The Blah La La

Lets give this another try...

2011-08-31T16:12:00.000-07:00

Honestly I have nothing to say, except. GET IT IN.

This might be my last year in Minneapolis, MN. I'm finishing my degree and have been enjoying my summer with free/cheap shows. It's time to get back into writing. Even if no one is listening.

I hope you can hear me. LOUDER?!? LOUDER YOU SAY?!?!

THE BLAH LA LA is BACK.

Stay tuned. There will be blood. I mean posts, there will be posts. Maybe blood.

Too keep you busy:
Tappi Tíkarrass- Hrollur

I'm not sure why I never discovered this before. Because it has been on repeat for a straight week now. It's a band that Bjork was first in when I think she was only 16 years old. The facts could be wrong, but Wikipedia would know. I was never a major Bjork fan, but when I came across this I immediately loved it. It's exactly what it is, 1980's mod/punk. Perrrrrrrfect.

The Show Is The Rainbow

2009-05-17T05:13:00.000-07:00

I came across this one man band from Nebraska at the Uptown Bar in Minneapolis, MN. I was immediately intrigued by his stage presence to take notice. He includes synthesized beats and graphic video to get one reaction from his performance. The other comes from when this big lumberjack looking man takes his shirt off and starts dancing on you if you're in the front row. With a crowd 20 people full he tries to create a mosh pit, stage jump, and get into people's faces. I was sitting the back trying only to avoid getting sweated on by this hairy dude and laughing at all the people who were standing in the front getting raped by his back hair. Along with the stage presence he also has some very vulgar lyrics about his mother sleeping around while he was a fetus in her womb. Not particularly something you would think about writing a song about in the first place, but it comes out in such melodic tune that you can't help singing along. His music does not hide in the dark while he is running around on stage like a chicken with his head cut off. His music is the main reason he puts on this show. His video's and music are all synced together to created this outstanding performance where anything can happen. Hell, it was so fucking good I ended up buying his CD with my bus money. Who buys CD's anymore!? That's how impressive this guy really is. If you'd like to hear his music check him out at http://www.myspace.com/theshowistherainbow.

Yo Yo It's Mojo.

2008-11-18T19:45:00.000-08:00

I know I usually write mainly about Midwest kids with talent but, Monique Gizelle DeBlaise is her name and it'd only be right to mention this up and coming photographer from the Los Angeles area. I've known this girl for a few years now and to not mention her talent would be a sin. She brings the hidden beauty out of people with her photography. Her individual style is an amazing find. I would say she's a young Annie Leibovitz with a unique twist. She may shoot anything from photo's of retro styled models holding gnombs in front of crazy colored backdrops, or an afternoon walk in a park in front of the Hollywood sign on a sunny day, or not to mention the Los Angels party scene. Whether it's involving people, animals, buildings, or scenery each picture is a new and brilliant way look at things. And not to forget to give mention to Tatiana DeBlaise who is a sister to Monique as well as a contributing make up artist for the models in Moniques photo's. At the moment Monique is living on the west coast in the Los Angeles area and only visits the Midwest every once in a while, but her love for New York City might lead her to the east coast some day soon.

To check more photography by Monique Gizelle DeBlaise check out her Flicker account:

http://flickr.com/photos/moniquegizelledeblase/

Con, The Basemaster

2008-10-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

As drum and base becomes more popular it'd only right to mention those who are making an impact on it. One of those people is Brandon Washington who is Con, The Bassmaster. At an early age Brandon was influenced by drum and base. He says, "I'd hear it around, and rock out. It was fun music." Influenced by musicians like The RZA and London Elektricity he decided to start making and mixing his own music just for fun. He started out using a sequencing software he has now forgotten the name of, but soon moved on to a program called FL Studio. Most of his songs have personal meanings however most of his creativity comes from his everyday moods. Whether he is sad, pissed off, or happy it shows in his music style. He uses a mix of everything from piano sounds, fast beats, voices, and smooth synths. One of the best qualities of his music is that you'll never hear the same thing twice. He doesn't have one style because his style keeps on expanding as he experiments with different ideas and sounds. There are songs that are relaxing and songs that are fast paced and roudy. The song "Longing" is more of a relaxing song which incorporates a beautiful synth sound in the background, a man's voice accompanying the synth, and a beat that keeps it all tied together. Another song "Dunes" is more of a fast paced song which collaborates fast beats with hard piano sounds. The piano sounds make it seem as if it could be a sad song a first, but combined with the fast beats it turns into a mad high energy song that keeps you wanting it faster and harder. There is always something new to expect from him because he collaborates with many different sounds, music, and people. Brandon is currently working on his first EP through a UK indie label called Steal My Oil Records. He hopes to have some digital downloads for his fans soon after. For now, you can check out his music at his myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/conthebassmaster As for the future of Con, The Bassmaster, Brandon plans to keep making music, recording, and possibly playing a few live sets in the next year. Because his music seems to keep up with the latest styles and demands you should be hearing Con, The Bassmaster around for a long while.

Hilarity Definitely Ensues...

2008-09-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

I hope they serve beer in hell
By Tucker Max

I don't know why I haven't mentioned this book in previous blogs because this is now the second time I'm reading it in less than a few months. "I hope they serve beer in hell" was on the best seller's list for a few weeks, as it should be. Tucker Max is a genius. My friend Dane told me about this book a few months ago when he sat me down and told me to read a chapter called, "Tucker tries buttsex; hilarity does not ensue". I didn't know what I was getting myself into at first but I trusted that Dane knew my sense of humor as he insisted that I start reading. The first paragraph of the chapter read: "I spent the summer between my 2nd and 3rd year of college suckling on the parental teat in South Florida. It was the absolute prime of my "do anything to get laid" phase. I was recently freed from a 4-year long-distance relationship that began in high school and I wanted nothing more than to have sex with as many girls as possible." My eyes have never moved so fast in my life to read as much as I could to see what was happening next. Indeed, Hilarity did not ensue for Tucker Max, but for myself- I swear I almost had peed myself laughing so hard. I finished the chapter and had to give it back to Dane because he wasn't yet done with the whole book. He said I could borrow it after he was done but I couldn't wait for that bastard to finish. The next morning I was on amazon.com trying to find a copy of the book so I could read more stories by this Tucker Max fellow. A week or two later my copy arrived and I read it straight through in one day. I'd burst out in laughter at every chapter. How couldn't I laugh while reading chapters titled: The Blowjob Follies, Tucker ruptures apendix; hilarity ensues, The famous "Sushi Pants" Story, and Tucker fucks a fat girl; hilarity ensues. He never intended to write a book in the first place. He started out with a few emails to friends about his weekends, which moved to a blog, then a book on the best sellers list. Let me remind you that all of his stories are true. He tells stories that you only wish was happening to you, stories that you wish you were there for, stories you wish you had never heard, or stories that have actually happened to you. Tucker Max was a god to me after reading that book. It's not even that his stories are so absurd to believe they really happened (hell, I believe it) or that he's now working on making his stories come to the big screen with a "I hope they serve beer in hell" movie. No. None of that. It's because I think we all have a little Tucker Max inside ourselves. I know I do. Some people are just to afraid to let hilarity ensue or not ensue...

Visit www.tuckermax.com for all of Tucker Max's stories, where to buy the books, blog, and information on the upcoming movie.

What if I say I'm not like the others?

2008-09-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

Blairann (Photographer)

Blairann, also known as Blair Barton is a 23 year old photographer born, raised, and residing in Port Washington, WI. Blairann first got started in photography at the age of 6 with a hot pink 35 mm film camera. Since then she has advanced to using a Nikon d40x along with a infrared filter to capture her photos. She attended MATC Milwaukee where she learned how to edit her photos using Photoshop CS3 . Her biggest influences are the photographers Ansel Adams & Dorothea Lange because of the landscape and black and white photos they're known for. Most of her personal favorites from her collection come from her surroundings in the Port Washington area. Nature, people, animals, & plants are more of her popular objects to photograph. When she picks an area, object, or living thing to photograph, she captures something that the normal eye wouldn't usually see. For example here are some of her more dynamic photographs:

Feel A Glow

Warm Winter

My Harbor

Her mood, whether happy, sad, or angry influences what kind of photography she takes as well as how she edits them. Along with her mood she says that a big influence is listening to Pink Floyd before a shoot and while editing. Her goal is to capture the way she see's the world in a photograph so everyone can see it through her eyes. All of Blairann's photography can be viewed on http://blairann.deviantart.com/gallery/.

DANCE & DANCE @ IQ DISCOTECH

2008-04-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Just letting you all know about a little dance party called IQ Discotech. Mark your calenders for the last friday of every month unless otherwise posted. IQ Discotech goes down @ The Majestic in Madison, WI. I've been to IQ Discotech quite a few times now and it's the best dance party in Wisconsin. I'm not dissing my home city Milwaukee at all, but Madison loves to dance. If you don't live in the Wisconsin area, come out anyway because spending a night on someone's floor and having an awesome road trip is totally worth the party. No hotel bill required, as long as you know how to do a keg stand and drink your weight in beer you'll be able to make friends instantly somewhere around the UW campus. You'd be stupid to think it's too far. I drive almost one to two hours each time to show my face at this event. Holding down the party is DJ Diamonds from Milwaukee, OCD Automatic from Madison, along with other DJ's depending on who's available. Photography is done by Audre Rae Photography, so look your best because you could get in a snap shot. There is a stage where the DJ's play, but you're no longer allowed to dance on it, rules are rules, even if you think they're stupid. There is a dance pit where everyone who wants to dance can bump and grind close to each other and there is also a balcony if you have claustrophobia and need your space. The price for admission is $5 for 21 plus, and $10 for under 21. Why go to a party that cost money? Chill out! Your entry fee is what keeps the party alive every month, and once you're inside, you'll understand why it needs to be kept alive. You support the venue, the DJ's that come out to give you a good time, and goes to a good cause! I will admit if you're going to drink you should know the drinks are a bit expensive, I remember paying like $5 for a shot of tequila, so get wasted before you get there. On the plus side, Madison is a smoke free city, so there is no smoking inside the building. So while you're getting your grove on there is no need to bring an oxygen tank to breath because all smoking is done outside. For more information about IQ Discotech you can visit their personal event website @ http://indiequeer.wordpress.com/

Come On Down....Let's Party!

2008-03-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

THE GLAMOUR
As the house music epidemic spreads across the country and more and more DJ's are making their mark on the scene, it would only be right to mention Milwaukee's own The Glamour. Certainly the Midwest wouldn't be the same without the DJ duo. Asher Gray (aka Diamonds) and Richard Galling (aka Kelly Green) make up the group. Both growing up in Milwaukee, WI, they were both influenced by the sounds of House, Hip-Hop, Rap, and Post Punk (Daft Punk, Cassius, The Clash, Run DMC, etc...). They met at a local rave in Milwaukee about ten years ago and have since been collaborating their individual styles, as well as separately DJing. "Respect the party", "Kidz Night", and "Feet 2 The Floor" are some of the songs that you can find from them. These songs invite you to "come on down, and party", "get crazy", "shout", and insist "you gotta freak out". Such songs make you feel as if you went to the party with them instead of just to see them perform. Even with already established songs being added to play lists of DJs everywhere, they constantly are in the studio producing new music. Since Richard claims he can't sing you'll find the songs graced with Asher's voice, but Asher and Richard both bring a lot of musical talent to table. Both equally being a part of the writing, sequencing, and the programing of the songs. You may have heard the excellent guitar riffs they use in their songs, which are done by Randy Gosa, a friend to both the DJs. Right now they are working on the release of their first EP with Calamity Jane Records. Hopefully with some success we will be seeing a second EP and an album later this year. If you're the kind of person that is dying to get a hold of their songs for your Ipod you are in luck because they are also working on some digital downloads. As for you anxious listeners whom need fast results you can find their songs at myspace.com/theglamour and bigstereo.net, and also can be heard on "88.9 Radio Milwaukee". You'll probably see The Glamour around with other DJ's such as OCD Automatic, No Request, Kid Cut Up, Why B, and Juiceboxxx. They have toured around New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and more. At the moment Richard attends school on the east coast but continues to DJ as Kelly Green. You can catch Asher DJing as Diamonds in the Midwest almost every Saturday at "Spaced Out" held at The Moct in Milwaukee, WI, and in other surrounding cities. Once a month the duo hooks up for mini tours and appearances and are working on a tour through Canada to take place sometime in March. Although they have not reached national status quite yet, The Glamour are defiantly contagious.

And Justice For All....(Justice CD review)

2008-03-01T18:31:00.002-08:00

CD Review on: “Cross” by Justice

By: Steffie Freund

The electronic French Duo Justice released their long awaited L.P. “Cross” on June 10, 2007. This is not your average “glow stick” electronic techno music that you hear in clubs. Often being compared to Daft Punk, this album is not even comparable. Justice’s album “Cross” brings the rawness back to electronic music, but still remains to be easy to dance to, with no prior dance experience required. The album starts out with the song “Genesis” which starts slow as if it was announcing “I’m here, listen to me.” As soon as the track starts picking up, you hear sounds of pianos, lasers, and heavy guitar licks that you would have never thought would come together in such an orchestrated melody. Each song leads into the other to create a never-ending symphony of sound. Some people tend to think it’s just “bad noise”, while others disagree, and refuse to believe that the blended guitar riffs infused with robot and laser like sounds, and deep beats could be anything less than the perfect dance album. Songs like “Waters of Nazareth”, “Let there be light”, “Phantom, Pt. 2”, and “Stress” give you the hard beats to start a party of your own and have you dancing all night, while songs such as “Valentine” and “Phantom” are slower songs to listen to in your car. Slower songs might be disappointing if you’re looking for an entire album to throw in while you bust a move. The ups and downs through out the fast and slow songs on the album will have you fast forwarding to the next song so it doesn’t slow you down. If you’re in the mood for something to sing along to, don’t think you’re left out. “D.A.N.C.E.” has been the most popular track off the “Cross” album. It’s been all over www.youtube.com and has been performed on The Jimmy Kimmel Show and has won a MTV Music Video award. It is very easy to sing along to with lyrics featuring a children’s choir such as “Do the D.A.N.C.E” and “Stick to the B.E.A.T.” Most Justice fans agree that another disappointment to the “Cross” album is a track called “Tthhee Ppaarrttyy” featuring MC Uffie rapping to the track. Fans says it takes away from the albums flow, and interrupts it with a bunch of bad rap, others say it’s a great track, and the more you listen to it, the more you love it. It’s all opinion. More reason to buy the Album and hear for yourself. The album ends with the song “One Minute To Midnight” which slows things down for the ending, but leaves you wanting to repeat the album from the beginning because it seems as if the end and the beginning run together. Whether you’re at a club, dancing with yourself, or making your own dance moves in the car, Justice’s “Cross” album is certainly is the ultimate dance album of the year. Play it loud enough and you actually might feel like you’re at a Justice show.

Crystal Castles & Health Show (02-27-08)

2008-03-01T18:31:00.001-08:00

Last night I was put on the guest list to see Health and Crystal Castles in Chicago. I was calling around to see if anyone would come with me. Sure enough since it was last minute, no one would go with except my friend Riley from Sheboygan. We finally left Milwaukee around 9pm, as Health went on at 10:25 pm we rushed to Chicago. Who knew Chicago is only 1 hour from my house...very nice. I had no idea that the tolls don't take credit cards...that was a mistake. Good thing my car is filthy...there was enough to get us by.

We get to the show at 10:20 right before Health takes the stage. I had no idea what to expect really, I've only heard their music previously online, never live. For what I like to classify as a Noise experimental band, they were better than expected. Health is more of a thrashy mix of beats, screaming, and noise...I didnt know if i was going to enjoy it or not. Their stage presence is what was amazed me. They started the show of with a the bass player forcefully hitting a drum in the middle of the stage to get the crowds attention. Every hit on that thing was so powerful, and he didnt stop moving from one side of the stage to the other. The members have so much energy on stage, it makes you just glued to what they're doing. The drumming is very amazing. At one moment the bassist wasn't even playing specific notes, in fact he was just strumming the base like a guitar. At first I was taken back that such screeching sound from the bass guitar mixed with the drummers beats could sound so great to my ears. The "noise" that some people would hear from it, turns out to be such a sweet melody. The sound soon mixed with guitar riffs and more drums, and a little screaming here and there...is an orgy of sound. I couldn't take my eyes away from their performance. Even somehow with a mix of noise coming from every direction, the songs had a melody and beat that you couldn't help move to. Most people in the crowd werent interested in this band, but that's just their faults for not really listening to it. I would say Health is a great band to see live if you get lucky to have them stop near you.

Health- "Crime waves" Just one of the many great songs. This just happens to be the song that Crystal Castles remixed and many people may know.

With a little break, next was Crystal Castles. I only started listening to them a year ago or so. I heard from a few people that they were a show to see, so I was anxious to see if they really would meet the standards that everyone made them so hyped up to be. Within the first few seconds of the show they defiantly delivered. Something about a motion light against this tiny screaming girl on stage singing to Nintendo like beats made me want to cum. Instead, I danced. I had no idea what she was singing about, or if it was even English, It was amazing. Everyone was dancing, and people would grab your hips and move them for you if you weren't. Of coarse they played their famous "crime wave" which is a very nice remix of a Health song. Everyone seemed to know that one for sure, screamed and yelled when it came on, and danced around like it was a drug. The front woman of the group has so much energy on stage, while the guy mixed out beats on whatever he was using (unsure). The best part of the stage performance was the drummer. I know it sounds silly to say that when it's not even the most important part of why the music is famous...but you don't really see many people using live instruments anymore. It just amazed me. I'm pretty sure the rest of the night i kept saying, "that was an amazing show."

Crystal Castles Live...

Thank god for Dunkin' Donuts to help a hangover...mmmmm!

Anyway- the point of this story is to say: Health is amazing- go see them. Crystal Castles is amazing- go see them. And for all you bitches who missed out of the invite with me, you defiantly missed out big time. REGRET IT!

To find out more information about these bands and hear their excellent music visit their websites.

Crystal Castles

www.myspace.com/crystalcastles

&

Health
www.myspace.com/healthmusic