Ask any of the “Gold-Diggers” — the clever moniker certain some of the more obsessive BG fans/followers have bestowed upon themselves — and they’ll tell you that no matter how short their stage time, Black Gold is always capable of tearing up the most renowned of Hollywood’s row of Sunset bars/clubs. Indeed, tonight’s Roxy crowd seems comprised mostly of BG fans, a line stretching so far down the sidewalk in fact that I don’t stumble inside until the band has already finished their first number. Part of this is due to the fact that Roxy management has become sort of a stage act itself: upon arrival, I’m herded opposite a metal gate outside the box office while a bee-hived, chain-smoking, Jersey-accented club owner barks “Yeh godda wait in line like everyone else!” to a dozen flannel-decked twerpies, one of them who confessed tonight she’d be breaking her Hollywood club cherry (her words, not mine). Judging by the crowd, I’d be hard-pressed to disagree that Black Gold makes for a memorable first time.
Monthly Archives: February 2010
Fashion Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week : Betsey Johnson
My Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week highlight was, without a doubt, the Betsey Johnson show, and I’m sure I wasn’t alone. Betsey’s shows aren’t just a moving catalog of latest looks — they’re a full-blown party, with a kicking soundtrack, attitude-laden models and a vivacious atmosphere. The crowd simmers excitedly, the models are laughing with one another and practicing dance-steps, and balloons litter the backstage area.
Music Franz Ferdinand
Perhaps the most formidable rival to their Scottish soilmates Twin Atlantic, Franz Ferdinand has, over a period of four or five years, forged a distinct unique sound, whoever you might think they sound like. It’s a winning formula that’s served them well as evidenced by their huge hit single “Take Me Out”, the Song You Couldn’t Escape in 2005. Here is what many would consider to be the definitive party band, seeing as how admittedly the band formed for the sole purpose of playing parties. They could also be pointed to for the sudden surge in popularity of the whole dancepunk craze, and what seems like a thousand bands the quartet has launched in their wake. Red Bull Music Academy Radio has the latest on the band, and their new album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.
Featured Gallery Music Motion City Soundtrack : The Interview
Motion City Soundtrack’s road to success has been plagued with its share of mines. Throughout musical generations there’s always been a dozen overnight sensations for every workhorse band that claws its way up the industry ladder, and MCS never had it that easy. That’s not to say they’ve back-stabbed their way to a # 15 Billboard chart position; they’ve just had to haul a long-ass road to get to where they are — sporadic lineup changes, 11 years of moving around through different labels, different managers, and different incarnations didn’t exactly help. From an almost non-existent label to Epitaph, the Minnesotans have finally reached the big time with a Columbia Records contract. It’s all this hard work, along with the usual relentless promotion, excessive touring, and months and months of practice that’s earned them a coveted spot at the House of Blues in Anaheim (okay, Disneyland, but still). I recently met up with bassist Matt Taylor to discuss Christopher Cross, casinos, and cake, along with the usual band banter.
Music Bad Brains : Forgers of a Foundation
Given the current musical climate, it’s not hard to believe that so few know who Bad Brains is. And given the fact that there have been so few other great punk bands in music history, I sometimes feel ashamed for forgetting they even exist. But to re-establish the band’s significance for both of us, let me give you a quote (from what is probably to many another outdated act) by Adam Yauch, aka MCA from the Beastie Boys, who called Bad Brains’ self-titled debut “The greatest punk/hardcore album of all time.” Like many other admirers, Yauch saw the unique side of a band forging a unique punk rawness with what were often these sort of reggaeton-style, laid-back vocals. While there’s no doubt the Brains have come a long way from their humble beginnings in D.C. (read: living in poverty which forced a small getup act to dole out demo tape after demo tape so that they could move from a tiny label which would only press a limited number of cassettes to a bigger one like PVC which was only marginally better, combined with constant lineup changes and the usual band strife whew), it’s hard to say how much good it’s done them. But acts like Minor Threat and these guys helped solidify the punk sound of D.C., which I didn’t even really know until a friend passed me the equivalent of a “Punk 101″ cassette tape in high school and familiarized me with everything I was missing. Then they released “Build a Nation” a couple years ago, and it all fell back into place. If you’re remotely into punk, you’ll want to take a gander at what is essential genre history here. Catch a retrospective sell-out with the BB boys on Red Bull Music Academy Radio.
Art/Design Featured Gallery Brian Ewing Mural Show is a Display of Mad Genius
The folks at Atticus Clothing have swallowed up the shelves of 1Louder with their new spring line of apparel, which they celebrated in a big way on Friday night’s official “soft release” party. In order to kick off the first of many events that Atticus has planned in conjunction with 1Louder, Brian Ewing was flown into town from New York and asked to paint the largest mural that he has ever attempted. Who is Brian Ewing? He’s is a freelance illustrator who has applied his creative juices to creating artwork for various bands, publishers, and corporations including: Van’s Warped Tour, Star Wars, Hustler, Budweiser, DC Comics, Guitar World, and Marvel Comics, just to name a few. Aside from a collection of artwork that is deemed increasingly buzz-worthy, Brian is also preparing for the release of his book, Don’t Hold Your Breath.
Fashion Gallery Window Shopping on Melrose
This year, I’ve sworn off shopping for 365 days in favor of order, frugality, and a massive closet-life-purge. What’s a shopaholic to do in time of such dire need? One word, friends: window shopping. Any other year I would have said that I don’t “do” window shopping, that it’s a frivolous waste of precious time and there are far better things to do, such as shampooing one’s dog or sorting through receipts, for instance, but is no regular year so I decided to give it a go. I had to be careful to find the proper arena for this feat – something with just enough eye candy to stimulate, but nothing that would tug at my pursestrings too much. Melrose Avenue, or rather its most lively stretch between La Brea and Fairfax, seemed the logical answer – fun, familiar, but safely too colorful and hipster-friendly for my personal preference.
Event Gallery BioShock 2′s Official Launch Party
The Bobby Darin song Somewhere Beyond the Sea paints a sweet lullaby for lovers, conjuring images of blue translucent shimmering reflections, slow dancing on white sand beaches and lazy afternoons staring at an endless horizon of clear water. That song and its predecessor, La Mer, have graced countless moments in entertainment history, but arguably none so sinister, none so glazed in irony then when it played underneath the chilling iron title graphics of 2k’s 2007 breakout game of the year Bioshock.
Fashion All Smiles at L’oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival
The L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival is like any fashion week anywhere in the world: designers, models, buyers, editors & stylists revelling in a sartorial orgy which lasts for the longest seven days of your life. By the time of the closing night party, blisters are rampant, skin is dehydrated and sallow, and everyone is feeling just a tad bit blind from the non-stop camera flashes. Your bed is calling your name; your name has never sounded sweeter. But this year, Melbourne’s fashion week has a point of difference. It has a simple and straightforward slogan: “Get Happy”. In the advertising campaign, there is nary a sour or sultry look to be had. No — instead, the models are smiling and laughing. Photographed by Stephen Chee, models Katya & Tina look delighted just to be in front of a camera, and let’s face it, they probably were.
Music Derrick May Wants to Feel You (Musically)
“Mics live, music live, people absolutely live. ” Such is how Dj extraordinaire Derrick May would prefer you hear his music — a stealthful combination of intricate rhythms, beats, and DJing that pays tribute to the days of old — up front, in person, in-your-face. It’s not that surprising, then, that he has a sound similar to the likes of Kevin Saunderson and other purveyors of the genre from his hometown of Detroit, where the now-famous Detroit Electronic Music Festival has become an incredible success. But as the hoots and hollers would suggest, May’s live performance better captures his meshing of both worlds. It’s proved to be a successful marriage, one that encapsulates a DJ with a cutting-edge sound who is genuinely in touch with his audience live, more able to build off the vibe and emotion of his listeners.














