News

When it comes to news about Kero Kero Bonito’s new album Time ‘n’ Place, the time seems to be, well, right now. Out of nowhere, the UK indie-pop band’s long-teased new album — their first with Polyvinyl Records — has dropped, and is currently available for streaming. While they released their single “Time Today” back in May, and “Make Believe” two weeks ago, not a word had been whispered of a release date for the full album. Lo and behold, here it is for all our listening pleasure. Stream the entirety of Time ‘n’ Place on Spotify and Apple Music below. Time ‘n’ Place is currently out via Polyvinyl – buy the album here. Time ‘n’ Place Cover Art: Time ‘n’ Place Tracklist: 01. Outside 02. Time Today 03. Only Acting 04. Flyway 05. Dump 06. Make Believe 07. Dear Future Self 08. Visiting Hours 09. If I’d Known 10. Sometimes 11. Swimming 12. Rest Stop Source

Meet Ralph Reign Through Quantum Leap Ralph Reign is an up-and-coming recording artist known for his conscious wordplay and potent energy. Emerging throughout 2018, Ralph Reign surprises newfound fanbase with great music like his latest video, “Purple”. On “Purple”, Ralph Reign has been on a quest to be surprised by what he may stumble upon musically. “Purple” is no exception. It’s the smooth yet complex combination of the How and What’s being said that makes this a classic not to be forgotten. Watch “Purple” above. The post Ralph Reign Takes Us to the Astral Plane in “Purple” : Watch appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

Influential tech house Producer, Mikey Lion and world deep house producer Bengal collaborate for their Big Cats Groove EP. The three-song collection was released through Mikey Lion’s own production imprint, Desert Hearts, and is available for a free download. The Big Cats EP with Mikey Lion & Bengal Desert Hearts  “Like That” jumps with upbeat percussion, and shadowy sound effects that makes this tech house banger entirely unique. The break in the middle of the song, journeys through a trippy ride of minimal instrumental and fading vocal samples that bridge into a wonky bassline. Arguably our favorite track from the EP, “Like That” continues to return in live mixes and festival sets each month. “I can play anything I want to play, I can play anything you can think of. If its a record, if its a beat, if its anything within sense of playing, I can play it. I can do it like that.” Second single, “Big Cats Groove”, showcases the duo’s signature tribal drum rhythms that are laced with soft animal samples. The African tempos along with the deep vocals demand listeners to bust a move. Bengal’s remix to “Big Cats Groove” is the final track on the record. He restores the original to a choppy and dubbed out version, closing the EP with a dark and otherworldly feeling. “Big Cats Groove” is definitely a crowd pleaser. Bengal is a Desert Hearts veteran and a distinct craftsman in the techno and house scene. He blends his many influential musical traditions of Javanese Gamelan, Classical Piano, and African into his music. Thus, creating an organic house style that infects listeners with energy. Listen to Begal’s deep house single ‘Tortoise’: Listen to and download for free Bengal’s When We Dip Radio #53: San Diego native, Michael Leon (Mikey Lion) has been playing the decks and scratching since he was thirteen years old. Currently, Lion infuses tribal and psychedelic elements into his techno and house style. In 2012 he joined forces with Lee Reynolds, Marbs, Deep Jesus and Porkchop to create Desert Hearts. The group began as a small gathering in the Mojave Desert. The crew later expanded into a festival and record label that has one mission: to start the party. If you’re on the road to campout, be sure to catch Mikey Lion and his signature top hat drop some tunes this weekend. Mikey Lion via Facebook Follow Mikey Lion: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud Follow Bengal: Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud Explore Desert Hearts’ Socials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud The post Mikey Lion & Bengal Collaborate for EP on Desert Hearts Records [Free Download] appeared first on EDM | Electronic Music | EDM Music | EDM Festivals | EDM Events. Source

We stumbled upon a few tracks that we believe should be dubbed, Spiritual Gangster. It is not necessarily a similar sound that ties this collection of music together to make them spiritually gangster. Spiritual Gangster music ties confidence building, OG gangster vibes with spiritually charged electronic music. Listen to these 7 tracks to understand the essence of Spiritual Gangster music. Let’s start with Detlef‘s ‘Swagon’ featuring Ossey James. This track uses a deep, driving tech house beat that asks you to look within and feel the moment, then Ossey James’ gangster lyrics emerge, giving this track swag to put it in the category of spiritual gangster. Listen to Detlef‘s Swagon featuring Ossey James: We have to include Louis the Child’s ‘Shake Something’ into the Spiritual Gangster realm, as Joey Purp’s catchy, OG hooks meld with an uplifting drop. Listen to Louis The Child’s ‘Shake Something’:  “Super Heady Spiritual Gangster” by Soohan is another track that really captures the essence of the Spiritual Gangster wave. Listen to Soohan’s “Super Heady Spiritual Gangster”: Soohan plays around with all sorts of spiritual instrument sounds while taking an overall EDM centric approach. A didgeridoo sound is incorporated throughout most of the song. As the track fades you hear trippy vocals that mimic the sounds of an ancient tribe’s chant. There’s also a trap influenced style to it. A trap influenced song with tribe chants and didgeridoos? This is epitomizes being a spiritual gangster. CloZee’s collaboration with Jason Anthony is especially spiritually gangster. All the right instruments are used to give her songs that divine feel. From harps, to violins, pianos and a sprinkle of drum beats, her skillset is off the charts when it comes to her productions. With “Sucker Punch” Jason’s lyrics allows listeners to experience her music in a new light. It keeps things interesting and it encourages CloZee’s sounds to evolve to the next level. Listen to CloZee & Jason Anthony’s “Sucker Punch”: For our next example we look toward the L.A. based producer, Knight of Water, who released his Depth EP about a month ago. Featured first on the project is a track called “There is No Ending” with lyrics by Spxtrm. The short intro quickly leads into Spxtrm flexing his rap competency as he talks about wearing crystals and spreading love. Spxtrm preaches positive vibes while shoving negativity to the side, exemplify the spiritual gangster mentality. Listen to Knight of Water’s “There Is No Ending” ft. Spxtrm: We asked Knight of Water, Christian Santos, how the collaboration came to light. He explained: I met Spxtrm or Phil thru social media, we had a friend in common and I was a big fan of his lyricism and music. I started talking to him and made a connection. He was really intrigued by my production so I told him to send me some vocals. “There is No Ending” is the result of what he sent me that day. He sent me the raw vocals acapella and I built the song around him. We got more tracks in the work for the future. Knight of Water is involved with The Undergrowth crew based in North Carolina. They’re a group of artists that define themselves as a ‘conscious collective’. Knight of Water fits in perfectly given his outright ability to throw down quality experimental bass sound designs. We expect big things to come from him. This collection would not be complete without Yheti‘s collboaration with Mt. Analogue and Hecka. Listen to Yheti, Hecka & Mt. Analogue’s ‘Purpose’: Nothing within the track is forced and that makes it so addictive and full of swag. Mt. Analogue is a true visionary, a rapper with a certain intellectual flow to his words, seeking a higher consciousness. Next, during J Brd’s “Spiritual Release” you can feel the serotonin rush through your brain as the build drops into something deep and wonky. Listen to J Brd’s “Spiritual Release”: “Spiritual Release” is the first compilation from Surrealist Records, a new label founded by Shawn M. Sparlin A.K.A. LoDurr. Surprisingly enough, “Spiritual Release” is considered a riddim track or disturbing dubstep. We argue that some of the more spiritual music in EDM is on the darker side. There’s something about those really low pitched wubs that hypnotize the mind in a way no other music can. The essence of Spiritual Gangsters is very much alive and growing. Please comment on any Spiritual Gangster tracks you may have come across. The post 7 Singles that Capture the Essence of Being Spiritually Gangster appeared first on EDM | Electronic Music | EDM Music | EDM Festivals | EDM Events. Source

Hozier releases a new edge. Back in 2013, Andrew Hozier Bryne released “Take Me to Church,” an indie debut he wrote in his parents’ attic in Dublin, Ireland. As a struggling musician stuck in his drab hometown, Hozier made use of his voice to create statements that sung something big. Once 2014 came along, “Take Me to Church” struck a chord with listeners around the world. It told a controversial and touching story that had rarely been heard to such an extent in music. As the song swept the world, Hozier rose to fame, certifying his tune five-time platinum in the US and eventually playing it at the Grammy’s. The impact of “Take Me to Church” was undeniable. It spoke with a woeful cry of protest that was preached to, shared, and understood by so many. Hozier made a name for himself — called on for his way of placing himself so intimately amongst chaos, in order to unfold the atrocity in front of the whole world. And it’s so evident in his new EP and title track “Nina Cried Power.” In all its verve, “Nina Cried Power” was inspired by legacies. Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday — artists who told stories of protests, using their qualified and ample voices in hopes of any kind of response or call to action. Hozier’s voice is loud and pervasive, most of the song consists of him belting the names of those who stand for change in a way that sounds like a thank you. His raw tone and rock n roll vibe capture your senses, it’s like you can see his shaggy hair shaking with every headbang. His partner in the act is none other than powerhouse and activist Mavis Staples. After many failed attempts to meet up and collaborate with Staples, Hozier decided this was the track that needed her most. “Even when the song was in its embryonic state and the idea was forming, I wanted to credit the legacy of artists in that song and the names were kind of popping into my head, and I knew it was Mavis.” Mavis’s rich blues style and authentic storytelling complement Hozier’s character in the song, and she is no stranger to this effect. Her guest vocals on Arcade Fire’s “I Give You Power” struck a chord in a timely manner (after Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017), with proceeds donated to the American Civil Liberties Union. So why are the two artists singing of protest right now? Apparently, there’s no reason. Hozier and Staples are simply taking a front seat at the bonfire this world often experiences, and creating a boundary with those legendary voices who have been there and struggled before us. Hozier is creating a space of “optimism and hope and solidarity.” And how does this song compare with the rest of the EP? Wonderfully. “NFWMB” (Nothing Fucks With My Baby) explores a nihilistic tone in a tender love song for the end of the world. “Moment’s Silence” draws a sharp line between a religious conservative’s view on sex and the artist’s enjoyment of physical pleasures that don’t quite coincide. His tone here is similar to that of his last album “From Eden”: mellow, slow, instrumental. At this point, it’s safe to say Hozier is on his way to becoming the voice for those that aren’t heard loud enough. While “Nina Cried Power” is about celebrating songful protest and those artists who make such resounding impacts, Hozier uses the music video as an opportunity to thank Irish activists who deserve all the spotlight. The post Hozier’s “Nina Cried Power”: A Celebration & Review appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

Been There, Done That, Killin’ It One of the kindest souls I have ever had the honor of speaking to, Tove Styrke is on an amazing rocket ride that’s headed straight for the stars. Her music has always been so good, and I find myself saving the tracks every time she releases something new. As over-exaggerated as that sounds, it’s only the truth. Styrke has had a great story leading her through her musical career, and it only continues. The Swedish-born artist Tove Styrke has been hard at work as she just released her new album Sway back in May of 2018. An incredible album that was! From start to finish, every pop song perfectly aligns with one another while still remaining individualized. I always find myself dancing to her music and quite literally swaying to the melody and beat. Listen to the album below: The artist has just kicked off her fall 2018 North American headline tour, starting in Toronto! In the past, the songstress had a chance to tour with Lorde and Katy Perry. As you can see, she’s paving her path well for prosperous future in the industry. Below is the tour list of where she’s headed this fall–be sure to catch her in your city!: The artist will also be headed to Boston, performing at the wonderful Cafe 939 venue on October 5th! You can grab tickets HERE. Styrke got her official start in music when she performed for Swedish idol and received her first record deal from there. “I was 16 at the time, I was just a little baby. Since then, I’ve just been working and really taking my time figuring out what I really wanted to do and this past year has just been amazing… I just put out my 3rd album this year!” You could hear the excitement and pride in her voice and most of all the astonishment. “I’m just in a good place and everything leading up to right now, everything has been perfect timing…I couldn’t be happier where I am.” Though we were speaking over the phone, I could tell she was smiling, thinking about the amazing accomplishments she has managed to achieve in her musical career. All rightfully so and well deserved. I went on to ask the songstress what her favorite song she has ever written is, and I was answered with a shriek. She had such a difficult time picking a track, it was so funny. “It changes every time I like so many of them…”I Lied” is much fun to perform, and I love “Sway”— it’s the title track of the album. It’s like the anthem of the album, like a feeling fest. And “Say My Name,” I’m very proud of that one.” Styrke recently released an awesome track with the electronic producer duo, NOTD, titled “Been There, Done That.” I touched a little on that track and how it came to fruition between the three of them and what inspired it I the first place. “I have been in contact with Toby and Sam for a while. I really think they make such great things.” She starts to change her voice into more of a cute, older sister-tone, squealing “they’re like my little baby they’re so cute and so talented and we’ve been meaning to work on this song for so long.” When they did finally send her the song, she was instantly in love, and had to be a part of it. “I usually write everything I put out, so it was unusual to sing something I didn’t make, but there was something about it that was such a good fit.” She further confesses how happy she was that they picked her to be the vocals on the track as it was exactly the kind of music she loved to produce. A melancholy vibe with an upbeat tune. You could tell her gratitude is real. (You can hear the new song HERE) “Every song needs to be fun, some aspect of it needs to be fun.” This is how Stryke defined how her music should sound to her fans. They should know that the core of her music “comes from some place real. It’s not just perfect, classic, bubble gum love. I want the music to be relatable and feel like something that you actually go through in life.” She admits this with such emphasis and generosity. We got to finally discussing the tour. She begins to say “I am screaming I am so excited! I have been opening up for amazing people on tour with Katy Perry and Lorde. It’s so unreal and amazing. It feels great to come back now and do my own show and bring my whole album to the stage and translate this whole world this whole vibe to the stage. I’m also excited about my support act Aura. She’s so cute and so amazing.” When it came to asking Styrke what her favorite part of being an artist is, she knew her answer. “I can do so many amazing things, and get to try to experience so many new amazing and exciting things. And I get to take it easy and geek out in the studio and sit back and think. I can always broaden what my work involves because I’m self-employed! If I want to focus on merch I can do that…” she goes off to continue describe how she can work on a tour, or work on an album artwork, or work on a new project/song, and so on, and how amazing it is to truly be in a creative domain where you can be many roles, and not just one. I was so curious to know from this ray of sunshine what fun fact we didn’t currently know about her, and she revealed this: “I think fans might not know that I’m kind of an introvert. I really really need time to myself and reload and think I really need time to process everything I go through. If I don’t take that time I am miserable.” I think that’s something that a lot of people could definitely understand. However, when she gets on that stage and sings, you can tell that she is there for the crowd and that she’s willing to share with everyone her music. I proceeded to ask, “who is someone you would love to collaborate with?” She thinks for a moment and then replies “Rihanna. I think she’s the coolest person on the planet.” So, what is this superstar On The Verge of? Styrke replies with a enthusiastic voice, “World domination!” We laugh together and sign off. It was one of my greatest pleasures to chat with this incredible human and amazing singer/songwriter, and my excitement can’t be contained for her future endeavors. Thank you, girl, for taking the time to chat with me, and please keep shining on! Be sure to follow her on socials to see where she’s headed next! Weather | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook The post Interview with Tove Styrke: Been There, Done That, Killin’ It appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

But I love this Indie singer-songwriter Aidan Alexander is another artist to keep on your radar if you haven’t already heard of him. Alexander recently released his new single “I Don’t Love You,” and it’s a track that will pull at the heart strings and have you in your feels even when you try so hard not to get emotionally attached to the song. You can hear the track above now. With only one song out, the artist already has 47K + monthly listeners on Spotify which is absolutely insane! So, who is Alexander? Alexander is mostly known as the 18-year old LA actor (yes, that young), who starred opposite the Golden Globe nominee Bill Paxton in the film Red Wing. He was also a part of the Sony production A Cowgirl’s Story and .270, which earned a Grand Jury Prize at the New York International Screenwriter’s Awards. With success already under his belt, what more could he do? Well, he did more. Not only an actor, he transcended across the media spectrum by delving into content creation where he has one of the most engaged accounts nationwide, according to Twitter, and where he has accumulated over 1.5 million total followers on social media. As if that wasn’t enough, he then demonstrated his vocal affinity when he released his new single, which plays a character all of its own in Alexander’s life. “I Don’t Love You” is an atmospheric, serene, sorrowful, and airy song. The lullaby elegance in his voice against the electronic whines and the percussive instrumentation in the back only makes the single feel more airy and dreamy. As you feel complete isolation of the emotions you’re currently feeling, the song intensifies and calms in a matter of seconds. The slow-tempo also makes the song more like a sweet serenade or an indie-electronic ballad. Aidan mentions that some of his musical influences come from a variety of artists including: Robyn, Fleetwood Mac, and Frank Sinatra. But his first real love in music began when he heard Billie Holiday’s “Good Morning Heartache” for the first time. The artist is excited to show his fans what he’s been preparing all this time, and I’m sure everyone is anxious to hear what Alexander has in store for this EP later this year. Be sure to check out Aidan Alexander on all of his social platforms to stay tuned for the release of his project and more! Instagram | Spotify | Facebook| Twitter The post Aidan Alexander Releases “I Don’t Love You” that Puts You In Your Feels appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

A Night of Super Love Whethan proved that his music is something magical to me after a night at Boston’s Royale nightclub. Whethan performed on Tuesday, September 25th to a crowd dancing their feet off and singing along to all of his best tracks, and that night was the first time I had ever seen so many people having a blast on a Tuesday night. The artist has had a blossoming career, starting at the age of 16 when he was discovered by the OWSLA founder, Skrillex. Since then, Whethan has collaborated with an incredible roster of artists including: Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Elohim, Oh Wonder, Broods, Oliver Tree, MAX, Ashe, Opia, Mascolo, and more. His music is fascinating in how it has a way to shape shift and mold into whatever sound it needs to be in order to complement the vocalist, and it always happens to do it so pristinely. If there was any definition for “feel good” tunes, his music would definitely fit the criteria. Every track is just a song to play as you wake up and go through the motions of your day, through excitement, through love, through heartbreak, through showers, through work, through school, through play, through the rough times and so on. It’s the kind of music you can soundtrack your life to, and I think that’s what makes him such a prolific artist in the electronic-pop scene. The show itself was just as energized as his music. The crowd bounced as their shadows danced under the lazers that strobed and flashed to the harmonies in the music. Everyone knew the songs, danced as if they had no one watching them, and seemed to just be living their best life in that hour and half of musical encounters. Whethan himself was masked behind a tapestry that had projecting images dance across its surface, matching the music with abstract graphics and videos of California scenery. Overall, it was a great night–a kind of night you need when you just need to let go and let your mind wander and be free to daydream. Whethan recently released a new single with another one of my favorite acts, Honne, titled “Radar.” Listen to it below! The producer is still on the road nearing the end of his USA tour, where he will next be heading to Urbana, Detroit, Madison, and ending in his hometown Chicago! Here are some of the photos I captured from the show below. Highly recommend attending his concert if you haven’t yet, because it’s a night to not forget, a night full of super love. Be sure to follow Whethan on social media to follow his music journey! Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Spotify The post A Night of Super Love with Whethan at Boston’s Royale 9.25.18 appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

*All photos are original work of Neelu Mohaghegh* Imagine if… At Billboard Hot 100 2018 in Long Island, NY, I had the chance to meet up with the kind-hearted and talented artist Gnash. Garrett Charles Nash, otherwise known as the artist Gnash, is an American rapper/singer , who released his debut project U back in March 2015 on SoundCloud. He then followed that with his EP ME in December 2015. His performance was wonderful as he had the crowd smiling with him, singing along to all of his words, and waving their arms to every beat he riffed to. His music is relatable and his lyrics are sweet. If you love sad boy music with a bright twist, then this is the kind of artist for you. I have always loved his sound. He recently released his new track “dear insecurity” featuring Ben Abraham, a beautiful, melancholy single. His music has a unique twist to it and it almost feels like you’re listening to a combination of Lauv, Blackbear, Never Shout Never, and Quin XCII. Each song is pretty simple musically, but it gets the point across and relays a story melodically. It’s music that’s nice on the ears and the meanings behind each track are memories most people have lived through before, and that’s the power in his work–they’re moving. At the performance itself, his microphone had a flower attached to it and he was wearing a Pink Floyd rainbow shirt and these amazing sunglasses. When I met him, I was greeted by energy and excitement, and I soon caught onto that same contagious enthusiasm. I took his photos and we followed the interview later on, but believe me when I say it was an absolute pleasure speaking to this very nice singer/songwriter. Neelu Mohaghegh (NM): First off, how did you get started in music? Gnash (G): I was a DJ for a while & then started producing & writing my own music to play. NM: Of all the songs you’ve written, is there one you identify the most with? G: Of what’s out, definitely “dear insecurity.” It took me 8 months to write & it represents so much growth in my life. NM: Where do a lot of your inspirations for your songs come from? (A lot of them definitely have stories or messages in them!) G: My songs are all based in things I’ve been through or people I love around me have been through. NM: What has been the craziest part of this career path? G: Being away from home. we do our best to make a home on the road, but sometimes I just wanna sleep in & hug my cats. NM: What do you want your fans to think of when they hear your music? G: I want them to feel better. NM: Do you have any pre-show routines (like a mantra, or a food you have to eat, or an outfit, or a pep talk, or listening to music..etc.)? G: We say “everything’s gonna be fucking great” & go for it. NM: What’s one piece of your outfit that you can’t go without? (i.e. sweatshirt, hat, certain sneakers, etc.) G: My sunnies NM: What would you say is your favorite photo on your instagram? G: Anything of me smiling NM: What’s your favorite part of being an artist? G: Being able to help people through music. NM: If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be? G: John lennon NM: You have a lot of flower imagery in your branding—do you have a favorite flower in particular? G: I like daisies. NM: Any advice to aspiring musicians? G: Be yourself & if you wanna create don’t let anybody tell you it sucks! NM: What has been your favorite live performance memory? G: I like every show that helps people feel better. Also I love when my family comes to shows. NM: How was Billboard Hot 100 fest? G: It was fun! hot literally but my friends love New York. NM: Describe your ideal summer day! G: Driving to the beach. Actually being there I’m iffy on, but the drive is awesome… NM: So the publication is called Verge Campus, so we like to do a little tagline final question to our artists, so Gnash, what are you On The Verge of?…. fill in the blank however you’d like! G: The best day of my life. Be sure to check out his new music and follow him on socials to see what’s to come very soon! Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Website The post Positive Wave Maker Gnash: Billboard Hot 100 Interview No. 5 appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

Although fall is approaching, rap music is blooming. This weekend has presented fans with three major rap album releases including Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V, Logic’s Young Sinatra IV, and Kanye West’s Yandhi. Tha Carter V and Young Sinatra IV were the first to arrive, dropping at midnight on Thursday. Yandhihas a projected release date of Saturday night, straying away from the industry’s usual Friday release date. Kanye took to Twitter to explain the move, marketing his own album as well as showing love and support for Lil Wayne. Of the three major releases, Tha Carter V has undoubtedly caused the most excitement, completely overshadowing Logic’s same day release of Young Sinatra IV, an album that has also been long-awaited within the rap community. With features from Travis Scott, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and the late XXXTENTACION, Wayne’s latest album garnered the help of some heavy hitters within the music industry. Logic also received help from some of rap’s biggest names including Wu-Tang clan and Jaden Smith; however, with this music-filled weekend becoming mostly about Lil-Wayne and Kanye, fans will most likely save listening to Logic’s project for a later date. Of the three albums, Kanye West’s Yandhi has gained the most skepticism. With most fans feeling like West’s music has degraded over the years, and Kanye’s sudden and frequent shenanigans, some are worried his latest album will not deliver quality music. Some are even skeptical about the album coming out on Saturday night, with Kanye having a history of delayed releases and last minute album tweaks. However, no matter if Kanye’s album is delayed, rap fans have still been handed two solid albums in one weekend, with the promise of another on the way. Check out Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V,Logic’s Young Sinatra IV, and (hopefully) Kanye West’s Yandhi. The post With Three Major Releases, This Weekend Proved to be Huge for the Rap Industry appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

The Pitch: For the first third of its 110-minute running time, the latest film from J.J. Abrams‘ Bad Robot Productions plays like a typical World War II movie. After a squad of paratroopers gets shot down over Normandy the night before D-Day, the survivors still intend to complete their mission of dismantling a German radio tower on top of a church. Once they arrive in the small French village that houses the Nazi base, however, Overlord veers into splatter-flick territory, revealing a Mengele-like experiment in reanimating the dead. The soldiers — with Jovan Adepo and Wyatt Russell at the helm — soon have to contend with sentient zombies, in addition to an already formidable German military. Blood and Guts With a Braaain: Make no mistake — though Overlord may not be the next entry in the Cloverfield series, as originally reported, it’s still a genre film through and through, with plenty of gore even before our heroes go toe to toe with the undead. Fortunately, Adepo, Russell, the rest of their platoon (including a brief yet effective appearance from Bokeem Woodbine), and a French ally (Mathilde Ollivier) imbue their roles with the fear and vulnerability necessary to transcend their archetypes. There isn’t much time to explore every character as thoroughly as, say, Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line, or Platoon, but we get just enough from everyone for their characters to be actual characters, not cartoons. Director Julius Avery also made the smart choice of presenting the paratroopers as racially integrated. While the casting bucks historical accuracy (the American military was still segregated in World War II), it subtly gives more thematic weight to the film’s narrative. They’re not just soldiers fighting Nazi-zombies; they’re a group of diverse individuals standing up to oppression, even if Avery and screenwriters Billy Ray and Mark L. Smith don’t hit the audience over their head with the message. In His Father’s (Bloody) Footsteps: Wyatt Russell has already forged a career much different than his father’s, but Overlord is notable for placing him in what ends up becoming a close-quarters horror movie a la The Thing. Once the paratroopers venture behind enemy lines, the atmosphere is more sterile, the gore becomes chillingly practical (the film’s first half relies a bit too much on CGI blood), and friends can easily transform into enemies. In yet another connection, the 32-year-old Wyatt is almost the same age as his father was at the time of The Thing‘s release (the older Russell was 31). The Verdict: Given its Nazi-zombie subject matter, Overlord seems to be in the same tribe as 2009’s Dead Snow — at least on its surface. But Avery’s film stands apart for its sobriety. There’s little camp or gimmickry to be found, which is refreshing for a sub-genre whose films so often resort to bad jokes and kitsch violence. It’s probably too small-scale and workmanlike to ever be a stone-cold classic, but its overall seriousness, competency, and visceral special effects (digitized blood notwithstanding) make it something to celebrate, especially at its Fantastic Fest premiere. Where’s It Playing? Overlord opens in theaters on November 9th. Trailer: Source

The Pitch: Based on William Giraldi’s 2014 novel of the same name, Hold the Dark involves a retired naturalist (Jeffrey Wright), a fractured mother (Riley Keough), a war-torn father (Alexander Skarsgård), a grizzled police chief (James Badge Dale), and a pack of (admittedly) pretty cute wolves, who are all wrapped up in a cerebral mystery that’s tearing apart a small Alaskan village. If that doesn’t get you howling, then think of it like White Fang meets The Revenant meets The Hurt Locker meets Insomnia. Better? Gory Days: For over a decade now, director Jeremy Saulnier has carved out a specific niche for himself in that he’s capable of giving every moviegoer a genuine heart attack, urging everyone to leave theaters saying, “Fucking Christ, I need a drink.” He did it with 2007’s Murder Party. He did it with 2013’s Blue Ruin. And he really did it with 2015’s Green Room. This one? There are harrowing moments — from ghastly stabbings mid-rape to an outstanding gunfight involving a deranged father and nearly a dozen Alaskan cops — but they don’t register the same way. That’s possibly because every character feels so disassociated from the others. All throughout Hold the Dark, each character has a subconscious notion of what one’s other motives may be, but it’s portrayed as so hush-hush and unfolds so naturally that there just isn’t much room for tension. Instead, it’s like walking into a room during a football game and having everyone scream and shout. Yeah, you’re going to jump, but you’re also going to step back for a second and ask why. That’s essentially the movie’s tension in a nutshell. Hangry Like the Wolf: The problem is that Saulnier never fully commits to a tone. All too often it resorts to being a gritty thriller, when it really wants to be a cerebral fever dream. Rather than leaning either way, he tries to marry both sides, retaining his naturalistic tendencies while also wedging in an underlying mysticism involving wolves, The whole thing gets frozen in the process, leaving either side feeling unfulfilled or counterintuitive. Complicating matters even more is the film’s pacing. Whereas Saulnier’s past efforts have worked like a Pixies song, going soft and loud and soft with ease, Hold the Dark seems to sprint between irritating crawls. When it’s slow, it’s truly stagnant, and when it’s loud, it’s much too fast. Much of this is due to the fact that the film has to commit to so much narrative, most of which feels tossed aside for the agreeably beautiful cinematography. Wright and Wrong: Despite the fact that Wright and Skarsgård seem to come from two different movies, the HBO go-tos are compelling in their roles. Wright, especially, roams throughout the story with an assurance that always suggests he knows more than we do, and that winds up doing some of the heavy lifting for Macon Blair’s vacuous screenplay. The same could be said for Skarsgård, though his strengths lie more in stamina, his ability to haunt each scene with a prescence that’s not too dissimilar from Robert Patrick in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Of course, we’d be remiss not to mention Dale, who’s arguably the most sympathetic character of the bunch, oozing with that small town charisma of a guy just trying to do right by his people. Verdict: Hold the Dark is a disappointing followup for Saulnier. Whereas both Blue Ruin and Green Room exuded with the confidence of a filmmaker who’s always three steps ahead of his audience, this outing feels as if he’s out of step completely. This is hardly surprising, though. It’s the Big Swing every director attempts at some point in their career; Saulnier simply felt he could stand up to the plate. Swing and miss, sadly, but what a swing it is. Between its ensemble cast, sprawling landscapes, daring atmospheres, and cultish mythologies, Saulnier clearly went for something. The problem is that something never adds up to much of anything. Even thematically, the whole picture feels all over the place, oscillating hazily between half-baked meditations on man vs. nature and unfinished portraits of family values. Even so, Saulnier’s scope and visual endurance is admirable, to say the least, and it’s clear that he could do something this brazen eventually with a much stronger script. As it stands, Hold the Dark depends solely on your willingness to draw conclusions from questions that aren’t fully given. Some might rather you Give the Light. Where’s It Playing? Hold the Dark is currently available via Netflix. Trailer: Source

If you’re wondering what Lindsay Lohan is up to these days, uh — yeah. Last night, after leaving a nightclub in Russia, the former Mean Girls star came across a homeless family sleeping on the street. She offered to buy them a hotel room, to which they declined. She then asked the mother if she could take her children to her own hotel room for the night, to which the mother again declined. Lohan didn’t take kindly to the repeated snubs and she soon became belligerent; she began speaking in a Middle Eastern accent, accused the mother of human trafficking, and mocked the family by saying, “Don’t fuck with Pakistan!” Lohan also repeatedly encouraged the children to run off with her. Eventually, the family got up and walked away. When Lohan attempted to grab one of the children by the hand, the mother turned around and punched her in the face, knocking Lohan to the ground. And of course, because it’s 2018, Lohan streamed the entire thing on Instagram. wtf is lindsay lohan doing???????? pic.twitter.com/tDLxMwCwUO — sierra laboca (@e_ame) September 29, 2018 Lindsay Lohan has lost it… wtf??? pic.twitter.com/c9HSmOZNRw — Say My Name (@Redeezus) September 29, 2018 #LindsayLohan’s roaming the streets of Russia, speaking in an Arabic accent, trying to steal refugees children & streaming it all live through her IG Story… how’s your night going? pic.twitter.com/R3jg8bqD41 — molly kish (@MollyKish) September 29, 2018 Source

The Pitch: Following in the footsteps of The Big Lebowski and Inherent Vice, Under the Silver Lake is essentially David Robert Mitchell‘s take on the California stoner noir — a subgenre that’s seemingly becoming more and more popular as the years crawl on. Between days spent getting high, fucking around, and leering at female neighbors both young and old, Sam (Andrew Garfield) investigates the disappearance of his latest fixation, Sarah (Riley Keough). His quest leads him into a bizarre L.A. underworld rife with dog killers, homeless monarchs, and what may or may not be a billionaire death cult. I Wish They All Could Be California Spider Women: As Rian Johnson did with Brick, Mitchell gives his neo-noir a distinctly Southern Californian makeover. The femme fatales are opportunistic scenesters, an informant for Sam is also a zine comic artist, and the antagonists often take the form of platitude-spewing hippies. This gives the film an unexpected — if sometimes lethargic — sense of humor, and compellingly contrasts with some of the more urgent moments, such as a show-stopping shootout that takes place on the water at night. Gazed and Confused: During a rooftop party scene, someone casually says something about women in Los Angeles burning under the male gaze. While it’s just a random partygoer and not a main character, the line still shows that Mitchell is well aware of the toxic masculinity so often found in noir movies, horror movies (the genre where he made his first big splash with It Follows), and hell, just movies in general. The male gaze becomes especially prominent as Under the Silver Lake progresses and Sam’s makeshift investigation widens in scope. Without spoiling too much, we discover that, in addition to Sam being voyeuristic himself, straight white men have played an even larger part in pop culture than previously believed. But before Sam can fully absorb this revelation and the effect it’s had on him (not to mention millions of others in his demographic), that particular story thread is abruptly cut off, never to be further explored. So what are we left with in terms of theme? Sam is a guy who, despite his many flaws, gets to easily have sex or fool around with virtually every woman he meets; the full-frontal female nudity far outweighs the full-frontal nudity. By the time the film ends, we’re unclear on its moral stance. Of course, Under the Silver Lake isn’t required to have any kind of moral stance, but it feels like a copout that Mitchell acknowledges the prevalence of the male gaze in the genres and industry he dabbles in — not to mention pop culture as an umbrella term — without ever commenting on it or interrogating it. The Verdict: There’s no denying the visual flair of Under the Silver Lake. Its aesthetics alone are enough to sustain interest over its two-and-a-half hour runtime, but its hefty length also leaves a lot to be desired in its messaging, if only because Mitchell actually does begin to flirt with a grander purpose at a certain point in the film. As It Follows proved, its possible to traffic in ambiguity while still having a point. Where’s It Playing?: Under the Silver Lake will finally make it to theaters starting in a limited release on December 7th. Trailer: Source

Greta Van Fleet are on the verge of releasing their debut studio album and have quickly become a band associated with bringing back the classic rock sound. They have endured a come up unlike many other bands in the past decade and are certainly making the most of their experiences. After the release of their double EP From the Fires in 2017, Greta Van Fleet have not looked back. They have grown significantly as artists and become experienced in the world and culture that is rock ‘n roll. They’re actually, in a lot of ways, bringing back the feeling it had around 50 years ago. They are weeks from the release of Anthem of the Peaceful Army, their debut commercial album via Lava Records, and anticipation for the album has been building since its announcement a handful of months ago. Guitarist Jake Kiszka was able to speak with us for a little bit about various topics, including the new album, the state of rock ‘n roll, influences, and more. Michael Cottone: Hey Jake, how you doing today? Jake Kiszka: Good man, how about yourself? MC: Doing great, you wanna just dive right in? Jake: Sure thing! MC: Alrighty, what do you think has been the toughest part of being a young band and going through the rapid come up you guys have had? Jake: Hmm.. I’m not sure I know. I think prior to a lot of the immediate growth we experienced, there were people and communities that had a lack of interest or wrote us off just because we were young, it was especially prevalent when we were playing more back home a few years back. It would probably have to be that, or traveling. There were parts of that and scheduling that we didn’t perceive when we went through it, but traveling can definitely be…rough sometimes I would say. MC: Yeah definitely, and you guys have been touring pretty extensively for the past handful of months, playing sold out dates and a lot of festivals over the course of this past summer. Do you have a favorite festival that you’ve played? Jake: It’s pretty safe to say they’re all pretty wild, haha. Coachella was certainly a big highlight, this other festival called PINKPOP in the Netherlands was very fun. Lollapalooza too. Coachella 2018, Greta Van Fleet – Mojave Tent, Weekend 1 Friday (via Sacramento Press)MC: I saw you guys at Lolla! Really enjoyed the show. Jake: Oh, really? Hell yeah man! MC: So what, to you, is Greta Van Fleet’s mission as a band? Jake: I think given the opportunity, our objective is always to play for more people and meet more people. And with that ability, gives us more capability of conveying our message of love, peace, and unity. And I think that we’re humble enough to be able to do that now, and I think as we’re able to spread the music and the message at a larger scale, I think that would be one of the things we’ll continue to be ambitious of doing. MC: And do you have a long-term goal of any sort? Where would you see yourselves in 10 years or so? Jake: I think that goal is to still be together, writing music, and to maintain the control we’ve had in order to write and perform our music the way we want to. I think that’s very important to us. MC: And 10 years from now you guys will still be pretty young, so you could still be in the process of increasing your legacy. Jake: Absolutely. MC: Your guys’ upcoming album is named Anthem of the Peaceful Army. Where did the title come from? Jake: I think it had originally come from a poem that Josh wrote that was named Anthem of the Peaceful Army. It took on a much larger meaning as we continue to play more shows. We were seeing all these people altogether and a whole spectrum of age groups in the audience. It made a lot of sense, like, the anthem of the peaceful army was the people. The people who appreciate our music and even us as individuals. And I think a lot of the material on the album reflects that message and the poem overall. MC: Did you have a favorite song off the album that you guys recorded? Jake: My personal favorite that we recorded is called “Brave New World.” That was one that was written kind of spur of the moment in the studio. Everyone had left to go home and we stayed back, it was probably around 1 or 2 a.m. We finished arranging it, threw up some mics, and recorded it. All done in one day, there’s a lot of spirituality in the writing to that song. MC: Sometimes writing in the dead of night helps a lot, comes out a lot more naturally. Jake: Yeah, it’s even inspiring I suppose. I think it has to do with the aloneness, you know, like everyone’s asleep and we’re still up just in this space. MC: Let’s move into rock ‘n roll as a culture. You guys are bringing a throwback rock sound which music is unfamiliar with right now, but what do you think is the current state of rock ‘n roll? Jake: I think it’s very broad, and a lot of people talk about the death of rock ‘n roll, I don’t quite identify with that. I think society deems something dead as soon as it’s not as prevalent anymore, ya know? I think rock ‘n roll has become a minority, spread out, and it’s become very eclectic. It’s moving in a good direction with new bands that can hold it in place. There are only a few stadium rock bands left really, like the Foo Fighters, Guns ‘n Roses, Metallica, Imagine Dragons. Those people are very eclectic in their sounds, but new bands are moving it in a good direction. And I think for our generation there’s so much going on and so much that’s going to happen. I think there are a bunch of guys getting together in basements all around the U.S, and bringing back rock for our time. There’s a lot of great evolution going on. But as good as it is with the way it’s going, sometimes you gotta look backwards in order to move forwards, you know? There are so many masters who left behind such great works, like Elvis and all the blues guys. Those are people we learned from in order to take rock in a new direction. MC: And you mention those 50s and 60s influences that you wear on your sleeves, but do you have any contemporary influences or bands right now that you look up to? Jake: Yeah absolutely, we listen to quite a bit of contemporary bands. A lot of those bands can just hit a chord and have it sound very authentic and rich. Fleet Foxes are a band that I listen to quite often, First Aid Kit is also very influential. They’ve been able to create a lot of complexity within the beautiful simplicity of their work. I guess for me in particular Jack White is someone I would say, since I’m a guitar player. The Black Keys, Grizzly Bear, Hozier are all up there as well. We listened to the Black Keys a lot when we were younger. MC: Cage the Elephant? Jake: Yes! Those guys are great, ahahaha. MC: You mentioned how you think there are a lot of small bands getting together and changing rock. Do you have any tips or advice for those small or local bands that are seeking that spark you guys got to get the ball rolling? Jake: Yeah, I think there’s two great factors for bands who want to move in a positive direction. I think that this is applicable in any field for anyone, but persistence. You need a certain amount of dedication to your craft, and there’s sacrifice involved. You know, playing in Greta Van Fleet, it was playing every weekend in high school and early college years for Josh and I. Most kids go hang out with their friends, explore, but we were given different opportunities, like playing in bars, haha. Sacrifice is definitely a big part of it. It’s also being truthful to who you are and what you listen to. It’s not following any trends, ya know? Don’t ride the wave, create one. MC: Create one, don’t ride one. I love it. Jake: Yessir. MC: Now you guys have obviously been made aware of the comparisons you receive to Led Zeppelin, which is by no means a bad thing considering their place in rock, but what do you guys do to separate yourselves from that and get people to know you as Greta Van Fleet instead? Jake: Yeah, I think the initial thing that society does is in a very primitive way is just to connect. To take things that are similar and compare them together, and they become not so separated from the idea of something, and I think that’s kinda what’s gone on. But I think for people to hear and be apart of Greta Van Fleet, to understand who we are and what we stand for, making that difference is coming to a live show. I think that changes perspective. You know, it’s easy to listen to anyone’s music or work and sit there and be like “oh this sounds like this” and essentially hyper-analyze the song until the end, and I find myself doing that at times, too. And when that happens, sometimes you get nothing out of the listen besides the connection, then the originality gets stripped away. It no longer carries it’s personality. MC: It’s just about learning to appreciate the music for what it actually is. Jake: Right, exactly. And again with the Led Zeppelin thing, I’m very humbled with the reference and honored by the affiliation, but it’s about going into the listen and delving into it objectively, yeah. And Jake is exactly right. Listeners should appreciate Greta Van Fleet, for Greta Van Fleet. Anthem of the Peaceful Army releases on October 19th on all platforms, and it’s just the beginning of a journey the world will be watching for hopefully a fairly long time. The post INTERVIEW: Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka On New Album, Influences & More appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

Greta Van Fleet’s rise to stardom has come at them fast. The group consisting of the Kiszka trio and best friend Danny Wagner are all still in their teens and low 20s, but already sit atop the rock food chain. Greta Van Fleet’s vintage rock influences are visibly worn on their sleeves. The talented four-piece from small town Michigan have experienced a come up that we haven’t seen in rock music for some time. Following the release of their 2017 double EP From the Fires, Greta Van Fleet gave a new generation of music listeners a taste of rock’s rich history. From the Fires was their apart of their introduction to commercial releases, along with Black Smoke Rising. If those bodies of work did anything, they gave people their best Led Zeppelin impression. This did not slip past Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, but he ultimately gave his nod of approval. Despite the uncanny similarities between Kiszka and Plant’s voice, Greta Van Fleet were able to strike a chord with the masses, and let the world know that the idea of classic rock is not completely dead. Over the last year, Greta has been touring extensively, selling out venues across the world, proving they’re the real deal when it comes to live performances. Josh’s voice blows you away, the entire band flashes their old-school, thrifty wardrobe, and they know how to keep the audience on its toes. The crowds consist of anyone from indie teenagers to moms and dads, and they all get the same jaw-dropping reaction, one reminiscent of rock ‘n rolls past, and one unfamiliar. Jake Kiszka shreds the guitar behind his head during a live performance.After an intense past year and a half for these boys, it’s finally led up to their debut album. Anthem of the Peaceful Army comes out on October 19th, and it releases while the band is in stride. The album proves their capability of setting themselves apart from their rock ‘n roll influences, and adds a diversifying dimension to their discography. The album runs 11 tracks long with a 50 minute run time. Within minutes of listening to the six-minute opener Age of Man, one could easily notice the leap in growth in the drum and bass work. Josh’s voice still works as their golden ticket, but the surrounding talent is noticeably upgraded. As aforementioned, the drumming is the biggest improvement right off the bat, meeting the energy the guitar and vocals deliver. The guitar work incorporates newer approaches that still have those electrifying riffs, and the band seem cohesively driven throughout the album. You’re the One acts as the album’s lighter-swinging-in-the-air romance themed song. “You’re the one I want, you’re the one I need,” Kiszka sings on the song’s chorus. The band actually performed the hit ballad with Elton John at his annual Aids Foundation Oscar party. It’s an instance where the band is able to clearly diversify its sounds using acoustic guitars at the forefront, and appeal to all the hopeless romantics. The album’s closer Anthem is another instance of this, where the tempo is slowed down and Josh’s vocals are not as in-your-face. It carries a nostalgic sound, using down-to-Earth auxiliary percussion and a country inspired background twang. Mountain of the Sun is an ode to the band’s love for adventure, one of the main themes of the album. Jake immediately grips listeners with a lively 70s inspired guitar and Josh brings his rangy vocals to its prime. Jake Kiszka takes a moment at Yosemite National Park. (via gretavanfleet on IG)It’s clear that Greta Van Fleet have the talent to be something very special, and it’s beginning to come to light on Anthem of the Peaceful Army. They’ve gotten cosigns from some of rocks most historical names already, and are sitting pretty with their fans. Josh’s vocals alone give this band a catalyst to keep throwback rock ‘n roll around for a little while, but the longevity of a voice like that has proven not so reliable in the past. If they can plan for that, however, this band can be one of rock’s most special outfits in quite a while. Regardless of anyone’s reservations with the group, we should admire what they’re giving us. After all, they are getting compared to arguably the greatest rock band of all time. You can listen to Anthem of the Peaceful Army on all streaming services starting October 19th. You won’t want to miss it. The post Review: Greta Van Fleet’s Anthem of the Peaceful Army appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

Ryan Reynolds is all over the damn place these days. Not that that’s a bad thing. In addition to alienating audiences as Marvel’s wisecracking Deadpool, the actor is slated to star in a live-action Pokemon movie, shepherd a Clue remake, and produce a stoner spin on Home Alone. Now, he’s teaming up with Stranger Things executive producer Shawn Levy for another intriguing project. Produced by 20th Century Fox and Reynolds’ own Maximum Effort label, Free Guy will star Reynolds as a background character in a video game who comes to realize the artificiality of his surroundings, making it sound a bit like Wreck-It Ralph meets Pleasantville. Considering the story finds Reynolds’ character trying to prevent the makers from shutting it down, it appears the game will likely be some kind of MMORPG. Levy, who previously helmed the Night at the Museum movies, will direct. We’d like to imagine that he’s spending a few hundred hours playing World of Warcraft as research. Source

Photo by @ShotsByCarlThis year marked the 5th anniversary to the electronic music and arts festival, Imagine. Located at the Atlanta Motor Speedway this festival did not disappoint and brought nothing but music, fun and laughter. Photo by @ShotsByCarlFriday was the first day we got to the festival and it was very easy going. From previous years, the entry to the festival had been a nightmare with long lines, intense security checks and more. Well this year things were different. Imagine fixed the wait time to get in by having multiple entrances and more security checking people on the way in, things just ran smoother. Once we got in we were consumed by the bass and drops. Walking into the festival, down the stadium stairs rattling and shaking from the bass gave you such a big smile and excitement to be there. Photo by @ShotsByCarlThe first set we got to catch was Ployd as we walked into the festival. With the bass bumping and the crowd moving this was a great welcome in. As the night progressed we jumped back and forth from the Oceania stage to the Disco Inferno stage. Catching acts like Shlump, 12th Planet, Protohype, Galantis, Boogie T b2b Squnto and finally Armin Van Buuren friday was a wild time. My personal favorite from the Friday had to be Galantis. Check out the video below! View this post on Instagram @WeAreGalantis playing my favorite song by them ‘No Money’ at @ImagineMusicFestival! . . . . . . #imagine #imf #musicfestival #galantis #nomoney #atlanta #imaginemusicfestival #fire #lights #fog #lazers #edm #electronic #party #dance #goodmusicallday A post shared by Christian Moore (@credawg) on Sep 28, 2018 at 3:16pm PDT – Saturday started with the crew getting a party bus to shuttle us from Atlanta to the Atlanta Motor Speedway. We arrived around 4:30pm just in time to catch the sets of Space Cadet, Leviatation Jones, Eoto and Ekali. This was just the beginning to a fun and bass filled night. Photo by @ShotsByCarlSaturday was a lot of walking. With the opening of the Amazonia stage on the other end of the track from the main stage we made our way to and from these two quite a bit. From Ekali we headed to the Oceania stage to catch Liquid Stranger, Adventure Club and of course Bassnectar. Photo by @ShotsByCarlOut of these three sets I have to honestly say that Liquid Stranger had the best set of the day. I know many of you will disagree and say Bassnectar was the best but not to me. Bassnectar was a lot of fun per usual but festivals are never his best sets. In my opinion I truly feel that Liquid Stranger brought the heat and dirty bass everyone was looking for during the weekend. With bigger and better drops, his set was hands down the filthiest of the Saturday acts. Check out the video below and let us know what you think. View this post on Instagram @liquidstranger threw down last night @imaginemusicfestival. #imaginemusicfestival #liquidstranger A post shared by Katie Rose Hoffer (@thehungry_hiker) on Sep 23, 2018 at 12:10pm PDT – View this post on Instagram Wait for it……... #bassnectar #imaginefestival #basshead #bassnetwork A post shared by Katie Rose Hoffer (@thehungry_hiker) on Sep 23, 2018 at 11:02am PDT – Finally comes Sunday, day three, the day only true festival goers can handle. As our crew decreased in size, our excitement and enjoyment did not. We got to the festival about 7pm to catch the heavy set from RL Grime himself. Having seen RL Grime a few times previous I knew was I was getting into but damn did he not crush it. Photo by @ShotsByCarlFollowing his set we caught the dirty hour long throw down from Zeds Dead then made our way over to Shpongle and ended our night with a split of Zaskade and GRiZ. Photo by @ShotsByCarlOverall this years Imagine Music & Arts festival was 100% a success. With amazing music, food and crowds this will continue to grow and become the EDC of the South. I can’t thank my friends, the IMF staff and everyone involved for such an amazing weekend. I cant wait for next year. Be sure to check out our photo album and grab your fan appreciation tickets for 2019 below. Enjoy. GMAD x IMAGINE PHOTO ALBUM PURCHASE 2019 IMF TICKETS NOW The post Imagine Music Festival Celebrates A Very Successful 5th Year Anniversary appeared first on Verge Campus. Source

Ultra releases breathtaking 20th anniversary video It took me all of 1:19 seconds for me to get goosebumps. Hearing that first drop and I was off. Even that, may be too long. One of the most riveting music festivals in the world has just released its 20th anniversary after movie video. It is everything. Of course, I am talking about ULTRA MIAMI from Bayfront Park. The heart pounding video shows concert goers raving in the beautiful city shot by Final Kid.  It is hard to even pinpoint a favorite part of the video. The music, fans, flags, scenery, and fireworks make it all magical. Euphoric sets by the likes of Fisher, Nicky Romero, and Adam Beyer rock the iconic main stage. Beautiful shots provided by RED 8k cameras bring incredible detail. The video is so well done, it makes you feel like you are in it yourself, jumping through your computer screen and having your hands in the air by Arcadia Spectacular’s SPIDER. Not enough to convince you? How about Above and Beyond shocking ASOT appearance or Swedish House Mafia’s reunion? How about cameos from Miami’s adopted son Will Smith? The only thing I’m disappointing in is that is just over 14-minutes long. Now that you have watched the video, let me be nice and give you some possibly bad news. I don’t want to be responsible from your heart rate dropping watching this masterful video. Just a few days ago, the Miami commission by unanimous vote, turned down a contract for ULTRA 2019 to return to Bayfront Park. If followed through, it would be the first time in 18 years that ULTRA is not at the beautiful spectacle we have all come to know. With ULTRA 2019 in March, a contract can still be worked out. Hard Rock Stadium has been mentioned as a possible relocation venue. Maybe the problem was when fans broke the richter scale when Swedish House Mafia was revealed… Here is the full statement from ULTRA. No matter what happens, ULTRA will go on, so purchase your tickets for March 29, 30 & 31st before it is too late. Follow ULTRA Miami 2019: Instagram Facebook Twitter Tickets The post ULTRA Miami Drops a Spectacular 2018 Recap Film & Plans Relocation appeared first on EDM | Electronic Music | EDM Music | EDM Festivals | EDM Events. Source

Marty Balin, founding member and singer of Jefferson Airplane, has died. According to Rolling Stone, Balin passed away Thursday at the age of 76. A cause of death was not immediately known. Alongside Paul Kantner, Balin formed Jefferson Airplane in 1965. Rumor has it that the band’s name was inspired by a slang term for a marijuana roach clip. Their pro-drug stance and psych-folk-rock sound quickly made them a fixture in San Francisco’s fledgling counterculture scene, where they performed alongside acts like Jerry Garcia, David Crosby, and Janis Joplin. They were taken under the wings of concert promoter Bill Graham, who promptly booked them to play San Francisco’s Fillmore. A record contract with RCA Victor soon followed. Jefferson Airplane released their first album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, in October 1966. A month later, singer Grace Slick joined the band. She proved instrumental in their commercial success; she wrote one of Jefferson Airplane’s greatest hits, “White Rabbit”, while her brother-in-law Darby Slick penned another fan favorite, “Somebody to Love”. Both songs appeared on the band’s sophomore album, Surrealistic Pillow, which peaked at No. 3 on the album charts. The band supported the release with several television appearances, as well as a performance at Monterrey Pop Festival. In the subsequent years, Jefferson Airplane released a handful of albums and performed alongside the likes of Grateful Dead and The Doors. In 1969, they appeared at Woodstock. That same year, Balin was famously knocked unconscious by the Hell’s Angels while performing during the Altamont Free Concert. Balin left Jefferson Airplane in 1971, citing the band’s excessive drug use and the emotional impact of Joplin’s death. Four years later, he reunited with Kantner in the Jefferson Airplane offshoot Jefferson Starship. With Balin singing lead, the band scored several Top 20 hits, including “Miracles”, “With Your Love”, and “Count on Me”. After leaving Jefferson Starship in 1978, Balin launched a successful semi-solo career. In 1985, he reunited with Kantner to form KBC Band, which led to a Jefferson Airplane reunion album and tour in 1989. Source

The Pitch: Writer-director Drew Goddard applies the byzantine plotting he mastered in The Cabin In the Woods to the crime-thriller genre. When an assortment of colorful guests descend on the El Royale — a novelty hotel split along the state lines of Nevada and California — it becomes clear that no one is quite who they say they are. Just like he did with Cabin, Goddard gets his kicks by introducing a variety of retro archetypes (Jeff Bridges as a priest, Jon Hamm as a traveling salesman, Dakota Johnson as a hardened vigilante, Lewis Pullman as a dopey concierge, Cynthia Erivo as a girl-group singer), then turning them on their heads as their true identities are revealed and the bodies start to pile up. Royale with Cheese (And Anderson): Immensely satisfying both visually and narratively, Bad Times at the El Royale plays like a kinetic mashup of Pulp Fiction and The Grand Budapest Hotel. In the film’s first half, Goddard leans on the latter by patiently hanging on the El Royale’s kitschy symmetry, from the 1960s costuming to a carousel full of pie slices to that bright-red state line, which cleanly divides the lobby into the land of opportunity and the land of temptation. The two states become Biblical symbols of sorts, as everyone’s personal schemes begins to unravel. By that point, we’re in a less-profane version of Tarantino Land, meaning the violence springs from drawn-out tension, and the timeline becomes non-linear to to reveal the characters’ respective backstories. In a further echo of Pulp Fiction, there are title cards that divide Bad Times up into chapters, and a film reel that may as well be standing in for the mysterious 666 briefcase. Leader of the Pack: While all of the actors find the perfect balance between pathos and genre gimmickry, Erivo is the standout as Darlene Sweet, drawing from her musical-theatre background to illuminate several scenes with bombastic vocals. Whether she’s using her voice to simply practice in a mirror or mask a more nefarious activity taking place in the background, she’s the engine behind many of the film’s arresting audiovisual sequences. Music nerds will be drawn to a flashback that features clear cinematic counterparts to members of the Wrecking Crew and monstrous producer Phil Spector. The Verdict: If there’s one complaint to be had about Bad Times at the El Royale, it’s that the best narrative surprises lie in the character’s backstories. Once most of them have been revealed well before the climax, the film has to rely on the action of the present rather than the intrigue of the past. While this is by no means a bad thing, expect it to become a different kind of roller coaster ride about 75 percent of the way through — one that’s more about who will get out alive than where everybody came from. Though not as unpredictable as the preceding two hours (and nowhere close to the dizzying final act of Cabin In the Woods), the resolution is still a lot of fun, straight out of a thrilling dime-store novel you’d keep by your bedside table. Where’s It Playing?: After its Fantastic fest premiere, Bad Times at the El Royale will hit theaters on October 12th. Trailer: Source

The process of recording an album is exhausting, riddled with late nights in the studio and the vocal fry that arises from screaming your ever-loving guts into a microphone. Jonathan Davis and nu-metal pioneers Korn know this better than most—they just hit the studio in early August, after all—so it makes a peculiar kind of sense that they’d launch their own coffee brand, which is something that, yes, they actually did. It’s called, appropriately, Korn Koffee, and you can buy it right now. The blend—encompassing Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Guatemalan Huehuetenago, and Organic Peru certified fair trade beans—was made in conjunction with the West Coast beanery at J. Gursey Coffee, who also tossed in a bit of their Vintage Black Diamond blend. It was personally curated by the band, who presumably told the winning blend that it’s “got the life.” See them hard at work in the below video, which was posted to their Twitter account. We are excited to announce Korn Koffee. Korn has collaborated with @jgurseycoffee to bring you a unique blend of beans worthy of the most die-hard coffee fans. Available Now: https://t.co/E1JQCApXRh pic.twitter.com/OuaLmxDVl0 — Korn (@Korn) September 28, 2018 Inside each bag is a message from the band. It reads thusly: “After almost 25 years of touring, making records and playing in front of all of our amazing fans (you), one thing has remained a constant in our daily routine: coffee. The ritual, the brew, the aroma and most importantly, that very first cup every morning that sets the tone, is something we look forward to every day. Because of our passion, we’ve gotten together with a roaster and handcrafted our very own blend of KOFFEE. We hope you enjoy, share, and join us in savoring many cups of KOFFEE for years to come.” Bottoms up, headbangers. Pick up a bag here. Source

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly became one of the all-time onscreen comedy duos so gradually that you’d be forgiven for missing it. With 2006’s Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and 2008’s Step Brothers, they cemented their place as one of the great Hollywood screwball teams. Between Reilly’s childlike sweetness and Ferrell’s ability to exude madness with a completely straight face, they’re responsible for several of the most quotable movie sequences of the past 20 years. (Read: Step Brothers Was One of the First Great Films About the American Economic Crisis) At long last, they’re back together onscreen, forming one of the most renowned fictional duos of them all: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. In Holmes & Watson, the latest cinematic revival of Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective mysteries, they look to bring a decidedly goofier approach to the eternal struggle between Holmes/Watson and the nefarious Professor Moriarty (Ralph Fiennes this time around). With the help of Dr. Grace Hart (Rebecca Hall), they’ll work to save the Queen before Moriarty stages his greatest dastardly deed to date, or they humiliate themselves into oblivion. Holmes & Watson will snoop its way into theaters on December 21st. In the meantime, enjoy the first trailer, which has at least one genuinely fantastic moustache bit to offer already. Source

In the wake of the somewhat lukewarm reception to Dark Phoenix’s first trailer, 20th Century Fox is pushing the latest X-Men film back once more, along with making a few other alterations to its release calendar. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, the Simon Kinberg-directed entry in the rebooted timeline of the X-Men franchise has a new release date of June 2019. This isn’t the first time Dark Phoenix has been dealt with a delay: reshoot bumped the film from from November 2018 to February 2019. While that’s par for the course for a lot of big-budget blockbusters, the sheer number of delays and reshoots is certainly something to note. (Read: Film Review: X-Men: Apocalypse) This isn’t the only change Fox is making to its slate of releases. The upcoming Robert Rodriguez film Alita: Battle Angel is similarly being pushed back to February 2019, for instance. The other big change, however, comes in the form of an untitled Deadpool movie that’s mysteriously slated for release this December. That’s far too early for a fully-filmed third entry in Ryan Reynolds’ hit X-Men spinoff series, but a tweet from Reynolds’ own account, featuring the Merc with a Mouth standing in for Peter Falk in a scene from The Princess Bride, may offer some clues: Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/fFe93tDI7e — Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) September 28, 2018 Deadline reports this might be a PG-13 cut of this year’s Deadpool 2, released in theaters for the holiday season. Great news for anyone who wants to bring Gam-Gam and baby cousin Timmy to a Deadpool movie this Christmas. Watch the recently-released trailer for Dark Phoenix below. Source

Machine Head will look a lot different once their upcoming fall tour wraps, as frontman Robb Flynn has announced that guitarist Phil Demmel and drummer Dave McClain will part ways with the band. The surprise announcement came today (September 28th) via a Facebook Live video in which Flynn admitted that the members have “grown apart as people.” “I’ll get right to it,” Flynn began, “Wednesday night, Phil Demmel quit Machine Head. Yesterday afternoon, Dave McClain quit Machine Head, and [bassist] Jared [MacEachern] kinda quit, but didn’t no if he was quitting for sure.” He went on to say that the band’s scheduled fall tour, which kicks off October 4th in Sacramento, California, is still going to go on, and that the members “have all agreed to make it a celebration of our music of this era of the band.” An emotional Flynn confessed, “We have grown apart as people. Musically, we’ve grown apart. I have held on too tight to the reins of this band, and I have suffocated those guys. I’ve got some rough edges. I’m kind of a barnacle. And those rough edges have given us the success we have, but they’ve also hurt the people around me.” He added, “I ask that you respect Phil and Dave’s decision, as I respect their decision. I wanna say that I’m honored and grateful for everything that they’ve contributed to Machine Head, which is a lot — 15 years with Phil, 23 years with Dave.” He would go on to say, “It’s the end of an era. I did a lot of crying yesterday, and felt like I got run over by a truck.” Flynn said that he doesn’t “know what the future holds” for Machine Head, but added that he spoke with Jared again this morning, and that the bassist had decided to stick around. Machine Head’s most recent album, Catharsis, was released in January of this year. Machine Head Fall 2018 Tour Dates: 10/04 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace Of Spades 10/06 – Missoula, MT @ The Wilma 10/08 – Calgary, AB @ Palace Theatre 10/09 – Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall 10/10 – Saskatoon, SK @ Louis 10/12 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick 10/13 – Minot, ND @ The Original 10/15 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue 10/17 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre 10/18 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s 10/19 – Kansas City, MO @ Truman 10/20 – Joliet, IL @ The Forge 10/22 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora 10/23 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection 10/24 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre 10/26 – Ft. Wayne, IN @ Clyde Theatre 10/27 – Columbus, OH @ Newport 10/29 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE 10/30 – Hartford, CT @ The Webster 10/31 – Huntington, NY @ Paramount 11/02 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland 11/03 – Richmond, VA @ National 11/04 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage 11/07 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel 11/09 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom 11/10 – Nashville, KY @ Exit In 11/11 – Charlotte, NC @ Underground 11/13 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution 11/14 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz 11/16 – New Orleans, LA @ House Of Blues 11/17 – Austin, TX @ Emos 11/18 – Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s 11/20 – Tucson, AZ @ Club X 11/21 – San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues 11/23 – Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues 11/24 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst Source