Cultures Collide In Los Angeles

In case you were living a totally normal suburban life watching Netflix and/or bawling to the Cory Monteith tribute episode (R.I.P) you may have easily missed Culture Collide, Filter Magazine’s annual international showcase. The three day festival, spanning from October 10^th till the 12^th, presented musical talent from around the globe and lit up the Echo Park community. Whether popping into the United Methodist Church for the sweet crooning of LA’s own Rhye or putting on your raging slippers at the Echoplex with Australia’s Miami Horror, Filter provided a lot in the way of grooves and accents. Now in their fourth year, Culture Collide has steadily been gaining traction and shows real promise.

In fact, the most alluring factor of the fest is its youth.  The demographic ranges from young professionals in the music entertainment media to not-as-young professionals… in the music entertainment media – which is pretty standard for a festival that is presented by a relatively young music publication that kicks off on a Thursday night. Still, everyone was either pushing a product, ‘with the band’ or ‘doing a write-up.’ In other words, a clientele that could only be categorized as ‘Indie-Corporate.’ Although, it could also just be what happens when you attract a fairly large group of people to anywhere in Los Angeles.

Not to say that this affected the music. Everyone was genuinely interested in checking out which groups could make them move and no one was shy to show their adoration. Electronic Dance trio Terry Poison absolutely crushed it with their Saturday show at the TAIX Front Lounge. Front woman Louise Kahn displayed her confidence as both singer and hype-machine with some impressive bar counter acrobatics. Norway’s Soul princess, Maya Vik, had everyone funk stepping with the nearest body. Ghost Wave, New Zealand's psychedelic beach rock revivalists, took the crowd on the hazy 70's pacific coast sunset ride they didn't know they were longing for, weaving a veritable lucid dream of sonic exploration.

As the night came grew the place to be was the Echo and Echoplex. Newcomers Kid Karate had a strong showing, causing many a short lived whiskey fueled mosh pits (their native Ireland must be proud.) Their punk energy came a close second to the full frontal no-fucks-to-give attitude of Denmark’s Iceage. The UK’s Fuck Buttons treated a packed crowd to a fog enveloped Angus Hung and Ben Powers… pressing a whole lot of fucking buttons. But, it was Australia’s Miami Horror who deserve the crown of dance party masters. The entire Echoplex became a hive of funky soul two and three step shuffling during their set. One could even catch the occasional twerk from some of the more lively show goers. Truly representing the Aussie spring that Sneaky Sound System and Tame Impala have so masterfully paved the way for. 

This openness to exploration is mostly due to Filter’s scheduling and savvy selection of headliners. The set times were a festival goers dream. With bands playing for 30 to 40 minutes in perfect succession the weekend had the fewest ‘soup or salad’ type sacrifices of any music showcase this year. It was possible to catch almost all the action; unless you had to make the trek to the uncharted Lot 1 Café. While it was very intimate, Lot 1 was so far from the main strip of TAIX and The Echo that directions on the festival map had a simple arrow pointing down Sunset which read: ‘5 Minute Walk to Lot 1.’ Which wouldn’t be so bad if there was more than just Two Boots Pizza as a food pit stop.

The curators of the event were also very selective with the lineup. While presenting bands hailing from all over the world the groups still maintain a distinct cap on popularity, a lesson the totally irrelevant Sunset Strip Music Festival never seems to learn. The top headliners being the likes of Liars and King Khan & the Shrines allows for a fair playing field of attraction and also ensures that no one band takes all the attention. Rhye being the only exception to this formula; these guys had a line out the door of The Church that I haven’t seen since the last Harry Potter premiere.

Culture Collide has the makings of what could be a truly great LA Music Street Fest. With a few more venues available in a closer area and more food options it could become an important cultural port of global talent. Echo Park certainly wants it, and with the right marketing the greater Los Angeles could want it too. Which direction this experiment goes, though, depends a lot on Filter’s intentions. We may have a vivacious artistic center on our hands, or a more corporate west coast version of SXSW.

Why Coachella 2014 is Going To Be Earth Shattering

This might be a bit too soon. Coachella is like 6 months away? But I had nothing to do today except 3 hours of homework so I had to find some way to blissfully ignore that.

Ladies and gentleman start your rumors!

If the the last 10 months of music are any indicator of what to expect than we are all in for a messianic year of festivals and Coachella is the big bang of the season so here we go!

Daft Punk has still not performed anywhere as of yet. Their glimmering RAM set the bar insanely high for 2013. I will put all of my very very limited funds on Daft Punk starting their world tour at Coachella 2013.

JT and Jay Z have had a huge year and I would be very surprised if they didn't hit the festival circuit. 

Could not have asked for a better showing from these newly Los Angeles residing old friends of mine

Danny Brown is setting off on a tour with A-Trak right now. His already high octane live set will certainly benefit from the drop-heavy big booty bass arrangements of the "5 Time World Champion DJ." If you have given this record any spin interest (SPINTEREST!!!!!!) you've probably already realized the potential of tracks like "Dip" in a festival setting.

  

Not only the best Dance record of the year but also the most confidant and impressive debut since Arctic Monkeys put money on your dance floor abilities. Of course there's Latch and "When A Fire Starts To Burn", which is discussed a bit more in a previous post. But the track I keep finding myself coming back to even after a full 5 months is Help Me Lose My Mind

DRIZZY

These LA Jew girls really know how to rock.

Big year for Ghostwave. And I'm not just saying that because they are super duper dope dudes, but also because they are benevolent with their vodka. 

LORDE has been killing it this year. Watch her covering Kanye below. Seriously gives me goosebumps:

 

Seriously was impressed by the output from Odd Future this year.

Washed Out have really grown into their sound. Ernest Greene's newest effort is full of the sexy textures that have made him your favorite opening theme music for any TV show ever. At the same time they have become a powerful live act. Saw them at FYF couple months ago and witnessed their totally revamped set up. Great lighting, great sound and Ernest himself has become quite the front man.

The Arcade Fire are making a hell of an unraveling for their new album. if you need proof look no further than the Roman Copolla directed video of them debuting 3 incredible songs. Featuring Ben Stiller, Bono Michael Cera and a slew of others.

 Seriously watch it. You are on the internet doing nothing anyway.

And of course:

So there you have it. Clearly their are others that I have not mentioned like Chance the Rapper, The National, Vampire Weekend, Juicy J, Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke... you get it. 

These are just the ones I am super stoked to see and over 50% certain will show. I am really curious to see how much of this I call. Someone's gonna have to owe me a coke.

So You Want To Based: The Lil B Starter Kit

Before I begin this piece I just want to ask the Based God for his grace and guidance. Upon the flesh of my girlfriend that he fucked I pray that the Based God will bless my efforts in this with much much swag and dopeness. Praise be to the God of Based, bitches be on his and our dicks, amen.

So you want to be Based. It's understandable. Based life helped me get over my ex, and now I fucks with models and shit - on jets, with gold silked condoms, cumming rainbows- and there's gold at the end of those rainbows. Be balls deep in Based all day. Based living is the most positive thing you could ever do to your bank account.

So here it is (okaaaaayy) the Lil B starter kit. The following is just a list of things that convinced me that Lil B is, not only the most important rapper in our generation, but also: God.

Now I'm going to go through the things that convinced ME that Lil B is God but in the effort to remain somewhat professional I will start with a brief introduction:

Lil B first started off in the short lived rap group The Pack with the track Vans. Super great pop-rap track that you have probably heard before.

That's it.

My first real exposure to Lil B was something I saw on the internet about his NYU Lecture. I thought it was pretty amazing that this, as of now, unknown rapper had enough of a fan base to be invited to NYU for an hour long lecture. Footage of that lecture is easy enough to find but I wasn't impressed by it.

It wasn't until I read FanBased , courtesy of Pitchfork, before I realized the magnitude of Lil B's influence. Among the things you will find in this piece include; stories of couples that have sparked and burned because of Lil B, a notable amount of Based God inspired tattoos and an incredible fan made music video for Lil B's track "White House" courtesy of 'Lil Bs biggest fan over 60": Task Force Chip.

 

Honestly it was this video more than anything that made me reconsider Lil B's place among us mere

mortals. The video is easily the most Based thing I have ever seen, and remains my favorite Lil B song.

But in the event that you are still uncertain, if you still find yourself asking (quite heretically, I may add) " Lil B could probably fuck my bitch, but why would I want him too?" Do yourself a favor and watch The Needle Drop's very own Anthony Fantano's revealing review of Lil B's steller I'm Gay (I'm Happy) 

Extra Credit: