Album Review: Her Space Holiday - XOXO, Panda And the New Kid Revival

Originally published December 2, 2008 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Her Space Holiday
XOXO Panda, And the New Kid Revival
Mush Records

With XOXO, Panda and the New Kid Revival, Marc Bianchi, the man behind Her Space Holiday, does not have any plans to bore his fans with the same sound album after album.

“Oh I love you so very much / So much in fact I’m gonna switch it up”, Bianchi proclaims on the single “Sleepy Tigers”.

The line most likely is directed at a love interest, but it rightly describes Bianchi’s music career. Bianchi has proven his love for music and his fans by dabbling in numerous genres. In the early 1990s, he was a part of the hardcore scene in the California bay area with bands Indian Summer and Mohinder. However, for the past 12 years, he has been most known for the fuzzy electronic-fused indie pop recorded as Her Space Holiday.

XOXO, Panda is just another name that Bianchi has taken on, and The New Kid Revival is a more organic and spirited movement. The Her Space Holiday from the albums The Young Machines (2003) and The Past Presents the Future (2005) is not found here.

The whispered secrets and confessions that made listeners blush with guilt are replaced with clear and joyful chants. Synthetic string arrangements and drum machines disappear as guitars, banjo, mandolin, glockenspiel, and tambourines take center stage.

While Bianchi’s voice still is distinct, he sings with much more ease and honesty. The lyrics remain personal and, like any other Her Space Holiday song, illustrate captivating stories and images.

The newly acquired sound helps keep Her Space Holiday fans on their toes, but it is not something that would be difficult to find elsewhere. The handclaps and folk sound of “No More Good Ideas” and “The Boys and Girls” are similar to The Shins and Port O’Brien. Yet, with those same handclaps, Bianchi taps into a kid’s carefree energy and overshadows any hesitation to enjoy the album and sing along.

Album Review: Daniel Martin Moore - Stray Age

Originally published November 20, 2008 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Daniel Martin Moore
Stray Age
Sub Pop Records

Daniel Martin Moore probably did not set out to be a singer/songwriter. The honesty and simplicity of his music give the impression that he possesses effortless natural talent. Moore recorded some songs, and, on a whim, sent them to Sub Pop Records. Sincerity, talent, and the unsolicited demo paid off, leading to the release of Stray Age. The calming melodies are similar to the music from the Pacific Northwest, but the bass and delicate guitar plucking reveal Moore’s Kentucky roots. The album is modest and intriguing, hinting that Moore is just getting started.

Album Review: Desolation Wilderness - White Light Strobing

Originally published November 20, 2008 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Desolation Wilderness
White Light Strobing
K Records

If every old photo album carried a music chip, Desolation Wilderness would play at the turn of each page. Hailing from Olympia, Wash., Nicolaas Zwart is the brain behind Desolation Wilderness, and, with the help of a few friends, he created a record that reflects the lush scenery of his city. The sound is somewhere between The Album Leaf’s ambiance and Beach House’s timelessness. With heavy use of reverb, Zwart’s faint vocals travel through the instrumentation, which includes guitar, vibraphone, synthesizer and glockenspiel, in search of light. White Light Strobing is like a faded memory that resurfaces a warm, happy feeling.

Album Review: Free Blood - The Singles

Originally published November 20, 2008 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Free Blood
The Singles
Rong Music / DFA Records

Since forming in 2003, Free Blood has released its music in small doses. The band started sharing its music in live settings only. When songs were finally recorded, they were released as three 12-inch vinyl singles on U.K. label Adventures Close to Home. Perhaps Free Blood was afraid people would not be able to handle its chaotic party sound in large doses. Luckily, listeners now have the chance to take a risk with the six songs and five remixes found on The Singles.

Free Blood is Madeline Davy and former !!! vocalist, John Pugh. The duo takes it a bit easy on the first track, “Never Hear Surf Music Again”, allowing listeners to warm up. The song seems harmless with Pugh’s whispered vocals and soft percussion, but the first lyric hints at the mayhem that Free Blood is about to unleash.

“There must be some fucking chemical that makes us different from animals”.

Whatever that chemical is, it has a strong presence throughout the album. “Never Hear Surf Music Again” hits a high with screeching violins and strings that sound to be flying all over the place.

Free Blood mixes a lot of different elements, but the overall sound is collected and catchy. The lyrics are phrases that partygoers could easily remember and shout out while making their way across dance floors.

With laughter in the background and Pugh and Davy trading off vocals, tracks sound like recordings of a schoolyard. Free Blood embodies the energy of hyper children, and the music is spastic. It’s similar to Hella and has infectious beats comparable to LCD Soundsystem.

At times it might be hard to differentiate Free Blood from Pugh’s work in !!!, but a few more listens reveal a more funky and free-spirited tone. Most of the remixes on The Singles are glum and do not offer the songs a distinctive contrast; however, it would not be a bad thing to overdose on anything Free Blood produces.

Album Review: Tobacco - Fucked Up Friends

Originally published October 7, 2008 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Tobacco
Fucked Up Friends
Anticon. Records

In high school, my idea of multi-tasking was doing homework while simultaneously watching TV, listening to the radio and talking on the phone. Tobacco’s Fucked Up Friends is kind of like that. Sounds travel in all directions and frequencies, mystically making sense.

Tobacco’s instrumental songs are more cryptic than his work in Black Moth Super Rainbow, but still powerfully demand attention. Gripping hip-hop beats add the feel of dusty vinyl and fuzzy analog synths set the listener’s brain on coast. With guest vocals from Aesop Rock on “Dirt”, Tobacco proves that he is making friends with the right people.

Album Review: Pretty & Nice - Get Young

Originally published October 7, 2008 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Pretty & Nice
Get Young
Hardly Art

The sophomore album from Boston’s Pretty & Nice, out on Sub Pop’s Hardly Art label, brings bands like Hot Hot Heat, The Futureheads, and, at times, The Hives to mind. However, don’t be fooled by the hard-hitting opening of “Piranha”: there is hardly anything garage rock about Get Young. The album, recorded in the band’s basement, is theatrical pop with its frantic and hyper jingle and jangle of percussion and synth. The band’s exuberance is mod but fun. Yet, it is hard to tell if they can offer anything that will set them apart from others.

Album Review: Woodhands - Heart Attack

Originally published September 26, 2008 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Woodhands
Heart Attack
Paper Bag Records

Before superstar athletes such as Michael Phelps hit Beijing for the Olympics, Toronto-based electro duo Woodhands chalked one up for Canada. Woodhands’ Chinese debut in May made a splash with two electrifying performances that reached energy levels of Olympic proportions. Without skipping a beat, Woodhands backs up the well-received performances with its sophomore release, Heart Attack.

Heart Attack is the first Woodhands album on Toronto’s independent label, Paper Bag Records, home to Broken Social Scene and Tokyo Police Club’s back catalog. Staying true to the label’s dynamic roster, Woodhands opts out from the laptop route of making electronic music and instead records and performs with more conventional instruments. Woodhands is composed of Dan Werb on vocals, keytar, synthesizers, and drum machines and Paul Banwatt on drums and vocals. The outcome is a loud mix of piercing beats and punchy sounds that rival the high spirits of other 2008 dance records such as Hot Chip’s Made in the Dark and Girl Talk’s Feed the Animals.

Not only do Werb and Banwatt create songs that can fuel a dance party well into the night, but they also add an element of surprise to each track. “In the Woods” begins with gritty synthesizers and pounding bass, but it ends with the organic sound of hand drums. Banwatt’s drumming really stands out and is refreshing against the synthesizers and loops.

Other surprise treats include guest vocals by fellow Canadian and Henri Fabergé and The Adorables member Maylee Todd on “Dancer”. Todd’s voice on the track is graceful and wistful; unfortunately, Werb tries to add contrast with brash vocoder shouts, which end up sounding a little too harsh and distracting. Werb alters his voice on quite a few occasions, but he sounds best when his less-abrasive and natural voice is tweaked to sound spacey and robotic.

Heart Attack ends on an elegant note with the softer “Straighten the Curtain” and “Sailboats” signaling the end of the dance party but leaving the listener with anticipation for the next one.

Album Review: Pop Levi - Never Never Love

Originally published September 26, 2008 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Pop Levi
Never Never Love
Counter Records

Pop Levi makes music for the alter ego in all of us. One moment he is exuberant and confident, and the next he is shy and vulnerable. Levi is a complicated man, but one thing is for sure: if you opened his brain, lavish amounts of bright colors, geometric shapes, and sonic passion would burst out.

Nothing other than passion should be expected from an album recorded at Quincy Jones’ old studio, Westlake, the same place where Michael Jackson recorded Thriller and Off the Wall. The studio’s history can be clearly heard on Levi’s sophomore release, Never Never Love, but there is also something futuristic in its sound. Levi (who was born in London but now resides in Los Angeles) takes notes from Prince and Bob Dylan and puts them through a time warp to the future and back.

The “futuristic” element in Levi’s euphoric pop songs may be credited to his time spent as Ladytron’s touring bassist. The first half of Never Never Love is filled with an array of gadgets, handclaps, and colorful beats. The title track sounds like a toy factory where knobs are pulled, paint is slapped on, and characters are wound up like a Jack-in-the-box surprise. Levi’s voice is radiant and attention-grabbing, while gritty guitars and funky baselines keep the music from becoming a joke.

The album stays strong through the eccentric-folk “Semi-Babe” and the bizarre but charming “Mai’s Space”. However, Levi loses momentum on the second half of the album when he channels what seems to be his more reflective alter ego. By softening the loud guitars and adding a gentle piano, Levi showcases his soothing vocals: he remains flamboyant, but sometimes too over-the-top. “Everything & Finally” is the closest Levi comes to singing a tribute to Prince, but gets a little carried away. On a few parts, Levi sounds like he is stuck in a room filled with helium.

Levi likes experimenting with his voice and has diverse music tastes, but Never Never Love lacks balance. The album presents Levi at a fork in the road. Without a more narrow focus, he can become the token oddball troubadour, whereas, songs like the swaggering “Dita Dimoné”, make Levi a credible musician without sacrificing his zest. For the sake of variety in pop music, let’s hope he continues with the latter.

Artist Feature: Tilly and the Wall

Originally published in the Summer 2008 issue of Redefine.
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Omaha's Tilly and the Wall has one piece of advice -- watch your step.

The emerging band, which has been stomping its way into the hearts of music lovers since its formation in 2001, just released its third album. The album illustrates the nurturing and delicate relationship that Tilly and the Wall has with music. One clumsy step can shatter all of the hard work that tap dancer and percussionist Jamie Pressnall, vocalist and guitarist Derek Pressnall, keyboardist Nick White, and vocalists Kianna Alarid and Neely Jenkins have poured into the music.

Tilly and the Wall cultivated the album's vision with tender care and will not let anyone stunt its growth -- a sentiment that is explained in the song "Blood Flowers."

"I waited for something to grow and flourish with time/ I counted each hopeful raindrop as it poured to its death/ I dusted the mournful frost and warmed it with my breath/ You better watch where you're walking, there might be somebody's blood flower growing/ You better watch what you're doing, don't go fucking around in the garden."

From music to the cover art, Tilly and he Wall has carefully developed an album that creates a unique experience for listeners, says Alarid. The album is technically untitled but is affectionately referred to as O because its cover is an oval-shaped frame that can be filled with anything a listener chooses to fill it with.

However, if nothing comes to minds of the listeners, they will have artwork to choose from. The band rallied numerous artist friends and had each of them design handmade prints for the album. Each cover has a limited run of 1,000 copies. In addition, each member of the band created a cover of his or her own, and they ran only 250 copies of those particular pieces.

To ensure that each cover has its own distinctive vibe, band members gave the designers very little guidance.

"Some of them would call and say 'I want to talk about the record,'" Alarid recalls, "but we would say, 'Nope.'"

The various covers are not the only things fans can look forward to; the latest release has a great amount of confidence and finesse.

While the band's debut Wild Like Children had some memorable tracks, its overall effort was subtle. Two years later, Bottom of Barrels was released and led to opportunity; the band was given the chance to play gigs at notable music festivals, such as, the Reading/Leeds Festival and Coachella.

But O is edgy and scorching with passion. Alarid credits the band's musical progression via touring and, to put it simply: time. The band has worked on learning about each other's songwriting techniques, and each member contributes to the process.

Members of Tilly and the Wall have used their abundant songwriting skills their advantage. It would be easy for a band from such a musically-inclined city to sound identical to the handful of successful Omaha bands like Cursive and Bright Eyes, but Tilly and the Wall has managed to create a lovely coherent sound of its own.

"When you have five different songwriters, it kind of makes a unique sound because you have to make five people's sound fit together," Alarid says.

Tilly and the Wall may not sound like most bands in Omaha, but the band does have strong connections with the city's music scene. Jenkins and Jamie Pressnall used to be in Park Ave. with Conor Oberst before his Bright Eyes fame. Years later, Tilly and the Wall was Oberst's first signing to his Team Love record label, a Saddle Creek affiliate.

Oberst also had a hand in production for Wild Like Children, but for O, Tilly and the Wall turned to another Nebraskan, Mike Mogis.

Mogis, who owns his own state-of-the-art studio and has worked with a lot of staple indie artists, such as, Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley, and M. Ward, brought a lot of ideas to the table and allowed the band members to carry out various ideas that they previously did not have the resources to do so. Mogis suggested an array of instruments and different micing techniques for the band.

"His brain is always going a thousand miles an hour," Alarid says.

The band always wanted to included a tap dance troupe on a recording, and the vision was made into a reality on the track "Pot Kettle Black." A 10-person stomp troupe was recorded in an elementary school gym specifically for the song. The track is a powerful, tongue-in-cheek message about trash-talking; it shows Tilly and the Wall's hidden fierceness. The vocals reveal the appealing intensity of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O and Pretty Girls Make Graves' Andrea Zollo.

However, listeners should not be alarmed by the forceful passion of O. Tilly and the Wall's gleeful group chants and hand claps are still very prominent. Songs like "Jumbler" and "Poor Man's Ice Cream" feature infectious thumping rhythms and trade-off vocals between the female and male vocalists.

The cheery attitude that is the essence of Tilly and the Wall has even caught the attention of Sesame Street. The band recorded a video for their rendition of the "ABC Song," which will be featured on the show's 39th season this fall.

As for Sesame Street characters, Alarid chooses Grover as her favorite.

"Having a monster that is insecure is so cute."

Before catching Tilly and the Wall on national television, fans can experience the band's exuberant passion all over the United States this summer. Just be sure not to trample on any thriving flowers.

Summer tours conquer road

Originally published May 21, 2008 in The Orion.
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On part of Chico punk group Gruk's 2007 summer tour, audiences heard guitarist Scribles simultaneously play guitar and bass. He did not perform a contortionist trick, but when the band's bassist unexpectedly left the tour, Scribles covered by playing through both a bass and guitar amp.

Band members leaving midway through a tour is one example of the sudden adventures that bands face while on tour, said Rachel Loveless, Gruk vocalist. In order to have a successful tour, band members have to think on their feet and quickly come up with creative solutions.

But unforeseen problems are not stopping Gruk and other Chico bands from travelling the United States this summer.

Gruk, which also includes drummer Sean "Hipmo" Cummins and new bassist Logan "Ziptie" Keyser, have been on five national tours but will visit cities this summer they have never played, Cummins said. The band will grace Knoxville, Tenn., and Waco, Texas, with its fast and gritty punk music for the first time.

Loveless and Cummins booked all the dates themselves and are excited to spend time with friends across the country that they rarely see, Cummins said.

While Gruk's tour will reach the East Coast, The Shimmies and Social Concern plan to stay west for their summer tours.

Social Concern, which includes bassist Ami Rose, guitarist and vocalist Sarah Shintaku and drummer Bryan Lyon, is taking its punk rock sounds up the West Coast, but will venture out to Montana, Idaho and Utah.

Dreamy indie-rockers The Shimmies, is comprised of Jack Gingerich on drums and brothers Jimmy and Sean Galloway on guitar and vocals and Stephen Galloway on bass. The band will travel to Seattle and down to Los Angeles, said Sean Galloway. With the help of a friend, band members also booked the tour themselves.

This summer marks The Shimmies' first tour, but Sean Galloway did not have trouble booking shows in other cities, he said. Band members have made friends with touring bands that play in Chico, and when members of The Shimmies decided to go on tour they called upon their friends.

Gruk used the same strategy, but the booking process was a little harder than most tours because the band plays a lot of house and basement shows, Loveless said. It's hard to get in contact with people because they move or no longer host shows.

Social Concern had similar booking issues with venues and also discovered dates fill up fast because so many bands plan summer tours, Shintaku said.

While booking shows may be time consuming and frustrating, there are benefits to touring during the summer.

Attendance at Gruk shows is higher during the summer because students do not have to worry about school, Loveless said.

Members of The Shimmies are looking forward to escaping the Chico heat, Sean Galloway said.

Selling band merchandise also helps cover tour expenses, said Jimmy Galloway. All three bands will be selling T-shirts and CDs.

The bands are committed to reaching out to other cities, but Chico musicians will miss some things.

Both Loveless and Scribles miss taco trucks, friends and inexpensive beer, they said.

Members of The Shimmies miss the laid-back Chico atmosphere, Jimmy Galloway said.

"The stress level is higher in some cities, and I start thinking how people in Chico are napping."

Album Review: Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers

Originally published May 14, 2008 in The Orion

Xiu Xiu
Women As Lovers
Kill Rock Stars, 2008
3/5 stars

Listeners who are not prepared for the dark and chaotic sounds of Oakland's Xiu Xiu may question the band's sanity.

After several listens, music lovers can appreciate the quirkiness of the dissonant sounds and find honesty.

The band is known for its avant-garde spin on indie rock and an array of instruments that seem to crash into each other. The opening track, "I Do What I Want, When I Want," seems innocent with sweet touches of xylophone and whistles, but loud bursts of saxophone interrupt the peace.

Songwriter Jamie Stewart alternates from haunting vocals to sincere whispers. Stewart is able to portray every emotion in his voice. In "In Lust You Can Hear the Axe Fall," he cries out lyrics, making listeners feel his pain. "No Friend Oh!" is a more delicate tune with piano lines and gentle vocals.

"Women As Lovers" is out of the ordinary and may not be for everyone, but those who have the patience to listen to it more than once will dig Xiu Xiu's creativity.

Mario gets a political makeover with Ayres exhibit

Originally published May 14, 2008 in The Orion.
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For two weeks, Chico State had its own arcade with classic Nintendo games.

Groups of people wandered into Ayres Hall to scope out the games as senior Ryan Fitzpatrick hosted the reception for his bachelor of fine arts culminating exhibition Thursday. The exhibition, called "Eeprompaganda," included three well-known Nintendo games with a political twist.

Fitzpatrick reprogrammed the beloved "Super Mario Brothers" and turned it into "Super Democracy Brothers: The Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism." Instead of Mario and Luigi hopping over pipes and fighting creepy creatures, players were able to choose from President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to fight Iraqi men.

The two men run around the desert, encounter men in turbans and hop over oil bins with Exxon Mobil labels. Every time Bush acquires a token, he grows taller and becomes a cowboy. The detail on the game is impeccable. The blocks the players jump on are decorated with U.S. flags.

Senior Ama Stewart had trouble picking a favorite video game, but ultimately chose "Super Democracy Brothers" because the war in Iraq is an important and timely issue, she said.

"It's a great way to get people who aren't political to see our country in a different way," Stewart said.

Republicans were not the only political party portrayed in the exhibit.

Another game in the Mario series dealt with universal health care. "Dr. Mario" was transformed into "Doctor Democrat." The words "Hillary Care" stretched across the top of the screen and players became Dr. Hillary Clinton. The object of the game was to arrange pills into a medicine container, similarly to "Tetris."

The third game in the exhibit was called "Minuteman Civil Defense Headquarters Presents: Border Stampede," inspired by the "Millipede" video game. As the game began, the words "use your binoculars to stop the invasion," flashed on the screen.

The issue in this game was immigration, and players were presented with two lands. On top, the screen was covered with desert land and cacti. The lower half was a bright green land. Scorpions, snakes and little brown men scurried down the screen and shuffled around the cacti. The player received points for every shot. If the player was unsuccessful, the game ended with the statement, "the border has been overrun."

The war in Iraq, health care and immigration are all controversial, but the games were created in good taste. The games did not show a preference for one political party, but they hinted toward changing the state of affairs.

Fitzpatrick was afraid people would miss the comical aspect of the exhibit and find the games offensive, he said. He made sure his exhibit statement was visible so people could read about his intent. In the statement, he wrote about his curiosity with American culture symbols and the influence they have on thinking.

He came up with the idea of using video games as a way to deliver his message after discovering the game Fitzpatrick said. The U.S. Army uses the game as a recruitment tool, and it is available free online.

Fitzpatrick was also influenced by political talk shows on AM radio, he said. Instead of focusing on content, hosts work to elicit responses from listeners.

"They dumb down the issues to a ridiculous level," he said.

Depicting issues through video games is a way to mock the simplification used on radio shows, he said.

However, the process of reprogramming the games was not simple, Fitzpatrick, said. The name of the exhibit is a combination of the acronym EEPROM and the word propaganda. The acronym stands for "electrically erasable programmable read-only memory." Fitzpatrick spent a year altering the memory chips of Nintendo games. The game system ran the games as if they were the originals.

The altered games had the nostalgic feeling and entertainment factor of the original games. Gallery viewers were not hesitant to play the games.

Senior Tamara Webb attended the reception and played all three video games, she said. She admired the way the games contained context regarding political issues.

"I've never seen a gallery so full at all times."

Album Review: Foals - Antidotes

Originally published May 07, 2008 in The Orion

Foals
Antidotes
Sub Pop Records, 2008
3/5 stars

Foals' debut album plays out like a sad tale on the dance floor.

The band from Oxford England, follows the lead of Bloc Party and Arctic Monkeys with a subtle yet powerful dance-punk sound. The instrumentation is sleek and bright, but the album has an alarming sense of nostalgia. Lead singer and guitarist Yannis Philippakis adds tension with exerted and alert vocals.

Despite the melancholy mood, "Antidotes" is undoubtedly dance party material with screeching guitars, stirring bass lines, spacey keyboards and chipping cymbals. The sporadic use of trumpet, trombone and saxophone stretches out songs to give them a lot of breathing room and allow listeners to indulge in the music.

While songs such as "Cassius" are exciting and catchy, most songs on "Antidotes" sound solitary.

Foals is off to a great start, but needs to add more personality.

Jazz X-Press to groove for benefit at Nick's Night Club

Originally published May 07, 2008 in The Orion.
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Graffiti is welcome in few places on campus, but associate professor Rocky Winslow proudly displays his decorated office walls, tagged by distinguished jazz musicians including Bobby Shew and Lori Bell.

Winslow is the director of the jazz studies program and the student ensemble Jazz X-Press. Since joining the music faculty in 2002, Winslow has helped bring big-name performers to Chico, allowing students to learn from the jazz veterans. However, Jazz X-Press will go directly to the action in June, traveling to Telluride, Colo., for the Telluride Jazz Celebration.

Jazz X-Press will be the only university-affiliated group sharing the stage with artists such as The Neville Brothers, McCoy Tyner and Joe Lovano, Winslow said. Winslow has played the festival on other occasions, but the executive director of the festival, Paul Machado, invited Jazz X-Press to perform after watching a video of the ensemble on YouTube.

One perk of playing the festival is backstage passes, which will allow students to interact with all the festival performers, Winslow said. Before the students get there, they need to raise about $16,000 to cover bus, housing and food expenses for the 25-member ensemble.

The university has been a big supporter, but the group has held performances and sought help from the community, he said. Jazz X-Press will be playing a benefit show Saturday at Nick's Night Club.

The benefit show proves Winslow is not the only person with connections because it was organized by one of the students.

Tino Marrufo, grad student in ethnomusicology, plays percussion for Jazz X-Press, but is also a member of various rock bands including Mute Witness, he said. He has worked on several rock shows with Katie Perry, founder of Chico's Devil Kat Rock Productions and booking agent for Nick's Night Club, so it was natural for him to reach out to her on behalf of Jazz X-Press.

"That's what's cool about the Chico music scene, we build relationships," he said.

The show will be a new experience for both Jazz X-Press and Nick's Night Club, Marrufo said. Jazz X-Press is used to playing venues on campus such as Harlen Adams Theatre, while Nick's Night Club usually hosts punk and metal shows. Marrufo thinks it will be a great experience and add diversity to the music scene.

Winslow sees the show as a road test, he said. The Nick's Night Club stage is much smaller than the Harlen Adams Theatre stage, so the ensemble will have to learn to adjust. The situation is much like touring, where bands usually do not know what to expect from one club to the next.

"It's going to have a big education factor," Winslow said.

Learning to be flexible will be helpful when the ensemble performs at the Telluride Jazz Celebration, which has a diverse audience, he said. Jazz X-Press is scheduled to play more than one set at the four-day festival, and Winslow hopes the group will get a chance to play a variety of compositions.

Watching how other musicians work also serves as a learning experience, because with backstage passes students will be able to talk to other musicians, Marrufo said. Jazz is known for its roots in oral tradition, and students will have the opportunity to hear stories from many of the artists that they learn about in their classes.

"The experience will be educational, spiritual and social," he said.

With such a large ensemble, good social skills are a necessity.

Tanner Johns, a senior music education major, plays lead alto saxophone for Jazz X-Press and depends on his band members to add to the learning experience, Johns said.

In order for the group to sound professional, all the members have to be committed, he said.

"You just can't miss class," Johns said.

An experienced director is also a big factor in the educational experience, he said. Johns hopes to go into teaching and is learning rehearsal techniques from Winslow. He appreciates Winslow's balance between constructive criticism and encouragement.

Spending so much time with each other creates a strong bond among the group and makes performing fun, Johns said.

"Every day is an adventure," he said.

Winslow sees the trip to Telluride as a big adventure, but the accomplishment reflects well on the university, he said.

"It's a feather in the cap for the whole college."

Album Review: Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow & Blue

Originally published April 30, 2008 in The Orion

Born Ruffians
Red, Yellow & Blue
Warp Records, 2008
3/5 stars

The members of Born Ruffians are the type of guys everyone wants in their circle of friends. The Toronto three-piece plays youthful indie-rock that is perfect for accompanying high school pranks.

The band keeps its music clean, light and danceable. Born Ruffians is out to have fun with tongue-in-cheek lyrics such as "None of the girls seem to think you're cool. It's probably because you smell bad," found in "Barnacle Goose."

While vocalist Luke LaLonde leads with an energetic high-pitched voice, singing is made into a family affair with call-and-response and group chants.

LaLonde's voice sometimes gets garbled by hypnotizing guitars and punchy bass lines. The speedy, jumbled lyrics can be frustrating, but the Modest Mouse-like wails are somewhat endearing.

Born Ruffians' tricks are not original, but they are still charming and entertaining.

Seattle's indie rock darling, Minus the Bear, melts audiences with songs from new album

Originally published April 30, 2008 in The Orion.
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The word epic gets thrown around when talking about music - an epic jam, an epic album. Yet, nothing is more epic than a music and laser combination.

Seattle's Minus the Bear took part in the usual album-release festivities for its latest record, "Planet of Ice."

The band, consisting of guitarist Dave Knudson, bassist Cory Murchy, drummer Erin Tate, vocalist and guitarist Jake Snider and keyboardist Alex Rose, made several radio station appearances and performed in record stores. However, the most distinct form of promotion was an album-listening party at Seattle Laser Dome.

"We like the idea of actually sitting down and listening to an album in its entirety," Rose said.

He remembers Tate coming up with the idea of the laser show, but the band had no part in the creation, Rose said. The laser artists were left to interpret the music.

It is not easy to take the laser show on the road, but Minus the Bear will dazzle Chico with its reflective form of progressive indie rock Friday in the Bell Memorial Union.

The show is part of a nationwide tour with Portugal. The Man and The Big Sleep, Rose said. Minus the Bear picked the two supporting bands.

"Those two bands were just better than the others on the list," he said.

For Minus the Bear, the tour included a stop last weekend in Indio for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Rose said. The band played the festival Saturday and had time to watch legendary artists such as Prince and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters.

Playing under the hot sun is a big contrast to Minus the Bear's songs on the chilling "Planet of Ice."

The desolate album released in August is part of the band's evolving sound, Rose said. Previous albums had a lighter, brighter feeling, but band members didn't want to bore themselves or fans by recreating the same album.

The band came up with the album title and then wrote songs around it, Rose said.

"We said things like 'that sounds icy' or 'that sounds cool,'" he said.

"Planet of Ice" is one coherent concept. The cover art of an arctic world with snowy mountains matches song titles including "Ice Monster" and "White Mystery." However, the sense of coldness is not daunting. A sun and sky of clouds lie above the white mountains.

Instead of sounding depressing, the songs give a sense of hope. "Knights" is a mind-bending track, showing the band's roots in math rock. The band plays around with time signature and adds spacey electronics.

Minus the Bear also proves "Planet of Ice" is not a dreadfully somber record with its video for "Throwin' Shapes." The video shows two rival athletes jogging and dancing around a city. The two meet up for a fierce game of imaginary basketball. Most of the band's videos are visually pleasing with a goofy storyline.

"We try to make something we would personally enjoy," Rose said.

Minus the Bear makes thoughtful music, but band members are lighthearted. When the band formed in 2001, it quickly became noticed for its silly song titles. The band's debut release, "This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic" only has seven songs, but features tracks titled "Hey, Wanna Throw Up? Get Me Naked," and "Just Kickin' It Like A Wild Donkey."

Bri Saseen, a senior environmental studies major, is a big fan of the band's first full-length album, "Highly Refined Pirates." The album features a song called "Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse."

"It's definitely my favorite for its bitchin' track names," she said. "I can't tell you how many mixes are probably floating around entitled "Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse."

The band members like that others have fun with their music though, Rose said. Last year the band released a remix album of 2005's "Menos El Oso." The remix album, "Interpretaciones del Oso," contains 11 songs remixed by various artists including Minneapolis rapper P.O.S.

"It's nice to have other people experiment with our songs," he said.

Portland-based Portugal. The Man makes stop on busy tour as opening act

Originally published April 30, 2008 in The Orion.
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John Gourley has learned his lesson: Never make a joke about traditional Portuguese music.

The vocalist and guitarist for the amorphous rock band Portugal. The Man saw a photo spread feature slip out of his hands because an editor for GQ Portugal did not understand his humor, Gourley said.

A reporter from Portugal's GQ contacted the band, which also consists of bassist Zach Carothers, drummer Jason Sechrist and keyboardist Ryan Neighbors, not long after the band formed in 2004, Gourley said. The band's name makes people think there is a connection to the country, but the band is actually from Wasilla, Alaska.

"The reporter asked me what I thought about traditional Portuguese music, but I don't really listen to it," Gourley said.

Not knowing a lot about the country's music, he made a joke that was included in the article, but did not please editors, he said. The band was still featured in the magazine, but the content was severely cut.

The band's name, which represents an alter ego, catches people's interest, but it is the live performances and exploration of dreamy and synthesized garage rock that hook people in. The band will put Chico in a trance when its tour with equally wistful indie-rockers Minus the Bear stops Friday at the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium.

Portugal. The Man, now based out of Portland, Ore., did not meet Minus the Bear until this tour, but the bands are getting along well, Gourley said.

"There wasn't that awkward period where people are having trouble learning each other's name," he said.

However, not everything on the tour has been easy, Gourley said. The band had van trouble and missed its Toronto show. After the van broke down, a tire flew off the trailer, and the band was forced to buy another van and trailer.

Band members try not to get too upset with unfortunate circumstances of the road, Gourley said.

"Whenever something really bad happens, we seem to have a really good time that day to make up for it," he said.

Touring is nothing new for Portugal. The Man. The band goes on nationwide tours several times a year and has traveled to Germany, Switzerland and Austria, helping build a loyal fan base.

Dallas Oliver, a senior music industry major, has only seen the band twice, but has been a fan for more than four years, he said. Like most college students without a lot of spare cash, he is more likely to support a band by catching a live show and buying merchandise directly from the band, rather than a retailer.

"Rock 'n' roll has its roots in feeling raw, live energy," he said. "The band has its grasp on the edge of what's coming next in the scene and are one-upping it with every chance it gets."

The band finished its two-album contract with independent label Fearless Records last year and is now entertaining distribution ideas for its next release, which has already been recorded, Gourley said. Fans should expect another jump in the band's musical style.

For its first album, Portugal. The Man relied on synthesizers, loops and guitar riffs to create contemplative, beat-driven songs. The band's latest release, "Church Mouth," is also thoughtful and full of imagery but more gritty and influenced by Southern rock. Gourley's high-pitched voice gives a sense of urgency and great relevance to both albums.

The upcoming album, tentatively titled "Censored Colors," will be more chord-based and will feature a large array of instruments including cello, trombone and sitar, Gourley said. Kirk Huffman and Phil Peterson of Seattle's Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground have toured with Portugal. The Man and spent 2 1/2 weeks producing the album.

"I picked up a Beatles songbook and actually attempted to learn guitar chords," Gourley said.

Recording an album in about two weeks may seem outrageous, but it is how Portugal. The Man works best, he said. Gourley writes in a spontaneous manner. He wrote one song each night and worked on the instrumentation the following day.

The process is not only impressing fans, but also people in the industry. Paul Q. Kolderie, who worked on Radiohead's first albums, will be mixing "Censored Colors."

Portugal. The Man is unsure of what the future will hold for the release of the new album, but band members have definite control of its vision, Gourley said. The album, including artwork, will be completely done before they start accepting offers from labels.

Album Review: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All

Originally published April 23, 2008 in The Orion

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
We Brave Be Stings and All
Kill Rock Stars, 2008
4/5 stars

"We Brave Bee Stings and All" is a bundle of energy that provokes listeners to sing at the top of their lungs and raise their hands in the air.

Singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen and her band, The Get Down Stay Down, perform each song on the indie-pop album with a great amount of contagious excitement. Unlike some singers who try too hard to be charming, the sweetness in Nguyen's voice is not forced.

Lively instrumentation sparkles throughout the album with chiming guitars, glorious horns and a delicate piano. A few songs take on a folk twang with fast banjo melodies.

The awe-inspiring sounds of Thao with The Get Down Stay Down are best described by the lyrics of "Swimming Pools." Nguyen sings, "We don't dive, we cannon ball."

"We Brave Bee Stings and All" is not an album that will fly under the radar - it makes a splash.

Comic books, Japanese anime brought to life for Mini-Con

Originally published April 23, 2008 in The Orion.
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Traveling to foreign lands and alternate worlds does not often fit into a college student's schedule, but it is a common activity for anime and comic book fans.

The Japanese Anime Club and Comic Book Coterie are teaming up to share the fun of Japanese culture and producing comics with the second annual Chico Mini-Con on Friday. The three floors of Plumas Hall will be covered with anime and comic book paraphernalia and host various activities, such as an art gallery, a swap meet and a demonstration by the coed martial arts fraternity, Mu Alpha Xi.

The anime and comic book clubs are fairly new on campus, but they support a growing interest for comics and anime, said Rachael Ambrose, president of the Japanese Anime Club.

Matt Riebold, president of Comic Book Coterie, was surprised by the large turnout at last year's free miniature convention, he said. More than 60 people attended last year and at least 90 are expected Friday.

One of the most popular activities is the cosplay contest, Ambrose said. The contest allows participants to attend the convention dressed as their favorite comic book or anime character.

"It gives you the chance to dress up in a crazy costume outside of Halloween," she said.

Many of the activities are interactive and call for creativity. The art contest and swap meet invite members of the community to be part of the convention.

Collectors Ink, a Chico comic book shop, will be one of the retailers in attendance, Riebold said.

The shop's owner, Beverly Kranz, has been promoting the convention and is excited to have a booth, she said. She has attended similar conventions and likes to help spread the word about comics and anime.

"There are comics for all interests and ages," she said.

Members from the Comic Book Coterie will also be showcasing their art and selling products at the Mini-Con, Riebold said. The club serves as more than just a place to talk about comics. Weekly meetings are spent talking about design technique and producing comics.

The club published its first book, he said. "The Anthology, Volume One" features work from five club members and background information about the organization. Members want to publish a volume every year.

Each club brings together a diverse group of people, Riebold said. Producing a comic involves more than illustration. Writers and editors are also essential for publishing an anthology.

The Japanese Anime Club also welcomes members from all majors and backgrounds, Ambrose said. A lot of genres of anime exist, and members learn from each other's knowledge.

"When someone new joins, they are the center of attention," she said. "We want to know what series they have seen."

A lot of members are international students, but everyone becomes fully engaged in the culture of anime, she said. Some members take Japanese classes so they can fully understand anime.

The convention will show the diversity of comics and anime by showing all aspects of the culture, Ambrose said. Karaoke and a video game room will also be available.

Riebold hopes people will see that comics and anime can be enjoyed by all ages, he said. In the United States comics are often associated with a younger crowd, but in Japan everyone is interested in comics.

"Here, the older guys who read comics are the ones who are thought to live in their mothers' basement."

Album Review: Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

Originally published April 16, 2008 in The Orion

Crystal Castles
Crystal Castles
Last Gang Records, 2008
4/5 stars

Crystal Castles travels high and low defeating aliens and zombies, all while performing the most advanced "Dance Dance Revolution" moves. On the self-titled album, the Toronto band that embedded an Atari 5200 sound chip inside its keyboard, turns video games into an electro-dance party.

The first level, "Untrust Us," is the boot camp where the player explores the environment and builds stamina for fighting demons. Pulsing beats and indistinguishable vocals create a mysterious ambiance

It is not until the fifth level, "Xxzxcuzx Me," that the player is challenged with an alien invasion. For a moment things calm down, but peace doesn't last long as shrieks of zombie encounters are heard in "Courtship Dating."

The player is on top of the world in the final level, but soft guitar strums and whispers make the victory bittersweet.

Crystal Castles keeps the music engaging throughout all 16 tracks by combining the cosmic touch of Daft Punk with the aggressiveness of Death From Above 1979.

Chicano comedy group uses humor to educate on serious subjects

Originally published April 16, 2008 in The Orion.
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Move over Hillary, Barack and John. A new candidate is vying for the U.S. presidency, and his name is Pedro.

After winning the Preston High elections with the help of his friend Napoleon Dynamite, Pedro has decided to bring change to the White House. As president, Pedro will improve the national health care system by giving everyone a container of vapor rub.

Vote for Pedro.

The plan for Pedro's presidency is one of the many comedic skits that will be performed by the Chicano comedy troupe Teatro Izcalli on Friday in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium.

Nu Alpha Kappa, a Latino-based fraternity, and the Multicultural Affairs Council will be hosting the performance to bring cultural awareness to Chico State, said Heriberto Coronel, event coordinator.

The San Diego-based comedy group raises awareness about issues Chicanos face on a daily basis, Coronel said. Skits cover topics such as racism, police brutality, education and cultural-identity crisis.

Macedonio Arteaga, a founding member of Teatro Izcalli, said the skits are based on Chicano issues. A Chicano is a person of Mexican descent, but born in the United States. The issues Chicanos face can be different from the issues Mexicans or other Latinos face.

A lot of people in the United States interact with Chicanos every day, but they still do not know the difference between the different groups of people, Arteaga said. Comedians such as Carlos Mencia and George Lopez have helped bring Chicano issues mainstream, but that is just the beginning.

"People still don't know who we are or that we can be funny," Arteaga said.

Members of Nu Alpha Kappa hope students will attend the event for entertainment but also to learn more about Chicano culture, Coronel said.

"You can relax and just laugh at the issues, but they make you think," he said.

Friday's performance will touch a lot on the presidential election, but the main theme will be "Chicano rehab," Arteaga said. The topic pokes fun at extremists because every group has extremists who give the community a bad name. The seven-person comedy troupe will be playing extremists roles such as the college activist and the Native American who will all be going through rehab.

Teatro Izcalli was started in 1995 and travels around the United States, performing at conferences and universities, Arteaga said. The theater group is part of a bigger community-based organization called Izcalli. The organization was started in 1993 to provide a place young Chicano students could learn about their heritage through art and oral traditions.

The theater group was inspired by a group based in San Francisco called Culture Clash, he said. Culture Clash has been performing comedy skits and plays since 1984.

Teatro Izcalli looks to the media and the community for inspiration, Arteaga said. A lack of Chicanos in mainstream media has inspired skits such as "Bosque Gump," a parody of "Forrest Gump" that acknowledges Chicano contributions to the Vietnam War.

"When you don't see Chicanos on TV or onstage, we almost don't exist," Arteaga said.

While the skits cover Chicano issues, it is safe for non-Chicanos to laugh along, he said. People may be resistant, but the performance is supposed to be political satire.

"Laughter is healing," Arteaga said.

Griseyda Vargas plans to attend the event and thinks everyone will be able to relate to the skits regardless of culture, she said. The comedic factor is not intended to offend people but to show how anyone can feel like an outcast.

"It's empowering to the Chicano culture but in a fun way," she said.

Album Review: She & Him - Volume One

Originally published April 09, 2008 in The Orion

She & Him
Volume One
Merge Records, 2008
3/5 stars

"Volume One" is from a time when music was honest - when songwriters didn't cover emotions with distorted instruments.

She & Him combines the talents of actress Zooey Deschanel and indie singer-songwriter M. Ward.

Yes, Deschanel is a Hollywood star-gone-musician, but don't run away just yet. Her lovely voice stands on its own against the talented Ward, who hardly sings on the album.

Deschanel proves her talent with a downtempo opening track. The rest of the album is playful, like the female doo-wop groups of the '50s and '60s. Ward's arrangements with sensible guitar and light strings complement Deschanel's voice.

The only downfall is Deschanel truly channels past decades by overdoing the antiquated theme of the lovesick female. Lyrics such as "Got me tucked in your pocket" on "You Got Me" make her seem stereotypically submissive.

Nonetheless, "Volume One" is a charming, sunny album that one can enjoy with their parents - and that's not a bad thing.

Uni and Her Ukelele to quirk up Cafe Coda, Crux

Originally published April 09, 2008 in The Orion.
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Fergie has nothing on Uni and Her Ukelele. With a shimmering voice, glittery makeup and quirky outfits, Uni is "G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S."

Uni may not be "flyin' first class up in the sky" like Fergie, but she will be traveling to Chico on the Amtrak for two performances Thursday and Friday in celebration of her album, "As Gold."

Uni's appeal is not in her mode of travel, but in her music and relationship with her ukulele, Sally Luka, affectionately named by a friend's young daughter.

Fellow ukulele player and member of Chico duo Dick and Jane, Scott Itamura has played several shows with Uni and is excited to be on the Thursday bill at Cafe Coda, he said. He first saw Uni perform three years ago in San Francisco and was impressed with her combination of fun pop melodies and sunny sounds of the ukulele.

"People hear that someone is playing the ukulele and they think Tiny Tim or some other novelty act, but Uni is talented and a true craftsperson," Itamura said.

For her latest album, Uni, who grew up in Santa Rosa, gathered a group of Bay Area musicians and dubbed them the Ding! String Trio to round out her sound, she said. The trio includes cellist Fay Ferency, violinist Arias Beardslee and harpist Deirdre Egan. The performance Friday at Crux Artist Collective will be the first time the trio has played with Uni in Chico.

Uni and Her Ukelele shows are always full of magic and unexpected surprises, Uni said. The show at Cafe Coda will be quiet and intimate, while the next day will be a full art experience. Other than music from Uni and the trio, there will be art by Chico's Laura Wirtz and a puppet performance written in honor of Uni. Pat Hull will be providing the music for the puppet performance.

Uni does not know the details of the puppet performance and is waiting to be surprised, she said. The only thing she knows is the night will be based on the idea of a shimmering forest.

A diverse mix of art is not unusual for her shows, she said. In 2006, Uni and her friend Poopy Lickles started organizing a series of shows called Club Unicornbread. They organize shows about every three months at various art galleries in San Francisco and showcase a large number of riveting performers.

Shows usually begin calm with a singer-songwriter, but by the end of the night everyone in attendance joins in on a roller-skating dance party, Uni said. Past shows have included performances by comedians and burlesque groups.

"Usually it has an element of, 'We're out to have fun,'" she said.

Uni is upbeat and spontaneous, but she is serious about her music.

She has been singing and playing in bands for more than 10 years, she said. She taught herself to play the ukulele four years ago after she saw a friend play one.

Her music appeals to a large cross-section of people, she said. It is not rare to see families at her all-ages shows. Children are drawn to her personality and namesake, which comes from a unicorn, her favorite mystical creature.

"My music is not kids' music, but it's kid friendly," she said.

Uni's catchy melodies are bound to wiggle themselves into anyone's head, regardless of age.

"She builds excellent melodies with honest lyrics and sings songs that ring true," Itamura said.

Uni's talent and outgoing attitude have created a following in Europe, she said. Next month Uni and Her Ukelele will tour Europe for the second time in a year, visiting France, Germany, Ireland and England.

While Uni usually tours with eccentric performers such as cabaret and puppet groups, she would one day like to tour with an established band, she said.

"My goal is to tour with Gnarls Barkley or Cyndi Lauper," she said.

Phantom Planet revives small crowd with wit, cover songs

Originally published as an online exclusive April 07, 2008 for The Orion.
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Los Angeles' Phantom Planet swept a small crowd off its feet with an intimate set and incomparable charm Sunday night at the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium.

The night got off to a slow start with Chico's People of the Oaks and Anaheim's Takota.

People of the Oaks, one of Chico's newest bands, played to a crowd of about 60, with half of the people sitting on the ground. The all-star band, with members of West By Swan, Birds of Fire and Casing the Promisedland, tried to entice the audience with fuzzy guitars and poignant vocals but had little luck.

"You Got Me" received the most interest with fast, tight drumming and guitar buildups. But vocalist Ryan Prado's attempt to combine a nostalgic feeling with a pinching, nasal effect, brought back memories of dismal pop punk bands popular earlier in the decade.

Band members vigorously moved around the stage, but they seemed as disinterested as the audience. In between songs, Prado talked with his back to the crowd.

Takota made its Chico debut with an array of sleek, piano driven and anthemic pop rock songs.

The six-piece dove into a mellow love song as soon as vocalist Grant Arnow mentioned Chico's reputation of parties and beautiful women. He pointed at a few women in the front row and serenaded them with silky vocals.

Arnow asked audience members to pump their fists in the air during the band's most rock-powered song. Loud guitars and pounding drums gave Arnow confidence as he boastfully sung the chorus and raised his hands in praise.

By the time Takota finished its set, the crowd doubled and anticipation grew for the indie rock sounds of Phantom Planet.

The members of Phantom Planet left the pretentious attitudes of Los Angeles musicians at home and modestly walked on stage with matching jeans and black sweatshirts.

The band quickly went into a track from its forthcoming album "Raise the Dead" and lifted the spirits of stiff audience members. Band members' peppy smiles were contagious.

Phantom Planet followed with two tracks from its earlier records and the animated motions of vocalist and guitarist Alex Greenwald inspired audience members to dance along. During "1st Things 1st," Greenwald turned from side to side, as if he was having an engaging conversation with a group of people.

In between songs he appealed to the audience with humorous tour stories and carefree attitude.

After the fourth song, Greenwald announced that the band was going to take requests, claiming members no longer write set lists.

"Request any song that has been written by this band," he said, a statement that would later not be observed.

Long-time fans asked for songs from early Phantom Planet albums, but instead the band fulfilled a request for the newer song, "Do the Panic."

The band was out to please everyone and continued its set with two older songs.

After "Last Glance," guitarist Darren Robinson took time to replace a broken string and Greenwald took advantage of the time to make sure the audience was having a good time. He asked people to show their excitement by doing the wave.

One audience member was feeling the music so much that he shouted out "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Phantom Planet lightheartedly took the statement as a request and played the grungy Nirvana track.

The spirit of cover songs caught on and another audience member requested "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith and the band had no problem playing it. The songs were big audience pleasers and brought laughs between the band and crowd.

"We're not a joke band," Greenwald said.

The night was far from ending as the Phantom Planet played a track from its new album and the band's biggest hit and "The O.C." theme song, "California."

The band was about to end with the mellow track "Anthem," but at the last minute band members had a request of their own.

Phantom Planet played one more cover and ended with Radiohead's "Paranoid Andriod." Greenwald closely matched Thom Yorke's somber vocals and the audience looked mesmerized.

Freshman Megan Tansey, who has been a fan of the band for six years, enjoyed requesting songs and asked for "Big Brat," which the band did play, she said. She wished more people had seen the band's spontaneous set.

Phantom Planet made the best of the small crowd and showed the good spirits and professionalism of a rehearsed, veteran band.

Album Review: The Matches - A Band in Hope

Originally published April 02, 2008 in The Orion

The Matches
A Band in Hope
Epitaph Records, 2008
2/5 stars


Oakland's The Matches is not the type of band that uses the same pop-punk formula album after album, but its third release falls short of previous efforts.

The band worked with nine producers for its sophomore release, "Decomposer," and created a coherent collection of songs. Chamber and electronic music were combined with high energy and a fast pace.

Again, the band tried to experiment with varied sounds on the new album but worked with fewer producers. The result was not as successful. "Point Me Toward the Morning" sounds like very other pop-punk song. Repeating lines in "Future Tense" have an odd resemblance to the 1979 hit by The Knack, "My Sharona."

The Matches does show its versatility with the bright and poppy "Wake the Sun" and by pushing the envelope with the dark, piano-driven "Darkness Rising."

"A Band in Hope" has its highlights but does not do justice to the band's talents.

Bamboozle Roadshow: Here they come to 'Save the Day'

Originally published April 02, 2008 in The Orion.
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It's true, there used to be a time when MySpace did not exist and e-mail inboxes were not flooded with impersonal friend requests from bands.

New Jersey's Saves the Day, composed of singer and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist David Soloway, bassist Manuel Ragoonanan Carrero and drummer Durijah Lang, remembers the days when bands did not rely on the Internet to promote themselves, Conley said.

Saves the Day formed in 1997 out of the New Jersey hardcore and punk scene. The band quickly gained fans through touring and its mix of fast guitars and melodious and pitchy vocals.

"Before MySpace, the only way to promote your band was with fliers handed out at shows and playing all-ages venues on weekends, hoping someone would like your band enough to book you for another show in their basement on the following week," Conley said.

The band, which now has a pop aspect on its rock sound, is not against utilizing the Internet. Saves the Day has a strong online presence with exclusive online presales for tours, including its headlining spot on The Bamboozle Roadshow, which stops in Chico tonight.

Conley's agitation with online promotion stems from the superficiality that can be attached with music, he said. Some bands do not work hard to prove themselves because it is easy for people to say they are fans without actually having heard or seen the band perform live.

Senior Angela Martinez discovered Saves the Day two years ago through a friend, but she relies on the Internet for new music, she said.

Saves the Day uses the Internet to connect with fans, Conley said. The band runs its Web site, which includes video podcasts and blog updates. Conley asks fans to e-mail him song requests, which he fulfills on the Web site with videos of him performing the songs on an acoustic guitar.

Peter Gillen, a junior media arts major from Concord, has been a Saves the Day fan for seven years and admires how dedicated the band is to its fans.

"It makes the songs more personable," Gillen said.

The band has been through a lot and it appreciates its loyal fans, Conley said. Saves the Day has had several changes, with Conley and Soloway being the only remaining original members. In 2003, the band had a nonsupportive relationship with its label, Dreamworks. The band was dropped after Interscope Records took over.

Saves the Day rewards its faithful fans with a CD series called "Bug Sessions," only sold on tour. CDs feature seven acoustic versions of old and new songs. The first volume was sold in 2006 and the second and third volumes are available on this tour.

Other than selling the exclusive CDs, Saves the Day has a few other tricks up its sleeve, Conley said. The band has prepared a master list of 70 songs for the tour, containing a mix of old and new songs.

"We'll be picking the set based on how we're feeling each day," he said. "Each night will be totally unique and much more spontaneous."

The band practiced seven hours a day for a week and a half to prepare for the assorted set lists, Conley said. Band members even worked on a new version of "East Coast," the first Saves the Day song ever written.

"The new arrangement is killer," Conley said. "It sounds like a punk rock version of a Supremes song."

Gillen hopes the band will play "Do You Know What I Love The Most?" at tonight's show, he said. The song is a fast, upbeat track from the band's second album.

The tour is leading up to The Bamboozle Festivals, taking place in April in Irvine and in May in East Rutherford, N.J. Each festival features more than 100 artists and comedians performing on numerous stages.

Band members are excited to play both festival dates because they get the opportunity to see friends in other bands and play with a variety of artists, Conley said. At last year's New Jersey date, the band played after MC Hammer and before Muse.

The road show does not showcase the diverse festival lineups, but it does feature a mix of veteran and new bands, Conley said.

"If you come out to The Bamboozle Roadshow, it will whet your appetite for the real deal on each coast," he said.