30 April 2011

[new] Toro Y Moi- Made in Bed


Toro Y Moi put out a beautiful mix yesterday for free download. Apparently he made this while in bed. It certainly fits the mood of the mix. Turn your lights down low, light some candles, lay back and give it a listen. Really lovely for a relaxing Saturday evening.



If you like what you hear, and want to download the mix grab it here!


In case you want it, here is the track list:

A First Class Dub - King Tubby
Come Live With Me - Dorothy Ashby
Part Version 8 - Piero Piccioni
Pealed Tomato - Chorafas
It's Choade My Dear - Connan Mockasin
Mariangela e la Seduzione - Ennio Morricone
Show Me To The Window- Robert Lester Folsom
Chi Mi Cerchera - Enrico Simonetti with Goblin
Was It All In Vain - Bixio Frizzi Tempura
Rainbow Ride - Kathy McCord
O Sabia - Les Wanted
Clay Horses - Julian Lynch



Have a lovely night.

Lots of love,
Aaron

XXX

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[show review] Okkervil River @ One Eyed Jacks


Three or four songs into to Okkervil River’s intimate set at One Eyed Jacks Thursday night, frontman Will Sheff removed his thick-rimmed glasses to reveal a knowing pair of droopy eyes. The lyrics and sensibilities of his staunch brand of hyper literate brood-folk serve as an indicator of what those eyes have seen, and they are deservingly weathered. Lines like “Oh, I'm a weak and lonely sort/Though I'm not sailing just for sport” or “The world is trembling and weeping/And at the point of believing” characterize Okkervil River’s music, but don’t define it as depressing or pessimistic. It's theatrical folk music that teases the listener as to what's going on backstage. If you can at all relate to any of the characters in the songs, they provide warmth, comfort, and an abstract understanding.

In concert, these sentiments are personified by the Austin-natives’ mellow, yet inspired performance. Dressed like an indie rock college professor, Sheff led the band through a set of favorites like “For Real,” “Our Live Is Not A Movie Or Maybe” and “Lost Coastlines,” as well as cuts from their forthcoming new album, I Am Very Far. They are still in the process of working out the new album live, making it an endearing experience for the audience to witness rough-around-the-edges versions of the songs. In so many cases these days, touring bands are such well-oiled machines that what you hear on stage and what you hear on record are exactly the same. Seeing a few botched intros and missed cues just made the show all the better.

Okkervil River’s appearance in New Orleans was announced only a week or two before the show, and it was scantily promoted, so everyone in attendance was a true fan. You would look around the room and see folks quietly singing along every word to every song. When the band came out for their encore, Sheff asked for the lights to be turned down, justifying with “I feel like I’m being interrogated.” The lights dimmed, and the venue transformed into your best friend’s living room — just with Okkervil River in the corner playing their hearts out.


Watch the video for "Wake And Be Fine" from I Am Very Far here:




Review by Connor Crawford
Photos by Nicole Nolan

29 April 2011

Crystal Castles Tonight!!!!

Insomniac & Ampersand
presnts
INSOMNIAC SESSIONS:
Jazz Fest Edition @ CAC

Friday, April 29, 2011
CRYSTAL CASTLES + Swiss Chriss


Be there or be square!!



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28 April 2011

[new] Foster the People- Color on the Walls (Don't Stop)

Art/Official has been following the development of California indie-pop outfit Foster the People for some time now. If you haven't heard anything by these guys yet, click here and check out our old post featuring the three tracks previously released on their self titled EP. These guys are soon to expect fame. Their upbeat summery dance music is contagious! Here is a new unreleased track!! Hopefully it won't be taken down from Youtube before you can give it a listen. I imagine the video is fan made :). Enjoy!




Lots of love,
Aaron

XXX


UPDATE: The track list and artwork for the LP entitled "Torches" coming out May 24th got leaked. Check it out here! The best part? Art/Official graphic designer and bestest friend Japayork did the artwork for the cover and t-shirt. We proudly send our love out to Japa. Congrats!
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Exam Stress? Try some cheesy dance music.

I am incredibly overwhelmed right now with exam stress. By Monday, I will be a free man and college graduate! UK pop group Penguin Prison just put out this really cheesy disco mix this morning (I guess it's mid afternoon there). Anyways, play it loud around the house while you cook breakfast. If you like it, you can download it by pressing the down arrow on the right side. Certainly helps me get through the exam nonsense. Enjoy.

Penguin Prison March 2011 Mix by Penguin Prison


Lots of love,
Aaron

XXX

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26 April 2011

[new] Salem- Sick.

Dubstep - grime + spooky = WITCH HOUSE! I can't get enough of the genre lately, and Salem is the clear leader of the trend in my eyes. Check out their newest video of their track "Sick." Unreal.



Aaron
XXX


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Clasixx via New Orleans-- FREE!

CLASSIXX NOLAflyer

Do you like to dance with your hands in the air for extended periods of time? Do you like really cheesy disco music? I sure do! If you're anything like me, I can't recommend enough coming out to Classixx Wednesday evening. Our friends at Deft Jams/TKVR are bringing New Orleans a great dance party located in the lovely and intimate Parish room at the House of Blues. If you haven't heard of this phenomenal DJ/Producer duo from LA, I've put a song at the bottom of the post for you. It's a great remix of an art/official favorite entitled "Psychic City" by YACHT. The best part about the show besides seeing Classixx? It's FREE!! Hooray free music! All you have to do is RSVP via the link below. Hope to see all of you on the dance floor.



RSVP! Click here!!!

Lots of love,
art/official

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[review] Cut Copy @ Republic

Cut Copy-2711
Love the hand gestures.

This past Saturday our friends at Winter Circle Production along with Republic hosted Cut Copy with Holy Ghost! at Repubic. The city had been waiting for this show for some time, which was made evident before the show even began. I approached the Republic to find a line of people wrapped around the block, waiting to get in. Within ten minutes of being present, the door guy put the “sold out” sign up outside, and a lot of adamant fans seemed very disappointed.

Holy Ghost-2272
Holy Ghost!
Because of the painfully long line, I walked in about half way through the Holy Ghost! set and immediately began wishing I had gotten there earlier. Holy Ghost! provided a nonstop dance party. Lyrics intermixed with disco-y/electropop beats reminded me a bit of LCD Soundsystem’s (44:33) meets the Disco Biscuits. With just a flare of synth layered over computer noises, the crowd was certainly ready for Cut Copy.

The last time I saw Cut Copy was at Ultra Music Festival two years ago. They played on the “indie stage” alongside MSTRKFT, Crystal Castles, and Deadmau5, but it’s super strange to think of those acts on the small stage today. It certainly didn’t take much time to realize one thing: Cut Copy has gotten really, really popular. As I combed through the crowd to fight for the perfect dance space, front and center, I asked the audience if they had seen Cut Copy before, and while many had not, they were all just as excited as the rest of us.

Cut Copy-3044
Lights and music are on my mind...

Cut Copy did NOT disappoint; cheesy 80’s dance pop is so in right now. My spot in the middle quickly became a swimming pool of sweat, as the synthesizers carried the band from track to track. After chanting “Lights and Music” five songs in, it was time to run upstairs. To no surprise, even those who were pushed far away from the railing were still dancing harder than I had seen anyone dancing in a long time. Front man Dan Whitford did a great job of controlling the crowd with his… hands. If Cut Copy ever fails, this man could easily conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The music builds, and his hands are moving up. The music slows, and his hands are moving down – it got comical at times.

Cut Copy’s music is immensely popular at this point. To describe the sound would be a waste of time, as everyone should know what they sound like. Live, they sound even better. One thing that can be said about Republic is that they have a truly amazing sound system. Throbbing bass and synth left this reviewer deaf, smelly, and physically exhausted.



Cut Copy-2502


- Article written and composed by Aaron Saltzman
- All photographs by Joshua Brasted



For more pictures from the show,
check out Joshua's Flickr.

25 April 2011

Five Dollar Friday!

Open House Music bring us another great warehouse extravaganza!

Five

Our friends at Open House Music bring us yet again another great Friday night. If you haven't already been, Studio 3 in mid-city is a must see. The space is used to build Mardi Gras floats, and reminds me of something from Alice in Wonderland. This Friday, come out to 3610 Toulouse Street to see the likes of the March Forth Marching Band, The Dirty Bourbon River Show, and one of art/official's very own. So here is the rundown:

March Forth Marching Band:
MarchFourth Marching Band connects with so many different types of audiences that they have been invited to play a huge variety of events over the past seven years. This list includes a selection of organizations, festivals, parades, street shows, clubs, corporate events, and other bands they have shared the stage with.

"A punk rock, Fellini-esque carnival of sound and sight...stilt walkers, fire breathers, burlesque ...all on top of one of the tighter marching bands I've seen" - Zac Kushner, OpenHouse Music

“For sheer foot-stomping, joy-making fun, you couldn’t beat the MarchFourth Marching Band from Portland, Ore. It was a blend of burlesque, vaudeville, horn-driven funk and marching band madness. The costumed horde, many with their faces painted and several on death-defying stilts, made for the kind of spectacle that deserves the word awesome.” -Atlanta Journal Constitution



Dirty Bourbon River Show:
The Dirty Bourbon River show reminds me of something from the vaudeville era. Similar to March Fourth Marching Band, Dirty Bourbon is bound to make you feel like you're at a circus. The act has performed with fire dancers, burlesque, and all sorts of acts for your visual amazement. Check out one of their music videos below. The vocals make this act quit unique.



Art/Official:
Some of the guys from Art/Official will be out Friday evening spinning the best of indie-dance to disco from pop to hip hop. As always we will keep your rumps moving all night long.


***The best part? This whole night only costs a mere $5. Come join the freak show this Friday, July 29th!!

Hope to see all your beautiful faces,
Aaron

XXX

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