See Frank Ocean's Great "Late Night" Performance, Download 10-Minute Epic "Pyramids"

Photo by Lloyd Bishop (NBC)

Frank Ocean. You've probably heard the name quite a bit in the past week in one way or another. And while a lil 'ol blog like Mixtape Muse writing about a buzzed about artist might seem like an attempt to ride the coattails of that buzzwave in an attempt to increase our amount of hits, it's really not. We here at Mixtape Muse have been fans of Ocean (born Christopher Breaux) since last year's debut Nostalgia, Ultra mixtape. And so, I feel I must share Frank Ocean's performance from Monday night's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

But why?

WATCH: A Full Beastie Boys Concert In Glasgow From 1999

As we all know by now, Adam "MCA" Yauch of the Beastie Boys passed away yesterday at the age of 47. I'm working on a piece for next week, but I wanted to share this video that features the group's entire set from a 1999 concert in Glasgow. Enjoy.

R.I.P. MCA.

WHAT'S YOUR MUSE? Cats In the Basement

It's time for another edition of "What's Your Muse?"

The concept is simple: We ask a band/artist to choose a song that means a lot/the most to them. Then, they record and send us a video of themselves describing why they chose the song. Think of it like a collaborative video mixtape project.

In this edition, we hear from Cats In the Basement.

Chances are, if you have a ton of cats literally in a basement, things might get a little wild. And while actual cats are characterized by strong personalities that are more than likely open to stirring up conflict -- at least crammed together in a confined space like that of a basement -- these particular cats find a way to mix an eclectic range of tones and styles into one agreeable, refreshing mix that is one of a kind. There are bits of indie rock, jazz, tropical pop, punk, surf rock, pop, and more in their sound, which makes Cats In the Basement a rather exciting and adventurous listen. The Sarasota band's recently released record, DOO BEE DOO LA DEE DAY DUM BE DUM DRINK YOUR BLOOD, showcases an infectious fervor that frames their explosive yet sharp tunes; they are at once wildly energetic and witty.

Bard & Mustache Live Performance & Interview: A Real Valentine's Day Treat

Greg Bortnichak and Erin Murphy are two of the finest human beings I've had the pleasure of meeting, part of the reason why their existence as Bard and Mustache is all the more special. Aside from being incredibly talented musicians and proponents, and torchbearers, of Sarasota's burgeoning music scene, Greg and Erin are a couple. There've been plenty of relationships in music throughout the ages that have resulted in some great duets/duos, but there's something particularly lovely about the bond between these two musicians -- something that thrives and reveals itself through their music. It seems only fitting that I've the distinct pleasure and honor of sharing and debuting a live performance and interview with Bard and Mustache -- a perfect post to share on this Valentine's Day holiday.

SEE & HEAR: Allen Stone - "Unaware"

I must have been wearing blinders for the past year, because just last night I came across a singer/songwriter by the name of Allen Stone that, for lack of a better term, blew me away. One look at Stone, and you've probably already guessed incorrectly as to what kind of music he creates. More than that, you've probably underestimated his voice. I'm writing this after only hearing one song, "Unaware," a jazzy-tinged cut of old school soul, so I can't speak to the rest of his catalog. I watched this live performance from his "Mother's Living Room," and felt so compelled to share it, especially for how explosive it becomes as he ushers in the final chorus. Stone's unassuming disposition and approach to soul naturally reveal the complexities of the genre, the inescapable power that grips our hearts with such unadulterated emotion. One look at Stone, and you can tell he's sharing things from within that no one could ever possibly know about.

SEE & HEAR: Conveyor - "Mukraker" (You Must Watch This Video)

Mixtape alums Conveyor recently released a new single entitled "Mukraker," which, for some odd reason, I hoped had some connection to "Moonraker" (it doesn't). What it is though is a rather spellbinding track that capitalizes on the band's ability to craft gentle yet powerful songs -- songs that, despite their perceived mood, tend to feel like reliable pick-me-ups.

PHOTOS: Holy Ghost! @ 9:30 Club, Washington, DC / 11.23.11

This past Wednesday, New York electro/disco pop outfit Holy Ghost! performed at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. I ventured down to catch the show and, for the first time ever, photograph a concert. I've filmed shows before, but never photographed one. Lucky for me (i.e. uh oh) they didn't allow flash, so it was an experience. Thanks to a buddy of mine I had a great camera for the show, and I managed to get off a few decent shots, finally utilizing all that knowledge from those photography courses I took in college.

Holy Ghost! were spot on, and understandably so. Not only was their stop in D.C. Thanksgiving Eve, it also marked the final date on their nationwide tour. Live, the DJ duo of Nick Millhiser and Alex Frankel is joined by four additional musicians. It's refreshing to see and hear a band recreate their electronic-based music live as opposed to just playing to backing tracks. Also, as it turns out, trying to photograph and pay close attention to the music proves to be rather tricky.

First time. No Flash. Just hope.

WATCH: M83 - "Midnight City" (Live on 'Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon')

Ok. Did you watch Jimmy Fallon last night? If you didn't, you missed two things of note: 1) The Roots played Fishbone's "Lyin' Ass Bitch" for Michele Bachmann's walk-on song (!) and 2) M83 absolutely nailed their performance of "Midnight City," from their latest release, the double-album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. For starters, "Midnight City" is one of the year's best tracks, so it made the performance all the more enjoyable. Watch Anthony Gonzalez and co. work some magic below. Just wait for the non-ironic, jazzy sax solo -- it really seals the deal.

WATCH: Christopher Paul Stelling Performs for "Sleepover Shows"

Words like genuine, honest, raw, heartfelt, intense, visceral, beautiful...all of these and more get thrown around a lot, especially when one tries to aptly describe a singer/songwriter armed with an acoustic guitar. All would be appropriate adjectives in characterizing the essence of New York City's Christopher Paul Stelling and his music, but they would also all fall shy of truly capturing what it is that he does. When people talk about the power of one voice and a guitar, they're talking about Christopher Paul Stelling. If you don't believe me, check out the three songs he performed live for the "Sleepover Shows" series below.

BRAID WEEK: Watch A Selection of Live Footage

Continuing on with "Braid Week," today we have some great live footage of the band from back in the '90s. If you're like me and never had the chance to see the band live (back in the day), then you'll be grateful for these pretty good quality videos -- and you'll thank the Indie Rock gods for YouTube. Of course, if you live in or near Illinois, then you have a chance to catch the band live on August 27th at The Metro in Chicago and/or on September 24th at the Highdive in Champaign as a part of the Pygmalion Music Festival. For the rest of us spread around the globe, let's enjoy these videos below, and hope that maybe they'll play some out of state shows down the road.

Manchester Orchestra / Cage the Elephant @ Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD, 5/8/11

This past Sunday, the Manchester Orchestra & Cage the Elephant co-headlining tour rolled through town, making a stop at Rams Head Live. I had no intention of intending the show until a day or so beforehand. Outside of a few songs here and there, I wasn't all too familiar with either bands' work, but, as is often the case, the best way you can check out a band is live, in concert -- that's where they show their true colors. Photographer Brett Dean joined me for the adventure. Below are some words and photos of the show.

All photographs courtesy of Brett Dean. Skip ahead to see a photo slideshow of shots from the concert.

VIDEO: Foo Fighters Play New LP In Its Entirety + More @ Ed Sullivan Theater

If you've been frequenting the site recently, you're probably aware that the Foo Fighters just released their seventh studio album, Wasting Light, on Tuesday. And while I have yet to write a proper review of the album, I can tell you that I love it. Then again, I've already expressed my love for the band as they've been such a big part of my life growing up. Anytime the band releases an album, I always get excited, and, clearly (above), pick it up. I hope to review Wasting Light for the site, but only time will tell if I get to it. I'm hoping to, but I can't make any promises.

Anyways, on Tuesday, the Foos appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman to perform Wasting Light's first single "Rope." If you've kept up with the band and/or The Late Show, then you know that Foo Fighters are regulars on the show (Letterman has even called them his favorite band). So, it only made sense then that the band's stint at the Ed Sullivan Theater wouldn't stop at just one performance. Members of the audience were in for a real treat Tuesday when the band stuck around to perform a nearly two hour concert.

Donning black suits, adjusting their guitars to chest level, the Foos performed in front of the same stage setup featured in The Beatles historic 1964 appearance at the theater. As a part of the "Live on Letterman" series, the band performed a web-only concert that saw them play Wasting Light in its entirety followed by a number of other songs, including "Stacked Actors" and hits like "Everlong" and "Learn To Fly." The first half of the show was even shot in black and white to further capture the aesthetic of that classic 1964 performance. Watch the whole concert after the hop.

UNDER THE COVERS: Oh Land Takes on Fleet Foxes

Oh, Oh Land. It seems as though everything she touches becomes absolutely charming and entirely her own. Case in point: her cover of Fleet Foxes' breakthrough "White Winter Hymnal". Yes, the original oozes harmonizing magic and is hard to top, but Oh Land understands that. On her take, she wisely reimagines the song under the guise of her electro-meets-symphonic pop, adding that lovable dash of whimsy.

Watch a studio version and a live version of the Oh Land's cover below (both differ from one another, and the live version transitions into another song).

Hear the original "White Winter Hymnal" after the hop.