Zoe Jakes and Beats Antique
* Faerieworlds Winter 2010 Celebration * McDonald Theater * Eugene, Oregon * January 30th, 2010 * 11:00-12:30 *
* http://www.beatsantique.com/ * myspace.com/beatsantique * zoebellydance.com * theindigo.net *

Bad Faeries Masquerade Ball couldn’t be more spectacular then to end with a mesmerizing and enchanting performance by Zoe Jakes and Beats Antique. One of my new favorites … Beats Antique with Zoe Jakes … what an incredible display of style, grace, tribal fusion, beats, and sheer art. Zoë Jakes & Beats Antique is a fusion trio of star American Tribal Fusion bellydancer Zoe Jakes teamed together with Electronic beats DJ’s/musicians David Satori (laptop DJ remix artist; guitar; violin) & Tommy Chappel (laptop DJ remix artist; hand drums). Zoe Jakes often dances with the “Indigo Belly Dance Company” with Rachel Brice and Mardi Love. Zoe specializes in ATS (American Tribal Style) and Tribal fusion mixed with hip-hop pops and locks. Beats Antique has produced a digital EP called “Contraption Vol. 1″ composed of glitch-rock, dub, world music, electronic compilations. Since ATS and Tribal fusion are the styles of bellydance I’ve been learning over the last year, I was in utmost awe to see one of my favorite dancer inspirations. This was my second time I’ve been blessed with seeing them perform. Major kudos for the mesmerizing and enchanting performance! Completely blessed my night. Rating: 5 stars out of 5. Official Photogallery of Zoe Jakes and Beats Antique can be found at the Faerieworlds web site.

Abney Park

Abney Park
* Faerieworlds Winter 2010 Celebration * McDonald Theater * Eugene, Oregon * January 30th, 2010 * 9:00-10:30 *

I’ve always been a fan from of Abney Park’s music, but this was an absolute pleasure to see them live, especially at Faerieworlds where the Faeries and otherworldly folk seasoned their outfits Steampunk style. The audience was absolutely rocketted and propelled with intense energy. A Seattle based band - Abney Park to many is the definition of “Steampunk” music. They since about Steampunk culture - about “A time that we wish had bee, a time where airships waged war in the skies, and corsets and cummerbunds were proper adventuring attire”. They definitely have a unique decorative style and influence. I was quite impressed. A goth/industrial band that resides in Seattle, Washington enchanting their audiences for over 12 years. They portray Steampunk airship pirates as crew members of the HMS Ophelia, a British Navy Zeppelin rampaging the skies in the fictional worlds influenced by time travel, Jules Vern, and the Victorian age. The band is not only flavored by Steampunk and Techno-Time travelling pirate and gypsy dress, belly dancers, and astounding outfits but armed with post-apocalyptic clockwork guitars, swashbuckling flintlock bass, middleastern instruments, violins, and Tesla powered keyboards. The Band consists of Robert “Dread Captain Robert” Brown who does lead vocals and songwriting playing the darbuka, diatonic button accordian, jembe, harmonica, and other instruments; teamed with Kristina “Angel” Erickson also on vocals, with navigation, keyboards, and flair; Daniel C on bass and pocket guitar; Jody Ellen on vocals; and Nathaniel “Two Sheds” Johnstone on guitar, violin, mandolin, bouzouki, and other such instruments. This band is absolutely fabulous and multi-talented. Rating: 5 stars out of 5.

Abney Park

Delhi 2 Dublin * Performance 1/29/2010 * Faerieworlds WInter 2010 Celebration * Good Faeries Masquerade * McDonald Theater * Eugene, Oregon *

Growing very rapidly to be one of my favorite dubstep/fusion/beat bands, from my pseudo-home city of Vancouver, B.C. Delhi 2 Dublin is sure to entice its audiences into a frenzy … and the friday night of January 29th proved that description completely. The Faerieworlds Winter Celebration patrons were ecstatically dancing to the Bollywood/India/Irish/Celtic fusion band known as “Delhi 2 Dublin”. Their name says its all. Five incredibly talented musicians and artists blending and fusing the Bhangra, tabla, celtic fiddle, dhol, Punjabi vocals, electronic sitar, Celtic, Dub, electronica, and world music together that are fantastically dance-able tunes. They were formed for a one-time performance at Vancouver’s Celtic Fest in 2006 and instantly became famous - their music took a life of its own. They went on tour of Eastern Canada and California playing a number of festivals including Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Shambhala, Salmon Arm Roots and Blues, etc. Their debut album spread throughout North America, Japan, and Eastern Europe. They played Canada Day’s large celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 1, 2007. The band consists of Tarun Nayer (Tabla, electronics); Kytami (Fiddle); Sanjay Seran (vocals); Andrew Kim (Electric Sitar, Guitar); and Ravi Binning (Dhol, Tabla). Rating: 5 stars out of 5.

Woodland * Performance 1/29/2010 * Faerieworlds WInter 2010 Celebration * Good Faeries Masquerade * McDonald Theater * Eugene, Oregon *

One of my favorite Pagan/Faerie bands, Woodland is the mover/shakers behind the phenomena that is Faerieworlds. Highlighting the first night of the Good Faeries Masquerade Ball at the McDonald Theater that was part of Faerieworlds Winter Celebration 2010 brought to their audiences a stunning performance. Woodland played their ball from 9:00 - 10:30 pm. Woodland focuses around Earth based and Faerie themes in their music, with Celtic and bardic poetry as strong influences … they mix folk and electric instrumentation melded with improvisational festival rock music. The Chief songwriter, Emilio Miller-Lopez is harmony vocals, guitar; Kelly Miller-Lopez as lead vocals, harp, flute, percussion; Kimmy Smith on fiddle; Donald Brodsky plays bass and didjeridoo; while Markus Johnson is on percussion/electronics; and Ken Sokolov on drums/percussion. The band makes up a ecstatic group that has quite a local and international following. Often their music is accompanied by VJ imagery based on Brian Froud’s artwork. Rating: 5 stars out of 5.

#3 Sonic Youth - The Eternal

I always knew OF the band Sonic Youth, but I had never paid them any attention. They were some band I figured one of my friends liked, but I also figured they wouldn’t appeal to me, so I ignored this particular listening habit of hers.

I ignored it until I was bored one day and decided to try something knew. I checked out this album and hell…I was amazed. Right away it caught me as the kind of record you keep turning up and up but can never get loud enough. I loved it. Even after listening to more of the band’s stuff, I still find this album to be their best (well, so far). The guitars are powerful and the vocals…well, they’re rubbish, but they’re great at the same time. It’s a very good album, and it definitely make 2009 seem like a better year for music.

#2 Fake Problems - It’s Great to be Alive

If Sonic Youth’s Eternal didn’t blow me away, this sure as hell did. I’ve never listened to such fun, catchy and exciting folk-punk in all my days of listening to folk-punk. Anyone could enjoy this record, whether they be into mainstream pop or are hardcore punk fans. It’s fun. I adore it. It was very difficult to not make it my #1.

NOFX have always been one of my favorite bands. Most fans are less keen on their newer, more serious/political stuff and prefer their older, lighthearted stuff, but I’m not most fans. I enjoy their humorous stuff, but it’s not exactly funny, and I like feeling politically enraged/motivated.

Coaster is not perfect, don’t get me wrong, but they’re still continuing on that semi-serious path of political rage. With the election of president Obama, maybe they’ll go lighthearted again for their next release, but alas, I digress. Coaster is instantly catchy and accessible. I enjoyed it straight off. It’s easy to like. That’s why it’s my #5.

#4 Sonic Boom Six - City of Thieves

I was massively disappointed in this album. Sonic Boom Six were an awesome ska/punk band with a good hint of reggae, and with this release, they’re just a punk band. They seem to think a lot of the album, and honestly, I don’t get it. Compared to their previous albums, it’s boring.

But you know, their previous albums were incredible. That’s how it got to my #4. It’s still a very good album within the year…just not a very good Sonic Boom Six album.

#7 The Used - Artwork

The Used have always kinda annoyed me. The lead singer whines in the most pathetic of fashions, and their music has always been a bit dull. Artwork was a big leap for the band, however. Most bands becoming more pop with time, but The Used have become less pop. It’s not only lacking in the whining department, but it also just generally is some pretty damn good post-hardcore. I was skeptical when a friend recommended it to me, but now I have no problem putting it as one of my albums of the year.

#6 Morrissey - Years of Refusal

Not an amazing album, but a solid effort. What catches me about Morrissey - aside from the fact he’s so hated - is his voice. He has a great voice. Since he was in The Smiths…although age has definitely made it a lot more powerful. I don’t know Morrissey’s music too well, but this is a really good, enjoyable effort from him. I’d recommend it to anyone. I haven’t listened to it an awful lot (like a lot of the stuff so far, I guess!), but so far so good.

To me, this is another testament to how bad the year has been. Here is an album I have probably listened to about twice. I barely know it, but the choice was so slim that I just had to put it up there. I’ve never been a big Franz Ferdinand fan, and although I do think this record is better than their last release (which was pretty dire, in my opinion), it’s nowhere near amazing. It’s hard to review an album when you know nothing about it, so I’ll just stick with what I’ve said and move into my number 8, I think!

#8 Mos Def - The Ecstatic

I’m not a massive rap fan. I really only got much into the genre a year and a half ago, maybe 2 years ago. I liked a few rap acts before that, but I was kinda against the genre as a whole.

These days, I don’t feel overly excited by rap, but I can enjoy it. I enjoyed this. I don’t think it’s amazing though. A lot of people adored it from what I read. I don’t. It’s just listenable. I like his voice and it’s pretty catchy music, therefore I put it on my list. I really can’t say any more than that.

From now until good old 2009 ends, I am going to post a couple of my top records of the year a day to make my point. It;s kind of a struggle to review them, but I’m going to do it…just to make the point. I’ll start with number 10 there.

What is my number 10? Well, it’s a testament to why this year has SUCKED! It’s a genre I’ve always detested, you see. POST-ROCK. The band in question is called Irepress. The record is called Sol Eye Sea I. I got it instead of an indie record I ordered from Amazon. I was pissed, but too lazy to complain.

It did surprise me though, I admit. It actually had some vocals, which is rare for post-rock, and the string section was a nice touch. But regardless, on no other year would a post-rock record make it into my top 10. Here’s to hoping 2010 is a little better!

I used to feel the former, but now I feel the latter. I can’t stand the tacky, over-done nature of these songs, and although it obviously HAS to remind me of Christmas, it no longer makes me feel good. Maybe I’m just a little bah humbug this year (which I am; I know it), but I want something different. Something slow and pretty or something loud and maybe a little aggressive. I want character, not cliche.

So I went searching for “alternative” Christmas albums, and lone behold, I found some!

There’s a lot of alternative Christmas music available, it seems. Something for everyone. There are the “A Santa Cause” albums, which claim to be punk rock but really aren’t. If you’re into post-hardcore, pop-rock and pop-punk, you’ll enjoy them. If you want something varied, Kevin and Bean, who are apparently American morning show DJs, have a load of Christmas-themed albums. They’re hard to find, but they’re worth it! A number of bands also have Christmas albums, such as Bright Eyes, MU330 and Weezer.

Christmas doesn’t have to be cliche and boring. Check some of this stuff out before the big day is all done and gone!