The Story Behind the Clowns...

Ten years ago, John D'Esposito got this crazy idea in his head or a music festival for a scene of music and group of kids that had never been catered too.  Fast forward to the present and you have The Bamboozle Festival.  A three day rain or shine event held in New Jersey that thousands of kids flock to to see their favorite musical act.  The performers range every genre every year; Taking Back Sunday, Brett Micheals, Insane Clown Posse, A Day to Remember, Boyz II Men to name a few.  

This year's festival will mark the tenth anniversary.  To show the method behind his madness, John D decided to make a three part documentary to show how the 2011 Bamboozle Festival went behind the scenes.  Last night the first part of the trilogy was released to bamboozlers after much anticipation.  To see band's thoughts on the festival and to see why John D makes the decisions he does is quite cool.  The documentary itself adds just another element of uniqueness to The Bamboozle.  John D has made the festival what it is because of the risks he takes and stays true to himself; any person that is a fan of this music and what this festival stands for can appreciate that.

Watch Part 1 of The Bamboozle Documentary Here!

Mixtape #9

I don't know what it is about this song, but it has been on repeat since the night i found out. I was never a fan of Meg and Dia, but Dia Frampton's new single, "The Broken Ones" is quite good. After being a contestant on the T.V. show, The Voice, Dia has her first upcoming solo album, Red, out on December 6th.  I also am completely obsessed with her hair, but my stylist won't let me get the cut :( haha

Rest of the Week's Mixtape:

• White Wives: "Hungry Ghosts"
• The Summer Set: "Old Mexico"
• The Downtown Fiction: "Happy(Without You)"
• Secrets: "The Heartless Part"
• Run Kid Run: "Daylight"
• Like Moths to Flames: "You Won't be Missed"
• Artist Vs. Poet: "Wasn't Worth It"
• Florence + The Machine: "Spectrum"
• City Lights: "What it Takes"
• Architects" "Devil's Island"
• Sway Ft. Lupe Fiasco: "Still Speeding Reloaded"
• Black Star: "You Already Know"
• Kid Rock Ft. T.I. and Angaleena Presley: "Care"
• Blink 182: "Wishing Well"

Vinyls for Holiday Wish Lists...

Are you a brave soul that treks out every year on "Black Friday" to start or finish your holiday shopping? Do you have a music nut on your list and no idea what to get them? Well, have no fear this year because shopping for a music lover just got a little easier.   The collaborators of Record Store Day (see earlier post) are having their own Black Friday Sale.  On the crazy retail day, supporting stores will have sales on vinyl from a list of impressive artists.  Work from The Beatles, The Doors, The Black Keys are just a few of the holiday catches.  These works will only sport these sales for this holiday season.

Full List of Releases Here! 

Please remember that not every store participating in this event will carry every item.  Check the list of stores and contact the one you will be shopping at to make sure they have what you are looking for.

 

Mixtape #8

Anything with Anthony Green will play on repeat on any music player I own.  "Get Yours While You Can" is off Green's upcoming solo album Beautiful Things set to be released January 17th.  Just this weekend Green played a show in Brooklyn with Kenny Vasoli(The Starting Line, Person L) and Vinnie Caruana(I Am the Avalanche).

The Rest for the Week:

• The Black Keys: "Run Right Run"
• Cee Lo Green: "Anyway"
• Green Day: "Stray Heart"
• Drake Ft. Rihanna: "Take Care"
• The Maine: "Some Days"
• William Beckett: "You and I Against the World"
• Chiddy Bang: "Ray Charles"
• Cobra Starship Ft. Mac Miller: "Middle Finger"
• PJ Bonds: "Reasons"
• Diamond: "Fly Solo"
• Chris Carrabba: "Mama''s Eyes"
• Runner Runner: "We Are the World Tonight"
• Stick to Your Guns: "Bringing You Down(A New World Overthrow)"
• In Fear and Faith: "It All Comes Out(On the Way Down)"

World War III Wrap Up...

On Sat 11/12, I got the chance to see The World War III tour at the Mid Hudson Civic Center in NY.  Needless to say, I could not hear for three days.  The show was alright, We Came As Romans stood out the most to me that night.  They just seemed to have the most energy.  Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows opened up, to my delight because we all know I have an obsession with Mr. Owens.  Asking Alexandria was intense, because they are the type of band that their fans follow religiously.  The band had an issue with their sound at one point, but kept rolling smoothly.  As for Hollywood Undead I just have one thing to say: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".  And we will leave it at that.

 Craig Owens of D.R.U.G.S.

 We Came As Romans

 Asking Alexandria

 We Came As Romans

Asking Alexandria

Mixtape #7

For some odd reason, the auto-tune of T-Pain and Lily Allen's amazing voice works. Not only works, but is now stuck in my head. It doesn't hurt that Wiz Khalifa puts his two sense in on the song as well. A classy song to explain the art of the "booty call".

The Rest for the Week:

• Florence + The Machine: "Shake It Up"
• M83: "Midnight City"
• The Sleeping: "Retiring Spies(Change Your Life)"
• Nada Surf: "When I Was Young"
• Gym Class Heroes: "Life Goes On"
• Christina Perri: "A Thousand Years"
• Forever the Sickest Kids: "Shut the Front Door(Too Young for This)"
• Bush: "The Sound of Winter"
• Four Year Strong: "The Infected"
• Outasight: "Tonight is the Night"
• Childish Gambino: "Heartbeat"
• Wale: "Bait"
• Close Your Eyes: "Empty Hands"
• Bon Iver: "Skinny Love"

Oh Mr. Craig...

On October 31st Jonny Craig, lead singer of the post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, was released from Solano County, California jail.  Craig was arrested on October 18th for 2 counts of narcotics possession; 2 counts of illegal drug use, and 1 count Failure to appear stemming from a September 21st arrest.  The singer was ordered to complete a drug rehab program.  If Craig fails to do so, or gets in any other trouble he will be sent back to jail and could face prison time.

Craig's actions obviously have had a huge impact on the rest of Dance Gavin Dance.  On the 19th, the band announced that they would not be participating in an upcoming tour with A Loss For Words and I Set My Friends on Fire.  At first the band would not further comment on why they were canceling, and then news of Jonny's arrest leaked.  Guitarist Will Swan gave Alternative Press an Exclusive Interview two days later.  Swan told the magazine that the band had no idea of the singer's troubles; he had not spoke to his band mates in months.   Dance Gavin Dance knew Craig's addiction problems were getting worse and were willing to help their friend.  Swan also says that the band will not replace Jonny, they are on a indefinite hiatus till he can get better.

Remembering Amy Winehouse...

The Death of Amy Winehouse was one of the most talked about news stories this summer.  On July 23rd the singer passed away; she was only 27.  Two weeks ago, medical examiners declared Winehouse died due to excessive alcohol.  Island Records announced yesterday that Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures, the songbird's first posthumous record, will be released on December 6th.  Producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi put the album together.  The record will contain twelve tracks of  previously unreleased material as well as different versions of Winehouse classics. 

There are several never before released tracks on Lioness.  "Halftime" and a Bossa Nova cover of  "The Girl from Impanema" were recorded in 2002.  Ronson made sure that Winehouse's family felt that "Halftime" was up to par to be released on the record.  After mentioning rapper Nas on 2006's Back to Black, the two recorded a duet entitled "Like Smoke".  Recorded in 2008 for her third album, "Between the Cheats" is reportedly about Amy's troubled marriage to ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil.

"Body and Soul", the recently released collaboration with music legend Tony Bennett will appear on the album.  A reggae take on Ruby & the Romantics 1960's "Our Day will Come" will be on there as well.  Slower versions of Winehouse hits "Valerie" and "The Tears Dry on their Own" and a demo version of "Wake up Alone" are also on the track listing.

Ronson and Remi want Lioness to show Winehouse's musical development over time.  Some proceeds will go to The Amy Winehouse Foundation that helps fight addiciton.  Further information about the release can be found on the singer's Website.