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Gatsby's Corner: Nov. 9

Gatsby's Corner: Nov. 8

Live and Otherwise: Sold-Out M83

There has been a fair share of sold-out show buzz kill antics this year. There was The Black Keys in April (ahhh what could have been, and minutes from my house at the Mesa Amphitheater), there was Indio’s Coachella (my mouse pointer was literally on the confirm purchase button and I decided to wait- the next day. Poof! All the tickets were gone). Now tragedy has struck once again. French tinged musicians M83 are playing at the Crescent Ballroom tonight. And unless good fortune smiles upon me, I will not be one of those lucky, wholly precious souls in attendance. This is killing me.  Again.

Gatsby's Corner: Nov. 7

Gatsby's Corner: Nov. 5

Live and Otherwise: Phantom Sounds

For most an optical illusion confounds and confuses, twisting itself into an object that the mind’s eye can barely recognize and define. When New York’s Phantogram takes the stage this Saturday night, the same experience will likely occur within the auditory canal. The ambient pop duo will bring their own electronic spin to the Crescent Ballroom and no doubt fans are ready for their indie pop reawakening to begin. Having been popular in the indie scene for quite some time now, their eclectic sounds have produced a recently released EP entitled “Nightlife.” With so much hype surrounding the band, you would think that would nullify their ability to keep a crowd enraptured and mesmerized by their music. The dreamy ambivalence in their music is more like a stream of consciousness that seems to permeate into where the emotional core is. With their influences of hip hop, house progressive, trance, and of course indie rock, it’s no surprise that Valley residents are likely stoked for their Phantogram front row experience.

Gatsby's Corner: Nov. 3

Gatsby's Corner: Nov. 2

Gatsby's Corner: Nov. 1

Live and Otherwise: Acoustic Renditions

The guitar is simply spellbinding. Sometimes, the mark of a good musician lies in the fact that if they were put on stage with just a voice and a six string, their message would be as striking as when produced in a sound studio. At least that’s how I categorize some artists within the alternative genre, to quantify whether they are truly talented at their craft. Some acoustic versions are like visiting a completely different planet; one that you didn’t even know could be crafted by the music playing through the speakers. As the soothing acoustic sounds wash over you, that feeling of serenity renews you to go about your day, or at least leave you with a happy feeling within your musical bosom. Here are some great acoustic tracks that I hope brighten your day, or at least take you away from the daily grind for a few precious moments:

Gatsby's Corner: Oct. 31

Gatsby's Corner: Oct. 28

Live and Otherwise: School Crush Skrillex

I remember when I went through this phase back in junior high in which I thought screamo was the best invention ever. Luckily, style wise, it only influenced me to wear a large amount of eyeliner smudged around my eyes (none of that emo/scene kid nonsense). But throughout that pivotal eighth grade year, that tantalizing scream co-mingled with a harmonious vocalist was my nightly music jam session. One of these bands I listened to religiously? Why From First to Last of course. And who was my crush du jour? For reasons unknown to me, I was whole-heartedly obsessed with the angriest little man: lead singer Sonny Moore. I would obsessively Google his name for pictures, news etc., all the things young teenage girls dreams are made of. This continued until finally I grew up a bit the next year and realized I wanted more through the sweet sound of music than loud angry vocals and menacing guitars. Ninth grade was a much happier year. Ahem, alas let me continue. So years later, as I sat down on the couch in my foyer, I sifted through some random music magazine and lo and behold, I saw the name of some up-and-coming DJ on the dubstep scene: Skrillex. As I half-heartedly read the small blurb about him I nearly dropped the magazine. “REAL NAME SONNY MOORE” leapt from the page. What???? My junior high crush was a dubstep DJ now????? I quickly Googled it, and verified it as truth. A long way for an artist to come, indeed (he’s now even moved from casual side note to cover gracing)!

Gatsby's Corner: Oct. 27

Gatsby's Corner: Oct. 26

Gatsby's Corner: Oct. 25

Live and Otherwise: Spooky Music Videos

One of the scariest music videos that I have ever seen wasn’t in itself supposed to be a scary/creepy song. It was a song about discovering yourself and being proud to be you. There was no real problem with Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” and I even like the rest of the video’s imagery and the message behind it. But the beginning freaks me the hell out!  I hate the whole Gaga Mitosis bit occurring (as a bio major I feel I can speak highly on these matters) and the fact that it lasts for just long enough to make you uncomfortable. Sheeesh! Scarred me for weeks! But alas, though my quirks allow me to define this as one truly terrifying matter, I decided to have a much more conventional list of the best Halloween-esque videos out there.

Gatsby's Corner: Oct. 24

Gatsby's Corner: Oct. 21

Live and Otherwise: Chromeo the Crowd Romeo

Who doesn’t appreciate the smooth and rhythmic disposition of an old school R&B jam? There are not many who would be able to withstand its seductive musical cues that either gets you in “the mood” or simply in the mood to dance. I treated this past Tuesday as one long upbeat jamming session of the old school variety. Montreal’s Chromeo performed Tuesday evening at the Marquee Theater, along with French Dj Breakbot, and Detroit’s lovely Mayer Hawthorne. They brought with their performance a hearty helping of funk, rhythm and blues.