Amoeba Music > What's in My Bag?

Ben Kweller (Singer/Songwriter)

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:02:00 GMT

Ben Kweller is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Born in San Francisco, he spent his youth in Texas. He grew up in a musical household, with his father teaching him to play drums and guitar, and by the time he was nine he had a dozen original compositions and could play multiple instruments.

In 1993, Kweller formed punk group Radish and become popular in the Dallas music scene. Radish recorded an EP Hello and LP Dizzy 1994. By 1996, the music industry took notice and the band signed with Mercury Records to release the album Restraining Bolt, but the group decided to disband in 1999. Kweller moved to Brooklyn, New York shortly after to embark on his prolific solo career. He played acoustic shows and self-released four EPs, one of which caught the attention of Evan Dando of The Lemonheads, and Dando invited Kweller out on tour with him. Kweller also toured with Jeff Tweedy, Juliana Hatfield and The Moldy Peaches.

Kweller singned with ATO Records in 2001 and recorded the 5-track EP entitled Phone Home. In March 2002, Sha Sha, Kweller's first solo studio album, was released and he put together a live band featuring Fred Eltringham (Wallflowers, Dixie Chicks) on drums, and Mike Stroud (Ratatat) on guitar and keyboards. They did multiple headlining tours around the world, sharing the stage with Kings Of Leon, My Morning Jacket and a few dates opening for The Strokes. In 2003, Kweller formed the short-lived pop rock outfit The Bens with Ben Folds and Ben Lee. The trio toured Australia and recorded an independant self titled EP. Kweller's second solo album, On My Way, led Kweller on a co-headlining US tour with Death Cab for Cutie. In 2006 Kweller recorded his third album, Ben Kweller, with Kweller playing all the instruments himself. His fourth studio, Changing Horses, was released in February 2009. Kweller’s latest studio album, Go Fly A Kite (2011), was his first release produced solely by his own record label, The Noise Company.

Chromeo (Electrofunk Duo)

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:06:00 GMT

Chromeo is a synthpop/electrofunk duo from Montreal, Canada and based in New York City. They are P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel) on keyboards, synthesizers and talk box, and Dave 1 (David Macklovitch) on guitar and lead vocals. Childhood best friends, they officially formed the band in 2002 and were discovered in their hometown by Tiga, who immediately signed them to his Turbo Recording imprint.

Chromeo released their debut album, She’s In Control (Vice, 2004), followed by the mix, Un Joli Mix Pour Toi (Eskimo, 2005) and 2006's Ce Soir, On Danse. Their second full-length album, Fancy Footwork (Vice, 2007), was produced by Chromeo with the help of Tiga and mixed by Philippe Zdar from Cassius. The album led them on a two-year world tour performing in festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading, Fujirock in Japan, Iceland Airwaves, Pemberton Music Festival, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Rothbury Festival, and Lollapalooza. Chromeo released DJ-Kicks (!K7) in 2009 from their mixtape series. They returned with their third full length album in August 2010, Business Casual (Big Beat).

John Cameron Mitchell (Writer, Actor, Director)

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:14:00 GMT

John Cameron Mitchell is a New York City based independent director, writer and actor, best known for the cult hit Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Mitchell's stage past led him to write and star in the 1998 off-Broadway musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, about a transsexual East German punk rock singer named Hedwig. Mitchell and his writing partner, Stephen Trask, showcased and developed Hedwig and the Angry Inch at various gigs and drag punk clubs preserving its rock-n-roll feel. Three years later, Mitchell made his directorial debut with the feature film adaptation of Hedwig, which earned Mitchell a Best Director award at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival as well as a Golden Globe nomination.

Mitchell was also executive producer of the 2004 documentary Tarnation, about the life of Jonathan Caouette, which won Best Documentary from the National Society of Film Critics, the Independent Spirit Awards and the Gotham Awards. In 2005, Mitchell directed music videos for Bright Eyes' "First Day of My Life" and the Scissor Sisters' "Filthy/Gorgeous." Mitchell's next feature was the 2006 comedy-drama Shortbus. 2010, saw the release of Rabbit Hole, a drama which Mitchell directed, starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart and Dianne Wiest.

Together with Shortbus producer Howard Gertler, Mitchell is producing an animated feature The Ruined Cast and developing for the screen Neil Gaiman's short story How to Talk to Girls at Parties. His latest film Nous York, starring Sienna Miller is currently in post-production and he is also developing a show for the HBO network.

Idle Warship (Res & Talib Kweli)

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:30:00 GMT

Idle Warship is a rock/Hip-Hop/soul hybrid collaboration between longtime friends, emcee veteran Talib Kweli and soul singer/songwriter Res. Res has appeared on each Talib Kweli album since 2000's Train of Thought and prior to forming Idle Warship, the two have toured together. Idle Warship began as sheer studio experimentation, but the songs they released online in 2008 were attracting attention. Their premiere at SXSW in 2009 was a big success and led to a European tour. Idle Warship then released Party Robot – their debut mixtape with DJ Mick Boogie and singer/songwriter Graph Nobel in October 2009. Idle Warship's first official album, Habits of the Heart, released in November 2011 on Blacksmith, features guest spots from Chester French, John Forte, Jean Grae, Jay Knocka and Michelle Williams.

Blitzen Trapper (Alt-Country Rock Band)

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:36:00 GMT

Blitzen Trapper is a Portland, Oregon based alt country/folk band who formed in 2000. The band consists of songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Eric Earley, guitarist Erik Menteer, guitarist Marty Marquis, bassist Michael VanPelt, and drummer Brian Adrian Koch. Blitzen Trapper self-released their first three albums - Blitzen Trapper (2003), Field Rexx (2005), and Wild Mountain Nation (2007). Their notable success came in the form of “Best New Music” recognition from Pitchfork for Wild Mountain Nation and critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Spin and The Nerve. This landed the band a record deal on Sub Pop. The release of Furr in 2008, another critically acclaimed album, showed the band honing in on their distinctive roots-rock, Americana sound and was followed by The Black River Killer EP in 2009. Their next Sub Pop full length album, Destroyer of the Void, was released in 2010.

With over a decade together as a band, Blitzen Trapper has shared the stage with The Hold Steady, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Iron and Wine, Dawes, The Parson Red Heads and Wilco. In addition to their national and international touring they have also played many festival circuits including: Sasquatch festival, Coachella, Monolith, Pitchfork, SXSW, Lollapalooza and the Newport Folk Festival. Their latest album, American Goldwing, was released on Sub Pop in 2011.

Lena Dunham and Lesley Arfin (HBO's GIRLS)

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:22:00 GMT

Lena Dunham is a writer, director, producer and actress who came to prominence with her 2010 film, Tiny Furniture. The native New Yorker, whose parents are both artists, got her start making YouTube videos and has emerged as a major talent with the success of her semi-autobiographical film debut. Dunham received the 2010 LA Film Critics Association New Generation Award, an Independent Spirit Award for “Best First Screenplay,” “Best Narrative Feature” at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival, and Tiny Furniture was released by The Criterion Collection. Her writing has also been featured in The Onion and The AV Club and Dunham has created two web series entitled Tiger Shots and Delusional Downtown Divas.

Dunham is starring in the new HBO comedy, GIRLS, which she created, wrote, stars in, directs and executive produces. GIRLS, premiering April 15, takes a comedic and uncensored look at the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of four Brooklyn women in their 20s.

Lesley Arfin is a freelance writer based out of N.Y.C who got her start at Vice magazine, where she penned her own successful and comedic column, "Dear Diary." In 2007 her book, Dear Diary, based on the column, was published by Vice Books. Arfin is also the former Editor-In-Chief of Missbehave magazine. Her work has been featured in a number of publications, including Jane, Nylon, iD, America, Purple, Paper, Jalouse and Russh. She has also written columns for websites such as Jezebel, Street Carnage, Buzz Net, and Thought Catalog. Arfin currently works as staff writer on the HBO series GIRLS, with friend and creator Lena Dunham and producer Judd Apatow.

Enrique Bunbury (Spanish Singer/Songwriter)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:30:00 GMT

Bunbury is the recording name for Spanish singer/songwriter Enrique Ortiz de Landazuri Izarduy. Bunbury got involved in music at a young age, making his debut in a high school and later playing with Proceso Entropico and Zumo de Vidrio. Bunbury then joined Heroes Del Silencio in 1987, becoming popular in the Spanish rock scene. After a successful run with Heroes, releasing over six albums during his time in the band, they eventually broke up in 1996. Bunbury went on to a solo career in 1997, releasing the radically different techno album, Radical Sonora, which was also recorded with some former Heroes del Silencio bandmembers.

In 1999, Bunbury released his darker rock album, Pequeno, followed by the blues influenced Flamingos (2002) and El Viaje A Ninguna Parte (2004). In 2006, Bunbury moved on to a double album, El Tiempo de las Cerezas, with Spanish indie rocker Nacho Vegas and again collaborated with Vegas in 2008 for Hellville De Luxe. The singer/songerwriter's album peaked at number one on the Spanish charts. 2009 saw the release of the pure pop album Las Consecuencias. In 2010, Bunbury collaborated with popular Mexican alternative rock band Zoe, on the single "Nada." Bunbury's latest albums, Licenciado Cantinas and the double album Gran Rex, were both released by EMI in 2011.

Wild Flag (Indie Rock Band)

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:03:00 GMT

Wild Flag is an indie rock band based in Portland, Oregon and Washington, DC. The quartet, which formed in 2010, features Carrie Brownstein (vocals, guitar), Mary Timony (vocals, guitar), Rebecca Cole (keyboards) and Janet Weiss (drums).

The members of Wild Flag have had interconnected musical histories over a decade, and have played in numerous and notable bands. They include the now defunct riot grrl band Sleater-Kinney (1994-2006) with founder Carrie Brownstein and drummer Janet Weiss. Sleater-Kinney have also toured with Mary Timony's '90s alternative band Helium. Brownstein and Timony later collaborated in the short-lived band The Spells, releasing one EP. Rebecca Cole's band The Minders frequently opened for Sleater-Kinney and Quasi, another of Janet Weiss' bands. And Weiss and Cole play together in garage-rock cover band The Shadow Mortons. Although everyone in Wild Flag has collaborated with someone else in the band, the first Wild Flag practice was the first time all four musicians had ever all played together.

Before their album was even recorded, Wild Flag went on various tours, playing small clubs in the US, selling out venues, and building an audience of their own. And by the time Wild Flag hit SXSW in 2011, the buzz was considerable. Wild Flag released their highly anticipated self-titled debut album, which was recorded live (to capture the energy of their shows) in September 2011 on Merge Records to much critical acclaim.

Joel Isaac Black (Drummer-at-Large)

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:46:00 GMT

- Sweaters, Lion Fever, good posture drummer-at-large.
- Foghorn & Leo Disco SoundSystem.
- He can be found sleeping on the sunny side of the canal, riding a fine Dutch bicycle through central Kreuzberg, Berlin.

DJ Quik (MC/Producer)

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:47:00 GMT

DJ Quik is an MC and producer who came up as a West Coast gangsta artist during the '90s. Born David Martin Blake in Compton, California, Quik's love of music started early with the influence of his mother's record collection and playing instruments beginning at age twelve. He made a name for himself on the mixtape circuit during the late '80s, selling and compiling tapes which also featured fellow rappers AMG, 2nd II None, and Hi-C.

With the buzz from his mixtapes, he was signed to Priority Records and released his debut full-length, Quik Is the Name, in 1990 at just 21 years old. Quik produced all the tracks on the platinum-selling Quik Is the Name, including the hits "Tonite" and "Born and Raised in Compton." After the release of his sixth album, Under tha Influence (ARK 21, 2002), Quik formed his own label, Mad Science Recordings, on which he has released all his subsequent albums. In 2009 he released a collaboration with Kurupt, BlaQKout (Mad Science, 2009). His most recent album, The Book of David (Mad Science), was released on April 19, 2011.

DJ Quik has produced albums for other aritsts including 2nd II None and Hi-C. He has also contributed productions to albums by Tony! Toni! Tone!, 2Pac, Jermaine Dupri, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Talib Kweli, Jadakiss, Jay-Z, Ludacris, and Murs, among many others.

John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants)

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:49:00 GMT

John Flansburgh is the guitarist and co-founder of They Might Be Giants. Over the last 30 years, They Might Be Giants have released 15 studio albums, won two Grammy Awards, went platinum, and recorded theme songs for Malcolm In the Middle and The Daily Show with John Stewart.

Flansburgh and high school friend John Linnell formed They Might Be Giants as a duo in Brooklyn in 1982. They attracted a strong following with their quirky, infectious pop songs, stage props, and their Dial-A-Song service (an answering machine playing only TMBG tracks). The duo released their first album, They Might Be Giants (Restless Records), in 1986 and Lincoln (Restless Records) in 1988, which contains "Ana Ng." Their third album, Flood (Elektra, 1990), featuring the hits "Birdhouse in Your Soul" and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," has since been certified platinum. With their 1994 album, John Henry (Warner Bros.), the duo became a full band. Their most recent album, Join Us, released on Idlewilde/Rounder Records on July 19, 2011, was their first album for adults since 2007.

TMBG began releasing children's music with 2002's No! (Rounder Kids), their ninth studio album overall. In 2005, they released Here Come the ABCs (Idlewild/Disney) and in 2009 they won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children with its sequel, Here Come the 123s (Idlewild/Disney, 2008).

Theophilus London (Brooklyn Hip-Hop Artist)

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:51:00 GMT

Theophilus London is a Brooklyn-based Hip-Hop artist who has been described as "genre-bending" because of his ability to blend soul, pop, punk, electro and R&B. London, who cites Michael Jackson, Prince, Kraftwerk and The Smiths as some of his major influences, released a series of mix tapes and the Lovers Holiday EP (Warner Bros., 2011), which landed him a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman. His full-length debut, Timez Are Weird These Days (Warner Bros.), was released on July 19, 2011 and features guest vocalists Holly Miranda and and Sara Quinn (Tegan and Sara). London has performed at The Northside Festival in Brooklyn and the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and will be playing at South by Southwest in March 2012. Additionally, London has been profiled as a style icon in GQ, Esquire, Elle, NY Times, Fader and NME.

Scott Kirkland (The Crystal Method)

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:56:00 GMT

The Crystal Method is Scott Kirkland and Ken Jordan, an electronic production team originally from Las Vegas but now based out of Los Angeles. Their first two singles, "Now Is The Time" and "Keep Hope Alive," became dance floor anthems and their debut album, Vegas (Out Post, 1997), is one of the biggest selling electronic albums of all time. Their most recent full-length, Divided by Night, released on their own Tiny E Recordings in 2009, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Electronic/Dance Album. In addition to constant touring and a reputation for their live performances, TCM has worked in film and television soundtracks and collaborated with a wide variety of voices including Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots), Emily Haines (Metric), Peter Hook (New Order), Matisyahu, and Martha Reeves for the Re:Generation Music Project.

The Re:Generation Music Project follows five electronic DJs/producers - DJ Premier, Mark Ronson, Skrillex, Pretty Lights and The Crystal Method - as they remix, recreate and re-imagine five traditional styles of music (Rock, R&B, Country, Jazz, and Classical). These five distinctive DJs collaborate with some incredibly talented (and some unlikely) partners - The Doors, Martha Reeves, Erykah Badu,Trombone Shorty, Mos Def, Zigaboo Modeliste, Nas, Leann Rimes, Dr. Ralph Stanley - to discover how our musical past is influencing the future. You can catch the film in an encore screening on Thursday February 23.

Acid Mothers Temple (Japanese Psychedelic Band)

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:34:00 GMT

Acid Mothers Temple (a.k.a. Acid Mothers Temple and The Melting Parasio UFO) is an influential and prolific Japanese experimental-psych band featuring Kawabata Makoto, Tsuyama Atsushi, Higasgi Hiroshi and Shimora Koji. The band, led by guitarist Kawabata Makoto formed in 1995, was essentially a solo effort. In 1997, Makoto released his self-titled album and a year later he assembled a group of musicians who were also influenced by Karlheinz Stockhausen, Krautrock, and '70s progressive hard rock to tour overseas as the collective of Acid Mothers Temple. The band has released albums frequently on a number of international record labels as well as the Acid Mothers Temple Family record label, which was established in 1998. Early in their career AMT featured many musicians, often rotating as many thirty members, but by 2004 the line-up had solidified with four core members and frequent vocal guests. With over fifty ambitious releases and constant international touring, the collective has also managed to spin out numerous offshoots, including Floating Flower, Nishinihon, and Tsurbami. AMT have shared the bill with acts like Richard Youngs, Gong, and The Orb, and have collaborated with artists from the NASA computer graphics animation team, Acid Mothers Temple's latest album is The Ripper at the Heavens' Gates of Dark, released on the Riot Season label in 2011.

Zola Jesus (Experimental Electronic Musician)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:01:00 GMT

Zola Jesus (a.k.a. Nika Roza Danilova), is a singer/songwriter who creates dark wave, synthpop, electronic and experimental ballads. Raised in the Wisconsin wilderness, Zola Jesus took an early interest in music, being primarily influenced by Opera. Inspired by Classical and later goth, no-wave and avante-garde, she began crafting her own sound with home recordings using keyboards, drums and synthesizers.

In 2008, Zola Jesus officially released two 7"s, the Poor Sons (Die Stasi) and Soeur Sewer (Sacred Bones). 2009 saw the release of the compilation New Amsterdam and Tsar Bomba EP. While still studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Zola Jesus recorded her full-length debut album, The Spoils (Sacred Bones), which made year-end lists for The Wire, Pitchfork and Fader. In 2010, she released her second full-length, Stridulum (Sacred Bones), again garnering much critical acclaim. Her latest full-length, Conatus (Sacred Bones, 2011), is an experimental electronic pop album which she co-produced with Brian Foote. She was featured in SPIN’s Best of 2011 list and headlined her own international tour. In her short career thus far, Zola Jesus has toured with The Fever Ray, The XX, Xanopticon and collaborated with David Lynch, Orbital, Prefuse 73 and M83.

Nick 13 (Singer, Guitarist - Tiger Army)

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:12:00 GMT

Nick 13 is a Los Angeles based Country singer/songwriter who explores the vintage American sounds of 1930s-1960s hillbilly, honky-tonk and bluegrass. Nick is best known as the singer, songwriter, guitarist and founder of the Psychobilly band Tiger Army, a three-piece he started in 1995. Tiger Army has released four albums: Tiger Army (Hellcat, 1999), II: Power Of Moonlite (Hellcat, 2001), III: Ghost Tigers Rise (Hellcat, 2004) and Music From Regions Beyond (Hellcat, 2007).

Nick’s self-titled 2011 debut was produced in Los Angeles and Nashville by Greg Leisz and James Intveld, with mixing duties handled by Grammy award winner Jim Scott (Wilco, Tom Petty, Dixie Chicks). Nick 13 crafts storytelling Americana songs of heartbreak, experience and passion, driven by his haunting and distinctive voice and acoustic guitar. Nick 13 has led national sold out shows, performing at Stagecoach, Hootenanny, and South By Southwest. He has also shared the stage with such Country legends as Merle Haggard and Ray Price.

Gilberto Zambrano (Music Lover)

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Escribidor. Sometime copywriter. Occasional journalist. Bon vivant. Flaneur.

Ti West and Sara Paxton (The Innkeepers)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:33:00 GMT

Ti West is a director, screenwriter, editor and producer known for his horror films. After attending the School of Visual Arts in New York City, West released his first feature film, The Roost, in 2005. He followed it with 2007's Trigger Man and 2008's The House of the Devil. His latest film, The Innkeepers, is being released on February 3, 2012.

Sara Paxton is an actress and Los Angeles native. Beginning in musical theater and commercials, Paxton has also worked in television (Summerland, Darcy's Wild Life, Will & Grace) and film (The Last House on the Left, Superhero Movie). She is one of the stars of Ti West's new film, The Innkeepers.

Carlos Nino (Producer, Composer & Radio Host)

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Carlos Nino is a producer, composer, musician, radio host, DJ, music consultant, writer, and poet, based in his hometown of Los Angeles, California. A prolific artist, Nino has been involved in the production of more than 75 records and has toured with various bands and as a DJ throughout Europe, Japan and the United States. He's one of the founding DJs of www.dublab.com, has spun records for Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for five summers, and has been a music programmer on KPFK 90.7FM Los Angeles for 16 years.

Eddie Muller (Author, Film Noir Historian)

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Eddie Muller, or the "Czar of Noir," is a San Francisco, CA native and an author, filmmaker, and film noir historian. After leaving his career as a journalist, Muller created the Historical Boxing Museum, co-wrote and produced the digital documentary Mau Mau Sex Sex, and wrote multiple books about film noir. His books include Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir (St. Martin's Griffin, 1998); Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir (Harper Entertainment, 2002); and The Art of Noir: Posters and Graphics from the Classic Film Noir Era (Overlook, 2002). His crime fiction debut, The Distance (Scribner, 2002), was named "Best First Novel" by the Private Eye Writers of America and Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star (Algonquin, 2008), which he co-authored, has become a bestseller.

Muller is also the Founder and President of The Film Noir Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicating to preserving film noir movies. In 2003, Muller and the Film Noir Foundation held the first Annual San Francisco Film Noir Festival, Noir City. Noir City is the largest noir-specific event in the US and celebrates its 10th anniversary with a 10-day festival at the Castro Theatre in January 2012.

The Legendary Pink Dots (Psychedelic Rock Band)

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:01:00 GMT

The Legendary Pink Dots are a psychedelic, experimental band at whose core is Phil Knight (a.k.a. "The Silverman") on keyboards/electronics and Edward Ka-Spel (a.k.a. "Prophet Qa-Spel") on vocals and keyboards. Their lineup has changed over the years, and currently includes Erik Drost (guitars), Raymond Steeg (sound engineer).

Formed in London in 1980, the band relocated to the Netherlands in the mid-'80s. They have released over 40 albums, from 1981's Only Dreaming (Mirrordot) to 2010's French Collection (Beta-lactam Ring Records). They continue to tour the world freuqently and, in October 2011, they released Paris in the Fall (Soleilmoon), a live DVD of a 2009 performance at an intimate Parisian club. They just finished a 2011 European tour and are about to begin work on a new album, tentatively due out in late 2012.

Peanut Butter Wolf (Stones Throw Founder, DJ, Producer)

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:51:00 GMT

Peanut Butter Wolf (a.k.a. Chris Manak) is a DJ, producer, record collector, and founder of Stones Throw Records. Manak took the moniker "Peanut Butter Wolf" in the late '80s. He was the DJ/producer for Charizma in San Jose, CA until 1993 when Charizma was killed at age 20. After taking a break from music, Wolf started Stones Throw Records in 1996 in the Bay Area. Charizma’s posthumous single “My World Premiere” launched the label. Stones Throw, which moved to Los Angeles in 2000, has released albums by Madlib, Aloe Blacc, J Dilla, James Pants, Mayer Hawthorne, and many more. In December 2011, Stones Throw celebrated its 15th anniversary.

Bomba Estereo (Colombian Electro Tropical Band)

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:26:00 GMT

Bomba Estereo is a psychedelic Cumbia band which combines traditional Latin American rhythms, cumbia, and champeta with reggae, hip-hop, and electronic music. At Bomba Estereo's core is Simon Mejia (bass, programming, band director) and Liliana "Li" Saumet (vocals). Mejia formed Bomba Estereo (originally called A.M. 770) in Bogata, Colombia in 2005 as a collective of DJs and visual artists. In 2006, Mejia renamed the group Bomba Estereo and released their debut album, Vol. 1., with Saumet providing vocals for one song. Their follow-up album, Estalla, was created as a band, featuring Mejia, Saumet, guitarist and keyboardist Julian Salazar, and percussionist Kike Egurrola. Estalla was released in Colombia in September 2008 and re-released in the US under the title, Blow Up (Nacional, 2009). MTV Iggy named them the "Best New Band in the World" in 2010. In 2011, they released a digital-only Ponte Bomb EP which included a cover of Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam." The band tours relentlessly, and has performed at South by Southwest, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Lovebox, and Bumbershoot.

Rob Sevier (Numero Group)

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:03:00 GMT

Rob Sevier is one of the co-founders of Numero Group, an archival record label that takes lost and forgotten recordings, films, and photography out of unwarranted obscurity. Founded in 2003 by Sevier, Tom Lunt, and Ken Shipley the label's mission has been to research and preserve rare or unreleased recorded material, often by compilations or re-releasing albums in their entirety.

Jim Ward (Singer/Songwriter - At The Drive-In, Sparta)

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:20:00 GMT

Jim Ward is a founding member of At The Drive-In, Sparta, Sleepercar, and is a solo musician. Ward formed post-hardcore band At The Drive-In in El Paso, TX when he was 17. They spent the next few years touring constantly and self-releasing EPs. In 1996, with their final lineup set - Jim Ward, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Cedric Bixler, Tony Hajjar, and Paul Hinojos - they released their debut full-length album, Acrobatic Tenement (Flipside Records). The band went on indefinite haitus after the release of their third album, Relationship of Command (Virgin, 2000). In the wake of the band's ultimate break up, Ward began Sparta with Hajjar and Hinojos, and Bixler and Rodriguez-Lopez formed The Mars Volta.

Sparta has released three studio albums to date, including 2006's Threes (Anti-). While touring with Sparta in 2006, Ward began working on his first solo EP, Quiet, a collection of softer, less-aggressive songs. In between his work with Sparta and his solo efforts, Ward released the first Sleepercar album, West Texas (Doghouse, 2008), an alt-country project that toured with the Old 97s. Ward released his first solo full-length in 2011, Quiet In The Valley, On The Shores The End Begins & The Electric Six (Tembloroso), a collection of his three solo EPs.

Gerald Casale (DEVO)

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Gerald Casale is a founding member of the innovative, new wave band DEVO. The self-described Chief Strategist for DEVO, Casale plays bass guitar, bass synths, provided vocals, and co-wrote many of the songs, and he was also responsible for the band's distinctive look and video direction.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Casale met Mark Mothersbaugh while attending Kent State. In the wake of the May 4, 1970 shootings at Kent State, Casale, Mothersbaugh, and Bob Lewis formed the band in 1973 as a performance art, multi-media project based around the concept of "de-evolution." Although their lineup has varied somewhat over the years, it has always involved some combination of two sets of brothers: Gerald & Bob Casale and Mark, Bob & Jim Mothersbaugh. They released their debut album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, on Warner Bros. in 1978, which included their reworked version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones. Their biggest hit, "Whip It," came with the release of Freedom of Choice in 1980 and its accompanying music video featuring their iconic red Energy Dome hats.

In 1990, the band members started focusing more on their own individual projects. Casale pursued directing music videos and commercials, a continuation of his behind-the-camera work with DEVO, with clients including Miller Lite, Mrs. Butterworth's, The Foo Fighters, and Soundgarden. The Mothersbaugh brothers moved into making music for film and television, including Pee-Wee's Playhouse and Rugrats. In 2010, more than 30 years after their debut and 20 years since their last studio album, DEVO released Something For Everybody (Warner Bros.).

Lykke Li (Swedish Singer/Songwriter)

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:09:00 GMT

Lykke Li is a Swedish singer-songwriter. Born Lykke Li Zachrisson in Sweden, her family moved between Sweden, Portugal, and India during her childhood. At 19, she moved to New York City for a few months, but by 20 she was back in Sweden working on her debut full-length, Youth Novels (Atlantic), with producer Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John. In the meantime, she self-released the Little Bit EP (LL Recordings, 2007) which attracted attention from Stereogum, Swedish MTV, and the Swedish Grammy Awards. Released when she was 22, Youth Novels garnered more critical acclaim and saw Lykke Li selling out tours, playing festivals including Coachella and Lollapalooza, and recording a song for the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack. After two years supporting the album around the world, Lykke Li ended up in Los Angeles to recover from a broken heart and to write her sophomore album. Once again she teamed up with Yttling and the resulting album, Wounded Rhymes (Atlantic), was released on March 2, 2011.

Crystal Antlers (Pscyh-Garage Rock Band)

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:24:00 GMT

Crystal Antlers is a psych-garage rock band from Long Beach, CA featuring Jonny Bell, Kevin Stuart, Andrew King, Damian Edwards, and Cora Foxx. They began as a 3-piece in 2006 when Bell, Stuart and then guitarist Errol Davis met in high school. After recording their first single, they were joined by an organist, Victor Rodriguez-Guerrero, and percussionist, Damian Edwards. They self-released the Crystal Antlers EP in 2008 and were signed by Touch & Go Records. In 2009 they released their debut full-length, Tentacles (Touch & Go). During their tour supporting Tentacles, they received word that their album would be the last new release put out by Touch & Go due to downsizing. Rodriguez-Guerrero left the band also in '09 and was replaced by Cora Foxx. In July 2011, the band released their sophomore full-length, Two-Way Mirror, on Recreation Ltd.

Raul Campos (KCRW DJ, Remixer)

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:58:00 GMT

The voice of pirate radio in the mid-‘90s and a native Angeleno, Raul Campos has come from the underground to represent the eclectic airwaves of KCRW. He began DJing at age 14, specializing in house parties, nightclubs and underground events. He established a residency on Power 106FM’s longest running after hours mix show, Power Tools, and worked his way from volunteer to production and on-air stints at KCRW under the mentorship of renowned Music Director Nic Harcourt. Raul's weekly radio show, formerly called Nocturna, is a combination of funky beats, underground rhythms, heartbroken guitars, Latin-loving and daring melodies. You can catch him in the mix all over town and at his two monthly residencies: Moonshadows in Malibu on the second Saturday of the month most of the year and at the King King in Hollywood, every third Saturday of the month for Flow. Raul also works behind the scenes as a remixer, putting his special spin on tracks by Femi Kuti, Supreme Beings of Leisure, Aterciopelados, Jill Scott and many more.

Liza Richardson (KCRW DJ, Music Supervisor)

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:54:00 GMT

Past, present, future. Liza Richardson is always on the cutting edge of cool by highlighting retro musical innovations and finding gems that forecast the future. She’s a Grammy-nominated music supervisor and has worked on a range of film projects as diverse as her taste in music, including Surf's Up, Friday Night Lights, Lords of Dogtown and Y Tu Mam� Tambi�n.

Anne Litt (KCRW DJ, Music Supervisor)

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:50:00 GMT

Anne Litt is the acclaimed hostess of KCRW’s popular weekend afternoon music program. A life-long radio fan, Anne’s first on-air experience was at the forefront of the alt-rock revolution, as a DJ for the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s award winning radio station, WXYC. After graduating in 1988, Anne joined the pioneering independent label, Mammoth Records. As one of the label’s first employees, she helped guide the careers of such seminal alternative stars Juliana Hatfield, the Blake Babies, and Joe Henry. She has also served as music supervisor for such beloved and influential films as Little Miss Sunshine.

Chris Douridas (KCRW DJ, Music Supervisor)

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:45:00 GMT

Chris Douridas was KCRW's second music director and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic in the '90s. Today, Douridas delivers his impeccable taste each Saturday, but he is also the man behind the music on some of the coolest movies. From Austin Powers and American Beauty to Grosse Point Blank and Shrek 2, Chris makes eclectic music global.

Jason Schwab (Film Editor & Music Lover)

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:20:00 GMT

Jason Schwab is a film editor and music enthusiast from New Jersey, living in Studio City, CA. Some of his short films have appeared in film festivals from New York to Jerusalem to Hong Kong. He has worked on feature-length documentaries as an assistant editor, and currently works as Avid technical support at the American Film Institute Conservatory, while assistant editing on reality TV (on and off).

Kasey Yale (Singer, Guitarist)

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:48:00 GMT

Kasey Yale is a singer/songwriter and guitarist. His 2011 EP Missing the Familiar is available digitally online and you can watch the video for his single “Letter To Paige” here. Yale is currently working in the studio on his debut full-length album, while frequenting shows in the Hollywood/Los Angeles area.

Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant (Actors, Writers, Sketch Comedians)

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:22:00 GMT

Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant are actors, writers, sketch comedians, directors and producers. Although they are perhaps best known for their work in front of the camera on Reno: 911 and The State, they have written several highly successful screenplays together including the Night at the Museum films and The Pacifier. In 2011, they released a book called Writing Movies for Fun and Profit: How We Made a Billion Dollars at the Box Office and You Can, Too! (Touchstone).

Yelle (French Dance-Pop Band)

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:12:00 GMT

Yelle is a French dance-pop band fronted and named by Yelle, (born Julie Budet), and her longtime friends and producers GrandMarnier (Jean-Francois Perrier) and Tepr (Tanguy Destable). They released their debut album, Pop-Up (Astralwerks), in 2007, a combination of '80s inspired pop and electronic music, sung entirely in French. They released their sophomore album, Safari Disco Club (Downtown), in March 2011, having worked nearly two years on the album. They also worked with other pop artists, including swaping covers with Robyn (they covered her song "Who's That Girl?" and Robyn covered their “A Cause Des Gar�ons”), remixing Katy Perry, and collaborating with Crookers. On November 1, 2011, Yelle released Safari Disco Club Remixes (Downtown), featuring remixes by Madeon, Second Date, Juveniles, Logo & more.

Henry Rollins (Musician, Author, Spoken Word Artist, DJ)

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:43:00 GMT

Henry Rollins is a musician, DJ, author, spoken word artist, and actor. Born in Washington, DC, Rollins began his music career in 1980 fronting the short-lived hardcore punk band State of Alert. Rollins was originally a fan of the band Black Flag, becoming their vocalist in 1981 and relocated to Los Angeles. Black Flag's record label, Unicorn, refused to release their first full-length album, Damaged, so the band put it out on founding member Greg Ginn's label, SST Records. After a protracted legal battle with Unicorn, differences between the band members, non-stop touring, and increasing levels of alienation and aggression between the band and its audience, Black Flag broke up in 1986.

Rollins had already begun a spoken word career and continued to pursue it after Black Flag's demise. He released two spoken word albums in 1987 and then formed The Rollins Band. The late '80s into the '90s were filled with multiple Rollins Band releases and spoken word albums from Henry, as well as relentless touring supporting both endeavors. In 1994, The Rollins Band released Weight (Imago), which became the band's most successful album and they performed at Woodstock '94. That same year, Rollins won a Grammy Award for his double-live spoken word album Get In The Van: On the Road With Black Flag. He was named "Man of the Year" in 1994 by Details Magazine and appeared on MTV and VH1 and other television programs.

Although The Rollins Band continued to release albums up until 2004, Rollins shifted his focus to spoken word, acting in film and television, and radio. In 2004, Rollins debuted his radio program "Harmony in My Head" on LA radio station Indie 103.1. After Indie 103.1 flipped formats in 2009, Rollins moved to KCRW 89.9 FM for a Saturday night radio show. He has also continued writing and publishing, including his October 2011 release Occupants (Chicago Review Press), a collection of his photographs and writings from around the world.

RuPaul (Supermodel of the World)

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:14:00 GMT

RuPaul is an American actor, drag queen, singer, and talk show host. Born RuPaul Andre Charles in San Diego, he moved to Atlanta with his sister while he was in high school. RuPaul performed in nightclubs around Georgia until he moved to New York City in 1989. New York was initially very difficult for RuPaul, who was homeless for a while and partying heavily as the "Queen of Manhattan." RuPaul released his debut album, Supermodel of the World (Tommy Boy), in 1993. Around the same time, his "glamazon" look was developed by his make-up artist and his costume designer. "Supermodel (You Better Work)" became an international hit for RuPaul, on MTV, in the clubs, and on the charts. He recorded a duet with Elton John, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," which was RuPaul's biggest hit on the UK Singles Chart. To date RuPaul has released nine albums, including Foxy Lady (Rhino, 1996), a Christmas album Ho, Ho, Ho (Rhino, 1997), Red Hot (RuCo, Inc., 2004), and his most recent album, Glamazon (RuCo, Inc., 2011).

RuPaul has appeared in television and film over the years. In 1996, The RuPaul Show premiered on VH1 as part talk show and part variety show. It ran for three seasons. RuPaul's Drag Race began in 2009 on Logo TV, a reality show featuring contestants competing to become the next Drag Superstar. Season 4 is beginning in January 2012. A spin-off show, RuPaul's Drag U, premiered in 2010 on Logo TV, focusing on regular women discovering their inner diva. RuPaul has also appeared in films including The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), Crooklyn (1995), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995), and But I'm a Cheerleader (1999).

In 1995, RuPaul released his autobiography, Lettin It All Hang Out, and became "The First Face of M.A.C." cosmetics and the first drag queen supermodel. He worked with M.A.C. for six years, helping to raise over $22 million for the M.A.C AIDS fund. In 1999 Rupaul received the Vito Russo Entertainer of The Year at the GLAAD Media Awards and in 2002 he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Most Beautiful Transsexuals In The World Association for his outreach to the gay and lesbian community.

Peter and Mia Frampton (Guitarist / Songwriter & Actress)

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:37:00 GMT

Peter Frampton is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter who is known for his solo work and as a member of Humble Pie. Frampton started playing music as a child, teaching himself guitar and piano and then taking classical music lessons at eight years old. As a teenager, he was the lead guitarist and singer of The Herd which had a handful of pop hits on the British charts and lead to Frampton being named the "Face of 1968" in the music press. In 1969, he formed Humble Pie with Steve Marriott of the Small Faces, but he left the band in 1971 to launch a solo career.

Although Frampton's first few solo albums were not commercial successes, he built a steady following through constant touring and his pioneering use of the talk box guitar effect. His 1976 double live album Frampton Comes Alive! featured his first three hit singles "Baby, I Love Your Way," "Show Me The Way," and "Do You Feel Like We Do." The album stayed on the Billboard charts for 97 weeks, was the best-selling album of 1976, sold 16 million copies worldwide, and for years was the biggest selling live album of all time (a title which is now held by Garth Brooks).

Frampton has continued recording albums and touring, and has played with David Bowie, Ringo Starr, Bill Wyman, and members of Pearl Jam. His 2006 album Fingerprints (AM) won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental album. In 2010, he released his 14th studio album, Thank You Mr. Churchill (Universal).

Mia Frampton is Peter Frampton's daughter and is an actress, dancer, and singer. She studied at the Cincinnati School for the Creative and Performing Arts in 2008. She had a recurring guest role in the ABC Family show Make It Or Break It and appeared in the 2011 films Bridesmaids and That's What I Am.

ChocQuibTown (Afro-Colombian Hip-Hop Group)

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:00:00 GMT

ChocQuibTown is a Colombian Hip-Hop group featuring Gloria Martinez (a.k.a. Goyo), Yahanny Valencia (a.k.a. Tostao) and Slow. Their name is a combination of Choco, the region of Colombia's Pacific Coast in which the trio was raised, and Quibodo, its capital. They refer to their music as Afro-Colombian, combining traditional Choco rhythms and instruments like the marimba de chonta with funk and Hip-Hop. They released two full-lengths in Colombia, 2007’s Somos Pacifico and 2009's Oro. In 2009, they were nominated for Best New Artist at the Latin Grammys and in 2010 they won a Latin Grammy for Best Alternative Song for "De Donde Vengo Yo." Nacional Records released Oro in the US in March 2010. In 2011, they were nominated for Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album at the Grammy Awards.

Ron Trent (House DJ, Producer)

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:03:00 GMT

Ron Trent is a house DJ, producer, and re-mixer from Chicago. Raised in a household that loved music (his father was a DJ and percussionist), Trent began DJing at parties in 1987. In 1990 - at age 14 - he released his first single, "Altered States," which became a club classic. In 1993, Trent formed Prescription Records with Chaz Damier, a label that is regarded as a highly influential Deep House imprint. Trent moved to New York City in 1998, continuing to release 12"s and solidfying his reputation as a DJ and producer. He became a resident at Giant Step's weekly party at Shine Nightclub and produced original tracks for the Giant Step label with 4Hero and Amel Larrieux. Ron has also produced and remixed Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Jody Watley, Goapele, and N’Dambi, among others. Trent returned to Chicago, creating the AFRICA HI-FI event, relaunching Prescription Records and starting another label, Future Vision Records.

Foster The People (Indie Pop Band)

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:49:00 GMT

Foster The People is an indie pop band from Los Angeles featuring Mark Foster (vocals, guitar), Cubbie Fink (bass), and Mark Pontius (drums). Formed in 2009, they posted their song "Pumped Up Kicks" as a free download online. It became an enormous Top 40 hit for the band, eventually making it to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. To tide fans over until the full-length was finished, they released a self-titled EP in January 2011 that included "Pumped Up Kicks." After buzz-inducing performances at South by Southwest and Coachella, they released their debut full-length, Torches (Columbia), in May 2011. The band has maintained a hectic touring schedule that included Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Saturday Night Live.

Mayer Hawthorne (Singer, Producer & Mulit-instrumentalist)

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:05:00 GMT

Mayer Hawthorne is a singer, producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Hawthorne was deeply influenced by the soul and jazz music from Detroit. He has produced and played instruments most of his life, but isn't formally trained. Still, he performs and arranges nearly every element of his retro-soul inspired music. Hawthorne was signed to Stones Throw Records after label owner Peanut Butter Wolf heard only two songs. His debut full-length, A Strange Arrangement, was released on Stones Throw in 2009. His sophomore album, How Do You Do, is being released on October 11, 2011.

Lyrics Born (Hip-Hop MC)

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:17:00 GMT

Lyrics Born is a Japanese American MC, producer, songwriter, and label founder. He is also one half of the group Latyrx with Lateef. Born Tsutomu "Tom" Shimura in Japan, LB moved to Berkeley, CA as a young child. He began freestyling in college at UC Davis and his song "Send Them" became the first single on Solesides Records, an independent label he formed with his friends Blackalicious, DJ Shadow, Joseph Patel, Jeff Change, and Lateef. After appearing on Lateef's single "The Wreckoning," LB put out his own 12" "Balcony Beach" in 1996. In 1997, SoleSides released The Album by Latyrx, a full-length LP featuring Lyrics Born and Lateef trading verses and DJ Shadow on production. LB's official full-length solo album, Later That Day, was released in 2003 on Quannum Projects (the reformed Solesides Records). He followed it with Same !@#$ Different Day in 2005; a live album, Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live!, in 2006; and Everywhere at Once (Anti -, 2008), which featured members of his live funk band. His latest album, As U Were, was released on Decon Records in 2010.

Hanni El Khatib (Multi-instrumentalist & Producer)

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:12:00 GMT

Hanni El Khatib is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, and skateboarder based in Los Angeles. Growing up in San Francisco with Palestinian and Filipino parents who loved classic rock, El Khatib was surrounded by a mix of cultures who used English as a meeting point. On his debut full-length, Will The Guns Come Out (released Sept 27, 2011 on Innovative Leisure, a subsidiary of Stones Throw Records), his love of punk, garage rock, blues, and R&B from the '50s and '60s is transformed into his own particular sound. El Khatib's track "I Got a Thing," which is a reworking of Funkadelic's "I got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing," was used in a 2011 global ad campaign for Nike.

EMA (Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist)

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:46:00 GMT

Erika M. Anderson is EMA, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist originally from South Dakota. A completely self-taught musician and home-recording engineer, she moved to LA at 18 and played in the band Amps for Christ. She then formed noise-folk outfit Gowns and moved to San Francisco. Gowns released their debut album, Red State (Cardboard Records), in 2007, ultimately disbanding in 2010. Anderson has been focusing on a solo career as EMA, releasing her debut album, Past Life Martyred Saints, on May 10, 2011 on Souterrain Transmissions. Past Life Martyred Saints has been praised by Pitchfork, The Guardian, SPIN, and Rolling Stone among others.

Miranda Cosgrove (Singer & Actress)

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:40:00 GMT

Miranda Cosgrove is an actress and singer best known for her work as the lead character on Nickelodeon's iCarly. Born in Los Angeles, Cosgrove began working in television as a young girl, doing commercials at age 3 and appearing in the Smallville pilot at age 5. She made her film debut in School of Rock (2003) at 10 years old and was cast in the Nickelodeon show Drake & Josh shortly after the film's release. With the end of Drake & Josh in 2007 Cosgrove was then cast in iCarly and made her recording debut with the show's theme song. She recorded three additional songs for the iCarly soundtrack (RCA, 2008) and released her debut full-length album, Sparks Fly (Sony), in 2010. She released a follow-up EP, High Maintenance (Sony), in March 2011, which featured tracks written by Rivers Cuomo and Avril Lavigne.

Smith Westerns (Garage Rock Band)

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:38:00 GMT

The Smith Westerns are a garage rock band from Chicago consisting of brothers Cullen Omori (vocals), Cameron Omori (bass), and their friend, Max Kakacek (guitar). Formed in 2007 while they were still in high school, the band recorded their debut album, Smith Westerns (HoZac, 2009), in Kakacek's basement. On the strength of that lo-fi first record, they were signed to Fat Possum in 2010. For their sophomore album, Dye It Blonde (2011), they worked with producer Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beach House) and revealed a more mature, fleshed-out, but still glam-pop inspired sound. Smith Westerns have toured with Girls, MGMT, Nobunny, Florence and the Machine, Belle & Sebastian, and Passion Pit.

Fiery Furnaces (Indie Rock Band)

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:24:00 GMT

The Fiery Furnaces is a brother-sister power pop band consisting of Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger. Formed in 2000 in New York, they released Gallowsbird's Bark, their debut album, on Rough Trade in 2003. During their 2004 tour supporting their second album, Blueberry Boat (Rough Trade), the band performed their songs as one long continuous set, a live tradition they repeated on their 2006 tour with Deerhoof. They moved to Thrill Jockey Records in 2007 and have released all of their records on Thrill Jockey since then, including their ninth and most recent album, Take Me Round Again (2009), a collection of cover songs from their previous album, I'm Going Away.

Matthew and Eleanor have also recorded solo albums, including Eleanor's Last Summer (Merge, 2011) and Matthew's Solos (Thrill Jockey, 2011), a series of eight vinyl-only releases.

Seu Jorge (Brazilian Singer/Songwriter)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:16:00 GMT

Seu Jorge is one of Brazil's best known singers and is credited for renewing interest in samba music. He is also known as an actor and soundtrack composer.

Born into a Rio de Janeiro favela in 1970, Jorge was an actor and member of the band Farofa Carioca before he left to pursue a solo career in 1999. His first solo album, Samba Esporte Fino (2001), was produced by Mario Caldato (Beastie Boys, Jack Johnson) and was half cover songs. His next two albums, Cru (2004), and The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions (2005), also featured cover versions, with Life Aquatic being entirely Portuguese language versions of David Bowie songs. In addition to providing the soundtrack, Jorge appeared in the Wes Anderson film, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004). He also acted in the Oscar-nominated film, City of God (2002).

In 2008, Jorge released America Brasil: O Disco (Naive Records), his first album of almost all original material. In 2010, Jorge collaborated with three highly resepected Brazilian artists: drummer Pupillo and guitarist Lucio Maia from Nacao Zumbi, along with bassist and composer Antonio Pinto. The resulting album, Seu Jorge & Almaz (Now-Again Records), combines samba, soul, and rock, and features songs by Jorge Ben, Michael Jackson, Kraftwerk, and Roy Ayers.

Peter Murphy (Vocalist, Bauhaus)

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:32:00 GMT

Peter Murphy was the lead vocalist for Bauhaus, an English post-punk band considered the founders of goth rock. In 1978, Murphy, Daniel Ash, David J, and Kevin Haskins formed the band Bauhaus 1919. Their debut single, "Bela Lugosi's Dead," was released in 1979 (having dropped 1919 from their name) and remained on the British independent charts for two years. Their debut full-length album, In The Flat Field, was released in October 1980 on 4AD. The band broke up not long after the release of their fourth album, Burning From the Inside (Beggars Banquet, 1983), during which Murphy wasn't able to participate much in the recording process due to illness. After the break up Ash, J, and Haskins formed Love and Rockets and Murphy pursued a solo career.

Murphy released his first solo album, Should the World Fail to Fall Apart (Beggars Banquet), in 1986. After several solo Peter Murphy albums and Love and Rockets albums, the four reunited as Bauhaus for a 1998 tour, again in 2005 for a co-headlining tour with Nine Inch Nails, and released a final album in 2008 album, Go Away White. On June 7, 2011 Murphy released Ninth (Nettwork), his first solo album in seven years and the first since the permanent dissolution of Bauhaus in 2009.

Marty Willson-Piper (The Church)

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 20:55:00 GMT

Marty Willson-Piper is a guitarist and songwriter for prolific Australian band The Church. Formed in 1980, The Church is vocalist and bassist Steve Kilbey, guitarists Peter Koppes and Marty Willson-Piper, and drummer Tim Powles (original drummer Nick Ward left in 1982 and Powles has been their drummer since 1993) . Their debut album, Of Skins and Heart (Second Motion Records), was released in 1981 and featured their their first Australian hit, "The Unguarded Moment." Their 1988 album Starfish (Arista) was their breakthrough American album and contained their biggest commercial hit, "Under The Milky Way." The band released their 23rd album, Untitled #23 (Second Motion Records), in May 2009.

In addition to The Church, Willson-Piper has released albums under his own name since the mid-'80s, as well as played in or collaborated with All About Eve, Cinerama, The Saints, Tom Verlaine, and Aimee Mann. He also works with Andy Mason under the name Noctorum. Willson-Piper's newest solo album,Nightjar, was released in March 2009 on Second Motion Records.

Glasser (Cameron Mesirow)

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:14:00 GMT

Glasser is the one-woman orchestra of singer/songwriter Cameron Mesirow. Her debut EP, Apply, was released on True Panther Sounds in 2009. Her EPs and live shows earned her attention from producers Van Rivers and the Subliminal Kid and opening tour slots with the XX, Jonsi, and Delorean. Her full-length debut album, Ring, was released on True Panther in September 2010.

School of Seven Bells (Brooklyn Dream Pop Band)

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:20:00 GMT

School of Seven Bells is a dreampop/shoegaze band from Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of vocalist Alejandra Deheza, formerly of On!Air!Library, and guitarist/producer Benjamin Curtis, a former member of Secret Machines and Tripping Daisy. They formed in 2007 with Alejandra's twin sister Claudia (who left the band in 2010) and their debut album, Alpinisms, was released by Ghostly International in October 2008. Their second full-length album and most recent, Disconnect From Desire, was released in July 2010 on Vagrant Records. School of Seven Bells has toured with Interpol, M83, Bat for Lashes, Blonde Redhead and collaborated with Prefuse 73.

Axel Boman (DJ & Producer)

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:00:00 GMT

Axel Boman (aka Acid Woman) is a DJ and producer from Stockholm, Sweden. He is also part of the Studio Barnhus crew, a Stockholm based label and DJ trio consisting of Petter Nordkvist, Korn�l Kov�cs and Axel Boman. Boman's latest release is the Europa EP on the Studio Barnhus label, his first solo release since the 2010 Holy Love EP (Pampa Records).

Clem Burke (Drummer - Blondie)

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Clem Burke is an American drummer and member of iconic new wave punk band Blondie. Burke was recruited by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein when they were forming Blondie and he played drums exclusively on all Blondie recordings including their massive worldwide hits "Call Me," "The Tide is High," "Heart of Glass," and "Rapture." In addition to Blondie, Burke has recorded and performed with Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, Joan Jett, The Ramones, The Romantics, Iggy Pop, Brian Wilson, and the Eurythmics. In 2006, Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Blondie.

Cut Copy (Australian Synth Pop Band)

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:13:00 GMT

Cut Copy is an Australian dance-pop band featuring Dan Whitford (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Tim Hoey (guitar, sampler), Mitchell Scott (drums), and Ben Browning (bass). Whitford formed Cut Copy originally as a solo project in 2001, but Hoey and Scott joined him in 2003 to create a full band. They released their first full-length album Bright Like Neon Light (Modular) in 2004. Their sophomore album, In Ghost Colours (Modular, 2008), debuted at number one in Australia and was certified gold. The band embarked on a heavy tour in support of In Ghost Colours, including headling Lollapalooza and being the first Australian band to play Colombia since INXS. Zonoscope, their third and most recent album, was released on February 8, 2011 on Modular. They have been touring again extensively, including performing at Coachella, the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and the inaugural Pitchfork Music Festival in Paris.

Richard Metzger and Brad Laner (Dangerous Minds Blog)

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:39:00 GMT

Richard Metzger and Brad Laner are contributors to the Dangerous Minds blog. Metzger was the host of several TV shows including Disinformation in the UK. He also authored two books and founded the Disinformation Company. Brad Laner is a musician who formed the band Medicine in 1991, a band which is often considered the American counterpart to the British shoegaze movement. Laner has played on over 300 albums by various artists, including Savage Republic and Brian Eno, and released his first solo album, Neighbor Singing (Hometapes), in 2007.

James Blake (Electronic Composer)

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:16:00 GMT

James Blake is an English electro-soul composer and singer-songwriter who released his self-titled debut full-length in March 2011. Blake started playing piano at six years old, playing mostly Jazz and Classical. He moved into electronic composition after hearing dubstep at a club in London at age 19. He released his first 12" in 2009, "Air & Lack Thereof," on the dubstep label Hemlock Recordings. He released several more 12"s on various dubstep labels including a cover of Feist's "Limit To Your Love." Just prior to the release of his first full-length, Blake was named second in the BBC Sound of 2011 poll.

Michael Rapaport and Peanut Butter Wolf (Director & Music Supervisor of Beats, Rhymes & Life)

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:49:00 GMT

Michael Rapaport is an actor and director of the new documentary about A Tribe Called Quest, Beats, Rhymes & Life. In addition to being known for his roles in television's Boston Public and on screen in True Romance and Zebrahead, Rapaport is also a passionate Hip-Hop fan. He wanted to create a film that served as proper documentation of one of the most impactful groups in Hip-Hop history, to give them treatment similar to that of the Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin.

Peanut Butter Wolf (aka Chris Manak) served as Music Supervisor for Beats, Rhymes & Life. He is a producer, DJ, and founder of Stones Throw Records which has released albums from Madlib, Aloe Blacc, J Dilla, James Pants, and many more.

Chris Myers (Sportscaster)

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:24:00 GMT

Chris Myers is an Emmy Award winning sports journalist who has covered all of the sports world’s premiere events, including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, NCAA Final Four, The Masters and U.S. Open golf, Triple Crown, the Olympics, and the Daytona 500. Myers began his broadcasting career at the age of 16 with a talk radio show in Miami. He spent eleven years at ESPN, during which he anchored Sportscenter and Baseball Tonight, and hosted Up Close. He won an Emmy in 1990 for his work as a sports feature anchor and in 1995 he scored the first live interview with O.J. Simpson after his acquittal, bringing Up Close its highest ratings ever. In 1998, Myers joined FOX Sports Net and has since hosted The National Sports Report, Goin' Deep, and NFL This Morning, as well as reporting for NFL on FOX, NASCAR, and Major League Baseball on FOX.

Everest (LA Rock Band)

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:38:00 GMT

Everest is a five-piece rock band from Los Angeles. Formed in 2007, Everest is Russell Pollard (vocals, guitar, drums, lyricist), Jason Soda (guitar, keys, vocals), Joel Graves (guitar, keys, vocals), Elijah Thomson (bass, vocals), and Davey Latter (drums, percussion). They are a sort of an indie rock supergroup as their members have been part of The Folk Implosion, Sebadoh, Earlimart, John Vanderslice, The Watson Twins, and more. But instead of following directly in the footsteps of their indie rock pasts, Everest's music draws from the 1970s-style of alt-country/rock. They released their debut album, Ghost Notes, in 2008 on Vapor Records, Neil Young's record label. Their sophomore album, On Approach (Vapor Records), was released in May 2010. Everest has toured with Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, and Wilco.

Watch Everest's live performance from Amoeba Hollywood on May 16, 2010 .

Isobel Campbell (Singer/Songwriter)

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:57:00 GMT

Isobell Campbell is a Scottish singer-songwriter and classically trained cellist, who records lush chamber pop and folk under her given name, under the moniker The Gentle Waves, and with longstanding duet partner Mark Lanegan.

Campbell is also a former (1996-2002) founding member of the Twee Pop Collective Belle & Sebastian. Isobel played Cello with Belle and Sebastian and sang backing vocals. She also took lead vocals on a few songs from the band, and co-wrote their top-20 U.K. single Legal Man.

The Gentle Waves released The Green Fields of Foreverland on Jeepster Records in 1999 and Swansong For You was released a year later. In 2002, she collaborated with Scottish Jazz Musician Bill Wells on a collection of Billie Holiday songs, released by Creeping Bent.

In 2003, Campbell released Amorino her first solo album under her own name and also Milkwhite Sheets in 2006. That same year, Campbell released a collaborative album Ballad of the Broken Seas - a mixture of folk and more rock-orientated music, with former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan. The album garnered very good reviews and received a nomination in the 2006 Mercury Awards. The two again collaborated on 2008's Sunday at Devil Dirt and on her latest album Hawk in 2010.

http://www.isobelcampbell.com/

The Sounds (Swedish Indie Rock Band)

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:15:00 GMT

The Sounds are a Swedish indie rock band featuring Maja Ivarsson, Jesper Anderberg, Johan Bengtsson, Felix Rodriguez, and Fredrik Nilsson. They formed in 1999 and released their debut album, Living in America, in 2002. To date they have released four albums, including their most recent, Something To Die For, which was released in March 2011. They have also toured with Foo Fighters, No Doubt, The Strokes, and Panic! At The Disco.

MEN (Brooklyn Indie Dance Band)

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:26:00 GMT

MEN is a Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective featuring JD Samson, Michael O'Neill, and Tami Hart. The group was formed in 2007 by Le Tigre bandmates Johanna Fateman and JD Samson. The duo were DJing parties together and working on remixes, but eventually decided they needed a name and additional members. Samson, who is also a leader in the LGBT community, recruited Michael O'Neill and Ginger Brooks Takahashi from her other side project, Hirsute, to form the core of MEN. Although Fateman is no longer a core member, she continues as a consultant and writer with MEN; Takahashi has been replaced by Tami Hart. MEN released their debut full-length album, Talk About Body, on IAMSOUND Records in February 2011, and have toured with Peaches and Gossip.

Tyler the Creator (Hip-Hop Artist)

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:37:00 GMT

Tyler, the Creator, is a rapper, record producer and visual artist from Los Angeles, California. He is also the leader of the experimental lo-fi shock-rap crew Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA).
Tyler self-released his first album, Bastard, on December 25, 2009. The album was ranked 32nd on Pitchfork Media's list of the Top Albums of 2010. In February 2011, Tyler released the self-directed music video for "Yonkers," the first single from his controversial second album, Goblin, his major label debut, was released on May 10, 2011. Tyler's third solo album Wolf is scheduled to drop in 2012.

Photo credit: Brick Stowell

Bill Plympton (Independent Animator)

Thu, 26 May 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Bill Plympton is an independent animator, cartoonist, producer, and director, and is the only modern animator to personally hand-draw every frame in all of his work. Born and raised in Portland, Plympton worked in New York City for 15 years as an illustrator and cartoonist. His illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, Vogue, The Village Voice, and Vanity Fair and his cartoons have been published in Rolling Stone, National Lampoon, Penthouse, and Glamour. By 1981, his political cartoon strip "Plympton" was syndicated in over 20 papers.

After a string of highly successful short films, including Your Face which was nominated for an Oscar in 1988 for Best Animated Short, he became highly sought after, with his work appearing on MTV and in numerous commercials for brands such as Taco Bell, Nike, AT&T, United Airlines, and Mercedes-Benz. Plympton then made The Tune, his first full-length animated movie consisting of 30,000 personally hand-drawn and colored cells. Needing a break from all that drawing, his next project was his first live-action feature film, J. Lyle. In 1998, Plympton again single-handedly drew an animated feature film, I Married a Strange Person. He was nominated for a second Oscar in 2005 for his short film, Guard Dog. He has also animated music videos including Kanye West's "Heard'em Say" and Weird Al Yankovic's "Don't Download This Song." In 2008, he released Idiots and Angels, a darker feature film including the music of Tom Waits, Moby, and Pink Martini. In 2011, Universe published a book called Independently Animated: Bill Plympton: The Life and Art of the King of Indie Animation.

Gang of Four (English Post-Punk Band)

Thu, 19 May 2011 21:30:00 GMT

Gang of Four is an influential English rock band that combined punk attitude and social consciousness with funky, danceable rhythms. Formed in 1977 by Jon King (vocals), Andy Gill (guitar), Dave Allen (bass), and Hugo Burnham (drums), the band released the Damaged Goods EP in 1978 and their debut full length, Entertainment!, in 1979. Rolling Stone named Entertainment! one of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. After two additional consecutive albums - Solid Gold (1981) and Songs Of The Free (1982) - Allen left Gang of Four in 1982 to form Shriekback, while Gill, King, and Burnham recorded Hard (1983). In 1984, the band called it quits.

In 2005, the original lineup reuinited to record a selection of their favorite tracks on Return The Gift. Burnham left in late 2006 to pursue an academic career and Dave Allen left in 2008. They were replaced by Mark Heaney and Thomas McNiece respectively. In January 2011, Gang of Four released their first new studio album in 16 years, Content, on Yep Roc.

The Lonely Island (Musical Comedy Troupe)

Tue, 10 May 2011 20:04:00 GMT

The Lonely Island is the musical comedy troupe of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer. They met in junior high school in Berkeley, CA and began creating comedy skits, video shorts, and musical parodies together. In 2005, the trio was added to the writing team at Saturday Night Live, with Samberg also an on-screen cast member. Their 2005 digital short "Lazy Sunday" became an internet phenomenon and led to the regular inclusion of digital shorts on SNL, including the 2006 short "Dick In a Box" with Justin Timberlake which won a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and the 2009 short "I'm On a Boat" with T-Pain which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Collaboration. In 2009, The Lonely Island released their debut full-length album, Incredibad (Universal). Their second full-length album, Turtleneck & Chain, was released on Universal on May 10, 2011.

Phylicia Rashad (Actress & Director)

Tue, 03 May 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Phylicia Rashad is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning actress, singer, and director perhaps best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Born in Houston, Texas to a family who valued actively participated in the arts, Rashad first gained recognition on Broadway, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Dreamgirls, The Wiz, Into the Woods, and A Raisin in the Sun for which she was the first African-American actress to receive the Tony Award for Best Actress in 2004.

It was on The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984-1992) that Rashad became viewed as the ultimate mother, Clair Huxtable, a performance which garnered her two Emmy nominations, two People's Choice Awards, and an NAACP Image Award. The Cosby Show was the most successful television show in the '80s, revived the sitcom genre as a whole, and helped pave the way for other television shows based on African-Americans. After The Cosby Show Rashad continued in television, including Cosby (CBS, 1996-2000), for which she won another NAACP Image Award, and Touched By An Angel. In 2008 she appeared in a television film version of A Raisin in the Sun (ABC) and was again nominated for an Emmy Award and won an NAACP Image Award.

Ms. Rashad has also starred in films including For Colored Girls, Frankie and Alice, and Just Wright, and has directed plays including Gem of the Ocean in Seattle in 2007 and A Raisin In The Sun in Los Angeles in 2011.

Holy Fuck (Electronic Band)

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:03:00 GMT

Holy Fuck is an electronic band from Ontario, Canada consisting of Brian Borcherdt and Graham Walsh (effects), Matt Schulz (drums), and Matt McQuaid (bass). Borcherdt and Walsh originally formed the band in 2004, creating electronic music without laptops or modern electronic instruments. Instead they used analog, unconventional tools like duct tape, toy lasers, and a 35-mm film synthesizer to create music. They have released three full-length albums to date: Holy Fuck (Dependent Records, 2005), LP (XL Recordings, 2007), and Latin (Young Turks, 2010). Although the first two albums featured a rotating cast of musicians in addition to Borcherdt and Walsh, Latin featured the band's consistent touring lineup with Schulz and McQuaid. Holy Fuck has performed all over the world, including Coachella, SXSW, Glastonbury, All Tomorrow's Parties, and Lollapalooza, and has toured with MIA, !!!, Wolf Parade, and Super Furry Animals.

Cheech Marin (Actor, Director & Performer)

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 07:01:00 GMT

Cheech Marin is an actor, director, writer, and music lover who is best known as half of the duo Cheech and Chong. Born in Los Angeles, Marin moved to Vancouver at the end of college where he met Tommy Chong. They eventually moved back to LA working as a comedy team that regularly incorporated music into their routines. They released nine albums together between 1972 - 1985, winning a Grammy for Best Comedy Recording for Los Cochinos (Warner Bros, 1973). They also starred in eight films together, including 1978's Up In Smoke.

Marin has been in more than 20 feature films in addition to his collaborations with Chong, including Born in East LA, Tin Cup, and Desperado, and he has lent his voice to numerous animated films such as The Lion King and Cars. He has also appeared on television in Nash Bridges, Judging Amy, and Grey's Anatomy, among others. In 2005, Marin directed a Broadway show called Latinologues, a collection of monologues about the Latino experience in the US. Marin is also deeply interested in art and has gathered an extensive collection of Chicano fine art which he has exhibited at museums around the country.

The Entrance Band (Psych-Rock Band)

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:09:00 GMT

The Entrance Band is a three-piece psych-rock band formed by Baltimore native Guy Blakeslee (vocals, guitar). Blakeslee first gained notice as a member of The Conviction Of... After leaving that band he moved to Chicago to pursue a solo career as Entrance where he recorded Wandering Stranger (Fat Possum) and the critically acclaimed LP Prayer of Death (Tee Pee Records). Entrance then became The Entrance Band as Blakeslee added drummer Derek W. James and A Perfect Circle/Zwan bassist Paz Lenchantin into the group, after their collaborative input on Prayer of Death. The Entrance Band has since released their LPThe Entrance Band, via Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace Label.

The Entrance Band, who now calls Los Angeles their home, has toured with Cat Power, Devendra Banhart, Dungen, The Growlers, Sonic Youth, Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The band was also chosen by Animal Collective to curate the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in May 2011, and is currently on tour with The Kills and Cold Cave.

DJ Scratch (Hip-Hop DJ & Producer)

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 22:56:00 GMT

DJ Scratch is a renowned DJ and producer who has been nominated for three Grammys and 40+ Gold and Platinum Awards. Born in New York as George Spivey, he won the New Music Seminar Battle for World Supremacy DJ Championship in 1988 and then went on tour with Run-D.M.C.. During the tour Scratch and Jam Master J became friends and it was under JMJ's mentorship that Scratch developed his style of showmanship and honed his performance skills. At JMJ's recommendation, EPMD hired Scratch when they needed a DJ with flair. By 1989, DJ Scratch was the official EPMD DJ and by 1992 he was part of the Hitsquad, a collective of Hip-Hop artists associated with EPMD, including Redman, K-Solo, Hurricane G, and Das EFX. Scratch is not only a DJ but a producer and has produced tracks for EPMD, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, and many more. He was also the resident DJ for various national TV shows including BET's "Rap City: Tha Basement," was featured in films including Spike Lee's Bamboozled, and was named a Hip-Hop Icon in 2006 by The Source Magazine.

Vincent Moon (Filmmaker / La Blogotheque)

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris, creator of the Take Away Shows project, and contributor to La Blogotheque. Moon began taking photos at 18 and switched to video camera after discovering the work of Peter Tscherkassky. Moon is especially interested in the relationship between images and sound and his projects always involve music and are often distributed for free on the internet. In 2006, Moon created the Take Away Shows project, a video podcast for La Blogotheque featuring musicians performing outdoors in unusual locations. As part of this series and through his lo-fi videos, movie-essays, and documentaries, Moon has worked with hundreds of artists including REM, Sufjan Stevens, Spoon, The National, Arcade Fire, Beirut, Grizzly Bear, Vampire Weekend, Animal Collective, and Mogwai.

Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Sean Lennon & Charlotte Kemp Muhl)

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:20:00 GMT

The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (or GOASTT) is Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl. Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, is a multi-instrumentalist and singer. Muhl, a model who moved to New York as a young teen, is also a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. After meeting at Coachella in 2004, they began dating, started a record label (Chimera Music), and formed their own band in 2008. Their debut album, Acoustic Sessions (Chimera), was recorded in their home studio and released in October 2010.

KRS-One (Hip-Hop MC / Author)

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:46:00 GMT

KRS-One is an MC, philosopher, activist, author, and lecturer. KRS-One spent his teen years in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, and it was there he met a counselor named Scott Sterling (aka Scott La Rock). Together they formed Boogie Down Productions in the mid-1980s, releasing their debut album, Criminal Minded (M.I.L. Multimedia), in 1987. Sterling was killed in 1987 and shortly after KRS-One founded the Stop the Violence Movement to address violence in the Hip-Hop community. In 1983, he released his first solo album, Return of the Boom Bap (Jive). To date, KRS-One, also known as "The Teacha," has released 19 full-length albums, has given over 500 lectures, and written three books, The Gospel of Hip Hop: First Instrument (2010), Ruminations (2003), and The Science of Rap (1995). KRS-One was given the BET Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 for his work with the Stop The Violence Movement and his contribution to Hip-Hop.

YACHT (Electropop Band)

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:05:00 GMT

YACHT is an indie electronic duo founded by musician, remixer, and performance artist Jona Bechtolt of Portland, Oregon. YACHT began as a solo project for Bechtolt in 2002. He released three albums prior to singer Claire L. Evans becaming a permanent member in 2008. Their first album as a duo was 2009's See Mystery Lights, released on DFA Records. YACHT also describes themselves as a belief system and a genre- and media-spanning life project. Their live shows, which include touring members Jeffrey Brodsky and Bobby Birdman, incorporate PowerPoint presentations, audience Q&A sessions, and projected videos. YACHT has toured with Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Architecture in Helsinki, and DFA label-mates LCD Soundsystem.

Kurt Vile (Singer/Songwriter)

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:18:00 GMT

Kurt Vile is a singer/songwriter and guitarist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has recorded music on his own and with his band, The Violators. Vile released his first album, Constant Hitmaker (Gulcher), in 2008, followed by the God Is Saying This To You LP in 2009 (Mexican Summer). He signed to Matador Records and released Childish Prodigy in 2009. His latest full-length is a psychedelic folk album called Smoke Ring For My Halo (Matador), out on March 8, 2011.

Black Cobra (Sludge Metal Band)

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:03:00 GMT

Black Cobra is a doom and sludge metal duo from the San Francisco Bay Area featuring Jason Landrian and Rafa Martinez. Although originally both from Miami, Landrian (vocals/guitar) and Martinez (drums) lived in New York and Los Angeles respectively, but began trading riffs in the mail and practicing sporadically. They released a three-song demo in 2004 and a full-length, Bestial (At a Loss Recordings), in 2006. They moved to San Francisco in 2007 and released their second album, Feather and Stone (At a Loss Recordings). After extensive touring across the US, Europe, and Japan, as well as on the strength of their previous two albums, Black Cobra was signed to Southern Lord Records and released Chronomega in 2009.

Dan Fedorenko (Amoeba's 20th Anniversary Contest Winner)

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:05:00 GMT

Dan Fedorenko is longtime customer of Amoeba Berkeley and the winner of our 20th Anniversary contest. Here is his winning entry:

Listen up and let me tell you why Amoeba Records is cool.

Berkeley has had a long history of great record shops (the original Rasputin's, Mod Lang, etc.) so since my teens I had been making weekly trips out from the suburban wastelands to seek the hard-to-find punk and metal records I craved. I first encountered the brand new Berkeley Amoeba store after it had only been open a for few months (Holy hell! I can't believe that was almost 20 years ago!). It seemed MAMMOTH in both size and stock even though it was only about half the size of what it is today! Currently Amoeba Berkeley is the smallest of their three stores but back then it seemed wondrously large. I can remember the smell of vinyl records mixed with a bit of must from all the used stock and feeling this heady rush of excitement.

While I was amazedly flipping through rack after rack of albums with a bit of a goofy grin on my face I glanced up at the guy who was flipping through records the other side of the rack from me and noticed it was THURSTON MOORE from SONIC YOUTH. And he had on the exact same excited and goofy smile that I did! A bit self-consciously we both caught eyes and just nodded to one another and then each returned to his own quest for that ultimate find.

You see, THIS is what makes Amoeba cool. The people who LOVE music so much that they get this giddy feeling knowing that they can come to a store that loves music and the hunt for that ever-elusive rarity as much as they do. When you enter Amoeba Records you enter a place filled with excitement and possibility and that greatest gift of all, music.

As the holidays approach my brother Dave and I are going to partake in what has now become an annual tradition for us for the past 13 years running. It is our yearly search for the greatest (and the worst) Christmas holiday albums ever released! And while some years produce a ridiculous harvest of titles to bring home (220 Volt's "Heavy Xmas" anyone?) others have resulted in only a scant Christmas single. But, in the end, all of that is secondary because it is the annual trip we make together to Amoeba in Berkeley that is nearly as fun for us as Christmas Day itself.

So, here's to Amoeba Records 20th Anniversary. May the next twenty years bring as much joy to all of us as these past twenty have to me.

Johnny Marr (Guitarist / Songwriter)

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:06:00 GMT

Johnny Marr is a guitar player, songwriter, singer, and composer. Perhaps best known for The Smiths, he has also been a member of The Cribs, Modest Mouse, Electronic, The The, and The Pretenders. He formed his own group, Johnny Marr and the Healers; has played with or written for numerous other artists including Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, Neil Finn, Beck, Billy Bragg, and Pet Shop Boys; and recently performed on the film score for Inception. Marr has been incredibly influential on other British rock bands, particularly Oasis, the Stone Roses, Radiohead, Blur, and Suede.

JG Thirlwell (Composer, Producer & Performer)

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:24:00 GMT

JG Thirlwell is a composer, producer, and performer who has recorded extensively under various pseudonyms including Foetus, Clint Ruin, Frank Want, Steroid Maximus, and Manorexia. He is also the composer for the Venture Bros. television show on Adult Swim/Cartoon Network.

Shonen Knife (All-Female Pop-Punk Band)

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:23:00 GMT

Shonen Knife is an all-female Japanese pop-punk band which has been performing and recording music for 30 years. Shonen Knife was formed in Osaka, Japan in 1981 by Naoko Yamano, Atsuko Yamano, and Michie Nakatani. While they share similarities with and were influenced by other punk bands, especially The Ramones, Shonen Knife was different from their punk peers with their silly, lighthearted lyrics and coordinated outfits.

After a series of cassette-only releases in Japan, the band caught the attention of US audiences when they appeared on the Sub Pop 100 compilation in 1986 and again in 1989 when a compilation was released called Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves Them featuring bands like L7, Sonic Youth, Redd Kross, and Babes in Toyland covering Shonen Knife songs. During the early to mid-'90s the band maintained a busy touring schedule across the US and UK, which included opening for Nirvana and playing at the Lollapalooza and Reading festivals.

Shonen Knife has recorded 17 albums to date including their early cassette-only releases, 1993's Let's Knife (Capitol), and their latest, 2010's Free Time (Good Charamel Records). Although the lineup has changed over the years, Naoko Yamano, Ritsuko Taneda, and Emi Morimoto continue to make catchy, carefree, pop-punk with the same energetic approach Shonen Knife has used for the last 30 years.

Trevor Dunn (Bassist - Mr. Bungle / John Zorn)

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:02:00 GMT

Trevor Dunn is a composer and bassist who is best known for his work with Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Secret Chiefs 3, and John Zorn. Dunn started playing bass at age 13 and studied classical technique at Humboldt State University in California. He plays in a variety of musical styles, including jazz, rock, metal, and classical.

In 1986, shortly after graduating high school, Dunn formed experimental rock band Mr. Bungle with singer Mike Patton, guitarist Trey Spruance, and drummer Danny Heifetz. Mr. Bungle's self-titled debut album was produced by John Zorn and released by Warner Bros in 1991. The band members were simultaneously participating in other side projects (Dun, Spruance, and Heifetz formed Secret Chiefs 3 and Patton was in Faith No More) and it would be years between album releases. After two more studio albums in 1995 and 1999, Mr. Bungle disbanded in 2000. Prior to Mr. Bungle's dissolution, Dunn joined Mike Patton in a new band, Fantomas, a supergroup featuring Buzz Osborne of the Melvins and Dave Lombardo of Slayer. Fantomas released five albums between 1999-2005 on Patton's record label, Ipecac.

Dunn formed his own band in 1998, trio-convulsant, with whom he's released two albums. He played on John Zorn's 2001 album, The Gift (Tzadik), and has appeared on 15 additional albums with Zorn since then. Dunn also recorded a solo album called Four Films (Tzadik, 2008) and formed another band, Mad Love, which released White With Foam (Ipecac, 2009). Today, Dunn continues to play in a variety of projects with John Zorn, as well as with harpist Shelley Burgon, and Curtis Hasselbring's New Mellow Edwards. He also writes music for independent films.

Questlove (The Roots)

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:53:00 GMT

Questlove, best known as the drummer for Hip-Hop band The Roots, is one of the busiest men in music today. Ahmir Khalib Thompson was born into a musical family in Philadelphia. As a child, he toured with his father's doo-wop group, Lee Andrews & the Hearts, learning how to play drums at age 7. He went to the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts where he met Tariq Trotter (aka Black Thought), with whom he would later found The Roots.

The Roots are a critically acclaimed band who broke Hip-Hop stereotypes with their musicianship, lyrics, general lack of sampling, and incorporation of different styles of music, particularly jazz, rock, and soul. In 1993, they recorded and independently released their first album, Organix. Their next two albums, Do You Want More?!!!??! (DGC, 1995) and Illadelph Halflife (DGC, 1996), were critically acclaimed records that did not find immediate popularity among Hip-Hop fans, in part due to their differentness from the rest of the genre. That all changed with their 1999 release, Things Fall Apart (MCA), and its single "You Got Me" featuring Erykah Badu, for which they won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 2000. After four more studio albums, in March 2009, The Roots became the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon where they nightly exhibit their craftsmanship, deep musical knowledge, and ability to spontaneously perform nearly every style of music possible. In June 2010, they released their ninth studio album, How I Got Over, on Def Jam.

Questlove has also produced, arranged and/or drummed for Common, Erykah Badu, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, John Mayer, Slum Village, Blackalicious, Christina Aguilera, Duffy, Dilated Peoples, Fiona Apple, NERD, and many others. He has also released two albums in his own compilation series, Questlove Presents: Babies Making Babies; is an associate producer for the Broadway musical, Fela!, which won three Tony Awards in 2010; is a character in the basketball video games NBA 2K7, NBA 2K8, and NBA 2K9; has his own Nike sneaker and will be releasing his second Nike shoe in February 2011 - all while maintaining his day job with the legendary Roots crew every evening on Jimmy Fallon.

Riverboat Gamblers (Texas Punk Rock Band)

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:40:00 GMT

The Riverboat Gamblers is a punk rock band from Texas. Formed in 1997 in Denton, TX, the band is today based out of Austin and is Mike Wiebe (vocals), Fadi Al-Assad (guitar), Ian MacDougal (guitar), Sam Keir (drums), and Rob Marchant (bass). Their self-titled debut was released in 2001 (Vile Beat Records). With their next album, Something to Crow About (Gearhead, 2003), and an incindiary show at South By Southwest in 2003, the band's visibility and popularity increased - as did their reputation for their live performances. They signed to Volcom Entertainment in 2005, performed on the 2005 Warp Tour, and have since released two more albums, To the Confusion of Our Enemies (2006) and Underneath the Owl (2009).

ZZK Records Crew (Buenos Aires Record Label & Collective)

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:22:00 GMT

ZZK Records is a record label and artist collective based out of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their artists combine cumbia and other traditional South American music with electronic production, dance beats, and world influences. El G (a.k.a. Grant C. Dull) is a DJ and co-founder of ZZK Records and Zizek Club. Chancha Via Circuito (a.k.a. Pedro Canale) is a producer from the outskirts of Buenos Aires. El Remol�n (a.k.a. Andr�s Schteingart) is a producer who blends minimal techno with minimal cumbia. Tremor (a.k.a. Leonardo Martinelli) researches folkloric traditions and regions within Argentina to layer drums, flutes, and other native instruments with electronic music.

Meat Puppets (American Rock Band)

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 01:31:00 GMT

The Meat Puppets are an influential rock band originally from Phoenix, Arizona. Formed in 1980 by two brothers, bassist Cris Kirkwood and vocalist/guitarist Curt Kirkwood, along with drummer Derrick Bostrom, they started out as a punk band but found eventually found their own style blending country, punk, rock, folk, and blues.

The Meat Puppets released their debut self-titled album on punk label SST in 1982. Their second album, Meat Puppets II (SST, 1984), saw them moving away from punk rock toward their own sound. They released four more albums for SST, including two in 1987, Mirage and Huevos, all the while touring incessantly and becoming college radio favorites. The band broke up briefly after an unsuccessful album, 1989's Monsters (SST), and then re-signed to a major label, London Records.

The Meat Puppets gained wider attention in 1993 after performing with Nirvana during their MTV Unplugged performance, where they also covered three Meat Puppets songs, including "Lake of Fire." The Meat Puppets' second major label release, Too High To Die, followed the MTV Unplugged performance and Cobain's death, and also contained the band's biggest hit, "Backwater." After releasing No Joke! in 1995, the Meat Puppets went on hiatus. It would be 12 years before they released a new album. They reformed in 2006 with Ted Marcus on drums and released Rise to Your Knees in 2007. They released Sewn Together (Mega Force) in May 2009.

Juan Mazzola (Singer/Songwriter, Baby Scream)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:49:00 GMT

Juan Mazzola is an Argentinian singer, songwriter, and the driving force behind the band Baby Scream. Created in Argentina in 2001, Baby Scream has existed as a solo project for Mazzola and as a full band, its current incarnation. Baby Scream has released the Monsters EP (Beyond Your Mind Records, 2006), Ups and Downs (Recorded Recordings Records, 2008), and Identity Theft (Recorded Recordings Records, 2010).

Two Door Cinema Club (Irish Indie Pop Band)

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:06:00 GMT

Two Door Cinema Club is a three-piece band out of Northern Ireland. Formed in 2007 when they were just 15, TDCC is Alex Trimbale (vocals, guitar), Sam Halliday (guitar, vocals), and Kevin Baird (bass, vocals). After their drummer's early departure, they decided to explore recording and performing without a drummer, instead opting to use a laptop to create electronic beats. They generated buzz and label interest by posting two songs on MySpace, eventually signing with Kitsune Music. They released their first album, Tourist History, in early 2010 in Europe. The album was officially released in the US on April 27, 2010 on Glassnote. 2010 was a very busy year for the band. They performed with Phoenix, Foals, Tokyo Police Club, and Delphic, and played at festivals all over the world, including T In the Park in Scotland, Reading and Leeds in England, and Splendour in the Grass in Australia. To top it all off, TDCC was nominated for Best New Act at the 2010 Q Awards in London and Tourist History was just named the number one album of 2010 by Nylon Magazine.

Baba Booey (Producer, The Howard Stern Show)

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:41:00 GMT

Gary Dell'Abate (a.k.a. Baba Booey) is the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show. Dell'Abate has worked on The Howard Stern Show since September 1984. He was given the nickname "Baba Booey" in 1990 after misstating the name of a Hanna-Barbera cartoon character, Baba Looey, on the air. "Baba Booey" has also become a catch phrase for fans of The Howard Stern Show, particularly during crank calls. Dell'Abate released his autobiography, They Call Me Baba Booey (Villard), in November 2010. Since its release, the book has been on The New York Times' Bestseller List for Nonfiction.

Thomas Fehlmann (Electronic Producer / The Orb)

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:46:00 GMT

Thomas Fehlmann is an electronic producer and composer, perhaps best known for being a member of The Orb. Born in Switzerland, Fehlmann would become an influential man in the German electronic scene. He began experimenting with synthesizers in the late '70s, formed his first group, Palais Schaumburg, in 1979, and founded an electronic label, Teutonic Beats, in 1988. Fehlmann helped to foster a relationship between the Berlin and Detroit music scenes by recording with artists on the Tresor record label under the moniker 3MB.

The Orb was formed in 1988 by Alex Paterson and KLF member Jimmy Cauty. Fehlmann started working with the group in 1990 and began recording with them in 1994. The Orb's combination of multiple samples, sound effects, and slower rhythms led to the creation of a new sound and genre called ambient house music. Their use of samples has been integral to the band's success as well as a source of dispute for other artists, notably the unauthorized use of a Rickie Lee Jones dialog sample and a Steve Reich musical sample on the 1990 single, "Little Fluffy Clouds." After establishing a reputation for their singles, remixes, and live shows The Orb released their first studio album in 1991, The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (Big Life). Their next album, U.F.Orb (Big Life), reached #1 on the British charts. The Orb's tenth and most recent studio album, Metallic Spheres, was released in October 2010 on Columbia and featured David Gilmore from Pink Floyd.

While working with The Orb, Fehlmann has also been a resident DJ at Gundrun Gut's Oceanclub in Berlin, recorded his own solo 12"s and LPs, and toured the world. In 2002, the Kompakt label released a collection of Fehlmann's 12"s and new tracks called Visions of Blah, followed by 2007's Honigpumpe. Fehlmann continues producing music and recording and touring with The Orb.

Jason Schwartzman (Actor & Musician)

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 01:18:00 GMT

Jason Schwartzman is an American actor and musician. He began acting at age 17 with a starring role in Wes Anderson's 1998 film, Rushmore. Also in 1998, Schwartzman's band, Phantom Planet, released their debut album, Phantom Planet Is Missing (Geffen). Phantom Planet scored a hit with the song "California" which became the theme song for The OC in 2003. In 2004, Schwartzman left Phantom Planet to pursue his acting career which would go on to include I Heart Huckabees, Shopgirl, Marie Antoinette, The Darjeeling Limited, and most recently, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. He is currently featured in the HBO series, Bored to Death.

Shwartzman has continued to pursue his love for music under the name Coconut Records, created in 2007. As Coconut Records, Schwartzman has released two albums: Nighttiming (Young Baby, 2007) and Davy (Young Baby, 2009). He also composed the theme song for Bored To Death and has written songs for the films Funny People and Slackers, as well as the TV show Smallville.

Mike Kelley (Artist/Musician)

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:40:00 GMT

Mike Kelley is an artist and musician, originally from Detroit but now living in Los Angeles. Kelley is a diverse artist known for his textiles, doll objects, performance videos, drawings, and multimedia installations. He has had one-artist exhibitions all over the world including the Gagosian Galleries in New York City and London, the mus�e du Louvre in Paris, and galleries in Japan, Germany, Italy, and Austria. He has public collections featured in the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim in New York City, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, among many others.

Kelley is also a musician. Though those two audiences don't often co-mingle, music fans will recognize his art from the album cover for Sonic Youth's 1992 album, Dirty. Kelley is a founder of Destroy All Monsters, a noise/punk/experimental band from Detroit which began in 1973 and broke up in 1985. Although they never found mainstream success, they garnered new attention in 1977 with the addition of former members of The Stooges (Ron Asheton) and MC5 (Michael Davis). In 1994, Kelley and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore compiled a 3-CD box set called Destroy All Monsters: 1974-1976 on Moore's record label, Ecstatic Peace!. The band reunited in 1995 and since then re-released past editions of the Destroy All Monsters magazine, recorded 5 new albums, exhibited their art, and performed at festivals around the world.

Hot Chip (English Electropop Band)

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:26:00 GMT

Hot Chip is an English electropop band. Formed in London in 2000, Hot Chip is Alexis Taylor (vocals, guitar, synths), Joe Goddard (vocals, synths, percussion), Owen Clarke (guitar, bass synths), Felix Martin (synths, drum machine), Al Doyle (guitar, percussion, synths), and Rob Smoughton (drums).

Hot Chip self-released their debut EP, Mexico (2000), and its follow-up, Sanfrandisco E-Pee (2002). Their first official full-length, Coming on Strong, was released in the UK in 2004 on Moshi Moshi and in in the US on DFA/Astralwerks in 2005. They released The Warning in 2006 which was nominated for the Nationwide Mercury Prize. The Warning featured "Over and Over" which was named the Best Single of 2006 by NME Magazine. Their third studio album, Made In the Dark, was released in 2008 and contained "Ready For The Floor" which hit #6 on the UK Singles Chart. Their most recent album, One Life Stand, was released on February 9, 2010.

Hot Chip has performed at numerous festivals including Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Big Day Out, Coachella, Treasure Island Festival, Reading, and Leads. In 2010, they toured with LCD Soundsystem. They are also well known for their DJ talent and have released several mix compilations, including a DJ-Kicks album in 2007.

Yo La Tengo (Indie Rock Band)

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:54:00 GMT

In many ways Yo La Tengo is the quintessential ‘90s indie rock band. Formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984 around the core duo of husband and wife Ira Kaplan (guitar, vocals) and Georgia Hubley (drums, vocals), Yo La Tengo, known for their cover songs just as much as for their original music, has long been a critics' darling.

Yo La Tengo released their debut full-length, Ride The Tiger in 1986. The band went through a number of lineup changes during its early years, settling into the trio of Kaplan, Hubley, and James McNew (bass) in 1991. Their fifth album, 1992’s May I Sing With Me, is arguably the start of prime era Yo La Tengo. Featuring the current lineup and the best songs the group had written to date, the album quickly got the attention of Matador Records.

Their next release, Painful (Matador, 1993), has been described by Kaplan as the album where Yo La Tengo really starts. Followed by Electr-O-Pura in 1995 and I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One in 1997, the band continued their long relationship with Matador Records and producer Roger Moutenot. In 2005, Matador released a career-spanning retrospective called Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs: 1985-2003. Yo La Tengo released their 12th studio album, Popular Songs (Matador), in September 2009.

The band has played with influences such as Ray Davies, Jad Fair, Robyn Hitchcock, Neil Innes, Yoko Ono, and members of the Sun Ra Arkestra. They have also been regulars on WFMU Radio's yearly fundraiser, showing an incredible depth of musical knowledge by playing any and all requests. They have also scored music for films and television, including Junebug, Shortbus, Game 6, The Sounds of the Sounds of Science, an episode of The Simpsons, and Gilmore Girls.

Krist Novoselic (Musician, Author, Politician)

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:10:00 GMT

Krist Novoselic is a Croatian-American musician, author, and politician who is best known as the bassist for Nirvana. In addition to Nirvana, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and Eyes Adrift, and played with Flipper. His former Nirvana bandmate, Dave Grohl, recently announced that Novoselic will be playing on the new Foo Fighters album due out in 2011.

Novoselic has been active in politics in Washington State and across the US. In 1995, he formed JAMPAC (the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee), a political action committee to protect the freedom of expression in music and the freedom of choice for music consumers. In 2004, he published his first book, Of Grunge and Government: Let's Fix This Broken Democracy (RDV Books), part memoir and part political discourse. Also in 2004, Novoselic teamed with FairVote, a group that advocates different ways to vote, to promote his book and in 2008, he was appointed chairman of FairVote.

Novoselic continued to write about music and politics for Seattle Weekly's website from November 2007 to September 2010. He was also a DJ on Coast Community Radio in Washington for seven years. He is now working toward a degree and blogging for FairVote.

Elvira (Mistress of the Dark)

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:13:00 GMT

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is a TV host, horror movie buff, and Halloween icon who is played by actress Cassandra Peterson. Peterson created Elvira in 1981 when she was cast as the host of a Los Angeles weekend horror show. On Elvira's Movie Macabre, she gained popularity as a campy, sexy, funny "Valley Girl" who uses a lot of innuendo and double entendre to introduce B-movie horror flicks. Elvira's Movie Macabre was so successful that she became the first nationally syndicated horror show host and, ultimately, has become a brand and image tightly associated with Halloween.

In addition to her own show, Elvira has appeared in numerous other television shows, commercials, and movies. In 1988, Peterson co-wrote and starred in Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Elvira's first feature film. She has published four books and released six albums of Halloween music, including a 2010 digital release, Elvira's Gravest Hits (Shout Factory). She has also licensed her image to items ranging from comic books to pinball machines to her own brand of beer and the Elvira Halloween costume is the best selling female costume of all time.

In September 2010, Elvira's Movie Macabre returned to television syndication.

Spinderella (DJ, Salt-N-Pepa)

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:16:00 GMT

Spinderella is a DJ, best known as a member of the groundbreaking Hip-Hop group, Salt-N-Pepa. The first all-female Hip-Hop group, Salt-N-Pepa broke boundaries both as women in Hip-Hop and as Hip-Hop artists crossing over into pop music.

Born Deidra Muriel Roper, Spinderella joined Salt-N-Pepa as their DJ at age 16. Salt-N-Pepa released their debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious (London), in 1986. Its single "Push It" was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1989 and helped the album go platinum, a first for an all-female Hip-Hop group. Their second album, A Salt With a Deadly Pepa (London, 1988), would garner another Grammy nomination for "Shake Your Thang." On Blacks Magic (London, 1990), their third album, Spinderella took on producing and vocal parts, in addition to DJing. Blacks Magic featured "Let's Talk About Sex," which became one of their biggest pop hits and was re-recorded as "Let's Talk About AIDS" to bring attention to safe sex and AIDS.

Their fourth album, Very Necessary (London, 1993), featured a more sophisticated, mature Salt-N-Pepa. Spinderella once again produced tracks on the album and lent her vocals to the music. Very Necessary featured "Shoop," "Whatta Man" with En Vogue, and "None of Your Business," for which they became the first women in Hip-Hop to win a Grammy. The album also went multi-platinum, crossing another milestone for women in Hip-Hop. Their fifth album, Brand New (Mercury), was released in 1997 and would be their last album as a group. Salt-N-Pepa officially broke up in 2002.

Spinderella continues to DJ, as a radio host and at parites. She hosted a nationally syndicated radio program called The BackSpin and recently developed an online community also called The BackSpin.

Mirah (Singer-Songwriter)

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 23:25:00 GMT

Mirah is a singer-songwriter who has been part of the Northwest independent music scene since moving to Olympia, Washington at age 18. Born Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn, she has released four solo full-length albums on K Records: You Think It’s Like This But Really It’s Like This (2000), Advisory Committee (2001), C'mon Miracle (2004), and (a)spera (2009).

From the beginning of her career, Mirah collaborated extensively with other musicians. Her first album featured collaborations with Phil Elverum of The Microphones. In 2003, she released Songs from the Black Mountain Music Project (K Records) with Brooklyn musician Ginger Brooks Takahashi. Next, she recorded a collection of cover songs with Black Cat Orchestra called To All We Stretch the Open Arm (Yo Yo Recordings, 2004). In 2007, she reunited with Lori Goldston and Kyle Hanson of Black Cat Orchestra (now known as Spectratone International) to release Share This Place: Stories and Observations, a concept album about the lives of insects.

Mirah has also released dance versions of her songs. 2006 saw the release of Joyride: Remixes, a collection of remixes from Mirah's three previous albums done by other K Records artists. In August 2010, Mirah released Gone Are All The Days, a 12" disco remix of a track from (a)spera.

El Guincho (Spanish Musician, Coconot)

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:38:00 GMT

El Guincho is the recording name for Spanish musician Pablo D�az-Reixa. Born in the Canary Islands, he moved to Barcelona and pursued a masters in Film at the Barcelona Film School. Before discovering his own calling to create music for himself, he was a published author and worked in the studio, writing scores for film, TV ads, and documentaries. During that time, he learned his way around the studio and began to look for his own sound.

Production is a big part of El Guincho's songwriting. He likes to start a song in the studio, with the beat - a specific kick drum sound, a specific snare sound, a specific clap sound - and build the song around that foundation. Sometimes, even before the beat, he will first create a sound library to use in a specific song. The result is a sound that incorporates afro-beat percussion, tropicalia, trance, steel drums, jazz, psychedelia, and much more.

El Guincho formed Coconot in 2005 after meeting Alfredo Montes while traveling in Western Africa. Currently a three-piece, Coconot released Cosa Astral in 2008. Also in 2008, El Guincho released his first solo album, Alegranza! (Beggars XL). His second album, Pop Negro (XL Recordings), was released on September 14, 2010. El Guincho is also starring in an upcoming film called Bombay, directed by Nicol�s Mendez, to be released in 2011. It is the film interpretation of Pop Negro and its name derives from the first single from the album, "Bombay."

Dan Hardy (UFC Fighter)

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:06:00 GMT

Dan Hardy is an English mixed martial artist. Hardy began training in Taekwondo at age 6 and started mixing martial arts styles at age 14. After earning his black belt, Hardy trained in China with Shaolin monks. Hardy - nicknamed "The Outlaw" after his screen name on the Cage Warrior forum and the fact that Robin Hood was also from Hardy's hometown of Nottingham - had his first professional fight in 2004 and was signed to UFC in 2008. After winning his debut fight at UFC 89, another win at UFC 95, and a split decision win at UFC 99, Hardy became one of the Top 10 fighters in the welterweight division. He has fought professionally in the US, Europe, and Japan; has held the Cage Warriors Welterweight World Title; is the current Light-Welterweight Champion; and is the UK Storm British Champion. Hardy's next fight is versus Carlos "The Natural Born Killer" Condit at UFC 120 on October 16, 2010 in London.

Best Coast (Los Angeles Indie Pop Band)

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:46:00 GMT

Best Coast is a Los Angeles-based indie pop trio featuring singer/songwriter Bethany Cosentino, multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno, and drummer Ali Koehler (formerly of Vivian Girls). As Best Coast they create a lo-fi sound influenced by garage and surf rock. They released a series of 7"s and EPs between 2009-2010 which all sold out. Their debut full-length, Crazy For You (Mexican Summer), was released on July 27, 2010, to much acclaim, including Pitchfork who named Crazy For You "Best New Music" and NME who placed Best Coast #1 on their list of 50 Best New Bands of 2010.

Jeordie White (Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle, NIN)

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:07:00 GMT

Jeordie White (aka Twiggy) is a bassist, guitarist, and songwriter who has played with Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails, and Goon Moon. White started playing guitar at 13 and joined his first band at 15. While working at a record store in Florida, he met Marilyn Manson and they collaborated together on various side projects until White officially joined Marilyn Manson in 1993 as a bassist. After joining the band, White took the name "Twiggy Ramirez" - an homage to the 1960's British supermodel Twiggy and the serial killer Richard Ramirez - later dropping Ramirez and simply being known as Twiggy.

After leaving Marilyn Manson in 2002, White collaborated with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures) on his Desert Sessions series. He then joined A Perfect Circle as their bassist until the band's indefinite hiatus at the end of 2004. From 2005-2007, White toured with Nine Inch Nails as a guitarist and bassist, having worked with Trent Reznor in New Orleans during the recording session for Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar (Interscope, 1996). White also formed his own band, Goon Moon, with Chris Goss, a long-time Queens of the Stone Age collaborator. Goon Moon released two albums, I Got A Brand New Egg Layin' Machine EP (Suicide Squeeze Records, 2005) and Licker's Last Leg (Ipecac, Recordings, 2007).

White rejoined Marilyn Manson in January 2008 as lead songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. The band released The High End of Low (Nothing) in 2009 and are currently working on a new album.

Donwill (Hip-Hop MC, Tanya Morgan)

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:09:00 GMT

Donwill is a Hip-Hop MC from Cincinnati who is a member of the group Tanya Morgan. Donwill met MC/producer (and Brooklynite) Von Pea over the okayplayer.com message boards and they began writing music together with Illyas, another Cincinnati MC. As Tanya Morgan, they released a mixtape, Sunlighting, and an EP, Sunset, in 2005. Their debut full-length, Moonlighting (Loud Minority Music), was released in 2006 and received high praise from Hip-Hop magazines like The Source and tastemakers like Questlove. They have performed with Ghostface Killah and Large Professor, among others; collaborated with Nicolay, Drake, and 88-Keys; and won MySpace Music & XM Radio’s 2007 "Show Us What Ya Got" competition. In 2009, Tanya Morgan released their third studio album, Brooklynati (Interdependent Media), a play on their home cities of Brooklyn and Cincinnati. On March 23, 2010, Donwill released his first solo debut, Don Cusack in High Fidelity (Interdependent Media), a concept album built around the John Cusack film High fidelity.

Maldita Vecindad (Mexican Rock Pioneers)

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:03:00 GMT

Maldita Vecindad are one of the pioneers of the "rock en espanol" movement. Their full name, La Maldita Vecindad y los Hijos del Quinto Patio, translates to "the damned neighborhood and the sons of the fifth patio." The band formed in 1985 and began playing in Mexico City’s underground music scene, developing a fusion of rock, ska, and traditional folk rhythms. Their formation coincided with a new emphasis in Latin America on creating rock in one's native tongue, dubbed "rock en espanol."

Maldita Vecindad released their self-titled debut record in 1989. Their sophomore release, El Circo (BMG Mexico, 1991), became a landmark album for Latin rock, selling a record-breaking 700,000 copies in Mexico alone, which was unheard of for a supposed underground act. After their fourth studio album, 1998's Mostros (RCA), the band took a break from releasing albums and focused instead on touring. On March 30, 2010, Maldita Vecindad released their first studio album in 12 years, Circular Colectivo (Nacional). Today, the band is Roco (vocals), Pato (guitar), Aldo (bass), and Sax (guitar).

Margaret Cho (Comedian, Author)

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:16:00 GMT

Margaret Cho is a Korean American comedian, author, actress, and recording artist. Born in San Francisco, Cho attended the San Francisco School of the Arts and began performing stand-up comedy at age 16 in a club above her parents' book store. She started gaining national attention after opening for Jerry Seinfield, appearing on a Bob Hope television special, and appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show. In 1994, Cho won the American Comedy Award for Best Female Comedian and was featured in a short lived television sitcom called All-American Girl based on her stand-up.

Cho has performed many one-woman shows, some of which also became successful concert DVDs, CDs, and books. Her first off-Broadway show, I'm The One That I Want, premiered in 1999 and became a US tour, a live concert film, and an autobiography of the same name. Her next two tours, Notorious C.H.O. and Revolution, were also released as feature films. The CD version of Revolution was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 2003. Cho's second book, I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight, was released in 2005. Cho returned to television with the 2008 VH1 series, The Cho Show, and can currently be seen on the Lifetime television series, Drop Dead Diva. She has also been confirmed to be a cast member on the 11th season of Dancing With The Stars. Cho's latest tour, Cho Dependent, is also the name of her newest comedy music album. Cho Dependent was released on August 24, 2010 on Clownery Records and features Tegan and Sara, Jon Brion, Andrew Bird, Ani Difranco, and others.

In addition to her comedy, Cho has been recognized for her contributions to promote equal rights regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. She has received awards from the ACLU of Southern California, the National Organization for Women (NOW), GLAAD, American Women in Radio and Television, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), and PFLAG.

Semi Precious Weapons (Glam Rock Band)

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:26:00 GMT

Semi Precious Weapons is a glam rock band from New York City. SPW formed in 2006 with Justin Tranter (vocals), Cole Whittle (bass), Dan Crean (drums), and Aaron Lee Tasjan (who was replaced by guitarist Stevy Pine in 2008). Graduates of the Berklee College of Music, the friends created their own brand of "filthy glamour" rock 'n roll, combining rock, glam, fashion, and a fierce live performance. They released their first album, We Love You, (Razor & Tie) in 2008 using profits from Justin Tranter's jewelry company, Fetty, to help pay for the album. In 2009, SPW was voted the Best Band in NYC by the Village Voice and was signed to Interscope. They have been opening for Lady Gaga on her "Monster Ball" tour since November 2009. They also performed at Lollapalooza in 2010 and will perform at the Sunset Strip Festival in Los Angeles on August 28, 2010. Their latest album, You Love You (Interscope), was released in June 2010.

Rich Fulcher (Comedian, The Mighty Boosh)

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:51:00 GMT

Rich Fulcher is an American comedian, writer, and improviser best known for his roles in the BBC television series, The Mighty Boosh. The Mighty Boosh is also the name of a British comedy troupe featuring Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding, Dave Brown, Michael Fielding, and Rich Fulcher. It was so successful that it was developed into a television show, stage show, and BBC radio show. In The Mighty Boosh, Fulcher appeared as Bob Fossil and other characters, including Eleanor, a character who now has her own show, An Evening with Eleanor, The Tour Whore. The Mighty Boosh won the Perrier Best Newcomer award in 1998 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has gone on to win numerous awards for its live shows and television series.

Fulcher began his comedy career in Chicago, where he was a member of Improv Olympic and the Second City National Touring Company. Fulcher first appeared in the UK in an improv show called Modern Problems in Science which he brought to Edinburgh, London, Montreal, Australia, and Singapore. Modern Problems in Science also filmed a six-episode TV series. Fulcher was a writer and performer in a 1998 sketch comedy TV show, Unnatural Acts, with other Boosh members, Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. In 2006, Fulcher starred in his own sketch comedy show on the BBC, Snuff Box, which he wrote and performed in. Fulcher published his first book, Tiny Acts of Rebellion - 97 Almost Legal Ways to Stick it to the Man, in 2009. Most recently, Fulcher has been bringing his Eleanor show to comedy festivals in Adelaide, Melbourne, LA, London, and Edinburgh, and dividing his time between Los Angeles and London.

Busdriver (LA Hip-Hop MC)

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:02:00 GMT

Busdriver is an LA-based Hip-Hop MC who is known for his dadaist lyrics, absurdist humor, and rapid-fire delivery. Born Regan John Farquhar in Los Angeles, Busdriver started his Hip-Hop career early. His father was the screenwriter for Krush Groove, one of the first films to feature Hip-Hop as a storyline. Busdriver began rapping at age 9 and released his first album at age 13 with the group 4/29. He began attending open mic nights at The Good Life Cafe, a holistic cafe by day and Hip-Hop gathering place by night, and Project Blowed in the early and mid-'90s. Through those open mic nights, he met other Hip-Hop artists which led to his guest appearing on 20 singles before ever releasing his own record.

Busdriver released his debut album in 2001, Memoirs of the Elephant Man (Temporary Whatever Records), followed by 2002's Temporary Forever (Temporary Whatever Records). In 2003, he released The Weather on Mush Records with Radioinactive and Daedelus. In 2007, he released his first record for Epitaph, RoadKillOvercoat, which featured beats by Boom Bip and Nobody. His most recent (and ninth) album, Jhelli Beam (Epitaph), was released in 2009 and featured regular Busdriver collaborators Daedelus and Nobody.

Elijah Wood (Actor)

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:59:00 GMT

Elijah Wood is an American actor, record label owner, and music aficionado. Born in Iowa, Wood began acting as a young child in commercials and television. He got his first major film role when he was 9 years old in Avalon (1990). Since then he has appeared in countless films, including Paradise (1991), Radio Flyer (1992), The Good Son (1993), The Ice Storm (1997), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), and Everything Is Illuminated (2005), as well as lending his voice to Happy Feet (2006) and 9 (2009). However he is best known for his role as Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson.

In addition to acting, Wood is a serious music lover. He has been collecting vinyl for 13 years and formed his own record label, Simian Records, in 2005. Simian Records is the label home to Apples in Stereo and Heloise and the Savoir Faire.

Elijah Wood will be DJing at Amoeba Hollywood on August 8, 2010 from 2-4pm as part of our Sunday Sound Matinee series. More info.

Serena-Maneesh (Norwegian Rock Band)

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:28:00 GMT

Serena-Maneesh is a rock band from Norway signed to 4AD Records. Serena-Maneesh is Emil Nikolaisen (vocals, guitar), Oystein Sandsdalen (guitar), Tommy Akerholdt (drums), Aadne Meisfjord (synthesizers), and Hilma Nikolaisen (bass), who is Emil's sister.

Serena-Maneesh is the creation of frontman Emil Nikolaisen, who played in many bands in Norway prior to forming Serena-Maneesh, including drumming for a punk rock band, Silver, and the poppier Loch Ness Mouse, as well as briefly playing guitar for a Christian metal band, Extol. Serena-Maneesh is a result of influences as disparate as My Bloody Valentine, The Stooges, and Norwegian composers, combining rock, shoegaze, and black metal. They released their first EP, Fixations (Honey Milk), in 2002 and a compilation of previous recordings in 2005, Zuruck (Honey Milk). But it was their 2005 self-titled debut album that caught the attention of Pitchfork and Drowned In Sound. That led to invitations to tour with Nine Inch Nails and The Dandy Warhols, as well as festival shows at Leeds, Reading, and SXSW, among others.

After extensive touring, in 2008, Emil Nikolaisen took the band into a very nontraditional studio to record their second album, a cave on the outskirts of Oslo, Norway. After a year of recording and an 8-day mixing session per track, the result was S-M 2: Abyss In B Minor, which was released on 4AD in March 2010. The album also features another Nikolaisen, their sister, Elvira, on vocals. Sufjan Stevens appears as well, playing vibraphone, flute, and piano.

Tigerskin (German Electronic Producer)

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:36:00 GMT

Tigerskin is the alter ego of German producer Alex Krüger (aka Dub Taylor), one of the most respected producers in electronic music today. He released his first 12" under the moniker Psychoplasma in 1996 and has released multiple records every year since then. Solidly entrenched in Berlin's underground house scene and boasting a growing global following, he has gained a reputation not only for his live performances but for producing artists such as Phonique and Erlend Oye, among many others. He has released music primarily on established dance labels such as Forcetracks, Morris Audio, Resopal and, more recently, Poker Flat, Dessous, Absurd, and Opossum.

Jay Bentley (Bad Religion)

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:32:00 GMT

Jay Bentley is the bass player for seminal punk band Bad Religion. Bad Religion has been recording and touring for 30 years, and is set to release their 15th studio album, The Dissent of Man (Epitaph), in September 2010. Bentley has also been a member of Wasted Youth, T.S.O.L, The Circle Jerks, and Cathedral Of Tears.

Jay Bentley formed Bad Religion in 1980 in Southern California along with Greg Graffin, Jay Ziskrout, and Brett Gurewitz. They released their first EP, Bad Religion, in 1981 on Gurewitz's new record label, Epitaph. The album made its way to influential LA punk DJ Rodney Bingenheimer who began playing it on his radio show. Bad Religion was notable in the early LA punk scene as being the only punk band from the "Valley," the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.

Bad Religion's first official full-length, How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, was released on Epitaph in 1982. Bentley left the band in 1982 during the recording of of their second full-length, Into the Unknown (Epitaph, 1983), but he would rejoin the band in 1986 and has appeared on every album since then.

1988 saw the return of the band's original lineup and the release of their third album, Suffer (Epitaph), which has been credited for sparking a new interest in American punk music. With Stranger Than Fiction (Atlantic, 1994), their first major label release, the band had their first (and only) gold record in the US. They also saw the departure of Gurewitz, who left partly to focus more on his record label which had a surprise hit with The Offspring's album, Smash. After a few more albums on Atlantic, Bad Religion returned to Epitaph, Gurewitz rejoined the band, and they released The Process of Belief in 2002, The Empire Strikes First in 2004, and New Maps of Hell in 2007.

Although Bad Religion has undergone lineup changes throughout much of their 30 year career, the lineup appears to have stabilized with Jay Bentley, Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz, Brian Baker, Greg Hetson, and Brooks Wackerman. In fact, their next album, The Dissent of Man, will be the fourth consecutive album to feature the same lineup.

Christian Scott Quintet (Jazz Quintet)

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:28:00 GMT

The Christian Scott Quintet is New Orleans jazz trumpeter, composer, and producer Christian Scott, guitarist Matthew Stevens, pianist Milton Fletcher, Jr., bassist Kristopher Keith Funn, and drummer Jamire Williams.

Christian Scott is known for what he calls his "whisper technique," where he emphasizes breath over vibration at the mouthpiece, stemming from his desire to have a unique sound and was inspired by his mother's voice. Scott began learning the trumpet at age 12 in the hope of one day playing with his uncle, jazz saxophonist Donald Harrison, Jr., which happened for the first time when Scott was only 15. Scott attended the Berklee College of Music while touring with Donald Harrison, Jr. He released his debut album, Christian Scott (Impromp2 Records), in 2002 and signed with Concord Records in 2005. His major label debut, Rewind That (Concord), was released in 2006 and received much critical praise for pushing jazz into new territories through his combination of jazz, soul, Hip-Hop rhythms, and rock. Rewind That was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2007.

Scott has released two additional studio albums, Anthem (Concord, 2007) and Yesterday You Said Tomorrow (Concord, 2010), as well as a live album, Live at Newport (Concord), in 2008. Yesterday You Said Tomorrow continued Scott's drive to expand the jazz genre, pulling from musical inspirations of all genres, such as Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan. The album also includes a track co-written by Radiohead's Thom Yorke. Scott's music is also references and is influenced by political and social issues including the Klu Klux Klan and the debate over gay marriage.

Tarin Muir (SF In-Store / Marketing Maven)

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:31:00 GMT

I love music, long walks on the beach, rainstorms, and stinky cheese. I’ve worked for Amoeba Music for almost 2.5 years, and I’ve worked in the marketing / promotions department running the in-stores for just over 1.5 years at the San Francisco store.

Groove Armada (Electronic Duo)

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Groove Armada is British electronic duo Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. The pair met in the early '90s in London and in 1995 began a club night together called "Captain Sensual at the Helm of Groove Armada." Their club nights led to more parties, the formation of a band, and, in 2000, the creation of a music and arts festival called Lovebox.

Groove Armada began releasing singles in 1997, including "At the River" which has become one of their most well-known songs. They released their debut album, Northern Star (Tummy Touch Records), in 1998. Their follow-up, Vertigo (Jive, 1999), which contained "I See You Baby" and was remixed by Fatboy Slim, broke them into the British mainstream, placing them in the Top 20 charts and eventually becoming certified silver. They continued moving away from house music and toward more up-tempo tracks with their third studio album, Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub) (Jive, 2001), which garnered them a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording for "Superstylin'." They released three more studio albums: Lovebox (Jive, 2003); Soundboy Rock (Strictly Rhythm Records, 2007); and their latest effort, Black Light (Om, 2010).

Over the years, Groove Armada has featured various vocalists, including Bryan Ferry, Neneh Cherry, Nappy Roots, Sunshine Anderson, Jeru the Damaja, Nile Rodgers, and Richie Havens, among others. In addition to their studio albums, Groove Armada has released several mixes including contributions to the Back to Mine and Another Late Night series'.

Prince Whipper Whip (Hip-Hop MC, The Fantastic Five)

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:39:00 GMT

Prince Whipper Whip is a pioneering Hip-Hop MC from the Bronx, New York. Born James Whipper, he began his career with Grandmaster Caz, became a member of The Mighty Gestapo in 1978, went on to form the Salt and Pepper MCs with Dot-A-Rock, was briefly a member of the Cold Crush Brothers, and then joined Grand Wizard Theodore's Fantastic Five. Grand Wizard Theodore is credited as the inventor of two DJ techniques: the scratch and the needle drop. The group (also known as the Fantastic Freaks or the Fantastic Romantic 5), released a 12", "Can I Get A Soul Clap," in 1980 and appeared in the influential Hip-Hop movie, Wild Style, in 1981. The group broke up in 1983, having never recorded an official album.

Prince Whipper Whip (a.k.a. the Bronx Puerto Rican Prince) was one of the first Latino Hip-Hop MCs and one of the first MCs from New York to travel to the West coast, where he performed with Ice-T and Afrika Islam. Prince Whipper Whip has also collaborated with Afrika Bambaataa and appeared as a guest MC on records by DJ Honda, The Beatnuts, Brother Ali, De La Soul, and DJ Z-Trip.

Justin Townes Earle (Nashville Singer/Songwriter)

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:50:00 GMT

Justin Townes Earle is a singer/songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. The son of Steve Earle and named after his father's friend, musician Townes Van Zandt, Justin Townes Earle began performing at a young age. As a teen he played in two bands: a rock band called The Distributors and a ragtime/bluegrass band called The Swindlers. He also toured with his father as a keyboard and guitar player. However, Justin grappled with a drug addiction (something with which his father was also familiar), and it ultimately caused him to be fired from his father's band.

After sobering up, Justin focused on creating music. He self-released the Yuma EP in 2007, a combination of blues, country, and rock. After signing to Bloodshot Records, he released his first full-length, The Good Life, in 2008. His second full-length, Midnight At The Movies, was released in 2009. Also in 2009, Justin Townes Earle was part of The Big Surprise Tour with Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Old Crow Medicine Show, and The Felice Brothers. With a heavy touring schedule, Justin has performed at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest, the Chicago Country Music Festival, Americana Music Awards, South By Southwest, Bonnaroo, and the Grand Ole Opry.

Justin Townes Earle's third album, Harlem River Blues, is set to be released on September 14, 2010.

Big Pink (British Rock Band)

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:54:00 GMT

The Big Pink is a British rock band who released their debut album, A Brief History of Love (4AD), in September 2009 to much critical acclaim.

The Big Pink is the creation of Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell, two musicians from London. Cordell is the founder and owner of Merok Records, which was an early label home for Kalxons, Crystal Castles, and Titus Andronicus. Furze was the guitarist for Alec Empire and Panic DHH and ran the Hate Channel record label with Cordell before forming the band. They began making music together in 2007, releasing their first 7", Too Young To Love, as a limited edition on House Anxiety in October 2008. The Big Pink signed to 4AD in February 2009 and won the Philip Hall Radar Award for best new act at the NME Shockwave Awards shortly thereafter.

Although the core of The Big Pink is Furze (vocals, guitar) and Cordell (programming, keyboards, vocals), they have an ever-evolving line-up which currently includes drummer Akiko Matsuura (Comanechi, Pre) and bassist Leopold Ross. They have also been joined by Daniel O’Sullivan (Sunn O))), Guapo), Valentine Fillol Cordier, and Jo Apps.

The Big Pink has toured with TV On The Radio and Muse, played at the 2010 Coachella Music Festival, and is slated to perform at Lollapalooza 2010 and Reading Festival 2010.

Robb Reiner (Anvil)

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:23:00 GMT

Robb Reiner is the drummer for Canadian heavy metal band Anvil. Founded in 1981 by Reiner and Steve "Lips" Kudlow (vocals, guitar), Anvil is considered one of the creators of the thrash/speed metal genre. However despite their influence, the band never experienced widespread success or popularity. Anvil recently experienced a resurgence in their career following the release of the documentary film, Anvil! The Story of Anvil.

Having undergone lineup changes over the years, Anvil now consists of Reiner, Lips, and Glenn Five (bass, backing vocals). Anvil released their debut album, Hard N' Heavy, on Attic Records in 1981. For their fifth album they signed to Metal Blade Records on which they released three albums, including their most commercially successful record to date, Strength of Steel (1987). Overall, Anvil has issued 18 releases, 13 of which are studio albums, including their most recent, This is Thirteen (self-released in 2007 and reissued by VH1 Classic in 2009).

The documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil was made by filmmaker and one-time roadie for the band Sacha Gervasi. The film includes interviews from rock musicians who cite Anvil as major influences and follows the struggles of the band as they tour Europe, try to raise money to record a new album, and deal with interpersonal differences. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008, won Audience Awards at three film festivals, and won Best Documentary at the 2009 Evening Standard Film Awards and the 2010 Independent Spirit Awards.

Following the success of the documentary, a book about the band, also called Anvil: The Story of Anvil, was released in 2009. Anvil was also invited to tour with AC/DC and Saxon, was featured on VH1 Classic's That Metal Show, has performed at festivals, and appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in 2009, their first network television appearance. Anvil is currently working on their 14th studio album, Juggernaut of Justice, and continues to tour.

Phonte (Foreign Exchange/Little Brother)

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:53:00 GMT

Phonte is a rapper, singer, and songwriter who is half of Foreign Exchange and half of Little Brother. He has also recorded under the names Tigallo and Percy Miracles.

Born Phonte Coleman in North Carolina, Phonte began singing in his grandmother's church choir. While attending North Carolina Central University, he met the future members of Little Brother, Big Pooh and 9th Wonder. They formed Little Brother in 2001 and released their first official full-length, The Listening (ABB Records), in 2003. Their second album, The Minstrel Show, was released in 2005 on Atlantic Records. For their third album, Getback (2007), Little Brother returned to ABB as a duo with the departure of 9th Wonder. Their fourth and final Little Brother album, Leftback, was released in April 2010 on Justus Records.

Phonte met Dutch producer Nicolay online in 2002. They began creating music by sending it to each other over instant messenger, without ever having met in person. The debut Foreign Exchange album, Connected (BBE, 2004) was a mix of R&B, electronica, and Hip-Hop. Their second album, Leave It All Behind (FE Music), was released in 2008 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Their third album, Authenticity, is to be released in October 2010.

In 2008, Phonte released an album with Detroit producer Zo! under the name of Tigallo. Their album, Zo! & Tigallo Love the 80’s (Hall of Justus), was a collection of covers of '80s classics like A-Ha's "Take On Me" and Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out."

Die Antwoord (South African Zef Rap-Rave Crew)

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:46:00 GMT

Die Antwoord is a South African rap-rave group featuring Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er, and DJ Hi-Tek. Die Antwoord, which means "The Answer" in Afrikaans, was created in 2009 and became an internet phenomenon with their video for "Enter the Ninja." They combine Afrikaans, English, and Zef, an Afrikaans slang term that roughly means a mix of modern, trashy, and common and can be applied beyond music. Their debut album, $0$, was originally released for streaming online and will soon be officially released on Interscope Records. Die Antwoord made their US debut performing at the 2010 Coachella Music Festival and are touring Europe and the US during Summer 2010.

Helen Stellar (LA Rock Band)

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:20:00 GMT

Los Angeles rock band Helen Stellar is Jim Evens (vocals, guitar), Clif Clehouse (drums), Dustin Robles (bass), and Eli Lhymn (guitar). Formed in Chicago in 2001 by Evens and Clehouse, the band relocated to Los Angeles in 2003 when their van broke down after driving across the country to perform on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, the third unsigned band ever invited to play on the program. Robles, already living in LA and also from Chicago, joined the band in 2004. In 2009, the band expanded to a quartet with the addition of guitarist Eli Lhymn.

Helen Stellar self-released three EPs, Newton, Below Radar, and I'm Naut What I Seem, between 2001-2004. A song from Below Radar, "IO (This Time Around)," caught the ear of director Cameron Crowe who decided to feature the song in his film, Elizabethtown. Crowe, an avid music fan, released the band's next album, A Prayer To Myself, a collection of the three EPs and unreleased tracks (two on the CD and four on the vinyl), on his Vinyl Films imprint in 2006. Helen Stellar's first official full-length album, If The Stars Could Speak, They Would Have Your Voice..., was self-released in April 2010.

Helen Stellar's music has also been used in the films Henry Poole Is Here and Love Happens, and in television shows like Friday Night Lights and the L Word. Gregg Araki, another director known for his passion for music, invited Helen Stellar to perform on screen in his upcoming film, Kaboom.

Download a free track from Helen Stellar here. Buy their new album If The Stars Could Speak, They Would Have Your Voice... here.

Ana Tijoux (Chilean Hip-Hop Artist)

Mon, 31 May 2010 17:24:00 GMT

Ana Tijoux is a Chilean MC who raps in Spanish and French and is considered one of the leading female MCs in Latin America. Born in France in 1977 to a French mother and a Chilean father, Tijoux moved to Santiago as a teenager after the return of democracy in Chile. Having grown interested in Hip-Hop in France, Tijoux formed a Hip-Hop group in Santiago, Makiza, during the late '90s. Makiza released two albums, Vida Salvaje (1998) and Aerolíneas Makiza (1999), before breaking up.

Tijoux next collaborated twice with Mexican singer/songwriter Julieta Venegas, starting with a 2003 contribution to the film Sub Terra. But it was their song "Eres Para Mi" on Venegas' 2006 album, Limon y Sal, that became a hit and spread Tijoux's popularity across Latin America, Spain, and the US. Tijoux released her solo debut album, Kaos (Oveja Negra) in 2007, and was nominated for "Best New Artist" and "Best Urban Artist" by the MTV Latin America VMAs. She released her second full-length, 1977, in late 2009 in Chile and in April 2010 in the US on the Nacional label.

Jay Ferguson (Sloan)

Mon, 24 May 2010 20:01:00 GMT

Jay Ferguson is the guitarist for Sloan, one of the most successful Canadian rock bands of the '90s. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ferguson started Sloan in 1991 with Chris Murphy (bass & vocals), Patrick Pentland (guitar & vocals), and Andrew Scott (drums). All four members of Sloan write songs for the band and they often change instruments during live shows.

Sloan released their first EP, the Peppermint EP, in 1991 on their own label, Murderecords. After being signed to Geffen imprint DGC and releasing their debut full-length, Smeared, in 1992, the band's second full-length, Twice Removed (Geffen, 1994) was not promoted by the label. Twice Removed was subsequently voted one of Spin Magazine's "Best Albums You Didn't Hear" in 1994 and was ranked as the top Canadian Album of All Time by a reader's poll in Chart! Magazine.

The band went back to releasing records through their own Murderecords, starting with 1996's One Chord to Another, an album which won a Juno Award for Best Alternative Album and was praised by US critics. Sloan released five additional studio albums, including their ninth full-length album, Parallel Play (Murderecords, 2008), which was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Rock Album. They also released a double live album, 4 Nights at the Palais Royale (Murderecords, 1999) and a digital EP, Hit & Run (Murderecords), in 2009.

Mac Danzig (UFC / Mixed Martial Arts Fighter)

Wed, 19 May 2010 19:10:00 GMT

Mac Danzig is a professional mixed martial arts fighter and instructor, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 6, and a former lightweight champion for the King of the Cage and Gladiator Challenge. But Danzig is not your typical combat athlete. He's also a vegan, naturalist, animal lover, and serious photographer.

After finding success in numerous mixed martial arts competitions, including being the 2001 Lightweight Extreme Challenge Trials MMA National Champion, Danzig moved to LA in 2002 to pursue full-time training. He is known for grappling and boxing. Danzig made his debut in the Ultimate Fighter Championship in December 2007, where he won Season 6. Most recently, Danzig broke a three fight losing streak in February 2010 with a unanimous win over Justin Buchholz at UFC 109.

Kembra Pfahler (The Volutpuous Horror of Karen Black)

Mon, 17 May 2010 19:31:00 GMT

Kembra Pfahler is a performance artist and lead singer for the theatrical cult-glam rock group The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black. Pfahler was born in Hermosa Beach, CA but now lives in New York City. She created horror films and performance art for ten years with Samoa, her ex-husband, and they decided their work need a musical soundtrack. Thus, The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black (named after cult horror film actress Karen Black) was born in 1990. They recorded four albums, including Black Date (Cleopatra, 1998).

Pfahler is known for the sexual nature of her performances and for combining a "monster aesthetic" with traditional notions of female beauty. For instance, she often performs with her body painted a single color, her teeth blacked out, and wearing only black stiletto boots, black underwear, a teased out black wig, and theatrical make-up. She subscribes to a philosophy of Availablism, incorporating low-tech, readily accessible materials into her sets, props, and costumes.

Pfahler also curates shows, including a 2007 show called Womanizer at Deitch Projects in New York. In 2008, Pfahler was featured at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City during their Biennial celebration. Deitch Projects published a book on Kembra Pfahler, entitled Beautalism, in celebration of her projects for the Biennial.

Fanfarlo (UK Indie Pop Band)

Wed, 12 May 2010 19:23:00 GMT

Fanfarlo is a UK-five piece indie pop band which uses an array of instruments, including saws, clarinets, cellos, mandolins, ukuleles, and melodicas. Fanfarlo is Simon Balthazar (lead vocals, guitar, clarinet), Cathy Lucas (violin, mandolin, keyboard, vocals), Justin Finch (bass), Amos Memon (drums), and Leon Beckenham (trumpet, keyboard). The band formed in 2006 and took their name from French poet Charles Baudelaire's novella La Fanfarla. They released four 7"s between 2006-2008. In 2008, the band went to Connecticut to record their album with producer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol). They released Reservoir in February 2009 on their own label, Raffle Bat, and it was re-released by Canvasback Music/Atlantic Records in October 2009.

Jon Schnepp (Director, Metalocalypse)

Mon, 10 May 2010 19:50:00 GMT

Jon Schnepp is the co-producer and director for Metalocalypse, an animated television show on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim about the most popular band in the world, a metal band called Dethklok. Schnepp designed the characters in Dethklock and, in addition to directing the three seasons of the television series, created and directed the fully animated visuals for the 2009 Dethklok concert tour with Mastadon.

Schnepp also co-directed the fourth season of The Venture Bros, directed Upright Citizens Brigade and the 3D origin of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and edited Space Ghost: Coast To Coast. He has released his own short films, Nerd Hunter 3004 and The Removers. Schnepp’s image can be seen in music videos such as Iron Maiden's "Be Quick Or Be Dead," with Ozzy Osbourne in "Therapy," and as a hooded figure in Metallica’s "The Memory Remains."

Soft Pack (Indie Rock Band)

Mon, 03 May 2010 18:10:00 GMT

The Soft Pack is an indie rock band from Los Angeles (by way of San Diego) featuring Matt Lamkin (vocals), Matty McLoughlin (guitar), David Lantzman (bass), and Brian Hill (drums). Formerly known as The Muslims, the band changed their name in 2008. The band released four 7" singles between 2008-2009 and two EPs in 2009, all the while gaining a reputation for their live shows and no-frills sound. They have performed with The Walkmen, The Breeders, Vivian Girls, Phoenix, Franz Ferdinand, and The Last Shadow Puppets. The Soft Pack released their official full-length, The Soft Pack, on Kemado Records on February 2, 2010.

Benjamin W. (Metal Buyer)

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:31:00 GMT

Metal buyer, noise fancier, bearer of 6-stringed plagues, and all around weird dude.

Scott Walker (Jazz Floor Staff & Info)

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:47:00 GMT

I have been collecting music since I was a kid. I also have a weekly DJ night, so I am always looking for new material. I work hard, pay taxes, and learn something every day.

Tegan and Sara (Indie Folk Duo)

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:10:00 GMT

Tegan and Sara are twin sisters who formed a band together when they were 15, have released six studio albums, tour extensively, and were twice nominated for Album of The Year by the Juno Awards.

Tegan and Sarah Quin were born in Calgary, Canada and began playing music together in high school. After winning a garage band competition, they recorded several demo tapes, The Yellow Tape, The Orange Tape, and The Red Tape, and then independently released Under Feet Like Ours in April 1999. They were signed to Neil Young's Vapor Records and released This Business of Art in 2000 and If It Was You in 2002. During those two years, Tegan and Sara toured with Neil Young, Rufus Wainwright, Ryan Adams, and Hot Hot Heat, and toured across Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, and the US.

With the release of So Jealous in 2004, Tegan and Sara gained wider attention. Their song "Walking With A Ghost" from So Jealous was covered by the White Stripes, the album was named by Rolling Stone as one of the Top 50 Records of 2004, and they were nominated for their first Juno Award for Album Of The Year. On their next album, The Con (Vapor, 2007), Tegan and Sara added drums, bass, and keyboards and Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie) as a producer. They received their second Juno nomination for Album Of The Year for The Con. They released their sixth studio album, Sainthood (Vapor), in October 2009, along with a 3-volume set of photography and writing called On, In, At. In March 2010, Tegan and Sara released The Alligator LP, a digital collection of remixes of their song "Alligator" by artists such as Four Tet, Passion Pit, Ra Ra Riot, and VHS or Beta. In addition to their work with each other, Tegan and Sara have co-written songs and have been featured vocalists for Against Me!, Tiesto, Dragonette, and The Reason.

Tegan and Sara have followed a relentless touring schedule, gaining a reputation for their stories and banter in between songs, as well as for their performances themselves. They have toured with the Killers, Ben Folds, Cake, Death Cab For Cutie, and played at festivals including Coachella, Bonnaroo, SXSW, Lollapalooza, and Lilith Fair. They will be opening for Paramore during Summer 2010.

Busy Bee (Hip-Hop MC)

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:57:00 GMT

Busy Bee is a Hip-Hop MC originally from the Bronx, New York who has worked with many of Hip-Hop's founding fathers, including Afrika Bambaataa and Melle Mell. Busy Bee (a.k.a. Busy Bee Starsky) was in one of the first documented rap battles versus Kool Moe Dee in 1982, was featured in 1982's Wild Style, the first Hip-Hop film, joined Afrika Bambaataa's Zulu Nation, and won the 1986 New Music Seminar's MC World Supremacy Belt. He released three solo albums: 1988's Running Thangs (Strong City), 1992's Thank God for Busy Bee (Pandisc Records), and 1998's Look In da Sky Who Do Ya See (Jazz Child Records). He has also appeared on records with Funkmaster Flex, De La Soul, KRS-One, and Marley Marl.

Mary Anne Hobbs (BBC Radio 1 Host & Music Journalist)

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:40:00 GMT

Mary Anne Hobbs is the host of the Experimental program on BBC Radio 1 in England. Originally a rock and metal DJ, Hobbs is now closely associated with electronic, grime, and dubstep music. In 2006, she aired a 2-hour program called "Dubstep Warz" which is credited for breaking dubstep globally. Also in 2006, she released Warrior Dubz (Planet Mu), a compilation of underground artists she had featured on her radio show. This was followed by 2008's release, Evangeline (Planet Mu), and 2009's Mary Anne Hobbs Presents Wild Angels (Planet Mu), both of which feature underground electronic and dubstep artists. Prior to working in radio, Hobbs was a music journalist for Sounds Magazine, NME, and Loaded Magazine.

Ledisi (Singer/Songwriter)

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:23:00 GMT

Ledisi is a soul singer-songwriter from Oakland, CA (by way of New Orleans) who has released four studio albums and earned four Grammy nominations.

Ledisi Young (whose name means "to bring forth" in Nigerian) began performing at age eight with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. She continued performing in the Bay Area, including singing, acting, playing piano, and studying opera. In the '90s she formed a group called Anibade which combined Jazz, soul, and funk. In 2000, Ledisi independently released her first solo album, Soulsinger: The Revival (LeSun Records), and followed it in 2002 with Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue (LeSun Records).

After a five year haitus, Ledisi reappeared on the Verve label with 2007's Lost & Found, earning her Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best R&B album. During a case of writer's block following the success of Lost & Found, a friend recommended she listen to Buddy Miles' Them Changes, an album she says influenced her to change her vocal and musical styles. She released Turn Me Loose (Verve) in 2009, which combined rock, blues, soul, funk, and Hip-Hop and was produced by Raphael Saadiq, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis, among others. Turn Me Loose was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best R&B Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

3 Inches of Blood (Canadian Heavy Metal Band)

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:12:00 GMT

3 Inches of Blood is a heavy metal band from Vancouver, Canada which has released four albums, opened for Iron Maiden, and toured with Motorhead, Satyricon, Black Dahlia Murder, Goatwhore, and Cradle of Filth. The band, which has undergone major lineup changes since its formation in 2000, is Cam Pipes (vocals), Shane Clark (guitar), Justin Hagberg (guitar & vocals), and Ash Pearson (drums).

Their debut album, Battlecry Under a Winter Sun, was released in 2002 by local record store's label and later re-released by the band under their own imprint, Minion Music. After opening for The Darkness, 3IoB was signed by Roadrunner Records in 2004. It was during the recording of their second album, Advance and Vanquish (Roadrunner, 2004), that the band went through major lineup changes, losing their drummer, bass player, and two guitar players during the process. Their next album, Fire Up the Blades (Roadrunner, 2007), brought them closer to their current lineup and was produced by Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison. During their 2007 slot on the Ozzfest tour, original member and singer Jamie Hooper experienced throat problems which ultimately led to his departure from the band in 2008. Their latest release, Here Waits They Doom (Century Media), was released in 2009 and marks the first album not to feature any original members.

Pinky (TV Carnage, Street Carnage)

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:12:00 GMT

Pinky (a.k.a. Beau Derrick a.k.a. Derrick Beckles) is the creator of TV Carnage, a series of video mixtapes of collected television footage. Pinky started creating video mixtapes in 1994 and reportedly watches television 24-hours a day. Pinky is also the co-creator of Street Carnage, a website that combines street fashion critiques called "Street Boners," footage from TV Carnage, a blog, a radio show, and other short films.

Michelle Guintu (Rock Floor Staff)

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Artist – painting and drawing. Music lover – recently I’m really into Brit pop and shoegaze. Working at a record store, that can change into psych-cumbias the next day!

Neil Hamburger (Comedian)

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:11:00 GMT

Neil Hamburger is a comedian who despite having poor comic timing, clearing his throat nonstop during his routine, using cliched punchlines, and seeming to loathe his audience, has become an icon and tastemaker in comedy and in music. Hamburger's "anti-comedy" has been compared to Lenny Bruce and has been credited for changing the expectation that comedians be funny and insightful.

Hamburger first appeared on the Great Phone Calls compilation (Amarillo Records, 1992) and released his first solo album, Looking for Laughs EP (Amarillo Records), in 1994. His first official full-length album, America's Funnyman, was released in 1996 on Drag City. Hamburger tours relentlessly, including opening for NOFX, Faith No More, Puscifer, and Bad Religion, and touring with Tenacious D in 2007. He sold out Madison Square Garden and has appeared on television shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live, Red Eye w/Greg Gutfiled (FOX News), and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, among others. Hamburger's latest full-length album is Sings Country Winners (Drag City, 2008). In 2009, he released a 7" with Australian band The Hard-Ons called American Exports (Red Lounge Records).

Chico Sonido (Producer & DJ)

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:02:00 GMT

Chico Sonido is a producer and DJ from Mexico, based out of Los Angeles. His self-titled album brings together his love of '90s Hip-Hop beats with his passion for Latin American Psyche, Latin Disco, and Grupera. Chico Sonido can be found DJing every other Tuesday at one of LA's hottest club nights, Mas Exitos, spinning rare Mexican Cumbia and Sicodelico 45s.

DJ Bonebrake (Drummer for X & Vibraphonist)

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:35:00 GMT

DJ Bonebrake is the drummer for the seminal Los Angeles punk band X, and is a vibraphonist for the Latin Jazz ensemble Orchestra Superstring and for the Jazz quartet Bonebrake Syncopators.

Bonebrake began drumming at the age of 12. He joined the band The Eyes (with Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Gos) in the mid '70s. After members of X saw him perform with The Eyes they asked him to be their drummer. As X, DJ Bonebrake, Exene Cervenka, John Doe, and Billy Zoom released seven studio albums between 1980-1993, including Los Angeles (Slash, 1980) and Wild Gift (Slash, 1981) which Rolling Stone named as two of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

X took a hiatus after several years of touring and recording during which Bonebrake worked as a session musician, playing drums, percussion, and mallet instruments with a variety of musicians in both Jazz and rock settings.

In 2005, Bonebrake reunited with Cervenka, Doe, and Dave Alvin to release a second album as The Knitters, an X side project from the early '80s. X continued to tour between 2006-2009, including performing at SXSW in 2008, and at Coachella and All Tomorrow's Parties in 2009.

Derrick McBride (World Music Floor Staff)

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:18:00 GMT

I’ve worked in record stores for 25 years (13 of them at Amoeba) and I’ve decided the reason the '60s, '70s and '80s were cool is because I was there to live it! This isn’t retro, it’s nostalgia, dammit! Also, I'm in the band Ultraset.

Damian Pink Eyes Abraham (Lead Singer of Fucked Up)

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:10:00 GMT

Damian "Pink Eyes" Abraham is the lead singer of Toronto hardcore band Fucked Up, an avid vinyl collector, and a regular guest on the television program "Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld" on the FOX News channel.

Formed in 2001, Fucked Up is Pink Eyes (vocals), 10,000 Marbles (lead guitar), Concentration Camp (rhythm guitar), Mustard Gas (bass), Young Governor (guitar), and Mr. Jo (drums). The band started releasing 7" singles in 2002 which were collected on Epics in Minutes (Deranged, 2004). In 2004, the band also released two limited 12"s, Looking for Gold and Let Likes Be Cured By Likes. Their first full-length album was released in 2006, Hidden World (Jade Tree), nearly 5 years after they formed, followed in 2008 by The Chemistry of Common Life (Matador), and 2010's Couple Tracks: Singles 2002-2009 (Matador), a two-disc compilation of their now hard-to-find 7"s and 12"s.

The band has always chosen to follow its own path, eschewing MySpace or an official website, they instead rely on a blog to spread information, updates, and music. Their live shows are notorious and Pink Eyes is can often be found half-clothed and bleeding on stage. In 2007, fans caused thousands of dollars of damage at MTV Canada's studios by moshing during the band's live television debut in which they performed "Baiting The Public." The performance and the resulting destruction led to MTV Canada banning moshing during future live shows. The band was the first hardcore punk band to be on the cover of NME magazine. In 2009, the band won the Polaris Music Prize for The Chemistry of Common Life, an annual prize given to Canadian full-length albums regardless of genre, sales, or record label.

Gary Calamar (KCRW DJ, Music Supervisor)

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:03:00 GMT

Gary Calamar is a DJ and host of The Open Road on KCRW in Los Angeles and a music supervisor for film and television shows such as True Blood, Dexter, House, and Six Feet Under, for which he received two Grammy nominations. He is also the co-author of the book Record Store Days (with Phil Gallo), which will be released on Record Store Day (April 17) 2010.

Xeni Jardin (Tech Journalist, Boing Boing)

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:02:00 GMT

Xeni Jardin is a tech culture journalist. She is a partner, contributor, and co-editor of the award winning blog Boing Boing and the executive producer/host of Boing Boing Video. She also contributes to broadcast, online, and print venues including Wired and NPR, and is often used as a "tech expert" in broadcast news.

The Slits (British Punk Band)

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:28:00 GMT

The Slits are one of the most influential bands to emerge from the initial British punk rock explosion, and are known for combining punk with reggae, world music, and experimental sounds. Although their lineup has changed over the years and has included men (Bruce Smith and Budgie), they are primarily identified as a female band and had a significant impact on the Riot-Grrl movement of young female-fronted bands in the 1990s.

The Slits formed in England in 1976 when a 14-year old Ari Up and her friend Palmolive decided to start an all-girl band together. Palmolive had already been the drummer in a short-lived band, Flowers Of Romance, which included other early punk luminaries Sid Vicious, Keith Levine, and Viv Albertine. They were soon joined by guitarist Kate Korris and bassist Suzy Gutsy. Gutsy left to form the band, The Flicks, and was replaced by Castrators' bassist, Tessa Pollitt. Palmolive originally asked her old bandmate Viv Albertine to join them on second guitar, but by the time Albertine joined, original Slits guitarist Korris had left to form her own band, Mo-Dettes.

The Slits gained wider attention when the four-piece line-up of Ari Up, Palmolive, Albertine, and Pollitt opened for The Clash on their 1977 White Riot tour, along with The Buzzcocks and Subway Sect. Palmolive left the band and was replaced by drummer Budgie. They teamed up with renowned reggae producer Dennis Bovell and released their first album, Cut, on Island Records in 1979. The cover art for Cut also became somewhat notorious because it featured the three female members of the band wearing only loincloths and a thick layer of mud. In 2004, Cut was voted number 58 in the Observer's list, The 100 Greatest British Albums.

The Slits moved away from the early fury of their punk roots, further exploring African and Jamaican music as well as experimental and avant-garde music. Budgie left the band to join Siouxsie and The Banshees and was replaced by drummer Bruce Smith. The group spent time refining their sound, and eventually signed to CBS Records and released their second album, Return Of The Giant Slits, in 1981. However, the band broke up in 1982 and Ari Up went on to sing with the New Age Steppers.

In 2005, Ari Up and Tessa Pollitt reformed the band with Hollie Cook (daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook), Anna Schulte, and Adele Wilson. They released the Revenge of the Killer Slits EP (Melt) in 2006. Michelle Hill later replaced Adele Wilson. In October 2009, The Slits released Trapped Animal (Narnack), their first full-length album in 28 years. A book about the band, Typical Girls: The Story Of The Slits written by Zoe Street Howe, was published in September 2009.

Ari Up died on October 20, 2010 of a serious illness. She was 48 years old.

Holly Miranda and Kyp Malone (Singer / Songwriters)

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:04:00 GMT

Holly Miranda is a singer/songwriter who has been living in New York since she was 16. Her debut full-length album, The Magician's Private Library (XL Recordings), will be released on February 23, 2010. It was produced by TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek and features TVOTR's Kyp Malone and Jaleel Bunton, as well as members of Antibalas. Miranda grew up in a religious family and began singing in church, learning to play the guitar and piano. After moving to NYC, she played open mics, formed a band called the Jealous Girlfriends, was signed to a major record label at age 17 (which she later walked away from), and released her first solo EP Sleep on Fire.

Kyp Malone is the singer and guitarist for TV On The Radio, a New York-based band that combines rock, electronic, jazz, and soul music. TV On The Radio has released four studio albums, including 2008's Dear Science (Interscope), as well as a number of EPs including a Live at Amoeba EP (Interscope, 2007). Malone released his first solo album under the moniker Rain Machine in September 2009 on Anti-records.

Chali 2na (Jurassic 5, Ozomatli)

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:47:00 GMT

Chali 2na (born Charlie Stewart) is a Hip-Hop MC and founding member of Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli. In addition, he has collaborated with Galactic, Beenie Man, Roots Manuva, Gift of Gab, Talib Kweli, Linkin Park, Lyrics Born, K'Naan, and Mos Def, among others.

In the early '90s, Chali 2na was part of a seven-man group (along with Cut Chemist and Mark 7even) called the Unity Committee who frequented and performed at The Good Life Cafe, a Hip-Hop gathering place on Thursday nights in South Central Los Angeles. Jurassic 5 was born out of The Good Life Cafe in 1993 and featured Cut Chemist and Mark 7even along with Akil, Soup (aka Zaakir), and DJ Nu-Mark. Jurassic 5, considered part of the alternative Hip-Hop movement, released their first album, Jurassic 5 EP (Rumble Records), in 1997. They released four full-length albums, including 2006's Feedback (Interscope), before disbanding in 2007.

Ozomatli, a ten-piece band combining Hip-Hop, Latin, reggae, and rock, was formed in 1995. Although Chali 2na left Ozomatli to focus on Jurassic 5, he continued to collaborate with them occasionally, including appearances on the 2001 album Embrace the Chaos (Interscope) and 2004's Street Signs (Concord).

In 2004, Chali 2na released Fish Market: The Official Mixtape (Traffic) as a prelude to his official solo debut, Fish Outta Water (Decon, 2009).

Ned Lerner (KXLU 88.9FM DJ)

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:45:00 GMT

Ned Lerner is a regular customer and a DJ on KXLU 88.9 FM in Los Angeles.

Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins (G&D)

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:35:00 GMT

Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dudley Perkins are Los Angeles-based musicians who have released numerous albums as solo artists and together under the name G&D.

Georgia Anne Muldrow came from a family of musicians with roots in the '60s and '70s progressive jazz scene. She released The Worthnothings EP (Stones Throw, 2004) and her debut full-length, Olesi: Fragments of an Earth (Stones Throw Records, 2006), which combine soul, jazz, and Hip-Hop and for which she was the singer, songwriter, and producer.

Dudley Perkins, a.k.a. Declaime, began rapping in 1987 and has collaborated with tha Alkaholiks, Lootpack, and Madlib. He released A Lil’ Light (Stones Throw) in 2003. Three years later, Dudley met Muldrow while working on his follow-up album, Expressions (2012 A.U.) (Stones Throw), and they realized that they wanted to work together more. In 2007, they released The Message Uni Versa (Look Records) under the name G&D, and delivered a universal message of peace, love, rhythm, and rhyme. They have also released Presents Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow: Beautiful Mindz with 2Tall (Eclectic Breaks, 2008). In 2009, Perkins released Holy Smokes on SomeOthaShip, a label formed by Muldrow and Perkins, with Muldrow acting as producer.

Kon & Amir (Legendary Crate Diggers & DJs)

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:02:00 GMT

Kon & Amir are legendary crate diggers and DJs from New York. In 1997, they released their first On Track mix, a collection of six albums which feature snippets and breaks found in their crate digging sessions. In 2007, they released the first installment in their Off Track series, Off Track Volume 1 - The Bronx (BBE), which features full-length versions of rare Jazz, Latin, world and disco grooves from the '70s and 80s. They have also released Off Track Volume 2 - Queens (BBE, 2008), Uncle Junior's Friday Fish Fry: The Cleaning (Uncle Junior, 2004), and The Kings of Diggin' (Rapster, 2006) featuring DJ Muro from Japan.

Gil Cerezo (Kinky)

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:30:00 GMT

Gil Cerezo is the lead singer for Kinky, an electronic band from Monterrey, Mexico known for experimenting with sounds by combining Latin, rock, and electronic elements, and creating infectious dance music. The band, which includes Carlos Chairez (lead guitar), Cesar Pliego (bass), Omar Gongora (drums), and Ulises Lozano (keyboards), formed in 1998 and released their first album, Kinky (Nettwerk), in 2002. They have released three additional albums, including their latest, Barracuda (Nettwerk, 2008). Kinky has traditionally produced their own albums, but collaborated with the Beastie Boys' Money Mark and DJ Chico Sonido on Barracuda.The band has been nominated multiple times from both the Latin Grammy Recording Academy and the Latin MTV Video Music Awards (including a 2008 nomination for Best Alternative Group). Kinky has also toured with The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse, Cake, and De La Soul, and played festivals such as Coachella, Voodoo Music Experience, and Central Park Summer Stage.

Jay Reatard (Memphis Garage Rock Musician)

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:22:00 GMT

Jay Reatard is a punk rock musician from Memphis who began recording music at age 15 and died at age 29 on January 13, 2010. Born Jay Lindsey, Jay Reatard released a demo tape, on which he played all of the instruments, under the name The Reatards. This cassette was sent to Eric Friedl of the Oblivians, who had used the “Goner Records” imprint on a couple of releases. His next release was a 7” by The Reatards, followed shortly by a full-length LP, Teenage Hate (Goner, 1998). After building a reputation for his live shows and releasing another full-length, Grown Up, Fucked Up (Empty, 1999), Jay Reatard focused on what had been a side project, The Lost Sounds, a band with his then girlfriend Alicja Trout and Rich Crook. The band lasted from 1999 until 2004, and left a sizable recorded legacy.

Jay’s first record under the name Jay Reatard, Blood Visions, was released in early 2006 on In The Red. Once again, his live shows became legendary. Shows frequently featured 18 songs (or more) in 25 minutes (or less), he often ran through his catalog at double or triple speed, and announced the next song title before the first song ended. In early 2008, Jay Reatard signed to Matador records and released six limited edition 7”s in six months. In April 2009, he released a Record Store Day exclusive split 7" with Sonic Youth. He released his last solo album in August 2009, Watch Me Fall (Matador), which was recorded almost entirely in his home studio with Jay playing every instrument. Jay toured indie record stores to promote Watch Me Fall, including performing at all three Amoeba stores (view Hollywood photos, San Francisco photos, Berkeley photos). Also in 2009, Jay revived his Shattered Records label, which released primarily limited-edition vinyl from 2004-2006. On January 13, 2010 Jay Reatard was found dead in his Memphis home at the age of 29.

“It takes ten times longer to get rid of your reputation than it does to make it.” - Jay Reatard

Bentley (Customer, Nirvana fan)

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:20:00 GMT

Bentley is a 9-year old customer and a big Nirvana fan. He is teaching himself to play Nirvana on the guitar using Youtube videos.

Veronica (VHS Pricer)

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:48:00 GMT

Touchin’ plastic.

Kelley Stoltz (Singer/Songwriter)

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:01:00 GMT

Kelley Stoltz is a singer/songwriter currently living in San Francisco, California. Originally from Michigan and then New York, Stoltz moved to San Francisco in the late 1990s. He released his debut album, The Past Was Faster (Telegraph Records), in 1999 and has since released six additional albums, including his latest, Circular Sounds (Sub Pop, 2008). He toured with the Raconteurs and performed at Lollapalooza in 2006. Stoltz is also known for his committment to renewable energy. His album Below the Branches (Sub Pop, 2006), was the first record ever to make a claim of renewable energy on the CD packaging. Stoltz worked with Green-e to track and then offset the energy used in the creation of his album, and he used the Green-e logo on the CD packaging to inspire discussion and interest in renewable energy.

Wendy & Lisa (Musicians, Producers & Composers)

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:18:00 GMT

Childhood friends Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman are musicians perhaps best known for being part of Prince's The Revolution during the mid-'80s, but they have also released five albums of their own and score music for film and television.

While Wendy primarly plays guitar and Lisa plays piano and keyboards, they are also credited with playing other instruments including bass, drums, harmonica, harmonium, oud, tamboora, and congas. Lisa began playing with Prince in 1980 and Wendy joined the band in 1983, as they began filming Purple Rain. After the massive success of Purple Rain, Wendy and Lisa continued to work with Prince until 1986. They have also worked with kd lang, Grace Jones, Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton, Neil Finn, Meshell Ndegeocello, Joni Mitchell, and many others.

They released their debut album, Wendy & Lisa (Columbia), in 1987 which featured the ethereal R&B dance music that they helped to create for Prince. By their third album, Eroica (Virgin, 1990), they shifted towards more of a rock sound. They self-released their fifth album, White Flags of Winter Chimneys, in December 2008 after a ten year hiatus.

Wendy and Lisa, who are sometimes known as Girl Bros, also have a successful career scoring music for film and television, including Heroes, Crossing Jordan, Bionic Woman, Carnivale, Mercy, and Nurse Jackie.

Rykarda Parasol (Singer/Songwriter)

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:50:00 GMT

Rykarda Parasol is a San Francisco-based singer/songwriter who performs "rock noir," a combination of "moody atmospheres and gin-drenched romanticism." She self-released her debut album, Our Hearts First Meet (2007), as well as self-produced and self-released her second album, For Blood and Wine (October 2009).

Kaitlin (Staff Photographer)

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:53:00 GMT

I like records. And I like funny. But you can’t eat either, so I’ll take your picture.

J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr)

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:44:00 GMT

J Mascis is the singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Dinosaur Jr. The band began as Dinosaur, not Dinosaur Jr. in Amherst, Massachusetts. After Mascis' previous band, the hardcore punks Deep Wound, broke up in 1983, Mascis started jamming with high school classmate Lou Barlow. Mascis drummed for the band at that point, but moved to guitar once drummer Murph joined the band. In 1986, they changed their name to Dinosaur Jr. after being sued by a psychedelic group also called Dinosaur. They released their debut, Dinosaur (Homestead Records), in 1985 and built up a reputation of consistently delivering bombastically loud live shows. Their second album, You're Living All Over Me (SST, 1987) was released to rave reviews and became an underground hit for them. Their third album, Bug (SST, 1988), was an even bigger success for Dinosaur Jr. In 1989, Mascis broke up the band and reformed it a day later without Lou Barlow. He continued to release albums as Dinosaur Jr. until the late 1990s when he officially broke up the band. In 2000, he released a solo record under the name J Mascis + The Fog called More Light (Ultimatum). In April 2005, Mascis, Barlow, and Murph reunited to tour in support of the reissues of their first three albums. The original trio also began recording together again, releasing Beyond (Fat Possum, 2007) and Farm (Jagjaguwar, 2009) to much critical and fan praise.

Los Amigos Invisibles (Venezuelan Disco Funk Band)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:41:00 GMT

Los Amigos Invisibles is a Venezuelan band now based in New York that combines house, disco, funk, Latin, acid Jazz, and anything else that will fill up the dancefloor. Los Amigos Invisibles is José Luis Pardo, Julio Briceño, Armando Figueredo, Mauricio Arcas, José Rafael Torres, and Juan Manuel Roura. Their debut album, A Typical and Autoctonal Venezuelan Dance Band, was released in Venezuela in 1995. Their second album, The New Sound of the Venezuelan Gozadera, was released on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label in 1998. Since their creation the band has been touring constantly, cementing their reputation for incindiary live shows. Their latest album, Commericial (Nacional, 2009), which includes special guests Jorge Gonzalez (Los Prisioneros) and Mexican songstress Natalia Lafourcade, earned them their 5th career Grammy nomination and their first Latin Grammy for Best Alternative Album.

Girls (San Francisco Indie Rock Band)

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:50:00 GMT

San Francisco band Girls is Christopher Owens and JR White. Christopher and JR met in San Francisco and quickly decided to make music together. They eventually became roommates and began recording in their bedrooms, using reel-to-reel tape and an old computer. Combining Christopher's simple and heartfelt lyrics with JR's production, they drew from '60s jangly pop, '50s surfer music, and their love of rock 'n' roll to create a California indie pop record all their own. Their debut, Album, was released on September 22, 2009. Self-described as "honest, loose, ethereal, obnoxious and perfect," Album also includes a seven-minute track called "Hellhole Ratrace" that was rated by Pitchfork as "one of the 100 best songs of the year."

Miz Margo (New Product Buyer)

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:03:00 GMT

SF DJ and club promoter, soon to relocate to NYC…

Poncho Sanchez (Latin Jazz Musician & Composer)

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:01:00 GMT

Percussionist and singer Poncho Sanchez has recorded 24 albums in 25 years, combining Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz, salsa, soul, swing, and bepop. Originally from Laredo, Texas, Sanchez grew up in Los Angeles where he was influenced by the musical diversity that surrounded him, including jazz, Latin jazz, and soul. He taught himself to play guitar, flute, drums and timbales, but settled on the congas. He began playing in vibraphone player Cal Tjader's band in 1974, at age 24, and continued with him until Tjader's death in 1982. After the death of his mentor, Sanchez signed to Concord records and released his first album, Sonando!, in 1982. Over the years, Poncho Sanchez has collaborated with artists such as Mongo Santamaria, Hugh Masakela, Arturo Sandoval, Clare Fischer, and Tower of Power. His latest (and his 24th) album for Concord is called Psychedelic Blues (2009).

Cas McGee (Electronic Floor Staff)

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:40:00 GMT

I’m a bit more of a dandy than any physical allusions to Mr. T, Isaac Hayes, or Rick Ross might suggest.

Large Professor (Hip Hop Producer & MC)

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:37:00 GMT

Large Professor, also known as Large Pro, is a Hip Hop producer and MC from New York and a founding member of Main Source. He began making beats as a teenager and, under the mentorship of producer Paul C, he created beats for Eric B & Rakim on their 1990 album Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (MCA). Large Professor joined Main Source in 1989 and they released one album together, Breaking Atoms (Wild Pitch, 1991), which featured the first public appearance by Nas, whom Large Pro is credited for discovering. Large Pro's first solo album, The LP (Matador) was just released in 2009, having been delayed by record label politics since 1996. In the meantime, he released two other solo albums, 1st Class (Matador, 2002) and Main Source (Matador, 2008). Large Professor has produced tracks for Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Slick Rick, Masta Ace, The X-Ecutioners, Big Daddy Kane, Mobb Deep, and many others.

The Horrors (English Post-Punk / Goth / Shoegaze Band)

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:03:00 GMT

The Horrors are an English rock band that combine post-punk, goth, and shoegaze. Faris Badwan, Rhys Webb, Tom Cowan, Joshua Hayward, and Joseph Spurgeon formed the band in 2005. They released their debut album, Strange House, in 2007 and appeared on the cover of NME that same year. Their second album, Primary Colours (XL Recordings, 2009), was produced by Geoff Barrow of Portishead, Craig Silvey, and video director Chris Cunningham. Primary Colours revealed a shift for the band, featuring less of the gothic and punk influences found on Strange House and more of a droning, shoegaze sound. Primary Colours was widely praised by critics, was nominated for the 2009 Mercury Prize, and reached #25 on the UK Albums Chart.

Tortoise (Instrumental Post-Rock Band)

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:28:00 GMT

Tortoise started in Chicago in 1990 when bassist Doug McCombs and drummer John Herndon began working with John McEntire, Bundy K. Brown, and Dan Bitney. Long heralded as the poster band for post-rock, Tortoise took a daunting array of influence and crafted a unique sound that astonishingly avoids any sense of pastiche. All of Tortoise’s founding members come from punk and indie rock scenes, but by fusing together their love of '70s German psych, electric jazz, minimal composition, dub, progressive rock, hip-hop, avant-garde electronics, film music and traditional American music, the band deftly crafts a sound that is hugely unique and instantly recognizable.

They released their debut album, Tortoise (Thrill Jockey), in 1994. Soon after Tortoise was released, the band enlisted friends and its own members to remix songs from the record. The result is the out of print Rhythms, Resolutions And Clusters (1995 Thrill Jockey) and the beginning of their long relationship with remixing. Before the recording of their second full-length, Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1996 Thrill Jockey), Bundy K. Brown left the band and was replaced by guitarist David Pajo. Pajo left the band during the recording of their third album, TNT (1998 Thrill Jockey), and was replaced by long-time friend and improvisational jazz guitarist Jeff Parker. Tortoise’s sixth full-length release, Beacons of Ancestorship, was released in June 2009 on Thrill Jockey.

DJ Qbert (Turntablist / Composer)

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:53:00 GMT

Known as the Jimi Hendrix of turntables, DJ Qbert is a turntablist from the San Francisco Bay Area who is widely respected for his masterful skills and his ability to use the turntable as an instrument. He began DJing competively in 1991. DJ Qbert, Mixmaster Mike and DJ Apollo became the Rock Steady Crew DJs, going on to win the 1992 Disco Mix Club (DMC) DJ World Championships together. Qbert also won that title with Mixmaster Mike in 1993 and 1994 and he has since been inducted into the DMC Hall of Fame. Qbert was one of the founding members of the Invisbl Skratch Piklz, a band that used turntables as their instruments and were asked to stop entering the DMC championships because it discouraged other people from competing. DJ Qbert released his first album in 1998, Wave Twisters, upon which an animated film was then created. That film, Wave Twisters (2001), was the first turntablism-based musical and it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, won the SXSW award for best use of music in film, and was selected at over 30 other international film festivals. Qbert also created a DJ school called the Qbert Skratch University and was recently chosen to be featured in the video game DJ Hero 2.

Gabby (Hip Hop Floor Staff)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:30:00 GMT

Hip Hop floor person.

Hollywood Superman (Christopher Dennis)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:34:00 GMT

Christopher Dennis is an actor and Christopher Reeves look-alike. He has been portraying Superman in Hollywood, CA for 12 years. He was featured in the 2007 documentary Confessions of a Superhero, which follows four people who make their living as superhero impersonators on Hollywood Blvd.

Gabriela Petrova (DVD Floor Staff)

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:13:00 GMT

I love movies. I love movies so much that when I was a little girl, I disappeared for a while and my parents found me inside a bar watching cartoons on the big screen. My mom said I didn't need dolls or toys if I had a TV with a movie on. I just grew up with movies. I moved to the US from Eastern Europe in 2000. I've been working for Amoeba for five years and I worked for Virgin before that in the DVD department. Even at home, before I moved to the States, I would watch the Academy Awards live on television, even when it was in the middle of the night. To me, movies are the best form of art.

Peaches Christ (Filmmaker, Cult Leader)

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:32:00 GMT

Peaches Christ is a cult filmmaker, actor, and hostess of the Midnight Mass movie events in San Francisco, which became famous for their pre-show stage productions, special guests, and drag spectacles. Her alter-ego, Joshua Grannell, has written and directed short films. Ms. Christ also co-produces the SF Underground Short Film Festival. Her Midnight Mass road-show and Short Film Retrospective have been on tour and appeared in Seattle, Berkeley, New York City, and Brussels, Belgium. She appeared in the film Milk as a protesting drag queen and she's been featured on national television including VH1’s Totally Gay, AMC’s Movies That Shook the World: Pink Flamingos, and IFC’s Cult Movie pilot.

Amanda Blank & Spank Rock (Hip Hop MCs)

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:28:00 GMT

Amanda Blank is a rapper and singer from Philadelphia. Spank Rock is an MC originally from Baltimore and part of the Baltimore Bass Connection. His group, also called Spank Rock, released their debut album in 2006, YoYoYoYoYo (Big Dada), and featured Amanda Blank on the song "Bump." He returned the favor on Amanda Blank's debut album, I Love You (2009, Downtown). They have collaborated together over the years, appearing on various singles with each other and sometimes participating individually on the same projects, including N.A.S.A.'s The Spirit of Apollo and Bmore Gutter Music.

Duran Duran (Simon Le Bon & John Taylor)

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:45:00 GMT

Duran Duran is one of the most iconic and successful rock bands from the '80s. Formed in England in 1978, Duran Duran is John Taylor (bass), Simon Le Bon (vocals), Nick Rhodes (keyboards), and Roger Taylor (drums). They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, have had 14 songs in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart and 21 songs in the Billboard Top 100 Chart, and were pioneers in the evolution of the music video with their use of professional directors and 35mm film (not to mention their fashion). In the mid-'80s, members of Duran Duran also participated in two side projects, Power Station and Arcadia. The band has released 12 studio albums since their 1981 self-titled debut, including Rio (which was named one of NME's 100 Greatest Albums Of All Time). They are currently working on their 13th album with producer Mark Ronson, hopefully to be released in 2010.

Sune Rose Wagner (The Raveonettes)

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:36:00 GMT

Sune Rose Wagner is half of the Danish rock duo The Raveonettes. Wagner and Sharin Foo met in Copenhagen and began recording together in 2001. Combining two-part vocal harmonies with electric instrumentation, The Raveonettes draw upon the sounds of their '50s and '60s influences (like The Ronettes and Buddy Holly), as well as their modern rock influences (like the Velvet Underground). They released their first full-length album, Chain Gang of Love (Sony), in 2003. Their sophomore album, Pretty In Black (Columbia, 2005), featured Ronnie Spector (The Ronettes) and Maureen Tucker (Velvet Underground). They are releasing their fourth studio album, In & Out of Control (Vice), on October 6, 2009.

Gaslamp Killer (LA DJ & Beatmaker)

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:36:00 GMT

The Gaslamp Killer is a beatmaker and resident DJ at the Low End Theory, a club night every Wednesday in Los Angeles. He released his debut EP, My Troubled Mind, on August 4, 2009 on Flying Lotus' imprint Brainfeeder.

Matt O. (Customer & Photographer)

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:39:00 GMT

4 eyes
3 Edsels
2 left feet
1 too many records

D from CT (Jazz Floor Person & Dance Music Pricer)

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:38:00 GMT

I am an island I am a stone I am the dreamer whose name is never known.

White Lies (English Post-Punk Band)

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:27:00 GMT

White Lies are an English post-punk band made up of Harry McVeigh (vocals, guitar), Charles Cave (bass & backing vocals), and Jack Lawrence-Brown (drums). Meeting at school, they formed a band called Fear of Flying, but disbanded it in order to writer darker, more personal songs under the name White Lies. Their first album, To Lose My Life (Geffen), was released in March 2009 in the US and debuted at number one in England. White Lies have been touring practically non-stop since the summer of 2008, including playing with Friendly Fires, Kings of Leon, Glasvegas, and Coldplay. They were nominated for Best New Band at the 2009 NME Awards and won the 2009 MOJO Breakthrough Award. They released their second full-length album, Ritual (Geffen), on January 18, 2011.

Paul Shirley (ESPN.com Columnist, Author & Basketball Player)

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:26:00 GMT

Paul Shirley is an American basketball player, author, and music columnist for ESPN.com. He is a regular contributor to ESPN.com, writing primarily about music. He released his first book, Can I Keep My Jersey?: 11 Teams, 5 Countries, and 4 Years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond, in 2007. He has played basketball for the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns, and most recently played for Spain's Unicaja Málaga team.

Gregg Araki (American Filmmaker)

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:52:00 GMT

Gregg Araki is an American filmmaker and avid CD collector. In many of his films, he serves as director, writer, producer, and often editor, and he has consistently featured shoegaze music heavily in their soundtracks. He has directed nine films since his directorial debut in 1987 with Three Bewildered People in the Night. He created the "Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy" with his films Totally Fucked Up (1993), The Doom Generation (1995), and Nowhere (1997). Araki's eighth film, Mysterious Skin (2004), received extensive critical acclaim, including a nomination for Best Director from the Independent Spirit Awards and a win for the Jury Prize at the Bergen International Film Fest. His most recent film, Smiley Face (2007), was a stoner comedy starring Ana Farris.

Aterciopelados (Colombian Rock Duo)

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:50:00 GMT

Aterciopelados is Andrea Echeverri (vocals, guitar) and Héctor Buitrago (bass, producer/arranger). They formed in Bogota, Colombia in the early 1990s, releasing their first album, Con el Corazón en la Mano, in 1994. Aterciopelados combines rock with electronic elements and traditional Colombian and Latin American music, and often features politically, socially, and environmentally conscious messages.

They have released eight albums to date, including Oye (Nacional, 2006), which featured the song "Canción Protesta" ("Protest Song"). The song was re-worked for Amnesty International for the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is now called "The Price of Silence." Their latest album, Rio (Nacional, 2008), drew attention to the issue of water rights in Colombia. They won a Latin Grammy in 2001 for Best Rock Group and won another in 2007 for Best Alternative Album (Oye), garnered Grammy nominations, and were named one of the top 10 contemporary global bands by Time Magazine. They have also released individual solo albums (Andrea Echeverri in 2005 and Buitrago's Conector in 2006).

Erin Hurley (Rock Floor Person & Cashier)

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:05:00 GMT

I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio!

Barry Zito (Pitcher for San Francisco Giants)

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:33:00 GMT

Barry Zito is the starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Prior to joining the Giants, he played for the Oakland A's for seven seasons. He earned the 2002 American League Cy Young Award and has played in three All-Star games. He created the charity Strikeout for Troops, a foundation for soldiers wounded in military activity, to which he donates $400 for every strikeout he throws. Born to musicians (his father is a composer and his mother is a singer, both of whom worked with Nat King Cole), Zito also sings and plays guitar. Although he is known for his left-handed curveball, Zito plays guitar with his right. He is currently in the process of writing and recording an album.

Friendly Fires (English Dance/Rock Band)

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:46:00 GMT

Friendly Fires is an English dance/rock band consisting of three lads (plus a fourth during live shows) who met at school: Ed MacFarlane, Jack Savidge, Edd Gibson, and Rob Lee. Their debut album, Friendly Fires (XL Recordings), was released September 1, 2008, has been certified silver in the UK, and is on the shortlist of twelve albums nominated for the 2009 Mercury Prize. They've been touring extensively since their album was released, including playing Coachella in April 2009 and the NME Awards Tour 2009. Friendly Fires is being re-released on September 1, 2009 with the addition of a double-sided bonus disc, including new songs, remixes, and videos.

Daren (Regular Customer)

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:26:00 GMT

Self-employed. Enjoy taking photos and camping. Listening to mostly ambient music and reggae these days.

Steven Gizicki (Music Supervisor)

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:02:00 GMT

Steven's resume includes lengthy stints as a record label marketing and soundtrack executive, club DJ, music journalist and music supervisor for film & TV. As part of his many job duties, he has toured with David Bowie, partied in Cabo with Sammy Hagar, and escorted Trent Reznor to an S&M club (that last one is not nearly as provocative as one might think). He now runs his own music supervision and clearance company and makes sure to listen to Echo & The Bunnymen's Ocean Rain album as often as possible.

Eli Roth (Director / Producer / Screenwriter / Actor)

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:50:00 GMT

Eli Roth is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Roth co-stars in the 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, directed by Quentin Tarantino, which includes a Nazi propaganda film-within-a-film called Nation's Pride, which he guest directed. He is best known for creating low-budget, highly successful horror films like Cabin Fever (2002), Hostel (2005), and Hostel II (2007). He also wrote, directed, produced, and voiced two animated series, Chowdaheads (1999) and The Rotten Fruit (2000).

Roth attended film school at NYU and moved to Los Angeles in 1999. In 2001, Roth directed and produced Cabin Fever, a film he co-wrote in 1995 with a friend from film school. They struggled with financing during production of the film, ultimately making it on a $1.5 million budget. It was bought for $3.5 million dollars by Lions Gate and went on to make $34.5 million upon its release, making it the most profitable horror movie released that year. Roth's second feature film, Hostel, was made on a similar small budget ($4 million this time), opened at #1 at the box office, and went on to gross $80 million worldwide. Hostel has been voted one of the ten scariest films of all time (Empire Magazine) and voted the #1 scariest movie moment by Bravo.

No Age (Indie Rock Duo)

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:47:00 GMT

No Age is indie rock duo Dean Spunt and Randy Randall. Formed in Los Angeles after the demise of Wives, No Age purvey a stripped, essential, life-affirming skewed take on pop delivered via a clearly defined punk rock aesthetic, taking in noise, energy and melody in equal measure.

The band has been a mainstay of The Smell (as volunteers and performers), a music venue in downtown Los Angeles known for its DIY ethic. No Age personifies DIY, touring as frequently as possible, playing untraditional venues (such as the LA River, a vegan grocery store, and a library), and doing everything on their own terms. On March 26, 2007, the band released five different limited edition 7"s on five different labels. Those singles went on to form their first full-length album Weirdo Rippers (Fat Cat). No Age was signed to Sub Pop and released its second album, Nouns, on May 6, 2008. On October 6, 2009 No Age will release a new 4-song EP entitled Losing Feeling.

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (Latin Rock Band)

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:37:00 GMT

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs hail from Buenos Aires, Argentina and are one of the most influential Latin rock bands today. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs formed in 1985 as a nine piece band. Today, Los Cadillacs are Vicentico (vocals), Señor Flavio (Bajo), Sergio Rotman (Saxo), Dany Lozano (Trompeta), Mario Siperman (Teclados), and Fernando Ricciardi (Batería). Over the last 20+ years, Los Cadillacs have been celebrated for their fusion of rock, ska, reggae, tropical, and Latin rhythms (along with any other style of music they liked). In 1998, they won a Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album for Fabulosos Calavera and in 2000, they were nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards for Best Band and Best Music Video. They have released 15 albums, including 2009's La Luz del Ritmo (Nacional), their first studio album in 7 years.

_______________________

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, creadores de éxitos como “Vasos Vacíos,” “Matador,” “Demasiada Presión” y “Mal Bicho," están definitivamente entre las bandas más célebres del rock en español. Tienen 25 años de trayectoria, 11 álbumes de estudio sin contar recopilaciones y ediciones en vivo (Bares y Fondas, Yo te avisé, El ritmo mundial, El Satánico Dr Cadillac, Volumen 5, Sopa de Caracol, El león, Vasos Vacíos, Rey Azúcar, Fabulosos Calavera y La marcha del Golazo Solitario), múltiples discos de Oro y Platino (incluyendo un galardón de Séptuple platino), casi 3 millones de discos vendidos y más de 1200 shows presentados alrededor del mundo.

Cuentan en su haber con premios Grammy (fueron la primera banda en ganar la categoría Best Latin Rock/Alternative Performance, creada en 1998), MTV, Billboard, ASCAP, Gardel, ACE, ACE de Oro y SONY MUSIC al millón de discos vendidos.

Dead Weather (Rock Super-Group)

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:55:00 GMT

The Dead Weather is a rock super-group made up of Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age), and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes). Their debut album Horehound was released on July 14, 2009.

Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys)

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:13:00 GMT

Dan Auerbach is the singer and guitarist for The Black Keys, a blues-rock band from Ohio. Dan and drummer Patrick Carney formed The Black Keys in 2001, releasing five albums together to date, including Attack & Release (Nonesuch, 2008) which was produced by Danger Mouse. In February 2009, Dan released his first solo record, Keep It Hid (Nonesuch), which was recorded in his own Akron Analog studios.

Ben Tuttle (Sound Controller Extraordinaire & Drummer)

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:56:00 GMT

I see sound.

Juan MacLean (DJ, DFA Records)

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:25:00 GMT

Juan MacLean is an American DJ and DFA club music maestro who performs under the name The Juan MacLean. The Juan MacLean has been a part of the DFA family, a record label and production team based out of New York, since its inception. In fact, The Juan MacLean's single “By The Time I Get to Venus” (2002) was one of the first singles to be released on the DFA label. In 2005, Juan MacLean released his first full-length (Less Than Human, DFA). His second full-length, The Future Will Come (DFA), was released in April 2009. In addition to his own material, he has also done remixes for Air, Chicken Lips, Daft Punk, David Gahan, and Matthew Dear. He has toured internationally with Cut Copy and Shocking Pinks and DJed across the globe.

Guy Pinhas (Bass Player - The Obsessed & Goatsnake)

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:31:00 GMT

Born in Paris, France, Guy Pinhas started playing bass when he was 17. Guy has played in No Pigs, Beaver, The Obsessed, Goatsnake, and Acid King. He has also done stints with The Melvins, Scream (Washington DC) and B.A.L.L. (New York City).

Guy's career with the Obsessed, a metal band from Maryland, began as their roadie in Europe before he graduated to become their bass player in 1991. Although the Obsessed had broken up in the late '80s, they reformed again after Hellhound records released a collection of archived Obsessed recordings in 1990. Guy joined the band in 1991. They were signed to Hellhound and then to Columbia who released their third album, The Church Within (1994). After Columbia dropped the band from its roster, they broke up in 1995. Guy then formed Goatsnake in Los Angeles in 1996 and they released two albums on Man's Ruin records. In 2000, Guy joined Acid King, a stoner metal band from San Francisco.

Tim Burgess (Charlatans UK)

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:34:00 GMT

Tim Burgess is the singer for the British rock band The Charlatans (known as The Charlatans UK in the United States because of a garage rock band from the '60s who also went by The Charlatans).

Formed in the West Midlands region of Britain in 1989, The Charlatans began during the Madchester music scene in Manchester, England in the late '80s and early '90s. Their first single, "Indian Rope," was self-released in 1990 and its success led them to be signed by Beggars Banquet. Their second single, "The Only One I Know," was an enormous hit, eventually landing in the top ten of the pop charts. The debut full-length, Some Friendly (1990 Beggars Banquet) was released that fall and debuted at number one. Despite lineup changes and challenges over the years, The Charlatans have released ten albums to date, including 2008's You Cross My Path, and they remain the only Madchester band still releasing new material.

Tim Burgess has also lent his vocals to Saint Etienne, The Chemical Brothers, and Zo�. He released a solo album, I Believe, in 2003 and is working on its follow up. In 2009, he curated a stage for the Isle of Wight festival, which featured the Horrors, Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Black Lips, S.C.U.M., Killing Joke, and others. He also produced the debut album from Hatcham Social, You Dig The Tunnel And I'll Hide The Soil (2009).

Alex Winter (Actor, Director & Screenwriter)

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:50:00 GMT

Alex Winter is an actor, director, and screenwriter. Winter has worked extensively in television as an actor, writer, voice artist, producer, and director. He is best known for his work in films such as Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, The Lost Boys, Rosalie Goes Shopping, and Freaked.

Alex Winter was born in London, England and moved to the US when he was five (first to Missouri, then to New York in 1978). In New York, Winter acted on and off Broadway and attended the Film School at New York University, after which he moved to Los Angeles with his writing partner Tom Stern. After the highly successful Bill & Ted films, Winter and Tom Stern created The Idiot Box, a sketch comedy show for MTV, and wrote, directed cult-favorite Freaked (1993), in which Winter also starred. In 1999, Winter directed the film Fever which received the Official Selection in the Director's Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. Winter then began directing music videos and television commercials. Winter has also lent his voice to the Adult Swim TV show Saul of the Molemen (2007) for the character 'King Mole Man,' and he directed and executive produced the live-action adaption of Ben 10 (2007, 2009) for Cartoon Network.

Lady Sovereign (Rapper)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:08:00 GMT

Lady Sovereign, who dubbed herself the "biggest midget in the game," is an English rapper and the first woman to be signed to Def Jam Recordings.

Born in 1985 and standing 5'1", Lady Sovereign began rapping at 14. In 2003, she appeared in a film called The Battle about a 16 year old high school dropout turned rapper and landed a few songs on its soundtrack. Those songs, along with several other songs she released online, eventually became her first album, the Vertically Challenged EP (2005).

Jay-Z signed Lady Sovereign to Def Jam in 2005 after asking her for an on-the-spot freestyle. Def Jam released her first full-length album, Public Warning, in 2006. Her satirical lyrics and fast style, including the success of her single "Love Me or Hate Me," led to tours with Gwen Stefani and The Streets.

"Love me or hate me, it's still an obsession. Love me or hate me, that is the question. If you love me, then thank you. If you hate me, then f*** you!"

In April 2009, Lady Sovereign released her second full-length album, Jigsaw, on her own label, Midget Records.

Connell (Buyer)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:17:00 GMT

Connell is a buyer at Amoeba.

Scott Carlson (Bass Player - Repulsion, Cathedral, Superbees)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Scott Carlson is best known as the singer and bass player for the band Repulsion, from Flint, Michigan. Repulsion is one of the originators - some books/people/bands (Napalm Death for example) say the originators - of Death Metal. Scott has also played in Cathedral and Death, and he still occasionally plays in The Superbees, a local L.A. garage rock band. A serious record lover and collector of all things rock & roll, Carlson's always in search of that missing LP for his collection.

Ben Stiller (Actor / Director / Producer)

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:45:00 GMT

Ben Stiller is a comedian, actor, director, and producer. He has starred in films like There's Something About Mary, Zoolander, Meet the Parents, and Tropic Thunder, to name a few.

Stiller began acting as a child and showed an early interest in sketch comedy that he has maintained throughout his career. He began creating mockumentaries, including one called The Hustler of Money (a parody of The Color of Money) which led to a position as a writer for Saturday Night Live. He then created a film and a television show for MTV, The Ben Stiller Show, which was a mix of sketch comedy and music videos. In 1996, he created a short film for the VH1 Fashion Awards about a male model named Derek Zoolander. It was so well-received he created another short for the 1997 VH1 Fashion Awards and eventually wrote, directed and acted in the 2001 feature film based on the same character, Zoolander. Stiller created another memorable short for MTV with his 2000 parody of Tom Cruise in Mission: Improbable.

Stiller is also known for his feature film career. He made his directorial debut in 1994 with Reality Bites. His comedic chops have shone in films like There's Something About Mary (1998), Meet the Parents (2000), Zoolander (2001), Meet the Fokkers (2004), and Tropic Thunder (2008), which he co-wrote, co-produced, and directed. He has also appeared in children's films like Madagascar (2005, voice of Alex) and Night at the Museum (2006), and, most recently, Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian (2009).

Greg Saunier (Deerhoof)

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:55:00 GMT

Greg Saunier is the drummer and founding member of San Francisco-based band Deerhoof, which is known for its prodigious musical output and ever-shifting, off-kilter sound. While Deerhoof's sound has changed dramatically since their beginnings in 1994, the band has become influential and is widely respected in independent and underground rock circles.

Greg Saunier moved to San Francisco after graduating from a music conservatory in 1991. After arriving in the city, he joined a short-lived four piece goth/metal group called Nitre Pit as their drummer. When that band suddenly broke up, Saunier and then-bassist Rob Fisk formed an ad-hoc duo, named Deerhoof by Fisk. Their style was improvisatory, loud, aggressive and stark.

In 1995, the duo played at the Yo Yo A Go Go Festival in Olympia, Washington, an annual festival showcasing independent bands. The band caught the attention of Kill Rock Stars label founder, Slim Moon, who signed them to release a 7” single. The debut 7” would mark the beginning of the band's long-standing relationship with Kill Rock Stars, with the group eventually becoming the best-selling and longest-running band on the label's roster.

In 1996, through mutual friends, the pair met Japanese film student Satomi Matsuzaki, who had just moved to the Bay Area from Tokyo. Though she had no previous musical experience, the members of Deerhoof hit it off with her right away and liked the calm, untrained singing style she possessed. The group created a unique sound, featuring Saunier and Fisk's noisy improvisatory playing, mixed with a simple melodic sense and Matsuzaki's vocals over the top. The trio released their self-recorded debut album The Man, The King, The Girl on Kill Rock Stars in 1997.

By 1998, the trio expanded to a quartet by adding keyboardist Kelly Goode to the band. In late 1999, Fisk and Goode left the band and the remaining duo of Matsuzaki and Saunier quickly found a new member in self-taught guitarist John Dieterich, and spent the next couple of years crafting a new approach to writing and recording their music. During 2002 the members of Deerhoof had forged a close relationship with Chris Cohen and his band, The Curtains. Cohen was asked to join Deerhoof, primarily as a second guitarist, and Saunier joined The Curtains for several years. In 1006, Cohen decided he wanted to devote more time to The Curtains, and left Deerhoof amicably.

Deerhoof released Friend Opportunity (Kill Rock Stars) in early 2007. The album was recorded between two legs of a tour when the band was opening for Radiohead, and much of the material on the album was mixed while they were on the road. The result was an album that may seem more pop-oriented than some of their previous material, but that has just as many, if not more, stylistic shifts within and between songs and features a clearer yet even more dense sound. The album sounds like an excellent mix of all of the band's sounds and incarnations brought together in a shinier package. So far the album has proved to be the band's most commercially successful release.

In early 2008, it was announced that guitarist Ed Rodriguez was joining Deerhoof as full-time member. Deerhoof released their tenth album, Offend Maggie in October of 2008 (Kill Rock Stars).

Rosanna Arquette (Actress, Director, Producer)

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:22:00 GMT

Rosanna Arquette is an actress, director, and producer. She has been acting for 30 years, appearing in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan, New York Stories, Pulp Fiction, and Crash, and on television including Will & Grace, The L Word, Grey's Anatomy, and Medium. She has also directed and produced the documentaries Searching for Debra Winger (2002) and All We Are Saying (2005).

Paul Vasquez (World Floor Staff / Star Trek Aficionado)

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:15:00 GMT

Paul works in the World music section at Amoeba. He loves Disneyland, vintage clothing, Battlestar Galactica, and Star Trek!

Jimmy Robson (Cashier)

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:09:00 GMT

Jimmy is a cashier at Amoeba.

Vivian Girls (Brooklyn's All Girl Indie Band)

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:16:00 GMT

Formed in Brooklyn in 2007, Vivian Girls are Cassie Ramone, Kickball Katy, and Ali Koehler (who replaced original drummer Frankie Rose in 2008). With only a demo CD, the Vivian Girls began playing around Brooklyn and New Jersey, opening for bands like Jay Reatard, King Khan, the Crystal Stilts, and others. Their debut LP Vivian Girls was originally released on Mauled by Tigers and it sold out in ten days. They then signed to In The Red Records who re-released Vivian Girls on September 30, 2008.

Ace Frehley (KISS / Frehley's Comet)

Mon, 25 May 2009 20:56:00 GMT

Ask a modern day rock guitarist who his influences were, and more often than not the name Ace Frehley is on the list.

Considered by those in the know to be the musical genius behind KISS, Ace “Space Ace” Frehley was an original member of the band when it formed in 1973, and was a mainstay of the group until his departure in 1982 to pursue a solo career.

Having written and recorded some of KISS’s most identifiable tunes such as "Cold Gin," "Shock Me," "Parasite," "Rocket Ride" and "New York Groove," Ace was more known for his blistering guitar licks and his patented smoking guitar that added to the band’s over the top stage antics.

After leaving KISS, Ace formed the band Frehley’s Comet with Anton Fig, John Regan and Tod Howarth, and performed together beginning in 1986 and continuing through 1990. Ace remained popular with fans and critics alike, and continued to be respected in music’s inner circle as the musical force that drove the KISS machine. To this day, those in the music industry acknowledge that KISS was never the same after Ace moved on.

Ace reunited with the original members of KISS in 1996, and toured throughout the world until his departure in 2002. His last appearance with KISS was the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ace continues to make music, and is currently putting the finishing touches on Anomaly which is scheduled for release in 2009. Those who have heard the new album likened it to the early days of Ace’s career, with the notable difference being that Ace brings to the table a legacy of songwriting, musical maturity, and youthful exuberance that when combined, form a mixture that longtime fans are sure to embrace.

Ace Frehley stopped by Amoeba Hollywood on Record Store Day to do a signing and preview his new album for his fans.

Evidence & Alchemist (Dilated Peoples / Stepbrothers)

Mon, 25 May 2009 20:23:00 GMT

Hip hop MCs, producers, and longtime friends Evidence and Alchemist are joining forces under the name Stepbrothers.

Michael “Evidence” Perretta is a Grammy-winning rapper and producer and member of Dilated Peoples. Dilated Peoples has transcended, excelled within and ignored labels to become one of the world’s most reliable and revered hip-hop acts. Over the course of five well-received studio albums, the group has become renown for their dynamic stage performances, engaging musical tracks and unyielding battle raps. Their music is self-described as “educated animal rap,” a characterization which acknowledges the lyrical explosive devices they construct—complex yet straightforward, cocky but respecting, always outspoken. In November 2008, Evidence released his second official solo record, The Layover EP.

The Alchemist (Alan Daniel Maman) is a producer and MC from California. He began his hip hop career as an MC for a short-lived group called The Whooliganz. Alchemist then began learning how to produce with DJ Muggs. He has gone on to produce for Dilated Peoples, Defari, Mobb Deep, Nas, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Ghostface Killah, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg, and many others. In 2004, Alchemist released his debut album, 1st Infantry. Alchemist is releasing his third studio album, Chemical Warfare, in June 2009.

Kelly Sweeney (Floor Staff, Japanese Pop & Underground Rock)

Fri, 22 May 2009 02:02:00 GMT

My tastes of late have been runnin’ along the lines of a rocker with a serious case of summer fun induced senioritis. To quote from Poison, “I ain’t lookin’ for nothin’ but a good time.” I work in Japanese Pop and Underground Rock and stuff.

John Vanderslice (Singer/Songwriter & Producer)

Mon, 18 May 2009 20:29:00 GMT

John Vanderslice is a singer, songwriter, musician, and engineer who has cultivated a devoted following among fans of American independent music with his albums that combine sharp lyrical content with a warm, analog-based sound. That sound comes from the studio he founded in San Francisco in 1997, Tiny Telephone, which has played host to numerous other bands, some of which Vanderslice has produced or played with, including Okkervil River, Spoon, Death Cab For Cutie, Beulah, and The Mountain Goats.

Vanderslice grew up in Florida, Georgia, and Michigan before evntually moving to the San Francisco Bay area where he met up with bassist/vocalist Dan Carr, drummer/vocalist Matt Torrey, and guitarist/vocalist John Tyner, and formed the band Mk Ultra in 1994. The group's brand of brainy rock music gained the group a sizable local following, and the group released three independently released albums during the course of the 1990s, Mk Ultra (1994), Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1996), and The Dream Is Over (1999), before splitting up in 1999 after Tyner decided to leave the band.

After the break-up of Mk Ultra, Vanderslice started work on his solo debut, 2000's Mass Suicide Occult Figurines (Barsuk). Vanderslice toured in support of his album, and kept up a busy pace of recording and releasing albums over the next few years, while also helping to produce the 2005 Spoon album Gimme Fiction (Merge) and two Mountain Goats albums, We Shall All Be Healed (4AD, 2004), and Heretic Pride (4AD, 2008).

Vanderslice released six albums on Barsuk between 2000 and 2007. On his 2004 release Cellar Door (Barsuk), Vanderslice took on the voice of a whole host of fictional characters, and further refined his brand of indie-rock bliss; pairing over-amped drums up with jangling guitars, buzzing, ancient-sounding keyboards up against tinkling bells, and the tasteful use of strings. In 2009, he signed to Dead Oceans (a label associated with the Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar labels) and released Romanian Names, his seventh album.

Joe Matt (Comic Book Artist & Writer)

Mon, 18 May 2009 20:24:00 GMT

Joe Matt is an autobiographical comic book artist and writer. For over ten years Joe Matt has been notorious in cult circles for the embarrassing frankness with which he reveals his distressing habits and predilections. Utterly unabashed and completely self-absorbed, he writes with an exhibitionist's enthusiasm for his favorite subject, himself.

Matt was born in Philadelphia in 1963. By his own account (collected in the graphic novel Fair Weather in 2002) he was a spoiled, selfish, and unpleasant child with a bedwetting problem, who also happened to be obsessed with collecting comics.

In the early '80s, Joe Matt studied at the Philadelphia College of Art and worked in a broom factory. In 1987, he started drawing the dense single-page confessional strips that made him a comics hero when they were collected in 1992 by Kitchen Sink Press and published as Peepshow: The Cartoon Diary of Joe Matt. He began his ongoing comic book series Peepshow that same year with Drawn & Quarterly, the first six issues of which were collected as The Poor Bastard in 1997. His most recent book, Spent, was released in 2007.

He currently lives and avoids work in Los Angeles.

Boots Riley (The Coup / Street Sweeper Social Club)

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:30:00 GMT

Boots Riley is best known as the MC for The Coup, a hip-hop group from Oakland, California whose songs often call for social activism and speak to socioeconomic and political issues. Boots often uses humor to convey his politial messages, something that separates him from other politically-minded groups.

The Coup formed in 1992, originally with three members (Boots Riley, DJ Pam The Funkstress, and E-Roc). In 1993, they released their debut album Kill My Landlord. To date, The Coup has released five albums, including Genocide and Juice (1994), Steal This Album (1998), Party Music (2001), and Pick A Bigger Weapon (2006).

Boots recently joined forces with Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) to form Street Sweeper Social Club.

Bochum Welt (Rephlex Records/Sony Music Japan Composer)

Sat, 09 May 2009 00:19:00 GMT

Bochum Welt (aka Gianluigi Di Costanzo) is an Italian electronic/techno music producer. He has a fascination for technology and videogames, and has worked with Thomas Dolby's California-based companies, Beatnik and Headspace Inc. The latest Bochum Welt album, R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy), was released on Aphex Twin's record label, Rephlex Records, in March 2008. Bochum Welt joined also the Rephlex Australian and European tour as an opening act for Aphex Twin, and recently opened for Thomas Dolby.

Mexican Institute of Sound (DJ / Producer)

Tue, 05 May 2009 01:14:00 GMT

Mexican Institute of Sound (or MIS) is the moniker for Mexico City's Camilo Lara, the head of a major record label by day and a DJ/Producer by night. Lara began his musical career by sending his friends an annual Christmas compilation of the year’s best tracks and unreleased MIS tracks. This hobby led Lara to collaborate on remixes under the name Mexican Institute of Sound for bands and friends like Placebo, Le Hammond Inferno, Gecko Turner, and Babasónicos.

MIS is part of a movement within Mexico that incorporates traditional latin sounds with electronica, folk, hip hop, and anything else that inspires him. As Mexican Institute of Sound, Lara has released three albums: Méjico Máxico (2006), Piñata (2007), and Soy Sauce (2009). While early MIS songs combined vintage samples into instrumental tracks, Soy Sauce differs from its predecessors by featuring almost entirely original songs recorded with a live band and vocals.

Fantasma (Brujeria)

Tue, 05 May 2009 01:01:00 GMT

Fantasma is the bass player & vocalist for Brujeria, a band of self-proclaimed Satanic, murderous drug dealers who created their own brand of "machete metal," perform in masks, use pseudonyms, and whose lyrics are sung entirely in Spanish. The name "Brujeria," which literally means witchcraft in Spanish, comes from the black magic used by some Mexican drug dealers to inspire fear in religious locals.

Brujeria has emerged at the forefront of underground Latin music and has become well known worldwide. What's even more impressive is that their success comes despite their refusal to tour, use real names, take photos unmasked, or do interviews. This peek into Fantasma's bag is a rare occurance!

While they remain an enigma, some say that Brujeria is made up of members from such metal stalwarts as Fear Factory, Napalm Death, Cradle of Filth, the late great Faith No More and Dimmu Borgir. Others believe it to be a creation of an underground political organization. Who knows what is true? Regardless of who they are or what they stand for, Brujeria remains a true force of nature. The very nature of man that is evil, angy and in your face!

Leslie Hall (Crafter / Rapper / Midwest Diva)

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:14:00 GMT

Leslie Hall initially caught the hearts & eyes of America's children when she began uploading images of her world famous gem sweater collection on the internet. Word of mouth quickly grew and within one month Leslie received over 2 million unique hits to her website, which left her with an $800 bill for exceeding her bandwidth.

In order to raise money to pay back her mother, Leslie did what any 200 lb. plus girl from Iowa would do. She became a rapper. Leslie's star has risen quickly with such viral video music hits as "Gold Pants," "Beatdazzler," "Zombie Killer," and "How We Go Out."

Her stage show is like nothing you've seen before. Complete with video projection & 3-6 costume changes (all lovingly hand sewn by her mother), you can expect to be "beat" dazzled. Leslie's laserbeam dance moves have been known to cause near blindness in the fans who gather at her shows. You can be sure that gay men will squeal with delight when she tumbles and triumphs across the stage. If you are lucky, it is possible that a bead of perspiration may ripple down her brow and land upon your flesh.

Esperanza Spalding (Jazz Bassist / Singer)

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:00:00 GMT

If "esperanza" is the Spanish word for hope, then bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding could not have been given a more fitting name at birth. Blessed with uncanny instrumental chops, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, and a natural beauty that borders on the hypnotic, the 23-year-old prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music.

Adam Freeland (DJ/Producer)

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:51:00 GMT

Adam Freeland is a Grammy-nominated DJ and producer. He is considered to be the originator of nu-skool breaks, a sub-genre of breakbeat electronic music. With his 1996 album Coastal Breaks Vol. 1, he introduced nu-skool breaks to the world. He has released nine albums, including his newest album Cope TM, which is coming out in June 2009 under the name Freeland. Cope TM is not just another electronic record, but is built around Adam's band, Freeland, and features Tommy Lee (Motley Crue), Twiggy Ramirez, Joey Santiago (Pixies), Tony Bevilacqua (Distillers/Spinerette), Brody Dalle, and Jerry Casale (DEVO).

Kim Ann Foxman (Hercules & Love Affair)

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:37:00 GMT

Kim Ann Foxman is a vocalist for Hercules and Love Affair, a DJ, and jewelry designer. Hercules and Love Affair is a collaboration between NY producers Andrew Butler and Tim Goldsworthy (DFA Records), and vocalists Kim Ann Foxman, Nomi Ruiz, and Antony Hegarty (of Antony & The Johnsons). Hercules and Love Affair released their self-titled debut album in March 2008, an album of modern disco-inspired dancefloor-ready songs.

Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters / Nirvana)

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:02:00 GMT

Dave Grohl was the drummer for Nirvana and is the driving force behind Foo Fighters. After Kurt Cobain's death, Grohl formed the Foo Fighters, one of many post-grunge bands to pop up in the mid-‘90s and one of the few who became a lasting, successful band.

In the late ‘80s, Grohl began playing drums for Washington DC hardcore band, Scream, after drumming for a slew of bands that rocked to varying degrees. Unsure of what his next move would be upon the sudden demise of Scream, Grohl, whose drumming had been witnessed by both Krist Novoselic and Kurt Cobain at a recent west coast show, was invited to Seattle by Novoselic to watch Nirvana play. Shortly thereafter, he became the band's drummer.

Grohl had recorded a cassette in 1994 on which he played every instrument on every track, except a guitar part on “X-Static” which was played by Greg Dulli of the Afghan Whigs. After Kurt Cobain's death, Grohl began generating a quiet buzz for the cassette, only making 100 copies for friends. Things quickly caught fire, however, and his new project was fought over by record companies. Not wanting to record as a solo artist, he went about assembling a band which consisted of Nate Mendel (Sunny Day Real Estate), guitarist William Goldsmith, and former Nirvana and Germs guitarist Pat Smear. Naming themselves after unexplained World War II era aerial phenomena, Foo Fighters were officially born.

The presence and leadership of ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl is no doubt what gave the Foos their footing, which initially made it difficult to view the Foo Fighters as anything but a Dave Grohl solo project. The lineup has changed over the years and Grohl is the only musician present on their first LP. However, once Grohl found a drummer he respected in Taylor Hawkins, the group started to take on a team-minded mentality and released a truly collaborative third album, There is Nothing Left to Lose (1999, RCA). Their most recent studio album (their seventh record), Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace (RCA), was released in 2007. In late 2008, the band released Live at Wembley Stadium, a DVD that showcased the performance at one of their biggest concerts to date to an audience of over 160,000 fans.

Lyndxe (Photo Editor / Record Slinger)

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:13:00 GMT

Lyndxe is a photographer & photo editor at Amoeba Hollywood. Lyndxe is the perfect combination of fresh northwestern heroin grunge rock and cherry cola mixed together and fermented for a 22-year vintage appeal. Encased in narcissistic faux jadedness with a provocatively innocent yet surprisingly misleading label, she is most well known for her love of taking pictures, making music, baking cupcakes, and drinking rootbeer floats.

Dan The Automator (Hip Hop Producer)

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:37:00 GMT

Dan The Automator is a groundbreaking, platinum-selling hip-hop producer, remixer, and composer. Born Daniel M. Nakamura in San Francisco in 196, he has played pivotal roles in such eclectic hip-hop classics as Dr. Octagon: Ecologist, Deltron 3030, and Gorillaz. With influences as varied as Serge Gainsbourg, Brian Wilson, Q-bert and The Simpsons, his collaborators have included DJ Shadow, Mike Patton, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Prince Paul, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Damon Albarn, Mos Def, Blink-182 and hundreds more. An essentially soft-spoken, well-mannered, NBA-addicted Japanese-American, Dan The Automator found his strength in assembling diverse, divergent ensembles for high-concept projects, a talent he continues to exercise to this day by curating the NBA2K7 video game soundtrack, as well as working on other projects with Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Mike Patton.

DJ TLR (Founder, Creme Organization)

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:29:00 GMT

DJ TLR (Jeroen Callan) started the Creme Organization label in 2001 as a minimal-disco-electro offshoot from the Dutch electro label Bunker Records. Since then, Creme Organization has become an independent label with a strong reputation in the Electro/Disco/Jakking underground by releasing records from Bangkok Impact, Legowelt, Lolita Strap, Orgue Electronique, Alexander Robotnick, Aux 88, Rude 66 and more! DJ TLR (a.k.a. Mr. Clavio) also created the website www.globaldarkness.com.

DJ Lance Rock (Yo Gabba Gabba!)

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:31:00 GMT

DJ Lance Rock is the host of Yo Gabba Gabba!, a live-action TV show on Nick Jr geared towards young children (but the adults like it a lot too!). DJ Lance Rock starts each episode with the magic words, "Yo Gabba Gabba!" and we are transported to a special land full of friendly toy monsters, music, dance, colorful cartoons, and simple life lessons that get the little ones off the floor to learn and dance along. The show also regularly features guests like Biz Markie, Leslie Hall, Elijah Wood, the Shins, and Mark Mothersbaugh. Just say the magic words! YO GABBA GABBA!!

DJ Lance Rock goes shopping at Amoeba for presents for Toodee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Brobee.

Steve Chack (DVD Floor Staff)

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Steve works in the DVD room at Amoeba San Francisco. He talks about a few of his favorite films, including the only film that he likes that features a mime...

Look Daggers (Hip Hop Band)

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:14:00 GMT

Ikey Owens (The Mars Volta) & 2Mex (Visionaries/SonGodSuns) are Look Daggers, a California Hip Hop band. Yes, band. The initial idea for the collaboration between 2Mex and Ikey Owens came from The Brand New Heavies album Heavy Rhyme Experience Vol. 1. The concept was simple: a Hip Hop album performed by human beings. Their debut album Suffer In Style was released in Fall 2008.

August Kleinzahler (American Poet)

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:38:00 GMT

August Kleinzahler is a poet originally from New Jersey and now living in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the author of ten books of poetry, including "The Strange Hours Travelers Keep," and of one prose book, the meditative memoir "Cutty, One Rock: Low Characters and Strange Places, Gently Explained." Allen Ginsberg wrote of him: "August Kleinzahler's verse line is always precise, concrete, intelligent and rare—that quality of 'chiseled' verse memorable in Basil Bunting's and Ezra Pound's work. A loner, a genius."

Robyn (Swedish Singer/Songwriter)

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:09:00 GMT

Robyn is a Swedish pop singer-songwriter who was discovered at the age of 13 by another Swedish pop singer, Meja. Her debut album of R&B-influenced pop was released in 1995 when she was 16 years old. On that album, she worked with future Britney Spears hit machine Max Martin and had massive success with the single "Show Me Love." Seeking more artistic control, Robyn switched labels a few times before finally opting to start her own in 2005, Konichiwa Records. In 2007, she released her fourth album Robyn. Robyn released three albums in 2010 in the Body Talk series, the first of which - Body Talk Pt 1 - includes the song "Dancing on My Own" which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Dance Recording.

People Under the Stairs (Los Angeles Hip Hop Group)

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:00:00 GMT

People Under the Stairs is rapper/producers Thes One and Double K. In September 2008, they released their 6th album, Fun DMC. As longtime fans know, though, when you hear a PUTS record, all the work, from the beats to the rhymes to the scratching to the artwork (Fun comes with a comic book written by the rappers themselves), is almost inevitably done strictly by the duo themselves. Instead of cashing in on hot outside producers or of-the-moment emcees, the pair has always been fiercely independent.

A major part of their longevity, Thes One and Double K have never tried to be anything they weren’t, choosing to rhyme about the realities of their lives over the fantasies some of their peers like to employ.

Thes agrees. “Every record we’ve made, we’ve tried to be as real and age-appropriate about what’s happening in our lives. On our first album, we’re rapping about fake IDs and trying to get beer. We’re getting older now, so on this album, I’m rapping about anxiety about my wife being pregnant, but still keeping the overall vibe fun.”

Looking back on ten years - a lifetime - in the industry, Thes One succinctly sums up the group’s mentality:

“We’ve never been the darling of any era or publication,” he notes. “We were never the hot boys for any given period of time. We just roll with the punches and not get hung up in an era, cause those are the people that get dated and are gone.”

Markus Acher & Odd Nosdam (The Notwist / Anticon Records)

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:08:00 GMT

Odd Nosdam is a musician, DJ and co-founder of Bay Area label/collective Anticon. Odd Nosdam has released albums under his name and as a member of cLOUDDEAD, worked with artists like Mike Patton and TV on the Radio, and remixed bands including The Notwist.

Germany's The Notwist began in 1989 as hardcore, dreadlocked punks, similar to the grunge bands who were gaining so much notoriety in the US. Over time, however, they began experimenting with electronic elements. By 2002, their release Neon Golden showcased a classic sense of melody that was set apart from the pack because of its omnipresent and meticulously-honed electronic textures. The Notwist that appears on their 1990 debut could not be more different that the Notwist of Neon Golden.

In the town of Weilheim in Oberbayern, Germany (near Munich), brothers Markus (vocals, guitar) and Micah (bass) Acher formed The Notwist with drummer Martin Messerschmidt. Their self-titled debut came out in 1990 on Subway Records. Their third album, 12 (1995, Big Store), was the first time they flirted with electronics, but they were most certainly more of an alternative band, thanks to the songwriting styles of Marcus Acher.

In 1997, The Notwist acquired a new member, keyboardist and programming wizard Martin Gretschmann, aka Console. A fourth full-length, Shrink, surfaced in 1998 and was even more infused with electronic textures, thanks to the presence of Gretschmann. After some side project work, the group came together for the painstaking recording process that would produce Neon Golden. The album would take 15 months to record.

Neon Golden was released in 2002 on Domino. Reviews for the album were unlike anything the band had experienced before. Marcus' lyrics and gentle singing style earned praise for how well they complimented the fragmented, and often unsettling compositions. In other places, the music would be pleasant, perhaps even triumphant, and Marcus would kill the momentum with sad, mournful lyrics. Critics raved about these juxtapositions, but what really stands out about the album is the way Gretschmann adds flourishes that crop up in the mix, then fade away, never to reappear in the song. A table scratch here, a heavily distorted drum sequence there, and throughout it all, there are his subtle landscapes, which enhance and highlight the work of Messerschmidt and the Acher brothers.

The band toured for about a year and a half after Neon Golden. They then spent two years on a break from The Notwist, working on other projects. The new album would ultimately take two years to record, an even longer amount of time than its predecessor. In June, they put out their long-awaited, long-labored over sixth album, The Devil, You + Me (2008, Domino).

Martin Gretschmann (The Notwist / Console)

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:05:00 GMT

Germany's The Notwist began in 1989 as hardcore, dreadlocked punks, similar to the grunge bands who were gaining so much notoriety in the US. Over time, however, they began experimenting with electronic elements. By 2002, their release Neon Golden showcased a classic sense of melody that was set apart from the pack because of its omnipresent and meticulously-honed electronic textures. The Notwist that appears on their 1990 debut could not be more different that the Notwist of Neon Golden.

In the town of Weilheim in Oberbayern, Germany (near Munich), brothers Markus (vocals, guitar) and Micah (bass) Acher formed The Notwist with drummer Martin Messerschmidt. Their self-titled debut came out in 1990 on Subway Records. Their third album, 12 (1995, Big Store), was the first time they flirted with electronics, but they were most certainly more of an alternative band, thanks to the songwriting styles of Marcus Acher.

In 1997, The Notwist acquired a new member, keyboardist and programming wizard Martin Gretschmann, aka Console. A fourth full-length, Shrink, surfaced in 1998 and was even more infused with electronic textures, thanks to the presence of Gretschmann. After some side project work, the group came together for the painstaking recording process that would produce Neon Golden. The album would take 15 months to record.

Neon Golden was released in 2002 on Domino. Reviews for the album were unlike anything the band had experienced before. Marcus' lyrics and gentle singing style earned praise for how well they complimented the fragmented, and often unsettling compositions. In other places, the music would be pleasant, perhaps even triumphant, and Marcus would kill the momentum with sad, mournful lyrics. Critics raved about these juxtapositions, but what really stands out about the album is the way Gretschmann adds flourishes that crop up in the mix, then fade away, never to reappear in the song. A table scratch here, a heavily distorted drum sequence there, and throughout it all, there are his subtle landscapes, which enhance and highlight the work of Messerschmidt and the Acher brothers.

The band toured for about a year and a half after Neon Golden. They then spent two years on a break from The Notwist, working on other projects. The new album would ultimately take two years to record, an even longer amount of time than its predecessor. In June, they put out their long-awaited, long-labored over sixth album, The Devil, You + Me (2008, Domino).

Mike B. (SF Electronica Buyer)

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:51:00 GMT

I'm Mike B. aka Battags. I'm the Electrnoica section buyer and I maintain the Electronic and Dance section at Amoeba San Francisco. I buy music every week so I'm just as much a customer as I am an employee here.

Read Mike B's Amoeblog here.

Scott Tarasco (Regular Customer)

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:30:00 GMT

Scott is a regular customer and a big collector. He goes right to the records - rock, reggae, oldies - looking for stuff he doesn't have. He likes to take chances on things he finds in the bins. "Sometimes I lose out and sometimes I'm really stoked."

Noel Gallagher (Oasis)

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:37:00 GMT

Noel Gallagher, contrary to what he says, is not the bass player for Coldplay. He is the guitarist and songwriter for Oasis. Oasis formed in 1991 in Manchester, England and became one of England's - and the world's - biggest rock bands. Noel and his brother Liam Gallagher are the creative center of the band and their intense relationship has been notoriously tumultuous. Out of that relationship, or perhaps in spite of it, Oasis has released 7 studio albums and created enduring songs like "Wonderwall," "Champagne Supernova," "Live Forever," and "Slide Away," among many, many others.

Girl In A Coma (San Antonio Rock Trio)

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:11:00 GMT

Girl In A Coma is a rock band from San Antonio, Texas. High school best friends Jenn Alva and Phanie Diaz and Phanie's sister Nina caught the eye of Joan Jett in 2006 and were immediately signed to Blackheart Records. They released their debut record Both Before I'm Gone in 2007 and toured with Tegan and Sara in 2008. Check out the photos from their in-store performance at Amoeba Hollywood on October 20, 2008 here.

Swell Season (Oscar-Winning Musicians, Once Soundtrack)

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:10:00 GMT

2 days after winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song from the film Once, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova stopped by Amoeba to pick up some movies to provide some much needed entertainment and relaxation after the Oscar whirlwind. Glen Hansard is an Irish singer/songwriter from the band The Frames. In 2006, he formed The Swell Season with Czech singer Marketa Irglova. In 2007, the duo made the movie Once, in which they acted, sang, and fell in love (in real life too!).

Read our review of Once from our Movies We Like section here.

J-Boogie (Bay Area DJ/Producer)

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:24:00 GMT

For over 10 years, J–Boogie has honed his craft as an artist in the Bay Area music scene, both in clubs & on the radio with the award–winning program "Beatsauce" on KUSF 90.3fm. Voted "San Francisco´s Best Radio & Club DJ" by citysearch.com and "Best Hip–Hop Radio Show" by SF Bay Guardian, J–Boogie consistently delivers the goods with smokin, sexy, party–rockin DJ sets. He´s played alongside some of the industry´s most talented performers including Mark Farina, Talib Kweli, Kruder and Dorfmeister, People Under the Stairs, King Britt, DJ Greyboy, DJ Spinna, DJ Krush, DJ Vadim, Marc Rae, Mix Master Mike and more! His band Dubtronic Science brings the next dimension to his turntable sets by incorporating LIVE musicians onstage, including sitar, tablas, flute, sax, drums, percussion, and vocals!

Uncle Frank (TV Personality, Jimmy Kimmel Live!)

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:40:00 GMT

Frank Potenza really is Jimmy Kimmel's "Uncle Frank." He's more than qualified for his job as Security Guard on his nephew's show, having spent twenty years as a New York City cop, ten years as a private security officer in Las Vegas (including a stint as Frank Sinatra's personal security guard at Caesars Palace) and another seven as an usher in Manhattan's world-famous St. Patrick's Cathedral. Though, in his two decades as a cop, Frank made only six arrests -- one of which literally ran right into him fleeing a robbery. Jimmy also likes to stump Frank by asking him to name more than two Sinatra songs.

The Donnas (California Girl Group)

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:50:00 GMT

The Donnas began in 1993 in a Palo Alto, CA junior high school where four self-described "dorky pre-teen girls" formed a rock n' roll band at the age of 13. Over the course of the next 15 years, the Donnas have released six critically acclaimed albums and have toured the planet several times over to an ever-expanding, international fanbase of "Donnaholics." Throughout those years the players have remained the same - Brett Anderson on lead vocals, Maya Ford on bass, Allison Robertson on guitar and Torry Castellano on drums - a testament to the girls' talent and dedication.

Casey Chaos (Frontman for Amen)

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:48:00 GMT

Casey Chaos began his career as a professional skateboarder, but after attending a Black Flag show he turned his focus towards making music. His first band was a hardcore/punk band called Disorderly Conduct. They released one album called Amen which later became the name for his next band. Amen has released 3 albums (Amen, We Have Come For Your Parents, and Death Before Musick) on which Casey plays all the instruments except drums. Casey has also worked with Henry Rollins, Rikk Agnew, Iggy Pop, and Daron Malakian.

Mark Farina (DJ, Creator of Mushroom Jazz)

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:19:00 GMT

In 1992, Mark, along with Patty Ryan, created the now now legendary weekly Mushroom Jazz club night in San Francisco. Mark is also known for his House sets with his uniquely effortless journeys on the jazzy side of Chicago House, mixed up San Fran style. Consistently drawing new fans to his style of chunky–funky rhythms and deep underground house, Mark plays upwards of 200 shows to over one million club goers per year. Voted in the top DJ´s in the world by URB, MUZIK and BPM Magazine, his taste making skills continue to turn the heads of seasoned veterans as well as youngsters just getting into the music. Recently, Mark released a double LIVE mixed cd Live at Om w/ Derrick Carter (Om Records), and the long awaited Mushroom Jazz 5 and Mushroom Jazz 6!!!

Human Giant (Sketch Comedy Show)

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:18:00 GMT

Human Giant is a sketch comedy show on MTV, starring writer/performers Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, and Paul Scheer. Aziz Ansari is a New York City-based comedian who has appeared on Flight of the Conchords and sometimes performs with The Comedians of Comedy and at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater. Also from the Upright Citizens Brigade theater, Rob Huebel is a regular on VH1's Best Week Ever and has also appeared on shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development and Late Night With Conan O'Brien. Comedian Paul Scheer regularly performs at Upright Citizens Brigade and is a regular on VH1's Best Week Ever and his film credits include School for Scoundrels and 2008's Meet Dave and The Onion Movie.

Andrew WK (Musician & Producer)

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:14:00 GMT

Andrew WK is a musician, producer, and lecturer. He released his first full-length album, I Get Wet, in 2001 with a controversial album cover. He has since released other albums, including a live concert movie called Who Knows? which featured over 300 hours of concert footage from 12 years of performances. In 2007, Andrew WK began delivering free form lectures at universities. Around the same time, he also began producing and mixing music for other artists. Most recently, Andrew WK produced the Lee "Scratch" Perry album Repentance.

Casey (Used Rock Customer & Anticon Aficionado)

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:04:00 GMT

Eugene Mirman (Comedian, Writer & Filmmaker)

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 02:06:00 GMT

Eugene Mirman is a New York City based comedian, writer, actor and filmmaker. Eugene can be seen in Flight of The Concords where he plays "Eugene," the landlord. In 2004, Eugene released The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman. It was voted one of the Best Albums of 2004 by both The Onion and Time Out New York. His weekly standup-variety show Invite Them Up won the 2005 Nightlife Award for Best Group Performance. In December of 2005 Comedy Central Records released a 3-CD + DVD compilation of Invite Them Up. In 2006, he released, a second solo album, En Garde, Society!.

Mos Def (Hip Hop MC & Actor)

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:15:00 GMT

Mos Def is an MC and an actor. He has released albums both as a solo artist and as Black Star (with Talib Kweli) and appeared on numerous other albums. He has been nominated for 2 Grammys, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and a Source Award. He was awarded a Peabody Award for his work on the HBO series "Def Poetry" and won an Obie Award for the Suzan Lori Parks play "Fucking A." Mos Def's new album, The Ecstatic, is scheduled to be released in December 2008.

Afrika Bambaataa (Godfather of Hip Hop & Founder of Zulu Nation)

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:02:00 GMT

Afrika Bambaataa is widely considered to be the Godfather of Hip Hop. He is a pioneer in break-beat DJing and he launched an entire style of music called "electro funk" with one song. In 1982, Bambaataa released "Planet Rock," which became one of the most influential songs in hip hop. Based around Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express," "Planet Rock" combined electronics and hip hop for the first time. Bambaataa also is known as the founder of the Zulu Nation, a collective of artists and musicians dedicated to promoting the values of hip hop: peace, unity, love, and having fun.

DJ Patrick Bodmer (Half of DJ Duo M.A.N.D.Y.)

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:39:00 GMT

The story of M.A.N.D.Y. begins on a tennis court in Saarbrücken, near the German-French border. That's where Patrick Bodmer met Philipp Jung on a summer's day over twenty years ago. Over the past five years M.A.N.D.Y. have come into their own as artists and DJs. They mixed their first Get Physical label compilation in 2004, released the 2005 collaboration with Booka Shade Body Language, and released the Body Language Vol. 1 mix CD, where Philipp and Patrick joined the dots between electro-influenced house and disco and the miminal techno sound which is now so prevalent. Philipp and Patrick are much sought after remixers, having worked with artists as diverse as The Knife, Tiefschwarz feat. Tracey Thorn, Sugababes, Hans Peter Lindstrom, Joakim, Royksopp and Fischerspooner, The Klaxons, and Mathew Dear.

DJ Heidi (Electronic DJ)

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:39:00 GMT

Heidi grew up in Windsor Ontario in Canada, but she moved to London permanently in 2000 to immerse herself in the music scene, clubbing every weekend and hanging out in record shops. In 2004 she met Patrick Bodmer and Phillip Jung otherwise know as the german electronic duo M.A.N.D.Y. In 2005 Heidi started playing all over Europe and Russia with regular visits to Italy, Spain, France and Germany where she plays regularly in Berlin at the Panorama bar and Watergate club and at The Monza club in Frankfurt and Ibiza where she also holds a residency. She also became a regular at Fabric, London's leading underground dance club. In 2006 Heidi did her first release Vejer on Get Physical with her partner Riton. Heidi is currently working on an album for Get Physical and she is touring North America with M.A.N.D.Y.

DJ Philip Jung (Half of DJ duo M.A.N.D.Y.)

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:19:00 GMT

Anthony Valadez (KCRW DJ)

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:22:00 GMT

Anthony Valadez purchased his first set of turntables with money he earned working a summer job at a public pool in Sylmar. He has been DJ'ing for over 15 years. He hosts "The Lab" on KCRW and he currently holds down three DJ residencies across Los Angeles: Thursdays at Townhouse (Venice), Fridays at Zanzibar (Santa Monica), and Saturdays at Little Temple (Silver Lake).

Luis (Passionate Music Collector)

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:25:00 GMT

I am a vinyl enthusiast! I have been a customer at the Hollywood store since Day 1. I like Black Metal so my first stop is always the Black Metal section. But the coolest thing I ever found at Amoeba was a Japanese promo box set of Alice in Chains. I'd never seen it before!!

Saul Williams (Poet, Musician, Actor, Artist...)

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:45:00 GMT

Saul Williams may best be known as a poet, but he is better described as an artist. He is an actor (Slam, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival), author, musician, and poet. He is a Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion for his spoken word performances, he has published four books, and he has released four albums, most recently The Invevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust. He spoke with us about what's in his bag and the innovative way he chose to release his newest album.

Trevor (DVD Floor Staff)

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:44:00 GMT

Trevor slings movies and says, without a doubt, that the greatest movie of 2007 was The Zodiac.

DJ Smiles Davis (Resident DJ @ Freedom Sundays)

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:40:00 GMT

Smiles Davis is an eclectic Los Angeles DJ and an Amoebite. She is also part of an all female DJ crew that spins every Sunday at L’Scorpion on Hollywood Blvd. Their night, Freedom Sundays, is a collaborative effort to expand and create an environment of pure artistic expression. Smiles Davis is also the face of “Mac Scratch,” a McDonald’s commercial based around DJ’s which features DJ Felli Fel. You can read her music blog at http://smilesdavis.wordpress.com/.

Mike Schank (Musician)

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:49:00 GMT

Mike Schank starred in "American Movie," a film that won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 1999. Mike Schank lives in Milwaukee and spends most of his time playing guitar, buying lottery tickets and helping Mark Borchardt on his films. Mike quit all drugs and alcohol a month before filming began and has now been clean for over four years. Mike also performed all the music for American Movie.

Jon Brion (Composer )

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:20:00 GMT

Music producer/composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist... it's safe to say that Jon Brion excels at whichever musical hat he chooses to wear. Remarkably self-taught in music, Jon has collaborated with and/or produced albums for Elliott Smith, Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright, David Byrne, the Eels, Sean Lennon (just to name a few)...

Stephen O'Malley (Co-Founder of Southern Lord Records)

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:49:00 GMT

Stephen O'Malley is the co-founder of Southern Lord Records and a producer and musician. He has been a part of the following acts: SUNN O))), KTL, GRAVETEMPLE, ÆTHENOR, GINNUNGAGAP, LOTUS EATERS, and L.A.M.F.

Rachel Wood-Rome (Jazz & Classical Floor Staff)

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:39:00 GMT

Rachel Wood-Rome is a composer and a Jazz & Classical floor person at the San Francisco store. She just started listening to Rock music recently.

Healamonster & Tarsier (Electronic Production Duo)

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:39:00 GMT

An LA via Brooklyn production duo (Burgess Tomlinson and Rona Rapadas) who combine elements of ambient pop with experimental electronics and acoustic psychedelia. Their songs are anesthetic for a straight-lined, fast and fickle world.

Nick Jones (Used Rock Floor Staff)

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:17:00 GMT

My name is Nick Jones. I work in Used Rock. The Goth/Industrial section is one of my favorite sections. Some of my faves are Death in June, Der Blutharsch, and Derniere Volonte.

Demetri Martin (Comedian)

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:36:00 GMT

Comedian Demetri Martin has a new show on Comedy Central called Important Things with Demetri Martin. He is best known for his stand-up comedy and his contributions to The Daily Show. You can also catch him on the season finale of Flight of the Conchords. In 2006, he released his comedy CD These Are Jokes.

Shayde Sartin (Rock Floor)

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Shayde Sartin, an Amoeba veteran of 7.5 years, works the rock floor at the San Francisco store.

Scott Spaulding (Used Buyer)

Tue, 27 May 2008 22:55:00 GMT

I've been working in record stores for 18 years. I'm a Used Buyer at Amoeba. Here are some of my favorite rare picks.

Keith Morris (Punk Rock Icon)

Tue, 13 May 2008 01:07:00 GMT

As a founding member of Black Flag and The Circle Jerks, Keith Morris is definitely a punk rock icon.

Tim Ranow (Information Counter)

Mon, 12 May 2008 23:26:00 GMT

Tim works the information counter at Amoeba. He loves metal and pop vocals. Huh?

Annie (Info / Cashier)

Fri, 09 May 2008 23:48:00 GMT

When asked to describe myself, I decided to fill you in on an actual conversation I overheard at the Rainbow Bar:

"Hey man, what about sex, drugs, and rock & roll?"
"Been there. Done that."
"Man, I'm still there."

I personally second that motion!

Howlin Rain (Psych-Rock Supergroup)

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:13:00 GMT

Howlin Rain keyboardist Joel Robinow, drummer Garett Goddard, and lead vocalist/guitarist Ethan Miller share what they found at Amoeba. Howlin Rain performed at Amoeba San Francisco on February 4, 2008 and Amoeba Hollywood on February 6, 2008. Click here for pictures from the San Francisco show and the Hollywood show.

“Mixing Steve Miller and Creedence with Crazy Horse and Blue Cheer, it’s a sort of log-cabin boogie with just a dash of Zep...The sort of side-project that gives indie psych-rock supergroups a good name.” - Time Out, London

Having recorded a fistful of critically acclaimed -- and increasingly successful -- albums with neo-psychedelic pioneers Comets On Fire, frontman Ethan Miller lit out for fresh musical territories, located somewhere between the Santa Cruz, CA-based band’s familiar sonic maelstrom and a more organic, melodic, groove-oriented rock that hearkened back to his halcyon daze growing up on California’s “Lost Coast” (Humboldt County), home of lumberjacks, college students, unreconstructed hippies, and off-the-grid botanists.

Enlisting drummer John Moloney from fellow “New Weird America” outfit Sunburned Hand Of The Man and bassist/former high school bandmate Ian Gradek, Miller christened the trio Howlin Rain, whose self-titled debut was released by Birdman in 2006.

Magnificent Fiend is the second album from Howlin Rain and the first to be issued under a joint agreement between multi-platinum record producer Rick Rubin’s American label and San Francisco-based indie Birdman Records. Creating the richly textured, densely layered sounds found on Magnificent Fiend required additional players: drummer Garett Goddard, guitarist Eli Eckert, and multi-instrumentalist Joel Robinow.

Aside from Howlin Rain’s willingness to delve deep into the metaphorical sonic spice-rack for certain signature sounds that’d had all but vanished from the contemporary musical landscape -- Vanilla Fudge, Henry Thomas, Wishbone Ash, Eddie Hazel, Procol Harum, Leslie West, Delaney & Bonnie, Atomic Rooster, Super Wolf, and Jim Ford, for openers -- Magnificent Fiend is a study in contrasts that reflects the duality in humanity, in the form of the people who made the record, who inspired the record, and the rest of us.

-Bio by Don Waller

Tuna (Registers)

Sat, 03 May 2008 23:05:00 GMT

Cartoons, Records, Dancing, Bikes, Pro Wrestling. Check out my zine, What's the Jam? I work the registers, processing, cassettes, and the dance floor. What's in my bag you ask:

Liam Finn (Singer/Songwriter)

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:23:00 GMT

Liam Finn, a twenty-three-year-old New Zealand native and the son of Neil Finn, writes, produces and engineers his own music, adhering to a strict DIY creative process - even shooting his own publicity photos and album artwork. Welling up from the dark bars and clubs of London's thriving indie music scene, rock n' roll prodigy Liam Finn has bounded onto the international music scene with the force and presence of an artist twice his age.

In addition to meticulously overseeing the recording of his debut album I'll Be Lightning, Finn plays nearly every instrument on the album, a responsibility he doesn't relinquish during his now mythic live gigs. During his raucous yet intimate performances Liam utilizes effects pedals to create, sample and loop bass, guitar, drums and vocals to layer with his live vocals and guitar. Pre-programmed flourishes, also keyed live by Finn, gurgle under his sharp, addictive melodies to produce experimental pop music that is simultaneously ghostly and direct in its atmospherics and emotionalism.

Liam Finn performed at Amoeba Hollywood on February 20, 2008 with EJ Barnes. Click here for photos of the in-store.

Chuck Foster (Host of Reggae Central)

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:47:00 GMT

I'm a host of Reggae Central on KPFK Radio in Los Angeles. I come to Amoeba about once a week to check out new releases. I'm always digging through the used vinyl, looking for things I might have missed. I worked in record stores for many years myself for a chain called Licorice Pizza. I managed 5 stores for them over 12 years so I know when an operation is running well and doing good. Amoeba Records, I'm a big fan!

Doug Day (Buyer/Trader Extraordinaire! )

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:02:00 GMT

I come to Amoeba 8 times a month - when I'm out of my mind. I've been shopping at the LA store since Day 2. Day 1 was insane. Most of what I bought was pulled from the 12" section in the corner. It's an ignored section. I found it on accident when I was going to look at R&B and Prince. It's a great section. All the new promos go in there!

Weird Al Yankovic (Satirist)

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:38:00 GMT

Subtitle (Hip Hop MC & Beatmaker)

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:32:00 GMT

I rap and program/produce/promote musical material. I have done projects with GSL/Gold Standard Labs, Alpha Pup and a couple of other labels. I started B.E.A.R./Briefcase Rockers in a quest to find new and exciting music made by like minded individuals and I like t-shirts, coffee, shoes that fit, skateboarding and true levels. Oh yeah, I sample WAY more music besides Sonic Youth...I contribute to iheartcomix's blog from time to time. While you are at it, follow me around on Twitter and see if I don't drop some decoy business or scavenger hunt type thing on there for you chums....

Kai Keya (Jazz / Classical Floor Staff)

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:15:00 GMT

Be-bop spells my DNA.

Alex (DVD Floor Staff)

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:21:00 GMT

I just like what I like. For example, I don't like cheese. I don't like the taste or consistency. But there's lots of other stuff I like, so I stick to that. Don't let anyone tell you what you like! Like what you like!

Jonah Tice (Everywhere!)

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:05:00 GMT

A really fantastic guy! I mean I just really like this guy.

Rob Fletcher (Rock Floor Staff)

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:47:00 GMT

Not that interesting.
I owe a lot of money.
I have a lot of 7"s.
I like small furry animals.

Chris Grande (Website Sales)

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:22:00 GMT

I was born to be a purveyor of bad music. I play in a crappy band people hate and put 1 cent CDs up for auction on Ebay.

Ranon Jones (Website Sales)

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:02:00 GMT

What more can I say but, Go Padres, Go Chargers, Go Cal Bears, Go Warriors, Go Sharks!

James Leon (Rock Floor Staff)

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:44:00 GMT

I love food, wine & De Green Guy - Skinny Puppy reference. I DJ underneath the name of Death Boy every blue moon.

Spenser R-S (Main Floor Staff)

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Born in SF, raised in Oakland, schooled in Olympia, East Bay resident for life.

Emily Rose Boswell (In-Stores & Info Music)

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:45:00 GMT

I like to read and currently can't stop watching the L Word.