The Source

Friday, August 5, 2011

SQS: Neil Young's New Music Listening System is Making Waves

SQS

What does it mean? 
Is that an acronym? 
Is this digital? 
When is it coming out? 
What's better than vinyl? 
How old is Neil Young? 
Wait, who is Neil Young? 
Can I just listen to my iPod instead?
Is this a Justin Bieber collaboration?

Depending on your age and your level of intelligence you may be asking yourself a few of the above questions. And quite frankly, we all have questions about this "SQS" project because it's relatively secret and the details of the device (if it even is a device) are unknown to most.

What we do know is that Neil Young is creating a 'music listening device' that is supposed to put out incredible sound quality as well as integrating this into the music world we've come to enjoy such as downloading content, web access, etc. 

Some Tweety Tweets about it:


Just an FYI, the original tweet that broke this story is pictured above. Mr. Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers mentioned it once and people are already going nuts with curiosity.

So keep your eyes and ears open for more info about this and hit me up on the comments or Facebook....let's break the news right here on The Source!!!


P.S. Neil Young is a LEGEND

(If you don't know....research his work on the internet so you don't look like a fool haha)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Kings of Leon Singer Pussies Out on Stage, Cancels Entire U.S. Tour, and May Even Break Up the Band!!!

Caleb Followill, the front man for Kings of Leon, has really fucked up this time. During a recent show in Dallas Followill ended the show early because his voice was "100% gone" and he was far too exhausted to continue. Rather than explain the details of how lame this is, just watch for yourself:


I'm well acquainted with a lot of musicians and have spoken to a plethora of professional musical performers of all shapes and sizes and I truly cannot fathom how this guy thinks it's okay to do this. This stunt will surely cost the band a lot of fans, money, respect, etc. In all my years of going to 12-Hour long Metal festivals every Summer I completely understand heat exhaustion and performing in tough conditions. However, nothing excuses ending a show early like he did and absolutely NOTHING excuses the cancellation of their entire U.S. tour!!!!

I was never a huge fan of the band but I respected their story and their ability to write great songs. Now??? I hope the whole act goes down in flames. People are busting their asses every fucking day to keep the Kings of Leon Enterprise successful and how does Followill repay them? Take it a step further....the music industry is in a rough patch and it's near impossible to make a living as a musician today. Baby bands are dedicating their lives and all their blood sweat and tears to their music just to survive from day to day and then this asshole just walks off stage because he's too "Dog-Gone Hot" !!!! It's awful and even on my level of involvement I'm offended.

A statement from the group chalked up Friday's meltdown to "heat exhaustion and dehydration… causing [Followill's] vocal chords to seize." However, the rest of the group's reaction to the incident has hinted at the band's internal problems: drummer Nathan Followill called the show a "fiasco" on Twitter, and bassist Jared Followill wrote, "I know you guys aren't stupid. I can't lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade."

The Face of Failure:

Monday, August 1, 2011

LA RISING: Rage Against The Machine Does It Again!!!


Approximately 60,000 people packed into the Coliseum on Saturday Evening as the energy within the arena grew stronger the closer time approached the Rage Against the Machine set. Perfect Weather for an outdoor concert combined with the legendary atmosphere of USC's current home, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to set the stage for the concert of the summer! 

El Gran Silencio kicked things off at 3pm with an authentic and fun set they have become known for. Immortal Technique was up next and it was fucking powerful. Freestyle raps, Revolutionary rants, and Acapella flows defined the set and made for a great pre-lude to the rest of the bands. Ms. Lauryn Hill was the outcast of the line-up however this did not stop her from rockin out hard! The crowd really seemed to enjoy all of these opening acts but Lauryn Hill had all of us jammin! Especially to some of her reggae covers! 

The sun began to set and the crowd continued to work up a buzz @ $9 a beer and well, who knows what they paid for the weed! haha Time for Rise Against!!! I was completely satisfied with Rise Against's set. The production value was not on par with the headliners but they played all their hits and their live rendition of "Hero of War" really touched the diverse audience. After their set it became very clear to me why Rise Against has become such a great sensation; high energy show and catchy ass tunes!!!

Then came Muse! One word sums up the Muse set, WOW! These 3 dudes really know how to put on a show! Amazing light effects and a multi-dimensional visual experience combined with the powerful songs of the Muse catalog to present a truly headlining performance. Each song inspired sing-alongs as well as some psychedelic trippin and to top it off Mathew Bellamy would crank out some classic rock guitar riffs in between songs including favorites from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC. I must admit that some songs were a bit boring, especially considering the audiences tastes and the whole set seemed to run a bit long but overall Muse proved that they are worthy of playing in front of anyone!

Approximately 10:30PM....
Warm, Summer Evening in Los Angeles, CA....
The Scent of Marijuana and stale beer fills the air....
The Mumbling of 60,000 fans vibrate the seats...
Chants begin...rage...rage...Rage...Rage...RAGE...RAGE!!!


RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE!!!!!!!
After an intense intro that including an intense video collaboration that depicted Rage Against the Machine controversies from the past and a complete tranformation from the LA Colisuem into a Red and Black Rage Fest!!! The arches turned red, the black flags and mysterious darkness of the arena was exposed and just as the famous torch went ablaze....so did Rage. "Testify" rang out with furry!!! Despite some early technical difficulties the set grew quickly into an all out party! Party....or riot?? Not sure. Fact is, people were going fucking crazy!!! Rage powered through some of their best including "People of the Sun" and "Township Rebellion"! The encore including a spine chilling speech by Zach De La Rocha and an over the top performance of "Freedom" and "Killing in the Name of". The resounding opinion of the audience was 'We Want More!' While the four members bowed at the front of the stage it almost killed me to realize this may be the greatest band of my generation! It was amazing in all Ways!!



Monday, July 25, 2011

Awolnation: Have You Gone Awol?

Awolnation is hitting it hard in 2011!!!


They released their full length LP Megalithic Symphony back in March of 2011 and it has been quite a success! The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Heat seekers chart as well as #45 on Billboard's Independent Charts. This tremendous success is partly due to the popularity of the hit single "Sail".


"Sail" has a fantastic tone with an innovative smattering of style that has launched it directly upward on the charts. Not to mention, the music video has done much to help create the spacey aura around the song and the band in general. All of this success with the record only compliments Awolnation's ability to perform strongly on stage.

Awolnation is currently travelling across the U.S. promoting Megalithic Symphony on the Nationwide Summer Tour. With the first leg of the tour already capped, Awolnation is picking up momentum for the rest of the tour!


Nationwide Summer Tour Dates

July 2011
July 8 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
July 10 - Milwaukee Summerfest - U.S. Cellular Stage (w/ The Bravery)
July 11 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue *
July 13 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom ^
July 14 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club *
July 15 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground *
July 16 - West Chester, PA - The Note *
July 18 - Washington, DC - Red Palace *
July 19 - Richmond, VA - The Canal Club *
July 20 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa *
July 22 - Charlotte, NC - Tremont Music Hall **
July 23 - Columbia, SC - Jillian's **
July 24 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues **

August 2011
Aug 3 - Fayetteville, AR - George's Majestic Lounge #
Aug 4 - Dallas, TX - The Prophet Bar #
Aug 5 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Studio #
Aug 6 - Tulsa, OK - Brady District Block Party (Flaming Lips, Primus, Mutemath)
Aug 8 - Tuscon, AZ - The Rock #
Aug 10 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades #
Aug 11 - Portland, OR - Roseland #
Aug 12 - Reno, NV - Knitting Factory Concert House #
Aug 14 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory Concert House #
Aug 17 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex | The Rockwell #
Aug 18 - Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall #
Aug 19 - Kansas City, MO - KRBZ's Buzz Beach Ball (Jane's Addiction, Incubus, Bush, Middle Class Rut)
Aug 20 - Calgary, AB - X-FEST (Jane's Addiction, Weezer, Social Distortion)

September 2011
Sept 2 - Seattle, WA - The End's Summer Camp
Sept 18 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival

October 2011
Oct 14 - Pensacola, FL - DeLuna Fest

* (w/ Bear Hands, Redlight King)
** (w/ The Constellations, Redlight King)
# (w/ Wallpaper, New Regime)
^ (w/ Lights Resolve, Redlight King)


Also, Don't forget to download a free copy of "Sail" from Fuse.tv here!!!


Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Help Support Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade Intern Lauren Egbert is doing her part! 

In order to raise support this summer Ms. Egbert is telling her story and spreading the good word to the world! Read her preview and show support in anyway possible and that definitely includes re-posting her info on Facebook!



Lauren's Initial Message:

"When I entered UCSD three years ago my goal was to finish in three years as a psychology major, attend graduate school at Point Loma, and start my career as a school counselor. However, something unexpected happened my second year of college that placed me on a different path.
I met a group of students and staff members from Campus Crusade for Christ and through them I came to understand what it meant to have a personal relationship with Christ.

Growing up I identified as agnostic, and although I had a very loving family and generally great childhood, in high school I was involved in an abusive relationship, and as a result I had a very low self-esteem and began to find my worth in what men said about me. This view of myself still existed when I entered college, but in my first year at UCSD I had a close friend who encouraged me to get involved with a Christian group on campus.

I met a group of people from Campus Crusade for Christ and began going to all of their events and one night during my second year, I attended church with a suitemate and heard a service on God’s unconditional love and grace. Up to this point, I had only experienced a love that was based on my looks or my abilities, but He loved me simply because I am His and was made in Him. I had been so focused on finding my worth in men, who constantly failed in providing me love that I was blinded by the fact that I had a God who loved me unfailingly. That night I gave my life to Christ and every moment since then I have been surrounded with the Campus Crusade community who has consistently encouraged me to grow in my relationship with Christ, giving me a deeper understanding and love of who He is.

Beginning to understand the love he has for me has given me a huge desire to share my relationship with Christ with others and I have been given an amazing opportunity to do this by serving with Campus Crusade at UCSD for an entire year! My team and I will devote this next year to building relationships with students, sharing the love of Christ, and presenting the opportunity to respond to the gift of salvation. I have already started a bible study with a group of freshmen girls and have seen immense growth in their relationship with Christ and it has been a blessed and humble experience allowing God to use my life to accomplish his work.

Because Campus Crusade is a non-profit organization I must raise all of my support this summer. Therefore, I'll be meeting with people and telling them this story, answering their questions regarding the internship, and asking for support in three ways:

- Financial support (either monthly or one-time gifts)
- Prayer
- Referrals (of people you may know who would be able to support me)

Thank you so much for reading my story and if you would like to set up an appointment with me or support me in any way call (951) 961-7807 or email at: lauren.egbert@uscm.org

God bless!"

Red Hot Chili Peppers Return!!!

RHCP HAS RETURNED IN 2011!!!

After a long break since their last release Stadium Arcadium the Red Hot Chili Peppers are slowly but surely revealing the next addition to their illustrious catalog. 

Hear Me Now is set for a Fall 2011 release which will be complemented by a huge world tour over the next few years! As a small taste of glory RHCP has released their first single for the upcoming album,
 "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie"




I'm With You Album Artwork:


"The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" Single Artwork:

Friday, July 8, 2011

Nu-Metal: Love to HATE IT!!!


1998-2003 is a short time period within the expanding history of heavy metal music and while this era certainly marks a peak in the monetary success of professional musicians, it will forever be remembered in the metal world as the “Nu-Metal Era”


Despite growing up and discovering my favorite music during these years I have come to terms with the fact that Nu-Metal is going to be the butt of all jokes for a long time! Even I, the late 90s metal tween that I was, can admit that there was a lot to laugh at in this brief five year surge.

Why Nu-Metal is considered a fucking joke:

                        -Hard Rock mixed with rap
---Okay it was cool when Aerosmith did it with Run DMC in 1986 and YES, Anthrax and Public Enemy owned it in 1991 but by the year 2000 you couldn’t have a famous rock band without a rapper in it (preferably a white rapper who shames the very culture and purpose of traditional rap/hip-hop).

                        -Whiney, Whiney, Americans
---So one potential upside to this era would be the emergence of hundreds of AMERICAN Metal Bands! However, this perk was depleted to irrelevance because the lyrical themes within this genre are so damn whiney! The lead singers in the nu-metal era insist on complaining about life and their problems whether it is politics, society, culture, daddy issues or some other blatant hyperbole. Don’t get me wrong, White Male Americans can have some problems in life (I can probably count them on 1 hand) but at some point it’s better to just chill out and stop screaming on stage about your insecurities.

                        -Neo-gothic….gangstas???
---In the late 90s there were two very distinct trends in musical fashion and aesthetic projection.
1)      The Goth: A varied re-emergence of the ‘80s European Goth scene mixed with the trashy facades influenced by reggae and grunge. Basically, grow dreadlocks, wear black everything, and try to look really eccentric and/or emotionally diverse.
      
      ***Wearing makeup and/or grotesque masks is a plus

2)      The Gangsta: Poser to the max!!! These are the Fred Durst and Jacoby Shaddix type idiots. Surface level lyrics with an awful screaming rap-flow and rarely any real culture or relevant history to support the outcries.

We could certainly extend this list beyond reason and critique the details of the genre and really put it to shame but I think most of us remember this poor era far too well. The rest of this article proves that I grew up in the 90s and belong to the small pathetic minority that still listens to a lot of bands form this era so be warned….you will probably NOT agree with anything I say from here on out haha.

I believe there are some undeniable facts about the Nu-Metal era that will eventually exploit the significance of the movement in the history of music.

One being the irrefutable statistical reality that metal bands were making more money in these few years than ever before. Of course, everyone will certainly jump on the “sell out” train and debase the success as a corporate rock injustice. However, in my opinion there’s nothing wrong with making money playing the music you love, especially if you can manage to stay true to yourself. 2000 was the peak of record sales in the world and aside from Britney Spears and all the boy bands this was the result of immensely popular metal music. Interesting because everyone outwardly and pretentiously ridicules Nu-Metal music but obviously someone was listening to it.

Furthermore, not every musical movement is going to be perfect or even respected for that matter, but one must appreciate every genre for its role in the progress of musical evolution. Nu-metal was a melting pot of genres and culture and it changed music forever! For better or worse is a lob-sided debate at this point but I believe someday in the future Nu-Metal will get it’s due respect. Mainly because there are a handful of bands that deserve some recognition whether you personally like them or not. These bands either propelled the era to the ultimate success that it was and/or have the keen ability to adapt to the times and still flourish in today’s metal palette.


KORN
I must admit I’m biased!!! Korn is my favorite band (yeah, yeah, laugh it up) and they have a deep influence and connection in my life. With that being said Korn has a track record that speaks for itself. They are considered the founders of Ne-Metal as the quintet certainly got the ball rolling with their self titled debut album in 1993. They re-invented MTV Music Videos and completely took over the world for a few years! They’ve sold over 40 Million albums to date and despite popular belief, they’re still very successful today! Their last record peaked at #2 on the billboard charts and right now they’re putting together a dub step album that is sure to intrigue even the most committed Korn haters! They’ve evolved their music with each and every album and remain a staple in the metal scene. With a catalog of over 150 songs, multiple platinum albums, several Grammy awards, and much more, they are sure to go down in history as legends!


DEFTONES:
Another Nu-Metal band that has stood the test of time! These guys prove that you can stay evolved and adapt to current musical culture while remaining true to yourself. Becoming a testament to ‘Art Rock’ and ‘Beautiful Metal” the Deftones


SLIPKNOT:
This one is easy to make fun of, I know. But the reality is that they are a rare case where ridiculous theatrics, silly masks, and over the top masculine clichés are complemented by good musicianship and strong lyrical prowess. They too have evolved a bit over time and their massive success with each album combined with their unprecedented live shows they will be remembered!

Honorary Mentions:
Each of these bands deserve some respect and I could write a book about each one but you’re tired of reading my shit anyways right? These bands represent success and while some are arguably NOT Nu-Metal bands, see if there’s a few that you enjoy!

Linkin Park
System of a Down
Mudvayne
Rage Against the Machine
Limp Bizkit
Godsmack
Disturbed
Machine Head
Incubus
POD
Skindred
Static-X



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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Mortal Kombat Fan??? Skrillex Fan??? Both?? Or maybe your just part of the 99% of the male population on the planet that will watch this and wanna kick someones ass....Or Are you in that 1% who just has no balls -_-


Okay Everyone this video has some pre-requisites:

1) You love Mortal Kombat and/or Skrillex

2) Be Drunk and Angry or Be Drunk and ready to party

3) If your Drunk, Angry, AND ready to party....God Bless You

***Also....if you have a penis and this video doesn't make you want to walk out the front door and beat the shit out of some guy and and then right when you are about to walk away some voice commands assertively, "Finish Him" and so consequently you froze him like god damn sub-zero ..... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................then you my friend, are no man at all -_-


Sunday, June 26, 2011

Live Show Review: Skrillex, Porter Robinson, Innerpartysystem and more!

June 24th, 2011
Pomona, CA
The Glass House

It was 7:30pm as the sun began to set over Southern California on a much anticipated Friday evening. A line of hundreds wrapped around the block as electro-heads readied for their head first dive into their senses. Ladies putting the final touches on their scantily designed wardrobes and everyone pops their favorite pills as the event neared.....8pm....doors open....MINDS BLOWN!!!!!!!

INNERPARTSYSTEM
This young trio hit the stage first and did as good as any opening act could hope for. The crowd was enthusiastic and certainly responded well to the heavier beat drops in the set. IPS performed a traditional DJ set which is unique for them as they are often more hands on with their stage act with a live drummer, multiple microphones, etc. A remix of "American Trash" especially hit hard with the fans as a flurry of rhythm rushed the ears of the crowd. Perhaps most interesting here is the aftermath of the IPS set. Everyone wanted more!!! A lot of people in the crowd were familiar with IPS and the general consensus was, "They kicked ass....why so short?"

THE JUGGERNAUT
This is no misnomer. When the beat drops during his set, it sounds like the fuckin juggernaut bitch!!! Full of overloaded bases anthems and crunchy tones this guy was taking no prisoners. While some DJs certainly aim for a fun night of dancing, this guy showed that he was there for nothing more than to kick your ass with some of the heaviest dubstep around. His stage presence was simple....simple...simple. Too simple in fact....but the beats hit too hard to matter!

ZEDD
Aaaaa Zedd, the kid from Germany that people just can't quite put their finger on. His remix of "Zelda's Theme" has made him famous over night but the world has far from figured out the mind of Zedd. One thing for sure is that he is not your average DJ. You know anyone today still playing "Move It" by Reel 2 Real??? Zedd makes it clear that he is willing to try anything at least once. This became especially clear when he crowd surfed upon a blow-up raft during Skrillex's set later in the evening.

PORTER ROBINSON
Name on the map....master of house music....internationally toured....dubstep exploration....played with Skrillex, Deadmau5, and Tiesto....AND.......HE'S ONLY 18 YEARS OLD!!!!
I hate to strangle the guy with his age but as a 20 year old I'm always blown away by the success of superstars that are younger than I am! PR is straight up fun! Whether he's hitting hard with the drop of a dubstep-esque beat or enchanting the crowd with techno PR makes you wanna move! Porter Robinson was by far the most enthusiastic DJ of the night! Jumping around and dancing to his own awesomeness PR was there to have a good fucking time and trust me, you would have too! When hanging backstage with all of the acts and their inner circles it became obvious that Robinson was special, and everyone is expecting big things from him in the future!

SKRILLEX
The man we all waited for did not disappoint! Skrillex hit the stage and it was clear that the crowd was a little star struck to say the least. I've never seen so many cell phone cameras in my life! Skrillex, a man always living in the moment pleaded, "Put those cameras away guys, let's have a good fucking time here in person!" There's not much to say about his performance other than WOW.  A special mix of "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" went over well with the crowd as do all of the popular hits. When the crowd chanted "I want to kill everybody in the world" over a frantic dance floor it was clear that Skrillex had the crowd by the balls. However, the climax of the set came with silence as Skrillex announced a tribute to the late Ryan Dunn! Ten seconds of silence and a finale track would end the night on a note of admiration for a fallen hero. Skrillex is to be admired for his artistic ability and well, he was cool enough to talk to me a bit backstage too so I'm a fan! haha

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Top 5: June 2011




SUMMER IS HERE!!!
And while you hit the beaches and man the BBQ
 ring you are definitely going to need some new tunes to bring in the season.
Well, I have a treat for you my friend, check out my Top 5 bands for June 2011 as I give you a preview of their best and latest work below as well as to your right (mp3 player, etc.)

 Foster the People
New to the LA scene in 2009 Foster the People have risen to fame with their undeniably catchy pop-rock jams. The band name evolved to represent the "taking care of others" imagery of the band and while this may seem a bit cheesy and overly romantic, one thing is for sure, their songs take care of the masses! Their debut album peaked at #8 on the Billboard charts thanks to their huge hit single "Pumped Up Kicks". I'll let you listen for yourselves but this song is certain to spark a party-wide sing along and smiles galore. Happy, catchy, poppy tune that will leave you wanting more!
Official Music Video Click Here!


Black Veil Brides
Okay...Okay...I know what your thinking...these guys are ridiculous posers who dress themselves with every heavy metal cliche they can imagine and deliver music to hot topic shopping little pussies. And well, your probably a 100% accurate! However, I'm here to say that while their appearance is a bit over-the-top Black Veil Brides are great! They music is heavy enough to appeal to the headbangers and the choruses are clean and clever enough to make you sing in your car when your stuck in traffic on the 10 freeway. In fact, if people could listen to their music without having to look at them or be so fucking judgmental and narrow-minded than I think their music is good enough to be called brilliant. So for all the haters out there you heard it here first: Black Veil Brides are heavy as fuck and entertaining and they are here for awhile so you can enjoy or continue to hate them because of your masculine insecurities. Below is their latest single "The Legacy"!!!!
Official Music Video Here!


Red Fang
Good Ol' Rock 'n' Roll mother truckers!!! Riff heavy with a fast paced groove that'll make you wanna drive a '58 Chevy 100mph down route 66!!! Another newer band on the scene that is on the rise hard! They'll be playing at this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and I'm sure they'll be the cause of much attention on every date. They song "Wires" is a powerful jam-blast of melting guitar licks and melodic prowess.
Official Music Video Here!


Iwrestledabearonce
The sound is in the name....imagine for a second the multitude of sounds that would swarm the atmosphere if you were to actually wrestle a bear!!! This female-fronted metal quintet is a brutal primitive onslaught of destruction that refuses to be ignored. The aggressive growls and howls of singer Krysta Cameron will have most men questioning their masculinity because she is one tough badass!!! The icing on the cake is their unique fusion with electronic soundscapes and melodic vocal tangents that make them completely original!!! It's hard to find words that describe the truly mind-blowing assertiveness of their sound! Take a look and  listen to "Danger Manger" and tell me you aren't intrigued!
Official Music Video Here!


Limp Bizkit
Don't Call it a come back!!! Okay, actually it's totally a comeback because we haven't heard new material from these guys in many years. But does anyone really care? Nu-metal is the red-headed step child of the heavy metal genre and people take pride in their ability to make fun of the corporate rock era of the late 90s and early 2000s. However, I challenge you to bite your tongue for a bit and listen to the music. There are a handful of acts from the Nu-Metal era that did a great thing for metal music in the mainstream and still remain utterly relevant in the music landscape. Limp Bizkit in my opinion is one of those bands. We love to hate them and well, it's easy to see why, but bottom line is they're music kicked ass and their new stuff seems to be another shot at rap-metal glory. Check out "Shotgun"!!!


So there you have it! 5 Bands and their 5 jams that caught my ear!

Tell me what you think!!! there's a lot to discuss here and I know your dying to detest my opinions.....so do it!