Thursday Bears: Magic everywhere in this bitch

I've always liked something about the Insane Clown Posse.

Certainly, no, it's not their music or anything close to their fan base. But for a music artists like ICP to simply exist brings an ephemeral joy that cannot really be explained. I constantly try to divulge and discover the rapidly expanding worlds of indie and alternative music, mostly finding artists who I would describe as "okay," (cough! Smith Westerns cough!) Sometimes I get a great, but not as often as it may seem. But rarely do I ever come across an artist that has the portfolio like these guys do.

Annoying, idiotic fan-base? Yep.
Musical composition that's so stupid it crosses into the realm of intellectual curiosity? Uh huh.
Clowns. Yes.
Creating other cult figures after their own. Tsimfuckis owes them a lot.

When their new video for "Miracles" came out earlier this week, I watched it several times over. From what I can decipher, it either takes as little thought provacation as possible or such an immense amount that it limits the human brain capacity in itself. And that, is indeed a miracle.

Insane Clown Posse - Miracles

Tuesday Bears: Official Lollapalooza lineup revealed

One day after Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune leaked what was to be believed as the "official" Lollapalooza lineup, festival promoters have announced the legitimate lineup. And, in an ironic (or completely un-ironic twist), Kot was 100 percent on the money.

Indeed, the reunited Soundgarden, Lady Gaga, Green Day, Arcade Fire, Strokes and Phoenix are scheduled to headline the 2010 festival, with other notables, such as Spoon, The New Pornographers and The National, among others, making up a portion of the mid-tier acts.

The festival will host a couple retro and legendary acts, such as reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, Devo and Cypress Hill, who appeared with Soundgarden at the first Lollapalooza in 1992. Perry's Place looks to replicate the fantastic success of 2009, landing 2manydjs, Empire of the Sun and Digitalism, among others, to lead the electro charge.

Despite the relatively improved headliners from last year and what appears to be another stellar stack of performers at Perry's Place, 2010's lineup (like 2009) appears to be a tad lacking, a la Bonnaroo. After various rumors had The Flaming Lips set to headline, the Oklahoma band is a no-show, which is likely the reason why Phoenix was thrown in as the sixth. Along with the disproved rumors possible appearances from David Byrne, Dangerdoom, Public Enemy and Against Me!, the mid-tier and lower groups look a bit light. Put that together with a superior Coachella lineup (it really is amazing), and fans may have some legitimate gripes this year.

However, with the seemingly last second inclusions of acts like Erykah Badu, The Walkmen, Harlem, Health and Wavves, this year may prove to be a little more full than meets the eye.

Three-day tickets for the Chicago festival, held from August 6-8, are available now. You can check out the whole lineup yourself here.

Stay tuned for more news regarding anything and everything Lolla ...

Monday Bears: Monday's Lollapalooza updates

I should probably rename Bears and Bullets to Lolla and Lollapalooza this time of year, on the count of my rampant obsession with anything and everything about the annual Chicago festival.

One day before festival promoters release the official lineup, Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot (thanks in most part from Consequence of Sound) has given word of what should be the final lineup. Again, this is not the official lineup released by Lollapalooza promoters, but more than likely the final lineup.

First, a couple corrections from the last Lolla rumor post from Wednesday -- Speculated acts David Byrne and Dangerdoom will not be appearing this year. Disappointing, yes.

A few surprise acts climbed their way into the final rumored lineup, including Erykah Badu, MUTEMATH, Stars, Health, Wavves and the Walkmen slated to make a 2010 appearance. The final lineup, including the electronic acts at Perry's Place, should resemble something like this (according to Kot):

Soundgarden, Green Day, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, Phoenix, Social Distortion, MGMT, Jimmy Cliff, Hot Chip, the Black Keys, the National, Spoon, Devo, Cypress Hill, Cut Copy, The New Pornographers, Erykah Badu, Slightly Stoopid, Grizzly Bear, Gogol Bordello, Chromeo, Wolfmother, Yeasayer, X Japan, MUTEMATH, Metric, Dirty Projectors, AFI, Mavis Staples, Matt & Kim, the xx, Drive-By Truckers, Blues Traveler

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Temper Trap, Jamie Lidell, Frightened, Rabbit, Fuck Buttons, Deer Tick, Blitzen Trapper, Stars, Raphael Saadiq, The Cribs, Minus the Bear, Switchfoot, The Walkmen, Mumford & Sons, Wild Beasts, Rogue Wave, Los Amigos Invisibles, the Big Pink, the Dodos, Hockey, Cymbals Eat Guitars, B.o.B, Dawes, Warpaint, The Antlers, The Soft Pack, Rebelution, Balkan Beat Box

Wavves, American Bang, The Ike Reilly Assassination, Company of Thieves, Nneka, Harlem, The Constellations, Miniature Tigers, Mimicking Birds, The Kissaway Trail, HEALTH, Javelin, The Morning Benders, Foxy Shazam, Violent Soho, Royal Bangs, NEON TREES, Freelance Whales, Semi Precious Weapons, Dan Black, The Band of Heathens, Dragonette, My Dear Disco, Shawn Fisher, Neon Hitch, Skybox, The Ettes, Jukebox the Ghost, These United States, MyNameIsJohnMichael

Perry’s DJ stage lineup:

2ManyDJs, Empire of the Sun, Digitalism, Perry Farrell, Tiga, Felix da Housecat, Rusko, Erol Alkan, Kaskade, Flosstradamus, Wolfgang Gartner, Joachim Garraud, Mexican Institute of Sound, Caspa, Peanut Butter Wolf, Dirty South, NERVO, Cut Copy (DJ Set), Beats Antique, Steve Porter, Didi Gutman of Brazilian Girls, Ancient Astronauts, Ana Sia, Team Bayside High, Dani Deahl, FreeSol, DJ Mel, BBU Vonnegutt, Only Children, Lance Herbstrong

Stay tuned until midnight tonight (or sometime tomorrow) for the Official Lineup.