Whether she’s roller skating in a tinsel wig, roaming amongst cacti in the desert, or dancing in a formal gown on a bathroom floor, Angel Olsen is captivating, romantic, and haunting all at once. With her latest album My Woman, Olsen sinks into a less distorted and more mature sound while still managing to capture the same raw emotion we saw before with Half Way Home and Burn Your Fire for No Witness. In fact, the album’s combination between lovesick, clear vocals and crunchy guitar leads might make it my favorite of 2016.
She has an aesthetic to match, too—her band wore coordinating light blue-grey suits while Angel wore a tight, tan satin mini dress reminiscent of what she might have worn to her high school prom. In person I also became much more aware of the Missouri-raised singer’s old-school country and folk influences, making her appear almost like a revamped, rocker-girl Patsy Cline. With bold monochrome lights and the Fillmore’s beautiful crystal chandeliers, Angel Olsen and her band could not have made for a prettier picture.
Even better, her performance was just as angelic as her name suggests. Angel Olsen was heartfelt and precise in her live performance, focusing on her carefully polished vocals and baring her soul in such a way that a hush, almost tangibly, fell over the crowd. She really does sound just like the record if not better, hitting every wailing high note and then immediately after growling through notes an octave lower. Of course, right as her previous song might have brought you to tears, she makes some sarcastic joke about how it was the day after valentines day, or that she’s about to play some real “dark shit.” She embodies her music’s romantic image no doubt, but is also refreshingly real in a way that demands respect and attention. Plus, she plays a fulfilling 90-minute set, covering songs across all her albums (something I don’t find often amongst her indie-rock peers).
Though I thought I would leave the show somewhat sad given the content of her music, I instead left feeling refreshed and at peace. I cried, danced, swayed, and laughed with all the equally captivated audience members around me. However, after a four-song long jammy encore I felt restored, and haven’t gotten ballads like “Heart Shaped Face” or “Intern” out of my head since.
Photo is a still from the video "Intern," Written and Directed by Angel Olsen.
Newcastle Upon Tyne duo Those Who Burn’s debut self-titled album released last October. This subversive rock album starts off with “Replicant Replicate,” a catchy song full of energy and trance like vocals. Now, imagine a massive, countryside landscape. Maybe somewhere in Europe. It’s got misty hills, green fields, and plenty of trees. Pan left. You can see the ocean beyond some awesome craggy bluffs. This is “Investigation Noir,” chill and intricate, something you might listen to when high so that you can appreciate each note.
The third track “Brassai” possesses the largest vocal presence yet, coupled with hypnotic music. It leads, then, into “Delia” a track straight out of some futuristic, space video game soundtrack. The album picks back up with “Cheap Speaker Reaper” perhaps the heaviest song on the album. It’s more abrasive than its fellows, faster paced with gripping riffs. “Vantablack” returns us to “Investigation Noir”’s tone. This time, we’ve got a lone hero wandering our European landscape, coming home from some far-flung war. The titular track comes next, ramping up to an industrial groove that takes you on a journey to unsettle your expectations. It features futuristic elements and sudden stops. You’ll never know if the song is really over until it flows into “Loppe Cirkus,” a creepy, droning song best fitting a scene from American Horror Story or Rob Zombie movie montage.
The penultimate track, “Non-Aquatic” is a gentle denouement, another track with a stronger vocal presence. Its protesting nature and natural flow from sharper notes and words to a lulling tone and vocals help complete the album, ending in “Are You Now”’s breathy vocals and quiet, entrancing power. It’s almost seductive, something out of an independent movie or HBO series with lots of nudity. The album as a whole is great for chilling, smoking, or whenever you need a vibe that feels like a super awesome out of body experience. It reminds me of Nine Inch Nails’s 2008 project, Ghosts I-IV, especially in that they both set the backdrop to an experience, a mood.
Visit their Hunnypot artist page for links to download the full album and more information about the band!
If you have been partying with us at Hunnypot, Michete will not be new to you. “Come Get it Daddy,” “Squawk!” and “Recognize This Pussy” are our favorite tracks of hers. But in case you haven’t heard, we are telling you, this Seattleite will blow your mind. Her name is Michete, and she just “wreck[ed] shit” out of this “Tantrum” music video with her bosom buddy Shamir.
Michete and Shamir became friends a little over two years ago, “back when ‘Rap Game Kimmy Gibbler’ was the only song [she’d] ever made. Shamir was like one of the first people who really believed in and encouraged [her].” This video is their “magnum” opus together, and to present this video right here, is a very special full circle moment especially for Michete.
Grew up in Spokane, WA, Michete broke through the gender boundaries and “white trash” mindset to be here with us now. After she went through all the “shit,” she has been getting from SPIN magazine and other publications, for Cool Tricks and Cool Tricks 2. Now she’s on Cool Tricks 3. How exciting!
Hunnypot was thrilled to have Michete for Hunnypot Live in October 2016 (It was her first time in LA too!) and we can’t wait to have her again. She is a real rapper who owns the stage, especially the one at our party here: http://bit.ly/hpr351
Now, take her seriously because she deserves it, and watch her video featuring Shamir and his cute puppy alongside.
If you’ve been up to date on your Hunnypot from the past few months, you’ll know about our rapper from Seattle, Michete! Even if you don’t, this is the perfect opportunity to get to know them from our interview at Hunnypot Live #351 on October 3rd, 2016. In this interview preceding Michete’s first Hunnypot performance, John and Jeff sit down with the gender-queer rapper to talk Pacific Northwest, high school experiences, and of course, the music.
John points out all the love Michete has been getting from SPIN magazine and other publications, for Cool Tricks and Cool Tricks 2, which features Hunnypot favorite “Come Get It, Daddy.”
Watch to learn Michete’s thoughts on growing up “weird and gay” in Spokane, visiting LA, the great Uber VS Lyft debate, and the burgeoning Seattle rap scene. Gain some insight into the process of making the catchy tunes we like so much.
Thanks to Justin Martin (Editing), Media Liberated (Cameras) and Hot Tub Johnnie (Hunnypot)!
Listen to the full Michete Interview and live performance here.
Michete Website
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Dance music duo Jake and Sam make up Shy Luv. This project out of England features the two producers creating awesome tracks. Their first EP released last year, and this year heralds the release of a new one, titled “Shock Horror.” Their first song off this upcoming EP, “Joyrider” was released a few months ago, and now we have the title track in video form to entertain your ears AND your eyes. The music video for “Shock Horror” features tiny bodies reminiscent of the love child between Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four and a crash test dummy. What does that look like? Watch the video and you’ll see what I mean. The little guys synchronize swim through the air to form shapes, bump into each other, bounce off a normal sized woman (British pop singer JONES, who lends her beautiful voice to the track), creating a delightfully trippy video.
Look forward to the new EP this spring and keep an eye on their social media for an exact release date!
Never forget a new song again! Hunnypot is back again in 2017 with our BEST OF Spotify Playlist! If you come home from Hunnypot and find yourself humming a tune or singing a few lyrics but just can't remember what they're from, you'll find it here. Keep track of this year's freshest jams, updated regularly, so give us a follow!
Fake news massacres & football championships don't compare to the drama and theater that was Hunnypot Live #359. Hot Tub Johnnie immediately jumped from the roof to deliver a scorching opening set, Rich Goldman funked the whole place up with his origins stories with a musical score of his past life, Miken & Nordstorm gave us Swedish dance pop power, Ghost rapped tighter than two locked helmets, WARGIRL played a musical global thermal nuclear game with Joshua and the crowd and The Mighty Tears of Joy provided power in positivity. 2/16/2017
Rich will be spinning the FUNK HITS recorded at his legacy “5th Floor Recording Studios” featuring: Midnight Star, Ohio Players, Bootsy Collins, Zapp, Sheila E!, Prince and more!
Rich Goldman is President of RipTide Music Group, a leading music synchronization, publishing and administration company in Los Angeles. He is also President of Pacifica Music, a modern genre production music library. He’s is a lifelong musician who has amassed a broad range of industry credits as a producer, composer, sound designer, and recording studio operator.
RipTide Music’s “sync flavored publishing” credits range from the commercials for “iPhone6s”, “Google Chromecast” “, “Chico’s” and “Pepsi”, movie trailers of “Dr. Strange”, ”Jungle Book”, “Star Trek Beyond”, “Kubo and the 2 Strings”; TV shows “”, “Ballers”, “Empire” and “Lethal Weapon”, films, “Concussion” and ”Central Intelligence”.
With his wife Ellie, Rich started a rehearsal studio in Cincinnati and grew it into the legendary Fifth Floor Studios, one of the major centers for recording in the Midwest. At Fifth Floor, Rich engineered albums for clients including Bootsy Collins and the Ohio Players and collected gold records for his studio’s work with Sheila E, Prince, Midnight Star and Zapp.
Rich is a frequent speaker at various music events including ASCAP: I Create Music, PMA, Billboard Film & TV Conference, Game Developers Conference, British Sync Mission, Durango Song Expo and co-organized and moderated the MIDEM “Sync” panels from 2009 through 2015.
On monthly basis, Rich gigs with the Goldman Family Band that includes his wife Ellie, son Scott and daughter Jess.
Swedish duo Alicia (Miken) & Oscar (Nordstörm) met last fall in Los Angeles and started writing music together. Their first release, “Playing With Fire” (Box4Joy Records) was co-written by Icelandic DJ & Producer Ingi Bauer and has since the release in June 2016 reached over 110 000 plays on Spotify.
Following up their summer-hit and with a new collaboration together with Ingi Bauer, the Swedish duo has produced 5 new original songs that they’re showcasing at “Hunnypot Live at The Mint” the 6th of February in Los Angeles.
Their sound is a blend of Nordic Pop and Electronic Dance that has a sense of mystic to it. Coming from two different genres, Oscar with a long list of Techno releases worldwide and Alicia as a Pop & Folk-Music vocalist for several well known bands in Sweden, their sound is truly unique but with familiar analog attributes, classic original elements and a pulsating beat.
Meet Ghost, the Bryan, Texas native was raised in the dangerous community of "Kurrupt City." His vivid lyrics will haunt your thoughts, as he shares his life and experience with his music.
Inspired by Tupac's song, "Ghost" - Roderick W. Harris Jr. took on the moniker but gave it a different meaning. Motivated by Psalm 124, Ghost stands for "God's Human Outlaw Speaking Truth". Ghost received words of encouragement from Shawty Redd and Scott Storch that kept him focused and driven. With that, he began pursuing his dream.
Now living in Miami, FL, he launched Life Art Music Group. The company currently manages various artists including Ghost himself. In 2016, he graced SXSW and recorded enough material for a stash of mixtapes. As Ghost puts it, “the proof is in the pudding”, and he will be serving all of this content in 2017.
His first EP and same titled music video “Nina’s Son” is available on his website www.KurruptCity.com, Soundcloud, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music. Ghost’s album titled “Kurrupt City” will be released in March 2017.
To know Ghost, means to simply understand, the melody of " life.."
Direct from Long Beach CA comes WARGIRL, Garage rock, afrobeat, and dubby smooth jazz played through broken speakers with some pop thrown in. With Marika Dahlin, Enya Preston, Tamara Raye, Matt Wignall, Erick Nieto, Jeff Suri, Anne Dereaux and other friends.
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The Mighty Tears of Joy, with their own brand of rich nostalgic soul/rock/pop are quickly becoming the next universally respected band to emerge from Los Angeles's indie scene. As American as apple pie, the powerful vocals and rhythmic mixtures resonate with the times, the feelings, the experiences of us all. These sounds can be felt feverishly brewing throughout their recordings, with an electro-psychedelic twist of throw back soul music. The Mighty Tears of Joy is a band of composers; together at the helm, Khalfani Saint Blanc and Gerardo Morales, venture to reintroduce authentic soul vibes, meaningful lyrics and hand clapping fun back into our lives. A community of world class composers/producers/players came together to make this sound possible. Names like Cyrus Melchor, Killa Karma, Christian Wunderlich, Mateo Amper, King Ahmos, Lala Mckay and those crazy kids over at D2 Mastering, helped bring to life this genuinely California feel.
With their own style of modern Beach Boy reminiscent melodies and Doo Wop Rock, The Mighty Tears of Joy breach topics of love, loss, and economic triumph, while evoking a spirit of movement. They are a romantic reminder that music teeming with anguish, passion and joy, can find its way to the heart and spirit of any listener.
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(INCEPTO RECORDS) Underground wiz producer & DJ Oscar Nordström (Nordstorm) have a long list of dance tracks and international shows in his duffel bag. With support from legends like Armin Van Buuren and Claes Rosén (L-?wiz) to shows in London & Los Angeles, Oscar always delivers something unique and colorful. Starting off his DJ career in Stockholm at numerous underground parties like “We Luv Bass” & “All Out Dubstep” and later taking over in Stockholm´s Dance & Techno -? scene at infamous Stureplan, a residency at “Spy Bar”and playing clubs like “Collage”, “Hells Kitchen” & “Solidaritet” he now focuses on spreading his original material with shows all over Sweden
YG, Tyga, Ty Dolla $ign, 2 Chainz… They are all his pals. Songs he produced peaked at charts like Billboard and were certified gold by the RIAA. Oh, and he also DJ-ed at the age of eleven.
He is DJ Mustard. Notable tracks he produced include Tyga’s “Rack City,” which peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and #2 on the Hot Rap Songs chart; 2 Chainz's "I'm Different,” charted at #6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and was certified gold by the RIAA, selling over 500,000 copies digitally; Kid Ink’s "Main Chick" that featured Chris Brown, peaked at #3 on the U.S. Rhythmic Billboard chart.
Convinced? We are not done yet. While we were having fun at parties, Mustard was taking down the first trophy ever at Steve Lobel's "Battle For Beats" event, and even collaborating with Rihanna and TDE camp. His production style, which he calls “ratchet music,” has been described as “an up-tempo, club oriented, catchy yet rudimentary melodic hip hop style.” Here is a song he produced from last summer, Rae Sremmurd's Set the Roof feat. Lil Jon. Totally “DJ Mustard On The Beat!”
Check out Dijon (Mustard) McFarlane’s intensely filtered video accompanied by his equally wild lyrics. We are expecting a “wow” here.
Stephen Perkins returns to The Mint tonight to celebrate the release of his collaborative brew Perkins Pale Ale. You can try the new collaboration between Temblor Brewing Company and Absolution Brewing Company tonight while listening to Hellride at 8pm and Tabitha at 8:45pm. The show is free, with doors opening at 7:30pm. Hellride is a free form jam featuring Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Mike Watt (Firehose, Minutemen, Iggy Pop), and Peter Distefano (Porno for Pyros). Tabitha features Stephen Perkins and the Okai Sisters. (You can listen to Tabitha’s live hunnypot performance here.) As if tonight weren’t going to be awesome enough, Hot Tub Johnnie will fill the interim and your ears with awesome tunes. You don’t wanna miss this!
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears have a new video out for their song “PTP.” Originating in Austin, Texas, Joe Lewis released his first EP in 2005 and full album in 2007, and then under the “and the Honeybears” name, a second EP in 2009. The track “PTP” comes off of the fourth full length album under the Honeybears moniker, set to release February 10th and titled “Backlash.” The band has since seen success in performances at major music festivals and on popular late night television programs.
“PTP” is an animated video, illustrated and animated by Roger Haus, and colored by Anna Curto. The video features cartoon renditions of the band, an 80s logo, and a rollerskater. With its bold colors and tube-socked skater, PTP is a cool video to watch while grooving to the bluesy rock track. If "PTP" is any indication of the album to come, Backlash will be one to buy. Catch Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears on tour this Winter/Spring all over the US!