This is my second review for Redefine Magazine of Seattle, WA. It is an independent and alternative music magazine printed quarterly as well as updated daily online. I hope to do several more reviews over the summer for them including Voxhaul Broadcast, Treasure Island Music Festival, and Austin City Limits.
Garnering Greatness
It is likely that most of you reading this have never heard of the United Nations of Music and Media, also known as Musexpo. Birthed into the world of music by a group originally know as A&R (Artists & Repertoire) Network in Los Angeles -- now A&R Worldwide -- Musexpo is a four-day meet and greet for the movers and shakers in the music industry. Founded in 2001 by A&R Worldwide's Sat Bisla, the event now spans several cities across the globe, including Los Angeles, London, New York City, and Berlin. Musexpo is filled with lectures and social events featuring the biggest names in the industry, but the greatest part is in the evening, when all is focused on the musicians themselves.
This year, the artist showcase was held at not only one, but two of the most legendary venues in rock music history. The Viper Room, opened and formerly owned by actor Johnny Depp, is most famous for being the location of the unfortunate overdose and resulting death of actor River Phoenix, the eldest brother to actor Joaquin Phoenix. The other venue used for Musexpo 2009 is perhaps the most well-known of any nightclub in the world, the Whisky A Go Go, which is renowned for being the birthplace of the "go-go dancer" and for giving rise to some of rock music's most prominent genres throughout the later 20th century, including punk, heavy metal, new wave, and grunge.
The musicians themselves had traveled from across the far reaches of the world as well as the far side of town, all for a chance to be noticed by record companies, advertising gurus, and the most successful club owners across the Los Angeles Basin. Of the four day event here are my list of favorites for the 2009 edition of Musexpo.
The Lovebugs are a quintet from Basel, Switzerland who have graced the Land of the Alps with their dance-inspired form of Britpop for over fifteen years now. Riding on a wave of nine extremely successful studio albums in their native land and with a tenth album fresh off the cutting table, The Lovebugs are looking to expand into the New World with their own European version of Shock and Awe. Their live performance was as unique as every show over the course of the event, which shows that diversity works great in more than just teenage tele-dramas.
One of the most nostalgic acts of the night was Stockholm, Sweden's own Salem. Despite the stigma of such a name and the reputation which the city of Salem, Massachusetts has for itself, this bewitching young lad has proven himself a great amongst artists of the highest degree. Beginning at a very early age, Salem left an emerging career as a touring violin soloist to pursue his love of jazz piano. After a stint playing with electro-dance group Robyn and Snook, Salem released his debut album, This Is Who I Am. With hints of Krautrock artists such Neu!, Salem is sure to enchant even the most discriminating of judges.
The Blue Van from Copenhagen, Denmark, known for their song "Silly Boy" which was featured on a recent Samsung phone commercial, has already been causing a stir over the past couple years with three albums and an extended stay in New York City playing the club scene throughout Brooklyn. The Blue Van is slang in Denmark for the ambulance services for mental institutions, and, as the name suggests, you'll have to be taken away kicking and screaming from their energetic stage performance.
Bigelf is a Los Angeles group that has been on the scene for some time now with one of the greatest cult followings in the Greater Los Angeles Area, not to mention legions of fans in Europe and Scandinavia. Formed in 1991, Bigelf has since conjured up four studio albums and pioneered the "Psychedelic Doom Movement," later inspiring much of the Stoner Rock of the mid to late nineties. With striking resemblances to Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath, Bigelf is a force to be reckoned with and deserving of a far grander stage than even the likes of the legend that is the Whisky A Go Go.
To finish off the list, I would like to be the first to introduce most of you to Purple Melon. These dashing young Red Coats (the bass player actually wears one) moved to Los Angeles only just over a month ago from three years together playing clubs in London and Birmingham, UK. They are currently recording their debut album with producer Paul Stacey who has worked with greats such as Oasis and The Black Crowes. Purple Melon has an amazingly technical delivery of grassroots rock sprinkled with hints of glam and dirty southern bands reminiscent of AC/DC, Paul McCartney, Queen, and Lynard Skynard. Yet only one member of the group has been of legal drinking age for more than a year. Ranging in age from 20 to 24 years old, these superb musical talents are not to be missed when given the chance, and are proof in point of the great contribution that Musexpo has given to the emerging class of tomorrow's greatest musicians.
Reviewed on Apr 29, 2009 by MATTHIEU DUQUETTE.
