SXSW = fun.

Been down in Austin for the past few days and the streets are filled with people of all shapes, colors, creeds and occupations. Music and technology is the thread that ties us all together - and musicians come here to weave themselves into that fabric.

One band having a recent catastrophic shake up to their impact on the culture-sphere is fun. Their track "We Are Young" has catapulted up Billboard charts and quickly become a cult favorite....so much so that everyone from Bing to Stubbs wants them to play their events in Austin. They were the subject of New York Times cover Arts section cover article, the topic of much discussion at SXSW and quickly everyone's favorite new band.

Apparently the act played Bing last night. If you missed the opportunity to feel young again, they play the Warehouse at 1100 5th Street on Wednesday, Friday at Stubbs and probably a few other places. Check out their video for "We Are Young" feat. Janelle Monae below and also "Some Nights."

SXSW = fun.

Been down in Austin for the past few days and the streets are filled with people of all shapes, colors, creeds and occupations. Music and technology is the thread that ties us all together - and musicians come here to weave themselves into that fabric.

One band having a recent catastrophic shake up to their impact on the culture-sphere is fun. Their track "We Are Young" has catapulted up Billboard charts and quickly become a cult favorite....so much so that everyone from Bing to Stubbs wants them to play their events in Austin. They were the subject of New York Times cover Arts section cover article, the topic of much discussion at SXSW and quickly everyone's favorite new band.

Apparently the act played Bing last night. If you missed the opportunity to feel young again, they play the Warehouse at 1100 5th Street on Wednesday, Friday at Stubbs and probably a few other places. Check out their video for "We Are Young" feat. Janelle Monae below and also "Some Nights."

Pinot - The New L.A. Jam Funk Band To Watch

SUPERGOODMUSIC got funked up on some Pinot at the Roxy on Saturday November 5^th, and it proved a perfect reminder of what live music can do to an audience. Every person at The Roxy found their groove, and some found moves they had only seen on TV or in The Black Keys video for "Lonely Boy."

Pinot’s funky foundation peppered with everything from dance music to jazz created the perfect storm on the floor causing every waist to swivel, head to bob, and foot to tap. Delta Nove played a very solid set as usual, but the entire night had the aura of a “passing of the torch” as Pinot posted the set to remember. Pinot’s pocket was tighter, the arrangements more interesting, and the dynamic swells came at just the right moments kicking the party into a new gear every time. Its apparent that Pinot is taking the L.A. funky jam scene to the next level with the help of a remarkable vocalist in G. Curtis.

If you are a fan of Delta Nove and weren't at the show, you owe it to yourself to check out Pinot. The sheer tightness of the band alone created an instant respect for the players on stage, and once each member had their turn in the spotlight it was clear Pinot found something that works. If you have friends that think they can’t dance, take them to a Pinot show. If you haven’t already opened a new window to check out Pinot’s website you can do so here < http://www.pinotfunk.com/PINOT/PINOT.html>, and check in with SUPERGOODMUSIC for news on when you can get down with a funky glass of Pinot next.

Chicago Funk Fusion at The Mint

Continuing the trend of funk parading through The Mint during Jazzfest West, Sidewalk Chalk, a Chicago based group that fuses jazz, funk and hip-hop, hits their stage on Sunday night.

Lifting a page out of The Roots Organix and Do You Want More? handbooks, Sidewalk Chalk makes their best efforts to blend jazz informed bass and rhythms with a female vocalist and male MCs that guide you on a musical journey. Although not as tight as the Jimmy Fallon house band, Sidewalk Chalk is finding their way in a too infrequently explored musical space. Check out this video of them in the studio....

Hats & Shoes | Sidewalk Chalk | Studio 10 Sessions from David Burkart on Vimeo.

Royal Family Ball Comes to L.A. & Denver

The Royal Family Ball is finally hitting the road again and bringing their traveling funk extravaganza to L.A.'s own Club Nokia, as well as to Denver, Portland, San Francisco and New Orleans.

Descending upon Nokia shortly after Jazzfest - the wrecking crew that is the Royal Family and features members of Soulive, Lettuce and other offshoot bands will shake your mind, body and soul on Friday May 13th. This tour will also be one that promotes the launch of Soulive's own record label - Royal Family Records. At their most recent Ball at Brooklyn Bowl, members of The Meters, Dr. John, ?uestlove and others who knows who else will grace the stage at this unparalleled funk showdown in Los Angeles.

Here is a video of Lettuce doing "Move On Up" in January 2011. Hope they play it in LA!

General admission tickets are $25 in advance and $28.50 the day of the event (if available). VIP Pit and VIP Balcony tickets are $30. Tickets for Club Nokia events are available at all Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.com and from 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri at the STAPLES Center Box Office located at 1111 S. Figueroa St. No fees are charged at the STAPLES Center box office or at the Club Nokia box office on show days (open after 5 PM).

http://www.clubnokia.com/

http://www.royalfamilyrecords.com/

Budos Band @ El Rey Theatre - January 14th, 2011

Budos Band brought all sorts of proper funk on Friday night at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Here are some of my choice shots of the Brooklyn brass heads getting down.

LMA SHORTENED, SOME TALENT NOT PLAYING - BUT ALL FREE!

I unfortunately received this message a little more than an hour ago -

Subject: Important announcement for LMA fest

Hello friends, unfortunately we are announcing that the featured talent of LMA FEST has been postponed. However, the Charity Fundraising HOLIDAY FAIR will be FREE and will still feature the CA ART VILLAGE, LOCAL BANDS/DJS & FOOD TRUCKS at the LA STATE HISTORIC PARK on Sat, Dec.4th & Sun, Dec. 5th. All tickets will be refunded. We'd like to thank everyone involved with the LMA FEST movement. We appreciate your support and love. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Love Music Art :)

-Jr Dominguez

While this unfortunately means that many of the headlining acts that people would've paid to see are not performing - FREE music and FAIR atmosphere at LA State Historic Park isn't so bad. Throw in the Saturday night afterparty at Standard's Purple Lounge with Hey Champ, Money Penny, Team Bayside High, Bit Funk & Hemingway and you've got a party (2 for 1 drinks from 10-11 pm too).