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DJ Cam Quartet is My Shit Right Now

So I was given this compilation titled Saint-Germain-Des-Pres Cafe Vol.9 by a fellow music nerd and it contains some absolutely amazing work by one of my favorite producers DJ Cam. He goes the route of another favorite of mine, Quantic, and takes his musical production skills to the stage with a full band. The outcome is some seriously high caliber hip hop infused jazz jams including So Sweet, Rebirth of Cool and a retarded dope cover of Nas’ World is Yours that is goosebump worthy.

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Cam has been one of my go to downtempo producers for a while. His Mad Blunted Jazz album is one of my all timers and sets the mood for any chill occasion. I grew up with lots of jazz in my household. Both of my parents are huge jazz listeners and gave me a pretty good collection of vinyl to thumb through since I left the house for college back in ’01. I can apreciate some quality jazz musicianship and the chops Cam use on Blunted are flipped so flawlessly that I knew at the time he could pull off the band leader role with ease. Boy did he prove me right.

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If you are a fan of hiphop and/or jazz, I beg you to peep these two tracks below, go find yourself some DJ Cam on a store shelf somewhere and support musical excellence such as this with your hard earned greenbacks.

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Dj Cam – Rebirth of Cool

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Dj Cam – It’s Yours

The Best Show for your Buck – 4/09/09 Edition

And the winner is… BUDOS BAND @ Neumos!!

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That’s right, tonight the almighty Budos Band is back for another go and this show should be nothing short of epic. If you are not familiar with the Budos Band then I will help you out. They have two albums out on Daptone Records, play the funkiest Afro-Beat / Funk / Soul jams, and put on one of the most flawless shows you will see from a 12 piece band. They hail from Staten Island, New York and have been touring in support of their latest effort (Budos Band II) for months.

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If you were one of the lucky few to score a spot inside of last June’s Saturday Knights release party you already know the drill. The had the 500+ crowd jiving and dancing along with every note and pretty much gave me a perma grin that lasted for days. So what are you waiting for? Get your ass out to Neumos and then proceed to shake it profusely.

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Also opening is the Northwest’s own Publish the Quest. I just recently got their cd at one of their shows and have been rocking it pretty regularly. They are a mishmash of funk, soul, folk, jazz, jam band, afro beat, and a whole lot of other tasty tidbits. I am definitely a fan and am confident you will be too.

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THE BUDOS BAND, PUBLISH THE QUEST, DJ 100 PROOF

Presented by Neumos and Smart Went Crazy
7:00PM Doors
$13 ADV
Click Here to Buy Tickets
21+

R.I.P. Digable (for now?)

This is a huge WTF moment for me. 3 days before the start of an East Coast reunion tour, Digable Planets broke up…again. I guess Ladybug Mecca left the group. For some reason she couldn’t go through with the tour. I obviously can’t really speak on the circumstances ’cause I don’t have any clue, but this is definitely a shock.

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Also a big shock for Common Market, who was set to open for them on this stretch of dates. A lot of the shows were already sold out, and they would have benifited greatly from the exposure. They put on a solid set and would have gained a lot of new fans, not to mention the paper lost in the cancellations themselves.

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I was lucky enough to see Digable at Neumos back in the fall and they were absolutely amazing. They ran through all the tracks I wanted to hear and I fell in love with Ladybug all over again. I have been bumping ‘Blowout Comb‘ damn near daily ever since, and can say with confidence that they are one of the most slept on hip hop groups of all time. That album is flawless. The samples are all classic and flipped with skill. It contains more bass per captia than any album since. The raps put you at ease, and deliver a feel good vibe that lasts throughout the lp. Each MC brings something fresh to the table and boy do I eat it up. Love me some soulful, jazzy hip hop music. Digable knocked it out the park with that one.

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So RIP Digable Planets. You will be missed (until you pull it together and realize you are better together than solo). And Ladybug…I can’t stay mad at you. You are just too damn sexy. You win.

Who Doesn't Like a Mobile Disco?

If you are feeling frisky this evening, head on over to Neumos and get your disco on with Simian Mobile Disco.  These two UK dj/producers are kings of the dancefloor and masters in the art of the remix. They originally formed as a traveling dj team and released a few singles, but they gained more fame through their remixes of artists like The Go Team! and Air.

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They are touring to support their new album that is untitled and doesn’t even have a release date yet (as far as I know). What I do know is that they have two new singles – Synthesise and 10,000 Horses Can’t Be Wrong – that are pretty dope and, judging from their live performance videos, they put on a pretty solid show. So get down there and prepare for some serious dance partying.

Here is a video for their latest single ’10,000 Horses Can’t be Wrong’
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Simian Mobile Disco

Nordic Soul

Colby b

:: Doors at 8PM :: $15 ADV ::

Advance tickets on sale now at: www.ticketswest.com

Presented by Neumos and KEXP

Houston, We Have a Party

You better believe the hype is real. When your average music fan looks at the lineup of N.A.S.A.‘s (North America / South America) debut LP The Spirit of Apollo most give it the double or triple take. “WHAAAAAAAAT?” Which really is the appropriate response. The list of collaborators on this record is simply ridiculous. Some features are better than others, but all are fairly unique and enjoyable. I have read a bunch of reviews on the album and some people gripe that it lacks focus or is too ‘all over the place.’ That is exactly why I love it so much. There is something for everyone. How on earth (pun intended) do you make a project featuring the likes of: David Byrne, Chuck D, Chali 2na, Satigold, Kanye West, Kool Keith, Karen O, Method Man, ODB, E-40, MIA, RZA, Fatlip, Tom Waits, Spank Rock, Del, DJ AM, DJ Swamp, KRS-One, Ghostface, The Cool Kids, and many more, focused and coherent? IT IS NOT FUCKING POSSIBLE. That said, take off your over-thinking cap and just sit back and enjoy the trip.

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The album is a solid effort. The production is top notch. The album artwork is equal parts shock and awe. Just because of my personal preferences, I enjoy the first half a little more than the second. The more electro vibe of the second half is still good in its own way, but the first 6 or 7 songs on the record are just bananas. It starts off with a phenomenal look into the human existence and condition called ‘The People Tree’ with David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift Of Gab & Z-Trip. 2na and Gab fit together perfectly on this jam swapping lines about evolution, what it means to be human, and the good and evil in all of us. David Byrne’s voice is so piercing and effective on the hook(?) that it makes me want to dig back in my collection and vibe out on some Talking Heads. Dude is just so far out there and light years ahead of everyone creatively. The next track ‘Money’ with David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge & Z-Trip is my favorite by a long shot. It picks up where the last song left off, with the corruption of the human spirit. The beat goes hard. The subject matter is brought to a new level with the current state of our economy and country. David Byrne once again shines, but Chuck D steals the show and drops one of his most poignant verses in a loooooooong time. “You know the Euro, kickin Uncle Sam in the who know, you know dinero, the root of all evil  / I know you can’t stand it, bein broker than the 10 commandments, and the broker ain’t planned this.” Other highlights include: Way Down with RZA, Barbie Hatch & John Frusciante, Strange Enough with Karen O, Ol’ Dirty Bastards, Fatlip and N.A.S.A. Music with Method Man, E-40 & DJ Swamp. But in reality, all songs bring something fresh to the table. It is a truely unique listening experience and should be enjoyed as a ‘collection’ rather than a album.

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Here is the video to ‘Money’ (kind of one huge OBEY ad, but still very dope)

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N.A.S.A. will be bringing a live production set to Nectar Lounge this Tuesday, March 3rd, complete with backup dancers, video mixing (combining footage of the artists in the studio performing the tracks), and all sorts of other nonsense. It should be a pretty rediculous party. Opening for them will be Seattle live hiphop crew the Staxx Brothers and myself on the turntables playing the finest in ass shakery. I reccomend you make the trip out and enjoy some Space Jams (no Bugs Bunny). Buy advanced tickets HERE for only $10

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Nectar Presents

N.A.S.A.

Staxx Brothers

dj100proof

9 PM / 21+

$10 adv

Stay Kool

So if you find yourself on the hill and are in the mood for some nerd out rap, then boy have I got a show for you! Kool Keith AKA Dr. Octagon will be at Neumos tonight dropping some abstractness  and rocking a super awesome pompadour haircut that would make Elvis or James Brown proud. Plus he will be rapping alongside Kutmasta Kurt, who is a stupid good DJ/producer/remix master.

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Kool Keith will always be one of my favorite MC’s. This is mainly due to the fact that I listen to Ultramagnetic Mc’s at least twice a week. His material with the ultra crew is top notch golden age hiphop. The new stuff (Dr. Octagon) is out there. Really out there. But one cannot deny the fact that Keith is nice on the mic. The content has changed…but his delivery, rhymestyle and personality still shine.

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This will be a really fun show and the openers are worth checking out as well. Murder Dice is truly a force to be witnessed live and in person. Equal parts raw talent and drunken shit show. The Let Go put out a stellar debut entitled ‘Tomorrow Handles That’ and always rock a good set. (You can read my review of their album HERE.

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Tomorrow Night, a DJ (or 3) Will Save Your Life

Who doesn’t like a good old fashioned dance party? I mean REALLY? And no not a top 40, superman dance, cookie cutter Belltown danceparty…I mean a throwback to the days when the DJ played really good music, that you may not have heard of, and kept you shaking that ass until the sun came up.

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Well my fellow DJs Ohmega Watts and DJ Swervewon are joining me in recreating that Basement Party atmosphere at Nectar this Thursday February 19th. We will be playing the best body rockin’ beats you will hear this side of the Hudson River and chances are very good you haven’t heard any of them on KUBE 93. Joining us on stage will be some of Seattle’s top MC’s playing second fiddle to the DJ and vibing out on whatever beats we deem fit to bump. This is a night to celebrate the life of any and every party…the DJ.

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If you are unfamiliar with my dude Ohmega Watts, you need to get yourself familiar ASAP. He is signed to Ubiquity recordings out of Cali and has two stellar albums out. He just moved up from Portland a few months ago and is beginning to bless the clubs of Seattle with some killer sets. I feel very fortunate to be able to rock with this guy and he always brings his A game on the wheels of steel.

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It should be a grand ol’ time. You should lace up your finest sneaks and come get funky with us. For those about to get down we salute you.

This Video is Brought to you by the Letters T, S and K

Here is the latest and greatest vid ‘Count it off’ from everybody’s favorite weekend warriors, the Saturday Knights. Complete with muppets, vintage animation and public access feel.

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“Count It Off” – The Saturday Knights from Lincoln Leopard Films on Vimeo.

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Also, TSK is coming off an award high for winning 107.7′s Endie award for Best of the Sound (beating out Death Cab and Fellt Foxes). Congrats fellas! Fleet Foxes are BOOOOORRRRRIIINNGGGG. AMIRITE GUISE?

SOL Record Release Party + SPACEMAN – Tonight! @ Chop Suey

Sportn’ Life Records and Scribes + SoL Presents

SPACEMAN
Scribes
SoL (CD Release show)
JFK (of Grayskul)
BYC (B-boy Crew)
DJ BeanOne

$8
8pm doors
All Ages// Bar w/ID

THEY LIVE! tonight @ Neumos!

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If ya haven’t heard the newness…They Live! is a Local hiphop supergroup formed by Gatsby of Cancer Rising and djblesOne of Seattle’s world famous Massive Monkees b-boy crew and Mash Hall. They released their ‘debut’ the Dro Bots Saga last year, which in my opinion is one of the most innovative and bump-worthy local hip hop releases in a minute, and have been getting heavy rotation on KEXP. They throw a wicked good show and the supporting line up is more than worth price of admission.

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Download a free copy of the Dro Bots Saga HERE…and prepare to get project blowed away.

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Rudy and the Rhetoric just released their debut ‘Gutterbrook’ last December and it has garnered many spins in my cd playing device. Thee Satisfaction, Helladope!, and LeRoy round out this bill and each of these acts bring something new to the table. Helladope is going to be making some serious moves in 09 and is looking to be one of the more promising local groups to watch out for.

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THEY LIVE!

RUDY & THE RHETORIC

HELLADOPE (FEAT. TAY SEAN AND JERM OF ALPHA P)

THEE SATISFACTION,

LE ROY (FEAT. WAYSTYLES AND OC NOTES)

Neumos
8PM Doors
$7 At the door
21+

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Continue below to read what the Stranger has to say about this show…(THEY LOVE IT)

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