Archive for March, 2010

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Papadosio at The Hideaway Saloon in Louisville, KY

Recommendations and Reviews | From the mind of | 03/29/2010

Papadosio image3
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Walking into one of my favorite local bars on Saturday March 27th, I knew it was going to be a fun night as Lotus and STS9 were playing through the PA. It also seemed very fitting that in the same weekend that Miami would be hosting one of the largest Electronic Music festivals in the world, that Louisville, KY would be throwing its own private dance party with one of those bands, who’s name and reputation you will certainly be hearing a lot more of for a long time to come! It was my first time seeing Papadosio and it will be far from my last. In the past year I went from not even knowing who this band was, too hearing their name spoken every where and more importantly by everyone who’s musical opinions I truly respected. Let me say people the hype is very real, and honestly probably does not even do them enough justice! I truly believe these guys will be one of the next major Livetronica acts that sweeps the scene! The music has a darker rock sensibility mixed with a totally saturated and absolutely transcendent electronic twang. It engulfs you quickly, taking you on a ride through a barrage of completely unique and powerful motifs combined together to make some truly epic songs!
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The show at the Hideaway Saloon was as packed as the EOTO show I saw this past October, but to be honest I expected it to be. Papadosio has grown so big this year that in Ohio they are playing The Newport Music Hall which hosts about 1,500+ and these guys are turning out 750+! This is not a small accomplishment and should indicate where this band is heading. I was very unfamiliar with the majority of the band’s material, but within the first 10 minutes, I knew I was in for one serious dance marathon. Once again the Hideaway Saloon acted like a giant sweat box, packing people in like sardines! The crowd became more like one organism moving together than it did individual people dancing. Everyone thought they were in for the long hall and sure enough the guys took full advantage of Louisville’s lax 4am curfew! This of course came by a little bit of encouragement from the crowd, including one fan who politely said “Put that damn bass back on, this shit ain’t over.”
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Papadosio combines live instruments with computer processed and manipulated sounds so seamlessly. They are creating a textured sound scape as much as they are creating individuals songs. Their improv is also quite phenomenal and often hard to pick out, as they continuously seemed to push each song into new territories that flowed perfectly back and fourth between pre-arranged sections. With Mike Healy, who kept making hilarious facial expressions to the crowd while laying down some very fresh and funky beats on Drums and Rob McConnel, who was like wild beast dancing around while whaling on the bass, Papadosio had an absolutely nasty and engaging rhythm section. Add on top of that, the super sly guitar work and sample/loop manipulation of Anthony Thogmartin and the brilliant out of this world key/synth textures of Billy Brouse and you have a very powerful monster that can hold it’s own amongst much more established touring acts. Needless to say there was honestly never a dull moment in the two set show that Papadosio played in Louisville, KY.
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I think it is safe to say there was a certain energy in the crowd, almost as if something was going around. The band fed off that intensity all night long, laying down one of the most powerful performances I have seen this year! Standing on the sidewalk after the show it was obvious that people were left utterly speechless by the performance and were still wound up with the urge to boggie down! Watch out for Papadosio, it is the best decision you can make any night of the week and if they come around your area do not hesitate because next time they play you can bet the crowd will double in size. For being such a young band, I must say these guys carry themselves like veterans in the industry. Check them out now!
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SETLIST: 03/27/10 – The Hideaway Saloon, Louisville, KY
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Utopiate
Method Of Control
Neutral
Improv
You + Yourself
All I Knew
I’m Not Alone (DEADMAU5 Remix) [Calvin Harris cover]
Improbability Blotter
Snorkle
By The Light of the Stars
The Unparalyzer
StickFigure
Magreenery
Night Colors
Giving You Up
[untitled new song]
Frequence
Improv
Apache [the incredible bongo band cover]
Polygons
The Eyes Have Eyes
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John “The Grizz” Grisanti


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STS9 and Ana Sia at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC

Recommendations and Reviews | From the mind of | 03/23/2010


Photography by Eli Becker
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Sunday, March 14th was an amazing night for dance music in DC!

The 9:30 Club is situated in an economically depressed, mostly African American, neighborhood just north of DC center, a stark contrast from where I was staying on Capital Hill. From the outside, the club looks like just another rundown warehouse, but step inside and it is a whole other world. Your eardrums will be treated to one of the finest sound systems in the country, with a bass that will rattle your rib cage.
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Ana Sia opened up the show right: with a bang. This unassuming girl walked up to her Macbook and modestly/quietly introduced herself; then she released the auditory onslaught. Ana Sia perfectly encapsulates the dubbed up, womped out, trip hop, crunk-fest that has been coming out of the west coast for the past couple years. Fat baselines, sleazy sinth waves and perfectly placed/chosen samples add up to a dance party sure to make you wobble like it’s hot. The samples never overpowered the rest of the beats, which were masterfully interwoven, elevating the listener to land of the womp. This monome crushing mistress and her tracks are hot. She remained graceful and calm on stage while pumping out some of the nastiest beats I had heard in some time. And then, just as suddenly as she appeared onstage she was gone, leaving me wondering what I had just witnessed and when I could see a show where she was the main event. Watch this girl, because she is going places.
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Now, full disclosure: this was not my first show STS9 show, far from it. I had even started to consider myself a bit jaded to their performances. Well, Sunday night was a rebirth for me; it felt like I was experiencing the STS9 vibe with fresh senses. If you have never seen STS9 before, then it is hard to imagine what their shows are like. It is more than the sum of their music and lights. It is an experience that is simultaneously: physical, emotional, visceral, and spiritual. They are not just playing music, they are painting an atmosphere that is constantly shifting and evolving.
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The show began with Luma Daylight, a song that contains waves and crests that leave me breathless. It also exhibits the musical talent of David Phipps on the piano, and the drummer, Zach Velmer, who breaks into some phenomenal drum and base.
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The band maintained that level of awe-inspiring intensity through two sets and a two-song encore, playing such notables as Frequencies (a funked out dance groove) and… And Some are Angels (a beautiful jazzy number). They have the ability to transition seamlessly: from funk, to space-trance, to ambient, to drum and base, to jazz, to hip hop, to a million other genres, all while never losing their connection to the crowd and to each other. This is a band where every individual member complements the other members; they combine their powers to become a nebulous whole of positivity.
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The crowd was just as high energy; actively reciprocating every bit of oomph STS9 put into it. The dance party on the floor and in the balcony shook the house, as friendly fans embraced the boogie-down environment. The party even carried out onto the streets afterward as the fans erupted in spontaneous cheers of joy.
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Driving by the Capitol building on the cab ride home, I couldn’t help but think, “Why can’t STS9 play a show in there”? Think about it: a late night set in the senate chamber might just be what our country needs. At least it would be funny to watch those old white guys dance.
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Set One:
Luma Daylight
F. Word
Somesing
Frequencies 2
Frequencies 3
GLOgli
Oh Little Brain
Open E
Arigato
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Set Two:
..And Some Are Angels
Nu Nu 4 U U
Move My Peeps
Abcees
Instantly
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Encore:
New Song
Peoples
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Words and photography by ELI BECKER. For more of ELI’s work and info please visit: elibeckerphotography.com
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John “The Grizz” Grisanti


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Exclusive Audio Interview with Duvdev from Infected Mushroom

Interview | From the mind of | 03/19/2010

Infected_Mushroom
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Infected Mushroom needs no introduction. This amazing live electronic-rock dance floor machine has been melting faces for years, and continues to push the boundaries of EDM every time they head into the studio or take the stage! This past September, the group released a new album called “Legends of the Black Shawarma” which once again takes the group into a different musical realm.
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Resonant Vibes recently had the pleasure of catching up with lead singer and co-creator of Infected Mushroom, Amit Duvdevani AKA Duvdev, about the new album and a variety of other subjects.
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We hope you enjoy this exclusive audio interview with Duvdev!
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John “The Grizz” Grisanti
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Miami WMC Parties Presented by listed

News and Events | From the mind of | 03/17/2010

Leeeeky Tikki Party

Miami WMC parties are plentiful, as you no doubt know. I want to continue highlighting the parties that I think will offer a special experience for you. Specifically, in this post, I want to fill you in on the WMC events being presented by listed Productions.

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, then you probably know we’ve worked with listed on some previous epic events. Each year, listed ups the ante by delivering bigger and better Miami WMC parties. This year promises not to be an exception!

In order of occurrence, here are listed’s WMC parties…

TWILIGHT ON THE TIKKI

On Thursday afternoon, March 25th, listed is kicking off their WMC festivities with the Twilight on the Tikki party. The headlining talent for this event is SOS (i.e. Omid 16B, Demi, and Desyn Masiello). Naveen G will also be gracing the decks. As with all of their Tikki parties, listed is offering an OPEN BAR for this one! If you’ve never been on one of the listed Tikki parties, I can say firsthand that they’re amazing. (For more details on Twilight on the Tikki, go here.)

MOONLIGHT ON THE TIKKI

When the night falls, the Tikki boat will head back out again. For this soiree, the tunes will be delivered in the form of a M_nus showcase! Troy Pierce, Marc Houle, and Barem will assume headlining honors after listed resident Nikita warms things up. Again, there will be an OPEN BAR, so things are bound to get interesting. Tickets for Moonlight on the Tikki are selling for $150, but listed is offering a
SPECIAL $50 DISCOUNT for RV supporters! To received this discount, just contact us at support@resonantvibes.com.

FREAKY TIKKI

The third time is the charm, and this may well be the case for the Freaky Tikki party. This event will feature Cassy and Sebo K, who are guaranteed to provide a sublime soundscape to start your day. The boat (more…)


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An Essential WMC Party Guide: 10 Parties in 5 Days

Recommendations and Reviews | From the mind of | 03/16/2010

The Surfcomber Hotel | Resonant Vibes Electronic Music BlogUnless you live under a rock you’ll know that WMC is just around the corner. So, let’s say you arrive in Miami on Wednesday afternoon and leave on Monday. You’ve got five days to rage and you’re not worried about sleeping. Here’s my guide to 10 parties that will keep you going, and possibly even break you…
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Wednesday: Ease into the groove with Danny Howells at Bed. The now legendary 7-hour marathon returns to one of the best clubs on the beach. Miss it at your peril.
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Thursday Day: After a lunchtime breakfast mojito, meander over to the Surfcomber Hotel for a Victor Calderone and Sander Kleinenberg pool party. The Surfcomber has a phenomenal pool area so this party should be an excellent way to start day two and it’s guaranteed to feature plenty of Guicci bikinis and beefy dudes. Ahhh South Beach!
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Thursday Night: Head to the Electric Pickle for the Blue Collar Entertainment Showcase. This West Coast agency boasts a who’s-who of techno and house talent, as does their party which includes Justin Martin, Konrad Black, Bruno Pronsato, Audiojack, Christian Martin, Jesse Rose, [a]pendics.shuffle, Nikola Baytala and Droog. Continued after the jump… (more…)


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Review: Balance 016 Mixed by Agoria

Recommendations and Reviews | From the mind of | 03/13/2010

Balance 016 Mixed by Agoria | Resonant Vibes Electronic Music BlogWhen a new Balance CD arrives on my desk I usually drop it straight into the player because of the quality I’ve come to expect from the people over at EQ Recordings. Last up was a hefty 3-disc affair from Will Saul and now we’ve been treated to a double-disc affair from French producer and DJ Agoria. As with all good compilations the first play didn’t leave me 100% convinced but after several more plays it’s grown on me immensely and it’s still in heavy rotation.
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Disc one—Aller Retour—starts off in ambient, experimental territory before easing into the reverb heavy vocals of Emiliana Torrini which are backed up by an addictive guitar hook. A minute later and Agoria’s taken the vibe into the eery stripped back techno world of Arandel with a superb transition between the two tracks. That for me sums up the style of both discs with Agoria’s ability to stitch contrasting tunes together in a masterful and effortless fashion. The mix continues to a climatic yet esoteric high point with the operatics of Altre Voci and The Field’s proggy live mix of Over The Ice. Easing off the mid-disc peak he meanders back into a groovy nu-disco/garage finish with Todd Terje, Prins Tomas and Trus’me all taking their place in the line-up.
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Balance 016 Disc Aller Retour “Soundcloud Edit” by AGORIA
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I’m a big fan of disc one except I feel like Agoria has self indulged a tad much by including his Altre Voci tune in the middle of the mix. OK, so it’s created a peak to the disc but the operatic vocals are bang out of place alongside the other vocals on the disc, and if you consider how he’s got to this point it’s just not necessary.
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Disc two—Rising Sine—is the standard 4/4 disc of the compilation. Again, I’m not going into much detail but I will say that I’ve played this disc a good deal more than it’s counterpart. Why? Because it stands out. It has more of a narrative—if you can use that term with electronic music—and with Agoria’s expert programming it just feels more complete. Quite honestly I prefer the tracks on it and I’m a big fan of tracks like the addictive You and Me remix of Ogris Debris’ G-Thong. The final 8 tracks from Einmusik’s melodic bomb Atlantis through the magnificent Serge Santiago remix of Shit Robot’s Simple Things (Work it Out) into Martyn’s interpretation of Efdemin’s Acid Bells continue to impress me each time I listen to it. Just awesome.
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Balance 016 Disc Rising Sine “Soundcloud Edit” by AGORIA
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However, like on disc one I was disappointed by Agoria’s decision to go in for more mid-disc dramatics with the unnecessary cello solo which features in the mash up of Jonny Greenwood’s Tehellet and Agoria’s Parasite which, to boot, is sandwiched by Avril’s peak-time monster French Kiss. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s trying to do something a bit ‘avant garde’ and ‘edgy’ here, but it disrupts the otherwise perfect flow of the disc so I could do without it all together.
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Anyway that shouldn’t stand in the way of you checking out Agoria’s Balance because it’s really worth it. His use of vocals to anchor both discs works really well and it’s clear that he’s taken a fresh and compelling approach to producing it. More importantly it features 14 exclusives and it’s a great way to experience a fine selection of tunes that have been blended together by someone who I’m sure will become a big name.
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It’s US release date is March 16 but for some reason Amazon has it available from March 23. You can pre-order it HERE. If you’re in Miami for WMC you should check out the Balance 016 Release Party with Agoria, Will Saul, Joris Voorn, Desyn Masiello, Chris Fortier and Luke Fair at the Victor Hotel on Friday March 26. The track lists for both discs are after the jump. (more…)


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Fedde le Grand: Exclusive RV Interview

Interview | From the mind of | 03/12/2010

Fedde le Grand

This week I had the opportunity to interview Fedde le Grand, an artist who stands on the edge of global superstardom. Fedde’s career is studded with worldwide number ones, packed arenas, throbbing dance floors, A-list collaborations, and a string of international awards. While he’s already accomplished much, Fedde is not resting on his laurels. He recently released iFedde, a pioneering iPhone application, and he has an upcoming gig at the Miami Ultra Music Festival. Needless to say, Fedde’s interview makes for interesting reading…

Q: Can you talk a bit about your early career? How did you get so into dance music that you decided to make a living from it, and which artists influenced you early on?
A: I actually started off DJ-ing at school, funnily enough. They didn’t teach it in lessons. But I used to bring my decks and tunes to school, and that’s where it all started off. I just worked my way up from there. My Sneakerz parties were very influential in the early years, then obviously “Put Your Hands up for Detroit” happened, which bought me to a wider audience. And I’ve been building on it ever since. I was influenced by people like Michael Jackson, George Clinton, those kind of guys from an early age. I definitely have an obsession with funk.

Q: At this point, you’ve cemented your position among the Dutch Masters – artists like Tiësto, Armin Van Buuren, and Ferry Corsten. What pros and cons have you experienced as a result of building your career in the Netherlands, a country that is home for so many acclaimed DJs?
A: I think the pros are definitely having a lot of support from your own country. We’re a nation of dance music lovers, and there’s great backing for homegrown talent and what we do. The cons? Maybe everybody expects me to do the same as all other DJs from the Netherlands? I don’t think there are very many cons to being Dutch ;)

Q: Over the years, you’ve explored a number of different musical styles, from electro house to darker, more minimal tech house. At present, which style is your true passion and why?
A: I don’t ever say there’s one style that I’m into at any given moment. I have an eclectic taste in music and also with what I produce. I tend to split my sounds between my Fedde le Grand name and my more underground FLG style. It just makes it easier for people to determine what mood I’m in with music I put out there. But I love everything from minimal beats to more house production to pop.

Q: You just launched an interesting iPhone application that allows people to access your music community without being tied to a computer. What was your motivation for developing this application? What do you hope it accomplishes?
A: iPhone apps are one of the most interesting new developments around, as far as communicating with fans goes. I think it’s so important for me to be able to talk to people wherever they are. I really like the idea of building a community of like-minded people, sharing ideas about music and clubbing and life in general. My online site was completely revamped last year to make it more user friendly, and we’re adding new options all the time, like giving people access to upload their own productions, share those across Facebook and MySpace and places like that. And people can give their opinions on the work and vote for the tracks they like. I’ve just actually signed up the first person from the feddelegrand.com site onto Flamingo Recordings which was great. So now with the iFedde iPhone App, we’ve extended everything we’ve done on the site into your mobile life, so you can check in whenever and wherever you want, get involved on the forums and chats even if you’re on the dance floor! For me that is mind-blowing. I love this new digital age we’re in. The developments and possibilities are exciting. (more…)


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Headed Down for Miami WMC 2010!

News and Events | From the mind of | 03/11/2010

Miami WMC

Well, we’ve gotten to that special time of the year again, the time when the weather starts warming up and the dance music industry starts preparing for the Miami Winter Music Conference (WMC). No matter how many other events I attend, WMC will always hold a special place in my heart. Warm weather, palm trees, the beach, and incredible music always make for a memorable combination!

As usual, RV will have a presence at WMC this year. Our aim is to bring you coverage of some of the best events. In this post, I want to highlight a few of the parties we’ll be covering…

For starters, we’ll be covering the Victor Calderone and Sander Kleinenberg pool party, at the Surcomber Hotel, on Thursday, March 25th. This should be epic! The party will be going from 11:00am to 10:30pm. Let’s picture it…sitting poolside, sipping a mojito, everybody’s grooving to the pounding beats of these two reputed DJs. Nice!

On Thursday night, our focus will shift to Shine at the Shelbourne Hotel, where Hernan Cattaneo and Darren Emerson will be holding it down. I’ve seen both of these guys live, and the music was fantastic. They’ve both been getting the job done for years now, and I have no reason to think they’ll break the tradition this year.

On Friday night, another exciting party is going down at Shine. Dave Seaman, Nick Warren, D. Ramirez, and Hybrid are going to be providing a musical odyssey for all comers. We’ll bring you a recap of this promising event.

On Friday and Saturday, we’ll also be bringing you coverage of the 2010 Ultra Music Festival! This massive event represents the climax of the whole WMC week. As always, Ultra will showcase the talents of the world’s biggest DJs – Tiesto, Deadmau5, Sasha and Digweed, Carl Cox, David Guetta, Eric Prydz, Armin van Buuren, Above and Beyond, Erick Morillo, and the list goes on and on!

As you can tell, it’ll be a busy few days down in Miami! Stay tuned to our blog for more updates on these events and some other amazing parties!

Eddie B


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Movement 2010 Line-Up Announced

News and Events | From the mind of | 03/10/2010

Movement 2010 | Resonant Vibes Electronic Music Blog
Since 2000 electronic music fans from across the globe have made the pilgrimage every May to Detroit, the city where Techno music was born. 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of the Movement Festival (formerly DEMF) in Detroit.

In 2009 the Movement Electronic Music Festival recorded its best attendance figures to date since becoming a ticketed event in 2005.  Some 83,322 people filled the outdoor venue last year.  An international partnership was also forged with promoters from Torino Italy to create Movement Torino.

The rumors continue to be confirmed that the bearded techno-über guru Hawtin will be hot on the festival circuit this year, headlining live as Plastikman. Other headliners included  Model 500 and Inner City with a total of 70 acts announced today covering a spectrum of sounds from techno through to livetronica. My line-up highlights are: Agoria, Cassy, Chris Liebling, Derrick Carter, DJ Godfather, DJ Sneak, Ida Engberg, Italoboyz, Jamie Jones, Joel mull, John Acquaviva, Josh Wink, Luke Hess, Martin Buttrich, Martyn, Michael Meyer, Mt Scruff, Oner Ozer, Redio Slave, Robert Hood, Ryan Crosson, Simian Mobile Disco and Theo Parish. You can check the full list in the graphic below, as I couldn’t find a decent HTML list to copy and paste.

Ford are the presenting sponsor this year which adds testimony to how much the commercial reach of the festival has grown. The result might be a line-up that seems too mainstream for some of the techno puritans—who’s heads will be rammed in a sub in Made in Detroit area anyway—but one that should keep the rest of us revelers happy.

$40 early bird tickets are now on sale and all the details are to be found at  http://www.paxahau.com/movement/

Movement 2010 Line Up | Resonant Vibes Electronic Music Blog


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STS9 “AD Explorata” Album Review and US Tour!

Recommendations and Reviews | From the mind of | 03/09/2010

STS9_ AD_ExplorataI have mentioned STS9 to the Resonant Vibes community many times and would like to do so once again. The band has constantly been pushing the boundaries of live music since they came on the scene back around 1999! This past fall they once again took their sound in a different direction with the release of the new album “AD Explorata” which merges many organic and acoustic elements with hard driving calculated and electronic segments. The result is an album that creates flowing moments of peaceful bliss sandwiched between periods of chaotic tension! It is a sonic explosion of unique sounds and textures, that take you on a giant wave through all types of moods.  In the past the band has made albums that stick to a certain motif, whether it was raw funkier song structures (Interplanetary Escape Vehicle) or intensely eerie electronic driven pieces (Artifact) there was always a common element to the albums. This album is very different from the band’s previous work. The music is extremely diverse and focuses on melting all the things that have made STS9 so unique into 12 well placed tracks!
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Simply put “AD Explorata” is a fantastic accomplishment and the result is an album that is just as suitable for a long scenic drive as it is for a house party. The music is so easy to grasp, yet still very fresh and exciting, to the point that it will keep your attention for many years to come. Do yourself a favor and pick this album up as soon as you can!
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STS9 is also currently on the last leg of a large US tour, with both Two Fresh and Ana Sia, who are part of STS9‘s 1320 Records,  tearing it up as supporting acts for the band! They have pretty much covered every region in the country from West Coast and East Coast to the Mid-West and South! I had the pleasure of catching the band for their 3 night run in Denver, Colorado during NYE and I can not stress enough that this is a band you must experience live! On stage is where STS9 is truly at home and they have spent years perfecting their performances. It is a massive production with a phenomenal light show and it will leave you utterly speechless by what you just witnessed. Below is a complete list of the band’s remaining tour schedule. I highly suggest you purchase a ticket because the band is absolutely on fire right now!

Mar 10 2010 The Music Farm CHARLESTON, South Carolina
Mar 11 2010 Amos’ Southend CHARLOTTE, North Carolina
Mar 12 2010 The Norva NORFOLK, Virginia
Mar 13 2010 9:30 Club WASHINGTON, Washington DC
Mar 14 2010 9:30 Club WASHINGTON, Washington DC
Mar 17 2010 Mr Smalls Theatre PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania
Mar 18 2010 Madison Theatre COVINGTON, Kentucky
Mar 19 2010 The Pageant ST. LOUIS, Missouri
Mar 20 2010 The Pageant ST. LOUIS, Missouri

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John “The Grizz” Grisanti


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