If you were looking forward to seeing up and coming indie darlings Atlas Genius and platinum-selling Imagine Dragons perform live this year, you might have to wait until next season — seeing as how the bands have currently sold out 19 dates on their tour. But there may be one more chance for Southern California to enjoy these two acts live…
Imagine Dragons performing live in Orlando. Photo courtesy Facebook
I don’t think I could have predicted the amount of sold out dates on the Atlas Genius and Imagine Dragons tour this year, but it’s quite shocking. Hearing that the House of Blues San Diego was sold out made since: the venue really isn’t that big and these two bands are quickly outgrowing the smaller digs that they’ve selected for their tour. But upon further inspection, one will find that the bands have also sold out at least 19 dates, including shows in Boston, Portland, Anaheim, Canada and two dates in Chicago. Yowsa!
Tickets are still floating about on ticket resellers such as StubHub, which is great if you have anywhere between $114 to $350 to spare on one ticket alone. For most of us, that’s a little too steep for one night of fun, regardless of how much buzz these bands have generated. These resellers bring up the question of ticket scalping, making me wonder if this is some sort of inside job to monopolize the indie market on these bands. Ticket scalping is infamous for targeting big acts and major sporting events, but for two indie bands? It seems a little improbable. Or maybe that is my conspiracy theory side getting the best of me.
Regardless of all of this, there are still at least two chances for the Southern California crowd to see Imagine Dragons and Atlas Genius sometime before 2014. Tickets are still currently available for Santa Barbara and Bakersfield tour dates — and at the regular, face value price. That is, if you want to drive the approximate three hours to see them perform. (Honestly…I would and just might!)
But if those dates will turn out anything like the beginning of their tour, the tickets are sure to be gone very quickly.
In the meantime, there’s always the internet to quench your indie thirst for these two great acts. And with today’s release of Atlas Genius’ well anticipated full length album When It Was Now, you have all new goodies from this band, just waiting to be devoured.
Let us know in the comments below if you plan on attending one of the tour dates for Atlas Genius and Imagine Dragons!
String player performing with The Red Paintings (Photo credit: mystikeel)
Music and art have always been combined, and most people do it right. (read: local Beats and Brushes event hosted by RiPs Entertainment.) Psychedelic performance art rockers The Red Paintings do it with a flair that will keep your ears peeled and your eyes glued to the stage. Trust me when I say, you have never seen or heard anything like this.
That’s why our Guilty Pleasure of the Week segment is coming back with a bang in the form of this Australian, genre-bending, orchestral rock group. Fascination pretty much surrounds this music project, from the moment you listen to the music, to the story behind how lead singer and musical mastermind Trash McSweeney began his musical journey. One near-fatal seizure and many inspiring moments later, and The Red Paintings was born.
Gimmicky bands are sometimes a hit or a miss, but with this group the gimmick is simply artful, colorful, mesmerizing and sometimes downright acid-trip inducing entertainment. Woven around all of that creativity is a voice that isn’t quite perfect but manages to fit into the theme of the music completely. Add in the sweet yet ominous sounds of string instruments, which are usually included in their live ensemble as well, and The Red Paintings succeed in creating its own little Tim Burton-esque world.
The performance is theatrical, and sometimes over-obsessed with Alice in Wonderland, but the music is more than just a soundtrack to a play. McSweeney croons one moment and sears through his lyrics the next, as the dynamics of each song rise and fall like a tumultuous ocean. Still, beautiful pseudo-ballads such as “We Belong in the Sea” are just as alluring and can stand alone without the stage antics.
In essence, the entire package of The Red Paintings is perfect, complete with a big red bow on top.
This is the kind of music experience that is extremely fun to watch live, especially since the group adds in a real-time art collaboration featuring local artists at each of their tour destinations, and even occasionally including human canvasses.
Alright, now are you convinced? If you are, head over to the Griffin on Valentine’s Day (February 14th, in case you forgot), for The Red Paintings, Stone Horse, The Falling Doves and others.
This is a little mini post. I am turning over a new leaf with this website. I, being the owner, Stephanie. By the end of this post, I am going to need your help.
For those of you who have ever wondered what it would be like to have your own site dedicated to the music scene of San Diego, I have one word for you: Exhausting! That’s the first word that comes to mind, but trust me, that’s not the only one. I can also say that this site is fun, inspirational, and even downright surprising at times. Through hard work and dedication one can get so much done, and see so many things, and I’ve definitely done that over the year.
But there’s a problem. There’s a big stain on my site lately and I’ve been totally lacking in elbow grease. Let’s say that my inspiration is the elbow grease — so you get my drift. I got too roped up in all the opportunities that this site brought about and I worried too much about pleasing everyone else. I realized that at the end of the day this is MY project, and thus I have to start thinking of it in that way.
I thought long and hard about all of the things that bring me inspiration, and I thought about all of the articles I have posted on the site over the course of the past year. Yes, it will be a year on November 21st, since I created my dot com. I know it’s a little too soon for New Years-like nostalgia, but just stick with me for a moment. I thought back and I realized that I had the most fun, the most inspiration, while working on two projects. The first was a piece I did on my friend’s project, Immovable Objects. I sat in the studio with Matt Gagin and his friends, and I learned so much. I witnessed their dedication and talent, and I got to dive right into their musical world. It was enlightening to be let in on such a process.
The second thing was the shortly famous Streetside Sessions. My most views ever on this site came the day after I posted that video. I remember I could hardly contain myself, as I kept having to push back its debut date on the site. I just wanted to share it already! Not only that, but being on the streets of Bankers Hill, listening to a San Diego musician play their songs for their entire neighborhood to hear, was magical. I watched people come out of their balconies to sip a cup of coffee and just listen and admire. I watched passerbys stop to ask insightful questions, and one person even offered a tip! To say that the project was a success would be a severe understatement.
Those were my two favorite moments of theIndie SD, ever. Now I invite you all to help me turn over a new leaf.
Help me help musicians, local musicians, people who want to share their music on a street corner, or conduct an impromptu concert in a park. People who want to genuinely share their love for creation and art. Tell me which bands you think should be a part of something like this. I seriously want to know.
And more so than that, tell me what you want to see on a local music site. What do you not want to see? What kinds of things have you always wanted to do with the San Diego music scene? I know it sounds like I’m just stealing your ideas, but what I want is everyone to have the chance to be a part of this. Music is a community event. It’s something to be shared and experienced, whether you play an instrument or not, whether you sing like an angel or croak like a frog. Consider all of you guys and gals, all of you out there reading this, cordially invited to be a part of it. Come into studios. Sit down with others and learn about their music. Head bang at local music shows. And yes, listen to some great, amazing musicians, playing on the streets of San Diego.
Because at the end of the day, I get absolutely nothing out of this site, no money, no fame, nothing — except fun. I’m profiting off of inspiration. And I want to share the profits with all of you. Here are more than a few ways to reach me, there’s also a comment form, and please don’t be shy! This isn’t just my music scene. It’s all of ours. And we all get to be a part of this creative process, don’t we?
Trouble in the Wind. Photo courtesy their website.
I know it’s technically almost the middle of the week but this is perfect timing to try something a little different, in the form of alt-country groovers Trouble in the Wind, who have masterfully placed their own laid-back, melodic emotion into a quaint version of folk music. Their sound is almost reminiscent to the far out, hippie generation of the 70s that makes you want to pull out the flowers and the peace signs, and I’m diggin’ it.
Lead singer Robbie Gira brings a modern tone to the music with his almost effortless vocals, while the band (including banjo, accordion, and an upright bassist) flow out a steady instrumentation that keeps your ears happy, even if you can’t always make out the words.
This band is…underground cool. And the reason why this band is the definition of underground cool (a term that I just made up right now)? They’re naturally packed with emotion, superb musicianship, and just enough melody to get their songs stuck in your head in the best way possible. They know their genre, and yet they’re not quite like everything else that you’ll hear out there. And on top of all of that, I’ve had the pleasure to hear them live, and they pull out all the stops in person, too.
If you’re in San Diego, check out Trouble in the Wind at the Belly Up this week. Flowers and bell bottoms not required. But also, let me know what YOU think about their style.
In the vein of predecessors Pepper and Sublime,Tomorrows Bad Seeds is attempting to put their own unique stamp on the whole fusion-Reggae appeal, and I have to admit, I kinda like it. When I lived in Hawaii, I discovered an ongoing musical feud between authentic Reggae-loving Rastafarians and their mainstream cousins who fuse anything from Hawaiian music to Spanish influences into their sound. Most people think if it isn’t reggae, don’t call it reggae. And I get where they’re coming from.
But music isn’t really about the name game, especially when you have a band with such a versatile sound. In the past, this South Bay Los Angeles based band walked the line of reggae and rock, but I have a feeling TBS will be premiering their brand new, anthem rock inspired songs all throughout Warped Tour.
So then… what do you call this genre? TBS is incorporating an assortment of sounds on their 2012 release The Great Escape. From the track “Ballerina Girl” which is a serious throwback to early 2000s pop and r&b, to their dance-flavored tunes which sound like they should be played over the speakers of a Hollister store, not a Rastafarian’s radio; they’ve got a lot going on. Sprinkled in there are those familiar beachy, pseudo-reggae songs that make the album just enough feel good, and not too serious.
So can we just call it the Feel Good genre? Is that too suggestive for radio play? What do you think?
Maybe the rough yet melodic rockers of Funeral Party were on to something when they named their band; when you listen to the monotone yet searing vocals of Chad Elliott over the melodic and sometimes dance worthy riffs behind the music, it’s hard to tell whether it’s a funeral or a party. Perhaps these LA natives strive for both, and that’s what makes their music interesting to hear.
It’s easy to tell why they became a cult hit in their local neighborhood, but you have to give them props for catching the ear of Lars Stalfors, a producer who has worked with the likes of The Mars Volta, Juliette Lewis, and Reel Big Fish. Factor in their own decision to get dropped from predominantly pop-punk Fearless Records (they were later signed with Sony), and it’s now up to Funeral Party to not only prove they can hack it mainstream, but also convince us of their sound.
Pseudo-pop and ironic clashes of genres are the next big thing, making Funeral Party pretty damn catchy, despite the lack of melody in Elliott’s vocals. But I’m waiting to see if they can take the energy-driven garage show and put it in a package that will make Sony Music proud.
On a completely unrelated note, their website is probably one of the coolest I’ve ever seen. But what do you think? Would you see them at Warped?
It’s that time of year again boys and girls. Teenagers, PETA warriors, and one journalist-like, music loving blogger will be sweaty and dehydrated for the chance to see a handful of metal-core bands and one or two fairly awesome closers. But wait, don’t hate on Warped Tour just yet. I know it tends to be a biased music production, but with over 90 bands performing there is bound to be something for everyone — a few diamonds in the rough — which is why I’m highlighting some particularly shiny Guilty Pleasures of the Week for the rest of June.
I have to start with gruff, rough-around-the-edges rock group Dead Sara, because I have a weakness for female-fronted bands. And the first moment that I heard the unique vocals of Emily Armstrong part screaming, part singing over the powerful guitar riffs that are an ode to the nu metal style of the 90s, I was in love. Armstrong seems to channel the fiery rasp of Janis Joplin as she pours either pure emotion or raw energy (I can’t tell which one) into the lyrics “So go for the kill/’Cause no one else cares!” from the single “Weatherman”.
But don’t get me wrong, Armstrong is no Joplin. Armstrong is at times missing style and magnetism in her voice, causing some to say Dead Sara’s debut full length album as a whole falls a little flat. Despite the huge growth spurt of the band, it’s probably going to be up to their live performances to convince audiences that they are definitely not a one-trick pony and have more to offer. (Just check out some of the meaningless heavy debate on the YouTube page for this video for more on how unconvinced a few people are.)
But… it is their first album. They are allowed a first album to put themselves out there and grow from here on out. Despite the lack of dynamic, I’m excited to see what they can pull out for their sophomore attempt. But what do you think? Do you think we’ll hear more from this band in the future?
Portuguese pseudo-pop band CSS is kind of a walking contradiction — in the best way possible. Lead singer Lovefoxxx has a witty tenacity for lyrics that play on the whole idea of the pop and dance music genre in general. And with a band name that translates in English to “tired of being sexy”, they’re surprisingly refreshing at times, both with their subject matter and their willingness to walk the thin line of downright bizarre.
Don’t believe me? Try checking out their song about Paris Hilton, which uses the word “bitch” about a million times. (Not an exaggeration…well, sort of an exaggeration.) Their latest single “City Grrrl” plays on the popular view of beauty in world-famous New York City, and gives a really smart insight into American pop culture from the eyes of an outsider. Witty — and you can dance to it. Think about that, or ignore the smart mumbo jumbo and just sing along.
This guy takes “music lover” to a whole new level.
There’s a popular consensus among young people that lately has been spread around by Bieber-obsessed teenagers, Tupac-hologram loving hip-hoppers, and well, hipsters. And that consensus is…you’re a music lover and you “really” know music. Guess what, my friend, you really don’t.
If you’re reading this, you are either the kind of person who calls yourself a bona fide music lover, or you know someone who fits the description above. There are some problems with a select few of people who call themselves music lovers when they don’t really love music. Saying you’re a music lover and then only listening to one thing is like saying you love blacks because you’ve got that one black friend. Obviously it’s not as harsh as this example, but you get the idea. Everyone has different tastes and shows favoritism to those, but that doesn’t mean if we like pizza, we close the door at the sight of anything that isn’t a simple slice of cheese. Even beer enthusiasts will submit themselves to the “dear gods above I just drank piss!” face if it means they get to try a new type of ale.
The problem is there are music crimes happening out there, and they come in the form of close-minded “music lovers”. I don’t completely blame the offenders, however. A one-sided view of music begins at an early age. We all remember that time in our lives, right before we realized we had nothing figured out and right after we thought we knew everything: adolescence. It’s during this time that we forget we already are someone and instead try to focus on being someone else. We identify with a niche market of entertainment and then dress, act, and practically pretend to be our favorite celebrities and musicians. Which is fun when you’re young and naive, or at least can pretend that you’re still young and naive and remotely get away with it.
But you’re not fourteen anymore. Relax, man! It’s no longer “uncool” to admit that classical music at least makes you curious. It’s not embarrassing to say you like that one Kelly Clarkson song. Yet most of us never get there, trapped in that untaught world where we’re either too afraid to try something new, or too stubborn to grow the f up. If you find yourself falling into one of these following categories, yet calling yourself a music lover, perhaps it’s time to dial down the ego and open up your mind, at least just once.
1. Little Monsters. And Beliebers. And Directioners. When people are on the hunt for their identity, they make the grave mistake of labeling themselves. After all, why be you when you could be a “Little Monster”, love child of the ultimate Lady Gaga. Why put your passion into many things, when you can be a Belieber and fuel all of that passion into letting the world know how amazing (I’m using that word out of quote, not out of fact) Justin Beiber is. It’s this group that probably has it the worst. Are you afraid that Lady Gaga will hate you if you skip out on her record to listen to some rock instead? Will you lose your chance at having Justin Beiber’s babies if you choose a punk rock song over him? The truth is, they don’t care what you’re listening to, as long as you’re making them money. So buy the next One Direction album, and then save your mind from stalemating in an ignorant pop cycle and try listening to something else for a change. Plus, grandpa was right — they’re just trying to brainwash you with that crap.
2. Punk Rock Don’t Stop. You’ve got all the piercings, you had your sleeves tatted when you were 12, and everything you own has holes in it. Congratulations, you are a punk rocker, a rebel with a cause, a pure anarchy machine. How about a mainstream song? Before you start ranting about the problems with rock stars who actually make money and can afford to record an album, take a moment to relax just a bit. You can still be a mean, green, punk rocking machine and let a little light into your life in the form of a different genre. Listening to Bach doesn’t make you any less hardcore. In fact, I bet Beethoven would have been a punk rocker if he grew up in our time.
3. “I like anything with a good beat.” This is just code for: if it isn’t played at the club, I don’t like it. If I can’t get drunk and party to it, it’s a no go. If it doesn’t have lyrics about drinking, partying, sex, sex in public places, money, fast cars, more sex or all of the above, it just doesn’t cut it for me. There is a huge lifestyle that is associated with “beat music” — the hip hop and rap and dance of our current generation that’s really just a form of glorified pop. Trust me, there’s nothing wrong with anything that lets me party. But the next time you’re driving in your car, remember that it’s okay to turn the party off for just a moment and enjoy some Nirvana. Or maybe Bob Marley could tickle your club-hopping fancy. Not every situation calls for a song that yells “ass ass ass ass” over and over again. Besides, people have been dancing to other genres of music for years — I know, shocking but true.
4. Hipsters. I don’t even have to say more, but I will. You guys get your own category, especially since music to most hipsters is just another way to show off your “knowledge” of bands that no one has ever heard. The slogan of the hipster, music-loving world seems to be “if it’s bad, it’s good!” Really. Just listen to that for a moment. Trust me, your beard won’t magically disappear if you listen to something that – gasp – hit the top ten on the Billboard charts this year. Maybe your hipster friends will hate you if you admit to owning and enjoying something that will never be released on vinyl, but do you really want friends around who are going to hate you for broadening your music horizons? Didn’t think so.
These are just the major groups of self-deceiving “music lovers” who claim to absolutely love all things related to music and yet can only muster up enough courage to listen to one thing, one genre, or one artist. Music lovers definitely don’t have to love everything. For instance, I am not a big fan of country at all. But yes, I have subjected my ears to three short minutes of an iconic country jam, because what’s so wrong with giving it a chance? I knew that at most, I’d walk away still pretty adamant on hating the fiddle and anything related to it. But most of the time when we open our ears to something new, we find that there’s more than one music genre out there for us. And if you’re a true audiophile, it shouldn’t be a big deal to just simply try it out. Often times, those that parade themselves as “music lovers” are simply infatuated with one individual or one lifestyle that just so happens to be about one type of music. Hey, if you love Lady Gaga, there’s nothing wrong with that. But maybe you should think twice about proclaiming to love music, when really you love crazy, dance-possessed, meat-wearing performers.
And if you honestly do feel you are a music lover but you haven’t been holding true to that, go out there and find more music to love! And hipsters, this is not an invitation to compete over who is the biggest music lover. Sorry.
What do you think? Are there other groups that commit this a capella crime that weren’t mentioned above? Post your very important opinions below! And hipsters, this is not an invitation to compete over who has the most unique opinion. Sorry again.
I could riddle this post with a lot of puns and innuendos about special packages from Invisible Children (I think that’s illegal in … well, all 50 states) or unveiling the naked truth about this organization. But instead, I’m going to ask you to answer a question: What do you really know about Kony 2012?
I’ll be honest, here’s what I know:
I know there’s someone snatching children up in Africa, and it isn’t Peter Pan or Angelina Jolie. I know a lot of people don’t understand the use of film as propaganda, (which is ironic, considering how many products we buy or point of views we change from just watching a film.) I know someone may have had an incident in Pacific Beach…yeah.
I’m not an expert on Invisible Children and what they do, and I’m sure neither are you. Unless you’re a huge philanthropist, then you kind of rock! For the rest of us, however, there’s still room to grow and to give, which means shedding light on these important issues instead of, ahem, shedding clothes. (Okay I promise, that’s the last one!)
One of the best feelings that music can bring is a sense of unity on a subject or topic. They don’t call it a universal language for nothing. With that in mind, when production company Ladies in Boots announced a charity show on April 24th to help bring awareness to Invisible Children, they knew that the event would give the perfect platform to help answer some of those questions that you have. Coupling the folky yet soulful music of Katie Leigh & the Infantry, The Paragraphs and Trouble in the Wind with a full presentation of Kony 2012: Part II should make the night both fun and informational.
But if you’re really not convinced yet, why not hear about the whole situation from someone who has actually been there? Guest speaker Papito has lived through the conflict, and will give an account that is sure to answer any other questions that might be lingering in your mind about what is happening in Uganda.
So, do you want to answer the question I posed earlier? What do you know about Kony 2012? Invisible Children? What kind of finances does Invisible Children acquire? What is really going on in Uganda?
And most importantly, how can you help?
Why not start by checking out a really great show full of really talented musicians on April 24th at the Griffin San Diego. More information can be found on the Facebook page for the event. At the very least, you’ll have a good time. But hopefully, in addition to this, you’ll learn more about Invisible Children and finally answer any of those questions you had about this issue.
I know I have a lot of questions that I want answered. How about you? If there’s anything that you’ve really wanted to ask, now is the time! Let us know your questions, or post them on the Facebook event wall!
The Indie 