Rihanna released a new music video today for her song “Where Have You Been,” and I’ve been thoroughly entertained by it. No, not because it’s a particularly good music video but because, if you turn the sound off, it’s pretty hilarious. Sure, I get the point of the video: Rihanna is saying “where have you been?” to a perfect guy because she has literally searched everywhere, as evidenced by this video in which she is literally looking everywhere. And yet, if you turn the sound off, the point of the video is completely lost. Here are a couple things Rihanna could be doing in this video:
Morning Parade invaded SXSW with their indie rock/alternative sound and definitely left a mark on Austin. Hailing from Harlow, England, Morning Parade brings a different vibe to the music scene at SXSW. Made up of five members, Steve Sparrow (lead vocals and guitar), Phil Titus (bass), Chad Thomas (guitar), Ben Giddings (piano/synths) and Andrew Hayes (drums), Morning Parade could not be happier to play at SXSW where the weather (and women, according to Steve) is hot.
Steve sat with CollegeCandy before one of their shows to discuss the band, SXSW and women! Check out their website for upcoming tour dates and show ‘em some love on facebook!
Coming to SXSW all the way from London, England, Graffiti6 blew everyone in Austin away. Graffiti6, made up of pop/rock duo Jamie Scott (vocals) and Tommy “D” Danvers (producer and songwriter), bring a whole new kind of sound to the SXSW music scene. Graffiti6’s sound feels like mix of Gnarles Barkley with a splash of The Naked and Famous and a dash of Robin Thicke. This band knows how to groove and made everyone at SXSW fall in love. And how could you not with an accent like that?
Coming to SXSW from Santa Barbara, these boys brought California sunshine right into the bar. After quickly packing the house, people had to congregate by the window out on the street just to soak up some of their sound. Tommy’s voice is smooth like whiskey; warms you up and gives you chills all at the same time. He winked at me at the beginning of their set, and I nearly fainted. Girls will swoon, guys will nod their heads, Tommy & The High Pilots are going to do some big things.
The band is a four piece made up of Tommy Cantillon (vocals), Steven J. Libby (bass), Michael Cantillon (guitar, keys), Matt Palermo (drums and my *fiance, back off ladies). The guys have a great energy together on stage, and Tommy never fails to put on a full performance. Whether he’s climbing up speakers or dancing with fans, he’s electrifying, and you won’t take your eyes off him. Describing their sound is a bit of a challenge. There is definitely a throwback to classic rock, but it’s tempting to say they sound like summer. Like honey and whiskey and funnel cake at a carnival. Hey, these are a few of my favorite things.
Before speaking with Tommy and Matt, I chatted with their manager and Co-Founder of Redbird Records, Tim Convy. So Tim, why do you love these boys anyway? “From years on the road, their live show is flawless and at just 25, Tommy writes songs as timeless as any lifer. But what impresses me the most about the Pilots is how incredibly dedicated they are to what they do–they’ll do anything for this band, and it’s inspiring. That, and they happen to be every bit as entertaining off stage as they are on.” He was right. They were hilarious after the show and phenomenal dancers!
If someone asked me what my favorite part of SXSW was, I would say Black Taxi. Sure, I saw Jay-Z. Yeah, I checked out Miike Snow, and I was mildly impressed with The Temper Trap. But no one turned me on like Black Taxi. Maybe it’s the way the music makes me move, maybe it’s the seductive nature of Bill’s voice, maybe it’s that Ezra pulls on a crowd like a marionette, and he didn’t care at all when I stole his maraca in a fit of dancing.
Black Taxi is a Brooklyn based four piece that has just enough pop to make you dance, just enough grit to land a spot on your play list and just enough of some intangible mischief that keeps you curious and wanting. Strokes, Cake, Black Keys, Modest Mouse…little hints of all but a sound all their own, that’s Black Taxi. In the image from left to right is Bill (guitar and vocals), Ezra (vocals, keys, trumpet and other melodic toys), Jason (drums and vocals) and on the bottom right Krisana (bass). Lacking pomp, circumstance and other rock star indifference, these guys are good people. The type you can run into on the street and end up partying the rest of the night with. The kind you not so secretly become that fan with. Yeah, they’re that good.
If I had to leave you with 5 songs to check out in order to lend credit to my boldness, I’d give you the following list. That said, you’d be doing yourself a great disservice not to see them perform live. Their energy spreads like a contagion. It’s sexy…really, really sexy.
1. Hand, We Don’t Know Any Better
2. Pretty Mama, Things of That Nature
3. Head On a Pike, Things of That Nature
4. Tightrope, We Don’t Know Any Better
5. Vultures, We Don’t Know Any Better
And without further adieu, CollegeCandy goes backstage with Black Taxi at SXSW. Be sure to like them on facebook and check out their website for upcoming shows and their tour schedule.
CC is all about finding great new musicians to become obsessed with. Just in time for the warmer months, we’ve found a new favorite in Sammy Adams. This kid is seriously blowing up. In addition to opening for such artists as Kid Cudi, Drake, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, Ludacris and J. Cole, Adams performed 180 headlining shows in the U.S. and Canada over the past year. And guess what? He sold out 160 of them, including a high-profile gig at New York City’s Terminal 5. This new video from Sammy features five songs from his latest mixtape “Into The Wild.” It’s brand new and we have the exclusive so check it out!
To help get your party started, here’s a playlist Sammy threw together of some of his favorite songs. Turn the volume up, pour yourself a Monday night drink and put off cracking open the books a little longer.
Have you ever uttered the words “music was better back when…”? Or maybe you’ve been the one listening to a friend wax poetic about the good ol’ days of rock ‘n’ roll. In either case, you’re definitely not alone. There’s a seemingly huge divide between electronic music artists of today and, say, the organic sounds of The Doors. But guess what? Not anymore.
The folks over at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (aka the GRAMMYs) got together with Hyundai and GreenLight Media & Marketing for the new film RE:GENERATION. Along with world-famous electronic music heavyweights Skrillex, Mark Ronson, The Crystal Method, DJ Premier and Pretty Lights, they brought the ultimate music experiment to life.
These relative new-comers were each assigned a genre of music to work with — country, jazz, classical, R&B or rock — and were then paired with legendary artists from each category to create and remix the ultimate tracks. RE:GENERATION is all about respecting classic musicians — the pioneers and revolutionaries — while ushering in a new era of sound. We were blown away by what was possible when today’s top DJs worked with amazing talents like Nas, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, LeAnn Rimes, Martha Reeves and members of The Doors, among others. Take a look through our gallery below to see and hear all the collaborations. Read More »
If there is one thing I love about a new year (it’s only February, so it’s still new-ish), it’s new music! Some of the artists that I’ve listed below, have kept me waiting/hoping/praying for years for them to release new full-length studio albums. I am getting antsy! From John Mayer to JoJo, there are tons of new albums that are rumored to being released in 2012, and I cannot wait. I need a serious break from listening to a LMFAO song every 30 seconds on the radio.
So I’ve compiled a list of 10 bands/artists that I am pumped to have pumping through my speakers over the next 12 months. Enjoy! And if I missed any that you’re really looking forward to, let me know! Read More »
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