Archive | 2011

Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde

20 Jan

Earlier 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.”

Aloe Blacc • 1 19 11 • Cosmopolitan Las Vegas

19 Jan

Yet another great night at Book & Stage.

Craig A. Nyman
CAN Media
(702) 882-8083

Check Em Out: Foster The People

19 Jan

My 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.

http://vimeo.com/19529550

OMG Coachella 2011 Line-up

18 Jan

Ok 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.

Coachella 2011

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 Jan

Does 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…..

(If you only want to listen to Andre’s verse)

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).

Now Playing: “Wake Up Everybody” – John Legend & The Roots

17 Jan

Fitz & The Tantrums • 1 13 10 • Set List • Cosmopolitan Las Vegas

14 Jan

Craig A. Nyman
CAN Media
(702) 882-8083

Fitz & The Tantrums @Cosmopolitan_LV • 1 13 11

13 Jan

Live & Direct

Crushing it at Book & Stage

Craig A. Nyman
CAN Media
(702) 882-8083

TONIGHT: Fitz & The Tantrums Live In Las Vegas @Cosmopolitan_LV

13 Jan

Tonight’s the night Las Vegas! Fitz & The Tantrums bring their Motown sounding soul to Book & Stage at The Cosmopolitan beginning a four night run at The Strip’s newest palatial resort.  If you haven’t had the chance to check out a show at Book & Stage this is definitely one you’ll want to be present for.  The LA based band led by Michael Fitzpatrick will have your feet hurting from dancing and once again, the show is FREE.  10 p.m. and midnight tonight through Sunday.

Oh and check out our friend Abby Tegnelia’s interview with Mr. Fitzpatrick himself in VEGAS Magazine HERE.

You Know “Black & Yellow,” What About “Pink & Purple”

12 Jan

I got a good laugh watching this video, a remake of Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” called “Pink and Purple” by 9 or 10 year old Lyrikkal.