Recent posts: indie

As I bid farewell to Women’s History Month, I can’t help but reminisce about the inspiring group of trailblazing women assembled at this year’s She Rocks Awards. Held during NAMM Show week in Amaheim, CA, the 12th annual awards show featured co-hosts producer and performer AIJIA and The Bangles legend Susannah Hoffs kicking things off.

Throughout the 2010’s, nestled in North Carolina’s Bull City stood one of the premier jazz and R&B festivals. Assembling historic lineups with ease, where one could view legendary and rising talent favs at several venues across Durham, the Art of Cool Fest became a yearly highlight. During its second year, it drew bandleader, film and TV composer Kris Bowers. Connecting with him then in 2015, he spoke of working on Showtime’s Kobe Bryant ‘Muse’ documentary and the booked and busy musical road ahead of him.

As images of elaborate floats descend down historic New Orleans streets and mid-air bead tossing continue into the late night hours, one can’t help but get swept up in the mardi gras madness. An album that perfectly encapsulates this distinct time of year and its special festive atmosphere is Delfeayo Marsalis and The Uptown Jazz Orchestra’s “Uptown On Mardi Gras Day”. Whether it’s the “Mardi Gras Mambo” or the “Uptown Boogie”, this 2023 12-song offering takes the listener down to Bourbon St right quick.

Descending yet again on Anaheim Convention Center for its 102nd year, NAMM Show returned to Southern California with its flurry of interactive talks, lectures, award shows and musical instrument demos at the end of January. Initially not sure how I would maximize my days in the musical melody mecca, NAMM Show+ emerged conveniently providing an organized guide including an up to the minute schedule of events, a detailed map and link to livestreamed sessions broadcast internationally. Drawing aspiring students to seasoned professionals, NAMM Show proved once more why it remains THE premier place to connect with a unique group of world class musicians, instrument brands and business execs from across the globe.

SPUNSUGAR DO IT THEMSELVES IN NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR UPCOMING SINGLE ‘SAN JOSE’ DROPPING SEPTEMBER 29TH 2023- Swedish three-piece Spunsugar is releasing DIY-chic music video for new track ‘San Jose’, the third single from their upcoming new album ‘A Hole Forever,’ via Adrian Recordings on September 29th, 2023, with forthcoming sophomore album due to release on November 17th, 2023.

Continuing to highlight the artists that left their mark as we wind down a very busy and strange 2016, Mello Music Group (MMG) artist Mr. Lif def comes to mind. A well respected Boston repping MC, his trademark flow and memorable collabos with other legendary statesmen within the indie hip-hop scene precede him. Dropping a dope pensive solo album ‘Don’t Look Down’ as well as ‘The Life and Death of Scenery’ project with MMG mate L’Orange, Mr. Lif’s toured internationally for a loyal fanbase worldwide during a fruitful, productive year.

Connecting with him earlier this year, I chatted with Mr. Lif about his early music memories being a curious kid, getting in trouble with the family record player, hypothetical teen dream music fests featuring Public Enemy and The Fat Boys and his time working with Definitive Jux and El-P. Peep the interview soundclips below and buy the new projects HERE and HERE!

As the clock runs down on 2016, we continue taking a look at the live artists who made an impression during this busy year. The ones that delivered memorable performances you couldn’t forget. One such artist making #CarlitasCut is Rhode Island’s own raucous rebel B. Dolan. Getting his start on spoken word and poetry scenes in the late 90’s, he later found a home and a fruitful, productive partner in crime in Sage Francis and Strange Famous Records. If you’ve been checking for him online, you’ll notice his sense of humor and his activist passion for causes like knowmore.org, a corporate crime database users can use to search on key corporations they support.

Hitting the road this year in support of his latest effort ‘Kill The Wolf’, I caught up with B. Dolan earlier in the year at Treefort Music Fest to ask weird questions about how he’s evolved as an artist, his prized collection of rare vinyl, his brotherhood/old married couple relationship with Sage Francis, his top 5 MCs of all-time, working with Aesop Rock and his female pug family member. Get the deets on B. Dolan live dates and what he’s up to now HERE!

With the snow-capped mountains and foothills in the distance, I made the short trip from Cali last weekend to attend the fifth edition of Boise’s Treefort Music Fest. On the quest for a new adventure and exploration of a new city, the atypical lineup intrigued and drew me in as I justified the three hour flight commute up north. I gambled that I’d enjoy it because the fests off the beaten path and under the mainstream radar tend to be the best and Treefort fell into this category. There’s no stadium, no humongous park or jumbotron to make the music fan feel like an ant in a sea of thousands. With food, ale and skateforts providing fun during the day, the artists playing intimate, live music at the cozy venues around the city thrilled each night.

Sitting with the lineup poster, there were select acts I sought to interact with and/or see live so equipped with this short list, I embarked on my mission. My favorites included:

B. Dolan– A fan of Strange Famous Records with a secret soft spot for Rhode Island boys (even though there is a NY rivalry), def wanted to connect with him. Dropping his latest great project ‘Kill The Wolf’ in 2015, B’s been busy racking up miles, in the midst of his “Kill The Wolf World Tour”. Hitting the Knitting Factory Stage on Saturday night with violinist Jenavieve Varga accompanying him on a few tracks, he won over the crowd easily during his set. I chatted with him before the show about his dedicated fans, his most prized Cadet label blues and jazz records in his vinyl collection, the recent loss of ATCQ’s Phife Dawg and funny tour moments with his label married couple wife Sage Francis. Peep the full interview soon and catch him on tour now!

La Misa Negra- Spotting this band’s name and listening to ‘Misa de Medianoche’ sealed their fate on my concert schedule. Trekking after seeing Thundercat at El Korah Shrine to The Reef to catch the Oakland octet after midnight was the best decision. Whipping the crowd into a high-energy cumbia frenzy, I seriously wondered if the floor would collapse as the crowd danced, jumped and clapped into the early hours of the morning. I caught up with the group the next day to discuss the band’s formation, early diverse musical influences, randomly meeting Alice Copper and sharing stages with Arcade Fire, George Clinton and La Santa Cecilia. Listen to the full interview soon and peep them at the Bottle Rock Fest in Napa Memorial Day Weekend!

Mega Ran- A video game dabbler but a lover of dope beats and rhymes, I also penciled Mega Ran into the schedule. Playing the upstairs space in the Knitting Factory on Saturday night, he commanded the room, comedically told the story of his Capcom licensure which was the first of its kind and dropped an impressive freestyle using random objects in the audience that made the crowd go nuts. I spoke with the Phoenix based MC about Philly music roots, the impact of ATCQ, his chip-hop style, college MarioKart memories and WTF moments overseas. Check out the complete interview soon and catch him on tour with Sadistik and Ceschi in April and May!

Rabbit Wilde- A fan of foot-stomping folk pop in the vein of The Dixie Chicks, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum, Washington state quartet Rabbit Wilde def made my list. Moved by their “Porcelain Frame” video I viewed on YouTube, I used the TF fest opportunity to connect with the band about funny live anecdotes involving a wayward flying drumstick hitting cellist Jillian Walker in the head, wandering toddler onstage while they were performing and exciting recent interest by American Idol in licensing one of their songs. Hear the complete interview soon and see them live in the Northwest this April!

Naked Giants- After listening to their recent single ‘Easy Eating’, I was also intent on connecting with Seattle trio and chatted with the WA band about the automatic grunge legacy/label attached to Seattle bands, musical heroes, their recent SXSW experience involving unexpected Take 5 candy bars and playing great shows under pressure. Peep the interview soon and check out their site for more tour info!

Methyl Ethyl- Fresh from their blizzard escape out of Colorado, I also connected with the traveling Australian trio about their early musical memories, growing up outside of Perth, and teen dream fests with Bjork and Limp Biscuit. Check out the interview soon and visit their site for album info!

Oddisee- Mello Music Group MC Oddisee made his way to the City of Trees for the first time and I def couldn’t miss that. Hyped to see him live after he released one of my fav albums of 2015 ‘The Good Fight’, he did cuts off this including my favs “That’s Love” and “Meant It When I Said It” and a few off his brand new ‘Alwasta’ EP dropped a few days prior. Def a highlight of the night.

Will also give an honorable mention to Aesop Rock for performing “Rings” off his upcoming solo album ‘The Impossible Kid’ for the first time on Saturday night.

Overall, the fest yielded good laughs, good food and good times! Til we meet again, Treefort.

Rabbit Wilde Photo Credit: Lindsey Bowen
La Misa Negra Photo Credit: Andrew Zhou
Methyl Ethyl Photo Credit: Mia Mala McDonald