Preview: Girl Talk Live @ the Commodore (Sept 7)

Girl Talk aka Gregg Michael Gillis can only be described as a musical revolutionary.  In just over a decade, the Pittsburgh native has transformed the way we see and hear music, while simultaneously giving birth to a new genre.

Oddly enough, I first heard about Girl Talk during a Communication lecture at SFU, where my Professor gave Gillis props for continuing to make art under the intense confines created by copyright infringement. After said lecture, I immediately returned to my dorm room and downloaded ‘Night Ripper’ and ‘Feed The Animals’, two albums that have been in heavy rotation ever since, along with his most recent release ‘All Day’.

Girl Talk – Once Again 

Girl Talk – Oh No

Girl Talk – Down For the Count

In terms of critical acclaim, Girl Talk is in a league all by himself.  No other DJ/Producer/Musical Mastermind can sample the way he does.  And if the rumors are true, which I’m pretty sure they are, nobody puts on a live show quite like Gregg Michael Gillis.

If you want to see what all the hype is about, Gillis will be playing at the Commodore in Vancouver on September 7.  You better hit the gym beforehand, this show is gunna be an aerobic workout.

posted by @clarkbs

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the interview show: Rich Aucoin

When I sat down with Canada’s resident electronic party-maker Rich Aucoin backstage at Vancouver’s Media Club, he was just back from a trip to UBC’s Museum of Anthropology. “I just like to keep learning,” he told me. In fact, Rich visits the big museums in every city he hits while on tour. Later, I watched him put up the parachute and set up the multimedia spectacular for his show and I could understand why a Rich Aucoin show is not to be missed.

Now it is your turn to learn all about Rich Aucoin and his record We’re All Dying to Live by listening to our chat. Does he give out his cell number to the audience at the end of each show? Did 500 musicians work on his record? One night, how did he end up as Girl Talk‘s hype man? His music is so uplifting–does he in fact bleed rainbows?

I get to the bottom of everything!

the interview show with Rich Aucoin

Rich Aucoin “P.U.S.H.” (A little bit of a Daft Punk influence is never a bad thing.)

Rich Aucoin “It” (Upbeat electronic music at its best.)

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Festival D’ete: Quebec City Is The Reason

Escaping from the intense Norwegian house party that Todd Terje delivered at the Waldorf Hotel on Friday July 8th in Vancouver, we got our shit together (not really) and made it to the airport while the party was still in order to catch our 6AM flight to the land of poutine.

Festival D’Ete is a huge festival (The largest outdoor festival in Canada) but highly overlooked by most because of the insular nature that Quebec “seems” to operate in. Now in its 44^th year, the music festival is extremely diverse in that it celebrates big name artists while encouraging its Francophone music culture to thrive within.

When we landed in QC on Saturday afternoon we were greeted by pretty much the cutest driver ever. Marie-Luce was standing at the gate holding a sign with our names on it and we were greeted with the best French kiss you could imagine.. But not like you’re thinking.. Two cheeks is a must.

Saturday night, our first night, was definitely the highlight of the entire festival in terms of rock ‘n’ roll notoriety. Elton John is pretty much as big of a deal as when Paul McCartney played the festival back in 2008 and the entire city made sure they were there to witness him unleash his glittery boogie magic on the historical Plains of Abraham.

The Plains are extemely cool because it’s this huge open space in front of the old city walls where the French were defeated by the English back in 17-something ending a seven year war leading to the formation of Canada as a country.

For the festival it hosts 110,000+ festival goers all wearing these flashing badges that people pin to their shirts lighting up the festival grounds in a sparkly sea of red. First up, Elton John on a Saturday night.. bet you can’t guess what he opened with! Ok, fine, it was “Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting” and it kinda gave me butterflies.

Elton John – Rocket Man

After Sir Elton we made our way down a really steep hill to check out house homey Jacques Greene at a little club called Le Circle.

Jacques Greene – Another Girl

Second day had a lot of hype around it with Girl Talk and the Black Keys infiltrating the Plains of Abraham. Greg Gillis was pretty rad back in 2007 when he dropped Night Ripper on an unsuspecting music listening audience. In 2011, however, mash up culture is so played out that I just want to hate the dude, but the lil guy from Philadelphia has still got game. Playing to a half-full audience (so, like 60,000 people?), Gillis warmed the rainy night up and got even the cheesiest dudes in cargo shorts and hiking boots dancing to his electro-fied set full of classics mashed with hip hop jams over indie rock classics.

Suffice it to say, the stage was warmed for the Akron twosome after all the rolls of toilet paper from Girl Talk’s set were cleared away. The Black Keys came out in the middle of a massive downpour but it didn’t shake the excited audience. I’m more inclined to think that the Black Keys aren’t worth all the hype that their blues-rock anthems bring them but they were on the cover of the local weekly (that we couldn’t read because of its Frenchness) They played like they deserved it. Blasting through 20 minutes of old songs before they invited a full band on to the stage and dropped a massive mirror ball while they ripped in to “Next Girl” off their latest release, Brothers, the rain soon went away and made room on the Plains Of Abraham for all in attendance to dance their pantalons dry.

Black Keys – The Only One

The next day we woke up in a sea of empty beer cans and I regretted staying up until the hot tub opened at 6 a.m. as I dragged myself to M. Ward’s hotel room to interview him. He wouldn’t let us talk to him on-camera so it was more like a 15-minute chill session. Matthew Ward, the incredibly talented songwriter probably best known because of his work with Zooey Deschanel in She & Him, is kind of shy and reserved. He’s a nice dude but doesn’t have much to say. His first time in Quebec City, I wanted to ask him about his perception of French culture and how it’s so isolated from the rest of Canada but he didn’t really care. Told me he’s working on a new record and that he just started Tweeting because of Zoey Deschanel. He’s kind of a boring dude though so I can’t imagine his Twitter feed is all that exciting. His live show later that night however was nothing short of spectacular. He’s got that buttery croon that you just can’t fuck with and having a full band behind him allowed Ward to really shine in this beautiful old theatre called L’Imperial de Quebec.

M.Ward – Poison Cup

After M. Ward we hooked up with Michael from Designer Drugs for a quick on-camera interview and creeped him out a little with some questionable questions. Apparently he’s never gotten a blowjob when DJing but he did admit to having sex on an airplane once. Designer Drugs played a pretty rowdy and dubby set at L’Circle that night and the French babes we’re Je t’aiming it.

Designer Drugs – Drop Down

Next day we woke up early to catch the Simple Plan press conference but it was in French so I didn’t feel so bad about leaving. Got an early start on the main site that day with Dropkick Murphys opening for Yellowcard and Simple Plan. Anyone else see what’s wrong with this order? Anyway, Vancouver may not love Boston but apparently Quebec City does!

Last day for us at the festival we were pretty wiped but we saved up enough energy for Yelle and her Safari Disco Club dance party. She came on stage dressed like a swamp monster but it wasn’t long before she shed her camouflage gear down to a hooded onesy. Super sexy with lots of energy, Yelle turned Monday in to Funday throughout the span of her one-hour set.

 Yelle – Safari Disco Club

Festival D’ete is an annual extravaganza that spans ten spicy summer days in the heart of one of the most beautiful and historical cities in Canada. Quebec’s capital knows how to give back to the people — an affordable festival with top-notch acts from all over the map. If you’re looking for an otherworldly and unique place to explore, Quebec City is the place and Festival D’ete is the reason.

>>>FULL PHOTO ALBUM HERE<<<

Words: Glenn Alderson

Images: Tristan Orchard

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the interview show: e-603

Gregg Gillis aka Girl Talk is the king of the new mash up. He sells out shows. He has tons of fans. His shows are a mix of frenzied sweat as his fans rush the stage to become part of the show.

Is there room for another in music?

This beer guzzling ginger is NOT Girl Talk. Check out upstart E-603!

Girl Talk v2.0 or the hipster Napoleon Dynamite? You decide.

E-603 on the interview show

E-603 “Lights Out”

E-603 “Smash That”

Permalink: http://winniecooper.net/tag/scott-wood/

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the interview show: girl talk

This weekend I went to check out Rip! A Remix Manifesto, an excellent NFB documentary film about copyright and remix culture. And who should be featured in a prominent interview? Why Gregg Gillis aka Girl Talk!

I had Gregg on the show way back when. Here is the interview show’s definitive Girl Talk interview.

Girl Talk on the interview show

Tokyo Police Club “Cheer It On” (Trey Told Em Remix) Trey Told Em is the name for a collaboration with Gregg and Frank Musarra of Hearts of Darknesses.

Peter Bjorn & John “Let’s Call It Off” (Girl Talk remix) is a more sedate Girl Talk remix, but as Gregg told me, he felt a more subdued take fit this track.

the interview show is everywhere! (interviewshow [at] gmail.com)

www.cjsf.ca (Vancouver, BC Mondays @4:30pm)
www.ckuw.ca (Winnipeg, MB Thursdays @10:30am)
www.radiocfxu.ca (Antigonish, NS)

Girl Talk is currently on tour. Check him out if he is in your town. I have seen him twice and the show does not disappoint.

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YOF Albums of 2008

My Year in review goes a little something like the state of the economy. Started out strong (did it? I dunno)  and went down hill quick. The beginning of the year I had a kick ass job and internship and lived in a killer apartment off Melrose and had an  awesome girlfriend. Now that it’s December, I sleep on the couch, no girlfriend, bunk job, and have gotten in two car accidents. BUT things can only go up in 09! Right? I’m excited. So here are the albums that have gotten me through the worst year ever along with some mp3s because we all know that’s the only reason you check out the site Plus  those awesome interviews we’ve been having.  My musical taste is exquisetly amature so check it out!  ( Side note: I’m making a top Bangerz of 08 list which will be drastically different than this so if you don’t like any of these tracks look out for that.) Holla!

~ Your Only Friend

10.Tilly and the wall-o
Cute indie girls and tap dancing is a combination that never fails. I was a huge fan of their last album “Bottoms of Barrels” and 08s  O offers more of the same sing-songy girl vocals with some added synth here and there.  Tall Tall Grass and Jenny Lewis’s  Acid Tongue are tied up for my favorite Indie Girl Jam of the year.

Tilly and The Wall-Tall Tall Grass

9.Facing New York-Get Hot
Progressive funk Rock at its best. I blew these guys off for so long for some unknown reason and I’m glad I stopped that nonsense cause this shit’s my jam.  If you’ve ever enjoyed a Dismemberment Plan song check these guys out.

Facing New York- All A This

Facing New York- Me N My Friendz

8.Girl Talk- Feed The Animals
It’s Girl Talk, ya people have been mashing up tracks forever, but not like this. The man pretty much perfected his skill on this album. Take a rap accapella and layer it with a classic 90′s drum beat and a classic rock guitar riff and just keep repeating that process.  Makes for the perfect roadtrip mixtape.

Girl Talk- Hands In The Air

7.Louis La Roche-The Peach EP
This kid is 18 years old and people were mistaking his work for new tracks by Thomas Bangalter. Really?! He came out of nowhere and dropped in my opinion the best french house EP of the year. Ya the tracks repeat a bit but. dude is 18 cut him some slack. Already finished his LP due next year. expect big things.

Louis La Roche- Do You Remember

6.Vampire Weekend-S/T
Pretty much delivered on the hype of their EP. Everythings already been said about these guys. M79 is my jam.

Vampire Weekend-M79

5.The Cool Kids- The Bake Sale
This was my LA summer album. Bumpin 88 with the roof down driving down the PCH can’t  beat it.

The Cool Kids-88

4.Crystal Castlees-S/T
At the beginning of the year they put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. On Halloween they were terrible which  pretty much sums up crystal castles. Stealing a bunch of ideas and coming out with in my opinion the most unique  I don’t give a fuck sounding album of 08. Courtship Dating better be on everyone’s  top 10 tracks list.

Crystal Castles- Magic Spells

3.Cut Copy-in Ghost Colours
Nothing beat this album sonically. So relaxing and chill yet so danceable. Ya Hearts on fire came out at the beginning of 07 but any album that has that killer sax solo  deserves to be on a top ten list.

Cut Copy- Lights and Music

2. Forgive Durden- Razia’s Shadow
So I grew up being obsessed with Seattle’s pop punk scene.  Which will explain my top two albums of the year as both stem from musicians out of the area. Razia’s Shadow is a musical created by two brothers Thomas and Paul Dutton and a host of guest vocalist playing the different characters throughout the story. I’m not going to get into the details but it’s a mix between Moulin Rouge and Aladdin with Aaron Weiss of Mewithoutyou Narrating in-between songs to get the full context of the story . For someone who had little to no recording budget this is a masterpiece of a musical.

Forgive Durden-The Missing Piece

1.Kay Kay and His weathered Underground
I suck at writing ( Which is why I write for music blogs where a simple sentence is adequate to sum up a post) so I’m stealing this  summery of my favorite album of  the year from  I guess I’m floating.

For those unfamiliar with the ways of Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground, here’s a bit of backstory: the band was formed from the ashes of Gatsby’s American Dream. Kirk Huffman and Kyle O’Quin picked up the pieces and brought over their quirky songwriting and peripheral instrumentation, crafting their debut album over three years in Seattle. Upon completion and release early this year, the band played a sold out show at the Triple Door, about which Huffman remarked “I thought we’d be playing for ten people. This is the greatest night of my life!”

mellifluent orchestral vibes, free-flowing bigtop circus music, drums that thump as much as they float, and melodies you won’t be able to escape for days. Everything but the kitchen sink. It’s epic.

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground- Hey Momma

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground- Birds ( On A Day Like Today)

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Best Albums of 2008

WE ARE ENDING THE YEAR OFF WITH A BUNCH OF BEST OF LISTZ!


To get things started we have Hunk’s picks for the best albums of 2008.

10. Cut Copy [In Ghost Colours]

2008 was a big year for Australian music. In Ghost Colours was the highly anticipated, follow up to the groups 2003 debut which rescued electronic music from the death grips of the sub-genred, drugged-out route it was going in.  The album proved the wait was worthwhile, it’s a pleasurable listen from beginning to end.  The album also added fuel to the disco resurgence as well as keeping the retro 80′s vibe alive.

Cut Copy – Feel The Love


9. MGMT [Oracular Spectacular]

MGMT were easily one, if not the most remixed group of 2008.  This album really grew on me and i think others as well as its now, as of recent being played on mainstream radio.  The band was easily one of the most up hyped groups and deservingly so, although id say they are bordering on overplay and in definite need of some new tracks to add to the fire.

MGMT – Kids

8. Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit [The Very Best]

Diplo & Santogold [Top Ranking] &

Girl Talk [Feed The Animals]

3-Way Tie

disclaimer: I couldn’t decide between these and decided that they’re all similar being “mixes”, made up of bits of already composed music.

2008 was the year of the promotional, internet distributed mix tape.  Diplo followed up his 2005 MIA mix tape effort, Piracy Funds Terrorism and reminded everyone that he’s still a major player in the game with this 35 track 80 minute journey through reggae, electro, hip hop and the kitchen sink.  Top Ranking is truly an enjoyable listen, featuring the ebs and flow, peaks and valley missing from lesser mixes.  Alongwith showcasing Santogold work, the remix work takes this album beyond a simple collection of songs into something worthy of a top spot amongst albums of original content.

Diplo vs Santogold – Top Ranking – I’m a Lady (Diplo Mix ft Amanda Blank)

2008 introduced Esau Mwamwaya and his take on African music to the mainstream music world.   Teaming up with Radioclit, the pair have created something completely unique by adding an African element to more traditional sampling . There upcoming debut release is high up on the albums to look forward to in 2009 list. Oh and did I mention, this and the above we’re released for free via the net. (search the archives for them)

The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) – Hide & Seek

Dj’s of the world take note, nobody rocked a party quite as hard as Greg Gillis did in 2008.  Laptop djing once looked down upon is looking to be the future.  Nobody has ever mixed as many genres as successfully as “Feed The Animals” does and everyone from frat boys to discerning music snobs have seemed to take notice to the mass appeal of it all.   My only complaint is that the album is so ADD and party that you really have to be ready to go if your putting this album on, but is that really a bad thing?

Girl Talk – Still Here


7. The Dodos [Visiteur]

Slightly lesser knowns, The Dodos have put together an excellent solid debut showcasing their art folk sound.  The drumming on the album alone is worthy of a spot on my list.  Pitchfork drew warranted comparison to Led Zepplin – III.  All they need to do now is come back and play Vancouver again.  Please…

The Dodos – Jodi


6. Chad VanGaalen [Soft Airplane]

This album has replaced the spot once held by VanGaalen’s 2004 debut “Infiniheart” as one of my all time favorite albums.  CVG is often compared to Neil Young with his peicingly soft falsetto voice, with this album I think he has surpassed those comparisons by making this remarkable piece of art.  His home-made basement aesthetic provides an unmatched intimacy.  My only complaint is that he always pushes the experimental envelope a little too far on one or two songs, without those tracks the album would play out better, and would be number one on my list.  However, there’s no way CVG could of ever gotten to the place he is now without constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries to his unique sound.

Chad VanGaalen – Molten Light


5. Fleet Foxes [self titled]

I don’t think there was a single person in the room that didn’t feel a shiver pass through them, with the opening notes of their live show here in Vancouver, this album is like that.  Their musicianship is excellent, their debut self titled album is a breath of fresh air to the sometimes stale indie rock sound where a lot of bands end up sounding the same.  Almost a re visitation to the folk sound of the 60’s but with a unique twist on things as if the group has existed in a void, isolated from everything else going on in music.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal


4.Born Ruffians – [Red, Yellow & Blue]

People are still sleeping on this little Toronto band. Their live act will blow you away.  Their album Red, Yellow and Blue is stocked full of indie barn funk jams and their call and answer style is dancey as fuck, what ever that means?  Go and listen to them for yourself and then we can discuss this in further detail.

Born Ruffians – Foxes Mate For Life


3. Bon Iver [For Emma, Forever Ago]

The internet is finally going nuts on Bon Iver (pronounced EEVUR) as they are currently at the top of the Hype Machines most blogged artists.  This album fills the void when it’s been a long day and you need something soothing to get you back home.  For Emma, Forever might be my most listened to album as well (blogging is really hard on the soul).  

Bon Iver – For Emma


2.Crystal Castles [Self Titled]

Easily the best thing to happen to electronic music as of recent saw it being fused with elements of hardcore and, dare I say, goth-rave meets the video arcade on acid.  The group’s minimalist sound with the cut up vocals of lead Alice Glass charted new territory sampling everything from what sounds like he-man cartoons to the 8 bit sounds of a nintendo gameboy, the album found a perfect fit with me in 2008.  While the biggest hit of the album, Crimewave got a lot of people’s attention, the other album tracks provide greater depth into all that is CC and are just as good, if not better.  The enigmatic group’s explosive live performances led by vocalist Alice Glass (Maybe the hottest “indie Cindy” of 2008) also helped.

Crystal Castles – Vanished


1.Vampire Weekend [Self Titled]

Definitely one of the most loved and hated groups of 2008, it’s almost as if some people hold having an ivy league education and their listenability against them??  Their influences are diverse, a little bit of Africa, a lot of New York and something that’s reminiscent of a feel good 80′s movie about girls.  I think they made a lot of new fans with their their live act as they are truly talented musicians both when playing live and in the orchestration on the album.  Their self titled debut took top spot for me as there isn’t a bad song on it, their sound is distinct, enjoyable and survivable of intense multiple listenings.  If I could time travel to the future and bring back any album it would be their next output. 

Vampire Weekend – I Stand Corrected


Honorable mentions to:

Yo! Majesty – Futuristically Speaking: Never Be Afraid for helping to usher out the 50 cent era, bringing life back to hip hop and showing that they’re here to stay. Radiohead – In Rainbows, definately could of been on my list but they’re Radiohead everything they do is great, you don’t need me to tell you that.  The Ting Tings -We Started Nothing, because there is nothing like getting slapped around a bit by a rocker chick even if they do get a little too poppy.  Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell for being Canadian, Lykke Li – Youth Novels if only for her unique voice and lyrics. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III for making me actually like something Lil and for his improvisational rapping style n lyrics.  Hot Chip – Made In The Dark for continuing to be Hot Chip and making me wish I needed glasses so that i could wear some like, Alexis Taylor’s. I must say also Tv on the Radio’s Dear Science and Portishead’s Third as I have to admit that I still havn’t listened to them but have heard they probably could of made the list as well as a few others i might of missed but there’s only so many hours in a day and far too much good music to listen to.

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