App News 2014 | idobi

Premiere: We’re “Drifting” with Space4Lease’s New Song

Emillie Marvel — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 15:00:11 +0000

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There's thought behind every note of Space4Lease's psychedelic songs. The band takes sound to the next level, pulling inspiration from life experience and infusing it into tracks that pull you into the waves of emotion and indie rock.

In the latest release from the Oklahoma City, OK band, you'll be "Drifting" from an intense love of the track to a deep reverie only music like this can inspire. Check out our exclusive premiere of the track below, as well as a statement from frontman Grayson Hamm.

“'Drifting' is a song speaking on the uncertainties and frustrations on what we perceive as love. More times then not, it amounts to heartbreak and disappointment. Ultimately, I believe it is wholly acceptable to experience these emotions because it shows that we are inherently sentient beings. We can only use each of these experiences as a lesson for the next relationship that one hopefully encounters. Above all else, we need to have the persistence to keep searching. This song has somewhat of a personal meaning behind it, stemming mostly from relationship experiences and heartbreaks in my life. Yet with that being said, I never wrote this song with someone else in mind; it was not written in reaction to a specific person. Instead, I feel the intentions of this song come from a place of trying to find yourself after a failed relationship, accepting it for what it is and moving on. It is partially a self reflection, but I feel like it has the capacity to speak to all listeners. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all experience these feelings of heartbreak and loneliness, right? One way I evaluate relationships and love in general is that it either works out and you are with this one person for the rest of your life, or you’re not and someone ends up getting hurt. So every relationship you have throughout the course of your life’s path will end in heartbreak except one… for those who are fortunate, at least. Sometimes you are left with a broken heart, at other moments you may be the one doing the breaking. We see this in all spectrums of life whether it is the simplicity of young love or the complicated, often messy process of two adults divorcing after years of marriage.

We tend to invest a degree of hope in our relationships, and when these expectations are not met it often leads to tremendous failure. This has been the case for me, and I wrote this song with confidence that someone else could relate as well. One thing you should know and what I hope to get across to listeners though is that 'Drifting' isn’t intended to invoke feelings of depression. On the contrary, it is a song meant to establish a sense of familiarity with the audience. I believe it is essential for an audience to identify with the band they are listening to.

It is also meant to inspire the audience to hopefully move on. Maybe there is someone better for you out there, and holding onto your previous relationship is only preventing you from finding this person. I see this song as an opportunity to find yourself. Like many others, I am still trying to do so. The theme behind 'Drifting' that you’re moving on from a past love and now you simply have yourself to rely on. At the end of the day, you’re drifting all by yourself. Sometimes it is good to be a little selfish and focus on yourself, rather than a significant other. However, I’m not going to sit here and pretend that it’s easy to let go of the past. I know it may hurt, but life moves on with or without you. The most important thing I can say in relation with 'Drifting' is that we have to be comfortable and confident in who we are individually before taking that next step of being with someone else. Often times, we rely far too much on our significant other to bring us happiness instead of depending on ourselves to bring that sense of self-happiness. So my friends, just keep 'Drifting' with no thoughts no concerns and remember to be happy with yourself. There is someone out there for all of us, we just have to keep searching and more importantly continue to grow as individuals.

The songwriting process of 'Drifting' was very simple. I wrote this song in a matter of a couple days before showing it to the band, and from that point we took it to a place I never thought it could reach. I write everything on piano, but I felt the need to temporarily step away from this process and incorporate relaxing, easy rhythms/textures that are intended to chill you out. In a sense, a sound that makes you feel that everything is going to be alright. This method definitely added an element that a normal piano could not provide. When it comes to the lyrics, however, I knew as soon as I was done writing that the words were set in stone. The band definitely agreed, and 'Drifting' came easily to us all." - Grayson Hamm

VANDALS – Episode 2 “Would You Rather”

Sherin Nicole — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:51:20 +0000

What do you get when you mix 2 pop punkers, 1 tour van, and 0 fucks given? VANDALS. It's time to offend pop punk...

NEW EPISODES - Every Tues @ 1pm ET

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VANDALS Ep.2 - Would You Rather
Would you rather have sex while your parents watch or watch your parents have sex? The age old question is finally answered by your 2 favorite pop punkers...

Starring:
Jeremy Culhane
Nick Major

Crew:
Writer / Director: Tommy Wooldridge
Producer: Tom Cheney
Sound / Music: Bruce Wiegner

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VANDALS Ep.1 - Meet the Band

Starring:
Jeremy Culhane
Nick Major

Crew:
Writer / Director: Tommy Wooldridge
Producer: Tom Cheney
Sound / Music: Bruce Wiegner

Callwood at the Cooler #24

Brett Callwood — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 17:00:51 +0000

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These wounds they will not heal…

Goddamn it, not again.

I’m writing this column on the day that Chester Bennington, vocalist with rap-nu-metal band Linkin Park, was discovered dead at his home, apparently after hanging himself. According to TMZ, Bennington’s family was out of town and he was discovered by an employee just before 9 a.m. at his home in Palos Verdes Estates in LA County. He was 41, and he is survived by his wife and six children.

This, of course, comes way too soon after Chris Cornell’s death; the pair were good friends, with Bennington singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at Cornell’s memorial service. The day of Bennington’s death was also Cornell’s birthday.

Bennington’s suicide has raised all manner of questions, particularly on social media, about mental illness, depression, and alcohol and chemical dependency. After scouring a whole lot of posts and comments by my own friends, colleagues, and contacts, it’s clear that there is still a lot of ignorance surrounding all of those things.

You might have seen it yourself—people online using words like “selfish” and “cop-out” to describe Bennington’s actions. But here’s the thing—I don’t suffer from depression, and I’m not an alcoholic or drug addict. For those reason, I’ll never fully understand people that are afflicted with those conditions. I can read descriptions, and I can have in-depth conversations with people that I’m close to, but I’ll never fully know what it feels like.

But that doesn’t mean that I can’t be compassionate. I can sympathize, even if I can’t empathize. What I strongly suspect is that words like “coward” and “selfish” are some way wide of the mark. Depression, clinical depression, isn’t the same as feeling sad. It’s not the same as grief and it’s not the same as extreme devastation. Not to downplay the feelings that people have felt when a loved one has died, a marriage has broken down, or anything else awful that life throws at us—those things are emotionally draining and simply terrible.

But it’s not the same. They’re two separate things completely. Those that suffer from depression openly have done a better job than I can of putting it into words. English musician Ginger of The Wildhearts said in a Classic Rock Magazine interview that, “Well it’s certainly not feeling glum. It’s a physical condition as well as a mental condition; your neuro-transmitters aren’t transmitting. But it’s such a loaded subject, and I thought that the best thing I could was to let people know that it’s okay to talk about it. It is a disease, it does kill; in fact it kills more people each year than cancer. Everyone is fine talking about cancer—and so they should be—but cancer has all these charities that fund research, yet mental health gets no research funding from the government. It’s an absolute crime.”

That makes sense. Yet still, as someone who doesn’t suffer from depression, there’s a side of me and so many other people that just wants to say, “Cheer up.” If you’re depressed, watch a comedy movie, may I suggest Spinal Tap, eat some ice-cream—you’ll feel much better. Which, of course, is horse shit.

We look at people like Bennington and Cornell and think, “You guys have money, family, talent, and hundreds of thousands of adoring fans. You can tour and see the world, and do it in style rather than in a stinky van. You get to create music for a living and people love and respect you. Who wouldn’t want this life?

But that misses the point. The depression isn’t necessarily rational. Yes, Bennington has said that he was sexually abused and beaten by an older male when he was a child, but that doesn’t mean that he can simply get some therapy, think about something else, and everything will be ok. We don’t even know if that abuse was the cause of his depression, although it sure as shit didn’t help; thousand of people who had happy and even privileged childhoods suffer from depression. It’s an imbalance.

The dependencies wouldn’t have helped either—certainly not in the long-term. And that raises more valid questions that I can’t answer about where alcoholism and drug addictions ends and mental illness begins. Most likely, it’s all part of the same unhealthy dance.

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It’s ok to say, “We don’t know what it’s like” though. We don’t have to offer an opinion on everything, especially when it’s uninformed. Brian “Head” Welch of the band Korn spoke up on Facebook and said:

“Honestly, Chester's an old friend who we've hung with many times, and I have friends who are extremely close to him, but this is truly pissing me off! How can these guys send this message to their kids and fans?! I'm sick of this suicide shit! I've battled depression/mental illness, and I'm trying to be sympathetic, but it's hard when you're pissed! Enough is enough! Giving up on your kids, fans, and life is the cowardly way out!!!

I’m sorry, I know meds and/or alcohol may have been involved, I'm just processing like all of us and I know we are all having some of the same thoughts/feelings.

Lord, take Chester in your arms and please re-unite him with his family and all of us one day. Be with his wife and kids with your grace during this difficult time.”

Welch should know better, having faced his own demons in the past. Most likely, however, he’s lashing out while dealing with the loss of a friend, not an uncommon response and perfectly human.

Look, there are plenty of people who will live full lives while living with depression and you’ll never know. This doesn’t make those people stronger or better, because the illness affects everybody differently. But I’m reliably informed that, at its worst, depression is an all-encompassing torture. It feels like there’s no end and no hope. Like walls are closing in. “Cheer up” doesn’t help. Why criticize those already feeling tortured, and especially those driven to suicide because the pain is unbearable?

If there is anyone, one person even, who is reading this and lives with depression, I have no idea what you’re going through but there are people who do. Suicide Prevention Lifeline does amazing work every day. Call 1-800-273-8255.

For those with dependencies, resources like aa.org and na.org are always available. Don’t stay silent. There’s always a solution.

“Callwood at the Cooler” is a bi-weekly column which will see me waxing lyrical about events in the news, pop culture and the etc. Sometimes it’ll be light, other times not-so when the rant/monolog demands. The subject matter will vary dramatically so expect anything and keep coming back.

Premiere: Fall For Vertigo’s New EP ‘Andromeda’!

Alex Bear — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 13:51:53 +0000

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If you’ve been dying for new music from Vertigo since our stream of “Come Get Me” two weeks ago, the wait is over: We’re bringing you the exclusive stream of their brand new EP Andromeda before it drops tomorrow! This EP is where we see the band not only enjoying experimenting with their sound more than ever before, but also opening up collaborating and changing the recording process.

[blockquotefull]"Writing this record was a lot of fun, but definitely different for us."[/blockquotefull]

You’ll get to know the Pittsburgh quintet in new ways with each and every line served over sweet pop rock synths and hooks that'll make you go, hot damn! the moment you hit play below. So now it’s about time to get to know the band on a more personal level—keep scrolling to find out how the EP process has changed the band for the better, and tomorrow you'll hear some previously untold stories in the band’s very own idobi Tell Me, where they talk about the times they met cool (but definitely shady) people at equally shady venues, stealing cornhole boards, and how everything had to fall apart for the band to come together as we know them now.

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“Writing this record was a lot of fun, but definitely different for us. Our drummer was away at school in Boston for a lot of the time spent writing the record, and we had just added our keyboardist to the band. Our drummer would come home for breaks and jump in to the writing process with us, but a lot of the material was pieced together by sending demos back and forth online. We would send him demos and he would write his drum parts in GarageBand and send us back ideas, or our keyboardist would work out ideas for the drum parts and record them here to show our drummer. It was a real involved process, but an exciting one, Getting together in the studio and finally playing the songs all together was very satisfying after all that time spent digitally bouncing ideas around.

[blockquotefull]"This EP is nothing if not a genuine showing of who we are as a band now, and moving forward."[/blockquotefull]

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Our keyboardist is new to the band for this EP, and came in to fill the gap left by one of our guitarists leaving. It made for some dynamic changes and different possibilities being opened up to as as we started writing music again. With the new dimension of keys and synthesizers being added, we were able to push into new territory with Andromeda, moving away from entirely guitar-focused instrumentals.

Overall, we think this record feels exactly like "we" should, if that makes sense. The personalities in the band tend to show through in the sound of the songs, and we love that about it. This EP is nothing if not a genuine showing of who we are as a band now, and moving forward.”

Photos: Ghost in New Haven

Maysa Askar — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 11:21:33 +0000

idobi photographer Patriciana Tenicela covered the Ghost show in New Haven, CT at College Street Music Hall. Check out some photos from the show below!

Ghost

Astronoid

Premiere: Menage Releases Surprise Single, “They Never Call”

Emillie Marvel — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 10:00:44 +0000

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From Toronto to Portugal, the members of Ménage grew up in a variety of cultures, which has built the creativity and soul found in their sound. If you're looking for the latest display of the act's art, look no further than "They Never Call".

A brand new (and surprise) release, you can only hear the new track below. After this, you can expect even more new material from Ménage, who has been working on a new album with producer Dale Penner and David Bottrill.

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Lyric Video Premiere: Stand Atlantic’s New Track “Mess I Made” Packs a Pop Punk Punch

Alex Bear — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 20:50:22 +0000

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Whether you’re still hungover and bleary-eyed from the weekend or squaring up to kick Monday’s ass, we have the song to power you through the week ahead—and then some. Stand Atlantic are packing a fresh punch of pop punk with their new track "Mess I Made" that’s gonna have you singing the words before your first listen is even over, and we're premiering their lyric video so you can get 'em right. We can tell you from experience, you're gonna make a mess of your own by starting a moshpit in your living room (just please don’t break that lamp your mother gave you). Vocalist/guitarist Bonnie Fraser says about the new song:

[blockquotefull]“Mess I Made is about making mistakes and dealing with the simple fact that only you can fix them, as much as you wish they’d fix themselves.” [/blockquotefull]

The Sydney alt-pop/rockers look ready, set, and they’re going to take on the world with their brazenly honest lyrics and snappy hooks—and if their staying power can be measured by the length of time their songs get stuck in your head, prepare to call 'em your new favorite band. Luckily you won’t have to wait long for more: They’ve just signed to Rude Records and are set to release their new EP Sidewinder on September 15th! Y’all will wanna smash that pre-order button the second the song is over, so we’ve left it right here for when you’re done rocking out to “Mess I Made” below. You’re welcome.

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League of Legends’ Pentakill Releases Two New Songs

Emillie Marvel — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 14:58:15 +0000

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Heavy metal and gaming are a match made in League of Legends—just ask anyone's who's heard of virtual group Pentakill. The band, which is based off of in game skins, was put together by Riot Games to bring you a step closer to the game and give back to their community.

The act debuted in 2014 and went straight to the top of the charts, and now Pentakill is back with two new songs. Check out "The Bloodthirster" above, and "Tear Of The Goddess" below, then watch for the forthcoming album, Pentakill II: Grasp Of The Undying.

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Inbox Jukebox #014 – Ray Hodge, Separations, M1LDL1FE, Jonny Lang, The King’s Parade, The Tambo Rays, Awake At Last + Anjulie

idobi Staff — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 13:30:05 +0000

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This hasn’t been the happiest of times. We’re worried for our fathers and grandfathers, our rock heroes seem far too ready to depart this realm, and our politicians seem to be waging gang warfare. We’re seeking the light, the illumination of positive vibes, healing thoughts, and unshakeable integrity. How about we rise up, singing our own anthems; loud, soft, unrelenting, kind, we make the change...this is the Inbox Jukebox:

Ray Hodge - "I Am King"

Ray Hodge is as powerful as his music, and his music will move you. There is a depth of soul in his singular combination of voice and lyric—soul and rock—that we're absolutely certain reaches back through time (possibly crossing dimensions). No wonder the television series Queen Sugar (led by another starchild, music supervisor Meshell Ndegeocello) picked up his track "I Am King" for their most recent episode. We should all follow their example and pick up the entire Braveheart EP. When you listen to Ray you are transported—reality and mysticism converge and you realize we are more than the moment or the flesh: WE are king.

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Separations - "Exist"

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We needed "Exist" from Separations today. The song, from their new release, Bloom, seems to shout "what the fuck is going on?" It definitely questions the nature of existence with a relentlessly heavy sound, but in the end Separations tells us to hold on because you can choose to see the beauty of this world, you can choose to do more than "Exist".

M1LDL1FE - "How You Forget"

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M1LDL1FE picks up the existential theme of today's jukebox and flows with it. "How You Forget" is 80s R&B turned into a modern indie-rock-groove. The melody may be on permanent chill but the lyrics challenge us not to forget who we are. Ain't it funny how we won't be forgetting M1LDL1FE any time soon?

Jonny Lang - "Bitter End"

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Jonny Lang's "Bitter End" might be the beginning of a new crush for us. He wails on it with a voice full of smoke and passion that could be a stripped down Fall Out Boy song—and that works for us. Go, Jonny, go 'cause your bitter proves that jonny b. goode.

The King's Parade - "Mother Tongue"

Got damn, The King's Parade has the feels. They get all up into your soul with their cocktail of neo-blues and indie-rock—so much so that their sound is being called alt-soul. We don't care what you call "Mother Tongue" as long as you hit play and let your hips sway while you tap out the beat, eye that certain someone for a slow burning dance, and take it 'round and 'round.

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The Tambo Rays - "Get It Right Now"

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It's time to get lifted—musically speaking. We're she-bopping all over the studio right now (like Cyndi Lauper has been reborn to pop-punk parents) while The Tambo Rays sing "Get It Right Now". Don't make us or them repeat ourselves un nah nah nuh nah nah...on second thought you should definitely put them on repeat...right now!

Awake at Last - "Purgatorium"

Awake At Last had us at the intro of "Purgatorium". How can we resist a theatrical tune that's a little bit heavy and a whole lot Panic!, while telling a story about skirting the brink of hell? We couldn't resist. That's the wicked seduction of it all. Like Awake At Last says in the song, "Burn the page and let the prologue begin..."

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Anjulie - "Dream Again"

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We don't mean to be all obvious but Anjulie's latest single is dreamy. In "Dream Again" she tells us not to "give up on us" while rocking us slowly with a harpsichord influenced indie-rock lullaby. Anjulie's lilting voice sounds like safe shelter in stormy days—so, yeah, if you wanna know when will we "Dream Again", now seems like the right time and the right theme song.

Photos: Dunkirk Red Carpet at DC’s National Air & Space Museum

idobi Staff — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 11:50:47 +0000

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The onscreen epic story of Dunkirk arrives in theaters today. Directed by Christopher Nolan, produced by Emma Thomas and Nolan, and executive produced by Jake Myers, the wartime action blockbuster tells of that fateful day of rescue in World War II. Its all-star cast includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D’Arcy and Barry Keoghan, with Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance and Tom Hardy. Photographer Cina M. Nguyen attended Wednesday’s special screening of the movie at DC’s National Air & Space Museum, and captured the event, which you can see below!

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[caption id="attachment_273111" align="aligncenter" width="4012"] Allison Jaslow[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_273097" align="aligncenter" width="6016"] D.C. philanthropist, Adrienne Arsht[/caption]

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Fresh Pressed [new music friday] – 023

Joe DeAndrea — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 10:00:22 +0000

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What better way to kick off a weekend than with new music? Fridays are always chock full of the latest songs and albums ready to be the soundtrack to everyone’s antics, and here you’ll find some of the week’s standout releases. Whether you’re ready to spin an anticipated song from a favorite artist or just taking a look at what’s out there, there’s a whole lot of tunes to dive right into. Who knows—maybe you’ll find your next obsession.
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Another Goodbye We Weren’t Ready to Say

The music world is heavy hearted following the untimely death of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington, who passed away at age 41 after a battle with depression. What Bennington accomplished with Linkin Park throughout his career was nothing short of remarkable—his songs were powerful and his voice even more so. Though the band released one of their best records yet in One More Light earlier this year, it’s impossible not to revisit their classics like Hybrid Theory and Meteora. Those records singlehandedly flipped rock music on its head, and Bennington will always be remembered as an artist who helped pioneer the genre for the better.

Goldfinger - The Knife

John Feldmann has become a breath of fresh air in pop-punk by lending his songwriting expertise to a myriad of bands over the years—All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Blink-182 are just some of the many that he’s taken to new heights. Now, he’s taking his some time for himself with his own project: A new Goldfinger album that is long overdue. On The Knife, the Feldmann-fronted punk band delivers one of their best records yet with “Am I Deaf” and “See You Around” leading the pack as the instant standouts, and it even incorporates some elements from Blink’s California.

EXO - The War

There’s no question that K-pop is quickly becoming a juggernaut in the music world, especially in the U.S. Between the annual KCON convention in New Jersey and sold out U.S. shows from the genre’s hottest groups across the world,K-pop is here to stay—especially if EXO keep up their quality tunes. Their fourth LP, The War, has already broken K-pop iTunes records, and it’s for good reason. Lead single “Ko Ko Bop” blends the line between standard K-pop and contemporary pop on the mainstream Top 40, so don’t be surprised when you hear some EXO spun on a radio near you soon.

Louis Tomlinson - “Back To You”

More than a year and a half since One Direction went on their hiatus, each member finally has their very own solo single out in the wild. For Louis Tomlinson it’s a little trickier since his first solo venture “Just Hold On” was billed as more of a Steve Aoki song. His proper debut, “Back To You,” is much more of an accurate depiction of his solo career going forward, and it’s shaping up excellently. Featuring pop star Bebe Rexha, the two combine effortlessly on this summery jam that’ll ramp up the anticipation for an inevitable Tomlinson solo album—one that’s hopefully on the horizon.

Lana Del Rey - Lust for Life

Lana Del Rey’s latest offering is a massive one and, luckily, she has a lot to say on it. Lust for Life gives fans 16 songs and clocks in at well over an hour as she weaves her way in and out of pristine pop production with a melodic flair. Though the collection is expansive, it doesn’t overstay its welcome; the title track and collaboration with The Weeknd is a slow-burn ballad while “Summer Bummer” brings her dream-pop back down to earth with something a little more uptempo.

Nine Inch Nails - Add Violence

Add Violence, the latest EP from Nine Inch Nails, arrives a week after the band announced it—because that’s just kinda how they do things. That also describes the music, because the songs tend to shapeshift between synth-laden tracks and ones that are more on the rockier side. It seems as though Trent Reznor can drum up anything and call it a NIN song these days, but it always ends up being a recipe for success. If you like what you hear on Add Violence, you’re in luck; the EP is only the second of three, that the group plans to release in the future, so there’s going to be more where that came from soon.

Between You & Me - “Overthinking”

Some may refer to familiarity in music as formulaic, but there’s times when a band can channel another’s sound and add something new into the mix to turn it into a whole different beast. Australian pop-punk act Between You & Me haven’t been around too long, but their debut EP, Paper Thin, showed promise. Now, after signing with Hopeless Records, they’ve turned everything up a notch for their new single, “Overthinking.” The high-octane number has some influences of State Champs, Neck Deep, and Save Your Breath, but the smart vocal melodies make them stand out as their own entity, and they’ll definitely be worth keeping an eye on in the future.

Tyler, The Creator - Flower Boy

Tyler, The Creator was known as a musician who would capitalize on shock value, releasing songs laced in slurs and themes of homophobia. Whatever Tyler’s talents were as a producer and songwriter—and the talent was incredibly evident there—it was masked by these shortcomings. On Flower Boy, Tyler, The Creator all but ditches the tough guy persona with tracks that explore his softer side and tap into earlier old-school hip-hop influences. It’s refreshing to say the least, and it feels like it’s phase two of what is already an illustrious career for him.

The All-American Rejects - “Hands Down”

In honor of their ongoing summer tour, The All-American Rejects and Dashboard Confessional are taking a stab at covering each other’s hits, and the result is interesting to say the least. While Dashboard takes an ethereal, atmospheric approach to Rejects’ “Move Along,” Tyson Ritter and the gang go a little crazy on Chris Carrabba’s smash, “Hands Down.” Rejects’ version is practically unrecognizable with its experimental nature, but you have to give them credit for going against the grain and trying something new.

Other new releases:
Smallpools - “Passenger Side”
Chase Atlantic - Part Three
X Ambassadors - “Ahead of Myself”
Nothing But Thieves - “Sorry”
Foster the People - Sacred Hearts Club
The War On Drugs - “Strangest Thing”
Everything Everything - “A Fever Dream”
Grizzly Bear - “Neighbors”
Slotface - “Pitted”
Kevin Gates - “No Love”
Steve Aoki - Kolony
Billie Eilish - "Copycat"
Romeo Santos - Golden
Aminé - Wedding Crashers Feat. Offset
KREAM, Clara Mae - “Drowning”
Damian Marley - Stony Hill

Always There: On ‘Girls Trip’ and Friendship

Sherin Nicole — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 18:00:53 +0000

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I am as mystified as you’re about to be when I tell you that a screening of Girls Trip turned into an emotional experience for me. The movie is a raunchy ridiculous joyride that drives straight to the heart of sisterhood from behind the wheel of a bro-comedy. In the span of two hours I chuffed out every possible form of laughter—from snorts to giggles, guffaws to embarrassed tittering. I snickered and chortled and tee-hee’d. All very undignified but such a good time. Girls Trip is wild...but dripping with pathos it ain’t. Still somewhere in the middle of the screening I leaned over and told my fellow Geek Girl Riot host Meagan, “I can’t review this movie.”

I still can’t, and I can hear you asking: Tell us why, girl? It’s because reviewing Girls Trip feels like a conflict of interest. If that sounds weird, I’ll go deeper and say there are films, books, paintings, plays, that feel less like art and more like memories; they playback our lives for us, making us feel everything we felt once upon a lifetime. At their worst these memory catalysts are called triggers; at their best they are daydreams—causing us to flashback on joy.

Girls Trip is about four women who transitioned from friends to sisters while attending an HBCU (historically black college or university). Eventually they named themselves the Flossy Posse and their bond sustained until adulthood, where misunderstandings and hidden secrets pushed them apart...until a trip to New Orleans for the Essence Music Fest gives them the reunion they all need.

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Back in the day, when I was young (I’m not a kid anymore), I attended Howard University. On the very first day I met two women who would become my sisters in everything but DNA: Nickii and Tonda. We went through everything together. We survived many similarly ridiculous situations to the women in Girls Trip. There were crushes on dudes who had vise grips our hearts, and academic probations, shopping for yeast infection cream while trying NOT to let the pharmacist know which one of us was rising like dough. We’ll still never tell. There were drunken nights when one of us got so lifted she got stuck between her bed and the wall and couldn’t get out, and football players who snuck up on us in the middle of the night—making us forget we were amazons (’cause we squealed like Will Ferrell and ran). We didn’t dodge all the heartbreaks either: late night trips to the emergency room, flooded apartments, a man who attacked us in the middle of a KFC for no reason, forcing us to lock ourselves in the bathroom and wait him out. Our bond was so legendary that a random guy who we’d never met dubbed us “Da Trio” [read: The Trio] and it hasn’t changed. No matter how long we go without talking, when we pick up the phone no time has passed, the sisterhood is still strong.

Later, when Nickii and I joined the Homecoming Steering Committee, I got two new sisters: Monique and Renee. More hijinks ensued. Actually, straight-up shenanigans...however, whatever I need, whenever I am in need, those four women are there—immediately—most of the time before I finish calling their names.

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There’s a moment in Girls Trip when the boy band New Edition shows up. Meagan and I immediately did the entire choreography from the “If It Isn’t Love” video in synchronized precision. While dancing in my chair I thought about my girls; how Monique and I sang “Creep” by Radiohead that morning, how “Why Can’t You Come Home” by Ex-Girlfriend will get Nickii, Tonda, and me up and performing like we’re opening for Beyonce...and I smiled a little, and I cried a little, and that is the magic of Girls Trip—correction, that is the #blackgirlmagic of Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, and the magnificent Tiffany Haddish.

Asking me to rate Girls Trip out of 10 is like asking me to put a price on my memories and slap them up on eBay. I won’t do it. Y’all don’t have enough coins to bid on my joy. But here’s what I can give you: If you have a group of girls who’ve become the women that life wouldn’t taste as sweet without, then pour another round and head to the theaters, ’cause this crazy little movie is a celebration of sisterhood (and the sexy men in it add a little extra sugar around the rim of the glass...Oh hey, Larenz Tate.)

In the end, the best thing I can say is: Cheers to my girls, Nickii, Tonda, Mo’ and Ree, I love ya’ like I love good food. Let’s take a girls trip.

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Go take a Girls Trip to the cinema this Friday, July 21!

VANDALS – Episode 1 “Meet the Band”

Sherin Nicole — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 16:36:38 +0000

What do you get when you mix 2 pop punkers, 1 tour van, and 0 fucks given? VANDALS. It's time to meet the band...

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Starring:
Jeremy Culhane
Nick Major

Crew:
Writer / Director: Tommy Wooldridge
Producer: Tom Cheney
Sound / Music: Bruce Wiegner

EP Premiere: Head Down to Record Street with Their New EP

Emillie Marvel — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:30:24 +0000

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We're headed down to Record Street, to jam at house Number 6.

All puns aside, we're stoked to have the exclusive premiere of Record Street's brand new EP. Find Number 6 streaming below.

The band, which officially began in 2016, has actually been together for a bit longer, considering it was formed by three brothers. Looking for a project they could be passionate about, they found it in Record Street, and now they're sharing what they've made with you.

Video Premiere: We’ll Be Thinking about Drawing North’s “Think About You” All Day

Emillie Marvel — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:00:49 +0000

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There's a reason you've heard about Australia's Drawing North everywhere from Billboard to SXSW to Joel Madden endorsements. The band is creating alternative pop sounds that create a world around you, and it's one you won't want to leave.

The past year has seen the band rise to all new heights, and we're stoked to see where they go from here. Their next step is "Think About You", a video that's breathtakingly cool, with a song equally as stellar. You can watch it for the first time, exclusively below.

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Rest in Peace Chester Bennington

idobi Staff — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:00:28 +0000

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We're shocked and absolutely heartbroken over the news that Chester Bennington has committed suicide, according to TMZ. His incredible voice and talent has reached out to so many of us over the years, and he will be truly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

If you’re dealing with suicidal thoughts, please call this lifeline.

Watch the Explosive New Trailer for ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ + Join the Cast & Crew at SDCC!

Alex Bear — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 12:00:12 +0000

[caption id="attachment_272984" align="aligncenter" width="4368"] Stars of Twentieth Century Fox's "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" at Comic Con. L-R: Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Halle Berry and Jeff Bridges.[/caption]

Maybe you've heard of them? Eggsy & co. are back with a brand new greenband trailer for Kingsman: The Golden Circle, to start San Diego Comic Con with a bang (and then some). In this sequel, there’s a new threat to the world, but the Kingsmen are still the same smooth-talking elite killers loaded with the same dry humor, wit, and a bunch of new technology. This time around though, they’re joining forces with their US counterpart, the organization Statesman, to take out their common enemy—and a team-up like this never looked so good.

Buckle up and prepare to be taken on the ride of your life by the explosive trailer below, and if you’re lucky enough to find yourself at San Diego Comic Con this week, make sure to stop by the Kingsman: The Golden Circle Panel in Hall H today at 11am PT. You’ll get to hear from the all-star lineup including Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges and Pedro Pascal, along with screenwriter Jane Goldman and Kingsman co-creator and Comic Con legend Dave Gibbons. Kingsman: The Golden Circle is out September 22nd!

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Director: Matthew Vaughn
Written By: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn, based on the comic book "The Secret Service" by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons
Produced By: Matthew Vaughn, David Reid, Adam Bohling
Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Halle Berry, with Sir Elton John, and Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges

Photos: Day In The Life of Like Pacific

audreylew — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:00:14 +0000

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Having the perseverance to make it in the music industry as a small punk band isn’t easy. With tons of bands in that genre and obstacles like getting onto bigger tours, it can be discouraging to keep pushing forward. Despite these factors, Chris Thaung, Jordan Black, Luke Holmes, Greg Hall, and Tay Ewart of Like Pacific have kept driving to create a name for themselves and achieve their goals. I caught up with the Toronto natives when they played The Paramount in Huntington, NY to talk about their dynamic as a band, life on the road, and what it’s like making their dreams become a reality.

I drove out to Huntington to meet up with the guys on their second day of the Good Charlotte tour at one of my favorite venues, The Paramount. I got there a tad early but it left me time to grab an avocado toast and some iced tea before I continued to brave the summer heat. Shortly after, I met up with Chris [bassist] and Connor [tour photographer], and walked around back to meet up with the rest of the band.

[blockquotefull] “This place smells haunted I need to get out of here. I don’t want a ghost to get on my clothes.” [/blockquotefull]

Once inside I was greeted by the rest of the band: Jordan [singer], Luke [guitar], Greg [guitar], Tay [drums], and Andy [merch guy]. They were still waiting on word from the venue about when to load-in, so I asked if they had explored the space yet or if anyone had told them about the speakeasy in the basement. They all stared at me with looks of confusion and curiosity. I took that as my cue to show them around the secret passageways since I had been to The Paramount a few times before. Upon entering a room that resembled a prison, with a fake electrocution chair Jordan said, “This place smells haunted I need to get out of here. I don’t want a ghost to get on my clothes.” With that said, we exited immediately and I continued to lead them around the speakeasy, showing them each of the corridors. Eventually we ended up at the pool table where they played a few rounds.

Load-in time was approaching quickly, so everyone dispersed to go grab food while I stayed behind with Chris to chat about his role in the band and their dynamic as a whole. I was eager to hear about what he handles for the band on and off the road. When they’re traveling the globe, Chris oversees the day to day, but when he’s home he tells me, “I’m the one looking at all the contracts and handling the ‘suit stuff’.” It was clear that Chris has really taken his role by the reins and is serious about taking Like Pacific to the top.

Although Chris plays a vital role in the Like Pacific crew, things wouldn’t run as smoothly if it weren’t for his incredible bandmates. We continued the conversation by talking about how everyone else on his team helps out. “Luke has really stepped up to help with the finances of the band,” Chris says. In addition, Luke oversees all the responsibilities that come with taking care of their van. When it comes to being on tour, Luke and Greg are a huge part in the day to day: “They are the arms and legs of the band, that help with a lot of loading and driving. They also help with the logistics and routing.” Lastly, Jordan contributes a crucial part for the Like Pacific crew by finding places to stay when they’re out on the road. It’s clear that they gel together perfectly and play to each of their strengths. As we wrapped up our conversation, we were notified it was time to gather everyone to load in.

Once they finished soundcheck we had a little bit of time to hang out. As we settled back into the green room, Jordan yelled. There was a G-I-A-N-T centipede in the room, it crawled all over someone’s chair and inevitably went behind the couch where everyone’s phone chargers were plugged in. I decided to brave the multi-legged beast’s domain and grab their chargers, all while everyone was screaming at me not to. We immediately relocated to the next green room and resettled into our spots.

[blockquotefull]"To them it doesn’t matter if 3 people or 300 people leave this show loving Like Pacific, what does matter is that they reach another person."[/blockquotefull]

The hour or two before doors gave us a chance to talk about how much this tour with Good Charlotte means to them. I could already tell that they were big fans from Jordan’s t-shirt of their album “The Young and the Hopeless” but each of them went on to tell me stories from when they were growing up. “In 5th grade we were allowed to bring in CDs and play it in school, I brought in Good Charlotte and had it played in class,” Tay told us. As each of them shared their stories about their ties to Good Charlotte it was clear this tour meant much more to them than just another run. It’s their dreams literally turned into reality.

Before we could continue our conversation, it was showtime. Everyone headed downstairs to side stage with their instruments ready to go. As they walked out, I headed to the photo pit with their photographer, Connor. I was excited to see what their live performance would be like in a larger venue like The Paramount since I had only ever seen them at a club venue. Like Pacific did not disappoint. In fact, you could feel their passion and presence filling the room. Each of them commanded the stage with enthusiasm and poise, especially Jordan. His showmanship as a frontman was impeccable and only further proved how much music means to him. I glanced over at fans on the barricade between taking photographs and saw many of them rocking out even if they didn’t know the words. While it could be easy for a band to get bummed over fans coming to the show to see the headliner and not their band, Like Pacific had a very different perspective. “We’re playing to a ton of new people. I look at it as a challenge to win people over,” Tay said to me. With this in mind, it encourages them to constantly put out their best every night. The amount of fans I saw engaging with Like Pacific during their set proved that Jordan and his crew are achieving exactly what they set out to do. To them it doesn’t matter if 3 people or 300 people leave this show loving Like Pacific, what does matter is that they reach another person.

I saw Like Pacific’s positive and open mindset carried out throughout their performance. Towards the end of their set, they realized that Luke’s mic wasn’t working. The show went on as if nothing was wrong. After they played their last song and I met up with them back in the green room, there was no mention of that technical difficulty even happening. There are so many artists that let something like a guitar string breaking or the mic cutting out completely mess up the entire rest of their show, even their day. With Like Pacific, everyone was just as hyped, if not more excited, after the set.

[blockquotefull]"They are making waves by encouraging equality and being genuine people."[/blockquotefull]

As we took a break to cool off, I sat down with Chris to ask him about the journey from playing club shows to touring with Good Charlotte. He started from the beginning, when Like Pacific almost broke up. With members leaving, he and Jordan were ready to throw in the towel, until somebody booked them for a mystery gig. They took it as a sign to keep going. After that, they hit one benchmark after another. Among a few goals Chris had for the band, one was signing to Pure Noise Records and the other was to have Brad Wiseman as their booking agent. They achieved both and have continued to succeed. Their perseverance coupled with how driven they are makes Like Pacific an unstoppable force.

Before we closed out our day, with italian ices from Ralph’s, we chatted about how they’re making a positive impact in music. After listening to them it was simple: They are making waves by encouraging equality and being genuine people. When it comes to the equality aspect, Greg and Luke recommended that I speak with Jordan about it. As an openly gay frontman of a punk band, I asked for his perspective on how they are creating change. While he doesn’t necessarily feel like he’s paving the way, he feels like he’s helping. “Kids have said to me, ‘I can finally identify with something’,” in regards to Jordan’s lyrics. On top of having a voice that fans across the board can identify with, Like Pacific is creating an impact simply by being genuine. There wasn’t a time in my day with them that I didn’t feel welcome. Despite just meeting them that afternoon, I felt as if we had been friends for a while. From grabbing drinks to talking about our experiences in music; it was just another day with my pals in my eyes.

The cumulation of all of these aspects showed me how important Like Pacific is to our scene. They are a band that doesn’t just talk about something—they go out and act on it. Whether it is about equality or accomplishing milestones for the band, they’re making things happen. Like Pacific is proof that you can turn your dreams into reality if you are driven, genuine, and work hard with your friends.

Video Premiere: Build a “New World” with Katie Costello

Emillie Marvel — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:00:06 +0000

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With the state of the world today, we need to stand together to make changes, and we need music that remind us we can get through this. Katie Costello's "New World" is just the song we need, and the video drives home an important message.

"To me the 'New World' music video captures how we can come together with a shared vision to make our planet a better place for everyone... and, that process can be a fun celebration!"

Focused on climate change, and the power of each of our voices, Costello is making a difference with her art and calling each of us forward to join her. You can check out "New World" below, and watch for her EP of the same name on July 28th.

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EP Premiere: We’re ‘Moving On’ with VVomen’s Debut Collection

Emillie Marvel — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 14:00:07 +0000

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We'll never have enough post hardcore in our lives, and today we're adding VVomen to our list of bands to half head bang, half deep think along to. To prove it, we're premiering their new EP right here, right now. Titled Moving On, you'll want to do anything but.

“We really love when people like our band, but we aren’t trying to get through to every single demographic with this album. We just want to keep being us and have as much fun as possible.” - Kyle Hansen (guitarist)

With a sound that blends punk rock, pop punk, and your favorite elements of the hardcore world, it's hard not to love the six song EP (plus, it has some sick cover art). If their debut effort is this good, we're stoked to hear the next chapter in their career. Check out Moving On below, and pick up your copy on 7/21.