Thursday, March 28, 2013

Flying Lotus N. American Tour


Flying Lotus 'Layer 3' – A Red Bull Music Academy Film from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.

Flying Lotus, possibly the world's dopest beatmaker, is set to embark on a N. American tour.  Check out this video where Fly-Lo breaks down his live set, and then catch him on tour this spring.

4/21: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Ballroom 
4/23: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Heaven Stage)
4/24: Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel 
4/25: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
4/26: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
5/5: New York, NY @ Terminal 5 (RBMA)
5/12: Boston, MA @ Paradise
5/13: Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
5/15: Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy
5/16: Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues Cleveland
5/17: Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
5/18: Chicago, IL @ Metro
5/19: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
5/22: Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo
5/23: Vancouver, BC @ Vouge Theater
5/24: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
5/25: Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater

Afropop Ghana Kickstarter


There aren't a whole lot of people around doing more to promote and proliferate African music than Afropop Worldwide.  I know Sean Barlow and Banning Eyre personally.  They're great guys, and they absolutely love African music.  Do them a big favor and throw a few dollars towards their kickstarter campaign to do some field work in Ghana for their upcoming Hip Deep Series.  I can't think of anyone else on the planet doing such high quality work in different corners of the globe, especially Africa.  Do the right thing and throw them a few dollars.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Balkan Beat Box American Tour


Wailing horns, booming bass, winding guitar lines, thumping drums and screaming vocals all combine to make up a Balkan Beat Box live show. The crowd is dancing, if not jumping, rhythm is reverberating from all angles and directions as percussionists, horn players, vocalists, and dancers all rotate around the stage. Objects, substances and people fly on, off and around the stage as the show romps and raves from set to set. There are very few live musical experiences quite like a Balkan Beat Box concert.


BBB is bringing their world-class live show back to the USA starting this Thursday night in Boston.  I've had the privilege of catching them live four times before, and each time, they re-affirmed why they're one of the most dynamic live acts on the planet.  Check out their tour dates below and catch them live when they come to a city close to you.

Thursday - March 14 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
Friday - March 15 - Higher Ground - Burlington, VT
Saturday March 16 - MASS MOCA - North Adams, MA
Sunday March 17 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
Tuesday March 19 - 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
Wednesday March 20 - The Blockley - Philadelphia, PA
Saturday March 23 - The Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO

Monday, March 11, 2013

Turntables on las Ramblas

You may have heard of Turntables on the Hudson, the collective of dj's and beatmakers known to throw parties at destinations across New York led by NYC's own DJ Nickodemus, but have you ever wondered what would happen to that same party if it hopped across the pond to Barcelona, Spain?  It would probably sounds a lot like Turntables on las Ramblas, the new compilation out March 19, 2013 on Wonderwheel Records.  This comp is the first in River to River, City to City series curated by Nickodemus that will feature stops in Peru, the Caribbean and Egypt.  This album is one non-stop global dance party.  Need I say more?

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Wogdog Blues

If you're interested in staying up with the latest in African Hip-Hop, dig this: Wogdog Blues, the new album from Art Melody, the MC from Burkina Faso, out March 5, 2013 on Akwaaba Records, is pushing the envelope of African hip-hop the hardest out of almost anyone on the continent.  Imagine if MF Doom or Madvillian went to West Africa.  Throw in a few samples of assorted African musical sounds and you'll get close to Wogdog Blues.  

This is much more than just an African hip-hop album.  Produced by Redrum and Minimalkonstrunction, the beats draw from afrobeat, bass music, 1990s hip hop, African tradition and retro-futurism to best carry Art Melody’s unique flow. The album is mastered by Dave Cooley (Spoek Mathambo, J Dilla, Madvillain) in Los Angeles.

Art Melody will be touring throughout France over the coming month or two to promote the new album.  Check out his FB page to be up on the latest.  Cop the album via bandcamp.  This kind of thing doesn't come around often.


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

New Album from Superhuman Happiness


Hands, the new album  from one of my favorite bands on the planet, Superhuman Happiness, out March 5, 2013 on Royal Potato Family Records, is finally available for mass consumption.  Led by Stuart Bogie (Antibalas, Sway Machinery, Iron and Wine, TV on the Radio, etc. etc.), Superhuman Happiness is a collage of sounds and colors all designed to move you physically and otherwise.  

I first saw Superhuman Happiness in 2007 at a crowded Zebulon in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  A lot has changed about the band in that time (the personnel, the instrumentation) but that same rhythmic, danceable, universally resonant sound is still there.  

It's been extremely interesting to see SHH grow over the years, and this album definitely represents a major step forward in that growth.  The album is streamable on all the major providers, but if you're interested paying for the music in a way that will get back to the musicians, go to the label website and pick up the album on vinyl, CD, or digitally.  This music lives up to its name.  It is deeply human in the best way possible.