Tag: "los angeles"

Writing a sophomore album is a tricky prospect, especially when a band has received a massive amount of buzz and critical praise in relation to their relatively short lifespan. Groups crumble all the time under the weight of these expectations – whether from themselves or from the media – and often are unable to recapture the magic of their first major release: the one that they had their entire lives to conjure, instead of just a few months between tours and promotion. The rapid pace of the blogosphere has magnified the effect of this pressure, churning out new acts by the day that are effective sonic replacements for any formerly beloved group that has failed to pass muster on a new release. Add in the democratic and anonymous nature of the Internet, which emboldens the opinionated to release the type of caustic criticism that most would hide in person, and it is understandable why many bands today would have some trepidation regarding the release of new material.

Local Natives seem like they may be aware of, if not certainly reactive to, these perils. In part, because their second release Hummingbird does not stray far stylistically from Gorilla Manor, the debut album that put the Los Angeles group on the map in 2010. The band’s chiming guitar parts and multi-part harmonies remain, as do their intricate percussion lines that often form the focal points of their studio compositions and their energetic live shows. For some bands, the re-creation of a uniform sonic profile reminiscent of a past release could be interpreted as an insurance against loss, a way to satisfy those listeners who are expecting more of the same from a band they already enjoy. For other groups, the preservation of the same style could simply signify their love of that particular sound, and their desire to wring it dry for all of its latent value.

Continue reading ‘Review: Local Natives – ‘Hummingbird’’

Well, this was unexpected.

TMZ is reporting that Chris Brown and Frank Ocean were involved in a fight at a Los Angeles recording studio last night following a dispute over parking. Apparently, Brown was at the studio working with an artist he recently signed, when Ocean rolled through and complained to Brown that he was parked in the wrong place. What followed exactly is unclear, but according to tweets from Frank Ocean (seen below) it seems Chris and his security jumped Ocean, with Brown landing at least one punch on the “Pyramids” vocalist. This is contrary to other reports, which claim Frank’s guards were the first to start the fight. Police were called to the scene, but Brown left before they could arrive. Ocean stayed to answer questions, and as a result is currently being considered the victim in the situation.

Police are still hoping to speak with Brown about the altercation, but as of 8AM (EST) he had yet to step forward and cooperate. Stay tuned for further developments. Continue reading ‘Chris Brown And Frank Ocean Fight At Los Angeles Recording Studio’

Photo by Lisa Johnson

If you were to ask a dedicated fan what “punk” means in 2013, you would probably receive a long-winded dissertation on innumerable subgenres. Make no mistake: this conversation might be interesting, but it is not informative. At its core, the spirit of punk has always entailed – in one form or another – the forging of an individual path in the midst of a sea of conformity. It has reveled in a promised escape from the drudgery of the nine to five existence, a comfortable suburban home, and the meaningless trappings of a materialistic middle class life. It rejects the enforcement of the status quo. It pushes ceaselessly back against mindless repetition. That is what punk still is.

What happens, then, when a punk band turns that same critical eye on its own career; a career built upon the inevitable and predictable annual cycles of album releases, touring, and promotion? The result is The Bronx (IV), if not the most ferocious album that Los Angeles’ The Bronx have released to date, then certainly the most self-reflective. Thankfully, singer Matt Caughthran‘s throat-tearing screams remain intact on this release. There is no restrained breathing, no Zen of Screaming here. Only what sounds like Caughthran practically bleeding through the microphone in feral glee. Continue reading ‘Review: The Bronx (IV)’

In a recent interview with Prefix, Perry Farrell of seminal ’90s alt-rockers Jane’s Addiction announced that he is currently developing a Jane’s Addiction play. No, make that a musical. No, wait. It’s actually an “immersive theater” project. We give up. Well, whatever the category of Farrell’s ambitious new undertaking, it will definitely combine the music of Jane’s Addiction with a larger-than-life sense of theatrics. According to Farrell, “It’s not going to be in a theater. I’m going to create an environment and the music will be within that environment, and Jane’s Addiction will be within that environment.” Though recent plays like Sleep No More have offered audiences the chance to become part of the productions themselves, a major band has yet to jump on the burgeoning artform of interactive theater. Will we get a chance to pump iron with Dave Navarro?  To apply eyeliner with Farrell? We can only hope not.

If you love Jane’s Addiction, check out OurStage act Boys.

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Most God–fearing Christians know that Jesus was all about that forgiveness stuff, but The Game might be pushing it with this one. Yesterday, the rapper revealed the cover art for his upcoming album Jesus Piece, which features a stained glass–style depiction of the artist dressed as Jesus, the original Nazarene baller. He sports a red bandana, a teardrop tattoo, and, fittingly, a gold Jesus piece. Speaking to Rap–Up about the concept behind the album, The Game clarified his gleefully unorthodox personal dogma. “I don’t want to feel like I can’t love God or appreciate Jesus and have to put down that blunt,” the rapper said.

While The Game’s typical Sunday schedule, which includes strip club visits and pre–mass blaze sessions, will undoubtedly strike many fellow Christians as just a tad bit sacrilegious, the rapper is actually very perceptive about the hypocritical relationship that many hip–hop artists have with religion. “Self-consciously rappers just throw on a Jesus Piece. We spend like 25, 50 grand on a Jesus Piece, but then we’re reluctant to put $100 in the collection plate,” The Game said. Surprisingly, the Compton–bred rapper isn’t the only emcee who’s been willing to wade in the water recently. With Rick Ross releasing The Black Bar Mitzvah mixtape several weeks ago, it seems like hip–hop is taking a momentary turn towards the Tabernacle, with 40s and joints included, of course.

Fans of The Game should check out OurStage artist Skweeky Klean!

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After a heated first round of judging, the Tr3s “Dame un Break” Competition is now down to just five talented artists for its final voting round.  Listen and vote for your favorite undiscovered Latin artist between now and July 16th to help them win the Grand Prize: a one-day recording session with GRAMMY Award-winning producer Sebastian Krys and a music video shot in L.A., which will premiere on Tr3s and tr3s.com.  It doesn’t get much sweeter than that.  Vote now!

Now that submissions are officially closed, the Top 100 artists in the Tr3s “Dame un Break” Competition are locked in, and the fight to the finish is on. One hundred undiscovered Latin stars are competing for their chance to score a trip to L.A. to record with GRAMMY award-winning producer Sebastian Krys as well as win a music video from Tr3s. Help your favorite artist rise to the top by judging between now and June 25. The number one ranked artist, along with four other artists selected from within the Top 40 by Tr3s, will advance to the final voting round, which is set to launch July 7, 2012. Get ready.

We could swear that Justin Vernon says something about shoes in at least one Bon Iver song. Honestly, we’re still trying to figure out which words he’s singing. Either way, the man behind the pseudonym has teamed up with Los Angeles shoe company Keep to produce a custom line of “Bon Iver” shoes that follow the style of the company’s preexisting Ramos line. The salmon-colored canvas shoes feature a herringbone design and a black fishbone image on the toe.

This is the second time the company has teamed up with an indie artist to create limited edition sneakers. They released a line of products designed by members of Animal Collective in 2010, the proceeds from which benefitted the Socorro Island Conservation Fund to protect the marina biosphere off the California coast. Though Keep’s press release states that both the company and Vernon “support Best Friends Animal Society,” it is unclear whether the same donation method will apply to the sales of Bon Iver’s shoe as well.

The sneakers are manufactured in a humane process that is supposedly “cruelty-free” towards animals. If only it were as considerate of our eyes. The shoes will be available for pre-order at the Keep website until Sunday, July 1, and will arrive in stores October 2012.

Open to OurStage account-holders who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry. Entrants must be legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and excluding Hawaii and Alaska). Only Submission Materials that are determined, at the sole discretion of the Sponsors, to be classified as Latin, as defined on the official Tr3s “Dame un Break” Competition FAQs (http://dameunbreak.ourstage.com/faqs), will be deemed valid entries.

As reported by RollingStone and Spin, Insomiac CEO and Electric Daisy Carnival founder Pasquale Rotella may face 13 years in prison for an indictment that includes 29 counts of bribery, embezzlement, conspiracy and conflicts of interest. The mastermind behind one of North America’s largest EDM festivals is just one of six individuals charged in the enormous corruption case involving Los Angeles’ Olympic Coliseum. In previous years, the coliseum was the primary host of the Electronic Daisy Carnival before the city banned the festival from future use of the venue. This ban followed the death of a 15 year old girl who died from a MDMA overdose at the event in 2010. Since then, the L.A. political structure has spoken out against all EDM concerts and raves. L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley has accused the event planners of rerouting  more than $2.5 million from Coliseum to the personal bank accounts of Coliseum Events Manager Todd DeStefano and General Manager Patrick Lynch through illegal deals.

According to RollingStone, a court document submitted by Cooley states: “In 2008 DeStefano, [Go Ventures promoter Reza] Gerami, and Pasquale Rotella agreed that the two promoters would pay DeStefano personally and in exchange he would use his official position to provide them access to the Coliseum and low rates. Lynch learned of the payments in 2009 and . . . [assisted] him in continuing his crime.”

Currently on bail, Rotella’s lawyer denies any wrong doing on the part of his client.

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