If you’ve been to Austin lately, you know that the locals are fighting the good fight to, as they call it, “Keep Austin Weird.” Yep, you can even pick yourself up a bumper sticker or two to show your support for the movement…
ChinaShop was in the Texas town over the weekend for Austin City Limits, showing OUR support and soaking up the sun, the sights and documenting the adventure. Check out our photojournalism below and remember to “Keep Austin Weird.”
The “I Am Still Music” hip-hop tour drew impressive crowds as it made its way across the country for its 2011 run. The tour (headlined by Lil Wayne and featuring Keri Hilson, Far East Movement, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and more) ended its run on September 11th in Woodlands, TX. While Wayne took front and center, the rest of the performers, including Ross, held their own, contributing to the aura of the traveling festival.
If you’re unfamiliar with Ross, allow me to bring you up to speed. Ross is an artist who has dominated large parts of the hip-hop scene for years. Ross was one of the forerunners in revamping Miami’s rap scene and putting it back in the national spotlight. Predominantly influenced by Luther Campbell and the Notorious B.I.G., he began rapping in the 1990’s, fronting the group, Carol City Cartel. Their sound took its cue from Ross’ unique baritone voice; makes sense considering Ross is an imposing six feet at 300lbs.
The future of super hero party style.
For fashion designer, wardrobe stylist, Angela McBride, spandex is a way of life. The self-taught seamstress has created countless amounts of stretchy goodness while hustling her way to the top. Working runway shows, styling photo shoots, to dressing the biggest names in entertainment today.
She’s currently taking over the city with Aptemal Clothing on a line of “DETROIT HUSTLES HARDER” spandex and booty shorts. She continues building her brand while promoting her work as a stylist for all types: hip hop, rock stars, whatever, she can do it all. Angela’s latest gig includes making some gear for the ultimate party band –LMFAO- who totally embodies what Peace Love and Spandex is all about: High energy fun, dressing up and getting down!
Say what you will about Keri Hilson, the girl is talented, determined, beautiful and in all the right company. Currently on the I Am Still Music Tour with Lil Wayne, Lloyd, Far East Movement and Rick Ross. Her sophomore album, No Boys Allowed has proved that she is no flash in the pan. Her strong voice and sex appeal continues to propel her above and beyond some of her lesser contemporaries (you know who they are).
The Far East Movement could have used a G6 yesterday when their tour bus broke down in the middle of the New Mexico desert, leaving them to thumb a ride back to civilization (seriously, this just happened). A rep from the band told TMZ that “the guys were traveling from Missouri to Phoenix when their bus died … stranding them 50 miles away from the nearest taxi service … which refused to send a car that far.”
Canadian quartet Tokyo Police Club have announced an ambitious and riotous project, recording 10 cover songs from the years 2001-2010 over the course of 10 days. The project will begin at 12pm PST on Tuesday, August 23 at Red Bull Studios Los Angeles when the band enters the studio to rehearse and record a cover song over the next 10 hours, to be premiered the following morning at, 10am PST right here on ChinaShop starting Wednesday, August 24. The final song will be premiered on Saturday, September 3.
Starting next Monday, August 15, three potential songs from each year, between 2001-2010, will be revealed via Polaroid with the final track revealed each night prior to recording. The band will be creating daily Polaroid photo diaries and filming the entire recording process. In addition, each song will have unique artwork created from a Polaroid image shot that day in the studio.
Exclusive media partners include Alternative Press, ARTIST Direct, Entertainment Weekly, FILTER, Mashable, The Onion AV Club, Spinner. At 11am EST the song will be made available via all partner sites. Livestream.com will be offering fans a behind-the-scenes look into the recording process each day between 7pm-8pm PST.
Stay tuned for additional details in the coming weeks on the packaging of all 10-songs with commemorative pieces from the project.
While Tokyo Police Club was busy prepping for the event, singer David Monks spared a few moments to jump on the phone to provide us with some insider info on what we can expect from “10 Covers in 10 Days.”
Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox is not a shy man. Standing 6′ 4″ tall and almost too skinny for words, he is a perfect rock and roll skeleton… And it’s not from drugs or anorexia. Bradford suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Marfan syndrome, a disease characterized by abnormally long limbs that makes carriers susceptible to cardiovascular disease. Bradford’s early life was plagued by ridicule and shame for his “strange” look. Pain I’m sure that feeds his art to this day, and he is the person (and performer) he is today because of it. And his presence is the perfect match for Deerhunter’s aberrant sound.
It seems that these days, Big Boi is collaborating with everyone… well not just everyone, pretty much the coolest most, keep you on your toes-iest artist like Modest Mouse and Janelle Monáe. Oh, and it seems he’s got a sweet spot for the banjo, telling fuse interview blank that he is itching to get down with Mumford and Sons (I know, kind of awesome hah), and to boot, we might have some new Outkast coming out soon (although Big Boi has been reluctant to “let anything out of the trunk” just yet). I guess we’ll just have to stay tuned.
“Oh no, not another Avett Brothers wannabe, Mumford look alike,” you might say on first listen to Seattle based The Head and the Heart. They share a lot of similarities with the aforementioned bands i.e. “rootsy” Americana drenched, harmony infused songs, acoustic instrumentation, hand percussion, etc… (not always a bad think, by the way i happen to love those to bands and the simplicity, authenticity and emotion conveyed in the songs simple treatment). And like it or not, The Head and the Heart is one of this generation’s emerging Alt-Americana mainstays.
Within five minutes of Flying Lotus’ set on the Red Bull Music Academy stage at Movement on Memorial Day, it was obvious why he was closing down the stage for the weekend. Flying Lotus (born Steven Ellison) came in with a “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality. After rumors that he might be late (no one wanted to see his much anticipated set reduced), Ellison arrived like he had something to prove.