Pig Pen's Play Pen

Alright guys! next week its Rap/HipHop.

Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez (born November 29, 1946 in San Antonio de los Baños, La Habana, Cuba) is a Cuban musician, and a leader of the nueva trova movement. He is known for his highly eloquent and symbolic lyrics. Many of his songs have become classics in Latin American music, such as Ojalá, Playa Girón and La maza. Rodríguez is well known for socially critical yet ambiguous lyrics, which have raised the suspicions of both the Cuban government and Cuban-American groups on various occasions.

KAKKMADDAFAKKA are somewhat of an anomaly in today’s music scene. Their sound is almost impossible to categorise, containing elements from almost all the musical movements of the past century. But what else would expect from the latest band to emerge from the innovative Bergen music scene that produced Kings Of Convenience, Datarock, Royksopp and Casiokids. KAKKMADDAFAKKA have been thrilling crowds up and down Norway since 2004 with their on-stage party, which features up to ten persons, including a horn section and dancing choirboys. The band is now building a solid reputation overseas after shows around Europe, the US and Canada, including festival appearances at CMJ Music Mararthon, Euro Sonic, NXNE, Melt!, Montreux Jazz Festival and soon Lowlands! The band are currently recording a new album and will release their first single in 2010.

Biffy Clyro is a three-piece alternative rock band which formed in Kilmarnock, Scotland in 1995. The band consists of Simon Neil (vocals, guitar), James Johnston (bass, vocals) and his twin brother Ben (drums, vocals). The band has released five albums since their formation: “Blackened Sky” (2002), “The Vertigo of Bliss” (2003), “Infinity Land” (2004), “Puzzle” (2007) and “Only Revolutions” (2010). Their sixth album, “Opposites”, is due for release on 28 January 2013. Biffy, as they are often referred to, utilise a quiet/loud dynamic, constructing songs that can range from a whisper-quiet pick on the guitar, to huge walls of noise with massive distortion and crashing drums. Their sound has simplified somewhat in recent times yet still occasionally contains complex time signatures and heavy riffs. While Simon Neil sings lead, all three members provide vocals. “’mon the biffy!” is a well known chant amongst Biffy fans; it is usually shouted in between songs at gigs, or before the band come on stage. Some fans have reacted poorly to the band’s recent output. The first incarnation of what would eventually become Biffy Clyro was formed in 1995 by fifteen-year-old Irvine-born, Ayr-raised guitarist Simon Neil, who recruited Kilmarnock-born Ben Johnston and someone known only as Barry on drums and bass respectively, calling themselves Screwfish.

Asta Kask is a punk band from Töreboda, Sweden. It was founded as X-tas in 1978, but changed to Asta Kask in 1980. In 1984 the band started working with Rosa Honung Records. After the 1986 release of the “Aldrig en LP” the band split up. Bjurren and Bonnie started Cosa Nostra, Micke joined Strebers and Ernie started Nein together with members of Rolands Gosskör. In 1989 the band was reunited and played a few gigs, but then went dormant until 1992 when they played at Rosa Honung’s ten year jubilee. Then the band went quiet again until 2003 when they started touring again as a “revenge” for all the unfairness they’ve been put through. The drummer, Bjurre, quit the band in late 2004 to focuson his other bands Frost and Deny, and was replaced by Dadde (of Wolfbrigade). During 2005 a conflict with Rosa Honung that had been growing for many years reached a point where the band could no longer work with the label so they signed a deal with Burning Heart Records. In April 2006 Asta kask recorded their first new album in 20 years.

Café Tacvba (Often spelled Café Tacuba) is a musical group from Naucalpan, Mexico. Their musical style covers a wide variety of genres, though it is most commonly labeled as Rock en Español. Their music has been heavily influenced by Mexico’s indigenous population and folk music traditions, most notable the Jarocho style of the state of Veracruz, but also by punk and electronic music and other bands in the Mexico City scene. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of their music is Albarrán’s nasal voice, which, combined with his impressive lung capacity (as demonstrated on “La Ingrata”, an homage to norteño music), makes for a very distinctive sound. They sing entirely in Spanish but have a significant Anglophone following regardless. They have an especially eclectic sound, and it’s commonly said that none of their discs is of exactly the same genre. For example, “Maria” is a bolero style ballad, “La Ingrata” is a mix of rock and “norteño” , while “Eres”, a hit included in “Cuatro Caminos” album, is mostly pop-rock. They were founded in 1989, and since then have had the same musical lineup: * Rubén Isaac Albarrán Ortega aka “Pinche Juan” (“Fuckin Juan”), “Cosme”, “Anónimo” (Anonymous), “Nrü” (pronounced “dshyoo”, [dʃju] in IPA), “Amparo Tonto Medardo In Lak’ech” (or “At Medardo ILK”), “G3”, “Gallo Gasss”, “Élfego Buendía”, “Sizu Yantra” (which is his solo moniker as well), “Rita Cantalagua”, “Ixi Xoo” and many others. (vocals, guitar)

The Dubliners started off in O’Donoghue’s pub in Dublin, Ireland in 1962 under the name of “the Ronnie Drew Folk Group”. Then they were four, Ronnie Drew (vocals and guitar), Luke Kelly (vocals and 5-string banjo), Barney McKenna (tenor banjo, mandolin, melodeon and vocals) and Ciarán Bourke (vocals, guitar, tin whistle and harmonica). In 1963, they played at the Edinburgh festival where they met the head of Transatlantic Records, Nathan Joseph, for whom they started recording. In 1964, Luke Kelly left, and Bobby Lynch (vocals and guitar) and John Sheahan (fiddle, tin whistle, mandolin, concertina, guitar and vocals) were added. When Luke Kelly returned and Bobby Lynch left in 1965, we have what is considered as the original Dubliners, five individualists, five men whose talents were mixed together in a superb blend and just wanted to play and have a good craic. If they only knew what was awaiting them! In 1967 their major breakthrough came as a result of a coincidence. Their song, “Seven Drunken Nights” which was recorded in one take, was snapped up by a pirate radio station which started playing it along with The Beatles, The Mamas & the Papas, The Who, The Kinks and Jimi Hendrix. Suddenly, The Dubliners was a major band, playing all over the world, getting into the charts, and receiving gold discs. Not what you expected from a bunch of hairy people who “looked like they’d just been dragged out of a seedy bar via a hedge(backwards) and dropped on London from a very great height”.(Colin Irwin in the reissue of “Live at the Albert Hall”)

LIQUITS es un trío de Power Rock Pop 100% mexicano con una trayectoria de más de 13 años tocando en México y el extranjero. Se formó en 1993 en la zona sur de la Ciudad de México y fue muy popular en el underground debido a lo divertido de sus composiciones y ejecuciones, pero sobre todo por la corta edad de sus integrantes. Con 3 discos en su trayectoria “Karaoke” (2001) “Jardin” (2004) y “Perfume Pantera” (2007)han logrado colocarse en el gusto del publico. Sus temas llenos de energia y humor los ubica como una de las propuestas mas frescas en la escena nacional.

Seu Jorge (born June 8, 1970) (Portuguese: IPA: [ˈsew ˈʒɔxʒi]) is a Brazilian musician, singer, songwriter and actor. Born Jorge Mário da Silva, he was raised in a favela in the city of Belford Roxo in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro state. He is considered by his fans to be a renewer of Brazilian pop samba. Seu Jorge cites the samba school Estação Primeira de Mangueira, composers Nelson Cavaquinho, Zeca Pagodinho, and American soul singer Stevie Wonder as major musical influences. He is also a fan of footballer Romário. As a singer, Seu Jorge was part of the band Farofa Carioca, writing most of the songs of their 1998 debut album Moro no Brasil. In 2001 he released Samba Esporte Fino, a pop album influenced by musicians Jorge Ben Jor, Gilberto Gil, and Milton Nascimento. It was released outside Brazil under the name Carolina in 2003. His second album, the critically acclaimed Cru (“Raw”), was released in 2005. Seu Jorge also recorded the live duo album “Ana & Jorge” with Brazilian singer Ana Carolina, released in Brazil in 2005. Seu Jorge has gained exposure through his work as an actor and soundtrack composer. He appeared in the critically acclaimed film City of God as Mané Galinha, and then played Pelé Dos Santos in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, for which he provided much of the soundtrack in the form of Portuguese language cover versions of David Bowie classics.

Bebel Gilberto (born Isabel Gilberto de Oliveira on May 12, 1966 in New York City) is an American-born Grammy Award-nominated Brazilian popular singer often associated with bossa nova. She is the daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha. Her uncle is singer/composer Chico Buarque. Bebel has been performing since her youth in Rio de Janeiro. At the age of seven, Bebel made an appearance on her mother’s first solo album Miúcha. At age nine, Bebel performed with her mother and jazz saxophonist Stan Getz at a jazz festival in New York’s Carnegie Hall. Back in Brazil, Bebel performed and recorded for the soundtrack of the children’s musical Os Saltimbancos, written by Sergio Bardotti and Chico Buarque. Later on Bebel joined an experimental theatrical group and was a member of the founding team of the performance space Circo Voador (Flying Circus) at Ipanema Beach. In this group she met singer/songwriter Cazuza, who became a close friend and soon a major rock star in Brazil during the 1980s. Throughout the 1990s, Bebel collaborated with a variety of musical stars such as Arto Lindsay, Thievery Corporation, David Byrne, Towa Tei, Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque. In 1996 Bebel was featured in the AIDS charity project Red Hot + Rio, produced by her close friend and collaborator Béco Dranoff. By the mid 1990s, Bebel also had successes as songwriter with the international dance hits “Technova” and “Batucada” in collaboration with producers Towa Tei and Arto Lindsay.

Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim (born January 25, 1927 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – December 8, 1994 in New York City), also called Tom Jobim, was a Brazilian composer, arranger, singer, pianist and perhaps the greatest legend of bossa nova. Jobim’s compositions, many performed by João Gilberto, gave birth to the genre in the early 1960s. Jobim’s roots were planted firmly in the works of Pixinguinha, a legendary musician and composer who, in the 1930s, began the development of modern Brazilian music. He was also influenced by the music of French composer Claude Debussy and by jazz. Jobim found prominence when he teamed up with writer and poet Vinicius de Moraes in providing part of the music for the play Orfeu de Carnaval (1956), that later gained wide recognition in the film Black Orpheus. The lyrics for his most popular songs were written by de Moraes. American jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra prominently featured Jobim’s songs on their albums Ella Abraca Jobim (1981) and Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim (1967), respectively. Jobim is recognized the world over as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. His first album, Sinfonia Do Rio De Janeiro, was recorded in 1954, with Billy Blanco.

Nouvelle Vague (France) is a project created by French musicians Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux and a number of female singers, including Camille, Alexandra Pavlou of Spring and Suburbia, Mélanie Pain, Marina Céleste & Phoebe Killdeer of Phoebe Killdeer and the Short Straws. The group’s albums consist in bossa nova fashioned covers of (primarily) new wave songs (hence the name “Nouvelle Vague”). The covers include songs by Dead Kennedys, The Smiths, Joy Division, Public Image Ltd. , Depeche Mode and Bauhaus. Each singer only performed songs they were not previously familiar with, to ensure that each cover would have an individual interpretation. With a name that means “new wave” in English and “nova onda” in Portuguese (which is the meaning for “bossa nova”, a new music “fashion”), Nouvelle Vague’s moniker neatly sums up the group’s concept: remaking classic new wave singles with a Brazilian pop twist. Libaux played with various French pop bands during the ’90s and began working with Collin in 1998. For Nouvelle Vague, Collin and Libaux recruited half a dozen French and Brazilian vocalists who were unfamiliar with the original versions of songs like Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and XTC’s “Making Plans For Nigel” to ensure that their renditions had their own identity. Nouvelle Vague was released in Europe in 2004 and received U.S.

The Pogues are a popular Irish folk rock band of the 1980s and 90s. They have a strong following, essentially invented celtic punk and had a large influence on the larger celtic fusion scene as well. The Pogues were founded in King’s Cross, a district in north London, in 1982 as Pogue Mahone — “pogue mahone” being the Anglicisation of the Irish póg mo thóin, meaning “kiss my arse”. The band specialised in Irish folk music, often playing with the energy of the punk rock scene from which several of the members had their roots. Their politically-tinged music was reminiscent of The Clash, with whom they played (Joe Strummer produced one of their albums and even joined the group briefly), and used traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, banjo, cittern, mandolin, accordion, and more. In the later incarnations of the band, after the departure of Shane Macgowan, electronic instruments such as the electric guitar would become more prominent. The first of The Pogues’ albums, Red Roses For Me, borrows much from the punk tradition of MacGowan’s previous band The Nipple Erectors (later dubbed The Nips). Band history Shane Macgowan (vocals),James Fearnley (accordion) and Spider Stacy (tin whistle) were the original members of the Pogues, in the days when they busked on the streets of London. Before the rest of the group formed, MacGowan and Stacy were rumoured to have played impromptu performances on street corners and city buses which attracted local interest to their talent. They later added Jeremy ‘Jem’ Finer (guitar, banjo), Cait O’Riordan (bass) and Andrew Ranken (drums).

Fobia is a rock band from Mexico City, founded in 1987. They are known for being part of the new generation’s “Mexican Rock” (end of the 80’s). Their debut album “Fobia”, released in 1990, was a great success. The band later recorded 4 more albums: Mundo Feliz (1991), Leche (1993), Amor Chiquito (1995) and the live album On ice (1997). The original band split up in 1997 and reunited in 2003 releasing a new album by the name of “Rosa Venus”. The current lineup: Leonardo de Lozanne (Lead singer), Paco Huidobro (Lead guitar), Javier “El Chá!” Ramírez (Bass), Iñaki (Keyboards, Sequences) and Jay De La Cueva (Drums).

April March (real name Elinor Blake) is an indie pop singer from California. She was born on April 20, 1965 and sings in English and French. Her best known composition is an English language remake of Serge Gainsbourg’s “Laisse tomber les filles” released in 1998 as “Chick Habit”. The song appears during the opening credits of the 1999 film “But I’m A Cheerleader” and the end credits of Quentin Tarantino’s 2007 film “Death Proof”, the latter alongside her cover of the original song. She has had one of the more interesting dual careers, as a cartoon animator (including a stint as a principal animator for the Ren & Stimpy show) and as an indie pop singer/songwriter, more popular in France than in Brooklyn, where she was raised, or in her current home of California. As a child, Elinor became fascinated with France, and jumped at the opportunity to participate in an exchange program in France in junior high. Today, her albums tend to contain songs in both English and French, which draw heavily on themes and styles from French 1960s pop music. Beginning in the early 1980s, she worked as an animator for Archie Comics and Pee Wee’s Playhouse; in 1986 we see her working on the Madonna feature Who’s That Girl, animating the star in the title sequence and the contemporaneous music video. Her first band, The Pussywillows, was formed in 1987, although their existence was interrupted for a year while April March attended the one-year Disney Character Animation program in California.

Enrique Ortiz de Landázuri Izarduy, better known as Enrique Bunbury, was born August 11, 1967 in Zaragoza, Spain. He got involved in music in the early 1980s, making his debut in a high school band called Apocalipsis, and later played along with Proceso Entrópico. In 1984 Bunbury joined a group called Zumo de Vidrio, debuting as a lead vocalist. After adopting the nickname of Bunbury, taken from an Oscar Wilde novel, the musician teamed up with Héroes Del Silencio, becoming a major number in the spanish rock scene. The band eventually broke up in 1996 and Bunbury started his solo career in 1997 with a techno album, Radical Sonora with his new band: Copi (piano), del Moran (bass), Ramón Gacias (drums) and former Héroes del Silencio guitarrist Alan Boguslavsky. Recognized by his wish to always reinvent himself, Bunbury released in 1999 the album Pequeño, which sounded much different than anything he did before. His band also suffered changes, Boguslavsky was replaced by Rafa Domínguez, and the new faces, Ana Belén Estaje (violin), Luis Miguel Romero (percussion), Javier Iñigo, Javier García Vega & Antonio Ríos in the metal instruments. This band was known as the “Huracán Ambulante” (“Rambling Hurricane”) and recorded with Bunbury the rest of his solo discography, (except Antonio Ríos). In 2005, after 8 years together, Bunbury dissolved the band and declared that will record a new album in 2006 only with his voice and a piano. Nevertheless, in early 2006 he recorded an album with spanish artist Nacho Vegas by the name of El Tiempo De Las Cerezas.

A Mexican pop rock band formed in Monterrey, Nuevo León in 1996. The band, occcasionally styled PXNDX, caught local attention in 2001 with the album “Arroz con Leche”, and mainstream success on their albums “Para ti con desprecio” (2005) and “Amantes Sunt Amentes” (2006)