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Remembering Micheal “eyedea” Larsen | Eyedea’s wake

Remembering Micheal “eyedea” Larsen
On Saturday, October 16, 2010, we lost our beloved friend, family member and artist Micheal “eyedea” Larsen at the age of 28. Eyedea, who was most notably known for his music with Eyedea & Abilities, Oliver Hart, Face Candy and Carbon Carousel, was an artist in its truest form. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. In the days to come, we feel the focus should be on Micheal’s life, music and legacy. Let’s celebrate his life, remember his music and never forget what he has given us all.

We miss you. We love you. And, you will not be forgotten.
Micheal “eyedea” Larsen 11.09.81 – 10.16.10 R.I.P.
All donations can be directed to Micheal’s Mom, Kathy Averill

Public Wake:
Micheal “eyedea” Larsen Memorial
Date: Thursday, October 28, 2010
Public: 7:30 – 10:00PM
Location: Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront, Minnesota Grand Ballroom
Address: 11 East Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55101

Sending Flowers: If you are interested in sending flowers for the memorial, all deliveries must be made to arrive on Thursday, October 28, 2010. Please make deliveries to arrive prior to 12:00PM CST.

Send to: Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront, Minnesota Grand Ballroom, c/o Micheal Larsen Memorial, 11 East Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55101.

A Celebration of the life of Micheal “eyedea” Larsen
Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Location: First Avenue Mainroom, 701 1st Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Doors: 5:00PM
Ages: All Ages
Donation: $20

Tickets will be on sale: Monday, October 25, 2010 at 5:00PM CST

Tickets will be available at Fifth Element, 2411 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55405. For those of you that are not in the Twin Cities area; a limited amount of tickets will be available online at Etix.com.

There is no guest list. All donations will go to the family of Micheal “eyedea” Larsen.

RSE Radio Tribute:
Join us this Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 9:00PM – 11:00PM CST on RSE Radio to remember our dear friend and brother Micheal “eyedea” Larsen. We’ll be playing music and sharing memories with some of Mikey’s peers. We would love to hear from all of you that loved and supported Mikey’s art over the years as well. If you would like to share a special memory or experience you had please leave them at: www.twitter.com/rseradio, www.facebook.com/rseradio or radio@rhymesayers.com and we will be randomly selecting your comments to read on the air throughout the night.

You can tune into RSE Radio at 90.3FM in Minneapolis, 106.7FM in St. Paul or online at www.rhymesayers.com, www.facebook.com/rseradio or www.kfai.org

Quotes:

Dear Son,
Always remember that where ever you go and what ever you do my love will always be with you. I knew before you were born that you were going to affect the world. I didn’t know how or with what gift, but now I do. You have given me the most joy, trouble, happiness, and pain. Now it’s time for the rest of us to step up and be the humans you know we can be. All my love,

-Mom

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Mike was the closest friend I ever had. He was as caring as he was brilliant and was a true prodigy. I am honored to have been in his life and to have created with him and help spread his messages. He was a great human being and he will be missed.

-Gregory Keltgen (Dj Abilities)

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I met Mikey when he was 14 and he was so full of energy, but so focused for his age. I have always been amazed at his knowledge and thirst for life being so young. On more than one occasion, I have had to remind myself how young he really was while we were all coming up. He was such a special individual, he mastered everything he touched and wanted to touch everything. He was the most free person I have ever known and he approached life like a scientist, wanting to dissect all of her meanings so he could share them with others. Mikey had an amazing spirit and a truly gifted mind and all of us who were blessed to experience this immediately became better people. This life couldn’t contain my friend and so he’s moved on to his next journey, but I know he’ll forever be in our hearts and minds pushing us to live life to the fullest, be better and be free.

-Brent Sayers (aka Siddiq aka Stress)

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My friend, my brother. I do not know who I would be without your influence in my life. You challenged me without tearing me down. You pushed and encouraged me to be a better person. You had my back even when I didn’t have my own back. Your words, thoughts, and ideas impacted me in ways that I probably haven’t fully realized yet. You made me laugh and cry. You made me look and question. Thank you for everything. I love you Mikey.

-Sean Daley (Slug)

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I traveled many places for the first time with Mikey, and always remember how he would wake up in the van and say, “Man, this looks just like St. Paul.” All those first tours, Mikey was under 21, and the only way I knew it was the “X’s” on his hands each night. He was always older than his age to me. When I moved to Minneapolis to work with Rhymesayers 10 years ago, Mikey had a huge impact on my decision to make that leap of faith. He gave me the courage and a purpose. There were many days away from home that we spent together, and those times have helped define who I am today. He always inspired me, challenged me and made me laugh. Anytime, I’m on the road and drive into Columbus, St. Louis or Pittsburgh, I’m going to think, man, this looks just like St. Paul. I will always remember, always love and always miss Mikey.

-J-Bird

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I never thought that I would become best friends with the person I looked up to the most, but I did. When I first met Mike, he asked me what I was doing with my life and waited with open ears for my response. Although my answer was unclear and although I was unsure, he wasn’t and he made sure that one-day I would see in myself what he could already see in me. I vividly recall his rollercoaster metaphor. He always said, “regardless of what labels you use to define yourself and no matter what you do with your time, you will always experience the same ride.” Micheal had more influence on me as a human being than anyone ever has and I assume ever will. He taught me how to listen to myself and to others. He taught me how to acknowledge my true desires and to face my attempts to escape. He taught me how to express myself. He pushed me, but never too hard; he was a gentle friend. He was never too busy to just be there with me when I needed him. Of all the questions I still have for him and for all the unfinished business we will never get to complete together, I know one thing. I know that he wanted everyone to hear his message and I will make sure that that happens. I love you Mike . May your love live through me.

-Christopher Keller (Kristoff Krane)

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Eyedea – One of the hardest working people I know. From breaking to rapping, playing the piano, guitar or freestyling, it didn’t matter he put his entire soul into it. He taught me a lot about being a musician.
-Felipe Cuauhtli
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I started performing with Eyedea & (DJ) Abilities as their ‘hype-man/back-up vocalist’ in 1997 when we were all still in high school. I was hugely influenced by such talented and passionate artists and even back then I knew that Mikey was special and would leave a lasting impact on music or whatever he decided to do with himself. Mikey always pushed the boundaries of what was accepted as truth and commonplace and was always reaching for something greater. He made everyone around him better because he had such a confidence and charisma about him that it was infectious and impossible to ignore. The only comfort I can take in his passing is knowing that where ever he is now, he’s doing just fine because he never had trouble making friends or finding his own path.

-Alexei “Crescent Moon” Casselle (Kill The Vultures, Roma Di Luna)

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Eyedea was a precious soul. We’re better artists for working with him and better people for knowing him. He added so generously to our lives and his passing leaves an empty space in our hearts. His spirit will forever be entwined in our life changing moments. Thank you, Mikey for sharing your light with us. We love you so very much and your music, insight and laughter will never leave us.

-Brother Ali

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How do you sum up the career and life of a brilliant writer and musician in three sentences. I can do it in one word, Mikey.

-Casey O’Brien (Bassist in “Carbon Carousel” and “Face Candy.”)

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Miss you Mikey like I miss being a kid. You’re one of my favorite people ever and I can’t thank you enough. I promise to hold your brave, humble, searching, empathetic, hilarious spirit infront of me and press it back into my chest when it feels empty. Sleep tight brother.

-Jeremy Ylvisaker

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I was always inspired by Mikey’s focus. I always knew he was a true artist, one to be revered. He was constantly pushing boundaries. He was the kind of artist that always made me wonder, what’s he going to come up with next. I will always love and remember Mikey for being my friend. No one made me laugh like he did. I truly enjoyed his presence and I’ll miss him dearly.
-Sab

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Mikey was the 15 year old kid sleeping on my couch at Scribble Jam, slaying MCs 10 yrs older than him. There was nothing anyone could do. I’ve never met a more supportive mother in my life than Kathy. Kathy is the shit.

-Mr. Dibbs

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Mike was always himself. He taught me how to be more myself. I’ll always remember him.

-Joe Horton

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Micheal is one of the most supportive, encouraging, and positive people I’ve ever met. He is a creative genius who has accomplished so much in his career; but that is all secondary to the fact that he treated people with such kindness and fun energy. He is an optimist, who lived his life being extremely considerate, thoughtful, and generous to those around him. Micheal will continue to be a roll model to me for those reasons.

-Michael Gaughan

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Eyedea was the purest artist I have ever met. An all around amazing human being. Great rapper. And a better friend.

-Murs

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I was able to become good friends with one of my heroes. As the years went by I started to forget him as a famous musician, and grow to love him as my friend. From time to time I was reminded of his impact on the world through him interacting with fans all over the country. A lot of people are going to miss “Eyedea”, one of the most important hip hop musicians ever. I will too. But more than that, I will miss my friend Micheal.

-Michael Stangler

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As only Mikey could, he found a way to burn a candle on three ends. As a friend and as an artist he pushed every boundary he walked, and did not hesitate to show you who he really was underneath his skin. I will sincerely miss him, and would not trade all the riches in the world for all the conversations and experiences I shared with him. Artist and Friend,

-Louis N. LaPierre

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I will always remember laughing constantly whenever he was around. He had a great energy about him that didn’t allow you to take yourself too seriously, ever. If you were spazzing out about something really minor or trivial, he was the kinda dude that wouldn’t really react to it the same way. He might just start laughing or crack a joke to break the tension and make everybody else laugh. Then you would see that you were over-reacting and calm down–without him ever really telling you to calm down. I always admired that quality about him. He never got caught up in the stream, no matter how powerful it was. He always did his own thing.
-Blueprint
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Mikey was an artist in constant transition. If you blinked and missed a moment of brilliance he’d be sure to fill you in on what you missed. Now that he can’t be here to do that we will gladly do it for him. With the heaviest of hearts.
-Sage Francis
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Micheal was sincerely the most inspiring and extraordinary person I have ever met in my life. His fearlessness in expressing himself so authentically in so many different ways has profoundly impacted me as both as an artist and as a person. I will always love you and miss you, Mikey, thank you so much for believing in me.

-Cody Foster (Sadistik)

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Eyedea helped me become a better musician and Micheal Larsen helped me become a better person. He will be missed by family, friends, and fans. The beauty of his life is that many of us are all three.

-Cole Policy

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Mikey was a challenge. To everyone. And to himself. His challenges seemed to bring him great joy and give his life meaning. If challenge is what life is all about, he lived several full lifetimes in the short while he was here. Mikey certainly challenged me and I’m eternally grateful to him for that. He was one of my favorite people in the world and I’ll miss him very much.

-Rich Terfry (Buck 65)

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Lets say you’re standing outside of a bar with a circle of friends having a cigarette before the next band starts. You might be approached by someone who’s been dealt a difficult hand in this life, and they ask you for change. Maybe that day, hard as you usually try, you can’t muster the energy to engage with that person, to be present. To my knowledge, Micheal Larsen never had that day. Maybe he didn’t have change, but he always had an open smile and treated anyone he met, no matter how briefly, like a human being… with as much right to life and basic human respect as he held for himself. I miss you, Mikey. I promise I will carry the fire.

-Michael Lewis

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Micheal Larsen was the best teacher and friend I’ve ever had. He was a living muse. He inspired countless people to become bigger and better individuals. He is the only person I know that has dozens of people who say he is their best friend and those people went on to create beautiful things hoping to make him proud. I am proud to call him a best friend and proud to have created art with him and for him.

-Austin Dufault (Puppy Dogs and Ice Cream)

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In life we are blessed with opportunities to cross paths with individuals whose souls are greater than what the body can contain. From this body is pure inspiration. The motive to do. The sheer will of desire to get from point A to Z, and all points between. We have lost a great body of being, however, what we had and what has always been is an energy that will live forever.

-Will Jenkins

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Eyedea was a brilliant visionary who wore his soul outside of his body and kept his heart on his sleeves at all times. He was on a constant evolutionary quest for truth, justice, love, peace, and the overall existence of life and our roles in it. In the spirit of John Coltrane or Malcolm X he wasn’t afraid to change trajectories mid flight despite what anyone said embracing contradictions and tension like a lost but found soul mate. To him the process and the product was the same, he was creative expression personified. I didn’t always understand him or his vision but I always felt him. He has returned to the essence in a more powerful form helping us think outside of the boxes we place or are placed in front of us. He taught us what freedom really meant and what it looked like in action and for that I am forever grateful.
-Chaka M’Kali (I Self Devine)

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Mikey, thank you for all the help, honesty and insane laughter. I will read every book you told me to. Thank you for the constant inspiration, whether to be the best, or destroy best as a concept. You never stopped progressing. You lived as art. You were a good friend, I miss you.
-Stef Alexander (P.O.S)

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Mikey always struck me as a person that said exactly what he felt like saying in a well thought out way. Be it in the battle scene, on his albums, or in regular conversation. He’s one of the few people I saw start a conversation with a stranger on a plane and talk to them comfortably for hours. He will be extremely missed.
-Toki Wright

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Eyedea was definitely thee MC from the Midwest (other than Juice) who earned our (the West Coast’s) respect for the Midwest indie rap scene thru battling in the underground circuit and shining on countless freestyle sessions heard live on stage, on nationwide radio and in street circles…I witnessed it, having had the pleasure to compete against him in Scribble Jam, watch him slay the HBO Blaze battle, then tour the USA with him on the same bus having freestyle sessions every night with some of the best MCs – his rise was true…his impact on Midwest indie rap was and still is enormous…we all saw him evolve musically from just a dope battle MC to a full fledged heart pouring artist with Abilities at his side; as an artist, i’ll always remember him as having a true passion for exploring the bounds of his creativity; but most of all, as just Mikey – he was a great friend to have, to talk to and chill with, and he always ALWAYS showed mad love, respect & acknowledgment for the Goodlife / Project Blowed family so it’s nothing but eternal love for our friend and brother from another mother…rest well my friend…rest well….
-Abstract Rude

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Anyone who carries leadership qualities always has my utmost respect. I truly feel he was a leader. So many others were so much closer to him to already know this firsthand, but if I could sense it from a distance, it must’ve been so potent to those up-front. In the few days after his passing I can tell what a dent he has left in people’s hearts by the amazing words written to describe his genius ways on & off the mic. I salute you Eyedea.
-Evidence

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I first met Eyedea in 1997 when he came through a radio show I was working at. He was just 15 or 16 then, but already seemed more passionate and creatively curious than most. In the years to come, it was my privilege to call him a friend. Mikey had a great sense of humor, an unshakable confidence in his art, and a mind that was always looking to push forward. He worked unbelievably hard, constantly trying to find new ways of expressing himself in the most honest and spontaneous way possible. I’m so proud to have known him, and I’m heartbroken to have to say goodbye so soon
-BK-One

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You never expect to hear that a friend has passed. Not someone so young, so talented, an artist at heart. I can still hear the enthusiasm in his voice, the passion for what he was doing. He is a true inspiration to anyone struggling to find their own voice, and then speak.
-Skye Rossi

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To be idle is a short road to death, and Mikey was never idle, so it is with great distress to me that my friend is gone. To think of him as a new ancestor, an old friend and a brilliant artist is appropriate, and that is what I’ll do.
-Psalm One

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He was fearless, groundbreaking, hilarious, and a warm…true friend who I had a GREAT respect for. 1 of the people who paved the way so others could do what they do. All love from me to him & K. Can’t say RIP cuz to me he’s still here, just in a higher form.
-Onry Ozzborn

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Press Releases Tour Dates

QUANNUM PROJECTS RELEASES PIGEON JOHN’S DRAGON SLAYER TODAY, AND THE SHOWMAN IS CURRENTLY OUT ON A NATIONAL TOUR

QUANNUM PROJECTS RELEASES PIGEON JOHN’S DRAGON SLAYER TODAY, AND THE SHOWMAN IS CURRENTLY OUT ON A NATIONAL TOUR!

Lead single “The Bomb” explodes in new national VW commercial
Los Angeles-based indie rapper/singer/songwriter/rocker and funny man Pigeon John is back with Dragon Slayer, out TODAY, October 12 via Quannum Projects. Dragon Slayer follows up the critically acclaimed Pigeon John…And The Summertime Pool Party and houses the signature Pigeon John humor and witty rhymes, but with more rock and pop sounds. With the aid of keyboard wonder General Elektriks’ Hervé Salters, Pigeon John produced the whole record, including, for the first time, recording and chopping up his own instrumentation rather than just flipping samples and banging on an MPC.

AOL Music is streaming Pigeon John’s Dragon Slayer in Full CD Listening Party | listen here

Before Dragon Slayer hit the streets, Volkswagen snatched up lead single, “The Bomb” for use in a national TV spot. The Volkwagen Jetta commercial features the classic “sitting dance” by Gene Kelly & Donald O’Connor set to Pigeon John’s “The Bomb.”

View/post the Volkswagen Jetta commercial from here

Stream the banging new single “The Bomb” here

Known for his wildly energetic performances, Pigeon John, deemed “a showman in the tradition of Cab Calloway and August Darnell” by the Los Angeles Times, is out wowing crowds again with his live show well through next year. Brand new dates have been added to the Dragon Slayer national tour, celebrating the CD release tonight in Boulder, CO at Club 156, and continuing on through the end of November.

The Dragon Slayer Tour
Pigeon John
w/ DJ Abilities (from Eyedea and Abilities from Rhymesayers crew) performing his own set plus mashing it up on stage as Pigeon John’s DJ, w/ Dark Time Sunshine (feat. Onry Ozzborn from GreySkul)

Oct 12 | Boulder, CO | University of Colorado – Club 156
Oct 14 | Madison, WI | High Noon Saloon
Oct 15 | Minneapolis, MN | 7th Street Entry
Oct 16 | Chicago, IL | Morseland
Oct 17 | St. Louis, MO | Lola
Oct 19 | Columbia, MO | Mojos
Oct 20 | Lawrence, KS | Jackpot Music Hall
Oct 22 | Colorado Springs, CO | The Black Sheep
Oct 23 | Durango, CO | The Abbey Theater
Oct 29 | Fairfax, CA | 19 Broadway w/ Busdriver
Oct 30 | Reno, NV | Tonic Lounge w/ Busdriver
Nov 11 | Tucson, AZ | DV8 Nightclub
Nov 12 | Phoenix, AZ | Chasers
Nov 13 | Albuquerque, NM | Moonlight Lounge
Nov 15 | Austin, TX | Emo’s
Nov 16 | Houston, TX | House of Blues – Bronze Peacock
Nov 17 | New Orleans, LA | 12 Bar
Nov 18 | Atlanta, GA | Drunken Unicorn
Nov 19 | Knoxville, TN | Barley’s Tap Room
Nov 20 | Nashville, TN | The End
Nov 21 | Durham, NC | Casbah
Nov 22 | Baltimore, MD | The Talking Head Club
Nov 26 | Cambridge, MA | Western Front

Categories
Press Releases Tour Dates

QUANNUM PROJECTS TO RELEASE PIGEON JOHN’S DRAGON SLAYER OCTOBER 12TH, 2010

QUANNUM PROJECTS TO RELEASE PIGEON JOHN’S DRAGON SLAYER OCTOBER 12TH, 2010
On his fifth solo album, Pigeon John embarks on new territory producing the entire album with help from General Elektriks’ Hervé Salters

PIGEON JOHN: DRAGON SLAYER
(Quannum Projects; Oct. 12, 2010)

Quannum Projects is set to release LA-based Pigeon John’s new album Dragon Slayer on October 12, 2010, the follow up to critically acclaimed Pigeon John…And The Summertime Pool Party. Known for his wildly energetic performances, Pigeon John, deemed “a showman in the tradition of Cab Calloway and August Darnell” by the Los Angeles Times, will be wowing crowds again with live dates this fall.

Dragon Slayer houses the signature Pigeon John humor and smarts but with a whole new sound. With the aid of General Elektriks’ Hervé Salters, he produced the whole record, including, for the first time, recording and chopping up his own instrumentation rather than just flipping samples and banging on an MPC.

Pigeon John explains, “I’m enjoying the new record because of Hervé’s touch on it. The songs ran out of my hands and grew up like children. Control went out the window, and the songs stood on their own two feet without my help. Dragon Slayer is the best TV pilot ever written. That’s all I have to say, plus give me a pint…”

The dragon that Pigeon John slays isn’t just the malaise of a quarter-life crisis; it’s all the little obstacles and stories that come together to make a person. It’s that moment of realization, as PJ details on the head-nodding harmonies of “Buttersoft Seats”, when buying a nephew’s new Jordans suddenly becomes more important than owning the hottest whip on the block. Or how, with the right mind state, sipping coffee in your backyard can turn you into “a young Sean Connery in Cabo”; at least while “So Gangster” sets the soundtrack. On “Ben Vereen” only Pigeon John could create a hook like, “I hate you so much” that goes well with a smile on the face and a kick in the step. Dragon Slayer showcases Pigeon John’s sophisticated and witty storytelling ability while not binding to any one genre.

Pigeon John, whether backed by a live band or simply by beats (always complimented, of course, with his smooth moves), has incredibly commanding stage presence and charisma.

Of his love for the live show, Pigeon John says “It’s is where the rubber meets the road. A show can never be leaked or recreated. It’s traditional, in a sense, just the performer and the people. Vaudeville almost. The potential to flop is inches away from washing over the crowd and winning them. And that danger is what I’m into. You can’t fake a show… or an orgasm.”

Having shared the stage with the likes of Matisyahu, Of Montreal, Mike Patton, Lyrics Born, RJD2 and Nneka, Pigeon John can woo any crowd, rock and hip-hop alike. He’ll be out there like a road warrior once again this fall, and on through next year.

Experience the greatness live on these select dates…..

The Dragon Slayer Tour
Pigeon John
DJ Abilities (from Eyedea and Abilities from Rhymesayers crew)
Dark Time Sunshine (feat. Onry Ozzborn from GreySkul)

Date
City
Venue

Sept. 30
Santa Barbara, CA
Velvet Jones

Oct. 1
San Diego, CA
The Loft

Oct. 2
Los Angeles, CA
Siren Studios – Thrillist

Oct. 2
Oct. 4
Visalia, CA
San Fran., CA
The Cellar Door Cafe Du Nord

Oct. 6
Seattle, WA
Nectar Lounge

Oct. 7
Portland, OR
Backspace

Oct. 8
Boise, ID
The Reef

Oct. 9
Bozeman, MT
Zebra Cocktail Lounge

Oct. 10
Salt Lake City, UT
Urban Lounge

Oct. 11
Denver, CO
Larimer Lounge

Oct. 12
Boulder, CO
Club 156

Oct. 14
Madison, WI
High Noon Saloon

Oct. 15 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
Oct. 16 Chicago, IL Morseland
Oct. 17 Rock Island, IL TBD
Oct. 18 Cleveland, OH TBD

“The L.A. hip-hop/funk/pop maestro takes you on a tour of his (rough) life and (smooth) musical influences, making witty jokes and vehement comments about everything from dating to drugs. Older readers may hear the influence of Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band; younger readers… just go buy this, trust me: It’s its own high.” – Entertainment Weekly

“Nebraska-born, LA-bred, racially mixed rapper Pigeon John could gripe about what he’s not (rich, famous, laid). But the comedic, alienated, singsongy MC’s third indie album demands empathy, not pity. Setting proudly assed-out spiels to cheery early De La Soul-style beats and catholic samples (like alt-rockers the Pixies), ” the one and lonely” Pigeon John boasts about dining at Taco Bell and macking on mallrats. He cuts his cutesiness, though, with a world-weary tirade toward Jesus and a sad ballad about his homies growing old. Without tragedy, it’s hard to be a clown.” – VIBE

“Good times hip-hop from college-rock nostalgic” – SPIN

“Pigeon John uses hip-hop to charm and disarm with a classic style and miles of savoir-faire, infusing his black-everyman lyricism with a particular potency and power. Paired with poppy upbeats and whimsical melodies, P.J.’s lighthearted look at harsh realities is akin to fellow L.A. rap iconoclasts the Pharcyde at their freshest.” – LA Weekly

“There’s not just skill and bump in this music, there’s fun in it. Remember when everyone was so shocked at how much they liked Andre 3000 being ridiculous and brilliant at once? He’s got company.” – Music For Robots

“Pigeon John isn’t just one of the freshest voices to emerge in Hip-Hop this millennium, he may also be the realest. The Inglewood native has never fronted about packing heat or slinging rocks despite the rough environment he came up in. In fact, the Quannum MC carving out a niche in Hip-Hop as the Average Joe not afraid to just be himself.” – ALLHIPHOP.com

Pigeon John’s discography:

Pigeon John is Clueless (2002), Pigeon John Is Dating Your Sister (2003), Pigeon John Sings The Blues (2005), and Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party (2006)

About Quannum Projects:

Quannum Projects was first conceived in 1991 under the moniker “Solesides Records”, by artists Blackalicious, DJ Shadow, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Lyrics Born and journalists DJ Zen (Jeff Chang) and Jazzbo (Joseph Patel). After evolving into Quannum in 1997, and enjoying massive grassroots success with the release of Blackalicious’ debut Nia in 2000, the Quannum family has continued to expand with releases from such diverse artists as São Paulo’s Curumin, vintage keyboard guru General Elektriks and electronic hip-hop duo Apsci. In addition to Pigeon John’s Dragon Slayer, 2010 will also see an EP release from Lateef the Truthspeaker around Christmas and complete re-release of classic Quannum catalog titles in 2011.

Categories
Press Releases

Rhymesayers announces Soundset Festival 2010 lineup

SOUNDSET FESTIVAL 2010
Date: Sunday, May 30, 2010 – Gates at 11:00AM CST
Location: Canterbury Park – Shakopee, MN

General On Sale is Friday, April 2, 2010 at 11:00AM local time

Rhymesayers Entertainment and Rose Presents bring you the third annual Soundset Festival: the official Midwest kick-off of the summer with nine hours of the best independent Hip Hop music in one day. It all goes down at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN (rain or shine).

Confirmed artists for Soundset 2010 include: Atmosphere, Method Man & Redman, Brother Ali, Hieroglyphics featuring Del The Funky Homosapien, Souls of Mischief, Casual and Pep Love, P.O.S, Murs, Freeway & Jake One, Eyedea & Abilities, Wiz Khalifa, Cage, DJ Rob Swift, Grieves & Budo, 45 King, People Under The Stairs, BK One, DJ Revolution, Dessa, Yelawolf, Fashawn, Themselves, Busdriver, Toki Wright, Solillaquists of Sound, Prof & Rhazwell, Cecil Otter, Dark Time Sunshine, Ernest Rhodes, A.R.M (M.anifest & Krukid), Mike Dreams, I.B.E, Ice Rod, Plain Ole Bill, Mike 2600, Kid Cut Up, DJ Pratt and DJ Anton. Hosted by Peter Parker, Kevin Beacham and DJ Snuggles.

In 2009, Rhymesayers and Rose Presents produced the second year of Soundset to an outdoor festival setting at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN with over 15,000 people in attendance, including: two stages with over 40 artists performing, b-boy battles, live DJs, artist’s painting, live skateboard demos and a low rider car show. Soundset 2010 is expected to be even bigger this year!

“The biggest indie-rap festival of the year…” URB.com

After playing the main stage at Lollapalooza,headlining Red Rocks in Colorado and performing at the Outlands Festival, Atmosphere will be back at Soundset to play their first live performance of 2010. On the heels of their latest release “Blackout 2”, superstar combo Method Man (Wu Tang Clan) & Redman bring their legendary live show and catalog to the Twin Cities for a set that’s not to be missed. Hieroglyphics, including the full lineup of: Del The Funky Homosapien, Souls of Mischief, Casual and Pep Love return to perform together in Minnesota for the first time in 5 years! Referred to as, “one of independent Rap’s strongest voices” by HipHopDX, Brother Ali will once again deliver his raw emotion on the main stage. Murs of Living Legends and Rhymesayers collaborative project Felt will touch down at Soundset in support of his brand new album, “Fornever”. With over a year on the road in support of, “Never Better” and performing on last year’s Warped Tour, hometown hero or glorified Doomtree member, P.O.S is back again (YEAH RIGHT!). With much critical acclaim for their debut release on Rhymesayers, “The Stimulus Package” and recently performing on Jimmy Fallon with The Roots, Freeway & Jake One are set to play main stage. Since appearing on XXL Magazine’s Freshman 10 cover, both Pittsburgh’s Wiz Khalifa and Fresno’s Fashawn are confirmed to play Soundset for the first time along with buzzworthy Alabama native Yelawolf, making his Minnesota debut.

With options of two stages delivering over 40 artists performing nine hours of diverse music, an expanded B-Boy/B-Girl DJ tent, live painting exhibit, skate demo area, Slow and Low custom car show and a special Last of the Record Buyers production showcase, Soundset 2010 is guaranteed to bring the fun for the whole family!

Tickets are on sale Friday, April 2, 2010 to the general public through www.ticketmaster.com and Fifth Element. General admission tickets are $35 plus applicable fees ($3 facility fee and parking are included in ticket price), VIP options are also available!

Categories
Interviews

Eyedea and Abilities Interview

Eyedea and Abilites Interview. Friday, February 5, 2010

Interview conducted by Amber-Bryant Peller and Heather Snowball

MVRemix: Eyedea, that’s an interesting name.

Eyedea: Haha yeah. Actually the first time it was in the newspaper they spelt it Lydia, like the girl’s name.

MVRemix: Your name used to be the sixth sense?

Eyedea: That was a long time ago. We had one thing come out under that name and it was literally when we were fifteen. At the time all the rhymester stuff was like that, like Beyond and Black Hole, etc.

MVRemix: Do you have any preshow traditions?

Eyedea: No not really. I try to warm myself up a little bit. Warm up my voice. Drink. I do like to have a little bit of time alone to focus and have time to think. Also if I’ve played the venue before I like to visualize the stage so it is not a whole new thing. Visualize it going well and then the show is not as wild and searchy especially when I’m improvising. I imagine what it’s going to be like to improvise which makes the performance not new and scary.

MVRemix: Do you have a certain vibe you want for your concerts?

Eyedea: No, not necessarily. I do want it to be a real experience for people. I don’t want it to feel super reheased — which it never will be because it never is. I don’t want it to feel like a mask of art but rather like people doing stuff with other people — totally relatable. I think artists hide behind their art. Projecting. They make art about the ideal self and not the real self which is usually contrived. It is more how they want to see themselves, which is easy to see through and then you see people’s insecurities. I’d rather have the song be about the insecurity. It’s difficult to be a human but it’s okay too. I’m not a brain surgeon, separate from the world but just a person who has ideas about stuff.

MVRemix: Your lyrics are very deep, what inspires you? You mention suffering on your myspace..

Eyedea: Yeah well, suffering that is where it all comes from. The psychological human condition. I’m rarely inspired to make music by listening to other music. Inspiration always comes from some internal conflict or some problem I see with something. Not an attempt to solve the problem which is creating a mask but trying not to run from the problem. But to confront it and to live with it. Fully admit to yourself, you’re angry, you’re fucked up, you’re sad…you are all of these things. Your ego tricks you into an identity driven tunnel and I want my art to rip that apart. It sucks to feel jealous but it is a real feeling and how do you get beyond that if you don’t understand it and your own feelings.

Anytime you have a psychological disturbance you run from it. It happens again and again, and you are never free from it. I ask, how do you free yourself from the things that are imprisoning you. You can’t run yourself out of the prison, you just end up in a new prison. That’s why, as human beings we still kill each other, that is why have war. Political differences are just superficial changes. Real change is psychological change, something we can barely do and we haven’t done collectively because we run from it. We say, “instead of being pissed off or sad I’m not going to feel that way. I’m going to do yoga or study quantum mechanics and figure out the universe.” And all this is fine but confronting and fully admitting and dealing with the psychological suffering of humanity is what I want to do. It’s kind of a Buddhist idea but we all are feeling the same pain every single human being feels that.

MVRemix: Is this what you attempt to deal with this in your songs?

Eyedea: Yeah totally. I don’t think it’s worth making anything else. When you have time to sit down what else are you going to write about. It’s the biggest thing that is happening…the state of humanity…what’s bigger than that?

MVRemix: Started out free-styling, do you incorporate it into shows?

Eyedea: Totally. Even how I live my life as an artist is based off of improvising. Starting a new band. Not rehearsing ever. I’m better off as a person if I admit that I am flawed and this is what improvising really shows. Most people are scared to sound or look a certain way and so don’t improvise. I say, Improvise! Cut your hair! It doesn’t really matter because what is behind all that is the thing that’s true, the confusion, the pain, the real thing.

A less known fact about me is that I also have a bunch of different bands. One is a fully exclusive freestyle free jazz band. We are 100% improvised music and are called Face Candy. A new thing I’m just starting is called Puppy dogs and Ice-cream.

MVRemix: You have some different pseudonyms.

Eyedea: Oliver Hart is my most famous one. I didn’t want to be feeding too much into one name.

MVRemix: Is all this improvisation why Eyedea and Abilites took a five year break?

Eyedea: Yeah I just started other bands and started doing other stuff. I needed to focus more on writing music with other instruments to make it palpable to others. A lot of work had to go into it and initially people were giving me death threats and throwing golf balls at me because they did not like the change. I had to try very hard to change people’s perspectives. I started making music when I was very young and so some people love music from the 15-yr-old, now I am 28 years old, so I am not making the same music.

MVRemix: What kind of music do you like?

Eyedea: I love music. Kimya Dawson is one of my favourites. I was sitting in a coffee house and she was playing and I was totally hypnotized. It felt like getting punched in the stomach and I realized that I had always been lying. She’s telling the truth and I had this big realization. She is so brutally true and honest and hearing her sparked this whole different development in my thought process. I listen to music all day every day.

MVRemix: Any guilty pleasures?

Eyedea: Ben Folds. Ben Folds live. I think he is brilliant. Nothing super pop or anything.

MVRemix: What do you like best about performing?

Eyedea: I suppose it is a bit of a rush. It is a time and place where you can forget yourself. So much stuff is going on when you are trying to give it your all. So it is partly physical and you kind of stop and for moments you forget about yourself. I am embracing this bigger thing, which is the biggest rush, for a split second you are not dealing with you own specific identity process.

MVRemix: Least favourite thing?

Eyedea: Nothing really. Maybe waiting to perform.

MVRemix: Anything you don’t like about the industry?

Eyedea: I don’t really like anything specifically about the industry, because it’s selling art which is a weird thing. But I don’t dislike anything specifically, I realize that it is demand industry. Some people blame it on film-makers but it is the people that buy it.

MVRemix: What is the dynamic like between you and Abilities?

Eyedea: We’ve been friends since we were kids so kind of brotherly. We are both from Minnesota, same town.

MVRemix: What’s Minnesota like?

Eyedea: It’s great. It’s got a great music scene in the Twin cities. I’ve been all around the world and it’s the best I’ve seen. It’s the only reason I’m there. I can’t deal with the winter, I can’t deal with the summer, it’s terrible to live there, physically. But the music: free jazz, rock, rap, anything you want in abundance, any night of the week.

MVRemix: Do you have any musical goals?

Eyedea: I do have goals. I want to get closer and closer to not having to think about making stuff I like. My goal is to essentially not have that step. Just pick up and play. I don’t think it will ever be possible and if I did achieve it I would probably be like fuck it and go sit around.

MVRemix: Do you play other instruments?

Eyedea: I do. Guitar, keyboard. I also mix and engineer, like for our records. I do a lot of the studio recording.

MVRemix: What do you do outside of making music?

Eyedea: Not much. Clean my apartment. Do a lot of writing words. Art projects with friends.

MVRemix: How long does it take you to write a new song?

Eyedea: If it’s right the not long. I don’t sit down and try and write music. I only do it if I feel like I really have to. So if it takes more than 5 minutes I don’t normally keep it or remember it.

MVRemix: Is this why you are good at freestyling?

Eyedea: Haha, thank. I don’t know if I’m good but I’m not afraid of it. I like it and I think why I keep indulging in it is because it’s how I live my life. I improvise my life.

MVRemix: Off topic. Do you have any tattoos?

Eyedea: No. I have lot about. I’ve always thought the best thing to do would be to get one that reminds me of something. But then if I need a symbol to remind me of it then I’m not really going to be reminded. And I’m not really into putting art on my body so I’ll probably never get a tattoo.

MVRemix: How has your music evolved?

Eyedea: I started dabbling in music when I was probably around 7 and started writing words around 8. When I was a kid I was so infatuated with becoming a rockstar. I used to have all the posters, the whole thing. First time I performed I made a bunch of guitars that didn’t work and did a Poison cover. I moved from hard metal to hair metal to rap in the late 80s. Rap is kind of what got me into writing words. I thought these guys are so scary, they are so dangerous.

MVRemix: Do you have any crazy fan stories?

Eyedea: Yeah, but all of it was too intense for me. People going over the line, people really hating me and some people totally obsessed. It’s always been intense and hard for me to deal with.

MVRemix: What are some of your fears?

Eyedea: I have a lot of fears. My biggest maybe is feeling insignificant; it all boils down to that in the end.

MVRemix: Any final thing that you would like your fans to know?

Eyedea: My favourite band for the last couple years is a band called WHY?

MVRemix: That’s all?

Eyedea: Yup.

Eyedea & Abiltiies Interview

Categories
Reviews

Eyedea and Abilities, live at The Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, BC

Eyedea and Abilities, live at The Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, BC

written by Heather Snowball and Amber-Bryant Peller

On the corner of Kingsway and 12th people gathered at the Biltmore Cabaret to watch what some describe as a “tormented artist.” Eyedea and Abilities show was a display of genuine art and raw emotion. The themes of many songs were often linked to suffering and the human condition though it was contrasted with other lighthearted elements. It began at 10:00pm with the openers.

With an impressive instrument set-up Dosh, the opening act, set the mood for the evening. Ranging from simple 2-step drumbeats to elaborate pieces mixing an assortment of sounds and beats, the one-man-show that is Dosh impressed the audience. Sometimes the music did not seem to follow any recognizable beat but Dosh still managed to entertain well and was later invited back on stage with Eyedea and Abilities.

Eyedea and Abilities brought out a modest crowd. The people there, however, were some of the most invested fans. Conversation hummed at tables and out front as people chatted about their excitement and about how long they have been following the band.

As the night progressed from the opening acts onward, so the anticipation kept increasing. Many fans knew all the lyrics and swayed with the beat. Eyedea, the lyricist and freestyler, displayed his handle over the crowd. When fans got too demanding he jokingly “ssh’d” the audience and reminded them who the star of the show was.

Eyedea maintained his banter with the crowd throughout the night. He transitioned between songs with anecdotes from his past. He also took the opportunity to display one of his most praised talents – his ability to freestyle.

Eyedea was clearly at home on stage. Crowds pushed closer and closer while some fans sat on stage during the night. He just stepped over them and continued to impress.

Abilities got an equally boisterous response from the fans as he was given centre stage to show his intricate turntable work. His skill was undeniable and this was reflected in excitement amongst the crowd.

As the evening winded down and Eyedea and Abilities finished their set the people still wanted more. They chanted “A & E” until the duo took the stage again to perform an encore. The two played a few more songs bringing Dosh, the opening act, back on stage to bring the night to its finale.

The fans left satisfied with the show. It won’t be surprising if Eyedea and Abilities continue to gain recognition because of their stage presence and their raw talent.

Categories
Press Releases

EYEDEA AND ABILITIES TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA RHYMESAYERS RECORDING ARTISTS TO HIT THE ROAD IN SUPPORT OF BY THE THROAT

EYEDEA AND ABILITIES TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA RHYMESAYERS RECORDING ARTISTS TO HIT THE ROAD IN SUPPORT OF BY THE THROAT

2009 was a landmark year for Minnesota-based duo Eyedea and Abilities – the group made a rousing comeback from a five-year hiatus with the release of their new album By The Throat, their most progressive and refined effort to date. The live appearances that followed the album’s release (including several dates with Atmosphere) once again proved the duo’s penchant for intense, emotionally draining performances.

In keeping with the Rhymesayers’ penchant for relentless touring schedules, the duo are heading out on a three week run of dates that will see them crossing into Canada as well as blanketing the West Coast and Southwest of the US. Audiences can expect nothing less than a frenetic bombast featuring the respected vocal talents of legendary MC Eyedea (renowned winner of HBO’s Blaze Battle, Scribble Jam, etc.) accompanied by the virtuosic accompaniment of DJ Abilities, long respected for his immaculate turntablism skills.

PRESS FOR BY THE THROAT:

“Combined with newly found experiences, newly discovered self-awareness and newly refined skills, By the Throat catches this almost-forgotten duo at a new height of the pair’s combined powers.”- URB

“By the Throat, succinct and emotive, is the perfect convergence of styles, attacking the listener’s jugular with a powerful punk thrust, cynical observations, and an out-and-out assault on hip-hop’s standards.” – Popmatters

“While perhaps these guys aren’t made for mainstream hip-hop radio, with lyrics as intelligent and insightful as Eyedea seems capable of delivering, backed by Abilities’ impressive soundscaping, Eyedea & Abilities is easily one of the best going concerns in the world of hip hop.” – Westword

Tour Dates:
1/28 – Duluth, MN – Pizza Luce
1/29 – Minneapolis, MN – Augsburg College
1/31 – Missoula, MT – The Palace
2/1 – Spokane, WA – The Blvd
2/2 – Calgary, AB – Republik
2/3 – Edmonton, AB – The Brixx Bar and Grill
2/5 – Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret
2/6 – Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge
2/7 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
2/8 – Eugene, OR – WOW Hall
2/10 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
2/11 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
2/12 – Scottsdale, AZ – Chasers
2/13 – Flagstaff, AZ – Green Room
2/15 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
2/16 – Denver, CO – The Marquis Theatre
2/18 – Lawrence, KS – Jackpot Saloon
2/19 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird
2/20 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon

Categories
Media Press Releases Tour Dates Videos

Themselves – Roman Is As Roman Does video

New Themselves music video premieres on Pitchfork TV, tour starts next week

VIDEO: “Roman Is As Roman Does”

MP3: “You Ain’t It”

DOWNLOAD – theFREEhoudini mixtape

Themselves

Seven months after the release of theFREEhoudini – the celebrated mixtape that announced Themselves’ return – Doseone and Jel will drop CrownsDown, a careful and vicious exhibition of mastered rap tactics and sampling ethics. Themselves’ third album proper has been gestating in the gut of this seminal group for some time. It’s both a return to form and a honing of what’s come before (Subtle, cLOUDDEAD, Deep Puddle) – both the opus that these lionhearted two were always meant to make, and the album that their hip-hop-obsessed teenaged selves always hoped to hear.

On CrownsDown, Themselves hold back nothing, welding brute skill to a concrete set of tracks that represents an essential ten commandments of rap. In preparation, Doseone and Jel revisited their beloved hip-hop collections (e.g. Gang Starr, Ultramagnetic MCs, Public Enemy, Saafir) and whittled down the recurring themes that made their favorite records so sturdy. Each song on CrownsDown represents one of these archetypes – you’ll find the “don’t bite” song, the diss track, the story rap, the “bootleggers beware” song, and the “don’t fuck with my DJ” jam, among others. In this way, Themselves revisit something classic in order to invent their own future-school entry to the annals.

Naturally, things kick off with “Back II Burn,” a “guess who’s back” track (co-written by Pedestrian) that bangs forth on good ol’ fashioned synth hits and heavy thump. Rugged slow rhymes and fast-rap pile-ons are delivered with equal aplomb, and Jel ramps up the distortion as Dose spits vitriol: “Whether shining or shunned, none and all can come/and get undone by the two in the selves one.” “Oversleeping” follows with a Bomb Squad-style sampler salvo and a whirlwind of rhyme that reference-checks lyrics from both Nas and Subtle. Next up is “The Mark,” wherein Dose cautions would-be style thieves, while borrowing his own cadence from Ultramag-era Kool Keith. Jel deals out break-driven electro bounce and a furious, unprecedented rap verse of his own, while D-Styles mans the cuts.

“Gangster Of Disbelief” finds Dose dropping science (the fourth archetype) in a rich baritone atop eerie production that harks back to his and Jel’s debut. He connects the dots from Sisyphus to Werner Herzog’s writings to his own neuroses and worldview, while “Daxstrong” takes on the spread-love model, paying proper tribute to Subtle founder Dax Pierson, left paraplegic after the sextet’s 2005 tour accident. Bandmates Jordan Dalrymple and Markus Acher (13 & God, The Notwist) join Dose for an end-song sing-along of TVOTR magnitude. The next two tracks respectively take well-aimed shots at false musical prophets and modern-day bootleggers (MP3-traders). “You Ain’t It” features an Auto-tuned guest spot from Dax himself, playing the melodic foil to Dose’s jagged and rapid fire words, while “Roman Is As Roman Does” serves up electronics-damaged boom-bap for a set of X-Clan-inspired raps.

“Skinning The Drum” rains praise on Jel, who responds in kind with a trademark live MPC performance vivifying the old “Apache” and “Cold Sweat” breaks. On “Deadcatclear II,” Dose is uncommonly nude, spinning a real-life narrative about playing caretaker to a stray cat’s corpse as a child, discovering incredulity for God in the severity of death. All of which lays foundation for the crux end of CrownsDown, “Gold Teeth Will Roll.” Here, over surging cutup soul, Dose growls, “Who will come kill me/taking their rings off like women/because I will swear on their weakness,” casting Themselves in the final archetype: righteous defenders of the culture. This sentiment cuts to the core of CrownsDown. In carving out their own classic, Doseone and Jel not only aim to topple those wrongly kinged, but lay down their own sweat-and-blood-made crowns at the feet of the thing they admire most.

THEMSELVES

11/19 Austin, TX Highball #
11/20 Denton, TX Hailey’s #
11/21 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon #
11/22 New Orleans, LA The Parish Room – HOB #
11/23 Atlanta, GA 529 #
11/24 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 #
11/25 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel #
11/27 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory #
11/28 Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs #
11/29 Providence, RI Jerky’s Live Music Hall #
12/01 Toronto, ONT El Mocambo #
12/02 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig #
12/03 Chicago, IL Reggie’s #
12/04 Minneapolis, MN Varsity #
12/05 Milwaukee, WI Cactus Club #
12/11 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
12/12 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge

# = w/ Eyedea & Abilities

CrownsDown
Themselves
CrownsDown
(Anticon)
Oct. 27, 2009
1. Back II Burn
2. Oversleeping
3. The Mark
4. Gangster Of Disbelief
5. Daxstrong
6. You Ain’t It
7. Roman Is As Roman Does
8. Skinning The Drum
9. Deadcatclear II
10. Gold Teeth Will Roll

Themselves
Themselves
theFREEhoudini mixtape
(Anticon)
1. Pay That Piper
2. Oversleeping (from the forthcoming CrownsDown LP)
3. Know That To Know This (featuring Aesop Rock)
4.Kick The Ball (featuring Buck 65)
5.1 For No Money (featuring Sole)
6. Rappers Is Interns (freestyle)
7. Party Rap Sucks (featuring Bus Driver)
8. Long Time Coming (featuring Lionesque)
9. Swarm of Bee II
10. Back2burn (featuring Pedestrian)
11. TheMark (featuring D-Styles, from the forthcoming CrownsDown LP)
12. Keys To Ignition (featuring Serengeti)
13. Roman Is As Roman Does (from the forthcoming CrownsDown LP)
14. The Medicine (featuring Slug of Atmosphere)
15. Free&Void
16. Rapping4Money (featuring WHY? / Odd Nosdam / cLOUDDEAD)

mixed by Odd Nosdam

Categories
Press Releases

Themselves announce Fall co-headlining tour with Eyedea & Abilities, playing SF this Tues. with Busdriver

Themselves announce Fall co-headlining tour with Eyedea & Abilities, playing SF this Tues. with Busdriver

MP3: “You Ain’t It”

DOWNLOAD – theFREEhoudini mixtape

Seven months after the release of theFREEhoudini – the celebrated mixtape that announced Themselves’ return – Doseone and Jel will drop CrownsDown, a careful and vicious exhibition of mastered rap tactics and sampling ethics. Themselves’ third album proper has been gestating in the gut of this seminal group for some time. It’s both a return to form and a honing of what’s come before (Subtle, cLOUDDEAD, Deep Puddle) – both the opus that these lionhearted two were always meant to make, and the album that their hip-hop-obsessed teenaged selves always hoped to hear.

On CrownsDown, Themselves hold back nothing, welding brute skill to a concrete set of tracks that represents an essential ten commandments of rap. In preparation, Doseone and Jel revisited their beloved hip-hop collections (e.g. Gang Starr, Ultramagnetic MCs, Public Enemy, Saafir) and whittled down the recurring themes that made their favorite records so sturdy. Each song on CrownsDown represents one of these archetypes – you’ll find the “don’t bite” song, the diss track, the story rap, the “bootleggers beware” song, and the “don’t fuck with my DJ” jam, among others. In this way, Themselves revisit something classic in order to invent their own future-school entry to the annals.

Naturally, things kick off with “Back II Burn,” a “guess who’s back” track (co-written by Pedestrian) that bangs forth on good ol’ fashioned synth hits and heavy thump. Rugged slow rhymes and fast-rap pile-ons are delivered with equal aplomb, and Jel ramps up the distortion as Dose spits vitriol: “Whether shining or shunned, none and all can come/and get undone by the two in the selves one.” “Oversleeping” follows with a Bomb Squad-style sampler salvo and a whirlwind of rhyme that reference-checks lyrics from both Nas and Subtle. Next up is “The Mark,” wherein Dose cautions would-be style thieves, while borrowing his own cadence from Ultramag-era Kool Keith. Jel deals out break-driven electro bounce and a furious, unprecedented rap verse of his own, while D-Styles mans the cuts.

“Gangster Of Disbelief” finds Dose dropping science (the fourth archetype) in a rich baritone atop eerie production that harks back to his and Jel’s debut. He connects the dots from Sisyphus to Werner Herzog’s writings to his own neuroses and worldview, while “Daxstrong” takes on the spread-love model, paying proper tribute to Subtle founder Dax Pierson, left paraplegic after the sextet’s 2005 tour accident. Bandmates Jordan Dalrymple and Markus Acher (13 & God, The Notwist) join Dose for an end-song sing-along of TVOTR magnitude. The next two tracks respectively take well-aimed shots at false musical prophets and modern-day bootleggers (MP3-traders). “You Ain’t It” features an Auto-tuned guest spot from Dax himself, playing the melodic foil to Dose’s jagged and rapid fire words, while “Roman Is As Roman Does” serves up electronics-damaged boom-bap for a set of X-Clan-inspired raps.

“Skinning The Drum” rains praise on Jel, who responds in kind with a trademark live MPC performance vivifying the old “Apache” and “Cold Sweat” breaks. On “Deadcatclear II,” Dose is uncommonly nude, spinning a real-life narrative about playing caretaker to a stray cat’s corpse as a child, discovering incredulity for God in the severity of death. All of which lays foundation for the crux end of CrownsDown, “Gold Teeth Will Roll.” Here, over surging cutup soul, Dose growls, “Who will come kill me/taking their rings off like women/because I will swear on their weakness,” casting Themselves in the final archetype: righteous defenders of the culture. This sentiment cuts to the core of CrownsDown. In carving out their own classic, Doseone and Jel not only aim to topple those wrongly kinged, but lay down their own sweat-and-blood-made crowns at the feet of the thing they admire most.

THEMSELVES

10/06 San Francisco, CA Bottom of The Hill *
11/19 Austin, TX Highball #
11/20 Denton, TX Hailey’s #
11/21 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon #
11/22 New Orleans, LA The Parish Room – HOB #
11/23 Atlanta, GA 529 #
11/24 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 #
11/25 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel #
11/27 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory #
11/28 Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs #
11/29 Providence, RI Jerky’s Live Music Hall #
12/01 Toronto, ONT El Mocambo #
12/02 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig #
12/03 Chicago, IL Reggie’s #
12/04 Minneapolis, MN Varsity #
12/05 Milwaukee, WI Cactus Club #
12/11 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
12/12 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge

* = w/ Busdriver
# = w/ Eyedea & Abilities

CrownsDown
Themselves
CrownsDown
(Anticon)
Oct. 20, 2009
1. Back II Burn
2. Oversleeping
3. The Mark
4. Gangster Of Disbelief
5. Daxstrong
6. You Ain’t It
7. Roman Is As Roman Does
8. Skinning The Drum
9. Deadcatclear II
10. Gold Teeth Will Roll

Themselves
Themselves
theFREEhoudini mixtape
(Anticon)
1. Pay That Piper
2. Oversleeping (from the forthcoming CrownsDown LP)
3. Know That To Know This (featuring Aesop Rock)
4.Kick The Ball (featuring Buck 65)
5.1 For No Money (featuring Sole)
6. Rappers Is Interns (freestyle)
7. Party Rap Sucks (featuring Bus Driver)
8. Long Time Coming (featuring Lionesque)
9. Swarm of Bee II
10. Back2burn (featuring Pedestrian)
11. TheMark (featuring D-Styles, from the forthcoming CrownsDown LP)
12. Keys To Ignition (featuring Serengeti)
13. Roman Is As Roman Does (from the forthcoming CrownsDown LP)
14. The Medicine (featuring Slug of Atmosphere)
15. Free&Void
16. Rapping4Money (featuring WHY? / Odd Nosdam / cLOUDDEAD)

mixed by Odd Nosdam

Categories
Atmosphere Press Releases Tour Dates

ATMOSPHERE GOLD PLATES AMERICA WITH A FULL US TOUR THIS SUMMER

ATMOSPHERE GOLD PLATES AMERICA WITH A FULL US TOUR THIS SUMMER

ATMOSPHERE TOUR DATES:

Arguably the hardest working rap group in America, Atmosphere are announcing the final tour in support of their sixth studio album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold and the recent reissue of, God Loves Ugly .The last leg of the When God Gives You Ugly tour is set to include a number of festivals, including Lollapalooza, 10,000 Lakes, Outside Lands, and a headlining show at Red Rocks, CO, with Eyedea and Abilities, Aesop Rock, Murs and up-and-coming Minneapolis rockers, Attracted to Gods.

Atmosphere’s sixth studio album When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold debuted at #5 on the Top Billboard Top 200. The single off the album, “You”, was performed on Conan O’Brian, Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel’s late night shows, and got major airplay across the globe. Recently, Atmosphere headlined the second annual Soundset festival, playing in front of a reported 15,000 people in Shakopee, MN.

Atmosphere hits the road this summer with Eyedea & Abilities and Attracted To Gods for the final leg of the When God Gives You Ugly Tour July 23 – August 29, 2009.

** Thu 23-Jul Detroit Lakes, MN @ 10,000 Lakes Festival
Sun 26-Jul Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
* Mon 27-Jul New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Tue 28-Jul Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Thu 30-Jul Orlando, FL @ Firestone
Fri 31-Jul Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
Sat 1-Aug St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
Sun 2-Aug New Orleans, LA @ House Of Blues
Tue 4-Aug Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Wed 5-Aug Austin, TX @ Stubbs
Thu 6-Aug Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
Fri 7-Aug Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont
** Sat 8-Aug Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
Mon 10-Aug Sioux Falls, SD @ Nutty’s Outside Theater
Tue 11-Aug Des Moines, IA @ Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater
Wed 12-Aug Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
Fri 14-Aug Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sat 15-Aug Santa Fe, NM @ Paolo Soleri
Sun 16-Aug El Paso, TX @ Club 101
Tue 18-Aug Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
* Wed 19-Aug Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Fri 21-Aug San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues
** Sun 30-Aug San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival * w/out Eyedea & Abilities

* with out Eyedea & Abilities
** with out Attracted to Gods & Eyedea & Abilities