Tagged: interview
Kanye West’s BBC interview is amazing.
Kanye West sat down with Zane Lowe from BBC Radio 1 for an extended interview. This is the rapper’s first major press since the release of his album, Yeezus. West and Lowe touch on a variety of topics including his music, his love of fashion and his desire to design water bottles (??).
Love him or hate him, this dude gives the absolute best interviews. Watch first two parts below:
Interview: Shark Week comes early for D.C.
Though the Discovery Channel will not be airing its shark-oriented programming until August 4, local garage-rock outfit Shark Week is just days away from a week full of milestones.
Shark Week will play 9:30 Club for the first time this Saturday. The band’s 7″ vinyl, Santurce, will be released next Tuesday, and that will be followed by Shark Week’s first proper tour that Friday. Maybe we can call this Shark Week-Week? [Ed. Note: Sorry :/].
Luckily, the band had a few minutes for a quick video chat earlier this week. We got a chance to ask Ryan, Danielle, Dan and Alberto about recording in Puerto Rico, the ups-and-downs of SXSW and more. Check out the interview below!
Brooklyn indie-rockers smell like Team Spirit
![IMG_2634[1]](https://dmvicious.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/img_26341.jpg)
Photo gallery after the jump
When we finally arrived the band was in the middle of its soundcheck and it was immediately clear that this would be an interesting interview. As we waited toward the back of the venue, we had a brief exchange with Peace’s tour manager. After learning we were there to interview Team Spirit, her response was ominous: “Oh, lucky you. They’re characters.”
We could have gathered that much based on the band’s lighthearted, yet sometimes devious music. It is even more obvious when you watch the band’s set of tripped-out animated videos for the tracks off its recent EP.
Team Spirit’s frontman, Ayad Al Adhamy, has already accomplished quite a bit in his relatively short career. Al Adhamy was a founding member of Passion Pit, and–after graduating from Berklee College of Music–he started Black Bell Records and released the Joy Formidable’s acclaimed debut EP. That kind of early success usually leaves musician-types with a jaded, pretentious disposition, but Al Adhamy has an infectious enthusiasm about him and is one of the nicer guys you will encounter in this industry.
The band wrapped up its soundcheck, and the guys headed back to the green room to mack on some chicken wings. We got a chance to rap with Al Adhamy about the band’s upcoming full-length and Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker. Check it out after the jump.
RDGLDGRN brings it back home for DC101’s Chili Cook-Off
On what turned out to be a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C., thousands of people from all walks of life flocked to RFK Stadium for DC101’s Chili Cook-Off. We got there real nice and early, because the only band we had any interest in seeing was the opener, RDGLDGRN.
Hailing from Fairfax, Va., RDGLDGRN are enjoying a recent run that includes standout performances at SXSW and the band’s television debut on Jimmy Kimmel, Live! That recent run of accomplishments will continue this week as the band embarks on its first European tour and jumps on-board the Van’s Warped Tour later this summer.
The band’s set Saturday afternoon was far beyond what is expected out of the “local band who opens a festival” slot. Frankly, looking at the rest of the bill, RDGLDGRN could have easily filled a late-afternoon slot.
What really sets RDGLDGRN apart from any other band that is out right now, is the band’s ability to seamlessly blend go-go beats with pop-rock and hip-hop. It ends up creating a sound that is distinctly D.C. and brings a totally different kind of energy to an event like the DC101 Chili Cook-Off.
After the band left the stage to chants of “Red-Gold-Green,” we got a chance to catch up with Red (guitar), Gold (bass) and Green (vocals) backstage. The guys discussed the origins of RDGLDGRN and how they ended up working with Dave Grohl and Pharrell Williams.
Sisterly Love: Hanging out with Bleached’s Jennifer and Jessie Clavin
So-Cal pop-punkers Bleached took the stage at DC9 last week. Fronted by sisters Jennifer and Jessie Clavin, Bleached’s sound is decidedly west-coast with a nod to 60s girl groups like the Shangri-Las or the Crystals. The band is currently on tour in support of its debut full-length, Ride Your Heart. The album is a lot of fun to listen to and perfectly tailored for this upcoming summer.
The show that night was everything we expected: fun, laidback, boozy, loud. Bleached’s music is refreshingly straightforward. This band and its charismatic young front-women seem to have a bright future in front of them. Their knack for writing catchy, accessible hooks without alienating the music snobs is pretty admirable.
Luckily, the Clavin sisters had a little time before the show that night to chat with us. We got to kick it with Jennifer and Jessie and talk about everything from the band’s run at this year’s SXSW to the days when they choreographed dance moves to a Spin Doctors CD. Check out the interview and photo gallery after the jump!
SXSW: Starting Our Day With the Death Set
Wednesday morning, our first order of business was to check out the Death Set’s early afternoon set at the Dim Mak party.
We already crowned Trash Talk as the wildest set of the week, but we would be remiss if we did not give honorable mention to the Death Set. Despite playing an early afternoon set to a smaller-than-usual crowd, the band turned in a set that seemed rowdy in spite of its shitty time slot.
Frontman/founding member Johnny Siera made sure to explore every surface on or near the stage that he could stand on: speaker stacks, the DJ booth behind the stage, Will Broussard’s drum set, etc. With a new album on the way, the Death Set spanned through material from its first EPs all the way through the new album. Formerly based out of Baltimore, the Death Set brings all the quirks of that Wham City scene with a more ferocious, punk-rock delivery.
We got a chance to sit down with Johnny, Daniel and Will after the set (it was only like, 2:30 p.m.). Check out the interview and photo gallery after the jump.
Getting To Know Crobot
We realize most of you have not heard of Crobot yet. Lucky for you, we have. The 70s groove-rock outfit from Pottsville, Pa., blew us away at Sony’s rooftop showcase. It’s hard to remember the last time we saw a frontman with moves like Brandon Yeagley’s, and the dude has crazy pipes to match. Besides being wildly entertaining on-stage, the band as a whole is very technically sound without losing the soul of 70s era rock and roll. Imagine something that sounds like Wolfmother, but has the Darkness’ quirky personality and you have Crobot.
We caught up with the band at the Wind-Up Records showcase at Empire Control Room, and the guys were cool enough to chat with us for a bit. Check out the interview and photos from Crobot’s set after the jump.
Catching Up With Brett’s Mick Coogan and Kevin Bayly
Mick Coogan (right) and Kevin Bayly (left) of Brett
Five years ago, the local music scene in Washington, D.C., was dismal save for a few go-go bands and an up-and-coming rapper named Wale. Today, D.C. is home to a vibrant, exciting movement of indie bands and electronic acts that are poised to breakout at any moment.
On the forefront of that movement is Brett, a four-piece electronic-pop outfit churning out some undeniable dance-pop tracks that have resulted in an arsenal of impressive remixes by local DJs and producers. We caught up with the band’s Mick Coogan and Kevin Bayly before Brett’s show at The Dunes Saturday night (Photos here),
Chopping It Up with Willy Moon
Last night, Willy Moon brought his amalgamation of rock and roll, R&B and hip-hop to the U Street Music Hall. The show attracted a decent crowd for an early show, but nothing compared to what Moon is accustomed to back in the U.K. DMVicious got a chance to catch up with Moon before the show and chat about his new album and first American tour.
DMVicious 