Big Gigantic's The Night Is Young Tour @ The District in Sioux Falls, SD - 2/12/14 (review)

A Review By: Troy Manley

South Dakota obviously isn't on the radar for many people as the place to be to catch the hottest shows. Hell, most of America probably doesn't realize that people actually live here. But luckily for us South Dakotans, Sioux Falls has been on Big Gigantic's radar for quite some time, making their 3rd appearance in our quaint city on Wednesday night - simultaneously kicking off their Winter 2014 tour in support of the brand new LP, The Night is Young. Big Gigantic's third appearance unquestionably sported the most respectable venue in Sioux Falls for a talent of their magnitude, The District - while the first 2 went down in makeshift bar/nightclubs in town. The District opened its doors to Sioux Falls residents in the Fall of 2013, and has a capacity around 1,500.

The venue is in the parking lot of the Sioux Empire Mall - which happens to be the largest single story mall in America - just off Interstate i-29. The District sports a fairly large standing area with a balcony with some more general admission space and a couple VIP booths. The stage is easily viewable from all parts of the floor, I didn't venture to the heavens above as there was plenty of room get down on the ground level.

After arriving fairly early, my friends and I hung out around with they had a DJ playing some music on what seemed to be the worst sound system on earth. I was scared for my life at this point having heard the sound coming from the stage. Luckily things improved once they switched to over to the direct support for the night, Manic Focus. This Chicago talent has been making waves in the electronic dance world in recent months by playing one kickass show after another. I happened across this dude playing at the small "Forest Stage" nestled in a corner of  Sherwood Forest at Electric Forest last summer and have been a believer since. This show marked his 2nd appearance in Sioux Falls, having destroyed a headlining show at a questionable venue last fall. Manic Focus is simply a beast behind the controls, and as Ty Allen has said: "Whether it’s an abrasive arpeggio, or a wave of whimsical wobbles, his ability to subtly inject sultry sound is undeniable." Definitely check this dude out if he hits your city.

The main headliners for the night, Big Gigantic, is the duo consisting of Dominic Lalli (Saxophone/Producer) and Jeremy Salken (Drums). Hailing from Boulder, Colorado and making the national stage their home, Big G is known for their high-energy live performances and bad-ass light shows. After taking the stage, the guys stood between an immaculate stage set up consisting of powerful lights and large high-powered LED squares that dominated all the space they had. They came out swinging and masterfully worked their way through tracks off their new album and classics. Notably, they played: "Clvdbvrst," "Fantastic," "Nocturnal," "From Death to Dawn," "Sky High," "Touch the Sky," "Aftershock," and one of my personal favorites, "I Need A Dollar."  Dominic and Jeremy played with a precision 2nd to none the entire show and flawlessly executed their goal of making the crowd dance. Hands down the best show I had seen in Sioux Falls, the venue was rocking the entire night - so I think most would agree. With a ton of dates left on their current tour, you CANNOT miss Big G if they come to a city near you! Find Tour dates: HERE.

All photos taken by Troy Manley on an iPhone 5.

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Gary Clark Jr. - "Bright Lights" Song of the Day [2/16/14]

Having a rough day? Enjoy a heavy dose of      

guitar and all your problems will float away.

Gary Clark Jr. has some serious skills and this

is one jam that has a little bit of everything.

Sit back relax and enjoy.

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Shlohmo & Jeremih - "No More" - Song of the Day [2/15/2014] [FREE DOWNLOAD]

In the spirit of Valentine's Weekend, today's Song of the Day comes from two versatile artists who just recently started collaborating. No More, the most recent work by Shlohmo and Jeremih, is a dark, ominous bass-heavy 4 am come-down tune, with slow vibes and sensual-but-off vocals. Shlohmo starts the tune off with some trippy synth melodies and a low frequency trap bassline. With a mix of classic and exotic percussion, Shlohmo develops a versatile playing field for Jeremih to sing over. When Jeremih's ghostly vocals come in, the dark vibe is enhanced with much more flavor. During the middle of the song, after the hook, Shlohmo does his signature vocal warping where he takes Jeremih's vocals and pitch shifts them up and down to create movement. Overall, No More is a flawless tune, representing the dark facet of R&B. Expect more tunes like this one off Shlohmo and Jeremih's upcoming EP.

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Electric Forest Initial Artist Wave Announced!

Hell Yes.

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Umphrey's McGee w/ STS9 - "Let's Dance" Live from Chicago 8.17.2013 - Song of the Day - (2/14/14)

Umphrey's McGee and Sound Tribe went on tour together at the end of last summer and I was lucky enough to catch their stop in Chicago. As if the night couldn't have gotten any better seeing two of my favorite bands in the same night, Umphrey's invited STS9 on stage for the final song of the their encore and played a killer cover David Bowie's "Let's Dance." Let's relive this over, and over, and over. :)

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Scott Hardkiss "Feet" - Song of the Day [2/13/2014]

San Francisco area Legend and one of the god fathers of the '90s rave scene, Scott Hardkiss (born Scott Friedel), passed away nearly a year ago at the age of 43.  He was truly one of the visionary producers of his generation and a loss to us all.  Commonly associated with his (non-biological) brothers Gavin and Robbie Hardkiss, their collaborations were underground rave gold.  This track, with all of it's groovy and odd sounds, is simply one of my favorites.  Not familiar with his stuff?  Check it all out on Soundcloud.  How can you not love the frogs, a personal favorite...

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Papadosio - "We Are Water" (7/9/13 - Dragon Stage - Thornville OH) Song of the Day [2/12/14]

Blending the lines between electronic and jam band, Papadosio has been entertaining crowds for years. With a plethora of festival appearances coming up this summer, constantly moving up on the docket, this is one band you have to check out. Let this smooth melodic jam with a very thought inducing vocal track take control.

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Emancipator Ensemble w/ODESZA & Real Magic @ Concord Music Hall - Chicago, IL - 1/31/14 (Review)

Event Review: Emancipator Ensemble + ODESZA & Real Magic at the Concord Music Hall, Chicago- Jan. 31st, 2014.

Review By: Joe LeBeau

Ilya Goldberg (left) and Doug Appling (right) of Emancipator

With the first month of 2014 behind us, let’s all take a moment to appreciate how much change and growth can transpire in just one short year: strangers become friends, lovers become stalkers, baby-faced Bieber becomes a baby-faced douche - although that one may have been a long time coming. For Doug Appling, aka Emancipator, 2013 was a year of major growth and achievements. When I first saw Emancipator almost exactly one year ago, it was in front of a crowd of no more than 100 people at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge.

Fast forward just 6 months to June 2013 when I had the immense pleasure of seeing him perform at Electric Forest’s largest stage (Sherwood Court) - a show my editor considers the best single set he has ever seen, then consider the fact that this past Friday the Emancipator Ensemble sold out the Concord Music Hall (listed capacity is 700-1600) in Chicago and you’ll appreciate how much the music of Emancipator has grown in popularity and recognition while garnering a diverse and passionate fan base in just one year.

The full Emancipator Ensemble

The event sold out early afternoon on the day of the show and when I arrived at the Concord somewhere around 9pm not a single scalper was in sight, though many hopefuls could be found wandering the parking lot and entrance line in search of spare tix. I completed the security/ticket check/coat check ritual just in time for the start of ODESZA’s set. The West coast-based electronic duo have an approach to music that combines catchy hip-hop percussion beats, glitchy vocals with layers of some quite beautiful electronic melodies. Their whole sound feels upbeat and bouncy yet dreamy all at once, and they definitely delivered these sensations and more during their live set.

As I found a spot on the floor close enough to the stage for a good look, which isn’t too difficult at the Concord, one of the first things I noticed was how incredibly down the people around me were getting. I mentioned before that the sounds of ODESZA have an upbeat and bouncy vibe to them, and as I looked around at my fellow patrons of the arts I was struck by how the whole crowd was literally bouncing in unison, which is definitely a good indication of the performance. Highlights from the set include their hit jam “iPlayYouListen”, two unreleased tracks that sounded unbelievable and an encore performance of “My Friends Never Die” off their recent EP by the same title.

Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight of ODESZA

I think there’s something to be said for having an energizing opening act for a downtempo headliner, as the combination of ODESZA into the Emancipator Ensemble was a winner in my book, as the former set the tone and energy beautifully for the dancy drum beats and soaring soundscapes of Emancipator. Performing with a live band is becoming more prevalent in electronically produced music as of late, most notably with Pretty Lights’ AnalogFuture Tour in the Fall of 2013, and I can’t imagine a better candidate for a live band performance than Emancipator. To the uninformed listener, his studio albums sound closer to a full band than a single producer, so the live ensemble seems like a logical evolution for Doug Appling’s music.

The Ensemble featured Appling on guitar, the familiar face of Ilya Goldberg on violin, Colby Buckler on percussion and an unnamed virtuoso rocking the bass, all performing in front of a beautifully understated stage production that featured tall, skinny parallel screens depicting a sunny, cloudy sky rolling past- an ideal backdrop to the nature-esque music being played. The Ensemble opened with “Lionheart” from Soon it Will be Cold Enough, and shortly after really got the audience moving with their popular single “Elephant Survival” and the song’s addictive drum beats and ethereal flute riffs.

Goldberg and Appling, lost in music.

From there, the performance was a perfectly concocted mix of songs off all three studio albums- Safe in the Steep Cliffs, Soon it Will Be Cold Enough, and, most recently, Dusk to Dawn- plus a couple very well received unreleased tracks to give us die-hard fans some new Emancipator to eagerly look forward to. The performance seemed to stand still in time, as one song flew so seamlessly into the next it was hard to keep track of them all, even to a seasoned fan like myself. The crowd was pleasantly diverse in age and backgrounds, and positivity and goodwill abounded amongst the enchanted, swaying showgoers.

The music’s enchantment was momentarily broken as Appling & Co. left the stage for their customary pseudo-exit and eager cries for “one more song” instantly arose throughout the venue. The good men of the Ensemble only left us hanging for a few seconds before re emerging to jubilant cheers and beginning what would be a three-song encore with the iconic Emancipator song “Anthem”, a fitting end to a beautifully crafted performance. I arrived at the Concord many hours earlier with high expectations for one of my favorite minds in music today, and Doug and his Ensemble far exceeded all of them in what was, from a passionate fan’s perspective, a flawless performance.

The Emancipator Ensemble Tour continues across the East and West Coasts through April, and if there’s a tour stop within a day’s drive of you I cannot stress enough how dearly you need to get out to see the Ensemble!

- Photo Credit: Aaron Engler of AB Photographie

Some live footage we snagged at their stop the next day in Minneapolis:

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Nirvana - "Love Buzz" [Song of the Day] (2-11-14)

This clip is from Live, Tonight, Sold Out!! it's a concert version of 'Love Buzz' my favorite song from Nirvana's first album "Bleach". Nirvana was a major influence for me as a teenager and their music still holds up as some of the most entertaining rock music. Most people know the album "Nevermind" and consider that the start of Nirvana. It is true that the band blew up in popularity after "Nevermind". The band's debut album "Bleach" was created by a hodge podge of different people like Pat Smear who is now a member of the Foo Fighters. Also for "Bleach" Chad Channing was the drummer and not Dave Grohl. Grohl would join the band before the album "Nevermind" in 1990. The film Live, Tonight, Sold Out!! is a glimpse into the lives of the touring rock stars in the early 90's. I used to own it on VHS, it should be up in it's entirety online somewhere.

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The Glitch Mob - Love Death Immortality [Album Review]

The Glitch Mob are no strangers when it comes to experimentation in the electronic scene. With the release of their debut LP Drink the Sea in 2010, they established themselves as a group which creates music containing a combination of both organic and synthetic instrumentation while also expressing a tone that is very emotional and uplifting. After this release, the glitch electronica scene was expanded greatly and many standing and upcoming artists attempted to use The Glitch Mob sound as inspiration for their new music. Soon afterwords, The Glitch Mob gained massive respect for their style, playing festivals and many tours whenever they were not producing. 

Fast forward a few years and we witness the release their second LP Love Death Immortality. The Glitch Mob commented that during the production of this album, they were constantly communicating with fans via social networks, and they believe that this album represents the emotional intimacy that they have built over time with their followers. Love Death Immortality is an album that is very different from Drink the Sea in terms of production and style; however, it still maintains the emotional tone prevalent in all their previous works. This album is definitely more fast-paced and has a very dominant dance vibe to it. This style is represented most in songs Skullclub and Carry The Sun, which clearly have electro-house overtones and general EDM build-ups and drops. These tunes are not very consistent with The Glitch Mob sound and seem to be little too generic within the giant-but-not-diverse progressive house scene. However, songs like Can't Kill Us and Skytoucher, the most versatile and original tracks, combine styles from many different genres of electronic music while also showing us production skill that we have never heard before. 

Unlike in Drink the Sea, The Glitch Mob decided to collaborate with many artists on Love Death Immortality. Along with the amplification of emotion, these collaborations are flawless and smooth, showing us that The Glitch Mob can be very diverse in sound and production. By far the most original and touching collaboration takes place on the final track of the album, Beauty Of The Unhidden Heart. Sister Crayon's vocals seem to float effortlessly over The Glitch Mob's downtempo dubstep beat while the fuzzy synths roam in the foreground, expressing to us a unique uplifting emotion that we have never felt before in electronic music thus far. 

Love Death Immortality is a journey into the energetic world of emotional dance music, and the last track is the tether that brings us smoothly back to reality. This album will without a doubt be an inspiration for many artists both in and out of the glitch scene.

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Skrillex Sued by Fan for Stage Diving; Claims Stroke as a Result

Our "friends" at TMZ have reported that Skrillex was sued by a fan - Jennifer Fraissl - for allegedly causing a stroke after performing a stage dive at The Belasco in Downtown L.A. in Feburary 2012.. According to TMX: "Fraissl says she was standing near the front when Skrillex beckoned the crowd forward -- making it impossible for her to leave or even protect herself -- and that's when Skrillex jumped from his table ... several feet above the stage." Fraissl is apparently also suing the nightclub for not preventing Sonny Moore (Skrillex) from acting in a reckless manner. Yikes!

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Widespread Panic - "Good People" Live from Pelham, AL 4/1/11 - Song of the Day - (2/10/14)

God Damn. This is my jam.

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The Glitch Mob - "Can't Kill Us" Song of the Day [2/9/14]

The Glitch Mob drop their new album, "Love Death Immortality", on Tuesday. Might as well enjoy as much as you can before it drops. If this release is any sign of what they have in store for their album, we are ready!!

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Paper Diamond - Black Rose - Song of the Day [2/8/2014]

Super versatile electronic artist Paper Diamond delves back into his Levitate days with this new chill tune Black Rose. Flawlessly structured with 808 percussion and sparkling tones, this song is a perfect example of how electronic music can have a hip-hop vibe but also be very upbeat and experimental. Like many songs in Levitate, Black Rose is very emotional and expressive. It also combines many elements of glitchiness in electronic music very evident today.
Paper Diamond just started his Cold Crush Tour and we can expect to see a release of much more music in the near future!

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Umphrey's McGee - "No Diablo" - Live in Boulder, CO 6/8/13 - Song of the Day - (2/7/14)

Umphrey's McGee has long been a favorite of mine since the first time I saw them and having never heard of them prior to that. Insistently on point throughout every set I've ever seen them perform, today's song of the day is showcasing a favorite track of mine as performed in one of the best states in the union; Colorado, stand up!

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Hoverboots - "Mechanical Bullshit" [Free Download]

One of the best new emerging sub genres of EDM is one called Glitch-Hop. This track by Hoverboots is a beautiful example of how amazing Glitch-Hop can be. "Mechanical Bullshit" uses incredible crisp bass tones and the funky melody is enchanting. Hoverboots is a Nashville based producer, and he is still building a name for himself. "Mechanical Bullshit" is free to download by following the link on the song which sends you to Hoverboots' bandcamp page.

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Shredded Beats @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom [Review] (1/30/14 -2/1/14)

Review By: Justin D'Amico

Last weekend So Gnar threw an amazing three night hip-hop bash called Shredded Beats at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom. Each night had it's own feel as many different artists showcased their talents throughout the weekend. So Gnar brought in a bevy of old school hip-hop bands for the event including Swollen Members, Deltron 3030, and Dilated Peoples. The local talent and other opening acts were great too, bands like: Proximity, High Five, Heatbox, and Slaine. Every night was stacked with a killer line up, and the third night was sold out with walk up ticket sales.

Night one was heavily Battleaxe Warrior themed, that being the movement of fans and groups created as a result of Swollen Members and their positive message. The Battleaxe Warrior crew might sound tough and ready for war, but the people are some of the nicest you can meet.  Swollen Members brought Slaine, one of the artists on their label, he would set a tone with sick flows early on night one. Step Brothers were also in the house for the first night of Shredded Beats. Step Brothers are a group consisting of Evidence and The Alchemist from the Rhymesayers crew. Step Brothers just put out their debut album called Lord Steppington on January 21st, 2014. The opening acts were excellent on night one of Shredded Beats.

Swollen Members electrified the room, as they stepped on stage the crowd went nuts. They went through an awesome set list including a lot of the classics like: "On Top", "Watch This", and "Lady Venom". Madchild also dropped some stuff from his solo album Dope Sick. At one point in the set Madchild stopped to mention how he is recovering from an addiction to pain killers. He said it has been a couple years now and he is proud to say he is sober other than a drink here and there. Prevail was all over the place on stage, he was very entertaining to watch as he would make silly faces and act out lyrics as they were being rapped. Rob the Viking was incredible on the turntables for both Slaine and Swollen Members he also helped out with the backing vocals. Swollen Members went hard and showed the Battleaxe Warriors a great time.

Night two of Shredded Beats was another amazing night of hip-hop. To start off the night local talent would fire up the people. First up was High Five, a Denver based hip-hop collective of 4 MCs and two producers. They were great musically and in hyping the crowd for the headliners to come. The most unique performance of the weekend came on night two with an artist called Heatbox. For his live show Heatbox used a few different effects processors and samplers along with his talent for beat-boxing to create music. Heatbox is a solo act, but when listening it sounds like a full band is playing the music. Again the openers were incredible and the vibes were comforting.

For the beginning of the Deltron 3030 set Kid Koala faded into the song "3030" the perfect opening.
Then Dan the Automator entered the stage to a large applause, but no one got as big of an ovation as Del as he entered the stage from the back. He shook a couple hands and then right into it, "Hey yo, it's three-thousand-thirty I want ya'll to meet Deltron zero." The set went way back into the old school Deltron 3030 days with songs like, "Mastermind", Things You Can Do", and "Positive Contact". Some new Deltron 3030 music was weaved into the set too, like "The Return". For this show Deltron 3030 had a full band including guitar, bass guitar and drums. Dan the Automator is the band leader and he also ran a sample box as he walked around on stage. The Roland sound machine Dan the Automator used was loaded up with a bunch of the samples from Deltron 3030 songs, he would insert them at the precise time to recreate the song live. For some shows Deltron 3030 has a full orchestra and then Dan serves as the conductor while the orchestra creates the sounds live. Kid Koala was given a little solo time where he went off showing his ridiculous skills. Kid Koala had a three turntable setup for this show, and he would mix between all three. Night two of Shredded Beats was a lot of fun and Deltron 3030 was instupituous.

For night three of Shredded Beats the place was really bumpin, and it sold out! The big names for the third night were Dizzy Wright, Hopsin, and Dilated Peoples. Originally Dilated Peoples were to headline, but due to travel conflicts they would go on before Hopsin. Dizzy Wright was a big name opener for the show. Dizzy brought his friend and fellow lyricist Rolphy for some added flavor. Dizzy Wright was tight with hard flows and some sick beats. Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom got hot and sticky with a capacity crowd fired up for hip-hop.

Dilated Peoples took the stage and I couldn't stop smiling. They have so much fun up there and they keep it energetic for the whole set. The group consists of Evidence, Rakaa Iriscience, and DJ Babu. For this show The Alchemist was also in the mix, another Rhymesayers Entertainment badass. 'We make it hard when we go on first' is such a true statement, straight from the lyrics of Dilated Peoples on the track "Worst Comes To Worst". Hopsin would close out the show with a harder style. It took only two songs for Hopsin to take off his shirt and showoff his physique. Hopsin had a tough spot following Dilated Peoples, but he was able to pull it off well. I had a great time at all three nights of Shredded Beats.



Intelligent hip hop always trumps hard gangster rap to me. I would rather giggle at a witty simile, rather than listen to a supposed tough guy talk about cliche topics. Shredded Beats brought together an excellent group of hip-hop artists for an inspiring event. The lyricists were all on point and the tough guy stuff was kept to a minimum. Shredded Beats was presented by So Gnar a Colorado company that sells awesome merchandise, throws concerts, and puts on snowboarding events. Make sure to check out the So Gnar website by following the link. Also stay on the up and up with the best club in Denver too, Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom.

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Big Gigantic's "Touch the Sky" - Song of the Day [2/6/2014]

With the release of Big Gigantic's new album just days away, we thought a little taste would be a good thing.  Here is the brand new video for "Touch the Sky", aka Track #4 from "The Night is Young" which officially drops on Tuesday 2/11.  They launch their supporting tour the next day in Sioux Falls, SD.  

We've had a chance to listen to an early release version of the album.  A blend of familiar BigG sound, along with a few tracks that diverge from what we expect from them, we are still digesting the album as a whole. We can't wait to hear what you think.  

For a chance to win a pair of tix to the MPLS show on Valentine's Day, check out the #BigGigianticLove contest going on over at MNUnderground.com

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Emancipator Ensemble - Mill City Nights - Minneapolis, MN - 2/1/14 - (Review)

A Review By: Troy Manley

Sound in Motion has been a staple production company for the electronic scene in the Minneapolis area for as long as I can remember. Continually bringing in big name after big name, it was no surprise to find out they were responsible for the Emancipator Ensemble making a stop at Mill City Nights on their current national tour. Mill City Nights is a smaller venue located right in “the shit” of downtown Minneapolis. Blocks from Target Field, legendary venue First Ave, and a plethora of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, Mill City Nights has some competition for the place to be on a Friday night in a highly trafficked area. Having never been there before and reading a multitude of the mixed reviews available on yelp, a venture into the unknown was about to launched. But not before having Murphy’s law take over my life for the hours leading up to the show.

The initial plan of attack for the evening was to conquer the 4 hour drive I had ahead of me early in the day so I could meet up with friends and spend the better part of the afternoon with them. However, roommate car troubles led me to assist them and delay my trip about 2 hours. Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, I was finally ready to leave after having been “Good Guy Greg” for the morning and my car wouldn't fucking start. After a couple hours and figuring out the issue, my car was finally good to go and I could get on the road. Only 5 hours behind schedule, not bad. 

After being on the road for a couple hours I started to get into that zone where you are just spacing out, but still taking on the road like a champ, when all of a sudden I found myself in utter turmoil. I pull over to find a flat tire. It’s at this point I pray to sweet baby Jesus and thank him for the wonderful situations I had found myself in that day. Once I got that taken care of and got into the city it was already after 11 pm and the show had started 2 hours earlier. Luckily I called and found out Emancipator didn't take the stage until midnight – best news I had heard all day. I finally made it to the venue at about 11:45 – 15 minutes before Emancipator was set to take the stage – only to find out the venue removed my +1 they had initially granted me without any prior warning. That’s that shit I don’t like. After forcing my buddy to pay for a ticket and missing all of the openers, we were into the venue and ready for the main act of the night, the Emancipator Ensemble.

Portland native, Doug Appling is the mastermind behind down-tempo outfit, Emancipator. This time around, however, he arranged a touring band and took to the road as the Emancipator Ensemble. The ensemble consists of long-time touring partner and violinist, Ilya Goldberg, a bassist whose name I missed the night of and was unable to find despite internet searching  AND hitting up their PR people, and Colby Buckler on drums.

This live band joining him on stage added a whole new dimension and level of energy to the show unseen in my 3 previous outings to an Emancipator show. The bassist laid down some sexy lines all night long as if it were nothing and the drummer rounded things out playing through their set with the utmost precision.  They played through an incredible selection of tracks off all three of Emancipator’s albums, and even threw an unreleased track in there.

Although many of the tracks stuck true to their studio counterparts, some tracks, like “Anthem,” were reworked to fully utilize the 4-piece band and enhance the overall experience compared to a traditional Emancipator set where Doug and Ilya are the only two on stage. The tracks were well polished and the inclusion of live drums and bass brought a powerful energy that filled the venue and everyone jamming out throughout the entire night.

As the show progressed and it got closer to the inevitable end of the show, I began wishing Emancipator would play until the summer came and we could go outside again. After traveling 4 hours each way to see Emancipator and dealing with copious amount of bullshit between – all of which was worth it – I can truly say that you NEED to catch this ensemble if they are coming through a festival or city near you.

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Mimosa- "It's Hard To Be Good" Song of the Day [2/5/14]

Tigran Mkhitaryan a.k.a Mimosa has been making music since the age of 17. According to his Facebook profile, "blending sultry melodies with booming baselines, Mimosa offers up a interesting and soulful take on the sounds of hip-hop and dubstep beats." This is one producer that is definitely worth checking out. Crank it, and let this melody take control.

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Digitalism - "2 Hearts" - Song of the Day (2-4-14)

Today's song of the day comes from the German electro duo Digitalism. This is such a beautiful song, it is one of a few songs good enough to get me to tear up. "2 Hearts" comes from the album Idealism, a complete masterpiece from back in 2007. They have a newer album from 2011 called I Love You Dude which is also amazing. If you haven't looked into Digitalism you must, they are brilliant.

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Spring Awakening Lineup Announced! (Chicago)

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There you have it! React has done it again with a mind blowing lineup for Spring Awakening 2014! Returning to Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, this years event is bound to top those of the past! With performances from Tiesto, Pretty Lights, Kaskade, Destroid and many more, the only question is, Who's ready for some Chi town madness?

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Outkast feat: Sleepy Brown - "The Way You Move" - Song of the Day (2/3/14)

Outkast is getting back together and performing at a plethora of festivals throughout the United States this upcoming festival season. Of the handful of announcements made thus far, Outkast has been billed at the top of nearly every one. Thought we'd relive some of their glory days with this classic track that topped the Billboard Top 100 singles chart in its hay day (2004).

Below: Unedited song w/lyrics

Below: The Official Music Video (edited)

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Daft Punk - "Touch" Ft. Paul Williams Song of the Day [2/2/14]

It's Sunday, probably don't feel good. Have a little Daft Punk to make you feel better. One of the gems of their Grammy winning album makes for a pretty good "Super Bowl" Sunday!!

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ODESZA - My Friends Never Die - Song of the Day [02/03/2014] [FREE DOWNLAD]

Today's Song of the Day comes from an up and coming electronic music duo out of Seattle, whose sound is like no other in the industry. ODESZA's unique blend of glitch-hop and house coupled with their improv live shows simply radiate emotion in a very artistic fashion. Their song My Friends Never Die off their newest EP with the same name is a glitch-hop tune containing innovative sampling and original percussion not usually heard in the hip-hop industry. With a very sparkly overtone and fuzzy basslines, the song evokes bright wonder and introspection. ODESZA is currently on tour with Emancipator and Real Magic. I highly recommend attending one of the stops to check out ODESZA's exceptional style.

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Action Bronson w/ Party Supplies at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom - Denver, CO 1/28/14 (Review)

Review By: Kenny Emmer

Action Bronson,, aka Bam Bam aka Bronsolino, performed at the Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver on Tuesday, bringing along fellow collaborator Party Supplies. Justin Nealis, the mind behind Party Supplies, opened the show up with a very retro, classic, and soulful set filled with hits from the 50's through the 90's, occasionally throwing in some modern flare to keep things edgy. The crowd swayed back and forth through a diverse playlist of classic disco, reggae, r&b, hip-hop, and house music. Good vibes could be felt throughout the ballroom as people danced, shared drinks, and shared memories as Party Supplies dropped classic after classic. As a familiar haze began to fill the venue, the anticipation for Action Bronson to take the stage was escalating. As Bam Bam walked out, chanting "FREE BIG BODY!" (Big Body is Bronson's cousin who is apparently in and out of jail) the crowd lit up, as did joints, blunts, and dabs - initiating an hour and a half of pure weed euphoria in a state where the green stuff is legal for recreational use. Bronson is known for his rhyming themes such as food, foreign women, cars, and sweet, sweet mary jane. As he spit out his poetry to a very faithful crowd, he participated in the smoke fest, ocassionally taking a rip from joints handed off by fans, but most impressively, a dab rig. Action wore a Bronco's beanie in support of Denver's AFC champions and admitted throwing five grand on the team to win the Superbowl. Bam Bam performed tracks off his recent Blue Chips 2 album as well a few from Rare Chandeliers, Blue Chips, and Saab Stories. He even threw in his verse from Chance the Rapper's "Nana". Needless to say, Bronsolino put on one hell of a performance, and by the end of the set he could barely keep his eyes open.

It seems the famous rocky mountain high one gets from experiencing real Colorado bud had eventually caught up with Action, in which he brought new meaning to the term "Mile High." As someone who didn't partake in the festivities, I can honestly say even my eyes got a little heavy. Overall, Action Bronson put on a very entertaining show. His lyricism and flow is something you don't get a lot in hip-hop these days - a real passion for the slightly-less-than-luxurious aspects of life, like good food, good company, and good green. One can't help but leave the show feeling hungry for more. But not just more music, but a newly-found craving for octopus, assorted Italian delicacies, and roasted peppers, among other fine dining. Most hip-hop fans would argue that Bronson's rhymes are hard not to like, because all he rhymes about is pure enjoyment. With the obvious love for the state of CO that Action Bronson has shown, I can safely say "until next time, Bronsolino."

 

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