here's the

YouTube video of the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7wN04nYCJA

And here's some information on human trafficking:

http://www.humantrafficking.org/

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

http://www.rocktownweekly.com/rocktown/life_details.php?AID=3958

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

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/28431/207313/0

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

http://pitchfork.com/news/40179-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.

Metric Want You to Create Their Remix Album

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

http://www.nme.com/news/green-day/53168

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.

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.