Pats' Edelman, McCourty, Amendola, Chung ruled out

Pats' Edelman, McCourty, Amendola, Chung ruled out
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
December 26, 2015

The Patriots have ruled out four key contributors for Sunday's game against the Jets.

New England ruled out wideouts Julian Edelman (foot) and Danny Amendola (knee), as well as safeties Devin McCourty (ankle) and Patrick Chung (foot) on Saturday. Amendola, Chung and McCourty were previously considered questionable, whereas Edelman was doubtful to play.

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Twitter reacts to Kirk Cousins' end-of-half kneel down

Twitter reacts to Kirk Cousins' end-of-half kneel down
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
December 26, 2015

The Redskins were ahead 16-10 with six seconds remaining and no timeouts while deep in the red zone. Quarterback Kirk Cousins decided to kneel down, which brought the half to a close and left points on the board.

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Jennylee steps out of shadow of Warpaint with killer solo show at The Echo

Jennylee steps out of shadow of Warpaint with killer solo show at The Echo
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 17, 2015

The Echo was pretty packed, as could be expected given the peanut butter & jelly-type complement that Warpaint and the buzzy LA music scene have enjoyed since the mid-2000s. There are Tumblrs dedicated to Jenny Lee Lindberg – she’s got that Silver Lake aesthetic to go along with her killer bass jams. Her solo project was received with a warm welcome as she worked through the material off the album, *as well as throwing in a Warpaint deep cut cover of “CC.” 

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Jessie Ware, Ryn Weaver, Cashmere Cat, Tory Lanez play LA’s El Rey in February for Friends Keep Secrets showcase

Jessie Ware, Ryn Weaver, Cashmere Cat play El Rey in February for Friends Keep Secrets showcase
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 15, 2015

Friends Keep Secrets – the label fronted by producer Bennie Blanco – will be putting on a showcase on February 18 at the El Rey Theatre featuring Jessie Ware, Ryn Weaver, Cashmere Cat, Tory Lanez, BenZel and more. Ware and Weaver’s sets are listed as acoustic on the ticket page for Goldenvoice.

British singer Jessie Ware released her second full-length album Tough Love earlier this year. The album featured collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Dev Hynes, Miguel, Emile Haynie and others.

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Cage the Elephant’s raucous sold-out El Rey gig promises a strong 2016

Cage the Elephant’s raucous sold-out El Rey gig promises a strong 2016
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 14, 2015

Cage the Elephant began their banner 2015 by celebrating a Grammy nomination. On Sunday night at the El Rey Theatre, they showed fans that the future looks bright for the alt-rock five-piece as they performed some songs from their upcoming album Tell Me I’m Pretty — due out December 18 and produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach – as well as favorites from the past.

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The Weeknd, BANKS, Travis $cott turn The Forum into Madness; Lana Del Rey guest appearance

The Weeknd, BANKS, Travis $cott turn The Forum into Madness; Lana Del Rey guest appearance
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 11, 2015

Is there anyone in music who’s had a bigger 2015 than The Weeknd?

Wednesday night’s show at The Forum – the second of two sold-out shows on The Madness Tour at the 17,500 capacity venue – was further evidence that the answer to that question is no.

With a nearly two-hour set, The Weeknd – aka Abel Tesfaye – proved his merit and vocal prowess. Perhaps the highlight of the hit-filled set was the shocking surprise in the form of a Lana del Rey appearance at the end of his set to perform their track “Prisoner” from his critically-acclaimed 2015 record Beauty Behind the Madness.

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Zella Day rocks LA, Fleetwood Mac cover among highlights at high-energy Fonda Theatre set

Zella Day rocks LA, Fleetwood Mac cover among highlights at high-energy Fonda Theatre set
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 10, 2015

Sometimes, pop music doesn’t make sense to me.

Tuesday night, emerging alt-pop artist Zella Day headlined at the Fonda Theatre, supporting her debut album Kicker. It’s an impressive debut record with catchy tracks featured all throughout. I’d put it up against some of the better-performing stuff in the genre.

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Best Debut Albums of 2015

Best Debut Albums of 2015
Mark E. Ortega & Sandra Burciaga
GrimyGoods.com
December 8, 2015

This past year was a great year for debut albums, and especially a mammoth year for women in music. About 65 percent of our debut selections are from some very talented women. While we could have easily added a few more records to this list, we like to keep it selective. When it comes down to what exactly makes a “best debut album of 2015”, there are a lot of factors at play, but for us, all the debut records listed below were constantly on repeat throughout the year. From hip hop, rock, pop, electronica and more — these debut albums were each extraordinary in their own way.

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Best Coast, Wavves, Cherry Glazerr announce Los Angeles date at Fonda Theatre

Best Coast, Wavves, Cherry Glazerr announce Los Angeles date at Fonda Theatre
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 8, 2015

An enticing tripleheader has been announced by Goldenvoice for Thursday, March 3 at the Fonda Theatre.

After a string of successful shows on their own in 2015, SoCal indie rock favorites Best Coast and Wavves will co-headline the Fonda Theatre in 2016. LA darlings Cherry Glazerr will be featured in an opening capacity.

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Animal Collective announce Los Angeles date at Fonda Theatre

Animal Collective announce Los Angeles date at Fonda Theatre
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 7, 2015

Experimental pop-group Animal Collective have announced a Los Angeles date for March 8 at the Fonda Theatre, for which tickets will surely move quickly.

The group is touring in support of their 10th studio album Painting With – of which they debuted at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport to much fanfare. Matt Baetz wrote in an Instagram post that the album could be best heard in the bathrooms, some observation areas, pre-security and the big lounge after going through security. Credit them for getting some much different marketing ideas.

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Gary Clark Jr. delivers virtuoso performance at Fonda for third sold-out night

Gary Clark Jr. delivers virtuoso performance at Fonda for third sold-out night
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 7, 2015

Gary Clark Jr. might be the best American guitarist going these days.

That was my main takeaway after witnessing the virtuoso both Friday and Saturday nights at the Fonda Theatre – the second and third of a three-night sold-out stint at the famed Hollywood venue. Saturday, I was covering the show for Grimy Goods and it meant I was seeing Gary Clark Jr. for four hours overall this weekend. No complaints.

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Remembering Scott Weiland: 1967-2015 — one of the greatest rockers of our generation

Remembering Scott Weiland: 1967-2015 — one of the greatest rockers of our generation
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 4, 2015

Some will say that Scott Weiland lived many years beyond what was expected, given his hard and fast lifestyle as one of the biggest rock stars of the 1990s. It didn’t make it any less sad when the former Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver singer was found dead Thursday in his tour bus at the age of 48, just hours before he was supposed to take the stage.

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Nicki Minaj surprises Teragram Ballroom crowd at final Red Bull Sound Select 30 Days In LA

Nicki Minaj surprises Teragram Ballroom crowd at final Red Bull Sound Select 30 Days In LA
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 2, 2015

Monday night, Red Bull Sound Select‘s second-annual #30DaysInLA culminated in a secret performance at the 600-capacity Teragram Ballroom.

All that was known heading in was that it was a hip-hop / rap performance with rumors swirling that it could be The Weeknd, Missy Elliott, or Nicki Minaj. By the time 10:30 pm rolled around, nobody in the crowd near me was 100 percent sure. Once the pink lights started hitting the stage, people came around to the idea that it was going to be Nicki Minaj. It was confirmed moments later when she walked out on stage, rapping the opening verse of “Superbass” to the heavy excitement of the crowd.

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Brock Osweiler tops Week 11 Players of the Week

Brock Osweiler tops Week 11 Players of the Week
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
November 25, 2015

If Brock Osweiler only remains in the lineup a few more games, he'll go back to the bench with some new hardware after earning AFC's Offensive Player of the Week in Week 11.

Osweiler led the Denver Broncos to a 17-15 victory over the Chicago Bears on the road in his first career start, throwing for two touchdowns and 250 yards on 20-of-27 passing with nary a turnover. The fourth-year quarterback has been waiting patiently for his opportunity and he certainly made the most of it on Sunday.

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Alvvays just what the hipster factory at the Echoplex ordered

Alvvays just what the hipster factory at the Echoplex ordered
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 23, 2015

Thursday night at the Echoplex, I saw something in live music that is almost as rare as seeing a unicorn.

Amidst a sea of hipsters, I saw a bro in a trucker hat atop another bro’s shoulders. This I haven’t seen since Chet Faker at Coachella weekend two [proof]. I guess that’s just the sort of behavior that Molly Rankin and her kick ass lo-fi rock band Alvvays — that’s with two v’s — inspires.

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Halsey rips industry at first sold-out Fonda show, teens scream, riveting alt pop performance

Halsey rips industry at first sold-out Fonda show, teens scream, riveting alt pop performance
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 20, 2015

Wednesday night marked the first of two sold-out shows at the Fonda Theatre for rising alt-pop star Halsey, touring in support of her highly-acclaimed debut full-length album Badlands.

It’s been a meteoric ascent for the 21-year-old. This marked the fourth time I’ve seen her perform live, beginning with an early-day timeslot at May’s Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She’s since sheared off most of her hair and enjoyed a boundless supply of press, turning her from a sleeper pick into a bonafide breakout star.

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Hot Band Alert: No gimmick — Teenaged rockers Regrettes are completely for real

Hot Band Alert: No gimmick — Teenaged rockers Regrettes are completely for real
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 18, 2015

A couple of months ago, I saw a teenaged rock duo called Regrettes open up for Kate Nash at the Echo and was surprised at how competent and legitimate they were – even more-so after learning they were just fourteen years old. A gimmick guitarist Lydia Night and drummer Marlhy Murphy definitely are not.

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Sonos Play:1 speakers are slick, inconspicuous, easy to operate — a must-have for music lovers

Sonos Play:1 speakers are slick, inconspicuous, easy to operate — a must-have for music lovers
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 12, 2015

I recently moved into a nice new spot in mid-city Los Angeles and it’s a great four-bedroom house with a big backyard.

One of the first questions I had was – how best am I going to utilize this space for when I want to play music? Sonos sent me two of their Play:1 speakers (priced at $199) and I paired it with the Play:5 that my roommates already had, and the results were more than I could have hoped for.

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A dapper Leon Bridges takes Fonda Theatre on a sonic trip through time

A dapper Leon Bridges takes Fonda Theatre on a sonic trip through time
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 10, 2015

When I was a kid, I bought a CD called Billboard Top Hits: 1961. It was a compilation album that featured songs like Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” Dion’s “Runaround Sue,” and “Blue Moon” by The Marcels. I wore through my copy of that album by playing it so many times.

Though doo-wop and soul was at the forefront of popular music in the early 1960s, it has certainly fallen back in today’s times. On Monday night at the Fonda Theatre, the fast-rising Leon Bridges helped a sold-out crowd time travel back to a time where music was thriving – though Bridges’ brand of music is more in tune with the likes of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.

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An interview with Meg Myers: figuring things out as she goes along

An interview with Meg Myers: figuring things out as she goes along
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 10, 2015

Meg Myers has long been on our radars as an up-and-coming musician in the alt-rock scene, particularly as she’s made her ascent while living in Los Angeles. She’s drawn comparisons to acts like Alanis Morissette and Fiona Apple but in an interview we did with her last year, she told us her influences were more along the lines of Nine Inch Nails and Alice in Chains. Her debut full-length self-titled album Sorry more than lived up to the buzz generated by her preceding EPs, and now she’s on the road as part of a headlining tour in support of the album with a stop at the El Rey on Tuesday, November 17.

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Ryn Weaver, HOLYCHILD and ASTR prove to be a triple threat at Belasco Theater

Ryn Weaver, HOLYCHILD and ASTR prove to be a triple threat at Belasco Theater
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 9, 2015

The more shows I go to, the less over time I’ve managed to get to a venue in time for the night’s first opener. On Saturday at the Belasco Theater in downtown LA, I made sure to get there early enough.

Ryn Weaver had moved on from selling out the El Rey just a few months ago to a headlining spot at the Belasco, a sizable venue on a Saturday night in LA. This show had support from HOLYCHILD and ASTR — two acts with considerable promise and reputations as live performers — both for whom I could attest to.

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Video Premiere: Watch Regrettes’ new video “Hey Now!” from their UK tour with Jack Off Jill

Video Premiere: Watch Regrettes’ new video “Hey Now!” from their UK tour with Jack Off Jill
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 9, 2015

Teenaged rockers Regrettes just recently toured with Jack Off Jill all across the UK last month and have put together an awesome music video for the song “Hey Now!” chronicling their trip more or less. The song appears on their Hey! EP and is available via iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. It was also recorded by Blank Tapes member Matt Adams.

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Sylvan Esso proves worth the wait at #30DaysInLA show at Fonda Theatre

Sylvan Esso proves worth the wait at #30DaysInLA show at Fonda Theatre
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 4, 2015

If there’s one thing I’m a bit iffy on with Red Bull Sound Select’s #30DaysInLA series, it’s the tendency for the headliners to not go on stage until really late at night.

I realize they are trying to get people in the doors to see the opening acts — as Red Bull put together this concert series for really cheap tickets in an effort to highlight artists they’re trying to “break” (hence the blue fluorescent BREAK MUSIC signs you’ll see at all of these events throughout November). But looking around the Fonda Theatre, you could see people were growing anxious as 11 pm approached and electro-folk darlings Sylvan Esso hadn’t taken the stage yet.

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Grimes kicks things off right for #30DaysInLA at sold-out Mayan gig

Grimes kicks things off right for #30DaysInLA at sold-out Mayan gig
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 3, 2015

The first legitimate live performance of Red Bull’s much-anticipated second installment of #30DaysInLA – the series of events that take place across every day of November – saw producer/songwriter Grimes aka Claire Boucher turn up a blistering hot sold-out show at the Mayan Theater.

Walking out onto the stage at 10:15 PM with her signature multi-colored hairstyle, some butterfly wings and a skirt — as well as some backup dancing help, Grimes jumped right into new material with the track “Laughing Without Being Normal.” She dusted a lot of her new stuff off for the first time a few weeks prior at Beach Goth, but this felt a little more special in the magnificent confines of the Mayan, a true downtown LA treasure. Her new album Art Angels will drop Nov. 9, so this was quite the sneak peek.

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Jacoby Jones released by San Diego Chargers

Jacoby Jones released by San Diego Chargers
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
November 3, 2015

Jacoby Jones' time in San Diego has come to an end.

The ninth-year wideout was cut by the Chargers on Tuesday, the team announced.

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Out from under the microscope: an interview with rising pop-star Ryn Weaver

Out from under the microscope: an interview with rising pop-star Ryn Weaver
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
November 2, 2015

Last June, a song exploded in the music blogosphere that had tons of people asking one question: Who the f*ck is Ryn Weaver?

When the wildly addictive “OctaHate” arrived on the scene last year, there was very little information out there on the talented singer-songwriter behind the track. Now almost a year-and-a-half later, the 23-year-old pop star has performed at many major music festivals (from SXSW to Coachella to Bonnaroo and many in between) as well as appearances on late-night TV.

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Matt Elam suspended one game for substance violation

Matt Elam suspended one game for substance violation
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
October 30, 2015

Ravens safety Matt Elam was suspended Friday for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances and Abuse.

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Julian Casablancas, Die Antwoord close out much-more organized Beach Goth day 2

Julian Casablancas, Die Antwoord close out much-more organized Beach Goth day 2
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 27, 2015


Beach Goth day 2 at the Observatory in Santa Ana was a bit more organized than the previous and featured a couple of interesting performances from its biggest names.

They had more security setup to make getting into the festival a quicker experience than the previous day. What took hours on Saturday took minutes on Sunday. People were getting their full Halloween garb tried out for next weekend. I saw a hot dog, Quail Man (from the 90s Nick cartoon Doug) and quite a few zombies, as well as some members of the KISS Army and Sailor Moon.

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Grimes, Warpaint, Mac DeMarco save Beach Goth day 1, marred by disorganization

Grimes, Warpaint, Mac DeMarco save Beach Goth day 1, marred by disorganization
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 27, 2015

Beach Goth was a huge clusterf*ck, but it wasn’t without its high points.

Grimes, the multi-talented musician who seems to do everything herself, debuted four new songs on the first night of the two-day festival that took place at the Observatory in Santa Ana.

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5 Must-See Acts at Beach Goth 2015 at The Observatory Santa Ana

5 Must-See Acts at Beach Goth 2015 at The Observatory Santa Ana
Mark E. Orteg
GrimyGoods.com
October 23, 2015

This weekend, a unique two-day event takes place at the Observatory in Santa Ana courtesy of Orange County’s own The Growlers. Beach Goth combines some epic music featuring the likes of the aforementioned Growlers (both days), Grimes, Warpaint, Julian Casablancas, Mac DeMarco, FIDLAR and Die Antwoord, while also showcasing weird things like a Smurf Village, a rap battle hosted by Riff Raff and Pauly Shore, and Rocky Horror Picture Show Live.

There are also literally dozens upon dozens of other bands performing that you are going to want to check out upon getting through the doors early each day. We’ve handpicked a couple of our favorites to recommend to you!

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Hollywood Bowl magically whipped by epic Blur and Courtney Barnett bill; Fred Armisen guests

Hollywood Bowl magically whipped by epic Blur and Courtney Barnett bill; Fred Armisen guests
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 21, 2015

The first concert I ever saw was Oasis in 2005.

Tuesday night, I was at the Hollywood Bowl, one of the most iconic music venues on the west coast, to see Blur — their biggest rivals in the Britpop invasion.

As I took in a momentous, nearly two-hour performance from Damon Albarn and his mates, I couldn’t help myself as all the Blur vs. Oasis narratives ran wild in my head. I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast and difference between these two bands and their demeanors.

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Watch Meg Myers' new music video for "Lemon Eyes"

Watch Meg Myers' new music video for "Lemon Eyes"
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 16, 2015

Los Angeles-based indie rock favorite Meg Myers has released a new music video for the track “Lemon Eyes,” the second single from her debut full-length album Sorry, which was released just last month.

“Lemon Eyes” is about jealousy and paranoia, according to a tweet of Meg’s featuring the link to the video. We caught her at Life is Beautiful Festival a few weeks back in downtown Las Vegas — one of the first shows on her latest tour — and she returns to LA on Tuesday, November 17 at the El Rey Theatre.

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Wolf Alice show fans' love for them is cool at sweltering Fonda Theatre gig

Wolf Alice show fans' love for them is cool at sweltering Fonda Theatre gig
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 14, 2015

It was still 75 degrees outside when UK indie rock darlings Wolf Alice took the stage at the Fonda Theatre at 11 p.m. last night. The heat wouldn’t keep the crowd from expending all their energy as they rocked out to the band’s hour-long performance in support of their debut full-length album My Love is Cool.

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From Spain with love: an interview with HINDS -- playing the Echo on Oct. 16

From Spain with love: an interview with HINDS -- playing the Echo on Oct. 16
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 9, 2015

Spanish four-piece HINDS (fka Deers) first burst into America at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW), playing more than a dozen shows over the course of that week in Austin. I discovered the band while doing research for my first SXSW — their song “Bamboo” caught my attention immediately — and somehow didn’t manage to see them live that week. But they’ve long been on my conscience and have continued to release explosive high energy lo-fi garage rock jams, and with a gig coming up next week at the Echoplex on Friday, October 16, I got a chance to speak with Carlotta Cosials, one of the founding members of the band as well as one of the main vocalists and guitarists.

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Ben Howard proves sound expansive enough for Greek Theatre, plays fan favorites and Sharon Van Etten cover

Ben Howard proves sound expansive enough for Greek Theatre, plays fan favorites and Sharon Van Etten cover
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 9, 2015

Last October, I got to see British singer-songwriter Ben Howard play a sold-out gig at the El Rey Theatre just as his record I Forget Where We Were was released. It’s the kind of intimate venue that these types of musicians are best enjoyed and Howard did not disappoint – I considered it one of the very best shows I got to see in all of 2014.

Now a year later, Howard was headlining the much more expansive Greek Theatre on Wednesday night. I previously considered him to be the next Damien Rice, so it was intriguing to see how he’d compare to Rice’s own Greek Theatre gig earlier this year.

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Interview with Wolf Alice, the UK's latest and greatest fast-rising rock band

Interview with Wolf Alice, the UK's latest and greatest fast-rising rock band
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 7, 2015

It was only 9 months ago that we saw rising UK rockers Wolf Alice making their LA debut at School Night at Bardot. Their headlining set was one of the more anticipated of the weekly free with RSVP series as patrons packed into the small frat-house-like venue despite some anti-LA weather.

“I remember it like yesterday,” drummer Joel Amey told Grimy Goods in a phone interview earlier this week.

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Kendrick Lamar, surprise Killers set, Halsey and Death Cab for Cutie cap off Life is Beautiful

Kendrick Lamar, surprise Killers set, Halsey and Death Cab for Cutie cap off Life is Beautiful
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 1, 2015

The third-annual Life is Beautiful Festival in downtown Las Vegas saved some of their best tricks for last.

Kendrick Lamar topped off a weekend that included many memorable performances. Perhaps it was perfectly fitting that Kendrick — perhaps the hottest thing in rap today — would close out a festival that is clearly on the up and up in its third year. Kendrick’s live band was fantastic and the rapper brought his A-game.

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Interview with Clean Bandit, who open for Duran Duran at Hollywood Bowl

Interview with Clean Bandit, who open for Duran Duran at Hollywood Bowl
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 1, 2015

UK outfit Clean Bandit opens for Duran Duran on Thursday, October 1 at the Hollywood Bowl, just less than a week after the two appeared Saturday on the Life is Beautiful Festival bill in downtown Las Vegas. Their unique blend of classical and dance music is great to hear, particularly in a live setting. We caught up with Grace Chatto (cello, vocals) and Jack Patterson early Saturday before their set, which was one of the best dance parties of the weekend.

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Duran Duran, Metric, Clean Bandit deliver top Life is Beautiful day two sets

Duran Duran, Metric, Clean Bandit deliver top Life is Beautiful day two sets
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 28, 2015

Day two of Life is Beautiful was the most jam-packed day of the downtown Las Vegas festival schedule-wise. It makes sense. People that drove in from LA or flew in from elsewhere get to enjoy a full day’s worth of music whereas the other two days are sometimes eaten up by traveling to and from home.

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Interview with Catfish & the Bottlemen: On their way to stadium rockers

Interview with Catfish & the Bottlemen: On their way to stadium rockers
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 28, 2015

There’s this sense in indie rock with a lot of bands that they’re not out to conquer the world, that they’re too cool to outright say they desire to play to the biggest crowds out there.

With UK outfit Catfish & the Bottlemen, they’ve been vocal about their desire to play massive stadiums and blow up to becoming the biggest band the UK has seen since Oasis headlined at Knebworth House to the tune of 150,000 people in 1996.

This band is on the fast track given they sound a bit like if The Strokes were fronted by a British version of Brandon Flowers of The Killers. They’ve got a stadium sound, so who is anyone to call them cocky for dreaming they can fill stadiums in the next few years?

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Stevie Wonder, Hozier, Thievery Corporation and more mesmerize day one at Life is Beautiful

Stevie Wonder, Hozier, Thievery Corporation and more mesmerize day one at Life is Beautiful
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 28, 2015

Life is Beautiful was genius to book Stevie Wonder.

The downtown Las Vegas festival — now in its third year — kicked off the first day of their three-day festival with the first legacy headliner they’ve ever booked. It’s those types of acts that will make it stand out and also make it a destination festival rather than something just for the locals.

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An interview with Blackalicious' Chief Xcel: faith brings first new record in a decade

An interview with Blackalicious' Chief Xcel: faith brings first new record in a decade
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 25, 2015

“Never let life’s troubles block your flow. Have faith and keep where you’re trying to go, like a winding river in search of the ocean, you must keep your faith in motion.”

Those are the opening words from “Faith” off Imani Vol. 1 (off the label OGM) – which came out last week – the first Blackalicious album in a decade. The words are inspiring to listeners, but they also fit the hip-hop duo from Sacramento like a glove. Between Chief Xcel’s fire beats and Gift of Gab’s creative rhymes, this twosome has been an important pillar of California hip-hop for about two decades.

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6 Early-Day Can't Miss Life is Beautiful Acts

6 Early-Day Can't Miss Life is Beautiful Acts
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 25, 2015

In just its first two years, Las Vegas’ downtown music festival, Life Is Beautiful has served as the proving grounds for a number of acts that have gone on to mainstream success in the time since. In its first year in 2013, acts like HAIM, ZZ Ward, Charli XCX, Twenty-one Pilots and Robert DeLong delivered memorable early-day performances. Last year, it was The Orwells, The Preatures, Catfish & the Bottlemen, MO, and Milky Chance who got early-day starts.

This year, the festival starts later in the day and runs until later in the night, probably due to it moving from October to the much warmer September dates. Here are our recommendations on who to see once you get through the gates.

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The Killers, Grace Potter, Ben Harper and more close inaugural KAABOO Del Mar with a bang

The Killers, Grace Potter, Ben Harper and more close inaugural KAABOO Del Mar with a bang
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 23, 2015

The final day of the inaugural KAABOO Del Mar brought its largest crowd of the weekend as it was topped by a performance from The Killers, one of the biggest American rock bands out there today.

Brandon Flowers has been in heavy support of his solo record, with very few dates in the States in 2015 for his band. They recently performed at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, as well as a late-add show the night before in San Diego. Some fans told me how tired and hungover they were from a show that didn’t start until around midnight. This set would begin at 8:30 p.m. and end before 10 p.m.

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Zac Brown Band, Counting Crows, Spoon, The Roots highlight wide array of musical offerings at KAABOO Day 2

Zac Brown Band, Counting Crows, Spoon, The Roots highlight wide array of musical offerings at KAABOO Day 2
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 22, 2015

Day two of KAABOO Del Mar featured a diverse string of musical acts, from hip-hop to rock to electronic. One of the interesting things about this festival is how little of the latter two genres it offers.

Rodrigo y Gabriela made magic on the main stage with their Spanish guitars, blending flamenco with rock seamlessly. Despite the early heat, people were definitely being moved to dance by the rhythmic sounds of this awesome duo.

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Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals deliver marathon set at Greek Theatre

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals deliver marathon set at Greek Theatre
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 21, 2015

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals began winding down their tour Friday night at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, packing a ton of material into two-and-a-half hours.

With a catalog that spans 20 years worth of material, Ben and Co. touched on a little bit of everything over the course of their 21-song set. Harper’s many dimensions lended itself to the set’s length as he alternated from playing lap steel to acoustic guitar throughout the night.

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Hot Band Alert: With Phases, 'there's just no ego anymore'

Hot Band Alert: With Phases, 'there's just no ego anymore'
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 21, 2015

Los Angeles indie pop band Phases — formerly known as Jjamz — is comprised of four people that have all been involved in music for most of their lives. Z Berg (The Like), Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley/Bright Eyes), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), and Michael Runion have enjoyed varying degrees of success but currently find themselves in their happiest situation if vocalist Z Berg is to be believed.

“Most of us were in our first bands when we were like — 15?” Berg said in a phone interview last week.

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5 Early-Afternoon Can't Miss Acts at KAABOO Fest

5 Early-Afternoon Can't Miss Acts at KAABOO Fest
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
September 14, 2015

The inaugural KAABOO Music Festival kicks off this upcoming weekend, Sept. 18-20 in beautiful Del Mar San Diego. The lone non-EDM festival will feature acts like No Doubt, The Killers, Slightly Stoopid, Ben Harper, 311 and other big name performances. But as with any music festivals, there’s a lot of value to be found in the early part of the day. Be sure to arrive early and discover some new music. Below are our selections for the 5 Early-Afternoon Can’t Miss Acts at KAABOO Fest!

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IK Enemkpali added to Buffalo Bills' 53-man roster

IK Enemkpali added to Buffalo Bills' 53-man roster
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
September 11, 2015

It's been a whirlwind week for outside linebacker IK Enemkpali, and it ended with a promotion to the Buffalo Bills' primary roster.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday that Enemkpali was signed to the 53-man roster to keep another team from stealing him off their practice squad while suspended, according to a source informed of the Bills' plans. If he was on the practice squad, someone could sign him away, and because he's suspended, he wouldn't count against that team's roster count.

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Aldon Smith charged with 3 misdemeanors, arraignment Oct. 6

Aldon Smith charged with 3 misdemeanors, arraignment Oct. 6
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
September 11, 2015

On the same day it was announced that he had signed with the Oakland Raiders, Aldon Smith was charged with three misdemeanors stemming from an arrest by Santa Clara police that occurred last month.

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