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Wednesday, April 11
Coachella Set Times Released
Coachella has released its set times for at least this first weekend. Gonna be some tough decisions! Saturday really is the weakest day.
Thursday, April 5
Electric Daisy Carnival FULL LINEUP announced
It's here. The EDC 2012 Las Vegas Lineup. Enjoy. Plan. Hydrate.
Electric Daisy Carnival 2012 CONFIRMED Lineup Preview Announced
According to MTV News, which earlier today released an exclusive official Phase-I lineup, EDC 2012 will feature many returning acts from 2011's wildly successful event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Here are the names:
- Tiësto
- Steve Angello
- Sebastian Ingrosso
- Avicii
- Benny Benassi
- Kaskade
- Afrojack
- Above & Beyond
- Armin van Buuren
- Bassnectar
- Calvin Harris
- Carl Cox
- Chase & Status
- David Guetta
- Erick Morillo
- Flux Pavilion
- Kaskade
- Knife Party
- Porter Robinson
- Richie Hawtin
- Umek
- Thomas Gold
- Mat Zo
- ATB
- Felix Cartal
- Dirtyphonics
- Sebastian Leger
Looking awesome so far. Insomniac, and EDC especially, has a history of releasing their lineups very late in the game, unlike Electric Zoo and Ultra. Who cares though-I've never been disappointed with an EDC lineup, and I've been 5 years in a row. Having been to last year's Ultra and 2 Electric Zoos, I can confidently say that EDC is the best electronic music festival of the three-and arguably in the USA. Coachella isn't really comparable to EDC; it would be apples and oranges, though Coachella does boast an quite an incredible lineup of DJs and electronic musicians this year.
This part's JUST FOR FUN. THESE AREN'T CONFIRMED (Yet?). And no, Daft Punk will NOT be performing. Sorry. They've been rumored to be playing EDC EACH OF THE FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN. It's not happening. In any case, here are some acts (some are very underground) I'd love to see in Vegas this summer:
- Dubfire
- Moby
- Infected Mushroom
- Feed Me
- Skrillex
- Deadmau5
- Carlo Lio
- Loco Dice
- Eric Prydz
- Sasha
- John Digweed
- Joris Voorn
- The Chemical Brothers
- Sven Vath
- Ricardo Villalobos
Let's hope at least some of these make the cut. Either way, it's gonna be fucking wild.
Buy tickets, book hotels, and make other arrangements for Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas here.
DrawSomething: Creating Advanced Drawings
I'm an artist, and I'm utterly addicted to DrawSomething. At times I will get really into certain drawings (see previous posts). I'll go crazy with shading, lighting, detail, the whole 9 yards (Where the fuck is that expression from? Those must have been some truly special 27 feet). People compliment me on my art a lot. I don't want to sound vain - I'm not bragging here - but it's true. My friends ask me, "How do you DO that?" Well, I don't know exactly, but I will try to break down the process for you. Drawing is a skill more than it is a talent; it's based on principles and techniques that can be learned. Let me share some wisdom. If you don't give a shit about improving your drawings, stop reading now.
If you want to try to produce a masterpiece of a DrawSomething sketch, you need to do more than draw crappy stick figures, words, and arrows. Push yourself to create a scene in which you you don't need arrows or words. Great drawings have all the context needed for the guesser to guess correctly. The true beauty of this game lies in the infinite ways one can go about creating their subject matter. I've told a lot of people this: this game isn't about drawing, it's about leading a horse to water. At first it sounds ridiculous, but let it marinate for a bit up there and you'll see that there is no right method of how to play this game. As long as the guesser guesses correctly, both players win.
I took a sequence of screenshots showing the progress of the drawing. The word is GANDALF. For those living under a rock, he's the wizard from Lord of the Rings. If you haven't seen the films, you won't have a clue as to what this drawing is. For those familiar with the films, this is the "You shall not pass!" scene. There are literally millions of ways to draw Gandalf. I chose this scene because I remember seeing a picture of it online and thought it'd be challenging. I did it from memory.
It's important to understand how to build your drawings if you want to go for something more complex and intricate. Secret #1: Complex pieces aren't so much drawings as they are layered combinations of colors and shades. Luckily for us, the game is not called LayeringCombinationsofColorsandShadesSomething. I digress. If your drawings frustrate you, and you think "they suck," they probably do. Here's some advice: stop thinking in terms of black outlines. Use more goddamn colors. Push yourself to improve. What else do you have to do-get back to that awesome Excel spreadsheet? Didn't think so.
It's important to understand how to build your drawings if you want to go for something more complex and intricate. Secret #1: Complex pieces aren't so much drawings as they are layered combinations of colors and shades. Luckily for us, the game is not called LayeringCombinationsofColorsandShadesSomething. I digress. If your drawings frustrate you, and you think "they suck," they probably do. Here's some advice: stop thinking in terms of black outlines. Use more goddamn colors. Push yourself to improve. What else do you have to do-get back to that awesome Excel spreadsheet? Didn't think so.
Here we go.
Before even TOUCHING the paintbrush (but after you've chosen a word, obviously), visualize how you want to present your word before you start. Look at a picture of it if you want. Mentally lay out the shapes and spacing of the objects you want to include. Once you have a vision for your soon-to-be masterpiece, you are ready to begin. Secret #2: Color from back to front. I cannot stress this enough. Look at something opaque in the room you're in. Can you see what's behind it? Didn't think so. This is why it's so critical to draw the background first.
The fuck is that?
Start by coloring in the background, using thick brush strokes to get the big shapes down. No need to get too detailed here-this is just to get the general framework of your drawing down. Think of this as your drawing's blueprint.
Start by coloring in the background, using thick brush strokes to get the big shapes down. No need to get too detailed here-this is just to get the general framework of your drawing down. Think of this as your drawing's blueprint.
As you add more, you should see the drawing start to take shape. Are the shapes you've drawn so far in tune with the vision you have for your drawing? If not, fix them before moving on. Secret #3: When drawing 3D objects, use different shades of the same color to highlight the different faces of whatever you're drawing. Look at the top, sides, and bottom of the bridge. They're all different shades of brown, creating a 3D look. Keep shading surfaces using black or darker colors and start to add details that won't later be covered up by objects in the foreground.
Continue adding detail, and begin correcting the areas that look too raw. But why don't we see our beloved Gandalf yet? Because he will be standing on the bridge, in the foreground, and we have to make sure that whatever is behind him is finished before we draw our beloved wizard. That was not an Ian McKellen gay joke.
Now it starts getting exciting. Like most things, good planning leads to better outcomes. Drawings look better when they are laid out properly (working from back to front) because this adds depth. Drawing too many objects on top of one another with no sense of space is a great way of making your drawing look as if it was done by a Special-Ed second grader with various types of soupy food. After laying the foundation of your drawing with background colors and shapes, you can start to go to town on the details.
I get the sense that "fire whip" will not be an addition to the DrawSomething word bank anytime soon.
More details. A demon foot. More fire from the fire whip. There are probably people scratching their heads going, "Yeah, correct me if I'm wrong, but that's definitely NOT a Gandalf." Don't worry, he's coming in the next picture. Secret #4: Be patient-don't stress out that you haven't drawn your actual word yet. It'll pay off when your drawing is looking like it belongs on the ceiling in a chapel in Rome. More often than not, the best, most detailed, and most complex drawings have a tendency for the focal point to be drawn last.
THERE HE IS! Finally! You've come this far, don't fuck up now. Secret #5: Don't fuck up now. The last thing you need is a huge white streak bisecting your awesome drawing of Darth Vader. Seriously, pay attention-you'll be running low on ink by now. Finish strong! No time for stick figures when you just spent the last 45 minutes drawing a fucking Balrog. Again, start with colored shapes, then add detail. Outlines of the same color are okay, just fill them in carefully.
Add more detail on the new shape. Since that huge black dild, err-demon thing is on fire, Gandalf's back will be dark (simple concept of light and shadows, people). That was also not a gay joke. Secret #6: If there is a light source, shade everything NOT facing the light source darker. If there is no light source, choose yourself (you can do it!) where it's coming from and do the same thing. In Gandalf's case, we add dark gray and black to his backside. Fucking rocket science.
Because "Gandalf the Grey courageously fighting a Balrog on a tiny bridge above a treacherous chasm" damn well doesn't fit in 8 letters.
To finish things up, I shaded Gandalf's back in black, and drew a shadow on the ground to give him a three dimensional look. I also added more black to the area below the bridge (where I put words) and around the whip. For purposes other than illustrating a really deep abyss, black is a great means of making your drawings really pop, thanks to the contrast and shadows it provides (It's boring to see a stick figure against a white background).
I hope this has been helpful for you. Try, try, try. If you fail, you still tried, and you're probably a bit better than you were before. Copy a picture you see-especially with characters (Hercules, Aladdin, Arnold, etc). Spend those fucking coins on color packs.
More to come.
-bb
Friday, March 30
Thursday, March 29
DrawSomething - Some of my (cool) drawings
What if Words with Friends and Pictionary had a freak App baby? Well, they have, brought to you by OMGPOP. The #1 app on Apple's App Store is DrawSomething. It's a turn-based Pictionary-style game where players choose words to draw (of various difficulties) and draw them with the aim of having their friends guess their word. It's incredibly addictive. OMGPOP was sold to Zynga (Words,Hanging with Friends) for $180 million recently. One hundred and eighty million fucking dollars.
Unlike Pictionary, however, there are no teams, and no time limit. This means one can create some truly awesome drawings.
As an artist, I really enjoy this game, especially when I get a fun word to draw. Certain times I've really gone to town on some drawings, and other times, my drawings are no more than a few lines. Below are some of my best works. There will definitely be more to come, as I've just downloaded the iPad version, which is really cool (and more detailed) on the big screen. Enjoy:
Unlike Pictionary, however, there are no teams, and no time limit. This means one can create some truly awesome drawings.
As an artist, I really enjoy this game, especially when I get a fun word to draw. Certain times I've really gone to town on some drawings, and other times, my drawings are no more than a few lines. Below are some of my best works. There will definitely be more to come, as I've just downloaded the iPad version, which is really cool (and more detailed) on the big screen. Enjoy:
Lebron
Pauly D
Star Wars
Tupac
Kraken
There will definitely be more where those came from.
-bb
Tuesday, March 20
I've been so MIA.
My last post was in October. Holy Jesus. I would apologize, but it's not like anyone reads this crap. Well, you gotta start somewhere right? I wanna get back into this and make it happen. I also want to expand this to include other writers-I have a few in mind. More content + good writing = bigger audience.
So, to kickstart this bastard back to life, in the next few weeks I will be writing entries on the following topics:
Art
So, to kickstart this bastard back to life, in the next few weeks I will be writing entries on the following topics:
Art
- Street-art's (in)famous hero: Banksy
- If Pictionary and the "with Friends" apps had a baby: DrawSomething
Music
- Ultra Music Festival (Miami) vs. Electric Daisy Carnival (Las Vegas) vs. Electric Zoo (New York)
- My theory on music production: The Producer's Paradox: trendy + emulating others vs. originality + the underground
Sports
- AC Milan and the current state of affairs at San Siro
- Serie A
- UEFA Champions League
- Players
- Fabrice Muamba
- March Madness - The 2012 NCAA Basketball Tourney
Friday, October 21
DJ Chart: B+B
I'm starting a weekly 10-track DJ Chart to give this blog a bit of consistency with DJ stuff. The tracks will be personally selected by yours truly and consist of new songs, songs I'm playing at the moment, and songs that tickle my fancy. The charts will have a bit of everything, because I'm interested in so many types of dance music. I'll also try to arrange them by genre, going from house towards techno. If there's dubstep or other stuff, I'll put it at the end. Eeeerewego:
1. Pryda vs. Oasis - Wonderwall 2Night (Ken Loi Bootup) // Progressive House
Normally, I'm not that into bootlegs and mashups but this one is really well done. It sounds so professional, unlike most of them out there. 2Night has, since its release, become one of my favorite Eric Prydz tracks. It's so uplifting; you can't listen to this and not be optimistic. The Oasis vocals over it are the perfect compliment. Can you say, "What should I close a set with?" How about this:
2. Arno Cost - Lise // Big Room House, Techno
OK, it's not brand spanking new, but came out in the summer, and it's a fucking BANGER TO END ALL BANGERS. Seriously, the last (relatively unknown) track I've heard set a place off like this one was Cirez D's On Off. Interestingly enough, the songs are actually very similar in how they're constructed and especially in how they build tension. Lise is more melodic though, and will appeal to a wider audience. This is a track that will take any DJ set up a gear. Be wary though, because it's hard to top in terms of energy, which is why Calvin Harris closed his EDC set with it. Well done, sir:
3. Avicii - Levels (Clockwork Remix) // Electro House
How do you remix a song with such an iconic sound that a remix could seriously fuck it up? Well, you keep that iconic sound intact for portions, then you commence auditory assault on listeners' ears. Clockwork gets it right here-give 'em what they want, then shoot them in the fucking face. Clockwork is a Los Angeles-based DJ and producer just emerging onto the scene via a string of solid remixes and productions. Definitely one to watch in the future. The kid's gonna do big things. See him at HARD Haunted Mansion, and get on board before the masses do:
4. Bassjackers - Mush Mush // Electro House
Drop beats not bombs. That famous quote doesn't apply to this track because, well, this track is more of a bomb than a beat. It's the kind of electro house people either love or hate, because it's so in-your-face. Think Congorock's Babylon or Bart B More's Brap!. Big, bold side-chained synths almost drown out the sleezy kick and near lack of percussion. The break is more melodic, which is a nice contrast to the maximal nature of the rest of the track. Moby dropped it at Electric Zoo. Enjoy:
5. Toddla T - Take It Back (Dillon Francis Remix) // Glitch Hop
I have only been introduced to Dillon Francis' music recently, but to put it plainly, his shit is fucking dope. It's not house music, even though it sounds like slowed down (100-110bpm) electro house; it's part of an emerging (maybe just getting trendier?) movement of what Beatport calls Glitch Hop. Though it doesn't really make sense to say that the genre has emerged from the combination of dubstep and electro house, when you listen to this kind of stuff, you kind of feel that IS somehow the demon child of both genres. The term makes sense, but I'm not particularly crazy about genres, though they can be useful, if not necessary, for categorization purposes. Dillon Francis is one to watch. I'd love to see him play-this shit rocks live. Friends, meet glitch hop:
6. Knife Party - Internet Friends // Electro House
Electro house has seen an arms race with regards to just how maximal it can get without literally turning into heavy metal. Knife Party is the embodiment of this notion. Formed by Pendulum's Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, Knife Party is a musical outlet for the duo's electro house interests. This song is fucking hilarious. The theme that runs throughout is stalking via social media. The idea is that there's a creepy woman that is clearly stalking you via Facebook. The climax comes following an almost scary bridge, hearing creepy noises and the iconic iphone ringtone. It lead's up to the woman saying, "you blocked me on Facebook, and now you're going to die." What commences is the filthiest of filth:
7. Stefano Noferini - Fact // Techno, Tech House
Enough electro house for now. I'm really into house's darker cousin too, and want to highlight that. Stefano Noferini makes groovy ass tech house and techno that makes you wanna move. Fact is no exception. It's not as melody-based as it is beat-driven, but there's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot going on, but nothing overwhelms the other parts. Clearly meant for a real sound system, this song will bore the socks off even seasoned techno fans when heard from laptop speakers. If you have a fat sub tho, crank it and play this track, because, like all dance music, needs to be turned up. So do so:
8. Mark Fanciulli - The Tide (Joris Voorn Remix) // Tech house
Joris Voorn's been one of my absolute favorite producers and DJs for the last few years. His production is always on point-clean and powerful basslines, funky samples, and perfect percussion. Something about his productions just embodies the house sound so well, yet it doesn't sound like it's from the mid-90s. It's fresh as hell. This song is so groovy thanks to an infectious sample (sounds like "whawoooo"), clean production, and a strange but kinda funny vocal. Whawooooo, whawoooo:
9. Pleasurekraft - Tarantula // Tech House, minimal, WHA?
Oh gawdddd, that vocal sample! Ah-ah-ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah--TCHHEEERRRWWWWW. Not only is Pleasurekraft one of my favorite producers of dance music at the moment, their sound is unique and ORIGINAL. Seriously, I'd love to hear someone else that does what they do better, if at all. This song is not new by any means, but this simply points to the love I have for this song. Clean production, groovy beat, and quite possibly the greatest manipulated sample in recent dance music history (Yes. I said it). The twisted, demented vocal sample after the break emerges from total silence like someone or something walking up to you in complete darkness. It's just barely audible at first, then gets louder, and louder, until you're like what the fuck are my ears telling my brain right now? White noise begins shrouding the sound to build the tension, followed by a moment's silence, and finally all the parts come together so perfectly as the beat is reintroduced alongside the eerie vocal. Ah, turns out that person or thing creeping up on you in the blackness was just your friend-and you're REALLY glad to see him. What a track. In terms of longevity, this is definitely my favorite Pleasurekraft song, with Carny a close second.
10. Matthew Dear - Free to Ask (SIS Edit) // Techno, Tech House, minimal
I promise there are no typed out imitations of sounds in this one. Last, but certainly not least. I heard this on John Digweed's Transitions podcast featuring Pig & Dan, who did a guest mix. I was drawn to this track not only because it's so dark and eerie, but so well produced. The vocal is as strange as they come, but anyone who says there isn't a place for the weird in dance music is as ignorant as they are a noob. The production is a lesson in subtle techno. Dusty hi-hats perfectly compliment those creepy ass vocals and accompany a warm, rich bass stab every four beats. The glue that holds it all together? Those papery (by all means I encourage you to think of a better word), dry snares. This song is such an enigma to me, because I can't grasp what it is that keeps me coming back for more. The whole really is greater than the sum of its parts. Welcome to the dark side:
1. Pryda vs. Oasis - Wonderwall 2Night (Ken Loi Bootup) // Progressive House
Normally, I'm not that into bootlegs and mashups but this one is really well done. It sounds so professional, unlike most of them out there. 2Night has, since its release, become one of my favorite Eric Prydz tracks. It's so uplifting; you can't listen to this and not be optimistic. The Oasis vocals over it are the perfect compliment. Can you say, "What should I close a set with?" How about this:
2. Arno Cost - Lise // Big Room House, Techno
OK, it's not brand spanking new, but came out in the summer, and it's a fucking BANGER TO END ALL BANGERS. Seriously, the last (relatively unknown) track I've heard set a place off like this one was Cirez D's On Off. Interestingly enough, the songs are actually very similar in how they're constructed and especially in how they build tension. Lise is more melodic though, and will appeal to a wider audience. This is a track that will take any DJ set up a gear. Be wary though, because it's hard to top in terms of energy, which is why Calvin Harris closed his EDC set with it. Well done, sir:
3. Avicii - Levels (Clockwork Remix) // Electro House
How do you remix a song with such an iconic sound that a remix could seriously fuck it up? Well, you keep that iconic sound intact for portions, then you commence auditory assault on listeners' ears. Clockwork gets it right here-give 'em what they want, then shoot them in the fucking face. Clockwork is a Los Angeles-based DJ and producer just emerging onto the scene via a string of solid remixes and productions. Definitely one to watch in the future. The kid's gonna do big things. See him at HARD Haunted Mansion, and get on board before the masses do:
4. Bassjackers - Mush Mush // Electro House
Drop beats not bombs. That famous quote doesn't apply to this track because, well, this track is more of a bomb than a beat. It's the kind of electro house people either love or hate, because it's so in-your-face. Think Congorock's Babylon or Bart B More's Brap!. Big, bold side-chained synths almost drown out the sleezy kick and near lack of percussion. The break is more melodic, which is a nice contrast to the maximal nature of the rest of the track. Moby dropped it at Electric Zoo. Enjoy:
5. Toddla T - Take It Back (Dillon Francis Remix) // Glitch Hop
I have only been introduced to Dillon Francis' music recently, but to put it plainly, his shit is fucking dope. It's not house music, even though it sounds like slowed down (100-110bpm) electro house; it's part of an emerging (maybe just getting trendier?) movement of what Beatport calls Glitch Hop. Though it doesn't really make sense to say that the genre has emerged from the combination of dubstep and electro house, when you listen to this kind of stuff, you kind of feel that IS somehow the demon child of both genres. The term makes sense, but I'm not particularly crazy about genres, though they can be useful, if not necessary, for categorization purposes. Dillon Francis is one to watch. I'd love to see him play-this shit rocks live. Friends, meet glitch hop:
6. Knife Party - Internet Friends // Electro House
Electro house has seen an arms race with regards to just how maximal it can get without literally turning into heavy metal. Knife Party is the embodiment of this notion. Formed by Pendulum's Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, Knife Party is a musical outlet for the duo's electro house interests. This song is fucking hilarious. The theme that runs throughout is stalking via social media. The idea is that there's a creepy woman that is clearly stalking you via Facebook. The climax comes following an almost scary bridge, hearing creepy noises and the iconic iphone ringtone. It lead's up to the woman saying, "you blocked me on Facebook, and now you're going to die." What commences is the filthiest of filth:
7. Stefano Noferini - Fact // Techno, Tech House
Enough electro house for now. I'm really into house's darker cousin too, and want to highlight that. Stefano Noferini makes groovy ass tech house and techno that makes you wanna move. Fact is no exception. It's not as melody-based as it is beat-driven, but there's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot going on, but nothing overwhelms the other parts. Clearly meant for a real sound system, this song will bore the socks off even seasoned techno fans when heard from laptop speakers. If you have a fat sub tho, crank it and play this track, because, like all dance music, needs to be turned up. So do so:
8. Mark Fanciulli - The Tide (Joris Voorn Remix) // Tech house
Joris Voorn's been one of my absolute favorite producers and DJs for the last few years. His production is always on point-clean and powerful basslines, funky samples, and perfect percussion. Something about his productions just embodies the house sound so well, yet it doesn't sound like it's from the mid-90s. It's fresh as hell. This song is so groovy thanks to an infectious sample (sounds like "whawoooo"), clean production, and a strange but kinda funny vocal. Whawooooo, whawoooo:
9. Pleasurekraft - Tarantula // Tech House, minimal, WHA?
Oh gawdddd, that vocal sample! Ah-ah-ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah--TCHHEEERRRWWWWW. Not only is Pleasurekraft one of my favorite producers of dance music at the moment, their sound is unique and ORIGINAL. Seriously, I'd love to hear someone else that does what they do better, if at all. This song is not new by any means, but this simply points to the love I have for this song. Clean production, groovy beat, and quite possibly the greatest manipulated sample in recent dance music history (Yes. I said it). The twisted, demented vocal sample after the break emerges from total silence like someone or something walking up to you in complete darkness. It's just barely audible at first, then gets louder, and louder, until you're like what the fuck are my ears telling my brain right now? White noise begins shrouding the sound to build the tension, followed by a moment's silence, and finally all the parts come together so perfectly as the beat is reintroduced alongside the eerie vocal. Ah, turns out that person or thing creeping up on you in the blackness was just your friend-and you're REALLY glad to see him. What a track. In terms of longevity, this is definitely my favorite Pleasurekraft song, with Carny a close second.
10. Matthew Dear - Free to Ask (SIS Edit) // Techno, Tech House, minimal
I promise there are no typed out imitations of sounds in this one. Last, but certainly not least. I heard this on John Digweed's Transitions podcast featuring Pig & Dan, who did a guest mix. I was drawn to this track not only because it's so dark and eerie, but so well produced. The vocal is as strange as they come, but anyone who says there isn't a place for the weird in dance music is as ignorant as they are a noob. The production is a lesson in subtle techno. Dusty hi-hats perfectly compliment those creepy ass vocals and accompany a warm, rich bass stab every four beats. The glue that holds it all together? Those papery (by all means I encourage you to think of a better word), dry snares. This song is such an enigma to me, because I can't grasp what it is that keeps me coming back for more. The whole really is greater than the sum of its parts. Welcome to the dark side:
Friday, October 7
Restaurant Review - Fogo de Chao - Eating like Ronaldinho
Check out the Yelp box to the right-it has my review of Fogo de Chao, one of my all time favorite restaurants. Enjoy!
Thursday, October 6
Restaurant Review - Talpa - a staple of my childhood
Many reviews to come. Keep an eye on the Yelp! app on the right. That's where my reviews will go. Eventually i'll cover every restaurant I've been to. Fogo de Chao next!
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