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Portugal. The Man – “Atomic Man” [NEW MUSIC] [VIDEO]

05/24/13
Chris Cullari
· Art · Independent Music · Music · Music News · New Music · Photography · Video

Portugal. The Man is a prolific pop-rock band with psychedelic and jammy influences that never threaten to overwhelm the strong songwriting at the center of it all. MWL has covered the group before, but as they gear up for another release – Evil Friends - they’ve begun dropping new singles and videos. ”Atomic Man” is the latest, and by far my favorite.

Narrative: None, except the riveting story of you falling head-over-heels in love with Portugal. The Man.

Performance: The band barely so much as mouths along, and there’s not an instrument to be found. It’s weird video performance art at its most inspired.

Song: Produced by Danger Mouse, it’s no surprise that the beat kicks – but this isn’t hyper-polished dance rock. The bright acoustic strumming and handclaps tease shades of “Hey Ya” for a second, but as soon as the firey, fuzzed out guitar kicks the door in, it’s clear this is a rock song through and through. ”After you/I dunno what I believe in/After you/Hell will be easier” is as rousing as a chorus gets and you’ll probably be singing along well before the crash cymbals knock the walls down. There are hints of OK Go here – maybe it’s in the bass playing? – and I’m really interested to hear how diverse the rest of the album gets.

Why You Should Watch It: Because this is an entire video made out still frames. Technically, all videos are twenty four frames played in succession each second, but these frames appear to have been shot individually and manipulated in post to produce the illusion of motion in some really unexpected ways. It goes far beyond simple “stop-motion”: skin blurs and morphs, eyes roll with liquid laziness, the whole thing is unnatural in the fantastically compelling fashion.

Chris Cullari | Beat-Play Ambassador Los Angeles |@Chris_Cullari | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC |

The Presidents Of The United States Of America [CONCERT REVIEW]

05/24/13
Steve Rippin
· concert · Events · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Los Angeles · music industry · Music News · New Music · Video

I was in 5th grade when I was handed the President’s of the United States of America CD. It was the first rock and roll CD I have ever owned. I was 10 years old in 1996. The record had been out for a year and I had no idea what the hell it was, I didn’t get it, but I loved it. I loved all of it. Kitty, Lump, Peaches, Bol Weevil, Dune Buggy, Kick Out The Jams, Naked and Famous to name a few are the songs the guided me toward a life of loving music. For the first time since 1996 I fulfilled a life long goal of seeing this awesome band live on stage at the House Of Blues in LA. The tour was called “The Self Titled Tour” and “POTUSA Plays the Good One”. They played my first rock and roll record… in its entirety.

‘Fuck you kitty you’re gonna spend the night’? WHAT? My virgin ears! I had never heard anything so awesome in my entire, albeit, short life. What a start! At last nights concert after playing some awesome choice cuts as ‘Mach 5′, ‘Tiki God’, ‘Volcano’, and ‘Love Everybody’ the band conveniently realized they had not played anything from their debut record. To quote the man himself, Chris Ballew said, “To make up for it. We’re going to play the whole thing. Right now.” As the expecting crowd lost their minds despite already knowing the evenings plan they ripped into ‘Kitty’ with the same energy as if it were 1996 all over again.

A true Seattle garage rock band in the 90′s the President’s represent the 90′s so perfectly. They play instruments the way they aren’t suppose to be played and they just have fun and sing about whatever they want. Chris’ bass only has two strings and Dave’s guitar only had 3 and yet they we’re able to make a big splash for being “just a little band”. In 2004 Dave Dederer left the band to spend more time with his family and the current line up carried on adding Andrew McKeag on guitar. Original members Chris Ballew and Jason Finn are still in tact and they sound as tight as you can be.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of The President’s Of The United States Of America as a band. They have toured off and on and released 5 studio albums and continue to create new music. Longevity in this music world baffles me. 20 years is just short of my life time. After seeing the guys last night I knew exactly why there still here. They were well rehearsed, tight, energetic and had smiles on their faces the whole night. They obviously love what the do and I think they also love that the crowd knew every single word to every song on their debut release. It being an LA show there are usually no shortage in surprises. When the band ripped into “Kick Out The Jams” they were joined on stage by the original and founding guitarist Dave Dederer. Seeing the original lineup pretty much blew my mind and on one of the best songs on the record made the night for me. I’m sure many members of the nearly sold out crowd left with their faces melted. They played it all even pausing during “We Are Not Going To Make It” just as they did on the record, it was perfect.

The President’s are important to rock and roll for two reasons. They wrote the songs they wanted to write. Performed them the way they wanted to play and didn’t care what anyone thought. In my mind they were a seminal band of the 90′s. As we see a resurgence in 90′s nostalgia I hope they keep touring and keep putting out albums. I for one will be the first in line to buy them and I won’t miss another show.

Please find everything you need to know about the Presidents HERE. They still have a bunch of shows left on this current “Self Titled Tour”. This band means a lot to me and when my 90′s band plays thier songs at bars I see people’s faces light up just as mine did last night. Nostalgia is awesome. Naked and Famous, an LA song rounded out the set. Perfect ending to an awesome show.

By: Steve Rippin | Beat-Play Ambassador Los Angeles | @stevewithMWL|Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC

You, Me And Everyone We Know – “I Wish More People Gave A Shit” [NEW MUSIC] [VIDEO]

05/17/13
Chris Cullari
· Independent Music · Music · Music News · New Music · Video

Usually when someone says they’re just tellin’ it like it is, something terribly ugly is about come flying out of that person’s mouth. It’s the phrase a crusty relative drops right around the part where she explains she isn’t racist, but… or your hoodrat brother uses when he says he respects women, except…

These folks tend to have a couple things in common, not the least of which is thinking they’re being brave by pointing out “what we all know.” They’re wrong, of course. It’s not brave to rage against the machine by being an ignorant dick because a) it’s hurtful, and b) it never requires any self-examination. It points a finger outward and thrusts blame into the world. It assumes – expects, really – that things are the way they are because everyone else is a certain way.

The brave thing is to point the finger at oneself and shout to the world that I am broken, I am lazy, I am a coward, but who has the balls to do that?

You, Me, And Everyone We Know, for one.

On the new four-track EP I Wish More People Gave A Shit, singer/songwriter Ben Liebsch deftly folds his message into a catchy, shout-along bottle and tosses it into rough seas. He chronicles the hypocrisy our culture has embraced as a way of life and digs deep into how both he and the listener contribute to the chaos. It’s a brutally honest piece of work; one that I think has the potential to be a touchstone in the genre. Think The Wonder Years if that goddamn fountain had never turned on and they were left with much bigger fish to fry.

Of course, the pop-rock form is equally as important as the function here. Sugar helps the castor oil go down, and it’s impossible to dismiss the EPs careening guitars, or the way they cling to the back of lumbering bass lines on opener “I’d Contribute More Dead.”

It’s equally hard to suppress the urge to sing along with the pop-punk-in-a-pub canter of “A Big Mistake”:

And it’s highly likely that you’ll find yourself parsing Liebsch’s lyrics through his wail on “Better Men,” only to realize you’re rocking out to a song about every man’s responsibility to curb the disgusting creep of rape culture:

The album ends on a short acoustic note; the whimper as the world crumbles:

It’s not an explicitly political record or as militaristic as ’80s hardcore, but it defines the edges of a world view with razor sharp aplomb and broken glass grit. It doesn’t preclude all hope, but it doesn’t revel in it either. Liebsch seems determined to go down with us, playing as furiously as the orchestra on the Titanic - even if global warming has made sure there aren’t any icebergs left to hit.

Fact is, living and breathing in the first world means someone else, somewhere else is suffering for it. It means we’re exposed to, influenced by, and living in the shadow of institutions that default to racism, homophobia and misogyny. At this point, it’s almost impossible to drop far enough off the grid to remove oneself from the equation completely. Even Bigfoot’s got a carbon footprint.

So what’s the answer? It’s right there in the title: give a shit. Be aware. Make choices that account for the fact that you aren’t the center of the universe. And by all means, throw this record on, catch the band on tour, and dance/mosh/sing your brains out. I call it “misanthropop,” you might just call it “great.”

Chris Cullari | Beat-Play Ambassador Los Angeles |@Chris_Cullari | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC |

Absinthe Junk Video Release at 12th & Porter, Nashville, TN [Photos] [Video]

05/15/13
JennywithMWL
· Art · Beat-Play, LLC · concert · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Music · Music News · Nashville · New Music · News · Photography · Video

Absinthe Junk Video Release at 12th & Porter, Nashville, TN

CLICK ON THE PIC FOR MORE CONCERT PHOTOS!

Check out Absinthe Junk’s new album, Death in the Afternoon, available on vinyl!

Photography By: Jenny Jem George | Ambassador of Nashville, TN | @JennyJemGeorge | Shutterbuzz Photos | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

Openmic Leading Nashville’s Rap Scene to New Levels [NEW MUSIC]

05/13/13
Steve Harpine
· Art · Beat-Play, LLC · FREE DOWNLOAD · Hip Hop · Independent Music · Lyrics · Music · Music News · Nashville · New Music · News · Top Posts · Video

This is Nashville, but leave your “dirty south” labels at the door. The most organic rap in the country is coming from this city, and one of it’s leaders is Openmic. In the latest video interview, he talks about his most recent experiences from the stage to the studio. The main theme: the game is changing. Nashville is growing, but in the rap and hip hop community, flourish is an understatement. It’s not just about coming up with lyrics that flow and make sense. Creativity lies at the heart of what Openmic does with his music, and the words seem as though they’ve become natural instinct. But, don’t take my word for it:

As you can hear, this is not just your run of the mill student. Openmic grew up “under the guidance of his father and renowned jazz musician Rod McGaha,” who continues to provide insight into his music to this day. After years of recording and developing his skills, Openmic has had the opportunity to open for artists like artist Wale, Dom Kennedy, Big K.R.I.T, Yelawolf, and more. It’s not just Tennessee that is taking notice. I think you’ll understand when you hear for yourself. Here’s the latest track from Openmic, “Im’a Fool Freestyle:”

Hear it as inspiration and encouragement that anyone can have the confidence to be great at what you do. You’ll hear even more significance on his latest album, “For The Rebels,” featuring other local artists and collaborators that continue to influence the scene. There’s an awareness of pop culture, but an honesty of staying true to oneself, being educated, and still grinding it out pursuing your dream. Keep listening and make sure you check out Openmic when he opens for Big KRIT May 16th at Limelight in Nashville. Click on the album art below to hear the latest and get on all things Openmic.

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

Frank Turner – “The Way I Tend To Be” [NEW MUSIC][VIDEO]

05/10/13
Chris Cullari
· Independent Music · Music · New Music · Video

Already an accomplished singer/songwriter in the UK with four albums under his belt, Frank Turner finds himself at the cusp of stardom in America. Though the road-romancing troubadour can probably do without the glitz of fame, it might be unavoidable if his latest single, “The Way I Tend To Be,” catches on. As the most radio/movie trailer/closing credits/sad-dude-in-a-college-dorm friendly track on his new album, Tape Deck Heart, it’s no surprise that it was quickly found itself with a video as well.

Narrative: Frank wanders into a field and just starts digging. He quickly attracts a single on-looker, and like any strange event in modern times, he’s soon surrounded by curious media, fans and well-wishers. Four days later, he finishes digging and climbs out, prompting a reveal that the entire field is full of holes.

Performance: None to speak of, save for a few brief shots of Frank singing to himself. But here’s a live version for all your can’t-really-see-the-drummer, hey-that’s an-alright-shot-of-the-bass-player needs:

Song: Mandolin, is there no respite from your twee sound? If Frank Turner can ride to mainstream success on the back of the instrument that’s become synonymous with beards, cuffed jeans, and artisanal peanut liqueurs, then so be it. Maybe its prominence in the first few seconds of the song is like Turner’s Jedi mind trick that’ll let him slip past the old guards of radio and whoever made Mumford and Sons famous. If so, fine, otherwise, off with ya. The laid-back groove and off-beat canter of the chorus are the real highlights here, along with Turner’s strikingly honest voice

Why You Should Watch It: It’s a gorgeous video in an age of cheaply produced product that’s thrown up on YouTube to die. The photography of the woods and open field feels like something from a modern western, with Mother Nature’s arms open wide, providing a earthy canvas for the action. I love the way the first girl’s yellow jacket and purple gloves pop against the brown woods and Frank’s drab palette. By the end, the sky is a deep evening blue lit up by the media’s bright orange and yellow lights and everything twinkles against a light rain. Oh, and there’s shovel-cam.

Chris Cullari | Beat-Play Ambassador Los Angeles |@Chris_Cullari | Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC |

She & Him “Volume 3″ with Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward [NEW MUSIC]

05/09/13
Steve Harpine
· Album Reviews · Art · Beat-Play, LLC · concert · Events · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Los Angeles · Music · music industry · Music News · Nashville · New Music · Top Posts · Video

Zooey Deschanel is quite the over-achieving artist. Her big break came in the early 2000s, when she began landing support roles in films such as Almost Famous, The Good Girl, Elf, and more. Today, Zooey is widely known as the star in the Fox series, New Girl, but it was over six years ago that her singing career began it’s launch. Fans heard Zooey sing before, most memorably in Elf with “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Three years later, Zooey teamed up with singer-songwriter/producer M. Ward, who encouraged her in the songs she was writing. In 2008, the duo, artily named She & Him, released their debut album, Volume 1. In an interview with Venus Zine, Deschanel described her feelings about starting a career in music.

“I always thought I would be able to sing and act, but at a certain point, it became difficult for me to share the music part. So I was writing a ton of music, but not really doing anything with it. I didn’t really know exactly who to collaborate with … until I met Matt, and everything seemed to fall into place.”

She & Him released a new album, Volume 3, this week with eleven original songs by Deschanel and three covers. Zooey’s voice retains a transparent tone throughout the record, often giving playful melody to lyrics about love and relationships. Have a listen to the first single, “Never Wanted Your Love.”

As you can hear, the record has a totally natural vibe. Crisp drums, tight bass lines, appropriate string and horn additions, and M. Ward’s phenomenal guitar playing give the album somewhat of a throwback feel. There’s a sense of Motown throughout, and the mastering process still left a rawness in the tones and grooves on the record. Sometimes it sounds like you’re right there in the room. Most of the album is a bit of a romantic walk back to a California beach in the 1970s. It even has background vocals tracked by indie pop group, Tilly and the Wall. Have a listen to the first song from the record released on She & Him’s Soundcloud, “I Could’ve Been Your Girl.”

Volume 3 is fun, but classy at the same time. It’s perfect for your summer trip to the beach mix or your playlist for the drive to this weekend’s drive-in movie. Mostly impressive is Zooey Deschanel’s songwriting and composing ability. She truly has a cool sense of melody and a knack for hearing instrumentation. With help from M. Ward, She & Him has become a quaint act for a classy show date. They kick off their summer tour in Nashville at the infamous Ryman Auditorium on June 13th. Get your copy of Volume 3 and check out She & Him’s summer tour stops by clicking on the album art below!

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

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