WOW!! After two huge weekends for Destructo at Coachella 2012, he hits us with another boom, this time its the HARD SUMMER line up! I can't wait to get another dose of NERO live, and I definitely can't wait to see Little Dragon, Squarepusher, and Bloc Party's official HARD debut! Of course, the list goes on and there will be much more sprinkled on top of this already great line up. Get your tickets NOW!
Wow. I knew it was only a matter of time before a string of additional shows and parties aside from the 2 Sold Out weekends of Coachella would arise. Tickets for a number of these shows are out now so act NOW before they're gone!!!
I'm more than certain I've explained my appreciation for this amazing production/dj duo signed to MTA Records, Nero. But we've been getting a surge of new readers from across the globe so I'll re-hash it briefly. I actually thought Nero was just one dude when first heard of them. The track was Innocence. I don't remember where it was or who shared the music video with me, but at the time it was the coolest thing I've seen. Being a long time fan of Japanese Anime and Sci Fi films/concepts it was something that I've always wanted to do. Something I will probably do in the future to help explain my own music. But these guys beat me to it.
Nero's Welcome Reality has quickly become one of my favorite albums this year. Their debut album is packed with back to back favorites perfect for adventures on the road and/or top flight sessions in your headphones. Dive into the music video for their latest single Reaching Out. The synths in this song give me goosebumps.
Enjoy
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If you're in LA this winter, make sure you catch Nero's return to the Music Box, presented by BASSRUSH & Insomniac!
Aziatik Rhythmz Presents: BASSGIVING with Dank Radio + Radio Bomb. Many thanks to Drew @ SMOG for the 5 Yr Anniversary Show ticket giveaway Congrats to Sergio for winning the tickets. Artwork: Eccentric Like what you hear? Let us know!
Eccentric Layin it Down ::
123Mrk - Noname - Noname EP
123Mrk - Unrest - Noname EP
Dam Funk - It Iz What It Iz
Emalkay - A.G.S.
Rebelution - Closer I Get (Dub)
Regal D's Vinyl Selections::
Dave Boomah & Serum - Why They Wanna
Need For Mirrors - Skip Rope
Vicious Circle & Nocturnal - Last Chance Saloon
Calibre - Blazin
Commix - Double Double
SKC & Hydro (Feat Munk) - Animism
Ill Skillz - Move It
Enei - Stonehenge
Mikal - Epic
Klute - Galaxian
Fabricated's Bassgiving Feast::
Phace & Misanthrop - Energie
Noisia & Phace - Program
Ulterior Motive - Featherweight
Spectrasoul - Mimic
TC - Tap Ho
SP:MC & LX One - Hunted
12th Planet - Corner Pocket
Skream feat. Sam Frank - Anticipate
Joker - Tron
Nero - Crush On You
Amon Tobin - Surge (16bit Remix)
Bukez Finest - Head Noddah
Skream - Wibbler
Echo Park - Fiber Optic (12th Planet & Flinch Remix)
Tunnidge - 7 Breaths
Nero - Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix)
Foreign Beggars feat. Noisia - Contact (Noisia Remix)
Icicle feat. SP:MC - Dreadnaught
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Garden (Calibre Remix)
Netsky feat. Jenna G - Moving With You
Little Dragon - Ritual Union (Maya Jane Coles Remix)
:: Tracklist :: Buddha Supreme - Ultrasonic Precept 7 Diamond Eye - Mind Film Von D - Love Music Lemon Jelly - Space Walk Dungeon Family - Rollin Skream - Midnight Request Line Atmosphere - 4:30 AM Jonti - Hornets Nest Little Dragon - Ritual Union Lokid - Fear of Heights Telefon Tel Aviv - TTV Telefon Tel Aviv - Fahrenheit Fair Enough Z - Open Your Mind* Telefon Tel Aviv - John Thomas Inside Is Nothing but Foam Telefon Tel Aviv - Lotus Above Water Z - Wake Up Reso - Her Eyes Nova - Lights At Night 2562 - Love in Outer Space Nova - Periapsis Punk Thundercat - It Really Doesn't Matter To You Dam Funk - The Honeymoon is Over Reso - Schlunk Nero - Crush On You Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi - Window Shop Thundercat - Boat Cruise Hawthorne Headhunters - Teleport Oddisee - Uptown Cabaret
If you had a blast at HARD Summer this year then you can revisit those feelings with the official video recap of all the fun that took place at the Los Angeles State Historic Park on August 6th, 2011. If you were one of the people that weren't able to attend the excitement then take a quick look at what you missed.
No explanation necessary. It's going to be a fun show. After seeing Duck Sauce + Boys Noize + Chromeo + Skrillex + Odd Future perform at Coachella this year, the opportunity to see them again is definitely a treat. I'm looking forward to seeing Carte Blanche [DJ Mehdi & Riton] perform since I missed them the last time they were in town. I'm also extremely excited to finally see Siriusmo perform live. If you have yet to get a copy of his latest release Mosaic [Purchase @ Modeselektor | Juno | Amazon] go get it. I know fabricated can't wait to see Noisia + Caspa + Emalkay + Nero. So if those artists alone don't convince you then check out the trailer below...
It was only a matter of time before all of our favorite producer/DJs hit the road and did a proper tour across America. Sure many of these artists have done various shows with their friends in spotted tours across the States but it was in deed a surprise for me to discover that this has been set in stone. Reminds me of the Warped Tour days. I'm assuming there will be less chuck taylors/drunken brawls/and middle fingers flicked off at the ghetto birds roaming the skies. Nonetheless this tour will be a great time. I'm curious as to what kind of set Chad Hugo (N*E*R*D*) will have. Is he going to be playing the sax + mpc + keys + guitar or will he simply be DJing. I guess we'll have to go to find out...
Afrojack @ SNS Arena | Photo Source: Together As One's Facebook
Now that I've had about a full day to rest|recover|reflect on the insanity I partook during the last moments of 2010 into the first moments of 2011 I can finally share some of the highlights of Together As One [Go Ventures + Insomniac Events]. I'll explain things in the order I experienced them and I'll focus on some of the musical moments that really stood out for myself and the crowd. Following these highlights I'll share a couple comments and suggestions for future events. Let's begin...
Saturday Night Sessions Arena Afrojack [ Official | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube ] The first song we heard when we stepped into the Saturday Night Sessions Arena was Show Me Love by Steve Angello & Laidback Luke feat. Robin-S. The positive energy of the arena was electrifying. Everyone was singing, dancing, merrymaking and we knew things were just getting started. When you take that amount of energy and double it, that's what occurred when Afrojack dropped his remix of Show Me Love right after the original track.
The crowd also went wild when Pacha On Acid began to play. There's just something special about hearing the build up from 3:45 - 5:12 in a giant sized arena with the bass thumping and possessing you to move your body in ways you didn't know they moved. To be honest with you, I don't get many songs by Afrojack until I hear it live on a massive sound system. Case in point his recent track titled, Replica. Once I heard it in the arena it made perfect sense.
Bassrush Arena Nero [ Facebook | Twitter | Youtube ] With all the posts we've done with Nero on Dank Radio you can probably guess the excitement I had to finally ring in the new year with these guys at Bassrush. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed when I only saw one of the two forces behind Nero. But no matter I had the music to bring my spirits back up.
I've been playing their Essential Mix over and over for the past couple weeks and their set consisted most of the key tracks you'd expect. Early in the set you heard their In The Middle Remix and it seemed like the crowd wasn't too familiar with that track from my vantage point. The crowd however did respond when they heard MJ Cole's Sincere ( Nero Remix ). Let's just say the ladies got expressive at this point.
In a matter of moments I finally got to hear the set of songs I've been waiting to hear on a proper sound system. Nero's remix of The Jets Crush On You sounded spectacular. I missed it when they played the track at Audiotistic and was waiting for this soung to drop during their set. The moment when they played Downlink's Factory + Chase & Status' Let You Go (Nero Remix) + Nero's Welcome Reality was amazing. The passion behind the lyrics of Let You Go over Welcome Reality is perfect for a massive's speakers.
We stayed for a handful of the Drum & Bass tracks but had to make our way to the Together Arena for Laidback Luke. One thing that stayed with me was what the MC's said about Bassrush. They were happy for the continued growth of the LA Bass scene and how more people are accepting of the music and declared that Bassrush would never ever leave the scene and stay until the very end.
Together Arena Laidback Luke [ Official | Facebook | Twitter ] What more can I say about this guy that hasn't already been said. I've seen him a handful of times throughout 2010 and each time I see him perform he does something new/different that blows my mind. And after each set I'm extremely inspired and driven to practice even harder.
The best way to describe a LBL set is that the crowd's energy fluctuates between 80% at it's lowest point and reaches it's highest at about 120%. In essence he always manages to keep the energy at a constant of about 100% throughout his sets. Don't ask me how the math works, It just does.
LBL used his remix of iSquare's Hey Sexy Lady to build the crowd up for the countdown. Which was very appropriate especially with the "People people put your hands up" lyric. After the yelling, confetti, and toasts he brought the crowd back in with his & Steve Angello's track Be. And just when you thought things couldn't get even wilder he drops Timebomb (Original Mix).
After Timebomb he proceeded to drop a continuous stream of audio bombs that prolonged the special feeling felt during the point of countdown. If I can recall, he did a combination of Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand & Fake Blood - I Think I Like it that made the crowd erupt in excitement. In every LBL set there's always a time when you say to yourself, "WTF?! is he really playing this?". During that night it occurred when he played Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are. Just as the song was playing with the ladies singing their hearts out and the guys confused with the song choice he drops his remix of Dirty Talk.
With all musical journeys piloted by Luke a flight wouldn't be complete without a dash of Dubstep thrown into the mix. Despite the negative reaction of some audience members he still manages to guide us through the turbulence and get us from point A to point B.
Wolfgang Gartner [ Official | Facebook | Twitter ] Just when you think the TAO attendees were beginning to run low on fuel Wolfgang Gartner picks up from where Laidback Luke left off and continues the party well into the night. 2010 was a good year for Wolfgang. He solidified his production status with a slew of continuous bangers which culminated into his signing with Ultra Records. He also left us with a special going away 2010 present in the form of an Essential Mix.
The moment he strung together Mr Oiozo's Rubber + Beyonce's Single Ladies + Mumbai Science's Gold I was in awe. It truly was one of those "OMFG I can't believe you just did that?!" moments. Another song that caught the whole tent's attention was MC Lyte - Cold Rock A Party. I never thought I'd ever hear that song at that type of event. One song I NEVER thought I'd ever hear that night was Jodeci - Freakin You. If anyone knows who made that remix he played that night please let us know in the comments section!
Aside from the random songs he through into the mix to throw us off[in a good way] he included all his crowd favorites: Wolfgang's 5th Symphony, Undertaker, Yin, and his latest tracks Illmerica & Space Junk. All in all it was a great set and despite the crowds chants for an encore he only teased us and left us wanting more.
Comments + Suggestions 1) Disorganized Entrance: Bicycle racks to snake the line and organize the concert attendees in a more orderly fashion. Additional staff to do ID/Ticket checks & security pat downs. A third GA entrance point. We understand that if you want to get in quickly to an event you need to show up early and be patient. But this is never an excuse for a lack of planning by event organizers. 2) Running out of Water in the Arena: Periodic refilling[once every 30min during peak hours of 9pm-12:30am. Once an hour from 12:30am-close] of each station by additional push-carts or golf carts. The best example of this was during Coachella. Even when a station ran out, it only took 15 min. for a cart to come around and refill the buckets. If costs per additional people power are an issue you need to remember that water is a BIG sell at these events, more so than alcohol[no hard data. just based on observation]. 3) Countdowns out of sync: Better communication between each stage through walkies/synchronized clocks|computers. Sound/Tech guys easing up on the alcohol consumption before the countdown[i did front of house at an all ages venue for 2 years so i know there are certain shows when you say "F(*)ck it I'm partying w/ everyone else"].
We posted the music video for this amazing song not too long ago and I don't care if you've had enough of the song because we haven't. Nero's Me & You is quite the epic tune. One that I can't wait to hear through a speaker stack 5 stories tall. The intro drum pattern with the ascending synth lines all build up to the distorted guitar lick which breaks out into a pure stadium rock hook. Alana then proceeds to repeat the question "Are you ready?" and you scream at the top of your lungs "Yes!!!". Well, that's how I picture things will be like later this week when they perform at Together As One.
And if you thought the track couldn't get any better, check out Dirtyphonics' Remix below[Release date: Jan 10, 2011]. Can't wait for this to be released!
Growing up my parents always told me and Eccentric that whatever you do during the first moments of the year will be a good gauge of what types of activities will be in-store for the remainder of the year. With that said...
Go Ventures and Insomniac have put together one massive line up for their lucky number 13. Having to decide on whether to spend the countdown with either Laidback Luke, Jack Beats/Major Lazer, or Rusko is just killing us. LBL has held it down each and every single time we've seen him this year and knowing him he'll have some LA treats thrown into his mix for this special occasion. Jack Beats, Wolfgang Gartner, and Nero have all produced mind blowing Essential Mixes. 12th Planet and Kill The Noise have always held it down for the locals and it'll be great to see them at the party. Diplo might even do his special 'ladies' set to get all the females grinding/grooving. And the opportunity to finally witness the Dada Life is just plain bananas.
Whichever artists we do have the opportunity to party with at TAO will in no doubt be a great time. I can't think of any other way I'd like to start off my year. Spending time with my brother, good music, and fun people. 2011 is going to be a fun year, this I'm certain. [Bonus Info: We're heading up to the radio station RIGHT AFTER TAO. In true Dank Radio fashion the party will continue until the sun rises. LIVE BROADCAST // Aziatik Rhythmz Present: Dank Radio // Saturday Jan 1st. 4 - 6am // 90.7fm KPFK // kpfk.org {streaming worldwide}]
TOGETHER ARENA 5:30pm-6:30pm Swedish Egil 6:30pm-8pm Richard Vission 8pm-9:30pm Markus Schulz 9:30pm-11pm Dada Life 11pm-12:30am Laidback Luke 12:30am-2am Wolfgang Gartner
SATURDAY NIGHT SESSIONS ARENA 5:30pm-6:30pm Barry Weaver 6:30pm-8pm Kill The Noise 8pm-9:30pm Afrojack 9:30pm-11pm Diplo 11pm-12am Jack Beats 12am-1am Major Lazer 1am-2am DJ Reza
I knew deep down inside a long long time ago that the nerds would rise up and control the world. There are the obvious areas such as math, science, and computers. But who knew all the kids who spent all their time playing video games would turn into some of the best music producers in the world. [In my book at least.] You have Flying Lotus who has said time and time again he attributes his music to his love of video games. The recent collaboration between Daft Punk and the new Tron movie. Now we have dubstep|drum&bass producer|djs Nero [MTA records] sharing with us their Double Dragon|Punisher inspired music video to their upcoming release titled Me And You [iTunes Pre Order]. And as a bonus you can download Nero's BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix down below. It's one of my favorite mixes at the moment and it truly is a musical journey from start to finish. Can't wait to see them perform at Together As One.
Everyone loves FREE music, right? What's better than FREE music? FREE music that's given to you straight from the source. No, I'm not talking about the magazine, I'm talking about Plan B [679/Atlantic]. And no, I'm most definitely not talking about the Plan B you're thinking about. In short, Plan B is a soulful dude from the other side of the pond that has this Mayer Hawthorne vibe but he rhymes(See video below). Not only that but he was the featured artist on a track by Chase & Status. Check out the free tracks below and if you like what you hear you can pick up his latest release The Defamation Of Strickland Banks [iTunes/Amazon].
Dank Radio on KPFK
