September 11

Today was Power to the Peaceful in Golden Gate Park up in San Francisco. I got there just in time for Rebelution's set. After wading through several thousand people (I heard rumors that there were about 70,000 there total), my friend who I was with and I managed to get situated about 30 feet behind the sound stage tent. Rebelution played a killer set, albeit short. The setlist included "Attention Span," "Feeling Alright," "Courage to Grow," "Green to Black," and copious amounts of pot smoke. After that, a woman led a yoga-inspired prayer that involved the entire crowd. A different prayer was offered to each North, East, South and West. Michael Franti and Spearhead finished up the day. I had never heard their music before and thoroughly enjoyed it. Though it clearly has roots in reggae, their songs tend to be more upbeat and dance-y. We left about half way through the set to (hypothetically) beat the crowds and fought our way back through the thousands of people.

On the other side of the park, another stage was set up for DJs and I heard a few snippets as we were heading out, but nothing really noteworthy. There was a great street artist that was spray painting large canvases maybe while we were making our way to the main stage. There was also a tent that was selling pocket vaporizers, another with blown glass jewelry, and many others. Only being there for two hours severely limited our wandering amongst the tents, but if the event happens again next year, I will make a point to be there the whole day, if not the whole weekend.

--Gayle

September 8

So I've been out of town and off the grid for a few days. But really quick, I would like to present a friend of a friend's blog. She posts playlists once a month and they are wildly diverse. Some songs I hate, some songs I love, but all in all I enjoy hearing what other people are listening to.

I Wear My Chaos Well

--Gayle

September 4

Today is going to be dedicated to not so much the artist side of music, but the photography side.

I just discovered Mel D. Cole, who is primarily a hip hop photographer, working with the likes of everybody from Mos Def to Kid Cudi to Jay-Z to Diddy to Wale, doing a lot of show photography rather than promo, but he has also worked with people like Bloc Party, The Noisettes, John Mayer, Bassnectar, Eagles of Death Metal, and Vampire Weekend. He primarily shoots in black and white which I totally dig. Aside from working with bands and musicians, he has an intense set of fairly political pictures that draws attention to the increasing level of homelessness. There are several striking photos that he took of the 7th Street Fire in Jersey City, NY. Check out his work here.

The Noisettes

Cubic Zirconia

Kid Cudi

Lady Sovereign

Mos Def

All images © Mel D Cole

--Gayle

September 3 Part II

Now that I finally modified my layout to accommodate videos, I'm going to post more. The Morning Benders just released a video for "All Day Day Light." It's a nice little summer jam that lends its floating harmonies to sunny days and light breezes and sandy feet and convertibles. And if they aren't the most adorable four boys on the planet, I don't know where else to look. Please enjoy

The Morning Benders - "All Day Day Light" from Jack Ferry on Vimeo.

--Gayle

September 3

So I finally got to see the official "Fuck You" video and it reminded me a bit of The Black Keys "Tighten Up" video.

"Fuck You"


"Tighten Up"

Also, I have come to the conclusion that Florence and the Machine fail at making music videos. I watched two last night and they basically consisted of her dressed in outrageous attire, dancing like a possessed hipster at an MGMT show. 

--Gayle

September 2

In my TuneGlue pursuits, I have come across an elctro/trip-hop band called Supreme Beings of Leisure, first attracted to, of course, their name. They have a song called "Strangelove Addiction" that starts out with Eastern/Asian sounding instruments, then transitions into a song that makes me feel like I'm in a video game of all things. There is a snowmobiling game called Snow Storm that I used to play a lot when I was younger and it could be a song directly off the game's soundtrack. "Golddigger," "Calamity Jane," and "Never the Same" have a more relaxed vibe and the bubbly, trippy beats are complimented nicely by the female lead vocal. "Touch Me" returns the dance-club tempo, bringing back flashing lights and bright colors. While they aren't a band that will go into my regular mix, I think they will lend nicely to party playlists and the like.

I also found Lee Fields and the Expressions. Ahhh, nothing like waking up to an artist that celebrates and revitalizes old school R&B. In the slow jam "Ladies," he expresses, well his love for the ladies. With a voice like melted butter mixed with a little warm honey, his sadness drips hot and painful in "My World is Empty Without You." A sweet, noodley, melodic guitar hook opens "Honey Dove," a song about loss of love, sitting and waiting at the phone.

Now I'm off to TuneGlue again

--Gayle

September 1 (well barely)

This is gonna be short and sweet. It's been a long day and I'm tired. Two things

One: Music Nerdery posted the new Lupe Fiasco Song called Go To Sleep. Lupe has still got his shit on lock here. It's got kind of a low, blue, heavy feel. And it's just sort of his way of saying fuck you.

Two: TuneGlue is the best thing of my life.

--Gayle