This video landed in my inbox a couple days ago and I was surprised to learn that this was friend o’ the blogJulie Meckler‘s first music video – it is a hell of a video debut! “Manhattan” is the first single off Meckler’s forthcoming currently untitled album due later this year. The video for “Manhattan” is a collaborative effort between Polish filmmaker Victoria Szymanska, French dancer Mariam Faquir and Meckler using 8mm film projections over Faquir’s moves that is absolutely stunning to watch and match perfectly with the quiet, vulnerable tone of the song. Watch it!
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.
“Oh look, another asshole with a Best of 2011 list…“
Yes. Yes it is.
Below, in no particular order, are the 15 songs that rocked my world this year.
“But Bee,” says you, “why 15?” It just worked out that way, let’s go!
Fleet Foxes : Grown Ocean
A mood changer. This song instantly turns around any bad mood I’ve fallen into and pulls me out with calming lyrics and angelic harmonies.
Black Keys : Lonely Boy
Released just a few weeks ago this song is like burning rubber on pavement.
Adele : Someone Like You
A fucking no-brainer if there ever was. This is a goosebump song and you’re dead inside if you don’t feel something when you listen to this. True story, Mr. Bee said “I don’t get what the big deal is about this song. What’s it even about?” He is dead inside. Kids, don’t be a dumbass like him.
Diego Garcia : Separate Lives
Sigh…everything about him, his debut solo album LAURA, and his live shows is just so dreamy. It’s all just so, so…SIGH…
Wild Flag : Romance
Because I was raised and came of age on a steady diet of Sleater Kinney. Because Mary-Fucking-Timony lives in my heart. Because Janet Weiss is the way, the truth and the light. Because everything about these 4 broads individually fucking rules and together they are the definition of what a supergroup should be and sound like. This song was my favorite off their debut album.
Bon Iver : Holocene
I make no apologies for loving me some Bon Iver. I will also punch you in the face if you disagree.
Jay-Z & Kanye West : Otis
Christ – that Otis sample slays me everytime I hear this song. Two mega rich rappers making NO apologies for indulging in a ridiculous life of luxury? Sign me up.
Esperanza Spalding & Gretchen Parlato : Useless Landscape – Inutil Paisagem
Hands down the most stunning use of one’s god-given instrument ever. Each time I watch/listen to this song I am in total awe. (Fully aware the album this song was featured on was released in 2010 but the video was released this summer – so there.) Also, if we’re going to rank these songs according to iTunes plays, this would be #1. Easily.
tUnE-yArDs : Powa
My favorite off of this year’s W H O K I L L. Watching Merrill Garbus live is a revelation and a joy. I was at the show the clip below is from and that’s the closest I’ve been to church in YEARS. We were all one with Merrill and she took us higher. And because when she says “my man likes me from behind” I know your ass was nodding in full agreement. PREACH!
Wilco : Art of Almost
The opening track of this year’s Whole Love album and for a minute I thought it was a new Radiohead song. This song is great on paper but even more fun to watch live, especially Jeff Tweedy ‘dancing’ around sans guitar. Watching Wilco unleash the beast on guitar that is Nels Cline is beautiful. It’s also the song that started the whole #FuckYeahNelsCline campaign.
My Morning Jacket : Circuital
Jim James and that beautiful luscious beard of his can do NO wrong. None. This song has a big epic sound that fills theatres and for that, me gusta mucho.
Kids These Days : Darling
One of my favorite new (to me) finds this year. These kids blend hip hop / soul / jazz and funk to create a delightful mature sound. Seriously though, are these kids old enough to drink yet? Vote??
Girls : Love Like A River
Please and thank you. Quite possibly the most perfect song released this year.
Radiohead : Lotus Flower
The first band I fully committed to loving and worshiping no matter where they decided to take me. I fell in love with the rich sounds of this song and the lack of traditional song structure (verse / chorus / bridge / chorus) further showed why Radiohead is a fine collection of musical geniuses.
Battles : Ice Cream
Every year I include one song on my list that was also Baby Bee’s favorite (and for once it’s not a She & Him song). This is that song. She would lose her shit to this song every time I played it for her and not only was that entertaining as all get out but it warmed my little black coal heart.
Howdy! It has been a long hot second since I’ve updated this page. I’ve been busy working, being a mama, being a wife, visiting my favorite person, reading, commuting, falling asleep at unforgivably early hours but I’m still writing, still going to concerts (when the Ticketmaster sodomy charges aren’t out of control) and I’m still very much keeping up with new music. I’m working on my year end round up because that’s what jerks like me with blogs are supposed to do. In the meantime I leave you with this video taken earlier this year by one of my favorite artists, performing a song off one of my favorite albums at one of my most favorite venues in this city.
A few snippets from last night’s unbelievably fun party.
God bless the children who rage (ATB @ NCMF).
ATB @ NCMF 2011
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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.
Gogol Bordello @ NCMF
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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).
Benny Benassi – Satisfaction @ NCMF
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Here’s the intro to Thievery Corp‘s “Lebanese Blonde” which has quite possibly the catchiest sitar hook ever.
A preview of some the things I plan to see/hear Saturday:
Gemini Club: TheChicagothree piece electro-dance band promise that no two shows are ever alike with their “on the fly” remixes which have also put them in high demand around the world. Below is their first single, Ghost, which has since been remixed by the likes of Hey Champ and Golden Bug and those can be found on their SoundCloud page.
Common: We all know who Common is so really there’s no need to talk about it further. Love him. Love this song.
Fatboy Slim: Honestly, I’m picking Fatboy Slim just so I have a somewhat legitimate excuse to post this video:
Oh hi there…it’s been a while since I last logged on and did something other than drool over Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Welp, North Coast Weekend is here or Labor Day Weekend if you’re old school and particular about these sorts of things. Below are a few artists worth seeing and if you’re not going to NCMF the why don’t you check back throughout the weekend to see the usual awful stage shots I am prone to taking and we can judge the kids’ and their crazy fashions together.
North Coast stole my heart last year and again with this year’s line up. The festival turns a big magnifying glass to the city’s local talent even dedicating an entire stage to up-and-coming local artists.
First up is the Chicago-based production team known as The Hood Internet who will bring their mash ups of hip hop with indie to the Red Bull Groove Stage on Friday at 4;30p. There a ton of tracks and several mixtapes available at their SoundCloud page and I’ve posted one below but do check it out and dig in.
Perfect Kiss the self described “new wave revivalists” hail from the Pilsen and Little Village neighborhoods so shouts out to my childhood stomping grounds. They hit all the right spots with their synth heavy pop that are perfect for a late summer evening. They’ll hit the Magic Hat Local Stage on Friday at 6:15p.
Midnight Conspiracy: Chicago’s own party starting duo will hit the Magic Hat Local Stage at 9 up against headliners David Guetta and Wiz Khalifa. Here’s the song that opened the flood gates:
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.
