Thank you everybody who submitted a video to the CINEMETROPOLIS SHORT FILM CONTEST. We got over a hundred submissions and we watched and deliberated for hours before coming to the conclusion that these were our three favorites, with many more that were very worthy as well but there can only be three.

The video with the most views on 12:01 am on May 1st will be crowned the overall winner!

First video off Geo’s collaboration album w. Bambu, Prometheus Brown & Bambu Walk Into a Bar. See ‘em live in Seattle at Neumos on Friday March 2 and in Bellingham at Wild Buffalo on Monday March 5.

DOWNLOAD: Prometheus Brown & Bambu “Lookin Up” maxi-single w/ 6-Fingers remix

BLUE SCHOLARS AND JON JON PRESENT “SEIJUN SUZUKI” THE MUSIC VIDEO

This video was filmed in Los Angeles on October 15 and 16 during the Southern California leg of the Cinemetropolis tour. We had been talking with our guy Jon Jon Augustavo for over a year about collaborating on a music video sometime before he finishes film school and blows the f up. I had become a fan of his prolific and experimental work with Seattle rappers and impressed with the quick turnaround on his projects that still never seemed rushed when you saw the final product. I like that he refuses to call music videos “visuals.” We thought that Seijun Suzuki, the most “random” of the Cinemetropolis songs, would fit the improvised production style and clean shots of a Jon Jon video. Like a trailer for a movie that doesn’t exist. We bounced around many ideas that all eventually morphed into “let’s wear some suits, get some guns and see what happens.”  You ever seen a Seijun Suzuki flick? I swear that’s how he made his films too. But wielding guns around L.A. didn’t seem like a good idea. So we used the homie and tour manager C-Knowledge’s samurai swords instead. Timing was perfect w/ The Physics on this leg of the tour with us, which meant that we could get Thig’s hook cameo and then all rock out at the show afterward. So everybody in L.A., that’s the real reason why we were wearing suits that night and that night only of the entire tour. Enjoy the video.

get CINEMETROPOLIS if you haven’t already

For the past week, Sabzi been putting out instrumental collections for download on his band camp page, including the instrumentals for Blue Scholars (2005), The Long March (2005) and Bayani (2007). Go get ‘em.

A recap video of our July trip w/ Bambu.

Shot and edited by Canh Solo. “Slow Down” Yavash Remix Instrumental by Sabzi.

We embark on a 32-city tour with Bam starting in mid-September, check the tourdates page for full city-by-city listing and ticket links.

We’re back in NYC this weekend for the Asian American International Film Festival. Come party with us at Drom in the East Village - we’ll be screening our latest music video, Fou Lee, and rocking a set of new joints off Cinemetropolis.

LIGHTUP FILM’S MUSIC NIGHT OUT

Friday, August 12
10:00pm

Drom
85 Ave A (btw 5th & 6th Sts)
New York, NY

FEATURING BLUE SCHOLARS & JESSE BOYKINS III

Come out to the best party of the Festival! The perfect union of music and film at AAIFF’s annual music video showcase plus live performance.

Featuring new music videos from independent artists and performances by the acclaimed hip hop duo Blue Scholars and Jesse Boykins III, a BET award nominated world soul singer. The evening is curated by LightUp Film, a full service independent media and production company.

*This event is 21+*

We’re going on our first nationwide headlining tour this fall with Bambu. Here are the dates:

09/14 – Vancouver, BC – 560 Nightclub
09/17 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Market
09/20 – Eugene, OR – Wow Hall
09/21 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
09/22 – Olympia, WA – The Royal Lounge
09/23 – Bellingham, WA – Wild Buffalo
09/24 – Belllingham, WA – Wild Buffalo
10/12 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
10/13 – Santa Cruz, CA – Atrium @ Catalyst
10/15 – Los Angeles, CA – Key Club
10/16 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
10/18 – Scottsdale, AZ – Chasers
10/19 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
10/20 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
10/21 – Denver, CO – Cervantes
10/22 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
10/23 – Ft. Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
10/24 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court (early) & Urban Lounge (late)
10/26 – Boise, ID – Reef
10/27 – Missoula, MT – Top Hat
10/28 – Spokane, WA – A Club
11/03 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
11/04 – Madison, WI – Frequency
11/05 – Chicago, IL – Schuba’s
11/06 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig
11/07 – Toronto, ON – WrongBar
11/08 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
11/10 – Boston, MA – Paradise
11/11 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

Tickets on sale now. Hit up our TOUR DATES page for detailed listing w/ ticket links.

photo by David Lictherman

We hit up KEXP, played some songs off Cinemetropolis, and they filmed the whole thang. Check the videos below and show some love to KEXP.

Taken Saturday, July 9th, at the Loft in Honolulu’s Chinatown by Aaron Yoshino. More photos can be peeped here. Mad props to ESSA, Night Marchers, Stussy HNL, & In4mation for organizing and sponsoring the show!

Prometheus Brown & Bambu Walk Into a Bar drops today via Beatrock Music X In4mation.

Get it on:

Bandcamp (w/ physical CD option)
iTunes
Amazon.com

If you’re in HI, come celebrate the release with us today at In4mation (Pearlridge) 4-5pm!

- Geo