Rising: GonjasufiThursday, February 25, 2010 @ 4:25PMPhoto by Alex Rapada Gonjasufi is the latest musical incarnation of Sumach Ecks , a rapper-singer-yoga teacher currently living in Las Vegas. Though he's been making hip-hop records since the early 90s and has released music with the San Diego-based Masters of the Universe crew, it's his recent singles as Gonjasufi-- from his forthcoming Warp debut LP A Sufi and a Killer (out March 9)-- that are ...
Video: John Mayer’s Emotional ApologyThursday, February 11, 2010 @ 4:02PMLast night in concert, John Mayer broke down while apologizing for saying the “n” word during a recent Playboy interview. “In the quest to be clever, I completely forgot about the people that I love and the people that love me.” He went on to say “I quit the media game. I’m out. I’m done. I [...]
MC Lars Finds Inspiration In BayonettaThursday, January 7, 2010 @ 1:07PMBayonetta should feel flattered. The title character from Sega's popular action videogame ...
Tiffany Evans Covers WhitneySunday, January 3, 2010 @ 9:49AM17 year old Tiffany Evans wants you to know that she can SANG! …without the reverb of bathroom walls. Great vocal range but I have a feeling her label doesn’t know what to do with her. Take that *******! Spotted at That Grape Juice
Listomania: Top Hip-Hop Picks For 2009Saturday, January 2, 2010 @ 12:22AMWhile year-end, catch-all wrap-ups are common to every musical genre, in no other style of music do they turn into the hand-wringing, "state of the game" examinations that hip-hop seems to p...
Full-album experiences, world music hit right noteSunday, December 27, 2009 @ 3:31AMThe shift in dominance of individual tracks over albums continues apace, but I still prefer to experience music via full-length recordings. My Top 10 list is mostly made up of albums into which I could immerse myself fully, and there was lots to love this year.
The Art of the Trio: John Patitucci, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Marcus StricklandWednesday, December 9, 2009 @ 1:25AMPianist {{Brad Mehldau = 9313}} got flak for naming a series of discs "The Art of the Trio." But it really is an art, and no more so than when the lead instrument is not a piano, or any member of the keyboard family. Think about it. Without the myriad capabilities of Mehldau's instrument, a trio's leader must have an adamantine concept for the date, as well as a rhythm section that can do a lot ...
Shabazz Palaces conjures nighttime in Seattle's Central District, invents boho-gangster rapMonday, November 2, 2009 @ 2:05AM"Capital 5..." (fully titled " Capital 5, recorded after hrs at the gun ballad resource cntr on s Sweeper st. ") starts with a calm beat and a repeated mantra-promise to be "a bright light / on the dark side of town." It quickly turns into dead-serious raps about gunplay in the Central District.
Adrenaline Rush: Madness ignites seasonFriday, October 16, 2009 @ 8:10PMRespect the past, fear the future. It's the Kentucky basketball mantra of the next generation.
'John the Revelator' has some identity issuesSunday, October 11, 2009 @ 6:34AMIn a famous call-and-response blues tune, Blind Willie Johnson asks, “Well, who's that writin'?” And the answer is his song's title, along with that of Irish music journalist Peter Murphy's contemporary first-person coming-of-age novel.
Indian Werewolf spoof set for terror attackSunday, October 4, 2009 @ 2:59AMDeputy Mayor Logie Naidoo is concerned that an Indian werewolf in Durban will disrupt the city's plans for the 2010 World Cup - at least in the horror spoof Attack of The Indian Werewolf.
Monopoly with real currencyFriday, October 2, 2009 @ 11:50AMIf there's one core event at Nuit Blanche, a single signifying gesture indicating the collective mojo of the dusk-to-dawn art crawl and its 280 or so artists, it's found at Monopoly with Real Money (2009) by Iain Baxter&.
Colin Farrell enjoying the fantasy lifeWednesday, September 16, 2009 @ 3:39AMThe importance of imagination and the challenges of creating a fairy tale in a less than magical environment were the main themes of an afternoon press conversation for the film Ondine .
Monday at Bumbershoot, start localThursday, September 3, 2009 @ 3:50PMExcept for Akron/Family, which is a New York City band, all the other acts I'm definitely seeing Monday at Bumbershoot are (or were) all local: Macklemore, Wallpaper, Cave Singers, Truckasauras, and of course, headlining the whole festival, Modest Mouse. I'll get into those artists individually in a moment.
Emmy continues great year for female music artistsTuesday, August 18, 2009 @ 9:26AMWith women dominating the pop charts and this year's Mercury Prize shortlist, Hong Kong-born singer-songwriter Emmy the Great is the latest performer riding the new wave of talented female artists.
Ya Heard Me?Wednesday, August 12, 2009 @ 7:50PMFrom Africa to America, everyone around the world has a story to tell, and more and more every day this story is being told through the medium of hip-hop.
Jay-Z Is Writing A BookWednesday, August 5, 2009 @ 12:00AMJay-Z has a novel idea, literally. He is writing a novel. The hip-hop mogul is set to write a book, but his wife Beyonce Knowles insists it's not an autobiography as he would never divulge secrets about their relationship.
Jay-Z writing a novelTuesday, August 4, 2009 @ 9:38PMJay-Z is set to write a book, but his wife Beyonce Knowles insists it’s not an autobiography as he would never divulge secrets about their relationship.
MUSIC INDUSTRY: 10,000 Lakes | 07.22 - 07.25 | MNSaturday, August 1, 2009 @ 1:19PMWords by: Herschel Concepcion | Images by: Norman Sands 10,000 Lakes Music Festival :: 07.22.09 - 07.26.09 :: Soo Pass Ranch :: Detroit Lakes, MN 10KLF 2009 The 7th annual 10,000 Lakes Music Festival saw the return of Widespread Panic (who last played the fest in 2005) as well as newcomers Wilco and the Dave Matthews Band. The caliber of these world-class acts ensures 10KLF's position as a major ...
[cover] Road Warriors : A Central Coast hip-hop group’s wild ride into Mexican music. - Monterey County WeeklyThursday, July 30, 2009 @ 2:17AMThere were no top shelf margaritas sipped on Cancún’s white sand beaches or any snorkeling with rainbow-colored parrot fish in Cozumel. There was no air-conditioned tour bus or hotel overlooking the clear waters of Banderas Bay. This wasn’t that kind of Mexico. Instead, as I hit the road with my band PLG (Para La Gente, or “For the People”), it was caguamas of Victoria beer gulped in sweaty ...
The Week: June 8-11, 2009Monday, June 8, 2009 @ 12:05PMSummer is approaching its daylight apogee, believe it or not, making for no shortage of time to take full advantage of the numerous arts and entertainment options around the city this week. The calendar includes: the opening of the Contemporary Traditions of Folk Art exhibition; book readings by Terese Allen and Matt Rothschild; a talk by Julian Dibbell; and live music from Mr. Lif, Emiko at Mad ...
Not all the same song and dance for Slim ShadyMonday, May 18, 2009 @ 7:12AMEMINEM Relapse Aftermath ½ As the sound of flatulence emits on We Made You, Eminem's first big single after a four-year hiatus, the rapper born as Marshall Mathers says ``you think that's bad, you should hear the rest of my album.''
Music Snob's Weekly Concert PicksMonday, May 11, 2009 @ 3:58PMSpring is here. I can tell by the fact that there are too many shows coming to town. Particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday. For example, while I'd love to see Mastodon at 9:30 Tuesday, I gotta go see the...
Black VoicesWednesday, May 6, 2009 @ 10:19AMJada Pinkett Smith 's film, ' The Human Contract ,' will be released on DVD on June 30. Starring in the film are Jason Clarke , Spanish superstar Paz Vega , Idris Elba, Pinkett Smith, Ted Danson, Joanna Cassidy and Tessa Thompson.