Beautiful Small Machines Release 'Simple Joys' Video. Song Feat. Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
Check out the video for 'Simple Joys' by Beautiful Small Machines (Bree Sharp & Don Dilego). The song features guest vocal by Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran). Visit We Like It Indie
PutItOn Picture Show Annual Online Film Festival Presented by PutItOn.com and the New York Film Academy Accepting Short and Feature Submissions Until December 31, 2009
PutItOn.com Offers Artists in Film, Fashion, Music and Art a Global Stage to Showcase Their Talents, Discover Other Artists and Engage in eCommerce
PutItOn.com, the first online portal enabling artists from four artistic disciplines to display their talents and gain worldwide exposure, is proud to announce its first annual film festival, PutItOn Picture Show Presented By PutItOn.com and the New York Film Academy. The PiO Picture Show is open now and accepting entries until December 31, 2009. The festival marries PutItOn.com’s unique web-based platform with the spirit of creativity fostered in a film competition. Filmmakers and artists worldwide are encouraged to compete.
“We are excited to launch The PutItOn Picture Show in partnership with the New York Film Academy,” said Max Fraser, British co-founder of PutItOn.com. “This festival is an important part of our vision for creating a grassroots path for emerging artists around the world to take their work from the ‘garage’ to the global marketplace. PutItOn.com’s web platform was designed by artists for artists and it is intended to help foster the next generation of creative leaders.”
PutItOn.com is accessible in 10 languages and offers users 1 free gb of virtual storage space, no transaction charges when purchasing or selling work, online chat and the ability to live stream audio and video. A cutting-edge mobile application will be available across five platforms in the later this fall.
About The PutItOn Picture Show
The PutItOn Picture Show is co-sponsored by the New York Film Academy and is open to artists around the globe.
All entries are welcome, except for those that are exclusively pornographic in content or unethical, such as films based on acts of hate. Each entrant is allowed to submit one film into the contest. Prizes will be awarded for Best Feature, Best Short and Best Achievement in Acting.
The first round of the competition for best feature film and best short film will be decided by a global Internet vote, which will narrow the entries to a list of the top 10 finalists per category. At the second and final stage of the competition, the finalists for these two categories will be judged by a panel made up of one member of The New York Film Academy, PiO's Max Fraser, and an industry professional yet to be named. The award for best achievement in acting will be decided separately by the panel of judges, with all submissions automatically entered for consideration.
The competition is open for new entries until December 31st. Public voting will continue until January 28, 2010 and winners will be announced on February 18, 2010.
Winners in each category will receive a two-tiered prize: a free scholarship to the New York Film Academy and a cash prize of $5,000 USD. If a winner has already attended the New York Film Academy, or another film school, they can opt-out of the scholarship and choose to only receive the cash prize and an alternative award. The second place winners in the best feature film and short film categories will each receive an HD 'Pro-sumer' digital video camera.
In addition to the film festival, PutItOn currently has plans to launch a U.S.-based online song competition this fall. The company will release additional details shortly.
For more information about PutItOn or the film festival, visit: www.PutItOn.com.
About PutItOn.com
PutItOn.com – “The Home to the World’s Undiscovered Artists” – offers a revolutionary, grassroots approach to helping unknown artists take their work from the “garage” to the global marketplace where fans can connect with them directly. Leveraging an online platform for showcasing and marketing art, music, fashion and film, PutItOn.com helps undiscovered artists from around the world become both artistically and financially successful. Through PutItOn.com artists have the freedom to break out into the marketplace at NO COST with complete intellectual and creative control. For more information about PutItOn or the film festival, visit: http://www.PutItOn.com
The Blakes Announce Fall Tour Dates / FLIP'n Awesome Videos
Seattle (via Maine) Rock band The Blakes announce the first round of their fall tour dates in support of forthcoming album SOUVENIR.
Launch The Blakes YouTube channel to showcase tales from the road (via Flip videos).
TOUR DATES (so far)
9/25 –The BLVD Spokane, WA
9/26 –Yakima Sports Center Yakima, WA
9/29 -Neumos Seattle, WA
10/1 –Rotture Portland, OR
10/2 –Humboldt Brews Arcata, CA
10/3 –Marilyn’s on K Sacramento, CA
10/4 –Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, CA
10/6 –Viper Room Los Angeles, CA
10/7 –Saint Rocke Hermosa Beach, CA
10/8 –Three Clubs Los Angeles, CA
10/9 –Beauty Bar Las Vegas, NV
10/10 –Casbah San Diego, CA
10/12 –Bash Riprock’s Lubbock, TX
10/13 -MoHawk Austin, TX
10/14 –Hailey’s Denton, TX
10/15 –Sticky Fingerz Little Rock, AR
10/16 –Firebird St. Louis, MO
10/17 –Rock Island Brewing Co Rock Island, IL
10/20-Pike Room Pontiac, MI
10/22 – CMJ New York, NY
10/23 – CMJ New York, NY
10/24 – CMJ New York, NY
Join The Blakes Mailing List
Artist Michael Doret Posts 3-Part Blog Series On The Making of KISS SONIC BOOM Cover Art
Michael Doret Created Album Art for
KISS's Platinum Selling Rock And RollOver
And Newly Released CD/DVD Package SONIC BOOM
Los Angeles, CA --August 18, 2009—Michael Doret, award-winning illustrator, designer and lettering artist, has taken to his AlphabetSoup blog to discuss the making of the cover art for CD/DVD package SONIC BOOM, the first new material in 11 years from revered rock band KISS. Michael was the artist behind iconic cover and platinum selling album Rock And Roll Over and was thrilled to take up the chance to help bring SONIC BOOM to life.
It happened in April 2009, out of the blue, KISS's Paul Stanley, from somewhere in South America, phones Michael about a new project. From there, the process for creating what is now known as SONIC BOOM began. Michael is detailing the adventure, from the beginning, by reflecting on his initial experience with Rock And Roll Over through to the debut of SONIC BOOM. He is including imagery of both projects as well as the initial sketch he created for his vision of SONIC BOOM to present to KISS. Says Michael, "While Paul Stanley didn’t want me to reprise what I had done with my art for the Rock And Roll Over cover, he did want me to try to capture some of the same spirit, attitude, energy, and look that I had instilled in that piece. I am very happy with the result and look forward to the KISS fans' response." KISS earlier today announced the release SONIC BOOM exclusively through Walmart and Sam's Club retail locations onOctober 6, 2009.
About Michael Doret
Michael Doret is an award-wining illustrator, designer and lettering artist based in Los Angeles, CA. He has created memorable logos, album covers, magazine covers and art for major brands in Sports, Music and Advertising, including the likes of the New York Knicks, MLB, TIME, Playboy, TV Guide, KISS, Capitol Records and Columbia Records. Michael also owns AlphabetSoup Type Founders where he designs and sells fonts which are distributed through Font Bros., MyFonts and Veer. Michael is a graduate of The Cooper Union in New York City. For more information, please visit:http://michaeldoret.com
Links to art:
http://blog.alphabetsoupblog.com/
http://kissonline.com/
The Blakes Announce New Album and Fall Tour
After touring the world with everyone from The Gossip to the Kills to Brian Jonestown Massacre, reaching #1 on KEXP, garnering Top 10 album of 07 on iTunes and performing at US festivals from Lollapalooza to Bumpershoot to Sasquatch, The Blakes release full length Souvenir on October 13th the long awaited follow up to the Streets EP & the recent reissue The Blakes LP.
Check out "Basket" and other songs from the upcoming release here
Tour Dates July 17 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
July 24 - Neumos - Capitol Hill Block Party
August 3 - Crocodile - Seattle, WA
Who Loves The Blakes?
NPR
...similarly primed for success... there's no containing the primal, giddy energy that crackles through it... It's innocent and raunchy, wide-eyed and tunnel-visioned, all at once.
SPIN
Soak the Kinks in cheap booze, reignite the Stooges' strut and add some
modern Strokes of ambition, and you have the Blakes
Pitchfork
One of the pleasant surprises of the festival were the Blakes, the group blended Dandy Warhols-ish swampy guitars, twitchy Strokes rhythms, and
power-pop vocal harmonies, offering an energetic and unmannered romp through
modern rock radio. With messy arrangements and a theatrical drummer fond of
the both-sticks-in-the-air poses, their bluesy-cool rock brought a bit of
a dirty nightclub vibe to the sunny (if already very windy) afternoon.
Daytrotter The same kind of Seattle Band that takes you on with their dirty fast and
dangerous rock-n-roll. They've made Iggy Pop stop and take notice. All Music Guide ...they nevertheless, on sheer raw musical terms, have the stuff to break
into the big leagues and after hearing them tear it up live, it's hard not to
want to hear a full album of theirs.
Seattle PI
...their live shows definitely credit the band's authenticity and adoration.
Seattle Weekly
The Blakes are incredibly hard workers, earnestly committed to their craft,
and practically academic in their obsession with executing the perfect pop song.
Some good stuff that you need to know about The Blakes
--The origins of the Blakes are rooted somewhere in the backwoods of central Maine, where brothers Garnet & Snow Keim created a shared ambition to deviate from their seemingly inevitable fates as lifelong paper mill employees (or something of that nature), and try their hands at music
--In the spring of 1999, the duo found themselves in Seattle, where they ended their epic search for a drummer in Bob Husak, who was toiling away as a barista.
--From there, the trio took off for the sunny skies of LA landing at the Days Inn in Glendale and recording their first full-length album during the TV off-season at CBS studios. On the name "The Blakes:" The name came to Garnet in a dream after he¹d attended a showing of the works of William Blake. The newly formed Blakes recorded two EP's in succession. The Bottle was recorded in 2004 and another called Little Whispers in 2005. AND along with a relocation back to Seattle, The Blakes had become notable for their chaotic and highly energetic live shows.
Ever ambitious, the boys recorded over forty songs for their third full length. When it was whittled down, The Blakes personally took several copies over to KEXP, which immediately championed the band and catapulted them to #1 on their charts. They eventually signed to local indie imprint Light in the Attic Records. In the summer of 2007, the label issued an EP, Streets, which featured three album tracks and two exclusives.
In the meantime, the band played several high profile Northwest shows, including appearances at Sasquatch, Bumbershoot and Capitol Hill Block Party and started embarking on cross country national tours.
In Europe, the boys played the TV show Album de la Semaine in France and toured with the Gossip, the Kills and Pete and the Pirates as part of the Musicale en Tournee tour, which was filmed and edited into a TV special for Canal+ and supported the Wombats across the UK. Other touring partners abroad include the Brian Jonestown Massacre in England, France, and Germany.
Festival dates in the US followed including Sasquatch and Bumbershoot, and also performed at Lollapalooza, SXSW, MusicFest NorthWest, CMJ and Sunfest in Miami.
iTunes voted the Blakes album one of the Top 10 records of 2007. Garnet and Snow put out a full-length record consisting of more introspective songs as BEADS earlier in the year. The forthcoming Souvenir will be self released this fall For PR: Samantha Tillman @ Daffodil Publicity- samantha@daffodilpublity.com For All Other Band Info: Paula Gould PEG PR paula@paulagould.com
What's The Science? and DJ K.O. on CNET!! Download "Higher" and "Someday" Feat. Talib Kweli
What happens when a world-renowned jazz visionary teams up with a passionate, thought-provoking emcee with a love for true hip-hop?
The answer is another question…What's The Science?
Lil Sci (John Robinson) and Carlos Nino’s hip-hop/ jazz-fusion also channels elements of soul and electronica to create a truly unique and eclectic sound. "WTS is a direct tribute to the early 90's Elektra records," says Lil Sci. "At that time, Elektra Records was signing acts like Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Brand Nubian, and launched the whole era of, conscious, thought-provoking music that made it cool to be an intellectual. It was the emergence of hip hop as a culture that young people could embrace and relate to."
With plans to reignite the passion and positivity that seems to have eluded hip-hop in recent years, What's The Science? is set to release their full-length album, Elevation on September 23.
Listen, vote and download What's The Science?'s new song HIGHER. Their new album "Elevation" drops September 23!
The New Jersey native known as DJ KO (Keenan Ornsby) has teamed up with Shaman Work Recordings to release the best hip-hop compilation to come out in years.
Picture This matches a seemingly endless roster of hip-hop's hottest MC's with an equally impressive group of producers. The result is a tribute to hip-hop's past, present, and future.
Veterans like Diamond D, OC, Masta Ace, and Ed OG bring back the past, while lyricists like Talib Kweli, Elzhi (Slum Village), Phonte (Little Brother) and Royce da 5'9 represent today's hottest performers, and newbies like Skyzoo, Kaze, Superstition, Silent Knight and Tiffany Paige set the bar for what's to come. Featuring tracks produced by Black Milk, Buckwild, Analogic, 9th Wonder and M-Phazes (to name a few) the album definitely has something for everyone.
DJ K.O.'s SOMEDAY feat. Torae, John Robinson, Talib Kweli & Tiffany Paige. Picture This drops September 23!!
Dago Braves Nominated for a NAMMY
..
SHULACED ENTERTAINMENT artists the Dago Braves are up for a Nammy for Best Rap Hip Hop Recording for their debut Album "Native American Hustle." Please vote for them at the following link. The form will not complete unless you vote on all categories, so please take a second to vote. Best Rap Hip Hop Recording category is 20. Wish us luck and VOTE HERE
Dago Braves new album Kumeyaay Cool Guyz will drop October 21!!
Shulaced Entertainment was founded at the Sycuan Reservation in San Diego as a means for giving members of the Sycuan band of the Kumeyaay Nation, and the surrounding community, an outlet to creatively express themselves.
The Sycuan have promoted numerous shows in the San Diego area, bringing hip hop and other genres of music to the community through a partnership with Live Nation.
Dago Braves and Shulaced artist El Cajon Tez have shared the stage with N.E.R.D, Lil' Wayne, Young Jeezy, Pitbull, and many others.
Upcoming performances at House of Blues San Diego this fall include Young Jeezy and Lil' Kim.
Cows, Hootenanny and OSLO, Oh My!
The question eliciting the shortest response this week would be "What ISN'T happening right now?" So much brewing...
GLEN WEXLER is currently featured on APPLE.COM's Start Page highlighting his new book The SECRET LIFE OF COWS. 
We hand delivered a 6' print of an image from the book, featuring a cow in a trebuchet about to be launched over a castle wall, to the Grail Theatre at the Wynn Las Vegas. The print will hang in the main hallway amidst the Monty Python artwork for the duration of Spamalot!!
MUSIC.COM, who you'll see in every peticab you get into at SxSW this week, will release their Artist-controlled music download / mobile download and customizable ringtone store Thursday (March 15). It rules, and makes it possible for the ARTISTS to get the most money for their music sales! 
MUSIC.COM has a booth at the convention center where bands will be performing and are sponsoring the High Wire Hootenanny day party Thursday at Habana Calle 6 from 12-5p.
OSLO, who just played an amazing show at The Viper Room in Los Angeles Monday, has new tracks posted to their MySpace and is down at SxSW (isn't everyone??) playing several shows this week:
Mar 15 2007 9:00P Waterloo Icehouse
Mar 16 2007 3:15P Music.com @Convention Center
Mar 17 2007 3:00P Dirty Dog Bar
Mar 17 2007 11:45P Waves (upstairs)/Texas Rock Fest
The album cover for Oslo's forthcoming release "The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate," shot by Glen Wexler is nearly complete.
Here's a fun wrap pic of a very disheveled me, Photographer Glen Wexler, "the talent" and Vu Ong from the set (shot by Carsten Steinhausen):
Reports from Austin soon...
Los Angeles Turned UK Band ORSON Take Home a Brit
Photo Credit:ORSON
Our long lost but never forgotten friends ORSON took home a Brit [last] week for Best International Breakthrough Artist!!! Though their music is now available in the US on iTunes and their single "No Tomorrow" became the most downloaded Single of the Week in Apple's iTunes history, they've yet to break through the often fickle US market. The last year and a half has seen Orson touring worldwide with the likes of Duran Duran and Robbie Williams before headlining their own tour in 2006.
Things seem to be coming together Finally. I wonder if those of us back in the States that have anxiously anticipated their return home, perhaps, with this new found and overdue accolade will finally be treated a US Tour?? I suppose we will see.
You can see them accepting their award, posted on their MySpace Blog HERE
Please also visit Orson's Official Site
Originally posted Feb. 15, 2007