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Festival Reviews

Boulevardia in Kansas City returns with Epic Nostalgic Lineup

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Boulevardia has been the emporium of brews, blues, and BBQs.

This year they return with another stellar display of mainstream greats that you can’t wait to see grace the stage again. Bands like Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, shouting rally cries into the late night air, hot and heavy with that sweet summer heat.

Or Dashboard Confessional, the first band that captured EXACTLY how you felt in middle school when Ashley Godfrey broke your heart. Yeah, they’re headlining the coolest festival in KC this summer.

Not to mention about 100 other incredible local and national acts that could quickly become your new favorite bands.

Get your tickets at https://boulevardia.com/

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The Chainsmokers’ Throw a Deadly Party

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The New York Health Commissioner said that the Chainsmoker’s Hampton’s party “Mocks New Yorkers’ attempt to flatten the curve.” 

On Saturday, The Chainsmokers threw a $25,000 per ticket, promotional party to support FuckJerry’s tequila release. The CEO of Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, performed as a DJ, opening the show.

How, you may ask, did we get here? Why would so many people think that partying during a pandemic, as a deadly infection virus sweeps the nation, is a good idea? How could nobody have stopped this?

It’s beacause everything is terrible.

But we’re not the only ones who are pissed about the party. New York’s Health Commissioner, Howard A. Zucker, who has worked tirelessly for almost 6 months to flatten the curve of infections in New York, and did so to an impressive extent, expressed his anger in a letter he released.

“This is not just a lack of common sense, but an illegal and reckless endangerment of public health…

I think what struck our collective nerve was seeing so many with so much to their advantage — concert attendees were generally young, healthy, and, as indicated by the $850 ticket prices, able to afford health care if they should need it — be so cavalier about taking a risk that could have dire consequences for many.

You don’t have to be the commissioner of health to realize that when it comes to contracting and transmitting a contagious and dangerous disease, every one of us is a card-carrying member of the rank-and-file. COVID-19 is an equal-opportunity infector: It doesn’t recognize skin color or the thickness of stock portfolios.”

Look, we love a party. We all want to party. But we’re not partying because it could possibly harm people. Nobody likes a party that hurts people.

But it’s one thing to throw a bad party, it’s another if your party could potentially murder people.

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Rap Battles in the Age of Covid

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Imagine, if you will, you’re inside of a dank basement or an underground warehouse full of sparks and sweat, so humid you can see the moisture and fear in the air. Two men stand toe-to-toe, locked at the eyes, with nothing but fire and tension between them. The moment builds, the crowd of anxious hyenas wait silently, patiently. One man grabs the mic:

“2 CHAAAINZ”  

He declares proudly as the room explodes with deafening cheers.

“M-M-M-Maybach Music”

The tension hangs so thick in the air, you can taste it on your tongue. It tastes of pride, aggression, and the will to survive. Who wants it more?

Welcome to the World of Battle Rapping, and during the times of Covid and social distancing, they don’t happen in fiery warehouses, there are no musty basements. It’s happening right inside your house. 

On Thursday, August 6 at 8 p.m. EST, Rick Ross and 2 Chainz will go head to head in a Verzuz virtual rap battle. Hosted by Ciroc and Apple Music, the two rap giants will compete in the most primal of rap activities, a battle.

Verzuz pairs up rappers for a virtual rap battle, because that is what happens when there are no concerts or music festivals. We need new content, and it has to be virtual.

To watch the battle, head to Verzuz’s Instagram, or watch on Apple Music.

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Phoebe Bridgers Invites the Apocalypse in Her Epic “I Know The End” Video

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One of the joys in music is how brutally it can strip away all ego. I’ve seen grown men cry at Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” I’ve seen a band of young Japanese girls play the hardest metal you’ll ever hear. 

When it comes to music, the feeling you get when that song starts, or how you lose yourself in the lyrics, is all that matters. 

Phoebe Bridgers makes impossibly pretty, yet emotionally carving indie rock. Her music has this ability to cut you to the core, yet keep you coming back for more. 

This is her gift as a songwriter, to craft something so approachable, and making it deadly. She’s the human embodiment of a butterfly knife- floating delicately along, until it cuts you.

On her latest album, Punisher, she cuts deeper than ever before. “I Know the End,” the climatic album-closer, is one of the best songs of the year. 

What starts as a strumming guitar grows into an erupting volcano. Bridgers’ voice is light as a feather, almost like a whisper in the breeze, until it comes crashing down around us. The song builds and builds into an all out apocalypse of guitars, drums, and shouts to anyone who’ll listen.

The result is nothing short of stunning, and the video is no different. Director Alissa Torvinen finds Bridgers in a bleak, world, gone past the brink of extinction. As the song builds to its crescendo, the fire and flames do too.  

It’s a victory lap for an artist at the top of her game, and exactly what a world currently in shambles needs to see right now. 

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Get Down With the Sickness

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Covid 19 has canceled all major festivals across the world. However, it sounds like one festival in Wisconsin was created because of the deadly virus.

“Herd Immunity Fest” the overwhelmingly underwhelming 2-day festival featuring some of nu-metals least popping names, including Static X, Sponge, Flaw, and Saving Abel took place this past weekend.

Although many artists on the bill, smartly, backed out, the show, much like Coronavirus, goes on. Fans in attendence were asked to socially distance and wear a mask, but it appears that there was little to no responsible activity taken place at “Herd Immunity Fest.” Shocking, eh?

The festival, which didn’t boast Coachella or Lollapalooza numbers, actually asked fans to come out to the venue early, to help set up.

Stereogum reports: “As of last week, there were 326 positive coronavirus cases in Marathon County, where the festival took place. Two people have died.”

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Adventure Awaits at Marfa Myths 2018

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Music festivals come in all shapes, sizes- blending genres and breaking on through to the weirder side of life. How else would you describe 4 days in Far West Texas, listening to an eclectic grouping of bands and artists while transcending the very concept of what a weekend could be?

Marfa Myths is an annual experience that breaks all boundaries of what a music festival can be. Merging art installations, mind-bending scenery, and diverse music spanning all sounds and styles- somewhere in the deserts of Marfa, Texas, something unique is happening next weekend.

Packing one of the most diverse and expansive lineups of the year, Marfa never lacks a jaw-dropping combination of national and local acts. This year, Allah-Las, Circuit Des Yeux, Drugdealer, Helado Negro with an Ensemble (!), Jessica Pratt, Wire, and The Weather Station, along with several others will be transforming the landscape of Marfa into a multidisciplinary sonic-scape.

Each year, Marfa Myths features rare artist residencies, and this year, the dynamic duo of Cate Le Bon and Bradford Cox (Deerhunter, The Atlas Sound) will be blending their styles into musical exploration. Even more heartwarming, Connan Mockasin and his dad Ade Mockasin will be playing songs spanning their generations. This will be a can’t miss experience.

There is simply too much awesomeness going on to not take a journey down to West Texas. You never know what you’ll experience, how it’ll shift your perspective, and where the festival will spiritually take you. You’ll just have to dive in head first and wade in the waters. You’ll be glad you did.

Find much more information on Marfa Myths and buy tickets here: https://marfamyths.com/

 

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Goldlink Electrifies at a Fiery Show In Lawrence

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Goldlink touched down at The Granada Theatre last night to perform an electrifying show, sponsored by KJHK 90.7 and SUA.

Goldlink is almost too talented. Almost to the point of being unfair to everyone else. Not only can he rap faster than 98% of the rappers in the game, he can sing and perform like a true pro. His style and his vibe elevate him from the rest of the genre. All of these components came together during his extraordinary live show.

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Something that Goldlink is especially special at is his rapping ability. His toned down, mellow voice allows for his cadence to ride the beat so effortlessly. It’s like he’s running down directions of how to catch the E-Train so fast that you know you’ll get lost as soon as he finishes his sentence. His words form these parables and loops that are so infectious to listen to.

On songs like “Herside Story” he is able to dance over the melodic track and find flows I never imagined possible. He tells stories that are so relatable and his words are believable. On tracks like “Kokomoe Freestyle” he unleashes some of the fieriest bars on top of an absolute bruiser of a beat. This song is absolutely unreal, and could be any artist’s best song by a couple miles. When performing this song live, the crowd became unruly in the best possible way. Hands were flying in the air as every eye stayed on Goldlink, who delivered every word perfectly. The beat knocked hard like the next door neighbors when you play this song too loud.

It’s a testiment to how good Goldlink is that “Kokomoe Freestyle” is not his best song. That came at the end of his set. For his final song, Goldlink performed his biggest hit to date, “Crew,” a possible song-of-the-year choice. The melody on this song, the movie-esque sound, the chorus, which is catchy as hell, and Goldlink’s crushing verse played out on stage like an anthem. The crowd went absolutely ape for this song, rapping along to every word, singing the chorus like it’s a Weeknd song. They even knew every word of Shy Glizzy’s verse. Goldlink was so impressed that he performed the song twice in a row.

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During his performance in Lawrence, Goldlink played through most of his new album, At What Cost, as well as some older gems. It was a vibrant and electric show that ended far too soon. He could have performed for another hour and the crowd would have eaten every song up like a snack.

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Goldlink is a rare talent, one that will be revealed in time. He’s already gained recognition for “Crew,” but his star path is on a major ascension. This guy is talented enough to be the next big thing, so don’t wait. See him when he comes to your town.

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Find Goldlink’s Tour Dates here

 

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Mamby brings the party to the Beach: Mamby on the Beach 2017 Preview

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Festivals are all about a vibe. I’d say about 82% of a musical festival is the location and general ambiance of it. Think about it- seeing The XX would be amazing, but seeing them in a Chili’s parking lot would diminish this experience exponentially.

There are a lot of prestigious festival ambiances, but one that is a unique standout is Mamby On The Beach on Oakwood Beach in Chicago.  This two-day music festival, taking place June 24+25, is Chicago’s only beach-side festival- instantly making it a must-attend event.

Not only is Mamby taking place right on the beach in a phenomenal city like Chicago, but the lineup packs some exceptional acts that will keep you dancing all weekend. Some of the highlights are MGMT, Local Natives, Walk the Moon, Flying Lotus, Miike Snow, and Misterwives.

MGMT is one of the most interesting bands of the millennium because of their incredible ability to break out of any box set for them, and create truly interesting music with each release. After bursting onto the scene with their essential debut album, Oracular Spectacular, MGMT has continued to elevate their sound to creative new heights with each album. They’re dropping their highly anticipated new album, Little Dark Age very soon.

Local Natives have been dominating the indie-rock scene lately with no signs of stopping. Their latest album, Sunlit Youth takes on themes of coming to terms with the world we live in today, and finding strength in dark times. Their song “Fountain of Youth” is one of the strongest songs of 2016 and has one of their most powerful messages to date- the youth have infinite power and “we can do whatever we want.”

Walk the Moon have one of the most eager and excitable fan bases in indie-rock today. They play stadium sized rock anthems that are 110% guaranteed to move your feet. Their latest album Talking is Hard received hefty acclaim from music blogs and publications. But the strongest sentiment to how good these guys are is their live show. It is truly reminiscent of a roller coaster the way it grabs you and refuses to let go until it’s over. So prepare to buckle in and throw your hands in their air for Walk the Moon for their headlining set on Sunday, June 25.

Prominent EDM publication, Mixmag, is featuring a tent full of great music throughout the entire festival including big names such as Tchami, Sam Feldt, and Green Velvet. Definitely stop by the tent to get a taste of some delicious beats and shake a leg on the dance floor.

Mamby On The Beach features amenities you can’t find anywhere else, like yoga on the beach, tons of beach games, and nutritional workshops that make the festival experience so much more than just a music event.

If you’re looking for some summer fun on a beach with some of the coolest names in music, look no further than Mamby.

Tickets to Mamby can be found at http://www.mambybeach.com/