From Entertainment Weekly:

Brains Power
Producer Adam ''MCA'' Yauch talks influences, legacies -- and a little golf -- with bassist Darryl Jenifer of the legendary hardcore band Bad Brains as their new CD, ''Build a Nation,'' hits stores

In the early '80s, the Beastie Boys hung out at the legendary New York punk club CBGBs, hoping to share air space with their idols, the seminal hardcore/reggae outfit Bad Brains. Now, two-and-a-half decades later, they're finally sharing a studio: Beastie Adam Yauch (a.k.a. MCA) produced the Brains' new album, Build a Nation. (Preview "Give Thanks And Praises" and ''Natty Dreadlocks 'Pon The Mountain Top'' now.) Yauch and Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer recently got together for an email exchange covering racial bias in the record industry, what it's like for the Brains to be playing together again after a lengthy hiatus, and, of course, Jenifer's golf game.

ADAM YAUCH: After not playing together for a while, did it take a minute to shake off the cobwebs and get into the flow, or did it just click right away?
DARRYL JENIFER: Bad Brains are vets at this rock stuff. It's like riding a bike. We own our sound and can do nothing about it. When [drummer] Earl [Hudson] clicks his sticks, it's on and poppin'.

What artists have influenced you over the years?
Sun Ra, Black Ivory, Black Slate, In Crowd, Sly Stone, Buzzcocks, the Damned, Jah Shaka, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Brooklyn.

What are some memorable shows that you went to — performances you'll never forget?
James Brown at the Howard Theater circa 1964, B.T. Express, New Birth and the Jimmy Castor Bunch at the Langley Theater N.E. D.C. circa '74, Mother's Finest and the Bar-Kays Capitol Center in 1975, and the Ramones in Maryland.

How does D.C. differ from New York?
D.C is the head of the beast; N.Y. and L.A. are the ass and heart. They can fight over that.

Can you talk about making Build a Nation?
Making a new record is always exciting. It's magical to hear your ideas come to light, from the sketch pad to tape. It's like seeing a baby being born. It can be a test executing the riffs and musical movement as planned, but it is this positive tension and friction that creates [our]cosmic chemistry.

Did the process of making this record differ from making records in the past?
Only in the respect that Yauch had us on some ol' high-end home studio stuff, which definitely added to the free-wheelin' feel to the riffs. Plus, we got to see Mike D. and Adrock!

What do you feel is the biggest misconception about the Brains?
That we are problematic and primitive. Of course we as a collective have our views, but we are Jah respecting, Jah youth. I think being black and playing in a white rock world and industry puts us at a slight disadvantage when it comes to our actions and words.

Why do German interviewers ask such weird questions? (Sorry, I just had to do three German phoners.)
Because they get up too early in the morning eating schnitzel, drinking big brews. Heck if I know.

Is Darryl's golf game all that he claims it is? I heard that he hooked one into the trees the other day. Truth or rumor?
True. I did hook one into the trees yesterday only, to save par at shoot a 9-hole round of 38. Don't mess wit me on this golf, son! I'm waiting for the Beastie Boys to take me to Pebble Beach!!

When it's raining, umbrella or raincoat?
I usually just get wet, but I do have some rubber boots with the latches.

But for real, you guys have been one of the most innovative groups in modern music. Do you feel that you have gotten the credit and the recognition that you deserve?
He he. Do you feel that you have gotten more credit than you deserve? Jus' messin with you. I know you're a sensitive dude, Adam. I remember when y'all was trying/starting to rap back in the day. Who would have known...Bad Brains, man we got everything that Jah had for us, from food to shelter and healthy, happy children...so, I guess plaques and dough ain't always the reward. On the real, it's great that we were chosen to spread this positive love and music through the will of the Great Spirit. One love.

What about our history together? I remember seeing you guys in NYC at the beginning and what a profound experience you guys are. There is something incredibly moving as you guys perform together. It's like one big instrument.
I think you had a crush on us. We definitely respect one another. Beasties were more punk back then, and I think we had some influence by our capacity to mix things up. Perhaps it gave the Beasties [an idea] of how it could be done. Those were the days.

What are your plans for the future?
Only Jah knows the future. Bad Brains has a life of its own. All any of us can do is be ready for battle in the musical cosmic war of good or evil, and I'm still waiting on my beat from Adam Yauch for my highly anticipated solo release, Soldier Styles.

Thank you, Martijn!

Midzi and I are now in Poland. The Heinken Opener Festival will be our last stops on the Beastie Boys European tour. Midzi has to return to work and I must return to the United States for proper medical attention. We didn't want to say that we were both injured again at shows because we didn't want to scare any fans from seeing the Beastie Boys. The truth is, however, Beastie Boys shows are not safe for women to attend in Europe because the makeup of their audience is 90% young men.

We woke up this morning laughing about how there isn't one part on our bodies that doesn't ache. Forget my arm bite from Sonar. My best injury is to my elbow, which I received at the Berlin show. I haven't had feeling in one hand for almost two weeks because of ulnar nerve damage. At the show at Le Zenith in Paris, a young American man slammed into Midzi and me repeatedly so he could get inbetween us, which he did eventually. Midzi is bruised up and down the right side of her body from this fohker, and my body is bruised up and down on the left side. The shittiest thing about it was Beastie Boys security thought WE were the ones causing this dude trouble. Yeah, two girls who came together let some strange man break us up. All the fohker did when he got up next to us was wave his arms in our faces and yell, "ADROCK! ADROCK!" repeatedly. I asked the fohker, who so desperately wanted attention from the band, "Do you think the Beastie Boys would be impressed with your hurting two women to get to them?" He didn't have an answer for me.

There needs to be a special area for women at Beastie Boys show. We shouldn't have to endure injury to enjoy a show. And we shouldn't have to stand in the back of the venue because our bodies are smaller and have less muscle than men. Male Beastie Boys fans need to be told not to be such fohkers and hurt women.

Back to Poland...the shows in Poland mean a lot to Midzi. This is her home. Beastie Boys are her band. After all we've been through, we're not sure that we're going to survive these two final shows. The Heineken Opener Festival has a reputation for wild, young audiences. Midzi says a large number of people bought tickets to the festival before any of the bands were announced. She says people come to the festival to drink and be stupid.

In an effort to give Midzi the experience she wants in Poland, I made a formal request to a Beastie Boys representative, asking for help. The person didn't even have the courtesy to respond. Whatever. It's really disappointing when we put all this effort to report on the European tour and no one from the Beastie Boys team values it.

We're going to go and enjoy Sonic Youth and The Roots today and try not to think about what we will face when we try to see Beastie Boys this weekend.

From Mediaweek:

There.com Pacts With Capitol Music
By Mike Shields

There.com, an online virtual world aimed at teens and twenty-somethings, has initiated a unique distribution partnership with Capitol Music Group to host a series of “live” appearances in the world where users can interact with their favorite music artists, including The Beastie Boys and Korn.

Starting July 10, There.com, a video-game-like, avatar-filled fantasy domain that has been described as a PG-13 version of the popular Second Life, will launch The Tower, a new nightclub that will host musical performances. The first performance by a Capital artist is scheduled for that launch, as the rapper MIMS – or a virtual version of him – will perform and interact with fans. At least five such appearances are planned over the next several months, according to There creators Makena Technologies.

During each live virtual show, fans can also purchase both virtual and real world band-related items, ranging from virtual band t-shirts to actual CDs. There will also place a variety of interactive kiosks throughout the world where users can also purchase such products.

Capital executives are looking at the There opportunity as a way to offer virtual world devotees a unique way to get close to their favorite bands, while at the same time as a means to drive more sales.

“We know that consumers are spending a lot of time in virtual worlds and There.com offers a completely new way to promote music, both emerging talent and recognized artists, allowing artists to really connect with their fan bases,” said Syd Schwartz, senior vp of digital strategy, for Capitol Music Group. “Virtual worlds also give us a new revenue channel to promote our artists and sell virtual and real world branded merchandise to consumers.”

The link I posted a while ago was missing the first few songs, but you can download the entire show here.

Setlist
Gratitude
Time for Livin'
14th St. Break
Root Down
Pass the Mic
Super Disco Breakin'
Sure Shot
Triple Trouble
Electric Worm
Ricky's Theme
Lighten Up
In 3's
Egg Raid on Mojo
The Maestro
Flute Loop
Brass Monkey
3 MC's and 1 DJ
Groove Holmes
The Gala Event
Tough Guy
Ch-Check It Out
Body Movin'
So What'cha Want
MMM Interlude
Intergalactic
Heart Attack Man
Sabotage

Also, there is audio from the gala event the previous night (June 14th) here. Only the first six songs though.

Setlist
B for My Name
Live at PJ's
Futterman's Rule
Do It
Remote Control
Time for Livin'

"Suco de Tangerina," which does not appear on the setlist, was performed after "Ricky's Theme."

I got the show I expected yesterday at Le Zenith tonight at le Bataclan. The show was super magnifique -- with a beret on top! I will post a full review and photos after Midzi and I get to Poland tomorrow.

An alternate version of the "Off the Grid" video may be viewed at toshiba-emi.co.jp, the Beastie Boys' Japanese label's site. Click on the photo above for easy viewing.

The best thing about the show tonight in Paris was meeting people from the message board in the queue before the show and having drinks with them after the show.

I cannnot lie. Many in our group were disappointed with the show tonight -- not the performance, but the setlist. We were all hoping for a little something special but got a standard set instead. The band devised the setlist for a Parisian audience who hasn't seen a proper show since 1999.

Cameras were not allowed in the venue, so I have no photos to share from this show. Also, very few professional photographers were credentialed, so it may be difficult to find any quality photos from this show.

The most interesting thing about this show for some of us was watching Kathleen Hanna shake her booty on the side of the stage throughout the entire show. She was having fun. Spike Jonze rocked out next to her.

On a super-cute note, Tamra Davis brought out Skylar and Davis, dressed in their jammies, to view the audience before the show started. Mike later introduced "Brass Monkey" as the song his sons requested to hear that night.

It's difficult to write much about a show that didn't wow me. Couple that feeling with not having photos and the show is mostly forgettable. That said, Paris is one of my favorite places to see concerts. Parisian audiences are great.

Setlist
Gratitude
Time for Living
B for My Name
Remote Control [video]
Root Down [video]
Triple Trouble
Sure Shot [video]
Shake Your Rump
Electric Worm
Live at PJ's
Sabrosa
Tough Guy [video]
Pass the Mic
Super Disco Breakin'
Body Movin'
Brass Monkey [video]
Off the Grid
Shambala [video]
Something's Got to Give
The Maestro
Egg Raid on Mojo
3 MCs and 1 DJ [video]
No Sleep Til Brooklyn [video]
Ch-Check It Out [video]
So What'cha Want [video 1 // video 2]
MMM Interlude [video]
Intergalactic [video 1 // video 2]
Heart Attack Man
Sabotage [video]

Photos

Photo credit: Chimeric.de

The Beastie Boys set at the Southside Festival in Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany, is another performance we can find little about, except for videos posted at Youtube.com that allow us to form a partial setlist.

Setlist*
Sure Shot [video]
Root Down [video]
"The Weave! The Weave! This is my natural hair!" says Adam Horovitz, as the band executes The Weave during "Root Down."
Super Disco Breakin'
Shake Your Rump [video]
Off the Grid [video]
Tough Guy [video]
After Mike declares, "Anything you do tonight is alright" -- "Almost anything," he corrects himself -- Yauch asks him if it's ok to go naked bungee jumping. "Perhaps," Mike replies.
No Sleep Til Brooklyn [video]
Pass the Mic [video]
Body Movin' [video]
"Do your dance, Mike! Do your dance, Mike!" orders Horovitz. Mike complies, causing Horovitz to shout, "Ah, shit! Give him room!"
So What'cha Want [video]
Ch-Check It Out [video]
MMM Interlude [video]
Intergalactic [video]
Sabotage [video]

A video montage of Super Disco Breakin' and Ch-Check It Out may be viewed here.

Photos




*Incomplete

View a slideshow of the pics from the Cologne Gala Event by clicking on the photo above or go to Flickr to see the photoset.

The Cologne Gala Event was both Midzi's and my favorite show thus far because the sound was perfect! It was the first show that we heard every person in the band. At all the other shows that we've attended, we haven't been able to hear vocals for at least the first three songs and not hear Mix Master Mike throughout the entire Gala Event shows. For a long time, we were wondering what the heck Mix Master Mike was doing at the Gala Events because we couldn't tell that he was contributing anything. To our surprise, we learned at the Cologne Gala Event that he contributes quite a bit.

Before the show, as we waited to be let into the venue, we noticed the makeup of the crowd standing behind us was a bit unusual for a Beastie Boys show. The majority of the audience was at least 25 years old and up. Midzi and I thought that a mature audience might mean a sophisticated show, but after the first song, we realized something was very wrong with the audience. I'm not sure what was going on. I suspect the audience was ill-informed and thought they were coming to a hip-hop show. There's no putting it delicately: the audience sucked balls. They booed the band during some of the instrumentals. We looked around us and thought, "What the hell is wrong with you people?!"

The audience sucking balls was a true shame because the band were in high spirits. They came out with a lot of energy and spunk. Adam Horovitz was especially frisky. Midzi seemed to think he had enjoyed a few beers before the show, but I think he can be frisky without any influence. Even the normally stoic Adam Yauch was acting goofy.

For the first 20 minutes of the show, I felt the band were walking through their set, like they simply wanted to finish the show, hop on the bus, and get to the next city. The audience's strange, negative reaction to the instrumentals, however, seemed to be a challenge to them -- and they decided to take the challenge and do something special with the show. What could have been the worst show ever turned into something unique.

Despite the audience sucking, Horovitz spoke kindly to the audience frequently and tried to "soothe the beast." Before "Ricky's Theme," he spoke about how the song reminded him of a summer's day in which they would go to Ricky's lemonade stand. It was B Boys story time.

Horovitz also addressed the audience's constant chanting of "Ali Baba and the forty thieves." (The "Rhymin' & Stealin'" chant is what made me think the audience was ill-informed about the Gala Event.) With one eyebrow raised, Horovitz slyly said, "It must have been a big hit here." He told the audience that they would play it the next time they come to Cologne. (I don't think there will be a next time in Cologne.) He attempted to explain how the Gala Event was "something different," but the audience either didn't understand or didn't want to understand.

Horovitz took time to introduce each member of the band, pointing out where they were from. "Gardenia, Manhattan, Manhattan, Brooklyn, LA, and...?" He stopped and gave Mix Master Mike a questioned look, as if he wasn't sure what the proper answer was. Mix Master Mike answered "San Francisco."

There were some song flub-ups, which they handled in typical B Boys humorous fashion. They had to restart "B for My Name" because Yauch was playing the wrong song. "My mistake. I was playing the wrong notes," he apologized with a grin. Horovitz stopped "The Gala Event" and requested a do over for reasons that were unclear to us. The performance of "The Gala Event" was complimented with a mirrorball light show. We saw the same thing in Berlin, but thought the mirrorball was unique to the venue. It seems to be a permanent addition to the Gala Event.

"Futterman's Rule" was my favorite song performance of the night, followed by "The Maestro." Again, a lot of it had to do with being able to hear the songs properly. Midzi's picks were "So What'cha Want" and "The Maestro." We both enjoyed "The Maestro" because most of the song was performed directly in front of us to our delight. Nothing beats Diamond and Horovitz being goofy and playing off each other.

Yauch gave us the extended dance version of the "Gratitude" intro that we hoped for and were very pleased to hear again. It adds a little umpfh to the song. The extended intro seems to be exclusive to the Gala Event.

At several points, Yauch goofed around, playing the "Sweet Leaf" riff. Midzi and I were more amused by Yauch's hair than his bass antics. His hair was sticking in the air for the first quarter of the show. Yauch also entertained us with his kung-fu moves. (See above photo.)

The usually very talkative Michael Diamond was strangely silent for most of the show, except to say that he thought Horovitz looked good in his blue shirt and what a bold fashion statement it was. At a later point, Mike mentioned the message board, saying that people were talking about Mix Master Mike's sexy legs. Huh?

The surprise of the night was a performance of "Song for the Man" -- which I had strangely mentioned to Midzi the day before that I'd really like to hear. We really like and respect that the band can pull a song out of a hat. Surprises are what we hoped the Gala Event would be about.

When the band reached the end of the set, Horovitz began his typical introduction to "Sabotage" being dedicated to a certain someone, when he was interrupted by boos and whistles -- and not the nice kind of boos and whistles. A mischievous look came over his face and he made the decision that the band would do another instrumental. I got the distinct impression that the extra instrumental was thrown in as "punishment" for the idiots who kept demanding something other than what they were getting. The extra instrumental was "Honky Rink," which Horovitz did a kind of scatting through. We couldn't make out what he was saying. When the song finished, Yauch stepped to the mic and finished the "Sabotage" dedication that Horovitz had begun.

The lighting for the Gala Event has been evolving with each show. The band are using strangely shaped lights/video screens, which I've been calling "potato chips" because that's what they look like to me: big Ruffles and small Cheetos. For the Cologne Gala Event, we noticed videos being displayed on the screens for the first time. Also new to the Cologne Gala Event were police lights in Mix Master Mike's booth.

Photos

Tonight Midzi, Documad, Jennygirl, Paulb, Bgrrrlie, and I met for dinner and drinks in Paris. We toasted the Beastie Boys for bringing us together.

Important notice to all the fans attending the party after the show in Paris tomorrow: We will be meeting after the show outside the venue before heading to the party location. Look for a group of giddy fans speaking English; that will be us.

I've been working hard to upload all my pics from the Cologne Gala Event to my Flickr account in my free moments, which there are few of. Look for the review and photos tomorrow morning (Paris time).

If you are a Beastieboys.com e-newsletter subscriber, check your email for information about more U.S. shows and presales.

From Beastieboys.com:

Two very special listening parties for The Mix-Up will occur on Monday, June 25th [TONIGHT!] from 6:00-8:00pm:

Union
110 S. La Brea, Los Angeles, CA 90036 map
Ice cream provided by Scoops

Undefeated (Silverlake)
3827 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90189 map
Ice cream provided by Pazzo Gelato

Limited Edition Beastie Boys t-shirts to be given out (Quantities are limited; first come, first served)

From the New York Post:

Word out, yo!
By Joseph Barracato

No samples. No scratches. No words. After giving fans a nibble on "Check Your Head," "Ill Communication" and the cult-hit compilation "The In Sound From Way Out!," the Beastie Boys are ready to serve up a full course of fresh instrumentals with "The Mix-Up," out Tuesday

Their seventh studio album finds N.Y.C.'s beloved sons - Mike "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "MCA" Yauch and Adam "Ad Rock" Horovitz - drawing from one of the primary weapons in their musical arsenal: unlike most hip-hop artists, they actually play instruments. Diamond is the dummer, Yauch plays bass and Horovitz handles guitar duties. They're joined by longtime collaborator Money Mark on keyboards and percussionist Alfredo Ortiz.

So, what inspired the trio to go rap-less after 28 years?

"A lot of different stuff. It's not like any one specific thing that we put on the record and said 'Oh, let's make some s - - t like this,' " says Ad Rock, the group's guitarist. "I think a lot of the stuff we've listened to over the past 20, 30 years all kind of comes in there somehow. I also think there are some influences from dub records and jazz records we listen to - or even funk. Probably some stuff from the early '80's like [the] Specials, [the] Clash and [the] Slits. Stuff from early punk."

"Early punk" was what originally inspired the Beastie Boys to form a band. And it's the sound that defined their first record, 1981's "Pollywog Stew."

It's only when they added a major jolt of rap, for "Licensed to Ill," that they became stars.

Now the group is exploring a host of different styles. When the mellow "Freaky Hijiki" kicks in, the Boys might as well be in a jazz club. "The Cousin of Death," meanwhile, is a classic-rock throwback, complete with machine-gun snares and a ripping guitar.

The follow-up to 2004's politically heavy "To the 5 Boroughs," comes with a question the hip-hop community is already salivating over: Are they planning to bring in artists to rhyme or sing over the 12 tracks?

The group themselves would only offer, "We're talking to people about it," before flashing their typical immaturity and mentioning names like Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Boston and Fleetwood Mac.

"They might bring in some gypsies to sing. They are the wildest rap group ever - black or white," offers pioneer Ice T, an admirer of the situation. "They're always doing something creative. Nothing would surprise me."

"I would love to spit on a track and be a part of history," adds famed producer Swizz Beatz, another fan.

Regardless of what they decide, the Beastie Boys will be playing at several European festivals throughout June and July, including Live Earth at Wembley Stadium on July 7.

They return to the U.S. briefly to invade Summerstage on Aug. 8, before making an appearance at McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn the next day. Both shows sold out in less than two minutes.

These outdoor dates will be what the band is referring to as "regular" shows, complete with the Boys in all of their hip-hop glory. But, according to their Web site, the Beasties will be playing some all-instrumental sets - referred to as "gala" shows - along the way at intimate clubs.

The group's extremely charged about choosing which songs to feature each night, especially now that they can draw upon a new well of sounds.

"We have more artillery," explains MCA, "and more firepower."

"Honky Rink" was performed before "Sabotage."

Photos and details after we arrive in Paris tomorrow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DOCUMAD!!

I suspect that our internet connection in Berlin was powered by two monkeys on bicycles. It was taking me forever to upload my pics from the Berlin Gala Event. Now that Midzi and I are in Cologne, where they employ at least four monkeys to power their internet, I have finally uploaded all my pics from the show. View a slideshow of the pics by clicking on the photo above or go to Flickr to see the photoset.

Midzi and I decided to skip the Hurricane Festival today. We gave our hotel reservations to some friends from the message board and asked them to provide a report after the festival. It rained off and on today in Germany. We hope that it stayed dry for our friends and the Beastie Boys.

Midzi's and my drive from Berlin to Cologne was unusual. Worth mentioning is how much bad radio we listened to today. REO Speedwagon? Cutting Crew? What the?! It was like torture. We prayed to hear just one Beastie Boys song. No such luck. If it hadn't been for that little break in Schlongburg [giggles], I think we may have driven the car off the road to end our suffering.

After we returned our rental car in Cologne, we took a taxi back to our hotel. Our taxi driver played a Best of Phil Collins CD for us. It took all our will power not to laugh aloud. Su-su-sudio!

Speaking of music, The Mix-Up was released today in Germany. Midzi and I plan to check out the record stores in Cologne tomorrow to see how it's moving. We expect it will be flying off the shelves like frisbees.

We're ready to meet up with more message board peeps tomorrow before heading to the Cologne Gala Event. Hanna, our new friend in Berlin, told us that Cologne has a huge hip-hop community, so the show should be a fun one.

I figured out that I have heard six of the twelve songs from The Mix-Up live now. I have my fingers crossed for a seventh tomorrow night.

I wonder if they packed the sitar...

Hot Sauce: Dang, that show was hot -- in two ways! We were sweating buckets.

Midzi: I'm surprised that Berlin is so much hotter than Barcelona. Yauch never took his jacket off through the show last night, did he?

Hottie: No, he didn't work up a sweat like Horovitz and Diamond. I think that he should work up a sweat. The one thing that the Gala Event is missing for me is Yauch. He needs his own song with vocals or something. Horovitz has his songs, Diamond has his songs, Yauch needs his songs.

Midzi: He barely speaks to the audience or to Mike and Horovitz.

Hottie: He only speaks with the bass. Was "14th Street Break" a premiere last night?

Midzi: I don't know, but it was a very good song to open the show with.

Hottie: The Berlin crowd was pretty cool.

Midzi: You could see that they were real fans. People came to enjoy the show. They came for Beastie Boys -- except for the one guy who yelled "Fight for Your Right."

Hottie: They get that at every show. It has to wear on their nerves. I liked when the one guy in the audience requested "Get It Together." Horovitz said, "That's a good one. We should consider it." And then he mumbled and said, "Get It Together" and the audience thought he was introducing the next song. He realized what the audience thought and said, "No-no. Q-Tip is not here."

Midzi: They have performed that song without Q-Tip in the Ill Communication era.

Hottie: The way the setlist was organized, it made the show feel heavy on the instrumentals even though they didn't play any more instrumentals than they normally play.

Midzi: Fucking rain...

Hottie: Beastie Boys are probably cursing the rain right now too. I hope our friends arrived in Paris without any weather delays.

Midzi: I hope it doesn't rain on them at the Hurricane Festival.

Hottie: Did the band have the camera equipment at the other shows?

Midzi: I remember at Sonar, before the band entered the stage, I thought Horovitz had two microphones. I didn't know that one of them was the camera. Yesterday he acted like he didn't know what it was.

Hottie: I didn't notice any of the screens at Sonar, except for that one -- and we shall never speak of that.

Midzi: All the band have their own cameras, but you don't see that they are cameras. Horovitz made funny faces to the camera. [laughs]

Hottie: Honker shots! The camera had the fish-eye effect...I wish it would stop raining. I felt the band were a little low on energy last night. Their tour schedule is a bit crazy.

Midzi: I hope they get some extra sleep during this fucking rain in Berlin. Yauch looked like he was sleepy on stage.

Hottie: Being sleepy at shows is usually our problem. Maybe Horovitz gave him his cold. Hey, "Gratitude" was missing the long intro last night.

Midzi: Yes. Too bad, because it sounds good. I liked it.

Hottie: Documad is going to be surprised to learn that we did not start the queue for the show. Three guys were there before us.

Midzi: But you were the first to the rail.

Hottie: Of course. And that's what matters. [laughs]

Midzi: I appreciate that the band were security-conscious last night and addressed the crowd to calm down at certain points -- with Horovitz even giving instructions on how to dance without hurting someone.

Hottie: And he demonstrated how to do it!

Midzi: At one point, I noticed the security guys gathered on the left side of the stage in front of Yauch. Two of them were trying to reach into the crowd -- it was during "Remote Control." The band stopped playing. They all walked forward to see what was happening in the pit. It turned out that some guy lost his glasses. Horovitz was like, "Ahh, man!" They stopped the show because they thought shit was happening, but it was just some guy losing his glasses.

Hottie: Hey, I didn't get hurt last night. It was because I was wearing my lucky Australian crocodile necklace.

Midzi: I think the rain is letting up. Let's get out of the hotel.

Hottie: Ok. We'll finish this later. I only uploaded a portion of my photos to Flickr. I'll make them public later.

Photos





Audio

Audience recording of show

Photos and shit later.

We'll be damned if we can't find a single report or photo from the Gala Event at Yeni Melek in Istanbul on June 18. We received one email from a fan who said the show was by special invitation only, which confused us. The show was never advertised on Beastieboys.com; it was only mentioned in the official e-newsletter. That's not a special invitation.

Somebody had to attend this show. We hope to hear from them soon.

Midzi and I arrived in Berlin yesterday. After enjoying a delicious German meal and getting a decent amount of sleep (for a change!) last night, we woke up refreshed and ready for the Gala Event today.

We have received so many emails from friends and other Beastie Boys fans while we've been on the tour. We appreciate all the kind emails and invitations to meet up with people. I especially appreciate all the queries and kind words regarding what happened to me in Barcelona. (If you want to see my injury, look at this photo.) A special shout-out to my personal Beastie Boys physician, Dr. 9thBeastie, for convincing me to receive proper medical attention. Thanks also to Astrobboy for the promise to send me his shirt that says "Lunatic Magnet" on the back.

From Beastieboys.com:

"Go Skateboarding Day" lands on the summer solstice, this Thursday, June 21st, and encourages skaters both young and old to pick up their boards and take advantage of the longest day of the year to go skating. Check out one of the events below for a pre-release listening event for the new Beastie Boys album The Mix-Up. The Mix-Up hits stores the following Tuesday, June 26th on iTunes and in record stores nation-wide.

Visit Beastieboys.com to see a list of events where The Mix-Up will be previewed and giveaways held.

From the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine:

You guys started the Tibetan Freedom concerts - any advice for the Live Earth team?
Really just get out there and do it, don’t hesitate, especially when things are as critical - really beyond critical - as the environment.

What is the best thing concerts like this can do?
There’s a real chance to get the collective consciousness of almost the entire world focused on the topic - even people who aren’t aware of the concerts, because all the people talking about it will spin off and change their actions.

Why are people finally waking up to this now?
Al Gore’s movie did a great job getting the word out there. People realized that this is not a far-removed issue, not a scientific issue. It’s a quality-of-life issue.

How did you realize this was a major problem?
When I surf, I notice a lot of people are getting sick - that’s a bad sign. And there’s a huge amount of beach erosion that nobody’s seen. It’s right in front of your eyes.

Anything special planned for your show at Live Earth?
We’re going to do a medley of “We are the World,” “Are They Aware It’s Christmas” and “No Nukes” - all those jams all together.

Sounds like a long set.
We might have to trim our medley accordingly.

Beastie Boys will be playing Live Earth at Wembley Arena on July 7, 2007.

We love, love, love, Friis' Lego Beastie Boys!

Click on the photo to see more Beastie Boys legos.

Photo by gotozgitogo

Unfortunately, we haven't been able to locate much information or media from the Beastie Boys performance at One Love Festival in Istanbul, Turkey. Hopefully, we'll hear from some fans soon.

Setlist
Gratitude [video]
Tough Guy [video]
B for My Name
Live at PJ's
Root Down
Super Disco Breakin' [video]
Sure Shot
Remote Control [video]
Egg Raid on Mojo
The Gala Event
Flute Loop
Pass the Mic
Brass Monkey
Triple Trouble
Shambala
Lighten Up
14th Street Break
Heart Attack Man
The Maestro
Body Movin' [video]
Check It Out
No Sleep Til Brooklyn
3 MC's and 1 DJ [video]
So What'cha Want [video]
MMM Interlude
Intergalactic
Time for Livin'
Sabotage

Photos

Photo by infowonders1

Boy, are we glad that we did not go to Greece!

We have learned that the Ejekt Festival in Athens, Greece, was a disaster. Shortly after the Beastie Boys went on stage, there was a breach in security that allowed people without tickets to fill the festival grounds. Chaos erupted. Cars were set on fire. Smoke filled the festival grounds. What the hell?!

According to one fan in attendance, "Beastie Boys were on stage and they just stop performing, said goodnight and rushed off the stage."

It's not clear to us whether Beastie Boys walked off the stage on their own accord or festival organizers made the decision to cancel the festival and asked them to end their set.

We are interested in hearing from fans who were there.

Setlist*
Remote Control [video]
This was opening song of their set.
Sure Shot [video]
Root Down and Super Disco Breakin'[video]
Triple Trouble [video]
Pass the Mic [video]
No Sleep Til Brooklyn [video]
Body Movin' [video]
Ch-Check It Out [video]
Mike is goofy about fresh bread. "We had lovely, fresh bread at lunch today," he tells the audience as he gets everyone to lift their fresh finger in the air.
3 MCs and 1 DJ [video]
This appears to have been their final song at the festival. In this video, you can hear Mike say, "We gotta make movement."

This alternate video of 3 MCs and 1 DJ captures Mark telling Mike about what is happening and how they have to get off stage.


*Incomplete

Click on the photo to see a slideshow of photos from the show (Flash required). Alternatively, view the photoset at Flickr.

Power animal = The owl
Power weapon = Sharpened and poisonous mah-jong tile

The Beastie Boys second set at the Sonar Festival took place in an area that was almost triple the size of where the Gala Event was staged the previous night, with triple the number of people in attendance. The environment was hot and heavy before the band went on stage.

With audio of most of the show available and the tale of the crazy biting woman told, there is little left to say about this show.

The band opened with "Gratitude," which began with a very cool extended intro by Señor Yauch. (He also played it at the Gala Event the previous night.) They then performed a string of their hip-hop hits, beginning with "Root Down" (complimented with The Weave!), before chilling with a string of instrumental songs. For the second half of the show, Beastie Boys served up more hip-hop hits, sprinkled with a dash of hardcore songs, and presented with a special sidedish -- the premiere performance of "The Gala Event."

A number of shout-outs were given throughout the show. Horovitz gave a shout-out to Devo, acknowledging their presence in the VIP area before explaining it was his weird dream come true (i.e., Devo seeing Beastie Boys perform live instead of vice versa). Mike gave shout-outs to audience members who had dressed to impress.

The show included a lot of rump shaking by Señors Diamond and Horovitz that culminated with a dance contest between the two. (If you watch the slideshow, you can see the dancing in motion.)

Money Mark was equally energetic, doing power jumps during "Heart Attack Man" and "Sabotage." (Watch Mark in motion in the slideshow.) The show concluded with Mark doing a flip in the center of the stage.



Setlist
Gratitude
Time for Living
14th Street Break
Root Down
Pass the Mic
Super Disco Breakin' [video]
Sure Shot
Triple Trouble [video]
Electric Worm
Ricky's Theme
Lighten Up
In 3's
Egg Raid on Mojo
The Maestro
Flute Loop
Brass Monkey
3 MCs and 1 DJ
Groove Holmes
The Gala Event
Tough Guy
Ch-Check It Out
Body Movin'
So What'cha Want
MMM Interlude
Intergalactic
Heart Attack Man
Sabotage (dedicated to you-know-poo)[video]

Photos

Beastie Boys perform "Triple Trouble."

Videos on Youtube:
Remote Control
The Maestro
Sure Shot
3 MC's and 1 DJ

Photos on Flickr:

Photos by Bakameh and Kurrn

You may download the Beastie Boys’ live set at the Sonar Festival on June 15th here [updated link]. Please note that this is an edited version of the concert, not the full concert.

Click on the photo to see a slideshow of photos from the show (Flash required). Alternatively, view the photoset at Flickr.

Hot Sauce: So, do you want to pick up from where we left off about the Barcelona Gala Event?

Midzi: I'm not sure if I remember much more.

Hot Sauce: What was the deal with Mike and the apparitions? The ghosts? He and Yauch were talking about being told a story about ghosts on a yacht. They seemed to have spent their day off on a boat...with ghosts!

Midzi: I don't remember all of that -- but Yauch brought up the ghost again at the show yesterday.

Hot Sauce: I like ghost stories.

Midzi: I'm going for a smoke.



Hot Sauce: Yauch was hilarious on the instrumental reworking of "So What'cha Want." He couldn't keep his hands down. He was supposed to be playing his instrument, but he's so used to rapping the song, his hands kept coming off the bass.

Midzi: It was nice to see the song done differently. Let's take you to the hospital. We can think about last night's show while we wait to see the doctor.

Midzi and I have just returned from the Beastie Boys set at the Sonar Festival. For the second time within a month, I was hurt at a Beastie Boys show -- this time by a crazy woman. And I mean, literally crazy. Security attempted to drag the woman out of the audience after she bit a man next to me twice, bit me, punched Midzi in the nose, and hit other people in our immediate area -- but the looney escaped them. She bit through my favorite Beastie Boys t-shirt, destroying it and my flesh. Midzi thinks her nose is ok, but my bite was severe enough that I had to see medics.

Midzi and I are in shock. We feel that we need time to think about the show. We think it was a good show. After I was attacked, I heard no songs. Midzi said it was difficult to focus on the show. I felt out-of-body, so I took a lot of photos because there was no escaping our spot on the rail. Oh, by the way, the crazy woman also broke my new digital camera that I bought for the European tour. Nice, eh?

We fuckin' can't believe what happened tonight. Fuckin'. Can't. Believe. We don't blame the band in any way.

Following are the songs we remembered being performed tonight (not in order):

Gratitude
Root Down
Pass the Mic
Egg Raid on Mojo
Tough Guy
Flute Loop
Triple Trouble
The Gala Event
Electric Worm
Ricky's Theme
Groove Holmes
Lighten Up
Sure Shot
The Maestro
3 MC's and 1 DJ
Body Movin'
Ch-Check It Out
So What'cha Want

MMM Interlude
Intergalactic
Heart Attack Man
Sabotage

Tomorrow we will have good things to say about the show. We're sure of it.

A big thank you to all the Beastie Boys fans in Barcelona who helped us and expressed such concern for us tonight.

Ticketmaster is going to be holding auctions for tickets to three Beastie Boys' shows: Boston, MA (Bank of America Pavilion), Denver, CO (Red Rocks), and Santa Barbara, CA (SB Bowl). Bidding for all three shows starts tomorrow, Saturday, June 16th @ 10am and ends a week from now, Friday, June 22nd @ 12pm (these are local times).

According to Ticketmaster, Winners will receive 2 premium seat tickets to the corresponding show.

Also, according to the site, Beastie Boys will donate a portion of the proceeds from the auctions to charity. That's so sweet of them!

Check out Ticketmaster for more information about the tickets if you are interested!

From Entertainment Weekly














Back in the 'Mix'
The Beastie Boys have lunch with EW.com and talk about their new instrumental record, ''The Mix-Up,'' review their 26-year history, show love for Japanese veggies, and debate the merits of Three Dog Night

By Adrienne Day

Over 26 years and seven albums, the Beastie Boys have explored every genre from punk to metal to hip-hop, but as The Mix-Up, their mellow, new, all-instrumental album proves, they've also learned how to kick back and relax. Over sushi and green tea at Oscilloscope, their expansive downtown Manhattan studio, the pioneering trio discussed their history as a band, their musical influences, their new record (out June 26), and beer helmets.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Why put out an all-instrumental record?
MCA: It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Ad-Rock: It's something that we'd been talking about for a long time, when we started working on Check Your Head. Then we kinda went some other ways, put vocals on stuff. We kinda did it with The In Sound From Way Out!, but that was more of a compilation.
Mike D: On our last record [To the 5 Boroughs], we were all bringing stuff in — either stuff that we had done in software programs, making beats, or on samplers or computer-based things that we would bring in and play for each other and then collaborate on. For this record, we decided to do a 180 — sit down in a room with instruments and see what happens.

Does this mark a return to your roots, then? At least in terms of production.
MCA: This is [sort of] how we made Check Your Head and Ill Communication. There are a few different ways that we've gone about making music, but one is just going in a room and not really having anything written or anything planned. We all just start playing and then do that for a couple days, then go back and listen to it all and see what sounds good and then make some songs out of them. Start out improvising, then put together pieces that work.

Aren't you ever afraid that you'll accidentally copy someone else's song? Maybe fall into a groove and say, wow — this sounds a lot like —
Mike D: There were a couple of times when we had something, [called it] a day, then came back and said, oh, you know why we liked it? Cuz it's...
MCA: Sly and the Family Stone. [Laughter]


What are some musical influences on The Mix-Up? What were you listening to while you were recording it?
Mike D: We listened to a lot of different kinds of music.
Ad-Rock: A lot of quartets.
MCA: Three Dog Night.
Ad-Rock: I don’t really like them.
Mike D: But Three Dog Night have songs and stuff.
Ad-Rock: Jeremiah was a bullfrog?
Mike D: That’s a song.
Ad-Rock: I know — I just don't like it.

What about dub? Was that an influence?
Mike D: Dub was a big influence. Prince Jazzbo. Of course Lee Perry stuff. Augustus Pablo.
MCA: But also a lot of stuff that was influenced by dub records, like PiL, the Clash, the Slits, the Specials. So I think there are some of those influences on this record, kind of a second-generation influence from dub.
Mike D: And now, we'd be the next couple of generations down after that.

So, you're starting a tour this week — where are you going to be playing?
MCA: Portugal.
Mike D: Barcelona.

Oh that's right — you're playing the Sonar festival in Barcelona. Have you been before? Isn't it mostly electronic music? Or at least it used to be.
Mike D: And it all takes place throughout the city, or it's one site...?

When I went, it was on a place called Montjuic — literally ''Jewish Mountain.'' Or ''Jew Mountain.'' Something like that.
Mike D: So they're sending us to the Jew Mountain? I guess that makes sense.

Yup, back to the ghetto.
Ad-Rock: Three Jews from New York. Where you gonna send them? Jew Mountain...
Mike D: They got tons of Chinese food up there — you’re gonna love it!
MCA: Sounds like the name of a horror film: Night on Jew Mountain. [Laughter]
Mike D: One of the things we're gonna do on this tour — for most cities we'll do one main show, more stuff with Mixmaster Mike. And then we'll do a separate show the next night or the night before — the ''gala'' event. More band arrangements of older songs and new songs and mostly instrumental stuff. Last tour [we did] pageants. We'd hoped that people would dress up accordingly. Some people did. So for the gala events on this tour, we're hoping that people also take that seriously and apply the dress code to their experience.
Ad-Rock: It is a gala event — you figure, you're going to wear, like, cargo shorts? We're not billing it as a BBQ.

Let's talk about Bad Brains — you produced their new record, Build a Nation, right?
MCA: Yeah. We grew up listening to them. I was just talking to Darryl [Jenifer, the band's bassist] on the phone, and he mentioned they were thinking about recording. I think I volunteered. It was cool, though it took a long time, for some reason. But it got done. And it's coming out. On the same day as our record. Strange coincidence.


Okay. Let's talk about your history as a band. Let's go through each record, starting with License to Ill.
MCA: Well, we started out as a hardcore band. We first put out a hardcore record. Don’t know if you would really count that.

Yeah, you used to play at CBGB's. Are you sorry that it's gone?
MCA: Yeah. I think it's a void. When I walk by and see that it’s not there.

So your first record after your hardcore days was License to Ill...what were you thinking about when you made that record?
Ad-Rock: We focused on beer...
Mike D: ...and beer helmets, too. You put the cans in...
Ad-Rock: [License to Ill] was also inspired by drink tickets. And getting into the club for free, then getting the drink tickets, and how many drink tickets you had...
Mike D: And then when the energy started to go down, going to the next club. Sometimes we'd try to write lyrics on napkins at, say, the Palladium or Danceteria, and then go back to the studio and record.
Ad-Rock: Once we bought beer helmets on 8th Street, started walking on Broadway to 10th. There were two women out front [of a restaurant], obviously executives, having a margarita out front, and Yauch [MCA] and I come up and we've got the beer helmets, and we're like, ''so, ladies...'' Then we hear, ''Nice hats, guys,'' and there's a cop car parked around the corner. He gave us tickets.
MCA: We weren't smart enough to put bags on the helmets.

Let's move on to Paul's Boutique.
MCA: The next record was pretty radically different. We left Def Jam and went out to the west coast and started working with the Dust Brothers. We were just planning to do a couple of songs with them and see how it went. We ended up staying out there for a long time and making a whole record with them. We listened to a lot of jazz and funk records, trying to find things to sample.
Mike D: Like the Meters, Idris Mohammad.
Ad-Rock: Dick Hyman. Things of that ilk.
Mike D: We just went out there to do a couple songs. Just kind of hanging out and having fun in the studio. No beer helmets, but heavy weed use.
Ad-Rock: We were listening to a lot of old breakbeat records. We met Mark Nishita [Money Mark], and I bought a drum kit from his brother.
Mike D: I crashed a rental car into the gate at the house we were renting as we were making Paul's Boutique. So our engineer Mario had gone to school with Mark, and knew that he was a good carpenter. And he said, ''My friend Mark can come fix the fence.''


He didn’t mention the fact that Mark also played keyboards.
Ad-Rock: We started playing [with him] later.
MCA: Just as Paul's Boutique was being released, there was a big turnover at the label, where a new president comes in and fires everyone. So everyone went hands-off. We went to the new president and said, ''We spent a long time working on this record, and we really like it, like to pull it out on the road,'' and he said...
Ad-Rock: He said, ''You know what you guys? I appreciate everything, but we're gonna just have to wait until the next time.'' And we're like, ''What do you mean, next time?'' And he was like, ''Next record. The new company's really behind this new Donny Osmond record.'' He said, ''I'm a Deadhead, so I know where you guys are at.'' [Laughter]


So is that when you started your own label, Grand Royal?
Ad-Rock: Yeah. The label thing happened because, basically, our friends had a demo and were trying to get a deal, so Mike and Adam sort of started Grand Royal.

Right. And that's when you made Check Your Head?
MCA: We were jamming in [Mike D's] house until his crazy neighbor came up with a gun and chased us away. So we decided to build our own recording studio. We spent three years screwing around in the studio, and finally finished [Check Your Head], and that came out, and then we toured for a little while. Then we came to New York and recorded a bunch for Ill Communication. In a studio called Tin Pan Alley.
Mike D: Also sometimes known as Bulls--- Alley. It's kind of a s---ty studio.
Ad-Rock: We were just in the mode of touring and touring and just in the mode of playing music — just really into it.
Mike D: Then we took a break for a bit, before we started Hello Nasty. We all gradually moved back to New York [for that].

What pulled you back here?
Ad-Rock: The bagels and the pizza.
Mike D: While we were recording Hello Nasty, we took a tangent and recorded a hardcore 7-inch called Aglio e Olio.
Ad-Rock: It was kind of like this record now, in that we were trying to decide what to record, and we started recording hardcore songs.
MCA: So we did a handful of hardcore dates under the name Quasar, until we got a cease and desist. From the Quasar company.
Mike D: Then after that tangent, we resumed Hello Nasty. We finished that and went on tour for a long time. Then we did To the 5 Boroughs. And Yauch set up this studio here, Oscilloscope.

Why make a New York record? 9/11?
MCA: We did kind of start on it pretty shortly after September 11th. I think there's just a lot of feeling about it, about the war and whatnot. While we were making that record, Bush was invading everybody that he could think of, trying to figure out who to include in the ''axis of evil.''
Mike D: Being native New Yorkers and growing up in New York, and also being New York residents and being here making that record, especially here, in downtown New York. It almost would've been dishonest not to deal with that somehow.

I really like this new song on the new album, ''Freaky Hijiki.''
Mike D: A lot of kudos coming off of ''Freaky Hijiki!''
Ad-Rock: I talked to someone from Japan today who wanted to know what was up with ''Freaky Hijiki.'' Wanted to know if we were making fun of [hijiki].
MCA: I heard in some kind of British review, that it was a hippie thing, a hippie reference...there's nothing hippie about hijiki.
Mike D: Actually, in one of our sides today [pointing to something brown and stringy on his plate], is the freaky hijiki. It is a Japanese sea vegetable, yet here it's mixed up with tofu. So we renamed it ''freaky hijiki.''
MCA: There's nothing hippie about this —
Mike D: People been eating sea veg for a long time.
MCA: It's a Japanese staple.
Mike D: So I'm kind of concerned. Japanese people think we're making fun of sea vegetables? We love sea vegetables. Why would we make fun of them?
Ad-Rock: I said that we wouldn’t do [that]. Unless it was called ''freaky nato,'' then we'd have a problem.
MCA: Nato is freaky to being with.

What's nato?
Mike D: It's a fermented soybean that in Japan they often [eat] it with breakfast. It's very...pungent tasting. Unless you grow up on it, it's a hard taste to like.
MCA: It's the Limburger cheese of beans. [Laughter]

So, you're all back living in New York now. Do you ever get stopped by the paparazzi?
Ad-Rock: I got a little something on my way to the studio today. There's a high school right around the corner of my house. When I'm walking my dog in the morning, I see a lot of the kids smoking joints. And I'm passing these kids — and they're so high, reeking of it — and this girl says, "Oh, s---! That dude is famous. What's that dude?" Then there was a little discussion as I kept walking. But I had a full outfit on, so I could’ve been anybody.
MCA: There's a homeless guy right on my corner in my hood, and every time I walk past he goes, "Hey Hollywood! Whassup? You got any new movies coming out?"

Hot Sauce: So, once again, I was the first one in the queue for the Beastie Boys show. Documad will be proud of me.

Midzi: When they opened the gates, you ran through security. [laughs] It was hard keeping pace with you. There was no competition to get our spots.

Hot Sauce: I wanted to make sure you had a good spot for your first Beastie Boys show.

Midzi: Yeah, right.

Hot Sauce: Are you trying to say something to me? [laughs]

Midzi: That was nice running into Xavito and Top 10 from the message board outside the venue, wasn't it?

Hot Sauce: Cool dudes. Everyone whom I have met from the message board at shows has been cool.

Midzi: When the band walked on stage, I was impressed with Mike's outfit.

Hot Sauce: Mike looks good in red. I loved the outfit and all the yacht talk. Top 10 took some really good photos of Mike backstage before the show. I believe Mike is going to post them on Beastieboys.com.



Midzi: Horovitz pants did not fit him properly.

Hot Sauce: Yeah, the pants were long in the crouch and short-legged. I could see his socks! He looked goofy.

Midzi: I really liked Horovitz' dancing -- especially when his guitar didn't work. And when they goofed around with the reggae music.

Hot Sauce: I've never seen Yauch dance before. All three of them were dancing reggae-style (i.e., big leg steps in the air). They must have taken goofy pills before the show.

Midzi: Yauch had really good goofy moments during the show. I think he seems very serious most of the time. You could tell that Yauch was reading Horovitz' mind about what he was going to say to the audience. I laughed when Yauch shook his finger at Horovitz, like "No-no! Don't even think about saying that!"

Hot Sauce: Fans were yelling songs requests, and Horovitz kept explaining that they would have to come to the show the next day to hear those songs. What songs did you hear being requested?

Midzi: "Sabotage" is the only song I heard people yelling.

Hot Sauce: I yelled for them to play "The Gala Event." They must not have heard me. [laughs] I was surprised that they didn't perform "Sabotage." That's quite unusual. I can't say that I missed hearing the song. We heard so much other good stuff. I liked hearing the experimental version of "So What'cha Want" instead of "Sabotage." I'm not sure that I thought it was a good version of the song, but I like that they are fucking around. They keeping messing with "Off the Grid" too. At every show I've heard them perform that song, it sounds different. It's Horovitz. He keeps changing the guitar effects.



Midzi: I enjoyed when they played "Futterman's Rule" and "Son of Neckbone" because I've never heard them performed live -- even on bootlegs -- and they're my two favorite instrumentals.

Hot Sauce: I was happy to hear "Transitions." I think that was a first-time for me. For me, "Sabrosa" was the tightest song of the night.

Midzi: I liked "Shambala." So did the crowd.

Hot Sauce: That's the song I bailed the show during Sasquatch Festival. I now associate the song with getting hurt. The Barcelona audience was really cool. Not one person was passed over my head last night.

Midzi: Xavito said that the Sonar Festival draws a more sophisticated music audience than most festivals here.

Hot Sauce: I noticed! People were there for the music, not the scene.

Midzi: It was very interesting to me to hear "Jimmy James," "Sure Shot," and "Do It" performed with instruments.

Hot Sauce: Did you have a favorite hardcore song performance?

Midzi: For me, they were equally good. When they played "Egg Raid on Mojo," I saw the boyish smiles on their faces. They seem to enjoy playing that song live.

Hot Sauce: I liked "Heart Attack Man" best. It was good placed in the encore.



Midzi: Yauch played the upright with much passion.

Hot Sauce: I like the way you phrase things in English.

Midzi: How do you say when someone touches something very softly?

Hot Sauce: Stroking?

Midzi: Yes, he was stroking the strings.

Hot Sauce: Again, I like the way you phrase things in English. It was interesting to see how they worked Mix Master Mike into the gala event. He didn't perform at the gala events in Seattle and at the Sasquatch Festival.

Midzi: When Fredo played drums, Mix Master Mike played percussions.

Hot Sauce: Mark was crazy during the show, jumping around with a bottle of champagne. I loved "Mark on the Bus," but I don't think the Spanish audience "got" the song.

Midzi: I didn't expect "3 MC's and 1 DJ." The audience really responded to the song. I like that you don't know what to expect at a Gala Event.

Hot Sauce: Word.

Midzi: We should go to the venue now.

Hot Sauce: Dang! You're right. I'll have to upload my pics later. We can finish this conversation later too. I want to be the first one into the venue again.

Midzi: [laughs]

Hot Sauce: Remind me to describe the new merchandise later.



Read Part 2 of the review.

Setlist

B for My Name [video]
Live at PJ's [video]
Futterman's Rule
Dot It [video]
Remote Control [video]
Mike talks about his captain's outfit and love for yachting.
Time for Living
Suco de Tangerina
Pow
Something's Got to Give [video]
Mark on the Bus [video]
Shambala
Transitions
Son of Neckbone [video]
Jimmy James
Egg Raid on Mojo
Tough Guy
Off the Grid [video]
Root Down & Get It
Sabrosa
Gratitude
Sure Shot [video]
Heart Attack Man [video]
3 MCs and 1 DJ [video]
So What'cha Want [video]

Photos

Photo from La Vanguardia (more photos)

Setlist:
B for My Name
Live at PJ's
Futterman's Rule
Do It
Remote Control
Time for Livin'
Suco de Tangerina
Pow
Something's Got to Give
Mark on the Bus
Shambala
Transitions
Son of Neckbone
Jimmy James - Happy Birthday
Egg Raid on Mojo
Tough Guy
Off the Grid
Root Down and Get It
Sabrosa
Gratitude

Sure Shot
Heart Attack Man
3 MC's and 1 DJ
So What'cha Want

I'm very sorry that I drained my camera battery and can't upload all the photos and video I took at the concert until the battery recharges. Check back tomorrow.

We're too tired to put together a proper review. I can tell you now that my friend and blog partner Midzi enjoyed her first Beastie Boys show very much despite being extremely tired. When it was over, she told me that it went by so quickly that she felt the entire show lasted only five minutes.

The setlist construction was outstanding. The show had a really good flow. I've heard the band play more tightly than they did tonight, but the positive feel/attitude and the song flow made the show superior to many of the shows I've seen.

The Spanish audience was super cool. Everyone was completely chill -- and it was due to the music, not alcohol and drugs. "So What'cha Want" was an instrumental (with rapping). It was very unusual. I like that they are experimenting.

Michael Diamond. What a cut-up! He wore a captain's outfit and talked about yachting all evening. One of the best moments of the show happened when Mike snuck up behind Yauch and gave him a hug. Yauch didn't expect it and jumped a foot.

Adam Yauch. I don't believe I've ever seen him dance on stage before. Wow.

Adam Horovitz. Sweetie has a cold, but we wouldn't have known if someone hadn't told us. When his guitar became inoperative, he danced his part instead of playing a musical instrument. (I have video of this!)

More details tomorrow. Must sleep now.

Watch the video for the fourth track on the Beastie Boys' new album The Mix-Up...

"The Gala Event"

Merci beaucoup, MC Boulangerie!