Spinner http://www.spinner.com Spinner http://www.spinner.com/media/feedlogo.gif Spinner http://www.spinner.com en-us Copyright 2013 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this headlines and excerpts feed are available for limited commercial distribution. You may repost this feed to your site provided you link back to the original story, do not edit the material, and do not remove this copyright notice. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan Explains Krumping, Sort Of (VIDEO) http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/04/wallflowers-jakob-dylan-explains-krumping-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/04/wallflowers-jakob-dylan-explains-krumping-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/04/wallflowers-jakob-dylan-explains-krumping-video/#comments Filed under: , ,


The WallflowersThe Wallflowers

When members of L.A.-based rock band The Wallflowers sat down with AUX TV to watch and dissect the video for their single "Reboot the Mission" they inevitably spent most their time discussing what is and isn't krumping.

The single, which Dylan told Spinner was inspired by "one of the best rock groups of all time," The Clash, is a lively, uptempo dance number with a fitting set of visuals to accompany it. The video features various black-and-white close-up shots of the band performing in a studio interspersed with clips of street dancers showing off their seemingly impossible moves.

"This is how we do most our recording, with krump dancing right out -- this is outside the studio," singer Jakob Dylan comments dryly, reviewing a clip of a young man doing a backwards flip in the middle of the street before dancing on his tiptoes. ]]> Jakob DylanJakob Dylan krumpingJakobDylanJakobDylanKrumpingKrumpingReboot the MissionRebootTheMissionThe WallflowersThe Wallflowers krumpingTheWallflowersTheWallflowersKrumpingWallflowers Marwa Hamad 2013-01-04T15:00:00 00:00 This Week in Music History: December 30 - January 5 -- Drummers vs. Cars With Keith Moon & Rick Allen http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/02/this-week-in-music-history-december-30-january-5/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/02/this-week-in-music-history-december-30-january-5/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/02/this-week-in-music-history-december-30-january-5/#comments Filed under: ,


George Harrison Beatles Rick Allen Def LeppardGetty | Getty

If you're a superstitious-type musician, it might be time to lock your doors, avoid black cats and stay away from walking under any ladders. The turn of the year has historically proven to bring with it a slew of bizarre events and weird energy, and the music world is not exempt.

For example, a Beatle nearly got killed and was saved by a table lamp, a world famous drummer lost his arm in a car accident and another world famous drummer accidentally killed his driver.

Indeed, this is the peculiar season. ]]> Britney SpearsBritneySpearsDef LeppardDefLeppardGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison stabbedGeorgeHarrisonGeorgeHarrisonStabbedJohnny CashJohnnyCashKeith MoonKeith Moon chauffeurKeithMoonKeithMoonChauffeurMelody MakerMelodyMakerRay DaviesRay Davies shotRayDaviesRayDaviesShotRick AllenRickAllenThe KinksThe WhoTheKinksTheWhothis week in music historyThisWeekInMusicHistory Marwa Hamad 2013-01-02T16:45:00 00:00 Green Day to Resume Tour, Billie Joe Armstrong 'Getting Better Everyday' http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/31/green-day-rehab-2013-tour-dates/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/31/green-day-rehab-2013-tour-dates/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/31/green-day-rehab-2013-tour-dates/#comments Filed under: ,


Billie Joe Armstrong Green DayChristopher Polk, Getty

Despite a shaky few months of cancelled and postponed shows, on-stage meltdowns and stints in rehab, Green Day have ended the year on a promising high note: the band will return to the stage for the first time since September at the end of March.

"We want to thank everyone for hanging in with us for the last few months," the band said in a release. "We are very excited to hit the road and see all of you again, though we regret having to cancel more shows." ]]> billie joe armstrongbillie joe armstrong rehabBillieJoeArmstrongBillieJoeArmstrongRehabGreen Daygreen day tourGreenDayGreenDayTour Marwa Hamad 2012-12-31T15:00:00 00:00 Grimes Gets Rape Threats, Opens Up About Fears, the Cost of Music Success http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/31/grimes-gets-rape-threats-opens-up-about-fears-the-cost-of-musi/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/31/grimes-gets-rape-threats-opens-up-about-fears-the-cost-of-musi/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/31/grimes-gets-rape-threats-opens-up-about-fears-the-cost-of-musi/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


GrimesSimon Joyner, Getty

It's been a whirlwind year for singer-songwriter Grimes, from her third studio album Visions being met with critical acclaim to having hearing problems bad enough that she had to axe an entire European tour.

The 24-year-old musician, born Claire Boucher, has tried to stay true to herself by cutting out the middle man in keeping in touch with her fans. Boucher took to popular blogging platform Tumblr -- the same one Frank Ocean used to post his unforgettable admission of having a past male love interest -- in hopes of giving a more intimate and accurate portrayal of who she is and what she stands for.

"I feel like a lot of the things I do and say are misrepresented by journalists and the media," she wrote on December 24. "I can only control what goes out by trying to be real, but any writer will skew a story into what they want it to be." ]]> Claire BoucherClaireBoucherGrimesGrimes Claire BoucherGrimes rapeGrimes threatGrimesClaireBoucherGrimesRapeGrimesThreat Marwa Hamad 2012-12-31T12:00:00 00:00 Mountain Goats U.S. Poet Laureate? Fans Petition to Get Singer Honored http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/28/mountain-goats-u-s-poet-laureate-john-darnielle/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/28/mountain-goats-u-s-poet-laureate-john-darnielle/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/28/mountain-goats-u-s-poet-laureate-john-darnielle/#comments Filed under: ,


The Mountain Goats John DarnielleScott Gries, Getty

Fans of the folk rock band the Mountain Goats have issued a plea to the U.S. government: name lead singer John Darnielle the United States Poet Laureate. The online petition which refers to Darnielle as "American institution" was posted on December 26 and has 400 signatures so far.

"An inspiration to poets, artists and sundry other human beings both in America and world-wide, Mr. Darnielle is a unique voice in modern word and music," the petition reads.

"For over twenty years, Mr. Darnielle has struggled on our behalf to come to terms with the base instincts of the human psyche. In literature, there is no man more worthy of recognition through the award of U.S. Poet Laureate than John Darnielle." ]]> John DarnielleJohnDarnielleMountain GoatsMountainGoatspoet laureatePoetLaureateThe Mountain GoatsTheMountainGoatsU.S. poet laureateU.s.PoetLaureate Marwa Hamad 2012-12-28T14:00:00 00:00 Of Monsters and Men: Ghosts, Trolls and Elves are Guiding Icelandic Band's Career http://www.spinner.com/2012/05/14/of-monsters-and-men-ghosts-trolls-elves/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/05/14/of-monsters-and-men-ghosts-trolls-elves/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/05/14/of-monsters-and-men-ghosts-trolls-elves/#comments Filed under: ,


Sneak Attack Media


It's hard not to get all mystical about Iceland.

After all, it's the land of unpronounceable volcanoes like Eyjafjallajökull, and magical pixie musicians like Bjork and Sigur Ros. It's also home to fast-rising Icelandic folk-pop outfit Of Monsters and Men, a six-piece who are more than comfortable embracing the arcane. To hear them tell it, Iceland is basically like being north of the Wall in Game of Thrones.

Vocalist-guitarist Ragnar "Raggi" Pórhallsson and drummer Arnar Hilmarsson say they can't deny that the supernatural exists -- and neither can their parents. Their fathers' tales of ghosts and trolls back home provide inspiration behind the phantasmal storytelling on the band's My Head is an Animal album. ]]> ghostsicelandiceland musiciceland trollsOf Monsters And Menofmonstersandmensupernatural icelandtrolls Marwa Hamad 2012-05-14T16:30:00 00:00 Empires Didn't Beat Sheepdogs for Rolling Stones Cover, But They Have Freedom http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/27/empires-sheepdogs-rolling-stone/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/27/empires-sheepdogs-rolling-stone/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/27/empires-sheepdogs-rolling-stone/#comments Filed under: , ,


Chris Strong

Chicago indie-rock trio Empires may have missed out on their big break by losing to the Sheepdogs in Rolling Stone's "Choose the Cover" competition last year, but they haven't let that slow them down.

The band have been added to Lollapalooza and scored dates with Kaiser Chiefs and Temper Trap. Empires have also recorded a new album called Garage Hymns (set for a June 12) release they're characterizing as featuring some of the "loudest and rowdiest" songs they've ever written. And perhaps most importantly, after their experience in the Rolling Stones contest, they've come to realize they relish their freedom.

"To throw somebody else in the mix via [the Rolling Stone] contest, it just completely wasn't us," singer Sean Van Vleet tells Spinner. "We learned that we need to just keep doing this ourselves. Freedom is the most important thing when you're playing music these days. It's anyone's world right now."

Empires recently put out the Can't Steal Your Heart Away EP as a sampling of what's to come on Garage Hymns, and Van Vleet says these recordings are their most authentic yet. ]]> empiresempires bandgarage hymns Marwa Hamad 2012-04-27T13:00:00 00:00 Dry the River Talk Mumford & Sons, Religion and the 'The' in Their Name http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/17/dry-the-river/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/17/dry-the-river/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/17/dry-the-river/#comments Filed under: , ,


Chromewaves

Forget Foster the People, Young the Giant and Portugal, the Man. Indie folk-rock outfit Dry the River invented having "the" in the middle of your three-word band name.

"We just came up with something that was totally different, and now everyone's doing it. We invented it. We invented it, and now everyone's stolen it," frontman Pete Liddle tells Spinner with a laugh. "That's what happened."

Besides other bands copying their style, Dry the River been forced to deal with a number of other misunderstandings. ]]> dry the riverDryTheRiver Marwa Hamad 2012-04-17T12:00:00 00:00 Ting Tings: 'Nowheresville' Inspired by Spice Girls, Consider Recording Country Album http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/16/ting-tings-nowheresville/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/16/ting-tings-nowheresville/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/16/ting-tings-nowheresville/#comments Filed under: ,


Columbia Records

English indie pop duo the Ting Tings hit the jackpot with their 2008 Grammy-nominated and ironically-titled debut record We Started Nothing. The album went double platinum in their homeland and led to four years of struggling not to succumb to mainstream pressures -- including a scrapped radio-ready album attempt in 2010.

The fight to stay authentic culminated in the divisive sophomore release, Sounds from Nowheresville. Reviews ranged from "a masterclass in modern pop creation" to "sluggish" and "deliberately bad," but bright-lipped, blonde-haired and bold-voiced singer Katie White says she pays the haters no mind.

"To be honest, I stopped Googling our band when -- I think it was on YouTube a year ago -- people were having a discussion about how abnormally long my arms were and I was thinking 'I'm gonna get arm issues!' so I stopped," White tells Spinner, laughing.

"I have got quite long arms, but I don't particularly need to read it." ]]> Spice GirlsThats not my nameting tingstingtingsTLC Marwa Hamad 2012-04-16T15:00:00 00:00 Andy Warhol, Garage Sale: $5 Sketch of '30s Crooner Rudy Vallee Worth $2.1 Million http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/04/andy-warhol-garage-sale-sketch-rudy-vallee/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/04/andy-warhol-garage-sale-sketch-rudy-vallee/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/04/04/andy-warhol-garage-sale-sketch-rudy-vallee/#comments Filed under: ,


AOL

An Englishman may have won the lottery when he unknowingly bought what seems to be one of Andy Warhol's earliest art pieces at a garage sale in Las Vegas. The piece, now estimated to be worth over $2 Million, was sold to UK business man Andy Fields for a mere $5 by a man whose aunt used to babysit Warhol as a kid. It was hidden behind another art piece and discovered by Fields after the sale.

Despite its high resale value, Fields told the Toronto Star he doesn't want to sell. "What I'm really looking for is a museum to approach me. It should be seen by the public," Fields said. "Then they can pay for the insurance."

The painting, done by Warhol at an assumed age of 11 and showing off some of his signature elements with a bright, pop art blocked background and deep red lips, is a drawing of pioneer crooner Rudy Vallee from the 1930s. ]]> andy warholandywarholgarage salegarage sale sketchrudy vallee Marwa Hamad 2012-04-04T11:30:00 00:00 ALX, Balconies Bring Whimsy and Electricty to CMW 'Artist Select Series' (VIDEO) http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/27/alx-balconies-cmw-cmf-artist-select-series/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/27/alx-balconies-cmw-cmf-artist-select-series/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/27/alx-balconies-cmw-cmf-artist-select-series/#comments Filed under: ,


Paul Swanson / Red Bull

Spinner joined forces with the Red Bull Music Academy and Young Lions Music Club for the Artist Select Series at Toronto live music hotspot The Garrison during CMW's Canadian Music Fest. The first two nights were curated and hosted, respectively, by Canadian rapper Shad and Junior Boys' Jeremy Greenspan. (Watch video here) The final night featured picks from Broken Social Scene's Brendan Canning who presented an evening that saw quite a few ladies dominating the stage.

Canning's roster went whimsical when Toronto artist Allie Hughes' "highly recommended" electro-pop project ALX took over the show. The experimental quartet gave a fantastical performance with Hughes' floaty vocals taking the audience on a cosmic ride.

Ottawa's pop-rock trio the Balconies fronted by Jacquie Neville played a high-voltage set and effortlessly lived up to Canning's description of them: "A very talented crew that can turn into a small chamber orchestra in the blink of an eye." Canning warned listeners to assume nothing about this band before seeing them live, and their raucous performance made it clear why.

Watch exclusive 'Artist Select' footage of both The Balconies and ALX below: ]]> alxBalconiesBroken Social Scenecanadian music festcanadian music weekcmwcmw2012 Marwa Hamad 2012-03-27T14:30:00 00:00 Empires Inspired by David Bowie on 'Can't Steal Your Heart Away' -- Song Premiere http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/26/empires-cant-steal-your-heart-away-song-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/26/empires-cant-steal-your-heart-away-song-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/26/empires-cant-steal-your-heart-away-song-premiere/#comments Filed under: , ,


Chris Strong

Chicago indie-rock trio Empires are back and grittier than ever. The band's EP Can't Steal Your Heart Away is out Tuesday (March 27) and serves as a teaser of what's to come in June when they release their third full-length, Garage Hymns.

Title track Can't Steal Your Heart Away is the raucous opening number (and proclaimed centerpiece) off both the album and EP. It was the first of the new songs that the three members fell in love with right off the bat, singer Sean Van Vleet tells Spinner. ]]> empires Marwa Hamad 2012-03-26T13:30:00 00:00 The Weeknd: Producer Jeremy Rose Says He Never Got a Dime or Credit http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/23/the-weeknd-producer-no-credit/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/23/the-weeknd-producer-no-credit/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/23/the-weeknd-producer-no-credit/#comments Filed under:


The Weeknd | Jeremy Rose

Before the 'e' had been dropped, the Weeknd wasn't just Canadian sensation Abel Tesfaye's mysterious moniker. It was a 'dark R&B' duo involving him and Canadian producer Jeremy Rose (who says he came up with the name, sans alternate spelling). Speaking to Vice, Rose says he was pushed out of the group by Tesfaye without ever seeing a dime for his work.

It all started when Rose encountered Tesfaye through a few Australian guys he'd met at a poutine spot in Toronto. They were at someone's house when Rose started playing the beat for 'What You Need,' a track that would become one of the Weeknd's earliest hits, and Tesfaye started to free-style on top of it. That's when Rose asked him if he wanted to "work on something," and the rest was (previously untold) history.

"We became pretty good friends, hanging out every day. At first it was working pretty well, but then I don't know if it was a change in his heart or the people around Abel trying to guide him, but he was starting to push for doing club tracks and I didn't really want to [do that]," Rose told Vice. ]]> Abel Tesfayejeremy roseThe WeekndTheWeeknd Marwa Hamad 2012-03-23T12:30:00 00:00 Neil Young, Crazy Horse: Band to Release 'Americana' Album in June http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/20/neil-young-crazy-horse-americana-album/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/20/neil-young-crazy-horse-americana-album/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/20/neil-young-crazy-horse-americana-album/#comments Filed under: , ,


Neil YoungGetty Images for The Recording A

Neil Young's reunion with his old pals in Crazy Horse earlier this year has culminated in a new album, 'Americana,' to be released on June 5 in the U.S., reports Rolling Stone.

'Americana' is the first album that Young has recorded with the band since 2003's 'Greendale.' It also marks the first time the complete line-up of Billy Talbot, Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro and Ralph Molina have worked together since 1996's 'Broken Arrow.'

True to its name, 'Americana' is filled with all American folk numbers like 'This Land Is Your Land,' 'Tom Dooley,' and 'Clementine.' ]]> crazy horseCrazyHorseneil youngNeilYoung Marwa Hamad 2012-03-20T11:30:00 00:00 Childish Gambino Injured: Rapper Fractures Foot, Reschedules Tour http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/15/childish-gambino-injured-cancels-tour/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/15/childish-gambino-injured-cancels-tour/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/15/childish-gambino-injured-cancels-tour/#comments Filed under: ,


Cindy Ord, Getty Images

Donald Glover will make a triumphant return to TV sets tonight (March 15) on the recently reinstated NBC comedy 'Community,' but he won't be taking the stage as Childish Gambino tomorrow -- or any of his 11 scheduled tour dates after that, reports Exclaim.

The actor-rapper has been forced to reschedule several shows after breaking his foot while performing in Florida over the weekend.

"This past Saturday I fractured my foot on stage in Tampa during a performance and was rushed to the emergency room," Glover wrote yesterday (March 14) on his official website. ]]> Childish Gambinochildish+gambino+footChildishGambinochildishgambinofootdonald gloverdonald+glover+injuryDonaldGloverdonaldgloverinjury Marwa Hamad 2012-03-15T13:45:00 00:00 Rococode: 'Empire' Video Sees Keyboardist Get 'Twiggy' Transformation -- Premiere http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/15/rococode-empire-video-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/15/rococode-empire-video-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/15/rococode-empire-video-premiere/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Robyn Jamieson

Canadian foursome Rococode's debut album 'Guns, Sex and Glory' -- produced with help from Mother Mother frontman Ryan Guldemond -- is made up of some deliciously catchy pop-rock, but don't let their groomed and polished image deceive you. A quiet darkness underlies their first single, 'Empire,' a song that plays on the relationship between light and dark.

"The colour scheme of the video is very black and white, with gold highlights to bring to mind an 'empirical' quality," singer-guitarist Andrew Braun tells Spinner. "The mood focuses on the darker side of the grand gesture of love proclaimed in the song -- empires fall, fires burn out, etc.

"It was important to us for it not to come off as a cheesy love song, because there is a real darkness to the idea. Empires are big and bold and likely to fail. Maybe that's a little much for a three minute pop song ... but that's what we are trying to convey and hopefully it's coming across." ]]> rococode Marwa Hamad 2012-03-15T13:00:00 00:00 Billy Corgan Tells Off Younger Generation of 'Poseurs' http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/13/billy-corgan-new-generation-poseurs-sxsw/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/13/billy-corgan-new-generation-poseurs-sxsw/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/13/billy-corgan-new-generation-poseurs-sxsw/#comments Filed under:


Andrew H. Walker, WireImage

Smashing Pumpkins icon Billy Corgan isn't impressed with the new generation of 'poseurs,' reports Billboard. The 44-year-old singer -- far from hitting Grumpy Old Man territory -- ripped apart younger musicians during a SXSW interview Monday (March 12), claiming he'd have to set himself on fire on YouTube to get noticed in the music industry.

Never one to hold back, Corgan compared current-day musical success to prostitution, telling author Brian Solis that "[once you make that deal] you're just the fresh stripper."

"[Artists that break through now] have grown up thinking that being famous is the goal," he said. "Not to be respected -- not to be dangerous." ]]> billy corganBillyCorganBillyCorganSmashingPumpkinsBillyCorganSXSW2012smashing pumpkinsSmashingPumpkinssouth by southwestsxswsxsw2012 Marwa Hamad 2012-03-13T16:30:00 00:00 Rush Win Governor General's Award: Canadian Rockers Honoured by Homeland http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/06/rush-governor-generals-award/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/06/rush-governor-generals-award/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/06/rush-governor-generals-award/#comments Filed under: ,


Geddy LeeEthan Miller, Getty Images

Canadian rock trio Rush are up $25,000 and one commemorative medallion after receiving a Governor General's Performing Arts Award. The award is the most prestigious of its kind in Canada and has honoured outstanding work within the arts for over 20 years.

Rush and other recipients -- Janina Fialkowska, Paul-André Fortier, Denis Marleau, Deepa Mehta and Mary Walsh -- were announced Tuesday in Calgary, reports the CBC. ]]> geddy leeNeilPeartRush Marwa Hamad 2012-03-06T17:30:00 00:00