Archive by Lori Kennedy

Check out this sweet video from Current TV on label Ghostly International (home to artists such as Matthew Dear, Dabrye, Kill Memory Crash, Solvent and Tycho), which includes an interview with Ghostly founder Sam Valenti IV. The video, called “Ghosts of Techno,” covers how the label started, the concept and its intent to bring music and compelling visual artists together. Click HERE to see the video.

Oh man, are you ready for the NIN tour that’s about to happen this summer? Do you want a sneak peak of all the audio awesomeness that is about to dropped on our eager ears? Yeah? Of course you do! Check out these exclusive NIN rehearsal videos from Pitchfork TV, where we see Trent and company performing three tracks from The Slip, “Echoplex” (sweet), “Letting You” (totally sweet) and “1,000,000″ (supersweet).

In “Echoplex,” we get to see drummer Josh Freese using the JazzMutant Lemur, which is totally badass.

Holy shit! My fantasy concert is finally coming true. Does It Offend You, Yeah? plans on sharing some tour dates with Nine Inch Nails. The only way this could get any better is if LCD Soundsystem joined the bill, with Flight of the Conchords opening the show. Man, I’m not even sure I could handle the sheer awesomeness of a show like that. Wait, yes I can.

So the DIOY, Y & NIN bill is happening only in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but hey, I can always use a good reason to go visit my friends back east.

Here are the tour dates for Does It Offend You, Yeah? with Bloc Party:

7/28 Pomona, CA @ The Glass House w/Bloc Party

7/29 Los Angeles, CA @ Mayan Theatre w/Bloc Party

7/30 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore w/Bloc Party

8/01-03 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza

8/04 Toronto, ONT @ Drakes

8/05 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts w/Bloc Party

8/06 New York, NY @ Webster Hal w/Bloc Party

And here are the dates with NIN:

08-27 East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center

08-29 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center

Having just released 36 brand new instrumental tracks last month with Ghosts I-IV, Trent Reznor not ready to simply chillax and trade hairstyle secrets with newly returned Nails guitarist Robin Finck while waiting for the Nine Inch Nails tour to start this summer. Instead, The Rez released yet ANOTHER new song last night (with words!). The ultra-catchy track is called “Discipline” and is available for free download here.



On his blog at www.nin.com, The Rez encourages us all to take our shirts off, dance to it, and remix it. HELLS YES. (No word on whether or not you’ll have to remix it while topless.)

And one more thing: Embedded in the free MP3 is a note from The Rez, telling us to visit his site on May 5. Apparently he has even more tricks up his black and depressed sleeve. SWEET.

Hey, do you like free stuff? Better yet, do you like free stuff that’s frigging awesome? Yeah? Well, hold onto your panties because label Ghostly International and programmers Adult Swim have teamed up to present the music and art gem Ghostly Swim. The album contains totally free, totally new and totally high-quality tracks (19 in all) from the likes of Dabrye, FLYamSAM, Matthew Dear, Tycho, Milosh and School of Seven Bells, among others. Also? Ghostly’s mascots, BoyCatBird make their animated debut in a video by Daniel Garcia/Superfi called “City Suckers.”

Check it all out here.

Yeah, so we hitched a ride on the bandwagon a little late, but hey, whatever. This song is frickin’ awesome, and we just can’t help ourselves in spreading the love. Just sayin’.

So Niggy Tardust, the late-2007 release from Saul Williams, is probably one of the coolest albums of 2007 that you never heard. Of course, you can go download it now here. The point is, this album is frickin’ coolio. Songs range from hip-hop and downtempo to electronic, with smart lyrics, twisted buzzy synths and heavy beats. Oh yeah, and it was produced by Trent Reznor.

And now Saul has released a video for his cover of U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” Because we love you, we’re presenting it to you here:

PreSonus is asking for your help in completing their Recording Musicians Survey. By completing the survey, you get to have input on future PreSonus products and features. Also? Complete the survey and be entered to win a free FaderPort (10 winners will be selected). Sweet.

Also check out PreSonus Holiday Rebates for free gear.

To take the survey, click here.

Man, Daddy Kev was off the hook spinning digital vinyl with Torq and Torq Conectiv. The crowd was head-bobbin, totally into it. It was like a miniclub goin’ on in there. The music is thumpin’ hard, and I’m off to go check out some more now.

Lori

Hey folks,

It’s Lori here. Well, I’m mostly here (mentally, at least). My co-workers and some industry peeps stayed up really late debating/discussing the state of the music industry and the state of hip-hop. It was a great, intense conversation until the wee, wee hours of the morning. But it was worth it. And now we’re juiced for today.

Yesterday was just crazy here. The Beatport stage outside with the Red Bull bar was massively kick-ass. All the panels were packed. I was hanging out in the Ableton Room around 7 p.m. last night and overheard two attendees talking. One guy was all excited. He said, “This is the best day ever. I had a half day at work, and right after I came here [Remix Hotel], and this place is sick! I’m having a fuckin’ blast!” So there you have it. The best day ever. See? Today could be ANOTHER best day ever. So you’ve got to come out, okay?

See you later,

Lori