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The Black Keys Used To Lament Lack Of Mainstream Success, Have Little Love For The Grammys Or Justin Bieber

Posted 2/13/12 3:39 pm EST by in Music, Video


By Zachary Swickey

The Black Keys had a hell of a year in 2011, finally getting some much-deserved attention (selling out Madison Square Garden in the process), but frontman Dan Auerbach is the first to admit that it used to piss him off that they weren’t bigger.

We can’t blame Auerbach (I was notably confused when I saw them play for just a couple hundred people in 2004), as the band has the catchiest, most dynamic blues-pop combination sound out there today. In an interview with the Sun, the singer said that he had grown frustrated with their lack of mainstream success, but claimed that he and his drummer bandmate Patrick Carney now appreciated it more because it took them longer to achieve.

“Stuff used to piss me off and I'd moan about it. Like, 'Why aren't we up here on the bill? Why aren't we playing a higher festival slot?'” stated Auerbach.

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'Mob Wives' Star Big Ang Is Enjoying The Celebrity Lifestyle (Video)

Posted 2/13/12 11:00 am EST by in Television, Video


By Damian Vaca

We're already immersed in the lifestyles of Karen, Drita, Carla and Renee, but there is one new character of VH1’s "Mob Wives" that has completely stolen the show. Err … stolen may be a bad word, so let’s just she has become the breakout star of season two.

When Angela "Big Ang" Raiola first entered our lives, she was playing mediator in the never-ending feud between Drita and Karen. From her first moment on screen, viewers were immediately drawn to her unique voice and larger-than-life character – she was both endearing and outrageously unbelievable. Of her newfound fame Big Ang told MTV NEWS, "I think it’s amazing. It’s really blown up tremendously and I’m really having fun with it. I’m amazed. I can’t even believe what’s happening. I’ve been getting gifts, constantly getting great gifts [from fans]. I thank everybody who has been giving me good things. That pocket book that I’m carrying right there, great bag. All kinds of organic baskets of lotions. Roses, candy, earrings, everything."

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Your Chance To Make A Tune With Beyonce Has Arrived … Kind Of

Posted 2/9/12 3:03 pm EST by in Beyonce


Beyonce

By Kevin Lavi

Are you ready to be on a track with Beyonce?

Following her first public appearance since the birth of her daughter Blue Ivy Carter on Monday at Jay-Z's Carnegie Hall gig and 40/40 club, Beyonce had a major announcement for her fans on Wednesday.

The "Love on Top" singer is holding a contest to see which one of her fans can come up with the best remix to her song "End of Time" from her album 4. Fans can submit their remixes on Beyonce's website, where they can also download stems from the 4 song.

The fan that submits the best remix will win $4,000 and be included on a future release by Beyonce. While no exact details on the future release were given, the opportunity to be on any Beyonce release should have fans racing to make the best remix they possibly can.

The contest hints to “End of Time" – which following 4's release charted on Billboards Bubbling Under Chart based on digital downloads alone – possibly being the fifth single from 4.

For more on the contest, read on. Read More...

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Swedish Duo Qulinez Set To Unleash 'Troll' On Steve Angello's Size Records

Posted 2/9/12 11:33 am EST by in dance, Video


Qulinez

By Adam Stewart

If the idea of having your eardrums explode and your chest crushed by disgustingly filthy riffs and thunderous bass lines turns you on, then we suggest you become quickly acquainted with Qulinez and their Scandinavian beast "Troll" , which will be released tomorrow, February 10.

Pronounced "Cool Lines," Swede's Johannes Gustafson and Alex Lager's exotic moniker has been plastered all over set lists from Arty to Pete Tong and everyone in between. Recently, the boys took some time away from the studio and their busy schedule to give MTV News a little insight in to who they are and just what they’re capable of.

“I grew up in a small town called Laholm, with my mom, dad and my sister,” Gustafason says. “I didn’t like the school time so much, because I wasn’t so interested in studying. I choose the music classes and that was the best part of the school.”

“I grew up in the town we still live in, Varberg,” Lager added. “I grew up with my mom, dad and sister too and wasn’t the best in school either!”

Luckily for them, focusing a more on music and less on who won the Battle of 1812 has brought them to the cusp of global dance music recognition. Read More...

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What Will Katy Perry's Post-Divorce Album Sound Like?

Posted 2/3/12 3:17 pm EST by in Katy Perry


Katy Perry

By Sterling Wong

It’s fair to say that when you set aside the once-in-a-generation phenomenon that is Adele and 21, Katy Perry is pretty much the leading pop star in the world right now. One-and-a-half years after its release, the star is still breaking records left and right with Teenage Dream, as "The One That Got Away" became Katy’s 6th (!) single from the album to hit No. 1 on Pop Songs chart.

With the kind of unprecedented success that Katy has enjoyed with Teenage Dream, it’s an understatement to say that expectations are high for her next album. Can lightning strike twice? Will she be able to come up with pop nuggets as juicy as "Teenage Dream" or "Last Friday Night"?

Complicating things is Katy’s recent divorce from Russell Brand. Many a star has released a more mature, introspective album after a divorce – think, for example, Mariah Carey and her soulful masterpiece, “Butterfly” – so can we expect a darker sound and deeper lyrics for Katy’s third album?

It might sound like a stretch to imagine the girl who sang “Ur So Gay” and “I Kissed a Girl” coming up with something like, say, something like Alanis Morisette’s Jagged Little Pill, but remember that Katy actually has a gospel music background. Also, she once worked with producers The Matrix back in 2004 for what presumably would have been a more Avril-sounding album, so clearly, she’s able to do more than frothy pop.

Compounding the possibility that Katy will diversify her sound for her next album is the fact that she can no longer work with her long-time collaborator Dr. Luke (producer of “I Kissed a Girl” and “Hot N Cold, and all the Teenage Dream singles), because the hitmaker signed a deal that ties him to working with Sony artists only, while Katy’s on EMI. This means that Katy would be compelled to seek out new producers, potentially venturing into new sonic arenas. Read More...

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Review: Crosses Live Debut

Posted 2/1/12 6:00 pm EST by in Bands We Like, Concerts, reviews


By Zachary Swickey

Pomona, California - Before Crosses took the stage at Pomona’s famous Glass House music venue – the air was already thick with anticipation and the crowd’s energy was wildly high well before the show even began. As the six band members slowly crept onstage with three illuminated Crosses as their backdrop, Chino Moreno, lead singer of the Deftones, grabbed the mic – rockin’ a black leather jacket with hood draped – the crowed went hysterical. (At this point, Moreno is essentially a legend in the California music scene and very well-respected by his musical peers).

The crowd certainly wasn't complaining when the band kicked things off with the subdued, dreamy “Thholyghost.” Fans hung on Moreno's every word – singing along with him (something that continued for the majority of the show). Next up was “This Is A Trick,” which is without a doubt one of Crosses strongest songs. Moreno showed signs of his Deftones alter-ego with his primal scream as he “sang” the song’s chorus. Lopez’s excellent production work and digital additions on the track were spot-on in a live setting, sounding like a maniacal emergency siren of the future.

When the band began playing a track off their second EP, Frontiers, Moreno hopped on the guard rail, which he is notoriously known for doing (and something fans adore him for). He draped his body over the clamoring fans as he sang, “I can take you even further,” as hands reached out – hoping to merely touch the icon. During “Telepathy” the three backdrop Crosses even began glowing a deep purple (eventually they covered every color in the spectrum). It was at this point that I realized how crazy talented bassist Chuck Doom is – his finger pluckin’ precision is right up there with RHCP’s Flea. Read More...

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Girls Generation Continue Move Toward World Domination With Debut US TV Performances

Posted 2/1/12 4:15 pm EST by in Music


By Sterling Wong

Can you fit nine nimble girls and a full backing band onto the tiny performance stage on "The Late Show with David Letterman"? It turns out, yes you can, but just barely, as South Korean supergroup Girls' Generation proved.

The adorable nine-member pop group made their official US television debut yesterday on the late night talk show, performing their hit single “The Boys” complete with slinky dance moves, which they just about had enough space to execute. Host David Letterman certainly looked enthralled by the girls!

Girls' Generation is certainly determined to break America. Less than 12 hours after their "Late Show" appearance aired, the girls appeared this morning on "Live! With Kelly" once again dancing up a storm with "The Boys" – though they lucked out with a bigger stage for them to shake their booties.

Even the Wall Street Journal, not especially known for its K-Pop news coverage, did a video news segment on Girls' Generation’s debut on American television, and whether or not they will be able to successfully make a big splash here. Watch:

Read on for more! Read More...

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Catching Up With Crosses Before The Band's Live Debut

Posted 2/1/12 1:50 pm EST by in Bands We Like


Crosses

By Zachary Swickey

We’ve been keeping our eyes on Crosses – the newest side project of Deftones’ Chino Moreno, also featuring Shaun Lopez of ‘90’s alt-group Far and bassist Chuck Doom. The band is a unique departure from Moreno’s other material – sounding like a “dubby” Depeche Mode with occasional sudden shots of testosterone.

We caught up with Lopez just hours before the band’s live debut (the first of a string of only four California shows) to hear his thoughts on the band’s release methodology, how he gathered his group of musicians and what the future holds for the group.

MTV News: When you guys first came on the scene last year, you seemed hesitant to say you’d be doing any touring. So how did these shows come about?

Shaun Lopez: Just sort of made sense. You know, Chino [Moreno] had some time off – just seemed like the timing was right. The interest and demand from fans was just getting stronger and stronger. It just seemed like, "Man, let’s go do it. If we don’t do it now, we’ll probably just keep putting it off or something." It seemed cool and it’s been fun, challenging.

MTV News: Are you happy with the outcome of self-releasing your two EP’s [online without a label]? That seems to be a growing trend.

Lopez: Yeah, totally man, especially with the latest one [Crosses’ newly-released second EP]. None of us really expected the second to do as well as it did, or as well as it’s doing. We’re very thankful.

MTV News: I was curious, how did Duff McKagan (of Guns & Roses/Velvet Revolver fame) end up on your first EP?

Lopez: You know, I kind of know him. Chino’s known him for a while. He just heard some stuff and was like, "Man, I’d love to play on that!” He’s just a f***kin’ rad guy, really super-nice. Just a cool dude – the kinda guy you want to just chill with.

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Skrillex Begins Four Date Run In New York

Posted 1/31/12 1:49 pm EST by in dance, Tour Dates, Video


By Akshay Bhansali

And what, pray tell, will lurk in the New York night skies now that the OWSLA gang have arrived in the Big Apple? Only time will tell. But rest assured, after a five date blitzkrieg of Los Angeles, with friends 12th Planet, Diplo, Caspa, Zedd, Kill The Noise, Benga and AraabMUZIK, among those aboard the mothership for his L.A. takeover, New Yorkers best believe they have a sonic tornado on their hands.

The five-times-Grammy-nominated Sonny Moore launches his four-date New York series tonight at Webster Hall with AC Slater. Thanks to Skrillex, Tim, and Steven Vasquez, we have a taste of what the mayhem might look like! Check out the video below:

Check out Skrillex' New York tour dates, after the jump! Read More...

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Avicii And Ash Visit New York City Rescue Mission (Video)

Posted 1/30/12 6:10 pm EST by in Charity, dance, Video


By Akshay Bhansali

On Tuesday (January 31) Avicii wraps up "House for Hunger," his 27-date American tour that sees a portion of the proceeds – $1 million to be exact – going toward combating hunger in the U.S. through Feeding America. It’s an endearing undertaking for Tim Bergling, stage-name Avicii, and his manager and executive producer, Ash Pournouri, both of whom hail from Sweden, who are showing their support to a country that has given them so much over the past few years.

And rather than simply write a check, Avicii and Ash took matters into their own hands, literally, by recently visiting the New York City Rescue Mission to feed hungry New Yorkers and pack grocery bags for individuals and families in need.

MTV News tagged along for the inspiring ride. Check out the video below:

Avicii and Ash were given a tour of NYRM’s daily feeding operation, an effort that feeds about 400 hot meals every day. After donning aprons and hats and serving lunches, Joe Little, NYRM’s public relations manager, invited the two Swedes to join the Pantry Program, an amazing operation that distributes 150 to 200 bags of groceries daily.

“Avicii (and Ash) being here helps us to galvanize our efforts today,” Little said. “But it also helps bring the spotlight here. There’s an excitement in the air. There’s a buzz in the air!”

But in the end, it was Ash and Avicii who were in awe of the daily undertaking of the New York City Rescue Mission. “We’ve been serving food,” Ash said. “We’ve been talking to everyone that works here. Truly inspiring people. It just feels like a blessing to be able to do this. Seeing people’s faces. We wanted to help people and we can see that we are doing that.” Read More...

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