Hockey
Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
3.12.2010

“You guys are awesome… no, for real!” – lead singer, Benji Gruben in reaction to the front row fans antics.

The too hip for hipsters donned their tightest skinny jeans for their Chicago show. The Portland-based group is currently touring the US with no end in sight. They toured the UK for the majority of last year where they first garnered attention from BBC Radio 1.

Hockey played a high energy show in such a small space, you couldn’t help but dance. Playing through most of their upcoming album, Mind Chaos, the band lost most of their steam in the middle of their set by playing through their slower set. Hockey’s music, however, was not lost on the crowd who shuffled along to whatever jams Hockey popped out.

The crowd’s favorite tracks were definitely there with their first hit single “Too Fake” being saved for the (obvious) encore. Hockey even premiered a few new songs, one, “Rebels Marry Young”, which sounded like the band was trying to cross into a cross of rock and folk, similar to the Cold War Kids. I’m sold.

But, what of your new music? Is there another EP in the works? Are you going to follow Hollywood and re-release Mind Chaos with extra tracks? Give us something!

I was surprised to see the beginnings of a mosh happen towards the front of the ever-growing crowd. Hockey is not a “mosh” type of sound. If anything it is the antithesis of an angry mosh pit trashing around. Hockey’s music is anti-pop rock in a pop package. A mosh to their hit single “Too Fake” would be funny. Then again, I have seen a mosh pit form to a cover of “Hit Me Baby One More Time”.

… Yeah.

All in all, a great show from a great band who isn’t Kings of Leon famous- not yet anyway.

www.hockeyband.com
www.myspace.com/hockey

Written by: Blake Russell

Popularity: unranked [?]

Lolene Premieres First Official Single
“Rich (Fake it Til You Make It)”
Debut Album The Electrick Hotel Coming Summer 2010

With her quirky, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, universal pop melodies and trademark curly hair, Lolene is quickly making a name for herself in the US. “Sexy People,” the first track that surfaced from the British-born songstress in the states, cracked the top 5 on Billboard’s Dance Chart and became a dance floor anthem at clubs from coast to coast.

The 24-year-old rising star has just unveiled the first official single from her forthcoming debut produced by The Messengers (Justin Bieber, Chris Brown). “Rich (Fake it Til You Make It)” embodies Lolene’s brand of “awkward pop” which she describes as “Joan Collins in Dynasty, Studio 54, white jump-suits, and disco balls.” Still not sure exactly what that means? Listen to the track to find out! The music video will be filmed next month, and Lolene is looking for a special guest to join in on the fun. Fans can now enter a contest on DanceJam.com to win a trip to Los Angeles and a guest spot in the video.

Lolene’s career began first as a songwriter where she lent her talents to the likes of Christina Milian, Danja (Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado) and Evan Bogart (Beyonce, Leona Lewis). Armed with nothing but a suitcase and a demo CD, Lolene moved to Hollywood from her hometown of Bristol, UK in search of her big break where she was discovered by multi-platinum producer J.R. Rotem and ultimately signed to Capitol/EMI Records.

Stay tuned for Lolene’s major label debut, The Electrick Hotel, due out this summer.

Popularity: 1% [?]

VELOCITY RECORDS/RISE RECORDS ANNOUNCE FIRST SIGNING: ABANDON ALL SHIPS

Velocity Records/Rise Records are excited to announce their first signing together: Abandon All Ships. Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, the band spent the majority of 2009 heavily touring North America and unleashing their own unique brand of hardcore, euro and dance music on the masses. Somehow between their time spent on the road and their time spent watching Jersey Shore in true guido fashion, they’ve managed to write a debut full-length album, which is tentatively set to be released at the end of summer. Stay tuned for updates.

Catch Abandon All Ships on their upcoming tour w/A Skylit Drive, I Set My Friends On Fire, and Tides Of Man:

5/28 Stockton, CA @ Plea For Peace Center

5/29 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction

5/30 Tucson, AZ @ Rock

6/1 Tulsa, OK @ Marquee

6/2 Oklahoma City, OK @ Conservatory

6/3 Tyler, TX @ Knights of Columbus

6/4 Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s

6/5 Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone

6/6 Nashville, TN @ Rockettown

6/8 Raleigh, NC @ Greene Street Club

6/9 Richmond, VA @ Canal Club

6/10 Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club

6/11 Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance/The Loft

6/12 Vineland, NJ @ Hangar 84

6/13 Toledo, OH @ Headliners

6/15 Grand Rapids, MI @ Mixtape

6/16 Dekalb, IL @ House Café

6/17 Des Moines, IA @ House of Bricks

6/18 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground

www.abandonallships.com

www.velocityrecords.com

www.riserecords.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

RUSKO TO RELEASE “O.M.G.!” LP THIS MAY ON MAD DECENT
FIRST SINGLE “WOO BOOST” OUT THIS MONTH, NEW PODCAST AVAILABLE NOW

The world may not be ready for the bass-heavy wrath that UK dubstep trailblazer, Rusko, is bringing to domestic soil this spring as he prepares to launch, O.M.G.!, his debut LP on Mad Decent.  As one of the most well recognized names in dubstep and producer du jour to some of the hottest artists around right now, his name will be burning into brains everywhere.  For a teaser taste of what’s to come, Mad Decent has released a new Rusko Podcast, with a preview of sounds, his explanation of the origins of dubstep and what makes California’s weed great – available now!

Rusko, also known as Christopher Mercer, was born in Leeds, UK to a musical family. After graduating from Leeds University with a degree in musical performance, Rusko discovered the world of dubstup through SUB DUB and an appearance from the Digital Mystikz. He moved to London to increase his musical opportunities and most notably co-produced “Cockney Thug”, arguably THE dubstep anthem of the last few years. In 2010, Rusko has teamed up as a member of the Mad Decent crew and collborated with notable artists such as MIA, Diplo, Santigold and Hot Chip among others.   O.M.G.! will feature guest appearances from Gucci Mane, Crookers, Amber Coffman (Dirty Projectors) & more!

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Ebony Bones
The Echo – Los Angeles, CA
2/5/2010

Just the mere appearance of Ebony Bones is alluring. She hails from south of London and is a complete DYI artist. The name derives from a nickname from her childhood, “Boney.”

Her music is a delightful mix of dance tropical  goodness and she has the looks to match.
She is currently on her WARRIOR tour and definitely worth it to just check it out.

More pictures after the jump….

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Maluca is a Bronx born, Manhattan raised downtown girl. She just finished recording her debut single with Diplo over at Mad Decent. The track is called El Tigeraso and it’s an infectious track that draws on her Dominican electro merengue roots, with a music video to go with it.

Tour Dates:

Feb 18 2010 8:00P Burbula La Paz Puebla
Feb 19 2010 8:00P Madero 39 Mexico City
Feb 26 2010 8:00P Babel Malmö
Feb 27 2010 8:00P Sjokoladefabrikken Oslo
Mar 3 2010 8:00P TBA Lulea
Mar 4 2010 8:00P 1 @ Berns Stockholm
Mar 5 2010 8:00P Klubb Mash Up Uppsala
Mar 6 2010 8:00P Rust Copenhagen

Links
www.myspace.com/malucamala
www.twitter.com/malucamala
www.maddecent.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

After tackling a few mash ups of their own with Does It Offend You, Yeah? and Miike Snow, Deluka takes Ke$ha’s smash hit TiK ToK to a whole ‘nother level!

Mixing their own signature electronic sound and throwing in some nice little Deluka touches to the TiK ToK video, the band turned out an amazing remix.

The band’s debut self-titled EP is out now on iTunes! You can purchase it here

www.myspace.com/deluka
www.twitter.com/deluka
www.facebook.com/#/pages/Deluka/71662623471?ref=ts

Popularity: 1% [?]

UK DUBSTEP ARTIST CASPA AND DUB POLICE RELEASE NEW SCION CD SAMPLER, TOUR THE US THIS FEBRUARY
SCION CD SAMPLER V.28 – DUB POLICE AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 22, 2010
US TOUR DATES BEGIN FEBRUARY 8th in ATLANTA, GA – FEATURING CASPA, THE OTHERS, D1, MATTY G, HOSTED BY ROD AZLAN

TORRANCE, Calif., Jan 27, 2010 – UK dubstep leaders Dub Police, the record label and DJ crew helmed by pioneering producer and DJ Caspa are set to further spread their dominance of massive basslines this February throughout the US. Leading off with the release of Scion A/V’s latest CD sampler, Scion CD Sampler V.28 – Dub Police features new music from many of the label’s heavyhitters including Emalkay, Subscape, The Others, D1, Matty G, and Caspa himself.
Known for delivering some of the most in-demand dubstep releases of the last year, Caspa and his Dub Police labelmates The Others, D1, Matty G, and host Rod Azlan are hitting the States in full force this February, beginning February 8th in Atlanta, GA. Without a doubt some of the leading dubstep DJs in the world, expect the Dub Police to bring only the best of their exclusive dubplates for a subsonic experience rivaled by none.

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FEATURING REMIXES BY CRAZE AND NOSAJ THING, BBGUN DIRECTED VIDEO COMING IN FEBRUARY

In an era where emerging MCs are immediately boxed up and tagged as “street” this and “hipster” that, it’s refreshing to hear an new artist like Donnis defy such quick categorizations simply through good, honest music.

Having spent 2009 rising through the blog ranks with copious freestyles, live performance videos, and the smash mixtape “Diary Of An ATL Brave” (presented by beloved clothing label 10.Deep), Donnis is ready to take the next step in his career by releasing his debut single “Gone” on Fool’s Gold Records, the Brooklyn powerhouse founded by A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs, praised by Billboard as an “indie innovator” and a “tastemaker label” by the New York Times.

“Gone” is a perfect introduction to the stylistic diversity Donnis has in store. Produced by Needlz (Lupe Fiasco, G-Unit, Ludacris), the soaring, dreamy cut is as much a look into the future of Atlanta hip-hop as it is a classic A-Town ride-out in the vein of early TI and Outkast. It’s already receiving radio love from everyone from Khaled to Hot 97’s DJ Enuff, who named it a “Heavy Hitter Pick Of The Week”, and a video is due out in February from directors BBGun. The single is rounded out by an up-tempo dance remix from Craze (Kanye West DJ, three-time world DMC champion) and a spacey take by critically acclaimed producer Nosaj Thing.

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Popularity: 4% [?]

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