Big Boi - CPU (feat. Phantogram)

So the new Big Boi album is absolutely unfuckingreal. Just when I thought Kendrick Lamar was the only guy this year in hip-hop capable of putting out a killer album the grizzled vet took him to school. Big Boi created a new sound for hip-hop that combines his OutKast era southern crunk rap with space age beats and indie rock group cameos. It's just so fucking good and I strongly recommend it to any fan of hip-hop music.

The entire album s full of instant classics but this astral-technologic banger stood out for me. First of all the beat is just insane. Make sure you have a good soundsystem to get the full sound of the bass womp and orbital excellence. This song features NYC indie-rock duo Phantogram (1 of 3 songs they're featured on on the album) as lead vocalist Sarah Barthel coos about online love and yearning. Big Boi spits rapid verses in his brilliant Southern drawl and even lets a computer version take a verse. The song then has a cool breakdown which highlights Barthel's soothing voice before the beat blasts back in for a full on intergalactic bass assault. Happy listening and trippin'!

Some thoughts...

- So tomorrow's the end of the world. Yeah fucking right... but I'm gonna get drunk just in case.

- Sheepdogs show tonight at The Commodore. Beyond stoked!

- I made the final of fantasy football. Holy Fuck! I've put up triple digits 3 straight weeks and plan on continuing the good play to bring home a chip!

- Went and got vaccinations for SE Asia today. My left arm sure hurts but not as much as my wallet... $535 to protect myself against a bunch of diseases and viruses that I've never heard of!

- Work is officially done for the calendar year! Super stoked for Christmas goodness, epic partying, and lotsa free time!

The Cave Singers - Clever Creatures

So last Saturday one of my favourite bands played a show at The Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver, 2 days after my birthday. I decided it would be great to gather a bunch of friends (15 to be exact) and drink ourselves stupid at the concert and then a bar after. The majority of my group had not heard of The Cave Singers but, thanks to the $15 ticket price and the fact that it was for my bday, they all welcomed it with open minds. I talked the band up as I just love all 3 of their albums and have seen them live 4 times (twice at Sasquatch Music Festival, at The Biltmore and the now defunct Richards on Richards) in which they have been incredible each time and are getting even better. And, like I knew they would, they absolutely delivered! 

The Rickshaw, which has a capacity of 1,000, was packed and bumpin' for the big show; a great crowd for a Vancouver show. We managed to make it to the middle of the stage, somewhat towards the back and all stayed together in a group (the pic above is where we were). This was by far the largest group that I have ever been to a concert with; every way I turned there was a new friend to talk to or dance with. Luckily the whole crew came ready to drink as well and 2 friends continued to trek to the bar, bringing back handfuls of beers. At one point I was triple fisting!

The Cave Singers opened with the gorgeous "Summer Light" and immediately captivated the crowd as everyone bumped along and pot smoke filled the air. They then picked it up with the rocker "At The Cut" before playing today's song, "Clever Creatures". Both songs were brilliant and my friends and I were really digging it. Some other highlights included the first time I had seen them play "Swim Club" (one of their most well-known songs and one that I have featured before on this blog), a pair of brand new songs, the excellent set-closing duo of the intense "No Prosecution If We Bail" and guitar-heavy "Black Leaf", and the encore of their best song, "Dancing On Our Graves" (another song that I've featured on this blog).

Throughout the night lead singer Pete Quirk sang haunting, eyes-closed verses on some tracks before switching to all-out bombastic growls on others. Lead guitarist Derek Fudesco played with his back to the audience for most of the night but was spot on with all the complex and groovy riffs. Then new member and bass player Morgan Henderson chugged along with drummer Marty Lund, ensuring that the beat never stopped rolling. The Cave Singers love Vancouver as they have recorded their albums here and, being from the Pacific Northwest (Seattle to be exact) they realize the greatness and commonalities shared among this region. These guys are getting bigger and better with every new album. I cannot wait for the day when they get to play The Commodore. I will certainly be there and I hope that you will be too!

A quick shout out to all my awesome fiends that came out! I had an absolute blast and was extremely hungover the next day lol. It was one of those nights where a friend and me wore each others coats home and had no idea til the following evening!

The Cave Singers - Have To Pretend

http://blog.kexp.org/2012/12/04/song-premiere-the-cave-singers-have-to-pretend/

I simply couldn't leave this without sharing The Cave Singers' excellent, brand new track, "Have To Pretend" off their album to be released March 2013, Naomi. This song has an amazing R&B groove, accented by some lovely ooohhhsss and the simple, jarring riff. It's very breezy and I can't wait for the whole album!

The Pack A.D. - Deer

The Pack A.D. put on a great show two Fridays ago at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. This was a homecoming gig for the duo of Becky Black and Maya Miller who are from East Vancouver. They are a lot like The Black Keys in terms of their bluesy garage duo vibe. But these chicks are way more badass and have a killer punk rock attitude. 

The set kicked off with the thunderous, brand new track "The Water" and the crowd started to swell, getting closer and closer to the stage. By the third track, "Haunt You", a great song to chant and lose it to the crowd had gotten completely mental as a mosh pit formed up front and dozens of guys and gals made their way on stage only to dive back into the trenches. The rest of the show kept up with this frantic pace with the band only stopping briefly in between songs. Drummer Maya Miller is just hilarious with her stage banter saying things like "We'll play one more song" after the first song lol and "This is another song that is by us". Highlights included a booming "B.C. Is On Fire" which really got the local crowd going, a blistering "Sirens" which is their most popular song to date and has incredible riffage, and a bluesy "K Stomp". They came out for an encore of several old songs and rarities which was great for all of the hardcore fans that have been with them since the beginning. I am certainly not one of those people as I only got into them after I heard "Sirens" and the above track but really dug 'em nonetheless.

We got there kinda late and unfortunately missed the first band but caught the last 3 songs from second band, No Sinner. They are another local band that sports a female vocalist with a joplin-esque set of pipes and an excellent guitarist. This guy stole the show, especially during their wicked instrumental finale. I look forward to seeing this band again and hope they continue to get bigger.

"Deer" is my favourite song by The Pack A.D. It has a sick riff and I love Becky's vocal as she howls with with a demented shrill yet holds back at all the right moments. She nailed the vocal that night, even as she jumped all over the stage and up onto Maya's drum kit. The video for this is also awesome and shot locally.

The Pack A.D. are a great local band. I urge you to check out their two most recent albums, Unpersons and We Kill Computers, and better yet check them out live. I guarantee a fun time at a great rock show!