Hot Chip – One Life Stand (Live on Jimmy Fallon)

Julian Casablancas – Out of the Blue (Live on Jimmy Fallon)

Clipse & The Roots – Popular Demand (Live on Jimmy Fallon)

Panacea – The Re-Route (2009)

Panacea is based out of the Washington, D.C. and their sound has been described as “A Tribe Called Quest meets Final Fantasy”, and some listeners have even made comparisons to The Roots and Outkast. But forget a classification, this is just exceptionally good, unique, and timeless music.

Their label Glow In The Dark Records, released “The Scenic Route” in 2007, and released a remixed version of the album called “The Re-Route” on January 20, 2009.

The Roots Retire From Touring

The Roots announced that they will be retiring from touring effective March 2009. The move is being made to accommodate their new Night Gig as the house band for Jimmy Fallon when he replaces Conan O’Brien as the host of Late Night in March of 2009. Conan will be moved to the Tonight Show.

The Roots Live @ UCLA

More footage after the jump.

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Talib Kweli Documentary

This is a new documentary by Nonstop Movie Works that looks super dope.

Source: OkayPlayer

The Roots & Bun B :: Int’l Players Anthem

Live @ Warehouse in Houston, Texas.

Blu & Exile :: Blu Collar Workers

This is my anthem! Turn this shit up, it’s the weekend!

Blu is the leader of West Coast Hip-Hop. Since the days of Pharcyde, Freestyle Fellowship, and Jurassic 5, there have been few wordsmiths that have grasped the attention of listeners worldwide. Introduced to NWA and Public Enemy by his father, Blu later was captivated by the likes of Black Star, The Roots, and Common, creating a unique balance that is displayed in Blu’s personality and music.

Blu’s first full length LP, “Below the Heavens” pairs Blu with producer Exile on the Sound in Color imprint. His first single, “Narrow Path” has rocked stages across the world, as fans begin to feel the impact of Blu’s music. His delivery flows flawlessly, while the content reflects the joy and pain of working class youth everywhere. Since the release of “Narrow Path,” Blu has performed alongside Slum Village, X-Clan, Platinum Pied Pipers, Lyrics Born, DJ Houseshoes, and many others, while participating in 3 high-profile nationwide tours alongside musical family members: Ta’Raach, Aloe Blacc, and Exile.

The buzz has fans salivating for new music. Worldwide, people are looking to put hope into the ‘next’ emcee that will give them the same feeling when they first heard Black Thought, Common, or Slum Village. Blu fulfills this need, but maintains something that is entirely new, while not recycled.

Right now Blu is my favorite emcee hands down. He’s taking Hip-Hop to a new level with clear influences from the Golden Age and Dilla, but more than anything, himself.

But hey, don’t take it personal…

Source: Sound in Color

Pittsburgh Gets Major Music Festival

ATTENTION ALL YINZERS & FANS OF GOOD MUSIC:

Everyone knows about the major music festivals this summer. There’s Coachella in California, Bonnaroo in Tennessee and Lollapalooza in Chicago.

Now there’s the New American Music Union Festival in Pittsburgh and Bob Dylan is headlining it!

Yes Yinzers, finally you have something to look forward to other than indulging in monotonous belligerent weekends at the Strip, SathSide, Oakland, and Station Square. So sack up, get your kegs of Yuengling because this party is raging right in the heart of the SouthSide.

The festival will take place Aug. 8th and 9th at the SouthSide Works, and the lineup is killer: Bob Dylan Headlines, with The Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley, The Roots, Spoon and The Black Keys also on the bill. Anthony Kiedis of The Red Hot Chili Peppers will serve as host.

If nothing else, tickets are affordable: The general-admission two-day tickets are $49.50; student tickets are $25.

The concert will be held between Hot Metal and 26th streets in the town square area near the Cheesecake Factory. Two stages will be set up in the area.

Kiedis, who curated the festival lineup, said in a prepared statement he wanted to create a concert he would want to see.

“The thrill of seeing Bob Dylan next to the Raconteurs next to Gnarls Barkley next to the Roots is reason for us all to celebrate,” Kiedis said. “Music is still the most inspiring creative force that I know of, and this seemed like a prime opportunity to let it shine. Add to this the fact of a generously low ticket price and that it all takes place in the streets of Pittsburgh, and we have the most rocking block party of the summer.”

While the big-name acts are the draw — other bands on the bill include Black Mountain, The Duke Spirit, NASA and Tiny Masters of Today — the festival also is reaching out to budding collegiate musicians. Fifteen bands, including Nothing Unexpected from Robert Morris University, have been invited to participate in a competition, with the winner receiving $10,000 worth of studio time in Los Angeles and promotional considerations from American Eagle.

“The goal of the festival is to celebrate college music by giving college bands a national platform and the opportunity to share the stage with the artists that inspire them,” Barney says.

The New American Music Union Festival is unique. It will take place only in Pittsburgh. Barney says American Eagle hopes fans from around the country will be prompted to come to Western Pennsylvania for the two-day event.

Already, it has provided a surge of interest in local music circles.

“It’s exciting for Pittsburgh,” says Melissa Franko, marketing director for WYEP-FM. “I think it’s going to bring some national recognition to the city.”

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. today at Ticketmaster outlets. To charge by phone: 866-448-7849. Online: www.ticketmaster.com or www.livenation.com.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review