JayeL Audio

A lot have people have criticized the resurrection of Music Midtown. All I can say is:
A) Its the largest festival in Atlanta and you don’t have to drive 4 hours away
B) The ticket cost is about what Coldplay would cost to see on their own and probably what Black Keys fans will be paying soon
C) Even if you don’t enjoy Coldplay, the Black Keys know what they are doing (and don’t have an ATL stop otherwise)
D) The smaller bands are much better than you think. I guarantee you’ve heard Young the Giant’s “My Body”, The Joy Formidable have been getting rave reviews on the road and The Postelles blew me away earlier this year
E) Support Atlanta artists. Manchester Orchestra and The Constellations have been paying dues for awhile and are sure to put on a good show
F) Band of Skulls might be the sleeper band of the lineup with their bluesy garage rock. They’ll make an excellent appetizer for The Black Keys
G) Turns out Cage the Elephant have more in their arsenal than “Ain’t No Rest For The Weekend”. Check out their latest album Thank You Happy Birthday
H) Music Midtown takes place in the most beautiful park in Atlanta, Piedmont Park
I) Organizers know its not the “old Music Midtown”, but it is a start that could lead to something bigger and better. In the state that the music industry is currently, there is no way that would be possible. Why do you think fests like Bonnaroo and Lolla cost so much.

Bottom line: If you don’t like it, don’t go. Maybe this link will brighten your day instead.
That is all. See you at Piedmont Park in September.

Music Midtown 2K11 – DOWNLOAD (.rar)
1. Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall
2. Coldplay – Lost!
3. Coldplay – God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (live)
4. Coldplay – Strawberry Swing
5. Coldplay – Violet Hill
6. The Black Keys – Chop and Change
7. The Black Keys – I Got Mine
8. The Black Keys – Strange Desire
9. The Black Keys – She’s Long Gone
10. Cage the Elephant – Shake Me Down
11. Cage the Elephant – Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked
12. Cage the Elephant – Around My Head
13. The Joy Formidable – Whirring
14. The Joy Formidable – Austere
15. The Joy Formidable – A Heavy Abacus
16. Young the Giant – St. Walker
17. Young the Giant – My Body
18. Band of Skulls – I Know What I Am
19. Band of Skulls – Friends
20. Band of Skulls – Light of the Morning
21. Manchester Orchestra – April Fool
22. Manchester Orchestra – Pensacola
23. The Constellations – Felicia
24. The Constellations – We’re Here To Save The Day
25. Mona – Listen To Your Love
26. The Postelles – White Night
27. The Postelles – 123 Stop

Pick-up your tickets here and view the schedule here.
Comment aplenty below, por favor.

So this is happening…

WHAT: Music Midtown 2011
WHERE: Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
WHEN: Saturday, September 24th, Noon to 11pm
LINEUP: Coldplay, The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Manchester Orchestra, Young the Giant, The Joy Formidable, Band of Skulls, The Constellations, The Postelles, Mona
ABOUT: Music Midtown returns in a one-day, two stage format at one of the nicest parks in the Southeast, Piedmont Park. Attendance is expected to be capped at 55,000.
TICKETS: $55 GA, $250 VIP, $1,000 Super VIP (plus fees). On sale here on Sat, July 16th at 10am.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Plenty of hotels in Atlanta
MY TAKE: Of all the things I hear about that I missed in the Atlanta days of old (Buckhead’s party scene, OutKast shows), Music Midtown was the one thing I really wanted to see. Though not in its original form, Live Nation and the city have revived the fest for another round. The new Music Midtown won’t be as large previous years when it peaked at 300,000 (rivaling Bonnaroo) and had six stages over three days, but the current one day format at $55 seems like a steal. A Coldplay arena show could certainly cost more than that.
If you haven’t seen Piedmont Park, it is a massive jewel park for the city and 55,000 should be a manageable sized affair (festival map here). Other than Coldplay and the Black Keys, organizers went with a solid indie/up-and-coming line-up that aligns with their “scaled down” approach. I love the fact that they included two buzzing homegrown ATL acts in Manchester Orchestra and The Constellations. Let’s also not forget that this year’s fest will take place in September, which should be much cooler than sometimes sweltering May. Live Nation is also trying to secure a Friday, single act show as well. I would imagine the smaller size festival is largely due to recent Screen On The Green problems, but it this year goes well, who knows where this could lead.
AM I ATTENDING: Hell yes and so are you. We’ll talk about our plans soon.

Leave your comments and musings below. Michigan friends can also place reservations for a weekend in the “A”.

WHAT: DeLuna Fest 2011
WHERE: Pensacola Beach, FL
WHEN: October 13th-16th
INITIAL LINE-UP: Weezer, Jane’s Addiction, Cake, Big Boi, Stars, Matt and Kim, Cut Copy, Mute Math, Airborne Toxic Event, New Pornographers, Manchester Orchestra, Cold War Kids, Ra Ra Riot, Ghostland Observatory, JJ Grey & Mofro, Wanda Jackson, The Hood Internet, Ladytron, the Constellations and more
ABOUT: The second year for another beach festival not far from, but very different from Hangout. Festival grounds are located near three resorts and have positioned DeLuna as an affordable, but luxurious alternative to fests in mountains, deserts or fields.
TICKETS: Tickets are $149 for a three day pass and VIP is $800 (includes VIP lounges, premium viewing areas, top shelf booze and more)
ACCOMMODATIONS: Since DeLuna takes place on the beach in and around resorts, it only makes sense to stay on site, right? There are various VIP packages that include tickets and can be found here. If VIP isn’t your thing, there are plenty of hotels in the area.
MY TAKE: Thats more like it DeLuna. While I’m inclined to enjoy almost any form of live music on the beach, last year’s line-up for DeLuna Fest was a little too 1990′s rock radio for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still get caught humming STP’s “Interstate Love Song” now and again but other than the sunshine/beach factor, Michael Franti, Edward Sharpe and a few others it just wasn’t a good fit for my taste.

Flash forward to 2011 and I believe organizers made a phenomenal improvement from last year. A solid mix of “legacy” bands like Jane’s Addiction and Cake, with historic acts that are still current like Weezer and Big Boi (you know he’ll play some OutKast jams). Throw in some legit indie performers like Cut Copy, Stars, The New Pornographers (with Neko Case? I hope), Matt & Kim, Ladytron, Cold War Kids, The Hood Internet and Ra Ra Riot and rising acts like Airborne Toxic Event, Manchester Orchestra and the Constellations and you are looking a quite a fun beach party. Honestly, what could be better than Cut Copy on THE BEACH?
AM I ATTENDING?: I think I definitely would….but I’ll be relaxing on the beach in Playa Del Carmen that weekend celebrating my honeymoon. You should go for me. Thanks.

One of my new found friends who writes for Paste, Consequence of Sound and other music outlets was able to interview Girl Talk at Hangout Music Festival. Pretty cool interview and just shows how down to Earth Gregg Gillis is. Nice work Scotty.

Also, if you’re need of some quality PR, check out Greenberg Palmer – Boutique Public Relations.

Look for my rundown of the second annual Hangout Music Festival soon…

Tickets and shuttle pass are printed, bags are packed, Jen has arrived, and the route has been mapped out. I think that means its almost May 20th. If I had an away reply for this website, it would probably read: I’ll be out of the office from Friday, May 20th until Monday, May 23rd enjoying the hell out of the 2nd annual Hangout Music Festival. Yes, I will be on the beach in Gulf Shores, AL listening to the likes of Cee-Lo, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Girl Talk and Foo Fighters with my feet in the sand and a cold Coors Light in my hand (with a koozie, of course).

If you aren’t able to attend, but still would like to be part of the festivities, you can download the mixtapes and watch the streaming video provided by iClips.

Talk to you Tuesday,
JayeL

Here it is. 3 playlists featuring bands from all three days of the upcoming festival in Gulf Shores, AL. This obvsiously isn’t all the music you’ll hear, but hopefully it will be a lot of it. I could have made a disc of just Black Keys and Cee-Lo tracks, but tried to go for a few that I haven’t listened to in a minute. Days 2 and 3 seem particularly impressive, but I have to say I’m pretty excited for My Morning Jacket on Friday. Consider MMJ, JJ Grey & Mofro and Big Gigantic the new acts I’m looking forward to most. Of course, The Black Keys, Girl Talk, Foo Fighters and Cee Lo are my most anticipated overall. I’m not sure I can wait an entire month, but I guess I will have to.

Hangout Music Fest 2K11 Mixtape
Day 1 (.rar)
-featuring Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket, Sts9, Bassnectar, Grace Potter, Umphreys, Soja, Railroad Earth and Beats Antique
Day 2 (.rar)
-featuring Foo Fighters, Flaming Lips, Avett Brothers, Cee Lo, Pretty Lights, Slightly Stoopid, Medeski Martin & Wood, Big Gigantic, Xavier Wood, Minus the Bear, Dead Confederate and Mariachi El Bronx
Day 3 (.rar)
-featuring Paul Simon, The Black Keys, Michael Franti, Girl Talk, Ween, Matisyahu, Drive By Truckers, Old Crow Medicine Show, JJ Grey & Mofro, Galactic and Portugal. The Man

Thanks to Jenny, Josh, Tom, Sara, Phil and newcomer Danny G for providing all the sounds I didn’t know already.

Now that the duplex (with a pool!) has been secured, tickets have been purchased, vacation days approved and most of the artists have been announced, its time to breakdown this year’s Hangout Music Fest. Not only is it the 2nd year for this unique festival, its even bigger than 2010’s inagural event. An air conditioned tent will serve as a 5th stage, Hammock Beach will be even better with a “music lagoon” complete with shade and hammocks and a newly erected tower will showcase 360 views. I like the sounds of all of those things.

The main dish people have been salivating over though is the line-up. Not only are acts like Girl Talk, Michael Franti, Matisyahu and Keller Williams returning, but the organizers went an got heavy hitters like Paul Simon, Foo Fighters, Black Keys with plenty of appeal for everyone. Hangout Fest still definitely leans on the “jam band” side of acts though. Something I’m very interested in, but never got into for some reason. 3rd headliner, Widespread Panic has a banner in Philips Arena for 15 consecutive sell outs, but I haven’t seen them yet. Other names jam aficionados might recognize are Umphrey’s McGee, Warren Hayes Band (also an Allman Brother), Slightly Stoopid (might be similar to Ozomatli), Big Gigantic and eletronic instrumentalists STS9. Other instrumentalist groups like Galactic and Medeski, Martin and Wood should add some jazz/funk to the jam list. Its almost as if Hangout organizers (similar to Wakarusa, Mountain Jam and others) are carrying the Bonnaroo torch as jam festivals. I’m sure there are heavier jam music gatherings, but now that Bonnaroo is essentially a pop/indie fest, the market is open.

Aside from the jam bands, there is plenty of other fun to be had. On the southern rock front, I’m obviously most excited for Black Keys (Lolla ‘08 was ridiculous) and Athens-stalwarts Drive-By Truckers, but JJ Grey & Mofro have been getting lots of play lately (thanks Jenny!). The Avett Brothers have certainly caused a stir since their recent live DVD and performance at the Grammy’s and I’m sure will be worth they hype in person. Flaming Lips are making good on their cancellation from last year, Old Crow Medicine Show have some joints and My Morning Jacket have to be good, right?

Cee-Lo will certainly wow with his soulful and eclectic catalog. Minus the Bear, Ween and Portugal. the Man should hold it down on the alt rock tip and I fully expect Foo Fighters to take me back to middle school nostalgia. I’m truly looking forward to the electronic music artists though. Gregg Gillis (uh duh), but Bassnectar and Pretty Lights wouldn’t have the following they’ve acquired without a ragin’ live show. I’m event at the late night shows this year with Bassnectar on Friday (tickets) and Pretty Lights on Saturday (tickets).

If you can have any reservations about listening to live music on the beach, my only complaints are the lack of hip-hop (again) and indie bands. I give Hangout credit though, they have themselves a pretty unique venue and line-up that should be commended. If I really wanted a mix of hip-hop and indie there are 20 other options I could jet to. Nothing wrong with a weekend of new music to enjoy next to the Gulf.

I’m not going to obsess about the daily line-up yet. F.Y.I. its not a schedule unless you list times and stages, Hangout. The only potential obstacles I see are if Cee-Lo/Avett Brothers or Girl Talk/Black Keys crossover. At least the artist alignment confirmed our group’s decision to stay Sunday (instead of Thursday). COUNTING DOWN TO MAY 20TH!!!!

Head to Hangout Music Fest’s official site for more details on Lodging, Tickets ($175+fees), Shuttles and more. Go here to see my recap of last year’s event.
———————————————————————————————————————
P.S. I’m working on mixtape to coincide with the 3 days of sun, sand and music. However, I’m not too proud to say I’m gonna need some help this year. I’m familiar with many of the acts at this year’s Hangout, but I need some song suggestions/mp3s for the following:
-Widespread Panic
-My Morning Jacket
-STS9
-Bassnectar
-Warren Hayes Band
-Ween
-Brandi Carlile
-Xavier Rudd
-Railroad Earth
-Big Gigantic
-Dead Confederate
-Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights
-Mariachi El Bronx
-Civil Twilight

Thanks for the help and look for a mixtape in the next two weeks!

Let festival season commence. My favorites are “Rapper Hanging With The Indie Kids”, “Bearded Assholes From Ohio” and “Tenacious D” are my favorites. *laughs in Aziz Ansari voice* Thanks for sending along Thomas.

What: De Luna Music Festival
When: October 15 & 16
Where: Pensacola Beach, FL
Headliners: Stone Temple Pilots, 311, 30 Seconds to Mars, Michael Franti & Spearhead
Line-Up: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Cowboy Mouth, The Bravery, Better Than Ezra, Rebeolution, The Benji Davis Project, Neon Trees, Blackberry Smoke, Pico vs Island Trees, The Gills
Tickets: $60 initial price
Accommodations: Hotels (some have De Luna packages with tix), condo rentals, camping
My Take: Apparently, De Luna was the original beach music fest. I’m not going to compare this too much to Hangout Fest because, well, Hangout was a different fest (3 days certainly is a huge difference). This is just the
initial line-up, but definitely leans on ’90s nostalgic rock and modern rock acts. Aside from Michael Franti and Edward Sharpe, its not really my thing, but I’m sure they will have a huge turnout. Its great that there is another way for Gulf businesses to draw travelers and financial help. Set-up includes 2 main stages, a third smaller “Go Pensacola” stage and a local band stage. One bonus for attendees: beach chairs are allowed. One thing I know Hangout Fest-goers were hoping for.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – 40 Day Dream

My slacker ways are going to get an upgrade shortly. Be prepared. Until then….

If you are like me, you are dying to be standing in the sweaty Tennessee field this weekend soaking up sun and music. Oh well. At least I made it to Hangout Fest. However, I’ll still be trying to enjoy as much of Bonnaroo as possible. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will have many performances broadcast for your listening and viewing pleasure. Here is how:

-YouTube will be broadcasting performances from the likes of Jay-Z, Damian Marley & Nas, Norah Jones, The National, Zac Brown and more
-NPR will be streaming 40+ live sets throughout the weekend from Phoenix, LCD Soundsystem, Kings of Leon, The xx, Kid Cudi and just about everyone

Now, I actually don’t mind if it rains this weekend.
Thanks Technology (and Whitney)!