By: Zach Brendza | Features Editor
This is it folks. Whether you like or hate this column, I’ve got some news: It’s the second to last one. After that, I will be relinquishing my power, fame and crown that comes with being the Art & Entertainment Editor. Where you get your music news from there on out is up to Sam, the newbie in training. But until then, here’s the beat:
Coachella: Celeb status
Outkast, Muse, Arcade Fire and others will perform at Coachella, but there are some other attractions that will be in Indio, Calif. that aren’t on the festival poster. According to Confidenti@l, New York Daily News’ gossip blog, there are a handful of celebrities in attendance. And they’re getting paid to show up.
Glee’s Lea Michele will walk away with $20,000 for attending Coachella and simply wearing Lacoste clothing. McDonald’s is sponsoring Vanessa Hudgens for $15,000 to go, while the likes of Aaron Paul, Joe Jonas and others are trying to get passes and cash for using themselves as human advertising.
The going rate for one weekend at Coachella is $375. Not only are these celebs getting comped passes, but they’re making money, thousands of dollars, off of it. I’m trying to find a moral to this story, but it’s just going to come out as jealousy. With that being said, if you are famous, you can get into pretty much anything. The culture we live in is the greatest.
Record Store Day
While Record Store Day isn’t until April 19, I won’t write this column again until after it happens. I would feel remiss if I didn’t bring it up.
This year, hundreds upon hundreds of albums are being released on the should-be national holiday. Going through the releases include Ice-T’s Greatest Hits (first release), The Velvet Underground’s Loaded, Childish Gambino’s Because The Internet, and of course, Outkast’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, these releases caught my eye as well.
But the real gem of this year’s Record Store Day is something Jack White is doing. He is attempting to record and release a single off of the title track from his new album, Lazretto, all on Record Store Day. The recording will be done at 10 a.m. at a live performance at Third Man Records, his label. Then, the recording will be shipped down the street to be pressed and returned to the Nashville record label and store promptly by 4 p.m., with photos from the performance serving as album art. That’s Ocean’s Eleven status if he pulls it off.
Happy very early Record Store Day, yinz.
Music Saved My Life
If you’re like me, everyday isn’t always rainbows and catching jellyfish. Sometimes things aren’t always going the way you want and stress piles up. But knowing that there are others going through the same things that you are can be extremely powerful.
Music Saved My Life is a monthly video series produced by indie music magazine Alternative Press and Hope For The Day, a suicide prevention organization that uses the arts as a defense mechanism to suicide. The video series, started in 2012, has featured The Gaslight Anthem, Portugal. The Man, Frank Turner, Chiodos and many more. Each video talks with a member or members of the band and their past issues with suicide. This latest edition features Elliot Gruenberg of blessthefall.
For someone like myself who has dealt and still deals with these issues, the series is extremely powerful and uplifting. While you may not like the music of the bands interviewed, their stories will help anyone who has dealt with these same things. I know they have helped me.
With the wait time that can come with getting psychiatric help, any little thing that gets someone through a rough day can save a life.
What’s Out This Week
EMA – The Future’s Void
OFF! – Waster Years
PUP – Self titled
On The Horizon
4/15 Danny Brown w/ Bodega Bamz and Zelooperz @Altar Bar
4/18 William Fitzsimmons w/ Leif Vollebekk @ Rex Theater
4/19 Riff Raff w/ Grand Theft and more @ Altar Bar
4/22 blessthefall w/ Silverstein, The Amity Affliction and more @ Altar Bar
4/22 Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band @ Consol Energy Center
Just Announced
5/5 FUEL @ Altar Bar
6/19 Tegan and Sara @ Stage AE (outdoors)
7/5 Fitz and the Tantrums w/ Max Frost and Holy Ghost @ Stage AE
7/13 Smash Mouth w/ Sugar Ray, Blue Traveler and Uncle Kracker @ Stage AE
7/27 Jack White @ Stage AE (outdoors)
