North Coast Music Festival first line-up announced for 2016.

NC festival flyer

Chicago’s North Coast Music Festival has announced its first performers for 2016.  The festival specializes in EDM, but it branching out this year into psychedelic and electro music.  Bassnectar always brings a big crowd, but don’t miss The Claypool Lennon Delirium or Sleigh Bells either.    I’m keen on seeing the full line-up in a couple months.

Keep your mind open.

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Outside Lands 2016 festival line-up announced.

Outside Lands flyer

San Francisco’s Outside Lands music festival has released its line-up, and it’s a good one.  RadioheadLCD SoundsystemThe Claypool Lennon DeliriumAir, and many more great acts will be there.

Located in Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands offers art, music, comedy, locally crafted beer, and “gastromagic.”  It looks to be a wild time, so don’t miss it if you’re out west.

Keep your mind open.

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Wrecka Stow Day 2016 event list now available.

RSD2016

Don’t forget that Record Store Day is April 16th.  Don’t forget to visit your local wrecka stow and show them your support.  There are always prime releases on Record Store Day from hundreds of artists, and many places have live performances to boot.

The list of wrecka stows hosting live events on the 16th is now available at the RSD website and will surely be updated as the date grows closer.  Don’t miss the chance to see some good gigs and score great stuff for your collection.

There’s plenty of stuff I’d like to snag: the Bee Gees / Faith No More 7″ single. a double Buzzcocks album, two classic Johnny Cash records, a Dark Shadows TV film score re-release, a Flaming Lips CD I haven’t heard before, a Buddy Guy / Junior Wells re-release, a live James Brown double album re-release, new stuff from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, a Daft Punk remix of a Junior Kimbrough song, a psychedelic samba record, a live double Ravi Shankar LP, a cover of “John the Revelator” by The Sword on 7″ vinyl, a new Rhino Records psychedelic rock compilation, another psychedelic compilation (from the UK), a compilation of Cambodian 1960’s rock, a live Muddy Waters record, an Italian horror film soundtrack by Goblin, two Japanese garage / psychedelic rock compilations, and a Stooges re-release.

Keep your mind open.

Levitation Austin releases set times and Thursday night line-up.

levitationlineup-admat

Levitation Austin has released its schedule of Thursday night pre-festival shows in downtown Austin and its daily festival schedule as well.  I’m happy to see Night Beats playing again, and I’ve already found a couple bands added to the full festival I’d like to see.

The Friday schedule is insane.  I’m going to miss a few bands I’d like to see and have to make some tough decisions.  The set times are better for my “must-see” lists on Saturday and Sunday, however.

See you there.  Keep your mind open.

Les Claypool + Sean Lennon = The Claypool Lennon Delirium

CLD

Les Claypool of Primus and Sean Lennon of The Ghost of a Sabre Tooth Tiger have teamed up to create a new psychedelic-prog rock project called The Claypool Lennon Delirium.

TGOASTT opened for Primus on their last tour, and Claypool and Lennon would often jam on tour before, during, and after shows.  Claypool had hoped to put together another Oysterhead album after Primus’ last tour, but “the stars wouldn’t align” (according to the CLD’s website) and Lennon told him he didn’t have any immediate plans.

The initial tracks of the CLD’s album, Monolith of Phobos, are a trippy mix of Primus, TGOASTT, Beatles, Zappa, Beefheart, Pet Sounds Beach Boys, and acid jazz.  This should be an excellent record (due out in June), and their summer tour should be a must-see.

Keep your mind open.

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Kiefer Sutherland to release outlaw country album.

KS

Yes, you read that right.  Actor, producer, and director Kiefer Sutherland will be releasing his debut album Down in a Hole sometime this summer.  Sutherland has already released tour dates to promote the record and has been playing gigs since at least last year.

It turns out Sutherland has been involved in the music industry since 2002 by producing and releasing records by musicians he liked.  He also collects classic guitars.  He wrote a couple songs and those songs eventually bloomed into a full album.  I don’t know if the title track is a cover of Alice in Chains‘ classic, but clips of Sutherland’s live performances are good.  He has an excellent backing band and his rough voice is perfect for outlaw country.  Down in a Hole should be an interesting listen.

Keep your mind open.

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Vans Warped Tour 2016 tour dates and line-up announced.

warped-tour

The annual Vans Warped Tour has released its tour dates and line-up for 2016.  The show has become a who’s-who of punk, metal core, screamo, and ska acts.  The biggest draws so far are Atreyu, Bullet for My ValentineFalling in ReverseGood CharlotteLess Than JakeNew Found Glory, Reel Big FishSum 41, and Yellowcard.

Keep your mind open.

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Bestival Toronto line-up announced.

Bestival logo

Bestival Toronto has announced its initial line-up for their early summer festival.  The two biggest draws so far are The Cure and Tame Impala.  They also have interesting things planned like the “Inflatable Church” and the “Day of the Dead Cocktail Bus.”

Keep your mind open.

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The Five Foot Assassin’s mission is complete. RIP Phife Dawg.

PD

Rest and peace to Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor of A Tribe Called Quest.  Phife Dawg was a powerful MC whose flow bounced off Q-Tip‘s like they were winning  a doubles tournament at Wimbledon.  Phife Dawg’s style of rapping was in the everyman vein.  He made you think you could rap, even if you had no flow.  He was effortless.  His loss is a hard blow to hip hop and music fans everywhere, but we have his rhymes with us forever.

Keep your mind open.

Lollapalooza Chicago 2016 line-up announced.

Lolla2016lineup

Lollapalooza‘s 25th anniversary show line-up has been announced, as well as the daily line-ups.  Radiohead and LCD Soundsystem were major scores and long-rumored.  Other fine artists on the bill are Jane’s Addiction (naturally), Die AntwoordBloc PartyThe Joy Formidable, and Wavves.

Keep your mind open.

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