Rams Head The Blog

Hip Hop alternative duo Kidz In The Hall (K.I.T.H) invites you to celebrate the release of their new album Land Of Make Believe with them at Rams head Live March 4th. Joining them on the bill will be a Who’s Who of local and national hip-hop acts, including Sticky Mulligan, The Get Em Mamis, 88-Keys, Izza Kizza and Donnis.

Founded on the grounds of Ivy League school University of Pennsylvania, 2008 was a big year for hip-hop alternative duo Kidz In The Hall.  After the release of their critically acclaimed album, it propelled them into MTV’s TRL & BET’S 106 & Park limelight with key tracks like “Drivin Down The Block,” and “Love Hangover” featuring Estelle. Later success landed them a global Reebok campaign around the brand’s Classics campaign remixing & shooting a video for Special Ed’s “I Got It Made” which featured in over 500 footwear locations nationwide. From there fans saw them on every stage with Gym Class Heroes, MURS, The Clipse and heard them on numerous video games including EA Sports Madden 09, NBA LIVE 2010, Rockstar Game’s Midnight Club LA  and Activision’s Pimp My Ride 2.

Their new single Jukebox world premiered on MTV2 formats February 10th. Already taking steam, Jukebox has reached #1 on college radio’s Rap Network & Rap Attack charts, Sirius and Hot 97 mixtape formats. The follow up to last year’s wildly successful The In Crowd, this album features production by Just Blaze on “Take Over The World” ft. Colin Munroe and appearances by MC Lyte, Marsha Ambrosius, Amanda Diva, Chip Tha Rapper, Donnis, Tim William and Russoul. K.I.T.H also embark on the 2010 Crowd Control Tour alongside 88-Keys, Izza Kizza and Donnis starting February 27th in Syracuse, NY.

Melding Hip-hop, R&B and Pop/Rock, the album is “Extraordinary music for ordinary people” comments Double- O, DJ of K.I.T.H. A sonic department from previous albums, The Land Of Make Believe dares to push the boundary between who you are, who you think you are and the constant struggle getting to where you want to be. This album allowed K.I.T.H to reflect and analyze both strengths and weaknesses redefining their goals and aspirations. Naledge, MC of K.I.T.H comments, “the moment we have worked for has come to a crossroad.  We’ve never taken time to look ourselves in the mirror and analyze what this industry has made us. As a lyricist, I used this album to serve as a soundtrack to my aspirations and to my downfalls, but also as a chance to evaluate who I am as a man compared to whom I envisioned myself to be.”

Flickin’ perfectly illustrate that dichotomy of imagination and reality. “The title is a colloquial Chicago term. It’s the idea that at any point in time, something is photo ready…a person’s car, shoes, haircut is picturesque. Confidence is key” comments Naledge. Other songs like “Will II Win” ft. Marsha Ambrosius and “Take Over The World” ft. Colin Munroe (co-produced by Just Blaze) further illustrate the drive to succeed and the internal lessons needed to accomplish just that. Tracks like Running ft. Tim Williams & Do It All Again exemplify the need to hustle and never give up.

There is basically a moral fire sale going on around Tiger Woods these days. Every woman the All-World golfer has come around (and apparently there have been many) in the last three years is coming out of the woodwork to cash in on any and all the details of how he courted them, won them over, or, um, in some cases snuck them over to Australia for a kangaroo bop. We have been shocked by pictures of the once Teflon superstar in seedy Las Vegas nightclubs and stupefied by his dirty text messages that have inspired some remarkable new jargon (“blasian?).

However, although his 911 calls, text messages, e-mails and even his erotic dreams have made their way to us via Highway TMZ, we are VERY surprised that we don’t have any details on what Tiger was listening to when he committed his “transgressions.” What was the soundtrack to this three year romp? We try to guess below, at what the Tiger Playlist would consist of:

1) O.P.P. – Naughty By Nature
Is Tiger down with O.P.P.? Um, yep.

2) Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
This would be dedicated to Elin, who many suspect was doing this with, um, a golf club Thanksgiving night.

3) I Get Around – 2Pac
MLB has adopted theme songs for players when they step into the batter’s box before their at bats. If the PGA follows suit, this is a mortal lock for Tiger’s intro music.

4) Wear You Out – TV On the Radio
Would be surprised if Tiger’s musical tastes trended this “indie”, but apparently this phrase is used so frequently in Tiger’s text messages it now shows up via iTap.

5) Viva Las Vegas – Elvis Presley
Is there anything funnier than seeing the pictures of Tiger in these seedy nightclubs with his Nike polo shirts on? How’s this for product placement? Bet they are REALLY glad he was so committed to wearing their brand at all times.

6) 1, 2, 3, 4 – Plain White T’s
Uh, keep going guys. This is now being referred to as Tiger’s “harem.”

7) Undercover of the Night – Rolling Stones
Apparently Tiger can’t be the best man at his childhood friend’s wedding this month because his buddy helped sneak his “mistress du jour” into Australia for a rendezvous. I would love to see what Elin did to THAT wedding gift she picked out for Tiger.

Sean Paul – Ever Blazin’
Don’t you hate it when you think a song says one thing and it turns out to be something totally different? Tiger thought this was “Ever Blasian.” “Uh, it’s not?” “Really?”

9) California Girls – David Lee Roth
“Well East coast girls are hip/I really dig those styles they wear/And the Southern girls with the way they talk/They knock me out when I’m down there/The Mid-West farmer’s daughters really make you feel alright/And the Northern girls with the way they kiss/They keep their boyfriends warm at night. “Oh man I love that part.”

10) Ne-Yo – It’s Over
We don’t know what is and isn’t over. Reports today are that Tiger would give up golf to keep his family together. I’ll believe it when I see it.

11) Promise of a New Day – Paula Abdul
To press agent: “Okay. So I need to promise to Elin on Oprah that I will never do this again. Check. Do you think the public will believe that? Wait a minute, is Paula single? What’s she doing now?”

12) I’ll Be Your Man – The Black Keys
What 100% of single men are singing today to Elin. (Um, if she leaves Tiger will she be named the Most Eligible Single Woman of All Time? If there is ANY way to qualify this, wouldn’t it have to be her?) Oh wait this is supposed to be Tiger’s playlist.

13) Dan Bern – Tiger Woods
Sorry, Dan. Not today. “Don’t want to be like Tiger Woods” today. Although most red blooded men would love to have had a three month tear like he had on the back nine of ’09, but preferably BEFORE the wife and small children.

Baltimore’s Caleb Stine is one of the acts who is currently putting our music scene here in B-More on the map nationally. Monday night he went down to Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta and won the club’s singer-songwriter competition. Last night he appeared on WTMD’s Baltimore Unsigned Show with Sam Sessa. He wraps up a successful Southern Tour this Saturday night at Rams Head Live with special guests Van Meter, Chester River Runoff and the Desert Boys.

Caleb Stine featured in B Daily

Read an interview from yesterday’s B Daily here, and then check out his website at www.calebstine.com.

Summertime is full of so many choices; between beaches, vacations, baseball and multiple concert attractions, there are a lot of options for your time and money. When you are deciding between so many valid options, sometimes you need one good, solid reason to commit to a show. Without further ado, here is the one good reason you should check out each of our remaining Pier Shows.

July 18th
The BSO presents Queen
The Reason: I got to see a little bit of the BSO’s Bugs Bunny show at Merriweather, and was instantly taken aback by the power of hearing an orchestra belt out the Warner Brothers music. And that was cartoon music. THIS is going to be Queen. Last year’s Zeppelin show earned rave reviews, and we can’t think of a better band to select this season than Queen. “We Will Rock You”, “We are the Champions”, “Fat Bottomed Girls”, well, maybe not, but you get the point. This is going to be an amazing night.

July 19th
Reggae on the Harbor feat. Toots and the Maytals, Reel Big Fish, English Beat, Supervillans, Players Band, Jah Works and Can’t Hang.
The Reason: Yeah, I know it isn’t really reggae. That’s okay though – the weather forecast for Sunday? Sunny and 82 degrees (I’m not making this up – go here http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/21201?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared).
This music is undeniable; beers will be flowing and there is no better way to spend a Sunday Fun Day than on the water at Pier Six listening to SEVEN amazing reggae/ska bands. There will be cornhole courts set up, and if you order before Friday at 5 P.M., you can bring tow of your friends FREE.

July 23rd
Hippiefest
The Reason: It’s the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock, and all you old hippies love these bands. Whether its Corky Laing and Leslie West of Mountain wailing away at the guitar, or Three Dog Night’s Chuck Negron telling us Jeremiah was a bullfrog, these songs will bring back memories. Ah the good old days….

July 24th
Randy Travis w/ Caitlin and Will
The Reason: Randy Travis is the real deal. Like the Beatles in rock, Randy Travis marks a generational shift in country music. When his “Storms of Life” came out in 1986, country music was still wallowing in the post-urban cowboy recession, chasing elusive crossover dreams. Travis brought the music back to its basics, sounding like nothing so much as a perfect blend of George Jones and Merle Haggard. He became the dominant male voice in country until the rise of “hat acts” like Garth Brooks and Clint Black, releasing seven consecutive number one singles during one stretch.

July 26th
Blind Boys of Alabama and Ladysmith Black Mambazo w/ Ollabelle
The Reason: On a Sunday no less? If you have ever been lucky enough to see either of these acts you know that they are powerful – inspiring isn’t a strong enough word. Ants could go sledding on the goosebumps these two outfits induce – getting to see either r one of them is a treat; seeing them both in one day is an honor. Hip enough for Bonnaroo and classy enough for Royalty this is one show that should NOT be missed. (The ONLY time I’ve said that here, by the way.)

July 27th
MTVU Sunblock Festival feat. Boys Like Girls, Gym Class Heroes, The Veronicas, Never Shout Never and The Academy is….
The Reason: This bill features five of the hottest bands out right now, but if THAT isn’t reason enough for you to go see it, here’s another: it is also the FILM DATE for the tour. MTV loved the Pier’s waterfront setting, and decided to let this show be the one that would air…so now it won’t just be cool to come, have fun and make a fool of yourself, you might be on TV too?

Sept. 12th
Several Species – the Pink Floyd Experience
True story: A friend of mine said to me in conversation the other day, “I hate tribute bands. I think they all suck and never get the f%&ing music right. Except for Several Species.” I never saw Pink Floyd, but I have scene Several Species’ laser light show, and if you aren’t impressed by this show you are just too cynical. It’s a great night out whether you are a Pink Floyd fan or not.

From his star turn on the groundbreaking comedy show In Living Color to his recent “news show” on Comedy Central Chocolate News to his many appearances on Broadway, David Alan Grier is one of the comedy world’s funniest and most respected comedians. His appearances on Loveline, Crank Yankers and in the recent Nike commercials as the voice of the Kobe Bryant puppet are some of the small screen’s most hilarious recent moments, and he was even featured in the recent season of Dancing With the Stars. (We mention this even though he was eliminated in a dance-off by Lawrence Taylor. Lawrence Taylor! Come on DAG!) This Friday night, Rams Head Live is proud to present a very special evening of comedy with David Alan Grier. We are even more proud that he took the time to answer questions for our blog!

RHL: You have a book coming out this October, called “Barack Like Me”.  If you could spend the day with our 44th president what would you guys be doing?

DAG: We would play No limit Texas Hold’em all day long.

RHL: Have you ever been to Baltimore Before?

DAG: Yeah…been there many times. A friend of mine took me to this underground club years ago in a Sushi Restaurant. These two guys were making music with one turntable and portable key board…I had the best time!

RHL: You got your start in the theater. What would a Broadway show written and cast by you be called?

DAG: It would be called “Everything’s Coming Up David!” The poster would be a pic of me in a field of giant sunflowers…With my face in every flower

RHL:  Who would you really like to get stuck in an elevator with?

DAG: Myself as a very young child.

RHL: Rams Head Live normally hosts music performances. What is the best concert you’ve seen?

DAG: Rolling Stones, Detroit Mich. 1972. Cobo Hall. I was 16 years old, and high on acid. Stevie Wonder opened for them with Martha and the Vandella’s as backup singers. They did an encore and sang Uptight/Satisfaction with Stevie Wonder, the Motown House band and the Stones…Damn that show was gooooood!

Close 2nd: Bob Marley and The Wailers in Ann Arbor Michigan, 1977

RHL:  What is the one thing that makes you laugh the hardest?

DAG: Very funny people

RHL:  What is the most exciting thing about performing comedy in front of a live audience?

DAG: Being able to completely control an audience’s response to me.

RHL:  What comedians or public figures did you look up to as a kid?

DAG: Richard Pryor, Richard Pryor, Richard Pryor