Live from the Closet: Tiffanie Ma
Full Audio of Session:
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“Live From The Closet” features musicians from USD and the San Diego area dropping by the twenty square foot box known as “The Closet”, or the radio room. Check in every monday for a new featured artist. The debut features Matt Leigh
Session One, October 12th: Matt Leigh
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Matt Leigh is a senior Mechanical Engineering major at USD. He hails from Kansas City and is a musician with talents ranging from piano to trumpet to bass. Matt is primarily a jazz musician, and his band Cruise Control reflects his style of contemporary, fusion jazz.
The studio set includes tracks from Cruise Control’s “City Life” and a few of Matt’s own original compositions.
Check out their Official Website
CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ccontrol
Official Website: http://www.ccjazz.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ccjazz
2008 Finance and Accounting alum Clint Armstrong is a member of the band beyond conception.
Check them out!
http://www.myspace.com/beyondconception
http://www.beyondconception.com
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After casually forming as an all-American teenage garage band, the members of beyond conception have spent the following years embedding themselves on the Orange County music scene. Their individually unique musical backgrounds unite in a product that artfully embraces a dichotomy of classic and modern rock influences. Blake Kennedy’s raw, bluesy guitar riffs and Matt Abrams’ rich, dramatic bass lines are driven by Clint Armstrong’s crisp, jazz-bred drumming that carries the punk ego that defines Southern California. The quartet is lead by Justin Abrams, with a voice comparable to Freddy Mercury. His key-work integrates with the band to culminate in a dynamic sound unique to itself, much in the vein of Queen and Foo Fighters.
Preparing for the release of its third album, Beyond Conception has developed a diverse fan-base by selling over 10,000 records independently and playing throughout venues such as The Coach House, The Knitting Factory, and Chain Reaction. Through its evolution, the band has opened for such acts as Marcy’s Playground, NOFX, and Hellogoodbye, while establishing itself as a mainstay at the Huntington Beach Surf City Nights. With its success on the indie scene, Beyond Conception strives to break the new album into the mainstream and expose its music to as many listeners as possible.
Formed in 2003, Beyond Conception’s first meeting occurred when Clint brought a borrowed drum set to Justin’s house for a jam session and Justin’s younger brother, Matt, joined them. Having studied classical piano since his childhood, Justin had already been working with artists like Drake Bell. After studying guitar reading and music theory at the Musicians Institute of Los Angeles, Blake became the obvious choice when the guitarist position became available in 2005. He brings gritty, blues-inspired riffs that compliment the modern drive that defines Beyond Conception.
Having come of age together while attending the same high school, the perennial relationship of Beyond Conception’s members has propelled the band to achieve its success while offering inspiration for future endeavors. The Band’s stage presence boasts the depth of its members’ communication through fluid instrumental jams, punctuated by Justin’s natural gift for working a crowd. Keeping with the momentum of its previous projects, Beyond Conception is anxiously anticipating its renaissance through the release of the new album.
“Stix & Stones”
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“Shoe Shiner”
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“Miles ***”
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Wednesday September 30th was the first Open Mic Night on campus. Students filled Aroma’s for a full lineup of student musicians taking the stage.
Performances for the night included:
Kellen Gold, Matt Leigh, Kyle Minkel, Kyle Kincaid, Jack Williams, Jeff Bentz, Adam Alvarez, Sean Lawlor, Diana Esefan Velaquez, Daniel Runbeck, Moses and Eded Utomi, Arnold Palaciois, Cristel Cueto and Nicole Salcedo.
Aroma’s wil host two more Open Mic Nights on October 21st and Novermber 18th.
Contact Jen Matsumoto if you have questions [email protected]
Also check out USD Radio’s Student Musician BBQ on October 10th featuring:
–Sean Lawlor –Andy Cullison —Peter Nixon & Merry Werewolves –Tolan Shaw
Ever since I lost my job as an RA, my free food radar has been in pristine condition. So, going about my day to day scurry for free food, I ran into my good friend Morgan Oakland who wanted me to attend “DemROCKrady” an event that she had helped put together with her poli sci fraternity, pi sigma alpha. Free food, free music, give away prizes, and cute guys to take pictures of for the Vista and her fraternity, what more could I ask for? I popped in with my mondo camera and a friend, and was blown away by the student talent that took over the stage in the UC forum.
Unfortunately, the student body wasn’t out in full force to witness the insanity that ensued on that make shift stage, but regardless, the student musicians that so willingly expressed their passions for music, were most certainly legitimate. Brittany Steffen, a Junior who had just turned 21 that day, stuck around despite her newly acquired ability to purchase alcohol (legally), to listen to Andy Cullison, JP Kennedy, and Justin Hall.
The night, though crowds were scarce, was epic, and as it came to an end, the 21+ took the after party to Guava. Not to mention, the political science honors fraternity that put the whole show on was able to amass a large pile of canned food to go towards their canned food drive. I also came away with an Obama coffee table book. Not too shabby Pi Sigma Alpha! Let’s hope that our student musicians can find more student support in the future. Maybe with a little help from the newly emerging USD Radio?
