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(11/23/15 11:15pm)
At first, we think IU is doing us a favor by giving us a week off for Thanksgiving break. After all, most people have class up until Tuesday or Wednesday and at that point, with traffic from hell, it's really not much of a break.
Until you realize how easy it is to go crazy while in your childhood bedroom when all your friends are still at school. Here's a few activities to keep you sane until our return to Bloomington.
1. Look in all your drawers and find the weird things you've saved from your childhood
I've found old cellphones, including chargers which has allowed me to read conversations from 2010-11. It's hilarious. I've also found some old essays, which are borderline shameful. Today, I found my stack of newspapers from my senior year of high school when I was on the staff and then realized why print journalism is dead. It's because of me.
2. Watch something that's not mind-numbing
If you just keep watching Bob's Burgers you're gonna feel awful in about two days. So watch something that's interesting! My suggestion is Dear Jack. It's on Netflix. It will make you cry, in a good way. Text me when you've watched it so we can chat about it.
3. Play the Wikipedia game
Search any word or phrase on Wikipedia and click the first link in the article and it will eventually bring you to the "philosophy" page every.single.time.
4. Read a book
When was the last time you read a book for pleasure? Lucky for you, you're home, have time, and most likely have a stack of books somewhere. Choose one. Read it. Maybe read another one! Who knows? The world is your oyster, bookworm.
5. Read something
Ok no books in your house? Weird. Lucky for you, there's a website called Longreads that complies the best #longreads on the Internet. You can browse by category, and there's enough for pretty much anyone to find something that interests them. I've read some of the best journalism on this website, 7/7 recommend.
6. Podcasts!
Was Serial the last podcast you listened to? You're missing out! Podcasts are awesome. You can listen to them when you work out, when you're trying to sleep (much better for you than falling asleep staring at a screen), cooking food, staring at a wall LITERALLY WHENEVER. Some of my current favorite podcasts are Song Exploder, where a band explains the writing and recording process of a song (artists include Best Coast, Death Cab for Cutie, Toro y Moi, My Morning Jacket etc.), Lena Dunham's new series called "Women of the Hour," and of course "All Songs Considered." If you love history, Dan Carlin's Hardcore History is the most intense-but-in-a-good-way audio adventure you will ever go on.
7. Go for a run or a hike or a walk or a bike ride
Explore nature! Go for a stroll with your dog. You're going to be consuming an unholy amount of calories come Thursday, be nice to your body now.
8. Sleep
Finals are coming, get your sleep now.
9. Clean your desktop
Is your desktop a mess? Screenshots covering your background? Do you even know what your background is? Delete the screenshots you don't need anymore, make some folders, maybe even color coordinate them! This is actually an extremely time consuming, yet cathartic activity. Plus, it's super beneficial to delete old things to stop your laptop from slowing down, and organization is never a bad thing.
10. Brush up on your current events
If you have some opinionated relatives coming over for Thanksgiving, it's inevitable that your dinner conversation will quickly devolve to the current state of the world. Between the election and ISIS and global warming and the unfortunate rising tide of xenophobia and and sharp increase in heroin overdoses and guns and the impeding tech bubble and self-driving cars and if you could go back in time, would you kill baby Hitler and THE GOVERNMENT IS SPYING ON US TURN YOUR BLUETOOTH OFF, there is literally no possible way this conversation could end well unless...no there cannot possibly be any positive outcome. Be informed, get your facts straight so at least you won't be cast away as "another narcissistic Millennial who's too busy sexting and taking selfies to care about the world."
(11/19/15 6:42am)
Has my bed always been this small? I wonder what's in this drawer, what the hell why did I keep my AP Lang essay from 11th grade?
Did I really begin my essay about Macbeth like that? God Jess, stop thinking everything is about you, luckily you're a mature, self-aware 21-year-old senior in college now.
"It SOOO good to see you! How's school, isn't it so crazy we're graduating so soon?"
"Oh my god haven't you had a crush on him since like seventh grade? He's so cute now! You should definitely go talk to him...maybe ask him to take a shot with you. No wait I'll go with you and we'll all take shots with his friends too so it's not like too aggressive you know?"
Seriously has my bed always been so small?
"Let's go around the table and say what we're thankful for. Jess, you can start."
(11/15/15 10:35pm)
It's 5:10 p.m. on Nov. 15 in Bloomington and I'm sitting on the WIUX porch enjoying 60ish degree weather. Sure, it will get cold when the sun goes down and tomorrow morning when I'm walking to class and in a couple days it will feel like winter here. But let's pretend that it doesn't have to be winter if you don't want it to be, because I really just want to sit on this porch forever and listen to some good tunes.
(11/15/15 7:08pm)
Beat those Monday blues by coming out to The Bishop on Nov. 16 to see Frankie Cosmos, supported by All Dogs and Nice Try.
Frankie Cosmos just formally released their new EP, Fit Me In on Friday and announced that they'll play the four song EP every night on their tour. Although they traded in guitars for a more synth-y and sleek sound, the four-piece band still keeps their signature sound, thanks to lead singer Greta Kline's unique vocals and emotive and raw lyrics.
Maryn Jones, is familiar with The Bishop; she also plays in Saintseneca. As lead singer her vocals contrast perfectly with a more grunge-sounding All Dogs. The band released their first full-length, Kicking Every Day back in August and was met with acclaim for Jones' honest lyrics about feeling like a destructive female. Her lo-fi-ish vocals combined with the fuzzy, alt-rock band make for unique sound that would sound perfect in a arena-setting or a small, sweaty basement.
Bloomington's Nice Try is set to open the show. Like Frankie Cosmos and All Dogs, Nice Try is female-fronted and features personal lyrics from a female perspective. The band plays a mix of lo-fi and punk-influenced music that will set the tone for the rest of the night.
Tickets are still on sale for the show and can be purchased here for $10, or at the door for $10. Music starts at 9 p.m., and as per usual the show is 18+.
(11/11/15 7:52pm)
Live from the Living Room is back, this time with Osmosis Tones. Inspired by Pacific Northwest indie rockers Modest Mouse, the band is set to make a name for themselves in Bloomington. Watch the video and read our interview with the band to get to know Osmosis Tones.
Mixed by Nick Kinney, Brian Berger and WIUX Engineering Committee
Osmosis Tones: Karl Behrens, Evan Munz, Jeff Browne, Ryan Swayze
WIUX: How did you start playing music together and come up with your band name?
OT: Started playing this summer, we’ve played three shows. We’re pretty young. Jeff came up with the band name. We all have an underlying fondness for Bill Murray, and puns…and Motown
WIUX: Where’s your favorite place to play music in Bloomington?
OT: House shows are more fun cause everyone can come and you don’t have to be 21. People get pretty rowdy. I feel like every house show we’ve had has gone great but every venue is iffy. But the Bishop is great they always treat us well.
WIUX: Are you working on any new music?
OT: When we have a show coming up we practice for the set, but when that’s not happening we try to bust music out, hoping one out of four is good. Our goal is to have an EP out by the winter. We’re still on a pretty hard songwriting kick right now but ideally we just want to keep playing shows, that’s fun. We have a band fund now, what we make from shows goes to recording.
WIUX: What bands inspire your sound?
OT: Modest Mouse, Pink Floyd is a huge influence, a lot of old school rock, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath. When it comes to performing, it depends who I’ve seen live. Twin Peaks was great they have great stage presence. The one thing is energy, if people aren’t moving they aren’t having fun. I (Karl) played a whole show with my fly down at the Bluebird.
WIUX: What’s your favorite pizza in Bloomington?
OT: Swayze: Mother Bears Jeff: Mother Bears Evan: King Dough Karl: Mother Bears
WIUX: If you could perform on stage with any three musicians dead or alive who would they be?
OT: Jimi Hendrix, J Dilla and Freddie Mercury
(11/03/15 1:20am)
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Skylar Spence, formerly known as Saint Pepsi and in real life known as Ryan DeRobertis will make his way to The Bishop on his country-wide tour in support of his album, Prom King.
The record elevated DeRobertis from a well-known electronic, sample-heavy musician online to enjoying airtime on radio stations and earning glowing reviews from the likes of Pitchfork and Stereogum.
Critics describe his music as "nu-wave" and "vaporwave" and other "nu"-genres that mean little to those outside of the music critic world. Translation: groovy music meets synths from the new wave era with a dash of R&B and electronic.If you're a fan of Neon Indian or Joywave, you'll definitely enjoy this show.
Opening up for Skylar Spence is 21st century disco act Rollergirl! and Bloomington's very own Vista Kid Cruiser
Take a listen, and then you can buy your ticket here. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the music starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.
(10/29/15 9:30pm)
Finishing up their tour in support of their latest album, Be Still, Mike Bloch of the Brooklyn-based Here We Go Magic took the time to talk to me about the band's origins, festivals versus tours and more. Take a listen. The band will be playing at The Bishop, tonight (10/29) and tickets are available here.
On the band's beginnings:
How he describes their music:
On their pre-show rituals:
Festivals versus tours:
His favorite shows the band has played:
Three musicians dead or alive that he'd share a stage with:
(10/14/15 1:05am)
On Tuesday morning, the New York Times reported that Condé Nast, the media behemoth that publishes Vogue, The New Yorker, and other filler between advertisements (just kidding, The New Yorker rocks), bought Pitchfork Media. Best known for its inanely precise rating system, pretentious taste and some truly fantastic writing, Pitchfork has been the home of independent music criticism since 1996.
For Condé Nast, the move makes a lot of sense business-wise. They get a self-sustaining and profitable media company with a significant web presence, a quarterly in-depth music magazine and live events, namely Pitchfork festival in Chicago and Paris.
For Pitchfork, the move makes a lot sense business-wise. They get more money (presumably) to do what they do best-discover up-and-coming artists and give them the opportunities to succeed. Or as Ryan Schreiber, Pitchfork's founder and CEO said in a statement,
Their belief in what we do, combined with their additional expertise and resources, will allow us to extend our coverage of the artists and stories that shape the music landscape on every platform.
So what's the issue here? It's apparent that this is a mutually beneficial relationship, and I believe deep down in my naive heart that Schreiber and the rest of Pitchfork that have voices in such matters would reject any offer that didn't truly help the company in their core efforts. Condé Nast saw this acquisition as an opportunity to compete with various other music publications, most obviously Rolling Stone, but also Noisey, Vice Media's music vertical. The issue can be found in the third paragraph, last sentence of the Times article, in a quote from Fred Santarpia, Condé Nast's chief digital officer where he states his takeaway from he deal:
It brings “a very passionate audience of millennial males into our roster,” he said.
"millennial males"
Me reading "millennial males" pic.twitter.com/HFno0wAUBm
— Jia Tolentino (@jiatolentino) October 13, 2015
Ok. Although I don't have access to Pitchfork's analytics, I know that the independent music community mostly consists of young, mostly white guys. So yes, Santarpia is in some ways correct when he says that Pitchfork will bring an "audience of millennial males into our roster." Still, there are two inherent problems in this assumption. First, in his statement, Santarpia is suggesting that buying out Pitchfork was not just for their A+ #content, but also for their audience, which presumably skews young and male. However, that leaves out a significant number of readers who identify as female and guess what! also have a sincere appreciation for music criticism. I really thought a lot about this, I didn't want to come off as some young and idealistic journalism major who read a sentence and then saw it blow up on Twitter and decided aha! better write a think piece on this! (side note: I never want to be that person)
Women are a huge part of Pitchfork’s staff and readership. We’re totally about reaching all music fans everywhere. — Ryan Schreiber (@ryanpitchfork) October 13, 2015
That's the founder of Pitchfork voicing his opinion on the matter. Second, and even though this would be a pretty absurd statement regardless, The Pitchfork Review (the quarterly print music magazine) is edited by a very talented music journalist named Jessica Hopper and besides having a great name (haha sorry guys) she is a professional who I (and so many other journalists) greatly admire. Besides writing a pretty awesome memoir and also one of my favorite articles of all time, she gained some attention outside of the music media bubble this summer. She tweeted:
Gals/other marginalized folks: what was your 1st brush (in music industry, journalism, scene) w/ idea that you didn't "count"? — Jessica Hopper (@jesshopp) August 24, 2015
The responses, if you haven't read them, are not just repulsive, but also not surprising if you're a "gal/other marginalized folk" that are active in the music industry, journalism or both. So when Santarpia says that Pitchfork media will bring the "millennial male" demographic over to One World Trade Center, it proves Hopper's point that if you're not white and male, you're often cast aside (at best) in these industries.
In my expert opinion (I'm a semester and a half away from a B.A. in Journalism that makes me an expert right?) (this is a joke), I think the Pitchfork becoming a Condé Nast property isn't necessarily the end of the world; media consolidation is pretty much one of the only profitable ways to do journalism in 2015. Pitchfork will most likely remain as independent as they have been and still create the quality music criticism with the pretentiousness that we have come to expect since 1996. However it's doubtful that Santarpia is the only man with considerable power in the publishing world that believes those words. It's a toxic and incorrect belief. Music has the power to connect different people with different backgrounds. Music has the power to give a voice to the marginalized. By describing a music publication's target demographic as "millennial males," it devalues the power of music that makes it so special and ignores everyone else who makes up the music community, whether they're fans, musicians, writers or all three.
said “millennial males” three times into the mirror & a dude with an ironic tee showed up to tell me he’s a feminist who watches broad city
— doctor pilot (@pilotbacon) October 13, 2015
(10/07/15 11:03pm)
On Oct. 11 LA-based duo, Girlpool will be taking the stage at the Blockhouse. Comprised of friends Harmony Tividad and Cleo Tucker, Girlpool to feel everything with just a few chords and lyrics that sound like they came straight from a teenage girl with an uncanny sense of clarity of the world they live in combined with a mature self-awareness.
Probably because Tividad and Tucker formed the band when they were 17 and 18, respectively. And they both have an uncanny sense of clarity of the world they live in and have a sense of self-awareness that most adults would be lucky to possess.
Their debut album, Before the World Was Big was released in July to critical acclaim, receiving a 7.6 from Pitchfork and starring in an episode of NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. In that video, it's clear that Tividad and Tucker operate on the same brainwaves. They're living the dream of being in band with your best friend that we've all had at some point in our lives.
Opening for Girlpool are Eskimeaux and Told Slant. Both from Brooklyn, they'll start the night off with emotionally-charged music that's perfect for a Sunday night.
The doors open at 7 p.m. and the music starts at 8 p.m. Tickets can be bought in advance for $8 here.
(10/05/15 10:45pm)
Everyday, stuff happens. We wake up, brush our teeth, get dressed and get on with our day. We make decision. Should I get a small coffee or a medium? Should I smile at the cute guy who sits next to me in class or should I ignore his beautiful existence?
Sometimes, other stuff happens, and that stuff is usually described in a more eloquent way than using the word "stuff."
Take for example, a mass shooting. A uniquely American problem, in 2015 we've had 294 mass shootings. Unfortunately, last week there was a particularly ugly one (although all mass shootings are particularly hideous).
On Oct. 1, a man with a history of mental illness went to his Oregon community college and shot nine victims dead, before taking his own life when the cops showed up. His reasoning was organized religion.
He allegedly asked students what their religion was before shooting them. If they said they were Christian, he shot them in the head, if they replied with a different religion or did not reply, he shot then in less lethal places, like the leg.
Here's how some of the 2016 Presidential nominees responded:
My prayers are with everyone in Oregon. May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 1, 2015
Another senseless tragedy with more innocent people killed. Our hearts go out to the families. -B — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) October 1, 2015
Tweets won't stop this. Thoughts and prayers won't, either. Only real gun reforms will stop mass shootings from occurring nearly every day.
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) October 1, 2015
Praying for all those affected by the horrific violence in Oregon. Thankful for the heroic actions of first responders and law enforcement.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 2, 2015
And then there was Jeb Bush. As the brother of former Pres. George W. Bush, we can expect that Jeb(!) might have a few problems while choosing his words.
Jeb Bush's response to the mass shooting, in short, was "stuff happens."
After ignoring most of the rest of his comments, the media went into a frenzy that only politics media a year from the election can get into. Opponents took advantage of perhaps the first significant gaffe of the season and slammed Bush for his "insensitive comments."
Not that I agree with most of his policies and beliefs, but I believe that it's important to really know where a politician stands, especially when they are running for the position of the President of the United States. (This is also why Martin O'Malley has been pushing for more Democratic debates before primary season begins).
Here's the full context of Bush's "stuff happens" soundbite:
"We're in a difficult time in our country and I don't think that more government is necessarily the answer to this," he said. "I think we need to reconnect ourselves with everybody else. It's just, it's very sad to see. But I resist the notion -- and I did, I had this, this challenge as governor, because we have, look, stuff happens, there's always a crisis and the impulse is always to do something and it's not necessarily the right thing to do."
Regardless of your political affiliation, regardless of your beliefs, it's still important to keep an open mind and try your best not to get sucked up in the black hole vortex of American presidential politics. It's not just voting that makes a person a good citizen. It's also being a well-informed citizen.
(10/05/15 5:58pm)
WIUX is happy to share with you the first edition of our Living Room Sessions. Every other week we record and interview local bands in the living room of our station house.
Dietrich Jon is the first band we recorded. Made up of Diederik van Wassenaer, Connor Grimm, Peter Doyle, Austin Davis and Mark Edlin, Dietrich Jon has made a name for themselves playing in countless basements across Bloomington, at the Bishop and at Culture Shock last year. What we're trying to say is, unless you're a freshman or have been living under a rock, you've almost definitely heard them play.
In October, they'll play a showcase at CMJ Music Marathon. After their set, I got a chance to talk to Diederik, Austin and Mark about CMJ, Bloomington, making music and more.
"Sometime" - Dietrich Jon
I want to be a Midwestern band
Q: How did you get in contact with CMJ?
A: I applied through sonic bids, I didn’t think we got in so I didn’t tell them. But the skip two months later to August when I got an email saying we got an official showcase, and everyone was like that’s great so what…we’re going to New York?
Q: Favorite place to play in Bloomington?
A: House shows for sure. First of all, Bloomington is set up in a way that is incredibly good for house shows. There’s a ton of space in between houses in the south side, everything is walkable, there’s nothing a mile away. Bloomington has one of the longest house show traditions in the country. The music scene now is all from the punk scene in the 2000s, it’s really just a crazy continuation. We’ve come across bands that come to Bloomington specifically for the house shows because the energy is awesome. The sound is eh but the energy is incredible. It’s a good place to test new music as well. And the internet as made it more legitimate. Venues are becoming obsolete, it’s more about the bands now. Social media brings people out, the come for the music.
Q: Where’s your favorite place to get a sandwich in Bloomington?
A: Bfoods, Rush Hour, Dagwoods
Q: What is your favorite unique part of Bloomington?
A: The quarries, the people that you interact with that you usually wouldn’t talk to. I wouldn’t ever of talked to an anarchist in Indianapolis. The zoom flume, it’s a giant abandoned waterslide. The music scene.
Q: If you could perform on stage with any three musicians, dead or alive who would they be?
A: James Brown, Frank Zappa, Thom Yorke
Q: Any plans for new music?
A: We’re headed to the studio this Sunday to record hopefully half of our first full-length. Hopefully it will be done by the end of this year in terms of mixing. And if everything goes according to plan, hopefully it will be out by late spring. Let’s say the first week of May. And then we’re gonna on tour for like two years. And then we’re gonna run for president.
Q: Who’s going to be the next President?
A: Bernie Sanders, for sure. To be real, Bernie is the real deal.
"Independence Day" - Dietrich Jon
Mix/Master/Editing done by Brian Berger and WIUX Engineering Committee
(09/28/15 11:51pm)
Starting last week, every Monday WIUX is bringing you the latest and greatest news from the already tumultuous 2016 presidential election. However, these aren't the stories everyone else is covering. Sure, Scott Walker dropped out of the campaign and Donald Trump is proposing tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans and Martin O'Malley is still calling for more debates. But that's another publication's job to report on those events.
Last week, we reported on the artists, ranging from writers to composer to frontmen of punk bands that signed a letter showing their support for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) who is running for the Democratic nomination. This week, we're staying on the left, this time looking at Hillary Clinton and her campaign for women voters through female empowerment Spotify playlists and discussing Starbuck's most ubiquitous fall drink-the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Clinton has been plagued with various issues throughout her current presidential campaign. The issue with her private email as the Secretary of State has blown up into a full-on scandal, reminiscent of the scandals that marked her time as First Lady. Still, she is fully denying any wrongdoing, saying that she did not use her personal email to send classified information. The FBI is currently investigating. It's not as boring as it sounds, here's an excerpt from a particularly fascinating email exchange:
Hillary Clinton: a fan of skim milk in her tea, women's rights, Parks and Rec and The Good Wife.
Other things HRC is a fan of-songs about female empowerment. The "official playlist of Women for Hillary" features Beyonce, No Doubt, Kelly Clarkson, Selena Gomez and plenty of other female artists who sang a song or two about something else besides falling in love/breaking up/sex/all three.
Here's the playlist for your listening pleasure
Clinton's musical choices appear to be pretty mainstream, nothing really sticks out. Like maybe if she included a song by Mitski she could prove her indie-cred and at the same time give a shout out the the music scene in Brooklyn, where her campaign headquarters are located.
However, the very inoffensive playlist is nothing compared to this information that was uncovered this afternoon.
Yes, Hillary is a recovering basic white girl. In case you were wondering, a PSL from Starbucks has between 130-380 calories depending on what's in it.
If you need to register to vote, click here.
**WIUX does not endorse any candidate
(09/21/15 7:04pm)
With the next Presidential election almost a year away, candidates are trying to woo celebrities in hopes that their endorsement will persuade ~everyday Americans~ like you and me to vote for them in the primary and general election. Although the so-called mainstream media is paying little attention to Sen. Bernie Sanders, except for when polls for New Hampshire and Iowa indicate he's leading the presumed Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, dozens of notable artists signed a pledge this past week endorsing Sanders.
Calling for a political "revolution" and emphasizing racial and economic equality, Sanders has stood out in the crowded field of candidates not just because of his party affiliation, he's a self-described Socialist running for the Democratic nomination, but because his proposed policies and core beliefs resonate with a significant cohort of Americans who feel as if they are ill-represented in government.
Therefore, it should come to little surprise that some of the signees are from punk rock groups like the Dead Kennedys, Babes in Toyland and Sonic Youth who have long advocated for some sort of revolution in American society. Killer Mike, who makes up half of Run The Jewels and regularly speaks out against racial injustice and police brutality as was a guest of the Pres. Obama this year also signed the letter.
Cadien Lake James of Twin Peaks who played at last year's Culture Shock also signed, as did all the members of The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
It's hard to measure how much a celebrity endorsement really helps a candidate secure a nomination or win the election, however in the past two elections, people like Jay Z, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder and Katy Perry have all publicly announced their support for Pres. Obama. Carole King, Clay Aiken and Ariana Grande are a few artists who have shown support for Clinton during this current election cycle.
Here's a playlist of music created by people who support Sen. Sanders. If you want to register to vote, click here.
**WIUX does not endorse Sen. Sanders or any candidate
(09/13/15 4:37pm)
Minnesota-based indie-rock band Hippo Campus is set to play at the Bishop on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The four-piece band has been touring across the country all year, playing at festivals like Lollapalooza and Made in America and still having time to release new music. The band's been touring with groups like Modest Mouse and My Morning Jacket, and is now in the middle of September tour across college towns.
Fans and critics alike say that the band sounds similar to Vampire Weekend, and while the comparison is accurate, the bands both share a lead singer that isn't afraid the reach higher octaves and afro-pop melodies, Hippo Campus comes from a more hard rock background, which is evident in some of their music.
The band is set to release a second EP, following their critically-acclaimed Bashful Creatures, on Oct. 2 via Grand Jury Records, putting their studies on hold to record new music and support Jr. Jr. (formerly Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr) on a country-wide tour.
American Wrestlers is opening for Hippo Campus, scheduled to take the stage at 9 p.m. The brainchild of Gary McClure, the one-man band's lo-fi vibes will be sure to start the night on the right note.
Tickets are $10 and $18 at the door and the show is 18+
(09/07/15 8:41pm)
Music for when the sun is setting a little bit earlier every day and you're actually starting to notice it
(09/02/15 12:45am)
Like last year's version, but newer. And better.
1. Lush synths and fun whistles to lift you up as the warm sun sets for the last few times in 2015
2. Wish I could be there with you Lana, but I'm that girl that waited to take finite senior year
3. Never though I'd say this until I heard "Where Are U Now?" but damn J Biebz. Here's this first single off his comeback album, due out in November. If a 3-year director of a college radio station can enjoy Bieber and admit to it, you all can. No judging.
4. Summer is over, I don't care that we "technically" have a few more weeks left. Did you just break up with someone; that summer fling went up in flames? Here's an oldie (just turned a decade old!) but a fave.
5. Summer is over. Winter is near. We're all getting older. Here's a good song!
6. I'm thrilled to have discovered Modern Baseball this summer, but even more thrilled that I can never go a day again without knowing that this music exists.
7. It's not funny anymore, tell different jokes
8. This album is like gobstopper; there's so many layers and they're all so good. "Girl" closes Jamie xx's masterpiece that I wish never had to end. The heartbeat pulsating throughout the track is there to remind you that the party is over. But you can always press "replay"
9. That sleek retro disco sound with 2015 fire from Vic Mensa and The Internet.
10. Punk goes 2015
11. This is a sweet, nice song.
12. FIDLAR album out this week. DGAF music.
13. I could make a playlist of just "This Must Be The Place" and I could probably listen to that playlist forever. Here's Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses doing the song justice.
14. Gary Clark Jr. is very good at making very good music and his newest album will undoubtedly be very good.
15. Seeing Florence live was somehow real life and a month later, I'm still in shock that it happened. Two months later and I'm still listening to How Blue on repeat. Give this song; this album, the attention it deserves.
Here's the whole playlist:
(08/31/15 2:34am)
10 years ago today, Death Cab for Cutie released their first album since joining the big leagues signing with Atlantic Records. Death Cab, one of the most successful and consistent indie bands in this millennium, obviously received a decent amount of criticism for "selling out" and joining Atlantic's long rolodex of artists, leaving it's Barsuk and Pacific Northwest roots behind, because if there's one thing that indie kids like more than being the first to discover a new band is getting pissed off when more people discover that new cool band and scoff at the band's (usually) well-deserved success. Plans was the band's first full-length album since 2003's Transatlanticism, which with help from The O.C. and nearly every teen in American either wanting to be Seth Cohen or date Seth Cohen, elevated the band from the fringes of the emerging indie-rock scene from the Pacific Northwest into the Top 25 Most Played playlist of iPod minis across the country.
On the same day, a rapper named Kanye West who at that time still wore polo shirts, not Yeezy Boosts, dropped his second album, a follow up to the hugely successful College Dropout that pretty much changed the game for rap music . In his second album, Kayne not only had to divert falling into a sophomore slump, but also had to make an album that could somewhat hold its weight against College Dropout and 10 years later we're still arguing which album is Ye's best.
To compare Plans and Late Registration would be like comparing a glass of crisp, cold water and a slice of mouthwatering chocolate cake. Both are very good but but very different. Both albums stand pretty well on their own, but will always be overshadowed by the album that came before, the album that propelled both Death Cab and Kanye to the top of the indie rock scene and the rap (and arguably just the) universe. Still, critics have been reflecting on both albums, what the music meant to them at the time and also how the music reflected society at the time.
When both albums were released a decade ago, Death Cab for Cutie and Kanye West meant nothing to me. I downloaded "Gold Digger" on my iPod because I was 11 years old and wanted to listen to what the cool kids liked. I listened to "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" because I was an 11-year-old awkward girl who was starting to figure out how to find music on the Internet and was realizing that the music I liked tended to stray far from the Top 40 that I was mindlessly listening to. A decade later, Death Cab for Cutie and Kanye West have both become huge parts of my life, two of my favorite, most inspiring artists. The music I listen to when I write papers, when I walk to class, when I'm sad or happy or both. I didn't even know that Plans and Late Registration were released on the same day until a few hours ago, but it all makes a lot of sense that two albums that introduced me to two of the artists that have shaped me the most as a music listener, writer and honestly, a person, were released on September 2nd 2005.
Plans is a sad album. Death Cab's Ben Gibbard has definitely written sadder songs on different albums, but overall, the melancholy is much more prevalent on this record than on any other. It's not just Gibbard's lyrics, or his vocals which are just so good at conveying sadness. Plans is former Death Cab guitarist/producer Chris Walla's best album. The lush sounds elevate the album from an average sad indie record from some Pacific Northwest band in the mid-aughts to the first album that DCFC released on a major label. On "Summer Skin" the bass line, coupled with the descriptive, heart-wrenching lyrics, makes for a double punch in the gut while simultaneously making the listener recall every single moment of their summer fling ending."What Sarah Said" arguably one of the band's best songs, features some introspective, incredibly sad lyrics: "love is watching someone die/so who's gonna watch you die?" over steady drum beat and a bass line that sounds like it grew of out another great, sad Death Cab song, "Transatlanticism." But the question is why is Plans so sad and why were we all listening to it? Gibbard helped make the early 2000's indie kid go mainstream, or at least more normal. It was ok to be sad, it was ok to listen to something different. I remember in 2005 Green Day's American Idiot was the cool album to listen to besides the truly awful hip-hop that dominated the airwaves at the same time. If a trio of guys in eyeliner who played music that existed on the fringe of society for so long was suddenly mainstream, it was time for indie to make it's break. Plans represented that moment for indie, it was released on a major label and Death Cab's music is inoffensive. We were listening to it because Death Cab make us feel less alone, made it ok to be sad. It still make me feel less alone and reminds me it's ok to be sad.
Like Plans, Late Registration owes a certain amount of its brilliance to its producer, in Ye's case Jon Brion. The soul-infused and much pop-ier tracks on this album barely resemble Kanye's music today, but it's important to listen to this album as a transition from the pink polo wearing Chicago rapper to the genre bending/fashion designer/husband to a Kardashian/musical partner of Paul McCartney that Kayne is currently. Featuring songs like "Touch the Sky" that can still, ten years later, make a party that much better and the hard-hitting and metaphor-ridden "Crack Music," Late Registration sounds so different and so much better than the rap music of the day. In the Pitchfork review when the album first came out, the critic argued that the idea that Kanye was going to revolutionize hip-hop was mostly untrue and "not much has changed." A decade later we can collectively laugh at that premature statement. Much like Death Cab making it ok to be sad by bringing their sad music to the mainstream, Kanye introduced the idea of consciousness to rap, after an era when gangsta rap dominated the charts and there was a constant content to see who was the hardest rapper. Today, it's obvious that Kanye's emotionally-charged rap changed the genre completely. Drake, whether or not he's the one really writing the lyrics, shot up the charts with his confessional lyrics. Run the Jewels, despite their heavy hitting lyrics, gave a nearly 20 minute long interview giving teen girls advice, a far cry from the misogynistic rappers a decade earlier. Whereas 50 Cent was known for wearing his bullet proof vest, just in case, Chance the Rapper spent his summer bringing underprivileged kids from Chicago to museums around the city. A decade ago, Late Registration was just an incredibly different and great album from a burgeoning star. Today, it was a catalyst for the transformation of the entire rap industry to make it what it is today.
(08/24/15 4:55pm)
By Jessica Yarvin and Sarah Thompson
Welcome aboard the boat, where our one stop is Hoosier Nation. Boat? You ask inquisitively knowing that Indiana University is landlocked in the midwest of America. Yes boat, we respond trying to gloss over logistics as the tour begins.
Indiana University is the home to many exciting things that will fill your future here. You might be studying in the Kelley School of Business or in the Jacobs School of Music. You could have classes in the new and beautiful International Studies building or on one of the inconsistently labeled floors in Ballantine. You might join an extracurricular, greek life, or get a job in town. The world is your oyster, and since we are on a boat that oyster of a world is easy to pick up and hold in the palm of your hand.
Now that we’ve made it full circle, WIUX is here to help answer some questions new Hoosiers might have.
What is a Hoosier?
That’s you. Congrats, like the animorph books you might have read as a child you have morphed into a Hoosier the moment you became an IU student.
Should I join a club?
Yes. Definitely. Find a group of people passionate about what you’re passionate about. It is a great way to make friends and get involved on campus. If you don’t know what you are interested in or what clubs there are to be a part of attend one of the Involvement Fairs. There will be one on Wednesday Sept 2nd in Dunn Meadow.
Help I don’t know what to do with my life and I’m unhappy in this pre-Kelley track and I don’t even want to do business and K201 is totally ruining my life!
No matter what major you come into school with, you don’t have to stick with it. You didn’t sign a contract in blood (hopefully). Talk to a career counselor or academic advisor, or just think about what kind of job you are interested in having. Take classes that test out what you’re thinking about. Maybe one informatics class, one education class, a PR class, music class, and a biology course. If you don’t want to stick with your current major, the only difficult part is finding the major you are interested in sticking with.
Also K201 is a super useful class. You might not be enjoying it right now, but come internship season your skills at Microsoft Excel will set you apart.
What classes should I take?
Take the required classes early. You don’t want to end up having to take finite your senior year (Sorry Blog Director Jessica). This also gives you the opportunity to really figure out what path you want to take without having to retrace yourself every step of the way. But make sure to pack in random fun classes too. Take History of Rock and Roll or Yoga, find classes that simulates a different part of your brain than your required or major classes do.
Should I get a minor?
This one probably would be better for an academic advisor, but sure why not? Minors make you a more well rounded person and give you the chance to show off things you’re passionate about.
Do I actually have to go to all of my classes?
Well no, you’re in college. You live by your own rules. But check the syllabus to see if attendance counts for credit (sometimes it is up to 25% of your final grade) and see if you get any sick days (typically a teacher will give 2 or 3 of them). After you have all the information, it is your call to make. Sometimes it is worth it to get in a mid afternoon nap before a different classes’ review session for the midterm. Sometimes you have a project due you need to work on or maybe you just want an excuse to text the cute kid in your class for the notes. Just find out what works for you.
Where is the best place to study?
Boy Howdy studying is important. But sometimes it is difficult when your roommate or floor mates are marathoning Friends reruns or playing the long version or Seven Minutes in Heaven with their new pal from down the hall. The library is always a good bet and WIUX already has a finals week guide to the libraries of Indiana University for your reading pleasure. You can also cozy up in a coffee shop with a cup of joe to crank through your assigned readings.
Where can I get coffee in town?
Dorm coffee not fulfilling your needs? Probably not cause it sucks. Luckily Bloomington boasts some great, local coffee shops (honestly better than a lot of the coffee I’ve had in NYC). Here’s the names to know: Soma-two locations, one on the corner of Jordan and third, another on Kirkwood. Interestingly nutty iced coffee, really good green tea and good flavored hot coffees (they do them iced too, but when it comes to iced coffee I’m a purist). I’ve had peppermint coffees and one with black cherries and they’re all delicious. BBC iced coffee: BBC=Bloomington Bagel Company=probably the reason why I’ve survived three years of college so far. BBC iced coffee for a while ranked #1 on my list of best iced coffee in Btown. With locations on Kirkwood and on Morton St. downtown and other by College Mall, you will rarely find yourself somewhere that’s not within walking distance of the rejuvenating liquid that is commonly referred to as BBC iced coffee. Uelzing: Uelzing saves lives. Growing up into a real brick-and-mortar store this past year, Uelzing has quickly made itself a Bloomington staple. The cold brew specialists used to exclusively sell their coffee from a yellow cart on the corner of Indiana and Kirkwood, and you can still find it there on sunny days, but if you want your fix of Uelzing, then head over to their store on Kirkwood. or you can find it bottled in Bloomingfoods and BBC. But really, I recommend going down to the store to see the crazy contraptions the have set up to get the super flavorful and strong cold brew that is seriously the best coffee I’ve ever had. Also Village Deli has really good ~unlimited~ coffee. Also there a bunch of Starbucks littered across Bloomington.
Where can I get some good pizza?
Where to look entirely depends on what type of pizza your heart is searching for. WIUX already has set a course to cheese and deliciousness for you.
My eye is infected and I can’t wear my contacts but my glasses are broken so I’m walking half blind around campus and this must end, what should I do?
So funny you ask because that exact situation happened to me my freshman year! First, go to the health center and get your eyes checked out and get a prescription to de-infect your eyes and make sure you don't go blind. Second, head over to Atwater Ave. to the Optometry building where you can get your glasses fixed, get new frames, or both! Also for super cheap (or at least cheaper than anything else) because it's optometry students doing the fixing. That shouldn't make you nervous at all, IU has a great optometry school.
I’m stressed out! What should I do?
Take a walk, drink a big glass of water and talk to a friend (either a new friend or a friend from back home). If that doesn’t help you can contact CAPS which is a service through the IU Health Center that helps with counseling. http://healthcenter.indiana.edu/counseling/
Whether it is a friend, an RA, a teacher, someone at the the health center or a stranger you have cornered on a bus there is always someone you can turn to to talk about what you are going through.
How do I make friends?
Smile and talk to people. Everyone always is looking for new friends, especially at the beginning of the year. Wave hello to your neighbors, invite people to do activities, accept people’s invitations to do activities, join a club and sit down and chat with strangers when at the food court. But most importantly be friendly. You are just meeting people, so you won’t have the same relationship with them that you have with the friends you have had since middle school, because that takes time. But you’ll have buds to go to the movies with, hang out with, and have adventures with.
What’s the cool way to party?
With ice.
Is it fine if I don’t drink?
Of course it is. No one will judge you, as long as you aren’t judging them. No one will care as long as you are friendly. Even if you don’t drink you can still go out, meet people and have fun. Feel weird about not having a drink in your hand? Get yourself the soda of your choosing (on campus it’ll have to be the Coke product of your choosing).
Is it fine if I do drink?
Of course it is. No one will judge you, as long as you aren’t judging them. No one will care as long as you are friendly. If you choose to engage in this activity make sure you are safe. Before going out know your way home, follow the buddy system, and know the laws. In the case of over drinking knowing Indiana’s lifeline law can help save a life. (http://indianalifeline.org/) Also, at the end of the night if you happen to find a new buddy, it is your job to make sure that your previous buddy still makes it home safe.
I don’t know anything about basketball, will people hate me?
Probably not, that would be more than a little harsh. Try attending an IU basketball game with friends to find out what the hype it about or listen to the song “This is Indiana” 12 times. If you mean that you don’t understand the rules of how to play basketball try watching some solid basketball movies like Space Jam or Air Bud.
What are “The Quarries”?
Have you ever noticed that pretty much all of Indiana University's buildings are made out of limerstone? No? Well you should probably sign up for a geology class.
The quarries are old limestone quarry mines in and around Monroe County, some of which have filled up to natural swimming holes. Lots of fun, and almost considered a rite of passage but be careful. Not only because some of the swimming holes are illegal to swim in or to trespass on, but some contain old garbage, equipment or boulders right under the surface. If you are planning on jumping in, make sure to have a good look into the water first to insure that it is safe.
Should I go home every weekend?
Weekends are the biggest section of free time. Use it making new friends or getting closer with the friends you have already made. Use it to explore Bloomington and relax. Get the most out of your college experience by being at college. If you are really missing home try to set up times when your family or friends can come visit you at school, and try to limit going home to only once a month.
Why is there always construction?
After the construction dust has cleared beautiful new buildings and pathways emerge. EX: Hodge Hall is finally done with construction and has nice flowers planted out front.
I’m drunk what should I eat?
Pizza X cheesy bread with a side of ranch ok next question please.
Who is Brother Jed and why is he calling me a slut and telling my that I’m going to hell? I’m just trying to walk to bio lecture!
Brother Jed is IU’s resident not-so-friendly preacher. Just ignore him/avoid walking by wherever he is that day. Some people like to engage him but it’s pretty dumb. He is in a freedom of speech zone which is why he is able to yell mean things at strangers.
My roommate just brought a guy/girl back and it’s 2 a.m. what should I do?
Invest in noise canceling headphones/ear plugs before the semester starts. They will eventually come in handy for one reason or another. But also set ground rules with your roommate right off the bat about how and when they can have someone over. Make sure both of you follow the rules so that it is fair. This is especially handy if your roomie already has a significant other.
WHY FINITE WHYYYY?
Because math is important. I honestly think math is fun and interesting too. But that doesn’t mean you’ll want to take the class again and again. Form a study group so you only have to take this course one time.
Ed. note: finite is stupid and yes I’m that senior in your finite class hi
I drank too much grape Karkov last night and made out with 5 boys am I a slut?
No of course not! College is for making mistakes and figuring yourself out. If you feel awful the next day because you pounded shots of grape Karkov then you know to ease up next time. If you feel bad about yourself because you made out with 5 boys, don’t feel bad because society has forced women to hide their sexuality! Unless you did not consent to any of the 5 boys. If that’s the case then there are many ways to report any sexual harassment or sexual assault, anonymously. If you’re not sure if it was harassment or an assault, if it didn’t feel right then it probably wasn’t right. And also remember that the only way to consent is a verbal “yes” from both parties participating. Sexual assault or harassment can happen to any gender or person and should be taken seriously. Grape karkov leads to questionable choices and consent is always sexy.
Help! I’m hungover what should I eat?
Hashbrowns with bacon and cheese does wonders. Bagel sandwiches or bagels with schmear also can help soak but the remnants of your previous evening. Did you sleep past breakfast? While breakfast may live on in your heart, it might not live on in what is left at the dorm cafeteria. So for a lunch hangover try to grab some pasta or a panini. A great way to avoid being hung over in the first place is to stay well hydrated. Make sure to drink a tall glass of water before you start drinking, before you go to bed, and have a glass of water ready for yourself when you wake up.
What is Oncourse and Canvas and OneStart and why do they all exist if they all do basically the same thing?
Oncourse and Canvas deal with your individual courses while OneStart deals with your time at IU as a whole. The reason there is both Oncourse and Canvas right now is IU is slowly transitioning to use only Canvas and is giving teachers and students a period of time to become acclimated.
Who is Lil Bub?
Lil Bub is an internet sensation and also a local adorable cat. She is owned by, and is sometimes seen at, the Russian Recording which has been the venue host to both local bands’ and indie-rockers. A lot of her gear (mugs, shirts, the like) are shipped via the local Secretly Group. Following her on Instagram would probably give you the best idea of her adorable nature.
How do the buses work?
If it a campus bus, you don’t need an ID, if it a city bus like the 9 that takes you to College Mall, you’ll need your school ID. Part of your school tuition goes to paying for the buses, so it is a sunk cost that you may as well use! If you have a smartphone, the app “IU Mobile” can help you track the buses to see if they are on time and what schedule they run on.
What is the hierarchy on the road?
Bikers 2. car drivers 3. bus drivers 4. the Pizza X van that blasts music 5. pedestrians
What is the Little 500 (or Lil 5)?
The Little 500 is the annual men’s and women’s bike race that is held every spring. Bike teams train all year for a shot at the number 1 title. Watch the movie Breaking Away to get an idea of the bike race. Little 5 is also known for being a week long party at Indiana University. So rest up early, finish those group projects, and prepare your theme costumes.
What is Culture Shock?
Culture Shock is the annual free music festival held in the weeks leading up to Little 5 and is typically located in Dunn Meadow. It highlights up and coming under-represented acts, local music and has featured Foxygen, Mac DeMarco, War on Drugs, among others.
What’s the deal about dorm food?
It is food court food, it will be the same almost every day. It will not be as great as homemade cooking, but it can be pretty good. Try to mix it up by going to different food courts that have different options. The Collins Living Learning Center has a buffet style where for one price it is all you can eat (with soft serve machine), Wright Food court has grand pianos, and there is a new one that is in Woodlands.
Which door should I walk in to get into the Journalism School?
Always walk in the not-so-secret side door to show off your street cred.
Is the "Freshman 15" real?
Fifteen friends? Yes definitely. Fifteen credit hours? Sure if your schedule is organized that way! Fifteen pounds? Maybe, but with the SRSC and HPER (pronounced 'hyper') there are plenty ways to combat it by keeping up with your cardiovascular exercise!
How do I find out more about what is going on in the world?
Besides via the internet? The Kelley School has the Wall Street Journal free and available to read, all you have to do is go in and get one. Check out the IDS which has free newspapers available to students in most campus buildings and dining halls. Also the WIUX News Hours (Wednesday mornings and Friday evenings) is full of international, national and local news.
What do you do at a tailgate?
First and foremost you need to wear cream and crimson. Don’t have cream and crimson? That’s fine, just wear red and white - no one will be able to tell the difference. The parking lot is usually full of families tailgating or alumni, to find the students head to the grassy area across the street about 2 to 3 hours before the game starts. If you are trying to have your own tailgate, you’ll want to arrive much earlier than that to claim your spot and set up where you and your friends are going to be! Either way, try to avoid getting a drinking ticket while blacked out like your parents feared you would be when you decided to go to IU
Why does everyone wear shirts that say KOK?
That is a bar. On Thursdays they give out a free T-Shirt or tank with cover.
Why is everything so far apart?
IU is a very large school. There are a lot of buildings to accommodate the over 40,000 undergraduate students that attend every year. So while it could take you 15 mins to walk from your dorm at McNutt to your Calc class in Swain West, that just means you are getting great exercise. Don’t want to walk? See the section on the buses.
I have a crush on someone what should I do?
Fave all their tweets then invite them on a date and tell them that their hair looks sexy pushed back. Here is a list of inexpensive dates ideas to take your crush on in Bloomington.
The suggestions and comments in this article belong to the co-authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of WIUX. WIUX does encourage you to fave all of their tweets too @WIUX.
(08/10/15 4:59am)
It's been a week since Lollapalooza ended, giving me enough time to reflect on what was probably one of the most fun (and sweaty) weekends ever. Here the recap:
FRIDAY:
The highlight of Friday was of course Sir Paul, but we were lucky that the two shows before were the Cold War Kids and the Alabama Shakes, making it a lot more enjoyable to stand in the heat, under the cloudless sky for the better part of the afternoon. I've been listening to the Cold War Kids for a while now and it was super cool to hear them live for the first time.
However, it was the Alabama Shakes that put on the better show. Brittany Howard's voice is so unique and strong captivated the crowd, even the woman that set up camp in the middle of the field all day reading a book about the Beatles looked up once or twice to see where this voice was coming from. Howard was also rocking his really awesome muumuu and although I myself am not a muumuu aficionado, I'm going to assume that this is a rad muumuu, especially considering it was approximately a zillion degrees out. Check it out for yourself. Later that day, Howard joined Paul McCartney on stage for a rendition of "Get Back" and I don't think I've ever seen a person more excited/in awe as Howard as she sang into the mic with McCartney.
Somehow, after standing and periodically sitting at the Samsung stage since 3:30, we made it to about 25 rows back for Sir Paul. Seeing Paul McCartney in real life was easily the coolest thing that happened all weekend. For so many of us the Beatles are such a mythical band, no group of four humans can really be that influential and make that great of music. But then you hear the music live and hear Sir Paul dedicate songs to his friend George and his friend John and it finally hits you that it's real. It was an incredible set, even more incredible to think that Paul is 74-years-old and played a non-stop two and a half hour set with fire shooting out of the stage at one point. It was a rock show unlike anything I've ever experienced and unlike anything I will ever probably experience again. Opening with "Magical Mystery Tour" with some psychedelic graphics in the background, I was whisked away from Chicago, 2015, to a different era, an era that I've only read about and watched videos about, to coming as close as I ever could to experiencing it, and for me at least, that was one of the most incredible moments of the weekend. For every iPhone raised above one's head, there was a reminder that this concert was from a different era and it's purpose was to take to you back to that time. Throughout the night, Paul told stories of his glory days, at one point, telling a story about Jimi Hendrix trying to play a song from Sgt Peppers, but his guitar got out of tune, so he asked his friend Eric in the crowd to help him tune it. Eric of course, being Eric Clapton. And then there was the moment before he played "Blackbird" that McCartney mentioned that he wrote the song when is was in England hearing about the civil rights movement in the U.S., and how the song was meant to give people hope. It's not everyday that you see a Beatle in the flesh.
SATURDAY:
On Saturday, I was mostly excited for Tame Impala and Brand New. However, I was very impressed with Beat Connection. They kind of sound like The 1975 and their lead singer is very attractive, all things that I enjoy.
Later that day, we also caught a great set by the Minnesota-based four-piece band Hippo Campus. Their fun indie-rock was perfect at the shady BMI stage and good news! They'll be playing in Bloomington at the Bishop this Fall. An hour or so after their set, I got to interview the band (keep an eye out for the interview sometime this week) and not only do they make good music, but they're also some pretty cool guys. However, before interviewing the band, I got to explore the press area a bit. With my press pass, I had access to the press area and all the secrets inside. Lucky for you, I'll divulge some of what goes on in there. Basically, unless you work for a newspaper or a Chicago based radio station or a website like Fader or Pitchfork or Spin, so basically everyone there except for me, you spend the weekend interviewing bands and filing stories and images. I felt lucky to not be tied to such a strict guideline, but still it was cool to see what was going on by the work stations.
The press area also featured an area dedicated to massages, hair cuts, make up artists, hair stylists and manicures all free of charge. Also unlimited and free water, coconut water, cold brew and seltzer water. Being a journalist is fun!
Back to the music. As the the sun began to set, Tame Impala took the main stage, opening with "Let It Happen" and going through a their discography. As I mentioned before, I was pretty hype for Tame Impala's set, however, it wasn't as great as I expected. Maybe it was because I was off to the side of the crowd to try to catch some shade, regardless, Kevin Parker and the rest of the band didn't connect as well with the crowd as I had hoped. After their set, we headed over to the Sprint stage to catch Brand New. As we walked across the field, white dudes in black shirts and some sort of denim started taking over the area in anticipation of Metallica. The testosterone was a bit too much. Anyway, Brand New. I was pretty excited for Brand New just cause I think it's hilarious to hear the bands I liked when I was a #teen. Unfortunately, Brand New was way too screamo and hardcore to my liking and didn't even play "Soco Amaretto Lime." With no interest in the headliners and a rapidly depleting energy supply, we left Grant Park early Friday night.
SUNDAY
I was super excited for Sunday not just because of Florence +the Machine, but also because I had interviews set up with Bully, Twin Peaks, The Wombats and Circa Waves. Unfortunately due to a storm coming into Chicago literally two minutes before I was going to interview Bully, all of the interviews got canceled except for The Wombats. Fortunately, I got to hear a ton of great music on Sunday.
We got in a little later than we planned and missed most of The Wombat's performance, but at least got to hear the end of the Liverpool-based band's set, featuring songs from all their albums. After that, we heard Circa Waves, though they played at the main stage which was entirely too big for the young band. After wandering around looking for a patch of grass in the shade, I headed over to the press tent, only to be evacuated minutes later to avoid getting pelted by hail. An hour or so later, Grant Park reopened and we caught part of Moon Taxi's set when the band brought up Nicholas from Walk the Moon to play a song with the band. After that, we continued to search for shade from the oppressive heat, I interviewed the charmingly British Wombats (keep an eye out for that interview too) and watched the sea of flower crowns ebb and flow in and out of Perry's.
By Sunday late afternoon, Lolla had pretty much gotten the best of me. I was tired and sweaty and had seen enough flower crowns. Luckily, Nashville-based punk group Bully was about to take the stage. The band's debut album, Feels Like was released in June and has pretty much remained a staple in my commute playlist that I listen to every day to and from work. I was super excited to hear them live and I was blown away by how well lead singer Alicia Bognanno's vocals held up. Instead of sounding hoarse, her vocals were as strong as they sounded on the album and the heavy guitars didn't overpower at all. Besides putting on a great show, and probably the last show I'll see before they get big (it's only a matter of time) Bully gave me a much needed boost of energy to get through the rest of the day.
3. Pretty much the only reason why I was even at Lollapalooza in the first place was because of Florence + The Machine. This story can go back to 2010 when Florence played at Glastonbury in England and 15-year-old Jessica was looking for some other set (maybe Bon Iver?) when she stumbled upon a YoutTube video of "Dog Days Are Over" and nothing was the same. Anyway, flash forward five years and 20-year-old Jessica can't stop listening to How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. Reasonably, the only solution was to apply for press passes on behalf of WIUX to Lollapalooza so that I could see Florence live, finally. So finally, on Sunday, the fears that her show would be canceled due to thunderstorms subsided, I got to see Florence + The Machine live and let me tell you, this must be what a religious experience feels like. She played a number of new songs, sending the crowd intro a frenzy with "What Kind of Man" and running around the stage to "Ship to Wreck." However, as the lightning behind the crowd, illuminating the Chicago skyline intensified, Florence had to sadly tell her adoring audience that her show was to be cut 30-minutes short so we wouldn't all be fried to a crisp while dancing to the part-human, part-magical creature on stage. Naturally. she ended with "Dog Days Are Over" and I would love to describe what an amazing five minutes it was but I think I was so overcome with joy and emotion that I blacked out. Anyway, Florence was incredible.
Thanks to everyone that made the weekend so incredible, and major thanks to whoever was behind giving WIUX press passes. Really, that was awesome. Until next year Lolla!
(07/28/15 3:22am)
We've written a few posts about this year's edition of Lollapalooza, but have no fear, here's your comprehensive guide to the weekend. Introducing: WIUX's Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Lollapalooza (volume one)
PART ONE: SURVIVING
Perhaps the most important part of Lollapalooza is surviving. No scratch that, surviving is the most important part. In order to survive, you will need three basic things:
Food
Water
Shelter
FOOD
Luckily, the food options at Lolla are quite plentiful. Although you aren't allowed to bring in a PB&J sandwich, you can eat some food from a variety of local vendors that are selling everything from Caramel Coated Bacon on a Stick to a Lobster Corndog. (I'm just as intrigued by the logistics of that as you are). If you're more of a Chicago food purist, there will be hot dogs with an unnecessary amount of toppings and Lou Malnati's pizza, with an unnecessary amount of crust. (Sorry, #eastcoast) If these options don't fit your vegan/gluten-free/vegetarian/don't want to have diabetes by 35 lifestyle, no fear THERE ARE MORE FOOD OPTIONS! (Are you sure this is strictly a music festival?) The Lollapalooza farmer's market features "locally-sourced" food from the lush fields of Lakeshore Drive and the suburbs where every IU kid that claims they live in "Chicago" is actually from. The farmer's market will sell foods that don't sound like foods like "Fire Roasted Hatch Chile Queijo de Coalho With Drizzled Hot Pepper Jelly." Say that five times fast. If that doesn't satisfy your craving for some good food to go along with the good music, perhaps you would like to indulge in "Puffs of Doom," which contrary to their name will not kill you, at least not right away. Choose either a sweet of savory puff (flavors include salted caramel chocolate and bacon ranch mac 'n cheese, respectively) or suck on a boozy lollipop, if you're above the legal boozy lollipop sucking age. If you need some fruit to keep going from The Wombats to Florence + The Machine on Sunday, no worries, you can purchase an apple for $1.
WATER
Yes, water is very important to survive. It's going to be hot this weekend, magnified by the dancing and the music and the dancing to the music and the dancing to the music while surrounded by a million gazillion people. According to the ~official rules~ you are allowed to bring an empty Camelback water bottle (Lollapalooza specifically named Camelback, but I'm sure you can bring your Nalgene. If it gets taken away I take no responsibility) or no more than 2 "factory-sealed" water bottles. In interest of our slowly dying planet and diminishing clean water supplies and the drying of California, I would bring a reusable water bottle (I'll be bringing my empty Camelback), which you can fill at the water stations located around the festival. Drink water! As someone who frequently considers themselves invincible yet has passed out in the middle of field hockey practice in high school due to dehydration, I sometimes forget to drink water, even when it's super hot out. But drink water! Not only does it suck to be thirsty, but it would also suck to pass out in the middle of the Alabama Shakes set because you were too lazy to fill up your water bottle before heading to the show.
SHELTER
Hopefully you've figured this one out already. Since Lollapalooza takes place in the middle (I guess geographically more to the side) of a major U.S. metropolitan city, this is not a camping festival. Don't bring a tent. Instead, hopefully you can stay in a hotel or a friend's house or your own house or even maybe Airbnb it!
Those are the Lolla survival basics. Also some things to consider: sunscreen (but not the spray kind in cans, that isn't allowed per Lolla rules), portable phone charger, sunglasses, a hat, comfortable shoes
Things not to bring: selfie sticks (really, they're banned), flower headbands (they should be banned), your fears of being in close contact with hundreds of sweaty, smelly strangers.
And with that, we move on to part two.
PART TWO: THRIVING
Congrats, you're surviving Lolla! That means you get to thrive! Here's how to do that:
Make a schedule in advance
Prepare to be disappointed
Don't go to shows just cause your friends are and you're afraid of being alone
MAKE A SCHEDULE IN ADVANCE
This is easy! On the official Lollapalooza website, you can personalize your schedule and choose each band that you want to see over the weekend. Click on a band and you can listen to a song and read a short bio. Chances are, you're going to be overwhelmed, and it's a good idea to have somewhat of an idea of who's on when and where so you don't accidentally miss Father John Misty after listening to nothing but I Love You, Honeybear since the album came out. That being said, don't leave a set just because you decided to see another band that starts across the festival in 15 minutes. If you're really digging Toro Y Moi's performance, there's no reason to split early and run around to make it to Walk the Moon on time, unless I guess you're the biggest fan. That's what the festival is all about, enjoying music in a pretty awesome environment and hearing something new. One trick that I'll share with you is setlist.fm. I used to use this website all the time before I would go to Jack's Mannequin concerts (lol) to see what the band had been playing on its tour. Recently, I've been using it to get a good idea of what the band's set list will sound like at Lolla. It's especially helpful when there's two shows right after one another where you'll have to decide to miss the first few songs of one band of the last few songs of another. On Friday, I'll be running from Tame Impala to hear Brand New and I checked the website to see the average set list of both bands from their tours this summer. Turns out Brand New has been opening with their newest song, so I'll be sticking til the end of Tame Impala's set so I can make it to Brand New just in time to hear some of the emo classics.
PREPARE TO BE DISAPPOINTED
It might rain. You might miss your favorite song because the line for Caramel Crusted Bacon on a Stick was so long. You will have to pee in a smelly porta potty. You will be stuck behind a super tall, super sweaty, super middle-aged dude during Sir Paul. You will definitely spend a stupid amount of money on a stupid t-shirt or a stupid "artisanal" sandwich. But that's all a part of the ~experience~ right? Prepare for it, don't get upset about it. And if you do get upset about it, look around at, listen to the sounds, try not to smell all the smells, and you'll be happy again in no time.
DON'T GO TO SHOWS JUST CAUSE YOUR FRIENDS ARE AND YOU'RE AFRAID OF BEING ALONE
you can go to shows alone! you can go alone talk to no one feel the music then go home. abolish the notion of going to shows to be seen.
— mitski (@mitskileaks) June 23, 2015
Go see whoever you want to see! Going to shows alone is fun, your friends can't laugh at you for dancing like a dad or singing every word in your horrible voice! Or maybe you're a great dancer and a great singer and you'll meet a cutie to dance and sing with! Either way, there's no reason to skip out on seeing a band you want to see just cause none of your friends want to see them. And guess what? You won't be alone. You will literally be surrounded by people who are just as passionate about the music as you are.
Yup, that's pretty much how to survive and thrive at Lollapalooza. Keep up with WIUX at Lolla by following us on both Twitter and Instagram and keep an eye out for articles throughout the week highlighting some of the most highly-anticipated acts.