Upcoming Boston Concerts!

Suffering from PSD (post-summer-disorder)? Here is a list of upcoming concerts around school to make the end of summer a little more tolerable. Stay tuned to WTBU for free tickets to some of these shows!

Tv on the Radio @ Bank of America Pavillion - 9/06
Peter Bjorn and John @ House of Blues - 9/07
Two Door Cinema Club @ Royale - 9/08
Flying Lotus @ Royale - 9/09
Empire of the Sun @ House of Blues - 9/11
Fruit Bats/Vetiver/Citay @ Middle East Downstairs - 9/12
Active Child @ Brighton Music Hall - 9/12
Grouplove @ Brighton Music Hall - 9/13
Toro y Moi @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/16
Starfucker @ Middle East Downstairs - 9/18
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/19
Vivian Girls/Widowspeak/Girlfriends @ Great Scott - 9/19
tUnE-YarDs @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/21
Yuck @ TT The Bears - 9/22
Pretty Lights @ Bank of America Pavillion - 9/23
Tapes N Tapes @ Brighton Music Hall - 9/23
Girls @ Paramount Theatre - 9/24
The Shins @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/24
Wild Beasts @ Paradise Rock Club - 9/27
The Album Leaf @ Brighton Music Hall - 9/27
Foster the People @ House of Blues - 9/29
Deerhoof @ Middle East Downstairs - 9/29
Mogwai @ House of Blues - 10/01
Battles @ Royale - 10/02
James Blake @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/03
Explosions in the Sky @ The Orpheum Theatre - 10/05
Zeds Dead @ Middle East Downstairs - 10/05
EOTO @ Royale - 10/06
Twin Shadow @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/06
Beats Antique @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/08
Trentemoller @ Royale - 10/12
Minus the Bear @ Royale - 10/16
Dum Dum Girls @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/19
Braids/Pepper Rabbit/Born Gold @ Great Scott - 10/20
Neon Indian @ Brighton Music Hall - 10/20
Ra Ra Riot @ Paradise Rock Club - 10/20
Odd Future @ Royale - 10/21

Cults

Cults' new album, "Cults," was recently released and in perfect time for that summer playlist. You probably recognize their most famous single, "Go Outside," because of its catchy sing-a-long essence over the simple and endearing xylophone beats. This song is one of my favorites for various reasons. It is not only suitable in the beginning of the morning to wake up to, but also after a long day when you just need an energy boost. The teenage-friendly and girl-power-esque lyrics such as, "It's good to go out cause if you dont you'll never make a memory that will stay,"pressures you to put on them shoes and actually go outside. Sweet, right?

The Antlers

Burst Apart, The Antler's new album, is a collection of electronic beats over-ruled with Silberman's hauntingly beautiful voice. His harmonies on top of the eclectic background piano and bass present this album as one of the best this year.

It's true. Whatever Silberman produces, I will believe it to be magic. However, those non-believers can even agree that this album is worthy. Hospice, the Antler's previous album, contained the most somber and empathetic lyrics - words that can make the manliest man cry.

With Burst Apart, Silberman strikes again. Each individual song in this album reminisces the pain and suffering Silberman experienced. My favorite song in the entire album is "No Widows." It is not only the perfect song to nod your head to the heavy drums and diverse mingled sounds, but also to fall into a deep depression from the lyrics sung and harmonized by one of the most passionate and brilliant voices.

Review: Sick of Sarah @ TT the Bear's, 3/30/11

"What are you gonna write about?" Katie of Sick of Sarah asked me in the bathroom after her band had just finished their sweet set. We had met earlier and I told her I would be writing up a review of the show. I didn't have a good answer to her question, so I asked her for some help.

"Rock and roll!"

Rock and roll it is! Sick of Sarah are a five-piece pop/punk band out of Minneanapolis who are now out promoting their second album, the excellent 2205. It's fun, sexy, and in your face. Think old school Paramore attitude with more swag and some Tegan and Sara angst. But make no mistake; everything about Sick of Sarah is very rock and roll.

My review would be incomplete without mentioning SoS's opening acts, Lucas of The Cliks and Hunter Valentine, and the bands' collective ability to transform TT's on that typical Boston wintry-mix-in-the-springtime night. Upon walking in, the scene was all alternative lifestyle haircuts and tattoos and cute piercings. It was the kind of unplanned awesome that magically materializes when cool & talented all-girl bands go out and tour.

After supporting high energy (and alcohol) Hunter Valentine for a song or two and dancing around in the crowd, headliners Sick of Sarah took the stage. They opened with current single, the super catchy "Kick Back." Lead singer Abisha Uhl reached out for our hands, jumped around, wore suspenders and did all the things that make the girls swoon. The setlist was full of 2205 tracks: "Overexposure," "Kiss Me," "Autograph," "El Paso Blue," and more. They also played some older favorites, including the song from their debut that first caught my heart, "Bittersweet"!

In stride with the general goings ons of the evening, Hunter Valentine came on stage to offer some backup vocals here and there. There may have been some straddling and suggestive dancing involved. It may have been really hot.

It would have been nice to hear Abisha's vocals better (technical difficulties) but people in the crowd were able to help with that by knowing almost every word. Overall, the music and the atmosphere was on point. Sick of Sarah are the kind of band whose energy, edge and sense of humor come through live — on stage, at the bar, out front, etc. They have the talent, and their tight bond as rock star friends doing what they love was no joke either — just check their wrists for the matching 2205 tattoos.

- Jessy Bartlett

Viva Viva

Viva Viva, a Boston-based band, will be on Left of the Dial today at 4:30PM. Viva Viva will also be performing at the Brighton Music Hall tonight, so get your wallets out galz n palz. This show will not be one to miss. Stream Left of the Dial online at www.wtburadio.org.

Listen to Viva Viva on Left of the Dial or their myspace - http://www.myspace.com/artsexdeathtime

Middle Brother + Dawes and Deer Tick

On March 3rd, your fellow music directors attended what ended up to be one of the best concerts in Boston. Only the second show of their US tour, Middle Brother performed at the Paradise Rock Club with Dawes and Deer Tick. The interesting part? Middle Brother is a collaboration of Dawes, Deer Tick, and other indie-rock band Delta Spirit. Therefore, throughout the entire concert, each member of each band was asked on stage to perform with the on-stage band. Members of Deer Tick would come on stage and sing a Dawes song and vice versa. Imagine if you saw everyone of your favorite musicians on-stage at one time, singing, dancing, having a ball. It was every folk-indie-rocksy-loving person's dream.

The entire concert was just a melting pot of talent, brilliance, and happiness. This concert was a perfect example of bands influencing audience and audience influencing the bands. The happiness and excitement from the bands on-stage exuded onto the audience, where everyone at the Paradise was also singing, dancing, having a ball. Middle Brother spontaneously ended their encore with lead singer of Deer Tick, John McChauley singing "Twist and Shout." It got every person in the audience jumping and screaming and laughing.


Middle Brother released their first album, "Middle Brother," this year. They are continuing their US tour and most likely are playing your hometown so if you missed them in Boston, make sure you do not back home. I assure you it is all worth it.


Some pictures I took from the concert:

Updated List of Concerts

Middle Brother @ Paradise Rock Club - March 3rd

The Low Anthem @ Old South Church - March 4th

Telekinesis @ TT The Bears - March 8th

Spirit Kid @ The Great Scott - March 10th

The Pogues & Titus Andronicus @ House of Blues - March 11th/12th

Crystal Castles @ House of Blues - March 19th

Simian Mobile Disco @ Paradise Rock Club - March 21st

Cold War Kids @ House of Blues - March 22nd

Glass Jaw @ Paradise Rock Club - March 25th

DeVotchka @ House of Blues - March 26th

Papercuts @ Brighton Music Hall - March 27th

The Klaxons @ Paradise Rock Club - March 28th

Warpaint @ Paradise Rock Club - March 29th

Jeff the Brotherhood & Juiceboxxx @ Great Scott - March 30th

Cults @ Brighton Music Hall - April 1st

The Mountain Goats @ Paradise Rock Club - April 1st

Mimosa @ Paradise Rock Club - April 2nd

Cut Copy @ House of Blues - April 4th

Starfucker @ Brighton Music Hall - April 5th

The Black Lips @ Paradise Rock Club - April 14th

The Go! Team with DOM @ Paradise Rock Club - April 15th

TV on the Radio @ Paradise Rock Club - April 16th

Iron & Wine and Low Anthem @ House of Blues - April 19th

Neutral Uke Hotel @ Brighton Music Hall - April 20th

Bassnectar @ House of Blues - April 22nd

Trentemoller @ Royale - April 25th

Wolfgang Gartner @ Middle East - April 25th

Battles @ Brighton Musical Hall - April 26th

Beach Fossils @ Great Scott - April 27th

Tame Impala @ Paradise Rock Club - April 28th

Of Montreal @ Paradise Rock Club - May 1st

Foals @ Paradise Rock Club - May 2nd

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Paradise Rock Club - May 3rd

Peter Bjorn and John @ Paradise Rock Club - May 5th

Echo & the Bunnymen @ Paradise Rock Club - May 9th

Sleigh Bells @ Paradise Rock Club - May 10th

WTBU @ the Great Scott - February 21st

The Pelly Twins, XL Recordings, and WTBU presented the Ming, Ming, Easter Vomit, Rene, Free Pizza show and the album release party of Jamie xx and Gil-Scott Heron's "We're New Here" at the Great Scott February 21st. Not only did WTBU and XL Recordings actually have free pizza for those who attended, but we also gave away CDs, posters, and other merchandise from such bands like Vampire Weekend, The xx, Jonsi, and Titus Andronicus. To those who missed out on a great event with free food and music - we are deeply disappointed and to those who came and supported WTBU - thank you and glad you enjoyed the show!

The pictures below were taken and presented by Jarrett Carr from AllstonPudding.com. Like them on facebook and follow them on twitter - AllstonPudding

Rooney Interview!

You Had Me At Nerd interviewed Ned Brower of Rooney last week. Check it out!

Bright Eyes - The People's Key

As many Conor Oberst fanatics have heard, Bright Eyes are releasing their latest studio album, titled The People’s Key on the 15th (although it has been streaming online on NPR for several weeks already).

Conor Oberst is one of the celebrities of the underground music industry. His unique half-whining voice, sensitive contemporary American poetic lyrics, and wide variety of sounds and influences throughout his career have resulted in a cult-like following of eager fans as well as the rise to fame of the Saddle Creek record label. The almost four year hiatus of Bright Eyes would seem like a long time to leave faithful Oberst fans on the side of their seats, but thankfully for the Bright Eyes-deprived there was plenty Oberst to go around with his side projects, Monster’s of Folk and Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band.

Bright Eyes’ latest album reflects less of the acoustic singer-songwriter and minimal lo-fi sound familiar in more signature albums like Fevers and Mirrors and I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, and more of Oberst’s latest “more mature” indie rock sounds that are common in his recent side projects.

A mysterious philosophical monologue by Randy Brewer kicks off the new record (quite fitting for an NPR streamed album), which eventually erupsts into an epic marching-band riff. The standout tracks include the post-punk influenced “Jejune Stars”, the catchy “Haile Selassie”, and more traditional Oberst track “Beginner’s Mind”. To nostalgic Oberst fans: listen to the album with an open mind and don’t expect to hear the melodramatic vocals over the lo-fi acoustic guitar twang of tracks like “Lua” and “Sunrise Sunset”


By Max Hasan

Theophilus London - Lover's Holiday

Just in time for Valentines day, Theophilus London dropped his new EP, Lover’s Holiday, this past Tuesday.  The 5-track EP features the singles “Flying Overseas”, which features Solange Knowles (Beyoncé’s lesser known younger sister), and “Why Even Try”, which features Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara.

Theophilus isn’t just another rapper, so don’t group him together with your Weezy and 50 Cent albums on iTunes. He serves his raps with a mellow delivery and peppers it with unique influences, which range from electronica, soul, R&B, and indie rock. It’s tough for hip-hop artists to be unique and dynamic with their songwriting while still maintaining a distinct identity from other rappers, but Theophilus effortlessly adds his Marvin Gaye cool to his hip-hop tracks. Theophilus has drawn comparisons to fellow Brooklyner Kid Cudi and the tracks, “Wine and Chocolates” and “Strange Love” display the parallel quite clearly.  For fans of Cudi who aren’t completely fixated with the marijuana-themed lyrics, Theophilus London is most definitely worth a listen.

By Max Hasan

WTBU @ the Record and Zine Fair

WTBU partook at the Record and Zine Fair on February 12 at the Democracy Center located in Cambridge. The fair was in support of the Papercut Zine Library and WTBU sold many of our vinyl records the station has collected over the years and raised quite a few dollars from our own baked goods and the food that was donated by various restaurants. We would like to thank Peace O' Pie Gourmet Vegan Pizza, Bravo Pizza, Boloco, and Tealuxe for their support.


Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! -

Sasquatch Music Festival

7 Artists You Should Know:
by Will McCall (Doggz on Hoggz, Tuesdays 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.)

1. Chromatic Flights- solo project of Kyle Wyss from Blind Man's Colour. Sunny poppy electronic music with tinges of hip hop
http://chromaticflights.bandcamp.com (free download)
get the albums Sunset Bell and Too Beautiful For Smiles

2. HOUNDSds- 80s, shoegaze-y, chillwave-y
http://houndsds.bandcamp.com/ (free download)

3. Thallus- spacey instrumental hip hop
http://thallus.bandcamp.com/ (free download)

4. First Dog to Visit the Center of the Earth- noisey, very experimental electronic music, think Black Dice but more melodic and structured.
http://firstdog.webs.com/ (free download of all 11(!) of his releases)
download the albums “Every Machine On,” “Black Whale,” “One EP”

5. Walsh- a combination of hip hop and chillwave, greatest album title ever
http://walshmusic.bandcamp.com/ (free download)

6. The Goat- eerie psychedelic/electronic music, lo-fi and minimal
http://thegoat.bandcamp.com/ (free download)

7. Mystery cave- hip hop influenced psychedelic music, he's got a lot of albums
http://mysterycave.bandcamp.com/
watch this music video of his too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_9GU_W2YhI

If you liked this post, check out Doggz on Hoggz, Tuesdays from 12 to 2 p.m.

Free Ticket Giveaway!

New[ish] Music Tuesday

Two Door Cinema Club released their next single "What You Know" today. If you're a fan of this Club then this isn't really news for you but in honour of this release old fans, new fans, and those of you inbetweeners should give it a listen. On a somewhat related note, you know when you go to a show and the band plays a song you really love and you start singing it then all ten, hundred, or thousand of you sing along? Isn't that moment great? I feel that this video of TDCC in Rio last week sum's it up well:


Catch Two Door Cinema Club and more on The Fleshy Fresh, Mondays from 8-10pm

WTBU'S Charts For Last Week

Top 5 Adds:
1 AYE NAKO Demo 2010 Top Shelf Records
2 GO! TEAM Rolling Blackouts Memphis Industries
3 MOGWAI Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
4 CLOUD NOTHINGS Cloud Nothings Carpark
5 GANG OF FOUR Content Yep Roc

Top 30 Chart:
1 RVIVR Black Water [EP] Rumbletown
2 WAVVES King Of The Beach Fat Possum
3 SCREAMING FEMALES Castle Talk Don Giovanni
4 DEERHOOF Deerhoof Vs. Evil Polyvinyl
5 SMALL BLACK New Chain Jagjaguwar
6 GLASSER Ring True Panther Sounds
7 DAFT PUNK TRON: Legacy Disney
8 DECEMBERISTS The King Is Dead Capitol
9 HANDS AND KNEES Wholesome Self Released
10 HOWLER This One's Different So-TM Records
11 WAY YES Walkability Self Released
12 GO! TEAM Rolling Blackouts Memphis Industries
13 GANG OF FOUR Content Yep Roc
14 CLOUD NOTHINGS Cloud Nothings Carpark
15 DELICATE STEVE Wondervisions Luaka Bop
16 BRITISH SEA POWER Valhalla Dancehall Rough Trade
17 GROUPLOVE Grouplove [EP] Canvasback
18 ZACH HILL Face Tat Sargent House
19 PRINCE RAMA Shadow Temple Paw Tracks
20 PUJOL Black Rabbit EP Third Man
21 NOBUNNY First Blood Goner
22 THERMALS Personal Life Kill Rock Stars
23 TYVEK Nothing Fits In The Red
24 BIG BIG BUCKS Crucial Schmooze Self-Released
25 BIG EYES Big Eyes [EP] Don Giovanni
26 LEMURIA Pebble Bridge Nine
27 GET UP KIDS There Are Rules Quality Hill
28 FRANK TURNER Rock And Roll Epitaph
29 TIGERS JAW Two Worlds Run For Cover
30 BLANK DOGS Land And Fixed Captured Tracks

Boston Concerts

A list of local concerts to see this semester? What more could you ask for? Here is a comprised list of some artists playing in the greater Boston area! Please feel free to comment with other shows you are going to attend or would like to attend. Also, if you go to these shows and would like to write a review or post pictures, please email them to Leahroh@bu.edu.

Tapes n Tapes & Oberhofer @ Paradise Rock Club - February 3rd

Chromeo @ House of Blues - February 3rd

Neko Case @ Wilbur Theatre - February 3rd

The Radio Dept @ Middle East - February 4th

Best Coast/Wavves @ Paradise Rock Club - February 4th

Wakey!Wakey! @ Brighton Music Hall - February 5th

Baths @ Brighton Music Hall - February 17th

Dr. Dog @ Paradise Rock Club - February 19th/20th

School of Seven Bells @ House of Blues - February 19th

White Rabbits @ Paradise Rock Club - February 24th

The Pogues & Titus Andronicus @ House of Blues - March 11th/12th

Crystal Castles @ House of Blues - March 19th

Cold War Kids @ House of Blues - March 22nd

DeVotchka @ House of Blues - March 26th

Warpaint @ Paradise Rock Club - March 29th

Jeff the Brotherhood & Juiceboxxx @ Great Scott - March 30th

Cults @ Brighton Music Hall - April 1st

The Mountain Goats @ Paradise Rock Club - April 1st

Cut Copy @ House of Blues - April 4th

Bassnectar @ House of Blues - April 22nd

Q +A with The Honors

The Honors, a fun-loving foursome currently stationed in Boston, will be performing on Thursday, December 16th at The Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge. In a light-hearted interview last week, WTBU intern Elizabeth Castillo spoke with drummer Jason Trikakis about The Honors’ latest album xoxo, record labels and performing in Boston.

WTBU: Your music is described as Melodramatic Popular Song. What does that entail?
JT: I see you looked at our Myspace. That was actually a joke; we went through the different genres and chose the most outlandish one. Seriously, we can be described as easy listening or the generic term of indie rock. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, we have fun making music and we like making music that’s enjoyable and high energy.

What is your favorite track on xoxo?
Would it be lame if I said I liked them all? My favorite song to play live is “Give It Up to Me”. Our other songs are very musically structured so it’s harder to add in extra notes but “Give it Up to Me” provides for the most improvising live. There might be an extra-long guitar solo added in and you can really just have more fun with it. But as far as the album goes, each song has a different sound and they all bring something to xoxo.

Love seems to be a pretty big theme throughout xoxo, does the band feel relationships provide the best lyrical inspiration? Are there other life experiences the band hopes to pull from?
This album does largely deal with relationships. Especially in “New Girls”, it really shows the tender side of a genuine relationship whereas “Give It Up to Me” is definitely more aggressive. Overall, different types of relationships were pulled from to create this album not just love. We pulled from our relationships we have between each other and from life in lower Allston and spending time at Great Scott.

How do you like being a part of Boston’s local music scene?
I’d say that we’re not. Really. We don’t have any of those big ties to Boston. We didn’t all go to school together, we don’t really identify with a local Boston social group and we don’t really have that local fan base like other bands. We’re more of Boston transplants. But we are dating—if you could use that term—The Wandas. A shout out to them. They’ve definitely helped us out as a band in Boston. They also helped us get the show at The Middle East. They’re really cool guys.

Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?
We really love Motown. We always have some golden oldies blaring on the radio. We really like Raphael Saadiq. We definitely used him as inspiration for this album; xoxo may not sound very similar, but we paid homage to him and Motown and in this album.
How is it like working independently without a label attachment?
Great! No one tells us what to do, how to make our music or which demographic we should stick with. There’s lots of creative freedom but also a lot of extra work. We have to work harder at maintaining the band and getting a fan base but ultimately it’s fine because we’re allowed to just be ourselves as a band.

You recently were the opening act for Ok Go, how was that experience?
It was awesome! It was really fun but we weren’t really starstruck. We’ve played huge festivals before and we’re more of veterans at this. We can play huge venues but at the same time still have fun just playing in front of six people. But there definitely is a better vibe when the audience is bigger. It was cool to have an all ages audience and have 92.9 help spread the word. Ok Go were really sweet dudes but we couldn’t stay and watch them perform because we had another show right after. Overall it was a fun experience.

Are you guys planning a nationwide tour anytime soon?
We’d love too but they are very costly! Without a record label to help pay for expenses they are very difficult to do. We used to have a tour van but we ultimately had to sell it because of the expenses. Hopefully we can soon but as of now, very difficult to do.

******

Check out The Honors’ music at Facebook or Myspace. And don’t forget to check them out live on Thursday at The Middle East Downstairs!

-Elizabeth Castillo

Record Review: Sun Araw - Off Duty

Sun Araw is the electronic solo project of Cameron Stallones, guitarist of the Long Beach, California band Magic Lantern. His new release, Off Duty, is the follow up EP to Sun Araw’s 2010 full length album On Patrol. Off Duty is an EP by name only, stretching over 45 minutes throughout its epic 5 tracks.

The album opens with “Last Chants,” a psychedelic journey through Sun Araw’s strange soundscapes. The song is filled with tribal drumming, distant echo-affected vocals, and a plethora of ambient noise and laser sounding synthesizers. The next song, “Midnight Locker,” is a dark, tempoless meandering of noise. Bouncing keyboards and percussive pounding (you can’t quite call it drumming) guide the song while a background guitar reminiscent of early Pink Floyd floats over the top. “Deep Temple,” the next track, carries on with the tribal and spiritual theme, as tape-hiss filled guitars play over delayed synthesizers and tropical drums. Over its 11 minute span, the track is simultaneously reminiscent of Indian music, reggae, and dubstep, somehow.

The album takes a darker turn with the fourth track, “In the Trees.” The song is a 9 minute, horrifyingly strange psychedelic jam. Stallones trades his echo pedal he used so religiously on the earlier tracks for a distortion pedal; twisted guitars play over a repetitive bass line while distorted vocals shout out from the foreground. The closing track of the album, “Canopy,” picks up where “In the Trees” left off. With another looped bassline, the song meanders over a reggae like groove, conjuring images of a
fantasy beach from some psychedelic nightmare.

Off Duty is a highly enjoyable EP, filled with echo drenched guitars and ambient synthesizers recorded with intentionally lo-fi methods. The EP creates a soundscape of some strange primal meditation, a spiritual reflection of sorts. However, Sun Araw’s drone-influenced, noise tracks are certainly not for all listeners. But for fans of more experimental music, Sun Araw will be very enjoyable experience. And it certainly is an experience.

-Will McCall

If you like Sun Araw and other Woodsist Records projects, tune in to Left of the Dial on Monday-Friday from 4-6 p.m.