My pal Becky digs my music blog and my thoughts on social media marketing so she wrangled me into sitting on a panel discussion at this conference the folks behind the Grammy Awards are hosting next weekend. If you’re into music, web 2.0 or marketing in general you might wanna come check this out. My panel is called “Music 2.0: The Umbrella - Digital Sales, New Outlets, Viral Marketing, Blogging…”.
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[Gogol Bordello]
[Vampire Weekend]
We got to enjoy a very relaxing, sunny summer day listening to music outside at Drexel’s campus this past weekend (see all the photos here). The Popped! Music Festival got a lot bigger this year. Last spring we were cramming into small local venues watching great up and coming area bands. This year, it was a full-on festival complete with international musical acts.
My friend Alexis did a great job pulling this thing together over the past year. I helped her out planning a bit early on, so Audrey and I scored some VIP passes and had a good time watching the (ahem) mild debauchery going on back stage.
If you’d like to see some live music clips from the event, check out my music vlog yvynyl live.
As many of you know, Audrey’s in film school at Temple. She’s been doing lots of fun projects for class, and this is one of her first big final projects. I’ve been meaning to post it here for sometime, and I just remembered this morning. The film stars our friend Patrick Gouveia and features the music of our friends Make a Rising (they’ve got a great new album, btw - buy it at their label High Two). Enjoy!
In my recent music blogging travels, I’ve discovered a ton of cool new music. From time to time I’ve had conversations with some really amazing up-and-coming bands who want to play a show while passing through Philly. I decided now is the time.
New friends {{{sunset}}} and Gangi will be here, so we thought we’d show them a Philly good time. Come join us for a fun lil’ freakout party at The Marvelous with my friend Norm Fetter (the psychedelic mastermind behind the Enumclaw tour-de-force) and my very own dear wife Hunter Gatherer - who will be joined on stage with the amazingly talented Mary Lattimore (of The Valerie Project) - as we celebrate the coming summer of music.
It’s happening on May 17th at 8pm. Wouldn’t you like to come? Of course you would! Add this to your Facebook calendar, or check it out on Going.com.
[UPDATE: Gangi can't make it and had to cancel, but the show will go on!]
My friend Adam has a band called The War on Drugs. If you’re into psychedelic/country/shoegaze (whoa, that’s a description if I ever saw one), or bands like Panda Bear et al, head over to Ye Olde Pitchfork where you can download his EP for free. His new album, Wagonwheel Blues, is coming out in just a few weeks on Secretly Canadian, so stay tuned.
We’re going to see them play at the Khyber tonight in Philly. I’ll probably post some video on yvynyl live.
By the way, if you like music, I’ve been posting like crazyman over on my Tumblr site, yvynyl.tumblr.com, all music all the time. Check it.
My buddy Tim brought this amazing device in to work yesterday, and let me tell you, I am hooked. I am definitely picking one of these up. It’s hours of fun waiting to be had. A portable party in your pocket. More fun than an iPod.
There’s even a dude out there who recorded a whole album with just this one device. Wow. Check it out in action (and pardon the eurotechno kitsch):
One of my best friends from college, Steve Kurutz, has been an arts and entertainment writer since we both joined up the Daily Collegian Arts Staff at Penn State (wanna see my funny bio from back then? {click here} I guess Steve never wrote his.). Since those glory days, he’s gone on to bigger things in New York City, writing for Details, W, Playboy and Spin and doing a stint as a staff writer for the New York Times.
Steve’s just finished his first book, an exploration of the strange phenomenon of ‘tribute bands‘. In it, he follows around a couple of Rolling Stones tribute bands from bar to bar, club to club and reveals the strange culture surrounding them. I haven’t read it yet, though ‘cuz it’s coming out in a couple months (on Broadway Books, part of Random House).
He just set up a blog to help publicize the book, so head over there and give him some friendly comments. I’ll let you know when you can buy a copy for yourself.
My buddies Andy, Chetana and Darshana have been playing music together for a while in an outfit they call ravens:and:vultures. They’ve got a new EP out you should check out if you’re partial to pretty, trippy, folky, experimental dream pop like I am. Unfortunately, I missed their show at Johnny Brenda’s last Saturday after I said I’d try be there… oh the guilt!… but I’m sure they’ll be playing again soon!
Here, have a listen:
Oh, and don’t forget to friend ‘em up!
Behold, the world’s most amazing and cutting-edge musicians:
Thanks, Current TV! You guys rule for putting this on!
It’s that time of year again, when everyone and their mother is reflecting on a year nearly slipped into history. Everyone loves ‘Best of…’ lists, and I admit, I’m no different. Since I have a blog, and you’re reading it, I will now impart to you the albums that I loved listening to over the course of this year, the ones that truly resonated and will forever remind me of the my life and times of 2007.
Number One:
Person Pitch - Panda Bear - Can you ask for a happier, cooler, trippier set of songs? I don’t think so. This guy is brilliant. Not only did he make a masterwork in Person Pitch, but he also made a pretty killer album with Animal Collective and put on one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. Here, see for yourself:
Number Two:
In Rainbows - Radiohead - Bound to be on 99% of critics list, I realize, but how could I not? My god, it’s a masterpiece. Truly. This album is as good, if not better than all the previous efforts by these geniuses, and the fact that they released it on their own, shaking up the music industry just makes me love them all the more. This is one of those albums that you turn way up and close your eyes and sink into it wholesale.
Number Three:
This Fool Can Die Now - Scout Niblett - My wife and I have been rocking out to her album ever since Audrey opened for her at Johnny Brenda’s. Seriously good stuff. Incredible it hasn’t blipped up on the proverbial radar. We have this album in constant rotation. I’m amazed that it hasn’t gotten more attention. Her duets with Will Oldham are incredible and her song writing is poetic.
Number Four:
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire - This is the album of Summer ‘07. While Audrey and I sweltered and sweated in our warehouse loft during the blazing days of June and July, we’d pump this album up and rock out while making breakfast or cleaning the house. Not a bad song in the bunch. For real.
Number Five:
Beware of the Maniacs - The Dodos (aka Dodo Bird) - These guys played a warehouse show this year that totally blew me away. I recorded a few songs, but my mic battery died and I lost all audio! One of the biggest bummers of the year, to be sure. I bought their album, and was not disappointed. These fellas just got signed to the great indie label French Kiss Records this month, so I hope they really take off!
I haven’t been able to get out to shows much this fall because I’m so dang busy, but I did get to go see Dragons of Zynth and Celebration at Johnny Brenda’s on Saturday night. It was a great show! And of course, I made a couple vids. Here’s one from Celebration’s set:
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Hunter Gatherer has an amazing new song! Audrey just wrote and recorded a demo she’s calling “Sirens“. After listening to it only once, I have fallen in love with it, and am compelled to share it with you. I’m not just saying ‘cuz she’s my wife and I’m biased, either! Not that I have to reiterate, but damn, this girl has crazy talent.
Please listen to more Hunter Gatherer songs, see some live performance vids and friend her up on her ye olde myspace profile. And stay tuned, because there will be more! buy mp3|download Eros Ramazzotti mp3|buy stereophonics mp3
Last night’s show at Johnny Brenda’s was breath taking! Though I was full of nerves before they went on, Audrey and Gretchen played wonderfully. The other bands, Picastro and Scout Niblett blew me away. Watch some vids on my Live Music Journal. (UPDATE: just added another vid, the top one!)
Audrey and I had a little fun with some wineglasses and a guitar the other evening. Thought we’d share. Enjoy!
Wineglass Experiment from Mark Schoneveld on Vimeo.
Okay folks, this is a must-see! My wife’s band, Hunter Gatherer, previously a solo project, now a duo, is performing at Johnny Brenda’s on Sunday evening (October 28th at 9pm). Should be a lovely show as she’s opening for the excellent Scout Niblett. Come out and support her, hear her amazing songs! Of course, I’ll be video taping the performance and will be blogging it regardless, so if you’re far away or have a good excuse to miss it, just check back here in a couple days. Thx! See you Sunday!
(not the real album art, it ain’t out yet, but a lovely conceptualization by hicksdesign. check the other designs people are leaving in the comments!)
Just downloaded and listened to the new Radiohead album. Oh my! The boys have out-done themselves again. So lovely. An instant classic. Track 8 “House of Cards” - OMFG.
Okay, enough cliched gushing. What I really want to talk about is how I’m totally in love with the new way Radiohead is distributing “In Rainbows“. For donation. DRM-Free! Downloaded direct. Or bought on heavy vinyl through the snail mail. This is, in my humble opinion, the future of the music business. And I’m happy to report, it has NOTHING to do with big, stupid industry record companies. This is why the Internet is so amazing! Self-publishing! Let’s all say it together, friends: Gutenberg had nothing on us! What times we live in!
I’m a huge fan of The Arcade Fire. And while they do have some awesomely creative videos out there in the Interwebs, this has to be one of the coolest music videos I have ever seen. It’s interactive! Click the image to watch (and play!).
Cheers, Gorilla vs. Bear!
Oh my!
I just made this fun lil’ video at Dylan’s new compilation album promo site (via Adverblog). Yeah, I’m just shillin’ for the man, but it sure was fun and who doesn’t like ol’ Bobby D?
It must be noted that the original bit was part of a masterwork by one of my all-time heros, D.A. Pennebaker. The film, Don’t Look Back, recently got remastered for DVD, you might want to pick up a copy!
(They didn’t allow me to embed the flash video, so I captured it and uploaded it to YouTube. Their loss.)
Neu! is one of my favorite bands of all time. Their sound is so raw, so inventive. I have their albums 1 and 2 on constant rotation on my playlists. This new live video surfaced recently on YouTube, I caught it on the Arthur Magazine blog, Magpie. Thanks to those guys for pointing it out. It’s a bit short, but it does the trick. If I could go back in time with a video camera, these guys would definitely be on my Live Music Journal!
