Review: Born Ruffians at Detroit Bar May 5, 2013

DJ Meow Mix, one of the hosts of Jelly Jive airing Friday's 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., recently saw Born Ruffians at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa. Her show review and photos are below. For more from DJ Meow Mix visit http://jellyjiveradio.tumblr.com/.

 

I started the week off right by going to a Sunday show at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa. Born Ruffians came all the way from Ontario, Canada for a U.S. tour to promote their new album “Birthmarks.” They sure did promote it by playing almost all of the songs off the album! But they still managed to fit in some older (essential Born Ruffians) songs because of an extremely long setlist – they played for over an hour which is rare for the shows I’m used to but was a nice treat. You could tell they are an experienced band because they brought their own custom light- up background decorations that were the same shape as what is on their new album cover.  It was great to see them at Detroit Bar because the venue is pretty small in an intimate setting. I think there were not as many people as I was expecting because they played two other Southern California shows in the days before – LA and San Diego – which I’m sure got big turn outs. The crowd was relatively mellow up until the middle of the show when they played their classic song “Hummingbird,” that was when the real fun began. Other crowd favorites were “Kurt Vonnegut” and two of the encore songs (after minutes of chants from the crowd to play more): “Foxes Mate for Life” and “I Need a Life.” I was happy with their song choices, but I must say I was really rooting for mine and DJ Cow in a Shoe Store’s absolute favorite song “This Sentence Will Ruin/Save Your Life.”  It wasn’t included in the setlist but that’s just more incentive to see them next time they’re around in hopes of hearing that godly song.  It was nice to hear new songs as well, my favorite of them being their first single “Needle” from the new album. Overall it was a great show I am glad I got to attend.  

Coachella Teams Up With Global Inheritance

Dominica, the host of Delirium Drop airing Tuesday's 8:00pm to 10:00pm, recently attended Coachella Weekend 2. Her article is below. All photos were taken by Lily, the host of Beatification airing Tuesday's 10:00pm to 12:00am. For more from Dominica visit dancedomain.kuci.org and for more from Lily visit beatification.kuci.org.

KUCI had the privilege and pleasure of attending Coachella Weekend 2. The Southern California music and arts festival has been going on since 1999.  As the festival has expanded over the years, attracting both larger acts and crowds, Coachella has made the effort to keep the festival environment friendly.   Coachella teamed up with Global Inheritance (G.I.), a non-profit organization, to help educate the festival attendees on global issues regarding the environment via programs such as Carpoolchella, TRASHed art & recycling store, Oasis Water Bar, and the Recyclosaurus Rex.  Each program focuses on helping to better the environment in a different aspect and inspire the youth.  

 
THE ART OF RECYCLING!

With over 80,000 attendees at the festival, trash is a major issue. Coachella and G.I. assisted in creating accessible recycling areas throughout the festival while providing rewards for those who partake in the action.

 
TRASHed

TRASHed, the art of recycling is a 2-part program to incentivize attendees to recycle due.  The first part of the program is where G.I. asks for artists, either globally or locally known, to conceptualize creative designs for a recycling bin.  After sending in their designs, a select number of entries are picked to bring their creativity to life with a recycle bin that will be displayed and used at Coachella.  It gets even better for the entrants.  They get to attend Coachella for free!  You can view some of the inspiration and artistic recycle bin designs that were chosen below.

Some of the best TRASHed designs were at the recycling center, which was located right next to the RECYCLOASURUS REX.  This was part 2 of the program.  When attendees went to this area, they found that when they help recycle, they have a chance to receive free water (10 for 1), posters, shirts, backpacks, and more.

 
10 For 1

The 10 for 1 program is an amazing program that encourages attendees to recycle 10 water bottles and you get 1 refreshing bottle of water for FREE! This program has been successfully running for the past seven years.  Attendees needed to pick up 10 empty bottles from the festival grounds and bring it to the recycling tent.  There, they are greeted by a representative of G.I and Coachella that provides them with their very own bottled water.  This program helps the Coachella and G.I. keep the festival environment clean but it helps to keep the attendees hydrated that are low on cash!

THE OASIS: Water Bar

Free water shots! Are you confused? Let me explain the beauty of the Oasis Water Bar.  It is located between the Gobi and Mojave stages.  It is an education program that helps others better understand our existing water sources and innovations.  They offer over 10 types of water ranging from glacier water, mountain spring water, San Diego tap water, moonshine secret sauce and more! First, you answer a short 5-question survey that you turn in and in exchange you get a free water shot ticket.  I tried the deionized water, hot spring water, and glacier water. They all tasted very different.  The most interesting of the three was the deionized water, which is supposed to be the purest water on earth.  The best way to describe this water was to say that it tasted thicker/heavier than your “normal” water.  It was also very smooth but had an interesting aftertaste that is difficult to describe.  The most refreshing of the three was the glacier water.  It was light, smooth and refreshing.  Personally, I found this one of the most interesting programs because it truly helps your realize the differences there are with water from different locations.

Overall, this event is more than a music festival; it is a gathering to promote earth friendly methods that will inspire others to act for a better tomorrow. 

Mudhoney at The Echo on April 14, 2013 Show Review by George

George, the host of George Had a Hat airing 10:00 am - 1:00pm on Tuesday's, recently saw Mudhoney at The Echo on April 14, 2013. His review is below. Heather McCoy, the host of The Heather McCoy Show airing 8:00 - 9:00 am on Tuesday's and the host of Rachel Ray's Cooking Accident airing 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Tuesday's, took the photo of Mudhoney below. For more from George visit http://ghat.kuci.org. For more from Heather visit http://kuci.org/talk/ and http://www.kuci.org/~cmccoy/.

Fifteen years may have gone by since I saw them at the Galaxy(Observatory) in Santa Ana. But time hasn’t stoped this veteran grunge/punk rockers. Mudhoney is Still delivering a fast-paced, high energy set for a packed house at The Echo.

 While there may have been less moshing and rowdiness than in years past, the older crowd still banged their heads, crowd surfed and even managed a few stage dives throughout the show. One such unwelcome appearance on stage by a staggering lady resulted in the band starting a song over mid-way through. However, there were no complaints from the fans getting to hear one of their favorites one more time.

While the set list consisted of all but one song from their most recent album Vanishing, Mudhoney delighted fans with tunes deep from their archive, including “You Got It” and “Get Into Yours” off their 1988 self-titled album.

Mudhoney Set List:

Slipping Away

I Like It Small

You Got It

Suck You Dry

Get Into Yours

Who You Drivin’ Now?

In This Rubber Tomb

Sweet Young Thing (Ain’t Sweet No More)

Judgement, Rage, Retribution and Thyme

No One Has

Good Enough

Touch Me I’m Sick

What to Do With the Neutral

I’m Now

The Final Course

I Don’t Remember You

The Only Sun of the Widow from Nain

Encore:

Sing This Song of Joy

Chardonnay

Tales of Terror

Youth Lagoon and Lady Lazarus @The El Rey 4/17

Josh, the host of the Noodle Incident from 1:00 - 2:00 pm on Thursday's, recently saw Youth Lagoon and Lady Lazaru at the El Rey on April 17th, 2013. Read his review below with photos by Lisa Sondora. For more from Josh visit http://incidentalnoodle.tumblr.com/.  

Since Coachella’s recent expansion into a two weekend affair, several acts have taken advantage of their extended stay to embark on small west coast tours in the interim. As part of this overflow, often dubbed “Localchella,” Trevor Powers recently found himself in Los Angeles’ beautiful El Rey theater under the guise of his soaring-ly introspective musical persona, Youth Lagoon.

            The night began with California native, Melissa Ann Sweat, taking the stage under her Lady Lazarus moniker. Equipped with but a solitary piano illuminated by a single stage light, Sweat’s presence befitted the El Rey’s old-timey aesthetics. Her piercing, operatic voice laced over elegiac piano lines that often circled back into a morbid cocoon not unlike a less bleep-bloopy Zola Jesus. It’s a shame then that Sweat’s stage presence isn’t quite on the same level as Nika Danilova’s, as her folksy dirges were soon swallowed by a crowd presumably antsy to hear “Seventeen” and split.

            After an exhaustive sound check, Youth Lagoon emerged – accompanied by the same soundscapes that opens Powers’ newest LP Wondrous Bughouse, which may be best described as the aural equivalent of an underwater carnival ride (an image the awesome cover art seems to visually portray). These opening moments were just as important on stage as on the record, setting the terms for Powers’ more cacophonous approach to songwriting before materializing into the thudding, melodic hook of Bughouse single “Mute.”

            This was followed by a string of Bughouse cuts that further differentiated the Boise act’s sound from the nostalgia-soaked anthems of its predecessor, Year of Hibernation. The crowd did, however, visibly express their appreciation when the band launched into Hibernation highlight, “Posters.” The relative lack of Hibernation tunes served the night well, though – allowing Bughouse’s spell to more fully envelop the crowd in its singular charm.

            “You’ll never die” Powers repeatedly screams during Bughouse standout, “Dropla,” and for the duration of his performance of that song – all 10 odd minutes of it – I believed him.

Feeding People and King Khan & The BBQ Show at The Observatory 4/18/13 Review

DJ Cow in a Shoe Store, the host of Jelly Jive airing Fridays 12:00-3:00pm, recently saw Feeding People and King Khan & The BBQ Show at The Observatory in Santa Ana on April 18, 2013. Her show review and photos are below. For more from DJ Cow in a Shoe Store visit http://jellyjiveradio.tumblr.com/.


Feeding People

Lucky me got to witness the legendary King Khan and The BBQ Show at The Constellation Room with my co-host, DJ Meow Mix, on an obviously typical thursday night. We knew the night was going to be interesting from the second we approached the venue, realizing that there was another show happening on the bigger stage of The Observatory on the same night. It was 2 Chainz. So there were a lot of people there dressed in clubbing attire. It was pretty apparent who was there for 2 Chainz and who was there for King Khan. 
When we made our way The Constellation Room, we were wondering who the opening bands were, since it did not say anything on the event page. We found out Tashaki Miyaki and Feeding People were the openers. It was my first time seeing Tashaki Miyaki, and I was very impressed. The drummer was singing melodic and sad songs that really touched the heart. But there were two girls right at the front of the stage talking very loudly which was very rude. They also did not look like the typical King Khan fans, so we were a little worried the girls were at the wrong stage...we were right. So my co-host and I told them that 2 Chainz was playing at the bigger stage. That was the funniest part of the night, even though I felt really bad because they were rude and did not respect Tashaki Miyaki during their set. Feeding People also played a great set, as usual. The crowd was warming up and getting ready for a body moving dancey time. 


King Khan & The BBQ Show

When King Khan and The BBQ Show came on stage, they were wearing these lovely little numbers that just foreshadowed what was about to come...absolute craziness, which was exactly what happened. Their up beat funky rock ‘n roll songs got everyone in the dancing mood and people went wild. Everyone felt the energy from King Khan’s sweat dripping all over the audience. It sounds gross, but it was beautiful. When he took off his shoes, a girl in the audience started to put her fingers through his toes and even attempted to lick them. All in all, it was a great show, and we left smiling.

CHVRCHES – Recover EP Review

This album review was written by DB, the host of Party at Gatsby's airing Tuesdays 6:00-8:00am. For more from DB visit http://lepartyatgatsbys.tumblr.com.

CHVRCHES – Recover EP

By Katrina Yentch

Formed in Scotland, CHVRCHES is a new electronic group that has recently released an EP for the States. Recover EP (3/26 on Glassnote Records) features three tracks and an added remix of the single Recover. “Recover” is a pleasant way to start the album. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry takes over the vocals of this track, creating essences of pop intertwined with the overall electric feel that the EP brings. “If I recover, will you be my cover?” Mayberry begs, as the song progresses from a singular beat to multiple orchestral tones that are generally pleasing to listen to. It’s a strong start that leads way to the following track, “ZVVL,” which appears to take a bit more of a slower pace, with vocal help by synthesizer Ian Cook. However, the song seems to build, gathering intensity as Mayberry joins him in their chanting of the chorus. Is there a chorus in this song though? Probably not; I’d say that it’s replaced with a repetitive instrumental breakdown. Overall, nothing too memorable. The last track, “Now Is the Time,” is a surprisingly “ending-sounding” end to the EP. Reminiscent of 80’s electronic music, Mayberry croons as Cook chimes in during the choruses. Again, it is generally pleasant to listen to. It certainly meshes well with the lyrics that the group is trying to convey. A message to act now and think later, the instrumentals allow this to be delivered with spirit. For some odd reason, the song and its lyrics remind me of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” (However, Recover doesn’t end here. The trio tosses in a remix of their single mixed by Cid Rim. The remix reminds me of something that would be a part of a soundtrack to an old school videogame. It seems to reversibly slow the pace of the song, till an instrumental breakdown of drums reclaims the upbeat attitude that the song carries. It’s an interesting take on the song, but definitely makes it more electronic and less pop. The EP is overall an interesting start to CHVRCHES’ recognition in the U.S. If the whole album is to sound like the EP, though, I suggest tossing it aside with the other electronic artists that are playing with synthesizers. The tracks are agreeable and easy to listen to, but it does not seem like something that would be worth keeping on repeat in the car. Regardless, you can listen to the EP for free via Pitchfork at (http://pitchfork.com/advance/51-recover-ep/). If anything, I would make “Now Is The Time” a good “go to” song to add to a “feel good” playlist.

6 ½ out of 10      (or?)       3 out of 5

Telekinesis – Dormarion: Pop Angst at its Finest Review

DB, the host of Party at Gatsby's airing Tuesdays 6:00-8:00am, recently saw Vampire Weekend at the Fox Theater in Pomona on April 18, 2013. Her show review is below. For more from DB visit http://lepartyatgatsbys.tumblr.com.

It seems all too recently since 12 Desperate Straight Lines came out. However, that was 2011, and this month, front man Michael Lerner decided to welcome spring with his third studio album, Dormarion (4/2 via Merge Records). It’s a lot of music to take in, as the album consists of 12 tracks in under 45 minutes. Throughout you can expect to hear a lot of what you’d usually expect of Telekinesis: toe-tapping, pop rock tracks that simply put you in a plain good mood. They’re the songs that you walk around campus to. They’re auditory fuel right before a huge test or presentation. Dormarion starts out strong with “Power Lines,” a clever metaphor for the connection between locked lips. It’s upbeat, bright, and leads way for an even louder second track, “Empathetic People.” Here, Lerner experiments with a genre I’d like to coin as “pop angst.” Otherwise known as purposely anger-driven yet effortlessly cute. The single off the album follows, “Ghosts and Creatures.” It seems to be the outlier to the album as a whole. It is more direct of a message from Lerner, a call to escape loneliness as he delivers in a verse, “Yes, I need a friend, seeing things in black and white again.” It’s an impressive experimental turn from what Telekinesis is used to doing. Dormarion also slows it down a bit for listeners later on with “Symphony,” which seems to almost lead way for the following track, “Dark to Light.” It’s almost as if the track title and song itself pick up “Symphony.” Perhaps Lerner intended the two to work in conjunction with each other. The last track that seems to stray from Telekinesis’s roots is “Ever True.” It plays with 80s synth pop and immediately you can envision the bright highlighter pinks and greens that practically ooze from the lyrics of the song. A catchy electric keyboard riff accompanies this feel: surprised? The album as a whole is characteristic of what Telekinesis is good at doing: creating toe-tapping pop rock. However, it is done is such a crisp, clear manner that we don’t really ask ourselves, “Why doesn’t he just try something different?” He does with a few tracks and that’s all that really matters. It is Lerner’s precision with this genre that makes the album a great follow up to 12 Desperate Straight Lines. The album takes a good amount of turns with upbeat and happy to upbeat and angsty, if that appears to be a difference for some. For the purpose of Telekinesis’s genre, it certainly is. He basically sticks to his roots, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing! The man is talented too; while he may have a full band with him live, Lerner actually sings and plays a majority of the instruments in the studio when he records. We can add some credibility to Dormarion for that, right? A perfect way to start spring, the album is great soundtrack for your car rides to the beach.