For $40 you can rage all day and night in Topanga Canyon with some of L.A.'s best rising indie stars including Goldroom,Goodnight Keaton (of Miami Horror), The Internet (OFWGKTA), The Dustbowl Revival, Terraplane Sun and more! Remember what festivals were like before they got so corporate? Take it back to that backwoods intimacy at The Ranch. Get your glow sticks and tents ready! Get tickets at www.theranchparty.com or try your hand at winning a pair through us - just contact contest@supergoodmusic.com with the subject heading "Ranch Party" or tweet out @supergoodmusic @jaminthevan @zooszoos #RanchParty to enter! Winner picked on Friday March 1st!
We wouldn't really be a music blog if we didn't post this within 24 hours of the line-up being leaked - its the 2013 Coachella line-up. Digest it and discuss amongst yourselves. More tickets go on sale here Tuesday.
Whether it’s the new rocking sounds of The Black Keys, fun., Foster The People or some other band your parents haven't heard of - you can hear it all with the indie rock cover sounds of Black Crystal Wolf Kids as they launch their residency at The Viper Room.
Along with BCWK – on the Sunset Strip KROQ Locals Only throws down at On
The Rox with NO, Beach Party and The New Limb.
Head east and you’ll find Father John Misty and Daniel Lanois at Bootleg
Theater, Eyes Lips Eyes and the debut performance of Hobart W. Fink at The
Satellite (for FREE too) and the kickoff to FILTER MAGAZINE's CULTURE COLLIDE FESTIVAL! Over at Taix lounge - you get an intimate treat from Penguin Prison, The Chevin and School of Seven Bells. If you're not already figuring out how you're making your way to Taix - you're either busy, don't like discovering music or sipping a bit too much weak sauce today. Or maybe you just can't handle that energy in that little room - in which case - go really east
and you can relax with Conor Oberst’s melancholy rock and Jenny Lewis at Fox
Theater Pomona.
And, last but not least, the native Chicago homie Prob Cause is spitting at Taix for Culture Collide Festival as well. He goes on at 10:30 and his new video Flex (above) is all over MTV. Get hip to it. For a full list of excuses to get off your ass and rock - see below...
Slash, Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, Foxy Shazam @ The Wiltern (POSTPONED)
Justin Bieber @ Staples Center
Conor Oberst, Jenny Lewis @ Fox Theater Pomona
Father John Misty, Daniel Lanois, Inara George, Becky Stark, Great Northern @ Bootleg Theater
Kimbra, The Stepkids @ Fonda Theatre
Eyes Lips Eyes, Hobart W. Fink, Vex Ruffin, Owls @ The Satellite (FREE)
Tashaki Miyaki, Babies on Acid, LA Witch @ The Echo
Dub Club @ The Echoplex (FREE)
The Nukes, Shotgun Alley, Dollface, Never Like The Movies, Crying 4 Kafka, Through The Valleys @ The Roxy
NO, Beach Party, The New Limb @ On The Rox
Black Crystal Wolf Kids, Monster Island, Feral Cat @ The Viper Room
Tapioca & The Flea, Bad Weather California @ Harvard & Stone
Chief, The Reflections, James Supercave @ Los Globos
The Ugly Kids, The LExingtons @ Down and Out Bar
The Sunset Drifters @ Hideout
Inda Eaton, Go West @ Vitello’s
Nick Lowe, Eleni Mandell @ Troubadour
Kate Earl, The Young Romans, Neon Hymns, Tomten @ The Hotel Café
Dan Rockett, Michael Grant, Shakti Bliss, Viking Burhiser , Joe Con @ The Mint
Port Royal, Era, AEM, Asymmetrical Head and Bizzart @ The Virgil
Maria Minerva, Dream Panther, Pharoahs, Father Finger @ The Central SAPC
Lita Ford, Boy Hits Car, Cry Wolf @ Saint Rocke
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Anderson Hall @ Coach House
Guttermouth, The Queers @ The Observatory
George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Mike Eldred Trio @ House of Blues – Anaheim
Frank Sontag @ Canyon Club
Vision, The Vivids, Vows, Guides @ Silverlake Lounge
Max & The Moon @ Library (at The Redbury)
Mount Eerie, Bouquet, Ever Ending Kicks @ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts
The Chevin, Penguin Prison (DJ Set – Live Vocals), School of Seven Bells, Panoptica Orchestra (DJ Set) @ Taix Champagne Room
Prob Cause @ Taix (CULTURE COLLIDE)
Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal), Brothers of the Well, DJ Supercrass @ Taix Front Lounge
The Withers @ Lot 1 Café
Thavius Beck @ Low End Theory at The Airliner
Vision, The Vivids, Vows, Guides @ Silverlake Lounge
Garrett Warren, Alfa Juliet, Lilac @ King King Club (FREE)
Labor Day weekend - a few SUPERGOOD supporters attended Pacific Festival 2012: The Dunes, featuring Mayer
Hawthorne, Poolside, Bag
Raiders, Capital Cities and
many more to vibe out at the Newport Beach Marina. Zach Siegel-Eisman of Before The Bigs brings us his coverage below.... Arriving shortly after 2pm, we snagged media passes and briefly saw Tijuana Panthers rock out before moving onto the Identity Village,
which was a dance party on the sand that DJ Metric was getting started. I don't
remember much of DJ Metric's set as we snuck into the VIP area and, after getting as
many free drinks before security told us to leave, we were on to the next act. (Note to self - get VIP pass next year)
' Stream and download DJ Metric's
latest sound cloud mix below.
After Metric, we rushed to the other end of the festival grounds to catch up-and-coming indie/alternative pop band
Wildcat! Wildcat!. However when we got there, we found that the acts from the Camm Stage
were running behind schedule so we went to the Main stage to see
American Royalty.
Los Angeles alternative electronic indie rock band
American Royalty has been bubbling on the scene for a hot minute, as Filter Magazine
has used the lead singer to DJ many of their parties and the band just finished a
residency at The Echo earlier this year. Their mp3's do not give their live music justice as they straight up jam out
with various sounds that are easy to get down and dance to. I didn't leave
their set remembering any of their songs but left feeling satisfied with how
they organically blended on stage, with the lead singer switching from keyboard to guitar
and all three members of the band singing and injecting emotion into their songs.
My favorite song because of it's more electronic mixed with
rock appeal is "Lately". Stream that below.
Catching up to Camm Stage - we indulged in the
last three songs from Wildcat! Wildcat!. I love
how they have two vocalists, the most interesting instrumentals and great stage attitude. They continue to remind me of MGMT before MGMT went mainstream. They were one
of my favorites during the day - stream and download "Mr. Quiche" and "The
Chief".
We meandered by Fool's Gold's set
a couple times and I enjoyed the chill alternative beach pop vibes. After checking out their songs
afterwards, the song I most remember enjoying from the festival was
"Surprise Hotel", which has such soothing chill instrumentals. Watch
the video for it below.
Next I saw Mr. Little Jeans
perform. This was the only disappointment of the day. The Swedish artist
performs mostly slow pop songs that generally don't get people dancing and
leave you aching for something more upbeat. After hearing two songs including her
hit "Runaway", I left to grab a bite to eat. Watch the video to
"Runaway" below.
Returning to Camm Stage we found the daytime disco vibes of Tropicool DJing.
Although there was only about 25-50 people in the area, people were still
dancing or bobbing their head while finding a place in the shade to lay down.
Stream Tropicool's latest mix below.
Since Poolside began before Capital Cities, we opted to catch the greatest daytime disco act jam out. On record,
Poolside is composed of the duo of Filip Nikolic
and Jeffrey Paradise. In a live setting the band is a four piece with Nikolic on lead vocals and bass and Paradise on electronics, and the duo is joined
by drummer and percussionist Jason Pipkin and multi-instrumentalist Michael
Gold.
My first introduction to Poolside was at last year's Pacific Festival, in which they DJed
before Fred Falke on one of the smaller stages. This year Poolside performed
with their full band on the main stage and I couldn't have been happier. Witnessing them as a full band
just enhanced the whole experience by creating this groovy dance vibe that
anybody can enjoy. They were one of the three best acts I saw at Pacific
Festival and can't wait to see them perform next! Since I love all the
music from Poolside, here's 9 tracks to stream and mostly download from them.
Sit back and relax.
We dipped on Poolside's set early so we could catch the last couple songs from
Capital Cities, one of our favorite genre-blending
dual vocal bands ever. While I didn't get to catch "Kangaroo Court," we did hear "Safe and Sound" and had
the pleasure of hearing a horn solo too. Everybody was dancing and singing along and they were one of my
favorites of the day with their electro pop rock dance vibes. Stream "Safe
and Sound" below.
In between destinations - we briefly caught Dale Earnhardt
Jr. Jr. Hearing them live was great. Although it was brief, I enjoyed everything I
heard and recommend catching them live as they sound a little more natural and
than listening to their song releases. Watch their latest video, "Simple
Girl" below.
We arrived to Bag Raiders set
and immediately noticed it was overcrowded with cigarette-smoking bros and
couples that were complaining about a music festival on a beach! I was still pumped to see their DJ set but completely turned
off by the Newport Beach locals, who all smoked cigarette's and were distracted
by their phones or significant other to enjoy the music. They need to wake up and hear these beats. Stream the latest mix
from Bag Raiders below.
Post Bag Raiders we caught several songs from
Steed Lord. Before Pacific Festival, I thought
Steed Lord was a couple DJs who created electro house vibes and didn't know it
was Steed Lord until after the festival. Upon hearing this synth pop trio
(which won my award for best dressed), I've become a huge fan! Steed Lord
consists of two DJs (Demo and Mega) and one beautiful lead vocalist (Cali,
pictured above). Their blend of electro pop instrumentals with vocals from
Cali is spectacular. If you like Empire of the Sun but want a female vocalist, Steed Lord has
that kind of vibe but less rock and more dance. Listen to "B4 U Walk Out
Of My Life (Steed Lord Diva Edit)" and "Hear Me Now" below.
After
Steed Lord, we then caught Sneaky Sound System. I
thought Steed Lord was amazing and then once I heard Sneaky Sound System, I
knew I redefined what amazing meant! While Steed Lord has a
great vibe, Sneaky Sound System was even better; very catchy
and easy to sing along to. My favorite was "We Love" which will be on
commercials and anywhere else it can get placed if it hasn't already. Watch
"We Love" below.
From the catchy performance of Sneaky Sound System it was time from
the neo-soul crooning of headliner Mayer Hawthorne
and The County. He has such a clean-cut act with the band choreographed dancing
and a great set-up with the lighting experience as well. Mayer Hawthorne has
this cool personality that reminds me of Justin Timberlake when he does on-air
interviews. Overall Mayer Hawthorne didn't disappoint but if you are going to
see him, go with somebody you want to hook up with as he has some sweet
baby-making vibes that would be a perfect fit if you're on a date. Watch the video to my
favorite song below.
--
The above review was from Zach S-E of BeforeBigs.com. Follow @BeforeBigs and instagram for more
photos from Pacific Festival.
Rising Chicago hip-hop artist Prob Cause is back in the music ring for another bout - this time delivering "Flex." The second single off of his forthcoming "Recipe" project - showcases Prob midwest repping with clever metaphors and, in classic Chicago fashion, a varying flow speed.
Prob Cause breaks it down for his hometown this weekend at North Coast Music Festival as well as a stop in Bloomington on August 30th with another midwestern spitter - Machine Gun Kelly. L.A. gets the privilege of another Prob Cause visit in early October for Filter's Culture Collide Festival; start training for the event by watching the video and copping Recipe (featuring Rockie Fresh, YP and more) when it is released this coming Labor Day weekend. "Flex" video was directed by Elijah Alvarado and High Ambition. Check out more at http://probcause.com and more videos at http://www.youtube.com/probcausetv.
Sunset Strip Music Festival 2012 is now well under way... A serious tribute to The Doors, which included Ray Manzarek playing a keys solo on "Light My Fire" as if he'd never play again, upped the bar on this still young festival. Joined by a parade of musicians including Billy Morrison, Matt Sorum, Mark McGrath, Emily Armstrong (Dead Sara), Linda Perry and Franky Perez - as well as Door's members Bobby Krieger and John Densmore - the third SSMF launched with a big blast off. Early close time at the Tribute meant other Sunset Strip enclaves opened their doors to the parade of festival-goers for the likes of Lady Sinatra at The Viper Room, Peter Murphy at The Roxy and more. Finding my way over to The Viper Room - Murphy's vocals pierced the air for a crowded house of rock fanatics and I got spent on a bit of a Roxy family celebration. Big shout outs to @nicadler for not only operating one of L.A.'s top venues and being so hospitable, but for also playing such an instrumental role in bringing the entire Sunset Strip Music Festival (@ssmf) together. Tonight Festival goers can grab a healthy dosage of hip-hop - from Hollywood scene rapper Mickey Avalon at The Viper Room to the Shaolin stylings of RZA at Key Club. RZA will be joined by rising Jewish MC and freestyle entertainer - Kosha Dillz - so make sure to get their early.... Peep videos from RZA, Mickey and Kosha Dillz here.
RZA
Kosha Dillz Freestyling at The Mint on Wednesday with Erick "Jesus" Coomes' Peasant Party
Sunset Strip Music Festival 2012 is now well under way... A serious tribute to The Doors, which included Ray Manzarek playing a keys solo on "Light My Fire" as if he'd never play again, upped the bar on this still young festival. Joined by a parade of musicians including Billy Morrison, Matt Sorum, Mark McGrath, Emily Armstrong (Dead Sara), Linda Perry and Franky Perez - as well as Door's members Bobby Krieger and John Densmore - the third SSMF launched with a big blast off. Early close time at the Tribute meant other Sunset Strip enclaves opened their doors to the parade of festival-goers for the likes of Lady Sinatra at The Viper Room, Peter Murphy at The Roxy and more. Finding my way over to The Viper Room - Murphy's vocals pierced the air for a crowded house of rock fanatics and I got spent on a bit of a Roxy family celebration. Big shout outs to @nicadler for not only operating one of L.A.'s top venues and being so hospitable, but for also playing such an instrumental role in bringing the entire Sunset Strip Music Festival (@ssmf) together. Tonight Festival goers can grab a healthy dosage of hip-hop - from Hollywood scene rapper Mickey Avalon at The Viper Room to the Shaolin stylings of RZA at Key Club. RZA will be joined by rising Jewish MC and freestyle entertainer - Kosha Dillz - so make sure to get their early.... Peep videos from RZA, Mickey and Kosha Dillz here.
RZA
Kosha Dillz Freestyling at The Mint on Wednesday with Erick "Jesus" Coomes' Peasant Party
Saturday marks the launch of the 9th annual Rock The Bells Festival - as it returns to San Bernardino's NOS Events Center for the first of three weekends around the country. The hip-hop mega fest is slated to deliver a hefty dosage of current heavyweights, veterans and artists who are clearly on their grind.
From the opening words of Dom Kennedy on Saturday to the final verse from Nas on Sunday - Los Angelenos and hip-hop heads from far and wide can rejoice in a celebration of the culture and some undoubtable surprises. Some of those we can spoil for you - like the fact that BizMarkie will join DJ Lance Rock (of Yo Gabba Gabba), Saafir and Ras Kaas reunite wth Xzibit for a special Golden State Warriors performance and Psycho Realm opens up Paid Dues Stage! Staring into my crystal ball of festival forecasting - I also predict a few guest appearances from Travis Barker (Yelawolf), Kosha Dillz (some stage somewhere with RZA) and Chip Tha Ripper (Kid Cudi) are bound to happen....
The full official line-up includes all of the following: Kid Cudi, J Cole, DMX + Eve, Method Man + Redman, KRS - One, Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Ice Cube, Xzibit, Golden State Warriors, Kid Ink, E-40 (& Too Short, Deltron 3030, Chief Keef, Machine Gun Kelly, Atmosphere, Killer Mike, El-P, Immortal Technique, Casey Veggies, Dipset, Kendrick Lamar (w/ Black Hippy), Common, 2 Chainz, Tyga, Yelawolf, Future, Dom Kennedy, Jadakiss, Wu Blok, Naughty By Nature, Curren$y, Prodigy, Zion I, Grouch, Eligh, Sean Price, Watsky, Black Knights, Salt-N-Pepa, DJ Quik, Big Daddy Kane, Mix Master Mike, DJ Lance Rock & Friends , I Self Devine, Slim Da Mobster, and Psycho Realm.
You can cop your tickets at www.rockthebells.com and check out a word about the festival from one of its creators - Chang Weisberg.
Saturday marks the launch of the 9th annual Rock The Bells Festival - as it returns to San Bernardino's NOS Events Center for the first of three weekends around the country. The hip-hop mega fest is slated to deliver a hefty dosage of current heavyweights, veterans and artists who are clearly on their grind.
From the opening words of Dom Kennedy on Saturday to the final verse from Nas on Sunday - Los Angelenos and hip-hop heads from far and wide can rejoice in a celebration of the culture and some undoubtable surprises. Some of those we can spoil for you - like the fact that BizMarkie will join DJ Lance Rock (of Yo Gabba Gabba), Saafir and Ras Kaas reunite wth Xzibit for a special Golden State Warriors performance and Psycho Realm opens up Paid Dues Stage! Staring into my crystal ball of festival forecasting - I also predict a few guest appearances from Travis Barker (Yelawolf), Kosha Dillz (some stage somewhere with RZA) and Chip Tha Ripper (Kid Cudi) are bound to happen....
The full official line-up includes all of the following: Kid Cudi, J Cole, DMX + Eve, Method Man + Redman, KRS - One, Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Ice Cube, Xzibit, Golden State Warriors, Kid Ink, E-40 (& Too Short, Deltron 3030, Chief Keef, Machine Gun Kelly, Atmosphere, Killer Mike, El-P, Immortal Technique, Casey Veggies, Dipset, Kendrick Lamar (w/ Black Hippy), Common, 2 Chainz, Tyga, Yelawolf, Future, Dom Kennedy, Jadakiss, Wu Blok, Naughty By Nature, Curren$y, Prodigy, Zion I, Grouch, Eligh, Sean Price, Watsky, Black Knights, Salt-N-Pepa, DJ Quik, Big Daddy Kane, Mix Master Mike, DJ Lance Rock & Friends , I Self Devine, Slim Da Mobster, and Psycho Realm.
You can cop your tickets at www.rockthebells.com and check out a word about the festival from one of its creators - Chang Weisberg.
The footage SUPERGOOD captured with Jam In The Van on our Bonnaroo 2012 trip began appearing on Bonnaroo365 (their youtube channel) yesterday, debuting with a jam from beloved rock band ALO. "Blew Out The Walls" is the first broadcast videos from Van 2.0. Look for a grip of more stellar footage and JITV live performances shot on the trip soon.
The footage SUPERGOOD captured with Jam In The Van on our Bonnaroo 2012 trip began appearing on Bonnaroo365 (their youtube channel) yesterday, debuting with a jam from beloved rock band ALO. "Blew Out The Walls" is the first broadcast videos from Van 2.0. Look for a grip of more stellar footage and JITV live performances shot on the trip soon.
The summer party just got a little hotter and louder with the release of Fool's Gold Records Clubhouse Volume I. A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs curated a pre-packaged booty shaking party session on vinyl (or stream or mp3 or CD or whatever format you consume) in Clubhouse Volume I.
Clubhouse Volume I is the alleged beginning of a series of albums and performance events slated to introduce the ever growing EDM community to some of the labels new friends and upstarts. Enjoy this Tuesday treat that features His Majesty Andre & Elisa Bee, XXXChange, Meech, Peo De Pitte, Jay Robinson, Sammy Bananas, Donovans and more! If you're headed to Camp Bisco in July - make sure to peep the debut of their Clubhouse stage, and if not, just wait for it come around to L.A. at Hard Festival!
Just in case you hadn't heard - or haven't seen - D'Angelo joined ?uestlove & Friends at their Bonnaroo 2012 Superjam - and paraded through Jimi Hendrix and other classics. Catch a few videos below and remind yourself why you shouldn't miss the chance to take a trip to Manchester, TN in June 2013.
Charles Bradley, without question, is one of the most amazing performers I have ever seen. His photo should be under the definition of SUPERGOODMUSIC. Infectious honest soul layered with enough roughness and true grit around the edges earning him the nickname "The Screaming Eagle of Soul."
Once you know his back story (he ran away from home, lived in subways, street cars and on the streets, was discovered as a James Brown impersonator under the moniker "Black Velvet") - and witness him perform - its hard to not fall in love....and I did, at Bonnaroo 2012. Here are the pictures and videos to prove it, including a video interview with Billboard at the bottom.
