Tag Archives: Smith Westerns

Now Playing: Whitney – “No Matter Where We Go”

7 Jun

Been slacking on my music posts of late but hopefully I still have some time to redeem myself and I’m starting with “No Matter Where We Go” from Whitney. The Chicago band formed by Max Kakacek after his last band, Smith Westerns, broke up just released their debut album, Light Upon The Lake, on June 3 and it’s a gem. Hope you like it as much as I do. And if you see Whitney coming to a venue or festival near you, do yourself a favor and go see them live!

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VIDEO: 2013 Life is Beautiful Festival MUSIC Recap

22 Jun

Oh man, just 24 hours from the 2014 Life is Beautiful lineup! I cannot wait to share this year’s lineup with everyone. Each minute we get closer to releasing it the more excited I get. I hope my enthusiasm and love for the talent assembled for year two of the festival is shared by you as well after tomorrow.  I hope that as you watch this video below which recaps the music portion of Life is Beautiful 2013, you get pumped to create a whole new set of beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.

“A music festival is a gathering of a lot of strangers but I must say that music by the end of the night it always makes me feel like I know everybody that I shared that experience with and there’s nothing else in the world that can do that like music.” – Dan Reynolds, Imagine Dragons at Life is Beautiful Festival

 

 

@VampireWeekend, @JanelleMonae and more added to @LifeIsBeautiful #Festival

30 Jul

At the beginning of June we released the initial lineup for Life is Beautiful; The Killers, Kings of Leon, Beck, Imagine Dragons, Pretty Lights, Empire of the Sun, Passion Pit, Jurassic 5 and a whole lot more.  But what we also promised was more artists would be announced and thus here we are.  Today we announced the additions of Vampire Weekend, Alabama Shakes, Janelle Monae, Cults, Joey Bada$$, Smith Westerns, Nico Vega, The Dig, Dreamers as well as the first details of a collaboration with Red Bull Sound Select to feature artists Wildcat! Wildcat!, Chancellor Warhol, The Kingston Springs, Children of the Night and Tink.   If you haven’t yet checked out the brand new Red Bull Sound Select, you need to get on that like yesterday. So many great artists and an incredible platform for them to blossom through.  As for Life is Beautiful, I hope y’all like the lineup and that I will see you October 26-27 in Downtown Las Vegas for an incredible two days!  More details to come (soon) but in the meantime, how about a little dance party to get this Tuesday going from Ms. Janelle Monae.

2013 ACL Festival Lineup – Oct. 4-6, 11-13

7 May

Deep in the heart of Texas……in case you missed it at 12 a.m. CST/10 p.m. this morning/last night, Austin City Limits dropped their 2013 lineup. Expanding to two weekends this fall, October 4-6 and 11-13, Festival goers should have plenty of debating of who to see when the schedule comes out.

acl

The lineup: The Cure, Depeche Mode, Thom Yorke’s Atoms For Peace, Kings of Leon, Muse, Phoenix, Wilco, Lionel Richie, Kaskade, The National, Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend, Arctic Monkeys, Kendrick Lamar, D’Angelo, Passion Pit, Franz Ferdinand, Tame Impala, Local Natives, Portugal. the Man, Neko Case, Grimes, Jimmy Eat World, Dawes, The Joy Formidable, Purity Ring, Divine Fits, Toro Y Moi, The Shouting Matches, Haim, Smith Westerns, Savages, FIDLAR, Parquet Courts, Autre Ne Veut, Phosphorescent, Wild Belle, Hundred Waters, Silversun Pickups, Grouplove, The Black Angels, Okkervil River, Shuggie Otis, Wild Nothing, Pinback, Foxygen, Reignwolf, Deap Vally, Bright Light Social Hour, Lissie, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, White Denim, The True Believers, Mona, Roadkill Ghost Choir, JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, Typhoon, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Dan Croll, Shovels & Rope, Electric Guest, Valerie June, The Band of Heathens, Red Baraat, Jacuzzi Boys, Widowspeak.

2013 Lollapalooza Lineup officially out today

1 Apr

If you read the blog last week you’ve already seen who’s playing at Lollapalooza this August but if not, below is the lineup poster.  Should be another solid three days/nights in the Windy City and I have to say, nice to see The Dunwells on here again as their set was washed out in 2012.

2013_4_1_lolla_poster

And thanks Chicagoist for the below breakdown by day.

FRIDAY, AUG. 2
The Killers, Nine Inch Nails, New Order, Queens Of The Stone Age, Steve Aoki, Thievery Corporation, Imagine Dragons, Lana Del Rey, Flux Pavilion, Band Of Horses, Hot Chip, Crystal Castles, Frightened Rabbit, Dillon Francis, Smith Westerns, Disclosure, Father John Misty, Ghost B.C., Modestep, Emeli Sande, Jessie Ware, Atlas Genius, Timeflies, Theophilus London, Monsta, IO Echo, Icona Pop, Chance The Rapper, Lance Herbstrong, Robert DeLong, Deap Vally, Twenty One Pilots, San Cisco, Hey Marseilles, Keys N Krates, The Neighbourhood, Pacific Air, American Authors, Houndmouth, Brick + Mortar, D-Pryde, Brite Lite Brite

SATURDAY, AUG. 3

Mumford & Sons, The Postal Service, The National, The Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar, Eric Church Steve Angello, Ellie Goulding, Azealia Banks, Local Natives, Dada Life, Matt & Kim, Foals, Death Grips, Court Yard Hounds, Adventure Club, Ben Howard, GriZ, Charles Bradley, Heartless Bastards, Baauer, HAIM Unknown Mortal Orchestra, St. Lucia, Shovels & Rope, Little Green Cars Family of the Year, 360 The Bright Light Social Hour, Reignwolf, Pujol, Planet Hemp, Cole Plante, Lukas Nelson & P.O.T.R., Blondfire, Frontier Ruckus, Wheeler Brothers, The Dunwells, Supreme Cuts, Cherub, Wild Cub Brooke Waggoner, Beast Patrol

SUNDAY, AUG. 4
The Cure, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, Knife Party, Grizzly Bear, Major Lazer, Dog Blood, Two Door Cinema Club, Tegan and Sara, Beach House, Cat Power, 2 Chainz, Alt-J, The Vaccines, DIIV, Alex Clare, Baroness, Lianne La Havas, Wild Nothing, Angel Haze, Wavves, Alvin Risk, Jake Bugg, Wild Belle, Art Department, MS MR, Guards, Kill the Noise, Skaters, The Orwells, Palma Violets, Astro Machines Are People Too, Yawn, Half Moon Run, The Mowgli’s, Wake Owl, Bear Mountain, O’Brother Makeshift Prodigy

 

Lollapalooza Lineup sorta announced

28 Mar

Earlier today the Lollapalooza lineup was leaked and the Chicago Tribune put together another post following their item last week regarding the headliners.  Once again, another stacked lineup for the Chicago based festival.  Sure the big acts are powerful and pack a punch but it’s the up and comers which fans are going to be stoked about.  Now the question is, do I make a return for a third straight year…..

The Lineup:

Mumford & Sons, The Killers, Vampire Weekend, The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, The National, Postal Service, Phoenix, Queens of the Stone Age, the Lumineers, Kendrick Lamar, New Order, Eric Church, Knife Party, Steve Aoki, Steve Angello,  Ellie Goulding, Thievery Corporation, Grizzly Bear, Lana Del Rey, Flux Pavilion, Band of Horses, Major Lazer, Hot Chip, Azealia Banks, Local Natives, Two Door Cinema Club, Crystal Castles, Dada Life, Tegan & Sara, Imagine Dragons, Beach House, Cat Power, Frightened Rabbit, 2 Chainz, Matt & Kim, Alt-J, Foals, Death Grips, Dillon Francis, Court Yard Hounds, Smith Westerns, Disclosure, Adventure Club, Ben Howard, The Vaccines, Griz, Father John Misty, Ghost, Modestep, Charles Bradley, DIIV, Alex Clare, Heartless Bastards, Baauer, Baroness, Lianne La Havas, Emeli Sande, Wild Nothing, Jessie Ware, Atlas Genius, Haim, Angel Haze, Timeflies, Theophilus London, Monsta, Wavves, Io Echo, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Icona Pop, Alvin Risk, Chance the Rapper, Lance Herbstrong, Jake Bugg, Wild Belle, Art Department, MS MR, St. Lucia, Shovels & Rope, Guards, Kill the Noise, Robert Delong, Little Green Cars, Deap Vally, Family of the Year, 360,  the Bright Light Social Hour, Twenty One Pilots, San Cisco, Hey Marseilles, Skaters, The Orwells, Palma Violets, Reignwolf, Astro, Pujol, Machines Are People Too, Planet Hemp, Yawn, Keys N Krates, the Neighbourhood, Cole Plante, Half Moon Run, The Mowgli’s, Pacific Air, Lukas Nelson & P.O.T.R., Wheeler Brothers, Wake Owl, American Authors, O’ Brother, the Dunwells, Houndmouth, Supreme Cuts, Brick + Mortar, Cherub, Makeshift Prodigy, Wild Cub, D-Pryde, Brooke Waggoner, Brite Lite Brite, Beast Patrol.

Austin City Limits This Weekend (Live Stream)

16 Sep

If you’re like me and not in Austin for ACL, you’re probably not a happy camper right now.  However ACL is streaming live via YouTube and you can click HERE to check in on the festival.

Also here are some of my picks for shows if I was down in Tejas.

Stevie Wonder – really, no chance I’d miss seeing him perform

Arcade Fire – I don’t care what anyone says, these guys effen rock the festival crowds

My Morning Jacket – they won me back over this summer at Lollapalooza

Nas & Damian – nuff said

Empire of the Sun – can never get enough EofS

Cut Copy – been a fan since randomly seeing these Aussies perform six years ago

Ryan Bingham – one of my favorite performances of the summer and if you know him from “The Weary Kind” oh you have so much more to discover

Randy Newman – seriously just to hear THIS

Fitz & The Tantrums – should be one of the more fun shows of the festival

Delta Spirit – huge fan and only seen them live once

Foster The People& Young The Giant – their rises to stardom this summer, wowsa and both put on hell of performances

Smith Westerns – trust me; go see these kids from Chicago

The Belle Brigade – brother and sister duo that will blow your mind

Aloe Blacc – one of the best voices I have ever heard and quite a showman as well

Mariachi El Bronx – go have some fun with Mexican Independence Day this weekend

James Blake – see what this UK wonder is all about, legit!

Gary Clark Jr. – dude’s got mad talent, up and comer for sure

The Head and The Heart – if you are part of the folk rock movement, check em

North Mississippi Allstars – need no explanation

City and Colour – definitely worth your time

Cults – yeah, they could very well be the next big thing

Alexander – take a seat in the park and enjoy this performance

little hurricane – gritty blues that you’ll dig and Tone & CC are two of the nicest people in the world

Graffiti6 – chances are you’ve never heard of them but after seeing their set, you’ll be craving more and more

Electric Touch – I’ve been dying to see them perform, please someone go for me

Bobby Long – amazingly talented musician

Seth Walker – great singer, songwriter

Chancellor Warhol – one of my favorite performances at Bonnaroo, go check out this Tennessee kid

MilkDrive – just getting into these guys

The Lee Boys – if you want to get down with your bad self, check this show

Austin City Limits Line-Up Released and Single Day Tickets Now On Sale

17 May

Not only did Austin City Limits practically sell out today (probably will by EOD) but the line-up was released and WOW, Zilker Park is going to be music mania September 16-18.  I know the line-up every year is packed with big time talent but this year already screams epic time to be had.  Amazing job by C3 Presents to put together what can easily be considered the best festival line-up of the year.  Click HERE to purchase tickets.  Full line-up below.


Friday, Sep 16

  • Kanye West, Coldplay, Nas & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley , Bright Eyes , Santigold , Pretty Lights , Big Boi , Ray LaMontagne , Old Crow Medicine Show , Cold War Kids , Delta Spirit , Foster The People, Smith Westerns, Mavis Staples , Jack Ingram , James Blake , Sara Bareilles , Wild Beasts , Brandi Carlile, Gary Clark Jr. , The Secret Sisters , Phosphorescent , Charles Bradley , Reptar , Beardyman , An Horse , Asleep at the Wheel , Futurebirds , Theophilus London , The Cave Singers , Ha Ha Tonka , Francisca Valenzuela , Miniature Tigers , Hudson Moore , Bobby Long , The Bells Of Joy , Disciples Of Christ , Sara Hickman , The School of Rock , Heidi Swedburg , Mariana Iranzi , Brady Rymer

Saturday, Sep 17

  • Stevie Wonder , My Morning Jacket , Alison Krauss & Union Station , Cee Lo , Cut Copy , TV On The Radio , Skrillex , Iron & Wine , Chromeo , Gillian Welch , Fitz and the Tantrums , Court Yard Hounds , Young The Giant , Alexander , J. Roddy Walston & the Business , Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Del McCoury , City and Colour , Twin Shadow , The Antlers , Wanda Jackson , Abigail Washburn & The Village , The Belle Brigade , Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme , Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub , Fool’s Gold , Patrice Pike , The Moondoggies , Cowboy and Indian , Jon Pardi , The Warrior Gospel Band , Endurance , Tyree Morris & The Hearts of Worship , Recess Monkey , Fresh Millions , Tyler Bryant , The Kingston Springs , Chancellor Warhol

Sunday, Sep 18

  • Arcade Fire , Fleet Foxes , Social Distortion , Empire Of The Sun , Randy Newman , Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses, , Broken Social Scene , Death From Above 1979 , The Airborne Toxic Event , Elbow , The Walkmen , Chiddy Bang , Gomez , AWOLNATION , Hayes Carll , North Mississippi Allstars , Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. , The Head and the Heart , Mariachi El Bronx , Joseph Arthur , Bomba Estereo , MONA , The Vaccines ,  The Greencards , Nick 13 , Ruby Jane , Little Hurricane , MilkDrive , The Lee Boys , The Durdens , Peter DiStefano & Tor , The Q Brothers , Quinn Sullivan , The Barton Hills Choir , Seth Walker , Courtney Jaye , Leroy Powell

Bonnaroo X Schedule Released Today

13 May


Finally the Bonnaroo schedule has been released! Click HERE to take a look. As expected when the schedule came out, there are  many many conflicts and overlaps with artists and set times. Of course for me there are the staple artists that are marked as must sees (Widespread Panic, String Cheese Incident, Buffalo Springfield, Mumford & Sons, Gregg Allman, Robert Plant, G. Love, The Black Keys, Warren Haynes, etc.) and after that, time to figure out the rest. Who knows, my ideal schedule today may end up being completely different when I arrive. All I know is there is a ton of great music and I can’t wait to be surrounded by 90,000 of my new closest friends.


Countdown to Bonnaroo: 27 Days – Artist of the Day: Smith Westerns

13 May

Smith Westerns was a complete surprise to me as part of the line-up but I’m thrilled they will be performing.  Fresh off the heels of their second release, Dye It Blonde, the Chicago group has been gaining steam all throughout 2011.  As we wrote about back in back in January, 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.

Their set is scheduled for Sunday, June 12 at 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.