Tag Archives: Music

My Thoughts on the Hangout Music Festival Line-up

10 Feb

Pretty powerful line-up at the Hangout Music Festival, May 18-20, on Alabama’s Gulf Shores.

Jack White, Dave Matthews Band and Red Hot Chili Peppers are a solid trio of headliners that highlight three days of solid music.

A look at some of the other initial acts announced:

Wilco – will be rocking in support of their new album

String Cheese Incident – never met a SCI show I didn’t like

The Flaming Lips – performing Pink Flyod’s Dark Side of the Moon

Chris Cornell – solid choice

Dispatch – ah a year back together and in comes the festivals again! So exciting!

Steve Winwood – now this will be a fun performance

Allen Stone – everybody needs a little Allen Stone in their lives

Alabama Shakes – what more can I say, they are on FIRE!

Gary Clark Jr. – if you haven’t listened to this man, best do so now

G. Love – c’mon y’all know this is a must see

Michael Franti & Spearhead – YES!!

Young The Giant – energetic live performances

Cage the Elephant – look online for video from Lollapalooza 2011

Dawes – amazing live show

M.Ward – another not to miss

Also included in the first announcement of artists Skrillex, Randy Newman, STS9, Coheed and Cambria, Flogging Molly, Dr. Dog, Gogol Bordello, Mavis Staples, Big Freedia, Shpongle, Zeds Dead, Paul Oakenfold, Yelawolf, Mac Miller, Hey Rosetta!, Paper Diamond, and Sleeper Agent.

More artists are expected to be announced soon.

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January 2012 Playlist: New Year, New Music For You To Listen To

9 Jan

First playlist of the new year!  Here is a quick snapshot of the bands and artists I’m feeling right now as we get settled into 2012.  Going to be a big year in music so hop on board for the wild ride that’s about to begin.  Without further adieu, your January playlist:

 

  1. Tallahassee – “Winter Trees”
  2. The Jungle Giants – “One of these Days”
  3. IAMDYNAMITE – “Where Will We Go”
  4. Youth Lagoon – “Afternoon”
  5. U.S. Royalty – “Hollywood Hollows”
  6. The Silent Comedy – “Exploitation”
  7. The London Souls – “Old Country Road”
  8. Alabama Shakes – “Hold On”
  9. Chiddy Bang – “Ray Charles”
  10. Frank Turner – “If Ever I Stray”
  11. Allen Stone – “Satisfaction”
  12. Michael Kiwanuka – “Home Again”
  13. Diamond Rugs – “Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant”
  14. Among Savages – “Start At The Beginning”
  15. Tennis – “Origins”

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2011 in Music: Some of My Favorites

21 Dec

Another year has come and (just about) gone and as we approach day 365 of 2011, there is a lot of great music and music moments to reflect on.  In keeping with something I started last year, here is a list of items that made MY year in music.  While I know I’ve forgotten some moments, at least it’s a snapshot of what my ears and eyes were gravitating towards.  Enjoy and here’s to an incredible year of music in 2012.

  • My favorite album of 2011 is GROUPLOVE’s Never Trust A Happy Song
  • After finally attending Bonnaroo, I totally see why my friend said “when you go, you’ll understand why it’s the best music festival”
  • Lollapalooza was an amazing experience with incredible bands, amazing friends and killer access
  • Being asked to write concert reviews for Vegas SEVEN which parlayed into band interviews as well – something that to this day I never thought would happen from a little blog I started about my love of music
  • Continuing the writing by being asked by Vegas Rated, a national publication to write a few music columns each month
  • Seeing Mumford & Sons at The Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan, easily one of my favorite live shows ever
  • I’m a lucky one living in Las Vegas since The Cosmopolitan and C3 Presents booked too many bands that I love for four night stints playing Book & Stage for FREE – to give you an idea, we’re talking Young The Giant, Foster The People, Aloe Blacc, Ryan Shaw, Fitz & The Tantrums, Allen Stone, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Walk The Moon, Robert Randolph, Mayer Hawthorne, Tennis, and the list goes on and on
  • Frank Turner, where you been all my life – England Keep My Bones is a album everyone needs to have
  • Finally seeing The Strokes live(twice this year) and realizing just how badass they really are
  • My blog post from March when Foster The People were coming to town
  • The discovery of bands like The Apache Relay, The Belle Brigade, Ruby Coast, GIVERS and Smith Westerns
  • Thank you Walk The Moon for providing some of the most fun of the summer with your spirited sets
  • RedBull Soundclash with Cee-Lo and The Ting Tings, look it up if you don’t know what I’m talking about
  • Marquee Nightclub Boom Box Room with Eric D Lux
  • The return of Dispatch
  • Middle Brother
  • One more Furthur show in the books
  • Saying goodnight to the bad guys with a final concert, oh man how I’ll miss The Black Crowes
  • Stumbling upon Childish Gambino’s set at Bonnaroo and being blown away
  • Gary Clark Jr.
  • Late Night with Jimmy Fallon taking over as the king of late night performances thanks to The Roots as the house band and a great booking team
  • Brands like Chevy and Nissan using indie bands for commercial music
  • CC from Little Hurricane
  • The Dirty Guv’nahs
  • EDM grabbing America by storm
  • Thankful for Avicii creating hit after hit after hit
  • Spotify
  • Seeing a late night Cults show in Chicago that completely blew me away
  • Going to see a favorite of mine, Brett Dennen and having DAWES who opened just own the evening
  • Seeing G. Love yet again and having him break into Freddy King Jr.’s “Look Over Yonder”
  • Allen Stone, what a young talent
  • Alabama Shakes, if you didn’t see my post on them, search, listen and become infatuated with Brittany Howard’s voice
  • Finally seeing Lupe Fiasco in concert again, had to wait too long since the last time
  • Robert Plant still rocking it like he was in his 20s
  • Seeing The Black Keys in a nightclub, a ballroom and with 60,000 ppl and still getting the same feeling of rock and roll no matter the size or venue
  • The Head and The Heart
  • Catching Lil Wayne in concert, something I never thought I’d do, same with Eminem
  • Buffalo Springfield, yes I can say I never thought I’d see them live but did
  • My Morning Jacket won me back over after giving up on them
  • Seeing Widespread Panic for what could be the last time
  • Anyone else catch The Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons and Bob Dylan at the GRAMMYs?  Sick performance and totally put M&S on a whole new level
  • The music from across the pond is quite amazing, lots of new bands and artists to be on the lookout for
  • Big Troubles
  • How incredibly awesome Daytrotter.com is
  • In my opinion, one of the best singer-songwriters of today, James Morrison quietly released his third album, The Awakening
  • Aloe Blacc, yes “I Need A Dollar” thrust him into the spotlight last year but damn, what an artist – incredible stage presence and one of the most talented musicians today
  • O.A.R. dropping a new record that everyone needs to own
  • IAMDYNAMITE  – before it’s too late, go get SUPERMEGAFANTASTIC, these fellas are going to blow up, just wait and see in 2012
  • The music video for Maps & Atlases’ “Israeli Caves”
  • Welcome back Ryan Adams
  • The sophomore release by Girls probably hasn’t gotten too much attention but WOW
  • Youth Lagoon
  • Thank you Damian Marley for getting everyone together to form SuperHeavy
  • NewVillager, the videos may be a bit to artsy for me but the music, genius
  • WU LYF chances are about 99% you have never heard of them but you need to know them pronto
  • Uncle Mountain
  • Nashville is for righteous music to me what Brooklyn was for a throng of indie bands
  • If you get a chance to see the Black Lips, don’t pass it up
  • Gimme Some by Peter, Bjorn & John
  • “Up Up Up” was like a soundtrack for my year, big things coming for GIVERS
  • ·         Fight For Your Right Revisited
  • ·         I was thrilled to see Fitz & The Tantrums hit it big in 2011
  • ·         Food is the New Rock blog
  • G. Love’s latest, Fixin To Die which was recorded in North Carolina and produced by The Avett Brothers
  • Seeing a mob of people at 1 p.m. on Friday of Lollapalooza for Young The Giant
  • Catching Lynyrd Skynyrd perform for 200 people at the opening of their BBQ & Beer joint in Vegas
  • Tedeschi Trucks Band – Revelator
  • Another knock-out by Trombone Shorty
  • The Cinema
  • Paul Simon’s So Beautiful or So What
  • Benjamin Francis Leftwich
  • Wolf Gang
  • Our little Book & Stage fan club, thanks for making the past year pretty damn incredible
  • Skylar Grey I was truly impressed with her live show
  • Raphael Saadiq did it again
  • Tinie Tempah finally made it Stateside
  • Ryan Bingham, thank you – great interview and your show definitely backed up your words, a true pleasure to catch a couple live shows this year
  • Seeing the legend, Dr. John
  • Scottish rockers Kassidy, definitely a band everyone should be listening to
  • Audio, Video, Disco – love love love the approach by Justice on the new album
  • Remixes of “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall”
  • And waking up every day to listen and discover new music

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DJ Roger Gangi – Holiday House (Download)

3 Dec


If you’ve been to STK over at The Cosmopolitan for dinner or drinks, chances are more than likely you’ve been listening to the beats of my buddy, DJ Roger Gangi. I always love when Roger puts together a new mix, and he doesn’t disappoint with his Holiday House 2011 made especially for the season and all the good peeps that work at the Vegas hot spot.

Click the arrow on the right side of the player to download.

2011 Holiday House & Dubstep Mix (STK Las Vegas) -ROGERGANGI

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New Music: The Black Keys – El Camino

2 Dec

I cannot wait until next Tuesday when The Black Keys drop their seventh studio album, El Camino.  While the first two tracks that surfaced on the internet, “Lonely Boy” and “Run Right Back” are killer, they don’t do the album nearly enough justice (do some searches and you can find all the tracks to stream).  Holy amazing this is a rocking disc.  In my head I hear TBK original sound but also channeling rock legends like the Stones, Peter Frampton and Led Zeppelin.  Just listen to “Little Black Submarines” below and prepare to be blown away (*hint: 2:07 mark it gets loud!). If there is a way to close out 2011 with a bang, this is it as El Camino comes cruising into the spotlight.

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News & Notes: George Harrison, Jimmy Cliff & The Roots, RHCP and more

29 Nov
  • Today marks the 10th anniversary of George Harrison’s death.  Do yourself a favor and listen to some of his works today
  • Did anyone catch THIS sweet Jimmy Cliff & The Roots performance of “The Harder They Come” last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
  • Read this little piece on Frank Ocean and his recent NYC performances
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers, Justice, Laura Marling and Grimes announced some of their tour dates for next year
  • And props to Rolling Stone for their new issue featuring the Top 100 guitarists of all time.  Great list, awesome group of voters and some really powerful print as to who and why they were selected

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New Music: Betty Wright with The Roots – “Grapes on a Vine” ft. Lil Wayne

14 Nov

Kicking this week off with a little soul mostly because I can’t wait for new music Tuesday tomorrow and Betty Wright: The Movie – with The Roots.  Yes, you didn’t misread that, the 70s soul singer has teamed up with one of my favorite groups to put together quite the album which also includes guest spots by Snoop Dogg, Joss Stone and Lil Wayne who drops in on the track below, “Grapes on a Vine.”

It’s also great timing for The Roots who put out their latest album, Undun, at the beginning of December.

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New Music: The Black Keys – “Run Right Back”

10 Nov

The latest track to surface off The Black Keys’ upcoming El Camino.  Thanks to ListenBeforeYouBuy.net for the tip earlier today.

 

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My Review of GROUPLOVE (from 11 1 11) in Vegas SEVEN 11 10 11 Issue

10 Nov

I had the opportunity to review the GROUPLOVE show in Las Vegas last week and it appears in the new issue of Vegas SEVEN.  Check it out.  Hope you like it and start listening to their music.

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Video: Pop Medley 2011

8 Nov

While I can’t say I’m a huge fan of all these songs, props to these guys for creating this medley of some of the biggest mainstream hit songs from this past year.

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