University of San Diego Radio

Credit Wendy Lynch Redfern

Omaha-bred “indie” and “emo” pioneer rockers Cursive made their way to the Pacific Northwest last week. Touring for the debut of their new, 8th studio album Mama, I’m Swollen, the band dropped into Neumos on Capital Hill with opening act and native-Seattlites Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band. Just before the show, I was able to yak with bassist Matt Maginn about the tour, the Fourth of July and The Great Recession.

Cursive’s tour took them around the U.S. in its early leg before heading across the Atlantic for a number of shows in the U.K. “We played a lot more shows than we usually do,” Matt commented, “Usually we play three. We played some different festivals, Beg and Begger, Dot to Dot, some CMJ,SXSW style festivals, a bunch of indies in one town instead of just one big stage.” Stateside, the tour has taken them to four towns they’d never been to, including a pit stop in Montana. The tour will take a break after tomorrow night’s Salt Lake show. Matt said he plans on enjoyin his Independence day back in Omaha or Columbia with fam & friends.

Seattle was Cursive’s first act with Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band. “We heard about them from our tour manager in UK who had their CD. We listened to it a lot. We dug it, we were very in to it,” said Matt. The Vietnam band will accompany Cursive down the West Coast to Pomona. Matt noted that extra friends in town for the Seattle show were keeping the band anxious to play. But he mentioned a live set with UW’s KEXP the following morning–which waranted some rare responsibility for the band known for passionate, enthusiastic performances that may very well have defined a genre of music since Cursive’s 2003 “Ugly Organ” album. “We’ll be good tonight, I promise…”

Concerning the new album, Matt elaborated on the band’s creative process and music craftin methodology.         ” We wanted to make it different than anything else we’ve done. Atleast for me, we were achieving something really melancholy. For each album, we approach it so differently, try and mix it up and not rewrite”. As many of the band’s members are involved in side projects on Omaha’s Saddle Creek Records–such as Tim Kasher’s The Good Life–Cursive’s albums have tended to be spaced out. Mama, I’m Swollen came three years after the band’s last album, Happy Hollow. “We keep Trying to operate to make it feel right, rather than “sell music” so to speak. It’s why we have the past that we had“.

Matt concluded the interview describing how the Great Recession has had its effects on Cursive’s tour. “If we’re in a place that’s having a lot of shows that week, we definitely see a difference. And we see it talking with our promoters. But if it’s a town that doesn’t have constant activity, it’s a little more normal”.

www.myspace.com/cursive

Go check em’ out

This past Friday and Saturday, L.A.’s Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Park were crowded with kandy kids and regular kids alike. The former 1-day carnival became 2 days, increasing the amount of life-changing moments that one could experience, as well as the amount of kids that would probably overdo it. My personal experience on Friday night, however, was a perfect blend of bouncing, swaying and smiling, all while surrounded by incredible lights and booming bass, not to mention some pretty cool people (and some creepy ones too).

Here were my most memorable moments on Friday night, starting with the L.A. traffic:

• A drive that usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half took four full hours.
• Our car was shaking from the bass as we sat on the Martin Luther King Jr. exit. We then paid $40 for parking.
• A cop directed me and my friend in the opposite direction we needed to go to get to the press entrance, thus we had to walk in a complete circle around the venue.
• The press entrance was the same as the artist entrance, so we entered behind the main stage. It was incredible.
• We accidentally went up the stairs of the stadium to the spot where all of the artists’ trailers were located, that was pretty cool too.
• We spent $5 on a bottle of water.
• My friend dropped her pack of cigarettes, realized it, went back to find them and they were still there! A good sign that we were surrounded by good people that were either oblivious to a full pack of cigs chillin on the ground or respectful of others’ belongings.
• We were able to find our other friend with no difficulties whatsoever because cell phones actually worked this year.
• I ran into the two USD kids I had hoped to run into. What are the odds of that in a venue full of tens of thousands of people?
• I saw a flamingo on stilts.
• I found a new DJ duo to like: Lawgiverz.
• THIEVERY CORPORATION KILLED IT. It was nice to hear something other than the typical electro beat. Bravo.
• ATB did a pretty sick remix of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” that had the crowd singing along and made me pretty happy. I learned something: I prefer to dance to beats that incorporate lyrics.
• We walked over to see Pretty Lights, but missed them, so we sat on the amazingly soft grass and listened to the tracks playing during the setup for STS9. Two of my current favorite songs played: “Wachadoin?” by N.A.S.A. feat. M.I.A. and “Little Bit” by Lykke Li. Those were some goooood remixes. And I’m not gonna lie, I liked the remix of B. Spears’ “Circus.” I took a quiz once and apparently that song is the Britney song that represents my life, so I felt some kind of connection.
• A girl gave me some 3D glasses that multiplied the lights times one billion. Words can’t describe what I saw.
• Major Low Point: A creepy drunk/high guy snuck up on me while I was lying on the grass and rubbed his hand across my boob. That was kind of weird.
• STS9 KILLED IT. New favorite band for the summer probably. They were an amazing way to end the night. There’s something about live sets that really moves me.
• I had a really bad headache so I went to the first aid tent to see if they could give me some Tylenol or something, they said they weren’t allowed to. So I asked if they had any tips and they said to take another E pill. That was also kind of weird.
• Thanks to freeway construction and major street traffic surrounding the venue it took us three hours to get home. L.A. traffic is absolutely out of control. But it was alllll worth it.

Unfortunately I’m broke and couldn’t afford to make the trip to L.A. for Saturday even though I had a free pass, but I will without a doubt be attending next year. I’ve already started planning my outfit.

All photos courtesy of Ryan Brennan.

Seeing as how EDC is only hours away, we thought we’d put together a list of our favorite tracks from some of our favorite DJs that’ll be there this weekend. Go rage.

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“Hold the Line (DVW Remix)” Major Lazer
“Frau Frau” Boys Noize
“Satisfaction (Lufrkkk ravemix)” Benny Benassi
“Pharaoh” LTJ Bukem
“Cold Turkey” DJ Hype
“Becoming Insane” Infected Mushroom
“Slipstream” Crystal Method
“4 AM (Adam K & Soha Mix)” Kaskade

View of Roo

“I wish this was how the real world operated,” she said. My friend was referencing the freedoms and nuances of Bonaroo. Every so often the crowd of dirty hippies, wannabes, college students, and wierdos alike trying to enter into Centeroo began to scream “BONAROOOO” so loudly that security guards “gave up” and let us all in without checking bags. The concerts start at midday and end at 4 in the morning. Drug dealers trek to the ‘Roo for their annual mecca of loyal clientele. One of my favorite parts of ‘Roo was the disregard for bathing and hygiene; there’s really no need when camping on a farm for 4 days. 2009′s festival proved to hold up with a line up of Bruce (the Boss), Beastie Boys (feat. Nas), Snoop (feat. Erykah Badu), and Phish, but my favorite acts tended to be the names not in bold. Jenny Lewis is a favorite of mine and her show was soulful and twangy like I like it. The Next Messiah is 3 songs in one = kickin, and Elvis Costello came out to play Carpetbagger. Andrew Bird was more phantasmal with his ghostly whistling and weeping violin. A gigantic fake gramophone spun around whenever the loops picked up and the orchestral feeling crescendo-ed. Another experience I’ll never forget was GIRL TALK. So much toilet paper, so many crazies onstage, and too much base for a 3rd-rower like myself. My friends all pushed onto the stage, but sadly I was lame, and stayed on the ground. I heard MGMT was epic, but that was Saturday night when I accidentally fell asleep at 12 instead of going to the 2 am show. Animal Collective and Bon Iver were pleasant surprises. TV on the Radio, Wilco, and David Byrne rocked as usual, and Al Green, well he is my special Reverend “Soul Man” from Memphis–I love that man with all my heart, even when his eyes bug out on the high notes. If you ever find yourself in the Southeast in June, Bonaroo is The Place to be.

Jenny Lewis, Black Sand video

Animal Collective, My Girls intro

Telepathe’s latest album, Dance Mother, produced by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio, is a musing mix of experimental pop, poetic recitation, electronics and percussion. Consisting of only nine tracks, the album is more transportive than dance-y.

I listened to this album while lying in the sun in my backyard, and it made the time fly by, which probably has something something to do with the tempo and the way the lyrics are presented. They’re not so much sung as they are recited and the beat is not so much head bopping as it is thought popping.

At first listen I judged the band as “trying too hard” and sounding like Hot Chip minus the catchiness and upbeat ambience. The first track on Dance Mother, “So Fine,” is a bit “eh” and the second track, “Chrome’s On It,” is too repetitive and needed a more sexual beat to match the lyrics. It felt as though the so-so experimental music was put to the seemingly boring poetry. The vocals in “In  Your Line” are reminiscent of an electronic-sounding Scout Niblett mixed with The Blow and a less angsty  young Conor Oberst (via his Commander Venus days), yet it lacked ingenuity.

As soon as “Can’t Stand It” began to play in my headphones, my negative opinion of Telepathe’s music was redirected. The track finally meshed both vocals and instruments, the lack of which was very distracting in the first few songs. It seemed that the band had finally finished introducing new listeners to their sound and decided to get serious. “Michael,” which I presume has a little something to do with sex, has the band proclaiming “God is watching, you know you’re a star.” Pop! There came a thought. Never have I ever thought of sex in that way, and I’m hoping I never do again, which means the lyric did what all lyrics should do – it provoked some thinking and it was a tad disturbing.

If I were to describe “Trilogy,” the second to last song on Dance Mother, I would say it is dim and grim. With its trembling wind instruments and brass horns being blown, it comes across as somewhat chaotic, yet it flowed experimentally and maintained my interest for the entire six minutes and 59 seconds that it played.

Though the last track, a song about being drugged until death, was a bit of a weak ending to an impressive buildup of tracks before it, my feelings of satisfaction were not deterred. The album starts off a bit slow and debatable, but it becomes progressively darker as Telepathe’s lyrics get deeper.

Standout track: “Can’t Stand It” 

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Upcoming Shows:

Sat. June 13 Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell w/ Nite Jewel, Abe Vigoda

Surprise Surprise
Sasquatch 09= one of the best weekends I’ve had in ever.

Considering the uber refreshing (and not Coachellan 120+) 80 degree weather, hippie communes, the vibrant Tent village, plentiful psychedelic journeys, the backdrop of a river gorge carved by the flooding of an glacial damn during the last ice age, and as many Beautiful British Columbians as a guy could ever hope for, it’d be tough to have had anything less than a stellar Memorial Day ‘Squatch weekend.

Oh, and there were a few good bands too.

Saturday:
After a 26 hour beelinage up the West Coast from San Diego , we pulled into the Gorge Amphitheatre outside George, Washington (Awesome to know that exists, huh?) and set up camp Saturday morning. The campsite itself is more of a village that comes to life over the weekend, with main streets, taco vendors, parties around every corner and less sobriety the bus ride back from TJ. Each clan sets up their own little enclave to hold up in for the weekend. Wandering around after the shows are over for the night is worth the ticket price alone. My favorite story was probably a group of hippies who had descended from the Olympic Mountains to sell tacos. They travel from music festival to music festival sellin those babies so they can raise enough money to buy acreage and start their own commune someday.
Anyhow, we headed in the gates, traversed through a sea of the most fascinating humans you knew existed, and enjoyed the first show.
Similar to Coachella, there are several stages and a dance tent. The first band we saw was Blind Pilot, a lo-fi folk band from Portland. If you haven’t heard of them, I’d highly recommend it. Joe Kruse and Tony B put “I Buried a Bone” on their March 23rd mix. Or “One Red Thread” and “Oviedo” are great tracks to check out. While we were stylin in our complementary “1-800-Tobacco Quit Line” shades, Blind Pilot played a great set to open our weekend.
We held our grassy seats to dance ourselves awake to Passion Pit, which could’ve been much later in the evening for how energetic the show was. A much livelier tempo picked up the pace for us.
Then we headed over to the main stage, which is set just in front of the massive Gorge. Alt-country showman M. Ward played a stellar show while we kicked it on the massive sloping lawn. With literally hundreds of acres of untouched Washington desert land in the back drop, we fantasized of classic cattleman pioneerin the plains as M. Ward’s twang provided the perfect complement.

Devotchka stepped up right after. The best I can describe Devotchka’s performance was either
A) The musical equivalent of a beautifully prepared international jambalaya cuisine.
or
B) My romantic ideal of what goes on every Saturday night in the hippest parts of Europe along the Mediterranean.
Basically, tubas, mariachis, tambourines, feathers, strings and costumes combined to create a hell of an afternoon show.
We headed down to the pit for Animal Collective, one of the bands everyone was looking forward to most. However, most unfortunately, AC ended up being the biggest let down of the weekend. They opened with a diddy and then moved right into “My Girls”, which was excellent, just as good as I’d hoped. But then they went into an ad-lib set of nothing I’d recognized for at least 30 minutes. It never really progressed or materialized into anything, just a lot of experimenting with KORGs. And they ended their set with some songs from MPP, which was also excellent. If they’d have played songs, or incorporated at least some more structure it would’ve been a good show. But alas, let down.

Achin to remedy our Animal Collective hangover, we dosed ourselves up with some hip-hop. Mos Def lit up the Wookie Stage , and we even got a few half tracks of Black Star. All us white Washingtonians loved the rare hip-hop and Mos Def filled that demand well.

Right after Mos Def, Bon Iver took the stage as the sun had settled behind the hills. I’d compare this to the Foxes taking the stage at Coachella as the sun was diving behind the mountains. And sure enough in similar fashion, Bon Iver was easily one of the best shows of the festival. While Justin Vernon really made the album what it was, each of the musicians in his band added their own perfectly planned part into the mix, creating a pretty epic live show. They didn’t just accompany him, they complemented him excellently.

This year, Squatch planners added a Dance/Comedy tent. I’d liken the design to the Experience Music Project building in Seattle.

Rather than any simple design, the tent had soaring angles, bending curves and a wild interior. We hit up our first dance tent experience for Crystal Castles–awesomely intense. Though Alice Glass didn’t sing the lyrics but just screamed. bottom line: A dance tent’s a dance tent.

Sunday
My dad will most likely read this, so I will spare most the details. But we began our day by arising out of the tent and beginning, well, we hit her hard. In our absolutely sober and completely rational logic, we decided we could hike somewhere around two or three miles through desert to a straight drop off cliff to the mighty Columbia where we would, of course, have a refreshing morning swim.
We reached a knee high fence about five minutes in and called it quits.
In a general summary of the day, “someone who has no affiliation with myself or the University of San Diego in anyway” went through 5 different states of consciousness on Sunday, which summarizes things pretty well.
Anyhow,
We made our way into the festival to hit up Calexico, who provided a similar summer afternoon atmosphere as M. Ward’s show.
Next up, we watched the Avett brothers–a bitchin Folk rock band from North Carolina. I hadn’t heard of them and was most pleasantly surprised. I’d highly recommend checkin them out.
Hopin to enjoyin what we’d heard as one of the best live shows around, we moved on up to the Wookie stage for Minneapolis’ rock heroes The Wrens. As one of the members put it, “We’ve been around for about 50 years”. But they had their set down pat, and it was Awesome. Captial A. Solid rock, great energy and an excited crowd. You might knock on them for not being 24 , but they put on just as entertaining of a show as any of their younger stagemates.
We scooted ourselves down to the main stage for the Brooklyn boys TV on the Radio. If we’d have been in the pit, probably would’ve been an entirely different show. But even from our higher hangout way up on the lawn, it was a sweet set that helped break my early evening fatigue.
I’ve heard people knock TV for being a studio band, but this was definitely not the case either of the times I saw them. They put on a hell of a show.

I took a short jaunt up to catch M83, recommended to me by my long time elementary school pals as “pretty much just really heavy electronica”. While I wasn’t much impressed by the recordings, the live equivalents translated much better for an engaging few songs that I got to catch.

Mike Sinodis made me make a weekly vow on my life that I would see Nine Inch Nails. Now, maybe I’m just not aggressive enough of a person or not upset with the World enough or something, maybe I should’ve gone to the pit, maybe I was just tired from the day. But the NIN show came across at least eighteen times more ridiculous than serious. I suppose NIN and the Sasquatch vibe just don’t really match. It was most definitely and intense and passionate performance I stuck around to see, but I left early on.
To see instead:

Of Montreal. Which to my delight ended up also being one of the best shows of the weekend. The closers for the Wookie Stage (Bon Iver, Of Montreal, Explosions) were all superb. I probably should’ve expected it, but was surprised by a wild, eclectic, over the top, circusesque performance by the Georgian psych, pop band. From gas-masked stage dancers, to shouldertop singing, to one of the most trip-inducing light shows I’ve seen since I first discovered the strobe light, of Montreal gave a wildly entertaining and really fun nightcap.

And then,
we went to DeadMau5.
Which was about as awesome as it gets. No LA Hipsters. Canadian dance lords. Our friend Ian doing the exact same body movement for an hour and a half (funny how that works…) and more adrenaline than a guy could conjure up from a sky dive made for the best Sunday night I’ve had since my middle school Catholic Youth group gave us pizza, Pop and I got to sit next to my crush.
(Note: In lieu of expected responses, that was a hyperbole)

Monday
The third day is always a bit rough, right? Festival’s are like a marathon. Robin Pecknold of the Fleet Foxes actually thanked us for enduring the marathon too.
So when we began our Memorial Day with Grizzly Bear, I was a bit bummed knowing we all probably wouldn’t give the afternoon starter set the attention it deserved. I hear their new album “Veckatimest” is the best thing since Jesus Christ or “Merryweather Post Pavilion”, depending on your preference. Their acid-folk, as Seattle’s The Stranger so nicely summed them up as, was a beautiful beginning to our Monday.

Next up, we scrambled down to the pit for Sant(o)igold. She woke everyone up from whatever midday daze we were in to start a ten thousand+ person party. While everyone below was dancin their hearts out, the party poured out up into the lawn above. If you haven’t seen this youtube video yet, check it out. A dance party erupted up on the lawn
Sasquatch Dance Party
One dude started the party. It was a great experiment in people watching (though you could say that for the weekend as a whole) and as my brother-in-law summed it up, some great social commentary on the teen “follow” mentality.
Alas, Santi/Santo was Gold.

I’d never actually heard of the next band, Gogol Bordello. Though the name sounded about as good as it gets, and they ultimately put on easily the most energetic and captivating show of the weekend. As best as I can describe it, the band’s a gypsy rock act. USD’er Cristal Sunshine made the last minute pilgrimage up to Squatch just to catch them. And now I can see why. If you ever get the chance to see them, do it. It was the best surprise of the weekend and an incredible experience, especially considering expectations goin in.

Following the Foxes’ finale, we scrambled up the hill to the Wookie Stage to hit up Girl Talk. Just as expected, it was Party City, Washington. From inflatable Giant Whales to Toilet Paper being blown by the roll into the crowd, Greg G did not let down the crowd by any means. My friend brought up how Girl Talk is the perfect match for our quick click YouTube generation’s attention span. Six million songs in 60 minutes. But for the record, I’d have 5-star rated each and every of all the videos in Girl Talk’s set. Twas a Bitchin party that filled the Wookie grass to pour into the porta-potty waiting grounds and dance tent area to start concluding the weekend.

Explosions in the Sky ended the festival for us, as we cut out a bit early to make the drive back to Seattle. EITS’ frontman–if they have one– applauded Girl Talk before introducing his entourage as “Serious Talk”. I’d heard Explosions’ show called a religious experience, though that probably depends on how much THC is in your cerebral cortex. But for me it was as great as I had expected. Just as their albums continually build, their show kept building and building, in volume, intensity and passion. They most certainly have mastered the art of the crescendo. I walked away as pleased as can be from the best instrumental show I’ve witnessed.

I’m just here to give you your monthly dosage of dance.  If you’re into this sort of thing, you can check out ROBOTXY.com for things that along the same lines.  Graphic by Gregor from Above.

ROBOTXY – June Mixtape 

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June Tracklist:

00. The Isley Brothers – Shout
01. Vega – No Reason
02. Knighlife – Discotirso
03. Agent Stereo – She
04. the LoFi Samurai – Demonz
05. Siriusmo – Gummiband
06. Shadow Dancer – Cowbois (Strip Steve Remix)
07. Breakbot – Summer Party
08. Kris Menace, Alan Braxe – Lumberjack
09. Coeur de Pirate – Comme Des Enfants (Le Matos Andy Carmichael Remix)
10. Linus Loves – Stand Back (Instrumental)
11. Live Element – Something About You (Live Element Remix)
12. Get Famous! – Slip Away

cheers!

“Relentless, face melting, bassy beats…A perfect soundtrack to compliment your summer “school is motherfucking out” attitude. This week, Rebel Rebel Radio brings you the Pounding Vibrations mix.”

1. Felix Cartal – Salty Lakes
2 Harvard Bass – Caked
3. Project Bassline – Drop The Pressure (Jack Beats Remix)
4. Kidda – Under The Sun (Herve Remix)
5. Udachi – Jellyroll
6. Steve Angello & Laidback Luke – Show Me Love (AC Slater Remix)
7. Machines Don’t Care – Beat Bang (Trevor Loveys Remix)
8. Twocker – Stitch
9. Foamo – Rockerman (Lee Mortimer Remix)
10. Little Boots – Meddle (AC Slater & DJ Skeet Skeet Remix)
11. Emalkay – Explicit
12. Secret Handshake – Summer of 98 (Crookers Remix)
13. Tiga – What You Need (Proxy Remix)
14. Kanji Kinetic – Disco Vibrato

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