8:00 PM
to 9:00 PM
Jack Freeman
Location Kiss & Fly
Location Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
event::about Whether it’s the bass in his voice, or the sultry delivery of provoking lyrics, you can’t deny that listening to singer/songwriter Jack Freeman is like taking a journey on a musical time machine; in a sense Marty Mcfly meets Marvin Gaye. He encompasses an eclectic style with soul and feeling that will either put you in the mood or make you want to change the world. His messages are those of love, betrayal, and optimism; mind stimulating topics that the twenty-two year old delivers with every song. He explains “it’s something to ride to; I want my music take the listener to a more original time”. A time that Jack remembers his Dad introducing to him as a child: “I remember just sitting around with my Dad listening to old records, Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, Chaka Kahn, Donnie Hathaway; this is what music was to me”. There is no doubt that Jack took these influences to heart, as you can clearly hear in his music. As a native of Houston, Texas, Jack is definitely making a move in the underground circuits of the bayou city. Establishing his artistry less than a year ago, Jack already has the internet social networking arena buzzing with the recent release of Dark Liquor, a seven track introductory EP that fuses the sounds of classic 70s Motown R&B and Funk with a more modern sound of today. The title Dark Liquor is used to describe Jack’s sound, Jack explains: “You always see clear liquor like Vodka or Ciroc associated with the club scene and up-tempo party music, on the contrary you have your Hennessey or Crown when you want to mellow out and just chill, maybe pop in some Al Green, you don’t really see a lot of that today, so I wanted to give the people a little taste of Dark Liquor.” And that the young man is definitely doing, whether you are a seventies hipster or an eighties baby Dark Liquor offers something for everyone. The EP includes tracks such as “Figure it Out” a revolutionary wakeup call for the masses, “Away”, a vulnerable love song, and “20/20” a musical epiphany, all seven tracks are sure to leave you with the smooth taste and relaxation that “Dark Liquor” is intended to give. The EP is available for purchase on iTunes, and Amazon, and Bandcamp. Before Jack started taking steps to becoming an artist you might have seen or heard him collaborating with hip-hop group The Niceguys, and before that you might catch him running yards on a college football field. “I played football for fourteen years, two of which were in college. I realized that with all the changes and ups and downs playing a sport could bring, the one thing that remained constant in my life was my love for music”. This sudden change of heart towards football left Jack with the ultimate decision to quit football and move back to his home in Houston. His new found passion for music called him to tap into the Houston music scene where he connected with his good friend Yves of The Niceguys, through which he met Free, Todd and DJ Candlesticks also from the group. Later Jack would be featured on The Niceguys’ single “Not at All” off The Green Room EP, which gained recognition from XXL magazine, and various other hip-hop blogs. The Niceguys collaboration was Jack’s début as an artist, and to no surprise everyone wanted to know who that raspy voiced kid was singing the hook. Jack took his new found notoriety and ran with it. He began doing features for other local artist, smashing performances with The Niceguys and eventually found his way to Dark Liquor. Although it seems as if Jack Freeman has accomplished so much in little less than a year, in his mind this is only the beginning: “I don’t want to be boxed in”, he says, describing his desire to dabble in other genres. Jack is a firm believer of music as a whole, not necessarily categorizing artists into specific genres. Keeping in touch with his soulful roots, he plans to develop his sound and experiment with other types of music as well. He anticipates Dark Liquor to be the catalyst that authenticates the Jack Freeman brand, and by this time next year have another project ready for his listeners. All-in-all Jack Freeman is here to stay, with his timeless sound and charming lyrics there is no denying that he is breath of fresh air that the music industry has so desperately been waiting to take in. So sit back and relax with a glass of Dark Liquor, the Jack Freeman movement has just begun.
event::tags 18+
8:45 PM
to 9:45 PM
9:00 PM
to 10:00 PM
Cooley Fly
Location Kiss & Fly
Location Kiss & Fly
9:30 PM
to 10:30 PM
Steve Arrington
8 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
10:00 PM
to 11:00 PM
NeckBone
Location Kiss & Fly
Location Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
event::about Blurb about NeckBone NeckBone is an original funk hop band that is produced by local talent, Ter'ell Shahid (works with Bavu Blakes, Chalie Boy, Symbolic One (Kanye West producer), MC Overlord, Rapid Ric, Smakola of the Dirty Wormz, Vallejo, D-Madness Experiment and many others). The 9 piece band consists of a multitude of talent. They have performed at many venues in Austin including Antone's, Speakeasy, Beso Cantina, Dirty Dog, The Plaza at City Hall, and they are the first and only hip hop band to play at One World Theatre. NeckBone released their first album, "Filthy Raggs Ridin Muzik" in 2009. See some of the reviews here: www.urbanianentertainment.com. To find out more about this interesting band of funkhop, call 512-773-2997
event::tags 18+
11:00 PM
to 12:00 AM
The Wonderful Sound Of Induce!
5 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists The Wonderful Sound Of Induce!
event::about The Wonderful Sound Of Induce! – Halfway Between Me And You The Story Starting off early, Induce, like many children, loved to sing. Everywhere and anywhere, the sound of music was with him. And almost as if lead by fate, the sounds of poppy Soul music and Rhythm & Blues drew him in early. He quickly learned to mimic Michael Jackson’s moves from Beat It, even donning a replica of the legendary red zippered vest MJ wore in the video. One particular incident around age 5 had him singing Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” at the top of his lungs in a local Miami department store, without the slightest clue to the song’s meaning. His mother, halfway between embarrassment and amusement, chalked it off as kids being kids, as most moms would. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, he and his friends would create dance routines to their favorite New Edition, Bobby Brown and Bell Biv Devoe records, clearing out the living room to learn the “Running Man” or the “Roger Rabbit.” Throughout Jr. High and High School, he sang in the chorus and while on field trips or before class, he and 2 friends drew crowds while singing a cappella versions of their favorite Jodeci, Shai, & Boyz II Men songs, snapping their fingers and harmonizing as if the were the Doo-Woppers of the 50’s. But none of this really set in and the talent remained unrealized. Even he himself admits to never truly having to urge to become what his whole life was setting him up to be. Only within the last 2 years has Induce started to seriously take advantage of what was always there, but was simply untapped. Created in secret, Halfway Between Me And You was conceived almost upon accident, yet from the beginning came to be because of one specific source of inspiration. The earliest recordings started out as love letters to a lost love and while that concept remains at the album’s heart, Induce was able to shape those rough demos into pop diamonds. So personal and special was this project that only a handful of even Induce’s closest friends have heard these songs, even up to now, nearly 2 years after it’s inception. Surprisingly, the song that cemented the idea of taking this singing thing serious wasn’t even a love song. It was when Induce’s longtime production partner, Manuvers, literally tricked him into recording a cover of an obscure Boogie classic called “Get Down Saturday Night” that he finally learned what life had planned for him since so long ago. And now, the musical education he has been receiving from the time he was 5 to today has informed his style immeasurably, never not listening for the new. Sweet songs of love set up the huge harmonies learned from Joedci’s Gospel leanings. Simply written words with deep emotional meaning and universal themes harkens back to both Stevie Wonder and Brian Wilson alike. The influences of the teachers are all present and wonderfully remembered with reverence. From Prince to Michael, N.E. to B.B.D., Stevie (Wonder) to Stevie (Arrington), from D-Train to D’Angelo to Dilla. This is the Future Soul. This is The Wonderful Sound Of Induce!
event::tags 18+
12:00 AM
to 1:00 AM
The Stepkids
25 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists The Stepkids
event::about The Stepkids is futuristic electro soul recorded on a reel-to-reel. Soaring harmonies sung by three singer/songwriters. Kandinsky-essque visuals that make for enigmatic live performances. But more, The Stepkids is a collective. “The Stepkids is not about either of us - it’s about creating an entity where the entity itself is what’s important” says bassist and keyboardist Dan Edinberg. "There's an equal split in the creative process, and we’re really happy about that" adds drummer Tim Walsh. "Any lyric, any melody, any idea could have been done by any of us." Theirs is an approach that comes from more than a decade of musical experimentation. Brought up together as teenagers on the East Coast jazz and R+B circuit, the three band members went on as individuals to share stages with Lauren Hill and 50 Cent, tour internationally with indie punk band Zox, score movies and commercials, and produce solo albums. But it was an interest in creating an aesthetic identity that supersedes the conventional pop notions of stardom and self-importance which ultimately drew them together. "All three of us write, and all three of us sing" explains Jeff Gitelman, who resigned from touring as Alicia Keys' guitarist to concentrate full-time on recording the Stepkids self-titled debut album. The Stepkids' groove is a startling yet sexy fusion of punk, jazz, West African traditional, 1960s folk, neo and classic soul, classic funk and 20th century classical. Think T.Rex meets Sun Ra, Sly Stone meets Stravinsky, Dylan meets Dilla. Philosophy and literature provide a conceptual schematic, from existential musings (“Legend in My Own Mind”), to the work of Charles Bukowski (“La La”) and Plato’s theoretical “Allegory of the Cave” ("Shadows on Behalf”). Add to this a vested interest in the recording process, and you have an imaginative album of Technicolor brilliance expertly self-engineered and self-produced. Live, kaleidoscopic projections by NYC artist Jesse Mann consume the stage with light for a multi-sensory experience. There’s no singular icon, no singular sound, no singular way of making it happen. It’s psychedelia for the 21st century, where the focus is the whole – and that includes you.
event::tags 18+
1:00 AM
to 2:00 AM
DJ Car Stereo (Wars)
2 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
event::about Since the release of his hyper-sampled dance party starting debut, The Bandit, Chris Rose--better known as DJ Car Stereo (Wars)--has gone from blowing up in the Austin club scene to playing alongside Grizzly Bear, Flosstradamus, Cut Chemist, Ghostland Observatory and many more. Plus, 2009 saw DJ CS(W) rocking the stages of Lollapalooza, SXSW and Fun Fun Fun Fest with a barrage of spliced and diced mash-ups that kept the sweaty, smiling crowds and occasional posse of costumed stage dancers hard on their feet. For his follow-up, Explains It All, DJ Car Stereo (Wars) once again teams up with Austin boutique label Artifact Workshop to deliver a custom hand puff-painted CD that's just as quirky and nostalgic as the 300 or so samples contained within. Explains it All compiles a medley of rapid-fire samples refined from the last two years of live shows. The end result is nothing short of a digital pop culture explosion. The album melds together hundreds of samples ranging from Joy Division to Miley Cyrus and Vampire Weekend to Three 6 Mafia. We double dare you to name them all.
event::tags 18+
7:55 PM
to 8:55 PM
DJ Hella Yella (Between Sets)
6 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
event::about Want to know why they call DJ Hella Yella the Yella Hulk? Just ask the Southern Entertainment Awards and the Austin Chronicle who both voted him as 2010′s Club DJ of the Year! It’s no question that when DJ Hella Yella is behind the turn tables he’s sure to have complete control of the crowd. Since getting his start in 2004, DJ Hella Yella has released over 60 mixtapes, including projects with Travis Porter, Dorrough and R&B Star, Mya. His Wiz Khalifa mixtape gained much success, gaining over 20,000+ downloads in just one day! If DJ Hella Yella looks familiar, you’ve probably seen him on tour with Platinum selling artist Dorrough, BET’s 106 & park or The Deal, Platinum Weddings, MTV’s Room Raiders, in Ozone Magazine or on stage at many SXSW (South By Southwest) showcases, in numerous music videos and most recently as a finalist in Complex Magazine and Mc Donald’s annual National DJ Flavor Battle. DJ Hella Yella has come a long way since his humble beginnings as the go-to DJ on campus. Many television appearances, award shows and magazine articles later it’s safe to say that partying with DJ Hella Yella is an all new experience. Watch him transform from Mr. Nice Guy to a Monstrous Beast behind the wheels of steel!
event::tags 18+
8:00 PM
to 9:00 PM
8:30 PM
to 9:30 PM
Dom Kennedy
18 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Dom Kennedy
event::about "Hello world, I've arrived," is Dom's motto for everyone. His main objective is to make his mark in Hip-Hop so that his music lives on. "He is going to get signed," says one of music biggest executives, John Monopoly. Dom Kennedy has been verbally endorsed by many, including The Hundreds, Kenny Burns, Rick Ross, Taz Arnod of Sa-Ra, 9th Wonder, Murs, The Game, Justice League, DJ Mormile, Alchemist, and Don Cannon just to name a few. Where a career in music was once a dream, it has now become a reality. With the release of his last project "From The Westside With Love", gaining 100k+ downloads, DOM has established himself as a force to be reckoned with from California. In 2010, he raised the bar for himself, and other artists on the independent circuit. Westside II (set to release in late March/Early April) will attempt to raise that bar even higher.
event::tags 18+
9:00 PM
to 10:00 PM
Big Sean
31 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Big Sean
event::about BIG SEAN BIOGRAPHY Some may call it luck, but for Detroit based MC Big Sean, his chance meeting with Kanye West in 2005 was the exact moment when his hard work finally started to pay off. After rapping for the multi-platinum superstar in a radio station hallway, Big Sean stayed in touch with Mr. West and eventually signed to Island Def Jam through G.O.O.D. Music in March of 2008. Now, he is gearing up to release his debut album which not only includes features from some of today’s most highly respected artists but also gives listeners an in-depth look into the life of an MC who is so committed to his craft, he puts everything he has into each and every rhyme. Big Sean was born Sean Anderson in Santa Monica, California and moved to Detroit with his parents at two months old. When Sean reached kindergarten, his mother enrolled him in a Waldorf school where children’s creativity is heavily nurtured and developed. “I grew up in the hood in Detroit and went to a private school in a super nice neighborhood, so I got to see the best of both worlds,” says Sean. “It was a real artsy school. We learned three or four different instruments and spoke Spanish and German for eight years. I owe a lot to that school because that’s where I started making music and gained a love for poetry.” When he was twelve, Sean started rapping, a talent that came to him naturally thanks to his artistic background. “I was really into the whole Bad Boy era,” he remembers. “That’s what really made me want to rap because girls liked Mase and Puff Daddy. But when I started hearing people like Jay-Z and 2Pac, that’s when I really developed a love for music.” The following year, he enrolled in a Detroit public high school where he met fellow MC Pat Piff, with whom Sean would later form the group S.O.S. When they were sixteen, the duo entered the Friday Night Cypher, an MC contest at the Detroit hip-hop radio station, 102.7 FM. S.O.S. won the battle and were awarded the chance to rap live, on-air, for the entire city to hear. “It was a really big thing,” remembers Sean. “We were like high school celebrities.” The performance was so popular, they were asked back to the station every Friday night for nearly a year. “One day between junior and senior year, Kanye was down at the station promoting Late Registration and my boy called me and said ‘if you down to the station and rapp for him, he’ll sign you,’” says Sean. “I was like, ‘you sound crazy.’ He was like, ‘forget that, you need to go rap for him!’” Sean decided to take his friend’s advice and drove straight to the station with one of his demos in hand. “I had never met a celebrity so my heart was beating out of my chest,” remembers Sean. “I was like, ‘Yo Kanye, you’re one of my favorite rappers, can I rap for you real quick?’ He was like, ‘Alright, you have sixteen bars, but you gotta rap while we’re walking out.’ I was freestyling and thinking the best lines I had. I ended up rapping for like ten minutes straight.” Kanye was thoroughly impressed by the courageous young MC and invited him to a private listening session later that night. Sean showed up and waited for his chance to ask ‘Ye if he was looking to sign any new artists. Kanye insisted that they would be in touch and Sean left feeling as if he had made the connection of a lifetime. A year later, Sean received a call from Don C, Kanye’s Road Manager who asked Sean to fly to New York to meet with G.O.O.D. Music President John Monopoly. “Basically he was like, ‘We want to hear a little bit more music before we decide to make an investment in you. So we are going to give you some tracks and see what you can do.’” Sean and Pat went home to record. While everyone at G.O.O.D. Music was impressed with the songs, their response was not anticipated. “Our manager hit us up one day like, ‘I got some great news!’” says Sean. “‘G.O.O.D. Music wants to sign Sean, but they don’t want to sign the group.’ It was real bitter sweet.” Sean officially signed to G.O.O.D. Music at the end of 2007. Around the same time, he released his first solo mixtape, Finally Famous, Vol. 1 which included an intro from Kanye. With over 60,000 downloads, Finally Famous was a huge success. In March of 2008 Sean signed to Island Def Jam. He spent the remainder of the year traveling the world with his mentor on the Glow In The Dark tour, where he was able to observe the life of an international icon. The following Spring, Sean released his second mixtape, UKNOWBIGSEAN, which BET named one of the best mixtapes of 2009. Now, at age twenty-one, he is getting ready to release his commercial debut, Finally Famous, an LP Sean says will resonate with anyone who has ever taken a leap of faith. “I want my album to be something that people can include themselves in,” he says. “I want people to be able to relate to it in the sense that if you’re doing something and you’re being recognized for it, you’re finally famous.” Finally Famous is an eye-opening look into the inner workings of a highly skilled artist. On the bounce heavy song “Made,” produced by Kanye West and Wrightrax, Sean and guest star Drake rap about never feeling satisfied when it comes to success. “Donald Trump” is a collaboration with Pharrell about making it big. Sean also touches on a lot of relationship issues including “I Almost Wrote You A Love Song” about a couple’s communication breakdown. “My biggest strength I feel is being able to be myself on all of my songs,” says Sean. While they may have met by chance, it’s no coincidence that Sean was hand picked by Kanye to represent the future of G.O.O.D. Music. “I remember in the eighth grade I told myself, man I’m going to be signed to Def Jam,” says Sean. “I always put it out into the universe and I think it was written for me. I was meant to inspire people, I was meant to make music… This is what I was meant to do.”
event::tags 18+
9:45 PM
to 10:45 PM
10:20 PM
to 11:20 PM
Melanie Fiona
16 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
11:10 PM
to 12:10 AM
Marsha Ambrosius
13 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
12:00 AM
to 1:00 AM
1:00 AM
to 2:00 AM
8:00 PM
to 9:00 PM
Dirty Beaches
76 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
9:00 PM
to 10:00 PM
Oberhofer
63 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Oberhofer
event::about When your songs are too big to be contained: form a band. Maybe call it after your family name because you like the way it sounds (sh*t, if it worked for Bon Jovi then who’s to argue). Record those songs in the basement of your parents house in Tacoma. When that burns down, shake it off and move to New York. Find a new band to play with, start working on a symphony (no really, do it), mix your newfound formal training with the noisy exuberance of youth. Get raucous.
event::tags 18+
10:00 PM
to 11:00 PM
JEFF The Brotherhood
125 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists JEFF The Brotherhood
event::about JEFF The Brotherhood is Jake and Jamin Orrall, two brothers that play drums and guitar. They grew up in Tennessee making music and trying to have a good time. Since their inception they have been playing anywhere from house parties to rooftops, backyards, bars and art galleries and releasing their own records, tapes, comic books and home made videos. The Brotherhood has been called "kraut punk", "psychedelic grunge" and "noise pop" drawing comparisons to bands like Hawkwind, Wipers, and early Sonic Youth. They have been carrying their heavy damage all over the country since 2006 and have shared bills with Oneida, Battles, Sonic Youth, Ex-Models, Jay Reatard, Black Pus and Dave Cloud. Their "we'll play anywhere" attitude and frenetic live shows have earned them near legendary status in the clubs and basements of Nashville and beyond. With three guitar strings and a minimal drum kit, they manage to distill rock to its primal essence.
event::tags 18+
11:00 PM
to 12:00 AM
12:00 AM
to 1:00 AM
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
189 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
event::about Los Angeles' notorious lo-fi pop oufit Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti have been unveiled as the latest signings to 4AD. The group are currently recording their first record for the label, due spring 2010. With roots going back as far as 1996, the West Coast act are as sublime as they are surreal with a sound loaded with hazy nostalgia and a fiercely experimental pop palette. The band (currently comprised of Ariel Pink, Kenny Gilmore, Aaron Sperske and Tim Koh) have picked up particular plaudits for the Haunted Graffiti releases via Paw Tracks, The Doldrums (2004), Worn Copy (2005) and House Arrest (2006).
event::tags 18+
1:00 AM
to 2:00 AM
8:00 PM
to 9:00 PM
Tecla
2 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Tecla
event::about Tecla Esposito has been described as “the best parts of every genre of music somehow and successfully all rolled up into one”. Tecla manages to bring all of her experience as a child piano virtuoso, a jazz aficionado, and rock/electronic guru into her current music. She combines the instrumentation of her classical background with the enchanting electronic synth sounds of her keyboards and poetic yet simplistic lyrics to create original music of pop perfection. Understanding that music comes from a completely honest place, Tecla has never given anything but her all when performing on stage.
event::tags 18+
8:45 PM
to 9:45 PM
Zemaria
7 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Zemaria
event::about First started in the small port city of Vitoria, in the southeast of Brazil, it was expected that Zemaria would have an attraction to the horizon of the Atlantic because of their roots. Since 2005 they have toured in Europe annually totaling more than 150 concerts in various cities of the Old Continent. Among them is the Electric Picnic Festival in Dublin, La Fleche D’Or in Paris, Tacheles in Berlin or the Ilios Festival in Norway. In Brazil their connections to clubs and most relevant venues and festivals are astounding. In 2010 Zemaria had a good impact in the brazilian media. The song The Space Ahead was chosen by Levi’s Music as a soundtrack to a video. Shortly after Zemaria was nominated for the Brazilian MTV Awards alongside artists Gui Boratto, Database and Boss n’ Drama. Their latest works, by Sanny Lys (vocals), Marcel Dadalto (synths, guitars and vocals), Spon (bass) and Nego Leo (drums, synth), is the EP Any Distance, distributed worldwilde by PIAS. The EP’s title track features a delightful remix of the french Minitel Rose and the original version of the song “The Space Ahead” is now on the official soundtrack for FIFA 11 by EA Games - along with artists like LCD Soundsystem, Chromeo, MGMT, Caribou and more. Now the band is in it’s new studio, working and preparing to play for the first time in the United States - debuts this March at SXSW and they will follow it with a tour across the country. If they come through your town, it’s recommended not to miss the chance to see them on stage.
event::tags 18+
9:30 PM
to 10:30 PM
ZE!
10 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists ZE!
event::about Meet the disco queen from Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian electro-pop artist ZE! redefines glam with the release of her new album I Am Glam. This loud and brash disco rebel is hugely influenced by Madonna and her style has drawn comparisons to Lady Gaga, The Ting Tings, M.I.A. and Santigold. ZE! has opened for Chicks on Speed, AC Slater, Drop the Lime, The Vengaboys, Don Rimini, Mickey Moonlight, Inquisitive & Afrikan Boy – and is now touring with Joachim Garraud begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting on his new ‘Invasion’ live show sharing the stage with the likes of Steve Aoki, Crookers, Laidback Luke, Eric Prydz, Roger Sanchez, Underworld, Lovefoxxx, Crystal Castles and more. From the day she began gigging back in ‘99, ZE! has always been known for her passion for fashion; she used to run a boutique with her sister (OSIXNINE) and has modeled for designers Charles of London, Criminal Damage, Lonely 8-bit Heroes and headlined fashion events by Reebok, adidas, Tony Hawk and Vice Magazine. ZE! styles herself and designs her own outfits, making every one of her shows a little catwalk of her own. “I Am Glam” the single has gone to #1 on Hitz.fm’s Malaysian Top 10 chart, has been heard on shows like MTV Styl’d, The City and the music video is now on MTV Asia & MTV Switzerland. ZE is now working on new single releases/remixes from the album and an upcoming US tour this 2011. Watch out for more from this disco queen!
event::tags 18+
10:15 PM
to 11:15 PM
God-Des & She
9 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists God-Des & She, !!!
event::about A hip-hop/pop/soul duo bred in the Midwest, God-Des & She now play to packed venues all over the world from New York to Sweden. God-Des & She's energy and talent have caught the attention of industry and listeners alike, ever since they appeared on Showtime's hit series The L Word. The pair haven't had a moment's rest since selling more than 30,000 albums, holding down the No. 1 spot on MTV LOGO with their song Love You Better, performing with SIA and hip hop icons Salt N' Pepa and signing autograph after autograph for eager fans. Their new album, produced by Brian Hardgroove of Public Enemy (Wu Tang Clan, Burning Spear, Aerosmith), confirms their status as an underground act about to hit the mainstream.
event::tags 18+
11:00 PM
to 12:00 AM
Christeene
4 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Christeene
event::about CHRISTEENE is a "Drag Terrorist" and has been characterized as a sexually infused sewer of live rap and vile shamelessness, showcasing a most impressive set list ranging from Electro to R&B, Hip Hop to Dub Step. Attempts at gathering information on CHRISTEENE concerning age, origin, race, religion and even gender have proven fruitless, leaving the public to rely primarily on an impressive and highly stylized collection of music videos released through the collaborative efforts of CHRISTEENE and award winning filmmaker and cinematographer, PJ Raval (unraval.com)...who remains quiet on the subject of their relationship. Appearing alongside the singer are two highly distinct Backup Boyz, T-Gravel and C-Baby, and accompanying DJ/ Music Producer, JJ Booya. Reports from live shows describe scenes involving butt plugs tied to bouquets of balloons being released into the air from CHRISTEENE's arse, intimate yet bizarre confessionals over tea, and a wardrobe and nursery-like stage design styled from the scraps of society...classifiable as 'Dumpster Couture'. Within a year, multiple sightings of CHRISTEENE have been documented in Austin - SXSW, QUEERBOMB, HOMOSCOPE, FUN FUN FUN FEST, GAYBIGAYGAY, California (primarily San Francisco - FOLSOM STREET FAIR, MAGNUM, BEARRACUDA, SOME THING, HOMO A GO GO and Los Angeles - BEARS IN SPACE, SHITS AND GIGGLES, THE WILDNESS, BIG FAT DICK), New York City - THE 'F' WORD, Portland - BLOWPONY / PRIDE, New Orleans - BEARRACUDA, and Paris, France - SPOTLIGHT CLUB w/ world renowned fashion designer Rick Owens and Michele Lamy. The entertainer's music and live shows have cast an unprecedented net across a unique demographic including married men, dykes, queers, single women, bears, fraternity brothers and people of the medical profession, clearly signifying a rapidly growing pandemic on popular culture as we know it.
event::tags 18+
11:45 PM
to 12:45 AM
12:15 AM
to 1:15 AM
Katey Red
4 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Katey Red
event::about Born and raised in Uptown's Melpomene Projects, rapper Katey Red holds the distinction of being the first transgender MC to rise to prominence in New Orleans - and probably the world. Katey grew up twirling batons in the Walter L. Cohen High School marching band and rapping with her friends in school corridors and the courtyards of the Melpomene. After the popular local artist DJ Jubilee spotted Katey rapping at a block party in 1998, he suspected he was seeing a new sensation, and promptly brought her to his label, Take Fo Records, which was at the time the top bounce-music label in the city. Katey's striking appearance, playful rhymes and infectious beats, courtesy of Jubilee, turned the young drag queen into an unlikely local star who crossed boundaries with her unprecedented self-confidence and out-and-proud lyrics. Katey released "Melpomene Block Party" and "Y2Katey: The Millennium Sissy" on Take Fo in 1999 and 2000. She soon crossed racial boundaries as well, playing the popular underground nightclub Spellcaster Lodge and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. In 2000 and in 2010, she was profiled in the New York Times, and appears on season one of HBO's Treme. A decade later, Katey has seen her early bravery pay off in the popularity of younger gay artists, including her former backup singer Big Freedia, who's become a worldwide sensation, as well as friends Sissy Nobby and Vockah Redu. Katey remains an international legend and continues to perform around New Orleans in clubs and drag pageants, as well as onstage at Jazz Fest, the Voodoo Music Experience, and SXSW.
event::tags 18+
1:00 AM
to 2:00 AM
Vockah Redu
4 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Vockah Redu
event::about Although the Magnolia Housing Projects have long been demolished, a light post still stands at the corner where youth like Vockah Redu (Javocca Davis) gathered to rap and create beats. The light post marks one of the birthplaces of Bounce music, a genre of rap specific to New Orleans that has invigorated crowds throughout the South. Vockah Redu and the Cru animate the stage with their dynamic revival of dance, music, and art from the street corner to the club. More than your typical hip-hop act, this theatrical performance sets the stage for a sweaty hands down booty up good time, transforming any party, bar, or dance floor in your neighborhood. THE CRU The original Cru formed in 1997 and was composed of the Ave Girls; Joi Jadah (Joi Denise Sessions), Teedy Booh (Tasha Marie Butler), Ninny (Shanita Davis), Grahonda Pooh (Madonna Melissa Oliver). Currently the Cru is composed of Shortee Whop (Glendell Weir), Energyzah (Clarence Mosley), and 9th Ward Jody (Jody Shepard). The Cru dominates the stage with electrifying choreography, costumery, skits, and superb street style.
event::tags 18+
1:40 AM
to 2:40 AM
Big Freedia
29 schedule::attendees
Location
Kiss & Fly
eventtype Music
Artists Big Freedia
event::about Big Freedia (pronounced "Free-da") is the undisputed "Queen Diva" of Bounce Music, and performs six or more times a week in various venues throughout her hometown of New Orleans. Bounce Music is an original urban music rising up from the intimate and fun-loving nature of the New Orleans housing projects which dominate the city's street culture, and Freedia performs a derivative of Bounce reserved for self-proclaimed "Sissies" (a locally used name for biological men with varied and ambiguous sexual identities) that has risen to prominence in recent years and features explicitly gay and cross-dressing musicians and themes. Big Freedia, like other "Sissy" artists, has achieved mainstream success with several New Orleans hit singles such as "Gin in My System" and "Azz Everywhere!" from her albums "An Ha, Oh Yeah" (1999) and "Queen Diva" (2003). Freedia began her musical career almost 15 years ago at the Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans, where she was enlisted as choir director from her sophomore to senior years. She sees her performance as a Bounce artist as an extension of this work, often interacting in a call and response/teacher and student, fashion with her audiences. Big Freedia has always acted as a mentor for many younger artists and is currently at work on her third album. While also running a successful decorating business (for which she counts the Mayor's office as a client), Freedia recently developed a musical about her life entitled "Catch That Beat" which featured cameo appearances by a who's who of New Orleans Bounce artists alongside the story of her upbringing in New Orleans 3rd Ward. Since 2009 Freedia has begun traveling outside the city regularly with her dancers and live DJ, Rusty Lazer, playing to audiences across the country and in Canada alongside (or onstage with) artists such as Spank Rock, Ninjasonik, Japanther, Mos Def, Gucci Mane, Monique and many more. Last year Freedia performed on the West coast with New Orleans band Galactic, recreating her collaboration on the critically acclaimed 2010 album "Ya-Ka-May", and at North By Northeast alongside Kid Sister, De La Soul and her New Orleans neighbors Quintron and Miss Pussycat. Most recently Freedia closed FYFest between !!! and The Rapture in Los Angeles, shared the stage with Major Lazer at MusicfestNW in Portland, played multiple shows at CMJ including the Windish Agency Showcase and lit up the crowd by performing with 8 dancers at the 2010 Fun! Fun! Fun! Fest in Austin, Texas.
event::tags 18+
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