SXSW '09: Avett Brothers

I totally messed up the flow of this post.  I wanted to write this up before the festival started.  OH WELL, take life as it comes.  Now I can include videos.  I, obviously, didn't get to go to Austin for this special occasion.  When I saw Avett Brothers on the schedule I got so happy, but sad that I couldn't be there.  They performed during the first couple of days at South by Southwest.  (I must, now, give props to my girl who showed me the light of their gracious music, thanks Katie, you one-upping nazi).

SXSW '09: Avett Brothers "Shame"

This North Carolina based bluegrass/rock band is comprised of Seth  and Scott Avett (guittar and banjo men) and Bob Crawford (stand-up bass man).  They came to UNC's Memorial Hall on Nov 2008.  Concert was SOLD OUT.  Avett Brothers are amaziiinnngg live performers.  

Memorial Hall: Avett Brothers "Go to Sleep"

They have produced 11 albums since 2000.  I and Love and You is dropping this July.  

Avett Bros. are coming back to Raleigh on April 22, to perform at Walnut Creek and Charlotte on the 24th.  Here's a list of their tour dates and locations.

Ultimate Concert Line Up

Second installment of this assignment--rock, jazz and electronic...

ROCK
I'd open with The Beatles.

The mid...Citizen Cope.
A mix of alternative rock, pop, folk and ska.

Lastly, the ultimate band in my book, my headliner, Coldplay.

JAZZ

I've only dabbled in this genre very briefly, mostly due to chance when it pops up on my Lounge playlist on Pandora. Oh, and actually, a couple of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan films have prompted me to download a few tracks. Essentially, the scope of my research/knowledge is limited. Sometimes, still, I imagine I'm living through a jazz soundtrack like light, sultry and happy, and when the time calls, low, deep and long-drawn.

Anyways, that's weird, so I'll leave that alone.

Getting the crowd up right. The opener...Louis Armstrong.

The mid...Django Reinhardt. European jazz guitarist. Really amazing. Really beautiful.

The headliner. Because his music is just damn sweet...Jimmy Durante

HOUSE/TECHNO

The opener...Tiesto

The mid. Ok, my newly found interest, Tocadisco

The headliner. We all know him...Benny Benassi

Uuuhh, ok this last line up just got me so excited! I think i just jizzed in my pants.

"Life of Clocks" on Viva La Hova

Micky Boogie and Terry Urban. Aaah so good.

Ultimate Hip-Hop Line Up

Imagining that I had some cosmic power to pull together my choice of the three greatest hip-hop artists of all time for the grandest performance for mankind, I'd want to showcase the diversity and evolution of this specific genre, which has undergone much change. Frankly, I don't think I could do hip-hop justice. First, I have only sampled so many artists and so many of their techniques. There is too much talent to begin with, so much to rhyme about, so much to say. Second, hip-hop is quite an American genre. Its roots are in African American music, and according to wiki, is based on a quasi-nomadic group of West Africans known as griots who functioned as a keeper of oral history. And, since my roots come from much further away, I'm constantly trying to keep up with two worlds. That is, because my interests lie in both.
Regardless, simply put, hip-hop began as poetry and spoken word. Now, it is that, and much more. It is beat dropping. Hell, even trou-dropping (fo the hos out there). It's swagger-ridden. It's auto-tuned. And, in constant transition.

I am no expert in hip-hop; only a fan who is straying away from mainstream and struggling to find the good stuff. I'm sort of lost without a dealer. I can't sustain the highs from witty wordplay, meaningful rhymes and flawless flows on my own discoveries.

But, as my assignment suggests, I must choose three, granted the limited knowledge that I have.
Ok fine.

The opener...The Jigga Man--Hova, himself--Jay-Z

The mid...Biggie

The headliner...Lauryn Hill

Damn, that was hard. If you can call out a better line up, please be my guest, but um, it might be impossible.

Recalling UNC's Victory over Duke

Last night, at the evening of the Duke v Carolina game, I witnessed something great. The scoreboard. It read, UNC 101, Duke 87.

The last 100-point victory over our rivals occurred 14 years ago, at double-overtime with 102-100.

This time, we produced a 14-point victory with no overtime.

And then, I rushed Franklin Street. For the first time. And it was CRAZY. Kids were so pumped. Shirtless. Crowding around multiple bonfires at the corner of Franklin and Cameron. Screaming at Top of the Hill patrons to "GIVE US YOUR SHIRT!"...(to burn). Jumping over flames. Pushing. Shoving. Getting closer to the fire. And tighter to the person next to them. Cheering, "TAR" and responding, "HEELS". Singing, "Hark the Sound," sporadically.

The scent of burning T-shirts, newspapers and whatever else was sacrificed for building these victory flames overshadowed the aroma of, dare I say, celebratory illegal substances, which couldn't be pin-pointed. Fans of all ages, colors, genders and classes just being totally chaotic and completely uninhibited in this spontaneous block party that, literally, stretched the distance of a block.

As midnight rolled in, after an hour of jumping and yelling, students and fans poured into the many bars on Franklin St. to rejoice for another two hours.

At the end of the night, I smelled like fire. My little feet were trampled. And, I loved being a Tar Heel more than ever.

Ryan Leslie

I just got my hands on Ryan Leslie's self-titled, official debut album. It's scheduled to drop tomorrow, Feb 10th...RUN TO YOUR NEAREST MUSIC DISTRIBUTOR and PICK IT UP. This album is so smooth. OK, so we know he's a genius of the highest caliber, graduating from Harvard University at the age of 19, but he is not your typical nerd.

He writes his own music, makes his own beats, plays a bazillion instruments, and I love him. A little bit. Ryan Leslie intros with "Diamond Girl" (Leslie's 2007 single), starting the album off with a head nodding beat. Then, Cassie and Fabulous are featured in "Addiction", which is one of the sexiest tracks. If I had to pick one song. Well, I simply couldn't. BUT, I could pick two. "Valentine" and "Gibberish" are my favorite. The latter of which, literally, is gibberish. He manages to make brilliant music out of nonsense. It ran the risk of being whack, but it's ingenious. Hah, and regardless of how badly you want to sing along, you can't--because he's not saying actual words. And, the former is an uplifting ballad that is reminiscent of an '80s teen movie or something. I picture Molly Ringwald. I think it's the electric piano. But, don't misinterpret me, Ryain Leslie is a definite R&B album. It's the artist's encorporation of styles from different genres that makes the listening that much more flavorful. For example, this could just be me, but I get hints of John Mayer-esque rhythms in "You're Fly" and "Quicksand". You can tell me when you hear it...

The theme of the album is absolutely appropriate for the up-coming holiday. Leslie sings about his love for a woman, or for all we know, several, who may be his fwb (friends with benefits), source of heart-break, or potential soul mate. Whatever the case, Leslie produced a series of serenades that makes hitting the stop button simply hard to do.

Or is it just me? Listen and let us knowww.....

Ryan Leslie's Youtube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ryanleslietv?blend=1