GIVERS

Hello all,

I just attended the Ra Ra Riot concert at the Great American Music Hall on Saturday with absolutely no knowledge of the opener's name or music. I was a little bummed because I originally thought Pepper Rabbit (who you should also check out) was opening but they are only playing two shows with Ra Ra Riot in Oregon this week. So Givers, a band from Lafayette, LA, was set up open.

I soon learned that Givers had toured with the Dirty Projectors and also Ra Ra Riot and had played SXSW before as well. Fronted by Taylor Guarisco on guitar/vocals and Tif Lamson doing percussion/ukelele/vocals as well, Givers plays with an overwhelming energy that my friends and I instantly fell in love with. With guitar that sounds a little Vampire Weekend-esque, and an extremely talented drummer in Kirby Campbell, Givers puts on a show that has crowds with no previous knowledge of them instantly jumping and dancing.

Their recordings are solid but do not do justice to their frenzied and enchanting live performance. GO SEE THEM LIVE.

Stay golden,

Brian

Big City Sound Girl / Grown For A Minute

Hello everyone,

I am just checking in for a quick post of two incredibly unique hip hop songs. First, it is a group from Winnepeg called The Lytics that is set to play at SXSW this year. "Big City Sound Girl" has a refreshing hip-hop sound that is reminiscent of the 90's with samples in the background that almost sound like Gold Panda. Secondly, e-dubble just released "Grown For A Minute" on Friday as his 50th straight Friday Freestyle single release. e-dubble, from Philadelphia, is talented at rapping as well as producing, each song having high production quality. His use of Jonsi's "Boy Lilikoi" sample is also used to perfection for his song.

Stay golden,

Brian

Of Monsters and Men (and other good shizz)

Hello again,

It has been far too long and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's. After a few week hiatus that consisted of finals, superfluous amounts of wine and other alcoholic beverages, and also a week without internet, I now come to you from Sea-Tac Aiport outside Seattle, WA, as I have finally gotten a free moment to write before school starting tomorrow. 8 am tomorrow marks an awful morning taken up by business calculus which makes me want to punch babies and then a class for learning to teach the performing arts to children. I have no idea what the hell I will be doing being that I do not know shit about performing arts let alone teaching it.

Anywho, I have a few song recommendations that have been constantly playing on my Itunes. First, it is an Icelandic band named Of Monsters and Men. Their song, "Little Talks" has become one of my recent favorites. I guess I just have a thing for Icelanders since Sigur Ros/Jonsi and Jens Lekman are favorites of mine as well. Of Monsters and Men provide a fresh sound consisting of a great female/male duet with catchy acoustic guitar and chorus. Although they do not have an album to sell, their songs are easy to find to download over the internet. Below is a great live version of the song from a radio station session.

Secondly, I can always use more Edward Sharpe in my life. I have heard several remixes of "Home," but Whole-Z's remix has become my instant favorite. I first heard of Whole-Z a couple years ago for his mashup album, "Fire In The Whole", so I decided to give his remix a listen when I saw it on a music blog. In my book, it is definitely superior to the Party Supplies and Myndest remixes and it gives a new way to listen to one of the best songs of 2010.

Stay golden,

Brian