Bark + Bite

Contest: Win tickets to see The Static Jacks and more!

Calling all music lovers: what's better than winning free stuff for loving music? Nothing! In honor of that fact, Bark + Bite has teamed up with alternative rock group The Static Jacks to offer you this exciting contest opportunity.

Here's the background: The Static Jacks are preparing for the release of their debut album, If You're Young, the first single off of which is "Girl Parts," which combines fun and funky indie vocals with classic alternative rock instrumentals. The band is headed out on an East Coast tour with White Denim in support of the upcoming release, and they're kicking it all off in Washington, D.C. at the Rock and Roll Hotel.

For the contest, fans and first time listeners of all ages and levels of experience (including none) can go to SoundCloud to create and upload their own remix of "Girl Parts." One overall winner will be picked, the prize for which is fame and fortune (ok, not fortune, but "prominent placement" on the band's website, etc.) as well as a copy of the 7" split the Static Jacks are releasing for the track and a Beast Make Bomb song. However, if you submit a track and remember to enter your city, you will be entered to win two tickets to the band's show at the Rock and Roll Hotel.

The widget for the contest is below, but if you run into problems or have any questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail tsjremixcontest@fenwayrecordings.com. Because really, who doesn't like free concert tickets? GO!

Contest: Win a copy of Keyshia Cole's new album

Keyshia Cole is continuing her evolution as a woman and an artist on her fourth studio album, Calling All Hearts. The new album features a sassy collaboration with Nicki Minaj on lead single "I Ain't Thru," but there's plenty of the old school Keyshia to love with songs like "Long Way Down."

There's also a brooding storm of a track produced by Timbaland in which Keyshia vows to give up a love gone bad: "No trouble sleeping, no more tear drops on my sheet set / I won't look at your pictures, remember your number, and I'm sleeping like a baby"

And Bark + Bite is giving away 1 free copy of Keyshia's new album to 1 lucky fan. In order to enter the contest, send the answer to this question to barkbiteblog@gmail.com:

What childhood game does Nicki Minaj cite in her verse on "I Ain't Thru"?

All entries must be received by Jan. 17, 2010. U.S. residents only.

Win a copy of Die Antwoord's debut album $0$

Looking for something to freak the parental units out? Die Antwoord is here to serve as the 2010 equivalent of Marilyn Manson. The South African duo have been turning heads with their quirky Afrikaans-twinged music and their freaky costumes. Hey, they're on the same label as Lady Gaga. There must be something in the water at Cherrytree/Interscope.

Their latest single, "Evil Boy," has been turning heads and popping eyeballs out of their sockets due to its strong affinity for all things phallic. Yes, it's a little disjointing, but the penis-shaped objects aren't included in the video just for mere titillation. The song features Wanga, a South African township boy who has decided to fight back against a Xhosa form of ritual male circumcision that kills hundreds of boys each year in South Africa. It's a bold, rebellious snub that finds a young man declaring his independence from a cultural practice rooted in violence and coercion.

The song was produced by Diplo, M.I.A.'s on-again, off-again friend and collaborator. The very NSFW video can be viewed over at Pitchfork. Be prepared though, what you see cannot be unseen.

Click below for more music from Die Antwoord and a chance to win their debut album

Rihanna contest winner has unforgettable night

Last month, Bark + Bite held a contest for two tickets to see Rihanna live at the Chicago stop of "Last Girl On Earth" tour. All you had to do to enter was pick your favorite Rated R song and explain why you liked it. Melanie Julion was selected as our winner and she got to see Rihanna's show live on the 25th.

Check out what she had to say about her "Last Girl On Earth" experience

Let me start by saying that I am a BIG Rihanna fan. So going to her "Last Girl on Earth" concert in my hometown, Chicago, was the greatest experience ever. Ke$ha did a great job opening up the show & Rihanna's choreography, wardrobe, and stage props were the best I've seen. Not to mention her voice was amazing. And I had some pretty good seats too! Thank you Bark + Bite for choosing me as the contest winner. It was honestly the highlight of my entire summer...a night I will never forget :)

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the contest; there were a lot of great entries to choose from. And thank you to Live Nation for providing the winner's tickets. Keep an eye out for future contests. You could be the lucky winner next time!

CONTEST: Win 2 tickets to see Rihanna live

Who's the rudest girl of them all? Rihanna! And you have a chance to score 2 tickets to catch the bombshell pop diva in concert live in Chicago. 

Rihanna will be bringing the "Last Girl On Earth" tour in support of her 4th release, "Rated R," to the United Center in Chicago on Aug 25th and Bark + Bite is teaming up with LiveNation to give away 2 tickets to the show. The tour, which just wrapped up its overseas leg, promises to be a spectacular event that no Rihanna fan would want to miss.

“We’ve never done a tour to this capacity.  The production is unbelievable and the costumes, we just took it to a whole new level. Visually and sonically it’s going to be a big step up from the last time. We just keep growing and this time it is a massive production that I cannot wait for,” said Rihanna in a recent interview with AOL.

So how can you enter? Easy. Just tell us what your favorite song is from "Rated R" and why you love it in the comment section below. The best comment will be chosen as the winner. Be sure to put your full name and email address so that you can be contacted with the prize information. Please note: No transportation will be provided for this show.