Month: May 2009

Great Hip Hop Video

I admittedly don’t know that much about hip hop, so when I first found this video of “Let The Beat Build” I didn’t know it was originally by Lil’ Wayne (from his 2008 album Tha Carter III). That said, this video is really fantastic.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PglfNDepTyQ[/youtube]

I really love the steadicam work on this video… especially as it elegantly glides through the shot, allowing the camera to reveal each new instrument as they’re introduced in the music. It says that this was recorded and shot all in one take which makes it all that more impressive. Plus the song is admirable for having great hooks played on real live instruments. I don’t know who Nyle is, but based on this track, I’d definitely listen again.

Three Reasons I Should’ve Tried Harder To See The National This Weekend

Since the release of Boxer, The National’s brilliant record from 2007, the band has become one of my favorite bands. So when the band’s two nights (Sunday and Monday, May 24 and 25th) at Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club sold out in less than 3 minutes, I was a little miffed I couldn’t see them without scalping or pulling some strings. The band even lined up a late show on Sunday as well but that was hard to come by as well.

Turns out the band has been debuting some new songs during their recent tour, which makes me even more pissed at myself for not trying harder to get tickets for these shows. From some videos I’ve found around the web, their new stuff looks to be just as great as the music from Boxer and Alligator, not to mention the phenomenal track from this year’s Dark Was The Night compilation “So Far Around The Bend.”

Watch “Vanderlylle Cry Baby” live from Toronto:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TojO3l9CL4[/youtube]

Watch “Runaway” live from Toronto: (or an in-studio performance here.)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMBT11ZmcwI[/youtube]

Watch “Blood Buzz Ohio” live from Montreal:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8qgRgyS9d0[/youtube]

Man, so freaking good. Maybe next time.

Reblogging: ‘Soft Bulletin’ on NPR’s All Songs Blog

No, this is not becoming a Flaming Lips fan blog, but, I did do a blog entry over at the All Songs Considered Blog today in honor of the tenth anniversary of their amazing record The Soft Bulletin.

Hard to believe this album came out ten years ago this summer. [ENTER I’M FEELING OLD JOKE HERE]

Go there to read…

This Is What A Dan Deacon Dance Party Looks Like

So last night, this happened:

That’s right. Dan Deacon at the 9:30 Club put on an epic and extremely bonkers set of electro freak dance party music. NPR webcast the show, though I do wonder how much of what went on translates for a listener. Make sure to check out the amazing shots the NPR photographer took… you can even find me in a crowd shot (it’s like a sweaty hipster Where’s Waldo.)

Deacon performed on stage with this 15 person band playing songs of Spiderman of the Rings and Bromst… a full on melee of synths and percussion and hard driving dance grooves. Deacon also coaxed the crowd through a slew of dance contests and audience participation and sing alongs… all of which the crowd happily went berserk over, especially during songs like “Wham City” and “Crystal Cat.”

The show also featured some of the most hilarious (and awesomely terrible) pre-show music I’ve heard in a long time:

“Another Night” by Real McCoy ; “Bulls on Parade” by Rage Against the Machine ; “Kissed By A Rose” by Seal ; “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes ; “Only Time” by Enya; “No Rain” by Blind Melon

It was like reliving early ’90s Bar Mitzvah parties and middle school mixers, but it left no doubt that Deacon himself was programming the music himself, showing a great sense of humor in the process.

All in all, the show was insanely fun and a total blast.