Happy Friday!

"Temple Pressure" by Alvin Band

These guys are baller. Get into them.

myspace: http://www.myspace.com/alvinband

group site: http://www.alvinband.com/#/News

Local Natives: Tiny Desk Concert, from NPR

link: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/21/133899844/local-natives-tiny-desk-concert

Ima Robot is on Slightly Less Drugs

Here's some new stuff from LA band, Ima Robot. 

If you know anything about these guys, you'll know that when they released their previous album -Monument to the Masses- which came with the wicked single "CREEPS ME OUT", these guys had an awesomely bizarre, alien-like sound that reeked of long nights spent dropping acid and huffing bug spray.

Their new song, Ruthless, (off the album entitled Another Man's Treasure) which was released this summer, has a melodic new sound that you can dance to. 

I can't actually prove that the guys from Ima Robot are on less drugs.. (or on drugs at all) but lets be real, this video is trippy as balls!  You don't get these ideas by watching PBS!

Check it out:

..and this is just an awesome pic from the group's myspace:

you dont do this unless you're on drugs

Ten Things You Can Learn From Summer Concerts: The Art of Music, Sweat, and Taking advantage of People

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the 10th annual SIREN MUSIC FESTIVAL, which takes place at the rickety heart of NY: Coney Island. 

As I entered what looked like hipster heaven, I didnt expect to get much from the day; maybe ringing ears, an awkward sunburn, or a stack of CD's that I didnt need, but hastily bought..

but at the end of the night, I realized that I had gotten so much more: knowledge.  

Here's what I learned, broken down into 10 (plus 1) easy steps:

1)  Dont wear sunglasses in the mosh pit.  

You will lose them.  I don't want to talk about it.

2) Your next best friend may be just around the corner!

Summer concerts are a hotbed for obnoxiously chummy behavior.

These kind of events always end up LOADED with approval-seeking types desperate to make friends. You'll see high fives, hugs, and often unnecessary sharing.

Here's an example of dialog that might spontaneously take place:

"Hey bro!"

"Whats up dude!  Nice t-shirt!"

"Thanks mayn!  Want me to lift you up so you can crowd surf??"

Keep a look out!  You never know which one of these saps will be willing to express this new-found friendship in the form of cold, hard cash.  Or at least buy you a sandwich.

3) If you've got long hair, put that jawn in a ponytail! 

NO ONE wants to choke on that mess!  I can't tell you how many times I've gotten my fingers snagged in a thicket of someone's hot, sweaty, matted hair or pulled out long strands of hair from my throat.  So Gross.  And unnecessary.

4) Crowd surfing is a good way to get violated.   

That "random" hand slip and sudden palm grip were nooo coincidence! 

For some, besides an occasional goodnight kiss from mom, "helping" people crowd surf is the only physical contact they will have.. and they'll take all they can get their sweaty little hands on!

5) Crowds are a hot, sweaty mess.
Some other words that describe crowd atmosphere are moist, clammy, drippy, slippery, salty and... pruney.

As in: Is that your sweat or my sweat?  Either way, don't lick your lips.. ick

6) If you have a fairly decent camera and a dark pair of shades, you can get people to do just about anything!    

Looking official is the key in this farse!  If you tell people they could get on the internet for doing something you want, they'll do anything! 

EVERYONE wants to photographed and everyone wants be famous.  

Even if people act shy, everyone is secretly a whore for the camera (coming from the biggest of them all)-- . Take advantage of this.

7)  People in tight, rowdy, crowds get hot, dehydrated, and desperate FAST!  Take advantage of this!

I traded a guy a half empty bottle of warm water for his advanced place in the crowd!  It went something like:

Dude: 

Hey!! Does anyone have anything to drink!??  Water?  Anything! Please!

(sounding desperate)

Me: 

I have water.

(menacingly) 

Dude: 

Can I have it??

Me: 

Sure!

I pull the water out of my backpack and show it to him.  As he reaches for it, I snatch it back!

Can me and my friends get in front of you in the crowd?

Dude: 

Yes! Sure, Whatever! (Ever so thankful) Thank you!

Me: 

No, my friend.  Thank you.

--And thats a little lesson on Real Estate--

8) Fake singing guarantees good time.
You probably only came for one or two of the bands; the rest most likely suck, but quietly nodding your head and tapping your toes is boring.

I like to pretend like I know all the songs.  I just erratically scream out unheard of noises in random notes that surprise even me!  I don't care about the side eyes I get from people standing in ear shot, I'm just trying to have a good time!

9) Do everything you can do to avoid the porter potties
...unless you're trying to contract 21 types of herpes. Why would you want to be locked in a hot, musty chamber full of other people's poop in the first place?  Keep it classy: bring a pee-jug.

10)  Put on deoderant. and pack extra.

Self Explanatory. Ya nasty.

I smelled the kind of B.O. that causes nose bleeds while at Siren Fest.  You're not in 7th grade.  Don't get all funky and rub your pits all over everyone.  I don't care if you have a sweating problem! Contain that.

11) Only the strong and aggressive make it to the front of the crowd.

If you really want the ability to say that you tasted the sweat of the lead singer, got your ear drums blasted out by the speakers, or were the crazy kid that got restrained/tazed by stage security, you're gonna have to work for it!

It's a dog eat dog, world in the front, and you're gonna have to throw some elbows and knock some little kids to the ground in order to get where you want.

You ever palm a kid in the face?  I have.  And I also held hands with Matt AND Kim from Matt and Kim that same day.

--And thats all I can tell you, jabronies. Take what you will. Comment if you can think of anything better.  Though I doubt it.--

Check out all my pics from Siren Fest here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2421361&id=9030110&l=25be035165

Siren Fest official site: http://siren.villagevoice.com/2010/

Pre-Summer Tunezzz

Local Natives benefits from free local advertising

One thing I love doing during the hot summer months is going to summer concerts and festivals. 

Whether they're in a crowded city park or in some far-flung country field, these outdoor music fests are an excuse for all you die-hard fans to lose your voice, not shower for days, and let out that rable-rousing, closeted band freak that you keep pent up for the sake of public appearances! 

Two bands that I'm trying to see this summer are  Local Natives and Empire of the Sun.

Hold Your Horses' Art-Savy Music Video

For those of you who've spent hours in an Art Appreciation class wondering "How is this going to enrich my life?", prepare to be enriched.

In the colorful new music video for their song "70 Million", French band, Hold Your Horses globbed on  some make-up and threw on a wig or two to re-enact scenes from many of the famous works of art we've grown to love... or scratch our heads at.

Awesome Music: Miike Snow and Peter Bjorn & John

Awesome music of the day:  Peter Bjorn and John's remix of Miike Snow's "Animal"; an already awesome song revamped.

But listen!  It's not just another sucky remix!  It's quality!  So check it out!

ALEX'S SEAL OF APPROVAL.

WHOA! Im back!

So I havent blogged in a little over 2 months (because of school stuff) and its been a bummerrrr!

Luckily though, I've seen some awesome things in the mean time!

One of those "things" is a Korean pop girl group called 2ne1 (pronounced "21" or "to any one"

This energetic foursome was created by YG records after they saw the explosive success of their boy group, Big Bang.

I dare you to take a look at the video for their song "Fire" and not be reeled in by the catchy chorus or the colorful, flashy scenes!

Their song "Fire" was released with a "Street Version" and "Space Version" on the same day this year (though I've come to really like the space version!

See for yourself:







Check out 2ne1 on myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/ygfamily2ne1
Or, (if you can read the Korean) their main site at: http://www.yg-2ne1.com/

She Wolf

Shakira's back with all sorts of bone bending voo-doo magic in her bizarre new music video "She Wolf" and this time, the Colombian cuckoo's got enough crack-pipe weirdness to keep you entertained and have you scratching your head well after it's all over!

In the video, Shakira steps inside her closet and transforms into a leotard-wearing, heavy-breathing, caged she-wolf.

While I couldnt tell if Sharkira's neurotic gyrations and unnatural flexibility were the work of a professional dancer or of a hyperactive 8 year old, I was pretty impressed the entire three minutes and forty two seconds.

I believe Shakira is actually nuts after watching this video, but I say thank God for the crazy ones. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be able to look so normal. Take a look.

Clip | Shakira : She Wolf

La Roux

Right, so I'm quite literally watching this band on tele as I'm writing about them now!

I thought I'd write about La Roux with an English accent as an homage to their home country!

La Roux, lead by singer, Elly Jackson, just released their first singles this year, and is just about to finish their first North American tour!

I like La Roux (pronounced like "Magoo") because Elly seems like she's a smart girl, but also a secret bad girl! And that's always a good combo, right?

If you're well into the UK, androgyny, and wicked electropop, check out La Roux!

La Roux - Bulletproof

You can check out La Roux on their current tour or online at: http://www.laroux.co.uk/

or their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/larouxuk

Stuck In The Sound

Like many of you, I spend hours of my time scouring the internet for new, hip, underground music so that I can eventually become cooler than all my other "in-the-know" friends.

Today, this search has brought me to the French band off of April 77Records, Stuck In The Sound.

As you may have seen before, I love any band thats French, so S.I.T.S didn't really have to work that hard to please me!

Heres the video for the song "Ouais". Its not my favorite song, but the video is legit.

STUCK IN THE SOUND – OUAIS (CLIP OFFICIEL)
Uploaded by Discograph. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Go here to hear their song "Shoot Shoot" which I like a lot.

And if anyone reading is upset because they found Stuck In The Sound a long time ago, SUCK IT! Thats how I felt when they started playing MGMT and Carolina Liar on the radio!

PS: Add S.I.T.S on myspace here: http://www.myspace.com/stuckinthesound

Blair Waldorf Shows Off Her Lungs

This week I was at the MTV store, looking to buy some sweet swag, when i got the uncontrollable urge to bob my head and tap my feet.

While jamming out, by my self, I looked up at the TV monitor and was surprised to see Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester schmoozing with pop punk band, Cobra Starship.

I'm not gonna lie, I think I said something like

"What thaaaaaaa?".

But after coming to, I had to admit that it wasnt half bad!

Give it a listen: What do YOU think? Should Leighton stick to acting?


And While I'm plugging MTV like its my job, you might as well know that Leighton stopped by Alexa Chung's show last week for a little chit chat and you can watch that here:

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/leighton+meester+alexa+chung/video/x9p2gf_its-on-walexa-chung-leighton-meeste_news

(ps: sorry, it wont let me embed that video!)

T-Swift & T-Pain

Last week, hell froze over, pigs sprouted wings, and i watched the CMT country music awards. Even more surprising than that, there were a few points in time where I was actually entertained.

One of those twinkling moments happened when country/pop sensation, Taylor Swift (AKA the obsession of men everywhere) took the stage with, no, not Billy Ray Cyrus, but T-Pain! The result was an ironic, catchy, thugged-out duet that's likely to be as popular as T-Pain's other chart topping single, "I'm on a Boat"!

Take a Look!

Here are more pictures from the video:

The Big Pink: Velvet

UK electro-rock duo, The Big Pink, released the video for their song "Velvet" in April, and I've gotta say, I'm still pretty into it!  I'm also into the fact that their next single, "Stop The World", is being released on my birthday, June 29th!  Way to go Big Pink!

Here's their  video for "Velvet"

Coeur de pirate

This isnt actually new, just really cool.

Coeur de Pirate is a really awesome band led by Béatrice Martin, who sings and plays piano. They're from Montreal, Quebec, so they sing in french, which is awesome on it's own, but they're also really talented musicians. That's just about everything I could get from their myspace.. considering it was also in french and my français just a little shabby!

The video for their single "Comme Des Enfants" (which translates to "like kids"!!!) shows two beautiful hipsters who frolic around on bikes doing wonderful, fun things! Def. watch it! You can enjoy it weather or not you speak french!

Check them out on myspace here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=163154177

NEW Yeah Yeah Yeahs

as recommended by my buddy Simon, here is some new Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
The song is "Zero" off their New Album, It's Blitz! out on the 31st!!
check it out----------------------------------------

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup

Pierre Nadeau Knows What Warm Weather is All About

Seeing as yesterday was the Vernal Equinox, AKA the first day of Spring, I was inspired to check out this vintage track called "Girls Boys" by Pierre Nadeau. Dont know who that is?! It really doesnt matter! All you have to know is how amazing rollerblading on the beach is when all you've got on is a pair of hot pink shorts and some sunglasses (I guess a little more if youre a girl).

Check it out!

Nothing to Worry About

Awesome Song: "Nothing to Worry About" by Peter Bjorn and John, off their new album Living Thing out March 30th!!!!! HOLLA!

The Geeks Were Right

This is the song "The Geeks Were Right" by The Faint
The Does This Offend You, Yeah remix
It's awesome, and makes me feel good about myself.