V/Rated
IT’S A DATE
by tiffany bosman
HuMMinGbird LoCAL NATIvES after teasing fans with new songs at last year’s cmJ music marathon in New York city, Los angeles-based band Local Natives have released an album that made me fall in love with them all over again. Sticking with the layered vocal harmonies and driving percussions for which they’re known, the band delivers 11 impressive tracks for sophomore album Hummingbird (produced by Te National’s aaron dessner). For something different, listen to the Superhumanoids’ take on the first single, “Breakers,” on Local Native’s Soundcloud page. Te Hits: “Heavy Feet,” “Breakers,” “mt. Washington”
AnytHinG in return ToRo Y MoI
ImaGINe draGoNS
easily topping my list of favorite artists, 25-yearold producer/musician chaz Bundick turns out some super-sexy
jams on his third fulllength release, Anything in return, combining chill-wave jazzy soul underlays, sincere lyrics and creamy vocal lines. Quirky music videos for “So many details” and “Say that” are already out, and a remix of the former is available on Spotify. Te Hits: “Harm in change,” “Say Tat,” “So many details”
every Weekend HADoUkEN! British bass scene group Hadouken! aren’t the typical producer/vocal duo pumping out tracks in the studio—they’re a five-piece band working to craft the seriously edgy sounds they serve up to their rowdy fans during live shows. Tink Linkin Park meets Zeds dead meets Nero. to get a taste, check out the music video for their first single, “Bad Signal.” If you want a better idea of what you’re in for, head over to their website, hadouken.com,
where you can preview a mini version of the entire album. The Hits: “the vortex,” “Bliss out,” “Bad Signal”
LeAvinG eP SkRILLEx three tracks are all Sonny moore needs to let everyone know he’s got some tricks up his sleeve. It’s a departure from what the average Skrillex show attendee would expect, but the artful texture moore delivers to the masses on the chill title single and opener, “Leaving,” makes me want to hear more. the eP picks up the tempo on the second song, “the reason,” and then we’re back to what we’re used to on the closer, “Scary Bolly dub.” Leaving eP has raised some eyebrows for sure, but we just might get more than we expected this year from suddenly famous producers like Skrillex. The Hits: “Leaving,” “the reason,” “Scary Bolly dub”
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there’s love in the air, and music and laughter, too, this month. Start with Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza in the Hollywood theatre at mGm Grand (February 1-2), or join the crowds at mandalay Bay events center to cheer on Fear Factor host and UFc commentator Joe Rogan (February 1). around the corner, country music icon George Strait takes over the mGm Grand Garden arena for a Super Bowl eve performance (February 2). If country’s not your thing, take in UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar at mandalay Bay events center (February 2). or rock out with British Invasion band The Who as they unleash their Quadrophenia and More tour at the Joint at Hard rock Hotel & casino (February 8 and 10). Morrissey, manchester’s monomonikered morose melody maker, makes up for his canceled November show—he’s playing it mellow at the chelsea at the cosmopolitan of Las vegas (February 9)—while Imagine Dragons headline the Joint the same night. Looking for something a little more upbeat? You’ll be whistling “Sweet Georgia Brown” at the thomas & mack center as those funky hooligans of hoops, the Harlem Globetrotters, bounce, boogie and goof off on the basketball court (February 13). If all the valentine’s day love makes you feel pretty, then you’ll be right at home when West Side Story kicks and lunges into “america” at the Smith center for the Performing arts (February 26– march 3). –Michael Shulman
PLAYED IN vEGAS
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