Amanda boyd | ChinaShop

Bars/Clubs The Player : Members Only

July 29, 2011 - 9:50 am

Last year one of my favorite bars in London, The East Room, tragically burned down. (Luckily, I was able to have one last awesome night there two days before the fire; was one of the best nights I’ve ever had in this wonderful, wonderful city.) The East Room is part of a group of members only bars which include: Milk & Honey (London and New York), The Player (London) and The Clubhouse (Chamonix, French Alps); I’ve been to Milk & Honey a bunch but had yet to give The Player a try (or The Clubhouse… which I doubt I’ll be hitting up anytime soon unless I randomly get a surprise trip the the French Alps, which I would most definitely not be opposed to).

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Gallery Music Let’s Dance: Latin Alternative Music Conference

by Amanda Boyd and Untracht-Oakner

July 13, 2011 - 11:03 am

Last week, the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) took New York City by storm with a slew of exhilarating performances featuring some of the top acts in the world of Latin music.

Despite my complete love for music, aside from the occasional spin on the ol’ salsa dance floor, Latin music isn’t something I’m all that familiar with or find myself listening to very often, so I was eager to check out just what LAMC had in store.

Whilst I enjoyed pretty much every show I checked out, Wednesday night’s acoustic showcase at S.O.B.’s was by far the highlight of the week.

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Bars/Clubs Purl Bar London: A Diamond in the Ruff

by Amanda Boyd

July 5, 2011 - 9:07 am

It was love at first sight for me and Purl (so much so that I went there twice in one night – drinks before dinner than again after); it’s easily one of the coolest bars I’ve ever been to. You walk inside and it feels as though you’ve stepped into this hidden, underground cave with all these small nooks and secret alleyways one can’t help but want to explore. A piano adorned with candles and old photographs sits in one room; there’s a fire place with a Chesterfield sofa, antique table and two gorgeous leather arm chairs sat around it; semi-private booths lit up by antique chandeliers and lamps give the illusion of mini caves within the cavernous room; small tables are situated in various corners with old, leather bound books sprawled about as jazz floats quietly through the air. It really is, as I’m fond of saying, magical.

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Music Mandy’s Music Mail 4/29/11

by Amanda Boyd

April 29, 2011 - 10:28 am

Yesterday Chidera Anamege aka “Chiddy” of Chiddy Bang, broke the world record for longest freestyle as he rapped for over 9 hours straight…!! The previous record was held by M-Eighty at 8 hours, fifteen minutes and 15 seconds. I don’t think I could even talk for 9 hours straight, much less rap. Good thing he had wings. Be sure to check back to www.redbullusa.com for a free download of Chiddy Bang’s newest single “Mind Your Manners”!

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Music Mandy’s Music Mail 4/15/11

by Amanda Boyd

April 15, 2011 - 6:40 am

When it comes to a collaboration between Sade and Jay Z, it’s pretty much impossible to go wrong or disappoint (according to the ever reliable and trust worthy pandabook). “The Moon and the Sky” (Remix) actually surfaced last Friday (after my glorious post was published), so if you’ve already heard this track, well, here’s a chance to bask in it once (or multiple times) more!

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Music Mandy’s Music Mail 4/1/11

by Amanda Boyd

April 1, 2011 - 11:27 am

NKOTBSB?! Mind. Blown. So NKOTB were a bit before my time, well I mean I knew girls who were obsessed with them, but at the time I was more of a Green Day girl (Dookie was one of my first albums, totes had the poster hanging up over my bed and everything; man I was a cool 8 year old…), however I was all about BSB (“I Want It That Way”, “Quit Playing Games With My Heart”?! Oh I could die. Such tunes!) so part of me is totally excited about this collaboration of ex-boyband heartthrobs. And their first single is undeniably catchy. This insanity drops May 24th.

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Music Mandy’s Music Mail 3/25/11

by Amanda Boyd

March 25, 2011 - 9:28 am

Apologies to all you gorgeous party people, I’m afraid this week’s post is going to be a bit on the short side; was one of those highly infuriating weeks where there just wasn’t that much to write about and very few new tracks that I actually enjoyed. Although Sade (who doesn’t love a little Sade action?) announced the release of a second greatest hits album (no released date yet) and she finally agreed to collaborate with my future BFF Jay Z on a track for it. So that’s rather magical.

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Music Mandy’s Music Mail 3/18/11

by Amanda Boyd

March 18, 2011 - 12:44 pm

Ooooh the sun is shining, the weather is beautiful here in the NYSheezy (it’s about damn time), Friday is finally here and two of my favorites get into town from good ol’ London this weekend! All of which makes for a very excited panda. So, let’s kick off this week’s music news with a track from the immensely talented, Skream! Stream. Check out his remix of Miles Kanes’ (formally of the Last Shadow Puppets, now doing his own thing) “Rearrange” after the jump.

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Music Mandy’s Music Mail 3/11/11

by Amanda Boyd

March 11, 2011 - 11:44 am

For those of you who will be down in Austin for SXSW (totes jealous), be sure to stop by Jack White’s latest Third Man endeavor; a fully functioning traveling record store, which, along with exclusive Third Man products (including “drinking accessories” – natch), also “boasts an all-inclusive sound system backed by two turntables and a microphone.” All kinds of magic happening in that bus.

“Wolves” is the first track I heard from The Good Natured and it was love at first listen; reminds me of a mix between La Roux and Ladytron (which is clearly not a bad thing in the panda book). The guys were recently signed to Regal/Parlophone Records (Gorillaz, Bat For Lashes, LCD Soundsystem) so we’ll hopefully be hearing some more new tunes from them soon. In the mean time, check out “Wolves” and “Your Body Is A Machine” below!

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Music Mandy’s Music Mail 3/4/11

by Amanda Boyd

March 4, 2011 - 4:44 pm

Well it’s a gorgeous, sunny day in lovely London and I’m a bit horse from an epic karaoke session last night with some of my favorites; we sang everything from “Regulate” by Warren G and Nate Dogg, Pulp’s “Common People”, to “A Whole New World” from Aladdin (oh, yes). Was never a real big karaoke girl until I started dating the boy; 2 ½ years later and I’ve officially caught the bug. Round two tonight (thanks to an at-home set! Wooo!), but before that, let’s get to this week’s music news!

Broken Bells, the magical collaboration of Danger Mouse and James Mercer, are releasing a new EP, Meyrin Fields, slated for a March 29^th release which will feature three unreleased songs as well as “An Easy Life” (off the iTunes bonus edition of their debut album). Check the track list after the jump.

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