August 18th, 2008
I’m a huge fan of music festivals. There is nothing like a weekend round-up of great bands at one event, not to the funnel cake and occasional cultural arts exhibit. Oh, and the people who attend music festivals (myself included), are often fanatical types usually, with eclectic music tastes. You have to be a bit zealous to pay some of the festival prices and to stand in the sun for hours to see your favorite band.
The summer may be near its end but there are still plenty of festivals on the calendar for fall. It’s impossible for me to list every festival happening everywhere, so if you know of others, please feel free to add them to the comments.
Bumbershoot: Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival
When: Aug. 31 - Sept. 1
Where: Seattle Center
This is a end of Summer, beginning of fall, memorial day weekend hot ticket. Bumbershoot features a wide range of arts, from theatre and film, to music and dance. Neko Case is making a tour stop at Bumbershoot. Other live performances by Keysha Cole, Beck, Lucinda Williams, Death Cab for Cutie and more.
Pygmalion Music Festival
When: September 17-20
Where: Urbana, IL
Admittedly I didn’t recognize any of the names in the line-up for this festival. But that tends to be how it is with indie music festivals. The Pygmalion festival is in it’s fourth year and I have no doubt that there will be plenty of talented artists to explore.
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 2 comments
August 15th, 2008
Continuing to tease and titillate us as the date of her solo debut approaches, Amanda Palmer has released another video in the series, Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
“The Point of it All” is another heavy handed, waltzing piano ballad. This time the piano is accompanied by the faint whisper of strings. Palmer’s voice is richly dissonant and vulnerable; her poetry intricate and almost arcane. She seems to be invoking an alter ego and internal conflict with herself, and then there’s a bit of a twist at the end. Check it out:
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 0 comments
August 15th, 2008
Song writer, Dianne Warren will be honored with inaugural Film & Music Career Achievement Award from The Hollywood Reporter (THR) and Billboard at the seventh annual Film & Music Conference in November.
Warren is credited with writing hit songs for a host of artists - including Aerosmith, Whitney Houston, and Tina Turner - as well as having songs been featured in over 100 films. To wit, she will receive an award for her career achievement as well as her current influence on the music and film industries.
The award will be given at a private lunch reception, during the conference, which takes place November 13-14 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Warren is also giving a keynote speech on her success creating scores for film and television.
Image via Newscom
[source]
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 0 comments
August 14th, 2008
Since Santogold made her debut in April, she has become an indie sweetheart with her genre defying sound. Recently she made the MTV rotation as artist of the week, solidifying her breakout status.
Well, as break out as an artist as unique as Santogold can be…
Like her friend, M.I.A., Santogold’s sound is a mashup of dubbed out, electronica, and hip hop and extremely hard to categorize. This of course means she probably won’t get high rotation on the radio, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping Santi White from becoming a star in her own right. She is even featured with Pherell and The Strokes’ Julian Casablanca in the Converse Summer Anthem, “My Drive Through.”
Perhaps it is her originality, perhaps it is her raw energy…whatever it is, Santogold is definitely one to watch. Currently Santi is doing an international tour. For now, check out her live performance on FNMTV.
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 0 comments
August 13th, 2008
After Britney Spears’ disastrous VMA performance, the infamous OK! debacle and public meltdown, the pop princess turned tabloid queen is earnestly trying to revive her entertainment career.
In addition to working on a new album, to be released next year, Spears is laying the groundwork for her comeback by returning to the scene to cleaning up some of her messes from last year. Case in point, the news that Spears will be performing at this year’s VMAs as well as doing an interview with OK!
Sources are saying that Spears seems to be getting her act together. In the interview, Spears discusses her forthcoming album, which she says is her best work ever.
“I think it is more urban. I’m working with producers who are just amazing,” Spears said of the as-yet-untitled album, which she predicted would come out within the next six to nine months, and which will include songs produced by the Underdogs (Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake). “There is this fresh new energy.” [source]
Spears also shares her concerns about her own kids following in her footsteps as a child star, saying that she would rather them have a “normal childhood” but she’d love tem unconditionally.
Hopefully, Britney Spears will fare better at this year’s VMAs than she did last year with her lazy “Gimmie More” performance. Not only is she nominated in several categories, Spears is in negotiations with MTV to perform at this year’s cerimony and has already done a promotional spot, poking fun at herself.
We’re routing for you Britney!
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 0 comments
August 12th, 2008
She became a viral success as Obama Girl, with her lip syncing video “I Got A Crush on Obama.” Now Amber Lee Ettinger is working on an album on which she’ll actually sing…well sort of.
The album, entitled Queen of the Web is scheduled for a Fall release to coincide with the presidential election on November 2. You can get a taste of the first single, “Second Time” on Ettinger’s MySpace page. Prepare yourself for heavily synthesized, super slick production; an attempt at trying to cover up Amber Lee’s lack of vocal talent.
While you await Amber Lee’s upcoming album, you can catch her on BarelyPolitical.com in “The Candidate Girl’s Olympics.”
Image Via Obama Girl MySpace
[source]
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 0 comments
August 12th, 2008
Tina Turner recently came out of retirement and is scheduled to release a compilation album next month.
Tina! will contain 16 of the legendary songstress’ career hits, including “The Acid Queen” and “River Deep Mountain High.” Live versions of “Proud Mary” and “We Don’t Need Another Hero” will also be featured.
With the official release date set for September 30, Tina! will be out just in time for Tina Turner’s first tour since 2000. The North American leg of the tour begins October 1 with Turner heading to Europe in January.
[source]
Image via Newscom
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 0 comments
August 11th, 2008
After her surprise marriage to Nick Cannon in April, Mariah Carey didn’t have time to celebrate properly. Trust the Pop/R&B diva to do it big, first chance she gets.
This weekend the New York Post reported that Carey will be renting Stone Meadow Farm in Easton Hampton, for a one week of “chilling out” with her hubby and a wedding soirée hosted by LA Reid.
Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body” video is nominated for an MTV Video Music Award.
Image via Newscom
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 0 comments
August 8th, 2008
One thing I know about the entertainment industry is when you don’t hear about someone for a few years and then they suddenly appear on the news radar again, they’ve got something planned.
Courtney Love is no exception to this celebrity rule. What with being sued over Nirvana profits and her various blog feuds, it’s no surprise she’s got a new album coming out in the fall.
The album, entitled Nobody’s Daughter, has actually been in the works since early last year. In an interview with Spinner, Love said the album is a true representation of who she is now.
"I think the title just says it all," Love explained to Spinner. "I’m not pouting. I’m not playing anything up. I don’t have parents that I acknowledge. I’m nobody’s daughter. I’m nobody’s wife. I’m nobody’s bitch. I’m nobody’s daughter. I’m nobody’s widow. I’m somebody’s mother. Other than that, I don’t identify with these other female roles I’m supposed to have." [source]
Nobody’s Daughter is a huge departure from the glam rock aesthetic of Hole, save for the prevalence of Love’s distinctly gravely voice. Love says her biggest influences were Bob Dylan and Linda Perry, but those influences are well cloaked.
Check out this collection of snippets from the album. If you like that sort of classic, abrasive, folksy rock sound, you’ll definitely enjoy this album. That is of course, when it is released. No date set yet, so we shall see.
HT
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 0 comments
August 7th, 2008
Last week I featured Nikka Costa in a flashback. Imagine my surprise at finding out that Costa made an announcement via MySpace that her new album, Pebble to a Pearl is scheduled for release, September 23.
The first single "Stuck to You" is a funky hand-clapping groove for grown folks to cha-cha to. Her voice has always been beautiful. Combined with slicker production, it is even more dazzling and soulful. It must be amazing to hear her live. Listen to the single on Costa’s MySpace page.
Nikka Costa had originally planned to release the album herself, that is, until she was sighed to Stax/Concord Music, "the home of soul." She is planning a tour, during which, she say’s you can catch sneak peaks of her latest songs.
Image via Nikka Costa MySpace.
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By Kimberlee Morrison -- 0 comments
When: Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 
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