2011-what a year so far...

i can't believe it's march -- already.

in the middle of the steeps fog (great love

live fast and burn out painfully hard, i guess) , i remember spending new year's eve with my homegirls at @theRoxy checking out the camp freddy set. it was especially fun at midnight when the original badass, mizzzzzz cherie currie

got up and did a BOWIE song --rebel rebel -- as the first

song of

the new year.

i just knew we were all going to have a great 2011.

my music interests have been really all over the place lately- especially when i got the midi mpk at christmas. i realized more than ever the world needs a new d'anglelo

sound. not maxwell, but stripped down, soul music that begs you to let go of the idea of rational thinking. it was him, really, in my humble opinion that did that best. now i think we have one artist in particular to look forward to bringing us near that realm again. his name is timothy bloom. i have had the good fortune of spending time with him last year, and i heard his album one night. it really runs deep. he is also on one of interscope's labels, so i think he stands a good chance of actually being heard. i just hope he knows what to do when it all comes down. he is talent, through and through.

watch his risque and stunning video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctaFP8DQ5W8

also if you like it check out "blood rain"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ilDSs3LuJw

it's RIDICULOUSLY good.

i personally think he will be a huge hit.

especially with the ladies follow him: @timothybloom

ok, enough of my crystal ball, onto show reviews --

january was a blur of shows, but the real highlight was big boi. He single handledly (didn't need the goodie mob, but it was nice to see them anyway) reigned supreme that night. Blew away ceelo green (who i like, actually) at the club nokia show night before grammy's (the crowd was in agreement)... i cannot wait to see outkast one day live. made me wish andre 3000 could have made it.

then i hit the erykah badass badu show at the house of blues on sunset. It was the first time this year I saw her--and it was her birthday jam session. lots of anticipation, but when she hit the stage (after dave chapelle and biz markie did their thang...), all was forgiven... mayer hawthorne and

ms. badu is the best live. Period. Noone does it better.

and here's why i love being a part of the music scene in los angeles. this past week i got to see two great shows back to back...

first --panic at the disco at my favorite small venue, the roxy on sunset. it was amazing to think they performed for 500 people. i loved every minute of it. they are really good musicians and fun to watch. after show, we were with them at on the rox upstairs and i got to tell their guitarist that i loved the show. he was genuinely thankful to hear it. i love it when people are in the business for the right reasons...

speaking of in it for the right reasons, the king of that is my dear sweetness of a man, john popper who was also in town this week (with his side project crew the duskray troubadours including legendary jono manson and fun lovin' aaron beavers from the group shurman) at the key club on sunset strip. very very good show for their new endeavor --john popper and the duskray troubadours. really fun show. he loves performing and it shows.

noone gives more than popper when it comes to his fans, too. so a party happens where-ever he goes.

off to south by southwest week after next. looking forward to bob geldof's key note speech.

newest obsession is adele's new album, 21. get it. will brings you everywhere music is supposed to take you.

too much. it's all too much

Michael Jackson died yesterday.

i had never had the chance to see him live. despite all the live concerts i've been to.

i pulled out my first vinyl crate and found Thriller. it's scratchy, but it sounded like the first time i played it.

made me feel sick to my stomach to think it's done.

we had already lost Farrah Fawcett earlier that morning, and i don't think i'll ever forget driving to meetings in Burbank and both my iPhone and my blackberry starting to blow up w/texts.

all i could think of was my Jr and Senior high school friends that were so obsessed with him that they dressed like him and knew all the steps in thriller, beat it, Billie Jean. when off the wall came out it was mesermizing. soul music came through pop-like rock chord progressions. his apollo show with the jackson 5 was long gone then. it was MTV that made him omnipresent, iconic, legendary. how talented he was. how his voice when he sang Ben could bring tears.

i was the one loving bowie in that same way, but really Michael was the most popular singer, bowie was not at that time. i completely appreciated their fanaticism, though. it was amazing, really like how bowie was in the 70's.

but i digress.

eventually, the swirl of the rumours gave way to the sad truths--2:46 pm EMT; cardiac arrest, UCLA hospital, failed to resuscitate.

it really felt surreal. and terribly sad.

passed at 50... with the London shows right around the corner.

the London shows that sold out in MINUTES.

which showed the undying love for this man's talent/music.

in the end, it's what he will be known for, thankfully.

his music and not his eccentric behavior.

i just wish he had had the chance to do those shows, remind us of his talent, and reclaim officially his musical throne.

but that was not to be.

this morning, i can only listen to his music and celebrate his life. i just read john's blog (bluestraveler.com) and it was great perspective. especially from someone who i always worry is on a creatively destructive path. in it he refers to the music. it's the music that will persevere. that made me feel better...

here's to Michael Jackson--who will always be remembered as the true, undisputed King of Pop.

they are moon walking in heaven.

hollywood, out.

k

Song of the moment: obviously an MJ one-- You rock my world.

it's the best video with Marlon Brando and others.

check it out and have your own Michael Jackson moment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k0GZaPPkf4