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Category Archives: Bits O’ Pieces

Cults : Go Outside

One of the most delightful line ups I saw in 2011: Cults, Magic Kids and Superhumanoids @ Empty Bottle

2011 In Review : Photos

Sneaking cameras (plural) into a venue has become sport for me at this point. I don’t get photo passes to the majority of shows I attend, the exception being North Coast Music Festival, which is a lot of fun to shoot. These aren’t necessarily the best photos I’ve ever taken but they’re sure as hell my favorites.

Gogol Bordello @ NCMF - favorite picture of 2011

North Coast Videos

A few snippets from last night’s unbelievably fun party.

God bless the children who rage (ATB @ NCMF).

 

Gogol Bordello was intense.  Everyone and your mom was dancing and singing and at one point I feared the crowd would push down the barricade.  Even the folks in the photo pit couldn’t help but get swept up.

 

Returning to the fest was Benny Benassi who ended his set with one of my favorites.  The best part was watching the security guy lose his shit (you can see part of that on the far right side of the screen).

 

Here’s the intro to Thievery Corp‘s “Lebanese Blonde” which has quite possibly the catchiest sitar hook ever.

 

 

 

5 With…Anthony Macias – FMEL Ed.

Anthony Macias

Friend o’ the site (and drummer for [.DESCARGA.]) Anthony Macias will be one of several performers at this year’s FMEL (Latin Electronic Music Festival). We caught up Anthony to talk about the band and Friday’s performance at Abbey Pub (9pm, 21+, $10).

 You’ve been with the band for a few months now and seem to have settled in. How’s it going? Are you having fun?

 I am having a lot of fun and really am enjoying my time with the band. We have a great practice spot and have been keeping busy with practice and shows.

Tell me a little about the MN show with Zoe

 I have to say I had a great time hanging with my guys.

 How did the upcoming collaboration with Kampion happen? Did you two know each other prior to FMEL?

 I have never meet Kampion and still haven’t met him in person but we have exchanged emails and tracks so I think this is going to be fun. I have not really played in a setting like this before so I am excited. He seems like a really cool guy.

 As a DJ yourself, are you approaching this collaboration from the viewpoint of a DJ, a drummer or a little of both?

 I am coming at this from both sides. I always consider myself a Drummer who enjoys the art of DJ’ing. As a DJ I tend to play for myself and focus on the blend and [I] like to remix on the fly; but as a drummer I like to open up and experiment in the context of each song. Lets see were this night takes us.

What can we expect to see/hear on Friday at Abbey Pub when you take the stage?

 I will be playing my acoustic drums and am going to…find my spots to add my signature. I just want to hit the stage, close my eyes and explode. I really need to release so [I] don’t plan on holding back.

For a complete list of all FMEL events click HERE.

Chile Represents (Lolla Preview)

Lollapalooza Chile took place earlier this year and featured two bands that will be playing Lollapalooza Chicago this weekend: Los Bunkers and Chico Trujillo. It’s a welcome sight to see more latin-oh artists/bands featured at Lolla.

Los Bunkers craft sweet and catchy pop heavily influenced by early Beatles’ records (think Mersey beat). They’ll play the PlayStation stage Friday, August 5 at 1:45pm

Chico Trujillo (Chile’s most popular cumbia band) will have festival goers dancing to their unique blend of cumbia, ska and punk on Saturday August 6, 2011 at 1:30pm as they take over the PlayStation stage.

For My Brat

There are only really two cartoons that Baby Bee likes to watch that I can tolerate.  Spongebob is one and the other is Phineas and Ferb.  It’s a clever cartoon about two kids on summer vacation with oversized imaginations that’s much more sophisticated than this lame description reads. So while her mother is tempting the sun poisoning gods, Baby Bee can watch the cartoon version of Slash rock out with Phineas and Ferb to “Kick It Up A Notch” for the tv movie Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension which premieres on the Disney Channel August 5th.

Via Rolling Stone

North Coast: Toast of the Coast Contest

If you’re looking to avoid jacking up your ComEd bill by running the AC tonight and you want somewhere to go and something to do: head over to The Mid tonight (306 N. Halsted) and check out the Toast of the Coast finalists.  Doors open at 8p, show starts at 9p, 21+ and is 100% FREE.  The lucky artists vying for the final three spots on the festival’s bill are:

Isaiah Grass

DJ Solo

Flow Theory

Mos Scoscious

Serotonin

Blah Blah Blahs

40oz Kings

DJ Row

Jaik Willis

The Right Now

Grab one of the remaining $110 discounted full-festival presale passes or any $45 Single-Day passes at www.northcoastfestival.com!

Wilco: I Might

If you were lucky enough to be at this weekend’s Wilco-curated Solid Sound Festival you had the opportunity to get first dibs on the band’s new single “I Might” with their cover of Nick Lowe’s “I Love My Label” as the B-side.  The single won’t officially be available for purchase until July 19 and their new album, The Whole Love, is due in September.

Personally, I’m loving this new song with its prominent fuzzy bass and crunchy guitar solo.  If this is what ‘Dad Rock’ sounds like then sign me up.  More, please!

Wherein I Lament the Loss of a Great…(Bits and Pieces for Friday)

Super bad ass group I want to follow around Phish-style, Wild Flag, have announced they will release their self-titled debut album on September 13 on Merge.  They’ll take the stage at Wicker Park Fest on July 23 (sorry kiddies, their gig at SubT on the 22nd sold out) and will return October 9 to play Empty Bottle.  (Via P4K)

93XRT is doing your ass a solid by broadcasting tonight’s My Morning Jacket show.  If you’re not going then listen and play the new drinking game: “Which two noisy heifers screaming and acting the fool are MeanLittleBumbleBee and The Naughty Librarian®.”  Each time you think you hear us do a shot of Jameson because you’re probably right – WHEEEEE!!!

Let’s all go stalk Tankboy this weekend at Taste of Randolph!

And in super important life-changing news, Rebecca Black has removed Friday from YouTube.  Won’t someone think of the childrens?!?!?!

A few thoughts on Adele, promotion, and “selling-out”

THIS article on Adele is making the rounds today. Every artist pays lip service to their fans but Adele is actually walking the walk.
I am of the mindset that too much promotion does nothing to get me excited but instead turns me off. Whether it’s on an international scale like Adele or local, I don’t need daily reminders that you have a show coming up.
I also tend to wait a long time to buy albums from certain people because I know in a few months time they’ll release a limited edition album with bonus material. It’s enough that artists choose to go with LiveNation / Ticketmaster and take my money on surcharges so don’t expect me to shell out hard earned cash for multiple versions of the same album.
I like her policy on not licensing her music to corporations for use in commercials but I tend to cheer when my little indie bands get a check for a song (I’m looking at you Smith Westerns for Tommy Hilfiger).
So don’t over promote, don’t re-release an album a dozen times and it’s ok to sell your music so long as you’re aware of who is buying it.

To date I consider her only misstep to be her cover of The Cure’s “LoveSong.”

Posting Rolling in the Deep because that song is the business.

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