I have attended and covered over 400 concerts over the years. t got me thinking: What do I look for in a quality live show? You can listen to the audio piece here.
What Do I Look for in a Quality Live Show?
December 20, 2015Goal Setting.
December 18, 2015I created a short audio piece on trying to achieve goals. Any time you feel stuck, ask yourself, “Is there anything I can do today to help myself achieve my goal?” Listen to the piece here.
“Staying Fit” and “Getting Buff” in Today’s Modern Society.
December 17, 2015
I created a short audio piece about “staying fit” and “getting buff” in today’s modern society. You can check out the piece here. Keep beasting it hardcore!
Naming a Pet.
December 17, 2015I did a short audio piece on the challenges of naming a pet in today’s hip society. Listen to the piece here.
Beast It Hardcore.
December 16, 2015I created a quick audio piece on a mindset I call “being the beast.” Beasting it hardcore is more than a phrase, it is a way of being. Listen to the piece here.
My Favorite Music and Concerts of 2015.
December 15, 2015
Kraftwerk at the Midland Theatre, in Kansas City.
With 2015 wrapping up, it’s time to look back on some of my favorite music and gigs of the year.
Canadian noise rockers Viet Cong put out my favorite album of the year. The sprawling, weird soundscapes of their self-titled debut make for quality extended listening. Serious shoegaze vibes that hit hard.
I also really loved the Chvrches album Every Open Eye. Their sound has really grown from their debut record. A track like “Keep You On My Side” peaks really well and brings the energy. The vocals are on-point (as always), but the beats hit harder and the songs are more epic.
Gigs:
German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk put on a show for the ages at the Midland this year. Kraftwerk perfected the idea of the “man machine” and raved the way for nearly every form of modern electronic music. It was my first 3D sit down rave. Visually, the show was stunning and the music wasn’t just a nostalgia trip. For something so robotic, it felt so lively, fresh and new. The show also marked Kraftwerk’s first Kansas City show in 45 years.
Stevie Wonder’s epic show at the Sprint Center was also one of the best of the year. He played for over three hours. The setlist included his classic album Songs in the Key of Life. He approaches music from a totally different angle. The hits were there, the jams were there, something for everyone. Janelle Monae sat in with Stevie in KC, which made the gig even better. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime show.
Favorite tracks:
The demo version of “Realiti” by Grimes is my favorite song of the year. Her whole sound really comes together on this track. An updated version of the song ended up on Art Angels, but the demo version has more rawness and punch.
I really dug the house vibes of Caribou’s “Can’t Do Without You.” I was lucky enough to catch him live at Pitchfork Fest in Chicago this year. It’s a glorious feeling hearing a song like this wash over a festival crowd.
New Orleans-based rapper Curren$y showed why he is one of the best rappers out there today with “Speed.” His vibe is singular and different. The production on this record is one of the best I’ve heard all year. This beat is so fresh!
The laid back, chill vibes of Martin Courtney’s “Airport Bar” made it one of my favorite tracks of 2015. The lead singer of Real Estate displayed a subtle shift in tone on his debut solo album. Courtney knows how to craft a really quality song.
What were your favorite music moments of 2015?
Choose Positivity.
December 14, 2015
I recently did a short audio piece talking about why choosing to be positive can be so important in your life.
You can listen to the piece here.
A Sticky Situation: $13.99 Almond Butter.
December 14, 2015
This jar of almond butter costs $13.99. It seems so hip, it should be featured on http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/ I think I will smear it on artisan bread, crafted by monks in the Himalayas, and combine it with rare African cultivated jelly. Time to make a $55 peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I am afraid to try this almond butter, because I know I will probably like it too much. It will be like tasting the Mount Olympus of almond butter. All other spreads will become irreverent and my life up until that point will become a fallacy. A terribly sticky situation.
What Was Your Worst Handcrafted Cocktail Ever?
December 14, 2015Made a quick podcast. What was the worst “handcrafted cocktail” you ever attempted to make? Check the piece out here.
Dancehall Forever: How I Became Passionate About Reggae-Dancehall.
December 13, 2015
Damian Marley at Crossroads KC.
Like most people, Bob Marley was my first introduction to reggae. His impact on music and viewpoint is on a whole different level. However, being in New Orleans really helped ignite my passion for reggae-dancehall. NOLA has long had a strong reggae scene.
The first time I walked into Reggae Night, upstairs at the Dragon’s Den, people’s lifeless bodies were being carried down the stairs from overheating. It was an intense scene for sure, but I knew it must be one heck of a party. The Wednesday night DJ sets spun by DJ T-Roy are about hot, sweaty dancehall mayhem. It was always great to see what gets the crowd hyped up. Those old school Buju Banton tracks would always get the crowd moving. “Good Body” always hit really well.
Thursday nights at the Blue Nile, also hosted by T-Roy) start out on the more chilled out reggae tip. The dancehall vibes get turned up at the party goes late into the night. I made it to the end of reggae night once. It wrapped up at 6 am.
Being a fan of reggae-dancehall can be conflicting sometimes. The lyrics can be uplifting, thought-provoking and positive. However, at times, the lyrics can be really slack, disrespectful and trashy. This can sometimes happen within the same song.
To me, a lot of the beats and production in reggae-dancehall seem much fresher than in other genres. Many artists freestyle their verses over the riddims, which is always great to see and adds to the energy of the song. It’s interesting to see what different artists do with the same riddim. How they put their own spin on the track and what lyrical themes they address.
Attending reggae nights in NOLA also sparked my interest in DJing reaggae-dancehall. It’s a lot of fun to mix and great to see how people respond to the tunes. You can listen to my mixes here.
The quality vibes created by reggae-dancehall are unparalleled. The energy and joy is so infectious and wonderful.
Here are some of my favorite tracks:
Pressure “Love and Affection”
Jah Cure “Sticky”
Vybz Kartel “Go Go Wine”
Richie Spice “Di Plane Land”
Collie Buddz “Come Around”
Mavado “So Special”
Buju Banton “Champion”
McClainJohnson.com 