CONCERT REVIEW: Cher Proves She Is Still #1 At "D2K Tour"

Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up

On Wednesday, April 9th, ‘pop goddess’ Cher brought her highly-anticipated “D2K (Dressed 2 Kill) Tour” to the TD Garden in Boston.

Cher opened the show with a new single of hers, “Women’s World,” where she stood high above the crowd on a shimmering pedestal, making the crowd go absolutely insane. 

Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up

After the first two songs. Cher went on a seemingly long rant about how her crew only gives her Dr. Pepper. However the crowd didn’t care, and seemed to love every word that came out of her mouth.  The thing that really seemed to bother the crowd though, and rightfully so, with a round of “boo”s, the “Believe” singer's announcement that this would actually be her final “farewell” tour. In case you didn’t know, Cher has been doing these “farewell” tours since 2002, so I’m sure a good number of fans didn’t take her too seriously.

It was during songs like “Take It Like A Man” where Cher truly defied her age. Dancing around the stage in a gold armor-like dress, Cher shook her hips and danced like she was in her 20’s. Hard to believe she is almost 68!

One of the most amazing feats of the night was the plethora of costume changes, almost between every song. Cher donned her typical feather costume and diamond hair for many of the numbers. Even more impressive, the energy stayed alive during these 2-3 minute changes. Throughout each set/costume change there was always something to keep the crowd busy. Whether it was a throwback video to “Sonny and Cher” or a circus performance by the amazing dancers, the energy never faded .

Whether or not this was actually Cher’s farewell tour, it was still an unforgettable night, made even better by her extensive past. Surviving a career in the music industry for a few years is extremely difficult and tiring, so the fact that 25 albums and 50 years later Cher is still killing it, is something to be admired by all.

Check out more photos from the show below:

Calvin Harris Releases Video for "Summer"

"Summer" is nothing new from Calvin Harris, but boy is it catchy.  As far as EDM goes, "Summer" is hardly distinguishable from the pack.  Admittedly, Harris has lost the youthful charm and character that helped gain him his international fame.  However, it seems like he was built for this kind of music; he simply keeps churning out hit after hit.  While the kid we used to know is long gone, the signature Calvin Harris voice remains.  Take a listen for yourself, and see if you can get those smokey vocals out of your head:

Austin Mahone Announces Debut Album "The Secret" and North American Tour

Credit: Twitter

Austin Mahone celebrated his 18th birthday in style by announcing that his debut album "The Secret" is out on May 27th, and that he's going on tour starting July 25th! Check out the full list of tour dates below:

July 25, 2014 — Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, TX
July 26, 2014 — NRG Arena, Houston, TX
July 27, 2014 — Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, TX
July 29, 2014 — Comerica Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
July 30, 2014 — Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, CA
July 31, 2014 — The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
August 2, 2014 — Event Center at San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
August 4, 2014 — Marymoor Park Amphitheatre, Redmond, WA
August 6, 2014 — Maverik Center, West Valley City, UT
August 7, 2014 — 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO
August 9, 2014 — Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
August 10, 2014 — U.S. Bank Theatre at Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
August 13, 2014 — T.D. Echo Beach, Toronto, ON
August 16, 2014 — Verizon Wireless Arena, Manchester, NH
August 19, 2014 — Pier Six Pavilion, Baltimore, MD
August 20, 2014 — Izod Center, E. Rutherford, NJ
August 21, 2014 — The Mann, Philadelphia, PA
August 26, 2014 — Stage AE Outdoors, Pittsburgh, PA
August 27, 2014 — U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
August 29, 2014 — White Oak Amphitheatre, Greensboro, NC
August 30, 2014 — Family Circle Stadium, Charleston, SC
August 31, 2014 — Charter Amphitheatre, Simpsonville, SC
September 2, 2014 — Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham, AL
September 5, 2014 — The Fabulous Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO
September 6, 2014 — The Woods at Fontanel, Whites Creek, TN
September 9, 2014 — Wolstein Center, Cleveland, OH

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Galantis Comes Out of the Blue

Every once in a while, artists from the same genre will come together to produce a completely new sound.  Sometimes, this new group becomes a match made in heaven.  In the past, groups like The Glitch Mob, Discovery, and Major Lazer have been trailblazers by approaching the EDM world in a different direction.  Galantis is different.  Christian Karlsson (from Miike Snow) and Linus Eklow (A.K.A. Style of Eye) have come out of the shadows with a sound that is decidedly mainstream.  The kicker: it works.  Perfectly.  Listen for yourself:

Galantis isn't here to do anything revolutionary, but crisp instrumentals and experimental vocals come together to produce a sound that is just plain fun.  

ALBUM REVIEW: Karmin Flaunts Unique Style and Sound in Debut Album "Pulses"

Credit: Epic Records

When I first heard Karmin’s cover of “Look At Me Now” in 2011, I knew that something big was coming. Shortly after releasing that cover, the duo of Nick and Amy announced that they had signed with Epic Records. Three years later, their debut album “Pulses” is about to be released. 

After listening to the album for a few days, I really can tell that Nick and Amy gave this album their all and didn’t rush it. It’s been almost two years since Karmin released their first EP “Hello,” so it’s good to hear new music from them.

The album opens with the title track “Pulses,” which actually is my favorite song on the entire record. I especially like how Nick is a huge feature in this song. “Pulses” showcases not only Nick's vocal chops, but more of Amy’s smooth vocals and killer rap. A great opener for the album, it’s obvious that the duo want their listeners to feel their energy, and “raise pulses.”

“Acapella” (debuted as a single in summer, 2013) is especially unique, as the majority of the sounds in the track are completely, well, acapella. Check out their video for the song below:

Other stand-out songs include the disco-sounding “I Want It All,” the extremely catchy “Night Like This,” and “Try Me On.” However, the album as a whole stands out. Nick and Amy have something going for them: they’re different. Many artists in the industry have work that seems repetitive, or have songs that resemble the work of another artist. Karmin just sounds completely different. The fact that Amy can both rap and sing, is something that just isn’t all too common in the rap industry. She manages to bring that unique facet of herself into the pop genre. 

“Pulses” gives Karmin a huge new presence in the music industry. They are the total package. Nick even raps on “Drifter.” The fact that Karmin already is a household name before the album is even released gives them a huge advantage. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the album go #1, so keep a lookout for Karmin dominating the charts in the coming weeks!

"Pulses" is out 3/25.