ESPN WINTER X

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2008 @ 4:45 PM

Comprised of three life long friends, "Machine," "Karim Fonda" and "The Fat Jew," Team Facelift is unlike anything you have ever seen. Born and bred New Yorkers who have witnessed the transformation of their beloved hometown from a grimy, scum-infested cesspool, to a gentrified and tourist-infested plastic replica of a city. Not happy about the alteration, Team Facelift, while on a quest to refuel the city's pulse with a fresh combination of Hip Hop and Dance music, infected other cities by converting quiet, desolate, live music venues throughout the nation into safe havens of mayhem and debauchery. At a live show, their set seamlessly blends classic hip hop with infectious house music grooves and with more original style than an entire season of "106 & Park", Team Facelift has the power to influence millions of fans around the globe. The group is poised and ready to embark on a long journey into the unknown. With a strong foundation of a loyal fan base in place, the road ahead looks promising for one of the most unique and awe-inspiring bands to emerge from the New York music scene in years.
mtv.com/music/artist/team_facelift

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2008 @ 5:30 PM

A new star is about to take flight. Like the pitch-black bird with which she shares a name, a nod to her Viking past, the songs on 23-year old Norwegian-born singer/songwriter Marion Raven's album "Set me free" are dark, vengeful, mysterious, dangerous, but ultimately uplifting and cathartic. MARION RAVEN has already been hard at work conquering the world. Having already laid siege to Japan, Asia and Scandinavia, and having recently notched a top 10 throughout Europe with her much acclaimed duet with Meat Loaf in late 2006, the rest of the world is about to discover what all the noise is about.
marion-raven.com
myspace.com/marionraven

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2008 @ 6:15 PM

Soulful Delta, rock laid and down dirty is the sound of Mama's Cookin'. Supporting their new self-titled CD, this four-piece has hit the road to give many music fans their first taste of this truly great, young band. Elements of hip-hop, Delta blues and soul in their music has led some to call Mama's Cookin' a cross between Led Zeppelin and Sublime. Whatever your taste, this band is sure to entertain.

Frontman Zebuel Early brings guitar and great songs to Mama's Cookin', backed by Mike Adamo on drums, Steve LaBella on bass and Todd Holway manning an arsenal of keyboard sounds. Together they produce music that could only come from the modern age. Current political themes and modern predicaments run through their thoughtful and inspirational message, driven by super-danceable beats and rock-solid grooves.
myspace.com/mamascookin

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008 @ 4:00 PM

Sam "The Wiley One" Wiley began writing creative stories, poetry and lyrics for his older sisters (all aspiring musicians) at the age of seven. He began taking guitar lessons from his older brother Michael Wiley (composer) at the age of nine, singing lessons from his sister Marta (of Phoenix local rock group WOMB) at age 10, and drum lessons from his sister Christiana Wiley (WOMB) at the age of 12. Though Wiley began composing songs he was 13 years old, it was during his early college years at Northern Arizona University when he began to spread his wings as a singer/songwriter. On his first album, "No. 7 Kid," Wiley plays rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals. His unique bouncy-bluesy string style riffs combined with creative lyrical poetry are making a mark on the West Coast music scene.
myspace.com/no7kid

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008 @ 4:30 PM

Born on September 17, 1968 in The Bronx, Lord Jamar is an American emcee and actor. He is a member of the legendary hip-hop group Brand Nubian, which formed in 1989 in New Rochelle, N.Y. Brand Nubian had many hits through the 90's such as "One for All," "Slow Down," "Love me or Leave me alone" and "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down". As an actor, he is best known for his role of 'Supreme Allah" on the HBO TV series, "Oz." He has also appeared on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Third Watch" and "The Sopranos." Lord Jamar has also done production work for artists such as Dead Prez (whom Jamar discovered), Buckshot, UGK and Tom Browne. He released his debut solo album, "The 5% Album (an album dedicated to the Nation of Gods and Earths)" on June 27, 2006. Most recently, Jamar's voice could be recognized as "The Voice" of ESPN's X Games with his voice over work for the telecast. Similar to his onscreen character on "Oz," Jamar is a member of the Nation of Gods and Earths.
myspace.com/lordjamar

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008 @ 5:00 PM

DJ KLAW's blend of hip-hop, rock, electro and break-beat has earned him gigs with such artists including: DJ Krush, Z-Trip, Troublemaker, DJ Mom Jeans, Steve Aoki, DJ P, RJD2, Klever, Tittsworth, DJ Swamp, Team Facelift, Butch Walker and the Let's Go Outs, MFM, Goldenchyld, Big B, Dirtball, and he has rocked too many parties to count over the years.

In 2004, Klaw moved from Los Angeles to Denver and is DJ-ing parties, running his art gallery, hustling Klawkorp clothing, gearing up for his new Las Vegas monthly at Carey Hart's new club, Wasted Space, and recording music. He is also the creative director for Red Robot, an entertainment marketing and consulting company based in Denver.
myspace.com/djklaw

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008 @ 6:30 PM

Swiss reggae sensation Cali P was born 21 years ago on the small Caribbean island, Guadeloupe, with the name Pierre Nanon. As the son of a musician, music had a strong and powerful influence in his life and Cali P started playing drums at the young age of three. He found his musical inspiration from throughout the vast genres of Reggae, Dancehall, Soul, Jazz, Rock and even from a splash of Pop music. As well as displaying outstanding drumming skills, he began writing lyrics at the age of 14. But the real breakthrough came when he joined the Gideon Soldiers Sound in 2000, kicking off his dancehall career. Cali P has satisfied crowds of people with shows in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Belgium, Africa and the place of his birth, Guadeloupe, with the message of spirituality that his music and sensational vocal tones bring. His music was recently featured in the international ski-video WSKI106, where his lyrical mastery was met with great acclaim. Cali P is a true, inspired Rasta Youth with a positive and righteous message. Displaying a unique humility and meekness that shines from within to all who have the pleasure of meeting him in his impressive rise as a conscious reggae dancehall artist. In a special performance for Winter X Games 12, Skiing SuperPipe and Slopestyle competitor Tanner Hall will be taking the stage with Cali P, Ras Theo and DJ Kaprisson. Watch out for his debut album entitled "Lyrical Faya" coming out in March.
myspace.com/calilava

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008 @ 6:50 PM

One of the great anchors of youth is freedom, to live a life without boundaries or borders, without subscribing to provincial boxes of what should and shouldn't be. Freedom is not a life without friction, but is the opportunity of pursuing one's convictions without restraints.
And this is the foundation for KRISTA, a new, 21-year old singer, songwriter and musician whose artistry is built on the rich, layered dichotomy between struggle and expression. Her music brazenly defies categorization: a combination of soaring vocals, big beats, beautiful melodies, and street-savvy raps. An amalgamation of sounds, Krista's music is pulsating with the rhymes and beats of a boastful, savvy and street-reared MC at one moment, and filled with melodious lyrics of alienation and suffering he next. She mixes live instruments with bedroom beats, and incorporates the sass and fire of her heritage.

Krista's debut album, tentatively titled 'Taking Back Brooklyn,' will be released in spring 2008. "It's about taking it back to where I'm from—the whole collage of living in Brooklyn," she explains. "But it's also about what art, writing and music mean to me."
myspace.com/krista

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2008 @ 4:30 PM

World-famous and ready to rock, Hell's Belles is the premier all-female AC/DC tribute act, who continue to blow all comers away. Playing "ALL AC/DC, ALL the time, ALL over the globe," spanning all the pure rock brilliance of AC/DC's career (from "High Voltage" to "Back in Black" and beyond), HELL'S BELLES do justice to the Aussie legends with patented HELL'S BELLES devotion, precision and fury. Endorsed by Angus Young, himself (Blender Magazine, 2003), HELL'S BELLES are the closest one can get without actually moving to Australia and joining AC/DC's road crew.
hellsbelles.info
myspace.com/hellsbelles

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2008 @ 5:15 PM

Salem music is an amalgamation of funk, hip-hop, jazz, and Afro-Cuban idioms. Infused with diverse lyrical content, Todd Anders Johnson's compositions have a unifying socially-conscious theme. Salem music has been featured in Warren Miller's "Off the Grid" and in trailers with the film tour of "Playground". On tour throughout the ski season to resorts across the West, following Winter X Games 12, the group will be playing at the Jeep King of the Mountain Championships in Sun Valley, Idaho on March 15th.
salem-music.com
myspace.com/salemtoddandersjohnson

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2008 @ 5:45 PM

Sentiments of a crew that is a movement. The voice of the woods AND the streets. Busy playing shows at events such as the U.S. Open of Surfing, Boardstock, The Pro Wakeboard Tour, Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding and film premieres such as Teton Gravity Research's "Tangerine Dream" premiere party. Add shows with Talib Kweli, Black Eyed Peas, Swollen Members and MC Supernatural; festivals such as Reggae on the River, and at such clubs as The Viper Room, Key Club and L.A.'s most respected hip hop/reggae night club, Chocolate Bar. "Cadillac Dreams," their heavily beat oriented third release, is a hip-hop record from a place lost in time.

So as the movement goes on, the band continues on keeping it conscious, keeping it real, producing no-nonsense music that's not about money and fame, but about waking people up to hip-hop, reggae, soul, real, smart, struggle and rebellion music.
myspace.com/northcoastunderground

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2008 @ 4:30 PM

It seems as if every decade or so a band comes along with a perfect combination of looseness and tightness, that is grounded but threatens to fly loose off its moorings and take you with it. That was the Rolling Stones in the 1960's, Aerosmith in the 1970's, the Georgia Satellites in the 1980's, the Black Crowes in the 1990's. So, now it's the 2000's. Here come The Wildbirds. They've got the look, the attitude, the aggression—it's all right there.

The Wildbirds kick up a bunch of noise for a quartet, but it's a directed controlled noise, where no two tracks sound the same and are unlike anyone else. Rock 'n' roll needs a wake-up call, and The Wildbirds may have just the guys to deliver it.

Since the release of "Golden Daze" in August, with acclaimed producer Greg Fidelman (U2, Green Day, Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and engineer Greg Gordon (Oasis, Hot Hot Heat, JET), The Wildbirds have done three full U.S. tours, a trek from Eastern to Western Canada and will continue at this pace through mid-2008, including a venture early nextyear across the pond.
myspace.com/thewildbirds

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2008 @ 5:45 PM

Jeremiah James is from a small farm, from a small town of 500 people in Minnesota, where he started playing in local clubs and bars as a teenager. During that time, two of Jeremiah's songs reached the #1 spot for three weeks in a row at the local radio stations. Music has always been Jeremiah's first love. Influenced by underground punk and mainstream rock, Jeremiah decided to leave his small town and head west. Determined to record an album in Los Angeles, he played in as many clubs that would hire him. He recently self-produced and completed the recording of his first album. Jeremiah James has had songs featured on MTV's "Meet the Barkers" and currently has an MTV crew following him around, filming a reality show as he journeys through the life of an up-and-coming rock star with small town roots.
myspace.com/jeremiahjamesmusic
jeremiahjames.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2008 @ 6:30 PM

Funk Rock is just one way to describe the latest indie EP release by the unsigned singer/songwriter straight out of Austin, TX, Mick Kelleher. With an unassuming style and commanding presence, Mick has been packing house parties to festival shows with his scat-like vocals, storytelling style, and stripped-down sound. "I never really planned on pursuing a music career," admits the 25-year-old bard from Texas hiding behind a beard that should mask his boyish face, but doesn't. With upcoming shows in California, Colorado, Texas and the East coast, this could be the winter that an unsigned Mick Kelleher will be revealed.
mickkelleher.com
myspace.com/mickkelleher