On The Move

So my personal goal for this week is to find time between stuffing my face with Shallowmom's Chile Relleno casserole and brand spanking new Macklemore heading straight from the Nectar release shows to my earphones to unpack my suitcase from this falls Kansas City adventures so I can spend Tuesday repacking it for Minneapolis. (Do you have your Blowout/Mac Lethal with Andrew W.K./Go Machine/etc. tickets for next week yet? Snap to it!) As ever, more obstacles abound...

Seattle

It's enough to make a girl's head spin all the fantastic options in this post food coma Friday evening. Scarf down that turkey salad sandwich and make your way down to Nectar at 5.30pm for the all ages early show for the release of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's "Vs." ep hosted by Grynch and featuring performances by Hella Dope, The Nextdoor Neighbors, Kung Foo Grip and DJ Sabzi. If you're 21+ you can chase that down with round two at 10pm with the likes of The Physics, Symmetry, Xperience, The Next Door Neighbors and DJ Terry Radjaw hosted by Larry Mizell Jr. Both shows are a bargain at $8 in advance each. And of course what would the last Friday of any month be without The Corner. My favorite Seattle monthly is featuring Indijinis, Soul the Interrogator, Dan Fajans, Evergreen One and DJ Mr. Hill all for just $5 at the Rendezvous in Belltown.

This Sunday the 29th after 4 years The War Room will have one "Last Stand" before sadly closing its doors. Hosted By Mayor-Elect Mike McGinn & District Attorney-Elect Pete Holmes with music By Nostalgia B & DJ N8. There will be a meet and greet with McGinn and Holmes from 7-9pm with a suggested donation of $25 followed by a public party from 9pm-2am with a suggested donation of $10. Come through, grab a drink and some memories and say goodbye.

And at your leisure this week be sure to swing by any Caffe Vita for a copy of their GIVE compilation. Non local types can purchase the download her. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Arts Corps and your neighborhood food banks.

Portland

Skip seconds, give mom and pops a quick kiss as you grab that slice of pie to go because Thursday night you're dancing your candied yams off at the Wonder Ballroom with Peaches and Amanda Blank. Doors open at 7pm all ages $25, make it take it.

Friday forget about dealing with Walmart greeter trampling crowds and swing through Someone Clothing instead for 50% off from 9am-5pm. And of course every Last Friday of the month free beer, art and live music from 7pm-10pm.

California

Bay area kids can catch The Bosch Brothers, Silent Army, Robusto and Of Shape & Sound Saturday 9pm at Pine Street Bar in Livermore. 21+ $5

Twin Cities

I think you and I both know it would be in your best interest to curl up with the cat (heyyy Finn) and rest up. The next two weeks or so are going to be doozies. Lovefest will be all up in your grill in near full effect next week so stockpile those five hour energy shots, download The Birds and the Beats and vote for your favorites in the TC Hip Hop awards. We'll be seeing you soon.

For those not into hibernation mode swing by Shuga Records on Friday for a little Black Friday madness, "All used media will be 50% off & all electronics will be 30% off from open to close." We suggest around 4ish for a little Audio Perm action with your consumerism. At 7pm head over to The Loft (above Barfly) for live art, body painting, and live music from Big Zach (More Than Lights) and Alicia Steele (both from Kanser), Bight Club, Longshot, and Parallax. That is if you can scrounge up $10 after all those Black Friday sales.

Oh yeah and I still think No Bird Sing are rad sauce.

p.s. Scrunch yo face!

*If you think we'd be interested in a show in your neck of the woods next week or beyond email me with the details: shallowlikeyou@gmail.com

Let's Get Physical

So I bit the bullet and joined a gym. Yay for me, right!!? Well, sorta. As I stepped on the stairmaster (gotta work them thighs!) the other day, I realized my iPod list was BORING! Same ol' same ol' songs.

I turned to my friends on Lethalville to holler at ya girl with some good suggestions for tunes to sweat to. Here is a list of the great suggestions they came up with!

Georgia
purexed - p.o.s.
rubberband man - t.i.
mistadobalina - del
rocketman - prof and st paul slim
get the money fuck the bitches - mac lethal
good clothes - little brother
can i get a - jay-z
doomage - brother ali (et. al.)
pedigree- ali
beautiful girl - kublakai
paul revere - beastie boys
god loves ugly (live in minneap) - atomosphere
got it wrong - abadawn and mac
jellysickle - techn9ne

Shinigami
Aesop Rock-Nike All Day Mix

DJ Sku - So Krispy
Brothers Backwards - Stupid Intelligent Mix

Pandaderek
LMFAO

Wilderdude
Daft Punk: Discovery Album
Justice: cross album
Anything from MGMT
Bloc Party: Intimacy album

Freshman_Woes
EL-P's "ISWYD"
P.O.S. "Never Better"
Hand Over Fist!

Will
Rich The Factor


So next time you get your ass off the couch put this shit in your iPod and I bet you'll put in some work!

America the Beautiful

Back in 2008 MC Alexipharmic set out on a 30 day cross-country road-trip. Part baseball stadium pilgrimage and part research project, Alexi’s journeys resulted in his album “American Beauty.” He is in good company with P.O.S., Grynch, Braille, and Cas One joining him on this album. Check out Alexipharmic's new video for “American” below.






If you feel so inclined fine him on Twitter and let him know you want him to go back on the road. Soon. (That was for you, dude!)

More Than Lights...

I've seen a lot of rappers rap and singers sing, my taste in music moves far beyond the hip hop scene. Music is just on of those things that I can find something I love in a million different styles, like I'm sure most of you are. But you know how you have that one c.d. that you don't really admit to listening to. Or that concert you went to when you were 12 that doesn't come up in conversation? Well, think about the opposite of that album and those artists. The act that is easy to recommend to just about anyone. The show that you can invite all of your friends to because it is just good, fun and real.

That's the place I would put More than Lights, they're a group I've seen grow and change over the years. They are dropping an album, their first album and it's pretty damn exciting. The current line up have been playing together since 2007 but they root back to 2002 where three of the members met at an Arts High-school in Minneapolis. Along the way they were joined by New MC and Unicus, in 2004; the group is now 7 members strong and catching them live is something to be seen.

The album is 11 songs long and called, The Electric Prescription For All Your Funky Illz it is dropping this Saturday, November 21 at the Cabooze in Minneapolis.

For those of you not in Minneapolis, check out the album on iTunes or Amazon.com.

On The Move

I know, I know the season has come to curl up on the couch in your bootleg Snuggie watching bad nighttime television and listen to the wind howl. I feel you I passed up Mux Mool at ToST Wednesday night in favor of NyQuil and a heating pad myself. That said there are still plenty of reasons to peel yourself off the couch, put some pants on and venture into the world.

Seattle

Kick off the weekend right down in Freemont on Friday night at the Nectar for the "Purple Ribbon EP" release show with Clockwork, Peoples w/Alto & R.O.B., State of the Artist, SK and DJ Soundwave. Tickets are only $7 in advance & before 11pm or $10 at the door. 21+

Saturday the only place I want to be is The Rendezvous for the Dark Time Sunshine album release and video premier. I'm going to have to INSIST that you go download BELIEVEYOUME immediately if you haven't already. With just 40 spots this will be a cozy night of Seattle hip hop featuring the likes of JFK/Ninjaface, Sleep, Candidt, Xperience, Pale Soul w/Sick Aura, DJ Zone and Patrick the Magician. If you're not lucky enough to make it into that you can always head over to the Showbox at the Market and have your face blown off by the antics of Super Geek League the self proclaimed best live act in Seattle. I'd go for the glitter alone. I'll be hanging on your every tweet while stuck at work.

Sunday run your errands early, dvr Dr. Drew's Sex Rehab and head down to Neumos at 8pm because Warren G is in town with local openers Grynch and They Live!. Time to cash in some of that hard earned allowance ($18) youngins because this one is all ages.

Next Wednesday (11/25) while I perfect my holiday pies you should reunite with Grieves & Budo at Neumos when the Strange Journey Tour rolls through town with Cunninlynguists and Looptroop. (8pm/All Ages) We'll compare notes when I get back from Minneapolis where I'll see them throw down with Unknown Prophets at the legendary First Ave.

Portland

Our Northwest neighbors down in Portland can catch Kublakai and Abadawn opening for Sleep this Sunday at Satyricon along with Hives Inquiry, Gepetto & Daps, and Flyvek. I imagine you may run into everyone's favorite South Dakota Red that night.

San Diego

Our Cali fam is of course encouraged to catch up with Lovefest faves Grynch, Kublakai and Abadawn in San Diego Thursday night on the last stop of the Lights tour.

Twin Cities

Thursday join Fifth Element and the Big Quarters for the two year anniversary of Last of the Record Buyers. Time flys. Big Cats! will be in the house playing some never before heard stuff from his upcoming record with Guante. Beats, beats and more beats. Speaking of beats also on Thursday night the king of all Lava Bangers, Lazerbeak, will be the special guest for U of M's Making Music series at the Whole Music Club at 8pm along with a TPC reunion. Free, free and more free.

Saturday More Than Lights cd release at the Cabooze? Need I say more? How about they'll be joined by City on the Make, Wide Eyes and Dalia. You're welcome. $5 in advance $8 at the door, 18+. The rest of us will just have to pick up our copies of the new ep digitally for now. Ooor catch fellow Northwester Geologic (Blue Scholars) will be at the Loft Literary Center (8pm) along with Chantz Erolin (TruRuts, Eddie Barry) and Sandra Garcia Rivera as part of their Equilibrium series.

Iowa & KC I see you! You're more than just a stop through and a summer fling to us I promise. I hope you'll show the same hospitality to Junkyard Empire, e.g. bailey and Guante this weekend that you did for us earlier this year. You'll find them Thursday night in Sioux Center at Doc's 8pm, Friday in IC at the Industry 9pm and Saturday in Kansas City at Prospero's Bookstore at 10.30pm.

Saturday night in Des Moines its all about Maxilla Blue at the Vaudeville Mews of course along with H. Rap Brown.

Danbury, CT Earlier this month some of our TC favorites got together down at Shuga Records to celebrate the release of The Sharing is Caring ep by Deto-22 of Phenetiks and Sketch Tha Cataclysm well the party didn't end there my friends. Friday night head to Cousin Larry's for the Conneticut The Sharing is Caring release show with performances by Deto-22, Teddy Faley, The Presence and more!

*If you think we'd be interested in a show in your neck of the woods next week or beyond email me with the details: shallowlikeyou@gmail.com

This Is the Wild West

You didn’t really think Lovefest would miss out on Kublakai and Abadawn on the “Follow The Lights” Tour did you? Luckily it’s only an hour train ride from my new home in Portland to Salem, OR where the tour stopped Saturday night. With a little adventure encouragement from fellow Lovefest ladies I walked across the pedestrian bridge by my apt to Union Station and took the next train heading south. When I got on the train I instantly threw on “The Basics” and “Lights for the Dark Nights." My apologies for the lack of photos and videos but I forgot my cellphone charger and didn't think to bring my camera, although I wish you all could have been there for the dancin’ man. Seriously, I want to look this dude up and make him a “ Kublakai Superfan” t-shirt; homie was going harrrrrd on the dance floor.

Because the train schedule worked out the way it did I missed all but the last two tracks in Abadawn’s set. Aside from Kubi holding it down, I wasn’t paying as close attention to the rest of the show because I hadn’t anticipated writing anything about it. If you missed out on this stop have no fear, Portland, Kubi and Aba are coming through the area on Nov 22nd. If you missed the Oregon shows you can check out Satyricon next Sunday night. If you're living in Cali you have no excuse, the boys are heading your way.

Apparently Camobear decided to take over Oregon for the weekend so Sunday night I was lucky enough to catch the last stop on the “The Smorgasbord Tour.” Pigeon John and Josh Martinez have been calling the road home the past few weeks but luckily for Portland, they found their way to Backspace. This time around I had my phone charged, but I still haven’t figured out how the fucker works so my attempts at video recording failed.


Iame of Sandpeople (and Oldominion AND Clockwerk) opened the show Sunday night. The first time I caught him was at the Knitting Factory in LA when he played with the rest of Sandpeople. It was great to see him rock a whole set and get the crowd hyped.

Eternal Family followed Iame and all I want to know is where these dudes came from. These three guys brought ALL their energy to the Backspace crowd.

Following Eternal Family was another dude I had yet to see. Since living in Portland, Aba had been telling me good things about Pigeon John so when Sunday rolled around and the opportunity to see him live of course I was going to go (as if there was any doubt with Josh Martinez attached to the show).

Speaking of Martinez - maybe it was the rendition of “Eye of the Tiger” or maybe it was when we all got “Drunk and Irish” but I've never had so much fun during a single rapper's set while flying solo at a show. As another artist I have only been able to catch when performing with others, his solo set was the cherry on the top of my weekend.

My boss told me that in order to meet more of "my kind of people" in another new city I “have to go to rap shows.” Whether or not that’s true it’s definitely where I feel most comfortable. Oregon has officially adopted me and in return I will give it nothing but time and respect. To it's artist (and bartenders) I will give them nothing but my hard earned dollars.

Maybe it’s because my hometown and my current home city depended on the great explorers, Lewis and Clark, for their discovery (also the name of my elementary school alma mater) or because my hometown was so close to the border we’re practically Canadian (the home country of Josh Martinez (Where you at Halifax?)) but of all the places I have seen shows I feel that the PacNW is the closest thing to home I have. I'm excited to continue to musically explore this new region of mine.

Stay tuned to the site - there's a lot of great stuff coming up. Until then, or next weekend when Sleep plays in town, check out the rest of Camobear Records.

Follow the lights

Last night Abadawn, Grynch and Kublakai (of the Let Go) kicked off their West Coast "Follow the Lights" tour at Hells Kitchen in Tacoma. Unfortunately I did not make it out this time but I didn't have to catch this performance to assure you that a good time were had by all. I've seen each of these acts enough times to know they do not disappoint. Whether or not Kubi accepted a tattoo as payment for cds I couldn't say... I did however capture Grynch and Kublakai performing a song together back in September at the Light For The Dark Nights ep release show:

Physical copies of Lights for the Dark Nights will be available on this tour as well as a limited Abadawn sampler and copies of SGBM2 and Grynch's Chemistry 1.5. Digital copies are of course available through Kublakai.com, Abaspace, and GetGrynch.com. If they're swinging through your city make sure and check them out... and snag a Kublakai sticker for Georgia while you're there. ;) I'll leave you with a new track from the upcoming Steal Gas Buy Music Volume 3. Have a great weekend kids.

Thats Whats Up -Abadawn & ThirdEye Theory from SGBM3

p.s. Kubi is down to a mere handful of copies of The Basics so consider this your last chance for a physical copy.

*please note the Eugene, Oregon show has been cancelled.