Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: All Points West, Dirty Projectors, Fleet Foxes, Girl Talk, Grizzly Bear, hip-hop, indie rock, Jay-Z, Ra Ra Riot, Seasick Steve, The National, Vampire Weekend, Williamsburg Waterfront, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Jay-Z is apparently a huge fan of Grizzly Bear
PREVIEW: Download Jay-Z’s “Run This Town” (Ft. Rihanna and Kanye West) MP3
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 20 Watts Reviews Jay-Z’s “Run This Town”
With Jay-Z prepping the release of his ridiculously hyped new album, The Blueprint 3, it’s surprising that he would have time to go to any concerts — much less Grizzly Bear’s free appearance on the Williamsburg Waterfront (previously graced by Girl Talk and Dirty Projectors this summer) this past Sunday, Aug. 30. However, the rapper did the 12,000 hipsters at the waterfront one better, by giving the indie rock scene one of the most notable stamps of approval it’s ever received:
“The thing I want to say to everyone — I hope this happens because it will push rap, it will push hip-hop to go even further — what the indie rock movement is doing right now is very inspiring. It felt like us in the beginning. These concerts, they’re not on the radio, no one hears about them, and there’s 12,000 people in attendance. And the music that they’re making and the connection they’re making to people is really inspiring. So, I hope that they have a run where they push hip-hop back a little bit, so it will force hip-hop to fight to make better music, because it can happen, because that’s what rap did to rock.” (MTV) (more…)
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Bitte Orca, Dirty Projectors, Domino Records, Stillness Is the Move, Temecula Sunrise EP
Dirty Projectors are set to release a new EP in September
PREVIEW: Download Dirty Projectors’ “Temecula Sunrise” MP3
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Editor’s Pick #127: “Stillness Is the Move”
We once said that we would stop posting about how amazing Dirty Projectors were — and we lied. It’s really not our fault, because the indie breakout act of 2009 refuses to stop being awesome. They’re releasing a new EP in September!
The Temecula Sunrise EP drops September 28 and will feature two new songs from the band: “Ascending Melody” and “Emblem of the World,” as well as the title track and another exceptional Bitte Orca song, “Cannibal Resource.” As someone who’s seen the band live, I’m very excited to hear the new EP and what direction the two songs will take.
On the quality of the two new tracks, Domino Records only mentioned that they would “featur[e] the band’s signature rhythms and stunning singing.” Either way, it’s hardly a question as to whether or not we should be excited, even for a minor release. Between incredibly innovative albums and an excellent live show, Dave Longstreth and Co. have given us no reason to doubt them thus far this year.
– Eric Vilas-Boas, Production Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks, Industry News, Scene Around Town | Tags: Dirty Projectors, Japandroids, M83, Magnolia Electric Co., Micachu and The Shapes, Real Estate, the Raveonettes, Tiny Masters of Today, Wavves, White Denim
The Village Voice's Siren Festival is this Saturday at Coney Island
Every Monday, we’re going to keep you guys updated with 20 Watts’ weekly concert picks in New York this summer and Syracuse during the school year. There are always awesome shows in the city, and most of this week’s are the best kind — the free ones.
1) Dirty Projectors, Williamsburg Waterfront at 2 p.m. on July 19th [FREE!]
The Dirty Projectors are one of the hottest indie rock bands this summer and this concert is especially interesting, considering it’s one of their first since suffering a car crash in Michigan last months. The opening acts will be Magnolia Electric Co. and White Denim.
2) M83’s Anthony Gonzalez, World Financial Center Winter Garden at 9 p.m. on July 14th [FREE!]
No it’s not the whole band, but one member of M83 is better than none. Anthony Gonzalez will accompany a production by video artist Janet Biggs — the shoegazing at this concert should be well worth the trip downtown.
3) Village Voice’s Siren Music Festival, Coney Island from 12 to 9 p.m. on July 18th [FREE!]
We’re most excited for Japandroids, Micachu and the Shapes, The Raveonettes and the Tiny Masters of Today. There also a bunch of other under-the-radar groups if you check out the websitel.
4) Wavves and Real Estate, Bowery Ballroom at 7 p.m. on July 15th [$13 in advance and $15 at the door]
This is the riskiest show of them all. Wavves is coming off a meltdown in Barcelona, Spain — so the show could suck, or you could witness Wavves’ reawakening. Real Estate, however, is worth checking out.
****UPDATE: According to Brooklyn Vegan, Wavves frontman Nathan Williams broke his wrist skateboarding recently but is still scheduled to play the Bowery Ballroom show. That’s bad ass.****
– Jett Wells, Editor-in-Chief
Filed under: Editor Picks, Free 4 All, Playlists | Tags: Animal Collective, Atlas Sound, Ben Lee, Brazilian Girls, Bright Eyes, Broken Social Scene, Coldplay, Devendra Banhart, Dirty Projectors, Enrique Iglesias, Fleet Foxes, Gipsy Kings, Grateful Dead, Jose Gonazalez, Kings of Convenience, M83, Phoenix, The Shins
20 Watts' free beach mix is a perfect blend of warm-weather hits.
DOWNLOAD FREE 20 WATTS Beach Playlist AT MEDIAFIRE
I’m going to follow Alex’s lead, but not because I’m an unoriginal poseur, but because I sincerely believe in the power of a kickass playlist. There is absolutely nothing more precious than music perfectly coinciding with your surroundings, which is why I’m going to share my ideal beach playlist. Trust me, I tested it this past weekend, and a playlist capable of transforming the Jersey Shore into the ultimate island getaway is worth a listen.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: andrew bird, Animal Collective, Bat for Lashes, Beirut, breakfast at sullimay's, Common, Dan Deacon, Dirty Projectors, Eminem, Grizzly Bear, Matt + Kim, Wilco, Yo La Tengo
My grandmother hasn’t acknowledged the existence of an album since Frank Sinatra’s Nice ‘n’ Easy. Thus, the idea of her listening to the latest from Beirut, Common or Yo La Tengo isn’t just comical — it’s downright ridiculous. It’s also the concept behind Breakfast at Sulimay’s, a video blog/online television series that you (and your grandma) are gonna want to check out, if you haven’t already.
From the corner of what appears to be a B-grade suburban diner, three lovable senior citizens don headphones, jam to the latest from the likes of Andrew Bird, Matt & Kim and Bat for Lashes, and deliver their ruling on the tracks.
My grandmother would surely grimace and pronounce that Dan Deacon’s “Snookered” was in headache-inducing poor taste.
Joe, Ann and Bill are totally down, though — they love Dan Deacon! They love Eminem! And of the latest from Grizzly Bear, they say:
“Is this… English?”
Priceless! Youth is wasted on the young.
– Caitlin Dewey
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Bob Dylan, Def Leppard, Dirty Projectors, Metallica
In light of the scary news that the Dirty Projectors had a bad car accident outside Detroit (everyone’s fine, thank goodness, but will be canceling shows in Montreal and Toronto), I thought it’d be interesting to reflect on rock history’s most famous, not necessarily deadly, motor vehicle accidents.
1) Bob Dylan Motorcycle Accident
-In 1966, after Dylan crashed his bike on a remote road, his whole sound changed, and people started saying the real Bob Dylan died that day. He didn’t die, but it changed the career of a key voice in the Civil Rights movement.
2) Def Leppard’s Rick Allen
-In 1984, Rick Allen, Def Leppard’s drummer, lost his arm in a savage Corvette accident in England. Like a true rock star, he rehabbed and rejoined the band with one arm.
3) Metallica’s Cliff Burton
-In 1986, Metallica suffered a major setback in Sweden when their bus flipped over and killed their original bassist, Cliff. The band, still to his day, has never mentally gotten over it, and the band never truly replaced Cliff.
On a sidenote, the members of Dirty Projectors are recovering in New York, and will eventually continue touring. Get well soon, guys!
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Editor Picks, Scene Around Town | Tags: Beach House, Cake, Dan Deacon, Deerhunter, Dirty Projectors, Girl Talk, Grizzly Bear, HEALTH, Max Tundra, No Age, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I swear this is my last mentioning of Dirty Projectors. I apologize for the cluster of posts about them, but this is important. This will be the last one for a while.
The Dirty Projectors show at the Williamsburg Waterfront on July 19th in Brooklyn is FREE!! The opening act is a band called Magnolia Electric Co.
I was going to go to this anyway, but hey, all the more reasons to go now.
This venue is apparently new this summer and has a stacked schedule full of free concerts:
-HEALTH, July 26th
-Dan Deacon, No Age + Deerhunter, Aug. 2
-Girl Talk + Max Tundra, Aug. 23rd
-Grizzly Bear + Beach House, Aug. 30th
The venue is the East River Park between North Eighth and North Ninth Streets.
If you’re in the city for the summer, these shows have to be a must. This is blowing my mind! Read up!
The best free shows I’ve ever seen are: Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Cake.
–Jett Wells
Where everyone should be
Twitter nation is freaking out for Dirty Projector’s set in Bonnaroo. Apparently Bon Iver went nuts for “Stillness to the Move,” and David Byrne took the stage with the band to finish the set with “Knotty Pine.”
This is torture!
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Editor Picks, Features | Tags: Dirty Projectors, Discovery, Lady GaGa, Matt + Kim, Passion Pit
Dirty Projectors
Upbeat, feel-good summer music is in, and moody power chords are out of style like baggy pants. It’s time to feel great and dance with smiles. That’s why it’s time to countdown the pop tunes everyone’s going to be dancing to this summer.
This list includes a dab of mainstream pop with a mix of fun upbeat indie-pop.
1) “Little Secrets” by Passion Pit
-Passion Pit going to explode after their big back-to-back concert sets at the Bowery on the 19th and 20th. “Moth Wings” gets more attention on their MySpace, but “Little Secrets” has unmatchable energy. This song kicks ass.
2) “Stillness is the Move” by Dirty Projectors
-These guys are getting a ton of buzz with their new album Bitte Orca, and it’s well deserved. They’re hard-working musicians with a really quaint sound that still jams hard. Indie hipsters will frolick to these guys for a while.
3) “Orange Shirt” by Discovery
-I swear this is my last endorsement of Wes’ Discovery, but I really like their sound. It’s experimental and new-wave like Passion Pit but still harnaces Ra Ra Riot’s warm feeling.
4) “Paparazzi” by Lady GaGa
-I know I previously bashed GaGa’s latest single, but after listening to it a few more times, it’s got me hooked. I’m such a pop junkie. Lady GaGa’s music is so over-played, but she’s a hit-maker. I can’t argue with it. [Sorry, Caitlin]. I still stand by my remark that her other songs are better, though. I think I’ve watched too many music videos here at MTV.
5) “Daylight” Matt + Kim
-That damn Bacardi commercial has got me hooked to Matt + Kim’s quirky and addictive smash hit. If I were drunk, I’d just play this song all night and host a dance party. Sound good to you all?
–Jett Wells, Reviews Editor
