See it Live:
Tuesday, June 14: I raved about this show before, and I’ll do it again. Aesop Rock, Kimya Dawson, Rob Sonic and DJ Big Whiz are taking to the Independent for an optimistic hodge-podge of styles and new music. Check out my review/slideshow from their performance at Noise Pop in February and get your $20 tickets here. Family reunion starts at 8:00pm. (New Aesop + Rob song above!)
Wednesday, June 15: Proving you’re never too old for strippers and heavy metal, Mötley Crüe brings their 30th anniversary to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium midweek. Poison (celebrating their 25th) and the New York Dolls will also be adding to the ruckus, which can be joined for $69.00. Show starts at 7:00pm.
Saturday, June 18: Two of life’s greatest treats – bicycles and music festivals – come together this Saturday in GGP for the fifth roaming celebration of tunes and two-wheeled-transportation. Dubbed the Bicycle Music Festival, this year even features live opera being carted through the city, on bikes of course. Find out more about this free event here.
Saturday, June 18: Johnson & Schifino is definitely not as catchy a name as Matt & Kim. Both of them play sitting down – keys and drums respectively – but the word ‘enthusiastic’ would understate their live show. Catch them at the Fox Theater in Oakland this weekend for $25.00. Show starts at 8:00pm.
Saturday, June 18: This tour is a whole lot of woman. Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj will be at the HP Pavilion on Saturday, kicking off their second show of the Femme Fatale tour. The stage setup has plenty of gadgets and “surprises,” but I would expect nothing less from these two superstars. Tickets start at $37.25, but if you’re hoping to be blessed by some eau de Britney it will run you about $373. Show starts at 7:00pm.
Sunday, June 19: You can get your taste of ‘The Cud Life’ this weekend with Kid Cudi and Chip tha Ripper at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Tickets start at $42.50 and the show starts at 8:00pm. Mr. Rager may be sober these days, but I would still expect a fair amount of marijuana-musings.
Listen Here:
Creating a sequel to Eminem‘s classic and depressing track “Stan,” Lil Wayne recently put out “Dear Anne (Stan Part 2).” I don’t think it’s as emotion-tugging, or as much of a plotted story as Em’s, but there are some solid verses and it definitely reflects their different styles. Which do you like better?
Another minimal, yet trippy video from the grips of Hail Mary Mallon, for now better known as Aesop Rock and Rob Sonic. The track “Meter Feeder” also features DJ Big Whiz and some top notch editing that cuts just as hard as the beat and rhymes. Catch them plus Kimya Dawson this week at the Independent, check above for more info.
First Urban Outfitters branched out into the business of bikes, now they’re producing music videos. Beach Fossils track “Adversity” off their March What A Pleasure EP gets the Urban touch, inspired by the movie Holy Mountain – and nudity.
The internet is abuzz with word of Big Sean‘s track with Kanye West, “Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay.” The song’s title was a world-wide trending topic on Twitter through Tuesday morning, which seems to be new way to properly drop material (see Wiz Khalifa’s Kush & OJ and the Game‘s Purp and Patron). Roscoe Dash is also featured on the song, check it out here.
Heard it Through the Grapevine:
Now this is the way to get a divorce. Jack White and model wife Karen Elson have decided to call it quits after six years, but also decided to make a party out of it. Spinner got a hold of the invitation, which is definitely worth a look. The party is going to be held in Nashville this Friday. I wonder how their two kids feel, and if they’ll be partying.
The boy-wonder known as Owl City is releasing a new album today, and also starting his tour. His third release is appropriately named All Things Bright and Beautiful, which apparently is the name of an old Anglican hymn. Check out this song off the album, “Alligator Sky.” His melodies and other aspects of the song sound similar to his last single, “Fireflies” – so no need to fret about switching up styles.
Pop stars have been giving animals a hard time lately. First Gaga’s meat dress, now Ke$ha‘s hair reportedly sparks a rise in rooster murder. Her now famous feather hair accessories apparentely come from a special type of rooster feather used in fishing bait. Well, demand is high and farmers can’t seem to “harvest” enough feathers, which unfortunately ends in the animal being killed. Check out Ke$ha’s reactions to the news over at MTV. Somewhere, Steven Tyler is hiding in the shadows.
The Big Man of the Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Clarence Clemons, suffered a stroke on Sunday (June 12). Rolling Stone now reports that things are looking up for Clemons, who went through two brain surgeries after it struck. Clemons recently contributed sax to Lady Gaga‘s Born This Way album, including the single “Edge of Glory.”
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