ARCADE FIRE
April 21st is right around the corner and the people working on Record Store Day just posted a complete (and massive) list of all of the releases!
You're going to need some time wade through all of the choices, but here are some highlights:
Animal Collective: Transverse Temporal Gyrus LP
Arcade Fire: Sprawl II LP
Beach House: Lazuli B/W Equal Mind 7”
Bruce Springsteen: Rocky Ground 7”
Gorillaz: Do Ya Thing 7”
The name Grimes is a secret. She simply won't say. And although work ethic comes from a background in ballet, with obvious familiarity to spandex and that powers of femininity that be, sex appeal won't be hiking this one to the top; it's an aspect of the art she thinks too dark. She's described as anything from the Montreal artist from the DIY post-Internet scene, to the methodically slow-burned indie "it" girl who's become “the marriage between the voice of a human and the heartbeat of a machine” (Bullett Magazine). Grimes is Claire Boucher. And yes, a Canadian pop-singer with twinkly-light and layered vocals; with moody, chaotic, if misunderstood lyrics, and a level free time one can only imagine as nill, as she's cranked out four consecutive albums (-esque) since 2010. Two of such, Gedi Primes and Halifaxa (2010), were Internet-dispensed gratis efforts, though regarded highly, while she churned out singles on side A of Darkbloom in May 2011, along side hip hop experimentalist D'eon, the latter).
The Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival gives 40,000-60,000 ear-eager music fans a yearly opportunity to experience both music and art in one place. Atop the scattered stages you can find an abnormal yet effective line-up of musical artistry. Seeing a neighborhood cafe act lead into Erykah Badu was normal. The purgatory that lies between mega stardom and small-town-nobody is suddenly erased. Nor are any rules of artist seniority enforced. Divas mix amongst us normal folk, all egos aside, in the attempt to give awaiting fans what they're spending the weekend in San Francisco for: pure, raw musical talent. It didn't matter how many albums the artist sold --it only mattered if they were good. And to my surprise there weren't any "not so good acts" at this year's festival, which was held at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
40 years ago, George Harrison and Ravi Shankar took the stage in Madison Square Garden and put on an extraordinary event. The Concert for Bangladesh was the first benefit concert of its kind in that brought together an extraordinary group of major artists for a common humanitarian cause. This sold out concert included artists such as Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, and Leon Russell.
Harrison and Shankar staged two concerts to alert the world of the plight of the Bangladeshi people—victims of simultaneous floods, famine, and civil war. To pay tribute to the 40th anniversary of the Concert, this August has been designated as the “Month of Giving.”
The 2010 Grammy's Album of the Year underdog winner, The Suburbs, has inspired a short film written by Arcade Fire brothers Will and Win Butler and cult auteur film maker Spike Jonze. The director, known for his work in the music world, marks this piece with his often painful sentimentality while highlighting universal themes of alienation and growing up in a wartime setting.
The reflective film, running 30 minutes in length, focuses on a group of teens simply being teens. A non-specific war between townships is seen through the eyes of these adolescent characters, who, even in their personal lives, straddle the line of controlling their fate. They hang out in parks and discuss the proper time to make a move on a girl with small reminders of the war they are living amongst casually popping in and out. But when the war is thrust directly in front of them a friend begins to crumble leading to personal battles and destruction. Jump cuts in plot and a heavy use of montage make the piece feel like a trailer at times. However, these devices allow breathing room in a film so dense with emotional weight and social poignancy, which simultaneously keeps run time down and audience engagement high.
Had a good time at Coachella this year? Or were you shunned at the door (or your computer interface) because there wasn't enough space? Better yet, did you fork over five to six hundred dollars to some secondary website for a 3-day pass?
If you answered, 'Yes', to any of these questions than you'll be excited for what Goldenvoice and the festivals founder/producer, Paul Tollett, have in store for you.
Each year, the west coast is home to so many incredible music and arts festivals. Cochella, Burning Man, the Electric Daisy Carnival and more bring thousands upon thousands of people to their gates every year who want to be a part of something so much bigger than themselves.
San Francisco is home to one of these heavenly three-day weekends. The fourth annual Outside Lands Music Festival organizers have released the lineup for their Golden Gate Park festival, which is scheduled for August 12 to 14. The list of artists is better than ever and promises to be one hell of a rocking, sweaty, dirty good time. Along with the music, the festival will have a wine tasting event and an extensive selection of local food.
Lasting for over three hours, comprised of five separate sets with 29 total songs (covers included), an appearance by Arcade Fire, and cascades of white balloons falling from the ceiling at the finale, LCD Soundsystem definitely went out with a bang for their last show on Saturday (4/2) at Madison Square Garden.
There's even a full video below that documents it all.
Set 1:
- 2:10 - Dance Yrself Clean (with “I’m Not In Love” by 10cc intro)
- 12:40 Drunk Girls
- 17:09 I Can Change
- 23:45 Time To Get Away
- 28:16 Get Innocuous!
- 35:18 Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
- 41:45 Too Much Love
- 46:53 All My Friends
- 55:30 Tired (with “Heart of the Sunrise” by Yes snippet)
Today, the lineup for this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival has been announced. The lineup includes recent Grammy winners Arcade Fire and The Black Keys, along with Eminem, My Morning Jacket, Opeth, Mumford & Sons, Iron & Wine, Primus, and many, many more.
The festival will take place June 9th through June 12th in Manchester, TN.
Complete list of artists performing:
The blues rock duo were up against stiff competition during the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, but still managed to come away with two wins. The duo received “Best Alternative Album,” for Brothers, and also “Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals,” for their hit “Tighten Up.” Both looked bewildered when they were called to the stage, recalling the last time they wore suits was at a funeral.
The band was also nominated for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance,” and “Best Rock Song.”
They weren't the only suprises at this years awards, though. Esperanza Spalding won "Best New Artist," as Arcade Fire won "Album Of The Year."
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