Show Preview: Atmosphere w/B. Dolan, Dem Atlas, and DJ Adatrak @ Echostage (Thur. May 2)
–Written by Kevin Madert
While spring has struggled to shake the persevering grasp of winter, I’ve struggled to maintain my composure in the lead-up to May 2. Between this recent bout of cooler weather and my steadily rising anticipation for Atmosphere’s Echostage debut this coming Saturday, neither I nor spring seem to be succeeding. The Minnesota-based duo is bringing the Fortunate Tour to the nation’s capital with B. Dolan, Dem Atlas, and DJ Adatrak along for the ride.
Read More
News: New Yorker Article on the Early Days of Music Piracy
I’m a sucker for a history lesson on the makings of the modern day music industry.I’m such a nerd about the topic that I wrote no less than five research papers in college about modern music industry topics like piracy and digital media. It’s a fascinating subject, in the past 20 years alone we’ve been through so many ups and downs, so many technological advances, and the whole time the industry has had to keep up, with varying degrees of success. This article published by The New Yorker covers one of those not-so-successful attempts to keep up with the times. The article goes in depth on one of the biggest music piracy rings to hit the industry in the early days of the internet and leaked albums.
It’s a long read, but it is very much worth it. If only I had this as a source back when I was writing papers on the subject…
Check out the article, “The Man Who Broke the Music Business”, and let us know what you think!
Read More
Must-Hear: Refused Release New Music For First Time In 17 Years
–Written by Kevin Madert
Remember when words like “punk” and “hardcore” meant more than donning all black and playing the Vans Warped Tour? Refused does, and they’re here to give us a refresher. The long-defunct Swedish foursome – cited as an influence by everyone from Blink-182 to Rise Against – originally broke up in 1998, and other than a string of festival appearances in 2012 haven’t made much noise since.
That’s until today, when the group premiered “Elektra,” an acerbic, shot-from-a-gun track that will serve as the lead single for the group’s upcoming fourth album Freedom. “It’s not a reunion anymore,” frontman Dennis Lyxzén said in a press release. “This is one of the most radical things we’ve ever done, both musically and lyrically.” You can stream the video for “Elektra” below and decide for yourself.
Read More
AltFreq Weekly Planner (4/26/15-4/29/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the events going on in the area, so we’re here to let you know what’s happening in live music over the next few days. Watch out on Thursdays for the “Weekend Planner” where we’ll cover the most important 72 hours of the week.
Read More
Weekend Wind-Down No. 15: Mixed Bag #2
-Words & list by Kevin Madert
This week, think less about why these songs belong together and more about how they coalesce to provide a soundtrack for your weekend decompression. It’s a collection comprised of vocal numbers – LCD Soundsystem’s lengthy & laid-back “All My Friends” kicks us off – and songs like “Catherine Wheel” and “Soft Trees Break The Fall” that at times are barely there. AltFreq recommends you grab a pair of headphones, find a comfortable place, and fade into the diverse soundscapes of this week’s Wind-Down.
Read More