MUMFORD & SONS AND THE MIDDLE EAST.....LIVE @ THE FONDA!!

On May 29th, the first day of the Sasquatch! Festival, we had the amazing opportunity to see both Mumford & Sons and The Middle East. Both shows...GENIUS. One week later, back in LA, both bands, same venue: the famous Fonda Theater at The Music Box, and we were some of the lucky ones to witness these extraordinary talents under one roof, one night.

The Middle East opened strong with a full set of their latest EP, in addition to other older favorites.  Joining them onstage, for the duration of one long jam session, Mumoford & Sons.  Seeing them in an outdoor, festival venue was a great introduction to their live techniques, but seeing them in a small, intimate setting, proved them correct.   Their angelic vocals and mesmerizing  lyrics, they made for an extraordinary spectacle.

The Middle East left the stage with a strong goodbye, captivating the audience, and the mood was set.  The anticipation, the anxiety, the chanting....for Mumford & Sons; knowing what we were about to embark on, as far as an unforgettable performance and experience of witnessing Mumford and Sons in the very early stages of their successes.

The charming quartet arrived to the stage, as modest as all can be, and quietly picked up their instruments; and without a beat, started jamming...Mumford and Sons style! They have such eloquence and grace, yet such a firey passion; my heart pounds with their harmonizing, melodic testimonies.

With each performance that we have seen, they have really proved that they are truly playing their music not just for the fans, but for themselves; because that is what they are meant to be doing, and you can tell by looking into each one of their eyes and faces. They all just have that look, and it all comes from such a positive place....although intense, at times. With their loud drums, banjos, stand-up bass, and keyboard and their harmonizing vocals, it is hard not to be captivated by this band.

They played a good hour 45 to two hours, and I was mind-blown the entire time. If you have yet to hear or see them, DO IT!! You can always check out their tunes and tour dates at mumfordandsons.com.
They have created a music genius-monster and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next!!

SASQUATCH DAY 1 - THE MIDDLE EAST

PHOTOS:CORY RADKE

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

In honor of Earth Day, I'm telling you folks in Texas about a FREE SHOW tonight! The Middle East is playing the Loft in Dallas, Texas. If you can, GET OUT and CHECK OUT this band. I am obsessed! I hope to see them in L.A. this June, which I see they just added another show.

4/22--The Loft--Dallas, TX---FREE SHOW, ALL AGES
4/23--Revolution--Little Rock, AR (w/ Frightened Rabbit)
4/24--Masquerade Music Park--Atlanta, GA (w/ Frightened Rabbit)
5/5--Horseshoe--Toronto, ON
5/6--The Ladies Literary Club at Calvin College--Grand Rapids, MI (w/ Laura Marling)
5/7--Magic Stick--Detroit, MI (w/ Laura Marling)
5/8--Andy Warhol Museum--Pittsburgh, PA (w/ Laura Marling)
5/9--Big Orbit’s Soundlab--Buffalo, NY (w/ Laura Marling)
5/11--Space--Portland, ME (w/ Laura Marling)
5/13--Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire--Montreal, QC (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/14--The Middle East Downstairs--Cambridge, MA (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/16--The Fillmore at TLA--Philadelphia, PA (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/17--Music Hall of Williamsburg--Brooklyn, NY (w/ Mumford & Sons)
**SOLD OUT**
5/18--Webster Hall--New York, NY (w/ Mumford & Sons)
**SOLD OUT**
5/19--Mercury Lounge--New York, NY (wh. Mountain Man)
**SOLD OUT**
5/20--930 Club--Washington, DC (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/21--Beachland Ballroom--Cleveland, OH (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/22--Wexner Center--Columbus, OH (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/24--Lincoln Hall--Chicago, IL (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/25--Varsity Theater--Minneapolis, MN (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/29--Sasquatch Music Festival--Quincy, WA
5/30--560 Club--Vancouver, BC (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/31--Aladdin Theater--Portland, OR (w/ Mumford & Sons)
6/2--Slim’s--San Francisco, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons)
6/3--The Music Box--Los Angeles, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons)
**JUST ADDED**
6/4--The Music Box--Los Angeles, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons)
**SOLD OUT**
6/6--Belly Up Tavern--Solana Beach, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons)
6/7--Rhythm Room--Phoenix, AZ (w/ Mumford & Sons)
6/9--Antone’s--Austin, TX (w/ Mumford & Sons)
6/10--House Of Blues Cambridge Room--Dallas, TX (w/ Mumford & Sons)
6/12-- Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival--Manchester, TN

THE MIDDLE EAST CD GIVEAWAY!

Woo hoooo...we finally made it to COACHELLA week!! In honor of one of my new favorite bands out of Australia, we are giving away their CD. The Middle East will play Coachella this weekend and I'm gonna give one lucky winner a copy of their CD.

All you have to do is shoot me an email. I will draw TWO winners at Random. Enter @ musicbleep@gmail.com. Contest will end Wednesday! You can also leave a comment and tell me how much you love the band, one of their songs, an experience at one of their shows, etc...

And don't forget to check the band out on the road!

http://www.myspace.com/visitthemiddleeast

COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU!

As most of you already know, I'm a huge fan of music that comes out of Australia. I don't know why, but my obsession with Australia grows daily. I honestly think I'm supposed to live there. Anyway, here is another band that I'm really digging right now. They are called The Middle East and they are coming to a town near you! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

Check out all the latest tour dates below:

4/14--University of California--Davis, CA (w/ Passion Pit & Mayer Hawthorne)
4/15--Fox Theater--Pomona, CA (w/ Pavement)
4/16--Soho Restaurant and Music Club--Santa Barbara, CA (w/ Beach House)
4/18--Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival--Indio, CA
4/19--The Clubhouse--Tempe, AZ (w/ Frightened Rabbit)~
4/21--Walter’s on Washington--Houston, TX (w/ Frightened Rabbit)~
4/22--The Loft--Dallas, TX (w/ Frightened Rabbit)~
4/23--Revolution--Little Rock, AR (w/ Frightened Rabbit)~
4/24--Masquerade Music Park--Atlanta, GA (w/ Frightened Rabbit)~
5/5--Horseshoe--Toronto, ON
5/6--The Ladies Literary Club at Calvin College--Grand Rapids, MI (w/ Laura Marling)%
5/7--Magic Stick--Detroit, MI (w/ Laura Marling)%
5/8--Andy Warhol Museum--Pittsburgh, PA (w/ Laura Marling)%
5/9--Big Orbit’s Soundlab--Buffalo, NY (w/ Laura Marling)%
5/11--Space--Portland, ME (w/ Laura Marling)%
5/13--Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire--Montreal, QC (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
5/14--The Middle East Downstairs--Cambridge, MA (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
5/16--The Fillmore at TLA--Philadelphia, PA (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
5/17--Music Hall of Williamsburg--Brooklyn, NY (w/ Mumford & Sons)
**SOLD OUT** ^
5/18--Webster Hall--New York, NY (w/ Mumford & Sons)
**SOLD OUT** ^
5/19--Mercury Lounge--New York, NY ^
5/20--930 Club--Washington, DC (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
5/21--Beachland Ballroom--Cleveland, OH (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
5/22--Wexner Center--Columbus, OH (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
5/24--Lincoln Hall--Chicago, IL (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
5/25--Varsity Theater--Minneapolis, MN (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
5/29--Sasquatch Music Festival--Quincy, WA
5/30--560 Club--Vancouver, BC (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
5/31--Aladdin Theater--Portland, OR (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
6/2--Slim’s--San Francisco, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
6/4--The Music Box--Los Angeles, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons)
**SOLD OUT** ^
6/6--Belly Up Tavern--Solana Beach, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
6/7--Rhythm Room--Phoenix, AZ (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
6/9--Antone’s--Austin, TX (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
6/10--House Of Blues Cambridge Room--Dallas, TX (w/ Mumford & Sons) ^
6/12--Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival--Manchester, TN
~Dates with Frightened Rabbit
%Dates with Laura Marling
^Dates with Mumford and Sons

KCRW WELCOMES THE MIDDLE EAST - SXSW EDITION

KCRW has been in Austin all week bringing amazing artists to those of us that didnt make it down. Australian band, The Middle East was in the studio yesterday. You gotta check this band out...amaaaaaaaaaazing! Australia is bringen' the talent...sooo much talent coming from the land down under. I can't get enough!!

Today's guest is The XX.