Sunday, May 31, 2009

Mayer Hawthorne - "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out" (Watch This Now)

OK folks. This one is special. This song could have been made in 1965. Does this dude look at all like he would make this kind of music? Either way, this is too dope. Perfect song and solid visual presentation. Mayer Hawthorne, who lists Curtis Mayfield and Smokey Robinson as influences, is signed to Stones Throw records, the home of legendary hip-hop producers J Dilla and Madlib, among others. Personally, I might just have to cop the heart-shaped vinyl, available here along with the mp3. Once again, don't thank me, thank Nick.



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Black Scale Pop-Up Store Opening

Lifestyle brand Black Scale has officially opened the doors to their pop up shop, located on San Jose street in San Francisco. With design credits going to famed SF graffiti artists Apex, the store is sure to offer a tangible brand experience for visitors.


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M.I.A. on Real Time with Bill Maher

In this interview, Bill Maher sits down with M.I.A. to discuss the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. For those of us who aren't well informed about this crisis, their conversation serves as a brief introduction to some of the central issues. Unfortunately, the discussion doesn't go too far in-depth, since, as Bill rightly observes, the average American simply isn't well enough informed yet to fully comprehend the situation. Even so, this interview demonstrates why M.I.A. is such a powerful figure in music today. Having experienced war, discrimination and government oppression firsthand, she offers valuable insight into the type of global crises which are often ignored by the greater American public. To educate yourself more on Sri Lanka, start here.


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Protest In London By Raji Shivshanker

These photos were taken during an antiwar demonstration in London, England. Thousands of people gathered in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Sqaure to show their opposition to the war in Iraq, anger with British government and to call for peace. Shot by Raji Shivshanker, the scene was particularly interesting to her because of the wide range of age groups, backgrounds, and ethnicities, who turned out to show support for the same cause.




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Saturday, May 30, 2009

The Pitfalls of Hype

I mean, I wanted to see it too. One thing we can take away from the series is the strength of a group over the strength of an individual. We just witnessed one of the most outstanding individual performances in a playoff series, ever. Yet, it was not enough to overpower a group of individuals, focused and committed to a singular goal. We can apply this reality to whatever endeavors we pursue, and know that enlisting the assistance and expertise of others will greatly help us achieve our goals. With that in mind, let's give a farewell to the dream series that exemplifies the pitfalls of hype.



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Moneygami

Moneygami. Don't know how useful this is. It might just be a waste of money, unless you can sell it for more than the amount on the bill. Then you'd be winning. Get a dollar bill, fold it up and sell it for $2? That's a hustle right there!


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JanSport Sole Pack Collection

This has got to be the iciest gear Jansport's come out with in years. Jansport was the movement in like 00 to 02, until the rollie back packs dropped, but we would always kick those over anyways. With a focused attention to the aesthetics, the bags feature a fusing of a custom-made rubber-molded shoe base onto the bottom of every bag, which is sorta cool, but doesn't mean much.


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Friday, May 29, 2009

Lady Gaga Speaks On Sex & Men (UPDATE)

Brittany was right, Lady Gaga is the truth. But more than the truth as we conventionally think of the term. She's a bit more than the "hottest artist of the moment," or undeniably good at her craft. Lady Gaga is the truth because she pursues her passion relentlessly. This short interview is just real, but lightweight out of pocket. I think it also raises the question of what inappropriate really means. Is it appropriate to relate certain information and not others given the context? How much does context effect the appropriateness of a message, and what factors make up context? Who knows? But Gaga goes. Realtalk, this is probably the dopest interview that's been on the W&B aside from that MJ



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Another Reason To Hate The Yankees

The reality of this comparison is distressing for a few reasons. The value placed on certain attractions is amazing. I think the word to describe the pricing strategy of Option 1 is audacious. Is there a better one?

Option 1: Two tickets to Tuesday night, June 30, Mariners at Yanks, cost for just the tickets, $5,000.

Option 2: Two round-trip airline tickets to Seattle, Friday, Aug. 14, return Sunday the 16th, rental car for three days, two-night double occupancy stay in four-star hotel, two top tickets to both the Saturday and Sunday Yanks-Mariners games, two best-restaurant-in-town dinners for two. Total cost, $2,800. Plus-frequent flyer miles.

Option 3: Copping nosebloods, walking down and pulling a bad one? Priceless...

via will/kottke


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Major Lazer - "Hold the Line"

This is one of the dopest videos I've seen in a while. If (like me) you used to pour yourself a big ass bowl of Froot Loops, post on the couch and watch cartoons on Saturday mornings, you're pretty much guaranteed to dig this one. Be sure to stay tuned past the 2:00 mark.

Major Lazer is the collaboration project from Diplo & Switch (of M.I.A. & Santigold production fame). The upcoming album, Guns Don't Kill People, Lazers Do is a dancehall record based around the character of Major Lazer, a Jamaican commando with a ray gun for an arm. Pretty geeked up. Nick I see you.


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Deluxe Fall/Winter 2009 Collection

You're right. Appearance isn't everything. But it counts. First impressions are crucial, hence why they're called impressions. For the dudes, we guarantee this will help with the FI's. Subtle hitters, with a degree of versatility.




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Thursday, May 28, 2009

OG Tiger Woods

Yeah Yeah Yeah, I know you've seen this, but they haven't. Not everyone is up on the O.G Tiger like that. Word on the street is that he was 2 in this video. Can we get a confirmation? Malcolm Gladwell has stated that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master any skill or craft. Tiger may be a fitting example.



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Passion Pit - Manners

Passion Pit first hit W&B a while back with their video for "The Reeling". Since then, their full-length debut leaked onto the internet, accumulated a ridiculous buzz, and finally dropped last week. After getting a chance to listen, the love from critics and fans is well deserved. Anchored by high pitched vocals and trippy synths, Manners isn't afraid to be pop-friendly and light. Listening to these songs will put you in a better mood. Sure, other albums this year might offer more substance, but Manners has to be the most fun. If you still pay for music, go pick this up. But as usual, we got the joog on some free downloads. Enjoy. Also, for the LA folks, Passion Pit has shows the next 3 nights in the area. Check here for tour dates, music and other info.


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Stone Paintings From Malaysia

Would you cop one of these? Probably not. Would you rock it in your house if someone gave it to you? Debatable. Straight from the mind of Malaysian artist Suzi Chua. While these aren't the most valuable pieces of art ever, they continue to relate one key reality about art. Art, allows us to turn nothing into something. We can take the inanimate, reconstruct it, and give it meaning. That gentleman and ladies is a powerful thing.



via toxel


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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Erykah Badu - "The Healer" (Live)

I gotta thank my dude Jesse. This past weekend, I was lucky enough to catch the legendary Ms. Badu live in concert at UCLA's Jazz Reggae festival. Being in the presence of one of the most magnetic personalities in music, watching her do her thing was honestly inspiring. For those of you who didn't get the chance, I thought I'd give you the closest thing I could find. Erykah and her band live. This one is The Healer.



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Have You Ever Jumped Off A Cliff?

There's probably an unparalleled freedom that one feels base jumping. Those moments in free fall are probably some of the realest. My guess is that if you ask someone for a realization they made after the jump, they'd say they realized that nothing really matters. But again, that is just a guess.



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Ace Boon Coon ft. Rick Ross & Young Dro - "Fruity (Got Me Gone)"

You probably know about as much as I do about Ace Boon Coon. But what I do know is that this song is a slap, and from what I'm hearing, it's gettin some serious run in the A as of late. How this cat managed to get Ross & Dro on the track is a mystery, but I'm glad he did. Dro is that dude. Recommended for the whip or the pregrame sesh.


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Drugs In Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?

The United States may want to reconsider their harsh drug laws, with nearly 2 million people behind bars in the country, Since 1991 the rate of violent crime in the United States has fallen by about 20 percent, while the number of people in prison or jail has risen by 50 percent. (The Talking Drum) The U.S should at least consider the success Portugal has experienced from their efforts to decriminalize drug charges. Below is a piece written by Time Magazine journalist Maia Szalavitz.


At the recommendation of a national commission charged with addressing Portugal's drug problem, jail time was replaced with the offer of therapy. The argument was that the fear of prison drives addicts underground and that incarceration is more expensive than treatment — so why not give drug addicts health services instead? Under Portugal's new regime, people found guilty of possessing small amounts of drugs are sent to a panel consisting of a psychologist, social worker and legal adviser for appropriate treatment (which may be refused without criminal punishment), instead of jail.

Compared to the European Union and the U.S., Portugal's drug use numbers are impressive. Following decriminalization, Portugal had the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over 15 in the E.U.: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is in people over 12: 39.8%. Proportionally, more Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.

"Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success," says Glenn Greenwald, an attorney, author and fluent Portuguese speaker, who conducted the research. "It has enabled the Portuguese government to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually every other Western country does."


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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll"

"Off with your head. Dance 'til your dead. Heads will roll." Apparently Karen O wasn't kidding. This video is lightweight terrifying. It's also pretty brilliant. I could try to explain, but you should probably just watch. On a related note, It's Blitz is still in rotation. Support good music.


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Air Jordan III True Blues Re-Release

I dunno. I mean these used to be the most coveted kicks in High School, I don't know about now. Jordan Brands been floppin for the past year or so, but I'm not sure if coming out with shit they've already come out with is the saving move. We'll see. They drop in August, but you can get em early here.


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The Temptations - "My Girl"

Settled day today. We're going classic at the moment. We all know this one. Let's welcome The Temptations to Wine & Bowties. This one is for every dude that's got a girl, or is feeling a girl right now. If you feel her, tell her, she deserves to know. Wine & Bowties. A Movement For The Lovers.

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Monkey Bars

Something to start the morning off right. Nature at its best. A monkey amusing itself at the expense of two tigers. The wonderful thing about nature is that it is constantly playing itself out, all over the world, whether us humans see it or not.


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Monday, May 25, 2009

Download Youtube Videos To Your Computer Using Farkie

Linda is a fool for this one, because this is crazy. Here's how you can download Youtube videos to your computer. As stated, this is probably breaking all sorts of copyright laws so it might not be up for long, but get on it while you can. Step 1. Pick a Youtube video. Step 2. Copy the URL of the video that appears on the right side of the screen. Step 3. Paste the link into the download box on Farkie & click download. As stated don't thank me thank linda. If you need more help peep this.


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Monta Ellis Drops 72

I've always been puzzled by incredible scoring feats, Dajuan Wagners 100, Kobe's 81, Monta's 72. What stands out even more is that Monta dropped 72 in a high school game. That's 72 points in 32 minutes. The video speaks for itself.



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Sunday, May 24, 2009

Should The Government Control The Internet?

This is important. The Cyber Security Act of 2009. A law that would effectively shift the rights of users and companies on the internet, into the hands of the federal government. There are substantial benefits and consequences of the bill which should be analyzed and discussed. Jennifer Granick of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Steven Bellovin of the CircleID cover the specifics of the bill, and offer their own analysis as well. Below is the actual text of the legislation:


S. 773: Cybersecurity Act of 2009

A bill to ensure the continued free flow of commerce within the United States and with its global trading partners through secure cyber communications, to provide for the continued development and exploitation of the Internet and intranet communications for such purposes, to provide for the development of a cadre of information technology specialists to improve and maintain effective cybersecurity defenses against disruption, and for other purposes.


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U.S Royalty - "Raincoats"

Meet U.S Royalty. A Washington D.C based band. Although formed merely 7 months ago, the band already maintains a cohesive sound that reminds us of decades past. Raincoats is their stand out single, and blends contemporary rock with the essence of 1966. Call it Sunset Music.


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Saturday, May 23, 2009

Upside Down House By Daniel Czapiewski

Buildings are interesting things. We usually think they should be structured according to particular rules and regulations. But fortunately, every once in a while architects and designers step outside the box. And for that, we're so very thankful. Creativity allows us to believe in what is, but also in what can be, as our imagination serves as the link between the two. And now from the mind of Daniel Czapiewski, the Upside Down House.




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Little Beaver - "Get Into The Party Life"

Brought to your ears by our good friend Ben. Headin to the Party Life. Most of us are probably familiar with Jay's track Party Life, off American Gangster. However, it is important to know where classic songs that we rock to today came from. Little Beaver known to others as Willie Hale, got his name for having some big ass teeth. But got around it by being a stunning guitarist.


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As of April 2005 By Phil Hansen

There is more to this image than meets the eye. While pictured in front of us is a pleasant and jovial former President Bush, the images behind the image are sobering. Seattle artist and activist Phil Hansen created this work. Look at the picture, and then look at the video. Brilliant.



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Friday, May 22, 2009

Watch What She Can Do...

This is just cool. This is like 3 steps up from your friend that can tie a cherry stem with their tongue. With talents like these I always wonder how they discovered that they could actually do this. Julia Dales, doing some Black Eyed Peas, Timberlake and Nelly Furtado? Impressive...



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Santigold - "Your Voice"

Might go best with the beach and a beverage. Otherwise, this song might be perfect as one of the closing slaps to a cracking day party. Either way, Santi comes with another settled track. Gotti of Smoking Section related an interesting opinion in regards to America's acceptance of Santigold, in his commentary he states, "I’m of the firm opinion that Santigold was merely a victim of timing & Americans ability to only focus on one foreign-sounding singer @ a time, is a slot effectively filled by M.I.A." Perhaps, but they will know soon. Real soon.


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When Lightning Strikes

Lightning and thunder occur simultaneously, but because light travels faster than sound, we see lightning first. Count the seconds between a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder and divide by five to estimate how far away in miles the storm is. Divide by three for kilometers. While dope to observe, do not observe too close, lightning kills more people on an annual basis than tornadoes, hurricanes or winter storms. It is second only to flash floods in the annual number of deaths caused by storm-related hazards.




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Purple Lounge 5.22.09

Another Friday at the Purple Lounge. Drinks specials on deck, Dude Royal set to perform.


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Ping Pong For Dessert


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Thursday, May 21, 2009

11:54PM




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Pharrell Set to Speak at UCLA Tonight

Apologies for the short notice. Pharrell Williams one half of The Neptunes, one third of N.E.R.D will be speaking to students tonight at UCLA. The event starts at 8PM, and wristbands will be handed out for entry at 6:30PM. Special thanks to Eazee for the update.



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Atmos + North Face Scoop Jacket

For the record, this isn't new. These jackets have been out, but are still necessary. An Atmos and North Face Purple Label collaboration. The colors on this jacket compliment each other well, while their boldness allows them to stand out. In addition, I am becoming more and more certain that the flyest gear is made in Japan.
via atmos


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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Sergio Mendes - "Mas Que Nada"

Originally a song done by Jorge Ben, Mas Que Nada gained worldwide notoriety once it was covered by Sergio and the rest of the Brasil '66. The song is an ode to the samba, as "mas que nada," means "no way" in Portuguese. The Black Eyed Peas redid the song with Mendes in 2006, breathing new air into the timeless classic. You know you've gotta slap when you don't know the words and Thanks Jo.


Download Here


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Has Myspace Fallen Off?

In my humble opinion, it's been off since '07, but the reality is that in those years between 2005 to 2008 were Myspaces strongest years (Comscore). But things are changing now, a recent Tech Crunch article relates the declining popularity of Facebooknot.

Myspace Facebook


MySpace user number growth has stalled out, and historically speaking, no company of note has reversed such a trend. But MySpace may have a much bigger problem on its hands than losing the social networking war to Facebook. Their real problem is that page views are declining sharply. That means people are still visiting the site, just far less than they used to. That means less advertising impressions in a time that MySpace can hardly be expected to deal with it.

Worldwide monthly page views for MySpace have declined from 47.4 billion a year ago to 38 billion today, a 20% drop. In that same period Facebook has grown from 44 billion to 87 billion, a roughly 100% increase. And it isn’t much better when you look at just the U.S. data. They’ve seen a 16% year over year drop in page views, from 41.6 billion to 34.8 billion (Comscore, April March 2009). Facebook has grown from 13 billion to 20 billion page views per month in that period.

We have also spoken with a couple of very large application developers who confirm that activity on MySpace is decreasing at a dramatic rate, as high as “half a percent a week.”

MySpace is a battleship that’s going in the wrong direction at high speed. It’s hard to turn a battleship. Perhaps even impossible in this case.

via dubfrequency


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Phoenix - 1901 (Video)

French indie rock band Phoenix is back with their latest offering, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, set to drop next Tuesday (May 25th). "1901" is a dope single, and this video is simple but effective, using a creative lighting technique to accompany the song. For more info, music and videos from Phoenix, check here.


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Balloon Tank By Hans Hemmert

This time around, a creative effort by German artist Hans Hemmert. In a collaboration with three other artists, Hemmert created this balloon tank. A wonderful presentation of art on its own, it's almost as if the use of balloons to create the tank functions to trivialize the purpose of tanks as an element of war.



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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Young Bob - "I Got 5 On It" (Cover)

The newest slap from Young Bob. Bobby Brackins though. I know you feel me. The '09 cover for I Got Five On It. A classic. Nic Nac on the beats. "Don't know Will, but I smoke with Grace..." So out here. Dannon. 10:27.


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T-Mac & Carter In Toronto 4.10.00

This is just silly, in the best meaning of the word. Samuel's a fool for this one. A young Vince Carter alongside a younger T-Mac, straight serving a Cavs team led by Lammond Murray? For those in class, at work, or in a hurry we'll make it easy for you. 1:07, 1:23, 2:20*, 3:19. All this video does is make you wonder, what could've been. What could've been.






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Pencil Sculptures By Jennifer Maestre

Jennifer Maestre's creations are truly one of a kind. The exhaustive process of creating such works gives insight into what it means to be passionate about something. She's really on some other shit. In short, the sculptures are made by drilling holes in one inch long sections of pencils, and sewing them together using a sculptural beading technique called 'peyote' stitch. In long. Jennifer, has stated that she never went to school for what she does, which leads me to believe that creativity comes from within.

Asteridae
Luna
Flex

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Monday, May 18, 2009

Mike Posner & The Brain Trust - "Cooler Than Me"

Before hearing this, Max said he had no idea. Honestly I didn't either. Luckily, Lan did. This one is pretty serious folks. Mike Posner is a junior at Duke who, along with his band the Brain Trust, recently released A Matter of Time, available on iTunes now, for free. The mixtape is a promising first project, and "Cooler Than Me" is a standout, featuring G.O.O.D. Music artist Big Sean. A talented singer, songwriter and producer, Posner could be pretty dangerous in the industry. Keep an eye out for this dude, he should be on his way up soon.


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Swagger Spring/Summer Def Wrist Watch

Simple and sophisticated. In Japan there's a brand unfortunately named Swagger. Fortunately, this watch will look fresh on wrists of all shades. (I need to start finding shit that cost less) 274 hots is doing a lot. Should be like 75. The black on black gives the watch a sleek and polished look. I would if I could. Available at choiceisyours.


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Def Poetry: John Legend - "Again"

Pretty amazing. John Legend is a master of articulating the processes of relationships. He describes this piece as his sequel to She Don't Have to Know. I don't know if I could take a girl to a John Legend show though, she might choose up, and fall in love.





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Billy Joel - "The Longest Time"

I know Triz feels me. Diana killed it, Laura killed it, DHN though? (I'm laughing). Gotta love some outside jokes. Please take this as your introduction to Billy Joel, but not to Doo Wop, we're just getting started with that one. An incredibly accomplished musician, his resume boasts 23 Grammy nods, and 150 million records sold, back when records sold. This record is off of his 1983 album entitled, An Innocent Man. Bob Wells whatitdo.


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Near Death Experience: Courage Fail

Turn the volume up. Just some quick chuckles before we get going today. Shout out to Revibe, Chris Focus, Dmac (Be settled in Texas), Bobak, Kells, good times last night. This video is a selection from a late night FailBlog viewing session. More to come. Enjoy.


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Sunday, May 17, 2009

Magic Wands - "Black Magic"

The Magic Wands are a duo (and a couple) from Nashville, Tennessee. Recently, the Wands have appeared at festivals like South by Southwest & Glastonbury, earning a solid buzz along the way. With "Black Magic", Chris & Dexy hit us with a pretty impressive single off their upcoming Magic Love & Dreams EP, slated to drop in June. Expect big things.


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