Enough of this dubstep he-said-she-said. It's time to invent some new genres. We came across PURPLE last week via friends at The Daily Swarm. Sounds like hip-hop takin off the ground, leavin its body behind. Full story and videos here.
Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com
Two glaciers in South America have left scientists puzzled all around the world. National Geographic reports that, while climate change has led most glaciers in the Patagonian Andes to recede, the Perito Moreno glacier, in Argentina, and the Pio XI glacier, in Chile, are growing. This unusual development is "not well understood". Different hypotheses have been based on the geography, topography, and water temperatures surrounding Perito Moreno and Pio XI, but scientists have yet to agree on a solid conclusion. Despite these isolated anomalies, however, the majority of Patagonian glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate.
Posted by Henry Harper
henry@greenowl.com
Lily Allen's single Fuck You has an important message (to whom?... I could take a guess). The video does not help in the guessing game but it's entertaining -maybe she is saying fuck you to everyone. Just make sure your kids don't hear or watch this, it turns the F word into some sort of jingle like Mary Had a Little Lamb or Sesame Street. Stay up!
Posted by Ashley Rambo
rambo@greenowl.com
Interview with Soren from Thriller from Green Owl on Vimeo.
Thriller play righteous punk rock. Their sound is comparable to early to mid 1980’s New York hardcore bands like the Cro-Mags and Antidote; but they manage to bring something new. Almost like a medley of 80’s hardcore, 90’s thrash, Black Sabbath, and Roky Erikson. They just released their first 7” on Jersey-based label, Toxic State.
They're playing at Club Europa on July 9th with Boston punk legends, The Freeze and local hero’s Dawn of Humans.
Thriller's Black on Black in the stream
Posted by Sam Donahue
sam@greenowl.com
Watch the preview for the new claymation flick, $9.99.
Peep the interview with creator, Tatia Rosenthal.
Here on Motionographer.
Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com
Michael T as himself
Saturday marked the final Rated-X party. The fantastically wicked Michael T began throwing the notorious GLBT shin dig in the early 2000's in New York's Lower East Side. The party had too keep relocating to accommodate the attendance size, as word caught on of the radical raunchiness taking place. Don Hill's was the lucky venue to be jam packed full of characters, costumes, queens, queers and tittays (as Peppermint would say) for the finale.
Peppermint host The Hot Body contest
Beyond the glitz, coke, grimy sex and same-sex-flings one thing prevailed -community. As I stared at the infamous Hot Body Contest (my girl a three time winner) my mind couldn't help but nostalgically dance around the thought of all these people -regardless of their race, sexual orientation or surgical procedures- had a place to feel safe.
Posted by Ashley Rambo
rambo@greenowl.com
In this, the first of many new Very Best remixes / covers, Architecture in Helsinki rebuild last week's Very Best drop, Warm Heart of Africa (featuring Ezra Koenig) with full-frontal brass. In the stream.
Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com
Somali President Sharif Ahmed declared a state of emergency today in an effort to check an insurgency brewing in the East-African country. The rebel group al-Shabab is moving to push out the current government and install a strict Islamic state. The Huffington Post reports that Somali troops have been put on alert, but there have been few changes on the ground. This week, Somali lawmakers pleaded for international military help - their appeals were directed at Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti, none of which have yet responded with support. The UN says that, since May 7th, 126,000 citizens have fled their homes and, as of now, an estimated 3.2 million Somali's are in need of food and other humanitarian aid. Somalia has had an unstable government since 1991, when the overthrow of a dictatorship drove the country into disorder.
Posted by Henry Harper
henry@greenowl.com
The protests that have taken hold in Iran refuse to quell as citizens continue to take to the streets. It's really exciting to see a populace that refuses to let the powers at be dictate the outcome of an election that many in the country view as flawed, stolen or corrupted (here's lookin at you America circa 2000). Debates are taking place (certainly in my home) because the numbers just don't add up. If Ahmadinejad really won by the supposed 11 million votes, why would people still be protesting in such large numbers? Is this election dispute suddenly going to end up with another American occupation? God knows there's oil in dem hills!
We've already seen many calls for Obama to take a stronger stance on the issue in Iran, and this is what he's said recently: "The last thing that I want to do is to have the United States be a foil for those forces inside Iran who would love nothing better than to make this an argument about the United States. We shouldn't be playing into that." Good to hear the bossman has a balanced take. This morning i woke up with a letter from Iran entitled "A Voice from Inside Tehran" in my inbox. Its certainly an interesting glimpse into one mans struggle through a very chaotic time.
Alireza Abiz reports his own observations on the course of events of 15th June 2009 in Tehran
I left my home in Tajrish along with my family at 3 p.m. We went down Valiast Street which is the main northern-southern avenue in Tehran and entered the Evin Exp'way which leads to Enghelab Street. We knew that people are supposed to gather in Enghelab Sq. (Revolution Sq.) at 4 and march toward Azadi Sq. (Freedom Sq.).
From Gisha Bridge onwards, we saw people walking down. Cars were blowing their horns and people were showing victory sign. We went to Navvab Street and parked our car at the end of the street. Then we took a taxi to bring us back to the Enghelab Street. On our way, near Jomhouri Sq. (Republic Sq.), I saw a group of about 20 militia with long beards and batons on motorbikes. My hand was out of the car window with a little green ribbon (the sign of reformists) around my finger. One of the militia told me to throw that ribbon away. I showed him a finger. All of a sudden, about 15 people attacked me inside the car. They beat me with their batons and wanted to pull me out. My wife and my daughter who were sitting in the back seat cried and hold me tight. I also hold myself tight on the chair. They wanted to shatter the car windows. The driver went out and explained that he is a taxi and we are his passengers and he has no fault. After about 5 minutes,they left. My elbow cut severely. Then, a young man from their group came and kissed my elbow! I told him: You know, I don't hate you. I am like you with the only difference that I know more and you are ignorant. He apologized and left.
We joined the crowd in Enghelab Street.
Read carefully: What I saw today was the most elegant scene I had ever witnessed in my life. The huge number of people were marching hand in hand in full peace. Silence. Silence was everywhere. There was no slogan. No violence. Hands were up in victory sign with green ribbons. People carried placards which read: Silence. Old and young, man and woman of all social groups were marching cheerfully. This was a magnificent show of solidarity. Enghelab Street which is the widest avenue in Tehran was full of people. I was told that the march has begun in Ferdowsi Sq. and the end of the march was now in Imam Hossein Sq. to the further east of Tehran while on the other end people had already gathered in Azadi Sq. The length of this street is about 6 kilometers. The estimate is about 2 million people.
On the way, we passed a police department and a militia (Baseej) base. In both places, the doors were closed and we could see fully-armed riot police and militia watching the people from behind the fences. Near Sharif University of Technology where the students had chased away Ahmadinejad a few days ago, Mirhossein Mousavi (the reformist elect president) and Karrubi (the other reformist candidate spoke to people for a few minutes which was received by cries of praise and applause. I felt proud to find myself among such a huge number of passionate people who were showing the most reasonable act of protest. Frankly, I didn't expect such a political maturity from emotional Iranians who easily get excited. My family and I had put stickers on our mouths to represent the suppression. Placards that people carried were different; from poems by the national poet Ahmad Shamlu to light-hearted slogans against Ahmadinejad. Examples include: " To slaughter us/ why did you need to invite us / to such an elegant party" (Poem by Shamlu). " Hello! Hello! 999? / Our votes were stolen" or " The Miracle of the Third Millenium: 2 x 2 = 24 millions" (alluding to the claim by Government that Ahmadinejad obtained 24 million votes) , "Where is my vote?" , " Give me back my vote" and many other.
We arrived in Azadi Square where the entire square was full of population. It is said that around 500,000 people can be accommodated in this huge square and it was full. Suddenly we saw smoke from Jenah Freeway and heard the gunshot. People were scared at first but then went forward. I just heard the gunshots but my sister who had been on the scene at that part told me later that she saw 4 militia came out from a house and shot a girl. Then they shot a young boy in his eye and the bullet came out of his ear. She said that 4 people were shot. At least one person dead has been confirmed. People arrested one of the Baseeji militia but the three others ran away when they ran out of bullet. At around 8 we went back on foot. On the way back people were still in the street and were chanting Allah Akbar (God is Great). I was coming home at around 2 a.m. In parkway, I saw about ten buses full of armed riot police parked on the side of the street. Then I saw scattered militia in civil clothes with clubs in hand patroling the empty streets. In Tajrish Square, I saw a very young boy (around 16) with a club who was looking at the cars to see if he can find something to attack. I don't know how and under what teachings young boys can change into militia. I came home.
Tomorrow, people will gather again in Valiasr Square for another peaceful march toward the IRIB building which controls all the media and which spreads filthy lies. The day before Yesterday, Ahmadinejad had hold his victory ceremony. Government buses had transported all his supporters from nearby cities. There was full coverage of that ceremony where fruit juice and cake was plenty. A maximum of 100,000 had gathered to hear his speech. These included all the militia and the soldiers and all supporters he could gather by the use of free TV publicity. Today, at least 2 million came only relying on word of mouth while reformists have no newspaper, no radio, no TV. All their internet sites are filtered as well as social networks such as facebook. Text messaging and mobile communication was also cut off during the demonstration.
Since yesterday, the Iranian TV was announcing that there is no license for any gathering and riot police will severely punish anybody who may demonstrates. Ahmadinejad called the opposition as a bunch of insignificant dirt who try to make the taste of victory bitter to the nation. He also called the western leaders as a bunch of "filthy homosexuals". All these disgusting remarks was today answered by that largest demonstration ever. Older people compared the demonstration of today with the Ashura Demonstration of 1979 which marks the downfall of the Shah regime and even said that it outnumbered that event. The militia burnt a house themselves to find the excuse to commit violence. People neutralized their tactic to a large degree by their solidarity, their wisdom and their denial to enage in any violent act. I feel sad for the loss of those young girls and boys. It is said that they also killed 3 students last night in their attack at Tehran University residence halls. I heard that a number of professors of Sharif University and AmirKabir University (Tehran Polytechnic) have resigned. Democracy is a long way ahead. I may not be alive to see that day. With eyes full of tear in these early hours of Tuesday 16th June 2009, I glorify the courage and bravery of those martyrs and I hope that their blood will make every one of us more committed to freedom, to democracy and to human rights. Viva Freedom, Viva Democracy, Viva Iran
p.s.: If you find this report of any value, please share it with as many people as possible.
Posted by Benjamin Bronfman
ben@greenowl.com
France wants to do a study on “…how extensively burqas and niqabs are worn in France _ and what response might be adequate.” The government is seeking to set up a parliamentary commission to do the study and this “response” they speak of, is to potentially ban burqas and niqabs from being worn in public. President Nicolas Sarkozy added his two euro's by saying " [the] Muslim burqa would not be welcome in France, calling the full-body religious gown a sign of the 'debasement' of women.
France has addressed such issues in the past. In 2004 the country forbid Islamic headdresses in public schools. Going too far? I think so; it’s bunk to conduct a study to “… find that use of the burqa [to be] very clearly imposed (on women) ...” Who declared France's affluent to decide weather or not 16 centuries of religious custom to be degrading? It seems both incidents are strategies to erase visible Muslim culture from the France's public. Sure, “France, [is] a country with a long and proud secular tradition,” but to ban a garment of religious and spiritual significance is, as the French say, Force majeure.
Posted by Ashley Rambo
rambo@greenowl.com
Toy Selectah
I've been chasing Toy Selectah around the globe for this interview. We first met a few weeks ago at Santo's where he was co-billling with Que Bajo DJs, Gecko and Uproot Andy. Toy is an icon for new American music. His basslines are latitudes, lacing together North and South, uniting the continents. Here's the story.
Tell us about cumbia.
Cumbia
is a Amerindian-Colombian rhythm and dance that is a combination of the African Guinean sound of Cumbé Drums and the Native American
(Colombian) sounds and instruments originated on the Caribbean coast of
Colombia and Panamá. Think about the sound of Popular music around the Spanish Colonization and Caste System times. A real Africa meets Mesoamerica clash. Over
the last fifty to seventy years cumbia's been the sound of the ghetto not just in Colombia but all around the south cone of the
Americas, as well as Central America, Mexico and the
South West of North America. The (constant) evolution of cumbia is paralleled by what happens in Jamaica (and then USA) with soundsystem culture. Since the 70's, sonideros
(soundsystems) and they're also called picós, helped to spread the cumbia -- a simple 4/4 beat with a Afro-Latin thing. It's like the other side of son cubano / afro-cuban / salsa.
Who's making art that inspires you now?
The
work of lots of people inspire me in different ways, even journalists, scientistics or sociologists inspire
me. Gabriel García
Marquez (writer), Miguel Angel Granados Chapa (journalist); DJ Blass,
DJ Znobia, Buraka Som Sistema, Vampire Weekend, Afrojack, Wired Magazine, Wayneandwax.com... to name just a few.
Is live music a thing of the past? How might DJing reinvigorate instrumentalism?
Live music is not a thing of the past! No Way!!! Live music will always be a part of the most elemental human desire! The
DJ from both technical and selection aspects definitely is
reinvigorating not just instrumentalism, but music love and music
enjoyment and music evolution.
Where are you from? How does that play into your music?
I am from Monterrey Mexico, and being from here played a very particular
role in who I am now. Since
Late 70's, cumbia 12"s and LPs been gettin to Monterrey ( my town ) as
well to Mexico City, from Colombia and Miami via Houston and San
Antonio Texas. By the beginning of the 80's, cumbia Colombiana (that's how we call it here) became the original
ghetto sound of the hoods in Monterrey, probably because of our love
for the accordion sound, melodies about falling in love and the overall groovy
cadence. After more than 20 years of the
MONTERREY CUMBIA-COLOMBIANA STORY, now with the globalization of hip hip and dance culture; DJs; Computers; tons of 12"; love for weed and
reggae -- cumbia is probably the best response or replica of Latino culture that stretches vertically from South (Argentina) to Upnorth (Canada) and horizontally across the planet. Global Ghetto 2010 sounds are conquering the world.
What's one of the most surprising responses you've gotten from an audience or an audience member?
In Warsaw, people really gettin the new-school cumbia thing!
What's the deepest you've dug or the farthest you've gone to find a particular track or record?
Down south in Argentina, diggin Cumbia Villera not just records but Studio sessions and tools... And another really important diggin thing for my foundation was in Colombia and in Perú. Lima is a great place for diggin.
What's it like to constantly be crossing borders to play music for others?
Adventurous and kind of subversive. Actually I was thinking on this last week when I found this video documentary.
What are some of the greatest environmental challenges facing Mexico in your opinion?
Probably
the implementation of an alternative power supply and the everyday bigger
and bigger work related to organic agriculture.
How has nature and the environment shaped your life?In so many different ways. I turned vegetarian 10 years ago and after that I got really into naturism and lots of concepts of natural healing and alternative medicine. Now I am educating my two daughters.
What's your favorite local style of Mexican music that most people in the US might not know about?
Traditional: son huasteco, a variation of son form but with a really deep mountain style! New school: guarachero or tribal guarachero, a thing close to what i am
doing with raverton and the more clubby cumbia things -- it's a variation
of tribal house with 6/8 accents and tropical and norteño samples, very
ghetto!!!
A Milli (Toy Selectah) refix in the stream.
Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com
= us thinking Cameron definitely needs to come by the Green Owl office more often. She's on Conan tonight and will likely be talking about things worth talking about -- clean air, clean soil, clean water and that funky red, white and blue umbrella she's rockin middle-America style in her new movie, "My Sister's Keeper."
Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com
Published by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com
Straight summertime riddum from Heatwave.
Ride it from Fader. Stream it below.
Link via ROBINSON.
Posted by Wills Glasspiegel
wills@greenowl.com
KCRW's World Festival kicks off at the Hollywood Bowl this Sunday with Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Santigold, and Raphael Saadiq. The World Festival series has 6 scheduled dates this summer, all at the Hollywood Bowl, and each time bringing in a great group of artists. Tickets range from $10 to $126, so there's a wide range of musical experiences to be had. If you're in LA for any of these dates, any one of the concerts would be a great way to spend a balmy Sunday night.
Sunday, June 21, 7 PM: Femi Kuti & The Positive Force • Santigold • Raphael Saadiq
Sunday, June 28, 7 PM: Adele • Etta James & the Roots Band • Janelle Monáe
Sunday, July 12, 7 PM: Ray LaMontagne with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra • Jenny Lewis • Blitzen Trapper
Sunday, July 26, 7 PM: Grace Jones • of Montreal • Dengue Fever
Sunday, August 9, 7 PM: Reggae Night VIII
Sunday, September 20, 7 PM: India Calling!
Posted by Henry Harper
henry@greenowl.com
