Author: Dakin Hardwick

Single of the Week: “AYAYAY” by Noga Erez featuring Dillom

Some weeks the Single Of The Week can be a really easy decision. And other weeks, I’m digging through tracks, waiting for the thing that pulls me in. This week was actually a bit of the latter. Then I stumbled over a name that I’d seen a lot and ignored: Noga Erez. I guess it was finally my time because “AYAYAY” was the thing that I needed to re-energize my day. It’s a blend of Reggaeton, Cumbia, and Middle Eastern beats combined with Erez’s impressive mic Spanglish mic skills, with the Dillom cameo coming in tastefully, just adding some color to the song without overwhelming it. I get how she landed the Missy Elliott seal of approval. 

“AYAYAY” is available in all the usual places. Her next album, The Vandalist, is ready to pick up your Fall doldrums on September 20th. Preorders and presaves are happening now! 

Outside Lands 2024: Top 10 From The Bottom Half Of The Poster

The craziest thing about this year’s Outside Lands poster is that, when it was first printed, Shaboozey was on the 4th line from the bottom. Obviously, having a worldwide #1 hit means that he’s doing just fine; here are 10 MORE acts from the bottom half of the poster for you to watch out for.

The full lineup is here, the schedule is here so you can start plotting your weekend, and limited tickets are still available: Continue reading “Outside Lands 2024: Top 10 From The Bottom Half Of The Poster”

How Did I Get Here? with Victoria Bigelow

I didn’t know what to expect when I got on a call with Victoria Bigelow. All I knew about her was that I’d kinda fallen in love with her head-swimmy brand of reverb-drenched country and shoegaze. We ended up talking a LOT about music in general, the struggles with being a DIY artist in this modern era, and getting the seal of approval from Willie Nelson.

Her latest release, Songs For No One, Vol 2, is out now on Immortal Records, which was, in fact, Korn’s first record label. Her latest video, “Forever Now And Then,” is a stunning piece of filmmaking.

Enjoy!

Single of the Week: “All In My Head” by the Linda Lindas

The other night, I was in a late-night Lyft coming home from the train station after *finally* seeing The Rolling Stones. (It was great. Nope, I’m not writing a full review.) I have a young child, and the driver has an adolescent child. We talked at length about how tough the transition from kid to adolescent is for parents. The next morning I opened up my email to find “All In My Head” by the Linda Lindas and it perfectly encapsulates the anxiety and stress of life when everything inside you and outside of you is changing. Coincidentally, they debuted this song opening for The Stones in LA a few days before! 

“All In My Head” comes from The Linda Lindas’ upcoming album, No Obligation, on Epitaph Records, out October 11th. They are spending the Summer on tour with Green Day and Rancid and snuck in a gig at 924 Gilman that sold out in 30 seconds flat, so if anyone has an in for tickets, please let me know. 

Vinyl Reissue Spotlight: Bratmobile’s Lookout Records Era

Remember the 00’s? It was such a hopeful time. The activism community was really fired up against Bush and his so-called “war on terror.” It felt like we were making real headway as progressives, and it felt like there was a real unified front. Sadly, at the same time, the Tea Party managed to devolve into the frighteningly authoritarian MAGA movement, and, to be frank, I’m feeling a little hopeless right now. BUT! I opened my inbox to find two records that really motivated me during that era and are coming back into circulation: Bratmobile’s Ladies, Women, and Girls and Girls Get Busy. These two records mean the world to me, and without Bratmobile playing shows again (including an appearance at Pitchfork Music Festival THIS WEEKEND!)

Colored Vinyl and CDs are coming to you on October 25th (two days before my birthday!). You can preorder here, including a really cool-looking shirt with the classic logo. 

And you can stream these two classic records right now for a nice hit of ambition for your day: 

Continue reading “Vinyl Reissue Spotlight: Bratmobile’s Lookout Records Era”

Single of the Week: “Dissonance” by King Isis

Oakland’s King Isis keeps getting better. “Dissonance” truly is a perfect title for a track that blends both sonic dissonance and lyrical dissonance. It’s a magic piece of work, and I can only see her stock rising with time. 

“Dissonance” is available in all the usual places. She’s also bringing her band to The Emerald Cup, happening August 17th-18th, kicking off the reopening of Oakland’s historic Henry J Kaiser Center. 

BUMBERSHOOT 2024 DAILY LINEUPS!

Bumbershoot’s big return last year was one of my life’s most magical concert moments. I don’t think I’ve gotten more hugs and mutual tears of joy with strangers than the Sleater-Kinney set. Well, they dropped the daily lineups for this year, and Labor Day weekend at the Seattle Center will be another packed weekend of fantastic music. Saturday is getting closed out by Pavement but also features SP faves Cypress Hill, Aly & AJ, TEKE::TEKE, Black Belt Eagle Scout, k. flay, Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry, and so much more. Sunday has James Blake headlining, along with electronic music weirdo Marc Rebillet, Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile, BADBADNOTGOOD, Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, Automatic, Pom Pom Squad, The Polyphonic Spree and too many others to list. There also will be comedy, drag, food, film, and even something called “Burleskaraoke” that I did last year, and, yes, was definitely sensory overload and highly recommended. Tickets are available here, and the full daily breakdown is below. Continue reading “BUMBERSHOOT 2024 DAILY LINEUPS!”

MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN 2024 SET TIMES

Mosswood Meltdown is just over a week away, and we CAN’T WAIT!!!! I’m so excited to cross Go Sailor, Bush Tetras finally, and, of course, The B-52’s off the old bucket list. Tickets are going quickly, so buy them ASAP! 

SATURDAY JULY 6TH

B-52’s   8:15pm-9:45pm
Redd Kross   6:45pm-7:30pm
Hunx & His Punx 5:30pm-6:15pm
Peaches Christ Drag Show    4pm-5pm
Pansy Division 3pm – 3:40pm
Go Sailor   2pm-2:30pm 
Wifey   1:20pm-1:40pm 
Trap Girl   12:30pm-1pm
Hot Laundry   11:30am-noon

SUNDAY JULY 7TH

Mummies   9:00pm-9:45pm
Pure Hell  7:45pm-8:30pm
Big Freedia  6:45pm-7:30pm
Gibby Haynes  5:30pm-6:15pm
Egyptian Lover  4:15pm-5:00pm 
Bush Tetras  3:00pm-3:45pm 
Die Spitz  2:00pm-2:30pm
Space Lady  1:00pm-1:30pm
Gumby’s Junk 12:00pm-12:30pm

OUTSIDE LANDS NIGHT SHOWS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED

Oh, man. It feels like 2024 is just flying by, and Outside Lands will be here before you know it. I know many of you are still trying to reconcile the fact that Tyler, The Creator, won’t be returning this year. However, who wouldn’t want to experience the literal song of the Summer in a giant field in the middle of Summer? In the meantime, Outside Lands have announced their Night Shows, which means it’s coming up soon. 

And, well, things are looking pretty epic. Sturgill Simpson at The Independent?!?! Romy of The xx at 1015 Folsom?!?!?! And Corinne Bailey Rae bringing her Black Rainbows show to Bimbo’s will be magic. Outside Lands ticket holders get the first crack at tickets on 6/27 at 10 am. Tickets for night shows are here, and if you need a presale password, buy your Outside Lands passes here before they are gone!  Continue reading “OUTSIDE LANDS NIGHT SHOWS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED”

Single of the Week: “Big Man” by Self Esteem & Moonchild Sanelly

Self Esteem one half of the great UK duo Slow Club, and has been putting out witty, inventive pop tracks for the better part of the last decade. Moonchild Sanelly is an inventive genius from South Africa. The one thing these two have in common? Nobody knows them in the US. That’s our loss, of course. But this song might be the thing that fixes that? It’s a genuinely sweet song about appreciating a solid partner that also isn’t too saccharine. I kinda love it. 

“Big Man” is currently available in all the usual places. Can we expected more form both Sanelly and Self Esteem? I certainly hope so.