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About leslieloudspeaker

Currently writing, taking photos and voiceovers at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. Former music writer/photographer at Westword and overall arts lover.

Things I Learned Watching the Coachella Stream

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Besides The Postal Service reunion, I had no strong desire to be at Coachella, so I chose to watch the Youtube stream from my own home all weekend. In case anyone can’t tell, I LOVE streaming things. Technology is fantastic, and while the stream was much choppier than last year’s Bonnaroo stream, it got the point across. Things I learned from watching all weekend:

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– I really need a new stool for the computer. This one is rickety and fake leather and all the buttons on top popped off so you sit on little metal circles. I can’t work like this.

Cloud Nothings rule. I’ve only seen them in little dark places, so was very curious how they would do in the day on a huge stage. They killed it.

– thank goodness for 3 Channels of music, because a lot of it was stuff I have seen in the past year and not been impressed with

Jenny Lewis makes me cry even if she is wearing a slutty Wicked Witch of the East circus conductor outfit

Jake Bugg continues to be awesome as can be

– I do not get why everyone likes the xx or James Blake, I try and try but they both make me bored instantly

– if there is one thing people like to do at Coachella, it’s putting their hands in the air

– people LOVE The Lumineers, they played for their biggest audience ever

– a friend worked on the Daft Punk teaser video

R. Kelly can do no wrong in my book apparently. Dude pees on a minor, and I’m still freaking and loving him onstage with Phoenix doing a “1901” and “Ignition” mash-up, and it worked!

– they apparently had great drugs. The clips of the electronic acts were mesmerizing and repulsive, saw a lot of eyes rolled in the back of heads. YEAH! BASS IN YO FACE

– best festival fashion ever since many can afford to trash designer stuff in Southern California. Absurd amount of flower crowns but at least I like them. High waisted denim shorts are now called Coachella shorts, which is BS, Austin’s been running that fashion game for years!

Tame Impala should tour with a wind machine always

– Danny DeVito is a good twitterer: Danny Devito at Coachella

Social Distortion never lost it

Ty Segall jumped onstage with Thee Oh Sees but they weren’t shown on the stream. Coachella Director!! Please show them next weekend!

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– crowd surfing is still strong in California, and there are more tanned, muscled, tank top wearing, gang sign throwing yo-bro dudes than I ever imagined….

Quilt – Band to Watch

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Quilt out of Boston came out a couple years ago with all those chillwave bands, but their LP just got repressed and their sound fits right in with the current 60’s folk resurgence going on with a dash of Fiery Furnaces. They also have a split record out with MMOSS, a recent fave of mine. They are playing with Akron/Family on 4/21 in Boston, wish I could be there!

stream the album

Coachella 2013 Stream Day 2 -Postal Service tonight!

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If there is one thing I love, it’s streaming festivals from my own home. Bonnaroo is my fave, being in a time zone ahead of me, but I’ll take what I can get! I’m most amped for the Postal Service reunion and Grizzly Bear tonight.

coachella channel on youtube

Bonus video of Jake Bugg nailing it in front of a ton of people:

“Lightning Bolt” from Coachella

New Deerhunter release “Monomania”

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Avant garde rockers Deerhunter have already created buzz for this album by appearing on Jimmy Fallon, frontman Bradford Cox dressed as character Connie Lungpin, complete with black wig and bandaged fingers (an homage to his father who accidentally cut off a finger recently and was at the show). The album is fantastic, their chunky sound even stronger with an added third guitarist. This album sounds cleaner than their other more garage sounding releases, but it doesn’t hurt the sound at all. Tracks like “Blue Agent” and “Back to the Middle” are straight up catchy, while “Monomania” and “Leather Jacket II” show off that fuzz, and “The Missing” is just straight up beautiful. Look for the album to be released May 7th.

video for Jimmy Fallon performance and title track

Akron/Family Concert Review at Larimer Lounge

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Last night at Larimer Lounge in Denver, Akron/Family played to a packed and excited crowd. It was the second date of the tour for the new album, and the new material sounds amazing live! Extremely loud, beautiful, they create great solid songs wrapped in noise, and at times the audience was told to sing certain notes, being used as yet another instrument. The front was packed with girls NOT giving up their spot right next to the lead singer, Miles Seaton, didn’t know he was such a heartthrob, but for good reason. He’s cute and very nice. One girl begged him for anything from his pockets, he gave her rosemary dust. If you are a fan of the new album Sub-Verses, this show is a must see. Opener Princess Music were great too, as a friend said “he’s got a David Byrne thing going on”. That’s a good good thing.

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Music to See in Denver 4/10-4/16

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Wed, 4/10

Akron/Family – Larimer Lounge – second date of the tour promoting the new album, awesome art rocks that builds live footage

Acid Mothers Temple – Hi Dive – Japanese psychedelic band that’s been around forever in various lineups

Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers – L2 Arts and Cultural Center- known for this video but she sounds like this and kicks it live in concert

Thurs., 4/11

Beach Day – The Moon Room – beachy pop rock with sweet female vocals video for Beach Day

Keaton Simons – Soiled Dove Underground. He was a friend of a friend when I lived in LA. Now I hear his voice in the mall, restaurants, some hotel in San Diego, tv shows, soap operas, and trivia- he’s Eric Roberts stepson…. live version of Currently

Fri., 4/12

Grey Boy Allstars – Cervantes – nuff said. Playing Saturday as well, same place. This is the party.

Sunday 4/14

Angel Olsen – Hi Dive – she’s all the rage right now in attractive chicks with bangs that sing old timey. I’ll be shooting this show, say hello…..video for Angel

Ponderosa – Lion’s Lair – southern rock from Atlanta, lead singer’s voice is captivating live….video for Ponderosa

Mon., 4/15

Death -Gothic – twee indie pop with a ukulele. Nah, I’m kidding, it’s masters of Death Metal.

Tues., 4/16

Bon Jovi – Pepsi Center – if I get the go to shoot this show, I’m so there…

The Dear Hunter – Marquis – …but most likely will be here. Progrock from Providence, RI, they’ve got albums that tell a story in three parts, with a son poisoning someone and basically Gamehendge but it sounds like this

Les Racquet – Hi Dive – indie rock power trio out of Brooklyn who sound like an indie rock power trio from Brooklyn. I’m going to try to make this and Dear Hunter, tough choice. video of Les Racquet

Akron/Family New Video Release!

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Akron/Family just released the video for “Samurai” off their new release Sub-Verses, and it’s pretty hauntingly awesome. Check them out tomorrow in Denver at Larimer Lounge, I’m beyond excited to see this stuff live.

video for “Samurai”

The Shouting Matches, Bon Iver side project streaming at NPR

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Justin Vernon of Bon Iver is joined by old friends Brian Moen and Phil Cook on this new release, creating The Shouting Matches. This is the first release from Middle West, Vernon’s management company for all of his output. Now streaming over at NPR, this album makes me want to road trip through the Midwest. This project has a happier feel than Bon Iver, good for rolling the windows down. They are playing Coachella, and have dates so far in August in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

stream album here

Bleeding Rainbow- Band to Watch

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Philly based Bleeding Rainbow on Kanine Records are a whole new band. They used to be a noise pop two piece called Reading Rainbow. Now with two more members and a nifty name change, they sound totally different, and they are a powerhouse. With the mix of girlish but strong vocals and layers of fuzz, my perfect band has been created. They are also Dave Grohl approved for what that’s worth. As one person commented on youtube, they sound like they would have been on 120 Minutes, and that was a great great show. Really looking forward to shooting their show at Larimer Lounge on May 8th! The album is already out, watch the video for “Drift Away” here:

video for Drift Away

track off Yeah Right album

Flaming Lips “The Terror” streaming today!

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NPR is streaming one of the few things I like from Oklahoma (kidding, UT grad) the new Flaming Lips album The Terror today, take a listen.

stream for “The Terror”