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.

Album Review: Throw Me The Statue - Moonbeams

Originally published March 26, 2008 in The Orion

Throw Me The Statue
Moonbeams
Secretly Canadian, 2008
3/5 stars

"Moonbeams" from Throw Me The Statue is a joyful indie-pop album crafted by multi-instrumentalist, Scott Reitherman.

Reitherman uses guitars, drum machines, synthesizers, xylophones and horns, but every song sounds effortless. The nonchalant guitars create an image of Reitherman sitting on a porch casually writing songs.

The vocals could pass for Pedro the Lion's David Bazan, but Reitherman's infectious energy keeps listeners enthralled. Sounds change from soft confessions in "Young Sensualists" to hand clapping and twinkling melodies in "Lolita." Even low-fi tracks such as "About to Walk" illustrate the fun a of a hip-shaking luau.

A pop album is nothing without its share of "oh oh ohs," and this is not exception. On "This Is How We Kiss," band members get a little gritty with the guitar but keep things light with a bubbly melody.

Listening to this album will help spring arrive a little faster this year.