[{"content":"At the start of the quarter, the KSCU office welcomed jazz musicians to jam together in front of an audience. The room was filled to capacity, with students packed closely together, swaying harmoniously to the wonderful music. While the talent on display was exceptional, the atmosphere was made even more enchanting when sixteen-year-old Jackson Takizawa took the front stage with his bass guitar. He instantly captivated the audience with riffs that the music gods themselves must have written. People lost their minds, drawn to the sounds emanating from Jackson\u0026rsquo;s bass, while the other musicians sprang to life, each contributing to the bouquet of jazz. Despite only having played the bass for four years, Takizawa is remarkably gifted. To support his musical aspirations, he recently joined a school program that provides him the time and flexibility that a budding musician needs. You can see him opening for Ryan Trujillo at The Breakroom on February 22nd. Until then, you\u0026rsquo;ll have to imagine the soulful buzz of Jackson\u0026rsquo;s amp.\nWritten By: Sully Misner\n","date":"February 24, 2025","permalink":"/blog/teenage-sensation-rocks-undercurrent/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"At the start of the quarter, the KSCU office welcomed jazz musicians to jam together in front of an audience. The room was filled to capacity, with students packed closely together, swaying harmoniously to the wonderful music. While the talent on display was exceptional, the atmosphere was made even more enchanting when sixteen-year-old Jackson Takizawa took the front stage with his bass guitar. He instantly captivated the audience with riffs that the music gods themselves must have written.","title":"Teenage Sensation Rocks Undercurrent"},{"content":"Bass you can feel from Safeway. Guitar shreds that thump in your heart. Sax solos that slice through the night air. Bandcamp had it all. This event, hosted by our school’s music aficionados in the back yard of an off-campus house Friday night, brought many crowds together, those in bands, their fans, and those just looking for a fun night out. Crowds shuffled into the beautiful back yard, where they were able to see their favorite student bands play underneath the wisteria vines. By 7pm, the yard was packed. Standing shoulder to shoulder, cheek to cheek, everyone wanted in on the music. People spilled into the side yard, up onto the roof, and beneath the lemon and orange trees. Those who were lucky enough to get a front row seat might have been able to see the genius spilling from each musician as they bled passion into the speakers. Those who didn’t, could still feel the music possessing a restless foot, a rouge clap, or even their entire bodies into swaying. Several times, the crowd broke into mosh, and keen eyes would see it not as an explosion of music powered rage, but a delicate and precise organized movement, each participating soul enthralled by Happy Gaming’s “Stealing from Whole Foods”, having no choice but to submit to the musical hive mind. Overall, the event was a hit, and one can only wait to see these musicians in math class or at Benson before they decide to take the stage again.\n","date":"February 5, 2024","permalink":"/blog/bandcamp-retrospective/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"Bass you can feel from Safeway. Guitar shreds that thump in your heart. Sax solos that slice through the night air. Bandcamp had it all. This event, hosted by our school’s music aficionados in the back yard of an off-campus house Friday night, brought many crowds together, those in bands, their fans, and those just looking for a fun night out. Crowds shuffled into the beautiful back yard, where they were able to see their favorite student bands play underneath the wisteria vines.","title":"Bandcamp Retrospective"},{"content":"Did you know that KSCU has had two NBA players on air in back to back seasons? In January of 2023, KSCU had the chance to interview Santa Clara Basketball star and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Willams. Well how about the players on the KSCU airwaves in back to back years? Our sports director Thomas Dunn had the chance to st down with the latest Broncos product, Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemsksi. The Underground Sound already met the hardwood once and did so again, with a wonderful guest and great discussion about Podziemski\u0026rsquo;s journey and career to date!\n","date":"February 5, 2024","permalink":"/blog/kscu-exclusive---brandin-podziemsksi-interview/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"Did you know that KSCU has had two NBA players on air in back to back seasons? In January of 2023, KSCU had the chance to interview Santa Clara Basketball star and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Willams. Well how about the players on the KSCU airwaves in back to back years? Our sports director Thomas Dunn had the chance to st down with the latest Broncos product, Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemsksi.","title":"KSCU EXCLUSIVE - Brandin Podziemski Interview"},{"content":"KSCU is pleased to present our first Corner Concert of the year, featuring Pluie! Performing live in our very own studio in the Benson basement, watch Pluie tear it up in our highest-quality production to date. Inspired by NPR\u0026rsquo;s Tiny Desks, Corner Concerts represent KSCU\u0026rsquo;s commitment to showing off SCU\u0026rsquo;s student music scene to as large an audience as we can. Make sure to check out Pluie on Spotify!\nFinally, thank you so much to the Corner Concert team for all of your hard work in making this production possible!\nProducer: Kyle Kinard\nDirector/Editor: Laisha Lizarraga\nVideographers: Laisha Lizarraga, Rena Zhang, and Adam Zekaria\nAudio Engineer: Kyle Kinard and Simon Lanzoni\nAudio Assistants: Joey Hernandez Mena and Corrado Moy\nProduction Assistant: Ellen Duncan and Charlie Gray\nAnimator: Diego Acevedo\n","date":"February 4, 2024","permalink":"/blog/corner-concert---pluie/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"KSCU is pleased to present our first Corner Concert of the year, featuring Pluie! Performing live in our very own studio in the Benson basement, watch Pluie tear it up in our highest-quality production to date. Inspired by NPR\u0026rsquo;s Tiny Desks, Corner Concerts represent KSCU\u0026rsquo;s commitment to showing off SCU\u0026rsquo;s student music scene to as large an audience as we can. Make sure to check out Pluie on Spotify!\nFinally, thank you so much to the Corner Concert team for all of your hard work in making this production possible!","title":"Corner Concert - Pluie"},{"content":" Long Medium Long Medium \u003c \u003e ","date":"November 13, 2023","permalink":"/psas/","section":"The Underground Sound | KSCU 103.3 FM","summary":" Long Medium Long Medium \u003c \u003e ","title":"PSAs"},{"content":"Happy week 6 Broncos! Here are three album reviews and recommendations as you go into your second round of midterms, or start preparing for your finals.\nMiddle Sister - Isabelle Stillman # Review by Carson Killer # Middle Sister, the debut album by Isabella Stillman, is an intriguing blend of various genres, showcasing the artist\u0026rsquo;s versatility and range as a musician. While I personally didn\u0026rsquo;t find myself completely drawn to the album, I must admit that the diversity of styles and sounds present on Middle Sister is impressive.\nOne of the standout tracks on the album is \u0026ldquo;Driving Alone\u0026rdquo; which features a bluesy guitar riff and soulful vocals. The track is raw and gritty, with lyrics that speak to the heartache of lost love. The following song, \u0026ldquo;Fine\u0026rdquo; is a complete departure from the previous track, with a pop-infused beat and catchy hooks that are sure to get stuck in your head.\nAs the album progresses, Stillman continues to mix things up. \u0026ldquo;Kid\u0026rdquo; has a folksy feel with acoustic guitar and harmonica, while \u0026ldquo;Worry\u0026rdquo; has a dreamy, electronic sound with airy vocals. The album closes with \u0026ldquo;Truth Is,\u0026rdquo; amballad that showcases Stillman\u0026rsquo;s emotive vocals.\nOverall, Middle Sister is a solid debut from Isabella Stillman. While it may not be everyone\u0026rsquo;s cup of tea, the album\u0026rsquo;s diversity of genres and styles is admirable. Stillman\u0026rsquo;s ability to seamlessly transition from blues to pop to folk is a testament to her talent and creativity as a musician. I would recommend giving this album a listen, even if it\u0026rsquo;s just to appreciate the breadth of Stillman\u0026rsquo;s abilities.\nFavorite Songs # Driving Alone Passin\u0026rsquo; Me By Otha Fish The Diet - Cullen Omori # Review by Grace Roy # The Diet, Cullen Omori’s sophomore album, is a contemporary approach to 70s rock and provides the listeners with a psychedelic and love-filled piece that is an easy and extremely satisfying listen.\nThe use of reverb and weepy guitar licks are deeply nostalgic, despite the record being released in 2018. Its lyrics are full of hope and adoration in its purest form, telling the of loving someone beyond their imperfections and accepting them for who they are.\nHappiness Reigns is one of the most beautiful encapsulations of the thrill and true happiness that comes with unconditionally loving someone. the dreamy guitar to uplifting drum rhythm and hopeful and accepting lyrics like “The tears in your eyes/Your fingerprints and common sense/Have probably saved my life/Oh baby, please don\u0026rsquo;t cry”. The reason this song is so intriguing is because it doesn’t exactly align with the traditional idea in rock of putting your love interest on a pedestal. The love described in this song is real, authentic and loving someone for who they are and how they love you.\nAnother track that I particularly adore is Four Years, the first track on this beautiful album. Like Happiness Reigns, this song is not a romanticized version of loving someone, but a description of the way love feels through beautiful chords and truthful lyrics like “you do so many things/ And I love you for it/but I usually forget”. It’s upfront honesty yet beautiful composition are an accurate representation of how it feels to love someone yet not be able to properly articulate your feelings, something Omori captures so well.\nThis album is not larger than life, grand, or triumphantly, but it is humble and and mystifying.\nFavorite Songs # Queen Master Eyes Four Years A Bath Full of Ecstasy - Hot # Review by Vanish Malik # Hot Chip\u0026rsquo;s 2019 release \u0026ldquo;A Bath Full of Ecstasy\u0026rdquo; is a stunning album that captures the band\u0026rsquo;s signature blend of electronic beats, catchy hooks, and introspective lyrics. With this album, the band explores themes of love, connection, and transformation, using their unique sound to create an immersive and emotionally resonant experience for the listener.\nThe album\u0026rsquo;s opening track, \u0026ldquo;Melody of Love,\u0026rdquo; sets the tone for the rest of the album with its upbeat, danceable rhythm and heartfelt lyrics about the power of love to transform and heal. Lead singer Alexis Taylor\u0026rsquo;s vocals are at their most soulful and expressive, conveying a sense of hope and optimism that carries through the entire album. Other standout tracks on the album include \u0026ldquo;Hungry Child,\u0026rdquo; a pulsing, synth-driven ode to the hunger for human connection, and \u0026ldquo;Positive,\u0026rdquo; a joyful celebration of the power of positive thinking and the importance of staying connected to the people and things that bring us joy.\nThroughout the album, Hot Chip\u0026rsquo;s intricate electronic production creates a lush, immersive sonic landscape that invites the listener to get lost in the music. The band\u0026rsquo;s use of live instrumentation, including guitars and drums, adds a human touch that grounds the electronic beats and gives the music a warm, organic feel.\nAt its core, \u0026ldquo;A Bath Full of Ecstasy\u0026rdquo; is an album about connection and transformation, about the power of love to heal and transform us. With its irresistible hooks, catchy beats, and heartfelt lyrics, it\u0026rsquo;s an album that invites the listener to dance, to sing along, and to connect with the world around them in a more meaningful way.\nOverall, \u0026ldquo;A Bath Full of Ecstasy\u0026rdquo; is a powerful and engaging album that showcases Hot Chip\u0026rsquo;s unique sound and vision. It\u0026rsquo;s a must-listen for fans of electronic music, but it\u0026rsquo;s also a great album for anyone who loves music that speaks to the heart and soul. So why not dive in and take a bath full of ecstasy?\n","date":"May 11, 2023","permalink":"/blog/album-review-roundup-3/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"Happy week 6 Broncos! Here are three album reviews and recommendations as you go into your second round of midterms, or start preparing for your finals.\nMiddle Sister - Isabelle Stillman # Review by Carson Killer # Middle Sister, the debut album by Isabella Stillman, is an intriguing blend of various genres, showcasing the artist\u0026rsquo;s versatility and range as a musician. While I personally didn\u0026rsquo;t find myself completely drawn to the album, I must admit that the diversity of styles and sounds present on Middle Sister is impressive.","title":"Album Review Roundup #3"},{"content":" Fisher Block Party # Review by Lucas Bautista Etchegaray # Last October, we attended the Fisher Block Party in Oakland, California. This was an eight-hour house concert featuring two stages, street food trucks, and an impressive lineup of house artists. We were all super excited to go, especially given that the event was only 18+, and it did not disappoint.\nFisher Block Party 2022 The streets were completely closed off for the day, and the event spanned multiple city blocks in the middle of downtown Oakland. The setup was impressive, with two stages featuring some of our favorite producers in the house scene. We spent most of our time at Stage 1, where FISHER was headlining. He performed a high-energy set, playing some of his most famous songs such as “Losing it” and “Stop It”.\nGiven that securing a good spot would only become more difficult as the day got later, we accepted the fact that we would not be able to move much. Inner City and Sosa UK were also great performers, and we loved the mix of classic and contemporary house music. We also checked out Stage 2 in between food/bathroom breaks, where we caught sets from some of the lesser known house artists. The vibe was definitely a bit more lowkey, but it was still a nice place to recharge from the chaotic scene of Stage 1.\nIn between sets, we explored the food and drink vendors, which featured a variety of local food trucks. The prices were reasonable, and the variety of options were surprising for a one day only concert event.\nOverall, we had an incredible time at Fisher’s Block Party. The lineup was great, the atmosphere was energetic, and it was clear that the event was well planned out. The only downside was the lack of seating options, as we ended up having to stand for close to 7 hours straight that day. If you\u0026rsquo;re a fan of house music, we highly recommend checking out Fisher’s Block Party next year. With tickets costing less than 100$, the value for the price easily makes it a must-go concert.\nCheck Out Fisher Block Party: # Tickets Matt Barri at The Morrocan Lounge # Review by Brian Burnett # Last month I went on a trip to Los Angeles and saw my good friend in concert. His name Matt Barri and he makes electronic pop music.\nIt was an interesting experience because it involved my posse of friends going to a part of town we had never encountered before, to a venue we have never heard of before - The Moroccan Lounge. Upon arrival we were met with an immense line of people coming to see the headliner, our friend Matt was his opener. The artist he opened for was the biggest he’s ever done so we had to come out and support him. Passing the bar in the entrance we entered the concert venue itself.\nIt wasn’t anything too spectacular, but the stage production was magnificent and amazing visuals were set up on the projector behind Matt. Many visuals were psychedelic in nature and truly added to the experience. The first 20 minutes of his music was purely electronic, hard bass music which I\u0026rsquo;ll admit is not my cup of tea, nonetheless the technical prowess in the production and DJ\u0026rsquo;ing was apparent. Matt has been producing music for as long as I have known him, since we\u0026rsquo;re both 12, and that experience shows in his music.\nImage courtesy of the Morrocan Lounge. The most memorable part of this concert was when he started singing his new single which hit on a lot of emotions he had been talking to us about recently. Emotions about a somewhat recent ex he had broken up with. I\u0026rsquo;ve never personally known the musician at a concert before, a new layer is added when historical context is added. The sheer power and force of his musicianship was astounding. His singing was great, but the charisma he brought was so ecstatic it made everyone wanna dance. It truly made me more appreciative of the potentially emotional nature music has, not only has on the audience, but also the singer.\nThe combination of excitement in the audience, my friends singing, and the visuals behind him made it an exhilarating experience. Although a concert experience new to me - EDM music - and I don\u0026rsquo;t necessarily listen to this type of music on my own time, I came out appreciative of the mechanics of playing such music.\nSometimes you\u0026rsquo;d think DJs don\u0026rsquo;t do much on stage, maybe just a turn a knob or two, but given my knowledge of his years of musical production I knew the effort was real, and that made me love every second of it.\nCheck Out Matt Barri: # Everything To Me Luv Like That Madeline Poptopia # Review by JJ Xu # The Poptopia Concert in San Jose was a night to remember for me in the Bay Area. Headlined by the energetic and charismatic Pitbull, the show also featured rising star Lauv, who wowed the crowd with his smooth vocals and infectious pop hooks.\nPitbull was in top form, delivering hit after hit with his trademark swagger and showmanship. I danced and sang along to fan favorites like \u0026ldquo;Timber,\u0026rdquo; \u0026ldquo;Give Me Everything,\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;Fireball,\u0026rdquo; as well as newer tracks like \u0026ldquo;Don\u0026rsquo;t Stop the Party\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;Feel This Moment.\u0026rdquo; With his high-energy performance and Latin-infused beats, Pitbull had the audience on their feet from start to finish.\nLauv also impressed with his set, showcasing his range as a songwriter and performer. He performed hits like \u0026ldquo;I Like Me Better\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;Modern Loneliness,\u0026rdquo; as well as newer tracks like \u0026ldquo;Love Somebody\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;Fake,\u0026rdquo; which showed off his ability to blend electronic and acoustic sounds.\nOverall, the Poptopia Concert was a great showcase of the diversity and talent in the pop music world. Pitbull and Lauv both brought their A-game to the stage, delivering performances that left the crowd buzzing with excitement. It was a night of pure pop pleasure, and one that I won\u0026rsquo;t soon forget.\nCheck Out Pitbull: # Fireball Give Me Everything Timber ","date":"May 2, 2023","permalink":"/blog/concert-review-roundup-2/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"We gathered some of our DJs to write about their recent concert experiences. Read their empassioned reviews of  Matt Barri, and Poptopia!","title":"Concert Review Roundup #2"},{"content":" Click here to read the full article on The Santa Clara website.\n","date":"April 21, 2023","permalink":"/blog/spring-bloom-tsc-external/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"Check out The Santa Clara\u0026rsquo;s coverage of KSCU\u0026rsquo;s recent Sonic Bloom event, which brought together a crowd of students for an evening of live music and free food.","title":"The Santa Clara - Sonic Bloom Flowers from Historical Roots"},{"content":"Another month, another round of album reviews! Enjoy these three reviews brought to you courtesy of KSCU\u0026rsquo;s lovely DJs. We hope you find some new music to get you through midterms!\nThe Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II # Review by Gabriella Schaub # Bizarre Ride II by The Pharcyde is a classic album that was released in 1992 and is still celebrated by fans today. The album was the group\u0026rsquo;s debut and was met with critical acclaim, helping to establish The Pharcyde as one of the most promising hip-hop acts of the time.\nBizarre Ride II features a unique and playful style that set it apart from other hip-hop albums of the era. The group\u0026rsquo;s members, Imani, Slimkid3, Fatlip, and Bootie Brown, each have distinct personalities and styles that come through in their lyrics and performances. The result is an album that is both cohesive and diverse, with tracks that range from lighthearted and humorous to introspective and thought-provoking.\nTim Mosenfelder for NPR One of the standout tracks on the album is \u0026ldquo;Passin\u0026rsquo; Me By,\u0026rdquo; which became a fan favorite and helped to launch the group\u0026rsquo;s career. The track is a thoughtful and introspective look at unrequited love, with the group\u0026rsquo;s members sharing their experiences and observations on the subject. The song\u0026rsquo;s smooth production and clever lyrics make it a standout track on the album.\nAnother highlight of Bizarre Ride II is the track \u0026ldquo;Otha Fish,\u0026rdquo; which showcases the group\u0026rsquo;s playful and lighthearted side. The song is a tribute to their hometown of Los Angeles, with the group name-dropping various neighborhoods and landmarks throughout the city. The track is full of energy and humor, and it\u0026rsquo;s a great example of the group\u0026rsquo;s ability to craft catchy and enjoyable songs.\nOverall, Bizarre Ride II is an essential album for any fan of hip-hop. It\u0026rsquo;s a classic record that helped to establish The Pharcyde as one of the most talented and unique groups in the genre. The album\u0026rsquo;s playful and thought-provoking lyrics, combined with its smooth production, make it a must-listen for fans of the group and of hip-hop in general.\nFavorite Songs # On The DL Passin\u0026rsquo; Me By Otha Fish Sweet Trip - You Will Never Know Why # Review by Ariana Tabrizi # I love quiet dream pop vibes in an album and this was exactly that. The mixture of quiet, melodic guitar chords in the background mixed with some cool electronic beats gave it a really nice almost other-worldly energy to it. I imagine myself sitting outside in the grass on a sunny day enjoying this album while drawing, reading, or just vibing.\nThe first two songs on the album, “Conservation of Two” and “Air Supply,” are some of my favorites. “Conservation of Two” starts with some really amazing vocals that overlap and are soft until the guitar comes in and the song sort of picks up. When I’m listening to this song, and all their songs for that matter, all I want to do is just close my eyes, run around, and bop my head around. “Air Supply” is sort of the opposite where it starts out with some guitar chords coming in and then switches to vocals with a techno scale in the background that just really hits and feels almost like it’s scratching an itch way in the back of your brain.\nMy third favorite song on the album is “Pretending” and, while I also love it for the sound, what really hits for me are the lyrics and the message of the song. It’s all about being present and in the moment, leaving the past to be memories that can be looked back on but that won’t take you away from building new memories and exploring new things in the present. I think this really goes with that general theme of the album that’s appreciating the small things like the little changes in the song and the bits of electronic beats added in that really transform the sound. And more than that I think the song amplifies those feelings of quiet contemplation and happiness that being in a chill environment brings to a person.\nThis album is all peace and appreciation for life, a great listen for anyone wanting some calming vibes to bop to throughout their day.\nFavorite Songs # Conservation of Two Air Supply Pretending Grouper - A I A: Alien Observer # Review by Lauren Foster # A I A: Alien Observer is a beautiful experimental album that is so different from most things in the music world. Grouper has created something so haunting and ethereal and has made something that transports you to another realm.\nThe album starts with the track \u0026ldquo;Moon Is Sharp, \u0026quot; a blend of different sounds, voices, and melodies that sounds like the embodiment of space and the galaxy. This album contains a lot of deep emotions; some songs like \u0026ldquo;Come Softly-For Daniel D\u0026rdquo; are so beautifully sad and each song makes you feel like you\u0026rsquo;re floating around in the sky.\nOne thing I enjoyed about Grouper\u0026rsquo;s writing style is that she keeps her lyrics very simple. With that said, the simplicity doesn\u0026rsquo;t take away from her ability to deliver beautiful and moving lyrics. One of my favorite lines is from the track \u0026ldquo;Vapor Trails\u0026rdquo; where Grouper sings \u0026ldquo;you never made a cloud float in the air. But you rise the atoms in the air with your smile\u0026rdquo; The album closes with the track \u0026ldquo;Come Softly- For Daniel D\u0026rdquo; which was something so simple but it was honestly amazing. The keyboard echoes through your ears as does Grouper\u0026rsquo;s voice. This track was the perfect song to close out the album due to how delicate of a piece it is.\nAt times in this album, I did feel like there was a lot of repetitiveness. For instance “She Loves Me That Way” and “Mary, On the Wall- Second Heart Tone” feel very similar at times. However, I still think this was a well put together album.\nThrough this album, Grouper has demonstrated her ability to layer different tracks in an amazing way. While this album is short, only 39 minutes, it contains a great grouping of songs that left me wanting to hear more.\nFavorite Songs # Moon Is Sharp Come Softly-For Daniel D. Vapor Trails ","date":"February 7, 2023","permalink":"/blog/album-review-roundup-2/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"Another month, another round of album reviews! Enjoy these three reviews brought to you courtesy of KSCU\u0026rsquo;s lovely DJs. We hope you find some new music to get you through midterms!\nThe Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II # Review by Gabriella Schaub # Bizarre Ride II by The Pharcyde is a classic album that was released in 1992 and is still celebrated by fans today. The album was the group\u0026rsquo;s debut and was met with critical acclaim, helping to establish The Pharcyde as one of the most promising hip-hop acts of the time.","title":"Album Review Roundup #2"},{"content":" Written by Thomas Dunn # It’s not often that Santa Clara basketball has an NBA prospect on their hands, let alone a first round lottery pick. Enter Jalen Williams stage left. The versatile player made a name for himself throughout his three seasons in Silicon Valley, so much so that the Oklahoma City Thunder grabbed him with the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft.\nWilliams was officially a campus hero, putting the Santa Clara name into national relevance as teams and media alike fawned at his length, athleticism, and poise. He’s been in discussion for the all rookie first team and even won Western Conference rookie of the month back in December. But how would he pay a visit to his old stomping grounds? The Thunder vs Warriors games don’t line up with the Santa Clara season, so an audible would have to be called.\nImage credit to Mercury News Fortunately, OKC would be playing in Sacramento on Friday, January 20th. 110 miles away, Williams landed in Sacramento and embarked on a two hour drive down to the Leavey Center to see SCU take on BYU. Williams practically was a folk hero, as people asked for autographs, pictures, and interviews. His jersey was being worn by all the students who attended for crying out loud! And to top it all off, Jalen was gracious enough to grant us an interview in our 2nd game back for KSCU sports broadcasting. I mean talk about staking your claim that you’re back in business.\nImage Credit to Spokesman Review From talking about his drive down here, to the memories of him in a SCU uniform, to a discussion about chicken, Jalen Williams’s heart still bleeds Bronco red. He’s humble, down to earth, and a rising star all in the same breath, evidenced by giving a resurging campus radio station some of his time when he didn’t have to. Those six minutes were a blur unlike any other, that gave insight to someone who was just like one of us a year ago but was also an out of body experience that illustrated just how far Jalen and the station has come.\nTalk about getting something crossed off the bucket list. Jalen is a pro’s pro, and was a great person to interview and get to know.\n","date":"January 26, 2023","permalink":"/blog/kscu-sports-interview/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"We caught up with Jalen Williams to talk about his time at Santa Clara and his success in the NBA.","title":"The Underground Sound Meets the Hardwood"},{"content":"We\u0026rsquo;re back again with some music reviews from our DJs, this time sharing reviews of albums rather than recent concert experiences.\nAndrew Bird - Are You Serious # Review by Sally Walsh # Andrew Bird\u0026rsquo;s 13th album, \u0026lsquo;Are You Serious\u0026rsquo; centers around his smooth, deep, and harmonic voice over the sounds of gorgeous strings and a jazz-like backing of percussion.\nCapsized starts with a quiet, rock-like guitar line bringing you into the start of his album strongly. Roma Fade is strong with the use of stings, bouncy and fast-paced, it has you imagining running through a city. Easily the best and strongest of the pieces on this album, it is filled with wonder and wanderlust. Bird talks of \u0026ldquo;rearranging your molecules\u0026rdquo; at the sight of \u0026ldquo;you\u0026rdquo;. Chemical Switches is slower and somber, a perfect lul in the middle of the album. Are You Serious, has sharp and plucky strings before swinging into a full band where you find yourself front row in a small and intimate venue. Often, the strings on this album, like many of his more-recent albums, has a western-twang, transporting the listener with Bird to the Americana canyon.\nReuben Cox for NPR The New Saint Jude is incredibly playful, with the vocal track sounding more live, strings tangle together beautifully throughout the three minutes. The instruments are bouncy and all incredibly present at the same time without fighting for the listeners attention. Like many of his songs throughout this and other albums, the roughed-up guitar lines bring together the whole sound perfectly between the lower and higher chords. This song perfectly balances the higher and lower toned and the lighter and darker messages throughout the lyrics.\nValleys of the Young, a nearly 6 minute song, takes the listener through ups and downs, with high-strung guitars, cymbals, and piano all in one at the crescendo near the end of the song.\nBird closes out the album with his song Bellevue, a swinging string laced ballad which summarizes all the hopeful closing feelings of another gorgeous album, we can only wait and see what else Andrew Bird puts out into this most wonderful world.\nFavorite Songs # Roma Fade Are You Serious The New Saint Jude C418 - Minecraft: Volume Alpha # Review by Austin Douthit # As someone who grew up playing Minecraft and still occasionally plays to this day, I’ve always been a fan of C418\u0026rsquo;s music, and more specifically this album, but have never listened to many of the songs outside of the game itself. I knew going in that a lot of the songs would have a kind of whimsical, explorative sound and I was very excited to see if I was correct and how the German artist approached making one of the greatest videogame soundtracks of all time.\nThe opening track “Key” introduces the listener to the light piano notes that appear consistently throughout the entire album as well as sets the tone for the kind of songs that will play throughout. Since there are so many songs on the album, I won’t be breaking each one down, but my favorites were “Door”, “Minecraft”, “Mice On Venus”, “Dry Hands”, and “Sweden”.\n“Mice On Venus” hits especially hard, and somehow fills me with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and nostalgia every time I hear the song. After listening to the whole album, it was very clear that C418 somehow created an album that captured exactly how the game feels. Having played Minecraft, I know that every song from the soundtrack comes in at random, and somehow each time the soundtrack comes in, it meshes perfectly with whatever I may be doing in game. C418 consistently uses a similar 3 note motif throughout the record that gives each song a sense of familiarity, and contributes to what makes each song feel so nostalgic.\nMinecraft - Volume Alpha is easily one of my favorite albums that I’ve listened to and after finishing the record, I had an unrelenting urge to start up Minecraft once again: 10/10 album.\nif theres one mf who got me i kno its C418\n\u0026mdash; 𝔢𝔩𝔟𝔬𝔴𝔰 𝔲𝔯𝔟𝔞𝔫𝔬 (@210elbows) December 16, 2022 Favorite Songs # Mice on Venus Sweden Door Minecraft Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon # Review by Kenji Kojima # Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is undoubtedly the quintessential prog rock and concept album of all time. It is one of the most critically acclaimed albums, and has charted almost 1000 weeks on the Billboard charts since its release in 1973. I feel unworthy to review it, as countless thousands have done so over the years. But here’s a go: Though it does have songs/tracks, each side of the LP is meant to be a continuous stream of music about life in general.\nThough commercial radio has tried, just playing one of the tracks is like picking just a line or chord out of a song – it doesn’t do the piece justice. That being said, the album track by track:\nSpeak to Me – starts with a heartbeat, it overlays spoken quotes about life from various people over a rising heartbeat and sounds/takes from the rest of the album. You can hear spoken quotes throughout the album. Breathe – a spacey floating track with views of the futility of life On the Run – an instrumental spacey yet fast-paced track, reminds me of rushing for trains during a commute. Time – if I have a favorite track on the album, it’s Time. It has a great lead in with synthesizer and drums, then leads into more lyrics about life with a fantastic guitar solo. One favorite line: “And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking. Racing around to come up behind you again”. The tail end of the song is a reprise on Breathe, the 2nd track. The Great Gig in the Sky – evocative chord-sequenced keyboard driven track, with mazing non-lexical vocals by Clare Torry Money – Pink Floyd released this as a single about capitalism. Sounds of cash registers become part of the rhythm section. A rocker with more guitar solos backed by heavy bass/keyboards. Us and Them – slower, spacey synth with a sax solo. Lyrics about the social dichotomies of life. Any Color You Like – keyboard-led instrumental, a classic example of prog rock Brain Damage – slow building rocker that builds. Addresses mental illness, likely from the experience with former bandmate Syd Barrett, who went insane. Eclipse – closer about everything in life, ending with an proclamation about the Dark Side of the Moon. Ends with the same heartbeat that started the album. ","date":"December 17, 2022","permalink":"/blog/album-review-roundup-1/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"We\u0026rsquo;re back again with some music reviews from our DJs, this time sharing reviews of albums rather than recent concert experiences.\nAndrew Bird - Are You Serious # Review by Sally Walsh # Andrew Bird\u0026rsquo;s 13th album, \u0026lsquo;Are You Serious\u0026rsquo; centers around his smooth, deep, and harmonic voice over the sounds of gorgeous strings and a jazz-like backing of percussion.\nCapsized starts with a quiet, rock-like guitar line bringing you into the start of his album strongly.","title":"Album Review Roundup #1"},{"content":" Built by: # Grant Swanson Aidan Smith Amy Vu Patrick Lee Design by: # Amy Vu Katie Wei Resources: # Homepage Animation by Teagan Moore Congo Theme for Hugo by James Panther Crowd Animation by Szenia Zadvornykh Open Peeps Project by Pablo Stanley ","date":"December 9, 2022","permalink":"/credits/","section":"The Underground Sound | KSCU 103.3 FM","summary":" Built by: # Grant Swanson Aidan Smith Amy Vu Patrick Lee Design by: # Amy Vu Katie Wei Resources: # Homepage Animation by Teagan Moore Congo Theme for Hugo by James Panther Crowd Animation by Szenia Zadvornykh Open Peeps Project by Pablo Stanley ","title":"Site Credits"},{"content":" The Regrettes Live from The Neptune Theatre # Review by Connor Grady # I saw the Regrettes play in Seattle on August 18 2022. They are an indie/alt rock band and had two guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer playing live. Lydia and the whole band had a (frankly surprisingly great) stage presence and had the small venue rocking. She would pause to make sure the crowd was singing loud enough, and even polled the crowd for what last song she should play.\nThey have pop-like catchy melodies yet incredible rock instrumentals. During song breaks and outro’s they genuinely sounded like the strokes! I have their new album as on of the best alternative/indie/rock albums of this year. It’s incredible end-to-end and they played nearly all of it.\nMy only negative recommend is that the bass should have been more audible/discernible. More of a sound check/design concern, but at times the rocky walls of sound would drown out the cool baselines.\nCheck Out The Regrettes: # Monday Show Me You Want Me Anxieties (Out Of Time) Subtleties (Never Giving Up On You) Toro Y Moi at the Capital Hill Block Party # Review by Javier Martinez # After the chaos that was Danny Brown’s set eventually died down on day 2 of Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party festival, I was looking forward to a chiller, more vibey atmosphere. And luckily, next up was one of my favorite artists from this past year to deliver just that— Toro y Moi.\nWith the lights dimming to a faint blue, three light piano keys were struck, then followed by an increasingly distinct dance beat in the background. The crowd, already bouncing their heads up and down and swaying to the beat, cheered as singer Chaz Bundick (known as Chaz Bear, and professionally as Toro y Moi) entered, followed by his gentle voice that just puts you at ease, and made you feel like you were in good hands, as he began the concert with his 2013 hit Harm in Change.\nImage Credits - Mitchell Connoll for Office Magazine Toro y Moi’s music often pulls from lots of influences; from house, techno, and hip hop (even being featured on Travis Scott’s Rodeo), to indie rock and psychedelic rock. They’re often known for leading the “chillwave” genre. I’d best describe the music as experimental, electronic, psychedelic, dreamy and overall just chill, often with instrumentals packed with lots of reverb and vintage synthesizers, coupled with mellow vocals. A lot of these instrumentals often, for me at least, bring about a lot of feelings of nostalgia, and paint grand landscapes of sound in my head.\nSeeing Toro y Moi live in concert was only that much better though. Something about Chaz and company’s presence brought about a sense of ease, and eradicated stress. After the opening track, he played another hit, Ordinary Pleasure, and the crowd only became more captured and entranced by the groovy basslines. This was followed up by tracks from his last album, Mahal, which contained some of my favorite summertime soundtracks, with songs such as The Loop continuing the theme of entrancing basslines, followed by sweet-sounding electric guitar riffs, and Deja Vu bringing up a feeling of eternal summer, with nostalgia for road trips in a van down highway 1 that I’ve never actually been in. The pairing of music and lighting made me feel like I was viewing the world through a kaleidoscope; and there was Chaz, guiding me through it all with his gentle voice that managed to sound both mature and innocent in a way, as he danced and ran around the stage in a manner that seemed almost playful in his bear beanie.\nIt was all such a funny sight and yet so infectious and catchy and made for one of my unexpectedly favorite concerts I’ve ever been to. I’ll definitely be going to more Toro y Moi if I ever get a chance.\nCheck Out Toro Y Moi: # Deja Vu Ordinary Pleasure (A KSCU Staff Favorite) Mirage Remi Wolf at The Warfield # Review by Joseph Givens # An icon. Remi Wolf is a 26 year old singer songwriter who early on decided that music was the career path for her. She originally wanted to be a songwriter only but after meeting and making one of her first songs “Guy” with producer Jared Soloman, she earned a spot as Still Woozy’s opener which later on led to collaborations with brands such as Apple and artists such as Dominic Fike. In October of 2021 Remi Wolf released her most recent album and the album that this specific tour was based on, Juno, which features some of the artist’s most popular titles such as Sexy Villain, Liquor Store, and my personal favorite, Street You Live On.\nImage Credits - Alma Rosaz Now, shifting gears, I\u0026rsquo;d like to focus on the concert itself. We saw Remi live at her September 15th concert in San Francisco at the Warfield Theater. She opened with Quiet on Set, one of her more grunge type songs and a song that really got the attention of the entire audience. After that she played many of her popular songs from Juno as well as some of her most celebrated songs from her EP We love Dogs! Such as Photo ID and Disco Man. One thing that is amazing about Remi Wolf and what showed in her performance that day was her amazing ability to sing live just as well or even better than she sounds on her produced tracks. Her natural talent and stage presence shone throughout the entire concert as it became difficult to NOT get completely enveloped in the performance. The experience was so visceral that I ended up not taking a single video or photo of the concert simply because I didn’t want to miss one second of it with my eyes. She ended the concert with Disco Man while spraying the GA section with an insane amount of bubbles. It was an overall amazing experience and one that only cost $35 for GA tickets!\nCheck Out Remi Wolf: # Street You Live On Down The Line Guy (L\u0026rsquo;imperatrice Remix) ","date":"November 29, 2022","permalink":"/blog/concert-review-roundup-1/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"We gathered some of our DJs to write about their recent concert experiences. Read our reviews of The Regrettes, Toro Y Moi, and Remi Wolf.","title":"Concert Review Roundup #1"},{"content":" Disclaimer: KSCU was provided with media tickets to this event in exchange for a review. This exchange had no stipulations about content of the review itself, and this is our honest and unbiased experience. Heading up to San Fransisco, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Acid Pauli preforming for the final night of Public Works’ 12th Anniversary celebration. The last set I had been to was James Ruskin, also at Public Works, so I knew the venue, but did not know Acid Pauli himself well, with most of my exposure to him being his legendary Tulum Boiler Room.\nAcid Pauli during a set change. I arrived around 8pm, halfway through Arula’s set and people were flowing in. She did a great job and preformed a track with live vocals mixed in – really cool stuff. Acid Pauli began around 8:30 which, while early for a headliner, was a welcome change as this was a Sunday night.\nAs the prolonged intro to his first track began, the energy in the crowd shifted. While most DJs try to and build up in energy levels throughout the night, Acid Pauli took a more dynamic approach, hopping between many different sampled genres which made his stellar mixing that much more impressive.\nIn addition to the beautiful mixing and diverse sample choice, Acid Pauli’s visuals made for a mesmerizing experience. Rather than blast your ears with overwhelming sound, the small and intimate space that is Public Works lends itself to a unique experiences. Whenever Acid Pauli is back in the Bay, he’s a must see for techno fans.\nA couple of my favorite tracks from the set.\nSenses – Animal Print Remix by Fiona Beeson\nBortonkk by Robag Wruhme\nMatatazela by MOREKI\nShumayela by Louis Lunch\nLastly, a big congrats to Public Works on twelve years of operation. Here are a few upcoming sets at Public Works I’d recommend if you’re into house/techno.\nSat. October 8th – Kerala Dust and Armen Miran\nSat. October 29th – Stephan Bodzin, Ame, Laolu\n","date":"August 29, 2022","permalink":"/blog/acid-pauli-public-works/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"Heading up to San Fransisco, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Acid Pauli preforming for the final night of Public Works’ 12th Anniversary celebration. The last set I had been to\u0026hellip;","title":"Acid Pauli at Public Works"},{"content":" STUDENT-RUN RADIO AT\n\u0026nbsp;SANTA CLARA \u0026nbsp; UNIVERSITY PREVIOUSLY SPUN\nX\nWHAT IS THE UNDERGROUND SOUND?\n?????\nWe're Santa Clara University's student-run radio station. Our team of over 120 student DJs is dedicated to bringing you the freshest and most diverse mix of music that you won't find anywhere else on the radio. But that's not all: we also feature independent talk shows, Bronco Sports broadcasting, and podcasts that cover a wide range of topics and perspectives. Without commercial incentives, our music solely reflects the passion and talent of our DJs. You can tune in right here on our website by clicking the play button above or by tuning your radio to 103.3 FM in the South Bay. Explore the rest of our site to find concert reviews, our weekly schedule, and more info about how to get involved. Detailed Show Info See Tracklist ","date":"August 18, 2022","permalink":"/","section":"The Underground Sound | KSCU 103.3 FM","summary":"STUDENT-RUN RADIO AT\n\u0026nbsp;SANTA CLARA \u0026nbsp; UNIVERSITY PREVIOUSLY SPUN\nX\nWHAT IS THE UNDERGROUND SOUND?\n?????\nWe're Santa Clara University's student-run radio station. Our team of over 120 student DJs is dedicated to bringing you the freshest and most diverse mix of music that you won't find anywhere else on the radio. But that's not all: we also feature independent talk shows, Bronco Sports broadcasting, and podcasts that cover a wide range of topics and perspectives.","title":"The Underground Sound | KSCU 103.3 FM"},{"content":"Contact Us # For most questions, please email the General Manager at gm@kscu.org.\nTo submit music for airplay, please email our Music Director at music@kscu.org.\nKSCU History # KSCU 103.3 FM continues a long tradition of radio broadcasting at Santa Clara University dating back to 1948 when Fr. Ferdinand J. Spieler, S.J., created KVSC, “The Kampus Voice of Santa Clara.” Reflecting the mission and goals of Santa Clara University, the station has a proud history as a forum for the debate of issues, ideas, and concerns on-campus and in the surrounding community, and it offers an eclectic selection of non-commercial music, sports, and public affairs programming. Vintage KSCU Broadcasting Board KSCU is located in the basement of Benson Memorial Center at Santa Clara University. The station is staffed by students and is overseen by Gordon Young, a faculty advisor. Currently, the station is staffed by seventeen students and features over 140 different DJs. To view our current show and DJ roster, check out our schedule.\nBe sure to follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with our most recent activity! Station Staff # KSCU 2025-26 Staff KSCU 2024-25 Staff General Manager: Colin Friedel\nCoordinating Director: Annie Danforth\nMusic Director: Natalia Fernandez\nAssoc. Music Director: Adriel Hernandez\nProduction Director: Adi Ranganathan\nAssoc. Production Director: Karla Martinez\nMarketing Director: Inyene Udoffia\nAssoc. Media Director: Elizabeth Blakely\nStudio Director: Cuitlahuac Ramirez\nCreative Director: Natasha Garcia\nProgramming Director: Ava Bien\nBusiness Director: Sidney Deiss\nEvents Director: Francesca Pezza\nOn-Campus Promotions: Sully Misner\nOff-Campus Relations: Shivani Glynn\nSports Director: Sam Canales\nWeb Director: Grant Swanson\nFaculty Advisor: Andrew Ishak\nSite Credits\nFormer KSCU Staff Member Current KSCU Studio ","date":"August 14, 2020","permalink":"/about/","section":"The Underground Sound | KSCU 103.3 FM","summary":"Contact Us # For most questions, please email the General Manager at gm@kscu.org.\nTo submit music for airplay, please email our Music Director at music@kscu.org.\nKSCU History # KSCU 103.3 FM continues a long tradition of radio broadcasting at Santa Clara University dating back to 1948 when Fr. Ferdinand J. Spieler, S.J., created KVSC, “The Kampus Voice of Santa Clara.” Reflecting the mission and goals of Santa Clara University, the station has a proud history as a forum for the debate of issues, ideas, and concerns on-campus and in the surrounding community, and it offers an eclectic selection of non-commercial music, sports, and public affairs programming.","title":"About KSCU"},{"content":" ","date":"August 14, 2020","permalink":"/blog/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":" ","title":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More"},{"content":" ","date":"August 14, 2020","permalink":"/schedule/","section":"The Underground Sound | KSCU 103.3 FM","summary":" ","title":"Weekly Schedule"},{"content":" Young Devyn is an up-and-coming Brooklyn rapper who just dropped her debut EP, Baby Goat. Drawing from her influences of Nicki Minaj, Lauryn Hill, Lil Baby, and Cardi B, Devyn bases her lyrics on her everyday conversations and life experiences. Devyn believes that cursing is often used as a substitute for good writing, and as such writes her songs without any profanity. She’s been writing music since the age of twelve.\nKSCU was invited to an exclusive release event promoting her new EP, Baby Goat. During the event, Devyn primarily talked about the process she went through making this new EP. She has been strongly influenced by her Trinidad ancestry, particularly Soca music, which traces its origins back to Trinidad and Tobago, and can be heard in many of her songs. The contrast between my two favorite tracks of her EP, Act Bad, a hard-hitting rap forward track, and Secret, a slower track over a beat reminiscent of One Dance, reveal her impressive musical range. She played a couple of unreleased songs which will hopefully be released following her EP. We recommend giving the record, particularly the song Secret, a listen.\n— DJ Herbs and DJ Ad In\n","date":"August 14, 2020","permalink":"/blog/young-devyn/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"Young Devyn is an up-and-coming Brooklyn rapper who just dropped her debut EP, Baby Goat. Drawing from her influences of Nicki Minaj, Lauryn Hill, Lil Baby, and Cardi B, Devyn bases her lyrics on her everyday conversations and life experiences.","title":"Young Devyn - Artist Bio"},{"content":" Whatever happened to soul music? That’s probably a question Charles Bradley, who unfortunately passed two years ago, asked himself often. Charles Bradley, a soul singer himself, had one of the more interesting paths towards stardom. It took Bradley some time, as he did not breakthrough into the music industry until he was in his sixties. However, if one thing is certain about Charles Bradley, it’s that his music tells stories of a man who has gone through periods of tough heartache in life, but who has never given up in pursuit of his dreams.\nAlways working as a singer in smaller clubs and also performing as a James Brown impersonator, Bradley knew his way around the microphone. His voice is a reminder of the days when soul was at its peak. In my opinion, Bradley deserves more credit, respect, and fame than he receives. Today’s music is filled with electronic sounds, autotune, and major technological adaptions that can change a song entirely from what it first sounds like with instruments. This is not a bad thing, however, I think what Bradley could do with his voice surpasses any kind of electronic tool used in music. Charles Bradley only needed a microphone, a few instruments, and his voice to capture a crowd in their tracks, something some of today’s artists cannot do.\nWith songs like, “Changes”, “Victim of Love”, and “Slip Away”, Charles Bradley stirs up every emotion one might feel while listening to his music. His songs can leave you with the feeling of appreciating life at every moment, while others make you feel like you can take on the world. Bradley also has an immense range in his voice as evidenced by his screams in his songs – a sound in his music that tells you Charles Bradley means business. A man who has seen and lived through it all, Charles Bradley brought soul music back one song at a time and he had no intention of stopping. Bradley deserved to share more of his amazing music, but he helped bring soul music back, and it is better than ever before. ","date":"June 12, 2019","permalink":"/blog/charles-bradley-artist-bio/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"Whatever happened to soul music? That’s probably a question Charles Bradley, who unfortunately passed two years ago, asked himself often. Charles Bradley, a soul singer himself, had one of the more interesting paths towards stardom. It took Bradley some time, as he did not breakthrough into the music industry until he was in his sixties. However, if one thing is certain about Charles Bradley, it’s that his music tells stories of a man who has gone through periods of tough heartache in life, but who has never given up in pursuit of his dreams.","title":"Charles Bradley – Artist Bio"},{"content":" Everyone knows that the 1960’s were the most influential years in music culture. Your parents know it, you know it, hell that one girl who keeps posting “born in the wrong generation” knows it. There is no doubt that todays music influence traces back to the Swinging Sixties. The creativity explosion that was seen both inside and outside of the studio was all thanks to talented pioneers who used their instruments differently from the rest of the white noise. Today, lets give it up to a few of my favorites, specifically in the 60’s rock genre, whose bold use of their respective skills have inspired generations past their inceptions.\nThe voice is perhaps the most drawing aspect of music for some listeners, to the point where my friend Snapper won’t listen to music without a human voice. And if I think of the 60’s, there are two voices that come to mind: Janis Joplin and Robert Plant. Both are respected greats that have inspired new techniques in singing, but perhaps more impressive is their widespread popularity during the time. Not 6 years before the release of Big Brother \u0026amp; Holding Company and Led Zeppelin’s first album the public preferred musicians with more classically trained voices. The 50’s were dominated by crooners and plentiful doo wop ensembles with singers harmonizing for a lighter listening experience. Comparatively, Joplin and Plant utilize a raspy pitch that is more akin to yelling than the early 60’s standard of showmanship. Robert Plant is at his finest in “Since I’ve Been Loving You” as he gives a painful portrayal of his frustration with love. The gravely notes that he hits express a profound form of the anger and betrayal he feels in the song. Janis Joplin shows her gift best in the 1968 album “Cheap Thrills” by Big Brother \u0026amp; Holding Company. The album has some of her more well known hits like “Ball and Chain” and “Piece of My Heart”, but I encourage you to look at the vocals on the rest of the album, including my favorite “Combination of the Two”, as she sets herself apart from other singers that were in the scene at the time of the album’s release (also the album art can’t be beat). The schism is what paved the way for a more widely accepted wave of rock n’ roll in the sound of the 60’s and 70’s that encouraged a harder approach to the effort of “stickin’ it to the man”. Another impressive aspect of these two is how their talent could distinguish them from the rest of their towering accompanists. Both were backed with defining bands of the 1960’s that showcased a serious amount of talent.\nSince the guitar is the second striking feature of music, naturally I was now supposed to talk about the guitarists of the sixties but since I don’t have a spare 12 hours to discuss them, I have narrowed it down to two important distinctions: LSD and cocaine. Now at first these two seem a little off color and perhaps you’re asking what they have to do with a six stringed instrument. But in many ways, these two drugs have a lot to do with the emergence of some amazing guitar players. Take LSD or “Acid” for instance, its associated with mellowness and creativity. It is supposed to bring euphoria and make you feel loose. Now put that into music and you have Jerry Garcia. One hand, the Grateful Dead wouldn’t be a band without the use of Acid in their jam sessions in Palo Alto. Jerry Garcia personifies the Acid stereotype as his music follows an improvisational tone. They’re the stereotypical stoner group. But that doesn’t come unintentionally. Garcia’s use of guitar gets glossy at some parts, it speeds up, it slows down, and it knows when to shut up and listen. It seems to simulate a drug effect as he plays with dynamics in a way that guitarists have worked tirelessly to replicate. Say what you will about his guitar playing, but it can’t be argued that he is in any hurry to finish a song. He allows the notes to find their mark in their own time. I believe he best exemplifies this in the 20-minute Grateful Dead cover of “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I Got)” by The Four Tops or in their original “China Cat Sunflower”. Conversely, cocaine is a stimulant. It is supposed to you feel energetic and euphoric but has a severe capability to manipulate emotions. Unlike Acid, cocaine is addictive and can make its users irritable. When translated to guitar, you get a ferocious approach that oppositely seems like it is in a hurry to end; not to say that that’s a bad thing. And nobody does “cocaine guitar” better in my opinion than the great Duane Allman. His voice in his guitar seems to replicate the highs and lows of a drug addiction. When listening to The Allman Brothers Band (or most of the southern fried band’s that emerged in the wake of the Allman Brothers), it’s not hard to hear the influence of cocaine in their playing. The southern bands seemed to thrive on it with the emphasis of long shed sessions live with fast tempos. Duane Allman and the rest of the band were no exception to the fancy for “blow” and it showed in their playing. Duane could bust out insane licks for songs like “Statesboro Blues” that made you question if he sold his soul to the devil. But he could also draw you in with his “crying songbird” technique that could be seen in more popular tunes and even the famous outro of Derek and the Domino’s “Layla”. The irritability in tone that is associated with a cocaine addicted musician (though sad for their personal life) does make for some genius music.\nOn the topic of genius, there is perhaps no better instrument to be associated with intelligence than the piano. But the piano had been a prominent staple of popular music throughout the 20th century already seen many variations, so it became crucial to make a distinguished style with the keys to really stand out. Greats like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder popularized the organ funk that a keyboard can produce. And though many distinguished musicians impacted the music scene with their use of the organ, nobody in my opinion brings the groove like the genius of Ray Manzarek. In the emerging rock scene of the 1960’s, most pianists were coming from blues backgrounds. But in 1967 on The Doors debut self-titled album, Manzarek emerged with his new sound fusing jazz, blues, and Latin to lull their audience in a trance. On The Doors next three albums, he finished out the 60’s continually redefining the sound of piano in rock as he switched from different styles like honky tonk and soul. Beside his genius on stage, were 3 other powerhouse musicians that helped him. Morrison and Manzarek captivate audiences to this day with their combination of self-reflection and trance like riffs, and this is best seen in their famous Hollywood Bowl performance in 1968. It’s all on YouTube so throw it on next time you’re studying, it’s scientifically proven to improve test scores by 10%.\nIronically, the next instrument wasn’t even included in The Doors ensemble. All of the bass being produced live was either on a guitar or an organ, so a bass guitar wasn’t in the picture. And sadly, that’s what seems to be the case: the bass player is usually forgotten… symbolically. Sure, you can name your favorite guitarist off the top of your head, but can you conjure up who your favorite bass player is? Most people can’t. But the bass is an important instrument. You wouldn’t listen to your favorite rapper if they didn’t make your subs rattle. Bass is a staple of the emerging rock scene in the 60’s and the success of the genre wouldn’t be the same without it. It holds songs together, adds more substance, and has a variety of variations. And bassists took advantage of this in the 60’s. We saw the rise of legendary Cream bassist Jack Bruce innovate the classic instrument. John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin lit the stage on fire with his bass efforts but I strive not to be cliché and beat the Zeppelin horse to death. Besides, there was only one king of rock and roll bass of the 60’s and his name was John Entwistle. Nobody attacked the bass with the same ferocity as the maniac bass player that belonged to The Who. Entwistle had a high energy approach to the four stringed bass. He danced around stage in fits of madness as he pioneered the rocker lifestyle along with the hard-hitting bass licks that backed his reputation up. John Entwistle and the band’s edgy attitude also gave inspiration to punk legends like the Sex Pistols and The Clash.\nNow if bass was the shell that held 60’s rock together, then drums would be the gunpowder. Though the drums had been mastered my jazz musicians like Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa about 40 times over, they had never been translated to a rock back drop. In the early 60’s, rock and roll didn’t really know what it wanted to be. Listen to any song that fits the genre and you’re not hearing anything too flashy. The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Herman’s Hermits. If you look at any of the drum tracks isolated, they’re nothing flashy. But as rock became denser through musical combination, so did the drums. The craft was refined and refined until amazing drummers started emerging in the rock scene: Bonham, Baker, Mitchell, Moon, whoever the drummer for The 13th Floor Elevators was, the list goes on. But I gotta be crazy not to shed some light on this unsung hero, who performed one of the finest drum solos I’ve ever seen at only 20 years old: Michael Shrieve in Woodstock. Using Santana’s massive rhythm section, Shrieve creates a pocket that the band just falls into. The bass and the Latin flare of the music weighs heavily on Michael Shrieve’s shoulders and he handles it flawlessly. His effort on the debut album is also unprecedented, with a pocket cooler than a polar bears toenail on tracks like “Evil Ways” and “Waiting”. Also, if you’ve never seen Soul Sacrifice live at Woodstock where Santana is accidentally on drugs and still kills it, now you know how to fill 10 minutes of quarantine boredom.\nSo for any of you unfamiliar with anyone mentioned above I suggest that you sign up for a crash course being offered on Spotify called “the shuffle button”. Thank you.\nDJ Zaboomafoo\n","date":"April 14, 2019","permalink":"/blog/60s-rock-innovation/","section":"Blog | Music Reviews, Concerts, and More","summary":"Everyone knows that the 1960’s were the most influential years in music culture. Your parents know it, you know it, hell that one girl who keeps posting “born in the wrong generation” knows it. There is no doubt that todays music influence traces back to the Swinging Sixties. The creativity explosion that was seen both inside and outside of the studio was all thanks to talented pioneers who used their instruments differently from the rest of the white noise.","title":"Innovation in 1960’s Rock"},{"content":"","date":"January 1, 0001","permalink":"/categories/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Categories"},{"content":"","date":"January 1, 0001","permalink":"/tags/","section":"Tags","summary":"","title":"Tags"}]