"It's Frightening" falls short
After living in an excruciatingly small town for the majority of my formative years, I learned that satellite radio can be one of your best friends. On occasion, it can act as your only link to civilization - especially when FM stations play mostly bubble-gum pop and “hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s”. It was thanks to one of those slightly pretentious satellite DJs that I was introduced to the White Rabbits.
The summer season provides a multitude of summer blockbusters to choose from. With "Star Trek" and "Transformers 2" taking up most commercial time, many TV viewers have yet to be exposed to the other film that has people talking, "(500) Days of Summer." "If you're looking for something a little less timpani drums and blood, and more Joy Division and kissing, this is it," Joseph Gordon-Levitt, one of the stars of the film, said.
"Gigantic": just another indie film or time well spent? Gigantic was directed and co-written by Matt Aselton and stars Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel and John Goodman. Dano plays Brian Weathersby, a weary soul who sells mattresses in an obscure factory room.
Why you would put a slash in your band's name is beyond me. Akron/Family. Is it implying you can call them Akron or Family? Akron and Family? Akron divided by Family? Quibbles with name aside, I have to say that "Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free" is one of the most interesting albums of 2009.
The end of the school year has arrived, and alongside the hot weather come a variety of music festivals to attend. All over the world, various genres of music and entertainment come together for days at a time, providing attendees with the priceless experience of seeing their favorite bands one after the other.
What happens when Frontline, Invisible Children, the USD Surf Team and Associated Students decide to put on an event? The 2009 Freedom Riders Concert, a benefit happening tomorrow at the Wave House in Mission Beach. The event will be free to USD students and the general public.
Portland, Ore., has produced yet another amazing indie-folk band. Flowing from the same laid-back, instrumental vein as Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists and The Shins, Blind Pilot is quickly gaining comparable name and sonic recognition. Within the year, a lot of great things have happened for Blind Pilot: the band has recently been featured on "Last Call with Carson Daly," NPR's Morning Edition and they've been a Starbuck's "Artist of the Week.
Hailing from Glasgow, Scottish rock band Mogwai has been at the forefront of the post-rock world for the past 15 years. Currently, the band is on a worldwide tour in support of their sixth album, "The Hawk is Howling." Founding member Stuart Braithwaite was generous enough to share some of his musical insight with The Vista, in light of the band's May 15 show at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach.
Listening to "My Maudlin Career" is like sending your ears into a ghost of a time machine while listening to whispers of the past. Somehow though, you can tell that the music is temporary, and that the siren singing soothing sweet-nothings is none other than Camera Obscura's Tracyanne Campbell.
Mary Perry. Mother of me, Kaitlin Perry, and future USD student/my sister, Kelsey Perry. Sure, her name is silly and she's shorter than me, but she is by far the coolest mom I know. Mary Perry is commonly referred to as "Mar" (pronounced "mare") by my sister and me.
"You won't like this but I have something to confide/ We strive for something more than a faded sticker on a skateboard." -"Anti-Manifesto" by Propagandhi Canadian punk band Propagandhi was formed in 1986 by Chris Hannah and Jord Samolesky, but it was not until their first major CD in 1993 entitled "How To Clean Everything" that they truly jumped into the punk scene.
On Saturday, De Anza Cove at Mission Bay will host its first ever music and arts festival. The Elemental Experience is an all-day event with popular bands and DJs, for a social purpose - to build a shelter for abandoned children throughout our city. The festival will feature well-known musicians like Matisyahu.
The USD Symphony Orchestra performed this weekend in celebration of the university's anniversary. The events held at Shiley Theater on Friday and Sunday drew generous audience turnouts undoubtedly due to the quality sound that the orchestra is known for. The program included classic works from history's greatest composers as well as a choir performance.
The dynamic Norwegian duo of Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland (known to the music scene as Royksopp) has done it again. Their third album, "Junior," was released in late March to great critical acclaim. Preceding "Junior" are Royksopp's two other hit albums, 2001's "Melody A.
For the first time ever, I pushed my responsibilities to the bottom of my ridiculously long to-do list and put Coachella at the top. No, I didn't have the money and no, I didn't have the time, but my life seemed to be falling apart and I needed to treat myself to a known cure for when I'm nearing the bridge to insanity: live music.
A few months back, rumors spread furiously about the potential transformation of the Jenny Craig Pavilion into a pulsating dance club. "Is Girl Talk really performing at our school?!" crazed fans of the mash-up genius would ask. "Yes!" I would tell them excitedly.
Guitarist of the hit band talks with The Vista's Ashley McLean about the upcoming show, their new CD, and the definition of a Torero
Their MTV unplugged CD went platinum, they've had two CDs hit No. 2 on the Billboard charts, and this Sunday, Dashboard Confessional will be playing live in the Jenny Craig Pavilion for the Alcala Music Festival. The band consists of four members: Chris Carrabba (vocals and guitar), John Lefler (guitar), Scott Schoenbeck (bass) and Mike Marsh (drums).
Wave House in Mission Beach capped off its annual ALT games competition with a free concert featuring the popular California reggae group Rebelution. The concert attracted an enormous crowd, transforming an already overcrowded beach into a teeming sea of people.
Diplo, as defined by loripedia: The best DJ ever! I accidentally stumbled (literally) over to Diplo's set at Street Scene and since then have become a believer. His pretty boy looks and prodigious ability to mix danceable beats make him my DJ of choice. Since Street Scene, I was lucky enough to see him a second time on New Year's eve.
I left "Adventureland" with a sense of belonging and that everything would be fine. The film was able to capture exactly how I felt and gave me characters to identify with. On the surface it is about how James Brennan, played by Jesse Eisenberg, works at a theme park to earn money to pay for graduate school.
Apparently I was living under a rock for part of 2006 and most of 2007, as I've never heard of Silversun Pickups, and when I mention this fact to anyone that has, they assert the aforementioned hypothesis. "You haven't heard them? They're like the new Smashing Pumpkins!" "Calm down, I get it, they're awesome," I say to them, as I inch further towards the door.
It started off with the whimsical Jean Valentine, thencame the musical work of USD poetry professor Jericho Brown, and now, wrapping up this semester's Cropper Series readings is poet Natasha Trethewey. If there was ever a time to use the cliché, "last but not least" it would be now.
USD Radio, a project that seemed nearly impossible to put into action, will be an Internet-based radio station providing students with album reviews, the music of student bands and student-created playlists, according to Nick Peterson, a founder of the project.
After a stressful week of midterms that I messed up, art projects that I messed up and lungs that I messed up, a weekend at Lake Arrowhead sounded like a perfect way to clear my head (and lungs). Lake Arrowhead, which could very well be the lake from which Arrowhead water comes from, was a beautiful place with snow-coated banks and sparkling water dazzled by the sun.
Next Thursday, April 9, the Disco Biscuits will bring a show to San Diego that promises to please everyone from Deadheads to ravers with their original sound and stimulating light shows. The Biscuits are fresh off a huge winter tour with crowds growing exponentially along the way.
Wedged somewhere between the classic horror films and a wall covered in obscure movie posters, The Paddle Boat filled South Park's Citizen Video last Saturday night with danceable tunes and happy hearts. The free all-ages show was a sweet addition to the South Park Walkabout.
On April 15, the Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, will be hosting a concert in UC Forum A/B to benefit the homeless. According to a recent New York Times article, Fresno, Calif. has an overall population of about 500,000 and there are as many as 2,000 homeless people.
Kaitlin and Ryan's "Road to Redemption"
KAITLIN PERRY RYAN PLOURDE A&C EDITOR & OPINION EDITOR Kaitlin Perry: Hey Ryan, I just got free tickets to see T.I. on Tuesday. Wanna go? Ryan Plourde: Uh, is the Pope Catholic? KP: What's a pope? RP: (Sigh) I was trying to say yes in a creative way.
Overall, the '70s were pretty rad. A decade bursting with energy and passion, the youth of the generation were intent on contesting the rigid rules of society, channeling their passion into music and creating the singularly amazing genre of classic rock. Classic rock, like an old friend, is always there for you, and the choruses that once echoed out of your parents' walkmen decades ago remain unchanged, thankfully.
Brett Dennen, a peaceful musician from Oakdale, Calif., is doing more than his share to help the world become a better place. With projects like The Mosaic Project and Love Speaks under his belt, as well as his positive lyrics, Dennen promotes hope and happiness to fans worldwide.
"The Hazards of Love" is The Decemberists' latest 17-track foray into folk rock storytelling. "Hazards" is their fifth album and it attempts to break traditional barriers of music and plays more like a continuous fairy tale rather than a collection of songs.
Students face housing decisions
2400 Fifth Avenue. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think? I have lived off campus for three semesters now, a choice I made after deciding to study abroad as a junior in Milan, Italy. I knew it would be tricky to find a room on campus when I came back halfway through the year, so instead, I packed up and headed to Banker's Hill.
As an appreciator of many different kinds of art and their respective media, one might be surprised to find that I suck at it. For example, my sister gave me one of her canvases to paint when I was feeling especially creative one night, and all I could do was paint the entire thing hot pink.
The producers of HARD Haunted Mansion, HARD Summer Fest and HARD New Years are doing it again. This time, they will be pulling together another legendary multi-act bill featuring top DJs, electronic, hip-hop and trance artists on the cryptic date of Friday, March 13.
The lights dim but no curtain rises. The stage is already set, and the band is in place. Anthony Rapp walks out center stage at the San Diego Civic Theatre, and before anything can leave his mouth the crowd is in an uproar of cheer and applause. A few moments later, Adam Pascal walks out with his guitar in hand and joins Rapp.
"It's Blitz!" is a shift for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a mellow departure from previous albums like "Fever to Tell." The gasping, screaming and shouting are replaced with sultry and smooth vocals from front woman Karen O. Gone are the grunge and dirt of past tracks like "Rich," instead we see synth-pop influenced tracks like "Zero" and "Heads Will Roll.
This semester, the director of concerts at USD has decided to throw a spring music festival, featuring local and national up-and-coming artists. This is a night of music and festivities put on by the students for the students. It will take place in the Jenny Craig Pavilion and right outside at Egan Plaza on April 26.
February, the shortest month of the year, is most commonly associated with St. Valentine's Day, Black History Month and Leap Day; however, with the help of the growing popularity of Fawm.org, February will also be known as Album Writing Month. February Album Writing Month, or FAWM, is an annual month long event that challenges songwriters to compose fourteen songs within the 28 days of February.
Almost four years after their sophomore album, "You Could Have It So Much Better," Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand released their third album, "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand." After releasing two albums within a period of a year and a half, I'm assuming there was a long hiatus where they tried to figure out how to get another song into Guitar Hero (the first being their hit single "Take Me Out").
"Indio's dusty parking lots will be lined with RVs, littered with beer cans and replete with cowboy hats"
Country music controls a small, yet vibrant, college fan base in Southern California. Nevertheless, USD's own band of country enthusiasts are thrilled by the imminent prospect of Stagecoach, country's premier music festival. Hosted in nearby Indio, Calif.
The Rihanna, Chris Brown incident has been the feature news story for many weeks now. On Feb. 8, when an argument got too heated, Brown physically assaulted pop star Rihanna. When police arrived at the scene they reported that Rihanna was found with terrible injuries and contusions on her head.
True fans of '80s music know all too well the definition of awesomeness. I have always been a fan of music from the 1980s, but I have recently discovered a large rift between '80s music fans. There are those who appreciate '80s music as a revolution of pop music, and there are those who think '80s music is just silly, quirky and fun.
I don't remember where, but I read somewhere that people only have nicknames when their real name doesn't suit their personality. If this is true, then I am not even close to being Kaitlin. I have 17 nicknames. My first nickname ever was given to me when I was a baby.
Musician Andrew Bird lives true to what his surname would imply. He can definitely sing, and he can whistle with the best of them. He and his band are currently on tour to promote the release of his new album, "Noble Beast," and, last Sunday evening, they graced the stage of SOMA with a beautiful amalgam of vocals, strings and even some glockenspiel.
If you're not well versed in the arts of "shoegaze," "twee," or "dream pop," you and I are in the same boat. Most of you have likely heard The Smiths, Ride and My Bloody Valentine, which are examples of the above genres. However, it is doubtful you are part of the indie elite who love/love/love to drop names of obscure indie pop bands into everyday conversation.
Matt & Kim are a dancey duo out of Brooklyn, N.Y.. Their Feb. 7 show at UCSD's "The Loft" marked the end of Matt & Kim's record release tour for their brand new album, "Grand." Matt & Kim's high-energy songs, consisting of driving drums and catchy synth lines, made for a true party.
I have never been a big fan of the Grammys. They usually feature artists that I don't think deserve any major awards or recognition. But this year, the Grammys experienced some type of transformation, a very magical transformation. Firstly, Radiohead. Secondly, a preggers performer.
It is written in "The Great Gatsby" that the best thing a girl can be is a "beautiful little fool." Seeking higher education means you're out of luck on the fool front, but when it comes to beautiful look no further than Windy Freda. Windy Freda is a headband line designed by Susannah Lipsey.
If you don't like SNL Digital Shorts, stop reading now. You'll hate this album. A number of the tracks on this album have debuted as SNL Digital Shorts, including "Lazy Sunday," "Natalie's Rap," (ft. Natalie Portman) and "I'm on a Boat" (ft. T-Pain). If you don't like music that doesn't take itself seriously, stop reading now.
USD student Stephen Mariucci talks to The Vista about his band and what's up next for the alt/rock group from Northern California
You may already know of Stephen Mariucci and his band, The Relay Company. The curly-haired bass player for the alternative rock band is a sophomore at USD, whose dreams for his band go beyond more than just the garage they spawned from. Mariucci began playing music at a young age, after his older brother Adam showed him how to play the guitar, and eventually the two began to write music and perform locally.
The end of the beginning and the beginning of the end is really confusing, both grammatically and in real life. Being halfway done with college is quite eye-opening and breathtaking in a really bad way. I feel like there is so much ahead of me in the next year alone that attempting to fathom how much I have ahead of me in the next 80 or so years gives me the spins (and that has nothing to do with the fact that I'm writing this on Cinco de Mayo).
I got the chance to attend the Newport Beach Film Festival, which ran from April 23 - 30. This year was the 10 year anniversary of the festival, and featured over 400 films. I saw seven. For a college student living about 90 minutes from the festival, I thought that was a respectable amount.
As the warm weather approaches and school comes to an end, it is inevitable that excitement over months of freedom is brewing. Although a summer free of academic reading and incoming knowledge may sound enticing, just because school will be out of session doesn't mean that students will be without interesting and cultural events to attend.
There are very few feuds as fervent as that between the fashion industry and certain interpretations of feminism. Betty Freidman, author of the "Feminine Mystique" argues that fashion relegates women to the changing and non-consequential world of shifting styles, distracting them from expanding their minds.
Admit it. You slept through that lecture on Jeremy Benthem. You barely passed ethics and John Stuart Mill has no meaning to you unless the host of the Daily Show got a civil union and hyphenated his last name. It's ironic that a theory that is ultimately based on being most useful seems so, well, esoteric.
I can't avoid Brooklyn. It's in my books, music and films. Close friends of mine from high school now live there. They call at all hours of the night to celebrate their newfound home, telling me that whiskey is unheard of in their nook of the borough. Only rum my friend, only rum.
"Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion." - Jack Kerouac Although it's unlikely that this beat writer was talking about blazers or berets, Jack Kerouac was on to something. Fashion is the most ephemeral kind of creation; subject to culture, aesthetic and monetary motivation.
Over the last 100 years or so something unsettling has happened in America. It has occurred quietly, in the interest of faceless corporations, at the top levels of government. Our culture is not our own. It sounds ambiguous at best. Culture, especially the melting-pot American "brand," is a difficult thing to put a finger on.
A pair of shoes can change your life; just ask Cinderella, or that Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Ziadi. Footwear is a favorite of fairy-godmothers and the foreign press when it comes to leaving a mark on the past. So it makes sense that the industry's hottest shoe line, LDtuttle, is designed by a Princeton graduate with a degree in history.
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