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Showing posts from July, 2012

Album Review - Chipzel "Disconnected"

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After a live tweet review of Disconnected by Chipzel tonight, there is at least one more person out there who's ears have been opened up to the unique sounds of the chiptunes genre and who has gone to seek out more music from it. If you missed the live tweeted version of this review from earlier, here is a recap, complete with music to accompany your read.

Vintage Deep Purple Performance Footage Newly Unearthed

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Now this is the definition of a buried treasure for Deep Purple fans. Someone has unearthed what could be some of the earliest Deep Purple Mark II performance footage in existence. Check out the short clip of "Hard Road/Wring That Neck" above and then come inside for more.

Album Review - Stuart Newman "Bored of Idiot Chatter"

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One of the best things about Twitter is the ability to, at any given moment, discover an artist you've never heard of. While skimming through my timeline today, I suddenly came over all peckish to listen to something I've not heard previously. The impetus for this was a tweet from Turisas' violinist, Olli Vänskä, who mentioned seeing a new metal band from Finland last night. Alas, they are so new they only had two tracks to listen to online, and my ears were hungry for something with more substance. After a tweet seeking out suggestions of under heard artists from my followers, they began coming in, including one from Stuart Newman, about his very own EP which he offers as a free download. Headphones on...

Help Bring Thomas Dolby to Steamstock!

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Attention steampunks and music fans in the Nor Cal region and surrounding environs! A good amount of you (yours truly included) kicked in to make the Steamstock smusic festival a reality. Now, word comes that a true music legend wants to be involved, but for that to happen, some tickets to the event need to be purchased in advance. As if a day of live music from some of the leading artists in the steampunk music community playing as sweet as any harmony wasn't enough, now they could be sharing the same stage with none other than Thomas Dolby!

Found on YouTube - George Dennehy, An Armless Guitarist

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The next time someone says something is impossible, make them watch this video. No, really. Have them sit down for the three and-a-half minutes of George Dennehy performing The Goo Good Dolls' hit, "Iris". Don't tell them though. Let them realize it for themselves. Let them become aware on their own that George is playing guitar, with his feet. Afterwards, remind them what The Greatest, Muhammad Ali once said: "Impossible is nothing".

Rest in Peace... Jon Lord

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Composer and keyboard player Jon Lord, best known for co-founding the legendary Deep Purple, has passed away at age 71. A classically trained musician, Lord was a pioneer in forging the sound that would evolve into heavy metal, using primarily a Hammond organ.

The Best Music-Themed Cosplayer at Comic-Con: DeadpoolMau5

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DeadpoolMau5 photo courtesy of Joaquin Poblete Comic-Con 2012 is in the history books. The cosplayers were out in force again this year, but there was one who stole the show, with a mashup of comic book and music nerdery.

Rockin' Wear - Music Shirts from We Love Fine

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Kraftwerk "X-Men Machine" If there is one thing that goes hand in hand with being a music fan its t-shirts which reflect your particular taste or fandom. Moreover, wearing merch of your favorite artist is de rigueur for attending rock concerts. But what if you want to dare to be different? To blend your love of music and geekdom into a single, epic shirt that will not only make you look awesome but turn heads in your general direction while wearing them? That's where the music-themed shirts from We Love Fine come in.

Found on YouTube - Trololo Metal

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The happiest guitarist in the world, 331ERock has truly outdone himself with this video. After metalizing everything from Skyrim to Carly Rae Jepsen and nearly everything in between, and always in his inimitably awesome style, Eric Calderone turns his six-string skills memeward and, well, there hasn't been a word invented yet to describe this.

Concert Review - A Night of Music with The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Poxy Boggards

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There are certain forms of music which, no matter what mood or state of mind you are in, will always bring a smile to your face and lift your spirits. And much more better is when two groups who perform this particular brand of musical gaiety share the same stage. Such was the performance I along with an enthusiastic crowd of revelers had the pleasure of enjoying last night, when The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Poxy Boggards performed together.

Concert Review - Nickelback, Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days @ Staples Center

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Bush playing like it's 1994, not 2012 What will likely go down as one of the most successful concert tours of 2012 rolled through Los Angeles on June 15th, when My Darkest Days, Seether, Bush and Nickelback played the Staples Center. A full review is coming soon but for now please enjoy this photo gallery!

The Hellacious New Single from KISS

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After 2009's too-good-to-be-true-but-it-was-anyway album Sonic Boom , the soldiers of the KISS Army and heavy music fans in general were wondering how would the veteran shock rockers follow it up. Apparently, by releasing a single that nearly blows that previous album away by itself.

The Best Cover Song You Will Hear This Week: Ali Handal Takes On "My Sharona"

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Nope, wait. That headline is misleading, because his is the best cover you will hear all summer! While The Knack's Power Pop classic has been covered numerous times before, by everyone from Nirvana to The Chipmunks, it hasn't been done with the panache which singer and guitarist Ali Handal brings to it.

Support Your Local Busker - Brother Han

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Whenever I come across a busker I always try to take a moment and appreciate the music being played by these brave musicians, who are putting their heart and soul into their music in one of the most down to earth ways possible.

Found on bandcamp - Stepdad "Ordinaire EP" Review

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The other night whilst encouraging Twitter to share their favorite untapped talent music artists with me, one in particular leapt right into my ears. The group was the Grand Rapids, MI based Stepdad (known as @FancyStepdad on Twitter). They were recommended to me by video game music composer Sam Hulick (Mass Effect 1, 2 and 3, the Enhanced Edition of Baldur's Gate, Red Orchestra 2) and after just one listen I have become utterly enamored of Stepdad's singular sound.

Concert Review - Video Games Live @ The Nokia Theater

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The Video Games Live concert tour saw its triumphant return to Los Angeles during E3 week in June. A full concert review is coming soon. In the meantime, please enjoy this video gallery of performances from the concert!

The Official Theme of Summer '12 - The Offspring "Cruising California (Bumpin' In My Trunk)"

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While most mainstream publications have declared Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" as this summer's thematic anthem, they obviously decided too soon. Because the real theme song of Summer '12 is by The Offspring.