Archive | August, 2011

News: Vision for Hendrix Park as vibrant as namesake (via The Seattle Times)

18 Aug

Any fan of Jimi Hendrix needs to read this article that ran in The Seattle Times about the Hendrix Park that is planned.

Here’s a excerpt from the story and you can click HERE to read the full piece written by Erik Lacitis’:

Since his death nearly 41 years go, Seattle has struggled to find a way to fully honor Jimi Hendrix, one of its most famous sons.

How the city should honor Hendrix has been a complicated, at times turbulent affair that on occasion has descended into accusations of racism and, on the other side, questions about why the city should memorialize someone who many associate with drugs.

But if all goes as planned, sometime in 2012, ground will be broken for some rather remarkable Hendrix-influenced structures at the 2.3-acre Jimi Hendrix Park next to the Northwest African American Museum.

It’s not a done deal.

Right now the Central District park exists as mostly lawn where the parking lot used to be for the old Colman School on South Massachusetts Street.

The cost for developing the site is estimated at nearly $2 million, says Carver Gayton, a member of the Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation and one of the prime movers behind the park.

New Music: Deer Tick – “Miss K”

17 Aug

Ch-ch-ch-check it out, new music from Deer Tick. “Miss K” is the first single from the band’s upcoming album, Divine Providence, due out October 25.

 

Now Playing: Goodwill & Hook N Sling – Take You Higher (Club Mix)

17 Aug

Since hearing this track, I can’t get it out of my head. And I LOVE that they sample Angus & Julia Stone’s “Big Jet Plane.”

DoYouHearTheMusic.com in Vegas Rated (September 2011)

16 Aug

Recently I was presented the opportunity to contribute to a new publication called Vegas Rated.  The national magazine which is on newsstands now, is a new voice for the city and here to serve as an insider’s guide to everything Vegas.  Where does DoYouHearTheMusic.com come in?  On the music side of course!  In the September issue I take a look at Nine Concerts Not To Miss, Eat to the Beat with Chef Geno Bernardo of NOVE Italiano at Palms Casino Resort and get the inside scoop from DJ Five on a nine song playlist to getting your party started.  Hope you enjoy!

Event: Classic Rock for the Future Vol. I: The Photography of Erik Kabik, August 31, John Varvatos Las Vegas

15 Aug

Attention music fans in Vegas.  On August 31 I hope you can make it over to the John Varvatos store inside the Hard Rock Hotel where our friend, Erik Kabik will be unveiling, Classic Rock for the Future Vol. I: The Photography of Erik Kabik.  The photo exhibition which will be on display in store through November 2011 will feature a large collection of rock and roll images captured by Kabik at an array of concerts, special events and more.

Now Playing: Maps & Atlases – Israeli Caves

11 Aug

At Lollapalooza I made a slight detour to catch some of Maps & Atlases set at the Google+ Stage and what a great decision this was. The Chicago based troupe had me from the very beginning and I can’t wait to listen to more of these guys. Hear “Israeli Caves” below and I think you’ll be hooked too.

 

Revisited: My Lollapalooza 2011

10 Aug

Sweet home Chicago!  What can I say except the 20th Anniversary of Lollapalooza far exceeded any experience I could have ever imagined. More photos will be coming soon but wow what a good time and so many great bands/artists performing.  If you wanted to discover new music, hear some great bands of the past 20+ years or just come and hang out, Grant Park was the place to be.

My First Show: Ryan Leslie

My Final Show: Deadmau5

My Favorite Show: GROUPLOVE

Who I Saw:

Day One of Lolla: Ryan Leslie, Tab The Band, Young The Giant, Naked & Famous, Delta Spirit, Foster The People, White Lies, Two Door Cinema Club, Skrillex, Afrojack, Muse, Coldplay and late night CULTS show at the Hard Rock.

Day Two of Lolla: GROUPLOVE, Walk The Moon, Maps & Atlases, Friendly Fires, Black Lips, Big Audio Dynamite, Joachim Garraud, Local Natives, My Morning Jacket, Eminem, My Morning Jacket. Night show: Skylar Grey, Mia Moretti & Caitlin Moe, Black Lips.

Day Three of Lolla: Rival Schools, little hurricane, The Cool Kids, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The Cars, Flogging Molly, Boy & Bear, Nas & Damian Marley, Deadmau5

Best Bud Light Stage Show: Young The Giant or Friendly Fires

Best Music Unlimited Stage Show:
Muse

Best Sony Stage Show: GROUPLOVE

Best Google+ Stage Show: little hurricane

Best BMI Stage Show: Boy & Bear

Biggest Surprise: Maps & Atlases and Tab The Band

Overall Stage With The Best Performances: Sony Stage

Most Entertaining Show: Deadmau5 – debut of his new rig extravaganza

Most Disappointing Moment: the police during Eminem not caring about kids who were comatose from whatever got them into that state

Next Big Thing:  Young The Giant, these guys drew over 20,000 people at 1 p.m. and Foster The People, man in six months these guys are doing it!

Band Redemption In My Book: My Morning Jacket – I’ve seen them a handful of times and never really dug their shows, I did this time

Bands I Was Sad To Miss: Fitz & The Tantrums, City & Colour, Ween and Foo Fighters plus Portugal. The Man, again – just too hard to be two places at once

Late Night Show: CULTS at the Hard Rock

Angriest Performer: again, Eminem.  The crowd was pretty angry too

What Would Have Been Great: a fourth day of the festival

Top Lolla’er: The dude dressed in a watermelon costume crowd surfing

Random Moment Of Awesomeness: mud wrestling taking center stage after the first downpour on Sunday

Best Festival Eats: the guy who brought in Garrett Popcorn in with him.  Thanks for sharing!

Best Place To Cool Off: didn’t find one

Biggest Waste of Time: Food lines or anyone who waited for a cooling bandana from Toyota

Best Marketing at Festival: Outside a street team was handing out Foster The People “Pumped Up Kicks” shoelaces and of course I got some

Worst Part: not having a poncho or jacket when the rain came pouring down on Sunday

Clutch Move: running straight for the port o johns and finding a new garbage bag to make a poncho

Tips For Next Year: carry a poncho – when it rains it pours, drink as much water as possible, don’t try to go swimming in Buckingham Fountain – I witnessed a few beat downs, ice cream is your friend in August, make a list of bands you want to see but don’t stick to it, comfortable shoes, you will walk a lot

Lollapalooza

5 Aug

Let the games begin, the 20th anniversary of Lollapalooza! Check out THIS link for a time capsule history of the festival. If you can’t be in Chicago, be sure to watch the live stream on YouTube.

And to get things going, here’s Chicago’s own, Smith Westerns who perform today!

Countdown to Lollapalooza: 1 Day – Foster The People

4 Aug

Friday, August 5 – Sony Stage, 3:00 p.m.

I don’t care what you are doing at 3 p.m. on Friday, cancel it and make your way to the Sony Stage to see Foster The People. Back in March when they literally had just a three-song EP out, I got to see these guys four nights in a row at Book & Stage at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas and each show was better than the last. In the months since, their debut LP Torches was released and debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 Chart, “Pumped Up Kicks” is still riding high 18 or so months after it initially surfaced, they tore apart SXSW, Coachella, Glastonbury and more top festivals, the video for their second single “Helena Beat” dropped, “Houdini” was featured in the premiere episode of Entourage and did I mention that these guys were selling out shows long before any of this occurred?  Trust me when I tell you, if you have tickets to Lollapalooza, you better not miss this show.

Here’s my personal favorite off Torches, “Warrant.”

 

 

Countdown to Lollapalooza: 2 Days – GROUPLOVE

3 Aug

Saturday, Aug. 6 – Sony Stage, 12:00 p.m.

I seriously think of all the great bands playing Lollapalooza, I may be most excited about seeing GROUPLOVE.  It’s going to be rise and shine early as they kick things off Saturday at noon.  Check out the post I wrote back in June and you’ll see why I can’t wait to see these indie rockers who met on the island of Crete.  Looking forward to hearing some new tunes off their debut LP, Never Trust A Happy Song which drops in September.