so...
...the Grammy Awards were tonight and woops we missed it......oh, darn......well... no surprises just bla bla bla, and the award for something goes to bland and blander and I'd like to thank God and the Academy and Money, Money, Money......head to yer local Walmart and that's how we play "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire......
LiveBlogging SEMF
OK, So this isn't exactly liveblogging. Technology failed us last night during our attempt to document the Sacramento Electronica Music Festival live and in person. Basically, we forgot to charge up the iPhone and got dangerously close to losing all contact with society via a dead battery. In lieu of serving you a live play-by-play, we went old school, taking notes with a combination of devices... one pen, one pad. Here we present our recorded thoughts to you, raw and unfiltered.
First up, Thriftcar. These guys straight put the beat down. This wasn't just a performance it was an all-out assault via dual MPCs. No ear was spared as the Auburn crew journeyed from dense to denser, building something out of nothing, again and again.
Following the Thriftcar set, DJ Whores took command of the 1's and 2's to provide a little interlude entertainment. After mixing just a couple of songs, it was apparent why this cat's name is everywhere... He's really, really good.
A lineup shift brought Boss Magic to the stage next. This newly formed band featured members of both Thrifcar and Vacant Persons and it was quickly apparent that this was a newly formed band. As the trio moved from atmospheric sounds into driving beats, the engine began to stall. Particularly rough was a confusing cover of Joy Division's classic "Love Will Tear Us Apart." The highlight of the set came when Sister Crayon graced the stage for a first time remix performance. Damn, she can sing! And props to Boss Magic for getting up in front of a crowd only a month into their existence. Hopefully more rehearsed work to come from this team.
As Seventh Swami took the stage, following another excellent fill by DJ Whores, the crowd demographic began to shift. The electroclash hipsters who filled the room during the early sets, were now outnumbered by the coms majors and sorority sisters on the hunt for cheap booze and cheap credibility. This, along with dying batteries, both of the phone and person type, was our queue.
SEMF continues tonight with Fuck Friday and performances from The New Humans and Melee Beats.
LiveBlogging SEMF
First Set at Sacramento Electronica Music Festival: Thriftcar. These cats are fucking bombastic!
DWNLD TH!S:
Jose Gonzalez's side project, Junip, has a new song, titled "Azaleadalen" over at RCRD LBL. This one's an instrumental number that builds slowly like rising bread. Jose announced this week via email that a Junip album and tour are forthcoming this year. Looking forward to it.
DWNLD TH!S: (FOR CHARITY)
Wilco have posted two live concert recordings for download via the band's site. You're encouraged to make a $15 donation to the Emergency Relief Fund of either OXFAM or Doctors Without Borders in exchange for the downloads. (Honor system.) Help & Enjoy.
The Album Leaf
Not sure if we already plugged this one, so we're plugging it here (again?). Electronic dream poppers The Album Leaf will be at Harlow's next Wednesday, February 3rd. Tickets are available at The Beat for just $12 (+ $1 handling). The band's new album, A Chorus Of Storytellers drops the day before. Get it at the show. Yes, we'll be there.
Get a preview of what's forthcoming in the video below.
Mixing in Iceland from TheAlbumLeaf on Vimeo.
PS The opening band will be Sea Wolf so get there early. Double goodness!
Hit The Pavement
Everybody knows that Pavement is back this year. And you probably also know that one of the band's first shows back will be a headlining slot at Coachella. But for those of you who can't make the trek down to the desert this April, Pavement announced this week that they'll be making an appearance at Berkeley's Greek Theatre on June 25th. (That's a Friday for those about check their iCal.) Tickets go on sale this Sunday, but it you ask really nice we can get you the password for today's presale that kicks off at 10AM. Hit up james@airbagradio.com.
"I'm on the stereo, stere-oh-oh!"
DWNLD TH!S:
Phoenix get all artsy on us with an unplugged session recorded for German magazine musikexpress. The acoustical awesomeness inlcudes a cover of Bob Dylan's "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands." Get it at thetripwire.
Sacramento Electronica Music Festival
Can't wait for Coachella? Neither can we, but in the meantime we're super hyped for this weekend's Sacramento Electronica Music Festival going down over at the TownHouse Lounge in Midtown. Put on by the same folks who are bringing you tonight's Two Shed's performance, this one is sure to be a real barn burner. Three days of mad electronic blips and beeps from 25+ artists, both local and international. If you're a fan of the electro scene, you don't want to miss this, and if you're not a fan you still don't want to miss this. It's that awesome! Headlining artists include Tycho, Dusty Brown, Tha Fruitbat and Sactown's finest, Sister Crayon. It all goes down Thursday, January 28th, through Saturday, the 30th. At 10 bucks for a three day pass, this is a steal. Get more info and tickets at the festival's official site and be sure to check back here for a day by day report.
Airbag Radio looks forward to getting crazy with you there.
Come Out And Play...
Weather got you down? Crawl out of your cave this Monday and get yourself over to Luigi's Slice in Midtown when hometown heroes Two Sheds open up for Portland's Fruit Bats. It all gets started at 8:00PM. Be there! You know we will.
Coachella Lineup
That's right the lineup for the annual festival in the desert has been announced. This year Coachella's got the highly anticipated Pavement reunion, as well as an unexpected appearance from Radiohead's Thom Yorke. Other featured acts include Jay-Z, LCD Soundsystem, Grizzly Bear, MGMT, Dirty Projectors, Gorillaz and Spoon. Check the complete lineup below. 
It all goes down in beautiful Indio, California, April 16th-18th. For those wondering, Airbag Radio will be in full force for Sunday's show. 3-Day tickets go on sale this Friday. No word yet on single day tix. More info at the official site.
Day Trippin'
Fellow web trippers, point yer compass on over to The Random Griffith for a great read on Tower Records and an industry that once was.
The King Is Back...
Forget about the Queen of The Whole Damn Universe because the King of Whole Damn Universe is back. No, not that King or that King. We're talking about the original gangster, the Man in Black, Mr. Johnny Cash!
A legend in his time and beyond, some of Johnny Cash's finest work came during his later years through his work with producer Rick Rubin. This collaboration yielded four majestic albums of intensely raw and brutally honest songs during Cash's life and one equally compelling posthumous release. Collectively, these releases are known as American Recordings Volume I-V and we highly recommend that you get down to your local independent record store and trade in everything you've got to get your ears around some of this greatness.
Why tell you all of this right now? Well good news came to us today when we heard that Johnny's final posthumous album is set to be released February 26th. Titled American VI, Ain't No Grave, this album serves as a bookend not only to the American series but to Cash's amazing collection of work. Can. Not. Wait!
PS For those shopping for birthday presents near the end of February we are inserting a birthday hint here.
SHE'S BAAAACK!!!!
Queen of the Whole Damn Universe, M.I.A. is back from motherhood with a brand new album due out this summer. No title as of yet, but we do know that it won't "be gimmicky or silly or hipstery" according to Ms. Maya herself. Rumored on the internets, the album will include the song, "I'm Down Like Your Internet Connection," featuring Filipino Verizon workers singing the hook over the telephone. Now that's gangsta! Also swirling around on the internets is the video for "There's Space For Ol Dat I See." Check it our below. We've got our fingers crossed that this one makes in onto the full-length.
The Decade, Volume '03-'08
So, bla-dee-bla-bla, it's 2010 and we never wrapped up our decade project highlighting our favorite albums of the past 10 years. So rather than drag this thing out into 2011, we thought we'd give you a concentrated dose with 2003-2008 in one shot right here and follow that with a wrap up of '09 sometime early next week (don't hold your breath). Again, we apologize for hanging this thing out to dry for so long, but we promise you it'll all be worth it in the end. Let's do this!
2003
Jay-Z - The Black Album
Hova's swan song wasn't just a farewell to the game and but also a final declaration of his supremacy in said game. It ain't boasting if it's true and in this case it was most definitely true. From beginning to end, Jay's lyrics and delivery were second to none. Though he would be back just a few years later, The Black Album was truly his finest hour. Highlights include "Encore," "What More Can I Say, " and "Lucifer."
Four More
The Postal Service - Give Up
Atmosphere - Seven's Travels
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell
The Black Keys - Thickfreakness
2004
Arcade Fire - Funeral
What can be said about this album that hasn't already been said? Beautiful, soaring, anthemic. This album will shake the ground beneath your feet. One of the great debuts of all time. Highlights: "Wake Up" and "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)."
Four More
Danger Mouse - The Grey Album
The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
2005
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Both a document and a response to the time in which in it was made. Conor Oberst's lyrics capture the angst and confusion in the air after four years of Bush with four more to come. Killer music doesn't hurt either. Highlights: "Lua," "Another Travelin' Song," and "Road To Joy."
Four More
Death Cab For Cutie - Plans
Kanye West - Late Registration
Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Nine Inch Nails - [With Teeth]
2006
Cat Power - The Greatest
Recorded with Chan Marshall's new Dirty Delta Blues Band, The Greatest served as a turning point for Cat Power. The southern rhythm & blues backdrop provided the perfect environment to transition Chan's once angsty sultry voice into a Dirty Delta sultry voice. Highlights: "The Greatest," "Lived In Bars," and "Where Is My Love."
Four More
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Beirut - The Gulag Orkestar
TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways
2007
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
For the band's sixth full-length, Wilco peeled back layers of sonics to reveal subtle beauty and an incredibly tight group of musicians (musically speaking). Now, greatness is nothing new to Jeff Tweedy & Co. but here the music seems to exist on a higher plane, as if the sum of the parts is something much grander than one would have expected from the sum of the parts. Highlights: Every. Single. Song.
Four More
Radiohead - In Rainbows
M.I.A. - Kala
Feist - The Reminder
Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
2008
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago,
Written in recovery. Recorded in solitude. Haunting your mornings and your evenings. Like a thought you've had but haven't found the words to express, these songs have journeyed with you through life, you just didn't know it until now. Tears of sorrow. Tears of joy. Tears.
Four More
Portishead - Third
Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
Santogold
TV On The Radio - Dear Science
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