Looking back at 2007, it most certainly can be said electronic music is alive and thriving in America and across the globe. The meteoric rise of rave rockers Justice and the electrifying resurgence of Daft Punk have undoubtedly spread a wide net introducing millions (most importantly young aspiring musicians) to the power of the beat and the excitement, democracy of participation, and borderless history of dance music and club culture.

No conversation about dance music in 2007 can ignore the speed at which both France's big electro sound and the German minimal techno scenes have spread across the dance floors of the world.

Ed Banger and its Parisian brother label Institubes led the way for DJs dropping full sets of distortion heavy, maximal electro to the beer soaked floors of tiny basement rock bars. On the other hand, a stripped down version of tech house has been providing the pulse for the non-stop minimal parties inspired by the 24 hour Berlin techno culture. The speed at which music and ideas flash and morph across the internet has led to a global spattering of genre creating releases and mimicking local dance scenes. Punked up or stripped down, whichever is your pleasure, its meant that this year dance music has reached many more ears (particularly in the States) than the last few.

Continue reading "The Year in Dance: David Bruno's Musings"

It's raining here in Norway, and the first band I want to see at Oya today starts in about an hour..to go or not to go....Here's what's going on in NYC....

Social Registry's Gang Gang Dance

* Social Registry is celebrating its 4th Anniversary
* The African Festival is happening in Prospect Park
* A lot of good bands are playing for Universal Healthcare
* Vampire Weekend & others play for free by the East River
* Vampire Weekend & Tokyo Police Club play Maxwell's
* They Shoot Horses Don't They play Silent Barn
* Calla, Other Passengers, & Castanets play Studio B
* Ted Leo & The Thermals are playing McCarren Pool
* The Cribs are playing Union Pool
* Junior Senior and others are playing Sound fix
* Zap Mama & Angelique Kidjo are playing Summerstage
* RIP Tony Wilson

I love the annual African Festival in Prospect Park - food and all, and this year's lineup features the Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. If it's not raining in NYC - and if I was there - that's definitely where I'd try and go today. It's also the last show in Prospect Park this summer.

The Tony Wilson news is so sad. It was just recently that Tony threw his first "In the City" festival here in NYC - the festival that included two cancelled Happy Mondays gigs. Before that Tony showed up at Coachella to introduce the Mondays there (where they mostly all showed up). David Bruno was at that show, and had the honor of not only meeting Tony, but interviewing him for this very website. Long story short, I haven't published that interview yet, but absolutely will first thing when i get back from Norway. RIP Tony!

What else?

Yvette Livesey & Tony Wilson's In the City Festival runs from June 13-14, 2007 (this week) right here in NYC. The festival is basically two days of music industry panels followed by two nights of UK music that was to include two shows by The Happy Mondays at Nokia Theatre, BUT as many know by now - possibly because they had tickets, or possibly because they were keeping up with the comments from yesterday, The Happy Mondays have cancelled both shows.

The Rakes & Pigeon Detectives has been moved to Knitting Factory. Tickets are on sale. Press release below...

Continue reading "HAPPY MONDAYS cancel shows due to VISA issues, but IN THE CITY OF NY lives on"