[Video] Pyyramids: "Paper Doll" (Live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno)
In support of their latest debut, Brightest Darkest Day, Pyyramids made their TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night, performing "Paper Doll" for the world to see/listen. If you missed the performance last night, we have a clip of the song below. Great job, guys! Hopefully the exposure will lead to even bigger and better things for you.
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[Trailer] V/H/S/2
[yahoo id="movies.yahoo.com/video/vhs-2-redband-trailer-223027452"]
As some of those familiar with my alter-ego know, I'm not a fan of horror movies at all. I get too anxious and nervous when facing suspense and gore. The first V/H/S, which you can catch on Netflix Instant, was a fan favorite in 2012 film festivals. The premise of the two films revolve around the discovery of VHS cassettes that depict ridiculously gruesome stuff. More importantly, each cassette serves as a short film/vignette directed by a large number of directors.
Its sequel, V/H/S/2 (formerly known as S-VHS, but changed because not too many people remember S-VHS tapes), cuts back on the number of directors involved in the anthology, but showcases even more explicit content. Directors attached to V/H/S/2 include Gareth Evans (The Raid: Redemption), Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project), Timo Tjahjanto (The ABCs of Death), Jason Eisener (Hobo with a Shotgun), Adam Wingard (The ABCs of Death), as well as Simon Barrett, one of the writers for V/H/S, making his directorial debut.
Prepare your eyes for the horror in the trailer below. V/H/S/2 comes to theaters July 12th, but will hit Video on Demand outlets June 6th.
The Riot Fest 2013 Lineup is AMAZING
Wow. Just as I was going on about how I greatly dislike music festivals, the first wave of bands were announced for this year's Riot Fest. For those that don't know, Riot Fest was started in 2005 as a way to help put together a seemingly dream lineup of various punk bands. Since its initial launch, the festival has grown exponentially, not only moving the festivities from the Congress Theater to Humboldt Park, but also establishing shows across the country under the Riot Fest brand.
There's music here for everybody, as Riot Fest's growth has begun to include all facets of independent music. Some noted hip hop acts include DOOMTREE's Dessa, Atmosphere, Public Enemy, and Saul Williams. However, the main focus is on punk/alternative/pop-punk bands. Some of my personal highlights are blink-182, Rancid, Against Me!, Toots and the Maytals, Mephiskapheles, Bad Brains, and amazing local Chicago bands The Lawrence Arms, Maps and Atlases, and a reuniting The Broadways. Maybe I'll find some time to catch Brand New and Taking Back Sunday so I could sing along to the two songs I know from them.
Seriously, there's something here for everybody; whether you can quote every song Brendan Kelly has ever written, got star tattoos during the early 200s, or go out in a full three-piece suit, Riot Fest 2013 is shaping up to be the best Chicago-based festival of the year. Go ahead and buy tickets for Riot Fest 2013 here.
Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar" Could be the Last 70mm IMAX Film
While IMAX theaters have been around since 2002, it wasn't until 2008 when a film shot scenes natively on IMAX cameras when The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan decided to shoot some of the wide-angle skyline shots of Batman and Gotham City/Chicago. The 70mm IMAX print showed a level of quality and detail that truly separated The Dark Knight's cinematography from other films... even if the aspect ratio had to change to fully showcase the scenes properly.
However, with film stock slowly dying out as theaters begin to make the transition to utilizing fully digital projectors, it seems that the short-lived excursion into 70mm prints are dying out with Nolan's next film, Interstellar. Christopher Nolan fan site Nolan Fans, with translations from Cines Argentinos, goes deep into the quality of 70mm IMAX screens vs. normal IMAX screens. As the 70mm IMAX screen theaters begin to be phased out for traditional IMAX screens (less than 5% IMAX theaters have 70mm IMAX screens), IMAX theaters will begin to implement a new 4K laser which projects to have the same amount of pixels as 70mm screens. Of course, digital projection will never be as clear or high in quality as traditional film stock.
Now, this might not mean much to the average moviegoer, but for those interested in photography/cinematography, it's a bit of a bittersweet loss as we say goodbye to films shot on such high quality film stock. Of course, if the 4k projection system proves to be as powerful as it claims to be, the loss won't be too bad.
[via Nolan Fans, via Cines Argentinos] (Thanks to Max for the tip.)
[Trailer] Riddick
http://youtu.be/tDxDEjDMreA
It's been almost a decade since the last Chronicles of Riddick film (and five years since Vin Diesel has played a character not named Dom Toretto), but coming this fall, Diesel is set to don the goggles again with the third film in the franchise, Riddick. Written/directed by franchise director David Twohy, the film finds Riddick's power increasing and using them against bounty hunters sent to kill him. Unbeknownst to them, it's all part of the plan.
After the success of Fast Five and a remarkable performance in Fast and Furious 6 (review's coming soon!), it's good to see Diesel return to the big screen. He's getting up there in age, but the man's more than capable of holding his own. Prepare for Riddick's return to the theaters on September 6th.
[Mixtape] Tree: "Sunday School II"
A lot of anticipation has been growing for Tree's next mixtape. Since Sunday School came out last year, the Chicago MC has been upping his game and visibility, including being featured as a Red Bull Sound Select artist. With Sunday School II: When Church Lets Out, Tree has escalated to the next level, complete with backing from Closed Sessions and Creative Control. Features include Lili K, Teddie Caine, Ari Lourdes,Danny Brown, Project Mayhem, and Roc Marciano with production by Tye Hill, Bink!, Frank Dukes, Illinois Jones, Bobby Johnson, Khari Lemuel, S.C., and Tree himself, Sunday School II is bound to be one of this year's best releases out of Chicago. Prepare your ears for some SoulTrap.
You can download Tree's Sunday School II: When Church Lets Out here
[Mixtape] Calez: "G-Unit Bundle Pack"
"I told [Calez] he gotta be the coldest motherf*cking rapper in the city 'cause I'm already the hottest DJ, man," DJ Oreo says at the end of Calez' first track, "Ready or Not." This bravado is what helped Calez' emergence in the Chicago hotbed of up and coming rappers. His latest mixtape, G-Unit Bundle Pack, finds the Southside rapper rapping over old G-Unit songs. I admit, I would have put this up earlier, but I got carried away listening to this mixtape. Make sure you have the time to properly listen through these tracks, because Calez is definitely not someone you want to sleep on.
You can download G-Unit Bundle Pack here or stream the mixtape below.
Chicago emcee Calez doesn't seem to be slowing down. Following a XXL co-sign and the release of his latest project Too Broke Tape a mere month ago, the BRKF$T CLUB spitter is back with a 5 track EP gliding over classic G-Unit production. He single-handedly silenced the rumors of signing with G-Unit and also paid homage to a classic time in hip-hop-- The G-unit era. Much like many of his fans, Calez is also a fan. This quick tape known as the "bundle pack" speaks to the many diverse influences that have helped shape Calez into one of the hardest newcomers in rap."Them other problems I let the crew hash out//And drop G-UNIT BUNDLE PACK to bring the durags out."-- Calez (@CalezCeito)
[RH Premiere] Grade Aplus: "Nate Robinson" (prod. by Mike Jaxx)
Despite it being Wednesday, it's already been a big week for the Legion of Dudes: Nick Astro had his SUPER16 listening party, Mike Jaxx released his remix of Chance the Rapper's "Juice," Impolite Society released their remix of "Look of Hate," and PHNM released his original mix, "This Is It." Not one to simply rest on his laurels, Grade Aplus is jumping into this unofficial LOD week by releasing his latest track, "Nate Robinson."
Produced by Ruby Hornet veteran Mike Jaxx, the track plays up Grade's underdog status, yet stepping up despite the odds. Sounds very similar to the Bulls' surprising emerging 3rd string point guard, no? Don't sleep on Grade Aplus and check the track out below.