Beck impresses mightily at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas

When I had last caught Beck at Coachella in April 2014, the ageless singer-songwriter-guitarist was performing on the main stage in front of 100,000 music fans in Indio, California, fresh on the heels of the recent release of his stunning disc Morning Phase (released in February 2014, the disc would go on to win Album of the Year and Best Rock Album honors at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2015). 

Beck in concert at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas.
Photo: Kim Kinsler

Fast forward to March 10, 2016, and here I was positioned relatively close to the stage at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas for a decidedly more intimate performance featuring the six-time Grammy-winning artist. And while there are those who swear there are no sure bets in Vegas, I was pretty sure I was in for a good night courtesy of Beck Hanson. 

The atmosphere was upbeat when Beck took the stage at 9:15 p.m. and began a set that would run for more than 90 minutes. Backed by a superb four-man band, Beck kicked it all off with a hard-charging take on "Devil's Haircut" that built up to a hard rock finish; the troupe then got all funky with the equally propulsive follow-up "Black Tambourine." 

"This is a sort of rain check," Beck said after finishing up "Black Tambourine," acknowledging vocal problems had forced him to cancel a January 2016 date and move it to this night.

He put down his guitar and sang and showed off some dance moves and played a bit of tambourine on "The New Pollution," and then mixed up the mood even more for the melodic "Think I'm in Love" (that was paired with a bit of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love") and dance-minded "Mixed Business" and "Gamma Ray." 

Beck performing in Las Vegas.
Photo: Kim Kinsler

And while many in the crowd were in a definite mood to party all night, Beck's well-known eclectic spirit is one where countless styles of music were offered. Fans of the artist's Americana-styled forays got to hear fantastic versions of the sparse "Sea Change," psychedelic-tinged "Paper Tiger," "Say Goodbye" (featuring some nice banjo textures courtesy of Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.) and the acoustic-styled gem "Blackbird Chain," the latter featuring Beck's sterling harmonies with lead guitarist Jason Falkner.

Beck also broke out his 2015 single titled "Dreams" (set to be released on his forthcoming as-of-yet untitled 2016 album). A dance-rock standout, "Dreams" also included a big sing-along and infectious groove showcasing Beck's masterful vocals and genre-mashing spirit.

Blending rock, power-pop, hip hop, rap, soul, folk rock and more along the course of a 22-song set, Beck proved to have a solid sense how to close things out with a two-song encore featuring his break-out single "Loser" and a freewheeling "Where It's At" where he introduced the members of their band as they played bits of several other far-flung tunes including the Rolling Stones' "Miss You," "Axel F" (the electronic theme from 1984's "Beverly Hills Cop" movie) and Devo's "Whip It."

Beck was masterful in set at Brooklyn Bowl Las
Vegas on March 10, 2016. / Photo: Kim Kinsler

Setlist for Beck at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas on March 10, 2016
Devil's Haircut / Black Tambourine / The New Pollution / Think I'm in Love (including a bit of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love") / Mixed Business / Gamma Ray / Go It Alone / Jack-Ass / Blackbird Chain / Soul of a Man / Hell Yes / Que Onda Guero / Sissyneck (paired with Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean") / Lost Cause / Say Goodbye / Paper Tiger / Dreams / Girl / Sexx Laws / E-Pro
ENCORE: Loser / Where It's At

Review: Robert Kinsler

Arcade Fire to ZZ Ward: Coachella 2014 Weekend 2 roundup

Poetic Kinetics' "Escape Velocity" at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Weekend 2 at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April 18-20, 2014) didn't kick off quietly on Friday morning, at least in the Gobi tent where Ramones tribute outfit Gabba Gabba Heys tore through 40 minutes of old school punk rock in front of a small, but enthusiastic group of early Coachellagoers.

Highlights included the quartet's faithful versions of "Blitzkrieg Bop," "I Wanna Be Sedated" and "Beat on the Brat." For those of us who never got to see the Ramones live, this was likely a very fitting tribute. 

Following up on the same stage came dynamic sonic duo Wye Oak, whose magical appearance included singer/multi-instrumentalist Jenn Wasner and drummer-keyboardist Andy Stack creating enough textures and dynamics to rival just about any indie folk rock outfit today. The pair featured several songs from their forthcoming album Shriek including that disc's title cut, a dreamy synth-pop gem highlighting Wasner's distinctive soprano.
Another musical highlights that played out on the first day of Weekend 2 featured ZZ Ward who

ZZ Ward in action on April 18 in the Mojave tent.

brought her infectious blend of R&B, pop, blues and rock in a Mojave tent performance that got the place moving like it was Saturday night. People cheered, moved and clapped to the mix of the Pennsylvania artist's high energy style that had her singing, playing blues harmonica or strumming her guitar, Ward's material was definitely what the crowd ordered. Early offerings ("Put the Gun Down," "Til the Casket Drops") and later favorites (especially the closer "Blue Eyes Blind") were delivered forcefully by Ward and her strong three-man band. 

Other day 1 standout performances came later that day via Neko Case's authentic and winning 50-minute set on the Outdoor stage (highlighted by a stunning version of "Night Still Comes") and even stronger subsequent turns from Broken Bells and The Replacements. Broken Bells' infectious "After the Disco" and set-ending "High Road" really hit home with a crowd that packed in front of the James Mercer- and Danger Mouse-led troupe.

Neko Case performed on the Outdoor stage.

Friday ended long after it started with a rousing performance by The Replacements, who were joined for most of the set by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong. Because Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg had been suffering from an ailing back, he was positioned on a large sofa for most of the show while Armstrong stood and added a flair to the proceedings ("Can't Hardly Wait" simply rocked).

Day 2 kicked off with British soul singer Laura Mvula, who made the most of her early afternoon set in the Gobi by performing not only choice songs from her wonderful debut Sing to the Moon but even a non-album track about freedom titled "Let Me Fall" that included an undeniable rhythm provided by a stand-up bass and elements of African music. Other highlights of her 40-minute set included "She" and the infectious dance-minded "Green Garden." I then ran over to the Mojave (you do a lot of that at Coachella in the sport of "musical discovery") to catch the last few minutes of New York-based Bear Hands' set. The quartet's mix of dance and alt rock was effective on the original "Agora," notably how bass was used to help propel the song along.

The next band I caught, White Lies proved to be one of my favorite performers of the weekend. Although I only got to see the English band's first five songs, it was immediately clear the group and their material outdistance their post-punk roots. The infectious "There Goes Our Love Again" was a clear favorite while "To Lose My Life" showcased the deeper emotional elements of the group's artistic reach.

Playing in the heat of the late afternoon on the main stage, City and Colour (the moniker for singer-songwriter Dallas Green) and his band brought authority and authenticity of his blend of Americana, folk and country-rock with a power that connected with the large crowd. "Hope for Now" was among the standouts of City and Colour's 40-minute foray, with the song's long and emotional build steeped in power that was palpable.

Like Capital Cities' amazing and high-energy 50-minute set a bit earlier that was nothing short of a dance party on the green, Foster the People found the power to move the masses came via unleashing a number of dance-minded songs that had festival-goers moving after dark. The group's "Pumped Up Kids" really excited the crowd, and the closer "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)" allowed Foster the People to showcase the harder guitar side of their tuneful alt rock-dance approach.

Saturday night ended with me wishing I could be in two places at once; catching the first 40 minutes of Muse on the main stage ("Knights of Cydonia" kicked things off with the band's characteristic bombast), and finishing up my night in a sea of dancing people in the Mojave as the Pet Shop Boys thrilled the party faithful with "I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)," "It's a Sin," "Always on my Mind" and other hits from the British duo in a showcase that included incredible lighting and artful sets as well as several costumed dancers.

Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys.

The fest flew to the finish line on day 3 thanks to outstanding performances spanning the long day. First up was powerful New Orleans-based Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, with the ensemble blending funk, rock, hip hop and jazz for a crowd positioned in front of the Coachella stage. Another early day outstanding turn came via indie singer Courtney Barnett, who featured songs off her first international release The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas. Highlights of her set included the blues-rocker "David" and the heavy Neil Young & Crazy Horse-tinged "Out of the Woodwork."

British pub-minded rocker Frank Turner, hard rocking indie North Carolina rockers Superchunk, genre-busting Beck (loved the cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean") and Canadian troupe Arcade Fire (whose version of "No Cars Go" soared) also impressed in their more high profile sets. This weekend was definitely a three-day party that the Coachella faithful will long remember.

Check out the coverage of several other writers from The Orange County Register's team that also covered Weekend 2 of Coachella. You can read George A. Paul's coverage on his Music Minded blog here. You can check out a number of posts featuring reviews from Ben Wener, George A. Paul and me here.

Artist Christian Ristow's "Becoming Human"
surveys the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

Coachella not only boasted countless artists representing a countless number of musical styles, but the 90,000 or so attendees who attended the second weekend of the event also got to check out original and one-of-a-kind artwork commissioned for Coachellafest. From the innovative and jaw-dropping "Smart Bird" (which looked like a silver winged robot that flew through the skies flapping its wings like a real bird) to the towering robot-minded piece titled "Becoming Human" and gigantic astronaut "Escape Velocity," more than 20 artists' installations were featured. Scroll below to see some more images from Coachella I shot over the weekend...

Artist Mike Grandaw's aptly-titled "Caterpillar"

Yours truly in artist Philip K Smith's "Reflection Field."

Sights and Sounds: Coldplay, The Secret Sisters, AXS TV to broadcast Coachella

As I get set to hit Coachella Weekend 2 tomorrow, this will likely be my last roundup until next week, but it is a good one! Hope to see many of you in Indio this weekend!

Coldplay shows announced; six international dates to mark the release of the band's 'Ghost Stories' LP

Coldplay have announced that they will mark the release of their new album, Ghost Stories, by playing six intimate shows in six cities around the world. The dates are as follows:

25 April - E-Werk, Cologne, Germany 

5 May - Beacon Theatre, New York, USA 

19 May - Royce Hall, Los Angeles, USA 

28 May - Casino de Paris, Paris, France  

  

 

12 June - Dome City Hall, Tokyo, Japan

 

1 July - Royal Albert Hall, London, UK

 

Tickets for the Cologne show will go on sale at 9 a.m. CET on Saturday, 19 April from www.eventim.de/coldplay.

Ticket information for the remaining five shows will be emailed exclusively to subscribers to the Coldplay mailing list (which can be joined at Coldplay.com).

Ghost Stories is Coldplay's sixth album. It will be released worldwide on Monday, 19 May. 

THE SECRET SISTERS NEW ALBUM

PUT YOUR NEEDLE DOWN AVAILABLE NOW

Critically Acclaimed Duo's First Album In Three Years

Produced By T Bone Burnett

Album Features New Original Songs Including First Single,

"Rattle My Bones," And "Dirty Lie" Co-Written by Bob Dylan

The Secret Sisters currently supporting country trio Nickel Creek

on its entire US reunion tour in April and May

The Secret Sisters' long-awaited second album, Put Your Needle Down is available now via Republic Records. The Alabama duo's sophomore set was produced by the iconic T Bone Burnett, and marks a giant creative step forward for siblings Laura and Lydia Rogers. Put Your Needle Down is currently available at iTunes, Amazon and other select retailers.

Recently featured on NPR WEEKEND EDITION, they say"The Secret Sisters' music is a nostalgic blend of country, folk, blues and rockabilly," and USA TODAY, which gave the album 4 out of 4 stars, says of Put Your Needle Down, "While still steeped in exquisite sibling harmonies, this albumcontemporizes them." ROLLING STONE says of the album, "Ethereal harmonies once again take center stage on the Secret Sisters' sophomore album [that] takes the listener back to a time when vocalists valued purity over production. But this time around, they manage to marry their signature throwback sound with a lot more energy."  

The album's 12 songs - primarily written or co-written by Laura and Lydia - seamlessly blend an exciting and decidedly Southern patchwork of country, blues, Americana, folk, rock and gospel. The album is preceded by the new single "Rattle My Bones," hopping from a guitar gallop into sweet, soaring harmonies from Laura and Lydia, it taps into a delightfully entrancing energy that's both enigmatic and endearing. The new album also features the he-said-she-said accusations of "Dirty Lie,"co-written with Bob Dylan. An unfinished song they brought to life, Dylan started writing "Dirty Lie" back in the '80s and when he heard that The Secret Sisters were recording a new album, he sent several demos to them for their consideration and gave the Sisters the nod to finish the song and record it.

Put Your Needle Down illuminates the many facets of this diverse, dynamic, and darling twosome and sways from the soulful mourning of "Let There Be Lonely" to the coy "murder ballad" "Iuka", and the uplifting musical baptism of "River Jordan".

In support of the album's release, The Secret Sisters are currently supporting country trio Nickel Creek on its entire US reunion tour in April and May.

Put Your Needle Down 

Track Listing:1. Rattle My Bones
2. Iuka
3. Dirty Lie
4. The Pocket Knife
5. Let There Be Lonely
6. Black And Blue
7. Lonely Island
8. I Cannot Find A Way
9. If I Don't
10. Good Luck Good Night Goodbye
11. Bad Habit
12. River Jordan

The tour itinerary is as follows:

4/16      Alabama Theater                       Birmingham, AL

4/17      Thomas Wolfe Auditorium          Ashville, NC

4/18      Ryman Auditorium                     Nashville, TN

4/19      Ryman Auditorium                     Nashville, TN

4/21      Track 29                                    Chattanooga, TN

4/22      Johnny Mercer Theater               Savannah, GA

4/24      NC Performing Arts Center        North Charleston, SC

4/25      Tabernacle                                Atlanta, GA

4/26      nTelos Wireless Pavilion            Charlottesville, VA

4/27      Tennessee Theatre                     Knoxville, TN

4/29      Beacon Theatre                         New York, NY

5/01      House of Blues                         Boston, MA

5/02      Keswick Theatre                        Glenside, PA

5/03      9:30 Club                                  Washington, DC

5/04      9:30 Club                                  Washington, DC

5/06      Taft Theatre                               Cincinnati, OH

5/08      Egyptian Room                         Indianapolis, IN

5/09      Riviera Theater                          Chicago, IL

5/10      Pabst Theater                            Milwaukee, WI

5/11      State Theatre                             Minneapolis, MN

5/13      Ogden Theatre                          Denver, CO

5/14      Kingsbury Hall                           Salt Lake City, UT

5/16      Crystal Ballroom                        Portland, OR

5/17      Moore Theatre                           Seattle, WA

5/19      Fox Theater                               Oakland, CA

5/20      Balboa Theatre                          San Diego, CA

5/21      The Wiltern                                Los Angeles, CA

http://www.secretsistersband.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheSecretSisters

https://twitter.com/thesecretsisters

AXS TV ANNOUNCES FEATURED ACTS FOR LIVE BROADCAST OF WEEK 2 OF COACHELLA, AIRING FRIDAY, APRIL 18 THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 20

Weekend-Long Broadcast Features Over 20 Hours of Live Coverage,

Spanning 5 Stages, Airing Nightly at 9pE/6pP

For the first time ever, the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will be broadcast live, as AXS TV–the premier destination for live music events—gives viewers a front row seat to one of the most popular music festivals in the United States. AXS TV will offer incomparable access while broadcasting over 20 hours of live coverage, from Friday, April 18 through Sunday, April 20, airing each evening at 9pE/6pP.

Held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, the three-day cultural phenomenon boasts an eclectic blend of mainstream acts, underground favorites, up-and-comers and icons, spanning a wide array of genres from indie and rap, to metal and punk, and everything in between.

Featured in Friday’s live coverage is an explosive lineup that includes Ellie Goulding, Grouplove, Bastille, AFI, Neko Case, Broken Bells, Chromeo, Kate Nash, HAIM, ZZ Ward and Bryan Ferry. Friday’s coverage re-airs on Sat., April 19 at 2pE/11aP.

Saturday, April 19, features Lorde, Cage the Elephant, CHVRCHES, The Head and the Heart, Capital Cities, Future Islands, Fatboy Slim, MGMT, The Pixies, Queens of the Stone Age, and Foster the People. Saturday’s coverage re-airs on Sun., April 20 at 2pE/11aP.

The weekend comes to a close on Sunday, April 20, with Arcade Fire, Beck, Skrillex, Pet Shop Boys, Big Gigantic, Daughter, NAS, Fishbone, Frank Turner, and Calvin Harris. Sunday’s coverage re-airs on Mon., April 21 at 2pE/11aP.

Hosting the broadcast is KCRW’s Music Director and “Morning Becomes Eclectic” DJ, Jason Bentley. Bentley will conduct artist interviews and co-produce exclusive editorial segments.

Summary of AXS TV’s 2014 Coachella Lineup* (Does Not Represent Broadcast Order)

*Lineup Subject To Change

Friday, April 18, 2014	Saturday, April 19, 2014	Sunday, April 20, 2014
AFI	Cage the Elephant	Arcade Fire
Bastille	Capital Cities	Beck
Broken Bells	CHVRCHES	Big Gigantic
Bryan Ferry	Fatboy Slim	Calvin Harris
Chromeo	Foster the People	Daughter
Ellie Goulding	Future Islands	Fishbone
Grouplove	Lorde	Frank Turner
HAIM	MGMT	NAS
Kate Nash	Queens of the Stone Age	Pet Shop Boys
Neko Case	The Head and the Heart	Skrillex
ZZ Ward	The Pixies

Tune-In: Coachella Live Stream on YouTube begins today!

Not headed out to Indio, California today to thrill to the sights and sounds Coachellafest? No worries thanks to YouTube's coverage of Coachella live. Here is the official media release...

ZZ Ward's Coachella set will be webcast
today live at 3:30 p.m. (Pacific Time).

No wristband? No problem! You can live stream Coachella on YouTube all weekend long.

Tune in to Coachella LIVE on YouTube presented by T-Mobile. For the fourth year in a row, the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival will stream live from Indio, Calif. on Coachella’s official YouTube channel.

Starting today (Friday, 4/11, at 3:30 p.m. PT), you can watch performances from more than 70 acts, including Lorde, Bryan Ferry, The Replacements, Arcade Fire and Beck. And with three-hour late night blocks from EDM superstars like Skrillex, Martin Garrix, Zedd, Dillon Francis, Duck Sauce and more, your party can keep going well into the night. Plus,Jason Bentley, DJ, music director and host of KCRW’s internationally acclaimed “Morning Becomes Eclectic” will host, bringing you artist access and exclusive interviews throughout.

And, this year, we have a special surprise to bring you even closer to Coachella: Chvrches, Zedd and other artists will jump into fans’ Google+ Hangouts live from backstage. Check the schedule on the Coachella YouTube channel for artist meet-and-greets. Start a Hangout with your friends, and when the time comes, it may bring you face-to-face backstage and directly into the Coachella webcast!   

It all begins today at 3:30 p.m. PT, so stay tuned to Coachella’s YouTube channel for the latest schedule and meet-and-greet updates!

Source: http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2014/04/no-wristband-no-problem-you-can-live.html