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(09/27/17 4:46pm)
Earlier in September, I got the opportunity to travel to St. Louis, MO to see some amazing artists perform at Loufest, a music festival located in the Forest Park area of the city. This weekend-long adventure was definitely one for the books of my college career, from exploring the city of St. Louis, to the food, the music, the atmosphere, and even a 5 a.m. drive back home to Bloomington.
First off, I want to start by saying how cool of a city St. Louis is. My friends and I arrived on Friday evening and got a chance to explore a little before the festival started on Saturday. It’s only four hours away from IU, which is a great distance for a weekend getaway to see and do things out of your normal routine. We started of the night by eating at a Mexican restaurant on Cherokee Street, a popular destination for many locals. The street is strung with twinkling lights and exciting night life that overlooks the skyline. After dinner, we walked over to the ever popular City Museum where my two friends and I got to act like 9-year-olds again until the museum closed at midnight. We rode a Ferris wheel on the roof that overlooks the entire city, slid down 10-story slides, swung on rope swings, climbed through tunnels, and even pretended we were blasting off to space in an abandoned yellow school bus without any hesitation. Safe to say day one did not disappoint.
Day two meant it was time to finally head to the festival. Highlights from this day included St. Louis native Starwolf, Huey Lewis and the News, Spoon, Cage the Elephant (wild/insane/energetic/recommend), and the Chuck Berry (musical genius and hero) tribute. My two favorites of day one, though, have to be Hippo Campus and Snoop Dogg.
I had always been a Hippo Campus fan, but seeing them live really showed me all their talent and energy that just can’t be communicated in the studio. Lead singer and guitarist Jake Luppen hit insane high notes that left me absolutely speechless and their trumpet player was quite possibly the funniest and best hype man I have ever seen. They are fun and energetic and they remind me of those nerdy kids from your high school that really glowed up in college. The whole crowd was singing along and dancing, creating an infectiously positive mood that is perfect for a festival.
To say seeing Snoop Dogg (or Bigg Snoop Dogg, as he likes to refer to himself) live was life-changing would be an understatement. The man is a legend plain and simple. The performance was an artistic experience with graphics looking like he bought them for $9.99 back in ’97 on this new thing called “the internet,” two back-up dancers, his own mascot named “Nasty Dogg,” and every single hype guy that was with him on stage. The crowd truly held a sense of community, especially when he got everyone chanting “We love you, we miss you, Tupac.” My own personal highlight from this show, though, was the elderly couple standing in front of us intently observing and chanting along because “they wanted to try something new.” God bless them.
After Snoop, we headed to Wendy’s, then back to our hotel to get some sleep before we did it all over again on Sunday.
Day two consisted of trying new food, hydration, and soaking up every moment before the festival ended. Artist highlights include Future Thieves, Mondo Cozmo, OKEY DOKEY, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, and Nathaniel Ratecliff and the Night Sweats. My two absolute favorites of the day were native Hoosiers Houndmouth and Weezer (obviously).
Houndmouth’s talent, I think, blew everyone away because it was so effortless. They were just up there having a good time and a couple brews doing what they love most—and it showed. I had been wanting to see these guys for some time now, so I am so thankful I finally got the opportunity. They played quite a bit of their upcoming album (which, so far, seems incredible), so I am eager for that release coming in the next few months.
Weezer was a new level, and a stellar way to end The Loufest Experience. Besides the group of high school students gossiping about who-likes-who behind us, it was a flawless show. Truth be told, I have never been the type to sit down for the purpose of listening to Weezer. I like their songs if they come on the radio or at a party, and I know quite a few of them, but I wouldn’t have considered myself a fan until this experience. To put it simply—they rocked. Like, musically, the instrumentation and power they played with was numbing. They just had fun with it up there. Lead singer Rivers Cuomo wore a sombrero for a good portion of their act and their cover of “Hey Ya!” by Outkast was one of the funniest things I’ve seen to date. I’m convinced every crowd member knew the words to every single song, proving they really are one of the most iconic bands of our generation.
Overall, I can’t say enough good things about this festival. I think it definitely should be on more people’s radars from the Bloomington and Indianapolis areas because it is low stress, an easy drive, and fairly affordable for two days of quality music. It’s also family friendly if you want to drag mom, dad, brother, and sister along, too. I am already looking forward to the lineup for 2018, because I have a good feeling that I will be back.
Thanks LouFest for a great experience and great music. See you soon!
(09/09/17 12:12am)
(09/09/17 12:03am)
Here is my personal playlist of bops and jams by artists who are playing at Loufest 2017 this weekend.
I've been dancing around my living room to this playlist for a little over a week now, and I hope you feel inclined to do the same. Whether you're attending this weekend or not, this playlist is 1 hour and 10 minutes good content and good tunes.
Enjoy! <3
https://open.spotify.com/user/avrooman/playlist/4u0okc3xqKaxzIM34Z7CQj
(04/13/17 4:23am)
Chicago psych-rock band, Post Animal chats with WIUX before performing at Culture Shock on April 15. The boys discuss their formation, the Chicago music scene, and upcoming releases and tours. Big things are ahead for this band, and you can catch them live and for free rocking out in Dunn Meadow this Saturday.
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/user-439404626/talking-to-post-animal[/embed]
You can hear more from Post Animal here.
(01/23/17 9:59pm)
In the up-and-coming neighborhood of Fountain Square in Indianapolis, a new record store called Square Cat Vinyl recently opened. Or, I guess I should probably say a new record store/coffee shop/bar/concert venue recently opened. It’s modern, cool, and one of the things that neighborhood was missing. Then again I might be biased, since my boyfriend’s family owns it, but just trust me on this one. I would think it was cool regardless. I mean, come on, it has all my favorite things. The store tries to get as much local music from the Indy area to play there on their sitting area that transforms into a stage, and I found myself at a show the other night for the bands Park Stone, Video Grave, and Bybye.
Park Stone is a couple of high school seniors from the north side of Indy who formed because of a 90s-themed musical a few of them were interested in playing in. With this being their first real gig and with a crowd of over 100 people— they were really REALLY excited to be there. They didn’t try to put on this super cool and mature persona and be something they weren’t, which is something I completely appreciated. They were cute and funny and didn’t hide that, yeah, they were still in high school. Cam Todd, on drums and vocals, was all smiles the entire set, and even made sure to send out an apology to his grandma about the language he was about to use in the next song. They had an indie rock sound with hints of 90s post-grunge alt-rock influence with one of their covers even being Weezer’s very fitting “Say It Ain’t So”. For being such new performers, they played and joked with the crowd well. They say next year when they all go to their separate colleges, they want to try and stay together. Although a few plan on attending Purdue (lame), I made sure to tell them about this super cool music scene in this dope town called Bloomington.
Up next was a Bloomington house show regular, Video Grave, but in a new way. That night they played acoustic and basically wow. During the set I said to my friend “Wow, they sound so much like Velvet Underground” and sure enough seconds later they covered Femme Fatal (yay). The indie punk band has been together for a while now and plays together effortlessly. It was easy to see how comfortable they were preforming and how much they all enjoyed it. During the set, guitarist Alex Beckman mentioned to the crowd “Don’t be afraid to dance even though, ya know, we’re in a coffee shop.” These guys were definitely my favorite of the night. I love their usual sound, but damn their acoustic version was on a new level. @VideoGrave please keep doing that.
Lastly, the Indianapolis based band Bybye took the stage. They kinda looked like a band of 30-somethings straight out of a Portlandia skit, but in a good way. Visibly showing seniority over Park Stone and Video Grave with beers in hand, Bybye was definitely a favorite of anyone there who was post-college. The indie pop rock band certainly had influences of funk and two members shared vocals equally, which is what I think definitely sets them apart from many other local artists. With electronic sounds on the keyboard and long periods of solely instrumentals, they were an act that was easy to vibe with and nod your head to.
Overall, it was a great night for local music. These bands gave me my fix of live music that I was missing hardcore while away from Bloomington on winter break. I’m excited for this new venue and the possibilities that can come from it. If anything, Square Cat is a place where Indy bands can try and get their name out and help make Fountain Square the new place to be. And honestly, can a city really ever have too many record stores?
(Answer: No.)
(12/12/16 6:50am)
5/7
The Skin journey began in January of 2016 when an album preview was dropped. And in May, Skin officially dropped. The Australian DJ/producer went on to receive positive feedback from critics and eight ARIA awards. What was unknown then was that the Skin experience was not entirely finished, he still had more to share. In Skin Companion EP 1, Flume packed so much quality sound so tightly into a four song EP in under 15 minutes. As to how, I am not entirely sure. All I know is that I am grateful. Flume, also known as Harley Edward Streten, uses perfectly designed repeating beats that sent me to a state of relaxed bliss. Once just a guy making mixes on his laptop, Flume is now a chart-topping artist, and this EP definitely verifies that his popularity is well-deserved.
Skin Companion EP 1 begins with “TRUST” featuring vocals from Isabella Manfredi. Her soft hums are delicately placed and intertwine with the gorgeous beats brilliantly. The track appears as an abstract letter to someone that ends simply with “Here’s something I should have said a long time ago,” with that possibly being the only thing Streten is sure of throughout all of the lyrics. “Heater” follows two songs after that as a less delicate and more powerful track. Flume features only himself in this song and captures the essence of his pasts albums. These two songs left me confused as to why they didn’t make the cut for Skin because they seem just too good to ever leave behind.
The EP also contains the songs "v" and "Quirk". Both make use of natural sound in an unusual way, which helps Flume to stand out even more as a creator. In "Quirk", he breaks away from predictable rhythms and uses melodic whispers that gave me the feeling I had an open space to think. That's impressive, considering I'm a college student with finals coming up. Wasn't sure if that could happen, but Flume did it.
I liked this EP so much because these “extras” so to speak never once lacked quality and they really filled in the gaps from his latest album. The title says it all as it really is a companion to Skin. Skin is complete and beautiful without this EP, but this complements it well and brings an even greater vibrancy to the works of Flume.
(11/15/16 9:00pm)
Released: 11/4/16
5/7
With a more sophisticated sound, American Wrestlers are back with their second album, Goodbye Terrible Youth. The band, consisting of front man Gary McClure, Bridgette Imperial, Ian Reitz, and Josh Van Hoorebeke, gives us 31 pure and concise minutes of 80s inspired indie rock with themes of regret, coping, and introspection.
McClure gives listeners a personal glimpse of his life and the things he’s struggling with. He starts strong with “Vote Thatcher,” a song remembering police brutality he has witnessed and the loss of a loved one. He sends his message early with the lyrics, “Stoned by policemen who were stunned by their souls.” In much of the song he seems as though he is only talking to himself, usually in disbelief, like with the lyrics, “I still can’t believe you died.” Although the lyrics are of tragedy, the sound is not somber. McClure interestingly mixes an upbeat electronic-meets-rock ‘n roll sound with lyrics that send a potent message.
The album continues to flow easily into the next few songs--keeping the same themes and general sounds, but the lyrics pertain to vaguer ideas of confusion along with growth. A highlight of the album is “Terrible Youth." This explains why this album was written and why McClure titled the album the way he did. It’s an ode to a young adulthood that didn’t go particularly well. This album is the last time he will be associated with that time in his life. This is remembering. This is sadness. This is moving on. This is becoming new.
The album begins to come to a close with “Someone Far Away," a track that leads to a hint of peace in McClure’s life. He doesn’t say he is whole again, but the more acoustic sound and repeating line, “feeling fine, just fine” leads me to believe that if he ever found serenity through the creative process, it was in this song.
The nine-song album ends with an acoustic guitar, a piano, and a few electric guitar riffs that help infuse the sound American Wrestlers began with at the beginning of the album. “Real People” settles the album with a hint of storytelling. Confidence appears along with remembering. His voice is soft, and the lyrics repeat his message of getting along; there is no need to worry about him now. It drifts away with only a piano.
Although the album is essentially a never-ending search for serenity in a time of sadness, I do not think people are limited to listening to it only when they feel that. I like this album because it recognizes that problems in the world exist, but the sound can apply to any mood. The rhythms brings forward a style from decades ago mixed with modern day indie rock, while the lyrics blend seamlessly to convey social issues as well as McClure’s personal frustration with things he has seen and felt.
American Wrestlers are a band to watch. They are real and they aren’t hiding. That’s important. Maybe more so now than ever.
(09/24/16 2:35am)
Released 9/16/16
Rating: 4/7
The first time I heard Bad Suns was shortly after they came to my hometown. I was so upset with myself for not listening earlier because I knew within the first few songs I had missed out on incredible music and a fantastic show. The band has just released their sophomore album Disappear Here and continue to bring upbeat, 80s inspired tunes to the alt-rock scene.
Bad Suns consists of front man Christo Bowman, Gavin Bennett (bass), Miles Morris (drums) and Ray Libby (guitar). The album is 45 minutes of delving into the art of finding yourself again, romance, and simply just figuring out circumstances that everyone has gone through or will go through eventually. The sometimes almost-cliché situations actually drew me in because of the way Bowman bluntly states things a lot of people have a hard time putting into words.
The theme of Disappear Here is similar to their first album, Language and Perspective. Both albums acknowledge hardships and confusion and confront the search for human identity. The sound of both albums remain strikingly similar. Bad Suns didn’t experiment with many new things when it comes to vocals and instrumentals, which left me slightly disappointed.
The album begins with the titular song, “Disappear Here." It brings a familiar and upbeat vibe while the lyrics illustrate Bowman’s uneasiness. Bowman exemplifies his poetic straightforwardness with the lines “I’m right / I’m wrong / I’m everything but sure”. I caught myself chuckling a little at these lyrics because I feel this exact thought every day about one thing or another. Again, a simple way of saying what many feel.
The third song, “Off She Goes,” is the stand out song for me. Here, Bowman hits his classic high notes that make their music unique. It compels the listener to want to get up and dance no matter where he might be. The song analyzes what happens to a person “when the light leaves her eyes” and she seems utterly detached from the world. Bowman brings it back by basically saying the cliché advice of believe in yourself and forget anyone who is getting you down. It’s nothing new, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t something we all need to hear every once in a while.
The album starts out strong, but loses me in the middle with the songs “Even In My Dreams, I Can’t Win” and “Love Like Revenge”. Their choruses are nothing but the repetition of their songs’ titles and lacked the creativity that I know the band is capable of. They both had beats I had heard before as well as predictable lyrics.
The album does pick up again towards the end, and Bad Suns really ties the essence of this record up nicely with the final track “Outskirts Of Paradise." It’s an upbeat bop that the album needed to settle out the doubts Bowman had been dealing with. It leaves a feeling of hope with the listener. It is as if you can almost feel Bowman smiling into the microphone as he lets the final notes sink in.
Although this album didn’t impress me as much as the first, the ideas and optimism it brings forward are nonetheless important to consider. No matter what, Bad Suns will always catch my attention with their retro beats, enticing melodies, and vibrant stage presence. Thankfully, with a tour planned for this fall, none of this seems to be going away any time soon.