Photo of Little Jackie at SXSW BMI Showcase © Randall Michelson Hey boys and girls, today’s theme is friendship. Last week I was able to support some chums as they made their dreams come true – all while being comped and whisked into places like I was special (Maybe a more apt theme is nepotism). On Monday night, I hit up Southpaw to catch friend-in-my-head, Imani Coppola and her group, Little Jackie . I've been an Imani fan since...

Portishead's first single "Machine Gun" from Third was released just hours ago at 2:30 PM EST, simultaneously on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show and on the band's website free to download. While Third isn't officially released until April 29th in the US (April 28th in the UK), the single will come out on etched, 1-sided vinyl on April 14th and a box set to-die-for via the website will be available to the first 10,000 customers on April 28th. Box Set Contents: -...

Giant Step, a leading music and lifestyle marketing company and concert promoter is currently looking for part-time interns to work with us on day-to-day tasks. Descriptions for each position are as follows: New Media Intern - Working on specific online promotions to increase traffic to giantstep.net - Working on executing online-driven marketing campaigns - Maintaining the list of who is who in the world of online promotion - Aiding in the creation of reports and...

Photo of Jazzy Jeff © Nick Digital When I told my friend about my weekend, she flatly informed me with thinly-veiled horror that it was "bizarre." I'm on the fence about the term. You, gentle reader, can be the judge. Let's pretend the weekend started on Wednesday where I was eagerly awaiting a performance by Kid Cudi at Left Village bar Le Royale . The whole hourly-motel air makes my head hurt (where do...

This month, Brooklyn's soulful dance band Tortured Soul co-headlines a 10-city tour with Amp Fiddler in celebration of their aptly titled sophomore album In Transit (out in September). In concert with the tour, drummer/vocalist John-Christian Urich, keyboardist Ethan White and bassist JKriv release a 3-song teaser EP, featuring material from the album, which will be available at the shows and online. Get ready for their funk and soul-filled dance music live alongside the...

This year's Essense Music Festival will host acts new and classic from Grammy-winning Jill Scott to Maze feat. Frankie Beverly, Morris Day & The Time, Chris Rock, Kanye West, Chris Brown and Mary J. Blige with more to be announced. Held July 4th weekend (the 4th, 5th and 6th), the nation's largest annual celebration of black music and culture takes place at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster .

The "Original" Jazzy Jay, "The Master of Records" Afrika Bambaataa along with Roots residents Louie Vega and Kevin Hedge spin what is sure to be a legendary party tonight at Cielo, NYC. Could there be a better line up for breakbeats, b-boy classics, disco, funk, latin soul and dance music? You'll probably want to arrive early to avoid disappointment. Admission is $15 Doors at 10:30 PM

Co-founder and CEO of Giant Step Maurice Bernstein made the news today for his music passion cum successful business venture - the very website you're reading and community you're proud to be a member of. From Amy Winehouse to our Hudson Series, Giant Step continues to capitalize on the one thing we love and love to share: great music. Read more at the New York Daily...

Recently, I went to Italy for the first time. For all the glossy Gucci, fierce Fendi and vampy Versace the country pumps into the world, I expected bronzed, hollow-cheeked glamazons marching through the streets day and night. So much for stereotypes. Milan, one of the glamour meccas of the world, struck me more as a quaint old-world city, with the modernity of a metropolis sprouting up between epic castles and canals. One thing that was painfully too modern, however, was the soul-crushing...

Gnarls Barkley finally dropped new material today in the form of a video entitled, "Run" featuring Justin Timberlake. It's a psychedelic dance jam, previewing what's to come on the to-be-released follow up to 2006's St. Elsewhere, The Odd Couple . "Run" Video