April 3, 2011

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Flati Factor – Your AS Update

March 1, 2011 By bryce 1 Comment

We’re trying something new here at USD Radio. We’ve teamed up with USD’s Associated Students so that they can spend some time to talk about what they do for our students.

We’ve become blessed to work with one of the most beautiful faces on campus, Zachary Flati, your Vice President. For those of you who don’t know him, he’s the guy that looks ten years older than he really is and spends much of his time around the SLP. Flati can usually be recognized with some odd sort of facial hair being styled on his face.

On a (very) good day, he looks like this:

Flati actually translates to "Handsome Devil"

Nonetheless, please look forward to his announcements. We’ll post them weekly or monthly or just as need on this site.

Listen below:

2/22:

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12/15:

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11/30:

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Gold Motel Breaks Through

October 27, 2010 By bryce Leave a Comment

Courtesy Greta Morgan

I’ve been sitting on Gold Motel’s most recent release, Summer House, for the past few days, soaking it up and really trying to put together an accurate review on this one. I’ve now listened to it a few times over and boy did I really soak up its summer sound. The album itself has an almost intricate simplicity; it feels laid back and stripped down, yet multiple layers really come together to make each song sound incredibly complete.

Most tracks consist of just guitar, bass, drums, and vocals yet everything feels diverse. Reverb and tremolo come in and out of play in true beach style 60’s music as best exemplified by the title track. In “Stealing the Moonlight” quick palm mutes and dual vocals create a sound that will be loved by those who spent high school with Rilo Kiley.

When you listen to “We’re on the Run,” the playful strums high up on the fretboard could easily be mistaken for a Vampire Weekend song. Other songs on the album such as “Who Will I Be Tonight” add keys to create more of a soulful and shorter feel to the album, as lead singer Greta Morgan seems to look back at a relationship.

It would be impossible to mention the band without discussing the fact that Morgan first reached fame as the pianist and one of the singers of The Hush Sound. While fans of that project are almost guaranteed to have their ears perk up by Gold Motel, it’s important to note that Gold Motel shouldn’t be written off as The Hush Sound. In many ways, it’s a more grown up sound. There’s more indie twang, less piano, and certainly more of a SoCal vibe.

Much of this beachy vibe likely stems from the fact that when looking for inspiration for the album, Morgan moved to Los Angeles where she became involved in the music scene and would go to five or six concerts per week.

The overall album is a solid release that stands on its own, yet pulls from numerous other successful bands. It’s quick, it’s catchy, and most importantly it proves to be an all around fun album. Simply put, I’ll be actively waiting for album number two.

Fans of the band can check out a live performance this Wednesday as Gold Motel opens up for Kate Nash at The House of Blues. In many ways, these acts prove to be a perfect pairing. Morgan, while still young, will most likely find herself to be in Nash’s spot in the near future and we’ll all be in for a treat.

Myspace

Gold

Filed Under: Album Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

One eskimO Proves to be an Audio and Visual Hit

October 16, 2010 By bryce Leave a Comment

Courtesy One eskimO

Not often enough does music leave its traditional medium and embrace other opportunities to the touch the listener. Album art has become increasingly dull and no one seems to even touch physical albums anymore. Labels still give us this art (as thumbnails for iTunes) but no one really looks at that.  With the music video and its conventional form dying years ago, many bands now must look other places to make an impact.

Such is the case for London band One eskimO. While the group was originally founded in 2004, lead singer Kristian Leontiou is no stranger to the music scene. Around the age of 19, Leontiou signed his first major label deal and had a top ten single the next year. His album went gold but he soon decided to take a break from his solo work and develop what became One eskimO. This group, with more of an acoustic-based sound has grown in popularity and worked to bridge soccer moms, hippie stoners, and intricate music lovers.

The band is no stranger to life on the road, opening for artists such as Michael Franti & Spearhead, Gomez, and Tori Amos all within the last two years. These tours have been mixed with headlining jaunts all around the US and Europe. Lead singer Leontiou, told me that the tour with Tori Amos rang in as unique and a big step for the group is it provided an proper introduction to America. It allowed the band to play new venues such as Radio City Music Hall and the Greek Theater.

Perhaps the thing that makes One eskimO so unique is their amazing endeavor into animated videos. For their self-titled release in 2009, the group coordinated with Passion Pictures (home to greats such as The Gorrilaz) to make videos for almost all of their songs. Leontiou explained that two initial videos from the album proved to be a giant hit. Numerous honors were received and the group had brief time to kill while their studio slot was on hold. This soon prompted eight more videos to be made in order to complete the visual album. The final result was a audio-visual masterpiece that proves exactly what can be done when mediums are combined correctly.

One eskimO will bring their tunes to Anthology this Tuesday night in downtown San Diego. They’re a must see for any fan of mellow or soulful music. It’s one part ambient, one part acoustic rock, and completely relaxing. Imagine them to be John Mayer or a more toned down Maroon 5 if they were able to retain any indie credibility.

_____________________________

One

http://www.myspace.com/oneeskimo

Filed Under: Concerts, Interviews, USD Radio Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Chromeo Does It Night by Night

August 13, 2010 By bryce Leave a Comment

This Monday, Chromeo will bring their electro-funk to the House of Blues. It has been awhile since the guys have performed in San Diego and during that time many things have happened to the group.

For those unfamiliar with the group, Chromeo rose to popularity in 2004 with their debut album She’s in Control. Extensive touring and spots on the festival circuit landed the guys with even more success and acclaim. In 2007, Chromeo released Fancy Footwork, which spawned three singles and was followed by numerous tours.

On September 14th, Chromeo will release Business Casual, an album guaranteed to get you on your feet and dance. Early listeners has reported that this album keeps the ‘80s synth feel while adding a bit more of a disco feel and some electric guitar work. It’s said to be catchy, with some songs having more of a Hot Chip vibe. One song, “When the Night Falls,” will feature guest vocals from Solange Knowles.

My interview with Dave left me with a few points that every Chromeo fan and soon to be convert should know.

In The Beginning…

When Dave and Patrick first came together, the two were in high school. Dave joined Patrick’s band and the two hated each other at first. They later worked out their differences and began to explore new music together, leading them toward the sound they have today. Growing up, the guys saw the electronic influence of everything from some notable figures. Dave’s brother is famed DJ A-Trak who, beyond a successful solo career, serves as the DJ for Kanye West. Chromeo first signed to the label of their friend Tiga.

Dave is a busy guy…

For the last few years, Dave has been pursuing a PhD in French literature from Columbia University. He has kept up with his studies by finding a balance of music and academics. He’ll study on airplanes and will settle for no compromise in either regard.

Chromeo has become great friends with Daryl Hall from Hall & Oates…

The guys all met up to record an episode of Live from Darryl’s house. For Dave and Patrick, this was an amazing experience as Hall & Oates are some of their biggest musical influences. Dave said that they wrote Momma’s Boy, trying to sound like a Hall & Oates song. Chromeo met up with Darryl to perform a set last month at Bonnaroo. The set went so well that Dave said they’re trying to put a few more shows together. They’ve even looked at the idea of doing some studio work.

Make sure to check out Chromeo this Monday at House of Blues where I guarantee you’ll have a great time. Check out the following links to pre-order the new album or grab tickets for the show:

Chromeo on iTunes:

Chromeo

Tickets

Filed Under: Concerts, Interviews, USD Radio Tagged With: , ,

Gregory Alan Isakov Plays Hotel Cafe in Hollywood

June 21, 2010 By bryce Leave a Comment

Courtesy A.V. Club.

There’s something hauntingly beautiful about Gregory Alan Isakov and the music he creates. While quickly labeled as a singer/songwriter, Isakov really goes beyond that one grouping to add more of a raw folk or indie sound. In many ways, his music will be taking the elite spot of filling the void left while Bon Iver is on hiatus. The two artists run a similar parallel with their mix of reverberated guitars and seemingly lazy vocals.

In a live setting, Isakov brings intimacy and dedication to the stage. At a recent set at the Hotel Café in Hollywood, fans flocked to see one of the main rising stars on the scene. Mintues before showtime, with the place packed, Isakov slowly walked through the crowd with many oblivious to his presence. He worked his way forward, making to the stage where he sat on a stool, facing the crowd, armed with his guitar. The following 45 minutes soon became a lost blur of music. Song after song, Isakov only stopped once or twice to speak to the crowd, often joking about how he hates to talk between songs. Anytime a song would end, fans would yell out requests, breaking the aural harmony created by Isakov.

Isakov’s most recent release, This Empty Northern Hemisphere, has shown a considerable amount of growth for the artist. His music has developed and received praise from key music outlets such as Paste Magazine and A.V. Club. In my mind, This Empty Northern Hemisphere has found the perfect balance of simplistic moments and soul drenched vocal presence. Isakov’s album deserves the praise it has received and raises the bar for his next release. Between that time and now, I’ll fill my car rides with Isakov’s music and standout singles such as “Big Black Car.”

Big Black Car

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Filed Under: Concerts Tagged With: ,

Red Bull Rivals Contest this Saturday in OB

June 3, 2010 By bryce Leave a Comment

Big wave surfer Jamie Sterling has proved himself to be one of the most well known surfers on the beach today for good reason. He has top placed in all the big name surfing events from Mavericks to the Aikau Waimea Bay event. This weekend however, you’ll find Sterling helping his pals at Red Bull put on the San Diego edition of Red Bull Rivals. This event takes the best surfers from North County and pits them against the surfers from South County in a battle for beach domination. The winning team gets to leave with bragging rights and the other team’s boards.  The whole event will be overseen by Sterling who tells me that he’ll be acting as a judge and commentator for the event. With Sterling in town a few days before the event, he’s been checking out the local surf spots and visiting his favorite places. Fresh out of the water after an O-side surf sesh, he called me up for an interview.

Sterling seems to be the guy that you’d expect him to be, daring and adventurous, passionate about surfing. He was excited to be a part of this surf competition and wanted to share this passion with other people. For Sterling, this passion has been around since an early age. Born on the North Shore, his first time surfing was at the young age of four. Due to the fact that he came from a surfing family, his mom starting taking him to play in the waters of the Pacific when he was only two weeks old. Around the age of 14 or 15, Sterling got his first taste of big wave surfing at Sunset Beach in Oahu. It was that experience that caused Sterling to feel incredibly connected to the ocean. There was passion and there was power, creating a hunger that has only driven Sterling to get better and get more experienced.

In terms of surfing dynamics, I found the most interest in the fact that Sterling sees a push away from tow-in surfing. For him, tow-in surfing was fun and allowed for new knowledge to be learned. On the subject Sterling said, “We’ve gained a lot of knowledge through tow surfing, now we’re applying it back to the paddle surfing approach and it’s been really nice.” After ten years of tow-in surfing, Sterling explained that he’s now trying to bring it back to the opposite end of the spectrum.

Make sure to catch Jamie Sterling this Saturday at the Red Bull Rivals. The contest starts at 10:45 at the Ocean Beach Pier. It’s the perfect excuse to grab some Hodads while you’re down there.

Jamie Sterling - Courtesy Red Bull Photo Files

Filed Under: USD Radio

Rogue Wave: Interview – Band Plays Belly Up on TUESDAY

April 25, 2010 By bryce Leave a Comment

Make sure to grab tickets to the band’s show on Tuesday. It’s a do not miss concert and with any luck, we’ll be able to put a show review up.
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Rogue Wave front man Zach Rogue is proud of his band’s newest release, Permalight, and stands behind the balance of upbeat, life-affirming melodies and quiet pulsing songs heard on the release. Rogue also worked to create an album that was more cohesive and could “capture one moment at a time.”
While the music may be cheery and playful at times, it draws from a group whose time between albums was tainted by loss and heartbreak. The transition into 2007 brought the loss of good friend, and former member Evan Farrell who passed away in an apartment fire. As if that loss weren’t enough, Zach Rogue went on to face months of bed rest, recovering from slipped discs in his back. The leap from being told that he could never play music again to finding himself in a recording studio playing guitar and writing music created an exciting feeling. Rogue recalls how it felt as though he was reliving his youth and learning to play music again, ultimately writing the song “Permalight” as his first full song after his injury. Overall, the experience taught Rogue that life truly is a gift and that movement and self-expression can be humbling.
As an album, Permalight comes across with a sound slightly different from previous work. As mentioned before, the album seems to have more of an upbeat sound. Everything falls more in line and certain songs have a bit of a dance feel to them. Rogue mentions that a few tracks have this dance feel and that some incorporate the use of a drum machine. Yet in the long run, it seems as though most critics focus on the introduction toward this new sound without really holding on the fact the Rogue Wave feeling can still be heard on the entire album. On some songs, the album has this slightly different, new sound while other songs maintain the sound that perpetuated Rogue Wave to the masses.
Production for the new album found the band in Oxford, Mississippi, working with Dennis Herring, whose past production credits include Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse, and MUTEMATH. For Rogue, the push to work with Herring came out of respect and admiration. The two shared a mutual vision and Rogue feel in love with Herring’s studio in the south. After an initial meeting, Rogue determined it would be a good match and he recognized Herring’s sometimes brutal honestly as something that would help the band in the long run. The final result is a product that will not only satisfy long-time Rogue Wave fans but will also appeal to listeners who might have previously dismissed the band before.

Filed Under: Interviews, Upcoming Shows Tagged With: , , , , , ,

All The Day Holiday: The Best Band You’ve Never Heard Of

April 16, 2010 By bryce Leave a Comment

All The Day Holiday

All the Day Holiday could quite possibly be one of the best bands that you’ve never heard of. The group, whose music takes on a bit of an indie/alternative sound has built up steam over time and is on the verge of breaking through to a much wider audience. Whether it is because of the praise they’ve received or their unique blend of music, All the Day Holiday could very well become a mainstream name. The reason for this is actually very simple – they work to do things in a very different manner.

The music itself is best described as experimental mix of mainstream sounds like Muse, MUTEMATH and Death Cab for Cutie, with a more obscure taste of groups like Mew, Explosions in the Sky and the Appleseed Cast. This sound places them in between two sects of listeners, either pulling from both or alienating some. It’s a risky position but the band members do this based on their passion.

Simply put, it is passion that drives the band. At their recent set as part of the Hoodwink show at Bamboozle California, the band picked a cover set of Beach Boys songs, something that’s not easy to pull off. The overall result proved to be amazing, with the Ohio band pulling off a true California vibe, complete with lead vocalist Daniel Simmons vocal mirror of Brian Wilson. The overall Beach Boys cover set experience is something that Simmons says has greatly  improved the band’s musicianship.

The band’s popularity has quickly grown in recent years. They’ve been signed to Linc Star Records, home of the Bamboozle name, they’ve been picked up by industry leader High Road Touring and, to top it all off, Metallica’s law firm hand picked the group, knowing about the success they’ll eventually receive.

As I spent the weekend with the band during the Bamboozle festival, I realized that just like their music the band members are unique. They’re in it for the music and they love what they do. Overall, All the Day Holiday is a great band with a lot of potential. They’re a name that you’ll most likely see more of in the future and one that deserves at least one listen.

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: ,

Washed Out has a Clean Future Ahead

April 15, 2010 By bryce Leave a Comment

Washed Out @ Sushi Arts

Less than a year ago, Earnest Greene was no more popular than you might be, enjoying summer at home with his parents in Macon, GA. After four years of creating music on his computer as a hobby, Greene was able shift gears last summer and focus on new material. He labeled this new production Washed Out and his music began to flow around the internet. With very little marketing force, many accepted the music, and as fall approached, Washed Out’s feel good songs allowed everyone to hold on to every last bit of summer.

The solid mix sampled dance-based hooks, and compressed, slow-delivery vocals allow for a unique and aquatic feeling within the music. It seems that Washed Out is quickly leading the pack of the “chillwave” genre as it becomes more mainstream. This new genre is one that seems to be gaining steam and was recently featured in The Wall Street Journal.

Greene seems to be approaching music from something new altogether. Its my impression that he never intended to focus on music as a commercial endeavor. Even in conversation it seems that this musical hobby was just something that was fun for him. As bloggers came across his music on MySpace, they spread it nationwide and demand was soon presented for Greene to develop a proper release. It really does seem like the music alone has warranted the success and popularity that Washed Out has seen today. Greene feels that this popularity might come from the fact that the songs are simple, yet portray a happy-go-lucky summertime vibe.

The increase in popularity earned Washed Out a coveted spot at the recent SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. As a newly desired artist, Greene found himself playing eight shows in less than a week. The experience also held other new “firsts” for Greene. He found himself playing corporate- sponsored events in front of his biggest audiences yet while being filmed by big-time production equipment.
In turn with his Southern charm, Greene seems humbled by the experience and almost unsure of what to expect next. Although he hasn’t even released a proper full-length album, his popularity grows. As Greene continues to work on music for an upcoming release, he’ll take some time off to tour with Beach House and then head over to Europe to tour with Small Black.

Deservedly, the future looks bright for Washed Out and the new music Greene produces will undoubtedly be a success. Until then, as the weather in San Diego becomes warmer and summer begins to tease, put on some Washed Out and enjoy the good life.

Hold Out by Washed Out:

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Filed Under: Interviews, USD Radio Tagged With: ,

Vote for AS Elections this Thursday – A Message from Crystal Peterson

April 7, 2010 By bryce Leave a Comment

Hey everyone! This is Crystal here from Associated Students, YOUR student government at USD. I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter break and adjusting well being back at school. I know it’s hard after such a relaxing weekend.

But Associated Students is coming back from break full throttle with the 2010-2011 AS elections. This week is campaign week for our candidates running for AS President, Vice President, and  15 Senators.  You may have seen flyers on the ground around campus or getting a lot of invites into the candidate’s facebook groups. Lets show them our support and be sure to vote this Thursday, which is tomorrow, April 8th, starting at 9am. You can vote on MySanDiego under the “AS Elections” tab. Polls will be open until Friday, April 9th, at 5pm.

Just to remind you all that only 13% of the student body voted in the elections last year! That’s a few percent more than the previous year! This year, we’re aiming high because we want everyone to be involved! Associated Students wants to make sure EVERYONE’s voice is heard so make sure to vote tomorrow because your voice matters!

If by chance you missed running in the elections, there’s still chance that you can get involved! As you know, the student body has passed the new AS restructure proposal where Associated Students will be separate from the Torero Program Board, the event planning group that creates student programs here on campus. With this new structure, we need great individuals to represent the students and make it the best AS and Program Board ever! Applications for positions for both AS and Program Board will be available online on the Associated Students website this Friday, April 9th. Applications for AS positions will be due Wednesday, April 21st at 5pm. Applications for Program Board Chair, Tuesday, April 20th. Applications for a Program Board directorship position will be due Friday, April 23rd. Getting involved in AS and Program Board is a great opportunity to meet new people and really get to know the whole USD community. I encourage you all to apply and be a part of this amazing experience!

I know, this is a lot of information, but you can get all this and more on the Associated Students website: www.sandiego.edu/associatedstudents. And please contact any of the current AS Exec members if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks everyone and remember to vote tomorrow!

This is Crystal, over and out!

Filed Under: Campus Beat Tagged With: , , ,
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