Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Broken Social Scene, Camera Obscura, Dirty Projectors, Dr. Dog, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Garfunkel and Oates, Girls, Kid Cudi, LCD Soundsystem, Massive Attack, MGMT, Minus the Bear, music festivals, My Morning Jacket, OK GO, Passion Pit, pavement, Sasquatch!, She & Him, Tegan and Sara, terrifying forest-beast, the mountain goats, The National, The New Pornographers, The Temper Trap, The xx, Vampire Weekend, Why?
- Get ready, get set, Sasquatch!
PREVIEW: VISIT Sasquatch’s Web site
I just realized that the thing I want most in the world (aside from a house with a pool filled with Jell-O [seriously]) is to go to SASQUATCH! (and no, I’m not just terribly excited, the name actually has an exclamation point).
Now, hold on, I know where this is going.
“No Isabel,” you’ll say, rolling your eyes. “Sasquatch is a terrifying forest-beast, not an event you attend.”
To which I say, you’re wrong. Sasquatch! is a music festival in Quincy, WA with tremendously impressive line-up for its three day run. A quick glance at the list of artists attending assured me that this is the festival to go to. To hell with tuition and fiscal responsibility. I want to go to the Memorial Weekend festival that’s hosting not only My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, The National, Broken Social Scene, OK Go, and Minus the Bear, but also, WHY?, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Garfunkel and Oates, Massive Attack, Pavement, LCD Soundsystem, Tegan and Sara, Kid Cudi and Dirty Projectors.
[Pause to catch your breath and wipe the tears of joy from your face].
The xx, Girls, MGMT, She & Him, Passion Pit, The New Pornographers, Camera Obscura, The Temper Trap, Dr. Dog, and The Mountain Goats, among others.
Did I have to make that list so long and dramatic? Yes.
Are you packing the cooler and gassing up the car? You should be.
Check out the full list, to further your freak-out.
– Isabel Alcantara, Photo Editor
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Castaways, concert, ithaca, News of Note, OK GO, St. Vincent, The Haunt
Ithaca concert promoter, Dan Smalls, announced on Twitter that OK Go will perform in Ithaca, NY at The Haunt on April 25th
PREVIEW: OK Go’s MySpace
Local Ithaca, NY concert promoter, Dan Smalls, announced on Twitter that OK Go will perform in the city on April 25th, open to all ages. The venue was later announced as The Haunt. Dan Smalls is well-known for bringing in quality talents to the small Central New York culture hub. Last time I saw a Dan Smalls concert, St. Vincent played at Castaways. I say it again: this semester’s concert season keeps getting better. OK Go is absolutely electric live, and I will undoubtedly see this show.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Mix Fix | Tags: Beyonce, Lady GaGa, Mix Fix, OK GO, Passion Pit
Passion Pit finally makes a remix that sticks.
PREVIEW THE DJ: Passion Pit’s MySpace
LISTEN: “This Too Shall Pass” by OK Go (Passion Pit Remix)
After Passion Pit remixed “Telephone” by Lady Gaga f. Beyonce, I started having my doubts about Passion Pit’s remixing ability. In their remixes, they add their usual shtick to a song, which comprises of hand claps, excessive synthesizer and high-pitched vocals, but the formula doesn’t work for a lot other bands other than Passion Pit. With that said, after catching a whiff of this OK Go remix, it works beautifully. Remixes, in general, are hit or miss, but I’m proud to say this one is a ground-rule double. Good job, Passion Pit. Now get back in the dugout.
-Jett Wells
Filed under: Scene Around Town | Tags: Aaron Gittleman, Benefit, Black Eyed Peas, Cold War Kids, concert, concert coverage, Damien Rice, Dr. Dog, Drink Up Buttercup, Erica Scarano, funk n waffles, Haiti, Iron and Wine, Jason Mraz, Jim harvey, John Legend and The Moldy Peaches, Keith Smith, Liz Lewis, Nate Stein, New Relic, OK GO, Play it by ear, Rilo Kiley, Ryan Whitman, Sarah Detweiler, Scene Around Town, Stephen Babcock, Tegan and Sara, The Fly, The Kinks
Liz Lewis playing at Funk 'n' Waffles last night; larger photos below!
PREVIEW: LISTEN to Drink Up Buttercup, Liz Lewis and New Relic on MySpace
GIVE: DONATE a contribution to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
You walk into Funk N’ Waffles and the coffee shop is cramped past the legal limit. With hardly any standing room, much less an open seat, the bands that played at Funk last night did so to a packed show. Whether they were standing in the back or sitting close up front, concert-goers listened intently to the performers voices, guitar noodling, keyboard manipulation and other forms of music-making, whether it involved cellos or garbage cans. The eclectic acts and cozy atmosphere made the Haiti charity event a great success Friday night.
Erica Scarano, Sarah Detweiler, Aaron Gittleman, Liz Lewis, Keith Smith (with Stephen Babcock), One of Three, New Relic, Ryan Whitman and Drink Up Buttercup filled the elevated stage between the hours of 7 and 11:30 p.m. Each artist performed just a few songs, ranging in genres and message. Appropriate to the benefit show’s nature, the only consistent theme of the night was the universal camaraderie shared by the performers and the audience. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: album reviews, At War with the Mystics, Black Moth Super Rainbow, bonerama, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, damian kulash, Dave Fridmann, Funk, jazz, MGMT, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky, Oh No, OK GO, Releases of the Week, Rock Band, Sparklehorse, The Flaming Lips, TV on the Radio, Weezer
OK Go's latest album is full of pleasant surprises
PREVIEW: VISIT OK Go’s MySpace
WE GIVE IT: 14/20 Watts
Between Surfer Rosa references, Rock Band, New Moon, treadmills and a five-year wait, I (and probably everyone else) was more than willing to write off OK Go’s latest album. Too bad it’s too good.
Of the Blue Colour of the Sky succeeds for not just its consistency as an album, but for how OK Go have pulled away from the generic power pop of their self-titled debut and sophomore effort Oh No in favor of a more dance-y, inscrutably diverse sound. The band derided for aping ’00s Weezer have crafted a diverse, synth- and hook-laden third effort — shockingly easygoing, and more fascinating than any other mainstream release so far this year. (more…)
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Broadcast, Chris Taylor, Editors, Embryonic, Grizzly Bear, Karen O, Lily Allen, Lykke Li, muse, music video, new moon, News of Note, OK GO, Pitchfork, Radiohead, Rihanna, Stereogum, The Flaming Lips, The Killers, Thom Yorke, twilight, Warp Records, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
For better or worse, New Moon's soundtrack will feature some of our favorite indie artists
Thom Yorke, The Killers, Grizzly Bear, and Muse have all signed on to contribute to New Moon‘s soundtrack. Other artists that will be on the Twilight sequel’s soundtrack include Lykke Li, OK Go and Editors. The full track listing can be viewed at NME.COM. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Thom York and Bon Iver Soundtrack New Moon]
Stereogum reported today that The Flaming Lips released a new video for the song “I Can Be a Frog,” from their new album Embryonic (to be released 10/13). The short song might not seem to make a great video on first listen, but Coyne’s animalistic lyricism makes for a lot of quirky pencil drawings in this unconventional music video. The bikini-clad actress mouthing Karen O‘s “noises” surprisingly adds to the video, but who doesn’t want to see the real thing? Maybe next time. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: The Flaming Lips at ATP, 20 Watts Reviews The Flaming Lips' "Silver Trembling Hands" (from Embryonic)]
Birmingham-based electro-pop group Broadcast have announced their second release with Warp Records. Their full-length debut was punctuated by the extensive use of loops and lead singer Trish Keegan’s 1960s psychedelic rock vocals. Filter reports that the EP, entitled Broadcast & Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age, is available for download from iTunes immediately, but won’t be hitting the shelves until October 27th. The EP can be previewed for free, though, at your next psycho dance party with the help of their trusty Myspace.
Rolling Stone reports that Rihanna’s next LP promises to bring its audience “Big beats and big bass.” She’s recruited producers Justin Timberlake and Chase & Status to help her bring them. This album is sure to take attention away from Rihanna’s past year of drama. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Jay-Z's "Run This Town" (Feat. Rihanna)]
Pitchfork reports that Grizzly Bear‘s bassist and producer, Chris Taylor has started a record label called Terrible Records. Through his new label, Taylor will be releasing his solo work on October 13. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor’s Pick #172: Grizzly Bear’s “While You Wait For the Others” (Feat. Michael McDonald)]
It seems as though Lily Allen and Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien are close to duking it out, Pitchfork reports. Radiohead belong to the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), a British musician’s advocacy group. Apparently Lily Allen disagrees with O’Brien’s stance on file-sharing. After the guitarist released a statement endorsing the practice, the infuriated singer posted her opinion on her MySpace blog. She believes file-sharing hinders the growth of up-and-coming artists. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor’s Pick #93: Lily Allen Is Alright with Me]
Psychedelic folk legends Neutral Milk Hotel have announced plans to re-release their discography through Merge Records, as reported by Filter. The reissues of On Avery Island (1996) and the critically celebrated In the Aeroplane over the Sea (1998) will be released on vinyl along with a digital download code, so that listeners can enjoy the reissues without a turntable. Considering In the Aeroplane over the Sea was the best-selling vinyl album of 2008, there’s definitely a market for it though. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Circulatory System (Elephant 6)]
– 20 Watts Staff
