Friday, May 10, 2013

POP, ALT, RAP: mega-concerts of Los Angeles

Wisdom Quarterly; KROQ FM, KIIS FM, KPWR FM; BhaktiFest.com

The crowds at Coachella 2013, Weekend 2, Southern California (TheSceneStar/PHOTOS)
Beavis (in Slayer shirt) and Butthead plan to rock hard in LA this month (mlkshk.com).


California is the most popular state in the country -- for easy visiting, uneasy living, but mostly for "making it." Los Angeles may be the most provocative city in the state. If one wants rock, go to Nashville and catch Tadolf Swiftler and wannabees. But if one wants everything, the small LA town of Hollywood is the place. Big City lights, Big City heartbreak, Big City crime, and Big City grime. "Alternative" (alt rock) arrives in the form of an indoor roast with:
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Annual Weenie Roast lineup announced (OCweekly.com)
 
The Black Keys, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Vampire Weekend, Of Monsters & Men, Jimmy Eat World, Silversun Pickups, Imagine Dragons, Awolnation, Atlas Genius, Fitz & The Tantrums, The Neighbourhood, C2C, Capital Cities, New Politics, and Twenty One Pilots. Expect a "special" guest and at least one no-show. A better alternative might be that weekend's Shakti Fest in the desert. Or at the opposite end of the spectrum, death metal from Cannibal Corpse and Napalm Death (MoshKing.com) in OC.
  
 
To kick off the summer three local station will host MEGA concerts in three distinct genres. The only thing missing is Ryan Lewis and his sidekick Macklemore. It's like giving speed to a great white shark on Shark Week around here. Where's Bieberzeebub? Where's Catty Purry?
 
Tickets and more tickets
Tomorrow Ryan Seacrest leads the first sonic assault with "Wango Tango." We got tickets yesterday, which should sadden most listeners: plenty of extras were released at the last minute, as happens. (Pssst. Tickets are available for all of these shows, just not always from corporate Monopoly players TicketMaster).
 
Most were bought up too soon for most Angelenos to have a chance, and the ticket reseller prices are ridiculous. The day features Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Flo Rida, will.i.am, Demi Lovato, Fall Out Boy, Afrojack, Miguel, Icona Pop, Jason Derula, Krewella, Emili Sande, and Ariana Grande.


Next week overpriced Tofu Pups will be roasted, wrapped in crinkly foilpaper, slathered with mustard, and dropped in the amphitheater aisle. This will happen high atop Studio City (home of Universal Studios). KROQ brings out its dog and pony show with: 

That is followed by the corporate rap station's effort held at a much bigger venue in suburban Orange County, where most of California's mainstream rap music fans live (Latino-majority Anaheim, home of Disneyland and killer police). Power106 (KPWR FM) hosts "Powerhouse" with Big Sean, A$AP Rocky, Tyga, Future, Problem, Trinidad James, Drop City Yacht Club, and the only man in America hated more than Justin Beiber, Chris Brown. Will Rihanna or Karrueche be there in support? Maybe both.

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