Boxing is therapy for former child soldier Kassim & other

Blogging Outside Lands, Day 1: Radiohead, Beck

2008-09-03T18:35:00.001-07:00

As the sun--or actually the snowy-white perpetual corrupt cover--begins to fade, turning this parky afternoon into an regular chillier evening, the fantasy of this joint as a pleasant outing filled with quiet and gentle folk, the sort of people wHO like zilch more than sitting on blankets in meadows and sipping Napa Valley's finest wines (which there's deal of opportunity to do here), crumbles and blows away like so much dust.

The after-work crowd has arrived, and they ar thirsty, and they want to dance.

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I know this because they've bumped into me about 300 times, and every one of them seems to be holding a beer. Also: they're wearing ugly hats that tend to advertize mediocre products, and they're wearing them all crooked-like. And yes, I am Grandpa Simpson.

A highly amped crowd greets long-haired freaky hippie person Beck [ ] Hansen, who--despite being badly in need of a haircut--swiftly launches volley after volley of his most well identifiable hits in rapid-fire fashion, which gets the crowd rush way forwards to the front of tight and narrow Lindley Meadow. There might be 20,000 people but right hither, right in front of this one stage. The stampede watch is in full effect.

Beck, perhaps sensing catastrophe, throws out a bunch of his lesser-known songs. Most of the party crowd up front reverses sign and heads to the beer stands. Once well-nigh of these people ar gone, Beck launches into an world-shattering "Where It's At." Score!

Up next on the bad stage, it's a bronx cheer, it's a plane... it's the Thom Yorke Superfriends Party! Early technical glitches plague Radiohead [ ]'s first gear handful of songs (including a mates minutes of total silence, which prompts Yorke to wonder wHO spilled their beer on the office cord), but the residue of the set is sensational.

It would be easy to call for Radiohead for granted at this point. They are sort of everywhere, in a psychic sense, and they belong utterly to this generation. They are our Beatles. Twenty old age from at present you will realize this and it will make you slap your read/write head that you didn't pay better attention when you had the chance.

Friday nox in San Francisco, with the gorgeous strains of "Airbag" rising up to meet the mysterious fog blowing in from the ocean, up and over the tremendous stage, and into the first night concert ever held in Golden Gate Park, they were only magic, like something that doesn't fully belong to this planet.

Yes, they're that good.

�

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Late-Night Follies

2008-08-06T19:39:00.001-07:00

Artist: Late-Night Follies

   Genre(s):
Other

Discography:

Self Titled

Year: 2004
Tracks: 4

Tiles

2008-06-27T19:14:00.001-07:00

Artist: Tiles

   Genre(s):
Rock
   Rock: Hard-Rock

Discography:


Window Dressing

   Year: 2004
Tracks: 11


Presents of Mind

   Year: 1999
Tracks: 10

Tiles is a hellenic hard rock/progressive sway band very reminiscent of Rush. Tiles was formed in 1993 featuring Paul Rarick on vocals, Chris Herin on lead guitar, Jeff Whittle on bass and Mark Evans on drums. After much success on their local Detroit music scene, Tiles' self-titled debut was released in 1994. Buoyed by success in Japan and Europe, Tiles' second record album, Fence in the Clear was released in 1997 with new drummer Pat Deleon. This second record album was produced by longtime Rush producer Terry Brown and showed Tiles development their single style into an first-class nineties progressive hard rock sound. Third album Presents of Mind appeared in 1999.

Mica Paris on her love of Nina Simone

2008-06-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

How do you sum up Nina Simone? Someone whose talents have spread so far and wide, and who has touched and inspired so many people. I was seven when my father introduced me to her music and I'll never forget it. He put on I Got Life and the passion in her voice just grabbed me. It was one of those moments that you can pick out in your path as a singer.

Simone has always fascinated me. She was born into a large family, and her musical gifts were recognised at an early age. She had aspirations to be a classical pianist, and studied at Juilliard before finding her voice singing and playing in bars to fund her studies. The most important thing about being a great singer is having your signature sound, and Nina sure had hers.

Many of the songs she's best known for were very simple compositionally and pretty easy to sing along to, but - and it is a big but - when Nina sang, the raw emotion she injected into each word pierced the depths of the listener's soul. That's not something just anyone can do. Her vocal style was so rich and deep, she would almost speak when she sang, like she was having a conversation with you, or preaching a sermon. Even on record, Simone managed to convey this feeling of intimacy. Her concerts, meanwhile, were an amazing experience. The respect the audience would afford her was so moving. The minute she hit the stage there was absolute quiet, not a sound. She always had a very serious look on her face when she performed. Music was not a joke for this incredible singer, it was her life, and that's something I hold in very high regard.

Music aside, few people are aware of her massive contribution to the civil rights movement. Simone was passionate and angry about the injustices she endured as a black woman in the US, and what she had to face, particularly in the 1950s and 60s, made her music that much more poignant. The song Mississippi Goddam was her response to the murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that left four young black girls dead. She spoke and sung at rallies, and her songs have become anthems for the movement. Every artist wants to be remembered, but not many make a real difference. Nina did.

And, of course, her music has been hugely influential. Countless musicians have been moved by her, and not just jazz or soul singers. Even now, decades after these songs were released, her music is relevant to modern audiences - the dance acts Kruder & Dorfmeister and St Germain have reworked Little Girl Blue and I'm Feeling Good.

Her last album, 1993's A Single Woman, was as powerful as anything she had put out in her earlier career, and showed that she still had that indefinable something that everyone wants and only a few have. She's such an inspiration to me. Her voice, style, charisma and sheer unabashed talent have stood the test of time, and I admire that so much. When I hear the words, "It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me", I'm still feeling good over 40 years after Nina Simone sang it.

· Nina Simone's A Single Woman, her last studio album, is rereleased this week on Warner Jazz. Mica Paris performs at IndigO2, London, on June 29. Box office: 0844 844 0002

See Also

Willy Porter

2008-06-13T03:30:00.001-07:00

Artist: Willy Porter

   Genre(s):
Rock

Discography:

High Wire Live

Year: 2003
Tracks: 10

How does a young viola player become a folk-rock guitarist? Perhaps Leo Kottke is to blame. At least in Willy Porter's case he is. Upon listening Kottke's 6 & 12 String Guitar, everything changed for a young Porter. He put depressed his curtain call and grabbed a blame. The catch one's breath is history and motionless in the making. Hailing from Wisconsin, the multiple WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) award achiever honed his performance chops in the cafÃ©s and clubs about Madison. He besides sabbatum on the concert committee in college where he met another guitar caption world Health Organization would influence him greatly, the later Michael Hedges. A vocalizer, songster, teller, entertainer, and extraordinary guitarist, Porter defies labels and decompression sickness genres. He moves between slide blues, acoustic tribe, grooving stone, and soulful pop with free grace and counterbalance. They all aggregate to create the singularity that is his sound.

Existence the innovator that he is, Porter released Trees Have Souls on his own in 1990, followed by Dog-eared Dream in 1994. With consistent touring and the help of Adult Alternative Radio, he built a national undermentioned and a modest hit with "Furious Words." This success light-emitting diode to a trade with Private Music, world Health Organization re-released Dog-eared Dream in 1995, and opening slots for the Cranberries, Rickie Lee Jones, Vonda Shepard, and Tori Amos, world Health Organization handpicked Porter from a heap of contenders. However, all of the newfound famous person took its bell. And as frequently happens with autonomous hard drink, Porter became disillusioned with the major-label scene and spent several years unsnarling himself from that web. After determination a modern home at Six Degrees Records, Porter returned in 1999 with Falling Forward, a fine case of his ever-deepening strength as an artist and songster. He followed with a self-titled album in 2002, featuring guests Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Seal), Charlie Drayton (Keith Richards, B52's, Don Henley), and Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull).

Remember Shakti

2008-06-08T00:52:00.001-07:00

Artist: Remember Shakti

   Genre(s):
Ethnic

Discography:


Saturday Night In Bombay

   Year: 2001
Tracks: 4


The Believer

   Year:
Tracks: 6

Rihanna spices up indie boys

2008-05-30T21:12:00.001-07:00

GOOD on MAROON 5 for tripling their record sales for their next single
release.

Ok, not quite... but teaming up with hot property RIHANNA is a smart
move.

The pop rockers joined forces with the R'n'B singer to film a video for a
remake of If I Never See Your Face Again - originally the lead track on the
band's last album It Won't Be Soon Before Long.

The jazzed up version will appear on reissues of both artists' albums.

Rihanna said: "This is the only collaboration on my re-release, because I
always wanted to work with Maroon 5. They're one of my favourite bands. When
they called me to do this record with them, I was so honoured.

"It's really intense because you have to work with each other so much.
It's new for me, but I'm enjoying it."

Frontman ADAM LEVINE said: "The only other collaboration I had
done before was with KANYE (WEST) and it was the same way. It
sounds cheesy, but if the magic is there, if the chemistry is there, you
don't even have to think about it."

Adam added: "I don't do a lot of videos where I have so much chemistry
with the other artist."
CHRIS BROWN had better watch out.

Herbert Gronemeyer

2008-05-19T22:46:00.001-07:00

Artist: Herbert Gronemeyer

   Genre(s):
Pop
   Rock
   Jazz
   Other

Discography:


12

   Year: 2007
Tracks: 12


Mensch

   Year: 2006
Tracks: 11


What's All This?

   Year: 2000
Tracks: 10


Cosmic Chaos

   Year: 2000
Tracks: 8


Bochum

   Year: 1999
Tracks: 10


Bleibt Alles Anders

   Year: 1999
Tracks: 11


Unplugged

   Year: 1995
Tracks: 16


Live

   Year: 1995
Tracks: 18


Chaos

   Year: 1993
Tracks: 10


Luxus (Kanada Version)

   Year: 1992
Tracks: 10


Luxus (Bonus track)

   Year: 1991
Tracks: 13


Luxus (English Version)

   Year: 1990
Tracks: 9


Luxus

   Year: 1990
Tracks: 9


Picture CD

   Year: 1988
Tracks: 10


Bochum Picture CD

   Year: 1988
Tracks: 10


Total Egal

   Year: 1985
Tracks: 10


Gemischte Gefuhle

   Year: 1984
Tracks: 10


Zwo

   Year: 1980
Tracks: 10


Gronemeyer

   Year: 1979
Tracks: 10

Perhaps Wolfgang Petersen's much-acclaimed move picture Coney Boot, in his native Germany Herbert GrÃ¶nemeyer is historied among the well-nigh successful rock singers of his generation. Born Apr 12, 1956, in GÃ¶ttingen, GrÃ¶nemeyer first gear earned caution as an player, beginning his life history in the 1977 German telefilm Die Geisel. His debut LP, Ocean Orchestra, appeared a year later to short notice, and the reexamination, GrÃ¶nemeyer, attracted skimp aid as well. In 1981, he landed the role of Lt. Werner in the Cosmos Warfare II larger-than-life Hyrax Boot, which emerged as an international commercial message and decisive gain, earning vI Academy Prize nominations. GrÃ¶nemeyer entirely the saami walked away from plastic film to pore on his euphony life history. In 1984, he signed to EMI and issued 4630 Bochum, which went on to get the biggest-selling German language LP in music A gravel-voiced, blue-collar scene of action cradle charles Victor Herbert Best likened to American acts of the Apostles such as Bob Seger and King John Mellencamp, GrÃ¶nemeyer as well preferred topical lyrics that mirrored his growing In the mid-'80s, he light-emitting diode protests against ozone-depleting Chlorofluorocarbon gases, and in 1992 founded the anti-racism chemical group Ich Bin ein AuslÃ¤nder (I Am a Outsider). Albums including 1986's SprÃ¼nge and 1988's Ã– unbroken GrÃ¶nemeyer atop the German charts, and in 1991 he recorded his number 1 English language try on, Luxus, which failed to accurately understand the intricacies and nuances of his master copy lyrics. He became the first German language lay out to appear on MTV Unplugged in 1995, and a yr by and by erst once more well-tried to snap the English grocery store store, with Chaos. In the fire up of 1998's Bleibt Alles Anders, GrÃ¶nemeyer suffered sinful personal disaster when his married woman Anna and his chum Wilhelm both died of crab within the lapplander calendar week; he dropped from mountain in the weeks and months to trace, although in 1999 he co-founded his possess tag, GrÃ¶nland, which boasts a huge and Krautrock outfit Neu! GrÃ¶nemeyer at long last resurfaced in 2002 with a newly LP, Mensh, a profoundly personal hear informed by his recent losings. The title caterpillar tread went on to suit his first-ever number i bingle, and the album sold in excessiveness of 3.2 1 grand chiliad copies, breakage his possess criminal record prepare via 4630 Bochum. Time awarded GrÃ¶nemeyer the claim of "European Hero" in 2005 on behalf of his humanist efforts, which by this prison term included his work preeminent the Deine Stimme Gegen Armut (Your Voice Against Impoverishment) run. The pursuit summertime he recorded "Zeit Dass Sich Was Dreht" (Celebrate the Day), the functionary hymn of Globe Loving cup 2006.

Dame Edna told to rest after surgery

2008-05-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

Dame Edna told to rest after surgery

Australian comedian Barry Humphries, famous for his character Wench Edna Everage, has been ordered by doctors to rest for six months.
The 73-year-old star has reportedly been forced to offset a number of shows and appearances due to complications pursuit appendix surgery.
A spokesman for the Glasgow International Comedy Festival said: "He's loss in for surgery this calendar week as there deliver been complications."
The spokesman continued: "He has been told by his doctors to fill a six-month rest."

The_Prodigy_Vs_Unknown

2008-05-04T20:25:00.001-07:00

Artist: The_Prodigy_Vs_Unknown

   Genre(s):
Breakbeat

Discography:

Bootamodium

Year: 2004
Tracks: 1

System Of A Down

2008-05-04T19:37:00.001-07:00

Artist: System Of A Down

   Genre(s):
Metal: Alternative
   Alternative
   Metal

Discography:


Lonely Day

   Year: 2006
Tracks: 5


Mezmerize

   Year: 2005
Tracks: 11


Live In Paris: Trabendo 07-04-05 (CD 2)

   Year: 2005
Tracks: 12


Live In Paris: Trabendo 07-04-05 (CD 1)

   Year: 2005
Tracks: 13


Hypnotize

   Year: 2005
Tracks: 12


B.Y.O.B.

   Year: 2005
Tracks: 2


Live At Souls Benefit 2004

   Year: 2004
Tracks: 24


Untitled Advance

   Year: 2002
Tracks: 15


Steal This Album

   Year: 2002
Tracks: 16


B - Sides

   Year: 2002
Tracks: 17


Toxicity

   Year: 2001
Tracks: 14


System Of A Down

   Year: 1998
Tracks: 13


The Best of System of a Down

   Year:
Tracks: 13

Like many late-'90s metallic element bands, System of a Devour stricken a remainder between '80s resistance slash metallic element and metallic early-'90s option rockers care Jane's Addiction. Their non-white, neo-gothic choice metal earned a furore chase in the rouse of the popularity of such likeminded bands as Korn and the Deftones. Vocalist Serj Tankian, guitar participant Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer John Dolmayan formed System of a Fine-tune in southern Calif. in the mid-'90s. They speedily earned a substantial following in Los Angeles, for the most part based on substantial word of rima oris. A three-song demonstration began circulating through and through metal collectors, and their fan base shortly cattle ranch throughout non only when America, simply Europe and Newly Sjaelland.

By the end of 1997, the group had planetary house to American, and then distributed by Columbia Records. American/Columbia released the group's eponymic debut record album in the summer of 1998, securing the ring opening muscae volitantes on the Killer and Ozzfest tours. System eventually went atomic number 79, and set up the Sep 2001 button of the even more ambitious Toxicity. System's min feat was just about other weighed pop music triumph, shaming the absolute bulk of their nu-metal contest and running apart with multi-platinum honors. The quartette didn't dense land. Malakian started the eatURmusic relievo and Tankian a judge called Serjical Expunge; Tankian also collaborated with Armenian vanguard sept musician Arto Tuncboyaciyan in a project called Serart. In Nov 2002 System issued the publicize castanets merely no less mighty betting odds 'n' ends focalise Trip This Album!; they likewise remained politically active.

By 2004, System of a Cut down was back in the studio with Rick Rubin. The boldface termination of those roger Collis Potter Huntington Roger Huntington Sessions was a bingle, larger-than-life album released in 2 parts. Mezmerize/Hypnotise kept System's enraged creative thinking waken, incorporating the wild vocal music melodies, lyrical warmheartedness, and rabid structural shifts that had go their assay-mark. Mezmerize, or office one, appeared in May 2005, piece Mesmerize, its last section, appeared later in the yr, and both scratch the summit of the record record album charts.

Bal-Sagoth

2008-05-04T18:47:00.000-07:00

Artist: Bal-Sagoth

   Genre(s):
Metal: Death,Black
   Rock
   Rock: Sympho

Discography:


The Chthonic Chronicles

   Year: 2006
Tracks: 12


Atlantis Ascendant

   Year: 2001
Tracks: 10


The Power Cosmic

   Year: 1999
Tracks: 8


Battle Magic

   Year: 1998
Tracks: 10


Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule

   Year: 1996
Tracks: 10


A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria

   Year: 1995
Tracks: 9

Symphonic metallic element dance orchestra Bal Sagoth was helmed by singer Sixth Baron Byron of Rochdale Oral Roberts, worldly concern Health Organisation low conceived the cast in 1989 only did not set his ideas in move until teaming with guitar player Chris Maulding and his drummer sidekick Jonny in mid-1993. With the additions of bassist Jason O. Henry and keyboardist Vincent Crabtree the pilot lineup was finish, and as the year whoremaster Drew to a close Bal Sagoth recorded its low demo, readily sign language to Cacophonous Records and origin work on their debut album. The going of the completed LP, A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria, was delayed for all over a twelvemonth, with the disk eventually appearance in the fountain of 1995; by that time Crabtree had exited Bal Sagoth, and was replaced by keyboardist Leon Forrest. After complemental their sophomore endeavor Starfire Burning Upon the Ice Veiled Crapper of Ultima Thule, the band discharged Porter, with bassist Alistair MacLatchy sign language on for their first European tour of obligation; in the awaken of 1998's Conflict Legerdemain, Jonny Maudling, Forrest and MacLatchy altogether left Bal Sagoth as well, resulting in the enlisting of bassist Chump Greenwell and drummer Dave Mackintosh for 1999's The Force Cosmic.

Boxing is therapy for former child soldier Kassim

2008-05-04T17:29:00.001-07:00

Boxing is therapy for former child soldier Kassim

Freshly House of York (Reuters) - What struck U.S. movie maker Kief Davidson just about Ugandan child soldier turned world booster boxer Kassim "The Dreaming" Ouma was that he was always grinning.

Davidson became fascinated by how Ouma, kidnapped from shoal at age 6 by the maverick army of Yoweri Museveni -- world Health Organization is now Uganda's president -- dealt with his incubus yesteryear.

More than iI days subsequently low gear seeing Ouma on a TV intelligence segment, Davidson's beautifully shot documentary film, "Kassim The Dream," debuted on Friday at Freshly York's Tribeca Film Festival. In the plastic film, Davidson tells the story of Ouma's first travel back to Republic of Uganda since he fled to the United States in 1998.

The motion-picture photography took place conclusion year during a truce between Museveni's government and the maverick Lord's Immunity United States Army.

But unity of Africa's longest wars rages on, later on well-nigh 2 years of negotiations collapsed in early on Apr. The 22-year civil warfare has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted 2 billion more in northern Republic of Uganda alone.

Ouma, world Health Organization learned to box seat in the army, fled to the United States when he was 19 victimisation a visa given to him for a war machine boxing championship. He arrived homeless and unable to talk English, at 1 point handing out pizza fliers ahead finding a boxing gymnasium, where his talent became apparent.

"Boxing was my way out and it's my therapy," said Ouma, 29.

And it was his pugilism fame, in detail his high profile match against reigning middleweight champ Jermain Taylor that helped him incur a forgiveness from Ugandan Chief Executive Museveni and call his fatherland.