STRICTLY GLOBAL

(by Dawn Reed) Did anyone else catch the amazing Beastie Boys short film "Fight For Your Right Revisited" with the insane dance-off between young Beasties (Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood and Danny McBride) and future Beasties (Will Ferrell, Jack Black, and John C. Reily)?! It's pretty much the only thing I can think of at moment, aside from the ridiculously superb line-up of videos we got coming at you this Friday, including Kiwi gangsta rap from New Zealand, Dominican Republican electro-pop, and more, plus our interview with the Australian geniuses of dance music- Cut Copy!

We'll check out the latest video from Manchester's Liam Gallagher with his rock spawn Beady Eye, who's debut album Different Gear, Still Speeding has already gone Gold in the UK, and they were nominated by the NME Awards as Best New Band in 2011. Featuring other ex-Oasis members (Gem Archer, Andy Bell, and Chris Sharrock), they recently released a Beatles cover "Across the Universe" available via download in which all proceeds will go to the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal.  It's absolutely incredible how much bands from around the world are joining in this recovery, very inspiring.

We''ll also check out an insanely cool video from the Norwegian shoegaze/indie/hardcore band Simon Say's No!, who recently had some gigs at SxSW, and have just announced an upcoming appearance at one of the hugest festivals in all of the Nordic countries, the Norwegian Festival of Literature. Their s/t debut, released late last year, is full of beautiful walls of dreamy shoegaze sound, and incredible hardcore guitar riffs that inspired some bloggers to classify them as "foo-gaze" as they sound like Foo Fighters meets My Bloody Valentine. I'd love to catch them live someday!

Speaking of live, Scotland's current front-runners in the race of world's loudest rock band, Mogwai, had to cut their US tour short due to a delay in their visa processing- something that unfortunately happens often to many international bands attempting to come here.  But they will be returning in October, stoked!, so in the meantime, check out their 7th studio album Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, tune in Friday for a video off said album, and if you need a lil more Mogwai love, rent Gremlins, because Gizmo is freakin' adorable.

(by Dawn Reed) Oh to be sixteen again... staring out the window of advanced algebra summer school daydreaming about skateboarding around the piers of San Francisco, blasting Youth Brigade on my discman... do those things still exist?  Anyway, whenever I hear YB, I'm transported back to that time. This might not apply to everyone, but what song/band transports you back to being 16?  Well this week on Strictly Global we've got videos from bands all over the world that have been in the biz well over 16 years, including India, Venezuela, and more, plus this month's featured Nextwave artist from Greece! (Shout-out time: Happy 16th Birthday to my lil' sis Angie!!!)

We'll check out the latest from the West African infused world rock band Toubab Krewe, from North Carolina, who've been around since 2005.  Collectively, this unique group has spent extensive time in Mali, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast immersing themselves of the cultures of these lands and applying it to their sound.  They raise money for charities via most of their performances, and have recently been working on a project called School House Krewe Project in which they will create a music school in Mali that can “offer creative opportunities for children to step out of the cycle of poverty and reach their highest potential,” as stated on Instruments4Africa’s website. You can find out more about the project here.

And, we'll also premiere the freakin' fabulous new trance inducing video from Manhattan's electronica/experimental worldbeat group Gang Gang Dance.  Now a decade old, they are about to release their 5th studio album , Eye Contact, on May 10th, and will be touring throughout Europe in support of it (including a set at All Tomorrow's Parties in England as put together/chosen by Animal Collective) before heading off to Japan in June. 

(by Dawn Reed) I'll tell you what, ... I'm getting pretty stoked that I can start going to shows without lugging around my coat built for a hike around Antarctica.  It's been a really good year in music so far and most of the best bands are starting to swarm into your hometown, so let me know who you are getting pumped up to see!  Meanwhile, tune in to this week's episode for new music videos from Germany, Argentina, Spain and more, plus our interview with the Norwegian horror-pop band Tôg!

We'll get kooky with Californian supreme sitarist Gabby La La whom Jambase has perfectly described as "mix one part Hello Kitty with one part Minnie Mouse, add a sprinkle of George Harrison and Bjork. Then top with a healthy scoop of Les Claypool."  Speaking of which, Gabby La La performs with a variety of Claypool's bands, and rocks out on more than just a sitar.  She's also keen to the ukulele, accordion, and theremin!  We'll be featuring a video off her latest release I Know You Know I Know.  It's pretty kooky- and I think she digs that.  

And we'll also check out the latest big hit created by Germany's most known House music producer duo Milk & Sugar.  They took the 1990's Belgian hit "Hey Nah Neh Nah" by Vaya Con Dios, remixed it, and now it's been all over European singles and dance charts, the highest so far being #4 in Switzerland!  These dudes have been collaborating together since 1993 and are no strangers to being featured on charts around Europe, and even in the US.  They got that American notoriety via their 2003 remake of "Let the Sun Shine" featuring vocals by Lizzy Pattinson, who is indeed sister of the Twilight star Robert Pattinson. Ooo!

(by Dawn Reed) Recently we caught up with Mexico City born/DC based electronic dance artist, Allie Alvarado, aka Painted Face at the U Street Hall Music Hall before she opened up for Australian dance pop band, Miami Horror.  She had just completed a tour across the states, including a showcase at SxSW put together by the magazine about female drummers, Tom Tom Magazine, and even held a workshop via the event on beat making.  This chick rocks.

After achieving a couple college degrees up in New York (one in Biology!), and performing in Brooklyn based bands Blood Lines and Telepathe (pronounced "telepathy"), Alvarado made her way back to DC to collaborate on some songs with her dance music producer brother Alvin Risk.  The result was truly amazing...(see my EP album review below.)  Now, she's currently back in the studio working on some more dance floor smashes, and knock on wood, a music video in the works- which we will definitely air once completed!  Check out this title track of her EP Undreamt, and the review that got her Album of the Month in the DC Deli Magazine.

***"Undreamt" is the genius debut EP from DC's Painted Face, the solo project of Allie Alvarado (formerly of Telepathe and Blood Lines) in collaboration with producer Alvin Risk.  Fans of Kate Bush and Bat For Lashes ought to include this gem in their collection of pop shoegazey-driven dance anthem albums, with swirly chants found in every hit after hit track on this "I can't believe she's not playing arenas yet" EP.

The title track 'Undreamt' oozes lushy synths with layers of spiraling keys over a beat that urges your whole body to let go as Alvarado's bewitching voice croons "So if you feel it, you better make the first move..."

'Favorite One' is a beautiful ballad delivered over spasms of glitch melting into 'Sum of Me', an energetic track where Alvarado questions "did you ever know the truth, did you ever try?" 

Ending the EP is 'Girls in Love', which transports you to mid 80's pop in the first few seconds before taking a giant leap back to the future of electronica and riding the synth waves 'til the end, where you just want more.  Until an LP is revealed, we can always just hit the repeat button.  Love it.***

(by Dawn Reed) In case you haven't been following us on twitter, let me bring you up to speed on the insanity of what me and Danni would describe as "cramming the dance in."  Since Danni announced that she would be leaving the east coast soon for big dreams to accomplish in L.A., we've been hitting up all the DC clubs and have scored a plethora of upcoming interviews with dance punk/electro-pop/horror pop bands from Norway to Australia and in between.  So meanwhile, this Friday is her last show, and we will feature plenty of indie acts from her future home of L.A. as well as our usual trek to other countries such as the UK, Canada, and this month's Nextwave band, the Pocket Rockets!

One of the amazing acts we had a chance to sit down with is Australia's dance punk troupe Cut Copy- where I asked them about the incredible coincidence of releasing their 3rd album Zonoscope around the time of Mubarak's overthrow in Egypt.  (Most of the titles reference Egypt and revolutions!) We'll keep you posted on when the full interview airs.  Meanwhile, we've got an amazing video from them that you absolutely do not want to miss.  They are currently touring throughout the states then off to Europe, back home, and then summer festivals worldwide galore.  I highly recommend checking them out live. Smiley.

And we'll also check out a literally "glorious" answer to the question: What happens when a choir boy is highly influenced by 80's synth pop?  From L.A., that would be the solo project of Pat Grossi, aka Active Child.   One could call his unique genre, hymntronic, and once you hear it, you'd agree.  Layers of synths paired with his falsetto create truly ethereal sounds that easily put you into a daydream trance. Daydreaming is rad.

(by Dawn Reed) I'd just like to thank everyone who sent in their kind regards wishing mine and Danni's family and friends well during the disaster that recently took place in our home country of Japan.  (Danni grew up in Tokyo, and I'm from the Aomori region.)  We hadn't addressed it yet because it truly broke our hearts and was already dominating the news, but thankfully our friends and family back in Japan are alright.  And this week on Strictly Global, we will feature videos from international artists (from Colombia to Poland) who are pulling together to help out with relief efforts in the land of the rising sun.

Like Deerhoof, the San Francisco based experimental rock band that is fronted by Japanese singer Satomi Matsuzaki.  She had moved to the states to study film back in 1996, and had met Greg Saunier, co-founder of Deerhoof who'd been around since 1994.  Despite her musical inexperience, her singing style added an element that Deerhoof was looking for.  They've just released their 11th studio album Deerhoof vs. Evil, and recently had a benefit show where proceeds went to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.  After matching donations, they gathered about $20,000 (according to their facebook page)!!! Satomi is in Japan right now with her family.

We'll also feature our interview with Egyptian rock band, Cairokee, whom I met with last summer in Cairo when they were recording at the grammy award winning Ultra Studios.  Recently they collaborated to create a song that expressed the triumph that Egypt achieved this year.  Check out the beautiful video for it below.

(by Dawn Reed) Alright, you've heard me say this before, but I must reiterate it... Crystal Castles are unbelievably amazing.  I just saw them again last night in DC, and hands down it was one of the Top 3 live shows I have ever seen in my entire life, ever, infinity.  Front-woman Alice Glass had a broken ankle, and if she wasn't wielding a crutch and cast, you wouldn't even have known with her usual on-stage demeanor of lunging into the audience and dousing everyone and herself with bottles of Jack.  Love it.  Speaking of good times, this week's episode is dedicated to the acts that have made it to Austin this year to play at SxSW, so every video we air will be from a band that has been gigging it up all week down there.  We'll feature bands from Peru, France, and more, plus our highly anticipated interview with the Israeli rock band Eatliz!

We'll check out the latest from Chicago's glam/garage rock Smith Westerns, who's recently released 2nd album Dye It Blonde is bound to be on "best of indie-rock" lists this year.  According to their tweets from SxSW, they've "just played to a packed stubbs 2,000 people. trying to bring back da arena rock," were bummed that they missed Mellowhype, and caught Foo Fighters "vip style :P."  Sweet.

We'll also check out the largest rock band in South Africa, the Parlotones, who've gone multi-platinum sales-wise, and completed an 18 month 300 date sold out world tour!!!  They've got 3 gigs lined up at SxSW this weekend, and according to their tweets, guitarist Glenn Hodgson just bought a wicked looking fringe-tastic jacket at an Austin shop.  Work it.  Post SxSW, they'll continue their US tour on the west coast.

 Starting Tuesday March 15, Austin will be swarmed with musical talent and show-goers flying in from all over the globe to be at the SxSW Festival. The six days of music will cram in up and coming acts from France, Croatia, Venezuela, the Netherlands, the USA, and just about every other country known to man.  If you happen to be one of the many lucky attendees of the festival, I've rounded up a handful of stand-out international bands that I'd highly recommend for you to check out.  If not- then fingers crossed that they eventually tour through yours & my hometown.  Smiley face.

 From North Wales comes the epic art rock trio The Joy Formidable with guitar goddess Ritzy Bryan wailing the rock back into what indie rock has been missing, Rhydian Dafydd's booming bass, and Matt Thomas' perfected percussion with a touch of metal tossed into some of their epic grand finales.  Their US debut album The Big Roar hits the market on 3/15, which has already been released in Europe, reaching #31 on the UK charts so far.

From Lima, Peru comes the dream-pop shoegaze band Resplandor who've been perfecting on their lushy sound since 1996!  Their most recent album P L E A M A R featured collaborations from other great shoegaze acts like Scott Cortez of Loveliescrushing, and it was produced and mastered by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins.  Resplandor was also featured on an Echo and the Bunnymen tribute album, covering the classic "The Killing Moon."  Beautiful, brilliant, and crossing my fingers for another complete US tour in the near future for them!

From Toronto, Canada is the experimental-club music artist Egyptrixx, currently in the middle of a world tour in support of his debut LP Bible Eyes.  The album combines elements of drone and pop music that could easily transform your environment into a horror film ("Start From the Beginning") to a trippy 80's teen film flashback ("Chrysallis Records.") Genius.

From Tokyo, Japan is the psychedelic funk-rock band The Zoobombs who've been dishing out their massive discography since 1994!  They made their presence known in the US initially by being the supporting act on tours for The Flaming Lips and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Singer/Guitarist Don Matsuo has said, "It's time we returned to America. I'd like to develop a relationship with the U.S. indie-rock scene and next year bring an American band to tour with us in Japan -- help them break into the Japanese indie-rock world. It would be great to develop an alliance like that which bridges the two countries and cultures and builds the future for us all." Totally!

(by Dawn Reed)  Gotta make this blog short folks, cause mother nature decided to give me the flu for my birthday (boo-hoo.)  Anyway, thanks for all the awesome birthday greetings you guys sent in!  To show some love back, we’ve got a great line-up of music videos that Danni will intro this week from Sweden, the Congo, Egypt, and more,  plus our featured NextWave artist of March, Pipes and Pints.

We’ll check out the latest from ex-Gogol Bordello’s Tamir Muskat’s group, Balkan Beat Box, who are an Israeli-American gypsy punk band combining traditional world music elements.  Past albums have showcased sounds of the Mediterranean and Spanish infusion.  They’ve recently released their 3rd studio album, Blue Eyed Black Boy, which has more elements of Arabic sounds blended in.

And we’ll also check out the Dutch indie pop singer Laura Jansen who’s had music featured in several American T.V. shows, and also has a song featured as the theme song for the Dutch comedy series “Floor Faber.” Her 2009 debut album “Bells” reached #2 on iTunes Pop Charts!

(by Dawn Reed) One of my friend's just pointed out that it was a year ago today that we went to Oahu for my 29th birthday, surfed post-tsunami waves in a sea of turtles, and were part of the background set of this kick-ass looking film Soul Surfer. Wait a minute, omg, that means I'm turning 30!  Good thing spring is coming early and March is going to be packed with a plethora of awesome shows and releases to make surviving 3 decades a month long party!  And taking us out of February on this week's Strictly Global, I put together a sweet playlist of videos from Spain, France, Russia and more, plus a feature on this month's NextWave band One Glimpse Away.

I'm super excited to air an incredible video by the Israeli rock band Eatliz, who will be making their live US debut soon with a tour between Austin's SxSW Festival to NYC in March. Their videos have already made an impact worldwide as they've been featured in film festivals, and have won awards for Best Animation.  I've caught some of their live performances online, and they truly are unique- reinventing every performance and bringing something new to the audience.  And stay tuned for a future ep of SG where I had the awesome opportunity to interview them via the internet- from DC to Israel to you.

And we'll also check out the super cool new video from NY's "street beat psyche pop" dance-friendly duo Phantogram.  They are SxSW vets, having performed there back in 2009, and have opened for other great acts like  Yeasayer, Brazilian Girls, and Zero 7.  Earlier this month, they made their TV debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon where 
?uestlove guested as their drummer.