Xchoboomer

Although I’ve always wanted to make it to Austin for SXSW, I missed it again this year. However, the end of SXSW always reminds me of the awesome music festivals a little closer to home right here in Southern California. Although I’d much rather see an artist perform in the intimate setting of a small club or bar, I love the ambiance and energy that is generated with the right artist and crowd. Sometimes, If I am lucky enough to catch that moment, that very natural mystic as the sun sets over the mountain, the hue of the sky is a color I have never seen before, and the winds of change blow from the hills, down through the canyons, into the valley I stand as it swirls around me, the music enveloping,  an undescribable electricity in the air reminds me that I am here, right now, in this very instant of time and space which will never be again. Then, like that, it is gone! If you’ve ever experienced what I just did my best to describe, you know how magical that fleeting moment is, especially if your with the right person or people.  And as this epic summer approaches I look forward to seeing some of my favorite artists as well as discovering some new music and talented artist that grabs me by my soul, not to mention finding that moment in time I will never forget!

So, I was fortunate enough to start this Spring off right by catching a local rock/reggae favorite of mine last week @ the Roxy. For the hip-hop head and huge fan of the la underground in me, I’m switching gears with the Paid Dues Festival coming up quick in less then two weeks. Although I’ve seen many of thee artists before more then a few times I’m always excited to see Ice Cube, The Dogg Pound, Dilated Peoples, Psycho Realm, and one of my favorites People Under the Stairs – all LA staples. I’m especially excited to see see some some shit I grew up with in the 90′s who I haven’t seen play live in years. You didn’t have to be a part of the LA underground scene in the mid 90′s to know the sounds of the Freestyle Fellowship and Aceyalone or even the Shape Shifters and AWOL ONE. There reputations preceded them around the world. But if you were lucky enough to see them both play the same show you were probably as high as I was and just cant wait!

Coachella, the ultimate summer music fest is a few weeks away. The lineup was announced a month or two ago and it is quite the eclectic mix as always. The headliners are not what I expected this year but nonetheless some compelling acts. I thought Jay-Z was retired but apparently he’s headlining Friday and in a Coachella state of mind. I’ve never seen Muse but there supposed to have amazing shows so I’m really looking forward to seeing them headline Saturday night. The Gorrilaz close the show on Sunday night and I’ve always been a big fan of Noodles, Murdoc, and the gang but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a virtual band so I’m curious to see how the guys from Blur, Mos Def, and Del lay this puppy down. Ussualy its the headliners that have a lot to do with dragging me out to the dessert in years past but this year I’m looking forward to seeing some of the other bands and names I already know and love but have never seen such as Them Crooked Vultures, Vampire Weekend, The Specials, Street Sweeper Social Club, MGMT, The Dead Weather, Les Claypool, Thom Yorke, Pavement, Spoon, and De La Soul. I’ve also been trying to listen to as much of the music as I can from some of these other artists and I’ve liked some of what I’ve heard already.  Check out Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes,Yo La Tengo, and Local Natives. Theres a bunch of Coachella mixes out there like this one and this one to help get to know some of these bands so get out there and explore. To quote Ringo Starr, “You listen to what you listen to. ”

I think Stagecoach is a week after Coachella in Indio at the same Empire Polo club. Ya not a big follower of country music so I’m not gonna say much on this except some of those cowgirls are hot.

Word of advice – skip Bamboozled. Not knocking the bands playing it, well not all of them but most of the corporate bumblegum bullshit. I was unfortunate enough to attend this festival a few years back and it sucked so bad! I believe its in another venue this year, but that year I ended up standing on blacktop all day and it felt like I should of been escorted there by someone over 30, except I think I was the escort. The whole thing reminded me of a cheap twisted  wanna-be of Perry Ferrell’s 90′s era Lollapalooza except it felt more like I was at a carnival or in a Stephen King remake of IT. And for an event that is a New Jersey transplant and feature Jersey shore bands such as The bouncing souls they neglected to book a NJ band that had one of the better and refreshing albums of 2008-2009. Although I might think less of them if they actually played this show so I’m glad the hardest Saturday night managed to stay away.

Which brings me to the Bonaroo Festival in Mid June. This lineup is amazing and much the talent has had an unmeasurable effect on me.  I wish it was in so cal but what better place to hear some amazing artists then just outside of Nashville, the heart and soul of the music world. Stevie Wonder headlines and amazing lineup. No Shit! Here’s a quick rundown of the part of the lineup I’d really like to see but not sure if I can swing it. Kid Cudi, Damian Marley and Nas, Norah Jones, Rise Against, Dave Matthews Band,Kings of Leon,Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Conan O’Brien, Tenacious D, Weezer, The Flaming Lips performing Dark Side of the Moon featuring Stardeath and White Dwarfs, The Dead Weather, Tori Amos, Les Claypool, The Black Keys, Dropkick Murphys, Deadmau5, Ozomatli, The Gaslight Anthem, They Might Be Giants, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Manchester Orchestra, Local Natives, Rebelution, Lucero, and so many others.

If that isn’t enough Lollapalooza ends the summer season in Chicago with another great lineup. A lot of these musicians are playing both Bonnaroo and Coachella but if you need an excuse to see Chicago, this is it. Who wouldnt want to see Tool, The Killers, Perry Ferrel and Juana’s Addicion, Kings of Leon,  Ben Harper, Snoop Dogg, Santigold, Atmosphere, Cold War Kids, Airborne Toxic Event, and Manchester Orchestra. Again I wish this was a little closer to home. And why in the heck did Lollapalooza leave the LA scene. I had some amazing times there as a kid and I wish it was still rockin’ the south bay. It was a fun festival.

Well this is going to be an amazing summer to see some live music and there’s a myriad of other festivals and shows sprinkled between the major ones like Movement Electronic Festival , the Sasquatch festival in Washinton, and the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa the same weekend as the Bonnaroo featuring Michael Franti & Spearhead, India.Arie, Matisyahu, CAKE, Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Pepper, and Rebelution. The New Orleans Jazz Festival looks interesting with Simon & Garfunkel, Pearl Jam, Elvis Costello. BB King, The Neville Brothers, Van Morrison, George Clinton, and the Black Crowes.

I wont see them all unfortunately but I will get my fix. And I’ll be looking for that moment again.

I don’t know how many people are following this late night feud between Obrien and Leno but its making for some great monologues. Its getting kinda nasty but we like it. This has got to be some of the best material since, well, Tiger Woods. I don’t  know the business of late night as far as the dollars and cents, advertisers and ratings, and all the politics involved, so this might not be worth a grain of salt, but  as a casual and more often then not viewer of late night talk shows, I will say this. NBC will be making a huge mistake if they force O’brien to leave. He has earned his spot as the rightful successor of The Tonight Show. O’brien is an extraordinarily talented interviewer, always real, always spontaneous, quick witted, not to mention one of the funniest personalities and writers in all of television. The Tonight Show is an American staple and losing it would be a shame.

w/ Conan O'brien

Who would of thunk it seventeen years ago when us stoned night owls first started watching Conan Obrien in the early nineties, that he would take over a staple in American culture, The Tonight Show.  For those of us who can remember Johnny Carson and the transition to Jay Leno we can appreciate the huge deal this is. I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of the Johnny Carson era and I remeber it being a huge deal. Jay Leno taking the reigns after three decades of Carson was like passing the torch to a new generation. And this week the torch was passed again to Conans generation, us.  I know hes not for everybody, but for those of us who enjoy and appreciate his offbeat sense of humor, the self deprecation, the wittiness and sharpness of his mind, the seemingly naturalness and flow of his conversations with his guests,  its like the torch was passed to us, the target market, right, but hey, isnt everthing in life a tradeoff? Ill trade some laugh for a few minutes of commercials, and I think Johnny would too, although I’m sure he would of had some witty remarks for the new Angelino.  Its great too see that he brought everyone along for the ride, Max, the band, and especially his old sidekick Andy. I hope they can make it work…