Guns N’ Roses- Welcome to The Jungle
This song is from Guns N’ Roses 1987 debut album Appetite for Destruction. The band has recently reunited and will be playing Coachella this weekend (4/15/16) and next. Axl Rose’s serpentine moves, however, will not be present for the show. He broke a bone in his foot and will be borrowing Dave Grohl’s throne from his injury for the performances.
DMX- Party Up (Up in Here)
This song is from DMX’s 1999 album …And Then There Was X and was his most successful single. DMX has had some serious ups and downs over the last decade and a half since this song was released. He had a cameo in Chris Rock’s 2014 film Top Five and guest starred on a recent episode of the sitcom Fresh Off the Boat, but in February of this year he was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in a hotel parking lot.
He’s doing better now though, and is on tour making a stop at The Novo (formerly Club Nokia) in Los Angeles on Sunday, 4/10/16 to play a $15 show.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding
This song was written and produced by Nick Lowe with Costello’s version released on the B-side of Lowe’s 1978 single American Squirm. Elvis Costello released the song on the American version of his 1979 album Armed Forces.
Costello is playing two shows at The Theatre at The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles this weekend 4/2 and 4/3.
A Tribe Called Quest- Jazz (We’ve Got)/ Buggin’ Out
Malik Isaac Taylor, better known as Phife Dawg, passed away this past Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 45 years old. He was a founding member of A Tribe Called Quest, whose albums played an influential part in hip hop history. The Low End Theory, from 1991, with its jazz sampled beats and lyrical stylings of Phife and Q-Tip, remains one of the best hip hop albums of all time.
There is an interesting documentary about the band- Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest. It was directed by actor Michael Rapaport, and although the group ended up not supporting it, Phife went to the premiere anyway and seemed to be glad he did.
2016 is really taking a lot of talent from the world.
Rest in Peace.
Slowdive- Alison
This song is from English band Slowdive’s 1993 album Souvlaki. The band is back on tour and are playing the Burger 5 Year Anniversary show at The Observatory in Santa Ana on Saturday 3/12/16.
M. Ward- The First Time I Ran Away
This song is from M. Ward‘s 2012 album A Wasteland Companion. The video was directed by Joel Trussell who also directed Electric City, an animated project created by and starring Tom Hanks.
At 3pm on Friday 3/5/16 M. Ward is playing a free show at Amoeba Records in Hollywood and signing his new album, Transistor Radio.
Kid Cudi- Day ‘N’ Nite
This song was Kid Cudi’s lead single off his debut album from 2009, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, although it was released in 2008 before the album. The video was directed by So-Me, who has also directed videos for Major Lazer, Justice and Nero, as well as doing animation for Cudi collaborator Kanye West’s Good Life video. The video features numerous places in Los Angeles including Smog Cutter bar, and also a cameo by Travis Barker.
Kid Cudi is playing a sold out show at the Observatory in Santa Ana tonight 2/25/16.
Vanity 6- Nasty Girl
This song is from Prince’s protégé girl group Vanity 6’s 1982 self-titled album. Denise Katrina Matthews, also known as Vanity, quit Vanity 6 after the first album and went on to record two solo albums and later contributed songs for the film Action Jackson, which she also starred in.
Vanity died on Monday at the age of 57. Prince, who she dated during the time of Vanity 6, recently paid tribute to her at his show in Australia, telling a story about their time together and dedicating the song Little Red Corvette to her.
Lianne La Havas- Forget
This song is from Is Your Love Big Enough?, British artist Lianne La Havas’ 2012 debut album. She is currently on tour for her 2015 album Blood.
She is playing Thursday, 2/11/16, at Largo in Los Angeles.
Vampire Weekend- Giving Up The Gun
With Vampire Weekend member Chris Baio on tour for his solo project Baio, and lead sing Ezra Koenig most recently performing at a Bernie Sanders rally in Iowa, it felt like a good time to revisit one of the band’s best videos. This one is from their 2010 album Contra. It features RZA, Joe Jonas, Jake Gyllenhaal and Lil Jon and was directed by The Molloys.
Baio is at the El Rey Theatre tonight 2/4/16.