Whoever said outdoor electronic day shows were boring?

James Blake performed "CMYK" at Pitchfork Music Festival a few weekends back, accompanied by a pretty talented drummer and another guy who appears to switch between a guitar for the song's CV radio coda and some sort of synthesizer for the frenetic groove in the middle.

Toss in some crazy vocal effects from Mr. Blake and you've got a couple thousand happy, dancing hipsters.

It’s been a slow couple of months for interesting new music from established acts, be they indie or mainstream. Other than Kanye and Jay-Z’s epic collaboration on “Watch the Throne,” we haven’t heard much from the usual suspects.

But that’s not to say times are tough! Plenty of great music is streaming and downloadable right now, both from up-and-coming indie acts and locals. Here are my picks for the week.

Thundercat made himself known to indie audiences when he guested on Flying Lotus’ excellent “Cosmogramma” last year. FlyLo reciprocated by producing his debut LP, “The Golden Age of Apocalypse.” Stream it over at Hype Machine.  

Tulsa and Enid have combined to give us Good Morning Grizzly, a pretty, pop-rock project that put this first big track up for download. It’s called “Stars and Satellites,” and you can snag it at the band's Bandcamp page.

Hazy, Swedish, mix ’n’ mash duo jj have a new track up for download at Gorilla Vs. Bear. The lengthily named “You Don’t Know How Much It Would Hurt Me If You Said You Were in Love with Me,” it’s certainly creepier and sexier than anything they’ve previously recorded.

GVB is also streaming this new track from Twin Sister, who recorded one of the best songs we heard last year in “All Around and Away We Go.” Give ’em both a listen.

Okie Chase Kerby (The City Lives) is getting back into the pop-rock game with Defining Times. Their debut EP was up for free download earlier in the week, but now it’ll set you back $5. I call that money well-spent.

Peter Bjorn and John stopped by KEXP’s studios in Seattle to play a couple of tracks off their latest record, “Gimme Some.” Watch “Breaker, Breaker” (complete with cowbell!) below.



Ho, boy. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Much like the sneak peek at the single they set loose a little early a few weeks ago, New York dance-punk gods The Rapture streamed an in-studio listening party for their new album, “In the Grace of Your Love.” You might recall me blowing my top over “How Deep Is Your Love” a few weeks ago. This stream has amplified my anticipation for the album a dozenfold.



Oklahoma City rapper and good guy Jabee put out a remix to the track “Beautiful Day” off his “Lucky Me” mixtape. Give ’er the ol’ download and listen.

Also, Stephen Malkmus recently played a set of his new material at Amoeba Music in Hollywood. There, he also announced the winner of his blowjob contest. I promise it’s not as gross as you think.  



About a week ago, we heard a titillating tweet from James Blake promising a mysterious Bon Iver collab. It is now here and it is glorious.

In just a few short hours, I’ll depart my sweet Oklahoma for the very large state of Texas. Specifically, I’m headed to its capital, which is hosting its wonderful, annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. 

Now on my third trip (’08, ’10), I’ve seen some really incredible shows (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova in ’08 stand out, as does LCD Soundsystem’s raucous, cathartic show last year) and gotten to interview some really great, talented artists, and this weekend’s shaping up to promise much more of the same!

I’ll be posting interviews with artists and daily recaps here on OKSee all weekend long, regularly updating my Flickr page, and tweeting incessantly, so check in with me to know what’s happening as it’s happening.

Anywho, here’s a list of the artists I’ll be chatting with in the press tent this weekend. Tweet me if you have any questions for them!

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.



• Reptar



• Wax



• Big Boi

Big Boi Ft. Gucci Mane - Shine Blockas Video from SNORTTHIS.COM on Vimeo.

• James Blake