headfonehaus.

Usually these videos are either a rapper showing off his fake money in front of the family that got him there, or a rapper trying to make his hood look extra, extra hard. But in this case, although it seems I’m supposed to be scared, everyone in this video looks like straight good people. Every one of these cats I could hang with and have a good time.

I really hope these kids are all just friends at some college or music academy, and not a bunch of hired hands.

My new best friend and his crew.

The reason I chose hip-hop over metal in junior high.

I know this track is nearing two years old and it’s probably not even cool to catch it on the radio anymore, but I can’t help but come back to it around this time of night. So with that consideration, here’s all the remixes I have.

Here’s some new music for your ears… all free…

You can get Theophilus London’s newest mixtape on his myspace.
http://www.myspace.com/londonwave
You can also get another mixtape of him done by machinedrum on their myspace.
http://www.myspace.com/machinedrum
And Blu has an “EP” on his myspace. It’s his latest stuff. You just gotta click on his most recent blog entry.
http://www.myspace.com/herfavcolor
And here’s this guy named Mateo that I like. He has a recent mixtape on his myspace. It’s a running story throughout it.
http://www.myspace.com/mateo
This fella’s mixtape has grown on me. It’s a story too that you gotta listen all the way through. Click on the cover for Quest.
http://www.myspace.com/questmusicpage
Amanda Diva finally got something released. Too bad it’s for free on her myspace. Still great though.
http://www.myspace.com/amandadiva
And finally, this isn’t from myspace, but since it seems to have gotten absolutely no promotion from Fader, I thought you might not have seen it. A dancehall mixtape.
http://higherlevelsound.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/culture-2009/

4 early highlights: The Mae Shi under a parachute, The Very Best at a pizza parlour, Not Not Fun house show, Air Yeezy. More pics and write-up soon. Let me recover first.

VVV

VVV

VVV

VVV (side 1)

I’m sure no one expected the serious snowfall we all awoke to on Saturday morning, but luckily it melted enough that the roads were (mostly) clear by nightfall. The night in KC was a two-fer, with a benefit local punk show at the Church, then a late night of strange noise in the Harrison Fort basement. It started with Helium Head which was highlighted by some ferocious bass playing by Ben, who I was told is also the guy in charge of KCDIY.org.

The best thing about the night was the cassette each person was given upon their donation. I’ve got it ripped and I’m busy dividing up the tracks. I’ll have it here for you soon.

Up next was my favorite of the night, Sucked Dry. 

The night got a bit rocky after that. You could tell that the night was setting in and the drinks were flowing quicker as the crowd started to get rowdy when No Master! was tearing it down. While I enjoy getting bumped around during a hardcore set as much as the next guy, it’s been a while since I had to literally step in and break up a tussle.

When it became too late for most people, half the crowd cleared out and Under Ogre played what could best be described as sloppy, sloppy garage punk. I was bored and worried the Fort show would start soon, so I headed out into the cold.

It was right ’round midnight when I walked up into the Fort, just thankful for an actual bathroom and a heater. It was a last minute show that because of the Church event, hadn’t even started when I arrived. I hung out in the kitchen and talked to this girl who was trying to find some pepper for a can of tuna she had just opened for dinner. I honestly hadn’t heard of anyone on the bill, but was impressed with what I saw. Everyone loaded down into the basement where they’ve added flowers to the pine trees (you’ll just have to see it for yourself). I had noticed about 5 minutes prior that someone had snaked two of my beers so I wasn’t pleased. The joke was that we hoped it was a band member so I would write it off as part of my “sometimes good music takes sacrifice” philosophy. Funny enough, when we stepped down into the basement, I noticed the first act warming up and saw she was sipping from a cold can of a very specific brand. 2+2=? So let me name names. Up first was Aether Jag. A beautifully entrancing drone (anti-drone) solo female artist that used the tried and true method of a guitar, voice and a bunch of electronic effect machines.

She played for what seemed like only 20 minutes and I think she was nervous as it started and ended without warning. Very quickly after she finished up, the girl who had the tuna for dinner stepped up with an electric guitar and a bit of an attitude. She goes by Weird State a.k.a. DJ Jazzy Jexxx. I also enjoyed her quite a bit and thought it had something definitely going for it, but like everything else that night I experienced, it leaned towards an unfinished sound. 

At that point in the night, it was past 2 am and I had a serious drive back to Lawrence to consider. So I had to pack up my lunchpail and bail before the headliner come on. It’s unfortunate, because Superior Human Vomit really seemed like something I would enjoy. Another solo female that is pictured playing the drums everywhere I can find. So I took my exhausted self home.

The cassettes I got at the last Harrison Fort show:

VVV / VVV / VVV