So the Mates of State played at the Glasshouse the other day. As I sped at 93 mph down the I-10 to arrive in time for the second band, I thought about how ridiculous it was that the Black Kids and Mates of State were co-headlining this tour. Ignore the fact that that the MoS craft infinitely more complex and catchy songs with just a keyboard and drum set than the Black Kids could ever hope to string together with their full band and dual keyboards, the Mates have been around for years, while the Black Kids are fresh out o’ the womb of indie rock culture. I guess lyrics as compelling as ‘I’m not going to teach your boyfriend how to dance with you.’ get you equal sized font on the bill as the friggin’ Mates of State.

But, I digress. The Black Kids just so happened to be opening that night so I only missed a song or two of theirs and none of the main act. Crisis averted.

And hype aside, I must admit, they were pretty fun. Everyone was hopping (dancing?) around in pure awkward joy. Then after a painfully long set change, husband and wife, Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner, took the stage. They played some slower jams off Re-Arrange Us and Bring It Back to begin. It was great to see how ethereal the band sounded with violin and cello, as I hadn’t seen them live since 2004 (opening for Taking Back Sunday of all things). The crowd really exploded though when they played HaHa; Kori existentially exclaiming ‘I can’t tell what kind of life I’ve led today.’ The band came to the realization that Team Boo was their best album about midway through the set when Jason quipped, ‘I guess we found the right era.’ after playing a few songs off that disc. Here’s a video of them playing Fluke off Team Boo.

So all in all, it was a great show. Thanks to KSCR for the free ticket. P.S. The crowds at shows around this town are becoming increasingly more unbearable. To see what I mean, check out this site: http://lookatthisfuckinghipster.tumblr.com/

ATTENTION INTERNET: If somebody makes a full-length album of infomerical remixes, I hearby promise to do everything possible to get it added to the KSCR library.

Hailing from San Diego, the fresh sound of this up-and-coming band, which resembles a blend of Kings of Leon and Cold War Kids, is sure to explode through your speakers and light a spark that’s impossible to put out. “You Ain’t That Special,” deadpans vocalist Tom Pritchard, in the bittersweet original track of the same name by his band, Dynamite Walls. It’s an accusatory sentiment that encapsulates the swagger and candor of a band that clearly is special. Pritchard and his cohorts specialize in smart, insinuating tunes that capture both the hopes and disillusionment of contemporary American life. Indeed, in an age of sledgehammer rhythms and infantile lyrics, Dynamite Walls’ original songs are so triumphantly nuanced, they restore one’s faith in intelligent pop-rock song craft. They played the Give Some Love Showcase at SXSW this year with Bedouin SoundClash and After Midnight Project.

Check them out at their myspace: www.myspace.com/dynamitewalls

This is one musical explosion you don’t want to miss!

Featured on Luxury Wafers Live Sessions blog:

Dynamite Walls - Mystery - Luxury Wafers Sessions from Luxury Wafers on Vimeo.

TODAY at 4 on the USC Campus between Bovard Auditorium and Taper Hall

I spent last weekend at a music festival in Whitecliffs, the legendary valley farm 100 km outside of Christchurch, New Zealand. I~Nation’s line up featured the best kiwi talent in Jungle, Funk, Soul & Breaks, and Dubstep. Tiki Live was the mind blowing headliner, but I was struck most by Ladi6, one of Aotearoa’s premier hip-hop artists. Ladi6 (Karoline Tamati) is one of the most casually stunning and rhythmic performers I’ve ever seen on stage. Her smooth deep vocals keep your mind in a trance and your body moving with a spicy beat.
After much anticipation, on October 27th 2008 Ladi6 released her debut solo album “Time Is Not Much.” In wake of the successful album release tour, Ladi6 has earned herself the title of New Zealand’s leading “soulstress and our Queen of hip-hop,” (nzmusic.com/forum). Pay your respects at www.ladi6.com.

Peace and Love,

Trojan abroad

I had a chance to see Dan Deacon in December when he opened for Girl Talk in Las Veags, and let me tell you, I had never been to a show like his before. Performing on the ground floor with hundreds of sweaty, energetic, crazy fans crowding around him, Deacon performed like now other. His new album entitled Bromst just came out, and I cannot stop listening to it. I had the pleasure of seeing a documentary on the making of this album and it definitely upped my level of respect for this man. 

Expect a full review soon, I just wanted to get this out there as soon as possible incase anyone hasn’t had a chance to hear it yet. 

He is also playing at the Troubador on the 22 of April, and I encourage all who read this to go…and enjoy.

Bromst Album Review

-L. Nub

After Day 3…

65 total.

03-10-2009

World renowned physicist Stephen Hawking delivered a lecture at Bovard Auditorium on Tuesday March 10th entitled, “Out of a Black Hole.” Dr. Hawking questions the vacuousness of black holes, describing how things can get out of a black hole to the outside and possibly on to another universe.

Dr. Hawking is a theoretical physicist & the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. He is also author of the best-selling “A Brief History of Time,” (1988), which describes black holes, the big bang & superstring theory.

An accompanying article of the event in USC’s Daily Trojan can be found here