Envision Festival Preview

For those of us that just cannot wait till this spring and summer for the official American festival season there is something that promises to be beautiful, enlightening and out of the ordinary shaping up in Costa Rica. Its called the Envision Festival and it takes place in Uvita Costa Rica February 20-23rd. Envision not only boasts a very unique and eclectic music line up but also focuses on daily yoga and meditation from the worlds greatest teachers, amazing performance art and installations, as well as a healing sanctuary nestled in the Costa Rica jungle just a short walk from the Pacific Ocean. Headlining the festival with multiple shows (including a sunrise downtempo set) is the British electronic music composer Tipper. There is no telling where Tipper will be taking us as his sets range from ambient to breakbeat and glitch hop often incorporating unreleased material into every live set, making each performance extremely unique. Other notable acts include festie favorites The Polish Ambassador and Random Rab as well as Papadosio bringing their unique take on jamtronica as a live quintet. During the day you will have many amazing opportunities that you cannot find at any other festival.  Whether you want to take part in multiple yoga sessions, meditate to live ambient melodies,  chill on the beach, hike or shuttle to local waterfalls, cover yourself in magical healing blue clay at the rejuvenation station or learn about permacutlure and sustainability in one of the many included workshops the choice is yours. Just remember to come with an open mind, heart, body and soul as Envision is sure to be unlike any other festival you will experience this year.

Insiders Guide To Outkast this Festie Season

By now everyone knows that Outkast is set to headline Coachella this spring. But in even bigger news we have recently learned that the legendary southern hip hop duo are set to headline an additional 40 festivals this summer world wide. Festie lineups are being posted as we speak with Andre 3000 and Big Boi already at the top of The Governors Ball in New York, The Big Guava Fest in Florida, Counterpoint Festival in GA  and the Hangout Fest in Alabama. With this amazing music news being impossible to avoid across every social media platform I was very surprised to see how many so called music and festival enthusiasts have never heard of them or only know them for their cross over chart topper “Hey Ya”  aka the Polaroid Picture song which actually only features 1/2 of the group.
Specifically this shock came to me in a semi-viral and very funny Tumblr feed (that has since been removed) that showcases Coachella goers ignorance to the group. How could this be? How could people not know the group that created one of the best albums of all time in any genre, Aquemini, and timeless classics like Spottieottiedopealiscous and Synthesizer? Am I really just getting old? Or are they irrelevant "has beens"? I believe the music of Outkast speaks for itself and will stand the test of time. After this summer the newer generation of festie goers and music connoisseurs alike will realize how important this reunion is and how amazing their music is. With that, in anticipation for the summer festie circuit where many of us will be luck enough to see Daddy Fat Sacks and Possum Aloysius Jenkins  (fingers crossed for Electric Forest) I would like to share with you an some of there lesser known bangers you would not have heard on MTV when they still played music.
Synthesizer Featuring George Clinton

Spottieottiedopaliscous



Humble Mumble Featuring Erykah Badu



Wheels of Steel

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Food Truck Meetup Detroit

Opening day food truck meetup at Campus Martius. El Guapo pork belly taco. Amazing!!

Northcoast Festival Day 2

Sunnyside Duck Egg Hash

I had a feeling day two would be the jump off and let me tell you my hunch was right.  We started off with a late breakfast/brunch at Longman and Eagle in Logan Square WOW!! I already cant wait to go back there I enjoyed everything about this place.  The menu was very unique and original with an excellent whiskey and beer selection. The service was very friendly and informative.  Our Northcoast crew of seven shared a couple plates of spiced brioche French toast with bacon pudding and peach compote. Just by reading that off the menu we all had to try some. All of the flavors popped out without one them over powering the other, executed very well.  My breakfast entrée was sunny side duck egg hash with duck confit, Nicholas Farms spring onions, Yukon Gold potatoes with a black truffle vinaigrette. How is that for unique?  Everything was cooked perfectly and delicious.  My fiancé had the ultra fresh market scramble of roasted peppers, arugula, mushrooms, and feta served over a croissant with mixed greens.  My boy had the head-on prawns with cheese grits, collard greens, a one hour egg, and black pepper sauce.  Oh and don’t let me forget they arguably served the best Mac n Cheeses I have ever tasted with cherry tomato confit, arugula, morney sauce, Dunbarton blue cheese, crispy bread crumbs and basil oil!! Is your mouth watering yet??  I highly recommend this place and I look forward to trying lunch and dinner there sometime.  

We made it into Union Park to hear a couple bangers from RJD2 with Break Science but today was all about Common, my highlight of the festival.   Common is a hip hop legend, an extremely good performer and a true b-boy.  He worked the entire giant stage flawlessly and his back up band was tight.  The best part about Common's music are his extremely positive,  smart lyrics and soulful beats, homie kills it.  Common should have most definitely headlined Friday over Whiz Khalifa due to the above mentioned words and the fact that he reps Chi-City so hard, more than anyone. Im  not sure what the promoters were thinking there.  Even if the kids do like Whiz Khalifa more, Common's words and showmanship should have been forced on them to show them what a real MC from the city of Chicago is all about. 

  After a gorgeous day laughing and dancing and sharing deep fried delights like fries, ravioli's and even artichoke hearts we chose to watch STS9 over Fatboy Slim and am sure we made the right choice. This was evident after STS9 (I refuse to call them Tribe, there is only one Tribe in my book and it features The Brother Abstract and a shortie named Phife) broke out into some straight futuristic west coast electro as opposed to when I walked by Fatboy's set and  he was playing the “Eye of the Tiger”.  Day two festival down, off to the after party or should I say after parties!! 

Boombox wsg Gramatik and DJ Solo at the Double Door was on the agenda for tonight and I was excited to see some live music in a small venue.  I thought Gramatik was just ok but Boombox was on point.  I love their chillout/loungy house sound.  Lead singer Zion’s voice is so smooth and mellow and I always wish he sang more.  Their set included a cover of Shakedown Street and and a segment at the end of some straight hard techno.  Good drinks and beers and a solid time all around.  Just when I thought the night was over we get invited to a nearby loft party!! Yes, my favorite!!  Who is up there when we arrive? None other than the Cutz on Cuts crew, Chicago’s premier hip hop DJ collective,straight smashing it.  I plan on doing a full entry and possible re-ocurring blogs featuring this turntabilist foursome because not only do they inspire my weekly Wednesday night Cutz on Cuts dinner while they destroy Ustream (check out some past shows, they are fire!) but they are on some next level hip hop heat with the incorporation of today’s technology and experimental sounds.  These guys are not to be slept on.  The party was dope, people were stepping out tonight and the vibe was right.  It was cool kicking it with some of Push Beats Crew, Chicago’s go to crew for those hard hitting experimental headnodic hip hop beats. Don’t sleep on these guys either peep their soundcloud, peep them every Tuesday at Lokal, and peep them every third Thursday at Beauty Bar. Having a giant wood floor to dance on made the party even fresher, who doesn't dance better on a shiny wooden floor? Im sure we could have all gotten down.  I hated having to leave during RM Joints set who caught me off guard with some of the dopest experimental beats I have seen live in a minute.  Homie was crushing it with a midi controller on his iPhone. Once again, listen to the RM Joint Soundcloud, its mad ill. This day will be very hard to top on the food and music tip but I am still young and am determined to try my hardest to do so.  

North Coast Festival Chicago, IL Day 1

       What can I say? Wow!! One of the best music and food weekends I have ever had, which is what BooYaBass is all about so I am very excited for this entry and I apologize for the delay.  Before our journey to Chicago for the 2^nd Annual Northcoast Music Festival http://www.northcoastfestival.com/we picked up some take out from the Midtown Diner in Ann Arbor http://www.marksmidtown.com .  We knew we didn’t want to settle for McDonalds breakfast or even worse Burger King (those can be saved for when severely hungover) so I wasn’t expecting much for our parking lot picnic (pictured to the left).  I ordered the Greek skillet and it was standard diner fare which means it wasn’t amazing and it wasn’t disgusting (it did the trick).  It was relaxing to take the Megabus this time to the city and a relief off top that I knew in advance that I wouldn’t have to drive home on Monday. Even though its tough for me to sleep on the bus it gives me a good opportunity to zone and try to meditate to normally some good downtempo or experimental.  Since we were leaving Ann Arbor Shigeto's Full Circle seemed necessary, VIBE2IT!!  Peep Shigeto's Soundcloud, here you will find mega-fresh head-nodders, bangers and deep thinkers from one of Michigan's top experimental producers that is really starting to make some big noise across the globe.   

      Our good friend picked us up and took us straight to the Eleven City Diner, Chicago’s premiere authentic Jewish/New York style deli http://www.elevencitydiner.com/.  While I have never been to a real New York Deli this was by far the best Pastrami I have ever had, it literally melts in your mouth.  The pastrami ruben sandwich was served open faced, stacked tall with melted swiss, a very flavorful sandwich pictured above. 

     There wasn’t much going on music wise at the festival Friday for our tastes. I mean it was headlined by David Guetta and Whiz Khalifa (gag me with a spoon).  However, the vibe inside was live even though it did  make me feel old for one of the first times ever. This doesn't bother me though because my friends and I are better at these places than others and we have the most fun.  Despite un-appealing sounds from the stages there was some pretty decent house music in the Silent Disco that we enjoyed dancing to. If you are not familiar with a silent disco it’s pretty much a genius idea that you should check out especially if you like dancing. Learn more here Silent Disco.  We skipped out on the after parties tonight but please stay tuned for the rest of the weekends festivities coming soon.   

Lover's Melt 2

     Are you a fan of seventies soul? Sixties psychedelia? Funk? Free jazz? Extra smooth cool out jams? Underground summer loving B-side anthems you have never heard? Then you are in for a real treat today :-) While Stephen Ellison aka Flying Lotus (more on him and his future of music label Brainfeeder later) is normally known for his very abstract, left-of-center hypnotic head-bobbing beats, with Lovers Melt II he is offering you a two hour mix of his favorite tracks, from the genres mentioned above, all blended up nice and smooth.  Its the perfect backdrop for a back yard cookout, a country drive or road trip, romantic time with a friend, an after-after party wind down, or when you want to cook up something extra special for your lover.   Oh, did I mention this mix is free? Because it is !! 100% free and legal from our friends over at Brainfeeder via the Stonesthrow podcast series. Download Here: Lovers Melt 2 Mixed By Flying Lotus 

     Since the title of the mix is Lovers Melt 2, I will offer up this amazing recipe I found in Food Networks Magazine July/August 2011 issue (slightly spiced up and altered to my loves taste buds) for you to cook for your lover.

Ingredients:

• 2 small to medium zucchini
• 2 small to medium yellow summer squash
• 4 eggs
• 1 to 2 jalapenos
• 3 to 4 green onions
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• salt and pepper
• pinch or two of cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons of butter

     Start off by grating up two small to medium sized zucchini’s and squash’s a piece with a box grater, mix in a couple pinches of salt and let drain in a colander for about 30 minutes, also be sure to squeeze out any remaining water after it has sat.  Finely slice up 3 or 4 green onions, 1 or 2 jalapenos (depending on how hot you want) and a clove of garlic.  Get this sauteing in a pan with a little butter.  Add your zucchini/squash mixture with some salt, pepper, garlic powder, crushed red pepper and a pinch or two of nutmeg.  Cook this until slightly dry and add about a quarter cup of chopped parsley.  Set aside and let cool a bit.  With the back of a spoon make 4 round indentations into the pan big enough to crack an egg into.  Put a dab of butter in each, add a cracked egg into each and season with salt and pepper.  Sprinkle each egg or the entire thing with your favorite grated cheese and place in a preheated 375 degree oven until the egg whites are set and the yolks are to your preferred doneness (the runnier the better).  Serve with hashbrowns, toast and sliced tomato (and bacon if you want :-)) If this doesn’t make your "lover melt" then just leave it up to the Flylo mix.  Until next time Peace, Eats, and Beats