I got 99 Problems, but a Headliner for All Points West ain’t one: Jay-Z confirmed for Friday at APW

As you all know Lady Liberty is deeply saddened about the recent news surrounding Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch’s diagnosis of glandular cancer. Yet, I am hopeful that his surgery will go well, and the Beastie Boys member will be back on the road, and maybe even perform at All Points West 2010.

However, the producers for APW have worked hard through the night and have secured a very special replacement for the Friday night headlining slot. The Beasties Boys fellow Brooklynite, Jay-Z is prepared to play his first and only scheduled US festival outing on July 31st.

I have watched Hova grow up from freestylin’ at the Marcy Projects to headlining Madison Square Garden. All I can say is that I feel honored to have the best rapper alive finally play in my Jersey City backyard.

Though this may be a very last minute announcement, Miss Liberty is convinced Jay-Z is a welcomed addition, and he has the power to truly make APW a leader in the US festival circuit.

I can only hope that my girl and Jay’s wife Beyonce will make an appearance at his set, getting all the single ladies riled up.

Though this is surprisingly Jay-Z’s first American festival appearance in his twenty-plus year career, he gained festival experience last year as he headlined multiple European summer festivals, most notably Glastonbury Festival in England. 

We can only hope Jiggaman brings the same energy and attitude as he did at that performance. I suggest you watch the video below of Jay-Z opening his set with Oasis’ “Wonderwall,” a direct response to the insults given by the Manchester group regarding a rapper headlining the traditionally rock oriented festival.

Jay-Z will headline All Points West Friday night July 31 amongst many of today’s most popular indie rockers including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes and the National. However, more importantly, he will play amongst many other hip-hop artists including Q-Tip, Pharcyde, and Organized Konfusion. 

I am anticipating some interesting collaborations, or maybe some Queens vs. Brooklyn action between Q-Tip and Jigga.

Check his MySpace page to hear his new single “Death of Auto-tune,” a small preview to his upcoming album the “Blueprint 3.” Tickets are still on sale here, but hurry up since they are sure to go fast after this huge announcement.

Brooklyn Go Hard,

Lady Liberty

A killer ending to a phenomenal weekend of music and art: Coldplay closes All Points West

The biggest Pop Rock band in the world will be headlining All Points West on Sunday August 2^nd. No, not the Jonas Brothers, it’s Coldplay! This Grammy winning band from London, England has dominated the charts since their debut album Parachutes, featuring “Yellow” in 2000. Almost a decade later, Coldplay continues to be one of the biggest names in music.

It’s not worth it to me to describe Coldplay’s music because you cannot avoid hearing “Viva la Vida” from their latest album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, everywhere. I have been a bit out of the loop because my crown was temporarily closed, but after this past 4^th of July weekend I must have heard “Viva la Vida” 100 times as people’s ringtones. I’m telling you, those cell phone speakers are just as good as those 80s boom boxes that used to roll through my head.

This may be a bit of a stretch, but I feel a bit connected to Chris Martin, Coldplay’s singer. His wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, went to The Spence School for high school in New York City. I used to watch her strut her stuff walking down those New York avenues, and I always knew she would be a star. 

Chris and Gwyneth must really love the Big Apple, considering they named their first born daughter after my great city. In fact, I recently learned that Apple Blythe Alison Martin is not the only apple in the Coldplay bushel. One of the band’s associates’ daughter is named Apple as well.

Coldplay’s magnificent live performances are filled with mellow rock songs that instill their audiences with a spiritual feeling. This show combined, with myself and Lower Manhattan in the backdrop, will surely be one of the most memorial experiences in my 200+ years of statuing. I just downloaded 9 of their songs for free from their website and am psyched for this show.

Coldplay is the icing on the cake for what will undoubtedly be the best weekend of summer 2009. Thinking about what I just said, this weekend will be one of the best events that end the first decade in the new millennium. Joined by legendary Tool and Jay-Z  with 60 other fantastic musicians and comedians, Coldplay will cement All Points West as the East Coast’s premier music festival.

How did I get so lucky that all of this is happening in my backyard? Patience truly is a virtue.

Miss L.

From the mountains to the City: Northwest Indie Folk Makes it's Way to the Teeming Jersey Shores

What? You don’t think that indie buzz cred makes its way all the way to yours truly?

Just because I soar the skies of New Jersey does not mean I do not know what all you hip kids are listening to. Last year, like everyone else in the blogosphere, I fell in love with Seattle, Washington’s very own Fleet Foxes. Combining elements of indie and medieval folk to create what they call “baroque harmonic pop jams,” the five-piece are quintessential dudes with beards and plaid group.

But the Foxes stand above the rest with their hauntingly beautiful multi-person vocal harmonies (a rarity in today’s music), unorthodox song structures that retain a pop sensibility, and engaging lyrics that stem from nature, family and personal struggle. Those lucky enough to have caught them live in their short touring history are well aware of Fleet Foxes’ addicting transcendent live performance.

In 2008, Fleet Foxes released both their EP Sun Giant and their first full length Fleet Foxes to high praised reviews from throughout the world. The Guardian named the full length “a landmark in American music, an instant classic.” After catching the attention of multiple media sources, Fleet Foxes went from a small club playing band opening up for other small indie bands to international headliners, that are close to the top of every festival bill they play. 

A must see band, Fleet Foxes have announced on their MySpace that their September 16 show with Blitzen Trapper in Paris will be their last until they finish recording their next album, of which I, like the rest of the world, am particularly excited to hear.

The long-awaited return of Fleet Foxes to the New York area commences July 31, 2009 at the All Points West Music and Arts Festival that features Coldplay, Tool and Jay-Z . For more information go the Liberty Event and APW sites and follow libertyevent on Twitter. Buy your APW tickets and tell EVERYONE you know that this truly is one of those not-to-be-missed performances at this year's number one East Coast Festival.  

I’ll be leading the harmonies, and conducting the Foxes with my torch!

Grab yourself a bottle of “pop” and come on down.  I'll be flying my flannel.

Miss Liberty