Independence Day Friendstival Freeflow

This weekend the Pontiak brothers celebrated Amurica's bday with a down home BBQ/friendstival in the Blue Ridge farm countryside of Warrenton, VA, cramming a quaint field house (above) with performances from Field Athletics, Jones, Mickey Free, Height, Wye Oak, Arbouretum and a nasty closer from a shirtless, war-painted Pontiak (anyone have pics?).

Alex and Vic from Beach House and Bob from Small Sur were up in the cut for chillaxing purposes; freedom dogs, freedom pasta salad and freedom cupcakes were provided; and LED lights, sparklers and fireflies replaced fireworks and black foam snakes. No farm animals were injured, although I almost kicked a cat trying to get into my tent that I thought was a raccoon (the "meow" came just in time).

Earlier in the day Height, Bow (Mickey Free) and Jones stepped out in the corn to excercise the first.



Pick up Kale, the new Pontiak/Arbouretum split-LP featuring new material and covers of Velvet Underground cofounder John Cale via Thrill Jockey. Tracklist:

01 Arbouretum: "Time Doesn't Lie"
02 Arbouretum: "Buffalo Ballet" (John Cale cover)
03 Arbouretum: "Flood of Floods"
04 Pontiak: "Dome Under the Sky"
05 Pontiak: "The Endless Plain of Fortune" (John Cale cover)
06 Pontiak: "Green Pool"
07 Pontiak: "Mr. Wilson" (John Cale cover)


John Cale - All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem cover)

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How Big Is It Going Down?

As Mickey Free from the B says, it's going down real big. Couple updates - first, local beatsmith Shields is prepping his debut album/mixtape A Beyond Experience Vol. 1 for a spring drop date, he says it's "on some go walk in the park style." Fresh sample below with more details later.


Shields - Dip Trip



Jones, Height, The Plural MC, PT Burnem, and Bow n' Arrow are playing a Rap Round Robin show at the Current Gallery this Saturday - Jones says "all the acts will be set up at the beginning, each playing a song in turn until all have played four songs. One long mega-set, multiple PAs." This sounds filthy, don't miss it. If anyone can take some decent pics or video and share with us afterwards that would be tops. Directions here.


Height - Bad Weather


PT Burnem - Heart Beat


The Plural MC/Frenemies - Rap Tornado (Miami Nice)


Jones - Too Dope


Bow n' Arrow - Cybersex


The irony potential for Devlin & Darko wearing these shirts is layered and complex, so approach with caution. Is it for serious? And who just made guacamole? Answers to these questions and more can be found at the Fully Fitted blog where semi-local celeb contributors including Pase Rock, xxxchange, Mr. Devlin and Ronnie Darko argue which Mad Max movie was the tightest and occasionally share music, like this sneak leak from their upcoming Fully Fitted EP.


Mad Decent/Fully Fitted - 100 Million

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Trapped In The Closet With Monarch

Earlier in the week we checked out Bow n' Arrow, Oppenheimer and Monarch at Lo-Fi Social Club (be sure to bookmark Lo-Fi's dope new site here). Actually missed Monarch due to an early bedtime, but we got a chance to rap with Jenn and Andy beforehand to confirm or deny rumors of their possible "Trapped In The Closet" style hiphopera in the works for 2008. Is it true? Let's find out:



Monarch - Please Concrete
Buy If Children

Bow n' Arrow - Cybersex
Get more on your boy from the B aka Mickey Free aka Bow n' Arrow here.

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