Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Frendly Gathering back for it's 5th year and gave us their lineup today

Frendly Gathering is back for it's fifth year in Windham, Vermont and the lineup is hot fire. Set to take place June 26 & 27, the lineup is headlined by Twiddle & Nahko and Medicine for the People. The talent on this lineup goes through to the bottom line and there is no way you'll have a bad time if you make it out. Check out the official announcement video and lineup poster below.




Radiohead - "Paranoid Android" - Song of the Day - (3/31/15)


The clever Radiohead song "Paranoid Android" and the animated music video changed something in my brain forever. The music is stunning, with flawless production, and there is no other band that could put a song like this together today. Even at the time back in 1997, while Radiohead dropped a new way of thinking, the only comparisons made were with classic rock bands like Pink Floyd. OK Computer was completely ahead of it's time, and may still be, the whole album is brilliant straight through. This song to me is as powerful as the Queen hit "Bohemian Rhapsody" and with a similar format. There is no real verse and chorus structure to the song. It's like a classical composition with different sections all together making a piece. Certain parts are repeated but not exactly the same, and the song just keeps progressing right until the end. Radiohead really set a high standard for grunge moving forward, and they have always remained on the cutting edge of new rock music ever since.


Monday, March 30, 2015

[Leftovers] Dusty Owl - "Hippocampes"

An old Facebook Profile Picture

When I first stumbled upon this French producer he went by the name of Golden Brahams on SoundCloud, which he still does on facebook, and I have been borderline obsessed over the past month or so. There is just something about these tunes coming out of Rennes, France that beats the drum in my ear. Would love to see a couple of dates in the United States during this summer's festival circuit. Check out some more of his tunes on SoundCloud HERE and let us know what you think!

Umphrey's McGee, The Werks, Papadosio and Dopapod to perform The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival

Screenshot from Facebook
The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival released the second round of artists announcements to their lineup today and it looks like they definitely aren't messing around this year.

Among those announced include the one and only Umphrey's McGee, The Floozies, Break Science, Rumpke Mountain Boys and many more!

These artists will join an already stellar lineup - including three nights of The Werks (host band), two nights of Papadosio, Lettuce, two nights of Dopapod, The Nth Power, The Main Squeeze, Consider the Source, among others - at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio on August 6-8.

So strap on those dancing shoes cause this year's festival is going to be one hell of a Werk Out! Follow this link for ticket information!

(Updates will be made to this post as more announcements are made)

Werk Out Music and Arts Festival Lineup after two announcements

The Werks (3 nights)
Umphrey's McGee (2 sets)
Papadosio (2 nights)
Lettuce
Dopapod (2 nights)
The Floozies
Break Science
The Nth Power
The Main Squeeze
Consider the Source
Rumpke Mountain Boys
Turbo Suit (Formerly Cosby Sweater)
Tauk
Buku
EarthCry
PGrass (ft. Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove)
The Mantras
Blue Moon Soup (2 Nights)
Broccoli Samurai
The Heard
Attak & Carma
Tropidelic
G.Finesse & Black Eagle
Cheezcake
Peridoni
Mouth
Still more to be announced!!!

Robert Plant & Diplo Set to Team Up

Diplo posted a picture to his instagram a couple days ago with the title "Collab coming soon." Wonder what that could mean? Plant, legendary guitarists for classic rock gods, Led Zeppelin, has avoided rejoining his previous bandmates because of his desire to go in a different direction, musically. Maybe EDM is the new genre on the horizon for Mr. Plant? Time will tell, and hopefully it tell us sooner than later.

Odesza - White Lies(Braunstein Freres Remix) - Song Of The Day - 3/30/2015


Happy Monday everyone! Today's Song Of The Day comes from a crew that I consider pretty close to me. Braunstein Freres is a group of producers currently students at Illinois State University who literally spent their entire spring break creating this amazing remix of Odesza's "White Lies". The original is a beautiful, light, and soothing track that accompanies the sweet voice of Jenni Potts. Braunstein Freres does a great job of keeping those vibes alive in their remix as well. It's a little bit more upbeat then the original, but still keeps that steady flow throughout. This remix definitely reminds me a bit of a Jersey Club track that's still true to the vibes that Odesza is trying to give off. Give it a listen and see for yourself, you won't be disappointed.




If you dig what you're hearing you can follow everything these guys are doing here. Also they've entered this remix in a contest to play at Bonnaroo. If you dig what you're hearing don't hesitate to throw them a vote!

Sunday, March 29, 2015

The petition phenomenon and its effect on the music industry

A new phenomenon has been sweeping through the music industry as of late. It is the ultimate sign of hate and disrespect – a jab straight to the heart of some of music’s biggest names. It’s called a petition.

Thanks to change.org, which makes petitioning anything simple and pain-free, music fans have begun taking to the Internet to voice their opinions on controversial lineup announcements at some of the world’s biggest music festivals.

First we had the announcement of Kanye West to perform Glatsonbury Music Festival in the UK. One petition and more than 130,000 signatures later, guess what? Kanye is still playing Glatsonbury. Now, to me, this is a little unsettling. Trust me, I loathe Kanye just as much as the next person. He is horribly obsessed with himself and would probably cry if the spotlight weren’t on him for longer then 30 minutes. But, if you strip down all the egomaniac bullshit that embodies Kanye’s personality, you will find a hard working musician with a ton of creativity. He’s one of those celebrities that everyone loves to hate.

Next, we had a petition to remove dubstep duo Krewella from the Summer Camp Music Festival lineup. Historically, the central Illinois festival has always been very jam band friendly, so it was a given that people were going to be upset with the addition of an EDM headliner with as much controversy surrounding them as Krewella. But even with all the social media anger, guess what? They are still playing Summer Camp. If you don’t want to see them, there will be 4-5 other bands playing at the same time, giving you plenty of options in contrast to seeing Krewella.

Do you see the trend here? Petition or no petition, the people who run these festivals make the final decision – fact.
Screenshot taken from change.org

Most recently, DJ Paris Hilton was announced as a headliner for Summerfest Music Festival in Milwaukee, Wisc. Yes, you heard that correctly. Paris Hilton – the billionaire heiress to the Hilton hotel chain and the same woman who gained most of her fame from a leaked sex tape – is apparently a DJ and for some unknown reason, a headliner at one of the world’s biggest music festivals.   

Of course, this sparked Internet outrage, including apetition for her removal from the lineup, almost instantly. Although, it is a pretty negative and hateful practice, can you really blame the fans for being mad about this one? I know I can’t. There are so many good artists out there who work their tails off trying to make a name for themselves. They have work ethic and talent – the driving reasons behind their success. Ms. Hilton has money and a lot of friends…

Here is what the angered message on the Summerfest petition had to say about DJ Paris Hilton. ---->

Screenshot taken from change.org
Strong words from a pissed off fan, huh? Well, Thomas Neill, the person who posted the petition isn’t the only one who feels this way apparently. At the time of this post, the petition has more than 6200 signatures.

But no matter how big of a five-finger Rick James’ bitch slap this is to music fans and musicians alike, Paris Hilton is still probably going to press play on her pre-recorded crap and she is still probably going to rake in an ungodly amount of money for it.

So if these petitions don’t really work, what is the point in spending so much time hating on other people’s work? Maybe it will send a message to music festival promoters that there is a large group of paying music fans that plan to keep musical integrity alive. Maybe this is the beginning of a change from the system already in place to one where fans have more of a say in who plays their favorite festivals. I guess the answer to that remains a mystery. For now, do yourself a favor and quit worrying about these headliners. Go support someone who is lesser known instead. Don’t bang your head against the wall in negativity towards these unfavorable artists. Be a positive influence in another artist’s future.


JK Soul vs. The Doors - "Riders of HipHop" - Song of the Day - 3/29/15

Slovenian producer, JK Soul, has reworked "Riders on the Storm," a legendary track by rock legends, The Doors. He takes the vibe of the original track and infuses his own unique style within the confounds of the Lizard King's realm. If you haven't heard of JK Soul prior to this, do yourself a favor and check out his SoundCloud page and open yourself up to a slew of righteous music.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Keller Williams - "Mantra" - Song of the Day 3/28/2015 [Free Download]

Since it is Saturday and most of you are off work for the day, what better way to start your morning than with Keller Williams' latest tune off his new album "Vape" which is set to be released next month on April 20th.

A couple days ago, K-Dub dropped the track "Mantra" as a sneak peek into his new album. Because today is National Weed
Appreciation Day, we thought it was only fitting to share this free download with all of you. It encompasses Keller's long repertoire of work into a cohesive blend of electronic and acoustic. It's a perfect chill tune for the early afternoon.

Keller has always been a highly respected force within the music scene. Along with touring with countless other bands, he also works vigorsselly on his solo-project. "Vape" marks the release of Keller's 20th album, a milestone few artists have ever accomplished. But, when you ooze talent and inspiration like KW, it must be a cake walk.

With 4/20 just around the corner, make sure to pre-order your copy here!

Friday, March 27, 2015

Fighting fire with bass - the fire extinguisher of the future

Screenshot from YouTube 

George Mason University, the infamous cinderella team that made it to the Final Four of the 2006 NCAA men's basketball tournament as an 11-seed, is making headlines again this week, but this time its not sports related.

Viet Tran and Seth Robertson, two engineering students at the university, unveiled a fire extinguisher that utilizes low-frequency sound waves instead of water, gas, or foam. It is thought to work through increasing the speed of the air particles within and surrounding the fire, in turn decreasing the surface area of the air at the point of combustion. Makes sense right?

Check out the video below to see this next level invention for yourself!

  

Kid Kamillion - Heads Will Roll 2015 Re-Heat - Song of the Day - 3/27/2015 [FREE DOWNLOAD]


I know what you're thinking: "Another freaking 'Heads Will Roll' remix?" I think we have all heard A-Trak's version more than enough in 2012 to make our eyes roll instead, every big trap artist integrating the rework of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's club hit of 2009 into their sets at every show and festival. I remember counting the number of times I heard it at Electric Zoo two years ago, until I completely lost track. And what's even worse is Djs are STILL playing it, three years later, falling back on to something that's comfortable.

So why bring back the past, Kid Kamillion? Here's why: Kid preserves the intro of the original to make listeners most likely sigh and shake their heads, until he flips the switch completely to make us nod "Okay" instead.

He's showing us what he can do with such an overplayed, exhausted remix (a groundbreaking song, nonetheless) and is presenting us with a fresh and heavy rework that manifests his talent and lifts the song into a whole different playing field. By far the most outstanding element of Kid's re-fire is at 2:03, where he not only forges a massive drop but simultaneously extends Karen O's vocals, creating an insanely beautiful, chilling effect to this hard-hitting banger.

The fact that KK did this in response to Dj's perpetually playing the A-Trak version hopefully sends the message that there should always be a constant desire for artist diversity and sound innovations in the music world.

Take a peak for yourself- free download in the Buy link. Make it BUMP.


Spend Spring Break with Milk N Cookies


March is the month for college spring break, and with a week of partying you need some good tunes to help you get through it. I can't think of anyone who'd be partying harder on spring break then Milk N Cookies. Their latest mix, Tasty Beats Vol. 3 Eternal Spring Break is the perfect way to get you in the spring break mood. This mix has all the right vibes and feels for you to be out in the sun chilling with a cold one(or six). Expect to hear tracks from Destructo, The Chainsmokers, and Deadmau5 along with their own tunes. Be sure to follow the twins from Chicago on Soundcloud and Facebook. Expect to hear some new music from them soon!




Tracklist:
Milk N Cookies - The Beach
Chris Lake - Chest
Cazzette - Blind Heart (Broiler Remix)
Deadmau5 - Pickup the Poptart
Don Diablo - Make me feel better (CID Remix)
Jack U x Justin Bieber - Where are u now (halogen Remix)
Deadmau5 - Pets
Kirk Dickens - Blue remix II
Cailbra - Dolls
Destructo - Dare you 2 move (ft. Problem)
Spada & Elen Levon - Cool Enough (Mozambo Remix)
The Chainsmokers vs Tove Lo - Habits
Larcy x Gazzo - Running Home (Peter Brennan & TCUP Remix)
Galantis - Gold Dust (Beenie Becker & Harvel B Remix)
Daft Punk - Digital Love (Panic City Remix)
Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars (Elephante Cover)
Wallpaper - Puke My Brains Out

Sloss Music & Arts Festival Initial Lineup Announced - Birmingham, AL - July 18 & 19, 2015

Sloss Music & Arts Festival has announced the initial wave of artists for its inaugural year. The festival will feature some big names such as Modest Mouse, Band of Horses, Primus, Cage The Elephant, and a whole slew of other artists ready to get slossy during what is set to be a scorcher (temperature and music) of a weekend. Don't know about all of you, but we're pretty excited to see who snags that last headliner spot! Who would you like to see added?



Thursday, March 26, 2015

Gathering of the Vibes announces special Grateful Dead inspired set performed by The String Cheese Incident & special guests


Music fans attending the 20th annual Gathering of the Vibes Music Festival (July 30-Aug. 2) were given another reason -  on top of an already stellar lineup - to travel to Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT today. According to an announcement earlier today on the festival's Facebook page, headlining act and widely popular jam band The String Cheese Incident will be performing a set compiled of strictly Grateful Dead and Old and In the Way songs during the four day music festival.

SCI will be joined by legendary bluegrass musicians David Grisman and Peter Rowan (both founding members of Old and In the Way). For those who don't know, Old and In the Way was a bluegrass supergroup formed in the early 70s featuring Grisman, Rowan, Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements and John Kahn.

And if things weren't already sweet enough, the fans have been given the reins in choosing the songs in which the collaboration will perform. Festival goers can cast their vote once a day until April 9th for a chance to hear their favorite song. Cast your vote here!

With this announcement, Gathering of the Vibes is gearing up to be one of the better festivals this summer, and they have only just begun! In addition to SCI, the festival's initial lineup boasts big name bands such as Wilco, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Weezer, Greg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Billy & The Kids (Bill Kreutzman of the Grateful Dead). Dark Star Orchestra ft. Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), Greensky Bluegrass and many more! As more artists are announced, we will post more information. Follow this link for ticket information!

Covering the Dead is nothing new to SCI. Here is a video of the band covering "Eye's of the World.



Five Knives - "All Fall Down" (Kennedy Jones Remix) - Song of the Day - (3/26/15) [Free Download]


The everlasting list of Kennedy Jones remix's holds some of the best main stager bangers around. While finding place in the scene, The aspiring artist designed map that lead him to greatness. His worldwide hit remix of Elvis Crespo's "Suavemente" gave him a huge advantage and lead to his success in 2014. "All Fall Down" brings a different feel to the table with one of a kind vocals from Five Knives lead singer Anna Worstell. The rising electronic-pop band out of Nashville, Tennessee continues to impress not only their fans, but other artists alike. Be sure to get your FREE copy and enjoy the throwback trap track of 2013! 

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 2015 Late Night Acts Announced!


Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival released their lineup for late night shows for this year's rendition of the iconic festival. 

Special late night set Friday on the What Stage - Deadmau5

Friday Artists:
STS9
Flying Lotus
Earth, Wind, & Fire
Medeski, Martin, Scofield, & Wood
Odesza
Run the Jewels

Saturday Artists:
Bassnectar
Flume
D'Angelo and the Vanguard
Slayer
Superjam!
Tycho 

Check out the full lineup below!


Lollapalooza Lineup Announced! July 31-August 2, 2015 - Grant Park, Chicago

Infamous festival, Lollapalooza, is set to take over Grant Park in The Windy City at the end of this July. Marking its 15th year in existence you would think they would go all out for the lineup and make it something for the history books. Well, I guess it depends who you talk to. With a mix of genres and artists, this lineup likely has something for everybody. Who are you most impressed with being on this lineup? Who would you like to have seen left off? Mixed bag of treats here, friends. As always, thanks for taking the time to read this and we hope you have a great day!


The Smashing Pumpkins - "Cherub Rock" - Song of the Day - (3/25/15)

"Cherub Rock" is always the first some I think of when someone mentions The Smashing Pumpkins. Siamese Dream, released in 1993, was one of the first CD's I ever got. This behemoth of a track is the openings selection from that album. Apparently when this album was being released, the record company wanted "Today" to be the first single, but Billy Corgan insisted this be the one to lead the way. In the end it turned out the record company may have been right, but despite this, "Cherub Rock" remains a favorite of mine and many others. Have a great hump day everyone and thanks for reading!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Harry Potter parody of "Uptown Funk" surfaces on YouTube

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last few months, chances are you have heard the widely popular track and Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' latest claim to fame "Uptown Funk" on the radio or television. The song is pretty much everywhere these days and for good reason. It's very catchy and sounds somewhat similar to a song Michael Jackson would have produced, just with modern day lyrics.

Because of the song's popularity, it was only a matter of time before someone made a worthwhile parody out of it.  KFaceTV dropped their own version of the song, "Dark Lord Funk", yesterday and it has taken the internet by storm, reaching almost 1 million views by the time of this post.

This is something true Harry Potter fans and music lovers alike will enjoy. After watching this video, your allegiance might be changed. Who knew
he-who-shall-not-be-named and the dark arts could be so funky?!

marshmello - "ShOw YoU" [Free Download]


This new alias known as marshmello is taking over with the consistent anthems being released. At this point, we're not really sure who is behind this, but attention seems to be it's friend. Two days ago a video surfaced on the marshmello facebook page that sent fans wild. The video started with Skrillex and at that moment I knew it was going to be another story to read about. The track "ShOw YoU" is a great bring me up. The uplifted club track puts you in a festival state of mind, but still holds it's place as art. All of this music is being released for free and can be found on Soundcloud. Until further information is released, it's Skrillex in my book. What do you think?



Dancefestopia Phase One Lineup Brings Bassnectar, Will Sparks, New World Sound and Many More!

Another year of Dancefestopia is upon us and what a lineup! While this is only the first lineup announcement, there's no telling who else could pop up. A live set from the Woodie's Artist of the Year, Porter Robinson, A Bassnectar experience AND Datsik with his almighty vortex. The three day festival is sure to sell out so get planning quick! For tickets and more information, head over to Dancefestopia.com

Artists Top To Bottom
Bassnectar - Porter Robinson (Live) - Datsik
Audien - Borgeous - Brillz - EDX - Keys 'N Krates
Simon Patterson - Will Sparks - ZomboyApashe - Bass Physics - BTSM - Bobby Puma - Gladiator - Illenium
Jack ALNDN - Kayliox - Kicks N Licks - Lookas - Manic Focus - Mija
New World Sound - Party Favor - Riot Ten - Slander - Snails - SNBRN
Son Of Kick - Timmy Trumpet - Troll Phace - TYDI - Wick It The Investigator
 Andrew Northern - Amplify - Aplsoz - Architekt - Atomix & The Vokalist
Audiomattic - Bobby Bohn - Brooks Brown - Chilling Spree - Clanderstine
Danny Groves - Dem Boyz - DJ Erk - DJ Kidd - EXXC!TMENT - Facepuddle
Fractal Sky (Live Band) - G-Note - Hodj - DJ Jesse Jamz - Lektrik - Linear Symmetry
Matej B - Mr. Kristopher - DJ Raj - Strap Back - String Theory - Templo
Thr33 Blind Mics - Thumpur - Trill Ferrell - Viva! Laberg
More To Be Announced

Roni Size & Reprazent - "Brown Paper Bag" - Song of the Day [3/24/15]



When you listen to drum and bass music you have to understand the rich history. Most true junglists don't even care about anything else but drum and bass, everything else is irrelevant. This is one of the best drum and bass crews ever assembled - Roni Size & Reprazent. The lucky ones who get to experience their live performances are dazzled by multiple percussionists and flawless representations of amazingly complicated melodies. The main band members are Roni Size, Reprazent, Dynamite MC, and Onallee. This is the official video for "Brown Paper Bag" one of the biggest hits for the band off the album Newforms from back in 1997. Right now they are still touring the world and hitting the biggest destinations, throwing massive shows for their fans. You can get info on the tour dates, buy merch, peep photos, and more on the official Roni Size website here.



Monday, March 23, 2015

Milo & Otis - "Trap Arms" - Song Of The Day - (3/23/2015)



Song Of The Day comes courtesy of Milo & Otis with the release of their new track "Trap Arms". This trap and twerk music duo has a great catalog of music and this is another one to throw into the collection. The track starts with kind of a curve ball that I was not expecting. It's pretty chill and laid back, with a 70's type of vibe to it. After a classic gun cocking sample, the song switches gears into something more their fashion. "Trap Arms" has the big horn sounds perfect for the title of this track. Check out the album artwork to get a good idea of what "Trap Arms" are as well. Most of us are probably guilty of doing "Trap Arms" once or twice anyways. Enjoy!

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Robotic Pirate Monkey @ The 1up Colfax in Denver, Colorado (3-20-15) [Review]

Review By: Justin D'Amico


Friday was a bitter-sweet night with the final performance from one of the darlings of glitch-hop Robotic Pirate Monkey. All night there was magic in the air. The 1up Colfax provided the perfect setting for the farewell show. The lineup brought a bunch of added flavor to the night as well with Proper Motion, Kinetic Groove, and Wicked Awesome in the house as well. The show was destined to be huge, and shortly after doors opened the final tickets were sold out.


The night started off with Wicked Awesome on the decks as the people started to enter the barcade. The 1up Colfax is unlike any other venue I know of. There is the front room with a massive collection of old school arcade stand up games for 2 to 4 players. The far end of the front room includes a huge pinball section, and there are a set of skeeball machines too. Then as you head towards the back room you notice a ton of classic video game art all over the walls. Almost every video game is represented somewhere in the building, either to play in the arcade for a quarter or displayed in unique crafted depictions.






Next up on stage was Kinetic Groove a group of Austin O'Meara on guitar and DJ, and Steve Kirsch on percussion. They were really good at bringing a ton of different elements together. Kirsch has a really nice set up of different hand drums, not a traditional drum set at all yet very extensive. O'Meara is a skilled guitarist and he uses his playing to create live samples and a fresh sound every time. They even had a special guest trumpet added in for a killer combination later in the set to really get it popping. This was my first time seeing Kinetic Groove live, and they were rather impressive.

Proper Motion was on direct support and they showed the place a good time. They are another duo and they hail from Boulder, Colorado. The two guys - Noah Devaul Marion and Harrison Watkins are both involved throughout the whole set. They create a live mix using recorded productions and also adding extras for a custom cut. They are currently touring with Unlimited Gravity and Project Aspect on the 7 days of Saturday tour.





As always Robotic Pirate Monkey came to have fun, with amazing energy that the people feed off of. The two funk soul brothers - Matt Berryhill and Andrew Hathaway are so enjoyable to watch on stage. They are constantly on a mission to create the best live mix, rotating positions, reaching over each other to slightly adjust a potentiometer, it makes me smile so big. The two of them are so chill and always down to talk to fans, I always get to have a little personal conversation with them each time they come through, mostly because they are just hanging in the crowd with the people. I asked Hathaway if they were going to be doing solo stuff and he said as of right now there are no plans for more music productions. That was sad news, but who knows maybe plans will change and the guys get back together in the future. I am definitely going to miss seeing them live, and going hard dancing to some of the illest glitch-hop music in the business.


Great vibes as always at The 1up Colfax on a Friday night. I got my Centipede fix, got to say bye to the Robotic Pirate Monkey dudes, and then went home fulfilled. No one wanted the night to end, it was just too much fun and everyone was so friendly. I'm not going to forget this night, it was an emotional experience when Robotic Pirate Monkey left the stage, mad love.




Here Come the Mummies - "Pants" - Song of the Day - (3/22/15)


This group of mummies rose from their graves in Nashville, TN sometime during the heart of the year 2000 - talk about a y2k bug. But hey, they're just excited to see you. Maybe a bit too excited.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Nahko - "Build a Bridge" (Live) Song of the Day (3/21/2015)


For today's song of the day, I'm going to throw out a track that has been playing on repeat in my head for about a week now by Nahko Bear of Nahko and Medicine for the People called "Build a Bridge." Now, I picked this song for a number of reasons. For one, it's a kickass song.

The other reason is I'm trying to look out for y'all on this Saturday morning. Maybe you went out last night and had a few too many. Its ok, I understand. You worked all week and the bar was calling your name. It happens. Lucky for you and your throbbing headache, the chorus in this song is extremely soothing. It will help you remember all that is good and right in the world. Let it take you to a far off place, away from that last shot of whiskey that you thought was a good idea last night but totally regret today. Nahko's vocals are a thing of beauty and so are his lyrics. For the other folks tuning in that didn't destroy their liver last night, enjoy the hip-hop flare in this song. The verses in this song are very powerful and will be sure to get you pumped and excited for your day. The lyrics speak of building a bridge with each other in an effort to come to peace. Enjoy.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Kai Wachi - Flo$$ - Song of the Day - 3/20/2015 [FREE DOWNLOAD]

I have been an avid follower of Kai Wachi for the past year for his heavy dub and mind-melting trap sounds in his tracks that always make the walls shake. I was disappointed to hear a few months ago that he was potentially facing up to 20 years in prison for being a part of an 11-person drug reign that sold up to 5,000 oxycodone pills a month. Although it is a given this wasn't the best decision made by the producer-DJ, he still made massive beats that I loved to bump, and it was disheartening to hear of his potential incarceration.


However, to my delight, I learned the news that he was bailed out of jail and let off on the punishment, therefore able to continue making the amazing music I had listened to and loved all throughout this past year, and hopefully learning his lesson and realizing what he had been risking. I'm sure all of his fans and followers like myself were very happy to hear of his return and hope that he continues on the path of music production instead of drug dealing.


A native of Boise, Idaho, at the ripe age of 19, Kai Wachi never fails to bring hard-hitting headbangers to the table that I hear being dropped at only the best of DJ sets and shows. Take a peak at his latest "Flo$$" below (there's also a link to download!) and be prepared to be amazed.


The Way Down Wanderers: Soaring to new highs while remembering their roots - 3/17/15 @ Peoria Pizza Works - Peoria, IL (Review)

A Review By: Kyle Sutton
While most of the country spent their St. Paddy’s Day slamming Jameson and killing brain cells with an Irish fury, a small group of us shared a very special night in Peoria, Ill. with The Way Down Wanderers, an up and coming Alt-folk/Americana group based out of Chicago.

The WDWs are a rising young band with roots in Peoria that have been on an absolute tear as of late. In 2014, they released their first E.P. “Path to Follow,” which catapulted them into extensive touring or wandering as they like to call it. As their following continues to increase rapidly, the band has gone from little known to now being a staple of the Illinois music scene in just a little over a year’s time.

It was around 9 p.m. when the five-piece band took the stage at Peoria Pizza Works – a small restaurant/bar that played homage to the band’s very first show back in 2013. The room, which could only hold maybe 90-100 people max, provided an extremely intimate setting for a hometown crowd. Opening with two songs off of the debut E.P., “The Robin” and “Path to Follow,” the band, which is made up Collin Krause (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), Ben Montalbano (banjo, vocals), Austin Thompson (acoustic guitar, lead vocals), John Williams (upright bass, vocals), and John Merikoski (drums), quickly set the mood for what would become a unforgettable evening.

As the set progressed, it became apparent to me that these guys really have something special going for them. Their sound is somewhat comparable to Mumford & Sons when it comes to their powerful vocal harmonies and high-energy instrumentation but there is also a sense of their own style which is much more homegrown and organic. Not only are they incredibly talented, they are also extremely humble, taking a moment several times during the show to thank their hometown for all the support and explain why they chose Pizza Works over a bigger venue.

Everyone in the band had a chance to show their talents throughout the set, whether it was Thompson’s vocals on “The Way I Love You Now,” or Montalbano’s banjo on “Your Will is a Wildflower.” Merikoski and Williams kept the beat and rhythm just right to keep everyone swaying and tapping their feet all night. And who could forget Krause’s awesome fiddle/mando presence on “Truth Son” and “Path to Follow.”

Their stage presence is sound and they really enjoyed talking and interacting with the crowd, which is a quality not all bands have. This was most apparent during the encore. After playing a bluegrass-influenced version of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” the band removed themselves from the amps and microphones to move forward to the middle of the crowd, playing an acoustic version of an old Christian hymn “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Getting the crowd involved in the song was a really cool way to end the show and solidified my thoughts about these guys.

Expect to hear a lot more from WDW in 2015. Montalbano said the band plans to record a live E.P., which will be released in May. He also said that the band would be getting back into the studio in July/August/September and hopes to have a full-length album released sometime around October.

When it comes to bands, I’ve seen a lot of them and judging whether a group will succeed is really difficult to be sure of but in this case…mark my words, The Way Down Wanderers are not only going to make a splash in the ocean that is the music scene, they are bringing the hurricane with them.

Website: http://thewaydownwanderers.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waydownwanderers?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/waydownwanderer

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Farm on Fire Music and Art Festival Phase 1 Lineup

Back again for the second year, My Best Friends Party & IGNYTE Events present,  Farm on Fire! Join us on Frontier Ranch for three days of unforgettable fun. With headlining acts One More Time and the huge back to back set from Minnesota and G Jones, this is sure to end with a bang. Tickets are on sale now and are going quick so be sure to plan your trip before it's too late!

One More Time
Minnesota B2B G Jones
Buku
Consider The Source
Golf Clap
Jantsen B2B Dirt Monkey
NastyNasty
Roevy
The Mantras
Yheti
After Funk
Alex & Paul
ALLxCAPS
Any Color
Arpetrio
Attak & Carma
Baby Hands
Bhoff
Broccoli Samurai
Corrupt
Ethosine
Eumatik
G Finesse
Hell Naw
Manitoa
Mojo Flo
Sasafraz
Toadnuggz
Tronik Vision
Vibe & Direct

Rain Man - "Visionary" featuring Sirah [OUT NOW]

The long anticipation is finally over. As most know, the situation with Rain Man and Krewella is a touchy thing for both sides, but now, it doesn't even matter. Making a huge return with his debut performance in Miami this week, the talented artist seems to have more than just an appearance up his sleeves. Releasing "Visionary" yesterday on Buygore Records with the newcomer Sirah awed everyone. The filthy dubstep track presents the perfect "I'm back" feel and I can't wait to see what it brings! Head over to Beatport and get your copy of "Visionary" ASAP.

Support Rain Main

Green Day - "Welcome To Paradise" - Song of the Day - (3/19/15)


Off of their early 90's release Dookie, "Welcome To Paradise" became a hit worldwide. Expressing their unique punk style, Green Day has succeeded with flying colors over the years. Releasing three albums last year, the band has not come to it's end, but may have lost their spot in the spotlight. Although these legends won't live on forever, their music will continuously be appreciated.

The 1000th Post!



This is the 1000th post, it celebrates almost two years of Ikonic Sound. These are some images of the amazing places we have been over the last couple years. We would like to thank everyone who helped to make us what we are today. Here's to many more years and many more awesome concert photos to come.

Steve Aoki at EPIC Minneapolis

Unlimited Aspect @ The Miramar Theater in Milwaukee

Emancipator Ensemble @ Mill City Nights in Minneapolis

D!st!nct Fridays @ UV Lounge in Walled Lake, Michigan

Leftover Salmon @ The Vic Theatre in Chicago
Passion Pit @ Summer Set Music Festival
Paper Diamond @ Freaky Deaky Detroit

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Rage Against the Machine - "Guerilla Radio" - Song of the Day - 3/18/15


Rage Against the Macheen. Turn that shit up. Lights out. yeah, that's it. 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Karetus - "Wicked" featuring Clinton Sly - Song of the Day - [3/17/15]

Karetus is a group of three sick dudes André Reis, Carlos Silva, and Paulo Silva. They create amazing music with some of the illest sounds in the industry. Rottun Records, the label founded by Excision was quick to sign them and they have killed ever since. Even their early releases are just so hard you have to give them props. I am all about the meanest dubstep I can find, and Karetus always delivers on the wub. You can get more from Karetus on their official website here.

Monday, March 16, 2015

GRiZ - "Mr. B" - Song Of The Day [3/16/15]


GRiZ is about to start his tour in under a month, and so for today I figured the song of the day would be a throwback of his. "Mr. B" featuring Dominic Lalli was the first song I heard of his and it instantly turned me into a fan. Starting from the beginning is a great piano line with great vocals. It's super chill and relaxed which I love. The build up starts slow and whips together in speed leading to the drop. At which point comes in a super fat bass synth that is right in your face. I love how he always manages to mix in those heavy sounds back with the sound of natural instruments. Along with that second drop saxophone solo is absolutely phenomenal. It's always great to go back and listen to some old tracks of our favorite artists. Be on the look out for a new album by the sax man soon. Enjoy!

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Manic Focus - "Church and Play" - Song of the Day [3/15/15]


Manic Focus has a really unique style of mixing in his glitchy style and great samples to produce some awesome music. Along side GRiZ at All Good Records, Manic Focus is killing the scene and making the future look incredibly bright for the new label. The song featured today is an older song from the "Expanding Minds" album. This is just one of many Manic Focus songs that never gets old. Give it a listen and keep a lookout for a Manic Focus show near you, as he puts on a great act with some insane visuals.



Follow Manic Focus on: Facebook | Soundcloud | Official Site

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Bro Safari - "Uncrushable" - Song of the Day [3/14/15]



http://blog.lessthan3.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/11.-bro-safari-biggie-scumbag-lessthan3.jpg Nick Weiller or as you may know him Bro Safari is a one of a kind producer. He has been a part of many amazing collaboration bands but when he goes solo he is Bro Safari. Weiller is a part of the trio Evol Intent with Ashley Jones and Michael Diasio. He has also done work with Kill The Noise and they form the band Ludachrist. Bro Safari has a diverse range of styles mastered, this track is from the moombahcore perspective. Weiller when with Evol Intent kicks out the fast paced drum and bass music, and some of his early solo productions are slowed way down into moombahton. He now dabbles with trap and many other sub genres of electronic music, and he collaborates with more people all the time including UFO! - another awesome electronic producer. Get the latest music, merchandise and tour information from the official Bro Safari website. If you are in the Denver area you can catch Bro Safari tonight at the 3rd annual Trapfest!