new york city MUSIC

We've all got a place in our heart for, yes, even Kanye. Wait, Let me finish- "Im'a explain" This has been a big year for Kanye West.  He dropped a new album, had a child with Kim Kardashian and now is recently engaged.  The guy seems unstoppable.  There aren't many people in  Entertainment or Sports Celebrities that get this kind of publicity, He's had a few crazy outrageous moments, of course, and is now touring for his Yeezus album.  This Saturday he'll be performing with Kendrick Lamar at Madison Square Garden.  Sunday he'll be performing with A Tribe Called Quest. He seems to always be doing things his way regardless of what others are going to say about him.  He started to come out wearing the confederate flag and told Ryan Seacrest on his morning show that he was taking back the symbol.  Although it is a risky move, he is commended on his boldness.  Who knows how it will go over in the long run, and if people will even take to t...

EDM hasn't been around for as long as Rock n Roll's history and Rolling Stone Italia seems to want it to stay that way   Last week the magazine uploaded a video to its online website that, although seeming satirical, pokes fun at electric dance music.  Rolling Stone claims that that kind of music will die, but guitar solos and rock anthems will not.  The video goes on about how EDM is fake music and that there is nothing like Rock and there will never be anything to beat it so EDM should just stop now.  Rolling Stone focuses on the drug related aspects of EDM and how it almost always is associated with half naked girls, lollipops and neon lights.  The "bad stuff."  But what about the good?  Technology has made some intense advances and now artists can pull sounds from anywhere to make a catchy tune.  Of course there are going to be some duds in a world where music is easy to make, but searching for the gold is worth it.  The video ...

It feels like Miley Cyrus is everywhere lately.  Twerking, showing off her body and breaking records. Whatever she's doing, it seems to be working.  People can't take their eyes off of her. With the help of social media, there were over 100 million views of her video 'Wrecking Ball' in just six days. The 20-year-old singer is constantly on Twitter making sure her following fans keep up.  The video is controversial as for the most part features a nude Cyrus swinging on a 'wrecking ball.'  Sources say the song is aimed towards former fiance Liam Hemsworth, the two publicly split this week.   The deluxe version of Bangerz features five different selections of cover art.  In recent racy fashion, one of those covers is of a nude Miley.  Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite cover with the winner being the final deluxe version.  Voting starts at 3 p.m. today and the winning cover will be revealed on October 14th. By: Tori

Walt Whitman to Dr. Seuss- I can’t help it, I love a good rhyme, and Curren$y’s “The Stoned Immaculate”, one of this year’s biggest rap releases, delivers on all metered counts. In his own words, on “Take You There”,  the New Orleans rapper says, “If you ain't heard of me…guessin that your internet services ain't working too good at y’alls pad” Curren$y’s quip on internet service is almost lost in the wordplay odyssey that is “Immaculate” (elsewhere he raps; ‘I chase that money like it said something about my momma, I chase that money like it key-scratched my impala), but as an intern at a firm that heads Web 2.0 campaigns for entertainment clients, it’s a verse I can definitely appreciate. Curren$y’s lyrics and trajectory into mainstream fame show an uncanny awareness  that; the web, especially social media sites are an effective place to build a fan base and get heard  (the core concept of PR 2.0). He’s only been signed to the Warner Brother label for ...

A music industry law that has been overlooked by many in the NYC scene is that a venue cannot play a copy written song without having the secured licenses from the performance rights group (ie: ASCAP, BMI,) who represent the songwriter. BMI is now focusing their attention of Lower East Side music venue Pianos, who have according to BMI "caused great and incalculable damage" after illegally playing hit songs like Europe's "Final Countdown" The Rolling Stone's "Paint It Black", and Weezer's "Say It Ain't So". Check out the lawsuit documents below courtesy of Cityfile 070109_pianos

The official schedule for L Magazine's first annual Northside Festival has finally been posted! To make things even more awesome, the infamous Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, BK will be closed down for street traffic 12PM-9PM Saturday June 13th! For those of you who don't already know, Northside Festival is a four-day indie art and music festival kicking off on June 11th-14th in Williamsburg and Greenpoint Brooklyn. According to L Magazine "...it is, as we've grown accustomed to saying, a four-day celebration of the independent music and art scene that thrives here in New York City, with live music being held at nearly every venue in the area (including some that haven't even opened yet), and art events at some of the most relevant galleries in the neighborhood." Additionally, L Magazine has teamed up with the Williamsburg Gallery Association to open up the doors to some of the greatest exhibitions in the area. With rooftop BBQs, late night shows, and a SXSW...

Here are some quick music industry updates: Wilco is streaming their new album "Wilco" live here A full review with photos by Brooklyn Vegan of Amanda Palmer's Neutral Milk Hotel-Inspired High School production can be found here Blondie, Pat Benatar, and the Donnas have announced their 2009 tour dates . This is going to be an amazing tour, not to be missed! Check the ladies out in NYC FOR FREE on August 13th 2009 at Asser Levy Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn! I'll be there! The John Lennon Exhibit by Yoko Ono titled "John Lennon: The New York Years" has officially opened at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York City. Yoko Ono has included some truly shocking pieces including the a paper bag containing the bloody clothes John Lennon wore on the tragic evening he was shot in 1980 by Mark David Chapman. Ono explains that these pieces were "hard to include" but she felt thatit was "important for people to see that, and for people to un...

The always shocking, 23 year old Lady Gaga has an interesting story about how she became a major pop artist. In regards to her career she says, " I am defying all preconceptions we have of pop artists"...that's an understatement! The Grammy nominated pop music singer went from an innocent Catholic school girl known as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta of Yonkers, NY to provocative, glam pop star. At the young age of 13, she wrote a piano ballad and would later acquire early acceptance into NYU's Tisch school. Though she was already on top of her game, Germanotta felt like she needed to become who she felt she was meant to be, and so Lady Gaga, the Lower East Side NYC music scene socialite was born. In an interview LG explains: "I went against all I was brought up to be; I moved out of home, wouldn't take any help from my parents [her internet entrepreneur dad and his business partner wife], and supported myself with waitressing jobs and stripping," s...

Daniela Schachter Quartet will be performing at Dizzys NYC, April 21st through April 25th, 2009. Daniela Schachter started early in her career. In her mid teens she was already performing live and doing studio sessions. Her love for music pushed her past her classical studies in Italy to Boston at the Berklee College of Music . To make reservations now, call - (212) 258-9800.

New York musician Alvin Atkinson and the "Sound Merchants" played in the gardens of Baghdad's Rasheed Hotel under a bright hot sun. They played Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' train" in Baghdad's "Green Zone" today, nearly 50 years after the jazz legend himself played in the Iraqi capital.

Lil Bow Wow is now just Bow Wow and he has a new album out. The release of his new album, New Jack City II was celebrated with a release party at New York City 's, Santos Party House . There was no VIP section, drinking or ho's. It was a sober, free and thankful concert he gave to his fans of all ages.