The Truth About Music

Vid Pick: MS MR ‘Hurricane’

Kevin — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:13:42 +0000

Hey Nineties babies? Wanna see all the pop culture you missed in the time it takes to type a few dozen tweets? Then take a peek at MS MR’s new clip for ”Hurricane” which features enough Clinton-era (and Reagan era–pause at 1:11 for a shot of Madonna circa “Like A Virgin”-; plus the old reliable creepy/avant garde 50′s and 60′s treasure trove) images to get you up to speed. Watch it and view the band’s tour dates after the jump.

6/01 – Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands Gallery
7/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre*
7/11 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore*
7/13 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre*
7/14 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market*
7/15 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom*
7/18 – Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall*
7/21 – Chicago, IL @ Park West*
8/14 – Washington D.C. @ 9:30 Club*
8/16 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall*
8/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts*
* w/Marina & The Diamonds

Michael K. Williams Gives More Details About Ol’ Dirty Bastard Biopic

Kevin — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:03:25 +0000

The Wire alum Michael K. Williams gave more details about his starring role in the Ol’ Dirty Bastard biopic Dirty White Boy in an interview with New York City’s Power 105. Read more after the jump.

Williams, who was confirmed as the actor who’d portray the late rapper back in March, said that unlike another recent rap biopic Notorious, the film will not chronicle ODB’s entire life.

“It’s only going to focus on the last two years of his life, when he was released from prison up until the day he died,” Williams clarified. “People don’t know why they were his worst years. There was some mental health issues. When he died, he was actually on the come up. He had a lot of hope for his life, man. He was getting his stuff together. You know what I mean?

“It was just unfortunate he had a little bit of that white girl in him, and he had a pain in his leg and asked for a painkiller,” he said. “When he should’ve have just took an Aleve, somebody gave him some horse tranquilizer, and it short-circuited his heart. But, it wasn’t like he was on a binge. You know dude was really excited about his future.”

However, Williams did reveal that other parts of the rapper’s life will be explored as well, such as his home life, and alluded to possible cameos from surviving Wu-Tang Clan members, saying RZA’s endorsement of the project seems likely.

“It’s very important to the quality of film, to the realness of the film,” Williams said. “We’re going to capture the last time that all of them were on stage together as a family, and to do that, we need all hands on deck. We don’t want no actors portraying any of the Wu-Tang; we want the real brothers.”

VHS or Beta Unleash “Eyes Dub,” Play NYC’s Bowery Ballroom Tonight

Kevin — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:22:20 +0000

Barely a week after dropping Diamonds & Dub, VHS or Beta have released the disc’s first offering ”Eyes Dub” to fans.

”Eyes Dub” is just one the seven tracks from their 2011 album Diamonds & Death given a dub inspired makeover. by DJ/producer Jacques Renault and remixer Mark Verbos, . VHS or Beta will also be playing a headlining show at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom tonight, with Gambit and Ms Mr. serving as supporting acts. You can download “Eyes Dub” HERE.

Baby Monster Announces EP, Share MP3

Kevin — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:55:09 +0000

Duo Baby Monster, known for their popular remixes of Gorillaz, Ellie Goulding and Foster The People, have dropped asong off their upcoming EP City of Lovers. Learn more after the jump.

Marked by layered, atmospheric vocals, warm synths and a smooth, pulsating bass line, title track “City Of Lovers” is a perfect slice of summery pop, light and catchy but still different enough to catch ear drums by surprise. The City of Lovers EP, an album that will reflect bandmates Daniel Sternbaum and Marty Larson Xu’s perceptions of the different cities it was written in, is slated to come out on June 5. Listen and download City Of Lovers HERE.

WATCH: Jade Alston Performs At BET Music Matters

Kevin — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:54:59 +0000

Jade Alston performed to a packed house at NYC’s Santo Party House for BET’s Music Matters showcase earleir this week. The R&B starlet performed a set that included a medley of Bruno Mars, Lil’ Wayne and Kings of Leon on her guitar before busting a version of Mary J. Blige’s classic “Real Love.” Watch after the jump.

Keys N Krates Share Zeds Dead & Omar Linx Remix, Announce Tour Dates

Kevin — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:41:53 +0000

In preparation for their massive summer tour duo Keys N Krates have dropped a new remix.

Turning their song “No Prayers” over to their Canadian brothers Zeds Dead & Omar Linx, the track, with it’s skittering 808 drums, swaths of sythesizers and soft, soulful vocals and chants, wouldn’t sound out of place on the duo’s own hip hop meets-electronic repetoire.

But Keys N’ Krates have long known the power of the remix, reworking cuts for Diplo/Usher, Miike Snow, Madeon and Bassnectar. The group has built its reputation both for in the studio and on the road, recently completing a road trek through Canada, America, and South East Asia, and Miami’s Ultra Music Festival.

Their latest tour will include an appearance at the Movement Electronic Music Festival, where they’ll share the bill with Public Enemy, and a performance at Wakarusa festival where they’ll share the stage with Pretty Lights and Girl Talk.

ZEDS DEAD x OMAR LINX – NO PRAYERS (KEYS N KRATES RMX) by Keys N Krates

May 22 – Davenport, IA @ Redstone Room
May 23 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze
May 24 – Madison, WI @ The Majestic
May 25 – Chicago, IL @ The Mid
May 26 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
May 28 – Detroit, MI @ Movement Festival
May 30 – St. Louis, MO @ 2720 Cherokee
May 31 – Ozark, AK @ Wakarusa Festival
June 1 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks
June 3 – Ozark, AK @ Wakarusa Festival
June 16 – Barcelona, Spain @ Sonar Festival
July 11 – Boston, MA @ Wonder Bar
July 12 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
July 13 – Bethlehem, PA @ Steel Stacks Festival
July 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milk Boy
July 15 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
July 20 – Antigounish, NS @ Evolve Festival
July 25 – Breckenridge, CO @ Three20South
July 26 – Fort Collins, CO @ Hodis Halfnowt
July 27 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
Aug 3 – Bethlehem, PA @ MUSIKFEST
Aug 5 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Festival
Aug 8 – Whistler, BC @ Garfinkles
Aug 9 – Vancouver, BC @ Bar None
Aug 10 – Salmo, BC @ Shambhala Festival
Aug 11 – Fernie, BC @ Bulldogs
Aug 17 – South Algonquin, ON @ WEMF

Listen to and download the “No Prayers’ remix, and view the full list of the band’s tour dates below.

Review: CAKE At The Palace Theater In Connecticut

Harris — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:01:19 +0000

Vince DiFiore of CAKE

As if on the front steps of a run down New Orleans bar, Vince DiFiore sits backstage, secluded from the world, pushing air through his silver trumpet. He jams along with himself, a man without an audience, playing only for the benefit of his own ears. Just out of view are thousands of fans. Still there he sits, lit only by a glowing blue stage lamp, minutes from taking the stage in Connecticut with his band. CAKE.

Together since 1991, CAKE has helped to define a genre that does not feature many members. An obscure mix of country, rock n’ roll, poetry and Motown, the band struggles to define their own sound. Vince told me a few years back of an early review in a Sacramento rag. They defined CAKE as Willie Nelson mixed with Sly And the Family Stone playing AC/DC records. Backwards. “It’s basically a combination of a lot of American styles” Vince concluded.

Each member of the band seems to have their own tastes, their own unique style. As Vince continued to croon on his trumpet, drummer Paulo Baldi sat with a tall blonde in a downstairs room watching a playoff hockey game. Baldi warms up, holding a pair of drum sticks as he paradiddles on his sneakers. Both men seem locked in, both holding their instruments and waiting for the call.

This secluded moment for DiFiore was not his first of the day. The soft spoken man had spent a portion of the bands sound check crouched in a back row seat inside the Palace Theater. While a sound engineer yelled “bass…ok…guitar…ok…” DiFiore went through his own private sound check, fine tuning his sound for the elegant theater they would be performing in that evening.

As if woken from a drunken stupor, DiFiore pops up, joining the rest of his band in the dressing room just a minute or two before the scheduled start time. After hours of crooning alone, he was ready for a rock ‘n’ roll show.

As the crowd continues to file into the theater, the largest venue CAKE will play on their tour, the lights are suddenly dimmed and the band gathers backstage. As an ode to all things non-CAKE, a seven minute song begins to blare from the PA system. This was not a song from their world. It was something that would be played at the Olympics before the lighting of a torch. The irony was palpable.

Finally, as the Rocky Theme helped to conclude the epic song, CAKE took the stage to a standing ovation. There is something to be said about the unbridled anticipation that builds in a crowd over the course of seven minutes. On stage to defy all logic, CAKE kicked off their set with a few slow ballads, lulling the audience into a sense of insecurity. Finally they began to tear through upbeat anthems like “Sheep Go To Heaven” and “Never There.”

The crowd seemed equally enthused by new songs like “Long Time,” a song the band sound checked twice before the show. Still, there was a clear lean towards the classics. The audience, made up of all shapes, sizes and ages hung on every word of “Love You Madly” and were driven to a lengthy ovation as CAKE concluded their set with “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” followed closely by “The Distance.”

Just as quickly as they had begun, CAKE left the stage. The show was over and the encores concluded, as the band retreated to their dressing room, chatting about the show, plans for the rest of the night and the tours next stop. It was then that a single image entered my field of view. Vince DiFiore stood at the entrance to the bands dressing room, talking to his bandmates, clutching the trumpet that he had been playing nearly the entire day behind his back. It seemed as if letting it go had become a chore onto itself.

This picture was taken by Bradford Mahler. Picture is of Vince DiFiore on stage in Waterbury with me in the background posting a Tweet.

Harris Decker was at the show, working as a marketing representative for the promoter, Premier Concerts. His opinions are his own and in no way were his opinions shifted by his business relationships with the event.

Spirit Animal Shares Big Black Delta Remix, Announce Tour Dates

Kevin — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:05:39 +0000

NYC funk-heavy pysch-rockers (there’s a musical melange you don’t hear everyday) Spirit Animal have released Big Black Delta’s remix of their single “Crocodile Skins.”

In BBD mastermind Johnathan Bates’s hands, “Crocodile Skins” is far from dry or cold, with spaced out vocals, and synths soaring above the fray while a grimy, distorted bass and a cut up guitar riff lace track with an aggressive edge.

Spirit Animal also have a pair of live dates to promote their new album Spiritia Animalia, with a show at Brooklyn’s Cameo Gallery on May 17th and a gig at Red Palace in Washington D.C. on May 20th. Both shows will feature Flying Cars as the supporting act.

In the meantime you can listen to the BBD remix of “Crocodile Tears,” as well as the original version via the band’s Soundcloud page.

Andre 3000 To Play Jimi Hendrix In Biopic

Kevin — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:00:42 +0000

It’s official. Outkast’s Andre 3000 is set to play rock legend Jimi Hendrix in a biopic of his life, set to begin filming later this month in Ireland.

The film, entitled All Is By My Side, is set to take place between 1966 and 1967, during which Hendrix was discovered by The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards’ then girlfriend in a New York club, moved in England and recorded his debut album Are You Experienced. On tap to direct is John Ridley, best known for the films Three Kings and U-Turn. Three stacks as Jimi Hendrix? Sounds interesting.

Beastie Boys Adam Yauch Dead At 47

Kevin — Sat, 05 May 2012 04:02:03 +0000

Adam Yauch, one-third of iconic rap group the Beastie Boys has died. He was 47 years old.

According to Rolling Stone Yauch, who also went by the name MCA, had been in treatment for cancer since 2009 after being discovering a tumor in his salivary gland.

“It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer,” reads an official statement from the Beastie Boys. “He was 47 years old.”

Yauch’s cancer had affected the group in the last few years, with his treatments delaying the release of the group’s latest album Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 as well as preventing the group from performing live and appearing in videos to promote it. Yauch also sat out of the group’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month.

Yauch, along with Mike “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, found the Beastie Boys in 1979. Originally a hardcore punk band, the trio eventually morphed into a rap group, releasing albums like 1986′s License To Ill, 1989′s Paul Boutique and 1994′s Ill Communication that have gone on to become hip hop milestones.

The late rapper was also heavily involved in the movement to free Tibet, and along with his band mates organized the New Yorkers Against Violence concert to benefit 9/11 victims.