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Ninjaman hits the stage on Dancehall Night at Reggae Sumfest 2008

Jul 312008

Ninjaman is a notorious hardcore Jamaican musician with roots in Dancehall but from the harder side of the dance floor. Ninjaman is well known for his gun loving lyrics and nasty on stage performances. Reggae Sumfest 2008 was no different. The Ninja was not so silent and neither were his fans as he dazzled the crowd with his act performance.

Ninjaman is a local favorite and his show was high energy and powerful. It’s always nice when the crowd knows an artists music and that was certainly the case on Thursday night at SumFest. The crowd seemed to know every word to every song as he belted out some fan favorites.

If you ever get thew chance to see ninjaman in concert then I suggest you do so. If not then download some Ninjaman mp3 files from Amazon and play Ninjaman on your Zune

Press Pass Access for Sumfest 2008

Concerts No Responses »

Jul 122008

I went to the Reggae Sumfest 2007 last July and I got the idea to ask for a press pass this year and yesterday I got an email requesting a photograph for my pass which has been approved. I did not expect that I would be able to do so because I got a late start and actually made my request after the official accreditation process had been closed. I think I was able to sweet talk a very special young lady in SumFest administration who facilitated my special request and was able to help me out.

I was only planning on going for just one day, Thursday evening is Dancehall night and my good friend Ras Slick wants to go that night. The King of Dancehall Beenie Man headlines with Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and Mavado for what should be an explosive evening of hardcore Jamaican musicians. Now that I have backstage and artist access I suppose I’ll have to go for the 3 main evenings and my plans are now to catch Friday and Saturday nights shows as well. I’m not very prepared but I think it should be a fun experience.

Friday nights line-up features Lil Wayne, Keyshia Coles, John Courtney and Jah Cure who happens to be smoking hot here in Jamaica right now. This guy has a huge fan base here in Jamaica and is set to remain so for quite some time it seems. I’d like to interview him just to ask him some questions about wa gwan here in Jamaica. He seems to be a powerful influence on Jamaican youth and I’d like to hear his views on things in his home country. Jamaican musicians have incredible impact in the development of young Jamaicans and it’s not uncommon to hear 5-7 year old kids singing the latest hardcore hits word for word. I know a few 5 year olds who swear to be “Gangsta for Life” as the “Gully Creep” for me.

Saturday nights show features T-Pain as the main act with Reggae legend Beres Hammond and rising star Tarrus Riley backing up a mixed line-up of international stars. John Holt, Etana and Rootz Underground are also on the bill and should make fora great days music. I’m looking forward to my week. Anyone else in Jamaica for Sumfest with their Zune?

Zune MP3 Download – The Heavy Pets — Earthchaser

Community, MP3, Music, Zune No Responses »

Jun 112007

The Heavy Pets

The Heavy Pets

MP3: The Heavy Pets — Earthchaser

The Heavy Pets have been very busy racking up performances at South Florida clubs and festivals since forming last year. Now the Fort Lauderdale-based jam band is preparing to take its show on the road with a tour spanning several weeks this summer. They’ll travel to New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

The band has been gaining a following by playing at festivals such as Sunrise’s Langerado and New Times’ Beerfest in Fort Lauderdale. When they return from their Northeast tour in August, guitarist Jeff Lloyd said the Pets plan to work on material for their album.

A release date hasn’t been announced. Until then, fans can buy CDs of live performances at the band’s shows, or download music from theheavypets.com. The group’s danceable backbeat mixes such rhythms as rock, jazz and reggae.

“We try to utilize every key and every mode,” Lloyd said.

Hailing from Goshen, N.Y., Lloyd started the Pets in November 2005 with childhood friends Joe Dupell on bass and Mike Garulli on guitar. Lloyd’s cousin, Ryan Neuburger, plays drums. All four members share vocal duties.

Fans can check out the Pets at a few local venues before the group leaves town in mid-July.

– Beth Feinstein-Bartl

Zune MP3 Download – Skampida

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May 292007

Skampida

Skampida

MP3: Skampida — Casteneda

From Bogota to Boca Raton, Skampida has been performing its Latin-influenced ska sound since forming in 1998.

The band, which came together in Colombia, moved to South Florida 18 months ago. The aim was to play and land a record deal, said guitarist Juan Pablo.

Since arriving in the States, Skampida has performed more than 80 gigs in New York and South Florida. Its shows feature a diverse fusion of reggae and folkloric rhythms intermingled with hip-hop, punk, gypsy influences, cumbia and champeta.

Skampida’s energy hasn’t gone unnoticed: The band was voted best local rock band for 2006 by New Times.

Members were also nominated for best ska and reggae band and best live performances in 2004 by Shock magazine. The group won an award for best ska and reggae video from Much Music in 2005.

Pablo is joined by band members David Mujica on bass and lead vocals, Esteban Rivera on keyboards, Pedro Vega on saxophone and Nacho Segura on drums.

In between performances, the band is working on completing its second disc at what Pablo calls “a fancy studio in Miami.” Its first CD, Stereoblaster, was released in 2004. Visit skampida.com.

Zune Artist Profile – The Good, The Bad & The Queen

Music, The Zune, Zune, Zune Artist, Zune Marketplace, Zune.net No Responses »

May 212007

Zune.net | The Good, The Bad & The Queen – Artist Profile Page

The Good, The Bad & The Queen began life in the Aphrodisia Studios in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2004. Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) and guitarist Simon Tong (The Verve) had travelled to Lagos to record with veteran drummer and Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen (Africa 70, Fela Kuti). Working with local musicians, the trio recorded an album’s worth of material. Back in England, Damon was finishing off Gorillaz’ Demon Days album and the project went on the back burner.

By the time they came back to itâˆ’and when Damon gave the recordings to producer Brian ‘Danger Mouse’ Burtonâˆ’feelings about the record had changed. “When Brian came on board it really started to become, The Good, The Bad & The Queen. I started writing about this areaâˆ’West Londonâˆ’and coming to define here and why I think it’s such a special place to live,” said Albarn.

The final collaborator to come in to the studio was Clash bassistâˆ’and West London nativeâˆ’Paul Simonon, and the album was finished by early summer 2006.

The result is a record specific to a place and a time but with a background that is geographically wide-ranging and stretches far back into a glittering musical past. The Good, The Bad & The Queen traces a journey from the English music hall tradition, over to West Africa for Afrobeat, zigzagging through the West Indies and its reggae and dub, back to England and London’s punk scene, all the while taking in a strand of British beat music from the ’50s right through to Britpop.

Preview and download their self-titled album, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, on Zune Marketplace today.

Zune MP3 Download – The Oski Foundation

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Apr 232007

The Oski Foundation

The Oski Foundation

MP3: The Oski Foundation — Welcome Home

Some guys would prefer to kick back on their birthday. Not Oski.

The lead vocalist and founder of the Oski Foundation will celebrate turning 28 with cake, croquettas, his band mates and a few hundred fans on Thursday at Tobacco Road in Miami.

The group will be working the room by rolling out its blend of funk, rock, soul, hip-hop and reggae that is tinged by decades of musical influences ranging from Marvin Gaye to Rage Against the Machine.

The show will also mark the Oski Foundation’s return to the local stage after a nine-month hiatus.

“We’d done over 400 shows in six years,” Oski said. “We needed a break.”

The Foundation came out of its temporary retirement Aug. 26 at the Cutting Edge Music Festival in New Orleans, Oski said.

“We did play at Tobacco Road on Aug. 24, but it was a short show, only 20 minutes,” he said. “The October concert will be a full set.”

The band is returning with most of its original lineup. That includes Lush on bass, D-Nasty on guitar and rapper Gardian. Drummer Benny B joined three months ago.

“It feels great to be back,” Oski said. “The fans have been asking when we’re going to play again.”

Joining the Oski Foundation at the club will be reggae by Jahfe, soul singer Cristin and soulful rock ‘n’ roll by Hunter’s Moon. Cake and croquettas from Vicky Bakery in Miami will be first come, first served. The show starts at 9 p.m.

Oski also DJs during happy hour from 4-8 p.m. on Fridays at Tobacco Road, 626 S. Miami Ave. Contact tobacco-road.com or 305-374-1198.

Next up for the Oski Foundation is the Argiz Advertising/Art Basel Block Party, starting at 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at the corner of 41st Street and Northeast Second Avenue in Miami’s Design District.

Visit myspace.com/oskifoundation.

– Beth Feinstein-Bartl

New Zune Music – Lovewhip

MP3, Music, Zune Comments Off

Apr 132007


Webpage: http://www.lovewhip.net
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Description: LOVEWHIP is breaking ground with a revolutionary new sound with their fourth CD, â€œVirtual Booty Machine,â€ which mixes electropop with dancehall reggae, funk, and rock to create a very distinctive sound that begs the listener to shake it.
Biography: LOVEWHIP mixes a variety of influences from all over the world to create a sound that has been crowding dancefloors throughout the Northeast and beyond. Whether the band is pounding home electro rock beats, incorporating reggae-influenced dance rhythms or slinging free flying disco-punk energy, the result is the same: unique, pleasing and infectious. Recently metamorphosizing into dance club faves, Lovewhip have made fans of audiences from Boston MA to Los Angeles, CA and from Portland, ME to Miami, FL and received radio play throughout the country. Their song, “Virtual Booty Machine,” has been featured on the hit TV show Veronica Mars. The band has begun work on their forthcoming album “Totally Hott Music Vol.1″, a concept album based on the KTel releases of the 70′s and 80′s which featured 10 hit songs compiled onto one album. The planned release date is April 2007. LOVEWHIPs live show is a combination live DJ set and live band. Think DEVO meets MIA. The band has opened for such national acts as the B52s, the Scissor Sisters, the Tom Tom Club, and Third World. 2004 Boston Music Award winners (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 Boston Music Awards nominees) Independent Music Award winners(sponsored by Musicians Atlas)
Press Release: Lovewhip is on tour in support of their smash electro dance rock release “Virtual Booty Machine”. Catch them at a club near you!

Music, The Zune, Zune, Zune Artist, Zune Marketplace, Zune.net No Responses »

Apr 012007

Since his childhood, Vieux Farka TourÃ© has been deeply inspired by the music of his father, the two-time Grammy Award-winner Ali Farka TourÃ©. Growing up in Mali’s capital, Bamako, as well as in his father’s hometown of NiafunkÃ© in the Sahara desert, TourÃ© proved himself a precocious talent as a drummer and calabash player.

But, having long suffered in the music industry before finally finding a home with World Circuit Records, his father did not want him to face the same hardships. He forbid TourÃ© to play music and decided that his son should become a soldier instead.

In 1999, TourÃ© decided to take his destiny into his own hands. He enrolled in the National Arts Institute in Bamako, Mali, openly defying his father’s wishes. It was there that he truly discovered his musical calling, picking up the guitar and beginning to compose his own music. By the time he left the school, he was already a locally celebrated guitar virtuoso.

A few years later, TourÃ© and producer Eric Herman started working on his solo, self-entitled debut album, released in early 2007 by Modiba Productions. The album also features the only existing recordings of father and son playing together, and is amongst the final recorded material of Ali Farka TourÃ© before his death.

TourÃ© has crafted a global-minded style all his own. With flourishes of rock and reggae amidst Saharan blues and traditional Malian melodies, the musician ushers in the next generation of Mali blues.

Download the debut album from Vieux Farka TourÃ© on Zune Marketplace today.

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