The 2nd annual Roots Picnic took place in Philadelphia, PA this past Saturday, June 6th. The day long festival was curated by The Roots included performances by Santigold, Kid Cudi, TV On The Radio, Public Enemy, and two sets from The Roots themselves.

Santigold pretty much stole the show with her new live band and a special guest spot from Philly hometown hero Spank Rock. The band behind her provided the live show with that extra spark she’s been missing on stage. She’s decided to hold onto her two fly-girl, both of whom who are still really dope. Good move.

Kid Cudi brought a lot of energy to the seriously inferior side tent. It felt like a high school gym with a stage set-up on low risers. Cudi fought threw the loud sound coming from The Black Keys playing on the main stage to gain control of the mostly under-age crowd. People were singing along and bouncing around as Cudi’s charismatic stage presence took hold.

Public Enemy killed it with Antibalas and The Roots backing them up for a complete live rendition of their 1988 album It Takes A Nation Of Millions… As seemingly nutty and (wh)acked out as Flava Flav has become, he still destroys it onstage with great energy. Combined with the consistent militaristic tone of Chuck D (and Black Thought on most songs), the album got solid treatment.

TV On The Radio brought the night to a close for me. They played a beautiful, simple set mixing oldies such as “Staring At The Sun” with new crowd favorites off of Dear Science.

It was a well-organized event in a beautiful setting right on the water with a real sense of Illadelph pride and community. As concert organizers work out some kinks it should become a summer-staple a few weeks after Coachella and a few before Bonnaroo.

— Words by Will Suter, Photos by Thomas Pacchia

A 20 year old Wesleyan college student was shot and killed at the Middletown, CT bookstore she worked at yesterday, prompting the cancellation of the school’s Spring Fling concert that was to be headlined by Santigold.

Johanna Justin-Jinich, from Fort Collins, CO, was killed inside Broad Street Books, officials said. Police were searching for a suspect last night, but would not confirm reports that an ex-boyfriend of the victim was suspected. The Wesleyan junior was gunned down by a shooter wearing a wig. The liberal arts college was on lockdown for several hours after the murder and canceled yesterday’s Spring Fling concert, which was also to include King Khan and The Shrines and Clipse.

According to the Wesleyan website, there is no reason to believe that the perpetrator of the shooting is on the Wesleyan campus and students are encouraged to return to their daily activities. Students had already gathered on Foss Hill to await the beginning of the concert when the shooting occurred, prompting Public Safety officers to demand that students vacate the area and remain indoors.

“They know who it is, just a matter of locating him,” a source told the Middletown Press.

Resident Tripwire videographer Maia Stern was lucky enough to get tickets to the inauguration ceremonies on Tuesday. But her luck didn’t stop there, because she got to attend the private Shepard Fairey inauguration party where both Santogold and De La Soul performed, while Moby DJ’d. Apparently there was no sighting of the Obamas dancing to “At Last” like they did at ten other parties, there was plenty of good vibes to make up for it. Lucky for us, she took her camera with her and this is what she saw.

[Santogold]

[De La Soul]

Coldplay might have topped the BRITs nominations list with four nods, but our choice for best week ever goes to blues man Seasick Steve. He not only became the oldest artist ever nominated for a BRIT award this week, but also announced he’s getting ready to work with Jack White.

Seasick Steve made the announcement at the BRITs nomination party. Of course, he also admitted that prior to being nominated he’d actually never heard of the BRITs. At 67 years old he takes the cake for oldest ever nominee, shortlisted in the Best International Male category. Poor Steve is up against Beck, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Neil Diamond. But apparently he tests well with the British, and has for a while now — he won the 2007 MOJO award for best breakthrough act — so we have our fingers crossed.

Other than Steve, Coldplay pulled a Grammy repeat, scoring four nominations. They tied with soul songstress Duffy (whose album beat them out for best-seller in the UK in 2008) at the top of the heap, with Adele, Elbow and Scouting for Girls close behind at three nods each.

Radiohead, Girls Aloud, Estelle and the Ting Tings grabbed two noms each, with Radiohead and the Ting Tings competing against Coldplay and Elbow for best British album.

The nominees for both the best international group and best international album awards are AC/DC, Fleet Foxes, the Killers, Kings of Leon and MGMT. The best international female category (the counterpart to Seasick Steve’s nomination bunch) features Beyonce, Gabriella Cilmi, Katy Perry, Pink and Santogold.

The BRITs are also bringing back the award for best producer, last given at the ceremony in 1998. The nominees — Bernard Butler, Brian Eno and Steve Mac — will find out their fate a little sooner than everyone else, as the award will be presented at the Music Producers Guild Awards on Feb. 12.

The rest of them will be handed out on February 18 in London. The only artist who can count on taking home a trophy is Florence and the Machine, who is the winner of the 2009 Critics’ Choice award, chosen annually by a media panel. Well, her and the Pet Shop Boys, who will be recognized in the outstanding contribution to music category. You can check out the full list of nominations here.

U2, the Pet Shop Boys, Kings Of Leon, Duffy and Girls Aloud will perform at the awards ceremony.

He’s a world champion snowboarder. He’s engaged to Santogold. And now he’s putting out his self-titled debut on Virgin Records. His name is Trevor Andrew, but after Feb. 10 you’ll probably know him better as Trouble — and we’ve got a preview for you right here.

Trouble Andrew has been to two Olympic Games and had numerous World Cup wins, but when the Nova Scotia native broke his knee in 2005, he turned to music. Encouraged by his fiancee, who bought him a four-track recorder, a Gibson guitar and Peavey amp, he dove in and created what would become his self-titled debut album.

It was originally recorded in 2007, so the Feb. 10 release is a remixed and remastered version, including one new song, “What’s So Strange About Me.” His sound is a combination of the punk, rock, hip-hop, skate, surf and snowboard cultures he was raised on. He calls it “crunkrock pop.”

Trouble is writing songs now for the follow-up to his debut, which is expected for release this summer. And you won’t find this track on his album — check out “Run Hide” featuring Diplo below.

Trouble Andrew feat. Diplo – “Run Hide”

Think your favorite artist is “selling out” when he sells his or her song for an ad spot on TV? Well, that’s Ad Age’s bread and butter your messin’ with, so sit back, take the chip off your shoulder and watch what they consider the top 10 song-meets-product commercials of 2008. (Note: They also list their 10 most questionable song uses in the run-down as well).

1. Saul Williams: “List Of Demands”
Nike Sparq Training

2. Santogold: “Creator”
Bud Light Lime

3. Yael Naim: “New Soul”
Apple Macbook Air

4. Ennio Morricone (Bandini Remix): “L’estasi Dell’Oro (The Ecstasy Of Gold)”
Nike

5. Liars: “Clear Island”
Timex Ironman

6. The Kinks: “Everyone’s A Star”
Target/Converse

7. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: “Killing The Blues”
JC Penney’s American Life
Watch here

8. Ruby Suns: “Oh Mojave”
Microsoft

9. Vashti Bunyan: “Train Song”
Reebok Migration

10. Cloud Cult: “Lucky Today”
Esurance