Sweeping unique sounds and impeding on heavy vocals, large chords and melodies to fuel momentum from dance music devotees far and wide – Marcus’ talent has emerged. A producer from the young age of 12, the inspiration flooded in reeling from a close but older and influential family friend. Pining to get on this bedroom decks and educate the neighborhood, the sounds came organically. It wasn’t long before his child audio assets in Michael Jackson, Coldplay and Daft Punk fell incredibly in tune with his own exploration of the musical mile. Taking to the studio before his teens, Dirty South and Axwell expanded his drive, reaffirming his beat. Unstoppable, the Santoro profile has been tapped by Hardwell’s Revealed Recordings, Ultra Records, Sony, Warner, Armada Music where his studio aptitude is imprinting itself on airwaves. ‘All the Way’ with The Potbelleez made its way to the Top 10 ‘Future Hits Chart’ on Shazam and on radio across the nation. His winning remix of ‘Lost & Found’ by Sick Individuals made its way to #19 on Beatport’s Progressive House Top 100. Marcus Santoro isn’t too far behind on support either, raking in names like Tiesto, Hardwell, Dirty South, Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero and more..
Check ‘Em Out: Marcus Santoro – “Bring You Home”
Filed under Check 'em Out!, dance, listen
Check ‘Em Out: The High Learys
The High Learys are a four piece inspired rock band from Perth, Western Australia consisting of Jamie Turner (lead vocals/bass), Michael Nutt (keys/vocals), Matt Williams (guitar) and Mitchell J Benson (drums). Forming in 2011, they have released one album, and a number of singles. In 2013 the band went over to Europe to play shows in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and England. In August 2014 the band went back into Poons Head Studios to record their next single “Clear My Mind” with producer Rob Grant. It was then released on 7″ vinyl through Soundflat Records in late October. Shortly after it’s release the single was used in both a Bose Headphones and Sportscraft commercial.
During November and December 2014 the band embarked on a second European tour, playing shows in Germany, Spain and England. Their single “Clear My Mind” charted at No. 1 in the AMRAP charts in 2014. the band have released multiple records and have two European Tours under their belt, 2016 finds them causing quite a stir overseas as well as on their home soil.
“Cabinet” by THE HIGH LEARYS will be released 25th of March 2016 — listen to it now, right here!
The making of new single, “Cabinet”, was the first time the band had ventured into recording entirely by themselves. Produced and engineered by the band’s keyboard player Mike Nutt and recorded over the summer of early 2015 at various houses and studios. The finishing touches where added at Blackbird Studios with Dave Parkin.
“We’d been talking for a while about recording ourselves so we decided to knuckle down and give it go. We found that doing it this way gave us a lot more creative control in our recording process and enabled us to take our time with tracking to make sure it was exactly how we all wanted it to sound,” says the band.
“Cabinet” explores the insecurities of a young mind. Someone who feels lost in their ways, but at the same time shares the burdens of adolescents with their other half.
“Cabinet” by THE HIGH LEARYS will be released 25th of March 2016 — listen to it now, right here!
Filed under Check 'em Out!, listen
Farewell von Trapps
After fifteen years performing together around the world and carrying on the family’s musical traditions, The von Trapps; Sofia, Melanie, Amanda and August, are closing this chapter in their lives as full-time musicians to pursue individual dreams and interests.
The von Trapps are the great-grandchildren of the family depicted in the musical, The Sound of Music. Their extensive career has taken them everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to Beijing’s Forbidden City to Carnegie Hall; they have performed with Wayne Newton, Rufus Wainwright and many major symphonies across the globe. The most meaningful highlights of their career together have been their time teaching music in Rwanda, singing to Colo the gorilla with Jack Hanna, and creating Dream a Little Dream, their 2014 collaborative album with Pink Martini & Thomas Lauderdale.
While in the studio with Pink Martini, the four siblings began to write original material. In 2015, they released Dancing in Gold, an EP of original songs inspired by their travels as young adults.
In a celebration of new beginnings the The von Trapps will be throwing a final farewell concert at Star Theater on May 3rd (cake-lover Melanie von Trapp’s birthday) in their hometown, Portland Oregon.
“Our family story as been shared in nearly every corner of the world. It has been a surreal honor to continue this musical tradition and be a part of such a hopeful message to the world for these last 15 years. We want to thank our family and friends who have supported and encouraged us throughout all of these adventures.”
Filed under Awesome, Band Change-ups, video
Celeb Video Version of Santigold’s “Can’t Get Enough Of Myself”
Following the release of her third album 99¢ on Atlantic Records, Santigold has revealed the standalone version of her innovative video for “Can’t Get Enough Of Myself (feat. B.C.),” one that viewers can enjoy without webcam access. The video features Jay Z, Andy Samberg, Alexander Wang, Olivia Wilde, Pharrell Williams, Yung Jake, and Santi herself, and some of her fans popping up as she walks through New York City.
The original interactive version of the video (posted here) uses the camera of the viewer’s computer or mobile device to incorporate them into the video in real time. It was directed by Santigold and Sam Fleischner and conceptualized and digitally developed by Yung Jake and Vince Mckelvie, with mobile app development by Bryan Yee. It plays on pop culture’s fascination with viewing and manipulating one’s own image. The video should be viewed on the web using Chrome as the browser and is available for mobile handheld devices via the “SANTIGOLD” app available in both the Apple/Android app stores. Experience it at Santigold.com/Webcam
Filed under video
Video: Gin Wigmore – “Willing To Die” ft. Suffa, Logic
“Sounds like heaven” – Stereogum
“Retro-soul that feels totally refreshing.” – NYLON
“Shades of blues, jazz and even electronic music without missing a beat.” – Noisey
“Makes you want to channel all of your frustrations into dancing the night away.” – Teen Vogue
“Intense and uninhibited” – Billboard
Following the release of her critically acclaimed album Blood To Bone, New Zealand-born/Los Angeles-based Gin Wigmore is set to kick off her largest North American tour yet next week in D.C. on March 27th. A unique breed of soul infused rock ‘n’ roll with a fierce attitude to match, Gin’s latest work was an international success that saw Top-40 airplay in both Australia and New Zealand + over 23 million streams across platforms worldwide.
Gin’s latest single “Willing To Die” featuring Suffa and Hilltop Hoods’ Logic is accompanied by a captivating and empowering video in which the artist lays bare her own vulnerabilities. Gin explains:
“‘Willing To Die’ warranted a strong, bare-all (literally!) approach. I wanted to have a go at breaking down the false sense of security, acceptance, and short-lived happiness we, as humans, feel will come from indulging in materialism. It’s not the things we buy, the big house we dream of or the expense of the clothes we wear. It is about taking that scary first step in figuring out who we truly are. Figuring out our insecurities and downfalls to accept and change or just to own and be aware of. It is about finding what you love about yourself so you can be a positive footprint in this world for you and others. By no means have I mastered this yet, but I guess that’s why we get a lifetime to try figure ourselves out. 🙂 Be brave, be you, and take a look at the video – you just might like it.”
Blood To Bone follows 2013’s Gravel & Wine, which spawned hit singles including “Man Like That”, synced to a Skyfall-themed Heineken advertisement, in which Gin appeared alongside Daniel Craig’s James Bond and Wigmore’s 2009 debut album Holy Smoke. Both albums reached #1 and multi-platinum status back home in New Zealand. Revered for her spellbinding and strikingly raw live performance, be sure to catch Gin Wigmore in a city near you!
Gin Wigmore Tour Dates
3/27: Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
3/29: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom – SOLD OUT
4/1: Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
4/2: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
4/5: South Burlington, VT @ Showcase Lounge
4/8: Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
4/9: Buffalo, NY @ Studio at Waiting Room
4/12: Ferndale, MI @ The Magic Bag
4/13: Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club
4/16: Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
4/19: Austin, TX @ The Parish
4/20: Dallas, TX @ Trees
4/23: Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
4/26: Vancouver, BC @ Venue
4/27: Seattle, WA @ Neumos
4/29: Portland, OR @ Star Theater
5/1: San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
5/3: San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
5/5: Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
Tickets Available Here: http://www.ginwigmorelive.com/
Get They Might Be Giants New Album, Phone Power
Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez
“The crowd’s enthusiasm for the fresh material is unmatched even when the band proffers what is perhaps their most-loved song, “Birdhouse in Your Soul”… “ – Rolling Stone
“Now a band for 30 years, John Linnell and John Flansburgh are one of rock’s all-time most quixotic successes” – SPIN
“one of rock’s longest and most prodigious partnerships” – Consequence of Sound
Brooklyn rockers They Might Be Giants are so thrilled about their new album, Phone Power, that they want to share it with everyone in the world! Beginning yesterday and announced by Mashable, the band is inviting everyone to PAY WHAT YOU LIKE for the full album download of their brand new album PHONE POWER at tmbg.com/phonepower. Whether folks spend $25 because they feel like supporting They Might Be Giants’ creative work is as important as a tote bag from a public radio station, or $0 because they don’t have any money right now – that’s just fine! They Might Be Giants do not mind giving things away.
Includes songs:
Apophenia | I Love You for Psychological Reasons | To A Forest | I Am Alone | Say Nice Things About Detroit | Trouble Awful Devil Evil | ECNALUBMA | Daylight | Sold My Mind to the Kremlin | It Said Something | Impossibly New | I’ll Be Haunting You | Got Getting Up So Down | What Did I Do to You? | Shape Shifter | Bills, Bills, Bills | Black Ops Alt | I Wasn’t Listening
Brooklyn’s indie legends will kick off their national tour March 17 in Baltimore, bringing their explosive live show to Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and beyond. These dates are the final leg of TMBG’s world tour that started in early 2015, and will be the last shows the band has planned for the foreseeable future. Catch ‘em while you can!
They Might Be Giants National Tour Dates
3/17: Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live
3/18: Covington, KY @ Madison Theater (18+)
3/19: Milwaukee, WI @Turner Hall
3/20: Chicago, IL (Kids Show) @ Vic Theatre SOLD OUT
3/22: Omaha, NE @ The Slowdown
3/23: Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre (16+)
3/25: Berkeley, CA @ UC Theatre (16+)
3/26: Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre SOLD OUT
3/27: San Diego, CA @ Belly Up (21+)
3/29: Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
3/31: Austin, TX @ Stubb’s
4/1: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
4/2: New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues (18+)
4/3: Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
4/5: St. Petersburg, FL @ The State Theatre
4/7: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
4/8: Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse SOLD OUT
4/9: Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle SOLD OUT
4/10: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
4/16: Washington, DC @ USA Science & Engineering Festival
Filed under Awesome, new albums, Shows, Whoa!
Album Stream: High Waisted – On Ludlow
“Each of these 12 tracks is a party unto itself, complete with scuzzy bass, bright vocal harmonies, and enough reverb to fill a decently sized punch bowl.” – Consequence of Sound
“The band’s mastery of 50s era vocals and classic surf guitar will have you dancing in your chair while considering buying tickets to Hawaii.” – Noisey
[Lead singer Jessica Louise] Dye sings with an easiness that disguises how technically demanding the parts are. Translation: girl can sing, and she does.” – Brooklyn Vegan
“Somehow, they’ve managed to balance organic, unfiltered energy with the finesse necessary to craft lush and dreamy soundscapes that make you want to both chill and get up to dance and freak out – which is quite a feat.” – Alt Citizen
In advance of the March 4 release of their debut LP, NYC’s High Waisted is now streaming On Ludlow in full on Consequence of Sound. After paying their dues and building up a bad-ass reputation in the Lower East Side, the band is ready to release their sunny surf-pop to the rest of the world. In the midst of a dreary winter, Jessica Louise Dye and her band of long-haired hunks bring back the feel-good, warm summer vibes the city so desperately needs.
After the nonstop Winter Whatever tour (shot by the band for Impose), a trip to the Daytrotter studios, summertime shows on boats, and fundraiser “baked” sales, High Waisted is definitely due for a full album. On Ludlow will be self-released on March 4 with a hometown Lower East Side release show on March 3 at Mercury Lounge. The band will also be playing multiple showcases at this year’s SXSW.
High Waisted thrives on letting the city that never sleeps join in as another member of the band, holding just as much influence as any of the members and serving as the perfect backdrop to the endless summer nights spent on rooftops, the crushes gone wrong, and the friendships and memories that make it all right again. On Ludlow is Jessica Louise Dye’s narrative of love and life in the Lower East Side filtered through a lens of reverb and sunshine.
Album Stream: High Waisted – On Ludlow
Catch High Waisted Live:
March 3 – New York City – Mercury Lounge
March 14-20 – Austin, TX – SXSW
Filed under Check 'em Out!, listen, new albums
Santigold Video Featuring YOU!!!
Today marks the release of Santigold’s third album, 99¢. She has revealed an innovative new video for “Can’t Get Enough Of Myself (feat. B.C.)” that uses the camera of the viewer’s computer or mobile device to incorporate them into the video in real time. This is the first time the technology has been used in a music video. The video was directed by Santigold and Sam Fleischner and conceptualized and digitally developed by Yung Jake and Vince Mckelvie, with mobile app development by Bryan Yee. It plays on pop culture’s fascination with viewing and manipulating one’s own image. The video should be viewed on the web using Chrome as the browser and is available for mobile handheld devices via the “SANTIGOLD” app available in both the Apple/Android app stores. The video is premiering on Mashable, experience it here and at Santigold.com/Webcam
Stream the new full album via NPR here.
Santigold and Tumblr IRL are hosting a special record release event at Jack’s 99¢ Store (110 W. 32ndSt.) in New York City this Friday, February 26th as part of Tumblr’s IRL ongoing series. The free event will feature a DJ set, art installation, and more surprises. Santigold’s Tumblr has been functioning as a visual extension of the album’s themes of hyper-consumption and narcissism with exclusive videos being added continually. The series of pop up windows in the site’s design echo the experience of navigating through advertisements when searching online. The event will bring the world of 99¢ and Santigold’s Tumblr to life! Follow IRLIRL.tumblr.com for entry details.
Check out where I posted about Santigold last week and listed her tour dates HERE.
Filed under Awesome, Holy Freaking Crap!, new albums, video, Whoa!
Funk Powerhouse Lettuce Documentary on Vimeo
After premiering in NYC and on Jam Cruise to widespread acclaim, Let Us Play, the official documentary from funk powerhouse Lettuce, is now available to purchase or rent on Vimeo.
The 45-minute film, directed by Jay Sansone of Human Being Media and produced by Live for Live Music’s Kunj Shah, merges footage from live sets, recording sessions, interviews, and candid scenes from the road. Filmed over a six-month period, the footage chronicles the mechanics of improvisation and the artistry behind making a funk record. Viewers will get an in-depth diagnosis of the band, who they are as artists, how they work together and use their ridiculous expertise to come up with funk music.
Click below to watch a special teaser, and view the whole thing here!
Following suit in a monumental year for the funk favorites, Lettuce will be hosting the inaugural Fool’s Paradise festival in St. Augustine, Florida on April 1 & 2. The funk-fueled beach extravaganza takes place in the heart of one of America’s most historic cities at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and features two explosive sets from Lettuce. Other acts on the lineup include GRiZ, Vulfpeck, and Chris Robinson’s Soul Revue. Fool’s Paradise brings bands to the beach for two full days of genre-bending music, artist-led excursions, musical workshops, yoga, and activities with your favorite musicians in a destination event like no other. Camping options, VIP packages, and tickets are available now at FoolsParadiseFL.com.
Tour Dates:
3/4 – Okeechobee, FL at Okeechobee Music Festival
4/1+2 – St. Augustine, FL at Fool’s Paradise
4/7 – Austin, TX at Euphoria Music Festival
4/8 – Port Chester, NY at Capitol Theatre
4/24 – New Orleans, LA at Tipitina’s
4/28 – New Orleans, LA at RAGEFEST
5/26 – Martinsville, VA at Rooster Walk 8
5/27 – Chillicothe, IL at Summercamp Music Festival
6/2 – Hunter, NY at Mountain Jam 2016
6/9 – Manchester, TN at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
6/10 – Morrison, CO at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
6/17 – Dufur, OR at What The Festival
7/9 – Marshfield, MA at Levitate Music Festival
8/4 – Thornville, OH at Werk Out
8/25 – Arrington, VA at LOCKN’ Music Festival
Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, Shows
Listen: Valerie Broussard – “A Little Wicked”
No one calls you honey, when you’re sittin’ on a throne.
Filed under listen
Musically Amusing 