I love new music Tuesday and today is an extra special one as Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears drop their sophomore effort, Scandalous. I need to grab the disc and will report back with some thoughts but this should be another winner from the Austin group. Check out “So Scandalous” below. And if you’re at SXSW be sure to swing on through and see the guys live.
Get off your couch, change your plans, don’t crawl into bed and get over to Book & Stage to see Foster The People at least one of the next three nights if not all three. Set times are 10 p.m. and midnight and we have FREE shows to see one of the fastest rising bands around. To let you know how lucky we in Las Vegas are, their current tour (Vegas is stop #2) is practically sold out already and includes dates at SXSW and Coachella.
The only disappointment will be you not showing up to see the show.
Lasers is finally here!! Tomorrow after three years of waiting for a new record, Lupe Fiasco’s Lasers drops and how I can’t wait for this. I truly believe Lupe is one of the most gifted artists and lyricists in the music industry and from what I’ve heard streaming Lasers, he again doesn’t disappoint. I was already in love with the song “Never Forget You” featuring John Legend but the first single off the album “The Show Goes On” is primed for breakout while “All Black Everything” is a great ‘what if’ song. Also “Out Of My Head” featuring Trey Songz is a winner as is “Beautiful Lasers.”
Lasers features production by The Audibles, The Neptunes, Needlz, Alex da Kid, Syience, and long-time collaborator Soundtrakk, among others. In addition to Trey Songz and John Legend, Skylar Grey, Sway, Matt Mahaffey, MDMA, Eric Turner and Sarah Green all contribute vocals to the disc.
In case you were wondering, Lasers is a backronym for “Love Always Shines Everytime, Remember 2 Smile.” Check out the Lasers Manifesto Lupe recorded back in 2009 around the birth of Lasers to understand where he is coming from on this album. A tip of the hat to one man who has a voice to reach many people and using it to help spread the message for the better.
Last week my dear friend Hannah Allen asked “have you heard of the band fun. before?” I hadn’t so when I got home I immediately did a little YouTube surfing and the minute I played the song “All The Pretty Girls” I kept thinking that the lead singer’s voice sounded really familiar to me. Lo and behold I searched for some info on the band and learned that Nate Reuss formerly of The Format had started this band in 2008 with Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff and in August 2009 released their debut LP, Aim and Ignite. Immediately I had two thoughts, first that this was amazing as The Format was on heavy rotation during my college days and two, have I been sleeping under a boulder (not a rock) for a few years to not know about this band? Yes on both. So far so good with fun. and their contagious indie pop sound. As I get myself more familiar with these guys, take a listen and see for yourself what we’ve been missing.
Jamestown Revival, heard of this band before? If not you better get on top of their EP, The Knives & Pipes. The laidback duo of Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance originally hail from Magnolia, Texas and are currently one of 16 bands vying for the cover of Rolling Stone. In what’s a really sweet contest featuring many great up-and-coming bands, give a listen to Jamestown Revival and cast your vote for the guys (final four bands will rock out at Bonnaroo in a Battle of the Bands this June). Even better, vote for Jamestown Revival, click the Facebook ‘Like’ icon and then shoot at email to ivoted@jamestownrevival.com and you can score a free copy of their EP.
Wondering what their sound is like? Personally I think it’s a blend of a handful of genres including their country roots, bluegrass, pop, rock and rockabilly, soul and they pull it off so elegantly. They have a more mellow, chillaxing approach which makes listening to them that much more enjoyable. I know after one listen I was hooked and have found myself pushing repeat again and again the past week.
Excited to see Mr. Shaw live in Las Vegas tonight and through Saturday. Hopefully some of you join me for some damn good music!
The Coachella lineup is pretty damn sick but after seeing the initial announcement of artists slated to perform at Bonnaroo, I am now torn and thinking I should look into heading to Tennessee this summer. I mean at Bonnaroo you have the return of Buffalo Springfield and Widespread Panic celebrating 25 years, String Cheese Incident, Warren Haynes and Gregg Allman which I can all but see some fun little guest appearances in the works, Mumford & Sons are thrust to the big time stage, Ray Lamontagne and Iron & Wine finally out of the tiny print on the line-up, just knowing Primus is going to be there leaves me wondering what Les Claypool has up his sleeve, Sleigh Bells, Portugal the Man, The Drums, Wavves, Ryan Bingham! Plus Smith Westerns, Beats Antique and STS9, Hayes Carll, Amos Lee, Deer Tick, Matt & Kim, Grace Potter and so many more great acts and that’s not even including the headliners, Eminem and Arcade Fire.
Here’s the line-up as of today:
Here’s the first single off their upcoming LP Angles. What do you think?
Big shout out to my friend Paddy for the tip to check out The Vaccines. The London rockers having just formed in 2010 are sitting on the bubble of stardom and their most recent track “Post Break Up Sex” is climbing the charts in the UK and only a matter of time before they stake claim in the US. The quartet is slated to release their debut album What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? on March 21.
Do You Hear The Music? 