As sun stretched into Saturday’s morning sky, I was bouncing around my room and impatiently trying to nudge my boyfriend out of his peaceful slumber. This day had been circled on my calendar for about a month now and after weeks of built up anticipation, it had finally arrived. It was time to go to the Ball, the Governors Ball. This was not the social gathering you would want to attend in a floor length gown or tuxedo. Instead, you’d want to trade the evening-wear for a tank top, make up for sunscreen, and champagne for water.  The Governors Ball was New York City’s newest addition to its summer festival line up, and I was ecstatic to be a part of it.

First and foremost, my main concern was arriving to the pier early enough to avoid the assumed monolithic ferry lines. It was only logical that the Governors Ball would take place on Governors Island and thought of tens of thousands of festival attendees being forced to rely on boats for the sole option of transportation sounded chaotic. However, much to my surprise, not only was this process organized, but well executed. The longest wait I heard of was twenty minutes, and the ride over was quite stunning. New York City looked tranquil, resting between New Jersey and Brooklyn.

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Summer is upon us and you know what that means, it’s almost festival season! Hundreds of music makers and fans are about to start converting abandoned fields and city parks into temporary musical utopias around the world. New York City is proud to announce it’s newest festival, Governors Ball. This one-day festival will be taking place Saturday, June 18th, on Governor’s Island (a quick ferry ride from the southern tip of Manhattan). Artists performing will be Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, Empire of the Sun, Big Boi (of Outkast), Neon Indian, People Under the Stairs, Passion Pit (DJ set), Mac Miller, Miami Horror, Outasight, and Reptar. The ferries start running to the island at 11:15 AM, gates open at 11:30 AM, and the music and festivities will continue through 11 PM. Also, there will be no over lapping sets! This way, you will be able to enjoy all of your favorite artists in full without the worry of missing a thing. We’re super excited for this festival and look forward to seeing you there!

Click here to purchase tickets.

Click here for more festival information.

Although it’s been over a year since their latest album drop, Passion Pit continues to accelerate with no signs of slowing down, selling out almost every night on the tour so far. Since the emergence of “Sleepyhead” in 2008, the dreamy synth-pop you secretly listened to in high school is suddenly re-evaluated and, well, cool (think hellogoodbye with a better band). The catchy vocal samples, guitar riffs and dreamy lyrics are an unquestionably original combination, mixing rock, electronica and lo-fi pop in a beautiful blend delivered by the fun-loving boys of Passion Pit.

Joining the band for their two consecutive sold-out performances in New York City were Suckers and Tokyo Police Club. A packed lawn of antsy avid listeners waited for their favorite headliner to take the stage in Prospect Park on the first night. The lights dimmed and the familiar intro of “I’ve Got Your Number” accompanied by the heavy bass of Nate Donmoyer’s drumming served as the opening song for the night. Compared to the album version, each member was fully incorporated, coming together to perform a small symphony, while the audience threw limbs up to join the chorus.

It may have been the creepy ghost-ridden island, or hearing the lead singers of Tokyo Police Club and Passion Pit sing a karaoke version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the VIP after party, but the second night at Governor’s Island had a better overall atmosphere. There’s no denying that Passion Pit is a band that must be seen live. They have an ability to combine tracks from Chunk of Change and Manners in an innovative way that makes it seem as if they are playing completely new pieces. “Make Light” begins with Michael Angelicos’ celestial wailing, so beautiful and upbeat you would never guess the words were so tormented and painful, a true and honest reflection of falling:

“You must believe to hear me sing these
Messy morsels of my self-assuring love
Oh, it’s painful kneading”

Whether you’re falling in love or tripping on acid, the ambiguous verses make each song universal and relevant to anyone, and honestly, what man these days can pull off a totally original cover of The Cranberries? Check out the set list from the Prospect Park show after the jump.

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Shuttle (Nate Donmoyer), known to most as the drummer for Passion Pit, delivers one of the best mixes we’ve ever heard in The Orion. He handpicks choice cuts from UK’s garage and funky scene and seamlessly fuses them into one hundred plus minutes of pure bass joy. Keep an eye on Shuttle’s productions and mixes – this is only a glimpse of the what’s to come.

Download: Asian Dan Presents Shuttle “The Orion Mixtape” [via Asian Dan]

Click through for the tracklist and be sure to visit Asian Dan’s blog to read a short interview with Shuttle.

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Last week, the third and final phase of the Ultra Music Festival was posted, adding LMFAO and Sander Kleinenberg (among others) to the already massive line-up that includes Damian Marley and Nas, Passion Pit, Tiesto, A-Trak, Bassnectar, Crookers, The Bloody Beetroots, Major Lazer, and hundreds more.

This year will feature some special collaborations – Florence (from Florence and the Machine) will join Swedish House Mafia on the Ultra Main Stage on Saturday, and Kelis, whose sound as taken a turn towards electro, will team up with Benny Benassi for a few songs.

Four new arenas have been added to the festival grounds – the UMF Ibiza Tent, the UMF Brazil Tent, the Root Society Dome, and the Heineken Dome Experience – bringing the total to a staggering ten (yes, TEN) stages.

Another new addition to Ultra is Sonic Forest, an interactive installation by artist/composer Christopher Janney that will entice festival goers into a unique environment with aural and visual components. Sonic Forest is composed of eight-foot tall aluminum poles that trigger melodic and environmental sounds as people move through the “electronic trees”. Independent drummers will be present in the Forest during various parts of the installation. Sonic Forest has been featured at Bonnaroo, All Points West, and Coachella in the US, and various festivals around the world.

This is shaping up to be the best Ultra to date, and is certainly not to be missed if you’re going to be in Miami for the Winter Music Conference. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets, and be sure to check out The HiFi Cartel Guide to the Winter Music Conference for more events in Miami that week.

After seeing Coachella‘s initial line-up, we might just have to add it to our jam-packed spring schedule. Jay-Z, Muse, and Gorillaz are set to headline the three-day festival, now in its 11th year.

The massive line-up of over 130 artists includes Major Lazer, Vampire Weekend, Flying Lotus, Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Miike Snow, Matt & Kim, Rusko, Deadmau5, Passion Pit, Phoenix, La Roux, Faith No More, MGMT… we could go on forever.

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, who is listed on the flier as “Thom Yorke ????”,  is indeed confirmed for Sunday. The question marks next to his name refer to the backing band he had assembled to play in Los Angeles last fall: Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich,  and session hands Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco.

This year, Coachella will offer expanded camping options to include cars and RVs, in addition to traditional tent camping. This is also the first year that the festival will allow in-and-out privileges for all attendees.

Coachella will take place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA from Friday, April 16 – Sunday April 18. Tickets will be available starting Friday, January 22 at 10 AM. For those of us strapped for cash, they are offering a layaway payment plan. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Coachella is also teaming up with Valley Music Travel to provide exclusive deals and packages that include travel, local hotel shuttle transportation, and private home rentals with VIP access to the festival.

Check out the full line-up after the jump…

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Girls & Boys was in full swing last Friday at Webster Hall, where GBH hosted the official Passion Pit concert after party. We knew we could expect great music from Classixx and Holy Ghost!, whom we’ve seen DJ on numerous occasions, but the real surprise came from Passion Pit drummer Nate Donmoyer, also known as Shuttle, who played a strong set to close out the night.

Shuttle delivered a wide range of music in his own distinctive style when he took over the decks at 3 AM. The set included a grimy dubstep remix of “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child, and a drum & bass interpretation of Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody”. Other highlights consisted of Joy Orbison’s “Wet Look”, Emalkay’s “When I Look At You”, and his own remix of “Love Like a Sunset” by Phoenix.

Our one regret was that Shuttle didn’t start sooner; those who left early missed out on a truly unique set. And while Classixx and Holy Ghost! certainly know how to throw a good party, they come around these parts pretty often.

Listen to Shuttle’s remix of “Love Like a Sunset” below, and be sure to check out the photos from the night by Oliver Correa.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL ALBUM

Phoenix – “Love Like a Sunset” (Shuttle Remix)

Originally from North Wales and hailing from London, The Joy Formidable is a three-member indie rock band who made their way to the music scene in 2008. Acclaimed by the Times (UK), who described them as “dreamy indie pop” and regarded as one band to watch by the Guardian (UK) upon the release of their debut single “Austere” in August 2008  – the group is of pure sensation with regard. Their syncopated style draws on a contention of riffs that are backed with the resounds of pleasing and rejoicing melodies. The reavealing voice of lead singer Ritzy Bryan plays off their forceful drums and raw guitars to create a sound that is fervently fit for a  jaunt. It is also nice to come across a band that isn’t trying to sell you anything. Their music is their brand – and a good one that is! Tagged with the likes of the Editors, White Lies, and Passion Pit, The Joy Formidable will be making a stint in New York City from January 8th to January 12th. (Their exact schedule is below.)

Selling out their debut UK tour, the heavily creative group is more than the sense of optimism they omit in song. True artists, we can only imagine them live…for now. With four dates to choose from, we certainly won’t miss them. Check out their tracks “Austere” and “Cradle” below. Click through for the video of their recently released track “Greyhounds in the Slips” featuring Paul Draper.

The Joy Formidable - “Austere”

click here and save-as to download track

The Joy Formidable - “Cradle”

click here and save-as to download track

The Joy Formidable – 2010 New York Tour Dates

UPDATE?: Click here for photos from the night by Kenroy George

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Without a doubt, Phoenix has had a great year. With “Lisztomania” and “1901,” Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix certainly rose to the surface to a nice welcome. The group continues to work, updating fans along the way via an online diary – where they open-up their tracks for fans to make and contribute remixes. If you missed Phoenix at Central Park, you’ve missed them for the remainder of the year in the U.S. as they continue their tour in France, their origin.

A Phoenix association to Animal Collective doesn’t come as a surprise. It is typically the camaraderie between artists that unleashes works of astonishment, as in this case. “Love Like a Sunset” is a pleasant track and the remix is refreshing. Animal Collective (from Baltimore, Maryland) accentuates the very essence of musical surprises – as there are many ways to appreciate a song from connotations of how it is heard, delivered, and in form (whether by a mix, at a show, etc.).  Animal Collective creates transgressive music – transforming music from the essence of words and melody to a play on associations and sounds.  They explore on an openness with their music, while putting down walls and letting the sound of their music radiate.

Phoenix is set to release a digital remix album titled Wolfgang Amadeus, on October 20th. The album will feature mixes from YACHT, Passion Pit, Friendly Fires, Alex Metric, Chairlift,  Animal Collective’s “Love Like a Sunset” and others.  Check out the track below and click through for kind words from Deakin of Animal Collective about the remix.

Phoenix – “Love Like a Sunset” (Animal Collective Remix) from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Remix Collection)

Click here to download this track

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Today, MTV announced the nominees for the Video Music Awards, to be held in New York City on September 13. As expected, big-name pop divas like Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Britney Spears lead the pack with multiple nominations, but in a surprising twist, some of our favorite artists were recognized in the “Breakthrough Video” category. Aside from Major Lazer (whose video for “Hold the Line” is streamed above), Cold War Kids, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Passion Pit were also nominated. Click here for a the full list and to vote for your favorite video.