$99 Music Videos

Something different today? A bit quieter than normal on other...

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:20:00 -0400

Something different today? A bit quieter than normal on other Tuesdays perhaps? You’re probably noticing our lack of interview or behind the scenes show today. But hey, don’t frown! This week, $99 Music Videos is heading to NYC’s 1st Music Video Film Festival + Band Battle tomorrow night at Public Assembly in Williamsburg.

If you aren’t in the area, stay tuned, don’t turn that dial, don’t touch that mouse clicker, yada yada, videos will be back with coverage of the event!

But if you’re in NYC, then you should absolutely head on over tomorrow night! There are performances from $99mv band Lowry as well as $99 music videos like Junk by Project Jenny Project Jan, Directed by Kathleen Grace, that will be shown as part of the film festival. See you there!

Blog Rec: DIY Filmmaker Sujewa

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:06:50 -0400

Blog Rec: DIY Filmmaker Sujewa:

If you make films AND music videos, then the DIY Filmmaker blog is right up your alley. Low budget and DIY filmmaking are the name of the game and blogger Sujewa Ekanayake has been talking the talk since 2006.

staff: Tonight. Shinobi Ninja! Go all you NYers!

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:39:06 -0400

staff:

Tonight.

Shinobi Ninja! Go all you NYers!

While normally I’d talk a wee bit about the band that...

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:29:50 -0400

While normally I’d talk a wee bit about the band that we’re featuring this week, these guys have a little more going than a short spotlight. While one statement might not be revelational, the second one is.

Venice is Sinking recorded and is ready to release their third album.
This third album was recorded in the Georgia Theatre, which was gutted by fire this June.

Originally an old cinema house, the Georgia Theatre was converted to and has been kept in various uses and conditions. Big names have played there, BIG BIG names. The first right off the bat was Pylon and then that big one is followed up with the massive Nirvana, R.E.M. and Widespread Panic. And just like people, bad things do happen to good venues. That’s why Venice is Sinking would like to give back to the place that they recorded their third album. They’re shooting for $3,000 and to the moon as all profits will go to rebuilding efforts. Not to mention, woo! Venice is Sinking on vinyl!

Using a very cool site called Kickstarter, the band is asking for fans of their music and Georgia Theatre alike to pitch in for the costs involved in pressing their third album. Depending on how much you give, you get various kickbacks like CDs, vinyl and hey, lawnservice!

So head on over to their kickstarter site, throw them some bones and help restore an important Athen’s landmark.

(CLICK THROUGH!)

If you’d like to read more about the restoration process, the owner, Wilmot Greene, is keeping a blog.

And if you’d like to follow along with Venice is Sinking online, here be the links:

On Twitter- http://twitter.com/veniceissinking
On MySpace-http://www.myspace.com/veniceissinking
Their Website- http://www.veniceissinking.net/
The Kickstarter Page - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/veniceissinking/help-us-press-our-third-album

Photo by Ian Darken

Venice is Sinking - Ryan’s Song (via...

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:42:53 -0400

Venice is Sinking - Ryan’s Song (via 99dollarmusicvideos)

I like to call this video love at first site. Unsure if the band name’s was Venice is Sinking or if it was Ryan’s Song, when we received this submission, I was won over immediately with its simple concept, ever-changing wall color and beautifully orchestrated track. And I hope that you guys enjoy it too.

MC Lars “True Player For Real” (via...

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:28:47 -0400

MC Lars “True Player For Real” (via horrisrecords)

$99mv favorite, MC Lars, just released his sock puppet music video featuring Weird Al Yankovic on accordian. Bravo!

Best Video (That Should Have Won A Moonman)

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:12:00 -0400

Best Video (That Should Have Won A Moonman):

Pick from:

Beastie Boys- Sabotage
Bjork- Human Behaviour
David Lee Roth- California Girls
Dr. Dre- Nuthin’ Bit A ‘G’ Thang
Foo Fighters- Everlong
George MIchael- Freedom
OK Go- Here It Goes Again
Radiohead- Karma Police
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- Into the Great Wide Open
U2- Where the Streets Have No Name

Who do you think should win?

spangley: sh: fun fact: nigel dick directed this video (obvs...

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:17:10 -0400

spangley: sh:

fun fact: nigel dick directed this video (obvs with the original words, not the literal version). who is nigel dick you say? only the man who would go on to direct “hit me baby, one more time”. HELLO!?! how random is that?

(per his wikipedia page i also found out that he directed “welcome to the jungle”, “wonderwall”, and a bunch of nickelback videos (ew). and many many more! the britney thing i already knew. anyhoots - check it!)

One of my favorite things to do lately is find an old-school director’s wikipedia page and see all that they’ve done over the years. Just had a 90’s blast with Hype Williams. Dawn Shadforth too!

Rob talks with Athens-Based Venice is Sinking band members and...

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:58:46 -0400

Rob talks with Athens-Based Venice is Sinking band members and director Jason Miller about this week’s music video for Ryan’s Song.

raremediumwell: “Stare into the Sun” beams artist Ian Stevensons...

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:42:11 -0400

raremediumwell:

“Stare into the Sun” beams artist Ian Stevensons characters into Jamies Scott & The Town’s newest music video. Extremely cheerfel characters frolicking with demons reminds me of a fairy tale just waiting to go horribly wrong. (Think a gingerbread man double homocide suicide) The music is decent and the perfect way to start out a day. Bonus points for the best moonwalk ever at 2:57 and gnomes shimmying at the end.

Fantastic!

If you couldn’t tell from the interview, mini performance and...

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:47:14 -0400

If you couldn’t tell from the interview, mini performance and music video, this week’s $99 Music Video band Shinobi Ninja are so full of energy that they practically explode off the screen. Their music follows suit and is as varied as each of their 6 members. Dave Aaron and Baby Girl sing while Maniac Mike play guitar, Adriano Morez does bass, Terminator Dave keeps the beat and DJ Axis mixes it up.

What’s it sound like? Their bio says it best:

“Combining the forces of songwriters, studio musicians, producers, engineers, dancers, battle djs, and a chef, this “Voltron-esque” rock group bound by a party lifestyle and the love of music, creates an original sound with diverse influences of Hip Hop, Punk, Soul, R&B, and Metal.”

Named from a Sega Master System game, they’ve been together since early 2008 and played all over New York City. This past June, they released their mixtape, From Brooklyn to Babylon, which you can listen to here or download here.

Check their MySpace page for more show dates, or catch them at the Tumblr Reblog This Concert on August 10^th at Gramercy Theatre. Get the daily update on them on Twitter and see photographic evidence of their ridiculous shows on their tumblr.

One of my favorite things about the music video community over...

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:05:00 -0400

One of my favorite things about the music video community over on Antville, is how people there appreciated and remember music videos over a long period of time. Because of the posting bulk, a majority of the videos shared are new and will be soon forgotten but there are frequently opportunities for videos to be resurrected. Some of the ways include people asking the forum for a music video they kind of remember or just posting old videos not previously seen on the site. But the best, the BEST, is when someone makes a music video that may or may not have been directly inspired by a pre-existing music video. If it’s at all like something that was already made, it WILL be pointed out. Let us examine one such example.

This unofficial turned official Death Cab for Cutie music video, directed by Ross Ching, was shared. Upon being posted to Antville, commentors immediately list other videos that pre-date this music video but have much of the same idea: using every day objects to spell out the song lyrics.

The video most often refered to as having inspired the Death Cab video is the SoftLightes music video for Heart Made of Sound, directed by Kris Moyes. It was made in 2006 and although appears to be a complete original, you’d be mistaken.

(Click through to view!)

The first link to this music video concept was actually found in a graphic designer and typography enthusiast not attempting to make music videos at all. His name is Stefan Sagmeister. He explains on his website that while growing up, his sign painting Gradnfather hung sayings and wisdom around the house. Sagmeister decided that with this art installation Art Grandeur Nature 2004, he’d continute the tradition. His five images across a variety of scenes tell you “Trying to look good limits my life.”

(Seriously now, click through to view!)

Following the breadcrumb trail of music videos can frequently lead you to other work you may enjoy or even better, you may learn something about this history and transformation of an idea across several mediums. Have you seen any similar music videos that use this concept as well?

staff: It’s on. Reblog This Concert, featuring The Urgency,...

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:46:47 -0400

staff:

It’s on.

Reblog This Concert, featuring The Urgency, Bamboo Shoots, Shinobi Ninja, and DJ sets by Bearbot and DJ Machine.

August 10th at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre. Buy your tickets in advance for a $3 discount!

More info and tickets available here. And BIG thanks to Bianca for pulling this together!

THIS is the show! Go see Shinobi Ninja!

Shinobi Ninja - STOP! Shinobi Ninja hits the recording studio...

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:38:00 -0400

Shinobi Ninja - STOP!

Shinobi Ninja hits the recording studio but comes out with a DIY party in a box for their song STOP!. This song is from their mixtape, the Brooklyn to Babylon EP WHICH you can listen to right HERE.

If you like the band’s energy then perhaps you want to stalk them on Tumblr, Twitter or MySpace.

Double Bonus! If you’re in NYC, you have the immediate opportuntity to see these cats LIVE LIVE LIVE August 10th at the Tumblr Reblog This Concert musician series. This is a show you’ll definitely regret missing.

oats: jonathansadlowe: This is the music video for the song...

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:35:05 -0400

oats: jonathansadlowe:

This is the music video for the song ‘Digital World’ by Awesome New Republic (directed by Ryan Hooks). I’m an actor in the video, having my beard shaved off frame by frame and I go through a quick costume change. I am featured several times throughout. I really like the song and think the video turned out great - enjoy!

Love the effects used in this.

From the DIY singersongwriter music video files, Julia Nunes!...

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:20:00 -0400

From the DIY singersongwriter music video files, Julia Nunes! This song is sweet and fun and dang, the woman has some vocals! I really dig the DIY spirit of Julia and her firends to put together this video.

About the video:

pictures were taken on photobooth over the span of 2 days by either me or my suite-mate Julia Brenner (yep there are 3 julias in our suite)
it took forever
hope you like it

The song is: Maybe I Will, by Julia Nunes

Buckle up. This week’s high energy band, Shinobi Ninja,...

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:45:40 -0400

Buckle up. This week’s high energy band, Shinobi Ninja, talks with producer Rob Czar about the making of their music video for STOP!, the importance of making videos and offer up an off the cuff beat-boxing rendition of their song. Insanity.

(LOOK! Shinobi Ninja is on Tumblr! and on Twitter!)

Really diggin’ Derek Moench’s new video for the new Gemini Wolf...

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:21:35 -0400

Really diggin’ Derek Moench’s new video for the new Gemini Wolf track “Sudseyfuss”. That’s some wild, colorful stuff, and a killer song, too.

(via Philebs via YVYNYL)

This video is all over the map but in a fun way. I’d like to know how they did that cool gliter effect.

"I guess you could call me an Aussie hip hop artist. I’ve been MCing around Australia around 5..."

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:52:00 -0400

“I guess you could call me an Aussie hip hop artist. I’ve been MCing around Australia around 5 years or so now. Yeah, it’s hip hop. There is kind of a sub-genre called Aussie hip hop. We have normal hip hop as well.”

- - Scott Burns, the musician featured in this week’s music video

If you want to learn more about Scott Burns, I’d recommend heading over HERE or just listening in HERE.

The Man. The Myth. The $99 Music Video homage from Scott Burns...

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:54:05 -0400

The Man. The Myth. The $99 Music Video homage from Scott Burns and Versus Media for Pump Up the Volume.

Has all this week’s movie chatter made you want to rewatch the original film? Me too. But I don’t have the time! So I’d suggest you to do what I’m doing, and tune into The freak freaky freaky Frequency.

(WARNING: this track is catchy as hell. You will be bopping out to it the rest of the day if you listen to it more than once.)