SWEET HOME CHICAGO: Spring Awakening Homegrown Artist Preview

Are you heading to Spring Awakening Festival at Soldier Field this June? The lineup is pretty stacked with many of the national EDM acts you’d expect from the top notch crew at promoter React Presents… with an added element of an incredible lineup of some of the best artists that hail from Chicago. Be sure to check out the following, Chi-city… they will be sure to put on a great show for their hometown!

On Friday there are just a few Chicago artists – here are the ones you should not miss:

Louis The Child is a prodigy EDM duo at only 15 and 16 years old hailing from Winnetka, IL. These two teenagers are gaining momentum and being compared to another young EDM prodigy, Madeon. With a new EP to drop in the near future featuring some stunning female vocals, you can check out their music, including a great remix of Zedd’s Clarity, on their soundcloud page.

Milk N Cookies are identical twin brothers from Palatine, IL who have been musicians their entire lives but now focus on leading the Post-Bro House Movement in the electronic music scene. Their heavy whompy drops will get you jumping up and down. Check out their music on soundcloud here.

Digital Departure creates their own unique sound that they have dubbed Electotrance which combines influences from trance, progressive house and electo house. Their mission is to go above and beyond the typical EDM performance of just pressing buttons, but actually creating a musical experience that the audience can groove to and really feel the vibes that they are laying down. Check out their soundcloud.

Saturday has a few more Chicago-native artists, including some bigger names:

DotEXE is a 22 year old producer who was studying computer programming where he got the idea for his name by typing the command .exe. But he has come a long way from computer programming and is now a fast growing underground electronic producer. He’s even got a great remix of another Chicago group that is playing at Spring Awakening, Krewella’s One Minute. Check out his soundcloud page here.

Team Bayside High gets their name from Saved By The Bell and describe themselves as ‘two best friends who came together because they love to party.’ Signed by JFK of MSTRKRFT they combine heavy sub bass with complex melodies and a party rocking mentality. They bring a fresh perspective to electronic music with many instruments, be sure to check out their tunes on soundcloud.

Dakota is a 20 year old producer who has switched up his style from low-tempo hip hop rythyms to heavy bass, dirty synths, and face smashing drops. Be sure to check out his grimey sounds on soundcloud and also check him out at Spring Awakening.

Kings of Class are two of the classiest dudes from Chicago. Known separately as Tsunami & Bobby De Maria, they have been working together for almost 5 years. They have even created the international clothing and music brand ‘House Music Saved My Life’.

DJ SOLO is part punk-rocker, part bass-head currently making massive waves in the drumstep and bass music scene. Using turntablism and some flat-out ridiculous techniques, his performances are full of high energy rapid-fire mixes that, in our experience, are of guaranteed face-melting quality. Having trained at LA’s sacred “Lost Temple” with DJ MUGGS of the almighty Cypress Hill, DJ SOLO is a member of the LA based crew Soul Assassins… so you know he will bring the thunder. He is not one to miss at Spring Awakening, as his shows are always the life of the party. Listen to his dope sounds on soundcloud.

Felix Da Housecat gets his name from…you guessed it, Felix the Housecat, plays a genre of house music called electroclash. He has been around since the 90s as a member of the second wave of Chicago House, and has not stopped rocking since. His main goal is simply to get people dancing, and that is what he does best. His charismatic shows are not something to be missed at Spring Awakening.

Flosstradamus are two Djs, J2K and Autobot, who bring a whole new meaning to the trap genre. Mixing in the best hip hop and rap beats with some fast drums and heavy electro beats. If you like rap and you like to dance then these guys bring it to the next level. Playing all the best new and old songs of the rap game, you will find yourself singing along as well as bouncing along to each track that they play. Definitely not one to miss at the festival this year.

FlosstradamusSpringAwakening

And on Sunday, there are even more Chicagoans playing, including everyone’s EDM favorite, Krewella:

LoBounce has shaped a new style of electronic bass music by combining sub bass and complex melodic elements and taking the instrumental dance music scene by storm. He fuses hip hop, funk, and downtempo electronic to create what he calls drippy bass. Be sure to check out his unique style on soundcloud.

Nathan Scott works five nights a week around the Chicago night club scene. He is a resident DJ on Sirius XM on Friday and Saturday nights helping BPM become the #1 dance station in the US. He currently holds a residency at the Las Vegas Ultra Pool Wet Republic at the MGM Grand Hotel. He is not one to miss if you love to dance.

Porn N Chicken is the craziest Monday night party every week in Wicker Park. PnC features resident Djs Orville Kline, PHIVES, and The Sleepers and features different guest Djs every week. It has grown notorious for scandalous behavior and a guaranteed good time. It was voted Chicago’s Best Dance Party of 2011 & 2012 by the Chicago Reader’s Poll. In other words, Porn N Chicken will deliver and you will not only dance your ass off but you will have an awesome time doing it. Be sure to check it out on Sunday.

Orchard Lounge is a futuristic Chicago trio that ranges from chill-out to bass-dropping e-funk. They have built their reputation not through playing in clubs but rather on the festival circuit and playing set-breaks alongside The Disco Biscuits, Lotus, STS9, and Umphrey’s McGee. Their mission is to expose as many people as possible to the artists that they admire and respect.

Krewella are the biggest group hailing from Chicago that are playing at Spring Awakening this year. Consisting of vocalist sisters Jahan and Yasmine Yousaf and producer Kris ‘Rain Man’ Trindl, they burst on the scene in 2011 and have only continued to rise. They have hit #1 on Beatport and Billboard and continue to stay there. They are the best new breakthrough artist and one you do NOT want to miss. The sisters songwriting is pure talent and their voices are even more magical. You would not expect that these girls with angelic voices could throw down the hardest, heaviest dubstep beats. Collaborating on songs with the heaviest artists in dubstep Skrillex, Knife Party, Adventure Club, and Savoy, these girls deserve to be at the top and are guaranteed to put on an amazing show for their Chicago people. Screaming and jumping and getting the crowd going, be sure to check out these hot rocking chicks on Sunday night.

KrewellaSpringAwakening

All in all, Chicago is full of musical talent and its no wonder that this EDM festival is coming to the city and to Soldier Field. It is going to be quite an epic weekend full of dancing, sweat, and fun. Get your tickets here and get ready to rage with all of these talented Chicagoans plus some other amazing artists that will be hitting the stages at Spring Awakening Festival June 14-16 in Chicago!

View Separately

Previous Next

Start Your Summer Off The Right Way at Summer Camp Music Festival

Summer Camp Music Festival will return to Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL again this year with three days of moe. and Umphrey’s McGee hosting this one of a kind festival along the river. And this year we will be blessed with two sets from Phish legend Trey Anastasio and his band.

Soundtribe Sector 9, The Avett Brothers, and Thievery Corporation will also be headlining, adding a little jamtronica, folk, and the unique flavor of Thievery to the already wide variety of genres that will be playing.

Summer Camp knows how to bring in the best jam bands, and this year is no exception. Conspirator consists of Disco Biscuit members, Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner as well as DJ Omen to create an original electronic rock band. Keller Williams with More Than A Little will be joining the lineup again this year, after playing every year since 2002, with his unique style of a one-man-band creating cool loops and mastering of the acoustic guitar. Modeski Martin & Wood, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, North Mississippi Allstars, Family Groove Company, Dumpstaphunk, and Papadosio and many more fun jam bands will be performing that really know how to put on a fun show and get everyone in the crowd to jam.

If you want to check out a great rising band from Chicago, be sure to check out Filligar. I grew up with these guys and they really know how to put on a rocking performance. Consisting of three Mathias brothers and their close friend Casey on the keyboard, they have been called “one of the best young bands in America.” Inspired by Wilco, The Rolling Stones, The Band, and Radiohead, they create a great unique style of rock-n-roll that not many bands can really create anymore. They have toured all over the country with big names such as The Black Keys, The Cool Kids, B.o.B., and Otis Day and the Knights. Their latest album The Nerve is one of my favorite albums, It really blends a true flavor of rock-n-roll with a fun new twist. Definitely check these guys out this summer, they might be further down on the lineup, but they are not one to miss.

If you are a fan of bluegrass then you will be very happy this year as Yonder Mountain String Band, Tea Leaf Green, and Cornmeal will all be performing. Yonder has a huge following and puts on such an amazing show, they are not someone to miss. Even if you don’t think you like bluegrass, you will find it hard to resist enjoying their show and just dancing your heart out. There are many more bluegrass artists coming to Chillicothe this summer so you will have a great time.

Although many may feel that this is a jam band heavy festival, since moe. and Umphrey’s are the hosts, there will be many electronic artists gracing us with their presence this year. With the EDM genre growing fast, it makes sense that they are invading this hippie festival. But don’t fret, some of the best names in EDM will be performing this year. Zeds Dead, Big Gigantic, Gramatik, Griz, and Savoy, will be bringing the heavy bass and massive bangers. Paper Diamond, Future Rock, Manic Focus, and Break Science (with Jurassic 5’s own Chali 2na) will bring some more groovy downtempo electro beats. And Diplo from Major Lazer and Wick-It The Instigator will be setting the stage with their awesome DJ skills that will get you up on your feet dancing. Be sure to check both of them out no matter what genre you like, because they just might sample a track from one of your favorite hip hop artists. And let’s not forget String Cheese Incident’s own percussionists Michael Travis and Jason Hann in Eoto. They are not one to miss as their unique sound brings a new flavor to dubstep jams.

There are also some big legends coming to Summer Camp this year. Taj Mahal is a Grammy Award winning blues musician who has redefined the definition of blues over his long career (over 50 years!). Reggae legends The Wailers will also be joining us this year, playing everyone’s favorite reggae songs that Bob Marley shared with the world. Although Marley is no longer with us, The Wailers will bring back the legend and make you feel Bob’s upbeat and powerful energy through his beautiful words and upbeat reggae sounds. And if you are a rap fan, Outkast’s Big Boi will be bringing the rap game to Summer Camp. Not a show to miss if you like hip hop, Big Boi and his entourage put on such a fun show with all of the best hits from Outkast, their energy will get you up on your feet and jumping.

The lineup for Summer Camp this year is pretty epic, there are many other artists making their way to Three Sisters Park this year. No matter what genre of music you like, or if you just like it all, there are many artists for you to see. But music isn’t the only great thing about the festival, there are many other fun things to fill your weekend. Whether you join a Field Day team and participate in kickball, dodgeball, tug-of-war, GIANT Twister, and a flip cup tournament, or visit the Soulshine Tent which features daily workshops, discussions, open mic, the make a difference treasure hunt, or take some yoga classes and hoop classes, and even learn to blow glass. There is so much to do at this great festival, so get ready to have the weekend of your life! It’s the best way to start your summer.

View Separately

Summer’s Last Stand: North Coast Music Festival Announces First Wave of Artists

North Coast Music Festival is returning to Union Park in Chicago for its fourth year in a row. The first wave of the lineup is out, and it is looking to be another great year with a variety of artists.

Wu Tang Clan is back and touring the festival circuit. With a new album set to be released later this year to mark their 20^th anniversary, the group consisting of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa, will perform their debut album 36 Chambers. Hip Hop heads will be stoked to hear the legends themselves perform epic songs from the iconic album such as Ain’t Nothin’ Ta F*ck Wit, C.R.E.A.M., Method Man, and Protect Ya Neck. Should be a very exciting show to say the least.

Afrojack, hailing from the Netherlands, this electronic producer will hit the stage performing some great dance tracks including his most famous single Take Over Control featuring Eva Simmons. Currently ranked #9 on the DJ Mag Top 100 DJ’s of 2012, he is not an act to miss if you love EDM.

Big Gigantic hails from Colorado and will bring an amazing performance to North Coast this year. Dominic Lalli’s soulful and powerful saxophone jams and Jeremy Salken on the drums add a new flavor to the typical electronic sound. Remixing some great tracks from Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Wiz Khalifa, these two have brought a whole new level of jam to the EDM scene.

Nas is another rap legend that will be joining the North Coast ranks this year. Since his debut album Illmatic in 1994, Nas has produced nothing but hits in his 20 year career, with 13 albums including one collaboration album with Damian Marley and his newest album Life Is Good. Hip Hop fans will be very happy with the lineup this year, and I’m sure there will be some more rap artists in the next wave of the lineup.

Disco Biscuits will be returning to NCMF after playing the festival’s first year in 2010. This jam band from Philadelphia fuse many genres to create a fun vibe that everyone can dance to. Often mixing in electronic elements into their rock style they have also performed some rap songs like Feel Good by the Gorillaz. With a huge following, this band is sure to put on an epic performance that everyone will love, whether a loyal fan or a new listener.

Lotus is another jam band addition to the lineup this year. Describing themselves as Jamtronica, they incorporate elements of rock, electronica, and funk to create a fun original sound that all can enjoy. With their last four albums on String Cheese Incident’s record label, SCI Fidelity Records, they just released their newest album Build this year. All of their tunes are great, but my personal favorite is Spiritualize.

Mac Miller is another rap addition to the lineup, hailing from Pittsburg, this new rapper has hit the scene hard with his debut album Blue Slide Park, a few Eps, and a new album released this year, Watching Movies With The Sound Off. Starting his career under the wing of fellow Pittsburg rapper Wiz Khalifa, this 21 year old now has his own reality TV show on MTV called ‘Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family’.

Rebelution adds a little reggae flavor to North Coast this year. With their socially conscious lyrics and upbeat tunes, you can’t help but dance along to their fun reggae style. You will quickly learn the catchy words that will put a smile on your face. With songs like Feeling Alright, Lazy Afternoon, Sky Is The Limit, and Good Vibes, you will instantly fall in love with this Santa Barbara based band.

Madeon is an 18 year old French electro-pop prodigy. His most famous single is a mash-up called Pop Culture, the YouTube video for that song propelled him into instant fame. The song features 39 songs mixed together to create an amazing new track, and the video shows his live mixing of the songs which is incredibly cool to watch. Watch it here. There was also an amazing dance video created to the song.

Skream is one of dubstep’s first producers. Hailing from England, he and producer Benga were the real originators of dubstep. If you are a fan of the EDM scene, be sure to check out this dub legend as he will be sure to put on an amazing performance. His most known single is a remix of La Roux’s In For The Kill which is simply outstanding, definitely the best remix of that song.

The variety of musical genres that will be playing at North Coast this year will be sure to bring in a mixed crowd. Whether you like electronic, rap, rock, or reggae there is someone for you to see. Other artists announced in the first wave are: Gary Clark Jr, Purity Ring, Laidback Luke, Datsik, Paper Diamond, Claude Vonstroke, RL Grime, Aloe Blacc, Aluna George, Just Blaze, Capital Cities, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, El Ten Eleven, Cherub, Poolside (live), Flatbush Zombies, On An On, Thibault, K. Flay, and Dean Cohen. Stick around for the next wave of artists, including more headliners. This year is sure to be a great one, no matter what type of music you like. So if you aren’t doing anything Labor Day Weekend (August 30^th – September 1^st), get your tickets to North Coast Music Festival, it’s the best way to end your summer.

Snowball Music Festival is returning for its third year, but it will not be returning to the Vail Valley. Instead it is heading to Winter Park, Colorado March 8-10. With the new location comes a new line-up. The big headliners are Pretty Lights, STS9, Big Gigantic, and Kendrick Lamar, and there are many other great artists heading to Colorado in March. The lineup is a great combination of electronic, hip hop and other jams, doing a nice job of diversifying the type of music, and giving people a well-rounded music experience. Having a festival in the mountains in the middle of winter creates such a unique experience compared to summer festivals. The outfits alone vary from multicolored one-piece ski suits, fur jackets, to full on costumes, to anything that looks unique and keeps you warm simultaneously, and of course there are many Spirit Hoods peeking through the crowds. The cold weather motivates you to keep dancing in order to keep yourself warm. All in all its an awesome time. If you find yourself heading to Snowball this year, make sure you check out the following artists.

The Floozies are two brothers from Kansas who combine electronic beats with rap and funky jams to create a unique soulful flavor that will instantly get you dancing. Be sure to check them out and download all of their music for free at http://flooziesduo.com

Robotic Pirate Monkey describe themselves as “the party pillaging electronic trio that fuses eclectic samples from the past with cutting edge sound design to create something totally fresh and fun to get down to.” And I could not think of a better description. Making a name in the Colorado electronic music scene, these boys have toured with Zeds Dead, Big Gigantic, Gramatik, Savoy and Krewella. They first got their name on the scene with their remix of Dolly Parton’s Jolene which they remixed live at the first annual Snowball with Pretty Lights, causing it to quickly become everyone’s favorite track. Be sure to check them out and download all of their music for free on their website http://roboticpiratemonkey.com

Michal Menert was the first artist signed to Pretty Lights Music label after growing up with Derek Vincent Smith in Colorado. His soulful electronic beats really catch your heart, and as you watch him perform you can see that he is really into the music and putting it all together. It is such a beautiful and melodic sound that just gets you excited. PLM describes his music as “a fusion of yesterday’s elements with tomorrow’s ideas.” He uses his unique musical background, originally hailing from Poland, to create fresh new beats. Be sure to check out his website http://michalmenert.com

Crizzly combines his crunkstep beats with Lil Flip’s rhymes to create an exciting show that is an instant dance party. His top song of the summer was Chain Hang Low which plays along to the tune of Do Your Ears Hang Low but about your gold chain but adds some heavy beats and new sounds to create his own musical genre of ‘crunkstep’. You can get his music on his website http://crizzly.net

Zion I is a hip hop duo from Oakland, CA consisting of DJ AmpLive and MC Zumbi. These two have been bringing the freshest beats since 1997, some of their bests songs are Silly Puddy, Fingerpaint, Caged Bird, and Coastin. If you love hip hop you have to go see these guys, you wont be disapointed. Their live shows are so full of energy you can help but to dance and sing along. With a new album called Shadow Boxing, featuring other great artists such as Collie Buddz, Bassnectar, The Grouch, and Eligh, this duo will put on an epic performance with their wide variety of songs, old and new. http://www.zionicrew.com

Robert Randolph uses his unique style of playing the sliding steel guitar with the funky blues of The Family Band to create this soulful jam that gets the crowd going. Robert’s guitar style is so fascinating and beautiful, he was named one of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. The band’s music is so much fun combining the blues with funk to create such a fun style. www.robertrandolph.net

Flosstradamus hails from Chicago bringing grimey rap onto the electronic scene. Remixing songs for Major Lazer, Lil John, The Cool Kids, Bloc Party, Usher, Kid Sister, and A-Trak, these two have really come hard onto the trap scene. www.facebook.com/flossstradamus

Krewella is an electronic trio from Chicago consisting of sisters Jahan and Yasmine and their close friend Rainman. Gaining momentum in the EDM scene with their hard rocking songs Killin It, One Minute, Alive, as well as collaborations with Skrillex on Breath, Adventure Club on Rise and Fall, and Knife Party on Fire Hive. These three will throw down harder than you expect and pleasantly surprise you with their fun live act and heavy banger beats. www.facebook.com/krewella

Grizmatik is the combination of Griz and Gramatik, as they describe they have “teamed up to show you how to weaponize the Uranium and cause Electro Soul devastation.” Mixing Griz’s saxophone wielding beats, and Gramatik’s souldful guitar sounds and heavy dubstep, these two have created a heavy soulful new dubstep sound that will have you eagerly waiting for the explosive drop. Their heavy banger that has really brought the attention to their collaboration is Digital Liberation is Mad Freedom, which is a twist of Griz’s album Mad Liberation and Gramatik’s album Digital Freedom. Check out each producer’s respective websites www.gramatik.net and www.mynameisgriz.com

HEADLINERS

Pretty Lights aka Derek Vincent Smith is a producer from Colorado. Already one of the top electronic music artists in the EDM scene today, DVS puts on a spectacular performance. With an amazing light show consisting of skyline looking LED towers and spectacular lasers. Pretty Lights combines hip hop beats with vintage funk and soul samples. With eight albums since 2006, as well as some singles released in the past few years, there are so many songs to choose from, and every single one is amazing in its own unique way. Describing hims style as “electro organic cutting-edge party rocking beats that fill venues with energy and emotion and send dance floors into frenzies.” And that is exactly what he does, each live performance is an experience that you will never forget, once you see Pretty Lights, you are instantly drawn in. Go to http://prettylightsmusic.com to download all his music for free, as well as check out other artists on the Pretty Lights Music Label including other Snowball acts such as Michal Menert and Gramatik.

Soundtribe Sector 9 (STS9) is an instrumental electronic rock group, combing funk, blues, drum & bass, and even some hip hop to blend into a fun psychedelic dance experience. Raging since 1998, this Atlanta based group has released 11 albums and two remixed albums on their record label 1320 Records. Their live performances are full of excitement and spectacular lights. They might even continue their theme of the Mayan apocalypse with their Mayan Temple LED stage light setup. Their heavy guitar sounds and soulful bass mix with beautiful keyboards and electronic beats that cause you to simply groove to every song they perform. They have a new album coming out soon, so be sure to check out their website for upcoming news and music http://sts9.com/

Big Gigantic combines the drums, the saxophone, and electronic beats to create their own musical blend of EDM, even with some awesome rap remixes such as Kanye West’s Get Em High, Wiz Khalifa’s Black & Yellow, and their most famous I Need A Dolla. Coming from Boulder, Colorado, Dominic Lalli plays the saxophone as well has handles the producing on the computer and Jeremy Salken plays the drums. Every show they play draws more and more energy from the crowd, it will be such an experience to see them headline Snowball this year. Download all their music for free on their website http://biggigantic.net

Kendrick Lamar is a hip hop artist hailing from Compton, California who is greatly influenced by Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls,Jay-Z and Nas and who at 25 has already worked with the greats such as Dr. Dre, Game, Drake, Young Jeezy, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, and Lil Wayne. His California roots add so much to his hip hop beats, he will put on such an awesome performance. Following Snoop Dogg’s performance last year, Kendrick Lamar will be the big rap name on the lineup this year. www.kendricklamar.com

This year is looking out to be a great year for Snowball Music Festival. The headliners as well as the other artists are going to make it a magical weekend. A festival in the snow is such a fun experience that you don’t want to miss out on. Be sure to bundle up, put on something brightly colored, or even a fun costume, and get out there and dance!

Eyes on Fire - Zeds Dead - Decadence New Years Eve

Decadence NYE in Denver was put on by Triad Dragons who also put on Global Dance Festival at Red Rocks Amphitheater. So you had to know that the lineup was going to be killer in the EDM scene. And boy was that an understatement. Some of the honorable mentions are Wolfgang Gartner, who absolutely killed it with his progressive house beats, and even a few fun remixes thrown in there, even though he had one of the earlier set times, starting at 8:15. Also Paul Basic off of Pretty Lights Music threw down hard playing his signature track Daydream. But it was Flosstradamus who really stole the show, mixing rap songs with heavy heavy dub beats. Wearing a white hoodie, he seemed to glow from the stage as strobe lights flashed behind him. His set was so loud, everyone after that sounded a little soft, maybe its because my ear drums were shot, but boy was I surprised at how hard of a set he threw down.

Held at the Colorado Convention Center, there were two stages, the Global Dance Arena which was hosted by the Triad Dragons and the Global Dub Arena put on by Sub.Mission. The Dance stage was right as you walked in and wa underneath a huge chandelier which lit up with the music. The lineup consisted of Joman, Jontron, Wolfgang Gartner, Ecotek, Krewella, ATB, and Rudee. The Dub stage was in a different room, with a whole canopy of string lights that also changed with the music, with an epic lineup of Dodger, Supreme, Fury & MC Dino, Paul Basic, Flosstradamus, Mimosa, and Zeds Dead. Both stages had such great lineups, it was really hard to choose which artists to see, since many great people overlapped.

To ring in the new year, Krewella was playing in the Global Dance Arena and Mimosa was playing in the Global Dub Arena. Mimosa was throwing down his hardest tracks, mostly some new trap songs including a 2 Chains remix. But it was Krewella who absolutely stole the show. Playing underneath the glowing chandelier, the girls and Rainman brought a laser party to add to their heavy banger beats. Dropping all of their hit tracks, which lets be honest is ALL of their songs, they also threw down Knife Party and some remixes off their new Player Harder EP. It was so much fun as the countdown begun and midnight struck and balloons and confetti came falling on top of peoples heads.

After midnight, the show was far from over, there were still many acts to come. But the ones who threw down the hardest and started out 2013 right were Zeds Dead. They played everything from White Satin, to Bassmentality, to Coffee Break, to Unda Yuh Skirt, to everyone’s favorite featuring Omar Linx, Out For Blood. Finishing off the night with Eyes on Fire and a remix of Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze which was pretty epic. Zeds Dead always throws down super hard, it was so fun to see them really have fun with it and start the new year with all the best tracks.

It was such an amazing show, actually I wouldn’t even call it a show as much as I would call it an experience. The whole night was magical, from the lights to the music, to the dancing, to the fans. Even though it didn’t have a huge lineup like Lights All Night or BassLights, it was still a great show of EDM underdogs. It was a great way to dance your way into 2013.

- #decadence
- #new years
- #denver
- #krewella
- #zeds dead
- #flosstradamus
- #mimosa
3 months ago
Permalink

Sympathy for the Devil - STS9 12/29/12

SOUNDTRIBE SECTOR 9 @ THE FILLMORE DENVER, NEW YEARS EVE RUN

What better way to ring in the new year than with Soundtribe Sector 9. With a three night run, STS9 celebrated the new year at the Fillmore in Denver. With three nights of music, the band was able to spice up their regular setlist covering all bases of their discography, and spread it out with new and old additions.

The first night began with Breath In, setting the tone that the night was going to be a chill and funky start to the weekend. Next up, Monkey Music getting the crowd amped knowing tonight would be full of old jams. A few more goodies in the first set were Mobsters, Empires, Be Nice, We’ll Meet In Our Dreams, and Tokyo. Ending the first set strong with Frequencies 2&3. We could not have asked for a better way to start the weekend and end the year. Keeping their Mayan temple styled LED lights up for display during the intermission, they kept the groovy beats playing while everyone could grab a fresh beer and get ready for the second set. Coming back they played Really Wut? Then Evasive Maneuvers into Kamuy into an amazing rendition of the Rolling Stones’ Sympathy for the Devil which got everyone singing along and cheering out their ‘Woo Woos’ at the chorus. They played a hard second set with F. Word, Grow, Moonsockets, and So It Goes, and ending with an encore of Somesing which turned full circle back into Breath In. Wow, what a strong first night, I knew that the second and third night would be progressively better.

Night two started out hard with MOD into Golden Gate, and they really got the crowd going when they played When The Dust Settles with some crazy looking LED background lights as well as a strong light show from Saxton. They finished out the first set with Blu Mood, Circus, Hidden Hand Hidden Fist, and Rent. Once again, the night was starting out great, and we knew that the second set could only bring more great tunes and cool visuals. Starting back strong with Metameme, then Beyond Right Now into a funky Scheme Reprise which got everyone jamming and grooving to the beat. Then they shocked everyone by playing some Daft Punk, Robot Rock which got the whole crowd bouncing and dancing like robots. Next up was Inspire Strikes Back, Shock Doctrine, Instantly, and What Is Love. They finished out their second night with an encore of Equinox.

The third and final night, New Years Eve was going to end the whole weekend with a bang, literally. The last night of their three night run as well as the last night of the year, you know they were going to show the crowd an awesome time. Starting off with Musical Story Yes into my personal favorite as well as a theme song for the year 20-12 the momentum of the evening was only just starting. Next up was Arigato, Scheme, Grizzly, Vapors, Simulator, and ending the first set with ABCees. The second set was gearing up to be strong as it would ring in the new year with over three thousand fans. Coming back with a new song called End Titles, then a Jamiroquai song Revolution into the countdown with Kool and the Gang’s Celebration to celebrate the new year. Next up was Kaya into a song inspired by the Bloody Beetroots into The Unquestionable Supremacy of Nature, then GLOgli, and ending the set with Looking Back on Earth, EHM, and March. And coming back with an encore to end the whole weekend and begin a new year with T.W.E.L.V.E. (which was the theme of the weekend) and finally Wika Chikana.

Soundtribe never ceases to amaze me. Every time I see them live their shows are better than the last. Their setlist is always changing, and yet they can always gain the support of the audience no matter what they play. I think its because every single one of their songs is a great one. Its hard to find a band like that, who never plays a track you don’t like, because they only have epic tracks. At the end of each night, the crowd was ecstatic and full of love. What a way to spend my New Years, I hope that 2013 will bring me as much joy and happiness as 2012 did. Thank you STS9!!

- #sts9
- #new years
- #fillmore
- #denver
- #colorado
- #tribe
3 months ago
2
Permalink

SAVOY - Senator (Die Antwoord) / I’m In Need @ North Coast 2012

North Coast Music Festival…..Summer’s Last Stand. It is my favorite way to end my summer with music. Even though it is at a smaller venue that Lollapalooza, this festival really kicks a hard punch. With huge names such as Soundtribe Sector 9, Umphrey’s McGee, Pretty Lights, Girl Talk, Knife Party, Big Boi, and Steve Aoki, to name a few, this festival throws down hard. Packed into Union Park on the west side, five stages bring out the best artists and performers. Even though I wish I could have seen every single show, I did have to make a few tough decisions, but here are some of the highlights of the weekend.

FRIDAY

Midnight Conspiracy

Midnight Conspiracy brings a new factor to dubstep. Although they did not play within their LED Eye, they still had an amazing LED show going on behind them. They threw down the heavy beats, a great way to start off the first day of the festival with some hard core dancing. They even closed out their set with a soothing electronic remix of The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby that showed off their talents of bringing together different genres to create a massive banger set.

Eoto

Made up of the two percussionists of The String Cheese Incident, these two really know how to put on a show. Creating different loops and beats, they create an awesome dance party for anyone in attendance. Although they did not play within their specialty lotus flower, they still put on a great show with cool LED panels behind them. The original type of music that they create is so unique, it is quite amazing to even think that these two are in a jam band such as Cheese, it almost doesn’t make any sense. But nevertheless, their music is awesome and their stage presence is so much fun.

Knife Party

Made up of two members of Pendulum from Australia, these two really know how to throw down the heavy banger beats. Beginning their set with Rage Valley, they started off hard getting the crowd super charged for their epic set. Covering a few songs and adding their own dubstep twists to Swedish House Mafia’s Save The World and Antidote, a song they do together with SHM. And playing everyone’s favorites such as Bonfire, Centipede, Internet Friends, which their added a little twist to the now famous beat drop “You blocked me on Facebook, now we’re going to get Fucked Up”, and finishing their set with Destroy Them With Lasers. The whole show was absolutely insane, the crowd was jumping up and down, mosh pits were forming, and some people even had centipedes raised up on poles dancing to the heavy beats.

Soundtribe Sector 9

STS9 started their set off with their intro to the Great Cycle Spectacles. An alien sounding voice addresses the crowd talking about peace and understanding between our earth and space. The visuals resemble a Mayan pyramid and it lights up in different colors. The first song is a Mayan inspired song about the end of the world called 20-12, turning right into one of their newer songs When The Dust Settles right into Arigato. They also played crowd favorites such as Hidden Hand Hidden Fist, Scheme, Vapors, and a new song Awesome which features beats from The Bloody Beatroots. They finished up their set with The Unquestionable Supremacy of Nature, bringing an awesome close to the first night of North Coast.

SATURDAY

Excision

Excision leads the way in drum and bass dubstep. He throws down his own original beats as well as remixes of a few awesome tracks. One of the highlights of his show was a remix of Jibbs’ Chain Hang Low. Everyone knows this track since it is to the same tune as the classic children’s song Do You Ears Hang Low, except obviously this song is about a chain…. “Do your chain hang low, do it wobble to da flo, does it shine in the light, is it platinum is it gold…”

Atmosphere

Originating from Minnesota, Atmosphere brings his own midwest hip hop vibe to the festival. His chill rhymes brings joy to all listening, and he brought out some really fun new beats that got everyone bouncing. Even though there was not too much hip hop at this festival, Atmosphere really held his own and put on an awesome show playing all of his best songs off of his albums When Life Gives You Lemons, God Loves Ugly, and others.

The Rapture

This indie-rock band from NYC mixes many genres into their shows. In fact their encore was a rockified remix of Sisqo’s The Thong Song.At first I didn’t even realize what song was playing, because they gave it a completely new sound, but once I started listening to the lyrics I realized that they were in fact bringing it back old school style with a goofy 90s classic. “Let me see that thooooong, baby, that thong th-thong thong thong”

Umphrey’s McGee

This progressive rock jam band from Chicago never ceases to wow the crowd with their interesting blend of rock-n-roll, funk, blues, metal and a little electronica. Playing favorites such as Ocean Billy and Miami Virtue, these guys really rocked the crowd hard as they ended the second night of the festival. They even came out with an encore mixing Puppet String with The Who’s Eminence Front. What an amazing performance.

SUNDAY

DJ Solo

Hailing from Buffalo Grove, IL, DJ Solo really knows how to throw down a hard and fun show. Remixing every great song as well as creating his own original beats, Solo drew in a huge crowd at the smaller Dos Equis stage. He even dropped a new song that he did with Umphrey’s McGee, adding a little rock-n-roll to his heavy dubstep beats.

Savoy

Coming from Colorado, these two producers know how to drop the heavy beats. Just releasing an EP called Supertrail, which is available for free download on their website savoyband.com, this electronic duo premiered all their new songs in Chicago. A few of their new tracks feature Heather Bright including So Bad, More, and We Are The Sun. And the surprised the crowd by mixing in South African rap duo Die Antwoord’s song Fok Julle Naaiers with their new track Senator. Of course they also played the usual favorites such as Dev’s Dancing In The Dark, Lil Wayne’s Dirty Dancer, and their original track I’m In Need.

Big Boi

Bringing the dirty south to the midwest, Big Boi rocked the stage. Playing all of his hit songs, as well as everyone’s favorite Outkast songs, he got everyone in the crowd dancing. ATLiens, Sorry Ms. Jackson, I Like The Way You Move, Bombs Over Baghdad, were only a few of the great hits that he shared with the crowd. His crew on stage was dancing just as hard as the fans, and he put on an amazing performance. Even though North Coast seems to be run by electronic and rock bands, Big Boi held his own bringing the rap flavor to the festival. And he did an amazing job of hyping everyone up before Pretty Lights ended the festival.

Pretty Lights

There could not have been a better way to end the weekend. Colorado Native, Derek Vincent Smith brought down the house with his set Sunday night. Starting off with the Rustified remix of Hot Like Sauce, dropping old tracks such as Sunday School, The Time Has Come, Up And Down I Go, and everyone’s favorite Finally Moving, as well as newer songs like You Get High, We Must Go On, and a remix of the Chicago Bulls Intro getting all of the Chicagoans bouncing along to the beat. He ended his set with the heaviest banger, I Know The Truth.

All in all it was a pretty epic weekend full music, light shows, dancing, and LOTS of totems and flags waving around in the crowd. Everyone who played threw down some pretty amazing sets with fun surprises, funky covers, and old favorites. North Coast has drastically grown since its first year and I can’t wait to see what it has in store for next year. But until then, all we can do is reminisce and watch videos from the experience. Until next year, North Coast, you successfully blew my mind!

North Coast 2012 After Parties preview

AFTER PARTIES

After spending your whole day in Union Park at North Coast Music Festival, sometimes you just don’t want the party to end at 10pm. Well lucky for you, there are after shows at a few various venues in the city where some of the top performers can play a longer extra set. If you don’t want to go home right after the festival, check out some of these after shows, you wont regret it.

FRIDAY

Girl Talk, Zion I, DJ Intel @ Congress

Girl Talk has wowed audiences with his mash-ups since 2006. He effortlessly combines beats, lyrics, and flow from different songs in all different genres to create a new amazing and fun song to dance to. His stage presence is so much fun, even though he is constantly on his computer mixing and mashing different songs, he never stops moving and dancing to the beat. He allows as many fans as can fit onto his stage to dance around him and his laptop as he fires away new and old beats.

Zion I is an amazing hip hop duo that has been around since the late nineties. With hits such as Coastin, Silly Puddy, Finger Pain, and Caged Bird, these two know how to rock a crowd. Guaranteed you will have fun at this show, even if you think you don’t know any of the songs, Girl Talk is sure to pop in a few of your new and old favorites, and Zion I will surprise you with their soothing and fun hip hop classics.

Midnight Conspiracy, Nit Grit, AbdeCaf, Manic Focus @ HOB

This dubstep duo has quite a stage presence. They perform inside of an eye which is inside of a LED pyramid, and as they perform an intense laser show ensues. It is quite a spectacle that you don’t want to miss. You have to see these guys at least once, their laser show is equal to (if not better than) Ghostland Observatory or Savoy.

SATURDAY

Dan Deacon, DJ La Jesus @ Cobra Lounge

Dan Deacon is an american electronic composer. He is most well known for his live shows where he plays on level with the audience and allows them to dance all around him. It is a very interactive experience. You may have heard his name before from Liam Lynch’s youtube viral video ‘Drinking Out of Cups’, which is a very strange video of someones recorded voice (who sounds like they are on an acid trip) coming out of a digital lizard. If you haven’t seen it, check it out, it is quite interesting. But Deacon’s show is guaranteed to be a fun dance party.

Felix Da Housecat, Zebo, Porn N Chicken @ Bottom Lounge

Felix Da Housecat hails from our hometown of Chicago. He is an electroclash house DJ. He has been around since the 90s creating fresh beats, even remixing some great songs by Passion Pit, Britney Spears, The Chemical Brothers, Madonna, and my personal favorite Nina Simone’s Sinnerman.

Doctor P, Eoto, Lobounce @ Congress

Doctor P is an English dubstep producer who has recorded with and toured alongside Flux Pavilion. He brings in some heavy bass and you wont be disappointed by his jams. Lobounce calls his style of music ‘drippy bass’, as it is a combination of hip-hop, funk, and electronic. His unique flair puts an original twist on EDM, and yet his beats still drive everyone to dance and dance hard. And finally Eoto, consisting of the two drummers from The String Cheese Incident, these two use looping to create a new sound in dubstep. These guys bring a whole new fresh set of eyes to the dubstep industry and create some amazing sounds with a little influence from the jam band scene. You would never believe these guys are from SCI with their new brand of dubstep, but you will love it no matter what.

STS9, Future Rock @ HOB

STS9 always puts on an amazing show. Hailing from Georgia, these psychedelic rockers bring some essence of the Mayan end of the world into their groovy jams. Combining their instruments with a little help from laptop technology, these guys can create some amazing sounds and put out amazing vibes. And with Chicago natives Future Rock opening for these guys you are guaranteed to have a blast. Future Rock is a trio of bass guitar, synthesizer, and drums, and these guys really kill it. This whole night will be a fun experience of rock plus new technology to create a whole new genre, which I guess we can just call future rock. Don’t miss this one!!

SUNDAY

Grizmatik (Gramatik & Griz), The M Machine, Paul Basic @ HOB

Dubstep producers Griz and Gramatik have joined together to create Grizmatik. These two combine their heavy dub jams together to create a whole new musical genius. The two vibe off of each other to create brand new heavy beats that everyone can dance to. Also joining them is The M Machine off of Skrillex’s label OWSLA, a electronic duo from San Francisco who perform on top of a giant LED ‘M’ which is synced to the music. And Paul Basic hailing from Colorado is on Pretty Lights Music Label, so you know that his beats have to be fresh and hard hitting. This will be a great dance party with some awesome up and coming talent from the EDM industry.

Rebirth Brass Band, Dumpstaphunk @ Bottom Lounge

Hailing from New Orleans, this group, which looks a little like a school marching band, combines traditional New Orleans brass band music with funk, jazz, soul, and hip hop. Dumpstaphunk is another New Orleans group creating some modern southern funk. Consisting of the sons of one of the Neville Brothers, these guys were born with talent and it really shows through in their music.

Umphrey’s McGee @ Congress

Who can’t resist the smooth jams and heavy rock from Chicago natives Umphrey’s McGee. These guys know how to throw on an epic show, covering a few key songs as well as playing all the crowd’s favorites. Although considered part of the jam band scene, these guys are more like progressive improvisation, or as they call it ‘improg’, they draw their influences from bands like Pink Floyd and Genesis, as well as a little heavy metal influence like Iron Maiden and a little Led Zeppelin. These guys can start with a smooth jam and evolve into some heavy rock. These guys are a must-see, they’re shows are always full of energy and fun. If you didn’t get enough of them on Saturday night, make sure you get tickets to their after show Sunday.

Steve Angello @ The Mid

One member of The Swedish House Mafia, this Swedish DJ will blow your mind. Busting out some epic club bangers, this guy knows how to throw a party. If you are at all into SHM, then you should definitely check out Steve Angello, he will not disappoint. Considered part of the progressive house genre, you will feel like you are dancing in the club at his show, and you will not want to stop dancing.

Lollapalooza 2012 preview

Lollapalooza is only one week away! Chicago’s best festival of the summer has finally arrived. Perry Ferrel from Jane’s Addiction brings this awesome festival to Chicago the first weekend of August each summer. It has been around since 1991, with a brief hiatus in 2004, but returned to Chicago in 2005 and has been growing strong ever since. Bringing in the biggest names in music, some past performers have been legends such as Daft Punk, Kanye West, Radiohead, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine, Jane’s Addiction, Muse, Snoop Dogg, Deadmau5, Pretty Lights, and many many more.

Since it is such a huge festival, spanning a mile through Grant Park along the lakefront, and with around 100 bands performing, it can be a little overwhelming. But here are a few artists that you should definitely check out during the three days of music.

Friday’s headliners are Black Sabbath, Wale,Bassnectar, and The Black Keys. Depending on what kind of music you are into, these four headliners can fill every niche. If you are into garage rock, The Black Keys, a duo from Ohio, are the best bet for you. These guys have been rocking out since 2001 and are a really fun show. If you are more into heavy metal, definitely go check out Black Sabbath. These legends have been around since 1969 with Ozzy Osbourne as their lead singer. These guys are sure to put on an amazing show, perhaps with some pyrotechnics. If you are more into the rap scene, then Wale is your man. With lots of hot collaborations with artists on the radio, you will be sure to recognize his songs. And if you are more on the EDM (electric dance music) scene then Bassnectar will absolutely blow your mind. Leading the scene in heavy heavy bass, he remixes some of your favorite songs as well as drops his own creations. He will have you dancing from start to finish with out a single break, so bring your dancing shoes.

Looking for some other great EDM acts? Hang out at Perry’s stage all day and you wont regret it. Zedd, electric house producer from Germany, throws down the hardest beats. He even remixes Skrillex and the Doors’ collaboration Breaking A Sweat, and I don’t know how he did it, but made the song even heavier than Skrillex’s version. This 22 year old really knows how to throw down. Madeon, and electropop producer from France knows how to create the perfect mash-up. He is mostly known from his youtube video for Pop Culture which mixed in 30 different songs to create an amazingly catchy pop masterpiece. Porter Robinson, American electro house producer, signed to Skrillex’s label OWSLA, rocks the house with his deep bass and fun dance tracks. Nero, one of the biggest names in the electronic music genre, the duo from England has collaborated with artists such as Skrillex, Calvin Harris, Deadmau5, and more. You can even hear their song Feel So Close in a bunch of different commercials. Another hot performer who will get you on your feet with her catchy beats and melodic voice is Dev. 23 year old California native Dev has been featured in Far East Movement’s single Like a G6, and dropped her own top singles Bass Down Low and In the Dark all about dancing to some groovy bass beats. Passion Pit, an electropop band hailing from Massachusetts, most known for their song Sleepy Head. This will be a more relaxed show than what you would find at Perry’s, but it will still be fun to dance to. Now if you want to have a really fun time, and get your laughs out, check out Die Antwoord. Coming all the way from South Africa, this rap-rave duo,Ninja and Yo-Landi, bring their strange looks and fast rhymes to the stage with confidence. You will be shocked by how fast Ninja can rap and by the soothing yet creepy voice of Yo-Landi. These two are absolutely crazy but genius at the same time.

Perry’s lineup on Saturday is a bit more mixed genre-wise than Friday. Paper Diamond, a Colorado producer brings catchy cool vocals with heavy beats to the stage and puts on an amazing performance and nobody can help but dance to. Next up on the schedule is southern rapper B.O.B. His debut single Airplanes was a top hit on the radio, and he has even recorded with rap legends such as Lil Wayne. Then Perry’s comes back to the dubstep scene with the originators of dubstep, London producers Skream & Benga. Moving away from dubstep, and towards electro house, next up on the bill is Calvin Harris. Scottish DJ, singer, and producer, you will absolutely have a blast at his show, especially if he plays his hit single Feel So Close. Santigoldends the night at Perry’s. This singer plays soothing songs with funky beats as well as some collaborations with rap legends such as Jay-Z. If you get tired from all of the dancing and want to go to a chill show, check out The Temper Trap. Coming all the way from Australia, these guys know how to jam with smooth vocals and great guitar. Their his single Sweet Disposition is so beautiful and melodic, you can even hear it in a few American commercials. If you want to kick it a little bit old school, or at least go back to the early 2000s, check out Franz Ferdinand, I think we all remember their catchy single Take Me Out. The two big headliners of the night are rock legends Red Hot Chili Peppers and up and coming 22 year old producer from Sweden Avicii will close out the night with a bang. So whether you want to rock out the RHCP and Anthony Kiedis groovy singing and Flea’s epic baselines, or dance the night away with one of the top DJs in the world, the choice is up to you.

Sunday is the perfect schedule to kind of settle down the weekend but still rock out hard. If you like bluegrass, Trampled By Turtles are amazing. Combining the twangy tunes of guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle, these guys will bring out your inner crunch and you wont be able to contain your excitement. If you want to stay on the chill kick, check out Sigor Ros. Hailing all the way from Iceland, this rock band kicks on the chill grooves and soulful sounds that you wont be able to resist. Staying on the chill vibe, Florence and the Machine with their hit single Dog Days Are Over will rock you out with lead singer Florence Welch’s soulful voice and the bands catchy guitars riffs. To end the night on a rock note, the White Stripes’ lead singer and guitarist Jack White will be closing out the show. Voted one of Rolling Stones greatest guitarists of All Time, Jack will be sure you rock you all night long.

Now if you want to dance the third night away, Sunday’s lineup has some great EDM acts. Starting with Doctor P, london based dubstep producer who has collaborated with Flux Pavilion on many songs and the duo often tour together. Next up from Colorado is Big Gigantic, mixing heavy dubstep beats with live drums and the saxophone, this unique duo brings a new elements of horns into the dubstep genre. Next is Toronto based duo Zeds Dead who play some of the deepest heaviest bass, sometimes touring with friend and rapper Omar LinX. Getting their name from Pulp Fiction, they remix some great songs as well as create some amazing and catchy originals. To end the night you have two choices, Justice, French electronic duo who are most known for their remix of MSTRKRFT’s song D.A.N.C.E., or Kaskade a DJ hailing from Evanston, IL who has collaborated with EDM legends such as Deadmau5 and Wolfgang Gartner, mixing in melodic vocals with heavy beats.

No matter who you see perform, every musician coming to Lollapalooza will be amazing. The lineup this year is great, and each performer will bring their A-game and put on an amazing show. If you find yourself unsure of who to go see, simply cruise by each stage and see who sounds the best to you. Who knows, maybe you will discover your new favorite artist this summer. Just remember to have lots of fun, and wear sunscreen if its sunny, or bring a plastic bag to put your phone inside in case it rains. ENJOY!

View Separately

Michal Menert & Break Science – Twilight Frequency EP

«click on the photo to listen to the EP»

Last month Michal Menert and Break Science came to the Belly Up in Aspen. I went to the show with all my friends expecting nothing but epicness. After just releasing a song together called ‘Electric Touch’, I knew this combination was going to lead to a fun night.

After the show Michal came out to greet all his fans. My good friend Light Geist Photography was cool enough to snap the picture above of me and MM. Make sure you check him out as well as more pictures from the show here.

SAVOY @ Red Rocks Recap + 2013 Tour Announce

After attending personal record number of shows at Red Rocks this summer (7), I couldn’t let the summer end when I saw that Savoy & Krewella (and Lotus & Eoto) were playing the first weekend of September. I knew that this was going to be the show of the summer, and I was right.

We got into Red Rocks just in time to see Robotic Pirate Monkey. They killed it after just releasing their newest EP ‘Heat.wav’. Next up were the girls I was waiting for, I had never seen Krewella, I missed them when they played at Global Dance Festival at Red Rocks earlier in the summer. These girls know how to bring it HARD! Twin Sisters: Yasmine and Jahan and Rainman make up this trio, and all three of them combine to create some of the sickets beats and heaviest drops as well as cool vocals that make you wanna dance, and dance HARD. Next up was Sofi who has recorded and toured with Deadmau5, she had some awesome sexy dance moves as she sang her heart out.

FInally it was time for the lazer show. SAVOY came out with old favorites as well as tracks off their new EP ‘Supertrail’, which became instant hits with the crowd. My personal favorite new track was ‘Senator’ which they mixed with ‘Fok Julle Naaiers’ by South African duo Die Antwoord. The beats mashed up so well and it was so crazy to hear a sick song you would never expect to hear from Savoy. But the real star of the show was Heather Bright who came out and sang her new songs with Savoy that are on the new EP: ‘More’ and ‘So Bad’, as well ‘We Are The Sun’ which was released earlier in the year. Her skin tight outfit, purple hair, and mesmerizing dance moves awed the crowd, and when she came out behind a curtain for the finale her shadow was absolutely magical. It was such a spectacular show!

Be sure to check out where SAVOY will be on their Live with Lasers tour!! It is a show that you SHOULD NOT MISS! These guys are so amazing to see live, it is a nonstop party that will blow your mind.

Check out SAVOY on FaceBook

Grizmatik - Digital Liberation Is Mad Freedom #DLIMF

I recently had the pleasure of seeing GRIZMATIK live at the House of Blues in Chicago after just rocking out to Pretty Lights to sum up the North Coast Music Festival. And after a show full of lazers and lights I couldn’t believe that two smaller named DJs coming together could overshadow the previous show. But boy was I wrong. The tickets I had purchased were for the balcony, the House of Blues has two levels of balconies: one is directly above the dance floor, the other is another level above that.

The first balcony was pretty packed and we couldn’t find a spot to see the stage, so I decided to venture upstairs and check out the top balcony. While walking to the back stairs I noticed a very tall guy sitting on a chair in the corner. Looking a little drunk and a little tired, he lifted his head as I walked by. I realized it was DVS! Derek Vincent Smith, Pretty Lights himself. It was pretty sweet, hadn’t I just come from his show at NCMF? I was stunned, I realized I had stopped walked and was staring. Wearing my Nuggets Carmello jersey and my Colorado Project Grassroots hat I walked up to him and give him a handshake-fist-pound combo that just made sense and told him that show was fucking fantastic.

I proceeded to the balcony to realize that it was EMPTY and it had an awesome unobstructed view of the stage below. My friends joined me upstairs, as well as new friends we had met at Summer Camp Festival earlier in the summer and had ran into at North Coast. Griz and Gramatik and guitarist Ales took the stage with such a strong presence. Alternating between Griz songs, Gramatik songs, and the completely awesome new Grizmatik songs, the show got everyone on their feet dancing the night away. We rocked until 3am. It was the best way to wrap up an amazing weekend of music in Chicago.

Listen to the track on SoundCloud

‘Like’ Grizmatik on FaceBook