Revisited: Catching Garth Brooks at Wynn/Encore Las Vegas

23 Jul

Country music is pretty foreign to me.  Sure I know a bunch of the artists and I could probably name a handful of songs but its one genre of music I’m pretty much lost with (I’m trying to improve).  But I do know who Garth Brooks is and since he started a residency at Wynn/Encore Las Vegas I always wanted to see his show.  This past weekend thanks to a dear friend, I got that opportunity.

Friends of mine have raved about the show and called it a must see but I don’t think any of that could have done justice for what I experienced. Hands down one of the best shows I have ever seen in Las Vegas (I rank Elton John’s Red Piano and the Beatles LOVE as the other two) and I may as well clump it into that category of memorable shows.  If you haven’t seen it, it’s just Garth Brooks, a guitar and a stool serving as a resting spot for two bottles of water.

To any real fan, now I get why it’s so special and such a coveted ticket. For someone who really doesn’t know his catalog of songs, this was like a Garth Brooks 101 class taught by the man himself.  Sitting there and listening to one of the most successful musicians tell his story and how he came to be, truly amazing.  I love that he takes you back and shares his inspiration for his music, let’s you in on his upbringing and how he got to where he is today (nice job Steve Wynn, this was done right).   And as he spanned the years, a pleasant surprise was when he brought his wife Trisha Yearwood on stage (to a rousing ovation) and had her perform a few songs.  Seriously that was an incredible treat and now I can say I saw two music legends in concert on Saturday night.  Even with that, my favorite part of the show was learning what an inspiration James Taylor was on his career.  I for one had no idea and hearing the stories and the first time he ever met his idol, that was cool.  The rest of the show was just awesome as he ran through a bunch of hits and favorite songs; a whole two hours and fifteen minutes of Garth Brooks.  Final song of course one that I knew, “Friends in Low Places.”

Tags: , , , , , ,

Five For Friday: Passion Pit, The Gaslight Anthem, Slightly Stoopid, Firefly, Guest Blogging

20 Jul

Check it out.  I’m trying something new at DoYouHearTheMusic.com with a Five For Friday post.  The Triple F is five nuggets of musical goodness to get you through the weekend.  In other words, the soundtrack to your weekend begins right here!

  1. Passion Pit – yes some “mental health” issues of Michael Angelakos have forced the band to cancel some July dates but next week their new album Gossamer drops and boy oh boy should you be excited.  If you haven’t yet given a listen, hop on over to NPR to stream the album.
  2. The Gaslight Anthem – the Jersey Boys are back with another rocking album, Handwritten, which will also be released next Tuesday. Their fourth album may very well prove to be their best as the fellas once again bring that Springsteenesque rock and roll but with a more refined conviction.  This album can also be streamed via NPR, HERE.
  3. Slightly Stoopid – Miles and Kyle are back with “Top of the World,” the title track off their seventh studio album which drops August 14, 2012.  Give a listen HERE.
  4. Firefly Music Festival in Delaware began today and you better believe if I still lived on the east coast, I would be there right now.  Fantastic line-up which includes headliners The Killers and The Black Keys as well as some of my favorites, Michael Franti, Allen Stone, Lupe Fiasco, GROUPLOVE, Walk The Moon, CULTS, The Head and The Heart.
  5. Earlier this week I had the opportunity to guest blog for my friend Dayna Roselli.  Check out the post HERE.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

DoYouHearTheMusic.com Guest Blogs on DaynaRoselli.com

18 Jul

Music fans, check it out. My friend Dayna asked me to be a guest blogger on her new blog and without hesitation I said yes and of course wrote about music!  I’ve known Dayna for years, going all the way back to my days working with nightclubs and the countless red carpets.  She was was most recently the Morning News Co-Anchor at KLAS-TV (CBS) in Las Vegas, Nevada and has more than 15 years of experience reporting and anchoring local, national, and world news and entertainment.  Big things are to come for her in the future and I’m just happy to call her my friend.

As for my post which you can read HERE, it includes my thoughts on Frankie Moreno’s show at the Stratosphere and some summer tunes you need to be listening to.

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Coachella Cruising this winter with a “music festival at sea” ft. Pulp, Hot Chip, Yeasayer, Girl Talk & more

17 Jul

Yes, you read correctly, S.S. Coachella, a “music festival at sea” featuring Pulp, Hot Chip, Yeasayer, Girl Talk and more will take place on the Celebrity Silhouette ship to the Bahamas December 16-19 and then to Jamaica December 19-23.  Tickets/Cruising is $750 per couple and does not include tax, gratuities, alcohol, etc.

Lineup so far is: Pulp, Hot Chip, Yeasayer, Girl Talk, James Murphy (DJ Set), Sleigh Bells, Simian Mobile Disco, Z-Trip, !!!, Warpaint, DJ Harvey, El-P, Killer Mike, Black Lips, the Gaslamp Killer, Grimes, Cloud Nothings, Jason Bentley, the Rapture (DJ Set), Father John Misty, Tokimonsta, Alf Alpha.

For more information, check out the original post from SPIN Magazine HERE.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Funding a new album via Kickstarter: Cody ChesnuTT – Landing On A Hundred

17 Jul

Music aficionados let me break it down like this.  You all know and love the song “The Seed” on The Roots’ Phrenology but guess what, it’s not originally their song.  Who’s song is it?  Cody ChesnuTT’s, that’s who and he’s a super talented musician you are missing out on (I encourage you to listen to The Headphone Masterpiece).

What does this have to do with anything you ask?  CC is looking to fund his new album Landing On A Hundred via the crowd funding website, Kickstarter. He’s halfway to reaching his goal and there are a whole bunch of different pledge levels to receive some really great rewards including tickets to a show of your choice, autographed CDs/Records, meet and greets and more. You’ve got 30 days left, ready, go.

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

What I really think about Live Nation pulling the plug on Springsteen/McCartney

16 Jul

Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney jamming together; what I would have done to have been there and witness a collaboration that 80,000 fans at Hard Rock Calling in London were privileged to.  Too bad it was marred by the unfortunate stance taken by festival organizers and authorities.

I saw it over the weekend, tweeted it a couple times as soon as I saw it but wasn’t really going to blog post about it until I realized that I need to vent a little bit.

This is a perfect example of some of what’s wrong with so many things today.  And yes, I know I’m referencing music but you know what, this is the universal language that speaks and unites strangers all over the world.

You went over curfew, so what. It’s a music festival and you have two of the greatest entertainers to ever exist sharing a stage and giving fans one of the most magical and memorable performances to date.  Live Nation, take the fine and pay it, make a statement apologizing for going over but don’t deprive the world of seeing improvisation at its finest take place. And it’s not like we are taking about anyone, we’re taking SIR Paul McCartney (oh and how do you not put in place a buffer for Springsteen when he is known for his marathon concerts).  For a destination where the spotlight will be shining bright with the summer Olympics about to take place, way to give yourself a self inflicted black eye leading up to it.

Also I love this, Springsteen guitarist Stevie Van Zandt quotes from The Guardian:

But Van Zandt, who also starred in the US drama series The Sopranos, turned to Twitter in rage. In a series of tweets from StevieVanZandt, he said: “One of the great gigs ever in my opinion. But seriously, when did England become a police state?

“We break curfews in every country but only English cops needs to ‘punish us’ by not letting us leave until the entire crowd goes. Is there just too much fun in the world? We would have been off by 11 if we’d done one more. On a Saturday night! Who were we disturbing?” he asked.

“The cops got nothing more important to do? How about they go catch some criminals instead of fucking with 80,000 people having a good time? English cops may be the only individuals left on earth that wouldn’t want to hear one more from Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney!

“I’m sorry but I have to be honest I’m pissed. Like I said, it didn’t ruin the great night. But when I’m jamming with McCartney don’t bug me!”

Van Zandt also compared the occasion to the last live Beatles performance in 1969 on the roof of their Apple record company offices in London’s Savile Row. It was cut short by police. “Ha! @raindogs70 just reminded me how the Beatles’ rooftop concert ended. Not much has changed in 43 years!”

All of this reminds me of the movie Pirate Radio (The Boat That Rocked for those of you in the UK) and how Government wanted to shut down rock and roll. Looks like things really haven’t changed…..

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Now Playing: The Weeks

12 Jul

Two words: The Weeks

Who? An indie rock band from Mississippi

What?  A kick-ass Southern Rock outfit ready to get you jamming.

Why you should listen? Because my brother said so!  Well he did turn me on to them and we have been getting ourselves caught up on their albums Comeback Cadillac and Rumspringa EP for the last couple of weeks. Both of which are awesome.

A reason you’ll be excited:  Gutter Gaunt Gangster, their new EP out this fall (but you can get it here) and the evolution of this band can definitely be heard (check the lead single “House We Grew Up In”) but please do yourself a favor and start at the beginning before jumping up to the present.

Why I’m excited: Because Southern Rock is making a fiery resurgence and these seasoned kids should be rising the ranks very fast. They’ve been around for some time and I’m just thrilled to now have their music in my library and be able to enjoy this.

If you like: Kings of Leon, North Mississippi and AWOLNATION

Final thoughts: If you live in the southeast you have no reason not to see this band live.  If you live west of the Mississippi, we all need to do what we can to get these fellas out to the left coast so they can bring their sound to the masses.

Tags: , , , , ,

New Music: The Killers – “Runaways”

10 Jul

Here you go, dropped today: “Runaways,” from the upcoming album, Battle Born, out in the fall.  Enjoy!

 

And for those of us in Las Vegas, let’s hope for some secret shows or something to try out some of the new material! Hey, you never know.

Tags: , , , , ,

iHeartRadio Music Festival Las Vegas 2012 Lineup

9 Jul

iHeartRadio Music Festival is returning to Las Vegas and the lineup has been revealed.  Taking place September 21-22 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the iHeartRadio Music Festival will feature Taylor Swift, Aerosmith, Rihanna, Usher, Bon Jovi, Lil Wayne, Green Day, Swedish House Mafia, No Doubt, Brad Paisley, Pitbull, deadmau5, Miranda Lambert, Enrique Iglesias, Linkin Park, Jason Aldean, P!nk, Mary J. Blige, Calvin Harris and Shakira with more to be announced in the weeks prior to the event.

Clear Channel definitely has a wide range of artists set to perform and it should be interesting to see who else they announce as we get closer to the September dates. And remember, you have to tune in to win so listen to your favorite station and we may just see you out here in Las Vegas.  iHeartRadio Music Festival.
I will say that having No Doubt on this lineup is by far tops for me.  Their new album is due out just a few days later and it’s strategic, I get that but more than anything I’m just excited that an incredible band with a career that has spanned more than four decades is going to be performing together again and be front and center in the music scene.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy 4th of July!: Childish Gambino – Royalty Mixtape (DOWNLOAD)

4 Jul

Thanks to my buddy @808_Dave and HighSnobiety.com for this little gem on America’s Birthday, the Childish Gambino, Royalty mixtape.  See words, track listing and download link below.  Enjoy!

“Today, on July 4th, Childish Gambino has finally released his much anticipated ‘Royalty’ mixtape. The 18-track record includes several previously released tracks and includes appearances of Bun B, RZA, Ghostface Killah and Danny Brown, among many others.”

Royalty Tracklist:
01. Royalty
02. We Ain’t Them (prod. Ludwig and Childish Gambino)
03. One Up (feat. Steve G Lover)
04. Black Faces (feat. Nipsey Hussle) (prod. Boy-Ida)
05. Unnecessary (feat. ScHoolboy Q and Ab-Soul)
06. Shoulda Known
07. R.I.P (feat. Bun B)
08. American Royalty (feat. RZA and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
09. It May Be Glamour Life (feat. Ghostface Killah) (prod. Myke Murda)
10. Toxic (feat. Danny Brown) (prod. SKYWLKR)
11. Silk Pillow (feat. Beck) (prod. Beck and Childish Gambino)
12. They Don’t Like Me (feat. Chance the Rapper) (prod. SKYWLKR)
13. Arrangement (feat. Conage)
14. Won’t Stop (feat. Danielle Haim of Haim) (prod. Ludwig and Childish Gambino)
15. Bronchitis (prod. Beck)
16. Wonderful (feat. Josh Osho) (prod. Boy-Ida)
17. Make It Go Right (feat. Kilo Kish)
18. Real Estate (feat. Alley Boy, Swank, and Tina Fey)

DOWNLOAD HERE

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →