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16/6/2013

the evolution of daft punk's 'get lucky'... over 100 years

The wonders of the internet never fail to amaze. A kind chap by the name of PV NOVA has bestowed upon us this fine cover of Daft Punk's hit summer tune 'Get Lucky', which explores the idea of just how the song would've sounded had it been released in any other decade in the 1900's - and beyond.

Admittedly, we weren't the biggest fan of this song when Daft Punk first dropped it, but it's definitely a grower, and a brief listen to the below tune will have you whistling it all day. Give it a couple of seconds and I think you'll agree:

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12/6/2013

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myspace is back... and this time it's serious

Tim and Chris Vanderhook, the sibling partnership that teamed with Justin Timberlake to complete a $35 million takeover of Myspace in 2011, have rebranded and relaunched the former social network power in a manner they believe will attract a whole new flock of budding musicians.

The new look myspace.com was revealed on Wednesday 12 June and features a slick new home page with some pretty sweet features, something that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise considering king of cool Timberlake was involved in providing the “strategic vision” for the site.

The general spotlight of the rebooted site, say the Vanderhooks, is to bring the focus back to the artists that once embraced it and once again mould it into a hub of musical culture.

Rather than competing with the likes of Facebook and Twitter for direct social popularity, the web page centred its developments on furthering musical discovery and providing artists with more analytical data regarding their songs, something Tim Vanderhook believes to be vital in kickstarting the progress of the project.

He told Time Magazine: “Today more than ever there’s this need for a creative ecosystem that kind of caters to the creative community and that’s both a social network and the streaming services attached.

“For us when we looked at it, we really talked to a lot of artists and … they all said, `I use all these various platforms but none of them really do what we need.’ What they really needed, they explained to us, was a home.”

“We think the creative class is about 38 million people in the United States and growing every single day. By really servicing that group, we think reaching out to one level past that – all of their fans and the creative consumers that like this type of entertainment – we think are going to be critical to our success.”

The company have also launched a new iOS app along with their latest announcement, which sees the site take a bigger interest in mobile usage, something that could be vital in a time where the online streaming industry is growing more and more competitive by the day.

“Everyone had a lot of fun on Myspace at one point,” added Chris Vanderhook. “It’s easy to kick it and say, oh, yeah, Myspace sucks now, but everyone had fun on Myspace. It’s just that they didn’t keep pace with technology and didn’t keep up with the times.

“To the average person out there they think you’re totally nuts, but no, I don’t think we’re crazy to be honest.”

The CEOs have spoken and the site is up and running. There are some pretty flying features, but at the end of the day, it will be overcoming the stigma that surrounds any fallen social website that remains the main challenge.

We’re on board though, and with Justin Timberlake always available for advice, there is every chance that Myspace could be back on the road to rock your body in the near future. No apologies for the pun. At all.

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12/6/2013

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launch video released for summer dance festival globalgathering

The launch video for GlobalGathering - the festival voted best dance event at the 2012 UK Festival Awards - has been released. And it's pretty sweet.

The festival is set to be one of the must see moments this summer for all interested in house, electro, dubstep, drum 'n' bass and more, with a line up including pretty much everyone involved in the previously listed genres. Seriously, have a look, and have a watch below while your at it.

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12/6/2013

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live review: young kato @ SNeaky pete's, edinburgh - june 8

The Young Kato six-piece strolled largely unnoticed through a tame crowd at Sneaky Pete’s as they headed to the stage for the latest leg of their nationwide tour.

If the group’s crisply polished performance in the Scottish capital was anything to go by though, there will certainly be a near future that holds bigger venues and larger crowds for these talented English indie-rockers.

Nevertheless, the compact Edinburgh venue provided a fittingly boisterous and bohemian aura that complimented the fresh vibe oozing from Young Kato, lead by the distinctive indie vocals of frontman Tommy Wright.

Indeed, while the band’s snappy on time start provided a stark contrast to the majority of their colleagues in the music industry, the professional nature of the artists was worthy of high praise.

Each song played was done so with perfect execution, and the group flowed effortlessly through top renditions of the tunes that were recently brought to a larger public eye by the reality television bachelors of Made in Chelsea.

Revolution and Break Out, two songs from the band’s self named EP released last year, were the stand out points at the start of the 45 minute set. The former providing a chilled out, synthetic guitar backing in the lead up to a euphoric chorus before the anthemic Break Out pleased the crowd with its progressive build-up to a sing-a-long hook.

New single Something Real then buzzed the venue with a gleeful combination of smooth guitar riffs and catchy vocals, and free download Lights only drove home the raw musical talent of the sextuplet, as clever lyrics were matched up with foot-tapping instrumental precision.

Kato then finished on perhaps their best known track Drink, Dance, Play, and the feel-good record was wonderfully received. With an irresistible chorus that had fans rebounding lyrics and a captivating melody lead by smart drums and cool keyboard input, the song provided a fitting end to an entertaining, pitch-perfect concert.

“I’m glad to see so many of you here tonight so far from our home,” admitted lead man Wright near the start of the night. “I thought it might just be our few relatives.”

With a fair few tour dates on their 22 stop summer route having already sold out though, ensuring decent attendances will not be an issue to be worried about by this impressive outlet.

The Made in Chelsea team may not be everybody’s favourite, but they are well known for setting new trends and only endorsing products of the highest standard – something that certainly holds true when it comes to their interest in Young Kato.

This is one band to keep an eye on for the heard-it-hear-first crowd this summer.

Stuart Kenny

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12/6/2013

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LIVE REVIEW: SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL 2013 @ LEEDS UNION, LEEDS - 25 MAY

A catalogue of top class artists took to Leeds University last Saturday for the first leg of the 2013 Slam Dunk festival. What followed was pretty freaking awesome.

The fact that Leeds was the first of the three Slam Dunk festival shows to sell out is a telling factor when it comes to this cult pop-punk event. While the festival extended its stretch to Hatfield in 2011 and Wolverhampton for the 2013 campaign, Leeds will always be its true home, and the experience on offer was one certainly worthy of a homecoming centrepiece.

Indeed, with Slam Dunk boasting more famous names this year than the register of a Hollywood rehab centre, the all too familiar festival puzzlement over which acts to commit to was always inevitable, but the artists spread out across the seven stylish stages there was really no wrong choice when it came to band selection.

The likes of up and coming rockers Mallory Knox and We are the Ocean lit up the main stage during the day, with Knox particularly impressing as front man Mikey Chapman conducted a series of mosh pits along to an edgily wild rendition of the best tracks from their debut album Signals.

Wake Up was a particular highlight of Mallory Knox’s half hour set, with an irresistibly rhythmic drum and guitar intro leading into an anthemic chorus which translated perfectly to the live stage. With Knox also smashing it with Beggars, a tune driven by progressive riffs and neat vocals, and finishing on latest single Lighthouse, a banger that showcases the team’s all-round musical talent, it was certainly one to remember.

Sleeping With Sirens followed soon after on the main stage and charismatic lead singer Kellin Quinn put on a striking vocal performance as he switched effortlessly from his unique brand of pitch-perfect vocals to a deep stage-shaking scream on a variety of the fans favourite tracks.

Deaf Havana were up next with a quality upbeat display that showcased the band’s raw talent, with James Veck-Gilodi commanding an audience that repeated his every word after cleverly opening with Robbie William’s Let Me Entertain You and new single Boston Square to get the crowd jumping from the start.

All Time Low were left to end the main stage festivities (check out our full ATL review here), sending the band’s predominantly female teen audience into hysterics as they sounded out the highlights of their extensive song list. The tunes from Nothing Personal in particular were played to perfection, while the wit of the band members added an extra edge to the concert, but while the Don’t Panic numbers were also appealing, they didn’t carry quite the same live thrill as the classics.

To focus on the main stage merriments is to only touch the surface of Slam Dunk festival however. Elsewhere, pop-punk sensations the Wonder Years rocked the MacBeth Footwear stage after The Story So Far had impressively warmed the crowd of the jam-packed venue, and Four Years Strong concluded the stage with a killer performance.

The Wonder Years may not have played a British gig in a few years but they did not disappoint on their return, and the festival goers showed they certainly hadn’t forgotten them by singing along to the extend where they ensured their vocal chords would be suffering shortly.

Memphis May Fire and Pierce The Veil combined to close the Monster Stage, putting on a massive show that left hardcore fans grinning and provided the mega mosh pits of the festival. Attendees were given an extra bonus at Pierce The Veil when Kellin Quinn jumped over to join the band on stage for feature King For a Day.

Andrew McMahon stirred up a range of emotions on the Keep a Breast stage too, playing a mixture of tunes from his new solo EP alongside crowd favourites from Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate. While these old classics left joyful watchers yelling happily along, ten minute marathon track Konstanstine left certain onlookers on the edge of tears, and it seems for sure that wherever fans chose to close out their festival night, they will have left the venue with a satisfied feeling as thick as their newly attained coating of sweat.

To cram so many amazing acts into a University union is a wonderful concept, but not one that you would expect to run so smoothly, successful, and spectacularly. Slam Dunk festival manages to pull this feat off in style, supplying an irreplaceable all-day experience in a manner that leaves fans more content than Adele at an all you can eat buffet.

A must see for any pop-punk, ska, rock or metal fan.

Stuart Kenny

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the evolution of daft punk's 'get lucky'... over 100 years

myspace is back... and this time it's serious

launch video released for summer dance festival globalgathering

live review: young kato @ SNeaky pete's, edinburgh - june 8

LIVE REVIEW: SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL 2013 @ LEEDS UNION, LEEDS - 25 MAY

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