COHEED AND CAMBRIA
By GABRIELA RIVERA
Despite the plethora of music available on the Internet, Coheed and Cambria’s unique sound separates them from the pack.
With lead singer Claudio Sanchez’s high-pitched vocals – reminiscent of Rush’s Geddy Lee’s – complex guitar arrangements and synthesized vocals, this alternative-metal quartet has a refreshingly one-of-a-kind sound.
Usually labeled as being “emo” because of tours with AFI, Thrice and Thursday, these Warped Tour headliners are anything but.
The musicianship of the songs is epic in a way, but they have something for everyone. With their grand progressiveness comes a pop appeal with great songwriting that balances their alt-metal sound.
But what really sets this foursome apart are their conceptual albums. “No World For Tomorrow,” out now, is the latest in a five-album series, joining “Second Stage Turbine Blade” (2002), “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3” (2003) and “Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness” (2005).
Not only do the albums tell the story of star-crossed lovers Coheed and Cambria, but their story is also told in a comic book series, “The Armory Wars,” which visually connects the songs together. Sanchez, who writes the band’s lyrics, also writes the comic book series.
Catch Coheed and Cambria at Voodoo Fest Oct. 27 at the Playstation/Billboard.com stage and have a listen to something new.
Gabriela Rivera can be reached at [email protected].
LEZ ZEPPELIN
By SALLY TUNMER
Lez Zeppelin is more than just a Led Zeppelin cover band. They live, breathe and sweat Led Zeppelin. And – this is the best part – they’re all girls.
More than just talented fanatics, they embody the vintage heavy metal trailblazers.
Their instruments are like magic wands that cast a spell on the audience in the true Zeppelin dark magic fashion. Lez honors its predecessor by reviving Zeppelin’s cryptic mythology and Tolkien-inspired themes in their songs.
Aside from exuding the spirit of Led Zeppelin, the girls have full command of their instruments and voices, doing justice to songs such as “The Ocean” and “Kashmir.” Lez expands the songs through their own experimentation, which is in tune with the modern age.
If four hot vixens tearing the stage apart doesn’t arouse you, their Zeppelin-esque wardrobe – which emphasizes different body parts – surely will.
And yes, you can expect a female’s take on Robert Plant’s erotic moaning on “Whole Lotta Love.” Don’t miss this Voodoo experience on the Citi Stage the night of Oct. 26.
Sally Tunmer can be reached at [email protected].
GALACTIC, FEATURING LYRICS BORN AND CHALI 2NA
By SHAWN DUGAS
On Friday, pretend afternoon classes are canceled and go watch Galactic featuring Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 and Lyrics Born.
The famous New Orleans jazz ensemble has been around for almost thirteen years, and they provide the perfect middle ground for the type of person who’s going to Voodoo Fest to see the big recently-reunited national acts but feels the need to support music inspired by New Orleans heritage.
For those out there who like when hip-hop meets funk, the most exciting aspect of this set is the guest performers. Chali 2na, otherwise known as “the deep-voiced one,” raps fast and low, and when Jurassic 5 last appeared at Voodoo, he received numerous outbursts of approval after spitting particularly tongue-twisting verses.
The half-Japanese, half-Italian Lyrics Born also has an impressively rapid-fire flow and is renowned for his lively performances.
Be sure to pick up one of his studio CDs, particularly the remix album “Same !@#$ Different Day,” which can either liven up a party or cause a crazed car-dancing session.
Shawn Dugas can be reached at [email protected].
M.I.A.
By JUSTIN TEMPLET
“I was missing in action on the side of a carton,” sings London via Sri Lanka hip-hop artist M.I.A. on 2005 her debut album “Arular.”
With the recent release of her sophomore “Kala,” Maya Arulpragasam, or M.I.A., is no longer missing and can be found opening the 2007 Voodoo Music Experience Oct. 26.
Returning to Europe in December, M.I.A. is stopping in New Orleans in the first portion of a rare two-month U.S. tour. She was previously denied a U.S. visa while attempting to come stateside to collaborate with Timbaland, the producer with a hand in every artist’s cookie jar.
With the kibosh on the opportunity to work with Timbaland, M.I.A.’s infusion of hip-hop, dancehall, electro, grime and world music remains uniquely her own. Instead of nodding their heads – or, God forbid, moshing – M.I.A.’s set guarantees festival-goers the opportunity to run wild and look pretty to the music. Voodooists can actually dance, move, bounce, grind and gyrate to music that fits in at a popular nightclub just as much an outdoor music festival.
M.I.A. ensures to be a refreshing relief from the Rage Against the Machines and Smashing Pumpkins types that dot the festival lineup.
Go see her while she’s here because Immigration only knows when she will be able to perform here again.
Justin Templet can be reached at [email protected].
SINEAD O’CONNOR
By JUSTIN TEMPLET
It’s been more than seven hours and 15 days since Sinead O’Connor took her love away from the pop charts. It’s actually been 17 years since most Americans have heard anything from the Irish artist who, in 2003, after years of poor record sales in the U.S., announced she was retiring from music to become a catechist.
The devil has crept back into the reformed sinner – at least for a day – as O’Connor performs on the Le Ritual stage Oct. 27.
While most are understandably confused as to how she managed to get booked on the main stage of a popular music festival instead of at a pub somewhere, to others the answer is obvious.
Sinead O’Connor embodies the spirit of Voodoo. Voodoo is about ensnaring the senses and reviving the deceased.
Given O’Connor’s live performance track record, listeners cannot help but be ensnared. In the early ’90s, she caused controversy at shows, most famously on Saturday Night Live when she ripped a picture of the late Pope John Paul II in half. Who knows which religious community she’ll smite at Voodoo?
O’Connor has not had a single on the Billboard Hot 100s Chart since 1990. To see a woman perform 17 years after the death of her career is an opportunity that won’t be available again. For no other reason, festival-goers should attend O’Connor’s set just to see if she still sports the pseudo-lesbian baldhead.
Oh, nothing compares … nothing compares to you, Sinead.
Justin Templet can be reached at [email protected].
SPOON
By LAUREN LaBORDE
Spoon might be the ideal Voodoo Fest act. They’ve earned enough indie cred for the most astute of musical palates (music snobs Pitchfork Media give their discriminating nod of approval), and with their brand of piano rock that has effectively bridged the gap between obscurity and mainstream fare (they’ve lent “The Way We Get By” to the soundtrack of the WB’s “The O.C.” and “Sister Jack” to “Wedding Crashers”), they’re digestible for random festival passersby.
And if you plan on sticking around for the Smashing Pumpkins after, a Spoon-ful of this musical sugar will make the Billy Corgan-fronted trainwreck go down.
The Austin four-piece established their style on 2005’s “Gimme Fiction,” a handclap-happy pop collective of pounding piano chords and acoustic guitar strumming.
Their sixth release, “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga,” totals to about 36 minutes, but it isn’t at all lacking. Given a taste of Mischa Barton-fueled fame, this could have been Spoon’s sell-out moment.
But although they’ve expanded their repertoire to include other elements for a fuller sound – like in the glorious brass section of lead single “The Underdog” – they still made catchy but creative pop that is uniquely Spoon.
Spoon will play the Playstation/Billboard.com stage Oct. 27 at 6:30.
Lauren LaBorde can be reached at [email protected].
