Harder, Better, Faster, Chi-Town!!!

It appears that yet another music festival will be making it's way to Chicago this summer.  As Live Music Blog points out The Spring Awakening Music Festival (which needs a better name if you ask me) will be rolling into Soldier Field on June 16th and 17th with the likes of Skrillex, Dada Life, Wolfgang Gartner, Afrojack, Laidback Luke and... um... DAFT PUNK?!?!?!!?!?

According to the screen grabs from the site it looks like GA tickets will be $90 bucks and VIP tickets will be double that.

More info about the event should be available within the next two weeks.  Click on their Facebook page to stay up to date on everything.  This also seems like a good indicator that they will be at Bonnaroo the week before.

BANGED!

It's been a long time since I have posted anything on this blog.  Nothing in terms of music has really grabbed my attention over the past few months and I haven't really had anything to say.  I really have nothing important to say right now, but I finally was able to get this mix that I have been working on since June finished and I wanted to share it with all of you.

This thing started with really no direction at all except that I wanted it to bang.  I had a bunch of great mixes that I wanted to put together but from all different genres and styles.  The thing never flowed quite the way I wanted it to and I never was satisfied with the outcome so I just left it and didn't think about it for a few months.

About a week ago I decided to take another crack at it and totally start from scratch.  I deleted many of the tracks that although I really liked, just didn't seem to work for what I was creating.  It's something that I learned from being a video editor.  Sometimes you just have to cut your favorite scene in order for the story to keep moving. The same goes for this.

I don't know what happened in the past week but I just kept finding new tracks that fit perfectly with what I originally envisioned. And what I envisioned was a straight up banging hard mix of Electro, Breaks, and anything else that made you feel like shit was going to explode. If this style isn't your thing you might not be the biggest fan of it at first listen, but much like how I felt about it when I started it, with time I hope you grow to love it as much as I do now.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Mavi - Banged! by -Mavi-

TechnoNoizeGang - Elite Force
Smartbomb (Lazy Rich Remix) - Myagi
Answering Machine (Santiago & Bushido Remix) - Green Velvet
Star 69 (Rogue Element Remix) - Fatboy Slim
These Boots Are Made For Walkin' (Home Alone Re-rub) - Nancy Sinatra
System Addict (Mr. No Hands Exo-Funk Re-Edit) - Plump DJs
Hopiness (Digital Sounds Remix) - Bass Star Dos
Serpents (Original Mix) - Home Alone
Going Back (Big Mistake Remix) - Digital Breaks Foundation
Galvanize (Eshericks Remix) - The Chemical Brothers
Smack My Bitch Up (Rektchordz & De-Ranged Remix) - The Prodigy
Devil's Work (Alex Metric Remix) - Miike Snow

New Band Alert: Statue of Liberty

Sometimes you wake up hung-over on a Sunday morning after a long night out on the town shooting Jame-O to find out that one of your friends has a great little band that is starting to really make some beautiful music.  So you sit in front of your computer with your eyes barely open and it feels like someone is smashing concrete cinder blocks in your skull.  Then you press play.  As the music fills your room and you let it surround your soul, you close your eyes, the pain in your head starts to slowly fade away and the day doesn't seem quite as miserable as it did when you woke up. When music can cure a hangover that bad, you know you are listening to something that good.

That is the story of my first experience listening to "Thick of It All" by Statue of Liberty.  Bobby Bradford (guitar/vocals) and Marywood Kate (piano/vocals) make up the duo out of Des Moines, IA (who last I heard are relocating to Boulder, CO). Every time I listen to their wonderful EP "The Up State", I want to make a trek of my own cross-country and ride into the setting sun.  Bradford's guitar playing is top notch and his bluesy vocals have the soul of a seasoned veteran.  Kate's harmonies are too good to be called backing vocals and are like rays of sunshine bursting out of your speakers.  Americana Folk Rock at it's best.

Do yourself a favor and try to catch this band live if you can and listen to "The Up State" over at www.statueoflibertyband.com.  Any pain in your head should quickly be relieved by listening to the songs below.
Notable tracks are "Back to You", "Time Carries On", and "Thick of It All".

8/19 - Mars Cafe, Des Moines, IA
8/21 - AK O'Conner's, Des Moines, IA

Good Night Jonboy!!!!

My very good friend Jonboy (Dubalicious/Swag) is starting to really make a name for himself on the West Coast throwing one of the longest running monthly parties in San Francisco at Shine and running some of the largest undergrounds that that city has seen in a long time.  He performed with the legendary Opulent Temple crew at Burning Man in 2010 and will be making his return to the Playa in September once again to perform alongside the likes of Shpongle, The Crystal Method, Elite Force, Infected Mushroom, Tek Freaks, Lee Coombs, and Syd Gris.

Photo by: David Goldman

He just played Chicago's Burning Man PreKomp Playa Massive thrown by Chicago's own FreakEasy and Resonate crews that also had the likes of FreQ Nasty, Justin Reed, and Radiohiro & MC Zulu where everyone within ear shot were going crazy to his big sweaty break-beats set.  To put it bluntly, people got naked.

So here is Jonboy's mix that he was asked to make for The Space Cowboy's RIPECast.  It's a great mix of electro, indie dance, techno and house.  Enjoy!!!

Jonboy [Dubalicious/SWAG] on The RIPEcast! by The Space Cowboys

New Band Alert - Dream Thieves

Dream Thieves out of Iowa City, IA has a great blend of dreamy space pop, with just the right amount of shoe-gaze thrown in there, balanced nicely with some electronic elements that will keep the crowd moving for their entire set.  Their debut album "Ocean Spell" is one of those perfect albums for a rainy day yet also sounds great for when you just want to go to the beach to stare at the stars and listen to the waves.

  www.Dream-Thieves.com

Beat-master Bernardo Moreira keeps things thumping and jumping behind his wall of percussion, while guitarist Nate Leutzinger provides the perfect blend of fuzz and awe on his guitar.  Like a mad scientist in a musical lab, keyboardist Josh Samek is the dream master.  Concocting layers upon layers of synths, piano, beats, and bleeps, Samek's sounds swirl around your skull making sure that all of your senses are saturated.  But the alluring vocals of Andrea Sheehan who calls out to the crowd, can not be resisted when she sings her siren song.  Not only are they a great band, but they are some very cool people as well.

Please click RIGHT HERE to give my friends the opportunity to play The North Coast Music Fest in Chicago this Labor Day.  Please vote once a day, everyday, until July 15th.








Tour Dates:
7/15 - 9:00 PM - w/ Delicate Steve                     Gabe's                                      Iowa City, IA - Tickets
7/16 - 7:00 PM - w/ Mutts                                   Public Space One                     Iowa City, IA
7/29 - 9:00 PM - w/ Headstruck                          Fire on Water                            Milwaukee, WI
7/30 - 9:00 PM - w/ Mutts, Umbra                      The Volcan Gallery                   Chicago, IL
8/4   - 9:00 PM - w/ Chaircrusher,                      The Blue Moose Tap House      Iowa City, IA
                                Binary Marketing Show,
                                Ex-Action Model

Ocean Spell by Dream Thieves

Hope That Something Pure Can Last

Arcade Fire recently stopped by Sound Opinions to play a few songs from their latest album "The Suburbs"  You can download both of the songs as MP3's right HERE. Enjoy!!!!

Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Arcade Fire perform "Sprawl II" on Sound Opinions from WBEZ on Vimeo.

We Used To Wait

Arcade Fire performs "We Used To Wait" on Sound Opinions from WBEZ on Vimeo.

Arcade Fire - Live on Sound Opinions by -Mavi-

Just Get Yourself High (The Chemical Brothers Live At Coachella 2011)

Here is the short but certainly sweet set by The Chemical Brothers from their most recent Main Stage appearance at Coachella 2011.  This is the audio stream captured from Magmazing Music.  Not enough words to describe this one so I'll leave it at that.  Enjoy!!!

Photo by IPhoneJunkie

 DOWNLOAD THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS LIVE AT COACHELLA 2011 HERE

Wanna Wash Away My Sins in The Presence of My Friends (Arcade Fire Live on WXRT Chicago)

Fresh from their headlining slot at Coachella (which I was lucky enough to attend last week) Arcade Fire set up shop in Chi-Town for 3 sold out shows at The UIC Pavilion in Chicago.  I was a bit reluctant to see them so many times in such a short time frame.  Would the excitement still be there?  Would the energy still translate?  Would the spontaneity, enthusiasm, and everything else that goes into an Arcade Fire show be just as good this time around as it was at Coachella?  The answer is a loud and powerful "YES!"  I wasn't even sure if Coachella was going to be able to match up to their unbelievable headlining set at Lollapalooza last August.  I shall never doubt this band again.  Every single time they hit the stage, they bring it.  I have no clue what "it" is.  But, it is something that very few bands are able to bring to every single show, every single night, no matter what size the venue they are playing.  After being a part of such a great musical experience I am thrilled that I have tickets to their 3rd and final show tomorrow.  Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the show tonight but WXRT 93.1 broadcast the entire set for us all to enjoy.  Below you can find a link to download the show in MP3 format.  Enjoy!!!

DOWNLOAD ARCADE FIRE LIVE IN CHICAGO HERE

Setlist:
Month Of May
Rebellion
Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
City With No Children
Rococo
Intervention
The Suburbs
The Suburbs Continued
My Body Is A Cage
No Cars Go
Haiti
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
We Used To Wait
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Sprawl II
encore break
Ready To Start (Extended)
Keep The Car Running
Wake Up

Download Video of Final LCD Soundsystem show at Madison Square Garden in it's Entirety

LCD Soundsystem said goodbye to the world yesterday with an unbelievable show clocking in at just under 4 hours at Madison Square Garden. To all that were in attendance, I am jealous. For all that couldn't be there, here is the entire show for you to enjoy. 

Download Audio Rip by Clicking Here

Download Video Rip by Clicking Here

Mavi's Coachella Heaven in 2011 Mix

The New Year is quickly approaching.  What's that you say?  2011 started two months ago.  Funk dat!!!  My new year starts in mid-April with music festival season kicking into high gear in Indio, California.  That's right people, the countdown to Coachella has begun!  Once again I am looking forward to baking in the desert sun with all of my friends to the sweet sounds of some of the best bands and DJ's that this little world of ours has to offer.  The sun setting behind the mountains, the green grass in between my toes, the palm trees swaying in the evening breeze, the moon and stars lighting up the night sky, and of course the music and amazing artwork.  Ahhhhhhhh!!!!  I've got a smile on my face from ear to ear just thinking about it.  So this year I put together a little mix to get all of you in the mood for what I am sure is going to be yet another wonderful time in the sunshine.  It includes some great remixes of bands and DJs that are playing at this year’s fest, and I'm sure you will enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it.  See ya on the polo fields!!!

DOWNLOAD SINGLE TRACK HERE