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Videos

Video of the Day: The Canon Logic’s “Dead Man”

I’ve covered The Canon Logic quite a bit over the past few years. A band I first interviewed for CMJ and then managed, I’m psyched to be attending their rooftop concert tonight in Williamsburg. (I haven’t become a Brooklyn hipster yet…but this may change soon).

Watch their first music video, “Dead Man” below and to read my review of their debut album and download some free tracks here. Expect live tweeting from the show tonight as well. Follow me!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfViDw2b78g?fs=1]

Related Links:
• Q&A; with The Canon Logic
• Song of the Week: “Delia”
• The Canon Logic Video Performance
• Canon Logic Lure Fans With Catchy Rock Songs, Sunglasses

Categories
Features News

Martin Atkins Unleashes 20 Strategies for Indie Bands

With over 30 years in the music business, Martin Atkins is perhaps best known as a musician. A member of Public Image Ltd, Killing Joke, Pigface, The Damage Manual, and Murder Inc., as well as having made contributions to Nine Inch Nails and Ministry, Atkins continues to make a name for himself. The author and owner of Invisible Records and Mattress Factory Recording Studios, he can also add producer, columnist, lecturer at Columbia College Chicago, drummer, documentary film maker, DJ, and father to his resume.

Atkins’ discussions during the New Music Seminar last month were candid and entertaining. His panel was complete with profanity and quirky stories intertwined with advice for indie bands trying to make it.

“Nobody gives a fuck about you, your band and your music except you,” he told those in attendance. “It’s not how you’re communicating, but what you’re communicating. Change is constant. Be aware of it and stay on top of it.”

Cleverly titled, “Welcome to the Music Business — You’re Fucked; Problems You Will Face and Simple, Immediate, and Effective Solutions to Overcome Them. Grow Your Brand and Your Band Incrementally,” below are 20 of Atkins tips as told at the conference.

1. Have a fucking strategy
2. Get the fuck out of bed (you’ll be hours ahead of everyone by the end of the month)
3. Practice for catastrophe
4. Free is the new black
5. Get a diverse skill set
6. Stop overplaying your local market
7. Small is the new huge (don’t play arenas, sell out small bars and work your way up)
8. You must have more than one t-shirt for sale
9. Be as good as you  need to be
10. Have more than one CD for sale
11. Never take your country to war unless you know the outcome (gas prices, hotel costs — find out where your fans are and go there, don’t just tour the entire country)
12. Pay for tools that work for you
13. Stay on top of new technology (learn social media tools)
14. Don’t be an asshole
15. Have a tip jar
16. Stay with friends (cut down touring costs)
17. Book yourself
18. Learn how to screen print (t-shirts, merch)
19. Play songs people want to hear
20. Make cool shit (create something amazing people want to buy)

*Bonus
 Never give up!

For more helpful tips, be sure to follow Martin on Twitter.

Related Links:
• Personal Connection with Fans Leads New Music Seminar Discussion
• Hotspur Win NMS Artist on the Verge Competition
• New Music Seminar Introduces the New Music Business
• Artist of the Week: Matt White

Categories
Features

Artists You Should Know: Jason Reeves, Matt Hires

I’ve been listening to phenomenal singer-songwriters lately. Although I’ve already featured and interviewed both Jason Reeves and Matt Hires previously on You Sing I Write, since both have new music released today I figured I’d reintroduce them to you.

Jason Reeves is one of my favorite artists. His name may sound familiar because he’s co-written on both of Colbie Caillats’ albums. Reeves described himself as a hopeful romantic when I interviewed him last year at SXSW, and this can easily be seen in the emotional tales in his songs. You can preview the first track off his upcoming album, “Helium Hearts” on his Web site as well as purchase it on iTunes.

Watch a video of Jason performing “Droplets,” a track he wrote with Colbie below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_aAMGl8rEA?fs=1]

I first witnessed Matt Hires live when he opened for Tyrone Wells last year. Since then, his music has been featured on numerous television dramas including “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice.” About to embark on a headlining tour promoting latest EP,  A to B, Hires’ wavering vocals and acoustic guitar are sure to impress concertgoers. To stream his EP on AOL click here.

To learn more, watch CNN’s video interview with Matt below.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=showbiz/2010/04/08/cook.matt.hires.cnn

Related Links:
• Q&A; with Jason Reeves
• Jason Reeves Talks SXSW
• Q&A; with Matt Hires
• Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers and Matt Hires Satisfy Fans at Maxwell’s
Categories
Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Elvis Presley

I find it only fitting to make Elvis Presley my artist of the week, being that today is the 33rd anniversary of his death. The King of rock & roll, I’ve been listening to Elvis for as long as I can remember. Whether it’s his infamous, “Jailhouse Rock” or the beautiful “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” his songs are classics.

I’ve posted a few of the more popular videos below for your enjoyment. You can also view previously unreleased photos of Elvis as a 21-year-old at Rolling Stone here. What’s your favorite Elvis song?

“Suspicious Minds”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTYg2Q-vDJ0?fs=1]

“Jailhouse Rock”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UcY_KsvHho?fs=1]

“(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhdUucs8AlY?fs=1]

Categories
Features First Person

Music Addiction: Featuring Hotspur, Gaslight Anthem, Tyrone Wells

Despite the millions of songs out there, when there’s one I love I find myself listening to the same track on repeat all day. Take Gaslight Anthem’s “Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts.” After catching their hometown set at the Stone Pony last Thursday, I listened to it all weekend non-stop and it has easily become my favorite song of theirs.

I’ll add a few more of my current song addictions below. What track do you currently have on repeat? Let me know!


Hotspur: “If These Walls Could Talk”

I’ve covered Hotspur a few times over the past year. This is their latest music video off album, You Should Know Better By Now.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUBeP0JUph8?fs=1]


The Gaslight Anthem: “Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts”

I couldn’t find any high-quality videos of the Jersey boys performing the entire song live, but this video made by a fan plays the song in it’s entirety. At the concert, frontman Brian Fallon said “Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts” has been the soundtrack to many weddings.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cunR6Jz0ARQ?fs=1]


Tyrone Wells: “Dream Like New York”

This is currently my favorite track of the day. I’ve had it on repeat all afternoon. Tyrone Wells is one an amazing live performer. You can get a feel for him as he sings below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXg1t4aopDQ?fs=1]

Categories
Contest

Introducing New York Summer Music Junkie Contest

Since moving to Brooklyn this past weekend, I’ve been constantly urged to visit Brooklyn Bowl, a super hip music venue so I hear. After learning about the NYC Summer Music Junkie contest sponsored by SuperGlued, I just may be making a trip sooner than I thought.

A friend recently sent along information about a music contest through SuperGlued, a community for live music lovers, where you earn points and prizes for all the things you do before, during and after shows, such as Twitter updates, FourSquare checkins, blog reviews and photo and video uploads. The more frequently you post something, the better chance you have to win prizes from Brooklyn Bowl, CMJ, Seaport Music and more.

Points earned will be tracked on SuperGlued’s homepage, and top scorers earn weekly prizes throughout the summer. The contest runs until September 4th, so if you haven’t yet, be sure to create a profile and start posting! This week the highest earners win a CMJ badge, a pair of tickets to Rock the Bells at Governor’s Island, and a pair of tickets to see Bloc Party’s lead singer perform at Webster Hall in September.

The biggest music junkie of all wins the grand prize package, which includes a Brooklyn Bowl 365 pass (free admission for you and a friend for one full year) and a guest DJ spot on the Seaport Music Show on East Village Radio. To find out more and sign up, click here. I just may myself too. Good luck!

Categories
Q&A Videos

Video Interview: Graham Colton

I chatted with Graham Colton  back in April after his show at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. He filled me in on his songwriting process, upcoming release and what it’s like touring with his musical heroes. You can watch the video below and read the complete interview on Hoboken Patch here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR3TomRuWA4]

Video Credit: Wendy Hu

Categories
Q&A Videos

Video Interview: Colbie Caillat

I sat down with Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat a few months ago before her performance for VH1 Save the Music. She filled me in on co-writing, dealing with stage fright and her two Grammy wins. For the complete article, visit Hoboken Patch.

Watch the video below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MHl1HDTe3s]

Video credit: Wendy Hu

Categories
Q&A Videos

Video Interview: Orianthi

One of my favorite interviews to date, I met up with Orianthi when she was in town last December promoting her debut album, Believe. Having shared the stage with Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana and Steve Vai and with the goal to inspire more girls to pick up the electric guitar, Orianthi is a stand out role model. While she began playing guitar at the age of six, she said being a female guitarist wasn’t always easy.

“Guitar is a guy’s thing. I’d get picked on a lot and school wasn’t exactly the easiest time,” Orianthi said. “Actually, my teacher told me I should play the harp, it’s more feminine. It’s kind of like being a male ballerina in a way … I loved playing guitar so much that I stuck at it. I just want to inspire more girls to pick it up and stick at it and believe in themselves with whatever they do. You just have to follow down your path.”

Watch my video interview with Orianthi below to learn more about her passion for guitar, what it was like to perform with Santana and her experience working with Michael Jackson. To read the complete transcription click here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taVupYVVT3g]

Video credit: Wendy Hu

Categories
Festivals Q&A Videos

Video Interview: The Ting Tings

The Ting Tings exploded onto the music scene with catchy dance track, “That’s Not My Name”  two years ago. Their songs have become staples at clubs and bars ever since.

I sat down with Katie White and Jules De Martino last summer when they were in town for All Points West. Watch below as the UK sensation discuss the success of their album, hit single and being fashion icons. For more, be sure to visit their Web site.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6zv02x2ocY]

Video credit: Wendy Hu