This year, South By Southwest was even more of a business trip for me. Not a search and destroy mission of boys, bands, and booze as it was for a lot of my friends. I had notes and cards, I had a freaking power point presentation…would I find the time to enjoy some aural pleasure? … More The Good, The Bad, and The Courtney – A Mini Review of SXSW
I’ve written many times before about the difference between a legit DJ and the hobbyists who like the idea of having their playlist heard on a Friday night for a little cash in their pocket. If it’s true that ‘Anyone Can Play Guitar’ then it’s even more true that anyone can DJ, especially when you … More Serato Is Not A Pasta – DJ Intervention Starts Now
It started in September. I got email after email from publications asking me for my ‘best of the year’ picks and ‘best of the decade’ choices. And then there was an onslaught online, on TV, on the radio, and in print…what’s left of print, that is. ‘Best of the…’ ‘Top Ten’, ‘Top Twenty’, ‘Top Fifty’… … More 2010 – The Year in Review…In Advance
A KCRW affair is always a classy one. This year’s Halloween Masquerade did not disappoint. From the gorgeous setting at the legendary Park Plaza to the central casting styled beautiful people in costumes fit for a movie shoot, there was everything needed for a visual and aural bacchanal. The grand staircase of the Park Plaza … More Little Dragon, Sea Wolf, Shadow, Part Of KCRW’s Thriller Night
When I heard that The Juan MacLean was in town, I knew I had to talk to him, not only to chat about his new album The Future Will Come, being part of the uber cool electro mafia: DFA Records, but also to finally figure out how the hell we are related. Two MacLeans from … More Back To The Future With The Juan MacLean & The Ali MacLean
It has been said that Los Angeles is a cultural wasteland. True the denizens here make trash like Rock Of Love Tour Bus and other crap, but I prefer to focus on the gems that pop up on my radar every once in a while…including the event series TIMELESS. If you like hip hop, Brazilian … More Timeless Concert Series – full orchestra collborations with the top composers and turntablists
When the funk and soul was unplugged a few months ago, the citizens of Los Angeles cried out: Please dont stop the music…their Angelino prayers have been heard – Funky Sole lives again. LA’s longest running funk party will relocate to The Echo this Saturday night, marking it’s return to it’s East Side roots. That’s right. … More Funky Sole Gets Down For More Soul In Los Angeles
It’s not like Peanut Butter Wolf has a lot of time on his hands. The man runs Stones Throw records, in addition to recording, producing, and spinning all over the world. So for Wolf to follow up last year’s 7 days of Heaven with 888: 8 days of music videos at 8 clubs in 8 … More Peanut Butter Wolf’s 888 kicks it at Root Down
Hey Mr. DJ, put a record on…no really. I mean a fucking record. you know, those vinyl thingies that old timey people used to play? While having dinner with Ian last night, the topic of dj culture came up. The electro, hose, nu-rave scene has burst like a serato pinata here in LA, and in … More DJs and Turntablism – are hipsters and laptops killing the art form?
I covered the red carpet at the first annual NME USA awards last Wednesday. For those of you not familiar with NME, it’s a huge music mag in the UK…kind of like their Spin or Rolling Stone magazine. They have an awards show over there and now they’re bringing it stateside. The trophies were handed … More Alice Cooper, Blood, and Fog at the NME USA awards
Ali MacLean 