In Vegas? You MUST See Aloe Blacc This Weekend
21 JanLet me preface by saying Aloe Blacc is one heck of a showman exuding energy, a golden voice and flat out performs some of the best soul music around. If you’ve missed his performances the past two nights at Book & Stage at Cosmopolitan, make sure you do yourself a favor and head over there tonight and tomorrow. Showtimes are at 10 p.m. and midnight.
Last night Mr. Blacc was also on CONAN performing “I Need A Dollar,” check out the clip below so you know what you are in for.
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
21 JanIf you are at or heading to Sundance this weekend you are a lucky individual as Michael Rapaport (yes the actor) premieres his documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest. Collectively one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time who shaped the game for many of today’s most loved and admired stars, I’m very interested to see this documentary about Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi and the footage Rapaport has used to tell the story.
And check out this little bit on the documentary on MTV.com.
Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde
20 JanEarlier this week Chicago indie rockers Smith Westerns released their second LP Dye It Blonde. With an upbeat retro rock and pop sound (think 60s and glam rock eras), they kill it with whinny guitar riffs and not complex lyrics to put together a disc full of catchy tunes. Having been on tour in the past with Girls and MGMT, check this trio out as headliners rather than being known as the supporting act. Listen to the title track “Weekend” as well as “End of the Night” and “Dance Away.”
Check Em Out: Foster The People
19 JanMy excitement for Coachella is probably not going to subside until the festival has come and gone so here’s a taste of some music to check out before April from an indie-pop band you may not be familiar with, Foster The People.
Their jam “Pumped Up Kicks” which has been out for close to a year now will have you forgetting about the cold of winter and dreaming of the sun shining with the wind blowing through your hair and a smile on your face as large as the Grand Canyon.
The LA based rockers just released a three-song EP on iTunes yesterday and a full LP is slated to drop soon.
If you’re a fan of MGMT and Peter, Bjorn & John you must listen to these guys.
OMG Coachella 2011 Line-up
18 JanOk so now the planning can officially begin getting underway as the 2011 Coachella line-up has been announced. I am so stoked about this line-up and definitely finding my way to Indio this spring.
At first glance, Day One is top priority. As much as a fan I am of Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Lauren Hill, Cut Copy, Brandon Flowers and all the other top billing acts, I’m more jacked about Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Here We Go Magic, Klaxons, !!!, The Drums, Afrojack, Ozomatli, The Morning Benders and Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti to name a few.
Day Two is going to be a dance party bonanza with Steve Angello, Empire of the Sun, Paul van Dyk, Fedde Le Grand, Laidback Luke, Joachim Garraud, Chuckie and more plus, Raphael Saadiq, Two Door Cinema Club, Foals, the Kills, Mariachi El Bronx plus Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons and so much more!
Day Three has a ton more great artists but I am not as high on it as Days 1 & 2. The return of the Strokes, The National, Duran Duran, Duck Sauce, Eliza Doolittle, Tinie Tempah, and Ben Harper’s Fistful of Mercy should all be insane performances.
All I can say is WOW and while some may start chiming in saying this isn’t the best Coachella line-up in the 12 years I would argue that when we recap the festival later this spring it will go down in the record books as featuring one of the finest collections of music we have ever seen over the course of three days.
Three-day weekend passes, along with camping passes for Coachella go on sale Friday, Jan. 21 at 10:00 AM (PT) through Ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000 and at http://www.coachella.com. Three-day weekend passes are $269.00, plus surcharges, and camping passes are $75.00. More details on layaway, camping options and up-to-the minute information, can be found at http://www.coachella.com.
Andre 3000 Gets “Sleazy” With Ke$ha
17 JanDoes anyone else miss Andre 3000? I for one sure do. I definitely didn’t see this one coming but Ke$ha was able to tap Dre and his irreplaceable voice for the remix of “Sleazy.” His verse is at the beginning so…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nOcfdYwiSU
(If you only want to listen to Andre’s verse)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf_UEQmJiyc
Big Boi is talented as hell and keeps cranking out jams but I can’t help but wish Andre 3000 was back in the fold for the return of OutKast and that his long rumored solo album eventually drops (Big Boi claims a new OutKast album once Dre drops his solo LP).



