Fierce Music

Rusty Ps
Milwaukee, WI
Label - None

DJ Madhatter, S Watson, Phantom Channel and Count Classic make up Milwaukee based Hip-Hip crew, Rusty Ps. No that wasn’t a typo. Folks I’ve found what could very well be the lost sound of great Hip-Hop from the 80’s and 90’s..in the Midwest no less! So take A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, some De La Soul and the discipline of Eric B. & Rakim and you have The Ps. Formerly ‘The Rusty Pelicans’, Rusty Ps churn out their own style of jazz drizzled and funk infused Hip-Hop that true aficionados to haters can respect. Check out my personal favorite ‘Tread Water’ ftr Imani from The Pharcyde for a well representative cut from self produced ‘Rusty Ps vs. Milwaukee’ (2005). But the whole damn album is worth the download! Most memorable for me were ‘The Return’ and ‘Gather Around’. Do yourself a h-u-g-e favor and give these cats a listen!

Check out their vid at Fierce.com, ‘Elevatin The Game’ showing some respect to The Bucks!

Deaf Children At Play
Los Angeles, CA
Label - Indie

DCAP is simply straight up Rock and Roll done right! I stumbled upon this LA clan a few days ago and I’m now straight up hooked! Not much in terms of background on these cats. I know they aspire to create great music that transcends mainstream music and yah know what? I think they’re well on their way. Just check out ‘Red’, ‘Vampire’, and my absolute favorite ‘Beautiful Liar’. All are really well orchestrated tracks available off their self titled and self produced album DCAP. Check out this video and audio montage I pulled..enjoy!

The Echoing Green
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
Label - Indie

Simply put, I’m completely hooked on Echoing Green. I was introduced to this Albuquerque based Elecronica duo via ‘Seaside’, a particularly chill and representative track off The Winter of Our Discontent (2004 BEC Records). I found there to be a pleasant consistency in their music. Each track is blended with creative lyrics, soulful vox and well orchestrated instrumentals; characteristics that if present and consistent make the difference between good and great music. Just dive into ‘Flame’ (Antique Toy Mix) from Sanctuary (2008 A Different Drum) and my personal fav and what’s put me on the road to perpetual fandon, ‘Yesterday’s Taking Over’ off Supernova (2007 The Echoing Green). The video is definitely worth a glance. Make a point and subscribe to their podcast and catch the filming of ‘Cutting Hearts’ and their ‘Til Tuesday remake of Voices Carry..very cool!

The very fierce Michele Madden, front for Aussie band, Tourettes

BUMBERSHOOT 2008
Aug 30 - Sep 1
Seattle Center

Originally staged and funded by the city of Seattle as the Seattle Arts Festival in 1971, BUMBERSHOOT now lays claim to the largest music and urban arts festivals in the world. Thank One Reel, a local non-profit arts and entertainment production organization, in 1980 to taking the festival to another level by ticketing the event to attract global talent. Lots of incredible talent expected this year to appear including, Beck, Kid Sister,Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Anti-Flag, Xavier Rudd and Asylum St. Spankers to name a few. Check out more details here.