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Review: The Gaslamp Killer, Dam Funk (DJ Set), Morri$, and Sun Araw (DJ Set) @ Central SAPC in LA on 12/8/12

The good people at The Central in Santa Monica had a monster lineup this past Saturday (12/8). And I was glad to be there for it. Sun Araw started the night off well, mixing different experimental sounds with funk based grooves. He even had three Santas and a Reindeer rocking out (four X-mas dressed concert goers, though it was the first night of Hanukkah). As Sun Araw finished up, the crowd started to grow and move away from the bar and towards the stage for the next set from Dam-Funk. LA based and Stones Throw records artist Dam-Funk brought the amassing crowd to dance with some straight funk, as his stage name would suggest. On a side note, Stones Throw will be reissuing Dam-Funk’s debut 2009 album Toeachizown as both a 5 LP set and individually.

After a well received set from Dam-Funk, Lawrence, Kansas based beat smith Morri$ took the stage. With his over sized glasses, almost like a calling-card, Morri$ dropped some serious heat. His dreamy beats made waves as the audience grooved to the offerings of the young producer. Flipping genres, Morri$ made a nice showing for the Santa Monica crowd. The last act of the night and recent cover boy of LA Weekly, was The Gaslamp Killer. Having just dropped a his new EP, Breakthrough on Flying Lotus’s label Brainfeeder, and recently playing at Low End Theory with the reveal of Captain Murphy (Flying Lotus), William Bensussen has a lot going for him. The San Diego bred, experimental DJ brought the house down. The wall to wall crowd went on a roller coaster ride that the bearded conductor, GLK, took them on. Do yourselves a favor and see this magician live, you will not be disappointed. By Brian Litwin

The Gaslamp Killer (Facebook)

reviewed by
12-10-12

Trails and Ways – Border Crosser (The Seshen Remix)

Trails and Ways have just released this stellar remix of their single, “Border Crosser” by fellow Bay Area collective The Seshen. We can’t get enough of The Seshen’s reverb pulsed, chopped and screwed interpretation of the track’s already tense bass, synths, and melody. This cut is the first release from a new remix EP that Trails and Ways will be releasing January 8th, 2013. Keep a look out for Trails and Ways debut full length, Trilingual expected to drop sometime next year.

Trails and Ways california (Facebook)

Rating 8.5

reviewed by
12-10-12

Everything Everything – Kemosabe (Com Truise Remix)

Com Truise adds a sythwave touch to “Kemosabe” with this latest flip on the new Everything Everything single. Get familiar below. #loneranger

Everything Everything (Facebook)
Com Truise (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

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reviewed by
12-10-12

John Newman – Not Giving In (Rudimental Cover)

John Newman offers an intimate solo take on his recent feature from the Rudimental interwebs smash, “Not Giving In”. At the ripe age of 21, it’s an understatement that Newman’s vocal tone and delivery is well beyond his years. Here, with only his piano offering for a spacious setting, Newman tells the melodic story with a noteworthy level of conviction.

John Newman (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

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12-10-12

Benga – Open Your Eyes

Get psyched because Beni ‘Benga’ Adejumo has just dropped his latest banga! Yes, we did just say ‘banga’ and the track “Open Your Eyes” wraps the year for this UK based producer, offering just a taste of the electronic mayhem to come on his new album dropping in 2013. This track has come across our radar several times since this summer and now’s finally the official chance to turn your speakers up and bump. Dig in.

Benga (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
12-10-12

Eliza and the Bear – Upon The North

We’re pretty excited to start off the week with something piping fresh from Eliza and the Bear. “Upon The North” is the new uptempo, head bobbing, singalong anthem from the harmonious Essex collective. This track is currently on repeat at B3 h.q. It will be part of a new double A-side release with “The Southern Wild” expected 2/25/13. Get more familiar with Eliza and the Bear below.

Eliza and the Bear england (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
12-10-12

Rave’s Fave: Trapdoor Social – Away

Trapdoor Social is a new band from LA that consists of Merritt Graves and Skylar Funk (his real family name). They will be hitting the airwaves near you in 2013. The band’s first EP Death Of A Friend is now out, and you may have already come across “Away” via ESPNU’s sports programming. The whistling intro immediately made me think of The Drums’ “Let’s Go Surfing”, and about two-thrids of the way into “Away”, the heavy guitar break and the following complex vocals hit me by surprise, and helped show me what this very commercial band is capable of. I’d love to know what you guys think of the track or anything else about the band… By Bruce Rave

Trapdoor Social – Away

Trapdoor Social (Facebook)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
12-09-12

Presents: Zak Waters w/ Cayucas, Monte Mar and La Mer @ Central S.A.P.C in Santa Monica, Ca. 12/11/12

Head to Santa Monica this coming Tuesday (12/11) for live music from some of the best independent pop/rock talent southern California has to offer! That’s right, once again B3SCI is teaming up with Central S.A.P.C to present the month’s artist in residency. This December it’s throwback master of futuristic soul and recent Madeon collaborator, Zak Waters, who will be joined this week by recent Secretly Canadian signing’s, Cayucas, and local scene favorites Monte Mar and La Mer. Check out some videos and jams from the bands below to get you in the mood. We’ll see y’all there!

Entry for Tuesday night’s residency show is FREE (21+). Get additional details on the show here.

The Central S.A.P.C. california (Gig Info)

Madeon – The City (Zak Waters Acoustic Version)

reviewed by
12-09-12

Review: Poolside w/ Goldroom @ Dim Mak Studios in Hollywood, Ca 12/4/12

Just like any Tuesday night on famous Hollywood Blvd, the streets were loaded with the usual seedy characters, hipsters, club goers and dirty dog vendors. Though Hollywood can be intoxicating, I was clear minded that night and ready for a much anticipated show from hyped DJ Goldroom and Poolside (DJ set) at Dim Mak Studios.

Resident DJ Bones kicked things off mixing in different tracks from a variety of different genres. He did a nice job of warming up the trickling in late-night crowd. As the decks switched hands to tropical disco producer, Goldroom, the audience made their way more towards the dance floor. Josh Legg aka Goldroom had clearly come to Dim Mak that night with a plan to get the audience moving. An absolute highlight of the set was when he dropped his incredible remix of Niki & The Dove’s “Mother Project”.

As Goldroom wrapped things up he gave way to Poolside, the headliner for the evening. Having already seen and covered Poolside a handful of times, at Filter’s Culture Collide Fest and recently reviewing their edit of Laid Back’s “Fly Away”, I am what you may call a fan of their daytime disco sound. I was curious how a DJ set would come across, and was not a bit worried about the crowd response. Poolside opened their set to a packed house and played “Kiss You Forever” with the crowd singing through most of the song. The collective’s high energy set and overall mix blew me away that night. By Brian Litwin

Laid Back – Fly Away (Poolside Edit)

Poolside california (Facebook)
Goldroom california (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

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reviewed by
12-08-12

Katy B x Diplo x Iggy Azalea – Light As A Feather

Get excited. “Light As A Feather” comes from Katy B’s new Danger EP cut with an eye-opening list of collaborators including Diplo, Iggy Azalea, Jessie Ware, Jacques Greene and more! Download it for free at her site here while you can. And do like Katy says, ‘Get down ya’.

Katy B england (Facebook)

Rating 8

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reviewed by
12-07-12

Ducktails – Letter Of Intent

“Letter Of Intent” is the absolutely catchy new synth-pop single by Ducktails (Real Estate’s Matt Mondanile). Previewed from a forthcoming Domino Records release, The Flower Lane, “Letter Of Intent” seems nothing short of a solid indication that this album will be a noteworthy one. The single features Jessa Farkas (Future Shuttle) on vocals, Joel Ford (Ford & Lopatin) playing bass and Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never) on the keys. Ducktails hits the road in early 2013 with dates in New York City, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom. By Brian Litwin

Ducktails (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

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reviewed by
12-07-12

James Ferraro – SO N2U (Teams Longing Detox)

B3 favorite Teams takes James Ferraro’s “SO N2U” track to the “magic spot”, lacing it up with a slick (if slightly spooky) after hours club feel. Jason Derulo.

Teams (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

brown8

reviewed by
12-06-12