My First Shpongle Experience (Camp Bisco X)

Shpongle began their set at Camp Bisco X amidst dark purple thunderheads and a foggy mist. Not one speck of blue peeked from the clouds. At first the rain came so fine, then, it slowly started to drizzle. As their set progressed, it rained harder and harder and the night grew darker. Beach balls were flying everywhere. When I stood on the tips of my toes and looked behind me, I saw so many tall poles reaching above their holder with turtles and unicorns and jellyfish on top.

This was the first time the full ensemble performed together in the US. From what I can remember, their set was out of this world. Even I was in an altered state. I stood with my friend near the left side of the stage, trying to absorb everything that was happening in front of me.

This is their opening song:

They had unique performers on stage that I could barely see and later only watched on video. I remember Raja Ram pacing back and forth, jamming the fuck out. Then he'd walk back to the mic and play some incredible string of notes on his flute. I remember lightning bolts; the rain kept coming.

Over the next couple of hours, I went on a crazy trip within Simon Posford and Raja Ram's musical existence. I remember so much color coming from the stage lights and from the music itself. Even the crowd around me was colorful. Everyone had on a crazy outfit.

And let us not forget, there was SO MUCH MUD after Shpongle finished their set. The rain hadn't let up and my feet were sinking. I remember walking away from the stage lost within a huge mass of people. Someone started, "MOOOOOOO!"

Honestly, I can barely describe what that set was like except for what I've already stated. I was barely there myself. The rest of the night was even more insane, if you can believe it. If you were there, I'm sure you already know it.

This year Shpongle will make an appearance at Camp Bisco XI as Shpongle presents "The Masquerade", with Simon Posford leading the performance. I believe Raja Ram will not be joining us this year.

Check it:

Last year Camp Bisco was one of the most intense, unexpected, and downright tripped out festival I've ever been to. And I hope to go again this summer!

Maybe I'll see you there...

P.S. If you have fond memories of last year's Bisco, feel free to share them in the comments below!

-- ex mens --

I LOVE THIS CITY

As fate has decided, this will not be the year that I venture off to Sasquatch. I fear not, however, for my post-graduate adventures have just begun. Being that my ride situation didn't work out, I had to opt out of The Gorge and settle for something a little more feasible. Last minute decisions resulted in me ending up at I Love This City, which was originally set to take place at AT&T Park in San Francisco but instead was relocated to a different venue down the bay at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountview.

Camp Bisco Countdown: Shigeto

Only 46 days until Camp Bisco XI. As you can see, we've been focusing a lot of our attention on this summer festival, among others.

Today I'd like to share with you some valuable information concerning one of my favorite musicians, Shigeto. I had never heard of him until I saw him at Wonder Bar in Allston, alongside Mux Mool and Raja. That night Wonder Bar, in conjunction with the band Wobblesauce and the Brain Trust, hosted one of the best live shows I've seen in a long time. Shigeto owned the drums while mixing in his electronic beats at the same time. I was so impressed.


Now I wish to share with you his magic.

Camp Bisco Countdown: Daedelus

"Unique" is a very strong word that is often used in the wrong context. It is a word thrown around by writers to describe something rare and exquisite. It's true meaning is something that has no like or equal; unparalleled. However, here I use the word in it's epitome: Daedelus is UNIQUE. His sound is something I've never heard anyone replicate, making it incomparable. Yes, he falls quite close to the genre of Flying Lotus, Samiyam and others, but Daedelus manages to make his music his own; unique to anything and everything.

As you can tell, summer/graduation has taken over the minds of many, including the crew. To get back to the music, we will dive into the depths of Daedelus. Not many know about this musical wonder, but he has completed a long list of accomplishments worthy of notice and attention. To begin, he has studied jazz at the USC Thorton School of Music and is formally trained in double bass and bass clarinet, while still having talent in other instruments as well. His knowledge of music is evident in the work he produces and presents.

CounterPoint Music Festival Lineup Release

C3 Presents and MCP Presents have released the initial lineup for one of fall's most anticipated events, CounterPoint Music Festival. The inaugural festival will now take place over 3 DAYS, September 27-29, along the riverbanks of the Chattahoochee River just south of Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets ($165) and camping passes go on sale this Friday May 11th at 10 A.M. Eastern Time. 

Good nights ahead of us.

And so May commences with another rowdy night.

CounterPoint

This fall the organizers of Camp Bisco, Lollapalooza, Lights All Night, Austin City Limits, and Buku are partnering up for the first time to bring you the inaugural CounterPoint Music Festival. The multi-stage event will take place at the location of 2007's The Echo Project in the 350 acre Chattahoochee riverfront property located just 30 minutes south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia on September 28th and 29th, 2012.

Labeled by many as the hub of culture and diversity, Atlanta holds itself as the prime location for the happening's debut. Produced by C3 Presents and MCP Presents, CounterPoint strives to break the grounds of modern-day festival culture. Teaming up with local vendors, breweries, restaurants, artists, and more, the 2-day event will provide attendees with a wide array of amenities to indulge in. The festival will be equipped with camping options, food trucks, local chefs, and an art village. To switch things up a bit, organizers are also putting together a beer garden, extreme sports demonstrations, a college football viewing area, and a promising all-star music lineup featuring global electronic dance music artists and performers.


Additional features include car services, day parking, VIP table services and multi-level viewing areas, as well as daily shuttles from Atlanta. More information on the lineup, ticketing, and travel packages will be available in the coming weeks. To stay updated, make sure to check out their website and follow them on Facebook/Twitter for the latest CounterPoint news. 

Wobble Wednesdays presents: DrFameus and Zoogma

73 days remain in the Camp Bisco Countdown. Bisco is one of numerous summer festivals that members of the Beatlab will be attending. We are looking forward to so many artists on this year's line-up! Two of which include DrFameus (Allen Aucoin, drummer from The Disco Biscuits) and Zoogma. Together they're busting up the Northeast this week as part of the WTF is Zoogma tour.

We've covered DrFameus a few times before. In fact, he was just in Gainesville earlier this month. I'm excited to see this primarily percussionist rendition of an electronic live act. Read more about his style here.


Zoogma's sound is like the epitome of jazzy electronic rock. A little psychedelic at times, Zoogma is a four-piece band that mixes improvisation with samples of their original music for a skilled live performance.





The drum beats that hold that song together make me want to endlessly shake. I'm looking forward to see them perform live at Wonder Bar in Allston this Wednesday. I can just picture a delicate synthesis of sound: drums, guitar, bass, and electronic groove mingling to create a modern form of rock that I've learned to admire over the past few months.


Check out the info on Facebook.





This is the kind of creativity that I'll be on the hunt for at Bisco this summer. Check out the line-up here to see what I'm talking about. And keep tabs on us as we prepare for this summer's hottest music festivals.

-- ex mens --

Glory Days Presents: Coheed and Cambria

Do you remember those summer nights when you were young and the biggest problem on your mind was hitting puberty? I sure do. The soundtrack of my life, in that day and age, seemed to revolve around indie and rock bands. Coheed and Cambria was one of the bands that I discovered in middle school and have since forgotten about. But that's all about to change. Glory Days Presents... is proud to bring Coheed and Cambria to The Florida Theatre in Gainesville on Thursday, May 3rd. Tickets are $25 in advance and $28 at the door. Buy them locally at High Tides or Hear Again Music or online HERE. Doors will open at 8 pm and the show starts at 8:45.

Camp Bisco Countdown: Bonobo

Some consider it electronica; some may consider it psychedelic new wave instrumental; some may say it's psychedelic experimental tribal music. Bonobo is a soulful musician whose songs on YouTube have reached over 1 million hits. Originally Simon Green, Bonobo started his career as a British musician, producer and DJ in 1999 with the song "Terrapin". He has recorded and performed under the alias "Barakas" as well. His debut album, Animal Magic, was released on Tru Thoughts.

The BEATS may be ANTIQUE, but this music will never get old

Beats Antique started in San Francisco. They are a trio of very talented musicians that have come together to fuse culture and twist minds. Tomorrow, Thursday, April 26th, Beats Antique will perform their only Florida show in Tallahasse at The Moon. Tickets are not sold out yet, but they will be soon. I found tickets online at The Moon's online box office, HERE.

Camp Bisco Countdown: "If you can move, Orchard Lounge will back you up."

In the past we have revealed some of our favorite musicians and producers who put their heart and soul into their records. But today calls for a new twist.

Orchard Lounge, a group of three talented people with roots in Chicago, has mastered the art of deejaying. With a fusion of genres that inspire them and eclectic improvisation, they travel from place to place producing a fierce live performance at every festival or club they attend.


So what are you in the mood for? Orchard Lounge has spun everything from chill downtempo to hip hop to hard electro bass lines. Care for some funky beats?

Organized Chaos with Mord Fustang

Spring semester is coming to a close here in Gainesville, Florida. As the rest of the world keeps going about their business, us college students have quite the summer ahead. Some of us will graduate, others take more classes. Some will work, some will party, others will just relax, and some will figure out a way to do all that plus more. All in all, it is a time of change and progression that will vary from person to person. There is one thing that all of us can agree on, however, and that is our desire to live it up one last time (even though you never really know when the actual "last time" is). With that said, come join us this Tuesday night April 24th at The Vault nightclub for the last big electronic event of the 2012 school year - MORD FUSTANG!

Critically Acclaimed, Grammy Sh*t Right Here

Walking into the room as the final opening act (Machines Are People Too) finished off their last few songs, I noticed a small number of heads standing around, anxiously awaiting their ascendence into the bold and outlandish world of The Polish Ambassador. As the band on stage ended, a small stream of people began to enter the room; trickle by trickle. Unfortunately for last Thursday night, the crowd wasn't as big as I imagined. Good thing? Most would argue not, but it doesn't always take a sold-out show to please an audience. As the night would prove, in the words of The Polish Ambassador himself, "it's not the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog."

Camp Bisco Countdown: Paul Chambers

Since the early nineties, Paul Chambers has been apart of the electronic music scene. When Soulwax discovered this underground artist, they recruited him to be their opening act on a world tour. Paul Chambers has maintained a very private and low profile, making him someone I've been following since the beginning of 2010. With support from the likes of Soulwax, 2MANYDJs, Boys Noize, Erol Alkan, Mr. Oizo, The Chemical Brothers (plus many more) and furnished with originals like "Singapore Swing" and "Snowing in Moscow", Paul Chambers is a name all festival goers should look out for this summer festival season.  

Everyone is Golden

After years of being accustomed to hearing John Gourley's voice through the speakers of my headphones or stereo system, I finally got the chance to hear him perform live last Wednesday night here in Gainesville. It may sound a bit surreal but, being that most of my friends had the chance to see this band play live before in the past, Portugal. The Man's performance was almost like reliving a long-forgotten dream. I've lost touch with my indie ears in recent years, having made electronic music the core of my audio pleasures. Nonetheless, I couldn't pass up an act that shaped some of the foundations for my love of modern psychedelic rock.

The show, and tour in it's entirety, was sponsored by Jagermeister, which I found a bit odd considering the fan-base that this lineup usually captures. Maybe they were targeting a younger crowd? You know...the kind that loves to drink Jager only because they haven't realized that eventually your stomach boycotts that stuff. Who knows? I just personally don't really enjoy Jager anymore, nor do I think a majority of the crowd that night did either but who am I to judge such a mass. I was offered a couple Jager shots myself, but politely declined in an effort to avoid spending some quality time with my toilet the next morning. On a positive note, however, the venue was coated with an infinite amount of event posters (in color!) so nobody went home empty-handed. More details after the jump!

Hot Pink Delorean @ Spannk

Tomorrow Saturday, April 14th, Neon Liger is proud to bring you Hot Pink Delorean at Spannk in downtown Gainesville, Florida. This is certainly not the first time Hot Pink Delorean has made an appearance in Gainesville's club scene, so I can assure you all that this will be a rowdy time! Opening acts will be by Vi, Sketch, and Lady Cherelle. There will be no cover if you join the event on facebook (here) and by arriving to the venue before 11pm, anytime after that entry will be $5. They will also have FREE beer from 10pm until it all runs out so make sure to get there early!  Hot Pink Delorean was named one of the top 100 Djs in the US, so these guys are definitely something you want to check out if you've missed their previous Gainesville shows.  

For more information check out Hot Pink Delorean's facebook and Sound Cloud.

Also, here is their song  "Club Crashers," enjoy! 

Are you happy?

The first time I ever saw Miike Snow was at Hard NYC: Turkey Soup in 2010. It was a DJ set. They played some of the hottest bangers of the time and rocked the crowd in preparation for Flying Lotus, A-Trak, and Tiga. Other than the plentiful remixes of “Silvia” and “Animal” (of which my favorites are Silvia [Sebastian Ingrosso & Dirty South remix] and Animal [Fake Blood remix]), I didn’t know much about the DJ duo. Turns out the Swedish electro/indie-pop band, Miike Snow, are made up of producers Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, and vocalist, Andrew Wyatt.

Miike Snow released their second studio album, Happy to You, on March 13, 2012.

Wedjating

Midnight Conspiracy's performance last Thursday night was one wild adventure. It was held at the newly opened Club Stereo in the downtown area of Gainesville. I had heard mixed reviews of this place, but from what I experienced the other night I think it was a good choice and a nice change from the usual. The dance floor is much bigger than other venues in town and provided for adequate space for all kinds of dancing, and by that I mean anything from booty dancing to light string poi. Catch the rest of the review, along with more pictures, after the jump!

2012 Lollapalooza lineup!

The official 2012 Lollapalooza line-up has finally been released! With headliners like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, Jack White and the Black Keys, this is one festival you definitely want to pencil into your summer agenda. Other supporting acts include The Shins, Justice, Miike Snow, Bassnectar, Sigur Ros, Bloc Party, Calvin Harris, Porter Robinson, Madeon, SBTRKT, Die Antwoord, Santigold, and so much more. Read the full lineup below.

This will mark the 21st anniversary of Lollapalooza, which will once again be held in the heart of the city's downtown Grant Park, so don't miss your chance to be a part the Chicago summer tradition! 3-Day General Admission tickets for this year's Lolla are still on sale for $230 (plus fees + taxes), and they're going fast! Early bird tickets have already sold out. Click here for more ticket information and watch the official line-up video below!

A Lil Help from the Doctor

Allen Aucoin, known as Dr. Fameus to some, but probably better known as the drummer of The Disco Biscuits to many, did a small sound check before starting his set. Twisting and turning knobs, hitting a drum and a symbol once or twice, the Doctor had arrived.

Read More

Portugal. The Man & The Polish Ambassador

Get ready Gainesville! There are two phenomenal acts coming your way this April 10th and 11th. Brought to you by Glory Days Presents, Portugal. The Man and The Polish Ambassador will be showcasing their talent in downtown Gainesville.

Portugal. The Man will be held on Tuesday, April 10th at The Florida Theatre. Openers include The Lonely Forest and Mikei & Co. Doors are at 8 pm and the show starts at 8:30 pm. Tickets in advanced are $17 and can be found HERE or locally at Hear Again Music. Tickets the day of the event will be $20. There will be a $2 surcharge for those under the age of 21.

Currently on the "RemixUrFace" Spring 2012 Tour, The Polish Ambassador will be playing on Wednesday, April 11th at Double Down. Doors are at 8 pm and the show will begin at 9 pm. Machines are People Too is also featured on this tour and local Parker Robinson with MC Masson Rager will be opening. Advanced tickets are $12, found HERE, but can also be bought at High Tides or Hear Again Music with no fees. The day of the event, tickets will be $15. There will be a $2 surcharge for those under the age of 21.


For more info, and music, on both of these artists, follow the jump.

Lightning in a Bottle’s Lucent Temple of Consciousness - Sanctuary for the Soul

Orchestrating a music festival is one thing; developing mindfulness and spiritual liberation is another. Lightning in a Bottle is one of the few music festivals that recognizes the importance of progressive consciousness. The 7th annual Lucent Temple of Consciousness offers something beyond music to those who take the time to enlighten themselves, ranging from but not limited to: yoga workshops, humanitarian speakers such as Global Thought co-founder Reverend Michael Beckwith, education on sustainability, and global indigenous music. Just as my pen name (United Intellect) suggests, life is much more than living in the present. Surely pleasure is and should be a part of all humans but there is much more to life than just being a hedonist or strictly living for self-pleasure; many people are not as fortunate as we are and wisdom, education, and progression are values that are universally beneficial. Lightning in a Bottle offers foundations to such a perception in various forms: culturally rich music, creating harmony and balance of the soul, and purifying the minds of those who wish to open up and embrace diversity. Check out their lineup for this year's Lucent Temple of Consciousness below.

The Lucent Temple of Consciousness at Lightning in a Bottle offers much more than the mainstream music festivals, they offer an abundance of EDUCATION. Not the mundane education from your Statistics professor, but rather purifying, mindful education from international experts who are reaching out with a helpful hand to pull those up who are willing do more than just dance (although it is pretty damn fun isn't it?). These experts offer continuity of intellect. So go out there, dance until your toes poke holes through your TOMS, and take a few minutes out of your day to climb atop the lofty hill of spiritual progression at Lightning in a Bottle. Good things come to those who wait, but better things come to those who take a course of active benevolence. 

And hopefully many who read this say something like "I want good things, for sure, but "I" is just an illusion, a temporary manifestation of ubiquitous universal unity." Well, for those of you who understand this concept, I will see you at the Lucent Temple of Consciousness! And for those who did not think such thoughts, no need to worry; I will see you there as well! We all can learn something from one another. So escape the chaos of everyday life and embrace both pleasure and universal progression at Lightning in a Bottle this coming Memorial Day weekend. Check out their website at www.lightninginabottle.org for more information. If you want to see change in your lifetime than embrace the change yourself - seek happiness and connection.

The Groove Is King: The Black Keys

The rock genre is one that has evolved throughout the years, blossoming into different, yet closely related sub-genres that include psychedelic, glam, punk, metal, grunge, alternative, indie, hardcore, etc. You may not fancy all of these variations of the genre, nevertheless they offer an array of styles purposely designed to cater to the diverse amount of musical pallets that reside among us. Although, like it or not, they all remain connected as a result of the unifying factors that arise from the soulfulness of blues.  The same roots that Akron, Ohio natives, The Black Keys (BK), have successfully mastered as a blues rock duo. I love electronic music, but I without a doubt love the marvels of a raw, instrumental performance and these guys do a great f*%#!g job at it!


More after the jump!

An original story

Check out Mux Mool's first ever music video for the song "Cash for Gold" off his newest album, Planet High School. After a few more months of touring, he'll make an appearance at Camp Bisco this summer. You won't want to miss out on that one.