Interview with Supersillyus

A couple months back I went to hang out with Rob Uslan, better known as Supersillyus. He is a multi-talented artist, working on his solo music as well as the popular duo of himself and Space Jesus to make up Schlang. He's been living in NY now, so I headed down to Brooklyn and sat down with the man. The following is a little of what transpired.



There was really no formalities here. Just hanging out that afternoon, talking about random stuff and streams of thought. Supersillyus has some pretty interesting things to talk about when it comes to the state of the scene, writing music, gentrification, and even a few thoughts on psychedelics. He even shared his most recent work in progress at the time.


Rob's an awesome guy, it was a lot of fun chilling with him. He won't be performing too much during the summer time as he's working on multiple records, but be sure to catch him live and really experience Supersillyus in all of his glory, as well as when he performs with Schlang.

Catch him this Saturday (June 21) for a live show and a debut of his newest song. Catch him playing with some legendary artists like Frankie Bones and Afrika Bambaataa at Summer Solstice [click the link for info/tickets]. We'll also be seeing him perform on the festival track this summer at Luna Light, FarmFest, and Wild Woods Music and Arts Festival.

Supersillyus Links

Official

Soundcloud

Facebook

Supersillyus - by Rich Guerra (lostinsound.org)

Hudson Music Project - Listening to Friday

July will hold some amazing talent at the Hudson Music Project. Saugerties, NY, is going to be moving to the beats of all different kinds of artists. On the festival's main page, you can actually find individual pages for all the artists, including tracks you can listen to, music videos to watch, and links to their websites. If you are are feeling like an explorer, that's a good place to go to and learn more about all the artists performing! Here we'll share some of the music of those artists that will be playing at the festival on Friday.

Robert Delong - 

You'll be able to catch this one man electronic army on the first day of Hudson. Hailing from LA, Robert uses an array of instruments including Wii-motes, drums, his voice and keyboards... it's pretty awesome and will have you dancing. We highly suggest checking out his Soundcloud. Look for the orange 'X' logo around the festival grounds and on his set. 

Official

Facebook

Soundcloud

XXX

Moon Hooch - 

Moon Hooch was sent to us to prove that music played from the soul will constantly move you. These guys started off just playing in public to pay off tuition costs (to graduate The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music mind you). Once they hit the subways, it was all on. With an Australian TV show, a national tour with Mike Doughty, and frequent subway platform dance parties all stemming from performing underground, these guys really caught the public's eye... and they are just all around awesome.

Official

Facebook

Soundcloud

XXX

Odesza -

We are very pumped to check out this duo from Seattle as they stop in to the Hudson Music Project during their international tour. Giving us some of that big big big electronic sound, you can be sure to see so much flow at their set. A glow kids delight, Odesza's sound will rush through your body uplifting your soul. Catch them on Friday... probably at night.

Official

Facebook

Soundcloud

XXX

TAUK - 

Tauk is a band that has literally transformed over the years. They are now at a stage where they have already toured most of the country and can capture. We've seen them at local shows, festivals and heard them on the radio, these boys make Long Island proud. You'll find yourself grooving to Tauk and their originals, as well as some of the covers they perform time to time. 

Official

Facebook

Soundcloud

XXX

That's just the tip of Friday's musical iceberg. Friday at Hudson Music Project will also behold Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, STS9, Excision...and yea.. a whole lot of awesome talent. What's more is that they extended this tier of tickets so you have more time to get them at a discounted rate! Find your tickets HERE. 

A Look at FarmFest 2014 (Vernon, NJ)

On the quest this summer for music festivals, we are only going to ones we've never been to before. A few are in their inaugural year, but one has been growing and entering it's third year... FarmFest.

FarmFest

Located a short distant away in New Jersey, FarmFest is being held on Rickey Farm in Vernon, July 24-26. FarmFest will have a big focus on the music, art, and different workshops. It's going for the transformational festival vibe, where you are immersed in everything going on. The music will be huge as well. The lineup is absolutely epic and we're hoping for some impromptu sets (Schlang, please).

The headliners to this shindig include Papdosio, EOTO, Phutureprimitive, Bluetech, Cosby Sweater and Space Jesus. They also just announced Moon Hooch and Liquid Stranger (with two sets O.O)!! Sooooo... yea. This is going to be one hell of a show. There all different genres and styles, all with deeper feeling to the music. The joy this brings is unspeakable.

Liquid Stranger

Phutureprimitive : Photo by Watchara

With more act TBA Here's the lineup so far:

Papadosio, EOTO, Phutureprimitive, Random Rab, Bluetech, Govinda, Andreilien (Heyoka), Gladkill, Buku, Cosby Sweater, Unlimited Aspect, Nadis Warriors, Skytree, Space Jesus, Esseks, Plassic, Technicolor Lenses, Srikalogy, Jordan Koza Family, Mystery Fyre, Suburban Sensi, Truth Now, Mshairi, Faceplant, RA!N, Brightside, Pure Blend, Wink, Sexy Black Female, ILAS, One Man and Exhilo

With art as another major focus, there will be live painters on the scene performing as well. According to the FarmFest homepage, there are four announced artists. We've seen two of them paint and do visual lighting and mapping work from here in New York. Both are geometrical geniuses, Psybe and Kaliptus. We also have Joness Jones and Christina Mazzulla, another two extraordinarily talented artists that bring two very different styles to the table.

Kaliptus

Psybe

As for the workshops, be sure to find yoga, poi and other flow, and maybe some workshops on production or music, or maybe energy flows. Since which ones haven't officially been announced yet, we can't really say  for sure! There will be workshops though and we are excited to see what's offered.

Tickets are currently in their third tier, which is only $105. For a festival like this, it's basically giving you a ticket. If you wait a little longer, it's going to go up a little, so jump on those tickets now.

Event URL: https://www.facebook.com/events/1430743517169364/
Website: http://www.farmmusicfestival.com/


**Official Release**


Now in its third year, F.A.R.M. Music and Arts Festival is going bigger than ever taking place July 24-26 in Vernon, NJ. Propelled by the growing transformational festival aesthetic, the festivals organizers have widened it’s reach; Their intentions of creating a multidimensional, free thinking, music, art and science fest is said to be one of a kind seen here on the East Coast.

The addition of Papadosio to the lineup can only mean that popularity of this festival is going to skyrocket. EOTO also adds some major muscle to this event, As there members “Jason Hann” and “Michael Travis” are the drummer and synth player of “String Cheese Incident”. There Band headlines another festival near the Great Lakes known as “ Electric Forest” . Farm Fest is making quite a statement with this bill.

Old favorites from last year return with Phutureprimitive, Unlimited Aspect, and Buku. The addition of Random Rab, Govinda, Andreilien, and Gladkill is also a huge move for the organizers. Livetronica is well represented with Cosby Sweater and Nadis Warriors, and the psychedelic sounds of the northeast are repped by Untz-faves Space Jesus and Skytree.

The festival returns to beautiful Rickey Farm. The grounds provide ample space for camping and parking, and each night, performers, dancers, painters, fire spinners, and more will light up the night sky.

MUST BE 21+ WITH VALID ID TO POSESS ALCOHOL
THIS IS AN ALL AGES EVENT! 17 AND UNDER MUS BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT!

FOR MORE INFORMATON GO TO www.farmmusicfestival.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmfestnj?ref=hl
Contact: http://www.farmmusicfestival.com/contact/

Phutureprimitive Headlining for 'Undersaturated Presents' Launch Event

While getting excited for the few festivals we're going to be covering this season, I noticed a show going down on Thursday that peaked my interest. Phutureprimitive's going to be headlining a show at the Highline Ballroom, also joined by Govinda, BRANX and Technicolor Lenses who will be celebrating the release of their upcoming album "Psychedelegates." 

>>..>>Facebook Event Page<<..<<

This show is actually the official launch of Undersaturated Presents -- a new brand created by Planet Cognac and Mr. Bugsly Presents featuring highly curated lineups of fresh electronic talent at a variety of venues throughout NYC:

"The intention of the branding is to highlight the fact that the electronic music scene is over-saturated in the NYC market. Undersaturated will prove there’s still hope for freshly curated events to flourish. The implied irony lies in the fact that there’s still a relatively untapped demographic of music fans yearning to attend unique events featuring both established and up and coming artists in the ever evolving electronic community."

The idea behind this brand is great, and after taking a look at both parties track records, you would instantly agree that this will be a new dawn in some great music here in New York. We've seen the music morph over time, and now more than ever there is this great variety of electronic music encompassing so much talent. To what amazing shows they put together, well, time will tell. I have high hopes for what the NY music scene has to offer. 

So be sure to get out to the Highline on Thursday night for the show. Tickets are $15 in advance, and only $20 at the door. This is also an 18+ show, so make sure you have proper ID ;)

>>>>....>>>>Facebook Event Page <<<<....<<<<<

Hudson Music Project Full Lineup Announced!

The Hudson Music Project is just over a month away, and the full lineup has just been released today. Here's what that full lineup looks like:

Click to Enlarge!

The new names released today are:

 Strfkr

Four Tet

12th Planet

Action Bronson

Felix Cartal

Moon Boots

Perseus

Jonas Rathsman

Isaac Tichuer

Henry Krinkle

Jacques Green

Bit Funk

Widowspeak

 Three

Exmag

Nick Catchdubs

  Nostalghia

Tumbleweed Wanderers

Woody's Produce.

Now, not only is this an eclectic lineup, but it has a lot of people online asking the question, who? A lot of these names are very well known, but others have not necessarily gained that type of hype. So to help all you folks expand your musical horizons, let's choose a few of these "mysterious" artists on the lineup and introduce you to their tunes, starting with a few now, a few later...let's not overload your brains with too much awesome all at once!!

Off today's announcement, let's get a little funky, a little soulful, and a whole lot of hip-hoping. Here's some styling from Woody's Produce.




Another newly introduced artist will help you blast off into space with his interstellar feel, here's Moon Boots!



One of our local favorites, bringing funk, soul and jazz back to the forefront of our attentions, Exmag will be taking the stage. Cannot wait to join the Lowtemp family at his set!!



Speaking about the funk, we are so ready to get down with The Floozies! There is no way to now feel good when jamming out to their tracks!!



You can enjoy these artists for now, and we will share more as we creep on closer to the show. This is turning out to be the summer of The Hudson for sure. There's rock, funk, soul, hip-hop, dubstep, house...everything will pretty much be represented there. With four stages and an expectation of 20,000 people, this will be one hell of a weekend to remember... or forget...depending on how you do ;)

Get your tickets HERE: http://hudsonmusicproject.com/tickets/ 

Who Gibbz a F#@$ - EP Release

Back when Gramatik released The Age of Reason, we were introduced to the styles of Gibbz. Staying true to the age of funk, Gibbz brings sexy back to EDM. Packed with delicious synth and solid dance beats, this is some serious baby making making for any lover of funk and something fresh for us. Introducing his new EP: WHO GIBBZ A F#@$



Enjoy the crap out of this. We are over here, it's like bathing in relaxing waves of awesome.

There are a couple of shows coming up that you can catch Gibbz at:

-The Who Gibbz a F#@$ Spa Party w Branx & Pomo @ Body by Brooklyn

buy tix: tinyurl.com/gibbinmassages

-The world premiere of GIBBZMATIK featuring Gibbz & Gramatik @ SRB in Brooklyn.
With Lowtemp Guests: Exmag, Illumntr, Branx, and Orlando Napier
buy tix: mrbugsly.webconnex.com/gibbzmatik

Get your tickets, and be in there like Shaft making moves on his woman ;)

Interview with Danish Pop Star Medina (UnderNYC.com teamup!)

About a week ago, I was approached with the opportunity to sit down with the most famous person I have ever interviewed to date...the Danish Pop Star, Medina. She was the most down to earth and lovable character, and she made it clear why her fans love her so much, and why she is successfully involved in everything she does. Which is incredible considering the amount of awards she's won, as well as the prestige of being the most Googled person in Denmark, as well as getting more airplay last year than anyone else.

***** FULL INTERVIEW WITH TRANSCRIPT HERE*****

***** FULL INTERVIEW WITH TRANSCRIPT HERE*****

I was presented with this interview from our friends over at UnderNYC.com. Over there you can hear the full 30 minute interview, as well as read the transcript. I also put together this little teaser too. If you are into this 8 minutes, I implore you to check out the whole deal. She really is an inspiration and I have been left humbled by her energy.

Huge thank you to Medina, her crew, Magnum PR, and of course UnderNYC.com!!

New Release: Gramatik - The Age Of Reason

We've been waiting for some time to get our hands on Gramatik's new music, and it's finally here. The Age Of Reason is quite possibly one of Denis's best releases yet, and all while staying true to his mantra of #digitalfreedom. From his views on our society to the very essence of the LP title, this release embodies so much more than just dope tracks.

The LP features 15 tracks, all being released off Gramatik's label, Lowtemp. The Age Of Reason (from here on it will be referred to as TAOR) is Gramatik's first full length release through Lowtemp with tons of soul in it. When listening to it for the first time, the amount of live instruments mixed together with the futuristic stylings is astounding. One could label this music as future-funk-space-jazz-blues... it is literally genre defying. It really shows how much Denis has grown musically all the while breaking the status quo of EDM.

Photo by: Etan Wish

Photo by: Etan Wish

Since his first appearance on the scene in 2009, Gramatik has been sharing all of his music, for free. In 2010 he had already released five records, and then began posting links of torrents that contained his entire discography. Thanks to this method of file sharing, Gramatik's name became an EDM household name, and spawned a very dedicated and loving fan base. His music was spread out and his shows were popping.

Photo by Kitana of OwlEyesOnYou

Gramatik is very outspoken when it comes to his views of our society and how we handle different laws. With his last album, appropriately named #digitalfreedom, he encouraged a new era of copyright law and discourse, all the while crediting torrenting to being a major factor in his success. He also is quite adamant about Nikola Tesla, his legacy, and his mindful progression living as a whole. Originally, Tesla's plan was to create free energy for all people. This mindset most definitely plays a role in how Denis shares his music. For TAOR, Gramatik made a partnership with BitTorrent to release the LP. On the download there are two special video tracks, making the connection between Denis and his fans that much closer.



The album was released on January 25th, and with a huge bang in NYC. There was an album release party over at the Best Buy Theater. The show sold out during presale. That is how dedicated the Gramatik and Lowtemp families are. While at the show, we met people from all over the East Coast, all the way down to Virginia. Gramatik shared the stage with Exmag, Gibbz, Branx, Late Night Radio and TOKiMONSTA.  The party was off the hook to say the least. Check out the Pictorial Walkthrough and photo albums to catch the fun.

The next scheduled show in America is for none other than the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater in CO. Gramatik will be HEADLINING!! Get tickets HERE. So now you know a little more about the man and his own growing legacy. Go and download the album (link HERE) and kick it back for a little while. It's free, but please consider donating a little something to support this incredible artist. Let's get funky!

PHOTO ALBUMS FROM RELEASE!!

Electric Ghost Punk ///// Album
OwlEyesOnYou ///// Album

Looking Into The Future of 2014

Happy New Year everyone!!

We've had some really great times this past year, especially expanding Electric Ghost Punk into so much more from where it started. Thinking back to the end of 2011, this website and my exploration into EDM was pretty much exclusively in the rave scene. I can still remember when Skrillex was the only producer I could think of off the top of my head, and Camp Bisco being the ultimate first goal in the first year for the site. Not only did we accomplish that goal, but Bisco literally opened the flood gates to seeing how enormous and widespread the EDM community and culture is. I have personally seen how the music and people from all different genres and times come together with and through EDM. We have seen legendary bands like The Allman Brothers  playing alongside current favorites like Lotus. It truly is amazing to see how far everything has come in just the few years of my involvement.

This year, we're going to be creating a lot of personalized multimedia to continue diving deeper into the people, places, and things happening on the scenes. We'll be at parties, concerts, camping festivals, and perhaps a few surprises along the way. It is our goal to continue to provide a light to shine on our wonderful community.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

Artist Spotlight: Adam Psybe

It's just about 5pm, and the last sliver of actual sunlight is disappearing from the sky as we get off the L train in Brooklyn. As we emerge to the streets, the neighborhood seems to all be housed except a select few young men with thick beards and glasses. It is getting pretty cold out already, freezing really; Our breath stands still for a moment in the air as we begin to venture towards an area of Brooklyn where community meets industry and art. This is Bushwick, and we are entering an open air gallery run by a group of artists known as The Bushwick Collective. This select group of artists paint the walls of the buildings in this area with incredible pieces of art, and in the midst of it all, a "new" artist is rising to the challenge of being recognized on these streets filled with artwork from well known visionaries like Buff Monster and Sexer. And with just a little push and a lot of talent, he would enter that mold.

Beau Stanton

Sexer

His name is Adam Psybe, or just Psybe for short. Since a young age he's been very artistic, but for the past three years he's been working on his craft with a canvas, and really expanding and working on it full time for the past year. His style of painting is extraordinarily surrealistically pleasing. One might call it 'abstract' art, but I'll refer to it as planetary portal geometry.

The first time we saw Psybe's work was up in Maine at The Great North Music and Arts Festival. Although there wasn't a lot of time spent talking to the man himself, his works really spoke out to everyone that came under the art tent. There were times I'd walk by just to admire his canvases again only to find people sitting in front of the paintings in a trance like state, getting lost within these gateways from his mind. It was very appropriate to have him working alongside other amazing artists, including Alex and Allyson Grey.

Now back in NY, Psybe was looking to get involved with more artists as well as to expand his horizons with his art. That is where the Bushwick Collective came into play. Originally, Psybe approached them to get a spot to paint a mural and become part of the collective. At that time, the Bushwick Collective was apprehensive to giving Psybe the wall space due to him only working on two murals in the past, and most of his work being on canvas. As I'm sure this was a let down for Psybe, he did not let it get in the way of building his street cred.

Entrance to Cypress Studios // The Art Space

Down the Hallway Lined with Art

Recently a new art studio opened up in Bushwick called Cypress Studios aka The Art Space. It's a pretty well hidden spot, with a large black gate blocking off the entrance. Inside the studio there are hallways and rooms, a lot of space an artist could rent out as a studio. It was in this space that Erika Bansen, another very talented artist, rented out a room to launch her very own dreadlocks studio, Make Me Dreadful.

While fixing up the room, Adam spoke to the building's owner about possibly being able to use the black gate in front to paint a portal. The permission was given and Psybe went to work. He was adding a mural to the area that he was just denied from. "I was told it was a bad move to do a mural right in their area, but I decided to go ahead with it anyway given I did not think I'll be working with them." Some my consider this a ballsy move, I see it as freedom of speech. After all, this building may be in the same area, but the Bushwick Collective do not own the streets.

His mural began to take shape, and a small portal to a whole new galaxy came to life. He worked on it for full days, from the brisk mornings till the extreme temperature drop at night fall. Little by little his piece came together to create an original painting for the neighborhood. It is truly incredible to look at, and even more so original compared to all the other works in the vicinity. Psybe has added a new flare on Cypress Ave. After his work was finished, he contacted the Bushwick Collective again to show them his piece. They told him that they were watching him the whole week as he worked, and they were happy to have him be a part of them.

Almost completed...

Finished Product "Public Portal One" - Photo by Bushwick Collective

Moral of the story? Don't give up. Don't give in. If you love something, and are passionate about it, just do it and keep on doing it. Psybe didn't step on any toes in doing what he did, and in the end got where he wanted to be. So what's next for Psybe? Well so far he will be working on another portal with the Bushwick Collective and he's also been contacted to paint a building in Brooklyn. The building will be a collaborative piece featuring Psybe and other geometric and abstract artists from the Bushwick Collective. He will also be doing a new acrylic series for a solo show in Denver called The Knew Conscience Gallery in June. There are many great things to come from this artist, and we are excited to see what's next!!

Check out Psybe Visual Arts to see more of Psybe's work and buy some art!! See his work with your own eyes on Troutman and Cypress, a half block west on Cypress, only a short walk from the Jefferson Street Station on the L line.

Parachute NY: Bringing The Creativity Behind EDM to Light

Back on November 17, an event happened to promote the different and various arts that the Electronic Dance Music community harbors. The event was called "Parachute: Supporting the Creative Community". It is Parachute's goal to showcase and educate what the EDM scene is all about, from painting, sculpting, dance, and music, to textiles and other creative and hobbies. This showcase happens through demonstrations, seminars, music, dance and live art creation, as well as vendors. What's better than teaching people all the positive and good that members of the EDM community has to offer? The event being FREE of course!!

This event had my ears perked up as well as my intrigue. Can this be? After all it's an event we all always wanted. In today's USA, when we hear about raves the image is of teenagers wearing the skimpiest amount of clothing, lots of plastic bead bracelets, "molly", and pounding bass drops. To some extent, this was always existed. However, it is not fair to make such a blanket statement about all people involved in this community.

Deadaudio.com, NY DanceSafe, and Underland NY have come together to host this event. Last month featured dancers, art demonstrations such as face painting, graffiti art and live painting, DJs spun music, and there were different seminars as well. The next Parachute will be held this coming weekend. As mentioned, this is a free event and also appropriate for all ages. Let's break down the negative stereotypes together, and have a good time!

EVENT INFO:

When: Sunday December 15th
Where: The Paper Box
Address: 17 Meadow Street, Brooklyn New York 11206
Time: 12pm - 6pm
Charge: FREE
Age Restriction: ALL AGES

See all the performers, vendors, DJs, seminars and workshops on the Facebook Event page.

New Music Release - Sunshine Harry - Tauk

Long Island native quartet band Tauk released a brand new song today with a free download! The song is titled 'Sunshine Harry', and it's release kicks off the bands East Coast Halloween Tour.

The track is pretty deep and a lot of fun to listen to. It is almost like a journey into an area that you never really understood before, but the deeper you go into it, the more and more it intrigues you and pulls you in. If I could give the band it's own sub genre, it would be musical story telling. Don't just take my word for it, check it out!

"[Sunshine Harry] was actually originally a B-side on ‘Homunculus,' but it sounds so eerie, we though it would work better as a Halloween single." - Alric "A.C" Carter

Tauk will be in several states for this Fall tour including D.C., Maryland, Philly and New York. Their live show in fantastic as they proved when we caught them at The Peach Music Festival during the summer time. Make sure to check out their TOUR DATES for upcoming shows in your area. With this track release, we are only more excited to see what comes next!


FREE SONG DOWNLOAD: http://diffuser.fm/tauk-sunshine-harry-free-mp3-download/

TAUK  – www.taukband.com | www.facebook.com/taukband | www.twitter.com/taukband

The Great North Music and Arts Festival - A True Festy Kid Experience

A few weeks back mark my personal return to the great north east, Maine. It's been many years since my parents were taking me and my siblings to go into nature a little more, and experience the small towns and different eats. There was a great calling this time, one that blended music, art, and activism almost flawlessly.

The Great North Music and Arts Festival had it's first birthday September 27-29, and popped Maine's cherry for lack of larger festivals. The lineup was ridiculously talented, with both well known and not-so-well-known performers. Thanks to the names and the grinding promotion done, people were coming out from over the surrounding states, many traveling over 6 hours by car, including John and I. The drive from NYC was gorgeous, especially for the time of year. Trees up north are just beginning to turn, and it almost felt like we were cheating the system going to a camping music festival after the main 'season' had already ended. That weather stayed all weekend long with highs nearing 80, no clouds in sight, and chilly but clear nights. It really felt as if Summer was lingering there for us.

As we got to the camp grounds, there were signs everywhere telling us that this was going to be an awesome time. People were smiling left and right, dancing around campsites, groups meditating, the smells of food being cooked, and plenty of color throughout the grounds. It felt like there were people everywhere, camps were popping up in the woods, golf carts with staff were driving around making sure people were having a good time, people walking around with their friends and some working dogs were around as well... it felt like a small village.

After taking a quick walk around, I realized that the ground were not enormous, but felt that way because of all the things to look at and take it. There was an artists' tent by the main stage, but there was art everywhere. It literally felt like this was a home for people that not only love music, but also care about expression and communication. This is so important these days were there are people who don't know how to talk to one another. Even when the music started up, a rapper was on stage freestyling a message to all the festival goers about keeping clean and being safe... it was the first time in about 12 festivals I ever heard anyone give a positive message like that, and it made the days that I longed for something like "PLUR" make sense.

Alex and Allyson Grey

Beats Antique

RJD2

Originally, the lineup had me really excited. From the legendary artists Alex and Alysson Grey to the worldly folk sounds of Beats Antique, there was a pre-existing expectation of talent being brought to the table. In my reality, the names did not blow me away, but the unexpected sets that were the most epic. When Beats Antique took the stage, they started preforming all my favorite tracks, but to me it felt like I was listening to my Pandora channel. Granted their belly dancing member Zoe was not present, there was still a lacking feeling in energy and musical inclination. So I decided to begin walking over to the second stage area where ill.Gates was performing. There were maybe 45 people tops watching and grooving with him, and although I only caught the last 20 minutes of the set, it blew me away. I also need to mention RJD2. His set was also pretty freaking groovy. There was one point where the music cut out, and when he got on the mic, he joked about being a vinyl DJ and how sometimes the records crack, then back to the beats. He was really a stand up performer.

ill.Gates

The point is simple. Any form of art, from dancing to painting to making music, does not need the media hype behind it to be mind blowing. Pretty much every person I met that weekend had talent in some area, for some it wasn't even art but growing produce, or the some of the most top quality buds I've personally seen (it is legal to grow in Maine with a license). All this passion and skill at the festy did wonders for it. It proved, once again, that the EDM community is way more than what the main stream media is making it out to be. There were no major incidents, and everyone had a blast.

I cannot wait until next year.

PHOTOS:

Electric Ghost Punk: Day 1 // Day 2 // Day 3
Nick Soley: Album

VIDEOS:

Electric Ghost Punk: Day 1 // Day 2 // Day 3

First Time Festival: Great North Music and Arts - Alex & Allyson Grey, Beats Antique, RJD2 and many more!

The Summer time is officially coming to an end as we mosey into October and the temperatures are dropping more everyday and even more at night. The electronic scene's festivals here in the North East are pretty much considered finished with the end of Catskill Chill. There are plenty of events happening pretty much every weekend, but the major ones are traditionally kaput by now. This weekend changes that.

In just a few hours, I'll be on the road with a good friend to Norridgewock, Maine. Up there we will be experiencing the first ever Great North Music and Arts Festival. At first glance you will see Alex Grey, Allyson Grey as well as Beats Antique as the headliners. It is literally music and art at the top of the bill. The remainder of the lineup is quite awesome, boasting names like RJD2, Freddy Todd, Phutureprimitive, Bluetech, and Papadosio. 

Beats Antique Artwork

There is a heavy emphasis on art. There are many visual artists that are being represented as well. Andy Reed, BILD, Samuel Farrand, Mike Rich, and VJ FOO are all listed on the main website as contributors for the visuals provided at the festival. 

Artwork of Alex Grey

This weekend will be one hell of an adventure. Not exactly knowing what to expect, this baby festival packs a punch. Follow up with us for photos, videos, and a review of what went down by the one and only Etan Wish!

FESTIVAL INFO:

Main Page

Tickets

Lineup

Facebook

Electric Zoo 2013 Cancelled Due to Drug Related Deaths

It's another lazy Sunday, but it wasn't supposed to be that way for NYC festival goers. This weekend marked the fifth year of Electric Zoo, and it was pulling in some huge crowds. Headiners like Above and Beyond, Kill the Noise, Flux Pavilion, Kill Paris, and Big Gigantic were scheduled to perform. However, this morning it was making headlines on all different 'major' news sources like ABC that EZoo has been canceled for it's final day. The sources are saying two people died, and at least four people are in intensive care. The deaths may or may not have something to do MDMA, you know, mollies.

It is more and more common that these people going to events and ingesting any sort of drugs are taking something they didn't ask for. There are lots of bunk drugs going around at events, and unfortunately, a majority of these drug users are not testing what they purchased from that guy that gave them a deal. Usually you can find test kits at some of the vendors. Also keep an eye out for Bunk Police signs. If they just tested a little of what they purchased, they would be able to have a much better idea of what it is, or isn't. After all, white powdery substances are widespread from flour to sugar to whatever bathsalts. The key word here is education, and the key lesson is 'hold true to your community'. Be good to the people around you and always help people out. Not everyone is a seasoned traveler and festival goers, and these folks can be vulnerable.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the two people that lost their lives this weekend. For a many of people, these festivals are sacred places, similar to going to Sunday Mass. Music, spiritualism, love, art, and life all come together and create a beautiful atmosphere. Loss of life at a place such as that is heartbreaking, and it is sure that those people will be dearly missed.

This information was all just released this morning. I took a look on one of the public event invites on Facebook and the initial reaction is less than sympathetic, and quite frustrated. Tickets for today's Sunday show were $179. Even a petition was opened up to reopen the festival.

Will the story end here for EZoo? Of course there are plenty of parties to attended this weekend, especially for the Ezoo crowds. One of our favorite EZoo after-parties is City Lights <----. Let's see how this all pans out.

Here's who didn't play today: 

Armin van Buuren

Sebastian Ingrosso

Steve Aoki

Laidback Luke

Zedd

Diplo

Krewella

Tommy Trash

W&W

Rusko

Aly & Fila

3LAU

Firebeatz

KhoMha

Swanky Tunes

Myon & Shane 54

Walden

Vicetone

Adam Beyer

Fedde Le Grand

Chase & Status

Victor Calderone

Markus Schulz

Clockwork

Ida Engberg

Adventure Club

Angger Dimas

Joel Mull

Sub Focus

Autoerotique

Joris Voorn

Alex Metric

Dan Sena

Nicole Moudaber

Carnage

Dirtyphonics

Paul Ritch Live

Feenixpawl

Felix

Cartal

Hard Rock Sofa

Jacques Lu Cont

Pegboard Nerds

Keys N Krates

Proxy

Yolanda Be Cool

Digital Lab

Camp Bisco 12: A Festy Overview

For twelve years now, The Disco Biscuits have been leaving us with our jaws in the mud with nothing on our lips but the word, "wow". Each year gets bigger, and with it's increased popularity, Camp Bisco is a place for an eclectic group of young adults to get together and rage.

With so many years doing this gig, the folks over at MCP have put in an abundance of thought on how to run the show. Not only who's coming out to drop massive bass attacks and smooth riffs, but also to insure a safe diverse playground for all festival goers. One massive change this year was the layout of the camp grounds. Things felt much easier to get to (minus the Silent Bisco stage) and it felt as if camping itself was more organized. This is important when putting up tents for tens of thousands of people, not including RVs, car parking, vendors, stages, room for emergency vehicles, and easy trekking for all those on foot. All of the main stages (2 main stages, the label tent, and the B.I.G. Tent) were in the same area, along with a large majority of the food and craft vendors. This was a good thing because walking to this area was not a pain in the ass and it was pretty much central to everything on the map.

Now, let's get into all the festival goodies. In my opinion, there are two factors to any festival that will make it the best time. One is that the festival itself is not just a place to be, but a place to be a part of. The second factor is that the people attending the festival are there to be a part of the festival. It is literally a community popping up for close to a week. Where you live and who your neighbors can really make a difference in your weekend. In Camp Bisco's case, both these factors were met at high standards. There were plenty of activities to be a part of, both scheduled and found adventures. From the amazing art installations to the variety of workshops, there was almost always something to do... even if it wasn't planned. There are so many skilled artists that attend this festival, and many of whom share pieces of themselves at camp. Which brings up the second factor.

The people are unbelievably awesome. It felt as though everyone was happy all the time. The overall energy is leaning towards movement and party, and the people contributing the energy are from all different backgrounds. Some are there from states as far as California, and different countries as well. There's a mix of artists, spiritualists, political activists, ragers, dancers, cooks, poets, accountants, entrepreneurs... pretty much anyone you can think of. This diversity really makes up for a large part of Camp. The chances of anyone making a walk around the camp site not finding something to be a part of is... none.

The festival itself boasts a huge ferris wheel, tons of food and general vendors, hundreds of lasers, epic art installations, and great performances. A few memorable sets from the weekend included Bassnectar, Space Jesus, Schlang, Lotus, Break Science, Destroid, and the final set for the Disco Biscuits. These are just a few personal favorites, but trust the list goes on. All the night time and indoor sets included some wild visuals, including projections and dancers in wild costumes.

All in all, Camp Bisco has been an amazing experience for us here at Electric Ghost Punk. All the events that MCP puts on are very professional and 9.5-10 guaranteed good times, just leave your drama at home. Keep your eyes out for more of MCP's events as they pop up all over the country.

Photos/Videos:

Electric Ghost Punk Full Album
Day One Pictorial Walkthough
Day Two Pictorial Walkthrough
Day Three Pictorial Walkthrough