Show Review: Murder By Death

Last night, I went to see Bloomington’s finest Murder By Death play a show at Birdy’s in Indianapolis. They were joined by Cabin and State. The show was full of energy (and cigarette smoke); I pretty much wanted to beat myself for not seeing Murder By Death earlier. For those who aren’t familiar with Murder By Death, the four-piece band includes an (electric) cello player. && boy, she rocks the stage! Being an “orch-dork” during my junior high and early high school years (azn in orchestra, how typical), I never really saw orchestral instruments as instruments to rock out… but last night completely changed my view on that. I am a heavy listener of the first album, Like The Exorcist… and Who Will Survive…, which is a very dark album. Last night I heard songs from the other two albums and gathered that they have challenged themselves to a more punk meets country genre. (I don’t even know how to “label” music anymore. Maybe I can add -core and make up a new genre?! O wait, that is like sooooo 5 years ago. lawlzzz)

Here are photos:

[++ MOAR MOAR MOAR!]

Murder By Death – Flamenco’s Fuckin’ Easy.mp3

-Rumi S

M(an)G(e)M(en)T

This summer I went on a huge binge with MGMT. The repition that Kids was on was absurd. Oh well, I decided to look for remixes. Being a laptop “dj” I search for music with some beats if they’re a bit downtempo for my liking.  Thanks to PandaToes’ blog I found this beaute of Kids rmx’d by Skyve Reuter (sum randy Belgium).

MGMT – Kids (Skyve Reuter Bunkalifony rmx)

ps. bonux pic

Wasn’t he in Pitchblack?

Can the Crystal Castles remix?

Recently stumbled upon the Crystal Castles remixing this song called Death by the White Lies via Discodust’s blog. Previous to this song, the only other real CC remix I had heard was them rmxin Klaxon’s Atlantis to Interzone.  It always makes me curious to what the bands original song sounds like so I did a quick investigation of the White Lies. An indie band from London England that has been compared to Joy Division. Hrm.. nothing new. I digress from the original topic of if you guys rly like this remix by the Crystal Castle.

P.s. Bonus pikk

AM I INDIE OR WAT?! srsly..b&w ftw? amirite?

White Lies – Death (Crystal Castles rmx)

Beating S.A.D. with Mixtape Mondays

Autumn is my favorite season, the change of the season bring with it a host of evocative colors, making it by the far the best time to go shopping all year :).

Sometimes, though, the weather gets so drab that not even a brand new gunmetal-grey cashmere scarf can chase away the blues! You endure weeks without seeing the sun, weather so cold it chills your bones and risk life and limb as you trek through the treacherous snow to school/work/strip club/casino/wherever you spend your days.

During these times especially, good tunes are about all that can keep you from blowing your brains out all over your freshly-tailored, midnight-noire, peacoats (Right? Rumi, Brad, Michael, Elaine, other hipster douchebags? :-p )

This winter, fly south with me and hide away in a world inhabited by Emily Haines (from Broken Social Scene), Patrick Wolf, Lykke Li and more, you’ll be back home within the half hour.

As they say, don’t get sad, get mixtape monday!

Download (10mb/27min)

Tracklist:

Indy Fringe

Yesterday I attended the Indy Fringe on Mass Ave for my first assignment as a photo intern at Nuvo. In case you don’t know, “fringe” is a festival of live theater, dance, music, short skits, comedy… you name it! I didn’t even know that Indianapolis actually had “festivals.” I always complain about how Indianapolis has nothing to offer, always making comments such as “There’s nothing to do in Indy, Indy sucks.” Well yes… the amount of activity that goes on in Indy is significantly, dramatically less when you compare to big cities like NYC, LA, Chicago… but if you look around, there are some things you can do. You just have to try harder and put more effort into scoping out these events than others :P

Here’s a few photoz I took:

[++I WUN 2C MOAR!]

-Rumi S

Fred Falke owns the key to the dancing part of my brain

So lately I’ve been on a pretty big Fred Falke kick. I can’t get enough of the Disco sound that he’s famous for. All that’s missing when you’re listening is the angel dust and the orgies at Studio 54. You really can’t help but want to dance to his music, which I may or may not be doing as I write this. Another thing that I like about him is that he uses live instruments during his performances, which is pretty saweet.

Anywho, here are a few of my favorite remixes that he’s done. Enjoy!

Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m gone (Fred Falke Remix).mp3

VHS or Beta – Burn It All Down (Fred Falke Remix).mp3

The Whitest Boy Alive – Golden Cage (Fred Falke remix).mp3

100% Tenderoni Lovin

I stopped in Indy CD & Vinyl today and browsed through the used CD section.  I found an upgrade of Montreal/NYC’s electro/funk band Chromeo’s Fancy Footwork called Fancy Fancier Footwork for $9.97. I opened the cd case and found two discs inside.  SRSLY WUT A DEAL!!!1  Disc One includes the familiar tracks on Fancy Footwork, Disc Two includes some bangin’ remixes (MSTRKRFT, DFA, Crookers, etc), and five videos! I had a dance party in my car after walking out of the store with my new used cd.

Chromeo – Bonafied Lovin (Yuksek Remix).mp3

Sweet purchase!
-Rumi S

PS: If you have a chance to see Chromeo, doooooo it. I saw them at SXSW and had an amazing unforgetable dancy dancy time. I even got on stage and snatched a drumstick that Dave 1 was just using. Totes amaze :D

Mixtape Monday 3: An All Night Disco Affair

Bradley D’s awesome skate jam mixtape got me into a disco state of mind, so I whipped up this 20 minutes all-disco mix, no fancy mixing, just a reminder of all the funk, cheese and soul that our parents used to copulate to. (Enjoy that image)

The first track, ‘Grooveberry Jam’ isn’t a disco standard per se, DJ Pumpkin Patch dropped it circa 2006, and I heard it for the first time at Rad 5 in Bloomington where I saw Pumpkin Patch destroy, alongside Action Jackson and Totally Michael. Pumpkin’s based in Brooklyn and plays a mean show: mashups, groovy disco, and electro all effortlessly blended. Add him on myspaz immediately.

Other highlights include Bumblebee Unlimited’s ‘Lady Bug (Just Let Me)’, you’ll beeee (hardy-har) singing the hook all year!

Download (22min/8.5mb)

Tracklist

Mash-Up Tuesdays

I originally wanted to bring in some disco this week, and that time will eventually come.  Right now I just got done mixing a couple tracks for this slow jam, nothing too seat-rocking, but just smooth ridin’ music.  I first heard the Brothers Johnson when I watched Jackie Brown, which is apparently one of Tarantino’s worst films after he became known.  If you didn’t see it coming, I counteract and say it is one of his best, and the soundtrack draws a greater attraction to the film for me.  This is a video of their track “Stomp,” one of their party classics.  The song from the film I decided to use in this bit, however, is “Strawberry Letter 23,” which is something you’d listen to if, well, you were Samuel L. Jackson and about to pop someone.  What’d be good with this?  Probably “Machine Gun Funk” by Biggie (featuring Redman and Nate Dogg).  Recommended for the road long before the dance floor.

Strawberry Funk (Skaseii edit)

Show Review: Tapes ‘n Tapes

When I found out Minneapolis band Tapes ‘n Tapes will be performing in Indianapolis, I promised myself that I would go. && I did :]
I impulsively bought their album, The Loon, two years ago when I was looking for a new CD to listen to. I rarely buy CDs by impulse, but I had read great reviews about them and was feeling spontaneous. I immediately inserted the CD in CD player of my car and it stayed in there for weeks.
The show was absolutely great. Tapes ‘n Tapes has a great sound that makes you want to shake your bootays. Definitely check them out of if you like lively Indie bands.

[++whole set]

Tapes ‘n Tapes – Insistor.mp3

-Rumi S