OUR FAVORITE AUSSIES, ANGUS AND JULIA STONE...WE SAW THEM LIVE!

If you have been keeping up with Musicbleep, which you should be doing on a daily basis, you will know that we have been talking about the Australian brother and sister duo Angus and Julia Stone quite a bit. Last week, we finally got to see them perform, and I'm going to do my best to describe our experience, but it will be hard, because they were so amazing, I'm almost speechless!
Their looks are so different, yet they totally compliment each other. Julia looked as if she should be running through a meadow, with a crown of flowers upon her head. I was an instant fan the second I heard them, and seeing them live brought my love for them to a much higher level! Their seemingly slow, melodic songs, and geniously written lyrics were so incredibly heightened live. With a mixture of her flawless vocals, his raspy voice, and harmonicas, guitars and trumpets, created a very powerful performance. They would start off each song quiet and slow and bring it up to a loud, chest pounding emotion, and I have to admit.....I did shed a tear (actually two different times).

If you have yet to have taken a listen, I beg of you, CHECK THEM OUT!! You can do so at youtube and at http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/angusandjuliastone. Also, and thank you Jesus, they are coming back to LA to headline the Troubadour in West Hollywood on April 23rd!!! So GO GO GO!!! You will NOT be disappointed, in fact, you will be inspired and leave the show with a smile on your face and love in your heart!

Photos and Story by Cory

BRETT DENNEN @ H.O.B HOLLYWOOD

Last Wednesday at the House of Blues Hollywood, we had the chance to see a wonderful performance by Brett Dennen. You may not quite recognize the name as of yet, but you will be hearing it a lot in the near future as he is definitely making his mark in music today! He has had songs on shows, such as 'Greys Anatomy', 'Scrubs', and 'House', so you may have heard him at some point. His third album "Hope For the Hopeless" dropped on October 21st, and has sold tens of thousands of copies.

The stage was set with a painting that he had done, 4 religious candles, and burning incense. He arrived onto the stage in white Dickies pants and shirt, and no shoes. He quietly picked up his guitar and started the show with 'Ain't Gonna Lose You', which I have to say was amazing. Once he finished that highly emotional, lyrical song, he definitely picked up the beat and got his jam on! I know this might sound a bit odd, but think Antony and the Johnsons meets Cat Stevens meets Jimmy Buffet meets Jason Mraz, and you will have Brett Dennen. Yet with all those comparisons, he has a sound all his own. Check him out on youtube, or at http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/brettdennen.

SHUT UP I SAW THE SHOW!

Finally, after a few SOLD OUT shows in L.A., The Ting Tings invaded the El Rey last night, playing once again to a SOLD OUT crowd. This time I scored my tickets early enough, so I was assured not to miss out!



After a painful performance by this white rapper (luckiest guy to score an opening spot for The Ting Tings), the dynamic duo took the stage. Singing hits from their debut album WE STARTED NOTHING, which included "That's Not My Name", "Great DJ" and of course their massive hit "Shut Up And Let Me Go." Actually, I think every song off their album is AMAZING and could be massive hits!

There has been so much buzz around this band ever since they had their single "Shut Up And Let Me Go" in that iPod commercial, and last night I was lucky enough to have a front row seat to their hotness. Seriously, I have been to a lot of shows in the past few months, but these two killed it! It was probably one of my favorite shows.



Get your yourself a copy of their album TODAY! I have a widget to the right where you can click on and purchase it directly from Amazon for $6.99. It's definitely one of my picks for the summer...


SeeqPod - Playable Search

www.myspace.com/thetingtings

IT WAS A GRAND OLE PARTY

Last night a couple of my friends and I headed over to Echo Park. First, we stopped off at my friends new place in Echo Park, which is walking distance from The Echo. After walking around the neighborhood, we headed over to catch Grand Ole Party.

We got to know GOP and interviewed Mike (bass player) a few weeks back, so I was anxiously awaiting last night. We walked in, grabbed a drink and met up with the contest winners from the GOP contest we had. It was such a pleasure to finally meet up with some of my readers and the winners couldn't have been nicer.

So, 11:00 came and GOP finally took the stage! Two words entered my mind during the first song - BAD ASS! Kristin (Lead Singer) has such a POWERFUL voice and such a captivating presence. It was really cool to see her go ape on the drums and belt it out at the same time!

It's nice to catch something new and fresh every now and again. I definitely see BIG things happening for this San Diego trio! They finish up the last part of their west coast tour tonight before a hometown crowd in SD! You can also catch them at the end of the month in Anaheim at the House of Blues w/The Black Keys, and October 4th at the Detour Festival in L.A.




www.myspace.com/grandoleparty

IN CASE YOU MISSED EM...

Lady Gaga saw, and Lady Gaga conquered. Along with her eccentric posse of back-up dancers, she lit up the stage of 'So You Think You Can Dance' with a no-holds performance that has EVERYONE talking. Check out the show-stopping throwdown!

IN CASE YOU MISSED EM...

Low Vs. Diamond performed on The Daily Habit on FUEL TV. Next up for LVD is the Pemberton Festival on July 25th & then The Late Show with David Letterman on July 29th!

IN CASE YOU MISSED EM...

Coldplay was on The Today Show this morning! Check them out performing live in front of a huge crowd! Viva La Colplay!

I Know You're Married But I Have Feelings Too!...and Happy Birthday Kendra!

WOW! She never ceases to amaze me! This is my third time having the honors of witnessing such brilliance! Martha Wainwright's latest album dropped two weeks ago, 'I know You're Married, But I Have Feelings Too'. An odd title since she has just been married this past year. This was my first experience to see her perform with a band, not just her and her lovely guitar. Front guitarist, being her husband, whom was introduced last night. I cannot express the words of how perfect her performances are. She is a true beauty, a lyrical genius, a down to earth real person. Coming from such an infamous family, sister of Rufus, daughter of folk legends Kate McGarrigle and Louden Wainwright, she has a true approach to her music and her audience.


Last night she obviously performed songs for her latest album, but did indulge us in her classics, Factory, Far Away, When the Day is Short, and This Life. Praying and hoping she would perform B.M.F.A., she did not, but there was a perfect reason for that (keep reading and you will know why, hint: song was written about her infamous father).




Her passionate vocals and foot stomping beats creates such a closeness, leaves the audience with no choice then to come together. Having the band definitely creating a different tone to the show, but was well balanced with her solo and her guitar, but with the band, she for sure rocked The Troubadour!

As a special treat, a historical event in the Wainwright history, her father, Louden, came out and performed a song with her, which was simply amazing, and now I have seen her perform with both parents; maybe next time I will see her with her brother. But she has created an entity on her own, My Favorite Wainwright! She closed the show with a TREMENDOUS cover of Stormy Weather, which blew everyone away.


I did get the pleasure of meeting two fabulous ladies, HUGE Martha fans, and fans of the Wainwright Empire, and music in general; I may have found a new concert buddy. Picture as follows. These girls were so much fun!


Last, but not least, and I am not star f**ker, but I was able to get photo of Martha and myself, whom she did remember me from the San Francisco performance when she opened for The Swell Season. She is sweet as pie, down to earth, and the real thing. I highly recommend grabbing her new album, as well as her previous one! She is simply a talented and intriguing persona that would have you listening to her music for hours!



STORY AND PHOTOS BY CORY RADKE
LAST PHOTO TAKEN BY KENDRA STANIFER