Fitz & The Tantrums ♪

Album photo by Fitz & The Tantrums MySpace

Is this the frickin' 60s? Am I hearing this correctly? 

Take a gander at listening to Fitz & The Tantrums Songs For A Breakup Volume I Album and tell me they do not sound like a more upbeat great grandchild of The Righteous Brothers. They have that "blue-eyed soul" (thanks Wikipedia for the appropriate word) that is going around town. (See Mayer Hawthorne) This music is influenced by some back in the day music, I mean, all the way from your Grand-ma-mas day. The stuff that your grandparents used to get down to. 

If it sounds like I'm poking fun, I'm not. You obviously don't get how excited I am for a solid musical movement to come along! This is a musical movement. Don't disregard all of this throwback bubbling up. What am I talking about? It never went away. It was just hiding in that vinyl collection your Mom kept telling you to look through. I bet you're kicking yourself now. Well, it's ok - enter Fitz & The Tantrums. 

Now, don't get too wrapped up in the whole Righteous Bros. (also see The Box Tops "The Letter" on YouTube) connection like I did. What's most important is that while they have similar sounds, they have their own. They have a male as their lead vocal and have a dominant female accompanying vocal artist that makes them amazing in their own right. Their posted songs have many messages, but the most obvious surrounds love and the refusal of it's card carrying bullshit. "We Don't Need Love Songs" is the most appropriate for this. It sounds like the duet on YouTube between Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell from "Precious Love", but ironically different. I love how the trembling organ in the background and that streaky piercing guitar pluck blends in with the vocals of a man and woman. Back and forth! They don't need that love! They don't need it. And thank you for creating such an anti-love song. What's up with all the summer couples anyway? "Breakin The Chains Of Love" has a funkier and edgier sound. The drum hits sound like there's gonna be a small one man battle going on in the thematic background. There's also that anti-love theme again! Just can't get enough. Victory for the anti-head-gamers of the world! 

If you can afford it, catch the rest of their West Coast Tour going on for the rest of September!

Poster by Fitz & The Tantrums MySpace 

Follow them on Twitta! @FitzAndTantrums

Go to their Official Website here!!!

The Sunset Strip Music Festival

If you like hanging in LA bars that have some 60s, 70s, & 80s rock history, overpriced beer and liquor, and mediocre music (with the exception of Ozzy, Fishbone, Talib Kwali, & Wild Child, with a few others) then you'll love The Sunset Strip Music Festival. It's a 3-day event going on from Thursday September 10th through Saturday September 12th, spanning the length of the famous Sunset Strip. The clubs participating are the Cat Club, House of Blues, Key Club, The Roxy Theatre, Viper Room, and Whisky A Go-Go. Basically the Sunset Strip will be closed down, street faire/block party style, where people can hop from venue to venue, street food cart to street food cart, and bar to bar! 


The festival is all ages, 21 and up to drink, 18 to smoke ciggarettes...You get the idea.


The Bill as posted by SSMF site:


STREET FEST SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

OZZY OSBOURNE, KORN, Pepper, Kottonmouth Kings, Shiny Toy Guns, Shwayze, LMFAO, The Donnas, Unwritten Law, Fishbone, The Knux, Iglu & Hartly, Iration, Super Mash Bros, The Pricks, The Ringers, Nico Vega, Earl Greyhound, Awolnation, The Tender Box, Eulogies, Rob Roy, Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy, Beardo, Boomkat, Endless Hallway, Onesidezero, The Illectrolytes, SSX, The Hopeless, Prophet, The Irish Goodbye, No Thanks, Motor Gun Hotel, The Ashes, Volume, The Shrill, Radius, Ladyjack, Diamond Lane, Vains of Jenna, Lonely Drunks Club, The Cold Flamez, Skye Delamey, Kottak & more!



Prices are posted on the SSMF website as follows: 
Street Fest, Saturday Sept. 12: $39.50 in advance, $50 at the gate
2-day pass: $99
VIP 3-day pass: $250
Individual tickets to clubs: $20-$30

Photo by The Sunset Strip Music Festival Official Website


Just an opinion - I don't think I'm missing out on this because I went to Sunset Junction and that took care of my monthly needed recession red marks in my bank account enough, thank you! And, I don't necessarily care for the lineup on the bill. With exception to the artists I noted before. Don't take it personally. 

UPDATE (see hardfest.com for changes!!!) HARD Haunted Mansion 2009

The first thing I want to say (to get it out in the open, I don't like keeping secrets) is that I hope HARD Haunted Mansion (October 31st) doesn't turn out like HARD Summer did. I'm pretty confident that the admins down at the Forum will have learned their lesson - don't call the 5-0 unless some serious shits going down! And, here's also to hoping that ticket distributors won't oversell the event!

However, I remain optimistic because...

This Hallow's Eve AND the newly added Friday show has the sickest lineup!!!

Guys and Gals! I was very hesitant on buying a ticket for this event because of the past. But, it's time to move away from the past! It only costs 60 bucks ($60)!!! It's at the Forum - it's not that far away! And why not give yourself the right to go? Do it because the day before Halloween and actual Halloween aren't just for kids!! And fucking shit you guys - JUSTICE. DEADMAU5. MAJOR LAZER. BASEMENT JAXX. DESTRUCTO. STEVER AOKI.

GET YOUR TICKETS QUICK 'CAUSE THEY ARE A GUARANTEED SELL OUT!

I'll see y'all there! If anyone's going contact me and let me know what you'll be wearing!

Don't forget to follow Gary Richards (the guy in charge of all things HARD) on Twitta!!! @DestructoHARD

All info on HARD Events go to their official website here!!!

And go to their official Twitta! @HARDFEST