Sheena Beaston

Amanda Blank's Nice and Nasty Affair at Santos

To call ourselves "Amanda-aficionados" is a bit of a loaded statement, but in having seen her six (6!) times in 2009, and now, this past Friday at Santos Party House, yeah, we're going to move forward with that descriptor as such. Joined by the opening act of the Bronxian ball of energy, Maluca (who we chatted with last year), Amanda Blank's stage show proves that she loves you...she really really loves you.

Most notably present this evening, was the teeming crowd of supporters for Blank. Having seen her perform for crowds of everywhere from 30 to 3000, the anticipatory and anxiously-evident vibe of her supporters was felt from our first step into the venue. Cranking through nearly every cut of her album (which remains a mainstay on her "go-to" playlist), she was joined on stage by Maluca, for a riotous rendition of Make It, Take It. 

 

Check out a video from the show of Amanda doing her reprised ending of Lemme Get Some, jump below for images, and view a full set of pictures here.

 

 

      

Amanda Blank continues on her stateside tour in support of I Love You with dates through February 20. More information here. Maluca is also on tour throughout the spring. Info here.

 

mp3: Amanda Blank - Get It Now (DIGIRAATII Remix)

MNDR, Zambri and Tayisha Busay Crushed Glasslands

What's the perfect remedy for a freezing cold Thursday in late January? A hot lineup of three of the most unique and talented Brooklyn acts warming up our bodies and souls at the monthly traveling party, Crush. This month, Zambri, MNDR and Tayisha Busay took to Glasslands with a fistful of fire ready to make us sweat and sway.

 

 

The punky, poppy and all around purely-energetic trio of Taysiha Busay kicked off the night with exciting antics and even more thrilling songs. This being the first we'd seen them live, it was a treat to see a fairly full room of kids getting down to their infectiously-entertaining songs.

  

Suggested listening: Soul Power and French Song. Tayisha Busay play Don Hill's on February 6. More information here.

 

Up next, MNDR took the stage with her one-woman wrecking ball of a set. Having seen the gal twice prior, we knew exactly what we were in for and couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome. Powering through booty-shakers like C.L.U.B. and Sparrow, MNDR also has the chops to make you feel feelings...with songs like I Go Away. Generally speaking, we're still in complete swoon-mode since first catching her last year during CMJ.

  

Suggested listening: Fade to Black and C.L.U.B. MNDR is on tour with Yacht beginning February 16. Dates and info here.

Rounding out the evening was "no strangers to the Beastly-words", Zambri. We've long been singing their praises, and as hard as it is to believe, this was the first we'd had a chance to catch them live. If you thought you were moved by their recorded tracks, then I'd urge you to check them out live, as their performance is polished, dynamic and ready to bust onto a scene of great mass appeal. What a treat to catch them in fine live form.

  

Suggested listening: w/Somebody and Bang for Changes. Zambri play Union Pool on February 17. Info here.

 

mp3: Zambri - Easier

mp3: MNDR - C.L.U.B.

mp3: Tayisha Busay - French Song (Nite Club Remix)

Sia Announces "The We Meaning You" Tour Dates

With her 4th studio album, We Are Born, set for an April release, Sia has already notched a mark in our "ooh I can't wait" belts. Today's announcement of touring dates in support of the effort only make us poke another hole in the leather, as our anticipation tightens.

Tour dates are below. Can you feel the excitement coursing through our bodies? Hell yeah!

April 10: Vancouver, BC - Commodore April 12: Seattle, WA - Market April 13: Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom April 14: San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom April 17: Indio, CA - Coachella April 19: San Diego, CA - House of Blues April 20: Phoenix, AZ - The Marquee April 22: Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre April 24: Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line April 25: Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre April 26: Detroit, MI - St. Andrews April 28: Toronto, ON - Phoenix April 30: Montreal, QC - Club Soda May 1: Boston, MA - House of Blues May 2: Philadelphia, PA - TLA May 4: Washington, DC - 9:30 Club May 5: Annapolis, MD - Rams Head May 6: New York, NY - Terminal 5

 

mp3: Sia - Day Too Soon (Lifelike Remix)

Beastly Bits #16

Yesterday was a rad day. Did you enjoy your Thursday? Hey, even if you didn't, at least now it's Friday and this weekend is shaping up to be something spectacular!

 

It's time for some action!

An unreleased Lady Gaga track has surfaced. I was hot on Retro Physical back in summer of 2008, when it was merely a :50 clip. Grab the full below. The Fame Monster is still > than anything prior. The casts of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Family Guy are putting on a benefit to help the people of Haiti. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to "Partners in Health". More information, including ticketing, is located here. The legend that is Sly Stone sat and chatted with MOJO. Want to know what he quipped about? Read the full interview here. Discobelle Records' first release comes from the Finnish kids, MVSEVM. The track French Jeans is free below, but go support these rad dudes, and buy the full release on Beatport. Want to see Lily Allen perform with a chorus of pixelated fans? Watch Lily Allen "The Fear (The People vs Lily Allen Remake)" here.

 
 

mp3: MVSEVM - French Jeans mp3: Lady Gaga - Retro Physical

Ellie Goulding (Featuring Theophilus London) - Starry Eyed (Penguin Prison Remix)

High fives and hell yeahs! I've been waiting for this for nearly 6 months since I first heard that Theophilus was going to be guesting on a mix of this track.

I don't think I need to say anymore. You already know how I feel about Ellie Goulding, Penguin Prison and Theophilus London. That said, big ups to Neon Gold, for always giving me a reason to smile.

 

mp3: Ellie Goulding (Featuring Theophilus London) - Starry Eyed (Penguin Prison Remix)

Kelis (featuring David Guetta) - Scream and Shout

By all methods of self-constraint, I struggled to keep this one under wraps. The cool kids over at Idolator have the scoop, so respectfully, I'm borrowing a bit of info from them. Nothing but love!

 

With an upcoming album, FleshTones, Kelis has been spilling little drops of infgormation surrounding the project. One thing known is that super DJ and producer, David Guetta, is on board behind the songstress' sandy vocal sounds. Read on for more...

We know the following: 1. Earlier this week, he mentioned he was working on another song the album, but was, as yet, uncompleted 2. Scream and Shout is listed on the FleshTones wiki page as an official album cut 3. Kelis has mentioned that her main goal with this album is to make “people want to dance again. I want people to sweat. I want people to enjoy the way things used to be, the debaucherous nights that you try to forget about in the morning." Color me beyond ecstatic!

mp3: Kelis (Featuring David Guetta) - Scream And Shout

  

Make The Girl Dance - Kill Me EP (teaser video!)

Greg Kozo and Pierre Mathieu swept us off our feet last year, when their project, Make The Girl Dance, hit us hard and hit us good. The song Baby, Baby, Baby is a mix of French linguistics, sexy beats and an equally suggestive video.

Did you know that the project started as a bet between these two French friends? Good thing it worked out as such, because they rose to the forefront of bloglove in a short amount of time, and their new EP is a further reminder why we dig 'em so! The Kill Me EP is available on February 2 (buy here) and comes with remixes from Toxic Avenger, We Are Enfant Terrible, Audrey Katz and Vektorkat. They've released a teaser trailer for the offering, and excuse me if I'm mistaken, but is that baby doll doing poppers in the video? Watch and see if my guess is right...

 
 

mp3: Make The Girl Dance - Kill Me (We Are Enfant Terrible Remix) mp3: Make The Girl Dance - Baby, Baby, Baby (Designer Drugs Remix)

Thieves Like Us - Never Known Love (new song and video!)

Thieves Like Us entered 2009 with a dose of dreamy discopop and a dash of unbridled uniqueness. Now, in 2010, Pontus, Björn and Andy are back with a new song and a sexy new sound.

Quite unlike hits such as Drugs In My Body and Your Heart Feels, TLU drop a new song with a fresh wash of stargazing sensualism. Never Known Love, a deriviate naming function from the band's New Order influences, is a three-and-a-half minute trek through hushed vocals and a rough and ready bassline. The song comes from their upcoming album, Again and Again, which is to be released later this year (date still to be determined). They've also released a video for the song. Watch it now.

 

 
 

mp3: Thieves Like Us - Never Known Love mp3: Miss Kittin And The Hacker - Party In My Head (Thieves Like Us Remix)

Beastly Bits #15

Yikes, I'm getting sick...but not sick of the music. Ya dig? On we ride...in a sea of cough medicine and extremely trippy fever dreams.

 

Let's get to getting, shall we?

Mariah Carey's video for Up Out My Face has been released. It features Nicki Minaj, and the Nick Cannon-directed clip actually had me enjoying the song even more. Go watch it here. Peaches gives us an exclusive look at a guide to her hometown of Berlin. Watch parts one and two. She's also extended her Australian tour dates. View 'em here. James Mercer, of The Shins, and Danger Mouse debut a new video for their collaborative project, Broken Bells. Watch the Sophie Muller-directed clip for The High Road now. HeavyRoc's newest artist, Alex Winston, self-produced and recorded a cover of Jack Penate's Pull My Heart Away. She played every drum, piano, guitar, etc...through GarageBand on her home computer. It's a free download below. Awesome New Republic did an acoustic video at LP33.TV for the song Digital World. Watch the clip here and grab Soulwax's ragingly-killer fix below. 

mp3: Awesome New Republic - Digital World (Soulwax Mix) mp3: Alex Winston - Pull My Heart Away (Jack Penate Cover) mp3: Mariah Carey (Featuring Nicki Minaj) - Up Out My Face (Remix)

  

DJ Zinc (Featuring Ms Dynamite) - Wile Out (new video!)

Long known for his signature drum and bass style, DJ Zinc has, as of late resorted to classifying his dubthumping tracks as "crack house". Fitting descriptor, because this song has me both addicted and suffering from a severe case of the sweaty shakes.

 

With a new single out on February 8, featuring Ms Dynamite, Zinc returns to the top of my playlist with his imperative plea to Wile Out. Watch now and let the rubbery-dubbery radness move you!

 

mp3: DJ Zinc (Featuring Ms Dynamite) - Wile Out