Madge played her halftime show at the Indianapolis home that Peyton Manning built for this year’s Super Bowl. The hype machine that has been working around the clock (see collabos with M.I.A. and Minaj) in support of the new release from the Material Girl to be titled, “MDNA,” reached it’s pinnacle last night with a medley of treasured hits from the iconic superstar. But it looks like M.I.A. single-handedly highjacked the halftime show last night with her gratuitous crotch shot and lewd gesture to America by flipping “us” the bird. Aside from that slight hiccup and Madonna moving like she was 53 years old, all things went well. LMFAO showed up for the 15 seconds of fame and Cee-Lo did his duty of cross-promoting “the Voice” on “Just Like a Prayer” utilizing his silky smooth baritone vocals. On the football front, Justin Tuck was robbed and the MVP was given to the less obvious choice, Eli Manning.

Bon Iver snubbed the Grammys but lent a hand as musical guest on SNL, however, Kristen Wiig stole the show with her portrayal of music scene pariah, Lana Del Rey. Speaking of Del Rey, the pouty songstress stated that she might never record another album based on the commercial success of her second debut album according to NME.

M83 and Wilco continue their campaigns in support of their latest albums from 2011 on Carson Daly and Austin City Limits respectively.

Bon Iver-Blood Bank [mp3]
Mavis Staples + Nick Lowe + Wilco “the Weight” (rehearsal at the Civic Opera House) [mp3]
M83-Midnight City (Who Killed JR Remix) [mp3]

Madonna Super Bowl performance

Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Dave Tollefson on Fallon right after the Super Bowl

Bon Iver “Holocene”

Bon Iver “Beth/Rest”

Weekend Update with Lana Del Rey

M83 “Steve McQueen” feat. Zola Jesus live at the Music Box

Wilco @ Austin City Limits

Watch Wilco and Nick Lowe “Cruel to be Kind” on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

The Super Bowl’s status as the most elite sporting event in the US can only be rivaled by the marketing that’s involved that have non-sports fans watching the pigskin classic. This year’s game is a rematch that has two of the largest sports markets in the US with an even more interesting story line that has been brewing that involves the more popular and older sibling of the Giants QB, Peyton Manning and his ability to play or pass a physical. It’s long been speculated that the Colts plan on dumping Manning, which is on the wrong side of thirty and opt for the future and rally around the best QB prospect seen in nearly three decades. Fans in Indy are torn because of their loyalty for a certain future hall of famer and the future of the franchise that despite one abysmal season, the Colts have the ability to bounce back in stride and chalk up last year as a bad dream.

Wynter’s Better With You (Lazy Rich // Wynter Gordon // Jessie J) Teets Mashup
Rihanna – We Found Love ft. Calvin Harris (Aaron Jarboe & Jason Edward Drums/DJ Remix)
360 – Boys Like You (Alison Wonderland Remix)
Emma – Crashing Down (Manu El Chino Remix)
Rihanna // Bingo Players – Where Have You Rattle (Imanos Mash-Up)
120 Days – Osaka (diskJokke Remix)
Arctic Parties (Misceo Remix)
LADYHAWKE ‘BLACK WHITE & BLUE’ (THE BIG PINK REMIX)
Mobb Deep – Survival of the Fittest (Cheapshot Remix)
Fanfarlo – Shiny Things (Yeasayer Remix)
YYou – Real is A Feeling Remix (feat. Pictureplane)
Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know (Heat Maxwell Remix)
Adele – Turning Tables (Bærs remix)

Music, very much like the wheel, is hard to reinvent. Garge rock/punk acts are a dime a dozen. When you find an act that harnesses the best of what the 70/80′s had to offer and churns out two minute minute gems that punch you in the gut, you have no other choice but to listen. The stench of sweat and smoke are present when listening to the latest album from Broncho titled, “Can’t Get Past the Lips,” hailing from Oklahoma. The best parts of Thin Lizzy, New York Dolls and the Dead Boys are cherry picked to evoke a time in music that makes me wish I had a Delorean with a flux capacitor. Listen to their album over at their Bandcamp page and catch them on tour if you live in Arkansas or Oklahoma.

Broncho-Pick a Fight [mp3]

Gotye has been making music for almost ten years now and held himself to a saying that rings true in his situation, “persistence always beats resistance” Far more artists have gotten by on substantially less and why not Gotye? Sure his single is played on ten radio stations on the FM dial and turns out to be the biggest ear-worm I’ve listened to in a while. We’re not talking about lightening in a bottle, the dude has paid his dues. Now he’s selling out venues everywhere he goes and here in town, the venue was changed to accommodate the overwhelming demand for tickets. Last night marked Gotye’s first US television appearance with his partner in crime from New Zealand, Kimbra, and don’t forget to pick up his latest album,”Making Mirrors,” released this week.

Gotye “Eyes Wide Open” live on Kimmel

Gotye “Somebody That I Use to Know”

Tour Dates

February 2 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey (SOLD OUT)
February 6 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
March 22 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
March 23 Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
March 27 New York, NY @ Webster Hall
March 29 Boston, MA @ Paradise
March 30 Montreal, QB @ Corona Theatre
March 31 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
April 3 Chicago, IL @ Park West
April 4 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre (SOLD OUT)
April 6 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
April 8 Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
April 10 Seattle @ Neptune
April 11 Portland, OR @ Star Theatre (SOLD OUT)
April 12 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (SOLD OUT)
April 15 Indigo, CA @ Coachella (SOLD OUT)
April 22 Indigo, CA @ Coachella (SOLD OUT

In what appears to be the week of the M83 time-lapse, “Midnight City,” was used to soundtrack a time-lapse at Century Link Field in Seattle and “Outro” graced the surreal Yosemite National Park time-lapse. The video couldn’t have come at a better time with the Super Bowl looming around the corner. Thanks to Bodega Studios!

It would be an event out of this world if M83 were to have a gathering at Yosemite Park under the millions of stars up above. However, we’ll have to settle for a time-lapse of the majestic national treasure soundtracked by M83. The regal views are a collaboration between Sheldon Neill and Colin Delehanty that was sparked by mutual interest in for Vimeo and Yosemite National Park.You can learn more about Project Yosemite here. Photo via Project Yosemite.

M83-Kim and Jessie (CAJ Remix) [mp3]

Yosemite HD from Project Yosemite on Vimeo.

TOUR DATES

“Humor Risk” is the latest album from brilliant artist, Cass McCombs, released last November. C=T wants to send one lucky reader and a guest to catch Mr. McCombs at Hi-Dive on Friday night and all you have to do is @ message me on Twitter @Causeequalstime “Cass McCombs” or email me (julio dot enriquez at gmail dot com) and the tickets are yours.

Cass McCombs – the Same Thing [mp3]

Cass McCombs Band
w/ Frank Fairfield
at Hi-Dive
Doors at 8:00 PM
Show at 9:00 PM
18+ $10.00 / $12.00 day of show

Nada Surf’s latest video reminds us all of a simpler time .Like the most important part of your day was just getting ready for school and along the way maybe finding the girl of your dreams. No bills to pay and pure bliss. The guys also performed two cuts on Fallon last night, one of which comes from one of my all time favorite albums, “Let Go,” and one off of the recently released, “The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy.” Thanks to the Audio Perv for the video on “Waiting for Something.”

Nada Surf-Love and Anger (Kate Bush cover) [mp3]

Nada Surf “High Speed Soul” live on Fallon

Nada Surf “Waiting for Something” live on Fallon

Nada Surf “When I Was Young” Official Video

M & M & M has a nice ring to it after all. Madonna , M.I.A. and French DJ, Martin Solveig, have come together to put each other back on the map. After both released commercial flops in their last albums, M & M appear to be headed in the right direction after listening to a teaser off of the upcoming album from Madonna titled, “MDNA.”

This season’s Austin City Limits is has hit a homerun with the talent that recorded sessions during the ACL Festival last year. This week brings an episode with Florence & the Machine followed up with Lykke Li.

Madonna-Sky Fits Heaven (Sasha Remix Edit) [mp3]
Lykke Li “I Follow Rivers” (The Magician Remix) [mp3]

MDNA Teaser

Florence & the Machine // Lykke Li on Austin City Limits

Watch Florence + The Machine / Lykke Li on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

Watch Florence + The Machine / Lykke Li on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

The inaugural Icelantic Winter on the Rocks went down in Red Rocks concert history as being the first winter concert ever held at the gorgeous amphitheater in Morrison. C=T contributor, El Güero, weathered the fierce elements Friday night and when I asked him if he thought there would be a second Winter on the Rocks, he knew that the gluttons for punishment in the crowd would be around to sell out any future shows at Red Rocks.

Atmosphere – Rhythm of Rain [mp3]
Common (ft. Nas) – Ghetto Dreams [mp3]

Friday morning Denver was full of blowing snow, a prelude to the sparkling cold night ahead at Red Rocks’ first ever Winter Show. The freezing weather didn’t keep the kids home though, the show was sold out and crowded with partiers bundled up in coats and hats and ski jackets. A few kids were too enthusiastic to stay fully dressed and danced around shirtless, but the rest of us huddled tight and zipped up.

The event was planned to a Colorado audience, knowing both that we could tough out the cold and that Atmosphere and Common would pull in a big enough crowd. Though from Minnesota, Atmosphere is a Colorado favorite and a Red Rocks veteran.

Common’s smart East Coast style has helped shape hip hop since the early 90s, while openers Grieves and Budo are comparatively new but have been making their name underground and recently with the Rhymesayers, including Atmosphere.

After a long wait between sets and a lot of false starts as his backup musicians warmed up, Common came rushing out, running back and forth delivering an energetic and charismatic performance. He rapped smoothly and effortlessly, sharing his enthusiasm with everyone in the amphitheater while the stage could barely contain him and he seemed to want to jump over the railing into the audience.
Pulling a girl out of the crowd and on stage, he flattered and flirted to setup a freestyle he based around her name, the night and the weather while she sat beside him looking excited embarrassed and proud all at once.

Atmosphere appeared onstage almost casually compared to Common’s high energy showmanship. His raps started like a conversation, addressing the audience almost like a friend, sharing a space and a moment in time. The bond between him and everyone watching was palpable, and the emotion in his voice was clear and genuine.

Red Rocks is an iconic venue for Colorado, but never more than this night. There were hints of Aspen or Snowmass up top where booths and promoters flogged their swag and a giant sculptural fireplace drew in people looking for a little heat, while snow fell lightly past the bright lights behind the performers. There’s no doubt this was just the first of many more years of winter parties.

Word/photos by El Güero

Atmosphere

Common

Winter on the Rocks

Tonight marks the first ever WINTER concert at Red Rocks. With that in mind, why wouldn’t it snow. Last night Atmosphere opened up for Brother Ali at the Ogden and tonight he will be headlining the Icelantic Winter with Common and despite the fierce elements, the show is SOLD OUT! Bundle up and wear your snow boots, because the ramps are a tad slick. Tonight’s event may have sent a precedent for future winter shows at Red Rocks and if you put on the show, people will come.

Two Door Cinema Club // Wiz Khalifa – What You Want When I’m Gone (The Two Friends Mashup)
PAPA – I Am The Lion King (St. Lucia Remix)
Yuksek – Always On The Run (Tom Furse Remix)
Moon Boots – Off My Mind (Le Youth remix)
Chemical Brothers – Pourquoi (Rhythm Scholar Dead Pixels Remix)
Heavy D // Afro Jack-Take Over Love (Its Overture Bootleg)
Lana Del Rey // Calvin Harris // Steve Aoki // Afro Jack – Born to Feel Beef (the Jane Doze Mashup)
Air – Sexy Boy (Theatre Of Delays Remix)
The Do, ‘Gonna Be Sick’ (Mylo Remix)
Twenty Eleven – “Feelin’ Good” (OG Ron C & DJ Candlestick Remix)
SBTRKT – Atomic Peace (Hannes Fischer Edit)
Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know [DLake & Morsy Remix]
JAY Z AND KANYE WEST’S TRACK “NIGGAS IN PARIS” (MiMOSA Remix)