Ridiculous = Outside Lands 2012

To say the past month or so has been crazy is really an understatement! First things first, Outside Lands! I just got back from a wonderful 5 (cold and foggy) days in San Francisco!  My friend and I went to the fifth annual Outside Lands which is a music festival held in Golden Gate Park. Headliners included Stevie Wonder, Sigur Ross, Metallica and Foo Fighters! I am absolutely head over heels in love with this festival. Imagine music stages throughout a vast forest (literally) littered with abstract murals, domes with techno music, and art installations that look like geometric mirrors  in the shape of smaller domes but when you enter them its hollow and you can sit in them! There were so many wonderful things about this year's festival that I don't even know where to start! It felt like wonderland/candy land for adults. There were the wine lands, choco lands, beer lands, comedy tents, and gourmet food trucks. I know I didn't see everything the festival had to offer but I definitely had the time of my life. This was my 4th time going and by far the best time I have ever had.

The Iconic Wind Mills. They haven't changed since 2008!

Wine Lands

The wine lands to the right featured the best wine companies from local spots in nor cal. So if you were a wino, you were sure to visit that tent. The Choco Lands had little pastel colored houses that had sugary delights from places in San Fran. This festival was all about featuring the best of the best of Nor Cal. Everything was really trippy and magical. I felt as if I was just frolicking through the forest show to show and sensory overload was happening but in such an ornate creative manner that it wasn't overwhelming.

The entrance at night

                                                                 

It is a three day music festival that starts around one p.m. The vibe is really chill as reflecting the people of SF. While the weather was less than ideal and the hazy fog that would roll in at night created such a majestic atmosphere that made it so special and unlike any other festival I had ever attended. I plan on going to this festival for many years to come.

Musical Highlights: 

Sigur Ross

Passion Pit

Stevie Wonder

Regina Spektor

Franz Ferdinand 

Jack White 
The Kills

Beck

Foo Fighters

Day 1 via Limo

Tim Burton inspired in the lands of Choco Land

Hidden in the forest was this stage of creepy folk music

One of the many amazing food trucks

Day 3 at OSL w Y and D.

The fog rollin' on in

Memoryhouse

Memoryhouse // Walk With Me

"Memoryhouse didn’t actually set out to be a band. It took form as a collaborative project meant to serve as an artistic outlet for composer Evan Abeele and photographer Denise Nouvion. Evan, a dedicated student of classical music and a pop-music encyclopedist, intended Memoryhouse to be a multimedia art project, pairing his instrumental compositions with Denise’s photographs and short films. Combining their musical and visual artwork seemed the most promising, and least unhealthy, strategy for battling archetypal adolescent angst worsened by the paralyzing effects of Canadian winter. What they wanted was to test ways to blur the boundaries between genres, to weave a synthesis of music and photography. As Denise explains their collaborative cross-media process, "we start with photos that we want to write around, to give us some kind of aesthetic grounding."

I just discovered this band and I can't stop playing them. Clearly between my Beach House posts and these guys I am on a synthesizing & electronic kick with a strong serving of the 80's. The type of song that you can listen to over and over again and it seems to all float together. They are currently on tour with Washed Out. Seems like a perfect union in my mind. They play in LA on May 5th at the Music Box/Fonda Theatre (I don't know why the place has two names). Also, click on the song to download. You will want it for you very own. 

Beach House

Beach House//Myth

After two years of hibernation, Baltimore based indie duo Beach House has released their first single from their upcoming album titled Bloom (May 15th).  Myth - a dreamy little ballad. If you are familiar with the band, there is no mistaking that is one of their new gems. Their sound is very distinctive. While this song could have easily fit in to their last album and you might think why don't they change up a few things, well if it works, it works. I was fortunate to see them live at the Hollywood Bowl in 2010 and I became an even bigger fan as they are even better live. Victoria Le Grand's breathy and beautiful voice paired with Alex Scally's rolling guitar falls soothingly on your eardrums. Myth surrounds you and takes you in. You will want to keep playing it over and over. It is one of those.
Effortlessly atmospheric. Layers of emotion. One grand ballad of bliss.

Jack White

Jack White & Ruby Amanfu // Love Interruption

"If there’s one thing Jack White is known for, it’s his craftsmanship displayed while playing the guitar. Deemed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time (according to Rollingstone Magazine), his latest release ‘Love Interruption’ is true to form. His intense lyrics are complemented with an effective a capella bridge to transition the song toward an upward climb until the end. In this tune, Jack White’s voice attains a drawl similar to Johnny Cash’s in ‘Hurt,’ which leaves me wanting to hear more songs off of his new album ‘Blunderbuss’ due out in April of this year." {via thisbonustrack}

The Oh Hello's

"The Oh Hello's are Maggie and Tyler Heath, music-making siblings hailing from the great state of Texas. Their influences range from Mumford & Sons and The Civil Wars to Los Campesinos! and The Pogues, bending and blending styles and genres into a unique mixture of eclectic folk rock. Their debut EP draws inspiration from traditional Irish folk songs in both its sound and its message, from the foot-stomping rhythms of Lay Me Down and Trees to the quiet introspection of Cold Is the Night. The EP begins by confronting the difficulties of love and freedom and ends by embracing them."{via theohhellos}

You can download their album for free or pay whatever you like. And you will not only like but love this band. They are the type of band where you listen to their music from start to finish.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr

I went to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. last month at the Echoplex in Echo Park during a "school night". Since Echo Park is a bit ways from my home in Mid Wilshire, it takes a pretty stellar band to get me out. They did not disappoint. Band members Josh Epstein and Daniel Zoft hail from Detroit and have two albums out, "Corporate World" and "Horse Power". Yes, they are a fan of the real race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr and  yes, they do wear race car get up during their shows. Hey, gotta play up the name right?

During their set they announced that they had played in LA more times than anywhere else. Did you know that? Didn't think so. They have been a favorite of mine for two years and I am surprised that they are not so well known by now. His songs keep getting better and better. With a sold out show, a tour drummer, and 'JR' wooden props in the background I would say they have come a long way in two years. They have a gauzy Beach Boys feel to them and have a great rendition of " God Only Knows". From their latest album my personal favorite is Simple Girl. Check it out below.


It's A Corporate World by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Okkervil River

Okkervil River // Unless It's Kicks

This is an oldie but it came up on an old playlist. They are from Austin, Texas. So naturally I'm probably predisposed into loving them. This song is off their first album, Stars Too Small To Use, that came out a few years ago. I also really enjoy this one too.

Last Night

While everyone else was toasting to the Oscar wins I went to a really interesting concert. I have been a fan of White Arrows and UMO for a while now and I don't want to say it was disappointing but I wasn't impressed. In fact, we left right after White Arrows. While they were good, I just felt like they weren't put together. I slightly wish I had stayed for the headliner but I was slightly buzzed and tired and wanted to go home. Oh, Jenny O was nice. I feel like she would have been perfect performing at the now defunct Lillith Fair. Too Bad. All in all, I'm glad my new gf Meg came with and it was nice to chat about life and LA with live music in the backdrop.

White Rabbits

NPR is streaming White Rabbits new album, Milk Famous, out March 6th and it is really really good. They are from Colombia Mizzourah (yes, spelled it that way on purpose) which just goes to show that even though you are from a bad place that is full of rednecks you might be good. JUST KIDDING. I fell in love with them a few years back with their song "Percussion Gun" and have been wanting to hear more ever since.

Listen here. Get Familiar.

Big Deal

Big Deal // Swoon

The boy/girl duo that is Kacey Underwood and Alice Costelloe of the band Big Deal brims with potential. With the acoustic guitar, fuzzy chords and harmonies of their vocals this band hits high notes with intimate topics such as relationships and angst. Each song of the album, Lights Out, is deeply personal and achingly beautiful. You can listen to the entire album whole and it just flows. My favorites are Swoon and With the World at your Feet. They have a Mazzy Star feel to them which I really enjoy. 

Seductive yet raw and jagged.

Two Hearts

Mat Kearney // Two Hearts

I absolutely love this song. I have been playing it on repeat all day at work. I was introduced to Mat via Jill one of my roomies in college and have loved him ever since. I hope I can see him in concert one day. He has that "feel good true love is real" type of music. It immediately brings me up.

 Think of him as a happier David Grey. 


"Two hearts flying out together like there's
One love holding us forever in this
Coldworld ain't so much better when two hearts bleed into one
In Young love"

 sounds like two of my other favorite "matts" (Matt Wertz & Matt Nathanson)

 

One Man Band

..and it is insane how he does it all, talk about multitasking...

Bernhoft // Cmon Talk

With a combination of some classic soul and talent. He is from Norway so his sound is quiet unexpected. The way he laid out his beats is phenomenal.

Alabama Shakes

Well I have blogged about them previously..but KCRW is letting you listen to one of their recent performances which is pretty rad. While I do love Hold On, I Found You and  On Your Way I was in need of some new tunes by them. Their show in LA was sold out, go figure. I wish I could have gone...next time. Listen below music friends.

Austin, TX

Gary Clark Jr. // Don't Owe You A Thang

Oh Gary...I have a crush on you...

First Name Theophilus, Last Name London

Promoting is latest album Timez Are Weird These Days (and they are) Theophilus showed off his hip hop electro skillz and dominated his show at El Rey. His musical style is one part hipster and the other rapper. That is one winning combo if you ask me. The album even has a song with Sara Quin from Tegan on the song "Why Even Try." It is FAB. Get Familiar.

Theophilus London

El Rey

5515 Wilshire Blvd

{This was my first time to attend a concert at the El Rey Theatre and what a wonderful venue! It is set up much like the Music Box except I can WALK to it. Yes, I said WALK. I will be going to every concert here from now on out}

Bluesy Kind of Day

Dan Auerbach, you have a mean voice.
With that said
Push. Play. Below.

 Dan Auerbach // Mean Monsoon

FYI he is the lead singer to the Black Keys if he sounded familiar to ya

Delta Spirit

 "On March 13, Delta Spirit will release their third LP on Rounder Records. The self-titled follow up to 2010′s History From Below was recorded in an old church in Woodstock, NY. Frontman, Matt Vasquez, describes the album as follows: “We found the sound that we’ve been looking for, that we’ve been growing into, and as soon as we hit on it, we ran with it. That’s why it’s a self-titled record, so we could connect our identity with what we think Delta Spirit is”. A single from the forthcoming album is due later this month. In the mean time, the band posted the endearing video teaser below. Also, in case you missed it in the Fall, Delta Spirit is offering their two EPs, I Think I’ve Found It and The Waits Room for free digital download. See the link below. "

Download their new EP here.

Check out a gpa reviewing the new album - beer in hand. 

Tour starts in March and they will be in Los Angeles May 11th at the Music Box in LA, who is coming with me? Oh need convincing? Listen to Bushwick Blues. It is one mighty song.

Your name only matters if its Blue Ivy...

Jay Z has a song new for his little baby...listen below.

Jay-Z Glory (Ft. B.I.C) by illRoots

"Baby I paint the sky blue. My greatest creation was you."

Lissie, can we please be friends?

Lissie // Sing it Loud

Ellie Goulding & Lissie // Making Pies

Youth Rescue Mission

Youth Rescue Mission is the music of three brothers and their big sister who all have migrated from Montana to Seattle. Bound by blood and music, their songs forge their way to the top of musical mountain tops where their voices ring out, often telling stories of the past that weave unapologetically through old wounds, past betrayal and a family caught trying to find its way. Hannah Williams leads brothers Daniel, Luke, and Jesse in precise harmonies and the result is a sound as unique and charming as you’d imagine. Every word every lyric is so personal. Absolutely stunning music.