Rantings from OutsideLands, Day 1.

Day 1 Notes:

The weather couldn't have been better for the first day of OutsideLands, the 7th annual music festival in San Francisco.  Clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine are a rare site in Golden Gate Park, with no fog rolling in and only a refreshing chill that had concert goers reaching for their sweatshirts after dusk.  Coincidentally, that's the same time everyone takes their sunglasses off at the same time after a day of drinking, partying, and jumping around having fun - a shocking sight!

Here are the bands I caught Day 1 and some favorite photos:

Run the Jewels with El-P and Killer Mike:
They sounded great and we're having a lot of fun, really playing off the crowd.  An energetic rap show is the perfect way to kick off the afternoon.

Phosphorescent:
Backstage for this one and they put on a cool show.  Loved the congas the percussionist incorporated.

WarPaint:
I loved 'em - the all-girl band was like the Bengals mixed with Mazzy Star with more than a little harder, punk influences.  Hot stuff and I'll definitely seek them out to listen more.

Interlude: Creepy carnie time:
Around this time, it got really weird.  We stumbled on a grove with a stage and kiosks all with a bizarre dark carnie sort of thing going on.  Random people wandered around in kilts and high socks, their faces painted like circus clowns or serial killers.  There were booths where you could hug a carnie for $1 (no thanks) and they had a life-like carnie doll crucified high up on a pine tree.  This place weirded me the hell out!  But they did have logs you could sit on to rest the tired bones, and a band called El Radio Fantastique (if I remember correctly, because I can't find them on the lineup) who had an interesting sound.  Among a violin, cello, and stand up base, the lead man sang through a bullhorn for a carnival barker sound and flopped around like a zombie.  If you're in to the carnie thing, I suggest checking them out because they're were tight musically.  However, if you're into the carnie thing, I also suggest checking yourself in to a place with white walls to get some help.

GroupFun:
This electric native San Francisco band was one of the highlights of day one for me.  Their passion and fun was contagious but they weren't pop at all.  The male lead guitarist/vocalist and the gyrating and free-spirited female lead had musical chemistry like Jack and Meg White. Smart lyrics and oozing of talent.  Another new favorite band I'll have to check out.

Chromeo:
Unfortunately, they scheduled GroupFun and Chromeo at the same time, two of the best kept secrets of Day 1.  Our group split up with most of them watching Chromeo, and said they were amazing.

Disclosure:
Caught the tail end of them and I was doing more crowd watching and backstage gawking.  Decent act but not particularly memorable.

Kanye West:
It's really hard for one rapper to command a presence with a huge empty stage and 50,000 people watching, and Kanye tried his best.  He came out with a interesting mask that was a mix of Jason and bee keeper, and the lighting and effects were great.  He sounded pretty clean except on the hardest rocking numbers like Power - another difficult feat for a live rap act - but lost us when he started his long rambles, musical fillers that went nowhere, and collaboration songs where he only sang his part.  Makes me think, where are the Roots???

Arctic Monkeys:
Very mellow for an after dark show.  The Mike Ness-look alike front man tried to push his Rock God ego on the crowd, but it didn't quite work for me.  But they were tight musically and sang some damn good songs.

After hours:
Death Cab for Cutie:
After the OutsideLands festivities ended, we headed to the Independent - a fantastic, intimate venue to a see a band, where we watched Death Cab for Cuties. They put on a great show and are obviously talented musicians, though the singing was a little monotone and pop-ish for me at that time of the night.

Best Food Choice:
Just say "No" to the Korean tacos.  There was a dessert area with every kind of guilty pleasure you can imagine, including humungous somores, homemade peanut butter cups, and liquid chocolate.  Yummmmm…..

Parking and Transportation:
Hahahaha, you're kidding, right?!

Über was running at a level 5 pricing designation, meaning it was a $75 minimum and about a 40 minute wait.  But there were plenty of public buses lined up.  Use the bathroom before you leave the park and expect at least an hour to get out of there.

Day two thoughts:
Throwing an old blanket into my backpack so we can chill on the lawn at some point.  Excited to see Tom Petty for the first time but they lined them up against Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, one of my favorite acts of all time, so it's going to be a hard choice.  Praying someone brings me some strong coffee this morning and hoping for sun today!

The Rise Of The Rap Nerd.

Granted, it’s a strange marriage – the bedfellows of hip hop music and nerds.  Coke-bottle glasses, bow ties, and awkward, toothy laughter that repels all females within 500 yards are the last things we think of when it comes to rap, which we more commonly associate with clothes, bankrolls, and hoes.  But why not, considering real rap music has its real origins in counter culture, the self-sculptured anti-identity for those who the System neglected to count, a musical form springing like a crooked flower from cracks in the sidewalk where nothing else would grow?

Now, two or even three generations into rap as an art form, it needs little help from us to permeate its legitimacy.  And nerds?  Those geeks who just don’t quite fit in?  Somehow, inexplicably, hip hop has come so full circle that to be thoroughly uncool is the coolest thing you could do.  Wearing tight high-water pants, bright colors, and singing about your own feelings and shortcomings has become refreshingly original among a pantheon of generic thugs, tiring braggarts, and ultra-masculine boasters.  The lesson is this: Be real, above all else, and the audience will relate – and love you for it.

How far back can we trace nerdiness in rap?  All the way, if you look closely enough.  Didn’t Pharcyde talk about how she keeps on passing me by?  And didn’t De La Soul break the loquacious thug rap trend with their hippy consciousness, wearing Africa medallions instead of gold chains?  Even Slick Rick spit fire with a British accent and outstanding enunciation when acts like Public Enemy and NWA were more Black Panther movement than hyperbolic entertainment.  As long as there has been artistic expression, there have been those who don’t fit in so wandered off to create on their own.  But it’s not just about fashion, what you flow, or even your audience – it’s about refusing to be typecast, rejecting inauthenticity, taking risks to push the art of musical expression where it’s never been before.  And we can’t help but to sing along, and love ‘em for it.

Here are some rap nerds we love:

?uestlove

He’s the ultra-stoic other front man of the Roots who actually sits behind the band, letting his beats and drunk licks do the talking.  His funky nerdiness was so cool it landed him a gig as the musical straight man for Late Night and The Tonight Show’s Jimmy Fallon.  But an even greater accomplishment, we all accept his unspoken tenure as rap music’s librarian and erstwhile protector, keeping the unruly kids from completely taking over study hall.

Lupe Fiasco

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco originally was turned off by hip hop because of its use of vulgarity and misogyny, but then came along to love the art form – if not the typical rapper banter.  So he changed the game with his own music as Lupe Fiasco, proudly confessing to having merged nerd and hood in songs like “I’m Beamin’” where he says: "Hood's where the heart is; nerd's where the words from." He’s actually got a mixtape project called “Farenheit 1/15: Revenge of the Nerds," where he raps about Jedi mind tricks.  He's also the front man of a rock band called, “Japanese Cartoon,” and runs charitable benefits and  

Kid Cudi

Scott Mescudi, the kid from Cleveland, Ohio who moved to Brooklyn, arrived in the music world when fellow rap nerd Kanye West signed him.  He branched out to form his own rock band, start his own record label, and act in HBO’s How To Make It In America and other projects.  High schoolers, college kids, and stoners love him – as well as fellow nerds.

Childish Gambino

If your parents were a Jehovas Witness postal worker and daycare provider, a career in rap is the last thing you might think of.  But Donald McKinley Glover took an even stranger route to emerging hip hop iconoclast, first to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in dramatic writing and then as a writer for 30 Rock, and an actor on Community.  But he exploded on the scene with his 2011 album, Camp, and 2013's critically acclaimed follow up, Because the Internet, proving once and for all that nerds can really friggin rap. 

Tyler the Creator

The LA skateboarder is more Goth than gangsta, more dark horror movie than hyper dance track. He pushes his individuality far away from the typical rap archetype, sometimes to a fault, but no one’s ever accused him of being a conformist.

Kendrick Lamar

I posted something on Facebook about rap nerds and mentioned Kendrick. A good friend of mine, Chivaughn, commented that he was more gangster rap, not nerd.  She’s probably right, as he comes from Compton and grew up among on gang, drug, and violence-infested streets.  But in his songs, Kendrick tells stories of coping with those circumstances, not embracing them or becoming a product of their influence, so we can’t help laud him for his maturity and consciousness so we’ll call him a nerd (in a good way.)

Pharrel Williams

Raised in middle class and racially mixed Virginia Beach, the member of the Neptunes once signed with a record label called Star Trak and got into drinking or doing drugs.  If the fact that he actually was in a hop hop band called N.E.R.D. doesn’t convince you of his awesome geekiness, consider that he’s now a fashion designer and environmental activist.

Del the Funky Homosapien

Del was the kind of rapper who would probably stay home and chill (and smoke) on a Saturday night instead of party, never seeking out the limelight like his Oaktown cohorts – or fully comfortable in it.  His songs were about sunny meadows and how he missed his cousin, not conquering the world, money, and hoes.  His innovation and creative journeys into alternative genres and audiences has served him well over a 20+ year career, including becoming the rapper-of-choice on skateboarding videos and video games.

Kanye West

Kanye was one of the first rappers in the mainstream to bring the ethos of insecurity and rejection to mainstream modern rap, especially with his 2004 album, The College Dropout. He was so bad he was good, dressed so preppy it was like he was questioning his own masculinity – but offering the answer at the same time, and surprised us by rapping about his vulnerability and broken heart.  His wavering confidence about his place in this world has always been in direct contrast to his ultra-hubris about his own MC skills.  It worked perfectly, and is still working a decade later.

Yung God

Colby McCartney, aka Yung God, isn’t anywhere near on the level of the other folks in the rap game we’re listing, but the Dallas native has such a perfectly nerdy message, we just had to give him a shout out.  Consider these lyrics:

“Word around town I'm the smartest in the city

Hoes on my dick cause I make my own theories

Hoes on my dick cause I'm finna be the mayor

World of Warcraft, I'm the number one player

Run up in class strapped with a calculator

Give me one hour, write a five page paper

Hoes on my dick cause I pack my own lunch

Swag on my dick cause I live in the suburban

Young ass nerd, and I'm proud to be a virgin

Check my outfit, more colors than circus

Beat your ass at chess, then I beat your ass at checkers

Fall off on the campus, and I'm still rockin' Sketchers.”

***

There are plenty of others we missed who deserve credit, like Mos Def, his BlackStar partner, Talib Kweli, Common, and Shock G from Digital Underground.  So hit us up or comment to give your favorite rap nerd some props!   

The 10 biggest thieves in the music business.

Madonna
Madonna has been accused of "sleeping her way to the middle" in late 1970’s New York City, but she definitely stole her way to the top from there.  On top of imitating everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Andy Warhol with her photo shoots, dress, and appearance, her hit, “Justify My Love” is a startling replica of Public Enemy’s “Security of the First World.  Chuck D and PE sued, winning an “undisclosed sum.”  But that wasn’t the end of her trouble with that song.  A poet Ingrid Chavez sued because Madonna had stolen her lyrics for the same song, word for word!  She won and was issued royalties and a writer’s credit.

At last count, Madonna has been slapped with 15 plagiarism lawsuits over her career, and who knows how many more never made it that far?

Kid Rock
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Kid Rock is one flattering mofo.  His whole shtick seems to be a performing caricature of other musical forms – at some times classic rock, country, and even a little white-trash rap thrown in.  He’s blatantly boosted Bob Seger, Lynyrd Skynard, Johnny Cash, Metallica, Grandmaster Flash, Warren Zevon of Werewolves Of London, and even sings the lyrics to Sweet Home Alabama word for word in his 2008 hit, All Summer Long.  Somehow, it’s still hard not to like Kid Rock, though we’ve definitely lost respect for him as a music artist.

Oasis
The band that was called “better than the Beatles,” – by themselves – shamelessly jacked other musicians.  As early as their breakthrough song, "Cigarettes and Alcohol" they copied the T. Rex classic "Get It On (Bang a Gong)”

And the Oasis song “Step Out,” sounds surprisingly like Steve Wonder’s classic, “Uptight.”  So much so that “Step Out” was included on promotional copies of Oasis album but pulled at the last minute.  When the song finally was released, Stevie Wonder was listed as a songwriter – a “collaboration” he surely never approved.

Radiohead
Oasis’ archenemy isn’t exactly innocent when it comes to stealing music.  Their hit, “Creep,” is basically "The Air That I Breathe" by the Hollies, so much so that the Hollies sued.  They won, and Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood from the Hollies are now listed as writers.

But Radiohead didn’t stop there, stealing “Karma Police” from the Beatle’s “Sexy Sadie.”

The Beatles
Speaking of the Beatles, they may have been imitated often but did their share of musical thievery, as well.  Listen to the main riff of Bobby Parker's "Watch Your Step" compared to the Beatles' "I Feel Fine."  George Harrison even admitted stealing Parker’s guitar riff.  They also confessed to be “influenced” by the Isley Brothers on, “From Me to You.”

John Lennon’s iconic song, “Come Together” was blatantly ripped from Chuck Berry.  Posthumously, Barry’s reps sued Lennon, who’s defense was that he and Pau McCartney had slowed the rhythm and added more bass to make the Chuck’s song “more original.”

Green Day
California’s punk revival band that blew up in the 1990’s revitalized their career in the early 2000’s with American Idiot.  But if you listen to the opening of the song, "Doublewhiskeycokenoice" by an obscure punk band called Dillinger Four, you’ll realize it they boosted it

On their follow up album, Warning, Green Day is charged with stealing an old Kinks song and adding different lyrics to it for the title track.

Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page stole the chords and some of the lyrics for "Dazed and Confused" from the Yardbirds, who he played with back in 1967.   The song ended up on Zeppelin’s 1969 debut album with no mention or credit of its origin.

They didn’t stop there – the opening notes of their most famous song, “Stairway to Heaven,” were taken from “Taurus” by a little-known band called Spirit.  Oh, and Zeppelin had opened for Spirit on their first U.S. tour.  Hmmm…

Metallica
Called the greatest American band, Metallica followed the practice of their British counterparts by burglering the competition for their music.  To start, listen to "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)," side by side with Bleak House's "Rainbow Warrior."

It’s been confirmed that their songs "My Apocalypse," "End of the Line" and "The Day that Never Comes" were stolen from The Offspring, Pearl Jam and Joe Satriani.

But perhaps their greatest hit, "Enter Sandman" is a smash-and-grab of the song "Tapping into the Emotional Void,” by the little-known band Excel.

The Black Eyed Peas
Recently, rapper Phoenix Phenom accused the BEP’s of stealing her song “Boom Dynamite” for their hit “Boom Boom Pow.”

On "Party All the Time," the Peas sampled the song “Mancry” by Freeland, without any credit or clearing the sample.  It goes on: in 2007, will.i.am used a good portion of Daft Punk’s “Around the World” in his single.

But for any classic rap aficionados, the plagiarism that stings most is Fergie’s hit, “Fergelicious,” which is basically J.J. Fad’s “Supersonic” redone.

Lenny Kravitz
Since his very first album, critics have pointed to Kravitz’s desire to be Jimi Hendrix, to be the Beatles, and to be Prince, all in one.  His debut album in the 1980’s lay the groundwork for that accusation and Kravitz has done nothing to dispel it to date.  As examples, “Are You Gonna Go My Way” or “Fly Away” are based entirely on a single Hendrix riff, and “You Belong to Me” is a nice Prince-like love song.

The domain names we use every day tell the untold story of the Internet.

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Why are the top rock bands of all time from the UK? And what are the top-10 American rock bands?

Last night at dinner, a buddy of mine recalled a conversation he’d had with his brother-in-law a while ago.  Both music lovers, my buddy was trying to make a point about great rock music – or lack thereof with origins in the United States. 

He asked his brother-in-law, “Name your top 10 rock bands of all time.” 

The brother-in-law responded:

“We’ll start with Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and probably the Stones.”

“Ok, good ones.  British, British, British,” my buddy said. 

“And then maybe the Who, Pink Floyd, and U2?”

“English, English, and Irish. And it’s your list so I won’t bother to debate you.”

“I’d probably put AC/DC and the Police in there,” said his brother-in-law, obviously a big fan of classic rock.

“Sure thing – English and English.”

“What’s your point with this?”

“Almost all the best rock bands from all time are from somewhere outside the United States.  How come we don’t have GREAT rock bands?”

“Well what about Bob Marley and the Wailers?  They weren’t English.”

“No, but they were from Jamaica, not the U.S.”

‘Elvis – one of the best every.”

“Elvis wasn’t a band, he was a solo artist.  Doesn’t count.”

“What about Rush?”

“Canada.”

They went on and on – Queen, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac.  Finally the list of all-time great rock bands shifted within American borders when Metallica came up.

“Definitely one of the top rock bands ever – probably top 5.”

They compiled their list of all-time best rock bands and surprisingly, only Metallica made the list.  (Again, this is all debatable but they were old-school classic rock and metal fans.)  When my friend told me about this conversation at dinner, I threw my choices in the ring:

1. Metallica

2. The Red Hot Chili Peppers (one of my all-time favs.)

3. Nirvana (They might be my #2 but their body of work was cut short.)

4. Bruce Springsteen (Really a one-man show, but we’ll give credence to the E-Street band.)

5. The Doors (Now that’s a true rock band!)

6. Guns and Roses (Ditto!)

7. Journey (Although some would argue that San Francisco isn't really the United States.)

8. Bon Jovi (If I’m counting The Boss then we’ll sneak Bon Jovi onto the list.)

9. The Grateful Dead

10. Pearl Jam (I’m not a big fan but I respect them.)

Who am I forgetting?  What bands would be on your all-time top 10?  And why are so many real bands from England and so few from the U.S.?