[Event Review] Project Pabst: Denver

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While the influx of major brands into all sectors of independent art over the past decade or so has certainly seen a large swath of fans and critics let out a collective groan; it is events like Project Pabst that at least let us know that some corporations are putting their efforts in the right places. Last Saturday, a pair of us Ninjas set out into one of Denver’s most diversely beautiful neighborhoods, The Five Points/RiNo Arts District (which was conveniently also this writer’s own hood) to enjoy one of the more eclectically diverse days of music we’ve consumed in the Centennial State in years.

We arrived fresh on a sweltering afternoon just in time to see Brooklyn synth-pop outfit Small Black, who if you’ve followed us for some time, know we have developed quite the soft spot for -especially after playing our Halloween TMN Showcase last year. The four-piece paced the day wonderfully, ranging their sound from wistful electro-indie-pop, to chillwave, to lofi 80’s pop, and all of those murky spaces in between. After running through a slate of singles off of last year’s LP Best Blues, Small Black arced their set brilliantly, landing upon their shining star “No Stranger” to wrap up an hour-long set.

Check out the rest of our Project Pabst: Denver review after the jump!

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[Denver Event Preview] Project Pabst – RiNo Arts District – 5/21

Already an established and highly praised festival in Portland, Project Pabst is set to touch down for its first ever stop in Denver, and we’re chomping at the bit for their all-day lineup featuring the likes of TMN Favorites Best Coast, Small Black (who headlined one of our TMN Showcase parties back on Halloween), K. Flay, and local Denverites turned national darlings Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; along with classic staples including the Violent Femmes, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires and loads more across seven stages on Saturday, May 21st in Denver’s booming and eclectic RiNo Arts District. We’ve been watching Project Pabst pick up steam as it nears closer and closer, and with the announcement yesterday that all tickets have now been sold out, it’s shaping up to be a beast of a day for music in the Mile High City.

In anticipation of this weekend’s Denver debut of Project Pabst, check out our playlist below featuring some of our favorite tunes from each headliner, start hydrating, and put aside your beer snobbery before loading your system with cheap domestic beer in the greatest craft-brew city in the U.S. We’ll be out in full force all day tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for our post-event review, and get in the spirit a little early with our official Project Pabst Preview Playlist (say that five times fast) below.

’Best Coast – The Only Place’
’Small Black – No Stranger’
’Best Coast – Do You Love Me Like You Used To’
’Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
S.O.B.’
’Violent Femmes – Blister In The Sun’
’FIDLAR – No Waves’
’Big KRIT ft Trinidad James – My Trunk’
’Lights – Same Sea (K.Flay Remix)’
’Metz – Can’t Understand’
’Baroness – Shock Me’
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[Event Review] Mura Masa, NAO and Bonzai @ The Independent–SF, 5/12

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’Mura Masa – …Girl’

I can remember pretty distinctly when my enchantment with Mura Masa’s music began—specifically the first time I heard “…Girl.” That piano-driven, trap-influenced beauty served as an ample intro to his intricate production style but it really only scratched the surface of what was to come. His 2014 debut album Soundtrack to a Death, a collection of dynamic beats, cemented his status as one of the most exciting electronic artists out–seamlessly fusing the enormity of trap percussion with fluttering instrumentation and chopped vocal samples.

While that first project captured the bloggers and electronic music enthusiasts, it was Mura Masa’s Someday Somewhere EP that, with the help of a diverse set of collaborators, catapulted his notoriety among casual fans and the biggest producers in the game alike. Since that release, he’s launched Anchor Point Records his own label that’s already brought us fantastic projects from Bonzai and Jadu Heart.

In San Francisco, it’s common to discover an artist on Soundcloud and find them on a show flier within a few months. In the case of Mura Masa, though, the wait for a live performance felt like an eternity—spanning almost three years. Having checked literally hundred of artists off of the must-see list in that time, it would be a massive understatement to say we were excited as we walked into The Independent to see the 20-year-old phenom’s SF debut alongside Bonzai and NAO. So, if you’re wondering why this article is so long it’s probably because we’ve been waiting for so long to write it. Continue reading

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[Giveaway] Adam Vida, Mikos Da Gawd & More @ The Independent, SF 5/13

’Adam Vida – Tomorrow Land (Prod. Mikos Da Gawd)’
’Adam Vida – Sifu (Prod. Mikos Da Gawd, Mr. Carmack and Woostaar)’

Combining agile flows, refreshing lyricism and Bay Area flavor, emcee A-1 has built a career out of ingenuity. Recently, the San Francisco native announced that he’d be leaving the A-1 project behind in favor of Adam Vida, representing a new, “more worldly” chapter in his artistic journey. Based on the releases thus far, which you can peep above, Vida certainly takes a step forward but one that fans of his early work will most certainly appreciate. Building off Thurlian, his final project as A-1, Vida’s style finds a balance between clever, comedic bars and laser-focused commentary. With producers like Mikos da Gawd, WooStar and Mr. Carmack laying down the backdrop for his message of positivity, the sky is the limit for Vida.

With that in mind, we couldn’t be more excited to be giving away 2 tickets to his first ever headlining show under the new moniker. Enter below to win a pair of tickets to catch Vida along with Mikos Da Gawd, Richie Cunning and Dregs One at The Independent this Friday, May 13th. Tickets for the show are also still available here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN 2 TIX TO ADAM VIDA AT THE INDEPENDENT

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[Denver Giveaway/Event Preview] The Music Ninja Presents: Day Wave @ Lost Lake – 5/3

Few acts burst out of the gates with such a far-reaching resonance like what we’ve been witness to with Oakland based troupe Day Wave, and for good reason. Cohesive and developed ensembles like Day Wave come along but once in a while in today’s highly saturated musical climate, so it’s with great excitement that we announce our next ‘The Music Ninja Presents’ concert in Denver, CO, headlined by one of the most exciting bands in any corner of the music industry. Most recently, the Jackson Philips led four-piece released their second EP Hard to Read, and after their earliest singles including “Total Zombie” and “Nothing At All”and of course the Mark Hoppus championed “Drag”, its only solidified their place near the top of countless critics’ ‘Breakout Acts of 2016’ list. On Tuesday, May 3rd at our favorite intimate venue, the Lost Lake Lounge, Day Wave bring their hazy brand of pop structured indie-rock to the Mile High City for the first time, and we’re beyond delighted to help ring them in properly with what will no doubt be a completely packed house. It seems like just yesterday we caught and interviewed Philips & Kevin Friedman’s (who is also an integral part of Day Wave’s touring band), first project Carousel, perform to about 20 people at the Walnut in Denver; so May 3rd also marks something of a sentimental show and reunion of sorts for a few of our TMN mainstays, but let’s save the nostalgia for a few weeks down the line…

Of course, it wouldn’t be a ‘TMN Presents’ night without letting our savvy readers in on the fun, so we’ll be giving away TWO pairs of tickets to this one. Entering our contest is as always, beyond easy. Just “like” The Music Ninja on FB, click on this post header if you’re still on the TMN front page, then comment below with your favorite Day Wave song, and boom, that’s it! (We even provided five below if you need!) And of course, we want as many people as possible to come dance with us, so for our friends looking to secure their spot, advance tickets are only $12.50 and can be purchased using the ticket link here.

There are a few rules, of course:
– The event is 16+ Be sure to tell all of your friends to increase chance of winning!
– You are responsible for your own transportation.
– You must bring a valid form of ID to pick up your tickets at the Lost Lake door.

Check out our preview mini-playlist, start commenting below and best of luck ninjas!

’Day Wave – Stuck’
’Day Wave – Gone’
’Day Wave – Drag’
’Day Wave – Come Home Now’
’Day Wave – We Try But We Don’t Fit In’
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Ultra Music Festival: Day by Day Playlist

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Today’s the day! You’ve saved your hard-earned money throughout the winter, putting away dollar-after-dollar for the start of festival season. Now, you get to march proudly into Ultra Music Festival and dance for three days straight. Before you do, though, we’re pretty sure you’ll need an epic pre-party playlist. And, guess what? We have you covered.

FRIDAY21

’Tycho – Awake’
’Chet Faker – Bend’
’Pan
Pot – Riot (Carl Cox Remix)’
’HONOR – Never Off (Hot Since 82 Remix)’
’Daphni – Vikram’
’LOCO DICE – Keep It Low (feat. Chris Liebing)’
Kygo – Nothing Left (Ft. Will Heard)
Martin Garrix – Now That I’ve Found You (feat. John & Michel)
DJ Snake – Middle feat. Bipolar Sunshine
Emma Hewitt – Colours (Armin van Buuren Remix)
Kaskade & CID – US (Extended Mix)
Dash Berlin vs. BBE – One Week And Seven Days
Blasterjaxx – Heartbreak (Radio Edit)
Julian Jordan – All Night (Extended Mix) (OUT NOW)
’Daniel Bedingfield
Gotta Get Thru This (Jauz RetroFuture Remix)’
’Snails – Frogbass’
’ADAM K & SLANDER – BREATHE (ft. Matthew Steeper & Haliene)’

SATURDAY

’Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (SMLE Remix)’
’Louis the Child – It’s Strange (Ft. K.Flay)’
’Elektro Guzzi – Atlas (KiNK Mix)’
’Thomas Jack – Rivers (radio rip 128kbps)’
’Maceo Plex – Conjure Dreams – Drumcode – Dec 15th’
’Plastikman – EXposed (Dubfire Remix)’
’Sasha – Pontiac’
’Mind Against & Locked Groove – A – Elysium’
’Sussed – Patrick Topping’
’Not So Dirty (The Chainsmokers & Jenaux Festival Season is Over & Now You’re Broke Remake)’
’MORTEN Feat. Frida Sundemo – Beautiful Heartbeat (Avicii Remix)’
’Steve Angello – Remember (feat. The Presets)’
’Laidback Luke & Moska Feat. Terri B! – Get It Right’
’Wiwek & Skrillex – Killa Ft Elliphant’

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’Martinez Brothers – Barry White Owl’
’Seth Troxler – Junkyard Tool’
’Monkey Safari – Walls (Guy Gerber’s Office Sex Remix)’
’Lee Foss & MK feat. Anabel Englund – Electricity EP’
’Skream — Rollercoaster feat. Sam Frank’
’Kryoman & Pairanoid – My Squads Lit Ft SHAQ (Original Mix)’
’Tove Lo – Talking Body (Gryffin Remix)’
’Fedde Le Grand And Cobra Effect – I Can Feel
’Robin Schulz & J.U.D.G.E. – Show Me Love (Max Manie & KlangTherapeuten Remix)’
’Michael Calfan – Nobody Does It Better’
’The Chainsmokers – New York City (Tommie Sunshine & APAX Remix)’
’Deadmau5 – BLOOD FOR THE BLOODGOAT’
’Rabbit in the Moon – NINE ELEVEN DUB’
’Tchami – Missing You (ft. AC Slater & Kaleem Taylor)’
’Ass Clap (feat. Nilo Stari)’
’Just a Gent – Heavy As A Heartbreak (Lookas X SMLE Remix)’
’LIL BOOSIE – CRAZY (BRILLZ AND SNAILS BOOTLEG)’
’Ookay – Thief’
’Flash Funk (Marshmello Remix)’
’Wave Racer – Flash Drive (feat. B▲by)’
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[Event Review] TMN’s 5 Favorite Acts from CRSSD Fest 2016

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(All Photos by Summer Luu via ListenSD)

 

Following an epic weekend, CRSSD Fest might’ve just become our new favorite music event in California. Presented by FNGRS CRSSD, the two-day festival is everything we’d wish for and more. Even though it mildly sprinkled on Saturday night due to the El Nino weather, it’s safe to say this is the best CRSSD thus far. The Waterfront Park in San Diego was the perfect venue for a festival that features artists that preach good vibes and company. The palm trees on the side of the main stage stick out in an occasionally clear sky, and the rain might’ve just loosened us up a little bit more – the music made it that much better.

To sum up our experience at CRSSD, we’ve handpicked five of our favorite acts that we think best highlight the festival. Check out our list below after the jump (in no particular order).

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