Vegoose festival 2007: Questionable name, awesome line-up
Yeah, we hadn’t heard of Vegoose before either. One of my more “organic” friends was quick to fill us in. It’s a “Halloween music and arts festival” that started in 2005, and has traditionally been heavy on the hippie action: Dave Matthews, Phil Lesh, Widespread Panic, that sort of thing. For 2007, they’ve decided to take a cue from the other festival they produce—a little gathering in Tennessee that you might’ve heard about called Bonnaroo—and widened their lens to encompass more than all that is earthy-crunchy. And boy, did they ever. This year’s line-up is rivaling the big boys from Coachella to Lollapalooza. For one, they’ve snagged the live band of the year, Daft Punk (pictured), to headline one of the nights. That pretty much guaranteed our presence. Next up we have Iggy Pop & The Stooges playing their punk rock classic “Fun House” from beginning to end. What, you want more? OK, try M.I.A., Blonde Redhead, Gogol Bordello, the Shins, Queens of the Stone Age, Muse, Battles, Ghostface and a little reunited rock band from L.A. called Rage Against the Machine. Plus there are after-parties at clubs all over town, featuring the likes of Thievery Corporation and Michael Franti’s Spearhead. It all goes down in Vegas Oct. 26 – 28. Can you say "road trip"? Plan accordingly...
Computer crimes: M.I.A.’s “Kala” leaks all over the place
It was only a few days ago that we were talking about our surprise that the long-awaited and much anticipated sophomore CD from the Sri Lankin b-girl had yet to hit the internet. Generally a record this hot gets loosed onto the digital public well in advance of its release date (in this case, 8/27). Well, we spoke a moment too soon. “Kala” is leaking like a waterbed after a porcupine orgy. We’ve seen copies with cover art, liner notes—the whole thing. So we did what any M.I.A.-obsessed fan would do: we listened, but promised ourselves that we’d buy a couple of copies to make up for the transgression (we really do love you, Maya!). Maybe you heard her debut a bunch of the tunes at her way sold out shows at the Echoplex a couple of weeks ago? We’re still hung up on the grimy “20 Dollar,” which mashes up New Order’s “Blue Monday” with the Pixies’ “Where is My Mind?” "Jimmy" is an insane Bollywood disco remake that's way hot. Very Donna Summer. The sexiest summer CD of ’07 so far…
Crystal Castles get signed
We here at Metromix HQ have been psyched on these Toronto-based death-disco electro-terrorists for a minute now. Their music sounds like Ladytron’s younger siblings if they were on crystal meth and decided to kill Ladytron in a fit of torture porn. When they played the Echoplex for one of Franki Chan’s “Check Yo Ponytail” parties, Crystal Castles leveled the place with their sonic assault. Lead singer Alice commands the stage with a steely abandon somewhere between Siouxsie Sioux and Karen O. Things are about to get even crazier for the CC twins, as they’ve signed on the dotted line to Last Gang Records, the same label that New Pornographers and Metric call home. Appropriate, as CC will be joining Metric for an upcoming U.S. tour. Don’t miss Crystal Castles when they play alongside Amanda Blank, Kid Sister and Spank Rock at this year’s Neighborhood Festival (http://neighborhoodmusicfest.com) in Downtown L.A. on September 29...
Mental Hip-Hop blind item
Which heavily-hyped up-and-coming indie band's lead singer dude brazenly requested that their local rep secure him an underage male prostitute to scratch a particular libidinous itch the last time they played L.A.? We’re sworn to secrecy and will never tell, but here’s a hint: They’re playing L.A. again very, very soon, so keep close tabs on your little brother...
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