RIP MCA

I don’t have loads of words right now but that I’m so saddened by this.  I had the pleasure of seeing the Beastie Boys a few times in my teens – the best show was with my friend Blugh at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on their Ill Communication tour.  It was supreme.  Just recently, I told a friend of mine how I read an article in a magazine where Ad-Rock stated that the BB would never tour again until MCA recovered from cancer.  Man, they truly loved him.  We did too.  RIP MCA. 

MCA always in the middle

From Pitchfork:Beastie Boys MC Adam Yauch, aka MCA, has passed away due to cancer, TMZ reports. He was 47 years old.

The Beastie Boys are one of the most important and influential hip-hop groups of all time. They were instrumental in making hip-hop a global, mainstream force. Formed in 1981 as a hardcore band, they combined punk and rap into a singular sound that grew increasingly broad over the years, encompassing a vast array of genres. Yauch, Michael Diamond (Mike D), and Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock) released several classic albums, including their debut album Licensed to Ill in 1986, 1989′s Paul’s Boutique, and 1994′s Ill Communication.

Yauch directed Beastie Boys videos under the pseudonym Nathaniel Hornblower, as well as the 2008 basketball documentary Gunnin’ for #1 Spot under his own name. He also ran a film production and distribution company, Oscilloscope Pictures, that shepherded many films, including Wendy and Lucy, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and the forthcoming LCD Soundsystem documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits. In the mid-1990s, he co-founded the Milarepa Fund, which raised money for the Tibetan independence movement. They put on a series of benefit concerts, the Tibetan Freedom Concerts.

Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, resulting in a canceled tour and the delay of their album Hot Sauce Committee. The Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month.

Concert Review: Dan Mangan, Bush Hall, London (UK) 3 May 2012

One of my lovely mates, Derek Crook, caught Dan Mangan’s show in London last night…merci Derek! xo  Read his review below:

Dan Mangan, Bush Hall, London 3 May 2012

Bush Hall in West London remains something of an unknown venue, even for Londoners. An Edwardian era dance hall, it now boasts live music and private events and its ornate decor (including elegant chandeliers!) lend it an intimate atmosphere, perfect for the visit of Canada’s very own Dan Mangan.

 

A favourite among many following his performances on the UK festival circuit, this was a chance to see him in a more intimate setting. Leaning heavily on tracks from the excellent ‘Oh Fortune’ album, Dan was in fine form, interacting warmly with the small crowd of 200 or so, sounding great and with a superb band, he showed how far his music has evolved away from the alt-folk crowd he was once part of. His lyrics have got something to say too and this puts him a rung or two above similar sounding acts. Songs such as the pummeling ‘Row Of Houses’ and the chamber pop of ‘About As Helpful As You Can Get Without Being Any Help At All’ showed his song writing range perfectly. There was a sense he won’t be playing such small venues for much longer and who could deny him such wider cross-over success.

Arts & Crafts heads to the UK next week for a London label showcase and their official showcase at The Great Escape which are set for May 9 and 12 respectively. Trust, The Darcys, Eight and a Half and Gold & Youth will be playing those and other shows.

A few tickets for the London event at The Lexington are currently on sale but expect this show to sell out as it marks the UK debut for all four acts. The following night in Brighton The Darcys will be featured on The Guardian’s New Band of the Day Live Showcase at The Warren and Arts & Crafts’ official TGE showcase features Trust, Eight and a Half and Gold & Youth and happens May 12 at Above Audio.

For a complete breakdown of A&C acts’ various plays at and around The Great Escape, check out the festival website. And while you’re there, make sure you grab a free download A&C’s new sampler featuring tracks from all of these artists and many more.