If you were one of the 18 million plus fans of The Fugees’ legendary hip-hop album The Score, then you’re already acquainted with the talent of John Forté, the producer-turned-artist who is back on the music scene after nearly an eight-year hiatus.
After spending time in prison since 2001 on drug charges, Forté was released in 2008 thanks to a pardon granted by former president George W. Bush, and quickly hopped back into the studio to create his latest project, StyleFREE the EP. Blemished criminal record aside, this talented wordsmith with a magnetic, raspy voice offers an eclectic mix of hip-hop, rock, and jazz on his third solo recording, which is certainly worth a listen.
Released on EMI Records, the seven-track collection showcases Forté’s varying style and vocal range. He switches from rapping to singing, kicking off the album with a flowing rap track aptly titled “Freestyle.” Then the rhythm slows down with an acoustic, cleverly written first single (and my top track on the EP), “Play My Cards for Me.”
Showtime:
9:00 PM
Club NME at Spaceland |
Los Angeles, CA
Samuel Stewart @ Club NME at Spaceland
Date: 12/2/2009
Time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Spaceland (Club NME)
Address: 1717 Silverlake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Cost: $8
After spending three consecutive summers winning over fan after fan on the Vans Warped Tour, the members of Forever the Sickest Kids have made the leap from indie stage darlings to headlining band. The power-pop six-piece kicked off The Cheap Date Tour last month, just in time for the release of The Weekend: Friday, the first of three albums they will be putting out within the next year. The tour hits LA in early December, so if you’re a fan of pop-punk energy and catchy hooks, you’ll want to pick up your tickets today.
If you’re a guitar player, you should already know who Del Casher is, but if you don’t, no worries because LA Music Blog is about to enlighten you. The LA local is a living legend in the music industry, having started his career at age 16 and playing with everyone from Elvis to Frank Zappa. He’s also the man to thank if you’ve ever used a wah-wah pedal to give a riff that sweet, emotional sound it was missing. Decades after inventing the pedal that completely changed the face of music, Casher still gets invitations from all corners of the world to appear as a guest soloist, which made us feel pretty darn special that he agreed to our request for an interview. Check out the clip and meet one of the most entertaining men in the music industry, Del Casher.
For more info on Del check out:
I’m not sure if the music industry thinks everyone will be too busy thinking about Turkey Day this week to consider buying new music, but it is a very slow week for new albums and a lot of them were actually released yesterday. I’ve noted the few interesting ones I could find, but by all means include any that you are excited about in the comment.
Adam Lambert, For Your Entertainment – After witnessing his performance at the AMA’s last night, it seems the American Idol runner-up is more interested in “entertaining” than utilizing those amazing pipes of his. I wish artists would realize a live musical performance doesn’t require simulated felatio and tonsil hockey to be memorable.
Brian Jonestown Massacre, One [EP]
Ike Reilly, Hard Luck Stories
Jamie T., The Man’s Machine [EP] – As everyone who’s read my review of Jamie T.’s latest full length knows, this is one artist that has my full attention. I’ll be picking up this EP asap.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Live Anthology
Tom Waits, Glitter And Doom [Live]
Your highly anticipated new release debuts at #5 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart and you sell 126,00 copies in the first week. What’s the next step? You take the show on the road, of course!
Alice In Chains has announced that they will kick off their North American this February in support of Black Gives Way to Blue (check out our review of the album HERE). While the tour’s only stop in Cali is up in Oakland, LA fans have the opportunity to check out the band next month when they play the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Show at the Gibson Amphitheatre December 12th. Proceeds from the event will benefit two local charities, Para Los Ninos and the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, and tickets just went on sale this Saturday, so be sure to pick yours up if you want to see AIC without driving 9 hours up the coast…although catching the band perform a mix of classic hits and the new tracks just might be worth the time and gas money.
Landon Pigg’s performance at El Rey Theater last week really spoke to me as a Los Angelean. Not because the artist himself is from LA (he actually hails from Nashville and Chicago), but because he managed to replicate a typical LA commute with his set. However, unlike a ride down the 101 on a Monday morning, those of us on this journey used our hands only for clapping (and not honking or obscene gestures).
The set began with screaming, just like a typical LA commuter’s day. All right, maybe most of us just cry on the inside at the first BEEP, BEEP, BEEPs of the alarm clock, but the ladies in the audience held nothing in. The curtains opened and the delighted shrieks were released with fervor. Also characteristic of a morning commute, the first stop on the Landon Pigg musical journey involved java as fans blissfully sang along to “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop,” the sweetly crooned single from his new album, The Boy Who Never.
El Perro Del Mar @ Hotel Cafe’
