Jess Rock

10000 bands

2008-11-25T23:17:00.000-08:00

Some might assume the week before Thanksgiving break would be a quiet one, winding down before the long week off…but not this semester.
For anyone looking to start the holiday vacation early with some stand-out musical performances happening everywhere from basements to Bourbon St. and featuring genres ranging from hard core to Americana, this mini-guide has something for everyone.

Friday, November 14
Americana Showcase at the WXJM radio station: 983 Reservoir St. from 7-9:30pm
Though the show will not be broadcast live, it will be featuring some good old-fashioned Americana from three acts.
Here’s to the Long Haul is a foil group from Blacksburg and features instrumentation including guitar, banjo, mandolin, spoons, fiddle, lap steel, bass and guitar. The group is currently traveling around Virginia and south through Tennessee and Kentucky. The band performs both conventional and more modern pieces, celebrating their Appalachian traditions.
www.myspace.com/herestothelonghaul
Josh Vana is JMU’s latest Bob Dylan, bringing old-school folk back to life with his one-man jam featuring dexterous guitar licks, captivating vocals and blistering harmonica solos. Vana was recently signed to 80 One records after playing his way through the Record Deal Rumble competition and is arguably one of the most talented solo acts to make his way onto JMU’s play lists. So, do yourself a favor and make your way to the station Friday night.
Look for the Josh Vana group on Facebook.com.
Nick Melas is a JMU senior and WXJM DJ. Though he studies Anthropology and Geographic Science, he could pass for a music, English or political science major as his catchy rhythms, intelligent writing and politically-minded lyrics are sure to grab the attention of anyone who listens. His addicting up-beat style is reminiscent of Jack Johnson, placing him in good company. You can be in good company, too. Just make it out to WXJM and you’ll have yourself a good, folk/rock/roots/Americana time.
www.myspace.com/nicholasmelas

Punk, Metal, Rock Show at Yelwar House: 1065 South High St. from 7-10pm
For those looking for a harder genre, Yelwar House is the place for you on Friday night.
The Wayward are currently on tour and making their way to Harrisonburg from Indianapolis, IN though the band hails from Fairfax. Since 2004, The Wayward have played over 300 shows, been a part of 10 tours and have two full-length albums available, “Overexposure” and “s/t”. This psychedelic metal trio is guaranteed to deliver an exciting show.
www.myspace.com/thewayward
For an even harder band, try out Thus Came from Clover Hill. This death/black metal band names very few influence, though they include Old Milwaukee and whiskey. Enough said.
www.myspace.com/thuscame
Tournament is a New York band making their way to Harrisonburg and Richmond. The punk rock group released the Swordswallower EP and was reviewed on deafsparrow.com where their music was called, “direct, raw and catchy, their melodies are hook-laden, yet angular, the singing blends with screaming, hooks with speed and in the end tournament exposes its guts with such glorious attitude.” If deafsparrow.com is a fan, I bet you could be, too.
www.myspace.com/tournamenttournament

Saturday, November 15
Skies Over Saturn at Bourbon Street: South Main St. at 9:30pm
This alternative rock group of JMU students has self-proclaimed their music as “epic space rock” and have found themselves sharing stages with acts including Fountains of Wayne and The Season. Their classic rock influences are apparent in their catchy originals including “Out of the Sandbox” and “Eudemonia” and their music is available on their myspace page and snocap.com. The band has been writing recently and this may be their last show of the semester, so be sure not to miss it.
www.myspace.com/skiesoversaturnsos

Savage Land, Kingshead and Balaclava at the Old Club Sandwich: 750 South High St.
For those familiar with Savage Land, Saturday is a big deal at it marks the band’s record release show. For those not familiar with Savage Land, it is the perfect time to become acquainted.
“A lot of hard work has gone into this project and I’m proud with the final product,” said drummer and JMU alumnus Phil Mathews. “It’s the first time Kingshead has played in Harrisonburg and Balaclava is really heavy.”
SL was back in the ‘burg only two weeks ago for a show at the Blue Nile with Cloak Dagger, but this event is anticipated to be even bigger due to the importance of the new record and the other two bands on the bill.
Savage Land is Tim Skirven and Marty Tribble, current JMU students, David Frazier and Phil Mathews, JMU alumni and Austin Stemper, a Bridgewater alumnus. Though Stemper will not be present Saturday night, Jake Adams who also performs with Valkyrie, which recently released a new record “Man of Two Visions,” will be filling in.
Following the show this weekend, SL plans to continue playing as much as possible, especially out of town shows and write, record and release something new before the end of 2009.
www.myspace.com/savagelandhc
www.myspace.com/kingsheadva
www.myspace.com/balaclava

Tuesday, November 18
As Tall As Lions with Young Enough and Thomas Leahy at Rocktown Bar and Grill at 8pm

Not only is Tuesday’s line-up unstoppable, but it is also benefiting a great cause and a JMU student-formed company based out of Harrisonburg. Pie Smack Productions is a company working to bring various mainstream and local acts to the stage to promote music and art throughout the community. All profits from the events and donations made to the group benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
With that said, seeing As Tall As Lions isn’t just the best way to spend next Tuesday night, but you can feel good about supporting a great cause while you’re at it.
The increasingly popular ATAL recently played at the CMJ music festival in New York City at the Highline Ballroom and received “Top Honors” according to playbackstl.com, which called the songs “immeasurably more dynamic” live and described the band members as “a bunch of well-dressed hippies playing amazingly rich, textured, high-energy indie rock.”
ATAL just released their EP “Into the Flood” internationally on itunes, Napster and various other internet-based music sites including purevolume where several exclusive acoustic songs are also available.
Though Pie Smack also considered acts like Afroman, who cancelled at the last minute (because he got high?), ATAL seems to be the better choice and fellow acts Young Enough And Thomas Leahy are expected to deliver just as dynamic and danceable a performance.
www.piesmackproductions.org
www.astallaslions.com
www.myspace.com/youngenoughtodance

Wednesday, November 19
Chris Knight at Rocktown Bar and Grill at 8pm

He has been compared to Johnny Cash and Bruce Springsteen. He has been recognized by publications including Rolling Stone, Paste, USA Today, CMT, Blender, The LA Times, The Chicago Tribune, Entertainment Weekly, No Depression, JamBase and Mojo to name a few. Even with five acclaimed albums, he remains true to his roots, living in the rural coal town of Slaughters, Kentucky, where he was born and raised. And next week he is coming to Harrisonburg.
Wednesday night at Rocktown, country/folk rock legend Chris Knight will be making a stop in the ‘Burg between stops in Springfield, IL and Roanoke, VA to show students and the community why he was called “the best damn songwriter in Country Music,” by CMF (UK).
His earnest lyrics, relatable song topics and raw vocals make for some of the best country rock, making him an act not to miss.
www.chrisknight.net

Thursday, November 20
Andrew WK and Gifts from Enola at The Pub at 8pm

“This is an event that has been thought about, dreamed about, joked about and has been in the process of being planned for over three years now,” explained Blame it on the Train representative and JMU senior Rick Ponsart. “And the anticipation could not be any higher.”
The Thursday just one day before JMU’s week-long Thanksgiving break begins is sure to be a memorable one as Andrew WK, one of the most frequently requested acts around the JMU campus, is finally making his way to Harrisonburg.
“I hope Harrisonburg is ready for this mind-blowing experience,” said BIOTT representative Megan Gersch. “Virginia, get ready to rage.”
Andrew WK began his music career at the age of four when he started learning classical piano and has since worked both with various bands and independently to gain recognition as the ultimate “party-music” act. His first album, released on Island records, I Get Wet, reached #1 on Billboard’s “Heatseekers” list and his music has been featured on the Madden NFL 2003 video game, Girls Gone Wild soundtrack and various commercials.
Andrew also works as a touring motivational speaker, was a judge for this summer’s Paul Green School of Rock annual festival competition for song of the year and has been featured on The Daily Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Saturday Night Live.
“Be prepared to be engulfed by Andrew WK’s high intensity and electric personality,” said Ponsart. “This is what a live performance was meant to be. This is what life is all about.”
So start your Thanksgiving break off right (let’s be honest, you won’t be studying the night before a week-long break) so you might as well go out and get rowdy, because as Andrew WK says, “when it’s time to party, we will always party hard.”
www.andrewwk.com
www.blameitonthetrain.org

Rumbles and Jamnesty

2008-11-25T23:16:00.000-08:00

JMU has always been home to a vibrant and very active campus and student body. However, this past week the school and surrounding community have been especially busy with the appearance of Obama last Tuesday, Homecoming, Halloween and two major musical events last Thursday night: the final round of the 80 One Records Record Deal Rumble and the annual Jamnesty, Amnesty International fund-raiser.

Record Deal Rumble

The competition began with 26 JMU bands all competing for the attention and resources of the student-run 80 One Records, part of the University Program Board several weeks ago and culminated in the final competition held last Thursday night at Taylor Down Under.
The revised method for choosing the latest 80 One-sponsored bands was part of a new attempt to spark increased interest and awareness among students for the organization and the bands.
“We are in the process of shifting gears,” explained 80 One Director Danny Lampton. “We are really working to expand, market more, spread the 80 One name, help the talent at JMU and essentially branch out the organization.”
Following the decision made Thursday night, Lampton hopes to host more big events and shows in the Harrisonburg area, helping to expose students not only to the 80 One name, but to a variety of JMU’s most talented artists.
“Nest semester we really plan on following through more with what 80 One promises,” said Lampton. “We want to not only market more locally, but regionally as well, by bringing bands to other states on mini tours and marketing their music using online tools. We want to help them create a buzz.”
This “buzz” could be exactly what these bands need to further their careers as the music industry continues to move from an album-based market to online sales, which is another proposed revision of 80 One. Rather than pressing albums, which is an expensive process, the label plans to focus more on online markets and will bring the artists’ music to sites like Rhapsody and itunes, though some will remain free to download.
“We want to channel our resources to become more of a middle man, helping to promote the artist,” said Lampton. “I think 80 One could be more effective that way for the artist and for JMU students.”
So far, the revised method for choosing bands and the artists themselves have already had a significant effect on the campus and student body.
“I have never seen TDU so packed,” said senior Sean Banks on Thursday night. “The whole process is such a great idea and I’ve been really impressed by all the support.”
Judging by the enthusiastic crowd participation, Banks was not the only one feeling this way.
“This is the first rumble I’ve been to and it’s amazing,” said sophomore Michele Derosa. “There was nothing like this last year and I’m so glad they’ve started it.”
The bands involved displayed an equal appreciation for the event and each of the finalists reaped the benefits of competing as all won some type of prize.
You, Me and the Shaker, a trio of senior Eileen Graham and sophomores Ben Mills and Phil Warton won the biggest prize, including a music video, recording and management contracts and drew the most fans during the final round. The groups’ melancholy, soulful sound directly fueled by Grahams’ incredibly impressive vocals, engaging lyrics and song style set them apart from their competitors, who put on equally remarkable performances, though in very unique ways.
Junior, Josh Vana began his set with a cover of the Old Crow Medicine Show “James River Blues” and delivered a one-man act reminiscent of JMU alumnus Ryan Villanueva as he sang, played guitar, harmonica and banjo throughout the set. Vana even paid tribute to the most traditional blues by pulling out an old-style microphone and playing the harmonica right up to it in a style comparable to legendary rock history icon Sonny Boy Williamson. The crowd responded with hand clapping and foot-stomping and verified why Vane deserved his recording contract award, presented at the end of the night.
Vana can also been seen often at Tuesday TDU open mics, at Little Grill open mics on Thursday and an up-coming Americana show, set for Friday, November 14 at the WXJM radio station.
However, the final act of the evening stole the show in terms of originality was even recognized as the band that “rocked it out the most” during the final presentation of awards.
March to the Arctic first appeared on stage, fully clothed, but with painted faces, apparently to celebrate Halloween, though they seemed to be the only three dressed up for the holiday. The trio then proceeded to take off their shirts and singer, guitarist, and bassist sophomore Arthur Sanzo even took off his pants to reveal a fully paint-decorated body and grass skirt.
Though the band was initially flustered as a result of equipment issues, they performed an impressive show despite the technical difficulties, constantly rotating between instruments and vocals. The band, composed of Christian Gehring and brothers Arthur and Mike Sanzo walked away from the competition with a management deal and hopes to continue writing and playing in the area more often.

Jamnesty

For those with an itch to keep their Thursday night going a little longer, another option was available for their entertainment. The annual “Jamnesty”, a fund-raiser benefiting Amnesty International was held at the Pub and featured Red Shift, The Red House Band, The Avenue and The Super Octavius.
“Jamnesty is always our favorite event,” said secretary of Amnesty International’s JMU organization senior Alyson Jacobs. “It’s fun, you get to see live music and it’s not so stuffy. It’s an atmosphere where you can mingle and have a good time.”
Since its creation four years ago, Jamnesty has moved from coffee shops, to Mainstreet bar and grill and now to the Pub as it has grown in popularity. Though the event did not draw as well as the previous year, it did bring in a significant crowd despite increased competition with surrounding parties and bars due to Halloween.
“Despite the competition, it was still a successful event,” said Jacobs. “You always hope for more, but overall it went well and everyone really seemed to enjoy the bands.”
The crowd appeared to agree with Jacobs’ thoughts as the dance floor became increasingly crowded as the night progressed, especially with The Super Octavius’s set, the final of the night.
“They were definitely my favorite band,” said graduate student Gabby Olko. “They are a unique group of guys and are really different from the typical southern rock bands we see around here.”
In addition to Jamnesty, the Super Octavius can be heard every Thursday night at Bourbon Street and Amnesty International can be seen around campus as they often hold a variety of events. Last Monday they hosted Kerry Cook who was exonerated from death row for a crime he did not commit and the group will hold their annual Fair Trade Fair the week before Thanksgiving.
The JMU Amnesty International organization meets every Tuesday on campus and helps to support the largest grass roots human rights organization by raising money and writing letters every week to governmental officials all over the world. JMU’s chapter is being recognized by the regional coordinator for their impressive contributions to the cause.
Jamnesty is always a fun event that allows students and the community to help a good cause, hear new music, support local bands and do it all while enjoying the company of old and new friends in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. The only downside to Jamnesty is it only comes once a year.

The Roof...and Trees are On Fire

2008-11-25T23:15:00.000-08:00

Looking at Trees On Fire’s myspace page is entertaining. Their impressive range of influences, from Mozart to the The Roots is indicative of their unique and engaging style, which is defined as “Organica”, Pop and Zouk. What is Zouk you ask? I have no idea, and neither did Justin Esposito, the bands’ singer, keys, violin, accordion and guitar player. So, don’t feel too bad about not knowing. Regardless, their music defines itself.
“When we write it happens all different ways,” said Esposito. “Rob and Blake write the lyrics and general tune a lot, but we just get together, jam and form it from that.”
Maybe that is what makes their music so appealing.
The Charlottesville-based band is returning to Harrisonburg Friday, November 7 to play at Clementine Café on South Main Street, one of several up-coming dates in the area. Members, Rob Mezzanotte, Brian Wahl, Paul Rosner and Blake Hunter hail from locations spanning Massachusetts to Virginia, but took root in nearby Charlottesville 3 years ago in 2005. The members graduated Boston University and decided to move back down south and live together in a log cabin for several years, working construction and writing music. Since then, the band has become significantly accomplished.
TOF released their debut album, The Green Room in April of 2007 and plans to release their next, Organica Volume 1 on New Years Day, followed closely by another album in April 2009.
“We’ve toured all over from New York and Boston to selling out in Atlanta,” said Esposito. “But recently we’re playing more regionally so we can focus on writing and recording.”
However, Harrisonburg is lucky enough to host the band downtown this Friday, despite their quickly approaching album deadline.
For those who have not had the distinct pleasure of seeing the quintet blow minds and shake bottoms live, the Clementine show should be a treat. If the performance is anything like the bands’ unforgettable Spaghettifest 2008 set on Friday of the festival, attendants can safely expect a lot.
“We loved Spaghettifest this year,” said Esposito. “It was really well put together, the stage was cool and the people where amazing. They were just there to have fun.”
Lucky for audiences’, having fun is what this band is all about.
“My favorite part of performing is definitely the energy the crowd feeds me,” explained Esposito. “I love playing, making awesome music and seeing people dance and just let go. That’s what it’s all about. The more they let go, the easier it is for me to do the same and really tear it up.”
And Esposito has no trouble tearing it up. With violin solos comparable to Boyd Tinsely of Dave Matthews Band and wild, flailing curls to accent his powerful bowing in songs like “Camel Walk” which provoked an eruption from the crowd with every “Hey!” at Spaghettifest, TOF is a guaranteed exciting show and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Tinsley himself was quoted calling TOF “a band to watch for sure” and expressed interest in working with them at some point in the future after the band won a songwriting competition which Tinsley judged. Additionally, the band plans to record their next album at Dave Matthew’s studio later in the month.
Clearly, the band is taking off and doing it quickly. Having recently hired manager, Sean Haggerty to handle the details of booking and other business-related matters, the band has been left with more time to focus on more creative aspects and plans for the future.
“It’s a sweet time for us in the industry right now,” said Esposito. “With producing, creating and recording all available to us on our with and the internet there to help us get our music out without the middle man, it’s a great time.”
TOF has been successful in taking advantage of these resources and encourages other emerging bands to do the same.
“Record, do what you do and put it up,” advised Esposito. “Don’t worry if people will like it, just get it out there. That’s all that matters.”
Esposito’s advice is valuable, especially for those serious about pursuing a career in such an over-crowded business and should be heeded. For aspiring musicians: get your music out to the world. For music lovers: get yourself out to Clementine’s. If you want something happy in your ears and new to your eyes, TOF is the band you should be watching.

TOF will be playing at Clementines: December 13
For more: www.myspace.com/treesonfiremusic
www.treesonfire.com

All About the O

2008-11-25T23:14:00.000-08:00

The quaint Bourbon Street restaurant and nightclub on South Main Street has an inviting, casual, charming appeal. There are festive Mardi Gras masks decorating the chalk-smeared brick walls, lined by small booths and during the week, various entertainers can be heard bringing the bar to life. One might expect a jazz saxophonist to keep in the same vein as the New Orleans style décor and menu. However, walk in on a Thursday night between 8 and 10pm and you may be greeted by a cover of anything from Snoop Dogg and Doctor Dre to Incubus, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead or the Beatles.
It may sound like an unlikely combination, but one night of listening to the Super Octavius at Bourbon Street is like the start of an addiction: it might not make sense, but you can’t help but want more.
Though the band performs both electric and acoustically, Bourbon Street Thursdays are always acoustic sets, featuring JMU senior, Nick Pascarella on guitar, junior, Caleb Spaulding on D’jembe, a traditional African drum, and senior, Chris Gesualdi’s vocals.
Perhaps part of what makes the atmosphere so appealing is the relaxed, front-porch jam feeling the trio gives to the restaurant. They play either on a slightly raised stage or directly on the floor, giving the performance an intimate vibe conducive to a chill Thursday night un-wind after a long week and before a big weekend. The band interacts with the audience and often honors song requests, which included a Dr. Dre request last Thursday.
Though the band is known for their unique interpretation of “Forgot About Dre” where singer, Gesualdi nearly passes out after delivering the rapid-fire lyrics, this week they burst into a new cover, “The Next Episode” by Dr. Dre, featuring Snoop Dogg.
“Bet you weren’t expecting that one,” joked Gesualdi. “You didn’t even know we could do that, did you,” he directed towards the band’s manager, senior Greg DiVittorio, who laughed and shook his head.
“They are much more talented than so many bands,” explained DiVittorio. “Chris can sing well, Nick can play anything on guitar and Caleb is one of the better drummers out of any I’ve ever seen. And beyond that, lots of bands say they will do whatever it takes, but this band actually will. They are always willing to play.”
Though the band is fairly young and originally began as a Dangus Kahn and the Tornadoes cover band, though they currently do not perform any Dangus Kahn, they began writing originals six months ago and Caleb only recently joined in July. Acoustic sets at Bourbon Street are generally composed of covers, but the band’s electric set, includes nine originals with several more anticipated to be completed soon.
“The acoustic sets are fun, but we prefer the electric,” explained Spaulding. “In the acoustic set, there are more subtle nuances and it gives a feeling of intimacy, but with electric, there are more sounds available to us with the bass and drums and it makes for a different, more liberating feel.”
The band can be seen playing acoustically every Thursday at Bourbon Street, but for those who prefer their electric sound, they are set to perform with Carbon Leaf at Rocktown on October 28 and potentially at Jamnesty on October 30, impressive additions to their already long list of bands they have played with. In the last six months, The Super O has performed alongside acts including, The Avenue, Thomas Leahy, Skies Over Saturn, Blatant Vibe, The Beatniks, DJ XSV, Aesthetics, The Lyrical Collective, 89 Visions and others, though Carbon Leaf may be their biggest stage-partner to date.
“Right now we’re just trying to get out and hopefully signed,” said Pascarella. “We want people to hear us, recognize our name and our music and we want to make labels jump for us by creating our own buzz here in Harrisonburg.”
So far, the band is succeeding, gaining recognition around the area and growing audiences at Bourbon Street though they just changed their weekly appearances from Tuesday to Thursday nights.
“The band brings good business and is really helping us here,” said Bourbon Street General Manager Celia Perla. “They are really fun, really nice and we love having them.”
“There is never anyone bickering over solos or anything like that,” said DiVittorio concerning the bands likeability. “They play such a wide array of material and play whenever they have the chance to do something.”
However, perhaps the most endearing quality of the band is their energy and excitement for what they do every week. Regardless of the size of the crowd, or the venue they are at, the Super O always manages to deliver an entertaining show and good conversation.
In fact, for an especially interesting conversation, all that needs to be asked is where the unusual name choice for the band developed. Pascarella lit up and spilled into a lengthy conversation about Dangus Kahn and their most popular song, “The Super Octavius” and nearly repeated every lyric and piece of imagery in the song, explaining the idea of sitting on top of the world, the reoccurring riff and the huge mushroom-like figure that follows the singer around in a dream. It was the impact of this song and the meaning behind it that inspired The Super O to adopt the name, though they have yet to cover it.
The Super Octavius has been described as many things: a structured jam band, an eclectic mix of scat, rap and soaring melodies or Incubus on crack, but perhaps the best way to understand the trio is to see them, or rather experience them, live.
“There are so many bands out right now, and so many good ones, but there is also a lot of garbage out there,” said Gesuladi. “Writing-wise, we’ve got a lot to offer and I think playing at Bourbon Street every week really gives us a chance to show people what we’re capable of.”
From the perspective of an avid concert attendant, it is clear that The Super O is capable of a great variety of styles and genres and at making them seem easy. The three JMU students never loose their relaxed, comfortable feel despite fumbled lyrics or a thin crowd. The Super O is the kind of band you would want to hang out with, have at a house party and invite to come back. Their resilience and consistently good music and positive, feel-good vibe make them an instantly likeable band and one you’ll be running back to every Thursday for your fix. Rocktown might be the late-night spot, but from 8-10pm, it’s all about the O.

CMJ 2008

2008-11-25T23:13:00.000-08:00

To call the CMJ 5-day music marathon, held annually in New York City a music festival does not do the event justice. As the advertisements emphasized, “Huge is an understatement.” With over 1,000 artists, 70 venues, 100,000 fans, films, panels, celebrities, record labels, promoters, managers, and all the pizza, museums and other charms of NYC involved in the event, it’s no wonder participants anticipate it from one year to the next.
“This was my third CMJ and each has been different,” said senior and WXJM Programming Manager Sarah Delia. “This year I saw a lot more smaller bands, but it was just as good a time. CMJ is a great way to learn about new music even if you’re not a music or music industry major. Anyone can enjoy it.”
Delia was one of 19 JMU students to make the long haul to the big apple last Wednesday, October 22 to be a part of the marathon. Each year members of the JMU student-run radio station, WXJM go the distance and spend four days exploring NYC, discovering new music and making important contacts for their own future careers and for the future of the station.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to see what other stations are doing and advance our own careers in the music industry,” said senior and Progressive Rock Music Director Carrie Brothers. “Part of my job as Prog Director is to talk to promoters and labels on the phone, so to finally meet them in person is huge. Going to CMJ has enabled me to make so many new and important friends and contacts in the industry.”
This is part of what makes CMJ such a valuable experience for volunteers and managers at WXJM and especially for those pursuing careers in all facets of the music business. Though perhaps an unknown fact to those outside of the industry, those within it know, it is one built on a network of friends. Meeting face to face with active professionals and making connections with bands, managers, promoters and labels is essential to a successful career and is substantially aided by attendance at such festivals including and similar to CMJ.
“Every year I have learned so much about common problems of other stations, I’ve had the chance to see what others are doing and I’ve discovered so many new bands,” said Delia. “It’s cool to hear what others deal with and see the similarities in problems like dealing with the FCC, budgets and putting on successful shows.”
This year, Harrisonburg’s own were even recognized for their successful 2-day event held each April called MACRoCK, the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference. JMU alumnus, Jennifer Disse spoke at a college-day panel on Thursday morning where students from various universities spoke about their experiences in hosting successful shows and events and gave advice to students involved with their own stations. Following the panel, a Q&A session was held, which fielded questions from students who traveled from as far as Los Angeles and Georgia to attend the prestigious independent festival.
Other panels featured during the festival included discussions about putting on successful metal shows, digital distribution, changes in artist management and even one discussing how Americans vote, with their hearts or minds. Though Disse’s panel was comprised of recent college alumni or current students, other panels included various artists, producers and managers including George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic, True Master, the producer of Wu-Tang Clan and Mark Bass, the discover and producer of Eminem.
Though CMJ is an independent music festival and generally focuses on bringing attention to lesser known artists and professionals in the industry, Clinton was a special guest this year because of his involvement with CMJ for nearly twenty years. His many contributions to the festival and College Music Journal were recognized with a formal presentation of a personalized CMJ Gibson guitar following the panel.
Though the legendary George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars with guests El Debarge, Shavo and more were arguably the biggest act not only in CMJ, but in all of NYC last week, other major acts included Broken Social Scene, David Banner, Talib Kweli, Beach House, The Cool Kids, Minus the Bear, The Dears, Yo Majesty and hundreds more.
“My favorite show was Jay Reatard,” said junior Jessica Lonette. “There was a lot of energy in that show and so much crowd participation.”
Other favorites included Brooke Waggoner who performed at last year’s MACRoCK, Terrordactyl, Jay Nash and the Ettes.
“I loved Monotonix,” said Brothers. “They had the most energy I have ever seen in a show and were scaling buildings and spitting water on the crowd. I saw them twice in one night and it was intense.”
Part of what makes CMJ such a unique and opportunity-filled event is the way the festival is set up, allowing fans the chance to wander between venues all over the city, picking and choosing between artists and showcases they prefer. At any given time, day or night, there are numerous bands performing, sometimes several at one time in the same building.
For example, on Thursday, the prestigious Knitting Factory had three stages open throughout the entire day, enabling dozens of performers the chance to entertain the daytime crowds.
One of the featured bands during the showcase included Team Genius of Brooklyn, New York, a group of eight musicians who manage a music chairs-like performance, juggling between over 14 instruments. Though the band was not in complete attendance during their daytime show, they later performed with full ensemble at the Charleston in Brooklyn the following night.
However, upon speaking with singer, mandolin player and guitarist Emma Firth, it became clear once again, what makes CMJ such an incredible experience. Within minutes of speaking with her about the band and JMU, Firth realized she was familiar with JMU because her boyfriend not only attended, but was a DJ on WXJM in 2000. With an industry so small, it truly is a network of friends.
Yet, CMJ is not only an opportunity to find friends through networking, it’s simply a place to find new friends and new music.
“I went to an Ireland showcase and it was really interesting,” said Brothers. “There was such a variety of music! It proved there is more to Irish music than Sinead O’Connor and The Coors. And hanging out with all of the bands afterwards was incredible.”
CMJ gives fans the chance to see and meet bands and professionals from all over the world, including Ireland, Spain, Australia, Canada and all over the United States. But, perhaps more importantly, it enables the students from JMU and WXJM the opportunity to see and get to know their fellow peers, away from the pressures of classes and constraints of campus life.
Though the trip was only five days, it was a five-day adventure of tackling the challenge of navigating New York, packing in vans and hotel rooms and taking advantage of everything the city and the festival had to offer. As any of the 19 participants from JMU will tell you, it might have been a tiring, expensive, wild trip, with some days that felt never-ending, but upon leaving Sunday; it was not nearly long enough.

The Magical Misery Tour

2008-10-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

Imagine being stranded in a foreign country with no money, no maps, no itinerary and a guitar. Imagine being promised hotels, food, transportation and gigs months in advance as specified in a contract and instead being greeted with an old barn, no running water and buses without drivers.
Last Friday, October 3, I was invited to a private screening where I could peer through the gaze of 26 musicians who were thrown into that situation. Generation Tec is a rock-u-mentry still in progress and part of a trilogy of films documenting the travels, trials and tribulations of six bands promised premier treatment as part of the “EuroTour” advocating world peace, which were instead forced to build an entire United States tour on their own, over night.
The film was originally designed to document 14 bands invited from all over the world to play around the United States. However, after several bands were fired or quit, only six were left to salvage the tour. The bands came to America and met their tour promoter, Lou Ricca, who essentially left them with nothing but a tour “put together on wishes.” There were no hotels booked, no meals planned and no venue dates confirmed, just a rough tour route planned in the shape of a heart when drawn out like connect-the-dots on the map and a few hopeful show dates.
The film begins with a narrative delivered by Dionne Lennon, runner-up for the VH1 song of the year competition and winner of the American Idol Underground song-writing competition who had two songs, which placed in the top ten “Teenage Years” and “Last Day”. She speaks about her generation, “generation tech” and the disconnection between the youth culture, which comprises it and those who came before. She discusses the changing times and the fear that surrounds the American public today, citing examples of teens being prosecuted as terrorists for prank calls and using myspace.com inappropriately behind their parent’s backs.
However, Lennon also takes the opportunity to advocate positive uses for the Internet by introducing each of the bands, which participated in the tour and utilize myspace.com as a tool for sharing their music. The bands include: Exit Avenue from England, The Models of Sweden, Midterm Break of the UK, XMS 3 from Wales, Doana, originally from France and Lennon along with the Medicine Ball Caravan, representing the United States.
The tour and film begin at Yasgur’s Farm, the site of the original Woodstock music festival, for what was promised to be a major show on the tour. The 26 musicians instead found only an old barn with no running water, no bathrooms, no beds, no food, no equipment, no show and no air conditioning. From there, the “Magical Misery Tour” began.
Though celebrity appearances by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gwen Stefani, Neil Young, Tom Waits and others had been promised at each performance along with a variety of other amenities expected by musicians participating in a professionally booked tour, Ricca fell through with each of his guarantees. He forced the musicians to go days without food and running water and made members of the bands drive the vans from Yasgur’s Farm to New York City. However, upon arriving, Ricca abandoned the bands without a hotel in the middle of Manhattan, even though most of the musicians were under 21, some were under 18 and a 7-year-old and 5-month-old were traveling with the group.
“We started the tour with a full film crew,” explained actor, writer and director Victor Colicchio. “But once the tour fell apart, there was no way we could keep filming. That’s when Dionne took over.”
The entire film is from the personal perspective and camera of Dionne Lennon as she recorded the car rides, shows, pit stops, meetings and down time of the musicians as they continued their tour, planning shows, hotels and travel routes as they went, despite the obstacles.
Though the tour was downgraded to only two booked shows, thanks to Ricca, the musicians managed to work together and plan a tour spanning from New York City to Miami virtually overnight. Using their only available resources, the computer and cell phones, the musicians successfully booked the tour as they traveled and made stops at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Graceland during their travels.
“Originally, no one had plans to continue beyond the shows in Ohio because there was not enough money and nothing planned,” said Colicchio. “But, Dionne convinced them to stop at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and that motivated everyone to stay on tour.”
After stopping in Cleveland, the group continued to Graceland, Nashville and eventually Florida, though the bands were originally reluctant to continue touring with so little resources.
“We were all out of money and on our way back to Pennsylvania when we noticed at a rest stop that Venice (a seven-year-old also present on the tour) and the drummer of Exit Avenue were dressed exactly the same,” said Colicchio. “It was right then that we all started laughing and realized we were a family and no one wanted to go home anymore. So, we turned right around and went down to Florida for the shows.”
However, upon the abrupt change of plans and calls back to venues to re-book the shows, the tour was met with even more obstacles as a major accident caused the highway to be shut down. It was only by luck that the group ran into a truck driver at a rest stop that offered an alternative route, which enabled the musicians to continue their journey.
“It was as if everything was stopping them from going, but it didn’t matter,” said Colicchio. “The bands didn’t even care about the money, they knew they had to play the shows for themselves and decided to make them free because they didn’t care if they were playing to five people or five hundred. They just wanted to play.”
It is this progression from strangers, to friends to family, which the film begins to capture. As the first of three in the series, Generation Tec successfully peaks the curiosity of viewers, making them anxious to see how the remainder of the tour develops.
“Because there are so many main characters, Generation Tec is necessary to emotionally set up the next two films and develop the setting,” said Colicchio. “The second film documents more of the tour and the third is about their ultimate success.”
Though Colicchio is more involved with the second two films, he left the filming and editing of Generation Tec in the hands of Dionne Lennon and Kutztown University undergraduate, Justin Tuerk.
“We used the green screen effect a lot in Generation Tec,” said Tuerk in a question and answer session after the film. “Rather than just have talking heads, we used the green screen to mix footage of the bands and the interviews we had with them to keep it more interesting.”
Tuerk was brought into the project as an assistant, but instantly fell in love with the idea of the film and took on full responsibility of the task. Though the production of the film was guided by Colicchio, the writer of Summer of Sam and actor in Inside Man and The Brave One, and it was produced by Jeri Carroll (Summer of Sam) and Dave Pederson (Supersize Me) each only provided guidance to the two young editors and allowed them full creativity.
“Considering their ages added together is still only 34, I’d say they’ve done a pretty good job,” said Colicchio with regard to Lennon and Tuerk’s work on the film.
Judging by the audience’s response, they agreed with Colicchio’s praise and many expressed excitement for the rest of the trilogy and interest in asking Lennon about her experiences. When asked if she would do it all again, despite the problems, Lennon earnestly responded, “I would definitely do it again, but only because of the people. I couldn’t see it all fall apart because of one person.” And she is glad she did not allow that to happen, “I still talk to every one of the bands to this day and it’s been a year since the tour.”
Though at times the tour seemed doomed for failure, these 26 musicians came together and were able to succeed despite all odds. It is amazing what is possible with a little help from your friends.

For more information check out: www.generationtecmovie.com

Run like an Antelope

2008-10-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

The timing was perfect for the tribute band Strange Design to begin their first East Coast tour. Their inspiration, the classic jam-band Phish, announced their return to the stage only one week prior to the first night of Strange Design’s tour, which began last Wednesday night at Rocktown Bar and Grill.
The newly formed tribute band is currently traveling up and down the East Coast making stops in Burlington, Vermont to Delray Beach, Florida, and will hit major cities including Boston and New York City along the way.
After Phish announced their twenty years of touring had reached an end at a concert in Northern Vermont back in 2004, the musical landscape looked bleak for Phish-heads looking to relive their favorite performances. Like the Grateful Dead before them, Phish was well-known for taking seven minute album cuts and transforming them into twenty minute long jams, unique to each and every live performance. However, Phish concerts also captured something different from the Dead or any band prior or preceding them, which Strange Design seeks to recreate.
“The goal is to get the fans involved creatively,” said band members and loyal Phish fans, Aaron Levy, Ben Markowitz and brothers Adam and Matt Chase.
“There hasn’t been a band since that can compare with the live performances of Phish,” said drummer Adam Chase. “There was Zappa and The Talking Heads, but there hasn’t been another that delivers such a unique and fun show.”
The band formed and is based out of Charleston, South Carolina, though members attended schools much further north including Princeton, Towson and the University of Maryland and studied subjects ranging from Architecture to Russian History.
“The Russian History comes in handy sometimes,” joked bassist Ben Markowitz, who majored in music at Princeton. Markowitz went on to work in the business side of the music industry as a Booking Agent in New York City following school. “It was a smaller agency out of Manhattan and was a good transitional job that gave me a solid understanding of the business and so many connections, but I would much rather play.”
Each of the members has been in several bands prior to the creation of Strange Design, some of which played in Harrisonburg previously. In addition to the tribute band, all the members are currently involved in another original project, Emotive, a soul-rock group featuring lead vocalist Elise Testone.
However, the members seem to agree that though Strange Design is based upon the music of another band, it serves as a “great exercise” for their musicianship.
“Most people don’t realize how specific many of the long jams are in many of the songs,” explained Markowitz. “It’s a challenge to play some of the really hard, really long instrumentals and we transcribe and learn them all by ear.”
This intricate attention to detail and delivery of the live performance are other factors, which set Strange Design apart from other bands.
“Cover bands can play whatever they want,” said Adam Chase. “But with a tribute band, we really do the whole show with the deeper cuts and overall performance. We focus on recreating the entire experience.”
In Wednesday’s particular performance, this included a set list from a Phish show performed August 1, 1999 at the Fuji Rock Festival in Naeba, Niigata, Japan and even incorporated trampolines during the encore.
“Phish would really bring the audience into their shows,” said Markowitz. “They used to do something called the Big Ball Jam where they would throw big different-colored balls into the crowd, each of which represented a different instrument and depending on how high the crowd hit them, that would determine what the instrument did.”
Though Wednesday’s show did not involve hitting beach balls, it was not simply a matter of choice. Each show Strange Design performs is done exactly how the Phish concert was carried out and shows are determined by fan requests submitted on the website, www.thestrangedesign.com.
“It used to take a lot longer to learn a show, because every single one is different,” said keyboardist Aaron Levy. “But by this point we can really just listen to the recording of the show on the car ride between and learn most of it.”
The band decides how songs will be performed by listening carefully to their recordings, taking notes, discussing what they hear and they eventually come to a consensus over how the song will be performed after listening to as many versions as possible.
“One of my favorite show memories was from one in Greensboro where we recreated a show where Trey does a monologue in “Run Like An Antelope” about going to a grocery store and getting a cantaloupe,” said Markowitz. “When we did it in our show, part of it says to hold the cantaloupe over your head and the whole audience was out there holding imaginary cantaloupes up in the air.”
In addition to the many props and effects the band uses to recreate the atmosphere of their favorite shows, Strange Design also uses a complex lighting system to enhance the experience run by a friend and nearly 5th member of the band, James Brown.
Though Brown studied geology and is currently studying geographic information systems through an online graduate program offered by Penn State, he is also an accomplished light engineer and Phish fan, attending a total of 144 Phish shows.
“After 144 shows, I’ve seen many good and many bad,” said Brown. “But Strange Design definitely have it down. Matt is a genius on guitar and they practice non-stop. They are the closest you can come to Phish.”
That is, the closest you can come to Phish until they return to Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA March 6-8. However, due to the extreme demand for tickets that will not be on sale until Saturday, October 18, Phish fans can rely on Strange Design for their fix.
“Phish always delivered a good show,” said Adam Chase. “We were too young for the Dead and there was no sense in pop that was always the same. Phish was always different, with an eclectic range of styles and excellent musicianship. They were a major influence on us and we are just paying them homage.”
If Strange Design is simply paying Phish homage, Trey, Mike, Jon and Page should be flattered as the show Wednesday was arguably one of the best performances hosted at Rocktown to date. Next time Strange Design graces Harrisonburg with their presence, Phish-heads and anyone who can appreciate talent, incredible musicianship and an exciting, interactive stage show, should flock.

For more: www.thestrangedesign.com
www.myspace.com/thestrangedesign

Super Stoked for more Spaghetti

2008-09-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

Seth Casana and Mickey Glago of Midnight Spaghetti Productions are not the type of people to settle for “good enough”. As directors of their production company, members of the band, Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings and founders and managers of the annual Spaghettifest three-day music festival at Natural Chimneys in Mount Solon, these two entrepreneurs are always in search of what they can do to make their company and band better and the festival bigger.
Their latest accomplishments include having Scratch from the award-winning hip-hop group, the Roots perform at this year’s festival, a completed full-length documentary about Spaghettifest 5 and plans to make an even more comprehensive documentary covering Spaghettifest 6 set to take place the weekend of September 26-28.
“This year we’re expecting between 750 and 1,000 people,” predicted Casana. “Our goal is always to improve with each year. This will be our biggest yet with 40 bands.”
However, the event last Thursday night at the Court Square Theater was not just a promotion for Spaghettifest 6, but a celebration of last year’s festival, which was fully documented by a 3-man team from Cave House Studios.
“We met Seth at an MC competition and helped him edit videos from Spaghettifest 4,” explained the director of the Spaghettifest 5 documentary, Mike Frank. “After working on that we decided to do something more comprehensive. We shot as many bands as possible at the festival and I fell in love with it.”
Though Frank started out in the animation side of film after graduating from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, he turned to live-film, with special interest in musical events and established Cave House Studios, now operating out of Fredrickburg, VA.
After meeting Casana and editing a rough collection of films from Spaghettifest 4, Casana and Frank decided to take documentation of the event to a new level. After the 3-day festival last September, they had over 40 hours of footage, which was sifted through and the best 90-minutes were selected and smoothly edited into the professional documentary shown Thursday night.
“It was my first feature-length anything and was the longest, most intense project I’ve ever done,” said Frank. “We shot for the whole weekend and while the two other guys had breaks, I don’t think I ever stopped. I didn’t eat because I had to get it all! It was very physical.”
It was also successful.
“I was blown away by the quality and variety of music,” said Frank. “Midnight Spaghetti and The Afromotive were some of the best to record and Murphy’s Kids has one of the most energetic moments on film. We had heard their music so we knew exactly where to be to capture the best shot.”
Local favorite, Murphy’s Kids, who performed in Harrisonburg the night before the film’s debut last week, has been performing at the festival since 2003 when lead singer John Charlet managed his way onto the bill in an unconvential way.
“John actually sat through one of Mickey’s classes, even though he wasn’t supposed to be there,” laughed Casana. “He waited until the end, handed Mickey one of their CD’s and asked if they could be in the festival. We listened to it, realized they were really good and they’ve been in it ever since.”
This year Murphy’s Kids have landed a prime time slot and will be opening for the Friday night act, The Afromotive on the main stage, delivering their typical, high-energy performance fans have come to expect and love.
“Murphy’s Kids was fun to record because we didn’t know what to expect performance-wise,” said Frank. “When we told them we’d be recording they gave us a warning saying, ‘It’s calm now, but it’s going to get crazy,’ and told us to stay off the stage. It was an accurate warning.”
The documentary also captured shots of the venue, Natural Chimneys, the audience throwing frisbees by day and dancing by night and has several short statements from festival-goers interspersed between the many musical performances.
“We wanted to showcase it because Spaghettifest is a blast,” said Frank. “We wanted to show what it was like to be there and give a feel for the sights and sounds together. This year our goal is to capture that even better.”
The documentary shown Thursday premiered following Midnight Spaghetti’s music video “Rat Fight”, which was produced by Indigenous Films director Ryan Poe, who filmed and edited the video single-handedly. The entire video was shot in only a day, but the result was impressively professional.
Following the music video, there was a short introduction for the documentary and viewers were encouraged to check out the website, www.spaghettifest.com. The DVD is available to be watched online and a limited number of copies are available for sale.
Following the documentary which featured a 30-minute performance from Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings and clips from Electric Baby, Jounce, Ryan Villanueva, DJ Maskell, Freekbass, Unfortunate Sons, The Transmitters and others, viewers were again encouraged to sign up on an e-mail list to receive more information and to get their tickets before leaving.
This year the festival will benefit The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in honor of Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch. Though he passed away due to pancreatic cancer in July of 2008, Pausch has become a phenomenon with his book and presentation, “Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” which he delivered to an audience of 400 people at the university in September of 2007.
“He is so inspiring and has had such an incredible effect with his lecture and book,” said Casana. “This is just our way of saying thanks.”
Spaghettifest 6 will give hundreds the opportunity to say thank you as ticket sales will help support The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and give festival-goers the opportunity to see 40 bands in 3 days, meet dozens of like-minded music-lovers and enjoy the beauty of Natural Chimneys Regional Park.
“Every year it’s more awesome,” said Casana. “With 40 bands and an even better, more comprehensive documentary, this is going to be the best year yet.”
Between 3 days of camping, 3 stages of bands and the opportunity to have a cameo in the Spaghettifest 6 Documentary, what could be better?

For more on Spaghettifest 6: http://www.spaghettifest.com
For more on The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: http://pancan.org/

Stand For Tomorrow, Everyday.

2008-09-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

Seeing Murphy’s Kids this early in the semester is like an official welcome back to school: the year has now, officially begun.
“It’s great to be here,” shouted lead singer, John Charlet of Murphy’s Kids from the stage of Rocktown Bar and Grill, “It’s always great to be here!”
The show was put on by local concert production and promotion company Blame it on the Train Productions, which is working to bring another major act to the JMU campus. Last fall the student-run organization brought Pink Floyd tribute band The Machine to Memorial Hall and raised over $5,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure. Currently, BIOTT has not decided on a charity to donate to this season, but all proceeds raised by shows put on in conjunction with the company will go towards fund-raising for a worthy organization.
The Richmond-based Murphy’s Kids performed following fellow JMU favorite, Blatant Vibe; comprised of Aaron Walker, Kunal Jhahjee, Daniel Attaway, Julian Astri and Casey Flanagan, who warmed up the crowd with old favorites that had fans singing along and their own version of “Another One Bites the Dust”.
“This is our first time out to see music,” said freshman, Jessica Ashley who was joined by freshman friends Katherine Peters, Laura Filkoski and Ben Rellick. “We are up for seeing anyone, anywhere, but this is our first show at JMU, so we’re excited to see what it’s like.”
Judging by the sweat on their shirts and smiles on their faces by the end of the show, it seemed to be a good first choice thanks to the recommendations of Rellick.
“I’ve been seeing Murphy’s Kids for over 2 years now,” explained Rellick. “I’m from Richmond and always try to make it to their shows, but haven’t seen them since April. It’s been so long!”
However, absence makes the heart grow fonder and Rellick was no exception.
“I knew every song and it was great,” he said upon leaving, with his new Murphy’s Kids shirt and sticker. “I can’t wait for Spaghettifest!”
Others shared similar reactions including juniors Lauren Murphy and Vanessa Shepperson.
“Murphy’s Kids was amazing, as always,” Shepperson said still smiling, even after hours of dancing and singing in the front row. “I am so excited to see them at Spaghettifest!”
Shepperson and Rellick are not the only ones who are anxiously anticipating Spaghettifest 6, set to take place the final weekend in September 26-28 at Natural Chimneys Regional Park in Mount Solon, VA.
“We are so excited for the festival this year,” expressed Blatant Vibe’s keyboard player, Aaron Walker. “We want to learn two new songs and another cover in 14 days for it and we plan on playing all our tightest-sounding, crowd-pleasing best songs. It’s going to be bigger than ever.”
With all the buzz surrounding the weekend-long Spaghettifest, last Wednesday night’s show served as a perfect warm-up for both fans and the bands with energy exploding from the stage and reflecting back from the audience. The floor of Rocktown was littered with students and friends, moshing, crowd surfing, dancing, sweating, singing and smiling the whole night. After hours of non-stop energy on stage, the crowd asked for more and still, the bands delivered.
Blatant Vibe entertained the audience with funky instrumentals and Kunal Jhanjee’s dexterous raps, some of which the crowd recited and others, they could only listen to in awe as he raced through rhyme after rhyme. John Charlet, Reid Attaway, Adam Bonini, DJ Kyriakides, Nate Koch and Dave “Gibby” Gibson of Murphy’s Kids played a slew of favorites including “Are You With Me,” “Stand for Tomorrow,” “Richmond Bands,” “ManDate,” and “Hands On” and kept the audience engaged at all times thanks to their lively stage stunts and constant audience interaction.
“I’ve seen them a million times and they have always been awesome,” praised senior Steven Wilson. “They were great at the Holiday Inn and Festival Fest in the rain was the best, most insane show ever.”
At one point in the night, Charlet stopped and asked how many present Wednesday would also be joining them at Spaghettifest. When the entire floor erupted in a wave of raised hands and voices, the whole band could not help but smile.
“That’s amazing,” Charlet said. “That is going to be an incredible weekend and I can’t wait to see you all there.”
This year Murphy’s Kids and Blatant Vibe will be taking the main stage of the festival on Friday evening and will be joined throughout the weekend by acts like Scratch of the Roots, Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings, The Afromotive, Future, 40 Dollar Mule, HeartGetsMonkey, DJ Maskell, Red River Rollercoaster, Rubberlegs and many more. To join in on the action, tickets are available online at www.myspace.com/mkrva where sales will show support for MK.
Perhaps what is most appealing about both Blatant Vibe and Murphy’s Kids is the positive atmosphere both bands seem to create and promote throughout their shows.
When asked what he thought of the night and the bands as Rocktown was shutting down, fellow Spaghettifest performer and Wednesday night attendant, Christopher Hall profoundly tried to capture the essence of the night saying, “Seeing them, I think, ‘sing loud, love louder’.”
Though his comment seemed unusual next to other reactions from the night, something about it made perfect sense. Murphy’s Kids and Blatant Vibe really make fans feel something more than the music and as loud as they scream, sing or rap, the comradery and love of the atmosphere really does speak louder.

For more on Murphy’s Kids: http://www.myspace.com/mkrva
Blatant Vibe: http://www.myspace.com/blatantvibe
Spaghettifest 6: http://www.spaghettifest.com/

Danny Hill

2008-09-08T09:07:00.001-07:00

Danny Hill is not a music major. He has never taken formal guitar or vocal lessons. He is pursuing an ISAT major with a concentration in energy and is co-concentrating in Business. Though, in most normal circumstances one might think of science and art as two areas on complete opposite sides of the cerebral spectrum, Hill proves the most analytical can also be the most creative.
“I taught myself guitar and never thought I could sing to save my life,” confesses the senior JMU student. “I hear the imperfections in my songs and not always the good, but I think that’s what makes artists progress.”
Hill has been playing guitar since he picked up the instrument junior year of high school back in Springfield, Virginia. Aside from a few trumpet lessons in the sixth grade, Hill’s music experience was limited to his appreciation for it and self-motivation to learn how to play guitar, sing and write songs independently.
“I play because I love it,” says Hill. “It’s not to make money and I enjoy it because there are no deadlines and no pressure. Whenever I feel like writing, I write.”
Hill’s songs reflect his unrestrained song-writing and performance style, with lilting vocals, raw guitars and honest lyrics reminiscent of Bright Eyes front man Conor Oberst.
“I don’t like to write songs ‘for’ people and get asked a lot if a certain song is ‘about’ someone,” explains Hill. “But I usually write about events in my life or even things I see going on in other people’s lives.”
This removed perspective adds to the abstract and almost mysterious quality to Hill’s simple, but intriguing style, enhancing the personal feeling of the gentle tracks and further lending him to comparisons to other accomplished artists including some of his greatest influences including Ola Podrida, Okkervil River and Damien Rice.
“I like their style and the movement in their songs,” Hill clarified. “The way they structure their music is not typical like so much of what’s on the radio.”
However, Hill cannot completely reject everything on the radio, as he has been featured on the JMU student-run station, WXJM 88.7FM.
“Hearing the preview of artists coming up next and my name being announced was a little surreal,” he laughed. “Hearing my song on the radio with the intro and everything was really cool.”
Like many unsigned artists, Hill utilizes MySpace.com as his major form of self-promotion and has been ranked as high as the 13th most popular unsigned folk/rock artist in Virginia. The site, www.myspace.com/dannyhillmusic, features four of his professionally recorded tracks which were mixed at the local Silver Sun Productions studio, run in Harrisonburg by JMU alumnus Graham Cochran who also helps record various other JMU musical ensembles and groups.
“I think it’s awesome that it gives musicians a chance to be heard without being signed to a major label,” said Hill. “It allows listeners to hear music they normally wouldn’t.”
As for Hill, he finds most of the music he listens to through the popular blog, www.aminalsound.com, which features bloggers’ favorite music of the moment. The site is open to anyone, however certain bloggers are better known than others for their impeccable taste and some are even sponsored.
Hill has performed at open-mic events, but has yet to open for any Harrisonburg bands or headline any local venues, though show opportunities are always welcome for the folk-rock singer/songwriter.
“I’d love to get out there and play for an audience,” mused Hill. “So far it’s really only been for friends and small events, not major shows in the area.”
As his popularity grows, perhaps Danny Hill will develop into more than an ISAT major and JMU senior, and become a regular local performer. Until then, Hill serves as proof that anyone, music major or not, can do what they love and find success by their own terms.

To hear Danny’s music, check out: http://www.myspace.com/dannyhillmusic

Bring the Music

2008-09-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, the University Program Board announced Boys Like Girls as the chosen artist for the fall convocation center show. Since the decision was revealed, it has been a popular topic of discussion around campus as students complain or celebrate the result. However, it seems few people understand and take into consideration all the factors that must be evaluated in order to reach a final decision on the UPB’s chosen entertainment. There is more to the UPB than concerts and more to planning events than choosing an artist and booking the date. It is a careful process weighing popularity, availability and cost in order to reach a final decision.
The UPB is split into five committees, which work together to plan an eclectic spectrum events around the JMU campus. Center Stage produces major concerts, The Film Committee plans Grafton movies, Arts and Culture brings educational and cultural speakers and Special Events plans comedians, guest speakers and any other programs, which could be beneficial to the JMU student body. There are about 30 actively participating students in the Center Stage Committee and about 75 within the entire UPB. The Board is headed by an executive council made up of directors from each committee, three vice presidents, the Executive Assistant, President, Creative Director, Financial Director, Webmaster, Grad Assistant and UPB Coordinator.
In the case of the fall convocation center concert, the process begins with a list of touring artists compiled by a middle agent, Melissa Boyle Aronson of Babco Entertainment, LLC. From this list of comedians and bands, spanning different genres and price ranges, a survey is distributed to students and once results are returned, the artists who received the most votes are looked into more carefully. Price and availability are two of the biggest factors, though popularity is always top priority.
“We look closely at all the artists that got the best responses in the survey,” says Center Stage Committee director Patrick White. “We go down the list until we find the most popular artist who is available. We also make diversity of music genres a goal. For example, last semester we had hip-hop, this semester is rock, next may be something different.”
This semester was nearly something very different as other top acts considered included Taylor Swift, Wanda Sykes and Sarah Bareilles. However, different factors gradually eliminated each of the artists. Taylor Swift is touring with Rascal Flatts, which would cost over $100,000 to bring to the school. Sarah Bareilles’ tour schedule became totally booked and Wanda Sykes would have meant a compromise between a comedian and a concert.
“We would have had to decide between a Convo concert or a Convo comedian,” explained White. “We knew that the Convo concert is an experience that means so much to many students and our committee members, so we couldn’t bring Sykes to JMU.”
White also explained the complications of availability and price as a tricky factor to consider, “If an artist is touring through our region when we have a Convo date, their price is much cheaper than it would be otherwise and that’s an opportunity we like to grab when we can. For Boys Like girls, we chose a show that is sponsored by Verizon Wireless. One of the pros of choosing a sponsored show is that you get even more bang for your buck!”
The UPB has the benefit of the buck as it is the largest funded student organization at JMU. Half of the funds are dedicated to the Center Stage Committee, which uses the money to produce four concerts every year, including the fall show scheduled for Friday, September 26.
Reactions to the decision so far have been mixed.
“I think Boys Like Girls is too poppy for JMU,” said sophomore Rachel Williams. “I think someone like Badfish (a Sublime tribute band) would draw more of a crowd.”
For those who are disappointed in the choice, White suggests getting active. “Respond to the survey and spread the word! If the artist you want is not on the survey, we leave in write-in space for that. What many students don’t realize is that unfortunately many artists are not touring, not available or outside the budget of UPB.”
However, others who recall past UPB events are more optimistic. “I loved T-Payne,” said sophomore Kelley Brink. “I had so much fun at that concert so I think Boys Like Girls could be good, too.”
Regardless, the decision has been made and not without careful thought, consideration and discussion between UPB members. Whether a fan of Boys Like Girls or not, it is still important to consider and recognize the hard work and dedication of the UPB to consistently bring quality entertainment here to JMU. September 26 should be an exciting night.

School House Rock

2008-09-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

Working at the Paul Green School of Rock Music was one of the greatest experiences of my life. While others complained about summer jobs waitressing and interning, I genuinely looked forward to every day I had the chance to step into the Chatham, New Jersey branch of the School of Rock Music.
The Paul Green School of Rock Music began in 1998 in Philadelphia when Green hatched the idea to develop young musicians’ talent and ambition in a concentrated direction. Since its start, the School of Rock has expanded to more than 40 locations nation-wide. The school’s unique approach to music education sets it apart from other music programs and schools because it not only integrates both individual and group instruction, but also provides students the opportunity to perform everything they learn several times a year at real venues with real audiences, playing real rock and roll.
The school welcomes students aged 7-18 and of all levels, beginners to advanced, on guitar, bass, vocals, drums and keyboards. It also offers students who are proficient on other instruments including violin, horns, and other percussion the opportunity to share their talent in a variety of shows. Students not only learn musical proficiency and technique, but the program also places them in an environment which allows them access to and the ability to learn about musical equipment, showmanship, discipline, how to work with others and an artistic outlet. Students are also given the chance to participate and perform in end-of-season shows where they perform some of the greatest rock and roll classics, providing them with the motivation necessary to over-come stage fright and build confidence.
The School operates with an open, rolling admission and 3 seasons a year: spring, summer and fall. At the end of each season, students perform their selected show, which include bands and styles ranging from Southern Rock and Hair Metal to Led Zeppelin, The Doors and Iron Maiden vs. Judas Priest. Students are exposed to all types of rock and roll music and given the unique opportunity to learn and perform it with friends at many well-known and respected venues across the nation. School of Rock students perform more than 500 concerts to more than 200,000 people every year and have appeared at The Knitting Factory, BB Kings, The Roxy and Lollapallooza.
The goal of the Paul Green School of Rock Music, is to help students realize what they are capable of and place them in a position not only to recognize that potential, but give them the opportunity to share, explore and develop their talent and foster a new generation of incredible musicians.
The school also takes an industry caught in a vice of greed and corruption and purifies it by bringing it back to the basics of rock and roll: freedom, rebellion from the standard and love for the music, not the money.
After working in radio during the summer of 2007, with a booking agency this summer and after hearing, reading and learning about the other sides of the industry through classes here at JMU, working at and for the School of Rock was the most refreshing experience of my life. Each of the employees was there for love of music and for the thrill it gave them to see children excel at their instruments and learn to perform and appreciate some of the most classic and quintessential songs in rock history. Television and music videos place importance on sensationalism, radio places it on the number of listeners and artist management relies on audience draw at venues only looking to make a profit. The industry is desperately concerned with revenue in a time where demand for music is greater than ever, but payment for it is reaching an all-time low. However, the School of Rock removes itself from the spiral of money over music by focusing on the cultivation of a new generation of young musicians who will learn to love Pink Floyd before the Jonas Brothers and Janis Joplin over Hannah Montana.
After working at the front-of-house all summer, I have heard an incredible number of parents say how jealous they are of their sons and daughters’ opportunity to learn that type of music in such an environment. Being a classically-trained violinist, I too can relate and admit I wish I could have grown up learning Clapton rather than Bach, though both are valuable in their own right. However, the comradary and mutual respect the children gain for each other by playing together, inspires me and makes me especially jealous. I never felt so close with my orchestral peers, and yet these 17 year-old guitarists embrace 8 year-old drummers and even enjoy performing beside them.
Personally, working at the school was a blessing. For the public, the success of the school could be a miracle. This growing network of talented and well-trained musicians is coming through the ranks and coming quickly. The very best students, The School of Rock All-Stars, have already toured with acts including The Butthole Surfers and Jon Anderson of Yes worldwide, setting a new standard for youth performers.
Ultimately, the greatest attribute of the school of rock is the outlet it gives young students to perform and very often, they amaze and astonish those who see them. The Paul Green School of Rock Music is saving rock and roll one kid at a time. So far, it is doing an incredible job.

Back in...

2008-08-24T21:50:00.001-07:00

‘Cause I’m back. Yes, I’m back. Well, I’m back.

Since returning from abroad, life has been occupying me with one dose of excitement after another. Very rock and roll.

Unfortunately, I was too preoccupied with a multitude of activities, jobs, people and events to take the time out of each day that I should have to document some of the most interesting moments of my life, many of which are appropriate and even ideal for sharing here. However, the intensity and vividness of the many days, times, people and places that have come to define this summer remain potent enough for me to recall here. These first entries of the new school year and the fall of 2008 will be a memoir of where I’ve been, what I’ve done, who I’ve met and what I’ve seen, heard and loved these past few months.

Brace yourself for some serious rock & roll lifestyle.
Are you drinking what they’re selling?

From the Other Side of the Pond: Music Abroad

2008-04-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

Upon coming to Florence, Italy for the semester, it seemed obvious that in such a culturally rich city and region of the world, art would be bursting from a multitude of galleries and music would be filling the air. While it is true that art wreaks from the crowded streets of little Florence, it seems music is not so widely emphasized. This is what made finding BeBop and Voxpower so exciting.
The BeBop Music Club offers music-lovers hope and a stimulating artistic environment in a city surprisingly void of live bands and a substantial musical community. However, Tuesday nights with the Beatles cover band, Voxpower, offer a refreshing alternative to the typical pubs and monotonous discoteccas littered throughout the city.
The BeBop Music Club is a unique dig in Florence as it boasts an impressive history and an invigorating live music schedule, hosting bands every night of the week. The club was originally a wine bar dating back to the early 1980’s and became BeBop in 1987 when it transformed into a more music-friendly environment, accentuated by the relaxed atmosphere, vintage decorations and ample space for dancing, socializing, music making and enjoyment.
Voxpower, one of BeBop’s most popular bands, has been a regular at the club for 10 years, since the group began, and continues to bring in ever-growing crowds each week.
“The shows are always really crazy and always different,” said Fashian, the John Lennon of Voxpower. “At other bars there is no contact with the audience, but BeBop has a great stage where we can really connect.”
Though Fashian began his musical career with his discovery of the Rolling Stones, Fashian and other members of Voxpower, Dason as Paul, Fazzenbauer as George and Muffin as Ringo, all progressed musically thanks to the Beatles. This strong connection and influence is also apparent through their convincing stage presence and performance, including authentic costumes, similar mannerisms, English stage names and original instrumentation.
“We play all the original vintage instruments used by the Beatles, brands and years, and wear authentic suits straight from A Hard Days Night,” explained Fashian. “Though it’s funny,” he laughed, “the boots are straight from the UK, but made in Italy.”
However, Voxpower sets themselves apart from other Beatles covers bands in ways beyond suits and guitars, all the way down to one of the most unique characteristics of the legendary group, McCartney’s left-handed guitar. Because of McCartney’s guitar style, he and Lennon were able to stand back to back at the microphone without colliding, creating a mirror image of symmetric guitars.
“This is a key way to tell if a band is really an accurate cover of the Beatles,” explained Fashian. “Sometimes they even flip the image in pictures to look more like Lennon and McCartney, but when they’re on stage, they can’t do it. We’re all left-handed, so we were able to create an accurate interpretation.”
However, even for those not keen to checking that the group is picture perfect, it is inevitable to notice that their sound is right on.
“Covering the Beatles never gets boring,” said Fashian. “We play many of the same songs every week, but it is always an interpretation and not as if we are playing someone else’s music, it’s always our own. It’s still a creative experience.”
Voxpower works to perform a comprehensive mix of the gigantic Beatles repertoire, though it is inevitably impossible to please everyone in the crowd. Fashian plans the sets for each week and carefully rotates songs in and out of the set-lists for the night around a standard rotation of classics and occasionally the band even throws in a curve-ball, like their finale rendition of “Hey Jude” into the Stone’s song, “Sympathy for the Devil”.
Yet, crowds at BeBop, especially on Tuesdays, remain largely composed of English-speaking students, reiterating the lack of musical emphasis in Italy.
“Florence is very separated into sections,” explained Fashian. “There isn’t enough mixing of people from one part of the city to the other and this is a big reason why more people haven’t discovered BeBop.”
However, those who do attest to wishing they had found it sooner.
“It was a great night,” said James Madison University study abroad students Georgia Aslin and Annie Barnes. “It was a comfortable atmosphere and we all had so much fun. It was different from our typical nights in Florence.”
BeBop offers a varied selection of live-music, including Monday night “Jam-Sessions” where local bands have the opportunity to reach out to the community through music, and other cover bands including tributes to Oasis, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones often frequent the club.
“Above everything else, performing is the best prize,” said Fashian. “We’ve met so many people and are happy to be performing at BeBop, bringing live music to Florence.”
Though Fashian expressed doubt of the Florentine live music scene growing anytime soon, it is a hopeful sign that bands such as Voxpower are still performing, persisting and bringing in bigger crowds every week, every year. Through their captivating stage presence and the electric, feel-good atmosphere of their shows every Tuesday, who knows what can happen with a little help from their friends.

For more information on BeBop and Voxpower, check for more information on their websites.

It's the Final Countdown

2008-04-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

MACRoCk 2008, the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference, is happening this Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5 in the 'Burg and tickets are available now for this monumental independent music event. If you're a fan of Maps and Atlases, Antlers, Len Bias, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Chango Leon, Donny Hue and the Colors, Eat Forever, Cinnamon Band, SunKing, Meadows, American Tourist, Auld Lang Syne, The Catalyst, Valkyrie, Cosmonaut’s Ruin, Owen, Aloha, Mock Orange, Unwed Sailor, Shapiro, Brooke Waggoner, Ryan Lindsey, Deep Sleep, Police & Thieves, Savage Land, Naysayer, Accordion Death Squad, The Great White Jenkins, Wild Animal Party or any of the many other artists signed up to perform at this year's event, get your weekend badge now for a discounted price!

Come out to shows and panels all over the area at great venues including Blue Nile, Court Square, VFW Hall, Garibaldi’s, Memorial Hall, Clementine and Little Grill.

Beyond the music, get excited about panels including appearances from DIY Recording at Clementine Cafe, Record Labels at Massanutten Regional Library and DIY Publishing at Massanutten Regional Library.

For more details, check back here or the MACRoCK website.

Old School

2008-03-25T06:35:00.000-07:00

Harrisonburg’s DJ Maskell is at again.

This Thursday, March 27 at 9:30, bring back the Thursday nights of JMU dancing at Rocktown Bar and Grill.

Maskell plans to resurrect the Thursday night classic atmosphere of 2005 and Mix Master Mike with danceable popular music and a JMU-only party. Maskell will be spinning top 40 and dance music without the monotonous rap music we’ve all become numb to at most dance clubs.

So if you just want to dance (like Dane Cook knows you do), now you know where to go ahead, put your shoes in the middle of the circle and get down.

Hey Happy Valley

2008-03-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

(I don’t care if Penn State is the official Happy Valley: Harrisonburg is sunnier.)

Did ya’ miss me?

It’s been wet and wild over here in Firenze, but right now I’m more interested in hearing about what’s been diggen’ on your side of the world.
For all of you rock n’ roll-aholics out there, there’s been plenty of opportunity for jamming. Between the Aardvarks on Saturday the 15, Shamrock Fest in DC, ShamRock-n-Roll fest on the 19, Future on the 20, Eric DiNardo shows up north, Midnight Spaghetti in PA and VA and David Shultz and Exebelle on the 22, I feel out of the loop. Post some comments about all the good tunes! I’m missing without them.

And for all of you who have been missing out and indulging with peeps and hard-boiled eggs: there are still plenty of opportunities for you to join in on the good life:

This week on Wednesday, March 26 at 9 Ryan Villanueva, Eliminator Jr. and Kiddie Pool Cougars are coming to Rocktown Grill thanks to Bangorang Productions and on Friday, March 28 Murphy’s Kids and Eastern Standard Time are coming to Casey’s at the Holiday Inn in the ‘Burg, so get your dance pants on.
On Thursday, April 3, Midnight Spaghetti is coming to WXJM Live on 88.7FM Harrisonburg, available on the dial or online from 8 to 10pm.
And keep your eyes peeled and your ears prepared for the mighty return of MACRoCK the weekend of April 5-6.

Know a show? Be sure to share! Comment here!
Peace, love and parties.

Painfully Tasteful

2008-03-13T05:44:00.000-07:00

Since 2002, residents of the Lehigh Valley (and now Northern New Jersey) have had the opportunity to witness the evolution and explosion of The Aardvarks.
The band has been praised by bar owners, employees and fans alike for their ability to cater to any crowd by performing a wide array of musical genres and styles for a variety of events including weddings, local festivals and weekend shows. This Saturday, March 15, the boys are making their debut at Smokey’s Texas BBQ and Steakhouse in Stanhope, New Jersey.
“The Aardvarks are pretty much our biggest band,” said Mezza Luna Sports Bar and Grill employee Michael Gubitosi. “I’ve seen them at least 10 times and they are always entertaining and have set records here.”
The band holds records both for attendance and sales at the Mezza Luna and prides attendance records at the Lehigh Sangerbund of approximately 900 people. Competing bands have not come within 300 people of the ‘Varks’ record.
The band’s rock and roll journey began in 2002 when lead singer and guitarist Mike Rauscher and vocalist, keyboard and pianist Rod Walls decided to take a break from the music scene after a decade of traveling and performing with other bands including Honeybuzzards, Seamrippers and The Armadillos. However, within a few weeks they formed a duo, A Pair of Armadillos and performed throughout the Lehigh Valley.
In 2003, the duo was joined by bassist Scott Erickson of Circle Sky and drummer Jay Sanita of Wake up Naked. A year later, the band went through another transformation as new members, bassist Jon Novak of Spacestation Integration and The Legendary Truth and guitar and vocalist Jay Morgan of Good Time Charlie were welcomed.
Tiring of one animal band name beginning with the letter “A”, the band mates decided to try a new breed and The Aardvarks were born.
Since 2004, The Aardvarks have assembled a catalog of over 100 songs including artists ranging from The Beatles, Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, Cream, The Cars, Van Morrison, The Police, Johnny Cash, The Grateful Dead, Lynyrd Skynrd, The Doors, The Stones and Led Zepplin to Phish, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Sublime, The Black Crowes, The Wallflowers, 311, Ben Harper and Outkast, to name just a few, and are constantly expanding their repertoire both with covers and originals. The ‘Varks perform monthly at the Mezza Luna which features live music 3 nights a week and regularly throughout the Lehigh Valley area. However, the band’s popularity has grown substantially, making them more than a typical “bar band” with over 30% of their scheduled shows in 2008 being private events and weddings.
“The Aardvarks are definitely one of our top acts,” explained Mezza Luna owner Mark Culnen. “They hold the audience’s attention until the end of every night and that’s why we keep them coming back.”
Despite record setting attendances and an impressive music catalog, perhaps the most endearing quality of The Aardvarks is their youth and energy. No matter the age or size of the crowd, the type of the event or the location, the band delivers quality performances consistently making them a local favorite and guaranteed good time for friends, family, employees, guests and fans alike.
Culnen agreed, “They are fantastic. They have a great stage presence, play good music and are very talented. They are one of the best bands in the valley and we love having them here.”
To see why Culnen keeps bringing the boys back and why Smokey’s is bringing them Saturday, check out their painfully tasteful site for more information about future performances, pictures, the song catalog, other links and more.

Get Your Green On

2008-03-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

Tired of celebrating St. Pat's at the same ol' Irish Pubs with the same ol' corned beef and cabbage?

Check out Shamrock Fest.

The 8th annual festival starts this Saturday, March 15 at 12:00pm and continues all day at the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds in Washington, DC. This year the festival will feature over 50 bands, DJ's (including Harrisonburg's own DJ Mark Maskell), performers, entertainers, rides, games, amusements, party zones, live acts, open fields and Irish entertainment.

Two ticket options are available now to see bands including Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Army of Me, Carbon Leaf, Great Big Sea, The Tossers, Pubcrawlers, Charm City Saints, Pete Moss and the Bog Band, and many more.

The festival is raging, rain or shine and part of the proceeds will benefit Stop Child Abuse Now.

Join over 40,000 others in celebrating the most Irish day of the year with 11 party zones, 33 major live acts, 8 performance stages and acres of celebration space.

So ship up to DC and find your wooden leg.

H-burg Blues

2008-03-05T05:26:00.001-08:00

Looking for a way to get over the hump of the week? Check out this new Wednesday night, Harrisonburg hotspot, starting this Wednesday, March 12:

The party starts at 9:30pm at Bourbon Street, formerly known as Bombay Courtyard on South Main in Harrisonburg (next to El Charro's). The newly renovated venue has reopened as a Louisiana Southern Cuisine Bar and Grill, featuring New Orleans style food and starting Wednesday, the sweet spins of the 'Burg's own DJ Mark Maskell who is well-known for his Top 40 and House mixes, impressive lighting and sound systems, showmanship, talent and style. If you're looking for turntables, flashing lights, great mixes of new music, no cover charge and a late night kitchen: mark your calendar now.

Bring University ID for this college crowd exclusive and don't forget your party pants.
Wednesdays just got wild.

For more on Maskell also check out this Breeze throw-back and look for the event on facebook.

Culture Corner

2008-03-05T04:23:00.000-08:00

For those of you looking to infuse your life with a little culture, I’ve got just the trick.

Friend and topic of two past blogs, violinist Gil Morgenstern, is performing in New York City at the Rubin Museum of Art on Wednesday, March 19 at 7:00pm. The program is entitled Reflections: Dance, Dialogues and Dualism and will feature pieces ranging from Bach, Beethoven and Ravel to Barkauskas, Berio and Paert, exploring a wide range of musical styles from vastly different historical periods with an aim to connect the music of one age to another.

The performance will feature Gil Morgenstern, violinist and artistic director, with Jonathan Feldman on piano and is part of a series of events happening at the Rubin Museum of Art (RMA), a unique and impressive 70,000-square-foot museum located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. RMA is a nonprofit institution, which focuses on the art of the Himalayas and supports educational programs, a permanent collection, and a wide range of exhibitions, all of which are designed to aid a diverse audience experience and connect with other cultures.

RMA boasts an impressive collection of Himalayan art including paintings, sculptures and textiles ranging over two millennia and brings recognition to a largely unacknowledged artistic region. The museum offers audiences the opportunity to experience other cultures through various means beyond the museum itself through an impressive calendar featuring events including music, film, family activities, speeches, tours, workshops and theater and Mr. Morgenstern has earned a place on the demanding schedule.

If you’re by the big apple, take a swing by on March 19 and have a bite.
Let me know how it tastes.

Let's RAGE

2008-02-29T05:39:00.000-08:00

Coming to a Casey's Bar at the Harrisonburg Holiday Inn near you...

The mighty, mighty return of MURPHY'S KIDS with Eastern Standard Time and Tsunami Rising, brought to you by the good people of Blame it On the Train Productions.

You're reading right: on Friday, March 28 at 9pm, the party starts at Casey's with more raggae, ska and rock then you'll know what to do with. And don't worry youngin's: the doors are open for fans under 21, too.

If you know Murphy's Kids: you know why this show is going to be off the hook.
If you don't know Murphy's Kids: you should go find out why you should know Murphy's Kids.

MACRoCk Update!

2008-02-27T07:35:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars now. MACRoCk is making its mighty return and JMU's own student-run independent radio station WXJM is bringing you one solid showcase featuring: Aloha, Owen, Mock Orange, Anathallo, Shapiro, Unwed Sailor, The Forms, Brooke Waggoner, Ryan Lindsey and Memorial.

The WXJM showcase kicks off at 3:00pm on Saturday, April 5 at Memorial Hall of the JMU campus in Harrisonburg. Come check out the tag-team effort of WXJM and the Mid Atlantic College Radio Conference to spread the independent music love!

For tickets and more info CLICK ME and keep your eyes peeled for more artist links throughout the up-coming weeks.

This week's feature: Brooke Waggoner and Ryan Lindsey. Dig into their links on the right!

Boys with Guitars

2008-02-26T07:17:00.000-08:00

For those of you state-side, I just got a whiff of something good cooking up north...

Erik DiNardo is a Boston native who is spilling his journal entries into his songs and starting to gain some real recognition for it. DiNardo released his debut album in 2007 and has earned praise from Seventeen and CUSP Magazine among others.

He has been compared to Jason Mraz, The Goo Goo Dolls and John Mayer, all of which are very good company, and has a similar contagious appeal like other guitarist, singer, song-writers like Matt Nathanson and Howie Day.

The album, "Turning Me Loose" was produced by Chris Keup (Jason Mraz, Jonathan Rice) and was engineered by Stewart Myers (Lifehouse, Mandy Moore) and is a chill mix of thoughtful melodies that have an appeal that is difficult to deny.

For more info on Erik, check out his MySpace profile or find him on CDBaby.com.

Viva Valentine's Violin!

2008-02-21T01:22:00.000-08:00

If you haven't read yesterday's blog, chew on that first! If you're hungry for more, keep reading here...

Upon later conversations with Morgenstern, the rational behind the unique selection of compositions was made clear. After seeing the Barkauskas Partita piece listed in a concert program in Russia, Morgenstern was immediately reminded of Bach and sought pieces with comparable dance rhythms, which would complement each other.

Riconscenze per Goffredo Petrassi by Carter was also very deliberate as the piece was composed as a dedication to well-known Italian composer Petrassi and this year also marks Carter's 100 birthday.

The Dante Suite by Saylor was an obvious choice for many reasons, not the least of which being Dante Alighieri was a Florentine. Though he was exiled from the city for political reasons, Dante is still well loved here in Firenze and even has his own monument outside of Santa Croce, though he is not buried in the church.

The piece was also appropriate for Morgenstern as he, along with writer Jonathan Levi, toured a stage production of Dante's Inferno based on Robert Pinsky's translation of the classic epic. The duo even formed a theatre group with a name inspired by the nine circles of Dante's Inferno and call themselves, the Nine Circles Chamber Theatre. Since it's creation, the theatre has created and performed seven stage productions, combining a wide spectrum of artistic talents ranging from music and acting to dancing and visual arts.

The entire program was very well constructed; mixing classical and modern pieces ranging from 1720 to 1997 and overcame the challenges of a solo string performance. Because string instruments cannot sustain chords, counterpoint and harmony are impossible. "I programmed works that I thought overcame those challenges and were at the same time, 'violinistic'," said Morgenstern.

The performance was also inspiring from another perspective.

"I usually joke that the average age for classical audiences is 'deceased'," said Morgenstern. "I can't state strongly enough how wonderful and exciting it was to see younger people in the audience...The energy I felt from the students was especially invigorating because, whether they enjoyed it or not, they were extremely attentive. We can't ask for more than that."

Music, like every art form has and will continue to change over time. However, the importance of understanding the roots and beginnings of the classics and acquiring a respect for the masterpieces, which have preceded the art of today, is so crucial to forming a well-rounded human being. "Ultimately, the arts are a civilizing force; without them we face a civilization without the 'civil' component," added Morgenstern.

This is one of the most important lessons I have learned while studying here in Florence. It is impossible to grasp the importance of and skill needed to compose and create the art surrounding me here, but it is essential to try. The slow death of the arts in school programs and lack of emphasis on true artistic creations in media is both tragic and ominous.

"The lack of arts education both in the schools and at home (used to be that everyone could have a piano rather 6 television sets) is devastating in my view," said Morgenstern. This shift of emphasis from art to entertainment and the blurred line between them is an issue worth addressing, though on the greater list of war, economics and health, seems to fall by the wayside among the political issues of today. With that in mind, the best each of us can do is try to seek out and appreciate the opportunities we all have to see, hear and learn from the art all around us.

This Valentine's Day I did not receive a typical gift. I received something much better: the chance to see and hear art come alive, meet an incredible musician and revive my own personal appreciation for something much bigger than myself. Viva l'arte.

Violin for Valentine's Day

2008-02-20T06:35:00.000-08:00

Though I may not have had a boyfriend to take me out for a romantic dinner and buy me roses and chocolate, this Valentine's Day was my favorite to date and more than exceptionally sweet.

I had the pleasure of seeing Gil Morgenstern perform, right here at the Palazzo Capponi in our very own Rose Suite.

Mr. Morgenstern is a violinist with one of the most impressive resume's I have ever seen. He has performed since he was five and has traveled all over the world to destinations including New York, London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Berlin and Hong Kong and has performed with symphonies and orchestras in St. Louis, Baltimore, Louisville, Indianapolis, Denver, Milwaukee, New Jersey and North Carolina. He has been featured on TV and NPR broadcasts, worked with Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and Pulitzer Prize poet Yusef Komunyakaa. He has been the director of various creative organizations and performance series and has performed at the White House. That's just a few of his accomplishments.

Being a violinist since I was seven made the whole experience somewhat surreal. As Mr. Morgenstern played the first few notes of Bach's Partita in E Major I could feel the tears well up and my heart rate increase as I recognized it as one of the pieces I performed years before. His sound was flawless and rich, doing justice to the piece that I was never capable of. He brought the classical sound to new life.

However, after the Bach piece, there was a radical change in style. The next selection was by Vytautas Barkauskas and was unlike any violin solo I have ever heard, let alone tried to play. The complex range of dynamics, styles and techniques was incredible and the modern feel was engaging. Though the audience was made up of a good majority of students, which was refreshing, each pair of eyes and doubtlessly ears, were completely glued to the flying fingers and lively bow.

Mr. Morgenstern continued the night with Riconscenze per Goffredo Petrassi by Elliott Carter and Dante Suite for Solo Violin by Bruce Saylor, which never failed to keep the audience attentive and readings from Dante's Inferno were sprinkled throughout the routine, both by JMU students and Professor Luca Baldoni.

For more on my own reactions and about Mr. Morgenstern and the pieces, check back tomorrow...

Come on, Ride the Train...

2008-02-15T06:44:00.000-08:00

They have been called “The Next Big Thing” by the Boston Tribune and their songs have been called “accessible but uncompromising in their creativity” by David Royko of the Chicago Tribune. They were recognized by and invited to the studio of bluegrass legend David Grisman and have performed on the same ticket as well-known and established artists like Sam Bush, Josh Ritter, Allison Krauss, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Medeski Martin and Wood and George Strait. Though they have toured on and off for the past seven years, this Charlottesville-based five-piece still has a soft spot for the hometown crowds of Virginia and this Wednesday, February 20, they will be sharing the love with Harrisonburg and JMU.
Old School Freight Train will be performing this week at Rocktown Bar and Grill with Eliminator Jr. in a show organized by the recently established and locally run concert production and promotion company, Blame it on the Train Productions. Doors open at 8pm and everyone ages 18 and up is welcome to see and hear the band that impressed even Grisman, himself enough to give them an invitation to his house and studio in California.
“After forty years of recording acoustic music, it’s not very often that a new band catches (and keeps) my attention,” says Grisman. “Old School Freight Train has done that and more.”
College buddies, Pete Frostic (mandolin and mandocello), Jesse Harper (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Ben Krakauer (banjo) began playing together in Williamsburg, Virginia and were later joined by Darrell Muller (upright bass) and Nate Leath (fiddle). The group took off after sending a demo to David Grisman, who invited them to a show at the Birchmere in Washington, DC where OSFT met him after the show and the boys were met by Grisman’s immediate interest to help the band record and promote their material.
Since teaming up with one of the most accomplished bluegrass musicians in the business, who has performed with artists including Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead, OSFT recorded and released Run in 2005 on Grisman’s Acoustic Disc Label and self-released the album Live in Ashland. Later in this week on February 22, the band will be filming a show at the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville and news about their next release, due to out in April, can be found online.
But for those left unimpressed or unconvinced by reviews and endorsements, the best way to appreciate OSFT is to see the band live. “Our shows are very energetic,” says Frostic. “Anyone who comes can expect to see high energy musicians who are taking a chance. We play songs that are catchy, some covers people already know and we jam, so each show is different.”
The group plays an eclectic style of music fusing jazz and bluegrass with Celtic and Latin hues and thoughtful lyrics. The vocals of Harper also lend themselves to an easy comparison with Ben Harper, smoothly coating intricate melodies and arrangements composed through the group effort of the band. “We all write together,” explained Frostic. “We’ll sometimes put chords in a hat and pull them out and then we each go away and take 15 minutes to come up with something. Then we reconvene and pick the best or combine them.”
OSFT’s influences range from Van Morrison and Brad Mehldau to artists covered on Run including Stevie Wonder and Randy Newman, though their unique combination of styles can most accurately be described as the probable future of bluegrass.
“We wanted to play everything,” said Frostic. “But it eventually coalesced because some things felt natural and other things we were terrible at. The training we’ve had has been with each other.”
Regardless of musical preference, the show is guaranteed to deliver a quality performance, as OSFT has proved to be an influential contemporary bluegrass group and emphasize the best part of performing is the energy of the crowd. “I love taking a risk musically and hoping it works,” says Frostic. “When it does, it’s great, when it’s bad it’s awful. But that thrill of trying new things is probably my favorite.”
This will be OSFT’s second appearance in Harrisonburg after performing at The Little Grill Collective several years ago and more information on the show can be found online at www.osft.net or on the Old School Freight Train MySpace page. More information and tickets can also be found at www.blameitonthetrain.org,
For more on the band, check out YouTube.com for video blogs of the touring and recording process.

Check out the Monday edition of the Breeze to see this article in print!

Alright Ramblers, Let's Get Ramblin'

2008-02-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

Word on the street, or Via here in Italy, is that this weekend was pretty full of Rock n' Roll. And I want to hear all about it!

Saturday night was both the Futbol for Change benefit show at Rocktown featuring the Sometimes Favorites AND Midnight Spaghetti's fifth anniversary house party at The Bag. Even over here I've heard about the DVD screening, commemorative posters and special guests including Blatant Vibe, Ryan Villanueva and DJ Maskell. But I still need details! Post a comment if you were one of the lucky (and awesome) ones who went to either show!

And don't forget: Friday, February 15th at a JMU TDU near you: 7:30pm-12am, Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings with Detroit Lounge City!

AND...(more on this later) Old School Freight Train is coming to Rocktown on Wednesday, February 20! Keep your eyes peeled for Blame it on the Train Production rep's or check out the site to buy your tickets now!

This is the End

2008-02-06T05:18:00.000-08:00

I visited Paris for the first time nearly 10 years ago. I was only 11 and traveling with an orchestra on a tour of Europe for 17 days, so as you can imagine, we were being shuffled here and there for performances, museum visits, etc. In addition, the city was erupting in a World Cup frenzy of excitement, making it even more challenging to enjoy the city's beauty and making the French even more impatient with Americans lacking any French-speaking abilities. This initial and somewhat disappointing first impression of France and Paris in particular, was enough to convince me never to return.

However, this entire experience was before I fell in love with The Doors.

Studying in Italy has provided me and each of the students here with a unique opportunity for travel. Thanks to the efficiency of trains and affordability of flights, we all came here with the expectation to see as much as possible. Though I had promised myself never to return to Paris, it was first on the list of places to see for many of my friends here in the program. I was hesitant to agree to the trip because of my previous experience and because of my long list of other places to see, but after weighing the options, decided to make the trip. Though I had seen the Louvre, Notre Dame, The Arc de Triumph, and the Eiffel Tower, there was another landmark in Paris which I had been completely unaware of during my previous visit: Jim Morrison's grave.

My interest in The Doors began my senior year of high school at a local library. I had been researching the evolution of rock and roll music for a paper when I came across a book by the drummer of The Doors, John Densmore called "Riders on the Storm". Out of nothing more than curiosity, I decided to check the book out. Though I read the book by chance, my behavior since has been very deliberate.

Reading Densmore's book did more than spark my interest in the band and Morrison in particular, but in rock history in general. Since reading "Riders on the Storm", I have also read various books about Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and John Lennon and have become an avid reader of music magazines including Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Spin and Paste. However, I still remain most interested in The Doors, their short-lived peak of fame and the mystery surrounding their front man, Mr. Mojo Risin' (move those letters around and see what they spell), James Douglas Morrison.

Morrison was born December 8, 1943 in Melbourne, Florida, but was destined to a life of travel as his father, Admiral George Stephen Morrison was active in the United States Navy. In 1947, when he was only 4-years-old, he witnessed a car accident involving a family of Native Americans while traveling in the desert with his own family. This experience found its way into multiple future-Doors songs including "Riders on the Storm" and "Peace Frog" and for the rest of his life, Morrison would consider the incident be one of his most influential experiences. However, his family does not recall ever seeing accident.

Though Morrison is most well-known for his activity with The Doors, he attended college for film at St. Petersburg Junior College, Florida State University and UCLA, and published two volumes of poetry in 1969, The Lords/Notes on Vision and The New Creatures. These were the only volumes of Morrison's poetry released during his short lifetime.

After graduating from UCLA, Morrison teamed up with fellow classmate and future keyboardist of The Doors, Ray Manzarek to form the group with guitarist Robbie Krieger and drummer John Densmore. The name of the band was inspired by an Aldous Huxley book, The Doors of Perception which borrowed a line of poetry from William Blake. "When the doors of perception are cleansed/Things will appear as they are, infinite." This quotation was one of many which inspired Morrison, an avid reader of such writers including Charles Baudelaire, Arthur Rimbaud, Jack Kerouac and especially the philosophical works of Fredrich Nietzsche.

The Doors released six studio albums between 1967 and 1971 and influenced the future of rock and roll within their limited run. Though they were only actively touring and recording for less than a decade, they left behind an impressive catalog of rock music classics including “Peace Frog”, “L.A. Woman”, “Light My Fire”, and “Touch Me” and Morrison’s style has inspired rock generations ever since. The prototypical sexy and mysterious rock star image and legendary leather pants have been used as a model for later artists including Roger Daltrey, Mike Love, Robert Plant and Iggy Pop.

However, their striking success was also marred by the destructive and ultimately deadly tendencies, primarily of Morrison, which led to lawsuits, disagreements and the demise of a band and a life that had barely begun.

Jim Morrison was found dead on July 3, 1971 by girlfriend, Pamela Courson in his Paris apartment bathtub.

In accordance with French law, no autopsy was performed because no foul play was suspected, so precise cause of death has remained unknown. Local French doctor Max Vasille examined Morrison’s body and “heart failure” was the announced cause of death, though this was later considered suspicious because Morrison’s personal physician in the United States stated he “was in excellent health before traveling to Paris.”

The manager of The Doors, Bill Siddons, released an official statement claiming Morrison had died peacefully of natural causes though he chose not to view the actual corpse.

Besides Siddons, none of Morrison’s friends or family had the opportunity to see the body as a three-day news blackout followed the abrupt death and the body was quickly taken and buried at Pere-Lachise, one of the most famous cemeteries in the world where other notables including Moliere and Oscar Wilde are buried. Being a national French cemetery, it is unusual that a foreigner was allowed a place among such distinguished company. Furthermore, the site remained unmarked for several months following the burial and upon viewing the gravesite, Doors drummer, John Densmore claimed the grave was too short.

Since Morrison’s death, other suspicions have surfaced concerning cause of death and whether The Lizard King died at all.

Conversations with Courson have revealed a heroin overdose as a possible cause of death as Morrison had inhaled the substance mistaking it for cocaine. However, Courson also reported various contradicting stories including versions where his death was her own fault. Unfortunately, Courson died four years later, like Morrison, at the age of 27, of a heroin overdose.

This past July 2007 another story surfaced as described by Morrison’s friend Sam Bernett in which the rock icon died of a heroin overdose in the Rock n’ Roll Circus nightclub. After overdosing, Morrison was taken back to his own apartment by the dealers who sold him the heroin that night. Allegedly, those who witnessed the event were sworn to secrecy in order to preserve the reputation of the well-known nightclub.

Though there are other theories concerning more mystic and spiritual reasons for Morrison’s death, the other most popular theory is, of course, that he never died at all. Morrison had mentioned pulling a “death stunt” in 1967 as a means of gaining press attention for the band and had also discussed the desire to “radically change careers, reappearing as a suited and neck-tied businessman.”

Stories still surface today of sightings around Paris, radio interviews in the Midwest, eerie phone conversations and mysterious withdrawals from bank accounts in the singer’s name, but no definitive evidence has been shown to prove the singer is alive. Yet little has been shown to actually prove him deceased. (Several years back a group of avid Doors fans even went so far as to try and compare Morrison’s dental records to the buried body’s remains, but failed to gain access to the body.)

Further fueling the fire, Ray Manzarek was also quoted as saying, “If there was one guy that would have been capable of staging his own death, getting a phony death certificate and paying off some French doctor… putting 150 pound sack of sand into a coffin and splitting to some point on this planet, Africa, who knows where, it is Jim Morrison who would have been able to pull it off.”

This was a lot to consider when staring at the unimpressive grave. Though finding the cemetery was easy (it is one of the most famous and visited sites in France), finding Morrison’s grave was not. The cemetery is a mess of stones and pathways, weaving without rhyme or reason up and down a gigantic hill decorated with gravesites and memorials to some of the greatest artists and most famous French families dating back hundreds of years.

Morrison’s grave is oddly placed, sandwiched awkwardly between other unknown graves with no definitive marking other than the young people in tye-dye staring at the stone behind a small metal gate blocking direct access to the grave. Flowers decorate the modest stone and the name is barely legible, even from the closest possible point.

It was not what I had expected. I remembered pictures of the grave with a bust of Morrison marking the site, but remembered upon my arrival that it was defaced and later stolen. Prior to that, French officials had placed a shield over the grave, but that too was stolen.

However, what most interested me about the simple site was the Greek inscription below the name and date of my favorite artist, singer and poet of all time: “KATA TON AAIMONA EAYTOY”, meaning “true to his own spirit.”

Whether dead or alive, and for whatever reason, Morrison was, true to himself. Without fear or apprehension of the rest of the world, Mr. Mojo Risin’ progressed forward in his own desired direction throughout his tumultuous career and life and remains a unique icon of rock and roll and the psychedelic musical era he helped to define.

Leaving Paris, I was satisfied. Though I and the rest of the world may never know the truth of Morrison’s death or lack thereof, we can still remember his contributions to music, art and culture and move forward, always mindful: “The future’s uncertain and the end is always near…”

Heat it Up

2008-02-05T02:34:00.000-08:00

Got the H-burg blues? I've got the cure: Take two of these and call me in the morning...

Rocktown: this Saturday night, February 9 at 9pm:
Check out a benefit show raising money for Futbol for Change featuring The Sometimes Favorites. The charity was started by the JMU soccer team and is working to raise money for underprivileged children in Ghana. Funds will help fund their education and buy them soccer supplies they otherwise could not afford.

The Bag: this Saturday night, February 9:
Don't miss out on the celebration! Midnight Spaghetti's fifth anniversary house party is happening and it's perfectly planned out: Rocktown with The Sometimes Favorites + The Bag with Midnight Spaghetti=one incredible night.

Rocktown: Wednesday, February 20 at 10pm:
Blame it on the Train Productions is bringing Charlottesville visitors Old School Freight Train to a Rocktown near you. With intelligent lyrics and an impressive blend of musical genres ranging from folk, jazz and soul to pop, Latin and Celtic, they've got something for everyone. Take advantage of the opportunity to see this up-and-coming next big thing!

JMU's Taylor Down Under: Friday, February 15 at 7:30pm:
Come get your fix of Detroit Lounge City and Midnight Spaghetti right on your very own JMU campus! How can you pass up something this funky AND convenient?

WXJM Live (88.7FM Harrisonburg): Thursday, March 13 from 8pm-10pm:
Really like pasta? Good, because there is plenty to go around. Tune in or listen online to JMU's student-run independent radio station WXJM for a special live broadcast of Midnight Spaghetti.

Stay groovy.

It is Time for a Love Revolution

2008-02-01T06:31:00.000-08:00

Need something to look forward to after the Giants beat the Patriots this weekend in the most fantastic Super Bowl in history? (That's right, let's get some bets on the table!) No need to worry: Lenny Kravitz to the rescue.

For long-time Kravitz fans like me (admit it! you are, too!), this "Love Revolution" is a breath of fresh air from the stale pop records we've all had to bear recently. It seems as the industry makes its steady decline toward extinction, the labels have gradually given in to their destiny and are marching toward the grave with more monotonous, repetitive and typical tunes than ever before. So in response to Kravitz's eighth studio album title, "It is Time for a Love Revolution", I say, "Yes, it is time". Let's "let love rule"...and good music, too.

The album is set to release next Tuesday, February 5 and will include 14 new tracks all of which were written, composed, arranged, performed and produced by Kravitz. Talk about a jack of all trades AND a diamond in the rough! Though it would be unfair to assume most very successful artists are cookie-cutter creations of major label's artist and development teams, it wouldn't be too far from the truth to predict that many of them are. In this era of big-business, it is rare to find a major-label artist as dedicated to the craft of following their artistic creation from start to finish as thoroughly as Kravitz. Though I could name dozens of independent and lesser-known bands that dedicate their lives to the craft, I would be hard pressed to listen to the radio and name any recent artists who do the same. So, if you were looking for a justification to admit your love of Lenny, now you've got it.

Leonard Albert Kravitz has been mixing rock, soul, funk, reggae, psychedelic, folk and ballad styles since 1989 and not only writes, produces and arranges the music, but plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion and sings both lead and backing vocals on many of the tracks. He has been the recipient of a multitude of awards including MTV Video Music Awards, Grammy's, VH1 Awards and Rock American Music Awards. His long list of accomplishments and impressive ability to adapt to changing musical preferences in popular music make him one of the most versatile and successful artists today.

Being the softy that I am for hard-copy CD's I will be sitting here jealous on the other side of the ocean as you all will be able to buy the album in stores for much less than I can here in the land of the Euro. So take advantage of the dollar and your local CD store! And save me a copy, too ;)

Until next time, I'm "always on the run".

PS: Leave a comment!

Don't Mind if I Do...

2008-01-30T07:40:00.000-08:00

Hey Harrisonburg!

Mi dispiace for the delay in entries, but missing planes from Paris will do that to you! ...However, that's a story for another time.

The matter at hand is much more funky and much less expensive:

Midnight Spaghetti is celebrating their 5th anniversary in the 'Burg and I am so jealous that you can go and I can't!

On Saturday, February 9, Blame it on the Train Productions is bringing you Midnight Spaghetti's 5th birthday party at The Bag starting at 10pm. You can expect the typical Midnight Spaghetti shennanigans and more surprises than ever including plastic helmets, party hats, trophies, Midnight Spaghetti temporary tattoos, balloons, Spaghettifest 5 DVDs and a good time!

Unfortunately my time is up here in Florence, so you will have to hang tight for more. Until then, party on my party people.

RIP

2008-01-23T05:49:00.000-08:00

RIP Heath Ledger.

Some delicious Cool-Aid...

2008-01-22T06:07:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, JMU's student-run station, WXJM, hosted the annual "COOLAID" benefit event. Though I unfortunately could not be in attendance thanks to the big lake in my way, over one hundred others were, despite the nasty Virginia weather you've been having, and the day was a success. WXJM raised over $700 and bands including Valkyrie, Ankou, Special Moments, Linda Drapper and Voyces among others performed for the good cause.
Money raised could potentially help fund MACRoCK, the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference which is tentatively planned for later this spring. MACRoCK is a festival showcase for independent artists, like all your favorites featured on WXJM.
Those running the event put in over 12 hours the day of the event and many more in preparation, so kudos to their hard work!

Fill me in on all the juicy details! yummm...Post a comment!

ROCK

2008-01-21T08:12:00.000-08:00

Ciao tutti!

I may be in Italy, but that doesn't mean I don't know how to keep you entertained over there in the 'Burg. Check out some of the sweet events your locally-run Blame it on the Train Productions is bringing your way:

-On Friday January 25: Murphy's Kids, Blatant Vibe, and Secret Ninja Death Squad are playing at Casey's Bar at the Holiday Inn at 9pm (And don't worry youngin's! If you are under 21, you can still get in.) Look out for those Blame it on the Train rep's on the Commons January 24 and 25.
-Get your fabulous on with a TBA Rap Show with DJ Mark Maskell in early February.
-On February 9: Our favorite midnight snack Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings are coming to the Bag. More shennanigans still TBA.
-And keep your eyes peeled for more events happening February 15, 20 and March 19 or keep checking at the BIOTT website for the good word.

Of course, it is essential to remember the mission of Blame it on the Train is to keep raising money for great causes, so help them out! Last December they raised $5,000 for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure and are hoping to keep the tradition going.

Got any ideas for acts you'd like to see at JMU? Leave a comment or vote in the poll on this page.

Stay fly.

I love COOL-AID!

2008-01-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

Check it out all my party people:

Your favorite college station for independent jams is bringing you COOL-AID...but this kind is much more refreshing than the drink with the big pitcher for a mascot.

COOL-AID is a benefit show and art fair supporting MACRoCk: the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference. (Also coming to JMU, TBA)

Soooo, on Saturday, January 19th at the Festival Ballroom there is going to be a FREE art fair (that means no excuses) from 12-5 and the show starts at 5pm. It's $6 to get in or $5 with a canned food donation to see bands including Aggrocrag, Valkyrie and many, many more. Once again WXJM is hooking you up with ways to rock out while giving back, so clear the date!

For details on COOL-AID and more, check out http://orgs.jmu.edu/wxjm

Split open and melt

2008-01-14T06:58:00.000-08:00

Though I may be in Florence and totally submerged in Italian culture and politics, JMU has done a nice job to help keep us informed with recent current events by supplying students here with a library where I found the January 12-18 edition of The Economist, which has an interesting article concerning the continued demise of the major labels.

One of the most striking parts of the article to me was the opening paragraph, which described a 2006 study conducted by recording giant EMI. Teenagers were asked about their music listening and purchase habits and at the end were invited to take some free CDs as a thank you for doing the study.
None of them took any.

At first I thought this was a mean trick by the label to see who would steal the music and who would not, but after a moment of consideration at the final statement, "That was the moment we realized the game was completely up," I understood the point: Youth are not interested in CDs anymore. The market is up, or nearly there. It's all about the digital.

Though, I am still a sucker for a hard-copy CD, apparently the rest of the world is not. More distressing is the fact that unfortunately my opinion doesn't count for much when the millions invested in the industry are taken into account. However, the industry's downward spiral is only a symptom of the greater illness: greed.

As piracy goes up, CD sales go down. As CD demand goes down, CD availability grows smaller. As CD availability grows smaller, clowns like me who still enjoy a good ol' CD and case get tired of scrounging. And as we get tired, the majors loose out on one of their only faithfully remaining revenue sources: the die-hard music-lovers. And all of it could have been avoided if companies had taken the time to plan ahead and prepare for the storm while they had the resources as Tim Renner of Universal Music explained in the Economist article: "...the majors should have acted years ago. "Then they had the money and could have built the competence by buying concert agencies and merchandise companies," he says. Now it may be too late."

Paid-for-download services are increasing and more and more 360-deals are striking all the time, but the industry (as we know it) is on a ticking-clock.

Check out The Economist for more.

Italia e molto bella!

2008-01-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ciao blog-readers!

I apologize for the delay in entries, but switching continents will do that to you.

So far Italy is great and I'm already scoping out the local music scene here as well as trying to keep up to date on all the happenings of Harrisonburg including COOL AID happening January 19th, tons of Midnight Spaghetti shows, the return of WXJM to the airwaves and the continuation of Blame it on the Train Productions who are hosting Murphy's Kids and Blatant Vibe at Casey's in the Holiday Inn on Friday, January 25th. You can help me out, too by letting me know all the latest in the 'Burg. Leave some comments!

So far the scene here in Italy seems pretty dominated by American music as I have been sitting in a cute bar right beside the Duomo enjoying 2, 50 tea and free wi-fi service all day while listening to such classic songs and artists including Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, Jamariqui, Rihanna, Dave Matthews, and The Stones just to name a few. Last night at another local bar, The Red Garter a cover band was ripping Beatles tunes out all night and previously there was Kareokee at the same bar which consisted of awful renditions of other typical English tunes. However, I've got my ear to the street and have already found a few local live music venues, mostly featuring Jazz which I hope to ambush during my three month stay here in the city of romance, Florence, Italy. Spanish music also seems to be a favorite of the area, especially in the local bar, Salamanca (go figure) and some Italian music comes through on the shuffle occasionally as well.

Due to the thousands of students that migrate to Florence every semester, I can only be hopeful I will be able to dig up some of the best local sounds, however I have already had some success as one of the owners of the bar I'm currently typing away in plays with his brother around the area. I'll keep you updated on that.

At the very least, I have already had the opportunity to speak with various students from all over and even a few Australian journalists about music and have a few new artists to check out on my list. Currently the top artist to download is The Doves, so as soon as I have the opportunity to check them out: I'll let you know ;)

For now, It's off to discover more of Florence! Let's do each other a favor though, and keep in touch. I'm always down to hear about the next big thing.

Ciao!

the dashboard melted, but we still have the RADIO...

2008-01-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

Happy new year! Here's hoping 2008 is filled with peace, love and parties, music, friends and fun, and a whole lotta blogs!

I just received a reminder today that Harrisonburg's favorite alternative music station: 88.7FM WXJM, will be back in action starting Monday, January 7th. For those of you in the Harrisonburg area, be sure to get your radio ready and for those of you, like me, who will NOT be local listeners, check this out! No need to be tied to those measly radio waves! Welcome to 2008.

For those of you who don't know much about WXJM, here's a little history:
WXJM began as a question on an SGA annual election ballot in 1984, which asked: “Do you support a student-run, student-organized radio station.” Nearly 100% of voters responded “Yes” and the station was born.
The founders of WXJM went through many steps to create the station heard on 88.7FM today. An available frequency had to be found, a name had to be decided on and an FCC application had to be completed. It was also determined early in the creation stages that WXJM would raise funding for the station through underwriting and sponsorship dollars from local businesses rather than rely on corporate donations as many college stations do.
This choice reflects the greater goals and values of WXJM as a promoter of local and independent businesses as well as bands and musicians. General Manager, Amanda Phillips described the philosophy as a way of giving artists air-time who truly deserve it though it is otherwise unavailable to them on major stations. WXJM distinguishes itself as a station dedicated to enabling students hands-on experience with broadcast communications, production, promotion, and music industry experience as well as an opportunity to share their love of music not only with others involved with the station, but with the entire JMU and greater Harrisonburg community.
“Going to a WXJM show is a great way to meet different people at JMU,” explained Programming Director Sarah Delia. “It’s an awesome way to be exposed to new music and see what other people are doing in the ‘Burg.”
Phillips was excited to talk about the future plans of the station. “It’s cool to put a lot of time and effort into something you love.” She explained, “If you like good music, then WXJM is the right place to go. It’s all good people with a common interest in music…and we’re fun!”
Unlike most genre-based radio stations, WXJM features loud rock, jazz, americana, progressive rock, RPM, urban, free form, world, and talk shows and makes a conscious effort to reach each of those audiences through their live shows as well. Delia emphasized the goal of the station is to expose students to all kinds of music throughout the year and appeal to all audiences as the many genres featured on WXJM do.
That’s what WXJM is all about: opening ears, eyes and minds. In addition to entertaining the JMU campus with various shows and events, and promoting independent music through the airwaves, members of the station also traveled to New York City in October to represent JMU at CMJ, a college music festival featuring many of the bands heard on WXJM.
It’s an exciting time for music as the industry changes with the advances in technology like MySpace.com, making the world an easy place to navigate for under-represented artists.
If you are interested in getting involved with the independent music scene and WXJM, or are just looking for some good music, good people, and a good time, check out the website or post a comment here.

One More Time

2007-12-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

Jay-Z is at it again. First he retires, now he steps down. Good thing we all know better than to think he's actually going anywhere.

Though rumors have been cirulating for weeks, the news was finally announced on Christmas Eve that Def Jam Records President Shawn Carter, aka Jay-Z, is stepping down from his position at the label at the end of the year when his contract expires. No replacement has been announced, but several likely candidates have been named including Jermaine Dupri.

For more on HOV's retirement from the presidency, check out this article or just type "Jay-Z Def Jam" in google and you'll probably get about 500 articles.

While I think it's great that Jay has decided to move onto "new challenges", I am skeptical of his move from the president position. He still owes one more album to the label and we've all learned "retirement" doesn't mean anything definite for HOV, but how greedy is he really being? He's got his hand in a multitude of other business operations and has used his own label to aid his own recording career more than anyone else.

While some of his intentions seem honorable and knowledgable, including his feelings on the future of the business side of the industry ("It's really about trying to invest in the future, trying to invest in maybe coming up with a new model. Because going in hard making records with artists and throwing those records into a system that's flawed is not exciting for me. It's not the music; people ingest music the same way. It's just that the model of selling CDs has changed. So doing things the typical way is not in the best interests of anyone and not exciting for me. My whole thing is, how do we invest in the future? If everyone is committed to doing that, then I'm sure there's a deal to be made.") I wonder how greed and media saturation play into the equation.

What do you think?

Music-lover Gift-giving guide

2007-12-18T22:24:00.001-08:00

Got a music-lover to buy for this holiday season? We can be a tricky breed to buy for: what kind of music do we like? or hate? What do we already have? How do you know what we want? Well, depending on the type of music fanatic you're shopping for, you'll have to take a few things into consideration:

Do you want to buy them:
-Music: CD's, itunes gift cards, record store gift cards, etc. Consider how well you know their musical taste before buying a CD and their preferred medium of music. Do they only download? Or do they love good old-fashioned CD's in the cases and all like I do? If they love CD's see the CD section. If they're all digital, try the itunes gift card. That will also give them the option to get whatever music THEY want. And if they're an illegal downloader (STOP DOING IT!) maybe it will help turn them onto legal downloading and away from the dark side.

-Books about music: Don't limit yourself to "guitar for dummies" or books of your favorite songs sheet music. There is a ton of great musical literature out there about artists, bands, movements and genres. For some of my favorites, see Books

-Movies: So many classic music-themed movies, and no, I'm not just talking about musicals...although there are a lot of great musicals too. I'll list more of those later.

-Technology: Help satisfy your music-lovers appetite with a new musical toy and it doesn't have to be an instrument (though that would be SWEET). Maybe an ipod, an ipod case, the ipod shoe thing, etc.

-TICKETS: YES PLEASE

-Other: C'mon, posters, t-shirts, buttons, stickers etc. we love alllll that crap if it's helping us rep our favorite band.

So...more specifics...let's go:

Music: Great albums came out this year from Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles, M.I.A., Rilo Kiley, Radiohead, Spoon, Bright Eyes, Jay-Z, Common, Paul McCartney, NIne Inch Nails, Maroon 5, Alicia Keys, Feist, Amy Winehouse, Wilco, Foo Fighters, Kanye West and 50 Cent to name a few. However, if you're not sure about their musical taste or know they are classic at heart (amen to that), older artists are always a safe bet. Go for best of or compilation albums (or just great classic old albums) by artists like The Beatles, The Doors, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Tom Petty or The Stones. They are classic for a reason and walk into ANY record store and you're bound to have ample selection to choose from.
Another cute idea (and one I'm actually using this season): find your favorite independent band or a favorite band that you've seen locally recently and help them out. Buy something they're selling at the show and tell the person you give it to: "Hey, I saw these guys and they tore it up. I think you'll dig it too." Giving it your own personal endorsement helps.
This year I'll be giving my friends and family music from bands including Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings, The Aardvarks, Shapiro, Parachute Musical and The Machine to name a few, all of which I can say are not only talented musicians, but great people. So, give a great gift of music, while supporting and spreading the word about some of your favorite under-promoted bands at the same time. It's the season of giving!

Books: I love books about music. Some of my favorites are:
-No One Here Gets Out Alive, By: Danny Sugerman and Jerry Hopkins (The Doors)
-Riders on the Storm, By: John Densmore (The drummer of the Doors)
-Studio A: The Bob Dylan Reader, By: Benjamin Hedin
-John, By: Cynthia Lennon
-The Last Days of John Lennon: A Personal Memoir, By: Frederic Seaman
-Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Reader, By: Michael Streissguth
Some tips on these: The readers are good for ADD-type readers like myself because they are collections of all different news articles, interviews, reviews etc. spanning the musicians entire career, so it's hard to get bored. Each chapter or section is in a new style from a new writer and usually about a new topic.
My favorite books are the two by John Densmore and Frederic Seaman because they are from a very personal perspective and written in very easy-to-understand language. They are straight-forward and I think most revealing. John by Cynthia Lennon is also written in the same simple language, but it is a very opinionated version of the John Lennon story. If you are interested in giving that to someone, I would recommend giving them another book about Lennon as well because that on it's own will make the reader hate him with a passion. Just a heads up.
And if you're totally clueless: Book store gift certificates are a great idea or just go browsing through their music shelves. Chances are you'll find something that jumps out at you as something they could like. Go for it.

Movies: So many, but my favorites:
-High Fidelity
-The Blues Brothers (the ORIGINAL)
-SPINAL TAP
-Empire Records
-Standing in the Shadows of Motown
-Dreamgirls
-Walk the LIne
-Spice World...Heyyy with their reunion happening, I'm sure this one's going to be flying off the shelves!
There are so many classic musicals and music-related films, just take a look around. Their film taste will greatly affect which movie they'd prefer, but my top recommendation...Spinal Tap or Blues Brothers. Both are just CLASSIC.

Technology: Just go to the apple website. Honestly, there are TONS of music contraptions, but i always rely on apple to pull through with the coolest stuff. C'mon, that shoe to ipod thing is awesome! All of their idocks are great gift ideas and any accessories for your friends already-used technology will no doubt be appreciated since it will most likely add years of life to their equipment.

Tickets: What band do they like? See when they are touring nearby. Buy tickets. This one is easy and ALWAYS a great move...as long as they can make it. I'd check on that first...

Other: Seriously: any music junkie loves repping their favorite bands and will do so in any way possible. Anyone who knows me, knows this fact just by walking into my jim morrison-plastered room where my doors bag hang on my chair while I walk around in my doors shirt while listening to peace frog. We love it. Help feed the addiction. Buttons, posters, clothes, stickers, whatever you can find, we will take.

And you thought holiday shopping would be tough this year! Connect with you and your loved ones' inner music-lover and you'll be able to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list :)

And you'll probably find some stuff you want, too.

Happy shopping!

Rock n' Roll Yearbook '07

2007-12-18T22:09:00.000-08:00

The end of the year is always a great time for recapping and reminiscing and after receiving my Rolling Stone 2007 Yearbook, I decided to make a few polls, collections and rankings of my own.

I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but I know my high school yearbook had a few pages dedicated to making or breaking everyone's senior year where people were voted on to be "class clown" or "most likely to succeed". Well, here are a few of my favorites from 2007's rock and roll high school...

Most popular: Rihanna and Justin Timberlake
Biggest Train-Wreck: Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse
Best Smile: T.I.....and T.I.
Best Style: M.I.A. and New Young Pony Club
Most Annoying: Fergie and Soulja Boy
BIggest Troublemakers: Amy Winehouse and Kanye West
Ms. Congeniality: Corinne Bailey Rae and A Fine Frenzy
Most Artistic: Radiohead and Feist
Hottest Senior: Bruce Springsteen and John Bon Jovi
Hottest Freshman: Zac Efron
Future President: Pink and John Mayer
Most Outgoing: M.I.A. and New Young Pony Club

Agree, Disagree? Or have someone you wanna see? Let me know! Leave a comment!

Love is All you Need

2007-12-09T07:05:00.000-08:00

The weekend before finals is always tough. While I desperately wanted to enjoy my last weekend at JMU until next fall (I'll be in Italy for the spring) I was also tortured by the thought of the papers, portfolios, tests, packing, moving and traveling awaiting me this week. However, tonight's adventures proved to be worth the procrastination.

I ended up at the Bag on East Market Street and saw a great band, The Nice Jenkins who were playing with The Octagon and The Cinnamon Band. I wish these types of shows and events were more easily accessible because I know for me personally, it has taken until this year for me to discover these awesome opportunities to see and hear new music and meet people who are into it as much as I am. There needs to be a better way to get the word out to students about these types of shows because they are a great way to get out, meet awesome people, see really talented bands and do it all without necessarily having to spend any money or feel pressured into a crazy party scene (not to say shows can't be crazy, they usually are, but in a good way). The JMU student station, WXJM, does a great job putting on a variety of bands, but there is so much more happening all time.
I am hoping this blog will become a way for people to find out about shows like this and new artists playing around Harrisonburg, because there really is a great music scene happening all around us. JMU has an extremely talented school of music and so many students dedicated to bringing great music on or around the campus. However, it is up to YOU to take advantage of it.

While I am on the subject of YOU, I would really like to encourage comments, suggestions, questions, topic ideas and whatever else you would like to contribute. I want this blog to cater to music-lovers of all types and genres and from all over. If you are part of a music organization (WXJM, UPB, a music class, MACroCk) or you just like booking or attending shows or just rocking out to a solid tune: let me know! I'd love to make you a part of this as much as possible because that's why I'm writing this right now...YOU.

After seeing part of the show I made my way over to Grafton for "Across the Universe", the Beatles movie I've been anticipating since I saw one coming attraction back in May and never heard another word about until I found it was already out of theaters.
I was surprised and excited by the turn out for the film. Two long lines were waiting to get in when we arrived and I don't think I have ever seen the theater so full. I guess I was not the only one procrastinating...
The film was interesting. I knew it was a movie musical set to a soundtrack catalog of one of my favorite bands, The Beatles, but I did not know how intricate the entwined story lines would become or how intense some of the "drug" scenes were. Watching the film was an experience. It was trippy and confusing at times, but brilliant. The way different stories of different people were mixed together was fascinating and the way it captured the entire atmosphere of the 1960's culture was incredible.
When I came home to write about it, I found an article that helped to clarify any misunderstandings I had, which really helped me appreciate the film a lot more. It also confirmed my suspicion that Bono made a cameo, Sadie was an interpretation of Janis Joplin and Jo-Jo was a version Jimi Hendrix. I thought these references and interpretations of other important figures of the time period was brilliantly done.
However, my favorite part of the movie was not a particular scene or song. I loved the way it took a typical, personal love story and fit it into one of the most explosive time periods of the century by mixing up the relationship with the war protests and the political upheaval that surrounded people our own age at the time. It also captured the most incredible facet of the Beatle's music: its timelessness. It has a way of transcending time, which I find fascinating. The way their melodies captured their own raw human emotions back then still apply, perhaps more than ever, today, and THAT is what music is missing. Go ahead and try to name one band that could capture our entire generation's feelings and experiences like the Beatles did for the 60's. Let me know if you think of something good.
I also feel the film came out at a crucial time. Watching soldiers carry the Statue of Liberty in their underwear while singing "She's so Heavy" was intense. And during an argument between Jude and Lucy when she shouts something about people finally caring about the war when bombs start dropping here was sickeningly ominous, especially because I think I have said the same thing.

Mom and Dad, if you are reading: I would love to see this one in my stocking at Christmas (hopefully it's out by then). It's confusing and trippy and there were times I literally asked Jimmy who was sitting beside me, "What is happening?” but at the same time, it was so effective in really capturing the time period, the emotional struggle of the characters and the horror, pain and loss of war. And like the NY Times article says, for a moment, it really does convince you: All you need is love. Maybe love really is all you need...

Welcome to the Machine

2007-12-06T23:46:00.000-08:00

Hello, I'm Jessie Novak. If you can catch every musical reference I make in every blog, I'll be impressed. But let me say, there will be a lot.

Welcome to my blog and I hope you'll stay, stay, stay, stay for awhile, because it's going to be full of the good stuff and I have so much to say. (Really, are you catching them all?)

Spitting in the Mic is dedicated to the celebration of music with a primary focus on the local music scene in Harrisonburg (because there is so much happening around here and you should be a part of it!) and the newest developments in this rapidly changing industry. Though living in such a turbulent time for the music business can be daunting, it is also an incredible opportunity for those prepared to take advantage of it as Justin Timberlake expressed in a recent Rolling Stone magazine interview. When asked about the future of the industry, Timberlake responded, "I'm optimistic about it. People look around and they see dire straits, but I see an entrepreneur's playground." It is this mentality, which has become essential to musicians and industry professionals' survival.

However, before I delve into my interpretation of the industry and my predictions for the future, I’d like to share a little about myself and why I say what I say whenever I’m saying it.

Music has always been a part of my life. Though neither of my parents have any musical experience, the gene seemed to skip generations to all of their children. Each of my siblings played instruments growing up and my oldest brother took particular interest in molding my musical future. Thanks to Jon, my first favorite band was Cream and my favorite song to dance to was “Jungle Boogie”. By the third grade I knew Jaco Pastorius was the greatest bass player to ever live and I could sing every word of the Godspell soundtrack because we saw musicals constantly as Jon played in all the pit bands.

I began playing classical violin at the age of seven and began with drums in school because we did not have a string section. I played with a Preparatory and Symphony Orchestra for nearly seven years and toured Europe with them as well. In high school I concentrated on studying French Horn, but played Mellophone with the Marching Band and Trumpet with the Jazz Band. I bought a bongo just for fun, experimented with my grandma’s keyboard and started with guitar when I realized that was the cool thing to do. I was drum major for two years and played with every group I could get myself into.

However, music can be a depressing reality. After all the stressful auditions, grueling rehersals, never-ending practicing and terrifying college requirements for music majors, I realized performance was not an option for me. I love performing and miss it desperately. Nothing I have experienced can compare to the feeling of participating in a quality performance and there are not enough words to describe it. But, seeing and hearing the talent surrounding me, I knew I could never do justice to the art as well as many of my peers.

I also realized I could not live, breathe or function without music in my life.

So, I found the middle ground and here I am. I am a music industry minor, active with the student-run radio station WXJM and I write about music for the Breeze.

I have been fortunate enough to meet, see and hear an astounding number of bands, performers and professionals in the industry through radio station opportunities, interviews for articles and the internship I completed at the New York City radio station, Z100. I read music magazines more than textbooks (sorry, it’s true) and will take my itunes over television any day of the week. It is for all of these reasons that I wish to share this passion with you.

One of my favorite artists and greatest songwriters, Bob Dylan, captured some of this feeling better than I could express, "Music has given me a purpose. As a kid, there was rock. Later on, there was folk-blues music. It's not something that I just listen to as a passive person. It has always been in my blood and it has never failed me. Because of that, I'm disconnected from a lot of the pressures of life. It disconnects you from what people think about you...It's natural for me."

As far as I am concerned, music has given me purpose and direction. Seeing an incredible show (like The Machine tonight) reminds me of the reason I am here: to spread the gift of music to any one willing to receive it. I stand by my conviction that music has an intangible quality unlike any other art-form and is capable of effecting people in extraordinary ways.

So, welcome to the Machine…or my blog. Read with an open mind and open ears. Keep your eyes peeled for new link listings and be sure to check them out (I won’t steer you wrong!).

It’s celebration time, so let’s get it on.