Michna breaks out. Photo: ffg

The big, corporate labels are dinosaur fossils (insert big high five to the internet here) in an industry that is now thriving off the entrepreneurial efforts of the artists themselves. Successful are the labels that can figure out not only how to distribute their music in new and different ways, but also brand themselves.

One of these labels is on Ghostly International. A passport for flavor, Ghostly is a creative house where art and music live under the same roof. Their makeup and roster has a more unique range of tastes than the Baskin Robbins in Bangladesh.

To get a feeling for their artists and sounds, download the mixtape collaboration,Ghostly Swim, that they did for cartoon loonies Adult Swim.

Another ingenious way to spread their sounds, Ghostly released one of the coolest (and FREE?!) iPhone apps I have seen, Discovery. Simply set your music mood on their color wheel and you’re instantly streaming a mix of their artist catalog.

If you want to dive deeper, I urge you to check out two of my current label favorites, Michna and School of Seven Bells.

Michna’s album, Magic Monday, is a tightly knit piece of instrumental and electronic beat production. Throw on your headphones, press play, and this album will take you on little trip from start to finish.

School of Seven Bells is held together by the heavenly vocals of the two, sexy Deheza sisters and clean sound design of Benjamin Curtis. They got their name from a mythical group of pick pocketing, South American orphans. Another relaxing trip for your ears and mind.

All in all, not too shabby of an output from a label founded in 1999 by a 19 year old, right? We could all learn something from Ghostly.

With their first DVD only out this week, Be-Dom is making a fast name for themselves in Portugal. The six members of this Porto based group mix performance art with music composed entirely on instruments made of found materials. Here’s a peek at three of their frenetic, feel-good performances.

Community Connection

Want to hear about more interesting musicians? Meet Aaron Appleton (currently on a worldwide quest to mix anthropology with world music) and Jamie Catto, one half of the ultimate world music project 1 Giant Leap.

EMI and Apple Corps Ltd have announced the upcoming release of The Beatles digital USB. The device is another strong uppercut to the other Apple, who have yet to land the band’s titles on iTunes. “[Jobs] says that a download is worth 99 cents, and we disagree,” said George Harrison’s son Dhani in an interview with Blender last Spring.

Music retailer Bluebeat has been selling $.25 Beatles track downloads but, as reported in the LA Times this week, EMI has filed copyright infringement charges against that company. It appears that they forgot to ask permission to put the tracks up.

The $279 USB is shaped in the form of an apple (shocker) and contains 14 stereo titles, as well as all of the re-mastered CDs’ visual elements, including 13 mini-documentary films about the studio albums, replicated original UK album art, rare photos and expanded liner notes.

Only 30,000 copies of the USB will be released. It drops December 8th and is available for pre-order at The Beatles’ store.

Community Connection

Have you been following us each #Musicmonday? If not, check out our recent free download picks from We Make It Good and Atlas Sound.

This and All Photos: Kate Sedgwick

What the Pepsi Music Festival in Buenos Aires calls “fan space” is an area in front of a stage that is at least ten feet off the ground, and what it amounts to if you’re all of five feet tall (like I am) is that you won’t be seeing much of any of the musicians you came to see below knee level.

It means their torsos will often seem to hover, cut off by the blackness of the stage. To be in the special area will mean that the little view you have will be blocked by massive cameras and their operators as they simulcast choppy close ups that pan in and out like children playing with a zoom lens for the first time.

Despite being herded into an overpriced “fan” corral, the privilege of which I paid extra for, I so thoroughly enjoyed Faith No More’s performance November 1st, 2009 that I am having trouble defining it. While I was not able to see very much of what was happening on stage, I was there more to hear the band than to see them and they delivered in a big way.

The only view I ever got of Drummer Mike Bordin
was on the big screen.

I’ve been a fan since my sophomore year of high school. At that time, FNM’s sound made me sick. It made me nervous. It touched a part of me I didn’t know I had and there seemed to be answers to mysterious questions in the dissonance, lyrics, and syncopation on Angel Dust. I hadn’t heard anything quite like them and I still haven’t. I tortured myself with that record, listening to it over and over even though it scared me, until I crawled into that sound and identified with it.

Though their style changed a lot with the two subsequent albums (King for a Day and Album of the Year) at least partially because each had a different guitarist (Trey Spruance and and Jon Hudson respectively), Faith No More sounds like no other band. Metal? Lounge? Rock? Country? Spaz core? Noise? Easy listening? Punk?

Rabid fans go insane in Buenos Aires. Shows here are just more fun.

Yes. All of the above. And though their sound is hard to pigeonhole, they are immediately recognizable in no small part due to Patton’s vocals that range from leading-man smooth to larynx shredding shrieks and barks.

Keyboardist Roddy Bottum, Singer Mike Patton and Bassist Billy Gould.

I saw them once before in 1995 on the King for a Day Tour when they made their way to Louisville, KY. That show was much smaller, I was right up front and though the venue and show were different, the truth about FNM is that the band is tight, disciplined, and incredibly skilled. At that show Patton ripped out the back of his pants when he crouched to let loose a note from the bowels of hell (or at least his own). Unfazed, the show continued with periodic flashes of the singer’s red underwear.

Patton donned a #10 soccer jersey for the encore,
drawing a parallel between himself and Argentine soccer legend
Maradona. Was it a joke? Maybe.

It broke my heart when they split up. Though I have followed solo projects by members since then, I enjoy them as a team. Seeing them play was an emotional experience for me. Even if they’re in it for the money, each of them gives themselves up to the show and the music and that’s what we’re all there for.

While being in South America often has me missing bands touring the US and Europe, this time, it’s the kids in the USA who are missing tour dates for the freshly reunited band who seems to be following Summer around the world starting in Europe and coming this way for the hot weather. Those of you reading this – if they tour the US you’d be an idiot not to go. Faith No More is as good or better than they ever were (though I have to say that I miss Jim Martin’s guitar).

If you haven’t seen a big rock show in Buenos Aires, you’re missing out. The fans here are practically rabid in their enthusiasm. No one is too cool to dance and so if you’re used to American fans who seem to want to be caught in a sexy pose if the hot guitarist happens to look their way, fans in Argentina give as much as the bands and in some cases, more.

Patton remarked on the crowd’s preference for singing the guitar and keyboard parts. We were a wall of sound that could be heard through floor monitors and amplifiers. This was a show I will not soon forget. The following are the first three numbers. Enjoy!

Community Connection

Are you a freak for Faith No More like the author? Has one of your favorite bands ever come to your neck of the woods? Do you find rock concerts in Buenos Aires to be a bit too much? Let us know about it in the comments field below.

The Gaslight Anthem’s album is a fivespot on Amazon.com.

The #1 selling album on Amazon’s digital store right now is the soundtrack to a little-seen film (Away We Go ), by a too-seldom heard artist (Alexi Murdoch). So why’s it selling? At $6.99*, it’s a cheap investment for an album that currently holds a 4 ½ star rating.

The same album goes for $9.99 on iTunes.

Amazon seems to be working hard to get the price down on titles. This is encouraging for those of us who still like to purchase music but find a price point one penny shy of ten bucks to be ridiculous.

Albums currently selling well for five bills include Beastie Boys’ classic Paul’s Boutique , Owl City’s embarrassing Ocean Eyes and the indie-dad-approved Yo Gabba Gabba’s Music Is Awesome .

The disparity between pricing with iTunes is puzzling. Jay Z’s The Blueprint 3 is currently $5.00 on Amazon and $9.99 at iTunes. Same price difference for Tim McGraw, Flight Of The Conchords and Grizzly Bear.

On top of their low-price model, Amazon has been rolling out plenty of free albums over the past few months. Most of the titles are garbage, but it’s a dizzying selection of garbage nonetheless, with 144 titles at last count.

If you’re going to low-dough album, I’d suggest The Gaslight Anthem’s The ’59 Sound . Currently one of the best live acts in the world, they’re about to enter the studio to record what music-folks are whispering could be the album of 2010. At five bucks, this one’s a steal.

*This title was $1.99 when we first posted the article but jumped shortly thereafter.

William Dreyton…or Flavor Flav? Photo: aon

Musicians Under 5’ 3”

Dolly Parton – 4′ 11″
Petula Clark – 5′ 0″
Paul Anka – 5′ 0″
Linda Ronstadt – 5′ 2″
Stevie Nicks – 5′ 1″
Paula Abdul – 5′ 2″
Debbie Harry – 5′ 3″
Bushwick Bill – 4′ 7″
Davy Jones – 5′ 3″
Lisa Marie Presley – 5′ 3″
Paul Simon – 5′ 2″
Phife Dawg (A Tribe Called Quest) – 5′ 1″
Bette Midler – 5′ 1”

Rappers’ Real Names

Vanilla Ice – Robert Van Winkle
Snoop Doggy Dogg – Calvin Broadus
Shaggy – Orville Richard Burrell
Tupac Shakur – Lesane Crooks
Guru – Keith Elam
Queen Latifah – Dana Owens
Shabba Ranks – Rexton Rawlston Gordon
Notorious Big – Christopher Wallace
LL Cool J – James Todd Smith
Foxy Brown – Inga Marchand
Chuck D – Carlton Douglas Ridenhour
Coolio – Artis Ivey
Flavor Flav – William Dreyton
Krs One – Kris Parker
Eric B – Eric Barrier
Rakim – William Griffin
Timbaland – Tim Mosely
Missy Elliot – Melissa Elliot
Slick Rick – Ricky Walters
Redman – Reggie Noble
MC Hammer – Stanley Kirk Burrell
Ice T – Tracy Marrow
Grandmaster Flash – Joseph Sadler
Doug E Fresh – Douglas Davies

(feature photo by on naughtymerrick)

Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider. Photo: urbanmixer

Paul Stanley of KISS. Photo: beddiewedder

Ronnie James Dio. Photo: Marek Krajcer

Warrant’s Janie Lane. Photo: beddiwedder

Stephen Pearcy of RATT. Photo: Äppelmos

Tesla’s Brian Wheat and Frank Hannon. Photo: vazzz

W Axl Rose of Guns N Roses. Photo: Cuene Chiste

Night Ranger’s Jack Blades. Photo: zengrrl

Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat. Photo: bantam10

Mike Reno of Loverboy. Photo: michiee

Don Dokken. Photo: beddiwedder

Quiet Riot’s Kevin DuBrow. Photo: BradP

The Scorpions. Photo by Photo Agency

David Coverdale of Whitesnake. Photo: emalaith

Phil Collen of Def Leppard. Photo: kaleid

Lita Ford. Photo: shadowgate

Alice Cooper. Photo: denaflows

Kip Winger. Photo: Rick

Sammy Hagar and, inexplicably, David Hasselhoff. Photo: suzanneandsimon

Van Halen’s David Lee Roth. Photo: anirudhkoul

Curators of goodness, the We Make It Good crew, teamed up with The FADER back in spring of 2008 to birth a mixtape series called, go figure, the “We Make It Good Mix Series.” Summoning renowned DJs and artists such as Pretty Titty, XXXchange, Blaqstarr and Sinden, they’re going strong on their tenth release. Each volume has a completely unique sound and style that provides a glimpse into the different artists’ genre and tastes.

One recent volume in heavy headphone rotation that’d I’d like to highlight is byPaul Devro of Mad Decent (Diplo’s label and brainchild).

Devro gets all Houston choppy and screwy-like with such tracks as Salems ”Trapador” then seamlessly bleeds into a Skream remix of Mad Decent’s Major Lazer flagship track “Hold the Line.” There are hints of pure gangster, international dance flavor and classic, hot reggae tracks like John Holt’s “Strange Things” and one my personal favs, “Under Mi Sleng Teng” by Wayne Smith, who sounds as Jamaican as John Wayne. If John Wayne road around 24/7 with blunts in his holsters preaching Jah, or just how much he loves smoking weed.

Download HERE and full track list below.

We Make it Good Intro
Salem – Trapdoor
Major Lazer – Hold The Line (Skream Remix)
Kelis – Awww Shit
John Holt – Strange Things
Plies – All Black
Fat Pimp – Check Me Out
DJ Nate – Free
DJ Vielo – Caps Angolano
Ethiopians – He’s No Rebel
Wayne Smith – Under Mi Sleng Teng
Boddhi Satva – Punch Koko + Secret Tamil Hornz
Kyla – Do You Mind (Crazy Cousins Remix) + Screwd
Deee-Lite – Applejuice Kissing
Crookers (Phra) – E.D.S.
Kantik – Punani Bubbling
Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
Latino Be My Baby Outro

Go to the We Make It Good site to download all ten WMIG volumes with full track listings.

We Make It Good is a self-described “group of writers, curators, dreamers, and thinkers telling stories in spectacular ways through the varied mediums of film, music, art, and experience.” Check them out on Facebook if you like.

Community Connection

Need more? Check out last week’s #musicmonday mix by Atlas Sound, or our recent rundown of 8 Musicians Who Will Make You Rethink World Music. Also peep our list (with videos) of 30 Songs That Capture The Spirit Of Travel.

Bradford Cox. Image: White Rainbow.

I’m still tripping on this Micromix [follow link for free download] from Bradford Cox of Deerhunter.

Even though it was released this summer (and there are a few we-shall-overcome moments that seem like they could’ve only been produced in places with hot weather) the mix has this real autumn-y feel overall, introspective and rainy. But then sometimes you need minor chords.

What I love the most is the momentum that always seems to keep pushing you downstream. It starts with some kind of sweaty handclapping gospel you can visualize somewhere in South Georgia which then dissolves @3:00 to these ambient soundscapes that sound like outer space or maybe Finland.

From there it flows into Pescado Rabioso. This is the stuff my wife and her friends grew up listening to in Buenos Aires, all of them in varying degrees of love with the lead singer Spinetta.

There’s a cool chronological jump then where it goes from Spinetta’s music from the early 70s to current Buenos Aires musical innovator Juana Molina.

I don’t want to keep narrating the rest except to say it all stays tight and ‘in the pocket’ even through a bit of Neil Young and one original track from Atlas Sound, which is Bradford Cox.
Good mixes always reflect the mixer and the person he or she is mixing for, which makes me wonder who exactly “Jeff in Vancouver” is and if there is any connection to Argentina.

I think Bradford Cox is the most relevant musician in the US right now. His mixes are like extensions of the rest of his (and sometimes Deerhunter’s) tracks, many of which get released, like these micromixes, for free at their blog. The original post for this micromix is here. Enjoy.

1. Rev. Johnny L. Jones – Walk With Me / Anonymous – We Shall Overcome
2. Es – Säteet Sun Sielusta
3. Pescado Rabioso – Superchería
4. Juana Molina – Martin Fierro
5. The Particles – Apricot’s Dream
6. Neil Young – Bad Fog Of Loneliness
7. Anonymous – We Shall Overcome
8. Atlas Sound – Coffin Trick (Second Version)
9. Townes Van Zandt – Pancho & Lefty
10. Pescado Rabioso – Las Habladurías Del Mundo

Rhode Island’s Scarce was shot out of a cannon in 1994 and became a band that every record label had to sign, only a few months after forming. They recorded a stellar debut and took to the road, following their seemingly pre-destined path to superstardom. The series of events that followed confounds anyone who’s ever been a fan.

You’ve talked to quite a few Scarce fans. Can you describe how people feel about the band and the music they’ve made? I would imagine it’s quite passionate.

Very. Somebody even said that seeing them again after all of these years was like a religious experience. I interviewed an assortment of people, including other musicians like Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses) and Joe Lally (Fugazi), all of whom said amazing things.

How did you end up choosing this as a documentary subject?

I went to see them when they played a one-off show in London late last year. Joyce gave me a copy of her book and we got talking about making a feature film out of it, which was too expensive of an idea. I’m an independent filmmaker. So I suggested that we make a documentary.

I saw the band on their way up, at the CBGB’s show that landed them a deal. Do you get the impression that, at the time, they were as surprised as anyone by all of the sudden attention?

Yes. They’d only been a band for a couple of months and they recorded The Red Sessions in a week. There was this huge, fast rise to fame.

If you listen to Deadsexy now, it might seem impossible that this is a record which could have a commercial life. But if you put it in the perspective of the time it makes sense; bands like Mudhoney were in Rolling Stone, Smashing Pumpkins had taken distortion mainstream…there was a definite feeling that even if it wasn’t Deadsexy that did it, Scarce would definitely hit it on the next album. Would you agree?

Photo: lfletcher

I would have thought so. Their music was a lot more thoughtful and intelligent than what some bands were chucking out. They always had something that was just a bit different. Even how they dressed – everyone else was in ripped jeans and here they were all dressed up. The album doesn’t sound at all dated now.

Then everything went wrong. For the uninitiated, can you encapsulate what happened to the band around 1995, right as they were about to click?

They got picked up by A&M, after being chased by 24 record labels. Everyone wanted to sign them. Then there was a big holdup of a year because Chick was previously signed to Sire and Sire Records sued him. They couldn’t play, they couldn’t tour – they were just left holding on for a year.

They finally settled for something like $90,000 and then their drummer left. They had to re-record the album with a new drummer. They went through about four or five drummers before Joe and the day after he started Chick had a brain hemmorage.

Chick and Joyce. Photo: lfletcher

He was in hospital for two or three months. They went back on the road even though Chick wasn’t in a good place – his balance was funny and he couldn’t hear properly. They were under pressure from the label. He and Joyce ended up fighting and the band just fell apart.

I’m wondering how you approached all of this in the documentary. It’s a really sad, tragic story. Was it difficult to find some kind of inspirational arc? I mean, essentially, it’s like watching a ship sink.

I was very conscious about this and I wanted to approach it objectively. The beginning is about their rise to fame, then into all of the shit that happened to them. But I have made sure that the end is pretty positive, because they’re back and people seem to be so pleased.

What do they make of all of this?

They can’t believe the reaction they’re getting. I don’t think they planned to make a comeback. They just got back together because they like playing together. They’ve been quite astonished by the reaction they’ve gotten.

Did you talk to the band about their lives post-Scarce?

Yes. Joyce and Joe played together for a little while but that didn’t work out. Chick never stopped playing. He was playing bars in Providence and toured Europe. Joyce got married, had a family and wrote the book. When I interviewed Joe, he said that he’d had a feeling that one day they’d get back together. It took ten years.

I see that there are some shows in the UK. Can you explain how you’re rolling out the movie a bit?

We’re doing four dates in the UK. Each show is a support band who are Scarce fans, then the documentary and then Scarce will do a set. We’ll then go over to The States and do a show in New York and Providence. We’re hoping to do a much bigger US tour next year.

You’ve done a documentary on a band that’s made only one album. I’m not sure that’s ever been done before.

They may only have one album but they probably have one of the greatest stories of any band. It wasn’t just one awful thing that happened to them. It was a whole series of tragedies. But they’ve still come back fighting.

Community Connection

Be sure to check out Nathan Larson of A-Camp’s Five You’ve Never , in which he manages to discuss both Burt Lancaster and falafel. Also, feel free to stroll through Berlin’s Ramones Museum and check out some of the best literal videos ever made.

Dangerous? At one time, maybe. Scary? No. Photo: liftarn, Feature Photo: showbizsuperstar

They were not unknowable creatures, but simple macho dicks who wrote great songs with great hooks.

The Cramps? Give me a break. They were lightweight posers.

Black metal? Death Metal? Weak pussies who play too much D&D and run around with stupid corpse makeup on. None of these people even get close to the true Heart of Darkness.

No black leather can take you there. Pouring sheep’s blood on your head? Lame. Impotent.

You cannot walk to this place. You cannot put on a costume and use a transporter beam to get there. It is a place bathed in white light. It is not a reflective pool. It doesn’t understand irony or reveal any answers.

It contains zero doubt.

There is only one band who can take you to this place where positive and negative completely cancel each other out – where the voice of an actual demon child can be heard. Evil’s true voice is the voice of a jealous and vindictive adolescent. It is impish and filled with snot, tears and a total lack of understanding. It is the voice of a crybaby purse-snatcher who drowns mice in a pool of grape soda.

True Evil lurks in plain sight. Photo: zachflanders

When Dante walked in Hades one voice rose above all others – and it was the voice of John Wiffenbach.

The only rock band in the world that can take you there is Void.

My favorite song of the entire punk era is War Hero by the incredible ball of seething hatred that was Void. Most people don’t realize that the band actually formed in 1979, when the members were barely teenagers. They are often thought to have been influenced by The Germs, when they were actually contemporaries of Darby and Co.

Their best song is War Hero because it captures the spirit of total negation – the desire to kill and be killed. This is very, very different from the desire to dominate others or intimidate people.

War Hero captures the exact same emotional blankness that can be found in footage from the Columbine HS massacre. It is the story of the joy that is to be found in erotic and impotent revenge combined with the no-sense-makes-sense philosophy of a childish mind.

I came very close to getting to that place a few times when I was young. I am not saying that Wiffenbach and the rest of the guys in Void (John may not have written those lyrics) were these kinds of people. From all accounts they were nice guys. That is not the point.

Void’s sound exactly captures the feeling of depressive psychosis in which a feeling of joy arises from moving both toward the moment of sacrifice, as well as the moment of offering oneself up to the return fire of the faceless Enemy who can never be understood or seen clearly.

This is the sound of Hell. Not the goofy, comic-book hell of demons and lakes of virgin’s blood; it is the sound of the actual Hell that exists within the soft, white light. It is the sound of total confusion coming together to lash out without any understanding or wisdom.

Here are the lyrics to this demented American masterpiece:

Give me a gun cause I know how to shoot
Give me my grenades, and let me go soon
Don’t want to be a civilian anymore- I already got my boots
Fuck discipline, man – I just want to kill.

I want to die in a war.

My friends are all afraid of being drafted
They’re afraid to die – don’t ask me why
Gonna burn their draft cards and make their mommies cry
I want to go and fight because I want to die.

I want to die in a war.

Give me a gun cause I know how to shoot
Give me my grenades, and let me go soon
Don’t want to be a civilian anymore – I already got my boots
Fuck all this discipline, man – I just want to kill.

I want to die in a war.

Listen to War Hero at KBD Records.

Buy The Faith/Void Split LP that features War Hero here: www.dischord.com/

Sigur Ros’ Jonsi takes a bow. Photo by frinky

Sigur Rós – “Svefn-G-Englar”

This quartet, hailing from and inspired by Iceland, is one of those bands that force us to rethink the meaning of music. Some of their songs can barely be called that, as Sigur Rós makes widespread use of sounds that we would not readily associate with music.

They are also known to use complete silence in some parts of their songs, like here in the first long moments of Svefn-G-Englar. Sigur Rós is not for everyone, but for those who enjoy them, the experience is like opening a window into another world.

Sigur Ros – Svefn – G – Englar

If you like this you might also like: Múm (”Green Grass of Tunnel”)

Teresa Salgueiro. Photo: volume12

Madredeus – “Haja O Que Houver”

A rich, melodic sound composed primarily of acoustic guitars, a cello, an accordion, and the breathtaking voice of lead singer Teresa Salgueiro, Madredeus can definitely be considered one of Portugal’s best contributions to the world of music.

The voice of Ms. Salgueiro will inspire comparisons to Portugal’s other musical heavyweight and queen of fado, Amália Rodrigues. However, Madredeus has a folksier, universal appeal to it, and will still feel relevant if listened to in the winding streets of Porto or in an art museum in Florence. Haja O Que Houver is considered by some to be the most beautiful love song sung in Portuguese.

Madredeus – Haja O Que Houver

If you like this you might also like: more Madredeus (”Guitarra”)

340ml – “Midnight”

Although they sing in English, the four band members of 340ml are Mozambicans, born and bred, and you can hear it in their music. In their youth they moved to South Africa to study and have stayed there ever since. 340ml’s groove has elements of jazz, bossa nova, samba, and marrabenta (a traditional Mozambican genre), all against a backdrop of a sick dub bass line that gives their music a raw edge and a distinct sound.

They have exploded in popularity in South Africa and rightly so. The track “Midnight” is an excellent introduction to their work and their vibe.

If you like this you might also like: Freshlyground (”Doo Bee Doo”)

Federico Aubele – “Diario de Viaje”

Federico Aubele provides the perfect soundtrack for Buenos Aires in particular and Latin America in general. It is as if he channels the sounds, ambiance, and disposition of the region.

Frederico Aubele. Photo: macskapocs

A native of Argentina, Aubele combines flawless acoustic guitars with downtempo electronia, reggae, and hip hop beats. He does, however, stay true to his roots and in many songs it is possible to hear the accordion so essential to tango. His vocals are laid back and relaxed, and in his first album his wife and equally talented singer Natalia Clavier provided a sensual Spanish vocal backdrop upon which he painted his music. “Diario de Viaje” is vintage Aubele, as it combines reggae elements, his acoustic guitar, and a distinct Argentinean longing.

Federico Aubele – Diario De Viaje

If you like this you might also like: Natalia Clavier (”Azul”)

Tcheka – “Sabu”

For all of their relative anonymity in the world stage, Cape Verde has produced some truly magnificent musicians. The Barefoot Diva herself, Cesária Évora, comes from these rocky but paradisiacal Atlantic islands off the coast of Senegal. The music of these islands is warm, full of longing and infused with soul. Tcheka embodies it perfectly. He is one of the most exciting artists to emerge from Cape Verde, and one of the only male voices singing its alluring batuque rhythm.

Besides having a stunning voice, Tcheka is also a deft guitar player and the rhythm he creates with his string instrument make for a great, calming, introspective listening experience.

Tcheka -Sabu

If you like this you might also like: Anything by Mayra Andrade and Sara Tavares

Buraka Som Sistema – “Sound of Kuduro”

Comprised of two Angolans and one Portuguese, Buraka Som Sistema is probably unlike anything you’ve ever come across. The rhythm they’ve mastered is called Kuduro, an Angolan creation that combines local kizomba and semba with frenetic electronic and house elements.

Souad Massi. Photo: pierrejean

Kuduro was made popular in the slums of Luanda and exported by the Angolan diaspora living in Lisbon. It has been around since the turn of the century but only now made popular outside Luanda and Lisbon, due in large part to the exploits of Buraka Som Sistema. What’s fascinating about kuduro is that it’s now inspiring people the world over, such as Zakee Kuduro, a Philly artist who has embraced the genre. You might just start hearing it thumping in a nightclub near you.

Buraka Som Sistema -Sound Of Kuduro

If you like this you might also like: Zakee Kuduro (”Sane Eba”)

Souad Massi – “Bel El Madhi”

Some singers are able to enchant us with nothing but their voice and their guitar – the Algerian Souad Massi is one of those singers. Singing in her native Arabic, as well as French and Spanish, she mixes Algerian rai with Spanish flamenco, Congolese high life, and French chanson. But what really sets Massi apart is her pure, clear voice.

If you like this you might also like: Beirut Biloma (”Mazaj” feat. Oumeima)

Cibelle – “Waiting”

Sultry and enthralling, Cibelle is a Brazilian singer who first became famous for participating in a certain Suba’s São Paulo Confessions CD, one that combined traditional Brazilian music with electronica. An experimental artist, she incorporates sounds of glockenspiels, bells, and other gadgets into her music, creating a unique aural landscape that’s even more pleasurable when she starts to sing.

In the end you might find yourself comparing some aspects of her music to Icelandic singers like Björk and Emiliana Torrini, but Cibelle’s fare is sexier and more subdued.

Cibelle – Waiting

If you like this you might also like: Emiliana Torrini (”Me and Armini”)

Justice’s amazing setup comes to Voodoo. Photo by momaraman

There aren’t many places better to spend Halloween weekend than New Orleans, especially with this year’s lineup at Voodoo Experience.

NIN at Voodoo 2008. Photo: nineinchnails

Now in its eleventh year, the three-day festival has hosted some of the biggest names in music.

The 2009 lineup features quite a diverse pack. Eminem will make his only live appearance in this year, tacked onto a bill that also includes attractions like KISS, Lenny Kravitz, The Flaming Lips, Janes Addiction and Widespread Panic .

It’s the variation of acts that makes Voodoo so cool – you’d be hard-pressed to find a lineup as diverse as this one.

Rock is well represented, with performances by Meat Puppets, Brand New, Silversun Pickups, Wolfmother and Down. Dance fans will find a surprise in the form of a rare appearance by Fischerspooner, not to mention the inclusion of super-duper-hipsters Justice. Alt Country fans will run square into sets by Drive-by Truckers and Shooter Jennings, while a more cerebral set will be happy to catch Alejandro Escovedo and Robert Randolph.

Halloween with The Demon. Photo: mback23

Perhaps most lucky is the eclectic music fan, who can also see artist like Ween, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Gogol Bordello, Squirrel Nut Zippers and The Pogues. All of this is swirled together with New Orleans flavor, from local marching bands to classic Creole sounds.

Voodoo Experience, October 30th – November 1st, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Flo Hayler decided to start a Ramones museum after receiving an ultimatum from his girlfriend – either his empire of memorabilia went or she did. Four years and 10,000 visitors later, The Ramones Museum Berlin is still going strong.

The collection of over 300 pieces runs the gamut. There are photo shrines, t-shirts, gig posters and even a pair of Johnny Ramone’s jeans. Each item is placed with care and precision – a couple of hours in this room and even a non-fan could soak up the fascinating history of one of the most simple (yet complex) bands in rock history.

Inside the museum.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more dedicated fan than Hayler, who describes himself as the “happiest guy on Earth”. Walking through the main gallery, he grins at each item, probably imagining how it came into his care. He admits that some nights he just sits in the main space and stares at the room, imagining how to improve the arrangement of its contents. A bigger fanboy there’s never been.

This is undoubtedly the reason that the museum works so well. It’s less a collection and more a shrine, a labor of love that is easily appreciated by anyone who has ever gone to the dark side of collecting, a world where a lost eBay war might end in tears and tantrums.

Ramones Museum Owner/Obsessed Fan Flo Hayler.

The space also contains Café Mania, which has ended up becoming a hangout for local scenesters. Tourists who stick around for a cup of coffee often find that they leave with more information about Berlin than any guidebook could offer. This is a place to find out every hip event in Berlin for the next month, publicized or not.

The museum also doubles as a performance space, with upcoming shows including Anti-Flag and Jay Reatard. CJ Ramone recently played a set in the space – hundreds of people waited in line for a chance to make it inside and meet a Ramone. Longtime Ramone friend and designer Arturo Vega –the man responsible for The Ramones logo – will make an appearance at the museum’s birthday on October 16th.

Ramones Museum Berlin. Krausnickstr. 23, Berlin, Germany.
www.ramonesmuseum.com

Photo: bill shouldis

Though Attica! Attica! has a sound that runs the gamut, one consistency aside from the emotionally moving and raw vocals of Aaron Scott are lyrics geared toward exposing a greater truth, be it emotional or societal. Scott is a visionary musician with an aesthetic geared toward making a difference.

Scott won’t be going it alone on the Ditch the Van Tour. He says, “I’m the only permanent member of the band. It’s essentially a solo act where my friends join me sometimes.” Backing up his vocals, acoustic guitar, and piano playing will be Blake Jenssen, erstwhile tour manager and mechanic on acoustic guitar, and Jon Olek, also on acoustic guitar and filling in as roadie and jokester in between shows.

Attica! Attica! on MySpace, where you can hear a couple songs for free: myspace.com/atticaattica

Attica! Attica!’s official website, where you can download the new album Napalm & Nitrogen for free: atticaattica.org

Dead Skin Dried Blood, the band’s first record available for purchase here or in iTunes:
Dead Skin Dried Blood

The Ditch the Van Tour blog for tour dates and more: ditchthevan.blogspot.com

Attica! Attica!’s World Bicycle Relief team donation page where you can donate to the cause:
grassroots.kintera.org
_______________________________________________________________

Scott’s busy schedule gearing up for the tour could easily have prevented this interview from happening, but he took some time to tell MatadorNights a little about himself, his music and the upcoming tour.

MN: Where do you live?

AS: I live in Portland, OR, USA. Portland gets a lot of attention in the American press for being the bike mecca of the United States. We’re proud of that reputation, but we also know that we have a long way to go to match the ridership and cycling infrastructure of many places in Europe, for example.

It’s also important to acknowledge that it’s fairly easy to have an impressive cycling reputation in a nation like the US where such a high percentage of the population can afford cars. A majority of Americans still disdain cycling, finding it pointless, irritating, dangerous, or too difficult.

The Ditch the Van Tour is focused just as much on advocating for cycling to an American audience as it is on providing bicycles to disaster-stricken communities.

MN: World Bicycle Relief supplies bikes for those in poverty and those affected by disaster. While many might think that bikes are frivolous, can you describe ways that they improve quality of life for people?

AS: If you have a car or live in a place with decent public transportation, then perhaps you could think a bike is frivolous. But in developing countries, a bicycle can dramatically improve a person’s life. The more mobile a person can be, the more easily that person can access education, healthcare, job opportunities, and general goods and services.

This is true anywhere in the world. And if your only transportation is walking, then a bicycle allows you to go farther, exert less effort, carry more, and save time.

If you have to travel 10 miles a day, would you rather walk for 4 hours or bike for 1 hour? And if anyone out there truly thinks that cycling is frivolous in developed countries, just look at the cloud of smog above any major city and then tell me how that’s going to go away without the help of bicycles.

MN: Your lyrics are socially conscious and and now you’re going on a benefit tour. It seems you’re into music for more than music’s sake. Would you care to elaborate on that?

AS: I like a good love song I suppose, but the music I value most explores ideas that matter on a larger scale. When I was growing up, I always had food, good healthcare, a place to sleep, and people who cared about me.

While that seemed normal at the time, I found out as a teenager that living conditions throughout the world vary dramatically. I felt somewhat guilty that the lottery of life had made my childhood so easy, but I think I was also naturally drawn to matters of human rights, for whatever reason.

Photo and Feature Photo of Aaron Scott: Ricardo Saporta

It was around this time that I started listening to punk music, and I was enthralled by both the aggression and the lyrics condemning the establishment. That seemed much more interesting to me than country musicians blindly cheerleading for the government or pop singers whining about their latest breakup.

So when I started writing music, I wrote about social justice. I can’t say that it’s part of any mission, especially since I do write some songs that are more introspective. But I’m interested in working towards social justice in all aspects of my life, so it makes sense to combine the two whenever possible.

MN: Have you heard of Blind Pilot and their bike tour?

AS: Once I committed to doing this tour and began talking about it, several people clued me in to Blind Pilot’s bike touring. A handful of performers have done something like this in the past, but it is still rare enough that many people have never heard of anything like it.

I had a chance to speak with Ryan from Blind Pilot, and his advice was to just enjoy it as much as possible and not worry too much about itinerary and promotion. Of course, this is hard for me because I like plans and I like talking about myself. And I also feel it’s important to work hard to get the word out.

The more people know about it, the more people will think about cycling’s possibilities, and the more money we will raise for World Bicycle Relief.

MN: Where did the name Attica! Attica! come from?

AS: I borrowed the name from an old 70’s protest chant. In 1971, a prison riot erupted in Attica State Penitentiary in upstate New York. There is a rich history to this story that deserves a better retelling, but here’s the brief summary:

Though the riot was spontaneous, it was somewhat in response to the particularly dehumanizing conditions for inmates at Attica. As a result of the riot, the inmates took control of a significant part of the prison and took many of the prison guards hostage.

After a four day standoff where the inmates and the state tried to reach a resolution, the state lost patience and attacked the prison yard with tear gas and guns, leaving 28 inmates and 9 hostages dead. The state then spread misinformation, blaming the hostage deaths on the inmates and bulldozing much of the evidence.

As a result, “Attica!” became a chant that was popular whenever activists witnessed an overly violent state response, such as police brutality. I thought it was a fitting name to accompany my interest in social issues, and I also liked the connection to upstate New York, where I was living at the time.

MN: Your sound varies from pop punk to emotional piano ballads, but the message seems to be about solidarity with the underdog in nearly every case.

Scott and his Bike

AS: An easy way to make a song more interesting is to give it unexpected lyrics. There aren’t many piano ballads out there that discuss creating community by causing a blackout. And I like to cover a range of topics, but the underdog is a certainly common theme for me. To be clear, the underdogs I’m singing about usually have higher stakes than just being the unlikely winner of a football match.

MN: Do you believe it’s the artist’s responsibility to raise awareness of societal problems?

AS: I don’t believe the onus is on artists anymore than it should be on any other group of people. It is everyone’s responsibility to educate ourselves about social injustice, and it is our obligation as global citizens to try to make the world around us better, whether that is locally or globally.

Music is a powerful vehicle for raising awareness of these issues, but it can also be beautiful for the sake of beauty. I’m much more interested in whether a person is trying to improve their surroundings at all than if they are specifically using music for that cause.

MN: Do your favorite bands seem to follow these lines as well?

AS: Absolutely. I loved punk music as a teenager exactly for this reason. I particularly respect artists like Midnight Oil and Billy Bragg, who have used what is essentially pop music to promote social justice. My favorite band has always been Bad Religion because of their ability to make catchy, energetic music that doesn’t sacrifice the intelligence of the message for the sake of the music.

MN: Do you have recommendations for other socially conscious bands that rock?

AS: Don’t dilute your message in an attempt to be more accessible. Your social consciousness makes you unique in a crowd of musicians who are singing about much less interesting subject matter. Bands like Rage Against the Machine and System of a Down have done very well singing about politics; you can too.

MN: Ha ha! That’s not what I meant, but I like the question you answered better than the question I meant to ask, so let’s move on.

This is a threefold do-gooder tour. You are being green by touring on bikes with awareness raising music to benefit charity. This is really inspirational. For those who are looking for inspiration in their quest to change the world for the better, what do you have to say?

AS: For me, it has been essential to find methods of working for change that I find both invigorating and effective. I used to go to huge rallies and protests and felt lost in the large crowds, then got frustrated at how the media would misportray the event, rendering the entire effort toothless.

I eventually realized that I need to have more agency in my efforts, otherwise I would just stop trying altogether. This bike tour is just the latest iteration of my personal activism, and it emerged from trying many other forms of action and finding out they were not for me. All I can say is that you don’t need the power of a million people to make a change. That said, it doesn’t hurt, either.

MN: How are you preparing for the trip? Did you have to quit your job? How else are you preparing to put your day to day life on hold?

AS: Ideally, I would’ve spent the last month riding my bike a lot. Instead, I’ve been working overtime to save money, running around like a madman to get all the gear I need, and recording my new record.

Since we’re giving all the door money to World Bicycle Relief and we won’t be able to take any merch with us, I needed another way to make money while I’m gone. My record is going to be available digitally for donation, which is something I’ve never done before. It’s unclear how many people donate in those situations, but I’d rather people hear my music for free than not hear it at all.

My job just ended because it was seasonal, and I don’t have anything lined up for when I return. Portland has the second highest unemployment rate in the US, so that’s a little scary.

But as far as putting my life on hold, I like to think that traveling like this is quite the opposite. If my life has ever been on hold, it has been during the times when I was working a job I didn’t like or I wasn’t experiencing anything new. Jobs and places to live will always be available as long as I’m willing to be patient enough to find them.

Riding my bike for 10 weeks, meeting new people, singing songs around campfires, sleeping in the woods, and making a few friends along the way? Now that’s living.

Community Connection:

Into biking? Be sure to check out our picks for The World’s 15 Most Bike Friendly Cities, as well as our recent article about what steps to take towards successful self-supported bicycle tours.

I couldn’t stop laughing. It touched a chord. So often you or I might sing a snippet in the spirit of the literal video, but to do it so seamlessly and for the length of the entire song, well, you have to admit that it takes talent.

Among the many YouTube users now posting their own literal videos, many mention Dusty McNeato whom they credit as being the originator of literal video. Apparently due to copyright laws, the original literal A-Ha video was taken off and in its absence others stepped into its place, including a Dutch version of the same video.

A quick search of Dusty McNeato reveals his personal website and YouTube Channel.

The following are some recent gems of the genre.

It’s easy to hate Total Eclipse of the Heart, the tune that’s mocked at least once a night at any Karaoke throughout the U.S. You’ve been overexposed and are now suffering from Eclipse poisoning. Never fear. Get your mock on with this critical and observational jewel of snark and goofiness.

I added this one simply because, though the singing is far from convincing, the lyrics are true to the form and though I think we’ve all been Rick-Rolled, I don’t know that more than a handful of us have been literally Rick-Rolled. Perhaps Rick-Rolling has had its day, but if you want to surprise someone with some Rick, I think this is the way it must be done hence forth.

Metallica – “Battery”

This is the mighty Metallica before they pussed out, complete with one of their best and should-be-patented intros. Injury awaits anyone who can bang their head along to one of the best riffs ever put on tape (at about 1:10). This song turns humans into animals.

Metallica – Battery MP3

Judas Priest – “Electric Eye”

A Priest song where Halford isn’t secretly talking about S&M, dudes or…dudes. During the 80’s, about a million kids with oddly shaped Ibanez guitars tried to learn this riff, then cried when they couldn’t make their fingers move fast enough and pinch a harmonic at the same time.

Judas Priest – Electric Eye MP3

Iron Maiden – “The Number Of The Beast”

I was drunk in cab in Buenos Aires when this last came on. The driver eyed me in the mirror as he goosed the volume a bit, testing me. His hands tapped the wheel in time with the opening riff. I mumbled along with the first verse, enough to make his eyes dart into the mirror again and check my phrasing. He completed a few lines lines under his breath, at which point we came to the chorus and both started screaming.

Your mom is so pissed. Photo: cadwallader

You’ve never seen anything like it. Two men in a cab barreling through La Boca, shifting between first and fifth gear (it’s Buenos Aires), windows down, wailing about sixes, beasts and Hell.

Drug dealers ran screaming. Priests genuflected. Mothers scooped up their children, fearful that the demon-car would abduct their spawn and indoctrinate them into this sick cult.

Go ahead. Listen to it. See if it doesn’t do the same to you.

Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast (Live) MP3

Pantera – “Primal Concrete Sledge”

How Pantera went from a wimpy hair-metal band to something this sinister, heavy and incredible always puzzled me. Many tracks on Cowboys From Hell haven’t held up over the years (“Cowboys From Hell”…are you scared?) but this one has. Bigtime heaviness and a double-kick combine to blow out your woofers.

Pantera – Primal Concrete Sledge MP3

Black Sabbath – “Paranoid”

This song is 38 years old. No kidding. Recorded in 1970, “Paranoid” was a last-minute track added to Black Sabbath’s second album. It was intended simply as filler, to hold together the album that also contained classics like “War Pigs” and “Iron Man”. Classic.

Black Sabbath – Paranoid MP3

Suicidal Tendencies – Institutionalized

Oh, how we all wanted to say these lyrics as fast as Mike Muir did. And oh, how we all got sent to the same therapist that he did.

It’s a really weird thing, when a catch phrase takes hold of a subculture that hasn’t busted yet. That’s what happened with this song. From skate parks to detention rooms, everyone was offering the same line to their friends, who smiled because they knew where it came from. Anyone who didn’t know was a poseur or a dick. It hardly seems like the rally call for a generation raging against Reagan and teachers and Ritalin, but it was.

“All I want is a Pepsi, and she wouldn’t give it to me. Just a Pepsi.”

Suicidal Tendencies – Institutionalized MP3

Dio – Rainbow In The Dark

Look, it’s a great song. But this is really just a fantastic opportunity to point out that Dio is a complete mental patient.

Ronnie James Dio is the original JK Rowling, seemingly able to sing only about dragons, witches, mysticism and anything…mwah-ha-ha. The man regularly dresses in medieval garb, speaks with a Shakespearean accent and performs with so many erratic hand gestures that it could easily be assumed he has Parkinson’s Disease. Just watch the video.

Which is exactly why we love him.

Dio – Rainbow In the Dark MP3

Motorhead – “Ace Of Spades”

It’s one of those songs that everybody should have. Just broke up with your girlfriend? “Ace Of Spades”. Hate your father? “Ace of Spades”. Feel like doing meth for the first time? “Ace of Spades”. It’s a catch-all for the moments in life when you simply need to throw and break things.

Motorhead – Ace of Spades MP3

Motorhead’s Lemmy turned 63 this year. Photo: bundabergtim

Megadeth – “Peace Sells”

Anyone over 30 will remember the bass riff from this song, which doubled as the theme for MTV News. The track features Dave Mustaine at his snarly-est, bitching and growling his way through every word. It harkens back to a time when Megadeth had something to prove, constantly trying to sneak out of the shadow of Mustaine’s former band.

Megadeth – Peace Sells MP3

Slayer – “Angel Of Death”

This band was just plain scary when they started releasing music. I spent the better part of my first Slayer concert pinned under a soundboard at L’Amour in Brooklyn, trying to make my way out from underneath 500 pairs of Doc Martins, all of which seemed to be intent on kicking me in the face. The only thing I could see through feet were the two flashing upside-down crosses on stage.

“Angel Of Death” chronicles the life of Josef Mangele, the infamous Nazi doctor who conducted grizzly experiments on humans during WWII. As controversial as the song was, bear in mind it was also used in Gremlins 2.

Slayer – Angel Of Death MP3

Say What Now?

Looking for more metal? Be sure to check out our article about the Black Metal scene that’s coming out of developing countries, as well as our tips for surviving your first European metal festival.

Ready for the taking. Piles of programs at Fringe’s HQ on High Street.

Idiots Of Ants

Idiots Of Ants wobbled through their first preview show but managed to stay on their feet, ultimately charming the audience by being smart, if not often funny. This Is War runs through over 20 sketches, covering subject matter from penis size to Nazis.

The four members did a fantastic job of moving things along. It was great fun to watch as they sometimes fell prey to their own jokes, breaking character and cracking up. Placed perhaps a bit late, a hilarious live-action video game sketch proved to be the big laugh that the group needed to kick things through.

This one’s sure to liven up after previews and tinkering.

Tickets £9.00, 8:15pm, Pleasance Courtyard, Over The Road 2.

Garofalo at The Gilded Balloon. Normally very funny.

Janeane Garofalo

It was incredibly difficult to watch Janeane Garofalo struggle, if not bomb, during her first night at the Fringe. As veteran of dozens of Garofalo shows, I’d never seen anyone walk out until this gig. Her act seemed a bit too loose for the crowd and The Debating Hall definitely outsized the intimate (and sometimes desperate) performance that she gave.

Normally Garofalo’s strong point, the first 20 minutes of her off-the-cuff riffing fell dangerously flat. The rest of her show was spent unsuccessfully trying to woo the audience back from crossed arms and head scratching. While I always find her schizo approach hilarious and sincere, it remains to be seen if the Fringe audience will come around to Garofalism. Her attempt to cover UK politics missed by a mile, as did much of her ranting about targets as easy as Republicans and customs officials.

It’s not good when a comic ends the night by saying “Thank you for not leaving during the show.” Especially a funny one.

Tickets £12, 8:30pm, Debating Hall, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

Die Roten Punkte

Die Roten Punkte’s Robot/Lion Tour is sure to be a justifiably buzzy show as it builds during The Fringe. The duo took the stage with a setup similar to The White Stripes, instead using miniature sized drums and guitars. They blazed through several hilarious numbers, cutting the music with German-accented banter and a great deal of crowd interaction.

It’s the kind of show that you can either give the finger (there were walkouts) or completely surrender to (everyone else). There’s no question that as they build an audience of full-fledged fans, they’ll have the whole room singing along. Many were already.

Die Roten Punkte take a bow at Fringe 2009.

The two have ideal chemistry and pull the gig off with ease, making none of it feel staged or planned.

This one’s gonna be big.

Tickets £10, 11:11pm, Pleasance Courtyard, Over The Road 2

Anna and Katy

In retrospect, I would have rather spent an hour in a foxhole. The show (whose flyers offer the amusing tagline, “So Funny You’d Think They Were Men!”) fails to be funny beyond its advertisement.

The sold out house saw 11 walkouts and two worried performers, both very aware that things weren’t going well during their hour. Impossibly likeable and certainly a team that the audience wanted to guffaw for, it’s a shame that their jokes fell so far out of bounds. A sketch about two South Africans with large arms was not funny the first time – it was even less funny when the duo brought the characters back in the second act.

There was a flash of brilliance when the two pretended to be dimwitted housewives explaining television shows and popular events. If the entire hour had been filled with material like this, Anna and Katy would be stars.

Until then, it would appear that they’re just another sketch group renting space at The Pleasance.

Tickets £9.50, 6:40pm, Pleasance Courtyard, Over The Road 2

Orphans

As good as it gets. A psycho-thriller dressed as a drama, Orphans moves like few things I’ve ever seen on stage. Dennis Kelly, the playwright, seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue this year as word goes around that Orphans can actually back up the hype with riveting performances, a fantastic (yet sparse) set and superior writing.

Fringe’s most recognizable venue: The Underbelly Pasture.

Set entirely in a kitchen, the play begins with a couple having dinner, only to be interrupted by a visitor covered in blood. Yet it’s not gore that ends up shaking the audience’s nerves; it’s absolutely the words that come from these characters’ mouths as they tackle the subjects of life and death in a way that remains gripping even after you’ve left the theatre.

Tickets £16, (times vary), Traverse Theatre, Traverse 1

Bourgeois & Maurice

Bourgeois and Maurice’s Social Work is an hour of camp cabaret at its best…but probably not in its best setting. The steep theatre in Over The Road 2 sucked some of the life out of what is probably an electric performance in nightclubs. Still, the act is strong enough to stand up and remain funny, witty and engaging for the full hour.

The pair entered the stage dressed to the nines and performed piano-based songs about Ritalin, celebrities and the perils of being gay. Bourgeois, who favors extravagant outfits and prowls through the audience, leads the show with the fearless ease of somebody who could eat hecklers for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Maurice plays the smart fool, often carrying the show with just the bat of two extraordinarily large eyelashes.

Probably even better after a few pints of lager.

Tickets £12, 9:45pm, Pleasance Courtyard, Across the Road 2

Thom Yorke of…On A Friday? Photo: tanaka

Talking Heads – Vague Dots
Police – Strontium 90
Earth, Wind And Fire – The Salty Peppers
Culture Club – Sex Gang Children
Dire Straits – Café Racers
Beach Boys – Carl And The Passions
Abba – The Engaged Couples
Spice Girls – Touch
Bee Gees – Wee Johnnie Hayes And The Bluecats
Nirvana – Fecal Matter
U2 – Feedback
Radiohead – On A Friday
Led Zeppelin – New Yardbirds
Blondie – The Stilettos
Depeche Mode – Composition Of Sound
Kajagoogoo – Art Neauvou
The Byrds – The Beefeaters
Status Quo – The Spectres
Oasis – Rain
Queen – Smile
Simon And Garfunkel – Tom And Jerry
Motorhead – Bastard
Wham! – The Executive
Teenage Fanclub – The Boy Hairdressers
Blur – Seymour

Community Connection:

Dig music lists? Be sure to check out Ten Motown Musts and our recent article about our Favorite Music Blogs.

Home Of The Hits: Motown. Photo: lizwade

The Marvelettes – Please Mr. Postman

Photo (and Feature Photo): dwhartwig

This was Motown’s first #1 pop single. The Marvelettes would follow with ten more hits, becoming the girl group archetype of all time. The track features the legendary backing band The Funk Brothers (with Marvin Gaye on drums here).

“Please Mr. Postman” tells the tale of a girl waiting for a letter from her boyfriend. For those born after 1985, a letter is a physical piece of mail that is delivered directly to your house by a ‘postman’, a person who is the conduit for the delivery of this letter (sort of a human Tweet).

MP3: Please Mr. Postman

The Contours – Do You Love Me?

Originally written for The Temptations, The Contours were in the right place at the right time. As the story goes, Berry Gordy became frustrated that The Temps weren’t in the studio after he penned the track and handed it to this lucky act (they were hit-less at the time).

“Do You Love Me” took on a second life after it was featured in “Dirty Dancing” but don’t hold that against it. It’s an impossibly hooky hit.

MP3: Do You Love Me

The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love

That bass line. Diana Ross. The Supremes’ 7th #1 hit . It’s impossible to replicate, although Phil Collins tried in 1982 and ended up with a #1 of his own (you can still hear it on the speakers in Walmart). This single finds The Supremes at their peak, when they rivaled The Beatles in popularity.

Photo: ClevelandSGS

MP3: You Can’t Hurry Love

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave

Dress it up as a song about love but I think that it’s really a song about being horny. Martha & The Vandellas hit paydirt with this single and followed with twenty-four charting songs, including “Dancing In The Street” and “Jimmy Mack”.

MP3: Heat Wave

The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back

This song is impossible to dislike – I dare you. “I Want You Back” was the big hit from their first album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5.

It’s argued that Ross didn’t discover the band at all, rather that Motown knew it had a fantastic marketing angle by putting it forward that she had. Indeed sweet and juicy, “Bubblegum Soul” became the internal term used for music that The Jackson 5 made.

MP3: I Want You Back

Stevie Wonder – For Once In My Life

The song, written by Motown staff writer Ron Miller, is a great example of just how valuable Motown’s in-house writers were to the company’s success.

This up-tempo version by Wonder proved to be the biggest chart success (#2) but it has also taken on my many other lives, having since been recorded by The Temptations, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet and Frank Sinatra.

MP3: For Once In My Life

Brenda Holloway – Every Little Bit Hurts

Photo: murkredi

One hell of a breakup song. Considered by many a “lost” Motown artist, Holloway had relatively modest success beyond this single.

Favoring songs that she had written herself and living on the West Coast did not help Holloway, who many say could have been a bigger star had she not been on the label.

Many people have re-recorded this song, including a surprising take by The Clash.

MP3: Every Little Bit Hurts

The Four Tops – Reach Out, I’ll Be There

Another classic written in-house by Holland-Dozier-Holland, the team who largely defined The Motown Sound in the 1960’s.

Singer Levi Stubbs’ sing/shouting on this track is almost punk rock, given the times in which it was recorded.

You can practically see the levels ping to the right as he brings it to the chorus.

MP3: Reach Out, I’ll Be There

The Velvelettes – He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’

The Velvelettes never made an album, instead releasing singles and never quite getting a big break. It must have been wildly frustrating to the members, who found themselves waiting in line as other Motown artists grabbed and recorded the big hits.

“He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’” is one of the Motown greats from an act that could have had much more success, were they just a stitch luckier.

MP3: He Was Really Sayin’ Something

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – I Second That Emotion

The Miracles were Motown’s first breakout artist, which came in part because Smokey Robinson was vice-president of the company.

This song switches up many of the romantic notions of the time; it revolves around woman who strings men along and just likes a little bit of nookie now and then.

Robinson, theoretically, is there waiting if she should change her mind and want a committed relationship.

MP3: I Second That Emotion

NOTE: Your best bet for a collection of Motown’s best is the stellar boxed set Hitsville USA, Vol. 1: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971

Community Connection:

Dig music lists? Be sure to check out Ten Songs By Musicians Who Died Too Soon. Our recent article on the best music blogs will also help keep your your iPod fresh!

Anything goes in Ibiza. Even suds. Photo: elijah

You could say that Ibiza has a bit of a reputation for partying. The long, balmy Spanish nights seem to last forever, making it the only summer destination from which it is socially acceptable to return home without a tan. But with so many parties to go to and so many places to dance, how do you cram it all into just one week?

MONDAY

When you get off the plane, jump straight into the deep end and head for the world’s biggest nightclub to see the world’s biggest Trance DJ. Privilege hosts Tiesto and up to 10,000 partygoers every Monday night.

You don’t even need to worry about checking in at your hotel first. As I discovered last year, the coat check at the gift shop will look after your suitcase. The icing on the cake? The DJ booth floats on top of a swimming pool.

Privilege’d Party People Photo: robertocastrano

TUESDAY

Live rock music in Ibiza? Really? Isn’t this island supposed to be the spiritual home of dance music? Founded on the premise that dance kids like to rock and rock kids like to dance, Ibiza Rocks is the unexpected success story of the last few years.

Every Tuesday this year Ibiza Rocks plays host to the Ting Tings, the Klaxons and MGMT, just to name a few. Moreover, they now own their own hotel so you can host after parties worthy of rock stars.

WEDNESDAY

You’ve been on the island for two days now, so it’s probably time for a bit of a rest. Ibiza is famous for its sunsets – the best place to watch is Café Mambo on the sunset strip in San Antonio.

Not only will you have the thrill of watching the crowd cheer as night begins and the sun goes down, but often you can catch big name DJs warming up for their sets later that night – for free.

THURSDAY

Tonight, it’s time to check out the most famous club in the world: Pacha. The name is synonymous with celebrity, hedonism and glamour, and David Guetta’s Thursday night F*** me I’m Famous party is Pacha at its finest.

Letting It All Hang Out At Bora Bora. Photo: djmitchit

With the VIP, VVIP and VVVIP areas (yes, really) taking up well over two-thirds of dance floor, some question whether mere mortals are actually able to let their hair down and party. Even so, basking in Pacha’s unique vibe is a vital Ibiza experience and one you will come to love. The clincher? Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland is their resident PA this summer.

FRIDAY

It’s Friday, you’ve now been in Ibiza for five days and you’ve still not found time to dance on the beach! Make amends and head down to Bora Bora Beach Bar in Playa d’en Bossa for some cheeky afternoon sangria.

Once you’re all danced out, it’s time to check out the more civilised side of Ibiza. Jump in a cab to KM5, one of Ibiza’s many laidback countryside restaurants. Loads of people say the best thing about Ibiza is the balance between crazy nights out and beautiful places to chill. KM5 and their outdoor cocktail lounge do that job nicely.

Ibiza Rocks Hotel Photo: 2411844@N07

SATURDAY

You know you’re in Ibiza when it’s four o’clock on a Saturday afternoon and you’re dancing in an abandoned zoo surrounded by people in fancy dress. The club on everyone’s lips this summer is The Zoo Project, taking over from the much missed DC-10.

Their Saturday daytime sessions are talk of the island and attract top underground DJ talent. You’ll definitely leave with stories to tell everyone back home.

SUNDAY

Can you still change your flight? Photo: martyworld

And finally, clubbing in Ibiza is almost synonymous with Sundays at Space. Dancing on the terrace on a Sunday afternoon has become the ultimate Ibiza institution. The former 22 hour We Love Space marathon now restricts itself to a mere 14 hours due to changes in club licensing laws, but that’s not held back the stream of massive international DJs that make up the line up every week.

Truly, nothing compares to this. Just make sure your sunglasses are suitably oversized and overpriced.

That only leaves one more decision. Once the sun comes up and the music turns down at 6am, will you be running to catch your flight? Or will you be running to the nearest internet café to change your flight home?

(It’s just across the road, in case the latter takes your fancy.)

Def Leppard’s Joe Eliot. As important as Robert Plant? We think not. Photo: shawna_mail

Sometimes, old rock bands are able to stay vital and relevant. Take the Rolling Stones – yes, they are a bit haggard looking, but the old bastards can still put on a great show. Or Sonic Youth, who’ve just released a new album and have remained influential for almost 30 years now, shunning convention all along the way. The following bands, not so much.

Aerosmith

This band has cancelled seven dates on their summer tour because Steven Tyler pulled a leg muscle. They’re now moving forward, but without bassist Tom Hamilton, who is recovering from “non-invasive” surgery. The good news is that guitarist Brad Whitford is back after emergency surgery, following an accident where he somehow bumped his head on his Ferrari. Seriously?

The phrase “the band is falling apart” is usually a figure of speech, but Aerosmith is actually physically disintegrating.

Aerosmith erodes. Photo: jaywestphotography

Def Leppard

Generally speaking, you might let nostalgia get the better of you on this one and say, “Oh well, let these 80’s metal dudes have their fun.” I would have agreed with you, until I read this quote from Def Leppard vocalist Joe Eliot in a 2006 Rolling Stone article:

“If we’re hair metal, so are Led Zeppelin. Warrant and Ratt were hair metal. We’re not. We were always better than that.”

Sugar Ray

After spending four years hosting gossip show Extra, lead singer Mark McGrath has apparently tired of working on douchey TV shows. His solution? A return to making douchey music. Witness Sugar Ray’s new album, Music for Cougars. I wish I was kidding.

The Dink From Sugar Ray. Photo: squirrelnut

Ozzy Osbourne

This one hurts. Ozzy was at one time one of the most badass rockers on the planet. He was the lead singer for Black Sabbath. War Pigs? C’mon man, it doesn’t get more badass than that song.

Somehow, all of this former glory makes his transformation into a feeble old man even more painful to watch. Seeing him shuffle around his mansion in slippers, appearing lost and trailed by a small army of yapping canines has completely vaporized the wild-eyed rocker image that took him decades to cultivate.

There are times when I see him onstage now, and I see the same expression on his face that I saw when volunteering at the local old folks home.

New Kids on the Block

Just when we’d rid ourselves of these smarmy monkeys, along came their more popular and insidious spawn, the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync. Somehow, we endured. Timberlake and Co. grew up, and the days of boy bands were behind us. Or so we thought. You can catch the now ironically-named “New Kids” at your local pavilion or amphitheater this summer.

Old Adults On The Block. Photo: nkotbofficial

Creed

Scott Stapp and his and the rest of the band will be back on tour starting this August, with a new album to follow. Cue insufferable rock-god poses.

Stapp is sporting a newly shaven head and will no doubt refer to this as a physical metaphor for putting the past behind him during interviews, if he hasn’t already. As long as he doesn’t get drunk, insult another band and get his ass kicked in a hotel lobby, Creed will be fine.

The thought of Scott Stapp inspiring such anger is almost funny though – it’s like getting mad at a bowl of oatmeal.

Scott Stapp. A Turn On? Photo: dinkgrave

Motley Crue

Last summer answered the dreams of garbage collectors and landscapers everywhere – Cruefest was born, offering up a summer staged by Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:AM and Trapt. This year brings us Crue Fest 2: The White Trash Circus (yes, this is the real name), with Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool, and Charm City Devils.

Community Connection:

Music is alive and well at Matador. Be sure to check out our tips for this summer’s BEST shows, as well as our preview of music festivals in the UK. For more about Def Leppard, check out this post by Nights co-editor Tom Gates.

The song is quite funny, but his story has me more than a little worried about my drums on my impending United flight out of Korea.

To be fair, I’ve flown United before and my instruments were very well-treated. Unfortunately, Dave wasn’t quite so lucky.

In March of 2008, Dave’s Halifax-based band Sons of Maxwell headed to Nebraska for a week-long tour. During a layover in Chicago, a passenger cried out, “My god, they’re throwing guitars out there!”

The band members crowded around the windows to witness United baggage handlers throwing their instruments with little regard for fragility.

Dave notified a flight attendant, with no result. Upon arriving in Nebraska, he discovered that his $3,500 guitar was badly damaged.

During a layover in Chicago, a passenger cried out, “My god, they’re throwing guitars out there!”

What followed was months of attempted communication on Dave’s end, and evasiveness from United that, the way he tells it, was so frustrating it’s almost funny. Dave spoke to United and Air Canada employees, who tossed blame back and forth with other employees like a game of hot potato.

A Short History of a Claim with United Airlines

He befriended a few very sympathetic agents in India.

He spoke to a confused United employee in New York who was unsure why the Chicago folks had forwarded his call to her.

He called numbers that were functional one day and mysteriously disconnected the next.

His claim was lost, then found, then lost, then found again.

He was told to bring his guitar to Chicago for inspection after he’d returned to Halifax, Canada.

After months of running into dead ends and jumping through hoops, Dave’s claim was finally denied.

His offer to settle for $1,200 in flight vouchers to cover the repair costs was rejected as well.

In his last email to the United employee who denied his claim, Dave promised to make three music videos about the experience, with the goal of hitting one million views in a year.

So far, so good. “United: Song One,” A.K.A. “United Breaks Guitars” is getting massive attention on YouTube and “United: Song Two” is due later this summer. With over 15, 000 hits for the first song in less than two days, I’d say Carroll is well on his way to reaching his goal.

Meanwhile, I’ll get back to searching high and low for as much styrofoam popcorn, bubble wrap, and duct tape as I can find for my drums and hope that the name United doesn’t really mean United against the passengers.

All photos are stills from the video.

]]> http://matadornights.com/havent-you-heard-united-breaks-guitars/feed/ 8 http://matadornights.com/guide-to-starting-a-band-overseas/ http://matadornights.com/guide-to-starting-a-band-overseas/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:03:06 +0000 Joe Henley http://matadornights.com/?p=1152

Photo (and feature photo): Josefrén

The plan is to make the move overseas to some exotic locale, not for a few rambling weeks or months, but for an extended commitment of a year or perhaps more of work or study.

Along with a backpack full of your worldly possessions and a local phrasebook, you’ve also toted your guitar, your drumsticks, your oboe, or whichever instrument with which you can’t possibly bear to part. Your plan is to bring something new to the ears of your newly-adopted homeland and blow the minds of the locals with a style completely unheard of in their musical hinterland.

Not so fast.

Photo of the author and his band Revilement
courtesy of Gareth Griffiths

I should know. Four years ago I was going to introduce punk rock to Taiwan. Was it naïve? Incredibly. Punk had arrived on the island long before I did, much to my ignorant amazement. So I did what any punk enthusiast in my position would do, I joined a death metal band.

Along the way I picked up a thing or two about the trials of being a foreign man in a local band. If you also plan on bringing your musical stylings to foreign shores, here are a few things you should keep in mind.

Form a Band with Locals

Expats tend to come and go, so keeping a band comprised entirely of expats going for an extended period of time can be a frustrating and completely counterproductive experience when you have to teach a new lineup your entire repertoire of songs every few months.

Avoid this by forming a band with locals. Unless they, like you, have aspirations of overseas travel, they’ll probably be around a lot longer than your average expat. This will also enhance your experience in the country, as in collaborating with local musicians, you’ll likely develop a deep, long lasting connection with them and the music scene in your new surroundings, provided you don’t pull an Axl Rose on them.

Photo: fotocarios

To get started, head out to a few shows and feel out the scene. If you see someone who digs one of the bands as much as you do, strike up a conversation with them. Find out if they play an instrument; see what their influences are.

Even if they can’t play a note, chances are they know someone who can. Once you gain some initial contacts within the scene, the possibilities are endless. Everyone knows a guy who knows a girl who has a bro who is looking to put a band together. Of course, this might pose a significant challenge unless you follow through on the next point.

Learn to Communicate in the Local Language

This obviously goes for everyone staying in a new country long term, but it goes double for anyone with dreams of being a musician overseas.

Making music collaboratively can be stressful in optimal circumstances, as everyone always has their own vision of what they want the band to be. Communication between band mates is paramount. How can you tell your drummer to slow it down to half time when all you can do is stumble through guiding a taxi home or order the local breakfast staple every morning?

Learn at least enough of the local the music terminology to help keep the creative ship righted, and avoid the communication blunders that have led to the demise of many a juggernaut ensemble. Even bands comprised of members who speak the same language can implode due to too little, or too much communication (just look at Oasis).

Photo: g-hat

Learning the language will also help you avoid a potentially embarrassing pitfall – communicating with a local audience that doesn’t understand English. Take it from me, there’s nothing worse than giving a high-intensity opening tirade following the first song of the night to rile up the crowd only to be met by confused, blank stares.

Start by learning the local equivalent of “Good evening, you crazy sons of bitches,” and go from there.

A Serious Band Requires Serious Commitment

If you’re just planning on staying in a country for set amount of time and then heading off somewhere new, you need to be upfront about your plans with your new band mates. If they are serious about the music, and are asking for a long term commitment, don’t promise anything you can’t deliver.

If they’re just looking to have some fun, play some gigs, do some cover tunes and maybe even have a beer or two along the way, then by all means enjoy the ride. But if they’re looking to write originals, conquer the local scene and take the act around the world (as improbable as that is for any band), be honest and let them know you might not be the best person for the job, unless your stay has no expiration date.
 

Remember, Performing as a Foreigner Could Technically be Illegal

Photo: fotocarios

Being a rock god or goddess is notoriously difficult to get a work permit for. In countries with open work permits (which have the unfortunate side effect of requiring one to obtain suitable employment, or worse yet, get married) this isn’t a problem.

In the majority of countries, one must obtain a performance visa in order to rock out in public. These are usually quite easy to apply for, but incredibly difficult to obtain. Often, along with many other pertinent details, you must prove that you are actually a musician by providing some evidence, such as a recording you have released, or a video of one of your past performances (obviously in another country, so as not to incriminate yourself).

Unless you’re already an established virtuoso, chances are your application will be denied. With that in mind, many countries often turn a blind eye to foreign musicians plying their trade from time to time, as the police presumably have better things to do than charge you with aggravated ear drum abuse. If the cops do decide one day to crack down on foreign musicians performing illegally and raid the dingy, smoky basement club on a night you happen to be behind the mic, it could be grounds for deportation.

If you really don’t want to jeopardize your residency, try to do things as legitimately as possible. Check with the local council of labor affairs or the equivalent government office for details, get your permit, and let the revolution begin.

]]> http://matadornights.com/guide-to-starting-a-band-overseas/feed/ 8 http://matadornights.com/us-summer-music-festivals-gone-green/ http://matadornights.com/us-summer-music-festivals-gone-green/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:43:20 +0000 Ryan Van Lenning http://matadornights.com/?p=1123

Rothbury Festival Recycling Barrels, Photo: Beth and Christian

If you’re like me, you’ll be hitting as many music festivals this summer as your wallet can handle. Impossible to ignore along with the scantily clad fans will be the things we leave behind: snack food packaging, plastic bottles and waste. The pollution we generate just getting there is another environmental cost.

As youth are on the vanguard of the environmental movement, it’s no surprise that organizers are now on the lookout for high profile methods of reducing the carbon footprint of these massive gatherings.

The following five U.S. music festivals are greening their eco-footprint in creative and inspiring ways.

Rothbury Festival

Rothbury Festival in Michigan is not only on top of the pack with regard to greening initiatives, it has gained a reputation for being an innovator in sustainability projects. Its motto is to ‘throw a HUGE party with a purpose’. In addition to selling Green Tags to help offset festival-goers carbon output, Rothbury has invested in the Tatanka Wind Farm, the largest wind farm in the Dakotas, to offset its own staff and band members’ carbon air-print.

Rothbury Recyling Store, Photo: yacht_boy

Rothbury hosts the Sustainable Schools Program, partnering with local companies to install two wind-turbines at local Michigan schools. They also run the Green Rocks! Contest, challenging local school children in grades 1-8 with the question, “How can you make your school or community more sustainable?” Classrooms submit ideas to compete for a pizza party and live concert for their class.

Most innovative, perhaps, is the ‘V-Bike’ by Viability, an 8 person bicycle that generates renewable, carbon free power for an onsite digital recording studio. Other notable eco-initiatives include organic festival t-shirts, an annual food drive, and a cell phone recycling drive so concert-goers can turn in old, unused mobile phones and receive discount vouchers and a chance to win prizes in return.

Like the High Sierra Music Festival (featured below), Rothbury partners with Clifbar’s GreenNotes program to help reduce fan transportation impact by both promoting rideshares among fans and assisting touring bands with ways to reduce their eco-footprint.

High Sierra Music Festival

High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, CA is a 4-day community camping and music extravaganza. High Sierra actively promotes responsible camping, following the “Leave No Trace” principles.

Sunset at High Sierra, Photo: 1yen

Visitors are given two bags when they arrive – one for waste and one for recyclables. Priority camping spots are given to sustainable campers and this year’s incentive gives the campsite that is the most creative, clean, and sustainable a prize of new camping gear. Daily finalists receive drink vouchers, late-night performances wristbands, Leave No Trace memberships, and HSMF gear.

The festival also partners with local farmers to divert food scraps from the landfill with its composting program and teams up with sustainable companies like Bay-area based Clifbar and Colorado-based, wind-powered New Belgium Brewing Company in the Start Global Cooling campaign. Like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, it offers the option to purchase a $2.50 Be Green Energy Tag to offset the carbon imprint of driving to the festival.

Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza continues its eco-traditions this year with the Green Street area and Rock and Recycle program. In addition to great local and organic food, Green Street showcases retailers selling green goods, local non-profits, and solar cell-phone recharge stations.

A Lollapalooza Crowd
Being Nudged Toward Eco-Consciousness,
Photo (and feature photo): JOE M500

They only accept vendors selling sustainable, eco-friendly, and/or fair trade products. The Rock and Recycle program works like this: every official Lollapalooza program guide has a detachable Green Card, which users get stamped at various sites and activities throughout Grant Park.

Concert-goers pick up a free recycling bag at one of the four Rock and Recycle stations, return their recyclables, and get stamps as well the chance to win a free t-shirt. Green Card holders can also earn stamps for taking public transit, riding their bike, and refilling their reusable water bottle at one of the refill stations. Participants with three stamps or more have a chance to win a 2010 Honda Insight hybrid.

Like many other festivals, ticket-buyers have the option of purchasing a $5 carbon offset, called BeGreen Fan Tag. The goal this year is to sell 10,000 carbon offset tags.

Bumbershoot

Bumbershoot in Seattle is also a leader in greener festivals. To begin with, organizers have creatively applied the re-use principle by turning their old signage into new Bumbershoot bags. A small local business called Alchemy Goods turns old rubber and vinyl into bags.

Future Bag at Bumbershoot, Photo: M.V. Jantzen

All this is after the festival signs have already been used multiple times. First they print most of their new signage locally on 100% recyclable material using 100% VOC and solvent-free inks. Then they re-use a large percentage of the previous year’s signs for the current year’s promotion.

To power up the festival, Bumbershoot uses energy from Seattle City Light, a long-time carbon neutral energy provider. Its refrigerator trucks are biodiesel powered and its Northwest Rooms that showcase festival art is solar-powered. In addition, Bumbershoot sells pesticide- and sweatshop-free cotton T-shirts and has a vendor ban on Styrofoam use.

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

Bonnaroo in Tennessee is dedicated to being a leader in sustainable festivals. One of its primary guiding principles is “local is sustainable.” In 2008 it was one of just six festivals worldwide that received the top-category recognition of ‘Outstanding Greener Festival Award’ from A Greener Festival Awards (along with the other U.S. winner, Rothbury Festival in Wisconsin).

Planet Roo Sculpture at Bonnaroo,
Photo: theogeo

Among the many ways Bonnaroo is living up to that award are sourcing food vendors and suppliers locally, having over 2000 recycling bins, stages powered with biodiesel blends, and hosting a food drive that benefits the Good Samaritan Food Pantry in Manchester, TN.

Planet Roo, an area devoted to organic foods and educating about sustainability, features a PV panel-powered stage and a Strawbale building with surrounding demonstration gardens. Bonnaroo has partnered with Stanley gear to sell reusable stainless steel water bottles as part of the Less-Bottled Water Program. For every reusable bottle purchased, $1 will go to the Global Water Challenge, whose goal is to meet the global need for clean water.

If you’ve been to a festival lately, you probably have seen the color-coded bins: green for compost, blue for recycling, and orange for landfill. This is the work of Clean Vibes, the premier waste manager for festivals, including Bonnaroo. They also partner with many other festivals including Lollapalooza and High Sierra, to manage waste streams, diverting tens of thousands of pounds of recyclables and compostable materials from the landfill.

While there is no doubt that there is still a long way to go on the path towards sustainability, these green initiatives are a welcome eco-step forward.

It is clear that music festivals are not only about fun, music, art, and community, but are also evolving into ways to empower people and educate about sustainability. So while your roaming summer music enjoyment can still be a shock to the wallet, it doesn’t have to be as big of a shock to the earth.

]]> http://matadornights.com/us-summer-music-festivals-gone-green/feed/ 4 http://matadornights.com/6-greatest-places-on-earth-to-buy-vinyl/ http://matadornights.com/6-greatest-places-on-earth-to-buy-vinyl/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:40:14 +0000 Jason Policastro http://matadornights.com/?p=1041

Amoeba Records is sacred ground. Photo: rick

Despite the odds, vinyl is making a comeback. Music stores are stocking records again, even Best Buy. But what are the true vinyl ‘institutions’?

Amoeba Records, San Francisco

Amoeba’s sheer scale might be unmatched on this list. Not only is their LP collection impressive, but it includes the nearly extinct 78 format, as well as freshly pressed 45s from all over the world. Every genre is represented and kept up to date with new releases and flushed with rarities. Truly impressive.

Gramaphone Records, Chicago

Photo: vhf

Known as perhaps the greatest house music shop on earth, Gramaphone maintains and caters to professional DJs.

Their store stocks all sub-genres of dance, as well as DJ equipment like needles and turntables. Gramaphone is a landmark in the house music scene.

Wah Wah Records Barcelona

If you asked a vinyl freak to paint a picture of their ideal record shop, you’d get something that looked a whole lot like the awesomely named Wah Wah Records in Barcelona’s Raval neighborhood. They stock both classic LPs and the latest dance records, and the stock is continuously evolving.

Vinyl Junkies, London

Vinyl Junkies has the latest and rarest records. Professional DJs can often be found digging the stacks, but the store’s relaxed atmosphere makes all customers feel welcome and it enjoys a good reputation in dance music circles.

Fat Beats, New York

Photo (and feature photo): pheezy

Fat Beats is legendary for east coast hip hop heads. Strangely, the shop is almost hidden from pedestrians, located on the second floor of a nondescript building on Sixth Avenue.

A flight of stairs leads up to one of the most impressive hip hop collections on earth, from new releases to old school tracks and battle records. When I stopped in there was a DJ cutting in the corner.

Hard to Find Records

Birmingham, UK

Hard to Find has broken down their collection into every possible sub genre, and has fully stocked listening stations with snacks, sodas, and couches near a wall of turntables. They also cater to the professional dj, and allow for in-store demos of their gear.

Community Connection

What record stores deserve shouts out from your neighborhood? Let us know in the comments!

And if you’re just a music head looking for more sounds, check out this collection of music blogs where you can get free playlists.

]]> http://matadornights.com/6-greatest-places-on-earth-to-buy-vinyl/feed/ 8 http://matadornights.com/the-10-most-important-bands-to-see-this-summer/ http://matadornights.com/the-10-most-important-bands-to-see-this-summer/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:45:19 +0000 Mike Jones http://matadornights.com/?p=899 Summer is always the best time to see live music, whether it’s at a dingy little club in the rough part of town or in a farmer’s field somewhere in rural England. Below are ten performers well worth seeing this summer – either on home turf or foreign soil.

Wavves

After a bit of a meltdown at the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona last month, Wavves, aka 22-year-old Nathan Williams, and drummer Ryan Ulsh, have unfortunately canceled their summer European tour.

Wavves have received an intense amount of attention since only recently being thrust into the spotlight. But hype is hype and anyone who cares to separate the music from the superficial will find that Williams plays catchy California pop-punk melodies, often beneath walls of My Bloody Valentines-esque fuzzy drone.

Catch them this August when Nathan’s feeling better.

Tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/wavves

Animal Collective

Since their humble beginnings back in 2000, Animal Collective has been a band that finds music in even the most commonplace sounds.

Their sound has changed drastically over 9 years, steadily evolving into a wholly original amalgamation of electronica, live instrumentation and vocal harmonies. The band’s live show involves a continuous flow of tracks melded together, at times made indistinguishable from their original versions.

See them live and experience a highly unique band whose hypnotic, chugging beats will have you wondering why music hasn’t always been like this.

Tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/animalcollectivetheband

Sonic Youth

What can be said about Sonic Youth that hasn’t already been said? This summer sees the release of their 16th studio album, The Eternal, and their first for indie label Matador Records.

For nearly 30 years, Sonic Youth has stayed true to the musical forms and styles they’ve perfected: crazy tunings, more effect pedals than you could fit in a large warehouse, the fusing of poetry, painting and performance art into music and of course, Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore’s woozy, laid back vocals. A legendary band worth seeing again and again.

Tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/sonicyouth

Peter, Bjorn and John

For many, Peter Bjorn and John will always be “that band that sings that Young Folks song”, which is too bad because that’s a gross misunderstanding of what these three Swedish lads are capable of.

Their music surges with experimentation, at times highlighting streaks of dark humor. There really is something for everyone and anyone who cares about good music in this band’s style, and their live show should prove to be one of those pleasant surprises, a decent combination of surprises and freaky pop.

Tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn

Common

There’s something entirely laid back and comfortable about Chicago native Common’s music. Comfort music maybe? At any rate, although recent efforts have arguably failed to capture the same level of musical continuity that made 2005’s “Be” so damn satisfying, there’s no denying that Common has the skills to rock a crowd.

His recent decision to rap on a Jonas Brothers track is more than slightly disconcerting, so maybe it’s best to see him now before he gives up his career as a hip-hop artist for life in a boy band.

Tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/common

Moderat

Moderat was formed as a side project/merger between the insanely good Modeselektor and the very good Aparat, who both happen to hail from Berlin, Germany, aka the Mecca of electronic music.

While Aparat’s style may slightly crowd out Modeselektor’s, this is still very good stuff. Not only that, but Moderat are the closest thing that anyone is going to get to seeing a Modeselektor performance this summer. This is a live show guaranteed to have its share of some of the heaviest, filling loosening beats that machines have to offer. Brace yourself.

Tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/mdslktr

Damian Marley

Simply put, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s brand of reggae isn’t his father’s.

Musically more along the lines of Peter Tosh than Bob, Damian’s verses hover between ghetto nightmare and laid back images of a sun soaked ganja Eden. Despite these differences in subject matter however, the vibe of Marley’s music somehow always manages to stay the same – nice and chill.

Tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/damianmarley

Dan Deacon/No Age/Deerhunter

This is arguably the most interesting tour of the summer: three bands on stage at the same time, each taking their turn to play.

Dan Deacon alone has the proven ability to whip audiences into a seriously participatory experience, but when you bring along California punk two piece No Age – who incidentally pack the auditory punch of a five piece – as well as the psychedelic sway of Deerhunter, then you’re in for something that just might blow your mind to smithereens.

Tour dates: Dan Deacon – http://www.myspace.com/dandeacon,
No Age – http://www.myspace.com/nonoage,
Deerhunter – http://www.myspace.com/deerhunter

Radiohead

Though Thom will be performing a solo show this summer, Radiohead have five performances booked as a band.

Perhaps it’s a stretch to say that they’re actually “touring” this summer, but the way that I see it is that anytime this band collectively gather and plug in their instruments, it’s time to pay attention. If you can only see one band this summer and it can’t be Animal Collective, make it Radiohead. And if you can only see one solo artist performance this summer, make it Thom Yorke’s. You’ll thank yourself for it later. Repeatedly.

Tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/radiohead

Bon Iver

Speaking of solo performances, Bon Iver sings sweet and cosy, folky, sitting around a campfire, drinking bourbon in a log cabin, beard and flannel inducing, acoustic guitar songs.

The majority of his dates this summer are festival dates, which could really lend themselves to the performances. This is exactly the kind of music you want to be listening to outside, under a star filled, summer night sky.

Tour dates: http://www.myspace.com/boniver

Feature Photo by douglemoine

]]> http://matadornights.com/the-10-most-important-bands-to-see-this-summer/feed/ 7 http://matadornights.com/nyles-let-the-beat-build-goes-viral-breaks/ http://matadornights.com/nyles-let-the-beat-build-goes-viral-breaks/#comments Sat, 30 May 2009 17:44:40 +0000 Tom Gates http://matadornights.com/?p=645 What to do when Lil Wayne’s song gets pulled from the net? Cover it and assemble an incredibly talented, inspiring group of people to make a video that’s proven to be a one-take shot at fame. A burgeoning New York rapper with some serious style, Nyle is suddenly the talk of the town, with several upcoming shows sure to be filled with record label A&R types.

The magic is not only in the video’s star, however. Take a peak at the clip and see some other excellent performers, as well as an NYU student/director who is sure to be getting offers to make bigger and better videos.

Nyle “Let The Beat Build” from Nyle on Vimeo.

]]> http://matadornights.com/nyles-let-the-beat-build-goes-viral-breaks/feed/ 0 http://matadornights.com/win-a-sansa-slotradio-player-for-the-love-of-music-and-the-love-of-travel/ http://matadornights.com/win-a-sansa-slotradio-player-for-the-love-of-music-and-the-love-of-travel/#comments Fri, 29 May 2009 20:37:40 +0000 Kate Sedgwick http://matadornights.com/?p=631 Win a Sansa slotRadio Player and Feature Your Favorite Music Here on Matador Nights!

Check out this article on Matador Goods: Gear Review + Giveaway: Sansa slotRadio Player

No lie. With less than 50 words, you can win a super compact mp3 player that doubles as a radio and holds 1,000 songs.

Photo: tinkerroll21

Write the title and artist of the song you choose – one that’s near and dear to your heart for its ability to inspire you to travel – or one that calls you to a place out there in the world or back home again. Briefly explain to us how and why it moves you and leave that explanation in the comments field in the article linked above.

That’s it!

You have one week. Hey, that’s less than 8 words a day you have to write!

Top entrants will have their words featured here along with downloadable mp3’s of their picks. Share the music you love and win.

Feature photo by flattop341

Festivals like Wacken and Hellfest increase in popularity every year, with this year’s Wacken festival selling out six months in advance.

The increasing fanbase and skyrocketing festival numbers prove heavy metal really is the beast that cannot die. If you’re a metalhead losing your festival virginity, then heed these 12 survival tips from seasoned festival goers:

Wear steel-toed boots.

Photo: j. botter

Metal festivals are not the occasion for your beach flip-flops or strappy heels. Expect to be stomped on by angry Germans– you need to stomp right back.

Use the pay showers.

Photo: Ian Wilson

Most festival campsites provide port-a-loos and free shower facilities, which quickly become cesspools of the worst kind of human filth. Pay showers cost anything from 50c to 2 Euros, but they’re definitely worth the investment. Alternatively, don’t shower at all. Trust me, no one will notice.

Mark your campsite with a flag or banner.

Photo: madmetal

Several thousand identical dome tents spread out across a field means one wrong turn and you’re lost for hours. Each year we paint a unique festival banner to mark our campsite. Drape it over our tent or jam it in the campervan window, and voila! Banners incite discussion and/or criticism from your camping neighbours… and on hot days, they serve as excellent makeshift loincloths.

Learn the lingo.

Because ‘cool’ just isn’t metal enough.

Metalheads invent their own slang words. Nothing is ever ‘cool’; it’s ‘kreig‘ or ‘kvlt‘ or ‘nekro’. If a metal band is particularly admired, they’re considered ‘tr00‘ or ‘epic’ or even ‘epically brutal.’ And whenever you greet someone you must – and this is very important – string together an impressive set of adjectives: ‘Most grymm and metal hails to you!’

Throw the goat.

Photo: notsogoodphotography

If conversation fails you, throw the goat. Throwing the goat involves folding down your middle two fingers and thumb down and letting your pinkie and index finger form the grymm goat horns. The goat is the universal sign of the metalhead. Use it incorrectly at your peril.

Arrange meeting places for your friends.

Photo: cgo

Finding your buddies at a metal festival isn’t as simple as scanning the crowd for that one long-haired dude wearing a black t-shirt.

Arranging a central meeting place and time means no one gets locked out of the campervan because you got separated in the mosh pit. And please make your meeting place more specific than ‘by the beer tent’ because there are usually 10,000 metalheads hanging out by the beer tent waiting for their friends.

Be prepared for late night tent visitors.

Photo: harmonicagoldfish

People drink beer at metal festivals. A LOT of beer. And metalheads are friendly drunks. It never occurs to them that the person sleeping in the nearby tent might not actually want to join their late-night metal karaoke sing-a-long. Be prepared with a stern voice and a steel-cap boot to discourage unwanted late night visitors.

Pack for extreme weather.

Photo: russelljsmith

Extreme music festivals attract extreme weather patterns. Prepare for torrential downpours and sweltering, dusty heat, often in the same afternoon.

Spare tent pegs: Bring them.

Photo: Ian Wilson

I don’t know why, but camping metalheads cannot hold on to their tent pegs. Usually, they’ll borrow yours. Last festival, we went through 15 tent pegs on a two-person tent.

Remember: Fashion matters.

Photo: timparkinson

Metalheads pay almost as much attention to their clothing as runway models. If you wear a t-shirt displaying the logo of a false-metal or non-metal band, you will be the laughing stock of the entire festival (I’ve seen it happen; it’s not pretty). If you don’t know which bands are considered false-metal, you probably shouldn’t be attending a European metal-fest.

Play it safe with old classics like Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian and Judas Priest, or opt for underground bands with unreadable logos. No Emo t-shirts.

Lift crowd surfers with your legs, not your back.

Photo: chadlewis76

If your idea of dancing consists of elbowing your way to the front of the pit and throwing your innocent body into the mash of headbangers, you’ll be broken and bruised by the end of the festival. Minimize your discomfort by looking after your back.

We’re all metalheads here (Don’t be a dickhead).

You’re at the festival to enjoy the music and make new friends. So is everyone else.

Don’t be the person who spoils the concert for someone else. Consider your neighbours in the campground. Don’t host a banjo sing-along at four in the morning or decide to burn plastic drinking-horns on your campfire (they stink). If you see someone fall over in the mosh pit, pick them up again. Shout your new friends a beer. Hug strangers.

If you join the festival with the right attitude, you’ll come away with the most grymm experiences and the kreigest new friends!

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Check out Matador’s favourite world music festivals here. And for other summer music festival tips, check out this article.

When Reverend Run speaks, you better listen, homeboy. This 1984 Run DMC track seems prophetic with the current economic situation and the swine flu:

Hard times! Spreading just like the flu. Watch out, homeboy, don’t let it catch you.

If you’re down on your luck, this song just might help pick you up a bit. The track is honest — they speak from the heart (and their guts):

Hard times can take you on a natural trip, So keep your balance, and don’t you slip. Hard times is nothing new on me, I’m gonna use my strong mentality.

If that don’t pump you up, they get Rocky on you at the end:

I’m gonna keep on fighting till my very last breath.

So, chin up. Keep on keepin’ on. We’ll get through it.

Photo of Pakirama courtesy of aloshbennett

The Indian rock scene is on the rise. The enthusiasm that surrounds rock gigs in the Indian cities and the new magazines and the pubs (including the Hard Rock Café) coming up have more and more sponsors sitting up and taking notice.

What may surprise you even more is the sheer variety of cultures that just come together and explode, opening myriad avenues for experimentation and hybridization in the music scene. This is bound to happen, after all, with the country’s tradition of classical and folk music and their great exposure to the rock music legends of the West, Indian musicians have a diverse heritage to call their own.

Silk Route’s Dooba Dooba

This is a phenomenon that’s urban-centric. Most of the audiences are city people who visit concerts and live music venues to access these bands.

Even as the talent overwhelms local music fans, the original bands face many roadblocks on their way to recognition. The audience demand for familiar, played out, classic rock covers could easily crush a band’s original spirit. Couple this with a low market demand and you have a recipe for weekends of unenthusiastic renditions of warmed over Led Zeppelin and Iron Maiden.

Thankfully, the World Wide Web has been a great resource in the dissemination of Indian Rock, and bands are able to reach wider audiences through websites and MySpace.

There are many amazing, original bands that have had to struggle and keep a balance between playing covers and originals for years before becoming as big as they are now: bands such as Them Clones, MotherJane, The Superfuzz, Thermal and a Quarter, Pentagram, Orange Street, Zero and especially Parikrama.

Then there are those that fuse Indian languages and rock music so well: Euphoria, Indian Ocean and Silk Route, replete with an audience that truly appreciates these original artists.

Photo of Cassini’s Division courtesy of sayamindu

It’s becoming clear that many fans are getting sick of the incessant recycling of cover songs and waking up to the amazing work being done by a handful of original bands. Some of the best original upcoming and established bands include Cassini’s Division, Pin Drop Violence andDemonic Resurrection

Pin Drop Violence at the Independence Rock Festival

Another personal favorite is the Khadki Junction Blues, who unfortunately aren’t together anymore, but have some brilliant work.

Khadki Junction Blues show their sense of humor through the blues

With the support of magazines such as the Rock Street Journal and more recently, Rolling Stone India, more and more of these bands are coming into the limelight.

Although underground is nowhere near being mainstream, it is heartening to see the kind of support the Indian audience is capable of providing. This support is more than evident at rock fests happening in the major cities. Great Indian Rock , Independence Rock, Campus Rock Idols and the June Rock Out are a few of the best known. These festivals see a lot of talented bands doing their stuff live for ever increasing crowds of enthusiastic young Indian rockers and metal-heads.

There is much to be said about the contemporary Indian rock and metal scene; providing a comprehensive overview in one place is difficult, and I can only call this an introduction.

This is a jumping off point for you to discover a whole new world of alternative, crazy, supremely enjoyable rock and metal music where you might not have been looking for it until now.

It looks like all the years of perseverance might just pay off…take heart, all you original Indian artists and rock enthusiasts, there is hope yet.

Community Connection

Interested in more metal around the world? Check out the worldwide black metal scene.

Sure, there are great flight attendants.   The kind of men and women who do the job effortlessly, not panicking at the$10 bill you just handed them for a $5 bottle of wine.  Winkers who toss you a second bag of Doritos, on the house.   We all love and appreciate them, especially when they can miraculously stop a baby from crying, throwing up or any combination thereof.

Paul Westerberg sings the song in 2002 at the Warsaw Room, NYC

Then there are the son-of-a-B’s.  This song tackles them.  You can easily imagine Westerberg writing the lyrics on the back of a napkin, seeking revenge against the stewardess (it was 1985) who became the lightening rod for every woman who’d ever turned her back to him. 

Throughout the song, you get the sense that she sort of deserved it.  It was the decade when the shine wore off of air travel, yet a good ten years before budget travel that didn’t crash regularly (when it became completely appropriate to be rude to customers). 

Having flown some of Europe’s gnarliest cheapos, I too have thought evil about the people who are supposed to keep me alive, in the event of a water landing. “A sanitation expert and a maintenance engineer.  A garbage man, a janitor and you, my dear.”  

Sit back, relax, drink a nipper and toss it back to The Replacements (as I am, right now, at Singapore Airport), and to all of the son-of-a-B’s.

Feature Photo by Giorgio Montersino

Feature photo by Daaane. Photo above by nonanet.

Plants and Animals

This Montreal group went from nowhere to everywhere following the release of a short EP a year and a half ago. The subsequent full length album, Parc Avenue, is a glorious hodgepodge of “franglais pop” that’s part rock opera and part art-rock. www.plantsandanimals.ca

Recommended: “Bye Bye Bye” and “A L’Oree Des Bois”

Born Ruffians

The latest and greatest from the Toronto scene. Frenetic, engaging threepiece pop from three kids who sing about what kids care about.

Short songs, upbeat tempos, chants and singalong choruses made last year’s Red, Yellow & Blue a critical favourite and their live shows a must-see. www.bornruffians.com

Recommended: “Kurt Vonnegut”; “Barnacle Goose”; “I Need a Life”

Metric

A four-piece that’s nomadic by nature, having called Montreal, New York, and Los Angeles home before decamping to Toronto. Smart lyrics, plus Emily Haines’s purring vocals and guitarwork make them the dance band for thinkers. www.ilovemetric.com

Recommended: “Gimme Sympathy”; “Combat Baby”; “Poster of a Girl”

Constantines

A perennial Toronto favourite. Vocalist Bry Webb alternately growls and croons his way through anthems that recall a young Springsteen. Their recent album, Kensington Heights, earns its name from a downtown artistic community and was voted 2008’s Album of the Year by the Associated Press. www.constantines.ca

Recommended: “Young Lions”; “Do What You Can Do”

Stills

Montreal’s Stills sit alongside other notables like Broken Social Scene, Weakerthans and Feist as elder statesmen of the new Alt-Can-Rock. Last year, the band released “Oceans Will Rise” (their best album to date), a more mature take on the post-punk sound that originally saw them compared to mope-rock afficionados like Interpol. www.thestills.net

Recommended: “Snow in California”; “Everything I Build”; “Still In Love”

Crystal Castles

An electroclash-influenced noise factory of beats that sound equally great on the dancefloor or on your Ipod.

Made up of duo Alice Glass and Ethan Kath,their self-titled debut album released last year is awash in indecipherable lyrics, screams, bleeps and doodles that are simultaneously old-school and futuristic and somehow melodic. www.lastgangrecords.com

Recommended: “Courtship Dating”; “Vanishing”

Black Mountain

From Vancouver, the rotating lineup of Black Mountain (and various splinter groups, including Pink Mountaintop, Pink Mountain, etc.) draws from a collective of artists and friends who’ve been playing together in various incarnations for years.

They’ve earned kudos from the unlikeliest of places, including an opening slot on the Coldplay 2005 Canadian tour.

2007’s “In The Future” is their most cohesive and ambitious album to date, a sprawling, haunting and equally uplifting/devastating whole piece of work that could be the soundtrack for our generation’s midlife crisis. www.blackmountainarmy.com

Recommended: “Angels”; “Stay Free”; “Don’t Run Our Hearts Around”

Brendan Canning

Feature photo by Daaane

“Something For All Of Us”: The debut solo record from one of the founders of Broken Social Scene and a stalwart member of the Toronto scene (hHead, By Divine Right) is a thing of beauty.

From the opening notes of the title track, discordant and eerie, to the sad pretty lilt of “Snowballs and Icicles” and the driving guitars of my favourite track, “Churches Under the Stairs,” this record is a seamless glimmering gem that’s vaulting on to everyone’s “Best of 2009″ lists.

The production is top-notch, giving each track its own chance to shine, although there’s still some quality BSS fuzziness. www.brokensocialscene.ca

Recommended: “Churches Under the Stairs”; “Antique Bull”; “Love is New”

Lights

Lights is one sugar-coated candy of a girl making pop that’s fast becoming everyone’s guilty pleasure. Old Navy plucked her out of obscurity by featuring her music in its TV campaign, and the web effect was instantaneous: thousands of fans and website hits and offers of record deals.

Even though she’s only got an EP out at this point (full length due before end of the year), her pop songs are also making inroads at radio and she’s shot low budget videos for three tracks already that are online and getting play on Canadian TV. www.iamlights.com

Recommended: “White”; “Drive My Soul”

When we think of black metal, we tend to think of Northern Europe and, to a lesser extent, North America. However, at this very moment, headbangers from Brazil to Kyrgyzstan are donning facepaint and rocking out to homegrown riffs.

Photo of Demonic Resurrection by Frog StarB

1. Sarcofago – Brazil
This old school band combines raw thrash and BM elements with angry lyrics in praise of Satan. Like Venom and Sodom, they were part of the first wave of black metal and influenced bands to come. Lead singer Wagner Lamounier was formerly in Sepultura.
Recommended Album: I.N.R.I. (1987)

Satanas from I.N.R.I

2. Be Persecuted – China
This female-fronted band from Jiangxi deals lyrically with suicide, depression, and nihilism. Underproduced like all depressive BM, Be Persecuted is an atmospheric metal band in the vein of Xasthur or early Burzum. Unlike most atmospheric bands, they actually have three members and perform live.
Recommended Album: I.I (2007)

3. Melechesh – Israel
Melechesh combines Sumerian myths with ethnic instruments to create an authentically Middle Eastern atmosphere in its black metal. Indeed, the band calls itself Mesopotamian Metal. The Jerusalem police and press have accused the group of cult activities. Now that’s pretty metal.
Recommended Album: Sphynx (2003)


4. Kekal – Indonesia
Kekal started as a classic, 2nd wave styled BM band, but soon moved in a more avant-garde direction. They now combine elements of melodic, black and goth metal with their own flavor. They’ve started to incorporate jazz and blues elements, and even covered a song by A-Ha on their latest album, Audible Minority.

5. Shub Niggurath –Mexico
As the name alludes, Shub Niggurath produces a mystical, Lovecraftian brand of metal. Combining old school death and black influences, they’re a little bit Slayer, a lot of Absu, and a few zombies and monsters here and there. It’s a refreshing change from all the Satanic stuff out there.

Satanas Zombie from the record The Black Goatlike Arise

6. Taarma –Afghanistan
This one-man band from the Balochistan region, now living in Pakistan, produces sludgy, depressing, wall-of-sound atmospheric metal in the vein of Be Persecuted or Xasthur. Indeed, Black Emperor Jogezai is the only artist out there who has covered Xasthur’s work. Taarma’s lyrical themes include references not only to depression, but to his culture: “Kafan” (a song title) means shroud in Arabic. Taarma means darkness in the ancient Brahvi language.
Recommended Album: Remnants of a Tormenting Black Shadow (2007)


7. Deiphago –Philippines
These self-styled Filipino Antichrists are certainly keeping the old school, blackened thrash spirit alive, complete with over the top anti-Christian attitudes. With ridiculous album titles like “Holocaustik Metal Sexxxecution Whoreslaughters”, they are definitely recommended.

8. Inquisition –Colombia
Inquisition is one of those bands between genres. Starting out with a thrashy, raw black metal sound and an extremely anti-Christian attitude, they have since added progressive and experimental elements to their sound. Inquisition no longer resides in the developing world: its members have since moved to Washington State, joining the USBM community there.

9. Demonic Resurrection – India
Demonic Resurrection is one of India’s most popular blackened death metal bands, having opened for international acts like Opeth. They combine keyboard-driven virtuosity with slightly Satanic, but not over the top lyrics. Technical and melodic without losing the blackened feel, this Bombay-based band is certainly one to watch in the next few years.
Recommended Album: A Darkness Descends (2005)

 
10. Darkestrah – Kyrgyzstan
Darkestrah is melodic and epic, yet dark, underproduced, and atmospheric. This female-fronted pagan metal band has lyrics about shamanism and the Silk Road, as well as a song simply titled “Shaitan Akbar!” (”Lord Satan!”). The members of Darkestrah now reside in Germany, but continue to use include traditional instruments and overtone singing in their work.

Recommended Album: Epos (2007)

Inner Voice from The Great Silk Road

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:
Thinking about attending a music festival at home or abroad? Check out our recommendations about how to prepare for a summer music festival here.

Featuring a playlist that includes Run D.M.C., Wanda Jackson, Eminem, Aretha Franklin, The Yardbirds and Metallica, this show seriously rocks.

Here’s a performance of Run D.M.C with Aerosmith doing “Walk This Way” in 2002:

Checking out the original video will make you wonder why awesome collaborations like this don’t seem to happen anymore (embedding disabled but available for viewing on youtube here).

Chuck D packs the spaces between the songs with interesting tidbits of information about the inductees, taking a break from the normal “On the Real” political talk format to bring us his picks – guaranteed to rock your afternoon or evening for 75 minutes.

Listen to the show here:

Download it for yourself here. Subscribe to “On the Real with Chuck D” here, and check out the inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here.

There are only two original members in the lineup.

David Johansen, frontman of mainstream “Hot Hot Hot” fame (as Buster Poindexter) still sings, and Sylvain Sylvain still plays guitar, as he has since a few months out from the band’s inception in 1971.

In this video, you can see the spazdic Johansen shake his ass and share the mic with the showy original lead guitarist Johnny Thunders. A gold corseted Arthur Kane can be seen rocking the bass years prior to his conversion to Mormonism and subsequent death from Leukemia shortly after the bands first reunion in 2004.

Jerry Nolan beats the crap out of the drums while Sylvain Sylvain plays hot licks stage right in black hat and maroon pants, though there never is a clear shot of his face.

Personality Crisis contains all the charming qualities about the Dolls. Johansen’s lyrics betray an empathy and understanding as he tells it like it is, a cro-magnon man in make-up, he makes up in energy and sincerity what he may be lacking in singing ability.

The metallic sounds of the guitars and bass were originals to the second rate knock offs done by many an eighties hair band. Look at these guys. Take the overt gender bending out of their look and all the soul out of their sound and you have the template for all the Whitesnakes and Warrants you could want.

It’s pure rock and roll and it’s got heart. I’ll be happy to say I’ve seen them a couple of weeks from now, even if most of them are now dead.

Download the mp3 of Personality Crisis (Live at the Fillmore East) here or the original version here from Amazon.

Photo: drumecho

I’ve been in mad work mode for the last 2 weeks and haven’t really been vibing to anything new.

Usually while working [writing/editing] I get distracted if the music is too ‘organic’. If there are too many words or complex melodies or singer / songwriters ‘bearing their souls’ then I’ll find myself stopping to listen.

I work better to straight up beats or hip hop.

The problem though is that it’s hard listening to drum and bass or whatever really early in the morning. Lately I’ve been ‘easing’ into the day with a little dub / steppers / rockers / reggae. It gets a positive vibe going. I’ve found some good work session music at dub session podcasts.

Here’s a link to one.

Each one is long, like an hour of music–and you can fast forward past the cheesy opening sound-effects.

Happy skanking.

I don’t know what it is about Atlas Sound. It’s like it’s always raining in their music. Perfect for out here in the Pacific Northwest. A soundtrack for rain and deep introspection. The title of the album is the best in years: Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Not Feel.

I had this on a few weeks ago as we were driving across the Olympic Peninsula and it seemed to just lock down the drive and the feeling at the time. We were on the 101 West, the terrain alternating between clear-cuts and corridors of cedar and madrona. Rain. Wondering how the surf would be. Slightly nervous.

It seemed like whoever made this vid feels the same way about the rain. The images themselves are ok. . .this is mainly just to listen to.

Travel mp3 of the Week

Bradford Cox (Atlas Sound, Deerhunter) posts a lot of outtakes and audio sketches on the Lotus Plaza / Atlas Sound / Deerhunter Blog.

Here’s a link to the early demos of Recent Bedroom where you can download a few different versions of this track, all of them raw and good for rides or travel. Movement.

Please support Atlas Sound by buying the Album from Amazon or direct from Kranky , a label producing some of the freshest music right now.

Community Connection

Anyone out there seen a Deerhunter or Atlas Sound show? We’d love to read / publish a concert review. Please contact: david [at] matadornetwork [dot] com

Photo by deovolenti

For years I’ve had the thought: ‘what if you could just travel around the world making field recordings of different people playing music and then remix it all into some ill composition?’

Several djs and producers have realized this idea, notably Amon Tobin, whose 2007 release Foley Room, was created entirely out of live recordings.

For the last few years people have also been experimenting with big mashups, only using video instead of just audio. The game has all changed however, with the production of thru-you.

Israeli musician Kutiman explains:

“. . . I collected all kind of different unrelated youtube movies of all kind of different people playing different instruments or singing. I put them together and created new songs and new music. It was really amazing to see how often different movies matched together without me even touching it. “

Instead of famous musicians (except for legendary drummer Bernard Purdie) the people in the videos are mostly unknown. Here’s just a sampling:

• Guitarist who looks like he works at local music store
• Emcee going off on street corner
• High school wood-wind section
• Little kid playing trumpet
• Bedroom diva signing into her webcam
• Middle aged dude ripping on harmonica in his living room

Each person’s ‘part’ is layered on top of another to form different songs ranging from funk and hip hop to reggae and drum and bass.

Listening to thru-you has this unexpected effect, or at least it did for me: you share a little of that same feeling every musician has had at one time or another–that for a second, even if nobody else can hear it, you’re totally going off.

Feature photo by Érre Ortega. Photo above by Prefeitura de Olinda.

“Do you like our music?” someone asked me. “Love it!” I said, ticking off the names of Brazilian icons: Caetano Veloso, Joao Gilberto, and Astrud Gilberto. Sure, I knew they were old school, but there’s something about Joao Gilberto whisper-singing “‘S wonderful, ‘s mahvelous, that you should care for me” that’s timeless, right?

Um, no. My utter uncoolness was revealed. Saying I listened to Veloso, Gilberto, and Gilberto was like a Brazilian coming to the States and saying he listened to Paul Anka, Elton John, and Joni Mitchell.

Brazil’s music scene is more—much more– than bossa nova and samba. Here are just a few samples of the artists and kinds of music Brazilians are into right now:

O Funk Proibidão

This raw but hyper danceable music started in the early 90s in the favelas in Rio. It’s basically constructed from Miami bass and booty beats with MCs rhyming.

Funk Proibidão is the underground music that is recorded and played at parties and spread through cd’s, mixed tapes. As far as lyrical content however, “that shit is laced in with the gangs and narcos” is how one one Matadorian puts it.

Similar to when The Chronic was dominating US clubs in the early 90s, one group Brazilian group, Mc Cidinho e Doca, had the hottest song last year.

Marcelo D2

Hip hop is going off in Brazil. Down there they call it hippe-hoppe. One of the most innovative rappers is Marcelo D2 (check vid above), who mixes samples of bossa nova and other traditional forms into his music.

Alceu Valenca

At 62, Alceu Valenca might seem better classified in the greatest hits section, but what keeps Brazilians listening is the artist’s obvious love of music and his ongoing experimentation with form, genre, and… performance.

Valenca, who’s been referred to as the “Brazilian Bobby Dylan” and the “Brazilian Mick Jagger,” is able to blend folk, rock, and traditional styles into a sound that’s distinctly his own. His shows are characterized by elaborate costume changes and crowd-pleasing favorites, like “Morena Tropicana.”

His 2009 release, “Ciranda Mourisca,” isn’t available in the US yet, but a promotional CD hints at mysterious gypsy-like sounds, yet another addition to Valenca’s repertoire.

Photo by writingjulie.

Siba e a Fuloresta

Siba e a Fulorestais the 40 year old founder and front man of this 10 person group, whose youngest member is 19 and whose oldest is 75. Siba’s musical trajectory might seem backward to those obsessed with the-next-big-thing: after moving from his hometown to the city, he then moved back home to discover his musical roots, building his performance cred in hardcore street shows.

“Street music prepared us for everything,” he said to me in an interview, “improving the relationship with the audience, our ability to deal with problems, everything.”

Siba cites jazz, North African music, 60s and 70s rock, and the troubadour poetry of Brazil as some of his persistent influences, and these genres exert themselves subtly in a musical niche that he and his group-mates are carving out for themselves.

Three of our recommendations come from Alex Robinson, Brazilian music aficionado, former resident of Sao Paulo, and author of Footprint’s Brazil Handbook.

Coletivo Radio Cipó

“I’m currently listening to loads of music from Belém in the mouth of the Amazon. It’s one of the most exciting places for music in Brazil at the moment. I particularly like Coletivo Radio Cipó, who fuse local carimbó beats with reggae, rap, and penetrating social commentary.

Photo by Festival Calango.

La Pupuña

“I also love La Pupuña, who play a kind of psychedelic Amazonian surf rock broken by sound effects from the river– like the chug of long-tail boats and the call of birds. They have just released a carimbó version of “Dark Side of the Moon” called “Charque Side of the Moon,” named in honour of the local beef jerky.

Madame Saatan

“And then there’s Madame Saatan, fronted by Sammliz, a delicate, wispy singer with a face like a model and a voice as big and rich as Mariah Carey. But she’s no R’nB diva – Madame Saatan’s Devorados is as fast and relentless as Metallica. And it paints a bleak picture of the self-destructive lives of many in poor urban Brazil.”

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Headed to South America? Find out What People Are Listening to in Chile, too!

JuanaFe

For years, Chileans generally ignored the spicier music of their past in favor of imported American and British hits. Fortunately, JuanaFe has no reservations about reviving Latin cumbia and ska, and thanks to them, neither does the public.

JuanaFe. Photo by Christopher Valdes

Combining traditional Latin American music with the attitude and lilt of a Santiago street vendor, JuanaFe’s addictive melodies, foot-tapping rhythms and Chile-centric lyrics go down easy like a piscola (pisco and Coca Cola) on a sunny afternoon.

Songs to check out: Callejero, Chinchin

Chico Trujillo

If Chico Trujillo’s soccer jersey-clad singer ducks off the stage for a minute, don’t worry–he’s just grabbing another cold Escudo (national Chilean beer) to bolster his John Belushi-esque dance moves.

Chico Trujillo. Photo by Ana Topoleanu

Fresh off the release of their second studio album, Plato Unico Bailable, Chico Trujillo has become the most beloved band for those looking to party until mid-morning.

With music based on Colombian cumbia and empowered with a modern Chilean rock aesthetic, Chico takes traditional rhythms, doubles (or even triples) the tempo, and feeds off the dance-crazed fans that crowd the stage.

Songs to check out: Medallita, Conductor, Lanzaplatos

Salvaje Decibel

“The kids no longer greet each other with an ‘hola’–they do it with one hand in their boxers and the other on the handle of their pistol.”

Like many of the best rap artists, pride for his rough native neighborhood fuels many of Salvaje Decibel’s best tracks, like “Casas Bajas,” which unfolds in rapid fire Chilean Spanish, backed by a perfectly stuttering beat.

Destinations

Community Connection to Chile

Politically charged lyrics, poetic timing, and melodious timbre give Salvaje Decibel a sound that retains a musical sensibility despite its hard edge, making it equally good for a cruise through Santiago’s streets or a protest.

Songs to check out: Nuevo Turno, Casas Bajas

Inti-Illimani Historico

Almost every strike or protest in Chile finds the people pumping their fists in the air while singing Inti-Illimani’s anthem of the people: “El Pueblo Unido Jamas Será Vencido” (”The people united will never be defeated”).

As Chile was just experiencing an artistic blossoming, Pinochet’s dictatorship in 1973 drove many leftist leaning musical groups such as Inti-Illimani into exile.

Today, Inti-Illimani has returned to its place in the spotlight of the Chilean folk scene, with songs that bring to mind the swaying harmonies of sea chanties yet with a brightness added by wood flutes and traditional instruments.

Songs to check out: El Pueblo Unido (Jamas Será Vencido), Samba Lando

La Banda Conmoción

Banda Conmoción is so huge it can barely fit its 19 members into the bars and clubs where they play. Naturally, its sound is just as big.

La Banda. Photo by Jason C. Hickerson

Led by bomba (bass drum) player Cristian “Hueo” Sanhueza, the massive band stirs crowds to sweaty exuberance with an animated mix of ska, cumbia, and gypsy music.

Songs to check out: Presentación, Pregonero

Los Bunkers

Los Bunkers’ beginnings as a ’60s cover band can be easily spotted in their knack for punchy guitar licks, tight fuzzed-out solos, and pretty melodies. However, in nearly 10 years as a band they’ve made the music their own while still riding at the forefront of Chile’s alternative scene.

With retro-pop and catchy-as-hell tunes, one can be forgiven for singing them days after listening.

Songs to check out: Ven Aquí, Me Muelen los Palos

Lucybell

Lucybell more or less invented alternative music in Chile. Just as the ’80s music scene was giving way, they stepped in with their then-signature, soon-to-be-known-as-emo songs.

However, Lucybell has managed to ride the waves of musical currents. Today, their sound, a stripped-down rock layered with Claudio Valenzuela’s deep vibrato, brings to mind acts like the Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand.

Songs to check out: Mataz, Sur

Camila Moreno

With just a beat-up guitar and her voice, Camila Moreno fills a room with contemplative lyrics that echo off the walls over intricate guitar picking and carry the listener to peaks of sadness, pain and joy.

Camila Moreno. Photo by Matt Dillinger

Though she has yet to release a full album and has just one single (”Antes Que”), Camila Moreno is at the forefront of the Nueva Nueva Canción Chilena (New, New Chilean Song) movement, which takes up where classic Chilean folk icons Victor Jara and Violeta Parra left off.

Songs to check out: Antes Que, Millones

Los Tres

Los Tres was the first Chilean group to perform for MTV Unplugged, and after hearing them once it’s easy to see why.

Their songs are musically complex, perhaps due to the members’ backgrounds — most studied music and the bass player has played with the Concepción Symphony for years. And with lead guitarist Angel Parra, a member of one of the most prolific musical families in Chile, the level of fame they’ve attained comes as no surprise.

Formed in the late ’80s, Los Tres has been one of Chile’s few international success stories. Combining rock and jazz with Chilean folkloric influences, the foursome has carved a niche both in Chile and beyond.

Songs to check out: Tirate, He Barrido el Sol

Chancho en Piedra

Chancho en Piedra is what a Mike Patton project might sound like if formed in Chile.

The group’s spastic, heavy funk has elements of just about every musical genre, making its name–a reference to an ingredient-diverse Chilean salsa–fitting indeed.

Known for a sense of humor (the guitarist sometimes performs songs for a popular children’s show) and an almost manic energy level, the members of Chancho en Piedra might indeed be crazy–and it’s the kind of insanity that infects their fans show after show.

Songs to check out: Condor, Guachperry

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

For music that will have you traveling vicariously, check out the 10 Most Influential Musicians for Travelers over the Past Decade.

If you speak with a Uruguayan long enough, you will most likely hear one or more of the following comments: the first World Cup was played here in 1930; Carlos Gardel (the revered tango singer) was born here; and for approximately 40 days Uruguay entertains the world’s longest Carnaval celebration. It’s a mix of parades, nightly shows, and more in Montevideo and a few of the beach towns on the Atlantic coast.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the 2009 Carnaval:

Parades showcase “murga” artists, each decorated with their own theme. The murgas sing, dance, and act their way down the street. This murga has stopped for a moment to adjust his hat.

Two female clowns roll by, crowds cheering them on in the background.

One group dressed and performed as disco dancers.

The 2009 Queens of Carnaval stand on their float, waving to the crowd.

A candombe musical group beats its drums and shares a smile with the crowd.

Community Connection:

Have you seen our Carnaval photos from Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia? Did you attend a Carnaval celebration this year? Share your photos with the community by uploading your favorite images to your Matador profile (if you don’t have one, sign up now! It’s free!)

Feature photo by http://moty66.ipernity.com. Photo above by anniemullinsuk.

Throughout two years of living in bella Roma, I have immersed myself in the blues and jazz scene with a willing ear and an open-mind. Five of the best jazz and blues venues I’ve discovered are:

La Casa del Jazz

“House of Jazz” is the perfect name for this recently renovated and refurbished home of jazz legends. All of the greats perform here, and every great wants to perform here.

American jazz guitarist Larry Coryell performed here with fellow American bassist Jeff Berlin in 2008, along with a sweet medley of saucy tunes from Larry’s singer-wife, Tracey.

Before Mr. Coryell headed to Pomeroy, Ohio to lead a workshop at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch, he had this to say about his performance at La Casa del Jazz: “It’s one of the hippest gigs I’ve played in the 21st century.

The beautiful auditorium, the people working here, the park, the great restaurant with pictures of Anita O’Day and Sarah Vaughan on the walls. Wow! It’s the kind of place musicians dream about.”

The auditorium is designed with comfortable, cushioned stadium seats, and wooden beams running from floor to ceiling, draped with sound dampening curtains. There’s a bookstore full of treasures, including Oscar Peterson’s rare albums and an extensive collection of Italian and American contemporaries.

The La Casa del Jazz is located near Testaccio in southwest Rome. It is easily reached by metro, bus, or taxi.

Photo by gutter.

Stazione Birra

The “Beer Station” hosts many blues, rock, and jazz greats, including one of my favorites: Derek Trucks. Trucks is so smooth at age 29 that you’d think he’s been playing for three lifetimes, long before his uncle, Butch Trucks, introduced him to the rest of the Allman Brothers Band.

Hearing Derek in this intimate venue was heaven, not only because of Trucks’ impressive slide guitar, but also because of the inviting interior of the Stazione Birra. The venue is two floors, full of tables covered with aperitivo, Italian styled BBQ, and home-brewed beer (chiara or rossa).

This rocking venue brings me back to my favorite music clubs on the East Coast in the U.S. and the tunes played here resonate for days, weeks, and even months afterward. The Stazione Birra is quite far from the city center, but well worth the trip, even though a taxi or a friend’s car is needed for the last leg of the journey.

Alexanderplatz Jazz Club

Alexanderplatz is “il piu antico jazz club di Roma,” the oldest jazz club in Rome.

This is one of the smallest and one of the best underground jazz clubs in Rome, famous also for its summer jazz festival in the Villa Celia Montana. You become immediately aware of Alexanderplatz’s rich history upon entering the locale, alive with thousands of signatures on its cavernous, white walls.

I had the pleasure of meeting Stefano Bollani at the Alexanderplatz. Bollani, arguably the greatest jazz pianist of his time, performs regularly at the Blue Note in New York City. Signor Bollani’s aura– with his wiry and unkempt hair–reflects that of Alexanderplatz: a rumpled and crowded, yet classy and swanky nightclub.

The venue serves a late pre-show dinner (reservations needed), along with a pricey negroni or martini; however, the best part of the club is the intimacy between the music and audience. There is no stage, but a small nucleus between the cave’s winding autograph-littered walls where the musicians stake their territory.

The vibrations of the upright bass or the trickling trumpet bleats will follow you to the bar, to the closet restroom, up the stairs and outside to the Roman street where well-dressed Italians smoke cigars.

Alexanderplatz is located near the Vatican.

Photo by ragnagne.

The Boogie Club

The Boogie Club is so good that it was worth the 45 minute bus ride and subsequent two mile walk (which might have been avoided with a map, a taxi, and the right bus route).

This well-hidden blues pub is a full of boogie, beer, and bliss. Black and white photos of American blues legends like B.B. King and Robert Johnson line the walls and old-school videos of Elvis and Aretha play in the corners. There is enough room for a small front stage and plenty of table room if you get there early.

Beers come in big steins, hot panini can be ordered until closing time, and the friendly staff is a plus. One of the regular bands is Mississippi Mood, which attributes its name and influences to the Mississippi Delta blues. The crowd is always hopping, of all ages, and because of its distant location, is full of locals and die-hard blues fans.

Depending on the band, you may step back into the soulful 70s or into folk’s early 60s or witness a tribute to Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan. Another great blues club, on par with the Boogie Club, is Big Mama, located in the central zone of Trastevere.

Be Bop Jazz Club

Be Bop is the smallest jazz venue mentioned here, but no less special than the others. Not quite as alluring and eclectic as Alexanderplatz, Be Bop has its own appeal, including black and white video footage of jazz masters such as Wes Montgomery and John Coltrane during the performance interludes.

Be Bop is a two-minute walk from the Piramide in the zone Testaccio.

Local’s tip: Each of these clubs requires a first-timer fee plus la tessera, the membership card. There’s great satisfaction knowing that a card in your wallet proves you are now a member of Rome’s jazz and blues world. Yet that satisfaction really comes from becoming an integral part of the intimate audience, soaking in the soul, funk, blues and jazz in these special locales.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Music, food, and art: the travel trifecta. Read about slow food and slow travel in Italy here and traveling in Italy on a tight budget here. And be sure to check out the art section in the Green Guide to Florence, which can be found here.

The Tarrus Phenomenon

It’s impossible to walk down the streets in Jamaica and not hear the hit song “She’s Royal” blasting from a shop’s radio. And it’s only the latest in a host of singles from Tarrus Riley’s album, “Parables,” played incessantly in Jamaica this past year.

A simple mention of the name Tarrus Riley to a Jamaican instantly leads to a broad smile. This 30-something talent — born in the Bronx, New York, and the son of famous Jamaican artist Jimmy Riley– is the hottest reggae artist to shoot to stardom in the last year.

Tarrus Riley released his first album, Challenges in 2004, but his real success came with Parables in 2006.

Live in Jamaica

Seeing him live, and listening to his lyrics, it’s clear why this man has become a phenomenon. On December 30, 2008, hundreds of locals and visitors came out to see Tarrus Riley perform at the Negril Escape Resort in Negril, Jamaica.

It’s not that he hadn’t performed in Negril before, but this was before “Parables” hit the stores, and his previous appearance in Negril was not a solo act. So for many, experiencing the December 2008 Tarrus concert in Negril was a first.

A Message For Unity, Love, & Peace

Tarrus Riley’s messages are poignant and heartfelt, his smile disarming. “Cut if off,” he sings, “if a relationship is abusive to you, you must cut if off!” His voice is real, comforting and melodious, almost like getting advice from a friend.

With the hit “She’s Royal,” Tarrus’ intention was to lift women’s spirits by addressing the lack of self-esteem so many women deal with. Sure enough, it’s become every lady’s favorite tune.

Other songs include “Beware,” where Tarrus warns to “be careful of dem guns and ammunition” and observes that “it’s a shame to see brothers killing themselves, wasting energy, [when they] should be uplifting themselves.”

Return to Conscious Roots Reggae

“Poom poom poom poom poom!” he interjects between songs. “When I say that, it’s not a gunshot okay, it’s a musical shot!” he explains.

Tarrus’ talented Gumption Band is just as much a treat as the artist himself. Dean Fraser, a legend in his own right and producer of “Parables,” performs saxophone renditions of various sounds Tarrus throws at him. The three female back up singers also prove their talent, performing quick solos for the crowd.

In a time when dancehall and reggaetón have dominated clubs around the world, roots or “conscious reggae” is now making a strong comeback.

With artists like Tarrus Riley blasting messages such as “Beware!” and “Stay With You,” musicians and fans alike are holding on to the freedom-message era of the Bob Marley days, showing a strong need to address today’s multitude of issues through reggae music.

Other artists aligned with Tarrus’ socially conscious music are Luciano and Morgan Heritage.

If you’re headed to Negril soon and want to experience the best of Jamaican music, these are some of my favorite venues:

The Negril Escape Resort, on the Cliffs

Every Tuesday night at 6:30 PM, the Negril Escape Resort hosts the Sunset Show, a live three-hour concert re-enacting all the phases of Jamaican music, from African drums all the way to today’s dance hall.

Folks can party on the seaside terrace. The Sunset Show also features a celebrity reggae artist once a month. Entry to the regular Sunset Show is US$10. For more information, visit Negril Escape’s website.

Alfred’s Ocean Palace

Alfred’s is a favorite for live music every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday night starting at 11 PM . It’s located on Negril’s Seven Mile Beach. Locals and tourists alike enjoy the sounds of reggae and dance barefoot in the sand and under the stars at this beach nightclub and restaurant. For more information, visit here.

Roots Bamboo

Located on Seven Mile Beach, Roots Bamboo features reggae artists every single week. Past and regular performers include Gregory Isaacs, Natty King, Yellowman, and many others. Live music is playing Wednesday and Sunday nights at 11 PM on for a cover charge of only $300 Jamaican dollars (US $3).

Bourbon Beach

A favorite for live concerts in Negril, with a unique and gigantic colorful stage, Bourbon Beach hosts many reggae stars, such as John Holt and Luciano, every Wednesday night.

Another chance to dance barefoot in the sand and enjoy the best of reggae for only $700 Jamaican (US $9). For more information visit Bourbon Beach.

Additional concerts and live shows are always posted on billboards throughout Negril.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Matador co-founder Ross Borden stumbled onto a reggae show in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Read his blog post about the experience!

Or, for tips on getting to another music-infused island, check out How To Travel To and From Cuba.

Feature photo by Bob Jagendorf. Photo above by Kiril Kolev.

[Editor's Note: Eva Holland contributed to this article.]

It has been said that everyone in New Orleans is born with an instrument in their hands. In a city that is defined by — and defines — music, it can be hard to choose the best venues for live music, but here are a few of my favorites:

Photo by Photo Mojo.

Preservation Hall

Preservation Hall, a French Quarter classic since 1961, is still flourishing today. The hall is open seven days a week from 8 to 11 PM, though I advise getting there by 7 to make sure you will be able to get in. The cover is very reasonable at $10 a person.

The lineup at Preservation Hall is always world class jazz, blues, or brass bands. The hall is small and intimate. The only places to sit are wooden benches, and there is no air conditioning, no amenities, and no sound system — but when the band starts, the frills don’t matter.

The Spotted Cat

The Spotted Cat is one of a cluster of well-loved venues on Frenchman Street, just northeast of the Quarter. It’s a cozy, intimate spot featuring local jazz acts that are often more mellow than the big brass bands you’ll see in the larger venues. Staff are friendly and there’s generally no cover; drinks are priced up a tad as a result.

Like most spots on Frenchman, the Spotted Cat draws a cool mix of locals old and young, and handfuls of tourists intrepid enough to leave Bourbon Street behind. If your ideal jazz bar experience is a dim hole-in-the-wall where you sit a few feet from the band, this could be your spot.

Tipitina’s

Tipitina’s has been an Uptown New Orleans institution since 1971. Shows are Wednesdays through Sundays, with varying ticket prices. Sunday evenings are host to a weekly Fais do-do, a night of Cajun music and dancing. Cajun music could be described as a cross between bluegrass, country, polka, and a few more old time music styles.

The rest of the shows feature rock, blues, zydeco and other music styles. The club is decent-sized, and has a place to buy t-shirts and other souvenirs. The admission fee also helps out Tipitina’s foundation, which helps keep the spirit of New Orleans music alive.

Rock N’Bowl

The Rock N’Bowl, or Mid-City Lanes, dates back to 1941. While it is a bowling alley, and has somewhat shoddy acoustics, it is also one of the best venues in the city. There are shows most nights of the week, and you can bowl at the same time. Bowling lanes are hard to get most nights, so reservations are a good idea.

The shows here run the gamut of musical styles, but rock is a favorite, and it gets nice and loud during shows. The management consistently books good bands. There is also a well-stocked bar and some decent food for sale.

Photo by Emrys.Roberts.

Hi-Ho Lounge

Hi-Ho Lounge could be considered a dive bar, but it’s a great place for music– especially the Monday Night Blue Grass Pickin’ Party. There’s no cover charge; just buy a drink at the bar.

The rest of the week is filled with harder music acts. The Hi-Ho Lounge is a bit difficult to find as it is out of the way of the normal tourist spots, but worth the effort. The atmosphere is nice, with artwork displayed, and a good drink selection.

Snug Harbor

Snug Harbor is a “World Famous” jazz bistro, with a restaurant up front and a jazz club in the back. The club hosts a jazz musician every night of the week. Mondays always feature Charmaine Neville, who blends music and stories to entertain the audience.

The rest of the days are filled with world-class acts. The bar has a wide selection of drinks and waitresses serve throughout the show.

d.b.a.

Another Frenchman Street favorite, d.b.a. breaks from the NOLA norm, with a bit of a hipster vibe and a more eclectic line-up. You might come across anything from folk to indie rock to African jazz here, along with some of the more traditional local fare.

Arrive early to beat the cover charges, or pay up if you’re feeling fashionably late; it’s usually $5-$10. d.b.a. is also blessed with one of the finest liquor and beer selections in the entire city — give the chalkboards above the bar a good look for that night’s extensive list.

Photo by cyanocorax.

House of Blues

While the House of Blues is a chain, it’s still a top music destination. There is also a restaurant.

The House of Blues hosts both national and local acts almost every night of the week. While it holds a good number of people, it retains an intimate atmosphere. Tickets can be purchased in advance via Ticketmaster to avoid lines.

While at the House of Blues, be sure to stop by local music repository the Louisiana Music Factory, just across the street. It sells works by local blues, jazz, and zydeco artists, as well as less regional blues, soul, country, and R&B.

While these are some of New Orleans’ best venues for live music, there are plenty of others to check out when you are in the city. From nationally known bands playing at headliner venues to talented local bands playing dive bars, there’s live music every night of the week.

Check out NOLA’s beloved alt-weekly, The Gambit, for show listings.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

A few Matador members have passed through NOLA: check out New Orleans to Memphis: Searching for the Soul of the Delta, or this handy round-up of NOLA content on Matador, Picks of the Week: New Orleans.

Photo above by Matthias Rosenkranz

Feature photo by Bruno Girin

Visitors to Calcutta get a taste of a culture that has been affected deeply by British colonization as well as more modern trends of globalization, all within a distinctly Indian framework. Some of the city’s best bars, clubs, and live music venues are listed below; in each, you can expect to see and meet an eclectic mix of people.

Clubs

Tantra

Park Hotel, 17 Park Street

Tantra is popular with the city’s young clubbers as well as local and visiting celebrities; expect to be treated even better if you’re staying at the Park Hotel. With a dance floor, an additional lounge area and two bars, this would be a popular place even if it wasn’t in such a posh location.

Stag entries are sometimes restricted. DJ nights, theme nights and jams on Sundays are special features.

Photo above by Bruno Girin

Roxy

Park Hotel, 17 Park Street

Another one of the Park Hotel’s offerings, Roxy is also a popular haunt with city clubbers and tourists. Try the snacks here: the kebabs and starters are worth taking a bite or more. Also, the cocktails here are pretty great. The ambiance is a bit less wild than Tantra’s, so head here if you want a laid back night.

The Underground

235/1 A.J.C. Bose Road

The discotheque at Hotel Hindusthan International is good for a night of dancing and drinking. Nice décor, good music, and some great visiting DJs who drop in from time to time. This is a theme nightclub, with decor recalling the London Underground.

Venom

#6, Fort Knox 8th Floor, Camac Street

A word of warning – this place has “members only” nights, so if you turn up on one of these you won’t get in. Otherwise, it’s quite a decent place to party, offering the usual dance floor and bars, as well as pool tables.

Photo above by danielle_blue

Shisha

22 Camac Street

The biggest attraction of Shisha was once its hookah bar; but since the smoking ban was passed, smoking in public places is an offense. Come March 2009, though, Shisha patrons will see a whole new look, and a new smoker’s den will allow patrons to smoke hookah again.

Other clubs you can check out are Dublin (at ITC Sonar Bangla), Fusion (at the Golden Park), and Cloud 9 (at the Astor). If you don’t feel like going to a crowded pub, then drop in at the Fairlawn Hotel at 13/A, Sudder Street for a relaxing drink.

Photo above by johnnyalive

Live Music

La Dolce Vita

3A, Humayun Palace, Behind New Empire Cinema Hall, New Market

Apart from resident DJs, a lounge area and bar, LDV also has visiting bands of many genres, including classic and alternative rock, funk, and hip hop. Calcutta especially adores rock music, and has its own brand of “Bangla Rock” in the local Bengali language (although I don’t think you will come across these any time soon at places like LDV).

This is one of the newest hangouts for headbangers, as well as loungers and clubbers, and is conveniently located in the New Market area.

Some Place Else

Park Hotel, 17 Park Street

An English pub in the Park Hotel, SPE has different acts playing each night of the week, as well as DJs. This intimate pub is one of the older and most popular spots for live music, especially rock.

Photo above by gabyu

The Princeton

26, Prince Anwar Shah Road

Although not situated near the Park Street or Camac Street areas, The Princeton Cluboffers many genres of live music and cheap alcohol. Live bands usually start playing by 9.30 PM, and the featured bands range from the already established to the up and coming.

Apart from this, some restaurants such as Trincas and the Xrong Place also have live music (mostly rock and jazz) regularly.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Matador’s collection of nightlife guides is always growing: check out the Best of Bangkok Nightlife, the Top 10 Nightlife Spots in Mexico City, or the Top Dive Bars in Las Vegas.

Learning tango in Buenos Aires from Matador Network on Vimeo.

You can watch this Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Irish and Esperanto on Benny’s multilingual video blog at irishpolyglot.com

Feature image: Ana Cotta.

Photo by cinocino. Feature photo by ktylerconk.

As much as anything else, my travels have always been about finding new music. Not that I’m hunting for it (although on occasion I’ve made field recordings) but more just being out there with my ears open.

I’m always ready for the right factors to materialize, say a Saturday night in Cidreira, Brazil when an 18-wheeler converted into a stage with a full Samba band unexpectedly rolls into the town square. Or a quiet afternoon in El Salvador where your host family’s dad breaks out the rum and the guitara.

In the right moments it almost seems as if the music has come looking for you.

Hearing something for the first time.

But oftentimes you keep hearing the same music for a long time without really absorbing it. When I first arrived in Latin America (San Jose, C.R. 1999), everything the bus drivers played—salsa, merengue, bachata—sounded like wheels turning on a broken axle.

It took getting out of the city and up to the cloudforest, and an aguardiente-maddened night where a local dj was dropping merengue on the crowd.

I don’t know what it was exactly, but suddenly I could feel the clave. The rhythm. It went with the terrain, the howler monkeys and hummingbirds. The way people chopped wood with machetes.

Music which defines a moment.

Beyond the music rooted to the places you travel, there is also the music that seems to travel itself, migrating from one area to the next—making its way into hostels and dj stacks, becoming part of local culture abroad, and also returning home with you.

Here are some of those artists and groups producing music which, for the last 10 years, has helped define what world travel sounds like.

Photo by MissKristen*.

1. Manu Chao

1999. Montanitas, Ecuador. Manu Chao’s Clandestino was playing from every hut. It was said he’d been through there earlier with an entire carnival-tribe.

Those of us who’d been traveling for months or years or lifetimes knew immediately: only someone who has spent the better part of his life living with and loving local people could write music like this.

It’s taken a while for him to catch on in the US, but for the last three years he’s been hitting key spots on US tours, and headlined Lollapalooza last summer.

2. Sublime

Sublime, especially the album 40 oz to freedom, was pushed up and down the pacific coast throughout the late 90s and early 2000s by surfers, and picked up by local groms wherever they lived. I remember hanging out in baja and hearing the kids asking to put on Sub—lee—may.

What kind of music would Bradley Nowell be creating right now were he still alive? What a loss.

3. Balkan Beat Box

In their own words, BBB is “a natural reaction of musicians who wanted to erase political boundaries.”

Balkan Beat Box’s two Israeli-born and Brooklyn-based founders, Tamir Muskat and Ori Kaplan, routinely collaborate with Palestinians (at one point having Israeli and Palestinian rappers side by side on stage in Jerusalem), Syrians, Bulgarians, and Moroccans, among others, in a constantly evolving group of musicians and artists around the world.

Last year, Matador interviewed Ori Kaplan just after a break from tour in Tel Aviv.

4. Bajofondo Tango Club

One night after going out in Buenos Aires, I waited at the Correo Central for the 22 to take me back to Quilmes. That’s before I learned the bus doesn’t pull into the Correo at night.

It got super late and I was completely alone but I kept listening to Bajofondo, this drum and bass remix of an old tango. It felt like the city was all mine.

Bajofondo is made up of veteran musicians and producers from Argentina and Uruguay who mash up tango, candombe, and other South American rhythms with breaks, drum and bass, and hip hop.

Member Gustavo A. Santaolalla has also produced soundtracks for Amores Perros and 21 Grams, and later received a 2006 Academy Award for Achievement in music written for motion pictures (original score) for Brokeback Mountain, then a second Academy Award in 2007 for the film score to Babel.

5. Daft Punk

Photo by Caesar Sebastian

Daft Punk built on early Detroit techno, perfecting a brighter, funkier sound that’s remained in clubs no matter where you’ve gone over the last decade.

Anytime I hear “Around the World” I get flashbacks of discoballs in San Jose clubs at the end of the millennium.

6. Buena Vista Social Club

Buena Vista’s story is one of the greatest in modern music. American guitarist and producer Ry Cooder went to Cuba and reunited musicians who had performed at the club 50 years earlier—some of whom hadn’t touched an instrument or performed in decades.

Their recordings and performances were international successes throughout the late 90s.

7. Bebel Gilberto

Bebel is the daughter of bossa nova legend João Gilberto. Bebel’s music is a fresh and smooth and has spread from Rio and New York (where she lives) worldwide.

8. Amon Tobin

Another Brazilian, Amon Tobin is a key innovator and producer of electronic music, and one of the all-stars on the Ninja Tune label. He has collaborated with various artists and influenced countless djs and producers worldwide.

9. Kevin Johansen

Kevin Johansen is half Argentinean, half American, and plays a mix of rock, cumbia, reggae, tango, and other rhythms. He keeps getting better known each year.

10. Marley Family

Damian, Stephan, Julian, Ziggy, Rita—no other family has so many projects and tours going in so many places around the world. From Ziggy’s new album Love is My Religion to Damian and Stephan’s recent albums which have taken dance hall emceeing to new levels of social consciousness, this entire clan just keeps bringing more fire.

These are my top picks for the heavyweight musicians shaping travel culture over the last decade. There are many more to be sure. What’s yours?

Rolling Stone’s article about the death of David Foster Wallace collided in my head during last week’s CMJ Music Marathon, five nights of non-stop newish bands playing at NYC’s best and worst venues.

I kept coming home and wondering what was going on under the hood of these bands; if I had just seen the singer who would come unhinged at 25, or if that same singer’s band might never even make it onto more than forty hard drives.

Predicting the fickle nature of the music business is impossible. Predicting the demise of a person’s life isn’t that easy either. Sitting on my living room floor in my dumb blue gym shorts, surrounded by piles of CD’s and cassettes, I came up with the following list of people who made great music for too short of a time. Please add your additions to the replies.

Elliot Smith “Needle In The Hay”

It wasn’t even subtle. It was right there. The problem.

I’m taking the cure so I can be quiet whenever I want…you ought to be proud that I’m getting good marks.

Elliot Smith photo by PatCastaldo

It was terrible to hear as a fan. You’d learn the words, sing them, maybe finger your guitar on the right frets, then realize what they meant. And what was coming, no matter how much you wished it wouldn’t. If you don’t own XO, please do.

(Steven Paul Smith, 1969-2003) – Needle In The Hay

Metallica “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth”

The fifth song on their first album is a bass solo. With no wimpy “Enter Sandman” in the realm of possibility, Cliff Burton whipped his hair and played this in ways that just plain confused me.

It certainly wasn’t the metal that I had been hearing – there was no lipstick clogging the distortion. Seeing Cliff live made me realize that it was probably going to be the puzzling things in life that might be the most indelible.

(Clifford Lee Burton, 1962-1986) – (Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth (LP Version)

Jeff Buckley “Halleluja (live at Sin-e)”

A cover, “Halleluja” has somehow become Jeff’s hallowed moment on tape. His version has been bastardized to the point where it’s almost become damaged, were it not for this recording.

At 9:15 and full of tuning issues, this reminds me why his take was better than anyone’s will ever be. For those of us sitting at Sine-E, his performances were a triumph for the cute little guy who washed clothes in the machine next to ours. “Let’s go drink and sleep!” he says at the end.

We were going wherever he went.

(Jeffrey Scott Buckley, 1966-1997) – Hallelujah

Photo by pinkbelt

Nirvana “Drain You (live in Seattle, WA, October 31, 1991)”

What a fucking mess. Missed words, chords almost disregarded, the bridge never quite filling out. It’s gorgeous.

This was the real Nirvana, the one that decked us. This wasn’t the song about deodorant that made fratboys scream and woot. Their stage presence was a turbulent ride between apathetic and aggressive, in a way I hadn’t seen since the Ramones.

(Kurt Donald Cobain, 1967-1994) – Drain You

Buddy Holly “Everyday”

Impossible to replicate, no matter how many have ripped him off. This was a guy who was supposed to write songs for the rest of a very long life.

It has been sad to see musicians like Roy Orbison or George Harrison pass away, but at least we were allowed to watch their genius progress. Holly had so much more in him.

(Charles Hardin Holly, 1936-1959) – Everyday/Peggy Sue

Photo by 90p

Chris Bell “I Am The Cosmos”

Chris Bell’s original band (Big Star) had something that so many musicians have chased since. His posthumous collection was the stuff of whispered legend, sitting unreleased for almost 15 years after his death.

This song, however, found its way into the public just before his tragic car crash and is the kind of song that bigtime musicians play alone, backstage, with nobody watching. And oh, Sweet Jesus. This song.

(Chris Bell, 1951-1978) – I Am the Cosmos

Matthew Jay “Please Don’t Send Me Away”

Most people don’t know Matthew – I had to dig through boxes to find this disc. For me, he represents all of the kids who take a shot at making it every year, yet watch as much less talented artists lap them.

Jay fell out of a building in 2002, leaving behind a hatful of magic that is being rediscovered by younger artists. An October 10th show in London saw members of Starsailor and Squeeze (among others) playing Matthew’s songs at Shepard’s Empire Bush. I wish I’d been there.

(Matthew Jay, 1978-2003) – Please Don’t Send Me Away

AC/DC “Let There Be Rock (Live)”

Bon Scott died about half-way through the rock/roll process, only to be brilliantly replicated by Brian Johnson in this same band. As AC/DC scrapped, scratched, and clawed their way to success, he passed away just before it all paid off with Back In Black.

This recording shows a man who had learned to turn each member of the crowd into a fan, building a base that still sells more records per year than almost any other rock band, dead or alive.

(Ronald Belford Scott, 1946-1980) – Black Ice

Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart”

Ian Curtis went to hell and back, before finally hanging himself in 1980. Anton Corbin’s biopic Control does a fantastic job of covering his brief, difficult life.

Joy Division, a band which almost defines the term “seminal,” would only release one album while Curtis was living. He would kill himself on the eve of the band’s first American tour.

(Ian Kevin Curtis, 1956-1980) – Love Will Tear Us Apart

Robert Johnson “Sweet Home Chicago”

The legend and lore of Robert Johnson sometimes overshadows his talent and influence. Did he sell his soul to the devil? Was he killed by a bottle of whiskey laced with strychnine?

He also seems to have originated the “27 Club”, a term that’s become widely used for musicians who have moved on at that exact age (Check it out. It’s fascinating). Listening to this track, it’s obvious that he has influenced some of the most influential singers and guitar players of the last century.

(Robert Leroy Johnson, 1911-1938) – Sweet Home Chicago

Growing up in Nigeria, I remember how parents deemed the Afrika Shrine off-limits. Shrouded in mystery, with rumors of being a hedonistic drug haven during the eighties, there was an air of mystique that hung around a 20 mile radius of the club.

It wasn’t until years later, when I watched a shirtless Femi Kuti drenched in sweat manically playing a saxophone with the legendary beaded Kuti dancers gyrating at a dizzying pace, that I began to get a sense of what his father, Fela, must have been like during his heyday.

Uncanny physical resemblance aside, Femi seemed to have been channeling his father’s spirit on stage.

Who Fela Was

Arguably the Elvis Presley of Africa in terms of fame, Fela Kuti’s invention of Afrobeat – a fusion of rhythmic jazz beats overlain with Yoruba music – in the early sixties transported raw West African traditional sounds to a global landscape.

Born Fela Ransome Kuti to a feminist and a Reverend, Fela left to study at the Trinity College of Music in London at the age of 19. It was during his years at Trinity when he formed his first band, Koola Lobitos. Years later, he would establish a nightclub in Ikeja, Lagos called “Afro-Spot” as his base for playing his new wave of music he called “Afrobeat.” In 1971, Afro-Spot became the Afrika Shrine, where he performed regularly. He would later form a new band called Egypt 80.

Lagos, Nigeria photo by zouzouwizman

After a short stint in the US, Fela returned to Nigeria with a new, fervent energy. His lyrics became politically charged – a reflection of the ruling powers within Nigeria he deemed oppressive. He formed the Kalakuta Republic, which he declared an independent colony from Nigeria. He changed his name to Fela Anikulapo Kuti which means “he who carries death in his pouch.”

By 1978, he had married 27 women, mostly his backup dancers and singers, as a protest against frequent raids on his Kalakuta Republic compound by the government ,which wasn’t too keen on his musical content. He would later rotate the number of wives he kept – keeping 12 at a time.

Fela died of complications resulting from HIV/AIDS in 1997.

Revered as “Baba,” which means “Father” in Yoruba, his ardent supporters see him as an oracle and pay homage to his shrine before important journeys or meetings.

Femi Kuti photo by tom.beetz

The Kuti Legacy

Many of Fela’s children have followed in his musical footsteps. The most popular isFemi Kuti, whose striking resemblance to his father and raw, unadulterated energy behind the saxophone is reminiscent of classic Fela with a modern edge. Seun Kuti, also a saxophonist and vocalist, and Fela’s youngest son, now leads his father’s former band, Egypt 80.

Yeni Kuti, Femi’s older sister, fondly known as YK Power, actively scouts out some of the most talented hip swaying backup dancers for Femi’s performances.

A Visit to the Shrine

As compound aides showed us around and took us backstage, they kept marveling at pictures they’d probably seen a couple hundred times, paying homage to every photograph of “Baba” we passed. Their reverence was undeniable.

We ran into Yeni Kuti at the compound. A quick phone call was made to Femi to see if he could meet with us for an interview. Unfortunately, a mild case of malaria kept him in bed through our visit to the shrine.

I got the sense that once you walked in through the doors of the compound, you were instantly treated like family and the Kutis were open and readily accessible to you.

The Shrine Today

An internationally acclaimed artist in his own right, Femi puts on free performances every Tuesday and Thursday night. Rehearsals start at 9 PM; dancers are followed by a full show, which ends between 12 AM and 1 AM.

Every Friday night the Shrine puts on a free disco night called Gobe Night; an estimated 10,000 people pass through its doors on Gobe Nights.

Admission to performances at the shrine is free of charge except on Sundays when a 500 Naira* cover charge is required.
*500 Naira – $4.25

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 performing in San Francisco. Photo by CultrVultr

Resources:

Read Fela Kuti’s full biography with links to related articles.

Visit the Afrika Shrine online.

View clips of Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti performances on YouTube.

View 2008 European tour dates for both Femi and Seun Kuti.

Want to get your groove on? check out these CDs:

[Fela CD] The Best Best of Fela Kuti

[Seun CD] Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

[Femi Kuti live at the shrine] Femi Kuti – Live at the Shrine [Deluxe Edition DVD + Live CD]

Feature photo by Marxchivist. Photo above by Reini68.

In December 2007, Tanya Andrea Stadelmann and I decided that we had to do something dramatic to break out of our loneliness and despair. During the two previous years, our lives had reached a complete dead end, littered with heartache, ill health and crap jobs.

Over mint juleps in sweltering Melbourne Christmas heat, we hatched a wildly ambitious escape plan– we’d start a musical act, tour the USA and make a film. We called ourselves The Jilted Brides.

We faced a few hurdles: We didn’t have an album, Tanya hadn’t sung for 15 years, we had no contacts in America, owned no video equipment and had hardly any money. But what we had going for us was a kind of Withnail and I fantastic desperation, a vivid imagination fueled by despondency, joblessness, and intoxicants.

Over the next four months, a series of minor miracles occurred. We recorded an album in six weeks, using the shed in back of my share house. On the strength of that album and Tanya’s images, we applied to be artists in residence at spectacular locations all around the USA, thinking nothing would come of it.

But almost every residency we applied for wanted us – institutions in Montana, Washington, Pennsylvania, Georgia and New York. Without having played a single gig, we e-mailed music festivals and venues in Canada and New York, asking to be put on the bill. They put us on the bill.

By May 13th, we were flying to Canada to play our first festival in Vancouver. We carried our bulging suitcases and an Indian harmonium, The Jilted Brides’ exotic signature instrument.

Since then, we have been pursuing our quest to find freedom and happiness by traveling around North America, having many incredible low budget adventures.

We have Wwoofed (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) in Canada, plowing up dirt in exchange for food and board; we have couch surfed in every US city we have visited. For transport, we have relied heavily on Craigslist rideshares, getting lifts for hundreds of miles on improbable routes– with the harmonium stuffed in the trunk.

I do believe that there must be some old rock and rollers up there in heaven who want us to have a good time, who are helping us overcome seemingly impossible odds to realize our dreams. Through sheer chance, I have been given free entry to sell-out shows by major artists, I’ve found myself late at night in the kitchen of rock stars, all great stuff for our DIY documentary.

When Tanya has needed extra hands to help her shoot our film clips, willing helpers, sometimes with great cameras, have just appeared.

And perhaps most incredibly of all, just these last two weeks in New York we found a backing band (via Craigslist once again), rehearsed with them for only a few hours, then played to a wildly enthusiastic audience in the East Village.

So where to now? We have just finished a promo for our road movie/ musical documentary. We have more gigs lined up in New York in November. Our financial situation is as dire as ever. But we are having the time of our lives.

For video from the road: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nvauc6t_QQ

For more info: www.myspace.com/thejiltedbrides. www.thejiltedbrides.blogspot.com

Feature photo by PixJK.

–Note: Oktoberfest 2008 begins September 20th and runs to October 5th in Munich.

You race a mob of lads in leather shorts to find a seat in the packed, wooden tent. A busty barmaid whams down an enormous glass of beer. You drink to the cry of Prost! and get ready to do it again. Then you stroll outside and jump on the roller-coaster.

You’re pushed, pulled, stretched and slammed and decide this would have been a better idea before the beer!

Feeling hungry now? Nothing a plate of pork knuckles wouldn’t fix. Easy to fill your belly here, if you’ve got the coin for it. The sun goes down and you head back inside.

You start swinging your drink and singing along to the sound of oom-pah music. Soon you’re dancing on the benches with a dozen friendly locals.

Photo by Herby Crus.

Munich’s Oktoberfest originated in 1810 as a horse race to celebrate the royal wedding. But everyone apparently enjoyed the drinking a lot more than the horse racing and had such a great time they decided to do it all again the following year.

The horse race is now part of history, but the beer certainly isn’t. Oktoberfest is officially the world’s biggest party, drawing about 7 million visitors a year to southern Germany. The action takes place on Munich’s fairgrounds, called the Wiesn, south-west of the city’s main train station.

When to Go

Oktoberfest 2008 starts on Saturday, September 20 and finishes on Sunday, October 5. There’s often a mad rush to find a seat before the beer starts flowing at 10 AM (9 AM on weekends). There’s a parade on the second day and a gay party on the first Sunday. Weekdays are much quieter than weekends, especially around lunchtime.

Which Tent to Pick

Most of the drinking is done in the 14 big beer tents – actually big wooden halls. You can reserve tables through oktoberfest.de, but most sell out months in advance.

The festivities officially start in the Schottenhamel tent and often reach their rowdiest in the Hacker (Haven of Bavaria). The bright red Hippodrom tent near the main entrance can’t be missed: It’s the place to see and be seen among Munich’s hipper, younger, set.

The Hofbru tent is famed for pulling far more tourists than locals; the Augustiner might be the best for Bavarian authenticity; and the Lowenbrau becomes a good option when everywhere else is full.

Photo by StrudelMonkey.

Where to Stay

Munich’s Thalkirchen Camping Ground could be the cheapest place to stay with tents available for just a few euros. There’s a small supermarket on site, regular buses to the Wiesn and a 24-hour party ambience during Oktoberfest. It’s at Zentrall, 49, Munich.

A handful of good hostels sit just south of the main train station, about a 15 minute stagger back from the Wiesn. Check out Jaeger’s for its friendly bar, or the top-rated Wombat’s. Both are in Senefelder Strae.

What to Wear

Practically anything goes, but for an extra layer of fun, consider kitting out like a local. For guys, a pair of Lederhosen leather shorts start from 120 euros.

For gals, a traditional Dirndl dress costs about 100 euros. Tip: When worn correctly, Dirndls also reveal the wearer’s availability. Look just above the apron: If there’s a bow on the right, she’s taken. A bow on the left means she’s still to be had, and a bow bang on the front marks a virgin.

What to Eat and Drink

Beer!? The amber fluid is served exclusively in one litre glass mugs, called Ma (mass) that cost about 8 euros. The beer is slowly brewed through the summer and packs a six-percent alcoholic punch. For a change, try the beery-lemonade mixture called Radler, or head out to the wine tent.

Food is everywhere. Popular picks are roast chicken (Hendl), pork knuckes (Schweinshaxe), and giant pretzels. The huge hearts hung around girls’ necks are made of gingerbread. For the daring there’s the Ox (Osche).

Photo by .myke.

What to Say

Can I sit here? Darf ich mich zu dir sitzen? (Darf ik mik zoo dear sit-zen?)

One beer, please! Ein Ma, bitte! (Eyn mass, bit-tey!)

Cheers! Prost! (Prawst!)

Your eyes are as pretty as a meadow full of cows. Deine Augen sind so schn wie eine Weisen Tulpen. (Dine-ny ow-gen sind so schern vee eyen vee-sen tul-pen)

Let’s go back to my tent for a coffee! Gehen wir mal zu meinem Zelt f?r einen Kaffee! (Gay-en veer mal zoo mine-em zelt fair eyn-en kaf-ey!)

I need to chuck up. muss kotzen. (Ik moose kot-zen).

I have a killer hangover. Ich habe so einen Katter. (Ik hab-ey so eyn-en kat-er).

Want more insider tips for Oktoberfest? books and music can get you beered up–uh, geared up–for the big fest. Can’t get there this year? Try brewing your own beer at home and have your own Oktoberfest!

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky

Mind Shaft Society’s exhibit entitled “America 3.0″ encouraged people to answer the question “What is Your American Dream?”

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

(Happy) Playa Feet! Some people wore moon boots to try to keep their little piggies clean, others just gave in and embraced the dust.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

A life-size mermaid adorns the front prow of Lady Sassafras, a giant silver bus that roamed the Playa blasting out party tunes.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

The French Maid Brigade visits Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

This gentleman was giving away George Bush voodoo dolls from the depths of his fabulous gold suitcase.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

Just another day at 8:00 and Bonneville.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

The American Dream, burner-style, at sunset.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

Preparing for the impending dust storm at Center Camp.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

The Temple of Basura Sagrada, constructed mainly from burnable trash, recycled materials, and the tossed-off detritus of American society.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

View of The Man from the second level of The Temple of Basura Sagrada.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

Myk Henry’s “Bummer” art installation becomes an impromptu dance party.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

Accordion players strike up a tune at Kaleidoscope Kamp

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

Fireworks herald the start of the main event.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

The Man Burns!

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

The Temple of Basura Sagrada burns on Sunday night.

Photo by Ross Borden

Taken in a statue garden off the Esplanade at 5:45 am. This is the most beautiful time of day in the Black Rock Desert.

Photo by Ross Borden

Looking from the top of the Temple across at the Man towards 6:00 / Center Camp.

Photo by Ross Borden

The Fire Garden at 10pm — start your night with flames shooting a couple feet over your head in all directions.

Photo by Ross Borden

This place had great music, a bar that was always serving stiff drinks and was a favorite hangout for the “really, really, really, really goodlooking people”.

Photo by Ross Borden

Metal ducky: one of the cooler single passenger art cars we saw on the playa.

Photo by Ross Borden

Vegas has nothing on Black Rock City.

Photo by Ross Borden

Critical Tits. There were so many participating that it became a traffic jam of bikes and boobs before it even got going. Most ended up walking their bikes.

Photo by Ross Borden

Really good house music and fun people at this tent.

Photo by Ross Borden

Wrapping up a sunset DJ session.

Photo by Ross Borden

Flaming ping pong anyone?

Photo by Ross Borden

A super-creative art car, all made out of scrap metal and old car parts.

Photo by Ross Borden

A DJ way out near the Temple, finishing his set around 5:30am.

Photo by Sonia Zamborsky.

The Aftermath: where else in the world would you see trash quite like this?

Feature photo by re-ality. Photo above by jeremydeades.

It’s sunrise. In fact, it’s my third sunrise this week. All around me, music blasts as hundreds of people dance and drink on the beach. Buckets and beers cover the sand and passed out people are checked on by the occasional passerby. I look around. Tonight was a lot of fun. Full moon raves always are.

What is the Full Moon Rave?

The origins aren’t fully known, but legend has it that in 1987 a group of young backpackers celebrated the birthday of a friend under a full moon in Thailand. They had so much fun they came back the following year and then the following month.

Word got out and more people came. Enterprising Thais saw an opportunity and hyped the party, bringing more people.

At first it was like a house party on the beach–a few hippies and backpackers playing guitars. The 90s brought the rave scene and all the drugs that went with it.

By 2000, Thailand was on the map and hordes of young people inspired by the movie The Beach were flocking to Ko Pha Ngan. The Full Moon Rave was in full swing.

Photo by zhaffsky.

What to Expect Now?

The Full Moon Rave has turned into a giant party with a lot of drinking, dancing, drugs, and sex. Each bar has its own sound system, so you’ll hear different music every few feet.

The beach is lined with people selling alcohol, fire dancers put on shows. Little booths are also set up selling glow-in-the-dark face paint as kids run up and down the beach selling trinkets and glowsticks.

When Is It?

The full moon of every month. High season parties see about 20,000-30,000 people, with the full moon around New Year seeing the most. It you miss it, there’s always the half moon party, quarter moon party, and black moon party. Really, every day is a party here.

Click here for the 2008/2009 schedule.

Photo by nogoodreason.

Where to Stay?

There’s accommodation all over the island, but you’ll want to stay in Haad Rin so you can be close to the action. Bungalows start at about 300 baht and go up from there. Bungalows on the beach, despite what Lonely Planet says, are at least 1,000 baht a night.

If you want any chance at cheap accommodation, get here at least three days in advance. The closer you get to the party, the higher the prices are and the harder it is to find a room. Get here that day and you’ll need a miracle to find accommodation, especially if it’s during the high season.

How Do I Get There?

There’s no airport on the island, so everyone comes via ferry. You can arrive via the Surat Thani, on the mainland, or from its bigger neighbor, Ko Samui. From Surat Thani, roundtrip tickets cost about 600 baht and drop you off at Thong Sala.

From Samui, tickets cost about 400 baht and leave from Big Buddha Pier or Maenam beach. The Samui ferry will drop you off at the main dock of Thong Sala or at Haad Rin depending on time of day. During the full moon rave, boats go from Samui to Haad Rin every hour.

Travel Tips:

Photo by re-ality.

Costs

Here’s a sample budget for a full moon rave in Haad Rin:

Partying Tips

Drugs: There are a lot of drugs here, especially during the full moon. All drugs are illegal in Thailand and possession is punishable with time in the worst prison or death.

Undercover police will try to sell you drugs only to arrest you. Locals will rat you out for a reward. You could probably avoid jail by paying a hefty “penalty.” Simply put, doing drugs here is stupid. The risk is not worth the reward. Ever see Brokedown Palace? They weren’t making that stuff up.

Buckets: Buckets are little sand pails filled with one pint Thai whiskey, one Red Bull, and one Coke. They’re deadly! One, two, three, passed out on the beach! If you want to make it to sunrise, don’t start drinking buckets before midnight.

(Note: The Red Bull in Asia is a kind of ephedra. This substance is like speed and you’ll be flying high after one of them. It also negates the effect of the alcohol quickly, keeping you from feeling drunk. Be careful and watch your consumption of both liquids.)

Photo by timparkinson.

Safety Tips

Pre-hydrate: You are going to be drinking a lot and, even though it is night, the weather is still hot and humid. Drink a lot of water!

Avoid the ocean: It may seem like a good idea to play in the ocean, but it’s not. Not only do you risk drowning, but everyone uses the ocean as a personal toilet. There’s a reason why the water is warm, and it’s not because you are in Thailand. Stay sanitary and don’t go in.

Wear footwear: Partying on the beach without footwear may seem like a good idea but as the night goes on, broken beer bottles and other sharp objects litter the beach. Avoid a foot injury and just wear something on your feet!

Protect your belongings: Theft is ripe during full moon raves. Bring as little as possible. You’ll be drinking so much, chances are you could lose something. Bring enough money for drinks and a copy of your passport in case of an emergency. You don’t need anything else.

Community Connection

Plenty of Matador members have partied hard in Thailand, but they’ve also enjoyed other experiences as well. Check out 18 year old Rigo Lara’s article about his first trip abroad or Ian MacKenzie’s profile of Sean Aiken, who made his experience SCUBA diving in Thailand.

Feature photo by bdebaca. Photo above by heather.

Mexico City: It’s south of the border’s version of New York. The party starts late and ends early… the next day, that is. Here are our 10 current and perennial favorites in el D.F.

*All facts are accurate as of this posting. As always, check before you go!

10.Mama Rumba

The perennial favorite for live Cuban timba and salsa and 100% Latin music, including cumbia, Mama Rumba is so popular that as the night wears on it becomes impossible to walk—much less dance—in this tight, two-floor spot in the hot neighborhood of Colonia Roma.

If you decide to stay on the first floor with music, take care; when the crowd gets tight on the 2nd floor balcony, the possibility of a drink falling over the railing and onto your head is not at all remote. Skip the “famous” mojitos here, which are as overpriced as they are overly sweet. Best for the 20’s crowd.

Address: Queretaro #230 in Colonia Roma

$80 peso cover (approx. $8 USD).

9. Manguu

For what it’s worth, Manguu markets itself as a “Latin bar” and “minimalist lounge,” but the best thing to recommend it is its martini list; Manguu has one of the most creative—and affordable—drink lists in the city. The scene is laid back, good for small groups of friends, and perfect for before or after dinner drinks en route to somewhere else.

Address: Avenida de la Revolucion #1579, Colonia San Angel

No cover charge.

Photo by Haynes Photography.

8. Condesa df

Condesa df is a hip boutique hotel in the neighborhood of Condesa, and it’s best for a laid-back romantic evening. The rooftop bar offers an amazing panoramic view of the city at night, all from your cozy couple’s lounger, complete with a blanket and a warming heat lamp. The bar also serves sushi and Japanese-inspired small plates.

My favorite is the homemade Ramen noodle soup served with tempura. There’s a dimly lit bar in the interior patio, too; both bars have inventive drink lists.

Address: Avenida Veracruz #102, Colonia Condesa

No cover charge.

7. Casa Lamm

Casa Lamm is a lot of things to a lot of people—by day it’s a cultural center, but by night, it’s a bar and restaurant open to the public. A large and welcoming modern space, the bar has a good selection of drinks and cigars, and boasts live music on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, nights when few bars offer the same.

As with Manguu and Condesa df, Casa Lamm is a great place for drinks if you’re a 20 or 30 something hipster en route from one place to another.

Address: Avenida Alvaro Obregon #99, Colonia Roma

No cover charge.

6. La Nueva Flor del Son

You’d be likely to pass this unassuming bar-restaurant in the neighborhood of Colonia Roma without a second glance if you didn’t know it has some of the BEST live music in all of Mexico City. Although the drinks aren’t particularly good and are terribly overpriced, the music at La Nueva Flor del Son compensates for that, as does the attentive service. La Nueva Flor is famous for its Cuban music.

While it caters to a crowd of adults mainly 40 and over, don’t be fooled– the variety of musical groups is impressive and so is the dancing. If you want to have a true local experience, this is the place for you. Music starts early (5 PM) and keeps going until 1 or 2.

Address: Puebla #52, Colonia Roma

No cover, but three drink per person minimum.

5. El Rincon Cubano

Why so many Cuban places on this list? Because Chilangos (Mexico City residents) love Cuban music and Cuban dancing. El Rincon Cubano looks like it’s lived its glory days, but trust us, they’re not over yet. Don’t show up before 11:00 PM. Thursdays are 2 for 1 beer and mojito nights; Sunday evenings always find Cuban dancers showing off their moves.

Address: Insurgentes Sur #300

Cover: $70 pesos (approx. $7 USD) on Thursdays and Fridays; $50 pesos (approx. $5 USD) on Sundays.

4. Area

Like Condesa df, Area, is a rooftop hotel bar with stunning city views, great (if pricey) drinks, and a see-and-be-seen scene.

Address: Presidente Masaryk #201, Colonia Polanco

No cover.

3. La Casa de las Sirenas

146 different kinds of tequila. You’re in Mexico. Enough said.

Address: Guatemala #32, Centro Historico

No cover.

Photo by deeREK.

2. Cinnabar

Asia in Mexico City. Cinnabar offers drinks you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere in the city—lychee martinis, for one. The bar also serves fusion Vietnamese and Chinese food so you won’t go hungry.

Address: Nuevo Leon #67, Colonia Condesa

No cover.

1. El Comillo

A bar in my neighborhood where DJs spin everything from techno to acid and Latin jazz. El Colmillo looks like a house from the outside, so it’s easy to miss—but just look for the velvet rope and the beefy bouncer.

Address: Versalles #52, Colonia Reforma

Cover varies depending on the day.

Information Connection: Planning a trip to Mexico City? Check out Julie’s Green Guide to Mexico City and her Top 10 Tips for Navigating Benito Juarez International Airport. You can also check out her video of nightlife at one of the bars mentioned in this article–#6, La Nueva Flor del Son–on her website.

Photo by Thomas Purves

Just like video killed the radio, MP3 might have killed the LP. Granted that doesn’t hold true for a lot of purists out there, but you have to wonder when iTunes recently exceeded over 5 billion downloads sold.

Either way you cut it, the web has done a lot of good for music too. Freeing artists from their labels, popularizing others that might otherwise have gone unnoticed and providing yet another resource for music heads to find their next favorite tracks.

Photo by fernando

Here are a few resources you might like. Use these tools wisely.

1. Peel program:

With Peel, add your favorite music blogs to the interface and each day the program will go through and literally “peel” (get it?) all the mp3s from your blogs onto one easy-to-use menu.

You can browse the music, listen to the tracks, and download the ones you like straight into your Itunes library. You can’t Peel every blog.

And you will find yourself sifting through a ton of tracks if you add several blogs, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, is it?

2. The Fader:

The Fader has expanded its magazine publication to a super, all-inclusive site where these arbiters of good taste have a little something for everyone. Videos, free music, and mixtape downloads, good articles on your favorite artists or the ones you just discovered you like: you can find all of these on the Fader. Check it every day!

3. Fully Fitted:

Contributors xxxchange, Pase Rock, Mr. Devlin and Darko are dope, full time artists who blog this site in their spare time when they aren’t killing it all around the world.

One of my favorite tracks is xxxchange and Darko’s remix of Kenna’s “Out of Control”. Dig on through older posts to download other great music. Learn more here.

Photo by ming2046

4. Mad Decent:

Mad Decent is Diplo’s label and this site is a home base of sorts. Go here to download some of his latest remixes, as well as other soulful, international burners that serve as inspiration for some Mad Decent tracks and muse for us normal folk.

5. The Hype Machine:

This site aggregates pretty much every MP3 that is posted on the web. Sign up for an account, pick the artists and/or blogs you want to keep an eye on watch the tracks stream in. Find out what you like, then go buy it!

6. Stereogum:

A oldie but goodie, Sterogum has been around for a minute. Broad tastes from Cut Copy to Flying Lotus keep me tuning in to snag a track here and there.

7. Gorilla Vs. Bear:

From new Sigur Ros to a J Dilla cut I had never heard….throw this one your Peel.

8. RCRDLBL:

This site releases exclusive tracks from emerging and established artists in a clean way. By clean I mean you can find some great stuff for free and not feel dirty about downloading it. It’s a good site model.

9. Mojo:

Mojo is an Itunes sharing program where you can dig through other users’ libraries and download anything you want straight into your library.

10. Other blogs that I have on my Peel:

Fluxblog, Certified Banger, Disco Workout, Big Stereo, Foe Weel and on and on and on. Start with one, and you will find others that you like.

There you go. Off and peeling new music. Now, while you’re out there discovering new tunes, what blogs do you recommend?

Photo by crashmattb

Let’s be clear: This is not a guerrilla guide to Nashville’s secret underground indie-rock haunts or its little-known hipster underbelly.

No. This is a guide to the Nashville you’ve always known existed, but probably never thought was worth visiting. It’s a Nashville full of corny cowboy merchandise, country music at full blast, and middle-aged RVers from Indiana. It’s also a helluva good time.

The Pitch

Once upon a time, country music was officially known as “hillbilly music” on the Billboard charts – and the reputation has stuck. Making an occasional exception for suitably counter-cultural types like the Dixie Chicks, hipster music critics won’t touch the stuff – and in the same way, too-cool travel types don’t often make the trek to country’s mecca, Nashville, aka Music City, USA.

But country has a rich heritage and a vital modern scene. It’s also quite possibly the greatest drinking music of all time. Frankly, Hank Williams Jr. is to beer-guzzling what Bob Marley is to ganja-smoking.

So come on down, hit Nashville’s finest honky-tonks, and throw back a Bud or three. Soon enough, you too might have some new friends in low places.

Where To Go

“They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway,” the old song goes. “They say there’s always magic in the air.”

Sure, the song’s about a musician trying to make it big in New York City, but it might just as well be about Nashville. Broadway forms the heart of the downtown scene. Live music spills out of several blocks worth of bars; the party gets going early and doesn’t stop till “early” comes around again.

Most places have no cover; the bands play for tips only, and no one pressures you to keep buying drinks non-stop – though if you’d like to, no one will stop you, either!

Be sure to hit Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, a historic dive that can claim legends like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Patsy Cline as past customers. Live bands play upstairs and down, from the early afternoon to the wee hours. The place draws a mixture of country music pilgrims, curious tourists, and die-hard locals, and can morph from a quiet sit-down scene to a foot-stomping dance floor almost without warning. It’s at 5th and Broadway.

Next on the strip is Robert’s Western World, a more laid-back place with an older crowd and talented cover bands playing traditional country: think more Hank Williams Sr. and less Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s between 4th and 5th on Broadway.

Take a left on 2nd to hit the Wildhorse Saloon – one of the few places to charge cover. It’s got more of a nightclub vibe, with a young crowd, new country on the stereo system, and free line-dancing lessons on the floor.

Across the street from the Wildhorse, the Buck Wild Saloon is a karaoke joint, and a great place to end your night. Had enough liquid courage that you want to take your own shot at “Folsom Prison Blues”? This is the spot to do it. Be forewarned, though: On most nights there’s enough undiscovered talent rocking the mic in this place to fill an American Idol episode.

These are just a few of Broadway’s party possibilities – take a wander and see which honky-tonk is the happeningest on the night you’re in town!

Photo by mlsj_photos

Practicalities

Most of the live music venues serve food, too. There’s a Pita Pit on 2nd for a quick bite to go, and a BB King’s across the street for the chain-restaurant take on classic Southern dishes. Big River, at 1st and Broadway, is another decent dining option with great local microbrew.

As you might expect, downtown Nashville’s hotels are pricey, the usual bland big-name chains. They’re well-located if you can split with friends, though. The city’s official tourism site has info on special offers, and a booking system.

There are also a couple of hostels around the fringes of downtown – Music City Hostel is within striking distance of the Broadway bar strip.

You can take your pick of the cheap motels on any of the highways coming into town, but you’ll need a DD or a couple of steep cab rides. Demonbreun, one street over parallel to Broadway, has plenty of parking lots between 12th and 8th – you can pay around $10 and leave your car overnight, only a few blocks from the main strip. Another option is to check out Couchsurfing for well-located locals.

For the truly bad-ass budget party hound, Nashville’s Greyhound station is in the heart of the city, at Demonbreun and 8th. So if you’re really worried about blowing too much cash on cabs and hotels, you can roll into town in the early afternoon, party through the night, and stagger back to the bus station with the sunrise.

Feature photo by Marcus Correa. Photo above by carf.

Where to Stay

In Lapa, you’ll pay a fraction of the price that you would pay at one of the Ipanema or Copacabana high-rises and you’ll be close to the best all-night party. This way you can bus it to the beaches during the day. Otherwise, you’ll end up taking a taxi to Lapa at night.

You can prebook a hostel, like Brazil Hostel or Rio Hostel. If you like to travel by the seat of your pants, drop into one of Lapa’s love motels. They are cheaper than hostels, have private bathrooms, and you don’t have to book a package if you’re not staying all four nights.

Check out the Nova Mundo. It’s got balconies, radios, TV’s and big mirrors. Note there is also an upscale Hotel Nova Mundo in Flamengo, so if you hop in a cab, make sure you specify Motel Nova Mundo in Lapa.

Where to Party

If you want to watch Carnival, go to the Sambadrome. If you want to be in Carnival, stick to the streets. Keep your ears open for blocos, foot parades in which locals dance up and down the street to the beats of a truck top samba band. Beer carts follow.

Some good ones go up Rio Branco, the main street of downtown Rio, as well as Lapa and Santa Teresa. Copacabana has a wild one and Ipanema has a great gay party.

Samba Cheap Seats

You’re going to want to check out the Sambadrome at least one night. Plan to go when Mangueira or Beija Flor parade, but don’t buy expensive tickets ahead of time. Show up around 6:00 PM and get them from a scalper. They shouldn’t be more than 15 reais per ticket. Say “Mais barato possível.”

Banda Beija-Flor percussionist. Photo by carf.

Eats

Try açaí (Ah-sai-ee) from corner side juice stops. Order açaí na tigela com banana e granola. It’s a great energizing food on a hot day. If you don’t like it the first time, eat it two more times and I guarantee you’ll be addicted.

On the street, eat meat on a skewer dipped in farofa, ground flour from the manioc root. Other good snacks to fill your belly between drinks are misto quentes (grilled ham and cheese),presunto e queijo joelho (ham and cheese wrap), or frango com catipury (chicken and creamy cheese), and pastel com queijo (fried pastry with cheese).

In a restaurant, try isca de peixe com molho rose (fried fish pieces with mayo and ketchup sauce) aipim frito (fried yucca), and picanha, or filet mignon, the best cuts of meat.

Digs

Skol is the Carioca favorite. To order, just twirl your finger in a circular motion.

Only we, as foreigners, really drink more than one caipirinha–cachaça with sugar, lime and ice. They will put you down. Caipivodkas, made with vodka instead of cachaça, are a little smoother.

Capetas are devilishly delicious—vodka, condensed milk, vanilla, guaraná powder, and cinnamon shaken with ice. Batidas are fruity and creamy. I like guaraná soda and vodka. Hydrate with água de coco beachside from a green coconut.

How to Be and How Not to Be

Dance. Don’t worry if you can’t samba; just move your feet, work up a sweat and smile. Brazilians want you to enjoy their culture.

Don’t be afraid to participate in what I call “the kissing game.” All year long, visions of Carnival dance in Brazilian boys’ heads, the one time of year when they will get to kiss—a lot. Boys, that goes for you too.

Pre/Post Party

In Rio, the party doesn’t stop, especially between November-March. If you happen to be in Rio the months leading up to Carnival, go to a Samba school on a Saturday night. Mangueira, Beija Flor, and Sangueira are the most well-known, but don’t overlook the small ones, like Princesa Isabella.

If you miss the floats during Carnival, the winners parade once more the following Saturday. This is when most Cariocas go. And sunrise from Copacabana is always good to go.

Community Connection

Visiting Brazil but not during Carnival? Check out our guide to the best venues and shows in Bahia.

Studying (or thinking about studying) in Brazil? Check out the Best Places to Study in Brazil.

Finally, for dozens of blogs, plus feature articles, local experts, travelers currently in Brazil, as well as volunteer opportunities and more, check out our Brazil page at Matador.

Feature photo by larskflem. Photo above by spinlab

When I went to my first summer musical festival few years back I was unprepared and could’ve used a little guidance. Over the last few years as I’ve covered Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival, moe.down, and other summer festivals, I’ve acquired a checklist of sorts that I wish I’d had before embarking on my first festival.

Seasoned veteran or festival novice, I hope these tips can make your experience more rocking, relaxing and fun.

Picking a festival

One of the best places to start is going to Jambase.com, an aggregator of all things involved with music festivals and concerts. Check out the history of each particular festival via its website or third party music blogs or websites.

Each festival tries to set itself apart by creating a particular slant through a combination of line-up, location, and overall vibe. Generally, festivals will be teaming up with local and regional media and artists to offer unique side shows ranging from improve theater to art exhibits to on-site record stores and activist booths promoting voter registration and green initiatives.

As you do your research, think about the following:

Festival passes can range anywhere from $50 to $250 (US Dollars) or higher, depending on venue, location and who’s headlining and promoting the festival.

M.I.A. rocking Coachella. Photo by SToppin.

Musical tastes are pretty diverse these days as most people enjoy several genres and the festival line-ups show. Though there are festivals that are genre exclusive, most festivals showcase acts playing everything from bluegrass to hip hop.

For festivals like Bonnaroo, Coachella and Rothbury, much of the experience is all about pitching your tent and camping out for the weekend. Some of the camping festivals do offer luxury cabins or tents at higher ticket prices.

Most festivals offer a map before you get there so you’ll want to know where the camping sites are in relation to the parking and the music stages. If the camping sites are far you’ll want to keep your gear light or invest in a small pull wagon or cart.

Depending on how much sleep you want to get or how close you want to be to the action, as many of these festivals run 24/7, you’ll want to know if the camping sites are near the stages, scattered across the grounds or both.

Bring the usual camping gear–tent, sleeping bag, etc.—and in the age of texting and cell phones, you’ll want have some type of alternate power source like a car charger.

If you’re attending a festival located in a city or metropolitan area such as Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Festival in Chicago or All Points West in New Jersey, getting a hotel room for the weekend on your own is an option or you can take advantage of the festival’s package lodging deals.

Some cities also have affordable hostel locations available, or you can connect with a friend in that city and work out a set up to stay with them during the weekend and maybe even go to the festival together.

Learn the local history before you go.

As with any travels, having a cultural awareness of where you’re going can enrich your festival experience and take you beyond just enjoying the music. The uniqueness of many of the best festivals is rooted in their locality. For example, Glastonbury in the UK occurs on festival grounds that go back for centuries.

Being clued in on local culture and history will also help if you plan on venturing away during the show to give your ears a rest or plan a pre or post festival mini-excursion to visit other locations nearby.

Push slightly outside of your cultural and comfort zone.

One of the best parts about the summer music festival experience is observing the meshing of different cultures and being around a new group of people. As more and more festivals incorporate different genres, I’ve seen an increasingly diverse cross-section of fans at festivals.

Take the opportunity to interact with other festival-goers, and don’t be afraid to ask for that camping tool you forgot. chat about the last night’s set of a commonly admired band, or join in a game of Frisbee.

Be smart about using drugs and alcohol.

I don’t include this tip to be a killjoy, but only as a word of caution. I’ve seen festival experiences come to an early end and create a complete nightmare for everyone involved because of drug and alcohol abuse.

Even though music culture and drug culture overlap, especially in a live music setting, be wise about bringing drugs or large amounts of alcohol into the festival. At most festivals you’re going to get searched inside and out before you even get though the gates. Security will either confiscate prohibited materials or ask you to leave with no ticket refunds.

Make time to chill.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to plan out a few intervals of rest and not run yourself ragged and become ornery by trying to see every band. If you’ve done initial research on the area, take a short trek to one of those spots you learned about and give your cochleas a break.

Many festivals have also begun featuring morning yoga classes, offering a chance to recharge the mind and body. I can’t stress this enough. However you do it; whether it’s reading a book, taking a nap or journaling in a quiet spot, make time to give your ears and other senses a rest. Knowing the festival ground layout and scheduling in time to relax is the most important tip I can give you.

Community Connection

Heading to a festival this summer? Link up with new friends on your way there by posting to matador’s forum.

For more on music festivals, check out our Top 10 Music Festivals Worldwide.

Feature photo by skino. Photo above by rtarga

Dancing is elemental, and a sure way to reach across barriers of culture and language. Impress the muchachas in South America or the Greek goddesses in Santorini by asking them to dance in their native language.

Here are 50 different languages to get you going.

Photo by zone41

The next time you land on foreign soil, mingle with the locals and learn some new moves.

Photo by Brayan Collazo Alonso

*All facts are accurate as of this posting. As always, check before you go!

10. Casa de la Musica

Casa de la Musica is one of the best places for live music and local culture in Havana. With shows every night of the week and a punishing schedule (4 PM -7 PM and 10 PM – 2 AM), you’d be lying if you came home and said you weren’t able to find any place with live local music and dancing.

Address: Galiano between Neptuno y Concordia, Centro Habana

9. El Delirio Habanero

If any night spot in Havana can legitimately be called laid back, El Delirio Habanero is it. This is a great spot for a romantic evening. El Delirio Habanero is a piano lounge that doubles as a performance space hosting comedians and cabaret. Popular with locals and tourists, its location on the fourth floor of the National Theatre offers fantastic night views of the city and, especially, the impressive Monumento a la Revolucion.

Address: Plaza de la Revolucion, Paseo y Calle 39

8. Café Cantante Mi Habana

Located conveniently next door to El Delirio Habanero, Café Cantante Mi Habana is an excellent place to test your dancing skills before taking to the floor at some of the hot spots on our list.

Address: Plaza de la Revolucion, Paseo y Calle 39

Photo by Brayan Collazo Alonso

7. El Tropical

El Tropical isn’t the kind of place that makes guidebooks. (Watch the excellent documentary “El Tropical,” available on Netflix, to understand some

of the reasons why. Really. Watching the film is mandatory.) And that’s exactly why you should go… but only if you’re ready to dance for hours and if you’re the kind of person who likes to live on the edge. Best experienced with a local. If you need a hook-up, send me a line.

6. Hotel Ambos Mundos Rooftop Bar

The rooftop garden bar of the Ambos Mundos Hotel is a must-see for a few reasons. First, it offers a spectacular view of Havana and its bay. Second, even if you’re looking for a drink and music in the middle of the day, you can have both here. Third, if you happen to be at the bar around 9 PM, you might just hear the nightly cannon firing over at the fort, a tradition. If they have gunpowder, that is.

Address: Calle Obispo #153, corner of Mercaderes

5. Casa de la Amistad

The “House of Friendship” could just as easily be called “Music in a Mansion.” If you’re in the mood for some smoother music than the pumping beats at El Tropical, Casa de la Amistad is the perfect place and it is usually open until midnight.

Address: Paseo #406 between 17 and 19

4. Tikoa

Despite its small size and gritty feel, Tikoa is equally popular with young Cubans and travelers alike. Music is 100% Cuban, with lots of Afro-Cuban vibes.

Address: Calle 23 (aka La Rampa) #177 between N & O.

Photo by Brayan Collazo Alonso

3. El Túnel

Like El Tropical, El Túnel is virtually unknown to tourists and is definitely off the beaten path. And like El Tropical, it is best experienced with a local.

2. La Zorra y el Cuervo

Widely considered among the city’s best venues for Latin jazz, this intimate space has attracted some of the world’s most-loved musicians.

Address: Calle 23 between N & O

1. Callejón de Hamel

Although word of this joint has increasingly spread far beyond the boundaries of the edgy Central Havana (Centro Habana) neighborhood of Cayo Hueso, where it’s located, this is still one of the most exciting places to catch local music and dancing, even if it is only from 12:00 to 3-ish on Sunday afternoons. Keep your eyes open for the roving street bartender.

Address: Hamel between Aramburu & Hospital

Community Connection

*Visit our Before You Go Guide to Cuba to learn more about Cuban music, movies, and culture.

*Read Cuba expert Julie Schwietert Collazo’s article “How to Travel to and from Cuba” at The Travelers Notebook.

*Updated performance calendars for many of the venues on our list are available online.

___________________________________________________________________

Note on the Photos: Brayan Collazo is a Cuban photographer who lives and works in Havana. He has exhibited in New York and Havana and is currently working on a series called “Pequena Habana.” More of his work can be found here.

Feature photo by krebsmaus07. Photo by Nicole Pelligrino.

With over seventy percent of the population claiming African ancestry, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil has been described as the “Most African city in the Americas.” Yet limiting Bahia to a tiny piece of Africa nestled into the coast of Brazil is a bit too neat. Bahia represents one of the great cultural mélanges of the New World. Nowhere is this more evident than in the musical traditions of Salvador.

Living and working in Salvador, I’ve found that taking in the local music and nightlife is the best means of unwinding after my long, hot, post-work commute, or after an all day sun-bake at the beach. Salvador offers a wide assortment of venues and distinctive musical styles.

While Carnaval is the celebration of the year, the city provides ample year-round entertainment. From the authentic sounds of Northeastern Forró, Axé, and Samba, to African drumming and imports like Salsa and Reggae, to a unique breed of singer/songwriter types–there is truly something for everyone.

The following are the 10 best spots / events to take in the unique nightlife of Salvador.

1. Terça da Bênção

The weekly Terça da Bênção (Tuesday of Blessing) in Pelourinho jam-packs the streets of the Old City with both locals and tourists. Salvador’s famous drumming blocos take to the streets, and behind them Soteropolitanos (Individuals from Salvador) perform elaborate synchronized dances. Onlookers encircle the musicians and performers. Didá Banda Feminina, an all-girl Afro-bloco (and one of many community-based music groups) consistently draws a massive crowd.

2. Terreiro de Jesus

Terreiro de Jesus, the central public square in Pelourhino, framed by churches on nearly every side, is a popular place to check out a variety of local acts. The city erects a large, well-lit stage, and fantastic sound system. Folks flood the square; standing and sitting at plastic tables, eating Acarajé from Baihanas, drinking beer and citrus-sugary capirinhas. People dance and sing along. The effusiveness of Bahians is infectious—you will inevitably find yourself on your feet, dancing and chiming into the music.

Photo by fabbio

3. Gerônimo

Gerônimo is a must-see on Tuesdays. He and his band, Mont Serrat, take the stage which sits atop the steps of the Igreja (Church) do Passo on the Ladeira (Hill) do Carmo. The church stands at the cusp of Pelourhino and neighboring Santo Antônio, and the festivities begin around 7 PM. Arriving early is best to secure a superior view of the band.

Gerônimo’s music is the pride of Salvador, and the number of bodies crammed into the bottleneck-shaped space is always staggering. It may be a claustrophobe’s nightmare, but few Brazilians are daunted by the crowd’s density. Relax and join in the revelry.

4. Salsa Night at Sankofa’a African Bar

Stroll back in the direction of Terreiro de Jesus and stop in at Sankofa’a African Bar for Salsa night. I try to grab an open seat near the edge and watch the talented band and the highly-skilled Salseros. I am generally too intimidated by the expertise of these dancers to join in. For those more valiant than me, Salsa teachers who frequent Sankofa will be glad to lead if you are willing to try.

If your two left feet get the best of you, wander upstairs and take a break on one of the hammocks, and check out the old Reggae music videos on the projector screen, or wander onto the veranda and gaze down at the crowds below.

5. Reggae night at Arté Bahia

Salvador’s music scene is largely homegrown, but Reggae (pronounced “hay-gee” in Portuguese) is becoming an increasingly central element of the city’s musical repertoire. Friday is reggae night at Arté Bahia in Pelourinho, the open air bar; cheap drinks and affordable admission have inspired me to return time and time again.

As the popularity of Reggae continues to increase in Salvador, new artists are popping up rapidly. Even so, polished, experienced, and professional artists are still easy to spot.

Photo by brunogirin

6. Saturday Nights at Bispo Hostel

Bispo’s crowd ranges in age from teens through seniors, and the group is lively, the ambiance intimate and welcoming. Candles arranged in a circular pattern adorn the walls and provide the sole light source for the upstairs music area. Bispo also boasts a large backyard, with an elevated stage and a pit.

Performances are typically collaborative and varied, featuring new musicians and regulars alike. Shows integrate African-derived call and response, experimentation with such instruments as Zimbabwean Xylophones, as well as kalimbas and shakeres.

7. Ladeira do Curuzu on Saturdays

Ilê Aiyé is an Afro-bloco based out of Liberdade and can be seen on the Ladeira do Curuzu on Saturdays. Recently, I was fortunate enough to catch their annual Festival of Black Music and was treated to a showcase of talented musicians; some from Salvador and others from greater Brazil. Margareth Menezes’ powerful voice shook the walls of the concert hall from the stage, while the members of Ilê Aiyé drummed away on the same floor as the concert-goers, who were encouraged to participate, dancing and singing until 5 AM.

8. Sundays at O Galpão Cheio de Assunto

Peu Meurray has done a great job of turning his art into an accessible and interesting musical endeavor, including the transformation of tires into rolling drums. He plays on Sundays at O Galpão Cheio de Assunto in the Sete Portas neighborhoos. Accompanied by his band, os Pneumáticos, he adds new life to the classic sounds of Northeastern Forró.

The open-air music venue doubles as a miniature gallery, one of the most colorful and eclectic spots in the city. This is also a great place to learn how to dance forró. Locals will take you under their wing and show you the simple moves. Be prepared to move your hips; this is NOT the Texas two-step!

9. Jota Veloso at Sesi in Rio Vermelho

Rio Vermelho is a neighborhood on the opposite side of town, another popular location for both music and nightlife. Largo de Santana is notorious for having the best Acarajé in town. After grabbing a beer and food, I walk over to Sesi, a pricey but lovely restaurant and venue which backs up to the Atlantic Ocean.

Featured on selected nights is singer/ composer Jota Veloso (nephew of the legendary Caetano Veloso). A showcase of some of Salvador’s finest talent.

10. Mondays at Casa de Mãe

Another option is Mondays at Casa de Mãe, which are inexpensive, and relaxing. Get there early, and grab a seat with an ocean view on the balcony, as the heat inside can become a bit stifling. An interesting spot is Nhô Caldos, an anomaly in Salvador.

The bar and restaurant pours out onto Rua do Atlantico, and is the only place I have seen punk music featured in the city thus far. Yet other nights it maintains a quieter, family-friendly atmosphere. I cannot quite figure it out, but I like it.

Photo by Nicole Pelligrino

Tips on Nightlife in Salvador

The quantity of things to do is contingent upon the season, the day of the week, and the weather conditions. Carnaval time in February is the apex of the high season, while the low season is between July and September.

Though there is great fervor surrounding Carnaval, the city is much more affordable and relaxed during the low season. Spending the evening at one of Salvador’s many cheap outdoor bars and sharing beer with friends can be just as enjoyable as a night out on the town.

Arriving early at sure-to-be-packed events is a good idea, but do not be surprised if they begin an hour or two after scheduled. Nightlife is a game of give-and-take in Salvador; folks are incredibly low-key when it comes to going out, expect them to be similarly relaxed when it comes to punctuality. Shows scheduled for 7 PM may not commence until 9; friends with whom you have arranged to meet at 9 may not arrive until 10 or 10:30. I have grown accustomed to it.

Finally, these recommendations are intended to provide a concise list of possibilities for visitors and those new to the city. New opportunities to experience the vibrant music and nightlife of Salvador emerge weekly. Come see for yourself. Boa Sorte!

Photo by Caroline Bennett

At first sight of the hipster crowd silhouetted against the mysterious red glow that pours onto the street from the Club Atlético Fernández Fierro, you know that this isn’t your typical touristy tango show.

Step inside to find lights darting disco-like across renovated warehouse walls to the full-bodied sounds of a traditional tango infused with rock and jazz, piping from the souls of musicians who radiate an undeniable sense of “cool.”

photo by Caroline Bennett

With a sea of tango venues in a city that has long been breathing the traditional sounds of tango and mixing them up in every way conceivable, it can be tough to keep things fresh.

Enter the Orquesta Tipica de Fernandez Fierro, a 12-person orchestra of dreadlocked and wispy-haired spunky hipsters who drive conventional tango to a new level.

Set in a transformed warehouse in the legendary Gardel neighborhood in Abasto, the Orquesta Tipica has truly carved a unique place in a very cool space, and has recently accrued an almost cult-like following of diverse fans who come to weekly Wednesday night milongas and regular Saturday night affairs held in the group’s practice space.

The band is composed like a traditional tango orchestra, with two violins, a double bass, piano, four accordion-like bandoneóns, and all the mystique that could be imagined of a dark cavernous milonga of the 1940s.

Twisting it up a bit, the orchestra never ceases to surprise with its soulful renditions of classic melodies spun into dramatic song, played with such passion and vigor that the act is as much fun to watch as it is to listen to.

The group’s lead singer bellows thunderous tones as he sashays across the stage, often festooned with an Argentinean flag, human sized champagne bottle, and other wild props that celebrate the nation’s culture or mock the world’s ironies.

A live house cat adds to the excitement, bouncing about the stage as if part of the show, then disappearing into the crowd.

photo by Caroline Bennett

Though the dance is not the main act here, professional and novice tangoers alike whirl through flashing lights in the back of the room.

Free classes at 9pm precede Wednesday night events, encouraging more of an inclusive milonga feel than the cookie cutter tango show that has become a spectator sport. In the corner, a no frills bar serves up cheap beer and fresh empanadas well after the show ends.

Shows Wednesdays and most Saturdays, email in advance to reserve a table or prepare to pack in with a (always large) loyal crowd.

Sanchez de Bustamente 764, entre Lavalle y Guardia Vieja, Abasto

www.fernandezfierro.com

Open: From 9pm Wednesdays (Milonga at 11pm); 10:30pm most Saturdays (Milonga at midnight); Admission AR$15, no credit cards.

Community Connection!

Thirsty for more tango info in Buenos Aires?

Check out this article about the best of the Buenos Aires dance scene. Quite a few Matador members have also enjoyed Tango in Buenos Aires, both as students and spectators.

Tim Paterson thoroughly enjoyed his time at Fernandez Fierro and Kelly Rice has written some great blogs about her experience with this timeless art of Argentina. If you’re headed that way, be sure to ask at least one of our Buenos Aires experts for tips before you go. Their names are Ryan and Lucia.

Photo by Kelly Rice

Tango: Sultry And Elegant

It is 4am and the dimly lit dance floor is packed with couples in close embrace, chests and cheeks connected, legs moving in unison to a 50-year old tango by Pugliese.

They dance together as if they had known each other for decades, but no one in this crowd was even alive yet when this song came out and most of the couples are dancing together for the first time.

The dancers dress as if going to a disco: jeans, sneakers and the occasional dress or skirt with leggings. But as the violin and bandoneon on the recorded orquestra belt out their notes, the women take long steps, revealing their shiny tango shoes— high-heeled and in varying shades of red, gold, green and blue— spinning into backwards “ochos” while caressing the floor as if it were the third partner; this is no disco, it is the real thing: tango dancing at La Viruta on a Friday night.

In the South American city that never sleeps, now is the best time to come and experience tango.

The Golden Age Of Tango

While the history of tango has been theorized and debated for years, the common belief is that it was born from a melting pot of different dances in the late 1800s, during the biggest immigration boom in Argentina’s history. It was a dance that started in the streets, evolved in the brothels, and eventually found its way to Europe, where it received a social stamp of approval, opening the eyes of the world to this dance that at one time was “forbidden” by the authorities.

Through its history tango has endured depression, dictatorships, and rock and roll and continues to flourish today, practiced internationally by people of all ages.

Now, more than ever, people from around the world are traveling to Argentina to practice tango in its birthplace. Some come for one or two weeks and others stay for years just to perfect the dance, sometimes with aspirations to become a professional dancer, but often just to improve their skills while meeting other tango dancers from around the world.

Many serious “Milongueros” adopt a nocturnal lifestyle and attend multiple venues, making the most of the night (and better part of the morning) hopping from one dance to another until 5 or 6am.

Tango Shows For You To See

Walking around Buenos Aires, you will literally stumble upon tango street performers dancing for pennies from Florida street to San Telmo to La Boca. But if the only tango you see is in the street, you will be missing out. Here are the best spots in Buenos Aires to see Argentina’s top dancers perform at tango stage shows.

Photo by Kelly Rice

Café Tortoni

You can go anywhere in town to see spectacular dancers strut their stuff on the stage – but most places will charge you a pretty penny (US $60-150). Instead of shelling out the big bucks, I highly recommend going to a tango show at Café Tortoni (US $10-20). Turning 150 years old this year, Café Tortoni is known to most people as a historical joint to visit and admire while drinking a cup of café cortado. What many people don’t know is that it offers nightly tango shows in the basement floor and in the back of the café.

Call ahead and make a reservation and try to see a show in the upstairs venue since it is smaller and more intimate:
tel: 4342-4328

Señor Tango

If you have money to spend, dish it out and go to Senor Tango, a Las Vegas-style tango show that includes a three-course dinner and an orchestra that will blow your mind (not to mention some of Buenos Aires’ best dancers and singers) for approx. US $75)

tel: 4303-0231

Milongas: An Alternative To Stage Shows

If you want to see locals and international dancers dancing socially (no rehearsed dancing, all created in the moment), you absolutely MUST experience an authentic Buenos Aires milonga. While many of the tango dancers that you will see at the Milongas have years of experience, many places provide classes and practice sessions at the beginning of the night, giving more novice dancers a chance to test their skills on the dancefloor.

Here are a week’s worth of milonga suggestions (although by no means an exhaustive list—all milongas are updated weekly here.

Kelly Rice’s Favorite Milongas In Buenos Aires

Monday: Confiteria Ideal—A traditional see-and-be-seen milonga. Great people-watching.
Tuesdays: Practica X—A very young, experimental milonga.
Wednesdays: Villa Malcom—An extremely international crowd, dancers come to hone their skills.
Thursdays: Niño Bien—A large well-known milonga with traditional-style tango dancers
Fridays: La Viruta— Experienced and novices alike come here to make history on the dance floor
Saturdays: La Glorietta—A free outdoor milonga where dancers shed their inhibitions (rain or
shine)
Sundays: Plaza Dorrego—After an afternoon visit to the San Telmo flea market, make your way to Plaza Dorrego to watch El Indio’s performance, then stay for the outdoor milonga

While there are classes before most milongas start, it helps to have a bit of the basics. And there is no excuse not to take a couple of tango classes in the mecca of tango—Buenos Aires, where a lesson costs next to nothing and the teachers are nothing short of amazing.

Tango Classes

The following are a couple of my favorite dance studios. They cater their classes towards students of multiple levels, from first timers to advanced couples looking for choreography. Most of the teachers speak a little English, although knowing Spanish is a definite plus.

Tango Brujo
(Esmeralda 754, phone: 4325-8264)
Young teachers with experimental styles break barriers and introduce students to “tango nuevo”

DNI Tango
Another tango nuevo style school that even offers Yoga classes specifically designed for tango dancers

All group classes range from $15-$20 pesos. Private classes are to be arranged with each individual teacher but can be pricey ($75-150 Argentine Pesos)

Lambada Zouk: The Coolest Dance You’ve Never Heard Of

In order to wrap your mind around Zouk, you just have to see it. Imagine one part dirty dancing, one part salsa and one part waltz. Intimate, rhythmic and elegant, it is a beautiful seductive dance that involves partners dancing, attached at the hip, and separating to twirl, all the while maintaining a one-two-three beat to various music from the Caribbean, Brazil, and even the Middle East.

Lambada Zouk is a version of the lambada developed in the late eighties. Originating in Brazil, it (like tango) caught fire in Europe and is fast becoming recognized worldwide. One of the best places to dance lambada zouk is Buenos Aires.

Although Zouk isn’t as famous as tango, right now in Buenos Aires there are places to see and practice this unique dance form four nights a week.

Maluco Beleza

Take a class at Maluco Beleza, one of BA’s most well-known bars that boasts a huge dance space downstairs and a second floor upstairs. Wednesday nights there is a dinner show with a variety of Brazilian dances. Fridays at 10:30pm and Sundays at 9:30pm for 15 pesos ($5 US) you can take a beginner zouk class, practice your moves as the bar begins to fill up, and then stay to watch as seasoned zouk dancers light up the dancefloor, twisting their bodies—the men hold the women like precious objects and the girls spin in tune to the music and their partners, while sensually flipping their long hair off their faces.
Sarmiento 1728

Balaio

Offering a wide variety of Brazilian dance classes including different kind of Samba, Axé, and capoeira, Balaio also gives zouk classes for all levels. Take their beginners class on Fridays at 8pm with Gabriela and she will patiently guide you through basics of lambada zouk.
Mansilla 2787 top floor
tel: +54 (11) 4963-6066

Zouk group classes are 15-20 pesos. Private classes are 50.

For info on teachers, places to dance zouk and classes, refer to this website: www.zoukba.com

Editor’s Note: Kelly Rice has written some freaking awesome blogs about her experiences studying Tango and Zouk in Buenos Aires. Here are some of my favorites:

Check out Kelly’s other writing and get in touch with her and thousands of other passionate travelers by visiting her Matador profile.

The truth is, when you accidentally find yourself in a three roomed club talking music with Kevin Spacey or accepting Xanax from Josh Hartnett, it’s easy to believe you’re in the right place at the right time.

And yet the lion’s share of places I’m going to share with you are sadly lackluster of late, a steady decline in hoi polloi-ness, still trying their biblical best to stay guarded, secretive, with doormen who ask you ‘what party are you here for?’ or say ’sorry, private party,’ when actually they have an embargo on a certain kind of person, the un-cool.

Which is most of you. And, before whoring myself, me.

Below I will include names to drop that will give you an, until now, unachieved authority at these doors. But keep your high hopes and dreams for the daytime, for no club on the streets of The Lair is going to get you where you ought to be.

1. Beatrice Inn

Still considered the one and only. A folded away nightmare and fire hazard past prime that feels like a synonym for falling to the wayside. But who am I to talk? This place can be outrageous. Ignore the doorman and say: ‘Lizzy invited us.’ Bring drugs.

WHERE: W12 Street between 8th Avenue and W4. Best from 1am. Weeknights.

2. Sway

A Chinese DJ who also designs purses plays the majority Morrissey themed part of the night. Under the DJ booth find ‘The Throne’ where all half-hearted stars and their wade pools hang.

Stick around all night because the weirdest and most wonderful music is played in the last hour when the second DJ plays stuff that sounds amazing if you’re on something. ‘What party are you here for?’ ‘Morrissey’ is your reply. Or better yet, ‘Ben and Chloe invited me.’ Similar to visiting Tangiers.

Sundays only. Spring Street and Greenwich. Under the neon sign that says McBar.

3. Annex

Ink black tiles outside do not foreshadow smart design but this place can never be hit or miss: you simply must be in the mood for rave and asymmetrical hairdos commingling with dry ice smoke and whiskey served in plastic cups. If you’re a guy, compliment the black retro-pop doorman and get in for free.

WHERE: Fridays only. 152 Orchard Street.

4. The Web

A demure face if ever there was one, the gray sculpted door and its little latch window insinuate all kinds of holes, and this place is a rather unexpected hole under the Four Seasons hotel.

Gay Asians dance upon pink and yellow light cubes for their varying admirers. How nice that each night of the week is themed, from Miss Asia Supreme night to gang bang night. Be prepared to leave feeling licked all over.

WHERE: Under the diminutive yellow awning, next to the 58th street entrance of the Four Seasons, closer to Park Ave.

5. Hotel del Mano

This is not a hotel. It’s a long room somewhere in Brooklyn going as something fancy in the skeleton of a bought out tattoo parlor.

The doorman is chit chatty Kathy and the host not so much. They’ll go out of their way here to make you happy, even plug in your iPhone if it needs charging.

Come here for cocktails that take sixteen minutes to make because the bartenders are artful but also because they are egomaniacally displaying their knowledge of the mixed drink. Have someone else pay.

WHERE: Corner of north 9th street and Berry Street, Williamsburg.

6. The Box

We’re in a phase in NYC nightlife where bottle service isn’t the draw card, but exclusivity. Forget getting in because you’re going to spend $8,000 on bottles, now you have to be too beautiful and too successful and too artistic to get in.

But The Box is different. Here you have to be all those things and spend $8,000 to get in.

Unless your friends know Richard or you’re sleeping with the doorman or are in the freak show (think dwarf Britney Spears, mechanical-break-dancing-China men and drag queens molesting themselves) that occurs on stage twice nightly.

One of the most showy, exquisite night clubs in town, like Rococo on caffeine.

WHERE: 189 Chrystie Street. Good Luck.

7. Nancy Whiskeys

A small dingy Irish pub situated above an NYPD precinct, this place is full of intoxicated off duty cops playing shuffle board, old men drinking away their hangover from 1956, and a smattering of NYU kids thrilled to be drinking at all.

When the music is right and the liquor is flowing, seeing all the crowds interacting peacefully may leave hope for a peaceful world. Go on Wednesdays, when the drunkest, richest and most entertaining bartender in town, Frankie, is serving up the best drinks you didn’t order.

WHERE: Lispenard and 6th Avenue.

8. Town House

No hats allowed. And they’re not lying; this place is in a townhouse.

A morosely, blandly decorated one that does little to emulate or compliment the revered NYC over-40 gay men who lounge about here like satin in a coffin, drinking what else? Martinis and doing what more? Gaily flitting about the grand piano (hideously set on cream carpet) and singing KD Lang and the show tunes she should’ve written.

A good place to lament disappointing careers, lost loves and celebrate youth, with another Martini. And don’t be a pussy with the olives. Up the stairs on the Upper East Side.

WHERE: 206 east 58th street.

9. Ye Waverly Inn

This place hasn’t officially opened. And never will. Being in a constant state of ‘reviews’ means you never really have to answer to anybody, let alone the phone.

If you want a reservation come in person no more than 48 hours in advance. This is actually a restaurant but it’s enough of a scene to warrant going as a club, where you can eat supper in the back, glass-roofed garden with trees growing through the roof.

Like eating in Never Never Land with sexy waiters who are dedicated to knowing everything about every ingredient. The nice thing here is that you can practice hierarchical warfare with the staff because you’re paying $85 for macaroni and cheese.

New American Cuisine is what they’re going as. I’m going as broke. You go without a reservation and wait for 30 minutes at the bar, otherwise go after 11pm and don’t wait.

WHERE: 16 Bank Street.

10. The lobby of The Bowery Hotel

NYC nightlife begins to get incestuous here, the same geeks who have their hands on Ye Waverly Inn are involved in this mess and they all hang out at Beatrice Inn too.

In fact, the Waverly people have their meetings here so make nice with them at Waverly and get a coveted seat here, in this peaceful lobby, which is open only to hotel guests and special people. This lobby really is a Turkish delight. And Bulgarian and Medieval and Saxon and Gilded New York delight all in one too. Without coming off jarring at all.

If the cow at the potted palm gives you any trouble mention that Sam (from Waverly) said you should stop by, and if that doesn’t get through, ask if she’s seen Paul. As in Sevigny. $12 Whiskeys come with divine pistachios, and Klonopin if you ask gently.

WHERE: 335 Bowery between e 4th and Great Jones. Take the latest edition New York Times on your way out.

Community Connection!

Looking for cool people to party with in NYC? Check out Julie, Lucas, Jordan, or Nick.

If you’re nursing a hangover after a long night of partying you might want to relax in these Green Escapes and get away from the hectic sounds of the city–but don’t get too hungover or you’ll miss the Top 10 NYC experiences! Happy travels!