Penguin Prison - All Night Long

Look at that amazing artwork.  Yes it's that "All Night Long".  Before I even hit the play button, I knew this cover would be incredible.  Penguin Prison's throwback dance vibes mesh perfectly with Lionel Richie's 1983 hit, "All Night Long".  It has that light and airy breeze and could very well end up on a summer playlist or two.  It just makes sense, you know?

The song is a part of Penguin Prison's summer cover series.  There's no word on how often these singles will be released, but color me excited.  Even better, "All Night Long" is available as a free download, so grab it below and party... all night long.

Virgin Mobile FreeFest 2012

October 6 marked the date of Virgin Mobile's fourth annual FreeFest. Located in Columbia, Maryland, the free festival covers forty acres of land surrounding the Merriweather Post Pavilion venue grounds.  Scattered across three stages, over twenty acts performed from noon to nearly midnight.  I had two main objectives upon entering the festival, attend the Santigold set and, most importantly, see M83.  I'll have you know that I saw both sets and so much more.

My day started off with Volta Bureau.  The DC based group was the first to play the Dance Forest stage and started their set at noon.  They played an hour set and garnered quite the crowd.  There may not have been an insane pack of raving madmen like many of the later Dance Forest sets attracted, but the attendees were equally as enthusiastic about the music.  Plus, what better way to start the festival than with some dancing?

After Volta Bureau, I stuck around for Penguin Prison.  I had the opportunity to see Chris Glover's musical project earlier this year when they opened for Neon Trees at the 9:30 Club.  His FreeFest set was just as fun and the audience was noticeably more familiar with the music.  RAC collaboration "Hollywood" and "Don't Fuck With My Money" were crowd favorites.  The setlist was switched around a little differently this time and he included his cover of Lana Del Rey's "Blue Jeans".  I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to see Penguin Prison once again.

Penguin Prison ended at 2:00 and I took advantage of this moment to check out some festival food, which was consumed while simultaneously observing a short bit of Portugal. The Man's set at the West Stage.  I can't say much about the band, for I only heard a few songs from the stage's field.  This pattern continued, as I stuck around for about three or so songs from The Dismemberment Plan, Nervo, and then Ben Folds Five.  Ben Folds Five sounded great with some standout piano action.  Nervo's crowd almost swallowed me alive, so I watched from a distance to avoid missing other sets.  The Dismemberment Plan interestingly had a crowd of almost solely men from an older demographic when compared to the festival's general consensus.

By 4:30, I was at the West Stage waiting for Santigold's set to start.  She gets the award for most elaborate stage antics, and I'm not talking about lights or pyrotechnics.  Backed by a pair of matching dancers, Santigold pumped out a high energy set that included some serious dance breaks and costume changes. During "Creator", the front row of the crowd was invited up to the stage to start a dance party/riot.  The setlist was an even blend of songs from both of her records, with singles mixed throughout.  She even performed her Major Lazer collaboration, "Hold The Line".  I loved every moment of it.

In the gap between Santigold and M83, I watched Alabama Shakes from the Pavilion lawn and caught the front end of ZZ Top.  Alabama Shakes completely surprised me, in a good way that is.  I had heard their record before, but the studio recordings don't do the band justice.  The album isn't bad, it's just overshadowed in comparison to the show.  To fully experience Alabama Shakes at their finest, go see them live.

M83's set started at 7:50 and I had to leave ZZ Top's show to make it over to the West Stage in time.  M83 was absolutely spectacular.  The group blasted through their set, flipping back and forth between stretched out electronic selections and the big singles.  You can imagine the reaction towards "Midnight City".  The saxophone solo is really that much more epic in person.  "Intro" will forever be M83's opening song for live shows.  They also put on a massive light display, which gave the entire stage an extraterrestrial feeling.  I only wish they could've played for a bit more, as they were only on stage for a one hour time slot.  If you're aware of M83's catalog, then you know that they could've easily played a considerably longer set.  Either way, it was stunning.

I finished the night by moving back to the Pavilion for Jack White's set. Unfortunately, I only managed to see him from the lawn seating, as you can see in the picture above.  And while I thought he was outstanding, there will be a full separate post featuring Jack's show from the perspective of someone who witnessed everything from the pit, so keep an eye out for that.

At the end of the day, FreeFest was a major success.  I managed to see so many great acts.  Virgin Mobile will have video of the sets available for streaming sometime soon, just in case you want to see what you missed, or relive a moment. I highly suggest you try your best to grab some tickets when FreeFest comes back around next year.

Neon Trees, Penguin Prison, & JJAMZ: Live At The 9:30 Club

The moment it was announced that Neon Trees would be headlining a summer tour, I knew it was necessary that I attend this show.  When the band's sophomore album, Picture Show, came out in April, it became a staple in my daily playlist.  The record took everything that their debut had and built upon it, confirming that they are indeed a band to take notice of.

On July 11, the band checked into Washington DC's very own 9:30 Club as part of the summer tour sponsored by Nylon and Starbucks, which was evident by the banners draped across the venue's interior.  The tour runs from July 9 to August 22 and reaches a total of 22 dates.  For the first half of the tour, including the sold out DC date, Penguin Prison and JJAMZ will be taking the stage as the opening acts.  All of this makes for one extraordinary night.

There was a unexpected jolt of excitement before the door time of 7:00 even arrived, as all three bands were outside of the venue gathering gear and prepping for the concert.  A long line of anxious fans, including myself, snapped pictures and said a passing hello before heading inside.  Hey, a moment like that can't be missed.

The first opening band was JJAMZ, that's pronounced "Juh-Jamz".  They're something of a supergroup, as each member comes from another act.  The lineup consists of James Valentine of Maroon 5, Jason Boesel of Rilo Kiley, Alex Greenwald of Phantom Planet, solo musician Michael Runion, and Z Berg of The Like.  Arrange the first letters of their names, in that order, and you have JJAMZ.  They play extremely catchy pop music, but it's their stage presence that really adds to the package.  They couldn't look any happier as Z Berg danced around the stage, while the band shot playful gestures towards each other.  You should definitely check out their new album, Suicide Pact, which just came out this week.

After JJAMZ' short set, Penguin Prison approached the stage.  Chris Glover is the man behind the name.  His music is an 80's throwback dance party, and you may have already heard "Don't Fuck With My Money" or one of his many remixes.  It was evident from the start of the set that Penguin Prison was there to make people move.  Immediately, Glover jumped off the stage and went straight for the crowd.  This high energy was a common theme throughout the night.  Penguin Prison played the majority of his debut album along with a few non-album tracks, one of them being his RAC collaboration, "Hollywood".

With two stellar performances by JJAMZ and Penguin Prison already complete, the lights went down for Neon Trees.  The room was completely dark, except for a single microphone stand that gave off a purple glow.  A short instrumental intro, which was reminiscent of something Michael Jackson would do, transitioned into the opening notes of "Moving In The Dark".  With Chris Allen on guitar, Branden Campbell on bass, and Tyler Glenn on vocals and keyboard, the venue exploded.  The band is currently touring with a session drummer due to their regular drummer and backup vocalist, Elaine Bradley, being on a pregnancy leave.  Upon first sight, one might think they were witnessing a classic glam rock concert.  It's as if the band's wardrobe is the result of a neon rave colliding with a punk concert. There were platform shoes, pinstripe leggings, spiked leather jackets, and tri-colored suits.

One thing is certain, Neon Trees give everything they have when they perform.  Tyler Glenn is spinning across the stage one minute and swinging the microphone around his neck the next.  He's also the only person I've ever seen play the keyboard with their face.  To do that every single night takes some dedication, which is exactly what this frontman has.

The band balanced the setlist between both of their albums, switching between crowd favorites such as "1983" and "Lessons In Love (All Day, All Night)".  When the time came for "Mad Love", the only full out duet they've recorded,  the band introduced a pre-chosen fan to sing Elaine's verse.  Halfway through the show, Chris and Branden left the stage as Tyler sang a solo piano version of "Your Surrender".  This was the most intimate moment, as the audience screamed along.  Other highlights included powerhouse performances of "Love And Affection" and "Trust".

The two songs that generated the biggest reaction were none other than "Animal" and "Everybody Talks", the latter of which is currently plastered on the radio.  "Animal" served as a turning point of some kind.  Everything went up yet another notch, from loud to louder.  Yes, towards the end of their set, there was a stage dive and Tyler surfed the screaming crowd.  The evening concluded with a final encore performance of "Everybody Talks".  It was the full package, complete with those signature dance moves from the music video.

If you ever have the opportunity to see Neon Trees live, do it!  The same goes for JJAMZ and Penguin Prison.  It was an incredible night that I won't soon forget.  Neon Trees control the room with a performance that's simply amazing.  They put on a rock-dance hybrid show that will most definitely have everybody talking.

Buy Neon Trees Tickets

"Picture Show" by Neon Trees
"Penguin Prison" by Penguin Prison 
"Suicide Pact" by JJAMZ

Photo credit: Picture #6 taken by Courtney Nelson

RAC - Hollywood (Feat. Penguin Prison)

RAC may be responsible for some of your favorite remixes.  The group of musicians, André Allen Anjos, have remixed an insanely wide spectrum of artists including Tegan And Sara, Lady Gaga, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and CSS.  They've also worked with a guy that goes by the name of Penguin Prison when they remixed his track, "The Worse It Gets".  A few days ago, RAC released what could be called their first original single.  "Hollywood" is a bouncy pop track that features Penguin Prison's Chris Glover on vocals.  It's a pretty light song that just might find a permanent home on your summer playlist.  You can stream and download "Hollywood" below.  For more information on the project, check out Green Label Sound.

My Favorite Albums Of 2011: Part 2

It's time for part two of my "Favorite Albums Of 2011" list.  The last post featured ten (plus one bonus) albums that didn't quite make it into my top twenty.  My top twenty is mostly unranked, aside from the final three records.  The way I see it, is there really that big of a difference between my twelfth and eleventh favorite albums of the year?  For that reason, I've kept specific numbers out of the game until three, two, and one.  Let's get into it... 

Penguin Prison - Self Titled

After collecting a variety of Chris Glover's singles and remixes over the past two years, I anticipated this album for months.  Penguin Prison's self-titled debut is one of the most upbeat and fun records I heard all year.  It's pop, but not your usual club bangers.  There's just this sound that he has, and you can hear it on his remixes too.  The "Penguin Prison" sound.  I love it.

Cults - Self Titled

I was initially attracted to this album purely for aesthetic reasons.  While browsing new through some new releases, I stumbled upon Cults' debut.  It just looked like something I would be into.  As randomly predicted, I found it to be an amazing album.  "You Know What I Mean" is the album's centerpiece.  That song perfectly demonstrates Cults' ability to mix the old with the new.

Glasvegas - EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\

I feel like the order of songs on EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\ could be reversed and you would have a completely different album.  Instead of a decline, the album would progress from the lows of "Change" and "I Feel Wrong (Homosexuality Pt. 1)", finally ending with their anthem of a single, "The World Is Yours".  This record couldn't have a more appropriate name.  It pulls at you with oddly comforting themes of longing and loneliness, but the production is so massive and truly euphoric.

Björk - Biophilia

My feelings on Biophilia are constantly changing.  It seems to have a polarizing effect.  The majority of the album consists of harps, bells, and any other twinkling instrument.  Sure, there are some beat driven moments, such as "Mutual Core".  But for the most part, Björk is howling about her extraterrestrial days of collecting minerals on Venus.  It's a strange concept that had me wondering what goes on in this Icelandic singer's mind.

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

I'm actually late to the Girls party.  Around the release of Father, Son, Holy Ghost, I also started listening to their debut.  "Lust For Life" is on my regular playlist and I blast it more than one would like to admit.  With that said, they quickly became one of my most listened to acts of 2011.  If I were to make a list that combined the concept of NME's "Cool" list and Barbara Walters' "Most Fascinating People" list, Christopher Owens would most definitely be a headliner.

Kimbra - Vows

After the "Kimbra weekend" feature earlier this year, this singer from New Zealand is a common sight on The Soundtrack Of My Life.  Her debut album hasn't been released in the US yet, but I predict good things for Kimbra when that day arrives.  Vows manages to create a pop sound without giving into any of today's gimmicks or trends.  Add in her jazzy stylings and a vocal range to kill for, and you have an outstanding record.

CSS - La Liberación

After two albums, it finally seems like CSS found an appropriate balance between the danceable sound of their debut and the more rock oriented sound of Donkey.  You may still have trouble taking them seriously, but that's the best part.  Plus, any album with a Mike Garson piano solo automatically gets bonus points in my book.

Feist - Metals

I love "1234" just as much as the next person, but I feel like Feist thrives the most when she slows down the tempo a bit.  She did just that on Metals.  It's still a powerful album, just not in the big band sing-along way.  The closing track, "Get It Wrong, Get It Right", is possibly one of the best songs in her catalog.

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

From the first song to the final note, Ceremonials is a bellowing album with enough hooks to satisfy the most restless of listeners.  Florence Welch kept her winning formula of Lungs and expanded it to twice the size.  She sounds like a choir and remains one of the biggest voices in pop music. 

The Black Keys - El Camino

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the genius that is the "Lonely Boy" music video?  If that doesn't convince you to give the album a listen, then I'm not sure what will do the trick.  There are tributes to Led Zeppelin on "Little Black Submarines" and I hear Bowie on "Sister".  I bet you'll never be able to listen to "Lonely Boy" without having a mental image of that dancing man.

Check back soon for the third and final installment including my top three albums of 2011.

Penguin Prison - Something I'm Not

Penguin Prison is the name of an upcoming electronic/pop act from New York.  Penguin Prison is also the stage name of Chris Glover, a producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist.  Glover, under the name of Penguin Prison, has remixed tracks by artists including Marina & The Diamonds, Kylie Minogue, and Goldfrapp.  A few months ago, I featured his remix of Kimbra's "Settle Down".  While he's already an experienced producer, Penguin Prison is also prepping for the release of his debut album.  "Something I'm Not", is a great taste of his unique style.

The one thing that stands out about this song is the vocal track.  The music is distinctly a mix of electronic and pop elements.  However, his voice during the verse is much more soulful than what I would expect from this genre of music.  The chorus picks up to somewhat of an 80's throwback sound.  I hear a Tears For Fears influence.

His solo work rivals with his remixes.  They're both extremely interesting and danceable.  Penguin Prison's album is expected to be released around February of next year.  You can stream or download "Something I'm Not" below.

Keep reading to download a free EP of Penguin Prison's remixes...