Sunday evenings have always held a special place in my heart— a time to relax, a time to reflect, a time to look forward. When Sunday evenings are spent enjoying live music in the company of strangers, the weekly occurrence gains an entirely new level of satisfaction. I was fortunate enough to spend this most recent Sunday night enjoying the authentic folk sounds of J. Tillman. Most widely known as the drummer for folk rock quintet Fleet Foxes, J.Tillman has a surprisingly extensive solo catalog under his belt, having released 7 albums in the past 5 years. Continue reading ‘J. Tillman Live Performance Review’
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Canada not only produces great hockey players and delicious bacon, but also talented country singers. Hailing from our northern neighbor is Ontario-born Elyse Saunders. With a surprisingly soulful voice, this diminutive blond has the range and variety to make it big in country music. With a look like Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood but a voice like Martina McBride, Elyse has all the trappings of a star. Her set list includes soft songs like “Paris is Burning” to ditties like “What’s Stopping You,” and though simple, Elyse doesn’t need the big frills of other artists. Her voice and song choice speak for themselves and “simply awesome” is the only thing coming to mind when it comes to Ms. Saunders.
“Bittersweet” is a song that’s garnering huge success on OurStage for Elyse. And, while “taking the good with the bad” is a great way to live, there’s nothing bad to cope with when it comes to Elyse Saunders! Check out her fanclub and enjoy!
Home Of: Melissa Etheridge, Kansas, Martina McBride, Pat Metheny, Chet Nichols, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Kenton.
Fun Facts: State Flower: Sunflower, State Tree: Cottonwood, State Song: “Home on The Range.”
The Venues:
Ex-Idol Kellie Pickler at Stampede '07
Kansas’ Country Stampede festival is arguably one of the nation’s biggest musical gatherings dedicated solely to country music. Located just north of Manhattan, KS (appropriately nicknamed the little apple), Country Stampede is one of the few country music festivals to offer camping spots to their customers, and because the festival is located Continue reading ‘50 States in 50 Weeks… Week 23: Kansas’
Jersey Girl: MC A.B.Y.S.S.
Braggarts, grand-standers, blatherskites—rap is full of them. If they’re not name-checking the labels on their clothing, they’re advertising their lyrical swerve or sexual prowess. Aspirational thinking (or flagrant machismo, as the case may be) is a key element in hip hop’s oral tradition. However, you’ll be called out if you don’t have the chops to back up your own hype, and your castle made of sand will melt into the sea (eventually).
A.B.Y.S.S. doesn’t have to worry about her kingdom crumbling any time soon. The New Jersey MC constructs verbal skyscrapers, but the fortunately their foundation is rock solid. “Get.It.In” is a relentless banger, where sinewy guitar lines add a sinister edge to a thumping anthem. Like a boxer set to enter the ring, the MC comes out swinging: “I’m a demonstrator, not a hesitator / I’m going straight through the roof, f*** the elevator.” One of the most refreshing qualities of A.B.Y.S.S. is her low threshold for the status symbols ingrained in contemporary hip-hop. In “(Death of) Swag-Up,” she takes the counterpoint to materialistic MCs, saying, “No shades? / You ain’t got no ice? / Au naturel? / Damn you looking nice!” The track is original enough on lyrical content alone — add to that a rattling, percolating beat and you have something special.
A.B.Y.S.S., whose name is an acronym for Ask Before You Speak Stupidly, is fiercely independent—insisting on “(Death of) Swag-Up”: “I don’t need a huge crew.” Unfortunately, with chops like hers, a widespread following may be inevitable.
Pass the paella and put on your headphones, because we’re going to Spain this week. Axe wielders around the world can credit the development of the guitar to several Spanish ancestors such as the Flamenco guitar developed in the region of Andalusia. Today the myriad of genres construed as rock enjoy immense popularity throughout the country but this wasn’t always the case. Under Francisco Franco’s regime in the 60s, Spanish youth imported much of their music tastes from the US and UK. While Franco is long gone and the country has moved past forcing a fake sense of nationalism, the strong influence of American and British rock music still persists.
Continue reading ‘OurStage Model U.N. – Spain’
