Category: unsorted

BONNAROO 2010: Reporting from Day One

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L.A.'s Local Natives spreads infectiousness (Ian Witlen)

Dear Bonnaroo, you’ve stolen my heart.

Wait, no, I think I just dropped it in front of the What Stage and the mud swallowed it up along with the thousands of orphaned sandals and pot stashes. (What will the anthropologists think?) But seriously, that was four days of excellent festivalling, and I feel honored to have been a part of the incredibly hard-working Spin team for the duration thereof. Click here to access the magazine’s Bonnaroo 2010 homepage, where you’ll find video, photos and text from the trenches. Specific links to follow.

Here’s the Best and Worst of Day One. Yours truly wrote on the xx, Local Natives and the Dodos. Check out days two, three and four.

INCHES reviews Dâm-Funk’s 5LP Box o’ Funk (restocked at Stones Throw online) [MP3]

Dâm-Funk, 'Toeachizown' (Stones Throw)

Stones Throw has pressed up some more copies of the incredible Dâm-Funk 5LP box set, which gives me an excuse to finally write about it. This hefty collection has been dominating my at-home rotation for some time now. I think it might have something to do with that incredible hair.

Read about it (the record), and download a track for free at INCHES.

Dâm-Funk’s 5LP Box o’ Funk

News Roundup: L.A. Declares ‘Dio Day,’ Madlib Goes Psych-Rock, plus Salem and Tobacco

Murray, pleased by the news, took the day off from slaying.

Quick bloggy bits from around the L.A. underground (and up). Share ’em.

  1. FEATURED: City Declares May 30 ‘Ronnie James Dio Day’*
  2. Madlib Goes Psych-Rock on New ‘Brain Wreck’ LP
  3. Salem Signs to IAMSOUND, Reveals ‘King Night’ Details
  4. MP3 Exclusive: Tobacco Remixes HEALTH’s ‘Die Slow’

    5. (all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)

* “Naturally, the prepared statement delivered at Dio’s memorial was greeted with rabid cheers and a strong showing of devil horns.”

Feature: A Freaky Afternoon with Ariel Pink

Ariel Pink steels himself for the invasion.

Although it’s almost cliché at this point to write about how batshit insane L.A. freak-folk/chillwave/lo-fi icon Ariel Pink seems to be, meet the man in person and you’ll discover that it’s nigh on impossible to ignore the signs.  Perhaps he’s just nervous; perhaps he likes fucking with journalists (who could blame him?); perhaps he really is bonkers. After spending an afternoon with Pink and his band, Haunted Graffiti, I wound up with more questions than answers.

See for yourself at LA Weekly.

Live in LA: Metal Gods Go Unplugged for Ronnie James Dio Memorial Service

Glenn Hughes belts one out for Dio. (Andrew Herrold)

It was a hot day in the Hollywood Hills, and a strange one for those who unwittingly chose Sunday afternoon to pay their respects to lost loved ones at the Forest Lawn cemetery.

While families solemnly delivered fresh flowers to old graves, a mighty blast came echoing over the rolling acres dotted with headstones – the unmistakable cry of a heavy metal god.

“Between the velvet lies, there’s a truth that’s hard as steel. The vision never dies. Life’s a never ending wheeeeeeel… Holy diver!”

What did you memorialize over the long weekend? Photog Andrew Herrold and I trekked out to the Ronnie James Dio service to document the entire blessed event for Spin. Read about it here.

It was a hot day in the Hollywood Hills, and a strange one for those who unwittingly chose Sunday afternoon to pay their respects to lost loved ones at the Forest Lawn cemetery.

While families solemnly delivered fresh flowers to old graves, a mighty blast came echoing over the rolling acres dotted with headstones – the unmistakable cry of a heavy metal god.

“Between the velvet lies, there’s a truth that’s hard as steel. The vision never dies. Life’s a never ending wheeeeeeel… Holy diver!”

News Roundup: Adult Swim Leaks Madvillain, plus Dâm-Funk, Nada Surf, and more

Adult Swim's 'Singles 2' feat. Madvillain

Quick bloggy bits from around the L.A. underground (and up). Share ’em.

  1. FEATURED: Adult Swim Debuts New Madvillain Track!*
  2. DJ Kutmah Drops Mixtape Honoring Dâm-Funk Supergroup
  3. Shake Yer Dredlocks: Nada Surf Debut “Electrocution” Video
  4. Download: Free Digi-Split from Benji Hughes and Willoughby

    5. (all stories via West Coast Sound, via LA Weekly)

* “Listeners may now rejoice. Adult Swim has shared a song-length glimpse into the forthcoming Madvillain record, and the view is sweet indeed.”