That was a hiatus alright. I decided since I have lots of free time now in NYC (and am using Google AdSense to make some extra cash) I should start up the music blog again.
So, most interestingly in music lately is Major Lazer, friend of Diplo crew. Seriously, have you heard "Pon di Floor"? Amazing.
Go to maddecent.com to purchase or off of itunes. This along with Keep It Goin Louder (Feat. Nina Sky) are some great songs from this ridiculous album. Ms. Thing and Santigold also guest star!
A friend of mine is having a crazy rave party, so I was asked to make a playlist. I automatically thought of the Tepr remix of Say Aha by Santogold, but there were so many parts of it that are too slow. I can't remix anything for shit, but I tried to take out the slow parts and smooth it down.
So apparently my little sister told me that Santogold performed on Pete Wentz's show FNMTV. Its nice to hear that MTV is actually putting on some good music! (Although recently, their Artist of the Weeks have been right outta my iPod. The Gossip, M.I.A., Santogold, Yelle, etc)
Just when I thought I couldn't love Santogold anymore, she went and did this. Last month I saw Adele in Philly and it was beautiful. I met her with my friend and she sat and talked with us for a few minutes. She was the nicest celebrity I have met yet (next to Jay Brannan) and her song "Hometown Glory" is the saddest song I have heard in a while.
Santogold was on BBC Radio 1 the other day and had a nice chat with host Jo Whiley. She sang "Lights Out" and got to choose a cover. She sang Adele's "Hometown Glory" and made it very dark and brooding.
The presenter wasn't kidding. My friend and I got to Central park at about 2:00, and there were 200+ people in front of us. I assumed I wouldn't even be getting into the venue (not realizing how big it was). I squeezed my way to about 5th row, and waited for the show to start.
I'm gonna have a lot to write about. Mz Streamz
About 6 teenage girls came running out on stage and started dancing while DJ Blaqstarr was spinning. I thought they were just a dance team, but then 2 girls grabbed a mic and started performing.
I only had videos of them dancing to a backing track of their song. I thought I recorded "Tear It Up", a really good Bmore club track featuring DJ Sega, but apparently I didn't. They killed it, and I am looking for more of their songs, and can't really find any. I read somewhere that they filmed a video recently and have a mixtape coming out soon.
Blaqstarr came on and played some of the best baltimore club music I have ever heard. I always love Blaqstarr mixes and the entire crowd was going crazy for "Hands Up, Thumbs Down". He sampled some M.I.A. and Bonde Do Role (possibly a new song?). Kid Cudi came on as a special guest, and he was alright. I wasn't too into him, but I did manage to get a picture with him. I'll be checking out his songs later this week to see what I think. This is also around the time I may or may not have passed out for a second from the heat, so I had to make my way to the back of Summerstage so I could cool down (which is why I have no good pictures from this event).
Hands down favorite DJ. The fact is he is extremely talented, good looking, brings the best unknown music acts into the spotlight, and dated M.I.A. for a while. He played a bunch of my favorites (his Golddiger Mix and Stronger Mix) and he sample The Gossip, which was a nice suprise. He played for about an hour and a half (splitting the stage with A Trak, who was pretty damn good too) and it was great. Check out maddecent.com to see all of Diplo's mixes, acts, up and coming artists, etc.
This is what everyone was waiting for. She walked right by me going backstage, but had her headphones in. When she came on, all of Summerstage exploded. She started with "You'll Find A Way (Switch remix)" and went on to sing "LES Artistes", "Starstruck", "Anne", "Unstoppable", and a few others. She ended with "Creator" and it was really good. She was really interactive with the first few rows (and I was extremely jealous of them). Her backup dancers were PERFECT. I was too far to get good video, but I recorded some live audio. More will come later.
(Photo thanks to Mad Decent, www.maddecent.com/blog)
After tomorrow I'm sure the entire internet is gonna be buzzing with Santogold and Diplo's Top Ranking Mixtape. Summerstage in NYC they will be onsale and I will get my copy, as should everyone going.
(if anyone asks me to take these down, I will)
Here are 2 tracks from it that I thought were amazing:
"Guns of Brooklyn" is already all over the interweb. This song is so mellow, you can't help but love it. Right after I got it I played it on repeat for ten minutes. Normally with Diplo I would have expected a crazy fast beat, but I like this change of pace.
The first two minutes of this song I'm not sure about. I love rap, and I love rap even more over strange beats that you wouldn't hear everyday. But Gorilla Zoe (who I have never heard of) just does not seem to fit in this song. After listening to it all the way through, I usually skip to Santogold's part.
That being said, usually I can't get enough of Santogold, but this is one of my least favorite songs she is in. For me, M.I.A. rules this song. "Get it up, you can get it up!" Then again, her tracks are always hot.
Next week is concert week, so I should probably blog about that.
Jay Brannan (7/16/08 at Highline Ballroom in NYC)
I first saw him in John Cameron Mitchells "Shortbus" playing Ceth. I usually don't like too much acoustic music, but he is definately a wonderful singer. His lyrics are real, and he has something many people do not: talent. Not to mention he is easy on the eyes.
I am in love with this man. He is by far the saddest person I have ever heard. He is an openly gay singer who barely gets above a whisper on each song. I am so excited for this concert, the videos I have seen of him live are fantastic. Not to mention he speaks french which gives him a lot of points in my book. Chris Garneau - Relief
Santogold (7/20/08 Central Park in NYC)
This is more my usual pace. Every blog in the internetz has talked about Santogold, so I am pretty late in the game. I first saw her at M.I.A.'s show in Philly last december, and she blew the crowd away. I have never seen an artist mix so many elements together. Her cd "Santogold" has about 9 different genres of music on it. Her voice is real clashy and her beats will make you either want to dance A LOT or relax A LOT. Her concert is free, and she is playing with DIPLO, another of my favorites. Elle est un fille pour mon coeur. Yes yes yes.
Pictures of the concerts will be uploaded the day after each of them. (as long as I am not dead, drunk, dizzy, working, lost, lazy, or any combination of those)
Dislcaimer: Unless specified, I do not own any of the pictures or mp3s on this blog. All mp3's are for previewing purpose, and should be deleted after 24 hours. You can buy music at amazon.com or itunes.
Leave me some comments, give me your opinions.
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