[RH Photos] Vampire Weekend at Stubbs in Austin (4/24/14)
Photos by Tim Fraga
Last week, New York's Vampire Weekend hit Austin for back-to-back sold out shows in Stubb's backyard. The first time I had seen Vampire Weekend perform live was last year during ACL 2013. It might have been the beer or the rotation of joints being passed around that had me in such a good mood, but vibing out to Vampire Weekend perform to a massive crowd in Zilker Park couldn't have been any better. When I heard I would be able to see them in a smaller setting like Stubb's, I was pretty excited to get back to that happy place. Unfortunately, due to some last minute change of plans, I wasn't able to attend the show. Lucky for us, however, we have photos from Tim Fraga to gives us a glimpse of what went on.
[RH Photos] Baths at Mohawk in Austin (4/17/14)
On a drizzling Thursday night, electronic artist Baths hit Mohawk in Austin. The semi-full venue was feeling the opening act, but most were waiting for Baths to hit the stage. When Baths took the stage for his set, fans were excited and ready for him. Diehard fans sang with and vibed out with Baths throughout his set. It was on the fence fans, however, that were not sure what to make of his set. He seemed to really try and get the crowd going, but most just hung back and watched. I'm not sure if it was the drizzly weather or the material, but it seemed like only a a few people were really feeling him. Baths is one of those artists that you can argue might be better on headphones or vibing out on your own in your bedroom instead of at a live performance.
My first experience with Baths was last year at Pitchfork Music Festival. I wasn't familiar with his music, but I really respected his fan base. This time around, I came in with a positive mind set and ready to see how he had developed over the last year. Unfortunately, like most people at Mohawk thought, the performance lacked something I really couldn't put my finger on, other than the fact that some material doesn't translate the same live as it does on headphones. Not to turn anyone away from Baths, but check out some photos from the performance below.
[EP] Glass Animals: "Gooey" and More
Oxfordshire quartet Glass Animals have been hitting my inbox since February, but it wasn't until last Tuesday's release of Gooey did I really begin to take notice. It was early in the morning when I checked the EP out, and I'm not sure if it was because it was still dark out or my mood that morning, but the song "Gooey" couldn't have been any more perfect. With frontman Dave Bayley's catchy lyrics and infectious production, "Gooey" hits all the right notes (pun intended). The EP consists of the original "Gooey" track, "Holiest" feat. Tei Shi, and three remixes of "Gooey" from Gilligan Moss, Kingdom and Chester Watson.
Glass Animals is the first signee to mega Brit producer Paul Epworth's Wolf Tone label in the UK. Epworth moved the band from their woodlands creative hub called The Shed to his studio in London to help the band refine and develop their sound. Combining their love of analog with digital Glass Animals have bee able to create a trippy-RnB-elecornic sound that's hard not to fall into a groove with.
"Gooey" was just the beginning of the Glass Animal's take over of 2014. With the EP out, the band has dropped a new song, "Pools," off of their full-length album, ZABA, due out on June 10th via Harvest Records. The press release for ZABA gives a taste of what's to come from the band's next project:
"Inspired by Kanye West and Charles Darwin, Nina Simone and the Velvet Underground, ZABA is a rich and textured work, a very special record indeed. With Dave producing and Epworth as A&R and mentor, the studio became their home and the band were free to record, improvise and write at their own speed, making their sound a bigger, brighter, heavier and more intense experience than ever before."
If "Gooey" and "Pools" are a sample of what to expect, I'm really looking forward to this project. I've yet to see them live, but hear their stage set up is pretty interesting with a show to match. With festival season well on its way, don't be surprised to see Glass Animals show up on more bills. Until then, check out the Gooey EP, the "Gooey" music video, and their new single "Pools" below.
Gooey is available on iTunes or on vinyl signed by the band here.
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[Video] Disclosure Lets The Fire Burn At Coachella 2014
Photo by Chris Garmon
Unless you've been living under a rock, you're very aware of last weekend's mega festival in the desert, Coachella. This year seemed to be the year of the special guest appearances. For example, Nas brought out Jay and Puffy, Queen Bey danced around supporting her sister Solange, Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg joined Pharrell on stage, Chance The Rapper brought out Justin Bieber, and we finally got to see Outkast back together, who themselves were joined by Janelle Monae and Future. RH favorites Disclosure was not going to be left behind as they also brought out some of their special friends to one of the best sets from the festival, bringing out Sam Smith, Mary J.Blige, and Aluna Francis (of Aluna George) to the stage during their featured songs. The UK brothers have been killing it since they dropped their debut album Settle last year and haven't looked back as they've been performing non-stop and appearing on talks shows and award shows all over the world.
Settle was pretty much on everyone's top albums list of 2013 (including ours), and with good reason. I pretty much had it on repeat for six months, and like many others, I couldn't get enough of their infectious production. I was lucky to be able to catch them during their tour stop in Austin this past January (check out the photos). I've seen a lot of DJ/producer sets, and Disclosure is definitely on the top of my list after seeing them live. If you are a fan or have yet to see them, check out their full set at Coachella below and don't be afraid when you end up dancing around your desk.
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NAS: "Illmatic XX" Stream and Documentary Trailer
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Nassir Jones' classic Hip-Hop album Illmatic. Today, Nas drops Illmatic XX, the 20th anniversary edition of the '94 debut of one of the most prolific rappers of our generation. Nas not only dropped a classic album, but changed hip hop as a whole with his gritty poetic street rhymes with a real message. Illmatic appears on best hip hop albums lists and many note the rapper as being one of the most influential rappers. This past weekend, Nas performed the classic album front to back at Coachella (video below), bringing out Hova to assist on a few tracks. That performance couldn't have been better, as you can see that no matter what, the Queensboro MC, 20 years later after dropping his debut, is still one of the most relevant hip hop artists today.
I was 11 years old when Illmatic dropped, and I remember listening to it like it was yesterday. My older brother had it on cassette, and I used to sneak into his show box of tapes while he was gone and listen to them on my Sony Walkman (remember those kids?). Not until a few years later did I really understand what Nas was rhyming about and really understand the rhymes and message he was conveying. 20 years later, the albums is still as relevant as it was in '94. Not only did he shape his career, but Nas shaped and changed hip hop culture as a whole.
To continue the celebration of the 20th anniversary, Nas will be premiere the documentary Time is Illmatic at the opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival tomorrow. If you can make the opening night, I would suggest it or just wait until it hits Netflix like the rest of us. You can buy Illmatic XX now on iTunes.
"I gave you what the streets felt like, what it tasted like, sounded like, smelled like, all on that album, and I tried to capture it like no one else could," the rapper says in the trailer.
Stream Illmatic XX and the trailer for the documentary below.
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Illmatic XX Tracklist:
Disc 1: Remastered original album
01. The Genesis
02. N.Y. State Of Mind
03. Life’s A Bitch
04. The World Is Yours
05. Halftime
06. Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park)
07. One Love
08. One Time 4 Your Mind
09. Represent
10. It Ain’t Hard To Tell
Disc 2: Demos, Remixes & Live Radio
01. I’m A Villain (previously unreleased)
02. The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on WKCR October 28, 1993 (previously unreleased freestyle)
03. Halftime (Butcher Remix)
04. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (Remix) (promo single)
05. One Love (LG Main Mix)
06. Life’s A Bitch (Arsenal Mix) (promo single)
07. One Love (One L Main Mix)
08. The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)
09. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (The Stink Mix) (UK single)
10. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (The Laidback Remix) (UK single)
[RH Photos] Arcade Fire at Austin 360 in Austin, TX (4/10/14)
Photos by Jerri Starbuck
Last Thursday, Canadian rock band Arcade Fire brought their tour to the Austin360 Amphitheater at the Circuit of the Americas. I unfortunately wasn't able to make the show due to an unforeseen accident that involved me on my bike and a Pizza Hut delivery driver who didn't look both ways. For those who couldn't make the show, there are some photos for you to enjoy below.
FIFA Unveils Official 2014 World Cup Song and More
2014 World Cup fever is well on its way as we draw nearer to the June 12th kickoff in Brazil. FIFA has released the album's track listing along with the official song, "We Are One (Ole Ola)," by Mr. 305 (Pitbull), Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian pop singer Cláudia Leitte. The album, titled One Love, One Rhythm, features new music from Shakira, Ricky Martin, Santana, The Isley Brothers, and more.
Like most soccer fans, I've caught the fever, as well, and am pretty amped for this year's games. The USMNT looks good, and we might have a chance this year. Unless you are an Outlaw making the trip to Brasil this year, most of us will be wathcing the games at home or at the neighborhood bar. To our luck, most games will be played at decent hours, so no waking up at 4am to try and catch a match. Nike helped kick off the World Cup 2014 hype by unveiling the USMNT away jersey kit last week. The very popsicle looking kit comes with red socks, shorts, and a predominantly red top with white and blue stripes. Nike tapped musical artists Diplo and Haim and film director Spike Lee to show off the kit in their new campaign, along with athletes Andrew Luck, Ndamukong Suh, Allyson Felix, Erik Koston, Sean Malto, and soccer players Clint Dempsey, Sydney Leroux and USMNT O.G. Alexi Lalas to show off American pride.
Check out photos from the campaign below, and head here to purchase the new jersey in time for kickoff. You can also see the track list and hear the new song below, as well.
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FIFA 2014 - One Love, One Rhythm Tracklist
1. Pitbull feat. Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte – We Are One (Ole Ola) (The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup TM Song)
2. Santana & Wyclef feat. Avicii & Alexandre Pires – Dar Um Jeito (We Will Find A Way) (The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup TM Anthem)
3. Arlindo Cruz – Tatu Bom De Bola (The Official 2014 FIFA World CupTM Mascot Song)
4. Ricky Martin – Vida (Spanglish Version)
5. David Correy – The World Is Ours
6. Psirico – Lepo Lepo
7. Sérgio Mendes & Carlinhos Brown – One Nation
8. Shakira – La La La (Brasil 2014) feat. Carlinhos Brown
9. The Isley Brothers – It’s Your Thing (Studio Rio Version)
10. Bebel Gilberto and Lang Lang – Tico Tico
11. Adelén – Olé (Stadium Anthem Mix)
12. Magic! – This Is Our Time (Agora e’a nossa horra)
13. Baha Men – Night & Day (Carnival Mix)
14. Rodrigo Alexey feat. Preta Gil – Go, Gol
DJ Don Juan: "Limitless" Club Mix
Our good friends over at Rotting Television just sent over the the new stream from NY club DJ Don Juan's "Limitless" mix. With the launch of his new website, upcoming TV appearances, and more club dates around the country, Don Juan seems to be gearing up for a hectic 2014. If you're not into club mixes, this might not be for you, but if you are this is right down your alley. Even if you are doing some chores around the house or getting ready before a night out, push play and let it ride.
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