After a 4-year hiatus, Three Days Grace sizzled into History in Toronto for an epic show! Kicking off the night were The Standstills - Jonny Fox and Renée Couture with their newest addition bassist Brendan McMillan. Despite being together for over 10 years, they put on one of their most powerful performances yet to get concertgoers in the mood! Having shot them several years ago when they opened up for Sebastian Bach I was prepared for the amazing drum looks that Couture provides. I love when bands showcase the drummer so you can really experience their craft and Couture is amazing to watch. The three-piece band had some great hooks featuring songs off their new album Shockwave.
The Warning put on a show that I won't soon forget! Led by the powerful Daniela Villarreal Vélez, this three-sister trio from Mexico rocked an electrifying set full of hard rock and endless energy. Watching her shred guitar and own the stage with such ferocity was truly something special - there's no doubt in my mind they're destined for big things down the road. Get ready Lzzy Hale...these ladies are just getting started! With Daniela (Dany) on vocals, Paulina drumming and Alejandra masterfully playing bass guitar - this trio is one formidable force that even Metal giants Metallica couldn't resist; they invited them to be part of their Metallica Blacklist charity project in support of charities like All Within My Hands foundation and Save the Children. Midway through their set came a unique spin on classic heavy metal anthem "Enter Sandman"– feminine yet melodic it was easily recognizable as everyone's favorite METALLICA song! It doesn't stop there ladies bring killer catchy riffs backed by great stage performance - definitely energizing your next live experience
The crowd was electric as soon as the lights dimmed and a deafening chant for Three Days Grace echoed through the arena. Even before they made it to stage, their logo with two flaming hearts on each side of it filled up everyone's vision! Matt Walst had an intense stage presence - radiating energy while asking fans to get their fist in the air. Instantly, mosh pits started swirling around accompanied by surfers flowing in sea of raised hands. I was ducking in between shots as arms and legs were flying Matt couldn't contain his excitement either and addressed 10-year anniversary since he joined Three Days Grace; thanking Toronto specifically who accepted him with open arms at one his first gigs ever back then!. Needless to say that Jiggy Walst aka party alter ego came alive too much cheering from every part!!
The rock band Three Days Grace gave fans an unforgettable show when they performed their 17-song set, featuring two acoustic renditions of 'The Highroad' and 'World So Cold.' As the venue lit up with special cell lights for these songs, drummer Neil Sanderson stepped away from his kit to tickle keys at the front end of stage! Daniela from The Warning made a memorable appearance during their killer show - and I'm not just saying that! Every one of them was an absolute professional, making my job unbelievably simple. Not to mention the spectacular lighting display, which could easily have been featured on any stage in Vegas! My camera had its work cut out for it with all the awesome moments captured; narrowing down what I wanted to share was more difficult than usual. Enjoy these photos as much as we enjoyed putting this fantastic performance together! Nothing lights up a venue like the energy of an electrifying Three Days Grace show! On May 6, 2022 they gave fans even more to scream about with their newest studio album Explosions. With songs such as “So Called Life”, “I am the Weapon” and “Neurotic” already earning top spots on rock lists around the world, it was no wonder why Matt dedicated his speech before performing each track - giving insight into what inspired them. From expressing feeling lost in life (Neurotic) or missing loved ones far away (Lifetime), TDG had everyone singing along – phone's lit up across arena when Lifetime began playing creating an other-worldly atmosphere that will stay remembered forever by all who were there. Additionally proving yet again why they remain one of my absolute favorite live bands!
THE WARNING
SETLIST
1. Z
2. Queen of the Murder Scene
3. CHOKE (with Barry Stock)
4. MONEY
5. Dull Knives (Cut Better)
6. Enter Sandman (Metallica cover)
7. ERROR
8. DISCIPLE
9. EVOLVE
THREE DAYS GRACE
SETLIST
1. So Called Life
2. Animal I Have Become
3. Home
4. Pain
5. Break
6. The Mountain
7. I Am the Weapon
8. Painkiller
9. The High Road
10. World So Cold
11. Just Like You
12. Neurotic
13. The Good Life
14. Lifetime
15. I Hate Everything About You
Encore:
16. Never Too Late
17. Riot
On the heels of the Geezyworld Tour, OhGeesy has been back in the lab whippin’ up new music to follow up his solo album, Geezyworld. The debut album exceeded expectations and solidified OhGeesy’s presence in the game as a one-man act. He’s been up to big things: releasing his debut album to critical acclaim, selling out shows across the country as a soloist, and pumping out high-profile collaborations with the likes of YG, DaBaby, Central Cee, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. He’s accomplished so much in just a couple of years, and it was time to celebrate on 11/25/2022. Being his birthday weekend, OhGeesy decided to do it big. He dropped the song and accompanying visual for “Gallery” exclusively on YouTube at 12 PM and followed it up that night with his official birthday party hosted at The Vermont in Hollywood, California to celebrate.
Warming up the crowd on the ones and twos was DJ Vision (who also supported the Geezyworld Tour). Playing trap banger after trap banger, DJ Vision kept the party people going. Unlike many other clubs, The Vermont felt more like a traditional concert venue with a big stage up front. As the crowd grew larger, you could feel the energy in the crowd increase. Sporadic mosh pits would break out and waves of energy would ripple through the crowd. Donned in all white from his hat to his shoes, OhGeesy commanded the room with a bottle of 1942 in one hand and the mic in the other. Weaving in and out of DJ Vision’s set, OhGeesy played a few of his Shoreline Mafia classics like "Nun Major", "Musty", and "Change Ya Life". Fueled by the alcohol, the event transitioned from a club appearance to a full-blown concert. I was a little apprehensive seeing OhGeesy in this format, but he didn’t disappoint anyone who showed up to see him rap. It’s not every day you get to see an artist in their element celebrating with their friends and then rap/perform for love of it as well. There was a different fun kind of energy in the air that’s not found at more traditional concerts. It looked like everyone was having fun, including OhGeesy.
OhGeesy didn’t technically have to perform that night, but he did because he knew everyone in the building wanted to see him rap. It was special. He gave us a flashback of the Geezyworld Tour and a glimpse into the future at the highly anticipated Red Cup Tour with YG in early 2023. There are few people who put on for Los Angeles like OhGeesy, and he must be protected at all costs. Grab your tickets see him on The Red Cup Tour with YG; happy birthday, OhGeesy.
Hunnypot is in love with this new video dropped by one of our favorite all-time artists, Tech N9ne. Joined by X-Raided, Garrett Raff, and Simeon, "Still Right Here" checks off all the boxes (and then some) for what is surely a video pick for the ages. It's also a perfect way to cap off 2022, highlighting the mastery of last years killer release, ASIN9NE. I can't wait to see what's next for Tech in 2023, but if its anything like the success he has seen over the past few years - we are all in for a HUGE treat from one of the best to ever chop it!
- Matthew Belter
A few call out's from todays press release via Juggernaut Sound:
November 30, 2022 (Los Angeles, CA) Closing out a monumental chapter with a bold big screen-worthy statement, Tech N9ne proudly presents a cinematic new music video for “Still Right Here” [feat. X-Raided, Garrett Raff, & Simeon] today via his Strange Music label. It stands out as the final release from his massive 22nd full-length LP, ASIN9NE, released in October 2021.
About the video, Tech N9ne commented, "'Still Right Here’ is a MASSIVE song and shooting the video was just that, A MASSIVE PRODUCTION! We went all out on this one and trust me when I say, it'll be worth the wait."
The visual plays out like an epic sci-fi drama. It focuses on a cohort of space travelers, including Tech, X-Raided, Garrett Raff, and Simeon. Their ship floats through the galaxy in a haze of breezy loneliness evocative of the track’s chantable chorus. The clip intercuts moments on a remote desert planet as the otherworldly search continues with more questions.
This interplanetary journey notably came to life on Strange’s in-house soundstage in Kansas City buoyed by striking CGI and special effects. At the same time, X-Raided’s bulletproof flow proves incendiary, while Simeon shines with swagger and style. In between Raff’s soulful hook, Tech gets introspective on an impactful verse of his own. It offers a fitting conclusion to the ASIN9NE age.
The indie group from Utah, The Backseat Lovers, performed at The Wiltern on Thursday night for a completely sold out show. This was my second time seeing The Backseat Lovers live and they were just as stellar, if not better the second time around. The group has such a unique sound that I can only equate to it to The Beatles. This show was for touring their third album release, Waiting To Spill, to which the band played in its entirety. I have no other words for this performance besides - fucking incredible.
The Wiltern was warmed up by the duo called Toledo which definitely fits the same aesthetic as The Backseat Lovers. Toledo performed on the infamous Wiltern stage alongside their mystery music box they affectionately nicknamed, Doug. The group alongside Doug had a very somber and acoustic sound to their tunes. The group gave a stellar performance that warmed the crowd for a group that needed no introduction.
The Backseat Lovers have been one of my most cherished bands for years now. My addiction began with the song off of the EP Elevator Days, “Just a Friend”. Their sound has changed throughout the years since beginning back in 2018, yet they still find a way to stick to their roots and gather that blend of alt, folk, and indie. Today most might recognize their hit song “Kilby Girl” which exploded after Tik Tok fame. For those of us that have been around since the start, it has been long awaited that this group gets the attention they deserve. Lead singer Josh Harmon has a truly special sound he brings into every one of the group's anthems. Josh’s gravelly and raspy, yet beautifully melancholic voice is what truly sets The Backseat Lovers apart.
The group performed their entire new album from start to end, which was a sensational performance to watch live. To be completely candid, it made me fall in love with some of the songs I felt lacked on my original listen of the album. Yet live, every song stuck a special cord in my heart. After concluding the album, the band played some of their hits, including “Kilby Girl”, “Pool House”, “Maple Syrup” and “Still a Friend”, some of my favorite songs of not only the band, but of ALL TIME. The Wiltern was roaring. The fans of this group seem to share the same passion that the artists do, as each of the hits were screamed by almost every fan in the packed theater. When it came time for a conclusion, the band left the stage, only to rejoin it when fans demanded in a chant “Sinking Ship”. A nice play on the typical “one more song” or “encore”, this chant refers to one of the band’s early songs of the same name. It is a Backseat Lovers tradition to end with “Sinking Ship”. Yet when the band returned, they only stated “By the way, we didn’t plan on doing this”, and proceeded to perform their very first song and single - “Out of Tune”. At no other performance on the tour has the group performed this song, it was a very welcome surprise. It is an incredibly beautiful song and is a reminder of the group’s humble beginnings. The group still stuck to tradition ending with the classic “Sinking Ship”, giving their audience not one, but two encore songs.
If you ever have the opportunity to see The Backseat Lovers live, do anything you can to take that opportunity. I love their music, but something about hearing it live brings another level of passion to it. They are an astonishingly talented group that continues to amaze me. It was the opportunity of a lifetime to be allowed to shoot this group, they are one of my go-to’s when giving song recommendations. If you haven't already, go fall in love with The Backseat Lovers.
The power of NEW MUSIC DISCOVORY was fully displayed at Hunnypot's second to last gathering of 2022. Full show audio and photos at the links above. 11/28/22
Photos by J. Gray Mastered by James Coffman #WhereMusicLoversGoToPlay
Todd Bergman is a multi platinum, Grammy nominated Engineer, mixer and producer with 15+ years in the music industry. Recent credits include work with Kanye West on his 10th studio album “Donda”, Brandy’s “B7”, Yo Gotti’s “CM10,” Wale’s last two albums (“folorin 2” and “Wow that’s crazy”) as well as work with Lil Baby and Da baby.
In addition to Todd’s impressive list of clients, Todd has used his experience to develop and guide the sound and careers of independent artists under the banner of TAG Music, an artist development company based in Los Angeles.
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Producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Kovey Coles creates lush, guitar-driven music. His soulful sound is inspired by his southern roots - he comes from Virginia - while also incorporating the polished songwriting and production influences from time spent in New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo, Japan. Lyrically, Kovey Coles' earnest songwriting addresses self and society, displaying a level of consciousness that comes naturally to the former Ivy League student. In the vein of other left-of-center creatives like Childish Gambino, King Krule, Steve Lacey and BROCKHAMPTON, his eclectic sound incorporates wide reaching musical styles from jazz and electronic to funk and indie rock.
Kovey Coles has released two self-produced EPs, a collection of singles called “Hot American Summer” which documented turbulent societal and personal challenges during summer 2020, and is currently releasing a new single every month as he builds towards his next large project. In 2022 Kovey enjoyed viral moments for his guitar playing and instrumental videos on TikTok, and had his debut performance at SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The nomadic Virginia-native has lived in Harlem, New York, Tokyo, Japan, and now resides in Los Angeles. Kovey is also one half of the electro-R&B duo Browni.
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ryn, short for Camryn, has been killing the game as an independent 21 year old indie pop artist. Bringing the energy to the stage since she started performing at 15, her music has indie rock vibes that keep everyone in the room dancing. Being a dancer her whole life, there's never a dull moment when she's onstage. Rocking her trademark power suits, she says she's never felt more herself, more sexy or confident than when she's sporting her suits. She keeps it real on and off the stage with lyrics that speak truth and honesty, connecting to the deepest parts of herself and her fans.
Her socials have been growing steadily with an engaging, supportive fan base as they've been eating up teasers of her new singles. Watch out, with her drive, dedication and passion, this girl is going to be on billboards in no time!
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Since he could crawl BigTreeSteve only knew one pace - fast.
Born near the speedways of Daytona beach Florida his upbringing is as breakneck and driven as his roots. Brought into this world by music loving parents, as a child Steve moved across the country soaking up the influence of American music and popular culture at every turn. Learning the piano at the tender age of 5 and later guitar and bass as a teenager playing in bands; Steve was relentlessly persistent of his musical abilities.
Steve’s cross country journey eventually landed him in the San Francisco Bay Area where he immediately began creating and releasing songs, collaborating with up and coming Bay Area artists such as 24k golden, Nef The Pharoah and Caramel Express while simultaneously beginning his higher education in music and art at the Academy of Art University San Francisco.
Big Tree is not just a name for Steve. Standing six foot four inches, he towers physically with chiseled features and a gentle nature. His looks have given him the opportunity to walk for the critically acclaimed Argentinian clothing brand “Gaucho” in the world famous New York Fashion Week 2022.
These impressive accomplishments underscore Steve's work ethic. At only 21 years of age Steve is just getting started - He quite literally Can’t go slow.
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It takes a lot of strength and courage to rip the heart from your hate. If anyone is the Master of It, that would have to be my all-time favorite metalcore outfit Trivium. They just know how to take all the anger the one collects over life and flip it into something cathartic and affirmative. During the pandemic shutdown, I was filled with a lot of anger due to shows being cancelled. Trivium tamed the beast inside me (or made it even stronger) with back-to-back releases, What the Dead Man Say (2020) and In the Court of the Dragon (2021). Following a successful tour where they opened up for heavy metal legends Iron Maiden, the famed Orlando metalcore unit set out on their own tour, the Deadman and Dragons Tour. Tagging along is the eccentric progressive metal outfit Between the Buried and Me and deathcore greats Whitechapel, and their final stop was Los Angeles’ famed Wiltern. Ironically, the first time Rabit shot at the Wiltern was when Trivium performed. We consider this show a reunion of sorts.
First up was Whitechapel who took to the stage and immediately swung their death hammer at the audience. This is the 2nd time this year I have seen them, the first being at the Observatory where they opened for Cannibal Corpse. At the Wiltern, they were still in beast mode. Frontman Phil Bozeman continues to take guttural singing to whole new level, the realm of legendary. What makes Whitechapel that more vicious is the triple guitar attack of lead Ben Savage, rhythm Alex Wade, and third player Zach Householder. When all three of these virtuosos of the riff perform together, the world is thrown into chaos. Bassist Gabe Crisp blast beat the shit out of the rhythm while touring drummer Brandon Zackery shook the venue with his crashes and wails. Spreading the word of death metal from their latest album Kin, the Tennessee natives rocked the venue with “I Will Find You,” “Anticure,” “Lost Boy,” “Orphan,” “This is Exile,” “A Bloodsoaked Symphony,” and “Doom Words.” After that performance, Whitechapel would have to notify the audience’s next of kin because they killed it.
Following Whitechapel’s stunning set, the LA crowd was introduced to something different, Between the Buried and Me. This group is known for splicing avant-garde, progressive, and technical death metal together to create a sound that redefines the word “eclectic.” Frontman Tommy Giles Rogers crosses the threshold between a peaceful harmonizer and a monstrous screamer. In between playing the keyboards and singing, the longtime vocalist was a burst of hot energy on stage. The way lead guitarist Paul Waggoner solos are very cutting edge as he adds jazz fusion melodies with his progressive metal riffs. His style is like a cross between John Petrucci, Joe Satriani, and Pat Metheny. Bassist Dan Briggs is a wizard on his instrument as he too adds jazz flavor to the progressive, avant-garde beat. Drummer Blake Richardson and rhythm guitarist Dustie Waring round it out with some white-hot riffs and beats. Promoting their 10th album under the Sumerian Records banner, Colors II, Between the Buried and Me opened our minds to the mysterious with “Sun of Nothing,” “Revolution in Limbo,” “Extremophile Elite,” “Never Seen/Future Shock,” and “The Future is Behind Us.”
After witnessing an extensive set from BTBAM, Trivium stepped out to explain what the dead men say. To warm up the crowd, the PA played Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hill,” and that gave the metalheads of Los Angeles their second wind. Following “IX” came “What the Dead Men Say,” where frontman and rhythm player Matt Heafy, with all his might, belted out hellacious screams and harmonious vocals. He was also very engaging with the crowd, encouraging everyone to be louder than the Montreal crowd. Lead guitarist Corey Beaulieu riffed vicious licks and solos while at the same time roared with tenacious strength. Bassist Paolo Gregoletto is still a brute as his fingers plucked away at the beat, proving to me why he is one of my favorite metal bassists. After going through so many drummers since Travis Smith’s departure, I feel Alex Bent was the missing ingredient needed to carry Trivium into a new era. His technical precision makes him a deadly weapon behind the kit. Trivium’s set was special as it featured a bit of everything. From “Into the Mouth of Hell We March,” “The Sin and the Sentence,” Amongst the Shadows & the Stones,” “The Shadow of the Abattoir,” “In the Court of the Dragon,” “To the Rats,” “The Heart From Your Hate,” “Shogun,” and “In Waves,” it was a captivating thing to witness.
Like always, Trivium was thunderous as they showcased their banging metal. While I did see them at the Iron Maiden show in Anaheim earlier this year, they dazzled and razzled their way into our metal souls. While it would make sense for Whitechapel to be an opener for them, Between the Buried and Me was a weird choice as an opening. Regardless, they too brought it. After that night, it is safe to assume the heart from my hate has been completely removed. To Trivium, Between the Buried and Me, and Whitechapel, I salute you. Horns up!!!
We Dropped That Thun Thun Thun at another unforgettable event!
Co-Host: Music Supervisor LIVY RODRIGUEZ-BEHAR (Dreamboat Music) Performances by: Ella Rosa & Killa F (Finatticz)
Livy is a music supervisor, and the founder of Dreamboat Music - a music supervision company formed in Austin, Texas. The music scene of Austin drew her in at an early age, and so did the moving pictures on the silver screen. She developed a strong affinity for movie soundtracks, with favorites such as Almost Famous, School of Rock and High Fidelity. Throughout her career, she has worked on musical branding projects for companies such as Disney, Warby Parker, Tory Burch, Target, and TomTom. Additionally, she has worked on film and television projects for Martin Scorsese, Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez, and others.
Her passion for music and film inspired her to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business at Full Sail University, where she earned the Valedictorian title of her graduating class. After college, she landed a position with Facebook's music team, conducting metadata research and music licensing. Thereafter, she was brought on to manage a vendor team of 8 music experts that she exploded into 90+ globally for YouTube Music. In 2019 she founded her own music supervision company, Dreamboat Music LLC, where she works full time music supervising indie feature films, shorts, and docu-series. Dreamboat, while a young company has had the fortune of being invited to SXSW, CD Baby's DIY Musician Conference, SoundSync, Austin Music Foundation, Nashville Film Festival, Los Angeles Film School, UCLA, MUSEXPO, and the annual Guild of Music Supervisors Conference. Livy's films have circulated notable film fests such as Tribeca, Austin Film Festival, SOHO International Film Fest and gained distribution on popular platforms like HBO Max, The New Yorker, Altered Innocence, and Amazon Prime.
British artist Ella Rosa is a singer, songwriter and storyteller. The young artist started her career as an opera singer in Henley-on-Thames, England then slowly transitioned into R&B. With her admiration of artist like Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill and more, Ella paints the perfect picture musically through soulful vocals, underlined with jazz undertones.
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West Coast Hip-Hop legend KILLA F cemented his place in music history as a founding member of FiNaTTiCz. In 2012 the group released the now party staple "Don't Drop That Thun Thun", a worldwide hit.
The FiNaTTiCz still perform concerts all over, the individual members of the group are currently active and releasing solo projects. Don't miss Killa F's show, it'll be full of surprises.
Airwaves Music Festival 2022 by Alicia Yang
I attended the Iceland Airwaves Music Festival in early November for the first time this year. After a visit to Iceland years ago, I found out about the Airwaves Festival and have made it a goal to attend. The recent years have had some uncertainty in travel, but I decided to plan as if I were going to go and am glad I did.
Attendees of this event respect the art form and that's what I loved most of all. It was a collective celebration of music amongst a crowd of music lovers enthusiastic enough to buy a ticket and trudge it out in cold weather to several venues sprinkled all over downtown Reykjavík. Chilly evenings or not, it was one of the best experiences I've have had attending a festival.
Note to reader: I purposefully did not research any band until I saw their performance. The only information I had was on the Iceland Airwaves Festival official site and Spotify playlist. I felt it presented more of a fresh experience that wasn't hampered down with the number of followers, posts, label/manager/album reviews, etc. that can bring judgement upon an artist. While there were a few names I was already familiar with - it was a fun experience to go into without biases from social media and the like.
After briefly going over the lineup of the festival and trying my best to retune my circadian rhythm to the time difference, I only had energy to see two bands. While disappointing, I told myself I would make up for it expeditiously in the next two days.
The first day of festivals can sometimes be a wash, but being determined as I was, I wanted to uncover a jewel in the midst of the ocean of talented arts gathering in the city. Eyes glazed after scanning the online schedule several times, one band caught my eye - Apparat Organ Quartet.
Although they were playing in an off-venue, meaning no bracelet or festival entrance was needed, I knew right away I needed to get there fast. Word had been spreading of unbearable lines and attendees growing skeptical of being able to get inside their concert of choice.
A few hours into Iceland Airwaves and I had already overheard attendees bringing them up. So quickly getting into Apparat Organ Quartet on pure instinct was right on the money. It was a packed room and the door locking right behind me, as I entered.
Being that they were not part of the official lineup in an official festival venue, gave it this underground feel. It was a one of those word of mouth or random flyers that was passed out to get there. Once you got there, your street cred just rose by 50 points.
The quartet was in deep song as I entered, more drum machines and knobs than a recording studio. There was one on some kind of percussion instrument. I got some real Kraftwerk vibes, also just the nature of the setup and the packed room harkened me back to my warehouse days in Detroit. 808s pulsing and rhythmically creating the homegrown sound.
One of the members had to leave for the last few songs. A bubble machine was activated after he left, not sure if the two were related. I really wish I had caught the whole performance. They had records for sale and when I walked by the back retail area of Bad Taste, the line was too long for me to stand in. (I bought it a few days later anyway.)
Decided to go back to my headquarters and warm up, took a short break and felt done for the night. As I prepped for the next day, I saw that Crack Cloud was on in six minutes and it was a three minute walk to get there. Not being one to turn down new music, I am so glad I was able to get over any hesitation. Crack Cloud was a joy to watch and a band right up my alley.
A multi-instrumental ensemble, their lead vocalist being also the drummer made for an interesting energy and stage set up. The amount of multitasking that was happening made the dynamics on stage constantly influx. One of the bandmates being a multi-instrumentalist, switched between guitar, sax and other instruments.
The keyboardist went all the way. He threw himself into his performance and it was not ignored. There was a moment of soloing, like a jazz impresario diving into his work and recreating deeper levels of the piece. If you haven't had the pleasure to witness something like this, it's akin to any other type of solo work on stage - cadenza in the symphony, a soliloquy from Shakespeare, etc. The moments of his solo work were close to sacred moments in completing the performance. I definitely see a promising future for this band hailing from Canada.
Cosby - Not sure I wanted to see this band but was immediately drawn to their energetic and upbeat songs from hearing it through a curtain partition. I realized I should be on the other side of the curtain and get my boogie on. Their lead singer kept the party going through their high frenetic song making.
The night before, I met someone from London who had recently become a fan of electronic music and has been exploring the genre. A super fan of Janus Rassmusen and going on about his prior performances, I could sense the absolute admiration and respect for Janus’ work. I really had no choice but to check him out.
One part of a Icelandic-Faroese duo Kiasmos, from what I could tell, this was a solo performance by Janus. Unfortunately the line was long (good sign), but eventually got up in the queue and caught about the last 10-15 minutes. Upon entering, one sees heads bopping and bodies trying to shift around to the music - it was a straight up sauna in there. I felt like I was in one of the community pool places, the collective body heat conjured up this thick, warm wet air - 200% humidity made by 100% dancing. Boy lit the room on fire.
Marius DC is a Faroese MC who caught my interest from his video on the Airwaves site. His boyish looks and charm are a bit deceiving. His lyrics that let you know he is street wise, although from an area of the world that is yet to be recognized for its hotbed of music activity. I did enjoy his live performance just as much and would have liked to seen more of him. I don’t know if it comes from again, my roots in Detroit and working at a rap label. If it does, I suppose I just have a softer spot for up and coming rhyming lyricists.
Icelandic band LÓN was very peaceful and appropriately placed at Fríkirkjan, a church venue. There was a calm and stillness to the music. What I especially loved the most was being able to hear the acoustic set in absolute stillness, while every pew was filled in a standing room only sanctuary and have the acoustics of the church carry the set forward. My only objection was that it was at the very beginning of the evening when everything is just starting to pop off. Don't get it twisted, I thoroughly enjoyed the music but it would have been great to hear this right before I went to bed. At this performance, I was accompanied by a local Icelander who said her parents enjoyed LÓN. Do what you want with that information.
Another Icelandic band, Vök is a local favorite and recognizable to several Icelanders for their hits being in constant radio rotation and public play. They definitely kept the energy up and fans were not disappointed.
Arlo Parks has a rich, smooth voice that just wraps you up in a silky robe on a sunny day. Her voice instantly roped me in with its warmth and class. I could really listen to her anytime. There's no excuse needed to play her songs, they are good for anytime, anywhere.
Norwegian band Combos was listed as hip hop. I then took a listen to the track listed on Spotify and a quick look at their photo, which was puzzling. Their style reminded me of a ska, punk, possibly reminiscent of that 90s garage rock. They have an energy right out the gate that is aggressive, in your face and punchy. Right away, you'll want to release your own aggression in the mosh pit. The lead knows how to command the audience and enjoys surfing the crowd often. The band is in synch, confident in what they're delivering and do a great job of it. There is no room for maybe we'll play a little, it's let's go from the start.
Röyksopp's DJ set was a definite crowd pleaser, ending the festival at the Art Museum. I danced my pants off it was so great, really! They had a great tech-house set and of course ended on their hit song. They were the only performers to go past the set end time and play an encore song, that I witnessed personally. My friend also made the same observation.
Every performance up to this last one, started right on time and ended on the minute of their end time. Even though crowds were absolutely begging for an encore - none would cave. So it was a nice breaking of rules for the very last act.
It's too bad this list is longer than it should be. There were moments you just had to sacrifice one artist for the other and hope that they will tour soon or make it to another festival.
Emotional Oranges - Hunnypot favorite! I know I know, how could I? My scheduling got off on the night of their performance and really sucked some stinky shark meat.
Daughters of Reykavík - An Iceland music export gaining traction in the US, will most likely play US at some point. Got some info that it was a great show with some punk aesthetic and good on them for using their platform for positive action.
Inspector Space - They will be on heavy rotation on my dance playlist
Ultraflex - I was trying to balance out the type of acts I was going to catch and unfortunately this one got missed (couldn’t miss Janus! I’m sure they understand.)
Árný Margrét - this Icelandic artist's voice enraptured me with her mellow tunes, soothing on a cold night and goes well with a warm cup of tea. Aeing after Lon though, I was worried I would fall asleep.
Gugusar - performing on my poorly planned Friday, I missed out on them but have been dancing along with their music.
Bríet - Local favorite, I saw a bunch of tweens/teens and their mothers getting all excited over her.
Kristján Hrannar Pálsson Organ Concert - Big fail. This was a special concert taking place at the largest church in Iceland, Hallgrímskirkja. The venue is a huge point of tourism for the city and houses an organ with 5,275 pipes. Kristján was set to play the works of Daft Punk on organ... drool, the music lover/dork in me. It seems he has performed Daft Punk on organ a few other times so hopefully there will be another opportunity.
The US has always welcomed a Norwegian and Iceland music export here and there for quite a while now and I don't see any reason to stop. They continue to bring a good time and respectful compositions and strong performances.
All of them starting on time and ending on time.
--- Alicia Yang INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK
I was fortunate enough to catch Post Malone and Roddy Ricch for the first time and I don’t think I’ve been this excited to open an email. Post Malone being a Dallas native, this show surely was going to be one for the books. The Dickies Arena in Fort Worth was a venue that I have not been to yet so when I arrived, I was blown away by the size of the place. Shooting alongside some good friends, it was going to be a great night. Post is the 17th most listened to artist in the world right now according to Spotify and I was excited to experience why. Accompanied by Roddy Ricch, fans roll in and start to fill the seats. Let’s dive into it.
The stage was one of the more extravagant mazes I’ve had to navigate. With 3 runways for Post and Roddy to run all over, we found ourselves also, running around with cameras to get some shots – but that was one of the fun parts of the night. Won’t turn down a good challenge with a camera in my hand. The light production was incredible as well. He had halo spaceship looking light fixtures hanging over the stage that moved up and down making for some sweet environment photos with a huge LED screen in the background. There were points in the show where Post Malone got all up in the camera and all you saw was his head on the jumbo screen. It was hilarious.
A local Dallas DJ got the show started with some bangers and then Roddy Ricch came out on stage. Hip-hop hasn’t always been the forefront of my music tastes but I can appreciate a good song no matter the genre and Roddy definitely delivered on that. I would describe his set as very vibey and interactive. He got the crowd singing all the hits like any good performer does and everyone was vibing. Rocking Gucci like it’s nobody’s business, he was the wear for the occasion. He navigated the three catwalk like runways like a champ and gave everyone some attention. He ended his set with “The Box” and “Ballin” then the performance ended. Glad I got to spice up my experience with a new artist.
And now the moment everyone was waiting for, Post Malone. Being #17 on Spotify for monthly listeners just told me right away this was going to be one of the best shows of my life yet. We make our way out to the floor and ready ourselves with the schematic of where Post will be for the first 3 songs. I’m a little nervous but gave it my best shot. Lights drop, crowd cheers, and Post slowly rises on stage with all the fog imaginable creating a silhouette. He starts his 23-song set with “Reputation” and we were there. Running around this crowded floor was a fun challenge and he didn’t do exactly what we were told but oh well. Regardless, Post was all about interacting and shaking the hands of the fans in the crowd. He exuded pure happiness to be doing what he’s doing in his HOME state.
The production surrounding his whole performance was immaculate. The saucer moving lights with lasers pointing down on him created such a cool spacey feel. Made for some really dope photos as well. One of my favorite songs of the night was “I Fall Apart” because at one point he was on the ground screaming the lyrics with so much emotion. What was great about the entire performance was the fact that nearly all his songs are hits, so it was the perfect show to be at. I could go on forever, but this show was 11/10 in my book and stoked I was able to cover it.
Hunnypot has been long time fans of Mystical Joyride and we flipped our lid when they released the gregarious single/video for "Keep My Head Up".
Mystical Joyride is the intersection between the primal and the cosmic, the spiritual and the ratchet. Formed in 2015 by married couple Leah and Joel Van Dijk, with the addition of Arzeen Kamal, the band sought to combine Leah's existential questions with the Wizardry of Joel's production skills.
Hunnypot Approved!