Pretty Lights @ Wiltern

The Wiltern was the place to be on Friday as Pretty Lights took a stand in front of a sold out Los Angeles crowd. I had two missed opportunities to see this guy, so I made up for lost time front and center with Chronic Mncher and friends. The performance definitely rivaled some of the greatest I’ve ever been a part of. There’s something about live drummers and electronic music that changes everything, in a good way. Chali 2na (pictured) of Jurassic 5 guest MC’d and brought the crowd together in a whole new way. Pretty Lights was a perfect hybrid of heavy hip hop beats entangled with nasty dubstep and vintage soul samples. Nothing compares to a two hour set and a thirty minute encore. I love getting my money’s worth.

ALL of Pretty Lights‘ music is available for download on his website for free. He just asks for any donation, so help him out if you can. My favorite so far is “Passing By Behind Your Eyes.” They’re all good, but this one is most consistent as an album. Time to flood your library with new music:

-Skinny Genes

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Credit: Jason Shindler

Lots of big updates for events coming up. The KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas lineup rivaled some of the best I’ve ever seen. Ridden with the best indie/alternative acts that you can book: Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, Florence and the Machine, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, The Black Keys, Broken Bells (The Shins side project) to name a few. All at one place. All on one stage. I tried to snag tickets right when they went on sale. I got nose bleeds so I ditched em, and it sold out the next minute. To anyone that has tickets and needs a partner, let me know!

In other news…these side-numbing lineups seem to be all the rage nowadays. The Together As One crew continues to bring us the more of the most talented acts in the world. The other day we got Rusko, Dada Life, and Pendulum (DJ SET) added to the bill! Feelin’ a lot better about dropping $80 on tickets…Anyway, I’ve got a good feeling about this YOLO list. Enjoy the jams.

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Credit: Jason Shindler

Knocked another “must see” band off my list this Friday (Sonny & The Sunsets)…which isn’t saying much, because any band I haven’t seen is a must see. Anyway, it was one of those shows where the band I wanted to see met my expectations, which weren’t that high to begin with. It was a folk rock band, so I guess I shoulda known I wasn’t going to get the energy I wanted out of a show on a Friday. I did, on the other hand, find out about a San Francisco band called Weekend and the genre of “shoe gaze.” Very dream like, experimental music driven by sounds most would qualify as noise. Something about it gets to me though, and I threw one of their songs on this week’s YOLO. Enjoy!

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Credit: Jason Shindler

Music world is keepin’ it quiet, it seems. Fortunately got a show lined up for Thursday that I’m pretty excited about: Sonny & The Sunsets, which I mentioned in YOLO Week 7. Still bummin’ on Dada Life getting shutdown on Friday, especially considering I heard they threw down at Santa Cruz. I’ll live, though. It’s all part of the game!

Ok from now on, I’ve decided to change it up a little bit. I feel like it would be better to split the YOLO mentions through the week and see how it goes. More reasons to check back on bands more specific to what you may have liked from the list. Again, comments and feedback is appreciated, so I can mold this to more of what you guys are down with. Remember, this is all for you.

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Credit: Jason Shindler

It’s hard to believe that I’m half way through this weekend already. Last night was everything that I had been patiently waiting for. Everyone I was so excited to see threw down harder than I could have asked, played everything I was itching to hear, and I was front and center for it all. I could go on and on about it, but I’ll save it for the review. I’ve got some really good videos and tracks for you guys in the near future. Until then, here’s this week’s YOLO.

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Delightful Mention!

Artist: Cut Copy
You know those bands that you constantly see getting remixed by the big names? Klaxons, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, La Roux, Miike Snow, etc., etc. They all have that indie sound with electronic extras that make for some pretty sweet, dancy remixes if they’re done right. Cut Copy, who hails from the down under, is no different. The three piece band, consisting of Dan Whitford, Tim Hoey, and Mitchell Scott, have been remixed by the likes of Boys Noize, BetatraXx, and more. Whitford’s, I’m gonna go far enough to say, dreamy voice contrasts so well with the synthy, upbeat drum and bass lines. Their album “In Ghost Colours” got an 8.8/10 on Pitchfork and was voted the 4th best album of 2008. Great album. Great Band. Great vibes. I’ve included the Boys Noize remix that I heard at the beginning of my electronic endeavors. Essential track for anyone and everyone.

Cut Copy – Lights & Music (Boys Noize Remix)

Track: Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand (Afrojack Meaty Mix)
Leave it to Afrojack to take an all ready over remixed song and take it to a whole new level. This raved out, dirty dutch beauty brings you the best of Afrojack, teamed up with the catchy harmonics of a song we all know and love.

Credit: Jason Shindler

Halloween is getting closer, and I find myself seeking out reasons to talk about it regularly. I’ll spare you in this post. To keep my mind off it, I’ve been going to shows in LA as often as I can. The most recent was Born Ruffians at the Troubadour. The first time I went to see these guys was a major date fail, because it sold out when we got there. Round 2, although, was a major success. I had heard great things about the Troubadour, but for some reason never went. They get pretty big acts to play there regularly, and it’s a relatively small/intimate venue. The bars were very accessible, and there was one exclusive to 21+ fans with a great view from upstairs. One of the coolest places I’ve been to without a doubt, especially for this music. To top it all off, Born Ruffians played a flawless set.

Their second album Red, Yellow and Blue is one of my favorite albums of all time. They played everything I wanted to hear from all of their albums with the utmost perfection that one could ask for. The sing-alongs and their energy matched the positive, uplifting vibes of their recordings to the tee. Definitely going to see them again when they return. I haven’t had that much fun at an indie show since I can remember. I even got a souvenir drum stick and this video to relive the occasion:

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Delightful Mention!

Artist: Two Gallants
A gallant (gal-ant) is defined as being someone who is unflinching in battle or action. Pretty accurate description of the ferocity and passion behind these guys’ music. What intrigued me almost immediately about Two Gallants is that it really does consist of only two dudes. They are a folk/rock duo from San Francisco, made up of Adam Stephens on guitar/harmonica/vocals and Tyson Vogel on drums and backing vocals. Stephens’ raspy voice and mad guitar picking skills puts him apart from most people I’ve ever heard. The fact that he can put together such beautiful guitar lines while singing AND playing the harmonica always gets me. I can only imagine the hard work and bloody fingers he put in to multi-task as such. Most of the songs have more of a bluesy mood to them that is tough to listen to all the time.

I tried to include some of the more inspiring catchy songs that hooked me at the beginning. I put in some serious time to all three of their albums when I was going through an interesting point in my life. Pretty sure I owe most of my sanity to them. They’ve got some really powerful lyrics and one of my favorite lines of all time: “Never let your weakness show.” A really great all around band for people who are into the more folky/bluesy sound that takes you through the downtimes of life. It’s always nice to listen to a band that feels your pain…no homo.

Credit: Jason Shindler

Not too much going down in the music world this past week. Although, I did make it to a new weekly event at Drai’s Penthouse in Hollywood to see Basement Jaxx spin alongside HARD‘s own Gary Richards (aka Destructo). Pretty cool night at an even cooler hotel. The vibes, although, I could do without. Pretty much the epitome of high class Hollywood clubbers who know they are better than you. Regardless, it was an experience. It was nice to see Basement Jaxx for free, because I wasn’t able to make it to Smokeout Fest due to unforeseen circumstances. Oh well…there’ll be others!

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Delightful Mention!

Artist: The Growlers
There’s something about bands with a timeless sound that always get me. The first time I heard these guys, I could have sworn they were just a bad ass surf/rock/psychadelic band from the 70s, only to find they’re in their mid 20s and local! The Growlers, Costa Mesa’s own, are definitely making a name for themselves, as they should be. The first time I went to see them was at one of their warehouse shows they threw from time to time. Really cool set up. $2 for entry and you get a couples CD with some random songs they had wrote, which ended up becoming collector’s items. They set up the warehouse very creatively and had a bar for everyone. We need more bands to do this. Now they’re opening for the likes off Dr. Dog, The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, and most recently The Black Keys. I saw them when they opened for Julian Casablancas with The Strange Boys. Awesome show. All these bands are worth a listen and have made it on a YOLO List or will at some point, so check them out. They just released an EP called Hot Tropics which you can read more about and download at Let Your Hair Down. Looking forward to their full length.

Artist: Kids At The Bar
Another dancy/electronic DJ duo that is bound to make it in the libraries of every electronic fan out there. Just like I called it with the Bloody Beetroots, Jack Beats, The Twelves and Felguk, these guys are going to do big things in the future. They just need to be heard. Kids At The Bar are remix extraordinaires, and that’s how you have to start. Take a song thats big and put your own spin on it. They have all ready developed their own sound, which is crucial, and theirs is more favorable then most. Their “Walking on a Dream” remix is my favorite rendition of the song. It was the first I heard from them, and “love at first listen” is an understatement. I’ll throw it up in case you missed it. Watch out for these guys.
Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream (Kids At The Bar Remix)

Artist: The Black Keys
All my rock lovers look no further, as these guys are gods amongst men. The Black Keys consists of singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. They specialize in lo-fi psychedelic rock and blues. These guys formed in 2001, and in 2003 Rolling Stone named them one of the top ten best acts behind Outkast and the White Stripes. I had heard about these guys the first time back in 2006 upon their release of Magic Potion, but it took until their most recent release of Brothers for them to really hit home. I’ve always been an advocate of the lo-fi rock sound, and these guys have damn well nearly perfected it. Another one of those timeless sounding bands that any rock or soul lover is bound to enjoy. The whole Brothers album is a work of art and has taken up a majority of my listening time the past couple weeks. They’ve got a massive discography, so I suggest you get started now.