#SummerJams

Super Hipster Edition.

This one's for the ladies; one of my favorite new bands in LA is a trio of sisters called Haim.  They're the best chick-band I've heard in a long time.  Still unsigned, they just released their first music video this morning (audio much better than video):



I've seen them 4 times in LA and had the pleasure of working with them when they opened for Portugal the Man at one of venues that I'm occasionally employed by: super humble, funny girls with a good appreciation for the art they're making and the fans they're gathering.  When I saw them in March, they had their parents (both musicians) come onstage and play a cover. In April, Ryan Adams did a guest spot.

They haven't gotten much radio play in the US yet, but they're on the charts in the UK and were Band of the Week  a few months ago in Vogue.  They received critical acclaim after appearing at South by Southwest in March.

And their EP is available for Free Download.  That's fucking sweet.

I first heard about them because the lead singer dates guitar-virtuoso Blake Mills (formerly of Dawes) and did a duet with him for the "Chimes of Freedom" album (a compilation of Bob Dylan covers that raised money for Amnesty International):



So check them out now, get on the bandwagon while they're still relatively unknown, and then you can sound like a hipster when they get signed and start popping up on traditional media.  Download their free EP: I promise they'll be stuck in your head instantly and leave you wanting more.

-DMc, West Coast Correspondent

#SummerJams

Double edition.

Summer is upon us!  I know some of you have probably heard "Anna Sun" on the radio by now, and I expect a big push leading up to Walk the Moon's major label LP release on June 19 (the day after some of you see them in Boston).

Here's another band who's EP is very promising and name is fucking awesome: Imagine Dragons.



I've heard the lead single "It's Time" getting some airplay recently, although I actually prefer a remixed version by Penguin Prison, an awesome electro-pop band that I told Rob & Mel to see back in April. You can download that remix HERE. Also, you should definitely check out Penguin Prison's album from last year, because it's fantastically fun.

Another new band that's definitely getting radio play is Of Monsters and Men:



They're like, from Iceland, which is cool.  Also, I love a band that has both male & female lead vocals.

So listen for those two #SummerJams as you hit the beach!

-DMc, West Coast Correspondent

"Senior Moments" by Golf Brooks

My Boss pulled me into his office the other day because he urgently had to show me the latest email he had been forwarded. While we waited for HotMail to get fired up I thought about the time he showed me about 50 pictures of the view from his sister's condo's balcony. I just wanted to grab two or three bags of trash and take them to the back door where I lean over the railing and throw them at the dumpster. While I was impatiently waiting to throw trash at a dumpster my Boss loaded a video of a man standing in front of a banner that read "GOLFOHOLICS" I was worried. And then the song started. "Senior Moments" is a great song. Every person who plays a guitar around a campfire should be required to learn "Senior Moments", infact from now on they are.



-jv

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Long Time Sun Shine

I recently heard this Weezer song, and I really liked it, so I did a little research, cause that's how I roll.

Rivers Cuomo wrote "Longtime Sunshine" in 1994, though it wasn't released until 2007.  Of his inspiration Cuomo said, "I started longing for the safety, peace, quiet, simplicity and family structure of my New England childhood. I thought back to one of my favorite memories, lying in the bottom bunk, my brother in the top, in our bedroom in our farmhouse in Eastford, Connecticut, in the hot, hot, summer, 7, 8 p.m., sun still up, but having to go to sleep because it's our bedtime, one of those big box fans blowing, and my parents, Ma and Steve, sitting at our bedside, singing an old hippie song to us, to calm us down and ease us into sleep, "May the Longtime Sun Shine Upon You." 

YouTube won't let me embed the Weezer track so click here to listen, or if you roll with Spotify, here.

Also the old hippie song, "May the Longtime Sun Shine Upon You" is pretty sweet too, as a folky lullaby. It's actually an old Irish blessing that's become a mantra of sorts, set to many different melodies. This one is my favorite:



-av
Longtime fan of Sunshine
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Early #SummerJam Prediction

Prepare to hear this song everywhere.



It was originally released independently two years ago, on an excellent LP called "I Want I Want!" which you can no longer get anywhere.  Why? Because they signed to RCA, and major record labels are pricks.  RCA has re-released "Anna Sun" on EP, with a full length forthcoming.

Also thanks to RCA, "Anna Sun" is now finding it's way onto major (read: Clear Channel) radio stations.  It's a shoo-in to be massively overplayed this summer, much like "Pumped Up Kicks" last year.

I don't really mind though.  I saw Walk the Moon live a few weeks ago in LA, and they tooootally rocked. Awesome live energy.  They paint their faces for shows (like in the video) and so do many of their fans (mostly cute girls).  I think that's kinda fun.  Just sayin'.

On a personal note, the lyrical content of the song reminds me fondly of our college party houses on Main St & Grey St, of Allen Court in Boston, and of HouseHouse, where I lived for my first year in LA.

I hope you all enjoy hearing this song a million times this summer, and I hope their new album still has some of their other awesome songs, like this one:



-DMc, West Coast Correspondent

PS, Walk the Moon plays April 5 on Jimmy Fallon.

PPS, See you all soon!

5th grade

'member  being in 5th grade and you saw the first person you liked? No? Yes? Well either way this song will get you feeling Hey Arnold nostalgic about the first person you liked liked.

 - sf

p.s. This above person is Jamie Lono and happens to be a contestant on The Voice.

p.p.s. If you liked the song you should check him out on YouTube and probably The Voice as well.

p.p.p.s. For those F* Chris Brown fans, don't watch the below.

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Beef Alert: Miranda Lambert hates Chris Brown too

Here at Plus1Press, it's well established that Chris Brown is a tremen-DOUCHE, who should never be allowed on tv, radio or the internet ever again.

So after the Grammy's foolishly invited #fuckChrisBrown to lip-sync not once, but twice, this year and the Grammy voters somehow gave him an award, it was a relief when other musicians weren't shy about expressing their disappointment.

The MVP of Publicly Hating on Chris "My dance moves are as half-assed as my apologies" Brown 2012 goes to Miranda Lambert, who took to twitter shortly after the Grammys.

When Chris Brown hit back (see what I did there?) saying, "HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now!!! That's the ultimate fuck off," Miranda was unimpressed, replying "I just have to speak my mind because where I come from, beating up on a woman is never OK ... So that's why my daddy taught me early on in life how to use a shotgun...I have a Grammy too"


Later that week, while performing at UMass, she held up a sign that said "Take Notes Chris Brown" and then she sang "Gunpowder and Lead" the best song about killing a man that beats up a lady since "Earl had to die."
So in honor of Miranda Lambert speaking for us all, have a listen:




-av
A Plus1Press Publication

Boston Concert Recommendation

Two of my current favorite bands are playing together @ House of Blues in Boston on April 29.

http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/eventdetail.php?eventid=72955

If you like indie pop/rock dance jams, you should definitely go to this show.

Penguin Prison is opening.  I saw them in LA last month: they fucking OWNED the stage.  Their album is great: check it out on Spotify. I have a feeling they could get big.  Also, I ended up partying w' the drummer & keyboard player til 6am: cool dudes.



Miike Snow is headlining.  They are a bit more well-known, are releasing a new album this Spring, and I  am excited to see them at Coachella a few weeks before they head to the East Coast.  Their previous album is on Spotify.  If you still don't have Spotify, I don't think we can be friends anymore.


Rabbit by Miike Snow


So yea, that is my Spring concert recommendation for those of you residing in the Greater Boston Area.  You will dance your face off: I promise.

-DMc, West Coast Correspondent

Ice Ice Baby Yeah

Vanilla Ice performs most of Ice Ice Baby and one line of the TMNT Rap for some fans while being backed up by an acoustic guitar and a glockenspiel in the corner of a coffee shop on a boardwalk by the ocean.

-jv
A Plus1Press Publication

Spotify

So, I'm sure we're all familiar to the genius that is Pandora.
I present to you: Pandora's hot cousin.

Differences: Its Pandora but you can PICK the songs in your playlists, including music you don't own. So, basically its a shit ton of free music that you can create playlists for. And as long as you have an internet connection, you can access your playlists anywhere. I do this often for work.

Unfortunately, you cannot download the music for free. So, making CDs or playing it in your car is impossible. But, at your desk, at home - its all free.

EVERY Madonna album ever made? Make it a playlist.
Soundtracks from all 3 Twilight movies? Playlist.
ANY song that contains the word "Circus"? PLAYLIST!

Endless possibilities.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays,
fisticuffs


A Plus1Press Publication

The Wellesley Tupelos and LAB sing "The Chain"

 Just thought I'd share this sweet performance by our very own LAB:



-av, Fan
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RHCP New Music Video

Hey,

have you seen the new chili peppers music video? Its pretty dope.



 - sf

A Plus1Press Publication

Great Band

There is this great band called Real Fire that my friend is in who is the drummer. They have a great sound and they do fucking great covers like this one of Adeles' rolling in the deep.



They've been playing at my BBQ for the last few years and I feel like they are starting to get some traction going so do myself and them a favor and check out their youtube channel, like the videos and if you really like them follow them on twitter.

 -sf

p.s. this is a little incentive to those of you who have heard/been invited to my Memorial day weekend BBQ's but have been hesitant to come.

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New Nerd Rap

Childish Gambino aka Donald Glover has a new Album coming out on November 15th titled "Camp" and this is the premiere track off of it.



based on this track, the album should be awesome.

Also Das Racists' new album "Relax" has come out and their premiere track "Michael Jackson" is pretty good but the video hypes it up so much more.



if you liked that then check out this song out, it's one of my favorite by them.



favorite line has gotta be "Dick like, Hot Like, baby arm, chicken parm"

 - sf

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MORTAL KOMBAT!

It was just announced that a new Mortal Kombat movie is going to be coming out in 2013. The new movie will be directed by the man who created Mortal Kombat Rebirth in 2010 which is an amazing re-imagining of the Mortal Kombat characters in a pseduo-Dark Knight world, its awesome. 

There is a web series inspired by the short film called Mortal Kombat Legacy.
This will always be the best part of Mortal Kombat.


-jv
A Plus1Press Publication

Poor Justin Timberlake

Found this video through Today's Big Thing-which everyone should check out.
Poor Justin:

Here's a great interview with Justin in Playboy magazine that I read thanks to ED.

Jillicious1000
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Happy Birthday Harry

Woo! Today is Prince Harry's birthday. He is 27. In other exciting British news; David Beckham looks great on a motorcycle and Amy Winehouse's final video is out.

-jv
A Plus1Press Publication

The Radio

Hit PLAY
I love this song. I heard it at work. We have a radio going all day, until I turn it off near the end of the day and its glorious. I usually turn it on in the morning to kiss108 and then the channel gets changed each time someone is close enough to the knob for the rest of the day. It keeps it lively and I still get to hear rolling in the deep a few times a day. Everyday I'll hear an awesome song like secret agent man, or turn the page, or runaway and silently thank The Radio for the next 4 minutes of not paying attention I'll be doing. Recently this song came on. It was love from the beginning. Its "upside down" by Diana Ross and shes killing it. The lyrics get a little weird in the verses. You won't notice until the fifth time you're listening to it and thinking about how cool Disco probably was.

-jv
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Queen Madge hates Hydrangeas, ok?!

Divas usually make their mark with outlandish clothes, hair, shoes and behavior. Once established that behavior or look eventually becomes ordinary to us. At this point Gaga wearing pants is more interesting than Gaga naked. And this may not be the moment to say this, but I was completely captivated by Lady Gaga's performance at the VMAs monologue included. If you haven't watched it, get on it now, because that is commitment to a performance and she is absolutely a genius.

That being said it's kind of refreshing to see Madonna using her status as a queen diva by doing something rude and having people love it. For example, whispering in a fake British accent about hating the kind of flowers some fan just gave you, next to a microphone.


And then, after getting a lot of press about this, she posted an apology. Or did she?


That's my girl.

Also, another way to be a diva: Stand still and bring the house down. Observe:

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Adele

-av
Diva Liaison

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The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Music - More Music Videos

I'm into it.
-jv
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