Ahhhh shit! 9:30 Club in Washington, DC are back with another sick giveaway for Killahbeez readers. We’re happy to announce that we are giving away tickets to the Goodie Mob concert. The group recently got together and are now set to hit the road on an official reunion tour all through the US. I’m talkin’ about Cee-Lo, Big Gipp, Khujo and T-Mo together again! This will be epic if you’re a hip-hop fan. We are giving away 2 (two) tickets to this show which happens on Thursday February 11th. Tickets for this event are $27.50 and will surely sell out, so get your tickets online at www.930.com, should you not win this contest.

Prize Details:

• 1 pair of tickets (2 in total) to Goodie Mob on February 11th at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.
• NOTE: Transportation to and from venue are your responsibility. Event takes place in a bar, so must be of age.

How To Enter:

• Leave a comment below, that’s it. Super simple.
• Each comment counts as an entry, one entry per person and per IP.
• Contest Closing Date: Friday February 5th at 9am PST, Noon EST

9:30 Club in Washington, DC are back with another sick giveaway for Killahbeez readers. We’ve teamed up to giveaway 2 (two) tickets to see RJD2 live on Saturday January 9th. Tickets for this event are $20.00 and will surely sell out, so get your tickets online at www.930.com, should you not win this contest.

Prize Details:

• 1 pair of tickets (2 in total) to RJD2 on January 9th at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.
• NOTE: Transportation to and from venue are your responsibility. Event takes place in a bar, so must be of age.

How To Enter:

• Leave a comment below, that’s it. Super simple.
• Each comment counts as an entry, one entry per person and per IP.
• Contest Closing Date: Monday January 4th at 9am PST, Noon EST

9:30 Club in Washington, DC are back with another sick giveaway for Killahbeez readers. We’ve teamed up to giveaway 2 (two) tickets to see Deadmau5 and Burns live on Monday November 23rd. Tickets for this event are $25.00 and will surely sell out, so get your tickets online at www.930.com, should you not win this contest. Check out our photos from the Vancouver show back in October, here. Also check the interview with Burns here.

Prize Details:

• 1 pair of tickets (2 in total) to Deadmau5 and Burns on November 23rd at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.
• NOTE: Transportation to and from venue are your responsibility. Event takes place in a bar, so must be of age.

How To Enter:

• Leave a comment below, that’s it. Super simple.
• Each comment counts as an entry, one entry per person and per IP.
• Contest Closing Date: Tuesday November 17th at 9am PST, Noon EST

Winner Selected. Check your Emails.

]]> http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/11/09/giveaway-deadmau5-burns-at-930-club/feed/ 19 http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/10/14/coca-colas-90-calorie-mini-can-to-debut-in-nyc-and-dc/ http://www.killahbeez.com/2009/10/14/coca-colas-90-calorie-mini-can-to-debut-in-nyc-and-dc/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:51:14 +0000 atek http://www.killahbeez.com/?p=29368

Coca-Cola, as reported by Business Wire, has unveiled a new 90-calorie mini Coca-Cola can. “The Coca-Cola mini can innovation reinforces the Company’s support for healthy, active lifestyles”, a statement made by Sandy Douglas, President of Coca-Cola North America. Ranked as the most fittest city in the country, DC was selected along with NYC to be the first markets to try the 7.5-fluid ounce beverage. Being from the DC area, I will be one of the first consumers to have this!

“The package introduction comes in the wake of a recent global commitment from Coca-Cola to put calories front-of-package on nearly all its products. Coca-Cola also recently announced a new partnership with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, which advocates a common-sense approach to helping reduce obesity by 2015. A core objective of the group is to remind consumers that achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is about balancing the calories consumed in a sensible diet with calories expended through physical activity” (Business Week).

I think Coca-Cola’s new product concept is great as it will reduce the amount of high fructose corn syrup delivered in an aluminum can.  I am also in favor of 90 calories over 140 calories (in a 12 oz. coke can).

Photo/Source: Business Week

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs performed at the 9:30 club this past Friday night to a sold out show. Considering I had never seen them live, I knew before the show even started that I was about to witness something spectacular, and I was right. Karen O, Brian Chase, and Nick Zinner, took the stage exactly at 10:30pm to a crowd of screaming fans. I literally felt the excitement in the air and braced myself as Karen O reached for her mic.

They opened the show with “Dull Life” which is from their current album titled “It’s Blitz!” Karen O’s stage presence definitely was not dull, in fact it was the opposite. From head to toe she was covered in color so you couldn’t help but stare at her. As she jumped and twirled around the stage, it was obvious that she was born to do this. In between songs she would take sips of her water (or alcoholic beverage) and spit it out into the air like a true rocker. Her wildness was contagious.

Surprisingly they played a lot of oldies including “Gold Lion,” “Y Control,” and “Kiss, Kiss.” Once they bowed and left the stage, the audience only wanted more from them, so for their encore they kicked it off with “Maps” and everyone sang along. It was sad to see the show come to an end because clearly I wanted them to stay on stage and play some more songs. I did however come to the conclusion that Karen O is a rock goddess and she has a talent unlike no other. I think the pictures say it all.

Once again, a special thanks to 9:30 club for letting Killahbeez attend this amazing show!

All photos by Quyen Nguyen

9:30 Club in Washington, DC and Killahbeez are teaming up to give you a chance to win 2 tickets to see Gossip live on October 7th. Tickets for this are available for $20, so this is a great way to save $40 and get a chance to listen to a great fuckin’ band. Visit www.930.com for more information on this show and upcoming shows they’re having. Details on how to enter below

Prize Details:

• 1 pair of tickets (2 in total) to Gossip on October 7th at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.
• NOTE: Transportation to and from venue are your responsibility.

How To Enter:

• Leave a comment below or  tweet the following: “Win 2 tickets to see Gossip in Washington, DC @Killahbeez http://ow.ly/r81K” that’s it. Super simple.
• Each comment counts as an entry, one entry per person and per IP.
• Contest Closing Date: Sunday October 4th at 9am PST, Noon EST

Love Long Distance

9:30 Club in Washington DC and Killahbeez are teaming up to give you a chance to win 2 tickets to the John Legend and India Arie concert on July 17th in Washington DC at the Merriweather Post Pavillion. Tickets for this event start at $36.00 and goes upwards to $109.00. This will be an amazing concert both John Legend and India Arie kill it live. Visit www.930.com for more information on this show and upcoming shows they’re having.

Prize Details:

• 1 pair of tickets (2 in total) to John Legend and India Arie on July 17th at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Washington DC.

How To Enter:

• Leave a comment below, that’s it. Super simple.
• Each comment counts as an entry, one entry per person and per IP.
• Contest Closing Date: Wednesday July 8th at 9am PST, Noon EST

***CHECK YOUR EMAIL TO SEE IF YOU”VE WON”

(Image from Reactionary Century)

Going into this sold out show at the 9:30 club, I really did not know if I would enjoy what I was about to see. I’ll be honest, I had never really given Animal Collective a real chance. But it’s hard to ignore them when Pitchfork is praising their albums and other music critics feel that the current album, “Merriweather Post Pavilion,” is the best album of the year. So before attending the show, I made sure to familiarize myself with not only “Merriweather Post Pavilion” but their previous album “Strawberry Jam.”

I had never heard of Grouper, who was the first to come on. I assumed it was a band, however it’s just one girl, and that girl is Liz Harris from Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately it was hard for me to focus on her because the audience was pretty noisy during her set. In the center of the stage, she sat on a chair singing into a mic and playing her guitar while random noises were playing in the background. It’s difficult to categorize what kind of music she plays, but does that really matter? She has something going for her that is unique, and with her dreamy-like voice I feel that her sound has the potential to capture people if they let her.

When it was time for Animal Collective to come out, the audience simply went insane. Geologist (Brian Weitz), Avey Tare (David Portner), and Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) quickly walked to their three stations that were set up. Avey Tare stood in the middle with the mic and his electric guitar, while Geologist was to his right using a sampler, and Panda Bear to his left also using a sampler along with the percussion and guitar. The first song they played was “Chocolate Girl” which I’m not sure if the audience recognized. I know I didn’t recognize it so after looking it up, I found out that it was actually from their 2000 album called “Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished.”

(Image from Flickr)

They actually performed a good variety of songs from all of their albums (and that’s a lot), and I’m sure there were people that knew all of them and some that didn’t know every song performed, but that was okay. From beginning to end, the crowd was loving them and you could really see and feel it that night. Probably one of the highlights of the evening was when they played “My Girls” which is one of their more popular songs, if not the most popular. With Panda Bear singing the vocals, his voice definitely sounded strong and clear, and I was impressed.

What’s interesting about Animal Collective is that the music is nonstop. Meaning they jump from one song to the next, never taking a break in between. When they performed “Summertime Clothes” which is off their current album, the crowd definitely knew it because they started to cheer and scream. The song is fun and bouncy and the audience was either bopping their heads or jumping up and down to the beat.

I normally enjoy it when the artist or band interacts with the audience, and with Animal Collective that wasn’t the case. They thanked everyone for coming out and supporting them, and that was basically all the interaction we got. Perhaps they were too immersed in their music, or maybe they didn’t think that it was necessary to talk to the crowd that much. Either way, I don’t think the people cared too much.

Throughout the show lights were flashing all over the place, from the audience to the group members. And I can’t forget about the huge white ball hanging from the ceiling right above the stage where different images would appear on it. It was very psychedelic in a way and at times I felt that maybe I should have been high during the show. It obviously had a special effect on the audience causing them to become more and more energetic.

During their encore, the last song performed was “Brother Sport” which made the audience show off dance moves I’ve never seen before. This was quite amusing for me because it was clear that they lacked rhythm, but they didn’t care, not one bit. And even though I can’t say the show made me a fan, because I still felt that the music was a little too weird for me, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that all those people came out to show their love and support for Animal Collective and their music, and that’s what really counts.

A special thanks to 9:30 club for allowing Killahbeez to attend this show!

On Thursday, the Stones Throw tour came to Washington for a show at the 9:30 Club.  As stated earlier, I missed out on the opportunity to see Stones Throw’s newest artist, Mayer Hawthorne. However, I was in attendance at Stussy DC’s in-store event earlier that evening. Before the show, James Pants and Dam-funk appeared at Stussy DC to play a live set. I arrived a little late and caught the end of James Pants’ set. Dam-funk was up next and provided the beats for the rest of the evening.

The set ran for two hours as the locals enjoyed red bull cocktails and red stripe beer.  My  friend and I debated whether or not we should go to 9:30 and unfortunately, made a bad decision by not going. I could have seen Peanut Butter Wolf (founder of Stones Throw) and the other guys. Below are some photos that we took from Thursday.

James Pants

Dam-funk

One of the t-shirts designed for the Stones Throw Tour (a collaboration with Stussy).

Big ups to our friends at Stussy DC, Commonwealth DC and For The Greater Good for hosting another successful event.

For more photos, visit Killahbeez’s flickr page.

First off, I have to say that Peter Bjorn and John definitely know how to rock out. It was my first time seeing them live, and I was truly amazed by their performance. Their opening act was Chairlift, a trio from New York, which I thought sounded pretty good live. Considering I was only familiar with a few songs from their current album “Does You Inspire You,” I still enjoyed them overall.

Just like at their Vancouver show, they covered the Snoop Dogg song ”Sensual Seduction” which was a pleasant surprise for the audience and personally I think they pulled it off.  Some of the standout songs to me were “Evident Utensil,” “Bruises,” and “Planet Health.” Yes I find those three the most catchiest, but Caroline Polachek and Aaron Pfenning’s vocals were on point and I simply love it when the songs sound just like the record. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from Chairlift in the near future.

Did I mention the show was sold out and that this was Peter Bjorn and John’s last stop on their U.S. tour?  The moment the lights dimmed, the audience went into a frenzy. They walked onto the stage one by one, each displaying a different look. Peter Morén wore a white blazer with black slacks and a silk scarf around his neck reminding me of Hugh Hefner. Björn Yttling had an all black ensemble on, leather jacket included. And John Eriksson had a white button up shirt with suspenders, a leather jacket, and a hobo-looking hat.

They started the set with a song from their new album “Living Thing” called “Just the Past.” This song has an addictive beat and you can’t help but just bop your head throughout the whole song. Actually, I found myself doing that to practically every song they sang. What’s great is that they sang a lot of their old stuff from “Writer’s Block” which included “Amsterdam,” “The Chills,” “Objects of My Affection,” and of course their hit “Young Folks.” The crowd loved it, especially during “Young Folks” when Peter got the audience to sing Victoria Bergsman’s part.

What’s funny is that I didn’t expect Peter to be running back and forth across the stage presenting a variety of dance moves, but he did, and it was awesome. He also threw in random guitar solos during a couple of songs which was entertaining to say the least. But I can’t forget Bjorn and John because they definitely did their thing as well. Bjorn appeared to be the serious one in the group, standing still for the most of the show with a stern look on his face. He did crack a few funny faces though, and showed off his guitar skills and deep vocals. John played the drums effortlessly, tossing his sticks into the air and catching them through most of the set, and lending his vocals to certain songs.

When they played “Nothing to Worry About,” their first single off the current album, you could tell it was a crowd pleaser because people immediately started to dance. At some point, the group introduced their entire road crew, which demonstrated how grateful they were to have those people with them on the road. In fact, one of the “roadies” named Ross joined the band onstage to play the bongos for one of the songs, and it was quite amusing.

Soon the band bid their farewells and left the stage, leaving the audience only wanting more. All of the sudden the “roadies” were on stage and passing out masks to the front row so they could wear them when the band came back out for their encore. Since it was dark, I couldn’t make out what the masks looked like. Once Peter Bjorn and John returned back to the stage and the lights came on, you could see that the masks had the band members’ faces on it. They immediately started to laugh and point at the people in the audience who had the masks on. They began to play “Lay It Down,” another song from their current album, and all the “roadies” and even Chairlift came onto the stage and started dancing around, wearing masks of course. It was a great moment to witness, mainly because it was the end of something really beautiful.

And just when I thought the show was coming to an end, the band played a few more songs from their recent album and even did a cover of Joy Division’s “Transmission,” which was clearly recognized by the audience. When they said their actual goodbyes, it was bittersweet for the crowd and of course the band and their crew. I realized that what makes Peter Bjorn and John special is that you can really tell that they love doing what they do, which is making music and performing it in front of people. A special thanks to 9:30 club for letting Killahbeez attend this great show! Check out their site for upcoming shows.

Photo Source: Stussy DC

In a city fueled by politics, its almost hard to believe that a subculture exist within the different neighborhoods of Washington, DC. Step outside Capitol Hill and one will find a melting pot that stems away into a world of the unknown for the non-locals and tourists visiting this city. Along the intersection of 18th Street and Florida Avenue, “the block” has an overflow of Washington’s thriving underground scene in the most talked about city in America (the home of President Obama). No matter where you live in the Washingtonian area or what type of lifestyle you exhibit, the block has gathered individuals from different demographics and lifestyles.

As a shopping destination, Commonwealth DC, Stussy DC and the newest member of the family, For the Greater Good, offers a wide range of clothes, accessories and footwear between the three retail boutiques for women and men.  A consumer will find Pharrell William’s BBC/Ice Cream apparel, graphic t-shirts by 10 Deep and Hellz Bellz to the cut and sew items from brands like Common Projects, Cassette and  Public School.  The shops have even hosted in-store events to feature live performances by musicians and artists, as well as live DJ sets.

Lucas Pierce from Stussy DC vibed out with me about the up and coming scene in DC.  Clearly, there is something to be said about this city and it’s not about politics.  Lets take a step into the other side of town with Lucas.

KB: What sets Stussy DC apart from other retail boutiques in Washington?

LP: There are a couple of things such as location and build out. We’re not in Georgetown, Tyson’s Corner or Friendship Heights. I think those are considered the three main shopping locations in Washington. We wanted to be away from that and in the middle of the independent uptown scene. As to the store itself: we have the projector for movies and films, the artwork by Eric Elms, and store exclusive products.  It has a distinctive look compared to many retail stores around here.

KB: Is there a niche culture in DC?

LP: We receive a fair mix of people in the city that are independently minded. There are many different cultures through DC and it’s reflected at the store. There are different groups of people from kids on skateboards, NBA athletes, cyclists, DJs, and artists – all kinds of people of different lifestyles.

KB: What are your thoughts about exclusivity?

LP: I think it will continue to thrive. There’s always a consumer interested in products other people can’t get and that’s what I think street wear grew out of, from collecting sneakers to limited edition items. We recently held a raffle drawing at Commonwealth for Yeezy’s. We didn’t want other factors to dictate the difference between a 12 year old buying a pair with his mom to the well established 25 year old to purchase it. It was all about the fairness of availability.

KB: How important is it to stay connected with your customers? Has social networking helped?

LP: Staying connected to our customers is very important. We have a store blog, www.theblockdc.com, that is updated weekly. Twitter is a nice tool – we started using twitter two months ago and now have over 1,000 followers. Twitter is cool because you can put a link on twitter and the phone will start ringing as well as hits increasing on the website – they are who we want to reach out to.

Play Cloths Event at Commonwealth

KB: Are there any local athletes that Stussy DC sponsors?

LP: We keep the young kids who hang around the shop in Stussy gear. We also hook up DC’s own Wale, skater James Anderson, or DJs like StereoFaith, Gavin Holland, and Jerome Baker III. Basically, anyone who is out in the streets representing this city receives love from our shop!

KB: What type of perception do you think they bring for DC?

LP: Hopefully, everyone is working together and placing us on the map. It can be things as going out into the scene, events and parties. It will eventually build up what this city needs for the independent and underground scene.

KB: You guys have thrown many successful events at FTGG (For the Greater Good), Stussy and Commonwealth. What was the biggest crowd you brought into the block?

LP: The Clipse’s Play Cloths launch party was pretty packed at Commonwealth, as well as DJ Diplo’s live set at Commonwealth during the Mad Decent Tour. Normally, the events do really well. We’re having an event with Stones Throw Records at beginning of May. The biggest event by far was the Inauguration event, Historic with Bun B, Wale and 9th Wonder. The “Historic” tee sold really well and was really well received nationally.

KB: Speaking of Historic, do you think anything has changed with Obama’s presence in DC?

LP: I think that a lot of new energy has been brought to the city. People are definitely more excited about Obama being here, which has transferred into excitement about DC in general.

KB: Is there anything unique in this city that many people don’t know see or read in the news?

LP: It’s a small city, especially geographically. There are different scenes depending on what neighborhood you’re in. You can do many different things in one night without needing a car or public transportation.

KB: What are your thoughts about style in the city?

LP: It depends where you are. I know it’s a generalization but fashion wise I feel like there are two distinctive sets of people in DC, the political types and everyone else. Obviously the political types have the vineyard vines/BB/Polo look down pat. Then there is also the older DC style, Nike Boots, Foamposites, brands like Madness, Shooters, Solbiato…some real Rayful Edmond type steez. I think the streetwear scene has been steadily growing, especially amongst the teen/college crowd. I am really proud of the new aesthetic For the Greater Good has brought to DC, and its cool to see the growth of consumers from simple graphic tees to cut and sew items.

KB: Where do you consider as the best shopping destination?

LP: There are different shopping locations, from Adams Morgan down to 9th and U Street (the U Street corridor to the locals) where you’ll find independent shops and restaurants. And we’re a part of that. There is a diverse clientele between Stussy DC, FTGG and Commonwealth that stems from diverse demographics of our neighborhoods. The multitude of people in the street whether they are black/white, gay/straight, punk/drunk, etc, gives the area a comparable feel to NYC to me.

KB: In regards to the different neighborhoods of DC, do you agree with Vice Magazine’s article about avoiding Georgetown and Northern VA?

LP: We don’t really go south of Massachusetts Avenue but I guess H Street is an exception. I’ve been in DC for a decent clip and never gone to VA for anything but the airport. Vice and their guides to cities they aren’t from are whatever to me.

Photo Source: Stussy DC 

KB: ‘The Block DC’ posted an article from the NYT stating that DC can become the next NYC or in other words, a fierce competition for NYC. Can you share your thoughts on this?

LP: Musically, not much comes from DC. And for fashion, not many brands are housed here. But that really has been changing in the past 5 years. People in other cities don’t recognize what goes on around in this city so I think with the press that DC has been receiving and Obama’s presence, people are starting to change their perception of us.

KB: Can you share any upcoming projects with us?

LP: We recently released the Stussy DC t-shirts. We are having the Stones Throw Party on May 7th. Commonwealth and FTGG have some really great collaborations coming out this summer. We keep it moving!

KB: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Lucas!

For more information, please visit Commonwealth DC, Stussy DC and For the Greater Good.

I really did not know what to expect from Lily Allen considering I’ve never watched any live performances of hers or read any reviews on her shows.  But by the end of the night, I was convinced that she knew how to put on a damn good show.

Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head opened up for Miss Allen at the 9:30 club in front of a sold out audience, and came on around 9:15pm. Unfortunately I missed them, so for those who were looking forward to reading about them, my sincere apologies. Allen was expected to come on stage at 10:15pm and fortunately she was only 5-10 minutes late. A huge white curtain covered the stage and as soon as the opening for “Everyone’s At It” started to play, the crowd went crazy. The curtain dropped only to reveal the band and Lily herself.

My first thought was that she looked cute from head to toe. Even though she was wearing extremely high heels, you could still tell that she’s a tiny girl.  I then immediately noticed how good her voice sounded. It was almost as if I were listening to her on my ipod. The second song she sang was “I Could Say,” which is one of my favorites from her current album “It’s Not Me, It’s You.” The song talks about growing up after getting out of a relationship and it’s definitely relatable.

I expected her to throw out some of her old stuff which she definitely did. The first was “Oh My God” which was a collaboration that she had done with Mark Ronson and is a cover of a Kaiser Chiefs song. Another oldie was “LDN” which is from her debut album “Alright, Still.” The crowd practically went nuts for every song, whether it was new or old. She slowed things down a bit with “He Wasn’t There,” telling the audience that the song is about her absent father. Afterward she sang  “Littlest Things” which was a favorite of mine off her old album due to its haunting tune and message.

With a cigarette in one hand and a mic in the other, she still was able to show off her vocal abilities and I found that amusing only because I had never really seen an artist smoke one cigarette right after the other during a show. The audience got pumped up once again when she sang “Not Fair” and “Fuck You” both from her latest album. These are songs that make you want to dance regardless of its meaning. But if you really want to know, one is about a guy who seems perfect except he’s bad in bed, and the other is regarding George W. Bush. She soon said her goodbyes and thanked the audience and her band, but of course we knew better than that.

The crowd screamed for her at the top of their lungs and she quickly returned back to the stage wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and jordans. Looking more comfortable and even smaller, she danced to the background beat of Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘N’ Nite” for a bit and then continued by singing a cover of Britney Spears’ “Womanizer.” If you don’t have it, go get it! And just when you thought the show was coming to an end, she busted out with “Smile” and “The Fear” as her last songs for the evening. The crowd was loving every minute of it, literally.

As I walked away I thought about how awesome the show was and how much I really do love her music. She was energetic, giggly, and chill all rolled into one. It’s unfortunate that she doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to the paparazzi, but don’t believe everything you read and see about her. This girl knows what’s up and I have a feeling she’ll be sticking around for years to come.  A huge thanks goes to 9:30 Club for allowing Killahbeez to attend an eventful evening.  Keep an eye out on their calendar as there are plenty of great shows coming our way.

Art Whino will be bringing Inked Souls back this year on Saturday, April 18th.  The exhibit will feature more art and photography and run through May 9th in Crystal City (Arlington, VA).

In conjunction with Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) and Tagür sneaker company, Art Whino will offer incredible exhibitions of customized sneakers, paintings, and photography.  Each artist will feature one pair of customized AKA Blank Tagür sneakers along with a painting.

Four photographers will be featured whose subject matter rangers from 80’s Breakers to customized semi trucks.

The event is FREE and open to the public. Music by Black Cats Resident DJ Lil’, including a special live performance by Big Benz from TTM Entertainment.

Featured Artists:
Asylm –CA
Cutthroat – TX
Dolla – FL
EyeOne – CA
Frerk – DE
Garry Booth – CA
in.fa.mousIKB– DC
James Walker- VA
J Asher Lynch – CA
LECKOmio – DE
Luis Lorenzana – PH
Marc C. Woehr – DE
Marie Barr- CA
MDOK – NJ
Molly Crabapple – NY
Nychos– Austria
Raudiel – MX
Rick Reese – CA
Rudy Fig – MN
Sam Ramos – PH
Skibs – CA
Sole Junkie – CA
Surge – CA
Truth Among Liars – DC
The Krah – UK
Zach Tobias – OR

Featured Photographers:
Lady Glock
Michael Colon
James Walker
Roger Snider

Source: Art Whino

Thanks to everyone who participated in the last two giveaways, Estelle and The Presets, we did with 9:30 Club. The next giveaway between 9:30 Club and Killahbeez are two tickets to the May 9th Lady Sovereign show. The 23 year old is back with her follow up album called Jigsaw which features the singles “I Got You Dancing” and “So Human”.  For details on how to enter see below. And yes guys, she got hot. Really hot.

Prize Details:

• 1 pair of tickets (2 in total) to Lady Sovereign on May 4th at 9:30 Club in Washington DC.

How To Enter:

• Leave a comment on why we should pick you.
• Each comment counts as an entry, one entry per person and per IP.
• Contest Closing Date: Monday May 4th at 9am PST, Noon EST

***CONTEST CLOSED, THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING***

Lady Sovereign “I Got You Dancing”

Lady Sovereign “So Human”

Fresh after winning a Grammy award for the single “American Boy” (featuring Kanye West) in February, Estelle appeared at the legendary 9:30 Club on Sunday, March 15th with Washington, D.C. native Ryan Leslie. After picking up our tickets at the box office and getting the infamous “9:30″ stamp on my right hand, my friends and I found a great spot on the second floor’s balcony that overlooked the stage located on the first floor.

It was a night full of energy from the performance of opener Ryan Leslie and headliner Estelle.

Ryan Leslie kicked off the show by performing the first single, “Diamond Girl“, from his debut album Ryan Leslie.  This was a special evening for the fans of ‘R Les’. The DC born artist also premiered a newly recorded track to his hometown crowd.  In his tour blog, Ryan wrote, “I’ve been writing some new songs and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy watching records come to life with a band. This one is called “Zodiac” and I wrote it after my album was turned in. You can see me singing parts as I hear them in my head for the instrumentalists”.

My favorite moment during Ryan’s set was during the performance of “Addiction“. In lieu of Cassie’s vocals, the crowd was asked to sing along to the chorus.  As the crowd sang the hook, “I’m addicted to you, I’m addicted to you, I’m addicted to you. You’re my addiction”, DC hip hop artist Wale appeared on stage and laid out a couple lines. It was a pleasant surprise to see Wale performing next to another artist hailing from DC.  Ryan Leslie’s set was wrapped up with an intimate performance of “How It Was Supposed To Be“.

After a short intermission, Estelle’s four piece band and tour DJ went on stage. Two back up singers and Estelle appeared moments later. I recall the first time hearing Estelle’s “American Boy” in 2008 and thought to myself that the UK was on to something in terms of their female artists (Lily Allen and M.I.A.).  Like the other gals, Estelle has her own sound and stage personality. From song writing, singing, producing to rapping, she provided a great performance of R&B chart topping hits from her first album, The 18th Day and her current album Shine.

She sets herself apart from other female R&B artist with her brilliantly quirky jokes about past ex-boyfriends as well as giving a shout out to her Twitter family and praising President Obama for bringing change to the nation’s capital. Following a performance to “More Than Just Friends“, she made the night extra special for some lucky audience members as they were picked to go on stage with her during a performance to “Come Over” (my favorite single featured on Shine).

The end of the London based artist’s show was completed with an ultra flirty performance of “American Boy”. The crowd was in unison to the chorus of the song which leads into an encore of another song to wrap up the night. From sharing her memories of past ex-boyfriends to honoring change in D.C. and ensuring that each of us would get through the tough times of economic turmoil, she kept the spirits of her fans alive and positive during her hour long show. I must admit, Estelle is one of very few singers that I have seen showcasing great crowd interaction during a live show. I am sure that she will be shining for the rest of her career.

I also love attending shows at 9:30 – it’s my favorite venue in this city.

Photo: 51st Grammy

We’re at it again. First off thanks to everyone that participated in the Estelle ticket giveaway. With that said, 9:30 Club in Washington DC is teaming up with Killahbeez again to give away two tickets to The Presets and The Golden Filter show on April 1st. If you have yet to see The Presets perform live, then you are definitely missing out. These two guys put on one of the most energetic shows that I’ve attended and they keep the crowd dancing and singing along. For more info on upcoming shows or to purchase tickets for future shows including this one visit www.930.com. Check the details below on how to enter.

Prize Details:

• 1 pair of tickets (2 in total) to The Presets & The Golden Filter on April 1st at 9:30 Club in Washington DC.

How To Enter:

• Leave a comment on why we should pick you.
• Each comment counts as an entry, one entry per person and per IP.
• Contest Closing Date: Friday March 27th at 9am PST, Noon EST

***THANKS TO ALL THAT PARTICIPATED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS AS WE’VE MESSAGED THE WINNER***

The Presets “Talk Like That”

The Presets “This Boy’s in Love”

In the tradition of continually bringing hot shit for all our readers, Killahbeez has now teamed up with 9:30 Club in Washington DC and we will be doing giveaways down the road, so folks in the DMV area, y’all need to keep your eyes stuck to the site cus we’ll be breaking you all off with a chance to win tickets. With that said the first ticket giveaway that 9:30 Club and Killahbeez are handing out is for Estelle’s March 15th show, which our very own Atek will be attending and writing a review on as well. The prize is 2 tickets, 1 pair, however you want to put it, you and a guest will be attending the live concert on March 15th. So tell your friends, tell your friends friends, tell your mama, tell your mammas friends and spread the word. See details below on how to enter. For more information on upcoming shows at the 9:30 Club hit up, www.930.com.

Prize Details:

• 1 pair of tickets (2 in total) to Estelle’s March 15th show at 9:30 Club in Washington DC.

How To Enter:

• Leave a comment on why we should pick you.
• Each comment counts as an entry, one entry per person and per IP.
• Contest Closing Date: Thursday March 12th at 9am PST, Noon EST

*********Winner selected and contacted. Thanks to everyone that participated. The next contest is for tickets to The Presets. Stay Tuned.*********

Photograph: Sebastian Mlynarksy/Getty

I was lucky enough to catch Cat Power’s sold out set in D.C. last week, and I was not disappointed. I’ve never had the chance to catch her live (her shows always sell out quite early) and I was stoked to experience it. When I arrived at 9:30 club, it was pretty packed, so I knew I was in for a good night. The crowd seemed enthusiastic and the openers hadn’t even taken the stage yet. Anticipation seemed to be in the air – Cat Power has a repertoire that makes it extremely hard to know what to expect, and I had heard her live shows are always unpredictable in the best way.

The Dex Romweber Duo took the stage and caught me a little off guard with their rockabilly-esque sound. The sibling duo (sister Sara’s on the drums) went from bluesy to soul-inspired tunes to straight up rock, and the crowd was definitely into it. Dex commanded the stage like the vet that he is – having fronted rockabilly outfit Flat Duo Jets back in the day (he is also noted as Jack White’s idol, if that helps to elaborate). The duo worked together effortlessly and left nothing to be desired, which I consider a big feat for a band that consists of a guitar, drums and one voice. Unlike other duos, Dex’s voice was so versatile that it almost functioned as another instrument (now I see why they’re on tour with Cat Power) and were able to rock just as hard as a full band.

Cat Power’s the type of artist whose repertoire makes it hard to anticipate her next move. She released the Dark End of The Street EP in December, which continues in the vein of bluesy covers with the help of the Dirty Delta Blues. I assumed this was the direction she’d be taking the live show, so I was pretty excited when she came out with the boys in tow. I really enjoy it when solo artists bring a full band on tour; it adds a whole new layer and intensity to songs that didn’t have that aspect before.

I must note that capturing Cat Power on film is no easy feat; she is notorious for her aversion to photos and twirls around the stage like a little dervish, steadily avoiding the middle. Add to this the fact that it was almost completely dark (it did fit the ambiance), I found myself distracted for most of the first 3 songs just trying to get a shot of her.

Cat Power’s voice is just as good live as on any record; “Fortunate Son” showcased her versatility and really let the band get into the show as well. The set featured more covers than originals, but the crowd seemed to love every selection. I was keeping my fingers crossed for an encore with “The Greatest”, but true to form, no encore appeared. I walked away with a new appreciation for the bluesy direction that Cat Power’s taken on the last few records and was left with one question – what can Cat Power possibly do next?

We’d like to thank the 9:30 Club in D.C. for working with us and graciously helping us to get this review done. Check out www.930.com for more information on upcoming shows, and let me tell you I had a look at their upcoming concerts and they’re definitely bringing in some of the top acts out there.

DC’s music scene is bursting with many talented local artists and bands.  An up and coming band called The Tennis System will be performing a couple of tracks tomorrownight at the Black Cat.  They will be sharing the stage before or after two bands, (The Sounds of) Kaleidoscope and Big Gold Belt.

Tennis System consist of four members, Matthew Taylor (vocals and guitar), Clinton Cole (bass), Drake Eidson (guitar) and Brad Fullilove (drums).  Check out the band’s myspace page for more news and updates.

Source: Tennis System

Blog darlings Passion Pit played their first ever show in DC on Tuesday night with Cale Parks & Paper Route. About a week before the show, we got word that it was being moved from the backstage (which is unbearably tiny, but is mainly the home for bands who haven’t ‘hit it big’ yet) to the mainstage. Quite a feat for a band who doesn’t even have a full length out & has been together for less than 2 years. I was extremely curious to see how a band that features both a singer who sings almost exclusively in falsetto & hip-hop beats (two of my favorite things, incidentally) would translate onstage.

Cale Parks opened the show & I was less than prepared. The fact that he moonlights in two other bands (Aloha & White Williams) may explain his ability to play like, 3 different instruments at once; he’s pretty much a one man band. He mixed samples & snare drum effortlessly while singing some seriously catchy M83-esque jams. At some points it was hard to focus on his vocals just because he had so much else going on; I definitely vote for some instrumentals next time around. He also had great hair & some sweet dance moves (even while playing everything in sight), so all in all I was quite impressed.

Paper Route took things in a bit of a different direction with their set being fairly straightforward and more guitars, less dance. I kind of liked the mixed bill; we all know that listening to synth-heavy dance jams for 3 hours straight can be alittle tiring. Paper Route definitely seemed to be channeling more of an arena-rock sound; keyboards kept it catchy and not too epic. They were a definite crowd pleaser as well; in fact it seemed like quite a few people in the crowd were there just to see them.

Passion Pit came on to a pretty full house (good lookin’ out Black Cat!) & opened with “I’ve Got Your Number”. I’m pretty sure that a more than a few people in the crowd were alittle dumbfounded by a bearded dude in a purple v-neck singing about ‘crying tears like diamonds’, but yeah, he really does sing like that. Maybe about two minutes later it didn’t matter because everyone was too busy singing along & trying to keep up with the frantic hand-claps. For a band that only has an EP out, I was a little worried if they’d be able to keep the pace up & if they’d throw in a couple of covers to really show us their chops. They wisely decided to play their hit “Sleepyhead” right in the middle of their set & I must say the drummer killed it on this song. “Better Things” was another highlight for me as it’s just a perfect live song that made the crowd go pretty wild. After they played all of Chunk of Change, singer Michael Angelakos came back with a new song, I wish i’d caught the name of it because it was a little more low key & really showcased his vocal skills. The only complaint I heard again & again was that it was too short; they’re supposed to be dropping a full length in “early ‘09″, so be on the look out for it & a (hopefully) longer set list next time around. Once again we’d like to thank the venue Black Cat as they continually to host some great jams, check out their website for upcoming shows www.blackcatdc.com.