Photo Credit: Ashley Soo

Fox Theater – Oakland, CA
Live Review: 10/30/11

“Tinariwen” means deserts in the Tuareg dialect spoken in Northern Mali. The band which takes the name of “deserts” also calls the Sahara its home. Six members of the assouf guitar band played the Fox Oakland Theatre last night, opening for Cake’s Unlimited Sunshine tour. They played eight songs of African blues music full of rhythmic force and traditional melodies. While the Mississippi Delta may run through the vein of American blues music, Tinariwen invokes the desert-dwelling and nomadic soul of the Tuareg people. Thousands of miles from its origin, the music felt universal in its basic intent: expressing the feelings which anchor you to a place and people. →

The Definitive Documentary on Design Icons Charles & Ray Eames
IFC Center – NY, NY & Laemmle Music Hall – LA, CA
11/18/11

“The Eames Era,” began in the optimistic flush of American victory during World War II, and the global impact of the Eames aesthetic continues to grow unabated today. Now, First Run Features is pleased to present the U.S. theatrical premiere of Jason Cohn and Bill Jersey’s definitive and unprecedented cinematic foray into the private world of the Renaissance-style studio that Charles and Ray Eames conceived in a cavernous warehouse on a gritty street in Venice Beach, California where design history was born. →

The 9th TWO-HEADED BEAST: A Storytelling Show
Stories Books and Cafe – Echo Park, CA
11/5/11

This intimate storytelling event is curated and hosted by Dave Ross and Jake Weisman. Please come enjoy original, personal stories from all sorts of weirdos, including authors, professional storytellers, comedians, television personalities and many others! →

The Halloween Edition of Fast Fwd
Little Temple – LA, CA
10/29/11

This Saturday, the peeps at Fast Fwd kick off Halloween a bit early at Little Temple as they welcome the freaks, the ghouls, the soul snatchers and party people to come rock with them. Coming off from last week’s rousing party with Mad Decent, the event returns to its regular scheduled programming w/ resident DJs: Anthony Valadez and Destroyer alongside KG Superstar in two rooms, two fully stocked bars and all around positive vibe. →

Global Psychedelia for the Halloween Spirits!
Club Los Globos – Silverlake, CA
10/28/11

The folks over at B-Music, Not Not Fun and Finders Keeper proudly presents a night of sonic macabre and vintage hauntology from live artists and DJs from ’round the psychedelic globe.  This haunting event will inaugurate the newly renovated and amazing soundstage/dancefloor of the local spot, Los Globos! →

The Echo and Funky Sole Present The Stepkids
The Echo – Echo Park, CA
10/29/11

The Stepkids album has been on serious heavy rotation at the office of EM Magazine and we’re excited to welcome the three-piece Connecticut band back to our hood!  Tomorrow night they will be playing live at the Echo. In the meantime, check out their latest video for “Legend in My Own Mind” directed by comedian Tom Scharpling.

The critically acclaimed band blends futuristic electro soul with Pink Floyd-esque psychedelia, making them one of the most exciting bands to come out in awhile.  Not to mention the immersive psychedelic visuals that elevates their live shows to the stratosphere. Their Saturday show also includes  a DJ set by Peanut Butter Wolf DJ. So check it! →

Thundercat, Flying Lotus, and The Golden Age of Apocalypse
Brainfeeder
(2011)

Thundercat – “Daylight”

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The Golden Age of Apocalypse is Brainfeeder’s middle finger to the world.  Steve Ellison, who we know as Flying Lotus, founded Brainfeeder in 2008 to create a record label and—more importantly—a multifaceted musical coterie that would carve a new corner for themselves in a music world that was still fumbling to define a genre or provide a appropriate platform for their talent.  →

Andrew Bird in Collaboration with Ian Schneller
Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art
12/21 & 12/22/11

The Sonic Arboretum is a collaboration between composer / violinist Andrew Bird and artist / sculptor / inventor Ian Schneller of Specimen Products. It is a sonic installation consisting of a “forest” of plant-shaped audio horn speakers powered by custom-made tube amplifiers. These speakers and amps will blanket the atrium at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and serve as a compositional garden for Bird who will create new site-specific compositions that play continuously as museum visitors meander and follow the music’s lead. →

Bahamas, Booze and Band Contests!
From Miami to Bahamas and Back
2/10 thru 2/13/12

Bruise Cruise is thrilled to team up with Flavorpill for a Cabin Giveaway Contest. One lucky couple will win a cabin [2 tickets] on board the Bruise Cruise to experience the vacation of a lifetime. You can enter here: http://flavorpill.com/thehookup/bruisecruise/enter.html

The festival has also announced a “Design a Bruise Cruise Postcard Contest”, where contestants can illustrate their own Bruise Cruise postcard. Two designs will be selected to be used as promotional material for BC 2012. Winners will receive an autographed box set of the limited edition Bruise Cruise Records vinyl, a tote bag featuring Bruiser Apparel (swimwear & tees), and more. →

MED’s New Release Out Nov 1st
A quick glance at MED’s discography shows many classic releases from years past: Madvillain’s Madvillainy, Madlib’s Shades of Blue, J Dilla’s The Shining, Lootpack’s Soundpieces, Quasimoto’s Unseen. Each appearance showcases his well-rounded knack for lyricism, ranging from vivid street imagery to nostalgia to everything. On November 1st we have MED adding a new title to that list. →