“We can be a whole group of friends, a whole group of frogs, jumping into the street, jumping into the planet, climbing up the buildings, swimming in the lakes and the bathtubs. We would be hundreds, thousands, millions, the biggest group of friends the world has ever seen. Jumping and laughing forever.
It would be great, right?” -M83: “Raconte-Moi Une Histoire”
See you on the other side!
-JJMT
By: Jack Stein
“Zodiac Shit”
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The Los Angeles music scene is a dynamic and eclectic one. Continue reading
By: Jack Stein
Long a bastion for indie music lovers the world over, Coachella has undergone its inevitable metamorphosis into the biggest American electronic music festival this side of Ultra. Continue reading
By: Max Burke
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For many of you closer to my age (early 20’s), the name Jeff Mangum might not mean much to you. In fact, many of you may not have heard of him—his former band Neutral Milk Hotel last released an album in 1998. So why, you might wonder, is the name Jeff Mangum featured so prominently on the Coachella lineup (second-boldest font possible)? Continue reading
By: Justin Pitts
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Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys have a long history together. First meeting when mere children, the two began a friendship in high school that has lasted through the ups and downs of a once struggling and unknown band called the Black Keys. Many would be surprised to hear that the Black Keys released four full length albums and one demo before reaching the top of the charts with the critically acclaimed Brothers LP. In fact, they were so off the radar the two had to dip into their own pockets to sustain a tour. Despite their struggles, the Black Keys have managed to adapt to the cruel world of ‘the business of music’ and finally reach success. But at what cost?
Brad Oberhofer of Oberhofer is a Tacoma native who moved to Brooklyn a few years back to pursue a career in music. Apparently he found some success out there because he has been featured in Sobe commercials and will be playing at this year’s Coachella. I am told that he originally made Oberhofer’s music on his own, but he now has a band to help. They will soon be releasing a full length album titled Time Capsule II (according to Pitchfork). Oberhofer’s poppy, yet diverse, sound will likely make for a nice set on the Polo Fields.
Here’s the single “Heart” from the upcoming album Time Capsule II. You can download it too:
“oO0OoO0Oo” was featured in a Sobe commercial. Here it is featured in a clip on Sobe’s skinsuite add campaign, starring the gorgeous Ashley Green.
By: Jack Stein
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2011 was something of a banner year for independent hip-hop, as it ushered in a new collective of young, oft pissed-off rappers who eschewed the “ringtone rap” and Rick Ross-esque boasting that their generation grew up on for a more atmospheric and refreshingly human take on their oft-maligned genre. Led by enigmatic souls such as A$AP Rocky and Danny Brown, rap’s new class of 2011 was weird enough to catch the average indie listener’s ear while simultaneously possessing some serious pop chops, leading to a strange proliferation of a handful of these artists into the mainstream’s consciousness, saving us from the prospects of another Pitbull remix and injecting some much-needed life into the sputtering heart of modern hip-hop.
Continue reading
A mix for all you ravers who crave dopamine-fueled crescendos and cheesy lyrics. Created with a little help from DJ Kryspin. Check him out: https://www.facebook.com/kryspinmusic
By: Max Burke
November 20, 2011
The Neptune Theater, Seattle
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It was Wednesday when a few friends and I decided to go to this Sunday concert. Beyond my recollection of the bizarre look of their name, and a vague memory of hearing the song “Gangsta” months before, I had no idea what was getting into. Indeed, it took me three days to figure out that the lead singer is a woman—the significance of which I will get to later. And in those three plus days, I only listened to maybe four of their songs primarily due to sheer laziness. Needless to say, I was truly going on a whim.
Ah Coachella… The eclectic, hip, sweaty, lose-your-mind party in the desert. Arguably the best music festival in the United States; a true ‘playground for adults who love music’. Usually around this time every year unappeasable hipsters gather on internet forums to debate what act is worth the Coachella Headliner title. But this year was different. When in several years past the lineup released around MLK weekend, this year we got a late Christmas present: A very early official Coachella lineup poster. My mind literally exploded when hearing the news (literally). As I heard the news, I dropped everything at work and rushed to the nearest computer to spend the next half hour diligently scanning each band soon to perform at the polo fields.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed at first. The Black Keys headlining? Really? That’s almost as bad as say… Kings of Leon… But I digress. As Spotify blasted my ears with terrible ads this morning, I came to the realization that there is a multitude of amazing smaller acts this year. Simply put: the undercard of this lineup is stellar. Sure, Radiohead will put on an unforgettable show, as will Dre and Snoop. But the most memorable moment of Coachella isn’t going to be Thom Yorke seizing up on stage to “Lotus Flower”. Nor will it be thousands of Black Keys fans whistling to ‘Tighten Up’. If you are able to recall anything from the blur that is Coachella, it will be how you had a surprising amount of fun at a band you barely knew.
JJMT 