If I told you that a group of married, middle aged men recorded an album in their garage that went to number one in America, then caused an earthquake with the music from that album, what would you say? I’d say welcome to the world of the Foo Fighters.
The fast turnover rate in the music industry makes novelty into a baton passed around from this band to that band. Bands become lost socks sucked into a black hole with no location. For today’s “Whatever Happened To…” we will probe the mystery that has befallen band the Shocking Pinks.
True to form, Talib Kweli‘s latest song and video does not shy from political themes or social justice issues. The video, shot in New York and directed by Darryl Phillips, features Kweli delivering fiery lyrics at Zucatti Park flanked by Occupy Wall Street protesters.
Video after the Jump
LMFAO’s Redfoo returns to Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for another year of Party Rock Mondays in 2012. The raucous, no-holds barred party has seen a dizzying array of animal print pants, inflatable zebras, foam hands and Champagne showers. The nights are filled with unexpected antics, entertainment and endless hours of dancing. The Party Rock Crew is back for another year and they are not sorry for Party Rocking! Redfoo breaks down the Party Rock ethos, “Party Rock is basically a mindset; it’s a verb. It’s “to party-rock.”We kind of see the world as a big party. All the articles of clothing, all the sayings we make up, we’re just having fun and making people laugh and making each other laugh and celebrating life. To party-rock is to celebrate life. It’s like party with a rock ’n’ roll attitude.”
Woodpigeon returns with a new digital EP, For Paolo, available January 24 via Boompa Records. Led by songwriter Mark Andrew Hamilton, For Paolo was inspired by his parents, the cassette tapes they played on long, family drives across the prairies of Canada. Hamilton said, “My parents were always the type to find an artist and album they liked and then listen to it non-stop in the car for years. It’s these tapes which, whether I liked them at the time or not, formed an undeniable part of my musical DNA: Carole King, Falco, a truck-stop Hits of the 1960s compilation. The songs of the For Paolo EP are a valentine of sorts to those old cassettes of my parents – I’d like to think there’s more than just a dash of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Tango in the Night’ in the title track, a little bit of girly one-hit wonder in ‘One To Many’. But then again, whenever I think I’m getting pretty close at sounding one way, I’m the only one who hears it – so you’ll have to excuse the thought that there’s a little bit of Boys Don’t Cry’s ‘I Wanna Be a Cowboy’ and Iron Butterfly mixed in here somewhere too.” Listen to / watch the video for the title track to the album after the jump.
Two highly successful New Jersey based rock bands are returning to their home state to celebrate its role in making them who they are today. This holiday season, Senses Fail and Saves the Day return to New Jersey’s famous Starland Ballroom located in Sayreville for not only one of their stellar performances but for a chance to give back to the local music community as part of Red Bull Noise Complaint. A dollar from each ticket sold to the December 23rd show will be donated to the upkeep of the famed Court Tavern in New Brunswick, NJ. The small no-frills venue, open for nearly 30 years, has hosted rock and alternative acts such as Pavement, Ween, The Flaming Lips, Gaslight Anthem, The Bouncing Souls and Lifetime. The Court also provides a stage for up-and-coming local acts and offers regular free shows for the strapped-for-cash student looking to catch some live music.
To pass along the torch, a local up-and-coming New Jersey band was chosen to open for Senses Fail and Saves the Day at Starland. That group, Banquets was selected at a Red Bull Noise Complaint showcase at Court Tavern on Friday, November 18th.
Terraplane Sun is a band you don’t want to miss. The blues-rock quintet has an upcoming feature on the NBC’s show 1st Look LA. They will hold there second residency at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas coming this winter November and December. With Las Vegas and several live dates in Amsterdam, Terraplane Sun has been embarking on their west coast tour with shows at the Echo, Bootleg Theater, Hotel Cafe, Malibu Inn and more to come.
Tiësto, the world’s biggest DJ and producer, to launch the first-ever line of clothing inspired by electronic dance music
Global sensation Tiësto has revolutionized the world of electronic dance music with his incredible live shows and timeless productions. Now he’s poised to explode onto the fashion scene with his new clothing line CLVB LIFE, released on December 8th at Kitson (Los Angeles)and Atrium (New York and Miami).
The Chicago alternative hard rock trio Chevelle is celebrating the release of their sixth album “Hats Off to the Bull” Tuesday, December 6 via Epic Records. “Hats Off to the Bull” is charging full-speed ahead and garnering early critical acclaim. The album’s first single “Face To The Floor” continues its ascent at radio nationwide reaching #1 at Active Rock and Top 10 at Altternative Rock radio. Billboard magazine stated, “’Face To The Floor’ delivers nearly four minutes of the cathartic alt-metal fans have come to expect from Chevelle. This time, though, the band wants to stir their minds, not just tempers.”
Love him or hate him, we all can agree that Les Claypool, the bass monster and band leader of Primus, is one talented, enigmatic dude. In the following interview, the Urban Nomad sits down to take a bite out of the man many call a “genius.” Have a gander and judge for yourself after the jump.