January 2012
4 posts
6 tags
WIN TIX: They Might Be Giants 2/2
Backed by only a drum machine, They Might Be Giants started their 29 year career in 1982 and with a quirky, out-of-the-box style. Best known for their experimental approach to alternative music, the band has released fifteen albums (their 1990 effort, Flood, went platinum and their children’s music album, Here Comes the ABCs, went gold!), has won two Grammys, dabbled in both children’s and theme...
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[Contest Over]: The Kills 1/23
Two worlds collide and The Kills are out to prove to you that rock ‘n roll doesn’t have to be from the days of The Clash or British Invasion. The Kills is duo Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince. Though both members were previously involved in separate projects (or more recently, Mosshart and Jack White teamed up to form The Dead Weathers), they met, came together and have played at...
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[Contest Over]: The Life and Times 1/19
In August 2005, space rock aficionados The Life and Times released their debut album, Suburban Hymns, to an eager fanbase and a curious world. Since then, the band has been blazing across the US with their special brand of indie rock goodness. With over 200 shows played—some of which featuring bands like Murder by Death, Pelican, and The Appleseed Cast—and a Japan tour under their...
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Review/Interview: Starlight Girls
Starlight Girls are a delight. The four-piece band cranks out jams that include some gloom, some 80’s crusinâ rhythm, and even the occasional flute solo. These seemingly unrelated pieces come together quite well for the band. Originally from Brooklyn, they are currently heading west on a nationwide tour. Here are my two favorite tracks off their BandCamp and a brief interview with the...
December 2011
16 posts
8 tags
Review/Interview: Dino Bravo
During the holiday season, you may find yourself relaxing by a warm fire, sipping hot chocolate, and enjoying the company of your family. Ivan Catron and Jake Mott, the mustachioed wrestling villains of Dino Bravo, hope to slam a chair in the face of your holiday season. Dino Bravo is not just a band, but a two-man team of danger, destruction, degradation, and metal. With raging bass,...
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Top 25 Albums of 2011
What a way to kick off the new decade. To wrap-up the end of a great year in music, Radio UTD’s team of DJs picked out our favorite 25 albums of this year. Everything from The Weeknd to Annie Clark to Wild Flag, we had quite the time this year listening to all of these albums, think we’d be lying if we said 2011’s picks didn’t have us dreaming.
25 Yellow Ostrich |...
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Wavves – Life Sux EP
The title and packaging of the new Wavves EP, Life Sux, seem almost like the type that you’d see on a classic hardcore punk album. The lettering and symbols that adorn the front cover conjure up images of shirtless punks with shaved heads in a sweaty club, screaming lyrics filled with violence and self-hatred alongside dark, harsh, ferocious instrumentals while a violent crowd moshes fervently...
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Feature: Holiday Tunes
With the wintry season humming in the glow of Christmas lights, there’s no better way to celebrate than enjoying your favorite festive tunes. To get into the cheerful spirit, here are a few classic covers and some new originals from artists that have been featured on my show, The Beekeeper’s Pantry. Take the chill off with these heart-warming melodies. Grab a cup of hot cocoa, put on that bulky...
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Review/Interview: Carte De Visite
Punk speeds, jazz sounds, and skater raditude all come together in Carte De Visite. Hailing from Belleville, Illinois, Carte started as Ryan Birkner’s solo project. Eventually, Birkner was joined by bassist/keyboardist Austin Luberda and drummer Christian Mundloch. Their latest EP, Erman, is filled with sentimental guitars and perky drums. Here’s a review of my two favorites off of Erman and an...
4 tags
Radio UTD 2011 Listener Poll
The year is almost ending and us folks here at Radio UTD would like to thank you all for a wonderful year. Tuning in, readin’ our blogs, coming to our events, and all that jazz. Seriously, we couldn’t have done it without you.
In the spirit of the end of the year wrap-ups (look-out for our Top Albums picks soon, we’re really excited about that one), we’ve cooked up a...
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Interview: Real Estate
[caption id=”attachment_8172” align=”aligncenter” width=”450” caption=”Photo by Masao Nakagami”][/caption]
I sat down with Martin Courtney, the frontman for Real Estate, before the band’s recent show at Club Dada. Real Estate is currently touring to support their latest release, Days, along with fellow New Jersey natives Big Troubles. We chatted...
14 tags
Feature: Classical Composers & Modern Music
Recently, I have been perplexed by a simple anachronistic question: what kinds of music would some great classical composers take to today? Having a wide range of musical interest, ranging from the Kwassa Kwassa of Africa to the popular music of China, means that one eventually gets caught up in creation stories about music. Yes, we have all heard that the tradition of song comes from the...
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Review/Interview: Ra Cailum
This week, in what is certainly a break from the norm, I am pleased to bring you Anthony Engelhardt. Under the name Ra Cailum, he has released numerous albums, all of which can be hunted down somewhere on the internet, if not on his Bandcamp. Cailum’s latest release, Finding My Way, may be his most streamlined work yet. Here’s my two favorite tracks from the EP and a interview with Anthony...
9 tags
Brown Bird – Salt For Salt
For their fifth LP, the Rhode Island duo Brown Bird (David Lamb and Morganeve Swain) decided to record a stripped down album in an attempt to capture the intensity of their live shows. In many ways, this album is very successful. David Lamb’s voice pierces through the monotony of modern indie folk and cuts you to the core like the blues of the 30’s and 40’s.
Never afraid to...
6 tags
Interview: Datahowler
Radio UTD sat down with Ross Edman (aka Datahowler) about his involvement with the Dallas music scene, his opinions on electronic music and more. Datahowler was recently featured on our special with Radio K, Crossroads. You can download his track (and many others from the Dallas & Minneapolis scenes) here.
When did you get started with music?
I’ve been playing music since I can...
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Hold On to Your Genre: Dubstep
Dear Radio UTD Blog readers,
A few months ago I had an idea for a weekly feature that became âMariaâs Mixest.â Unfortunately, the idea was much better than the execution. I had a hard time finding songs to explore and write about and the format of the column was pretty monotonous and self-limiting. Iâve decided to abandon the column and instead provide you with a weekly history lesson.
...
30 tags
Interview: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis hit the streets of Dallas on Wednesday, November 30th when he came to town to perform at Trees. They also made some time to come visit RadioUTD at the studio for an interview. I could sit here and tell you a bit more about who they are but I will let the transcript do all the talking.
First of all, for those who don’t know Macklemore who is Macklemore?
Macklemore:...
8 tags
And So I Watch You From Afar – Gangs
And So I Watch You From Afar’s Gangs starts with a burst of loud and confident energy that flows throughout the album, and if there’s one word to describe the feeling of this album, it’s “triumph.” From the beginning track “BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION” you can tell that this album is going to be unlike anything you’ve ever heard. My best...
6 tags
Crossroads Radio Trade
Every month, our friends over at Radio K in Minnesota will be teaming up with a college radio station from another state to spotlight to local music scenes native to the area. For the first installment, they have teamed up with Radio UTD to trade local Texas music (particularly focused in the DFW area) with their local Minnesota artists.
This installment of Crossroads was produced by Laura...
8 tags
Review/Interview: Forget The Times
Escape From The Planet Of Llamas is not an ordinary album name. And crunchy guitars aren’t the ordinary instruments of the free jazz genre. And Forget The Times isn’t an ordinary band. The term “band” is loosely applied here, because Forget The Times is more akin to a collective, with members shifting except for leader and guitarist Sean Hartman. Each of the seven songs on Escape...
November 2011
25 posts
9 tags
Interview: Joe Lally
We recently got to sit down and chat with Joe Lally, known as the bassist for seminal punk band Fugazi, and who is currently touring as a solo artist with three albums now under his belt. Read on for his thoughts on the zen of touring, his love of funk, and the ethics of his music.
How did you like playing the festival?
Joe : Actually, I don’t have a lot of experience playing them. This...
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[Contest Over]: Unsilent Night 12/10
Long-running Dallas-based Third String Productions is presenting the fourth annual Unsilent Night music festival on Saturday, December 10th, at the Centennial Hall in Fair Park. The lineup consists of an exciting mix of heavy acts, pop acts, and other genres in between, perfect for a Christmas show to show off old favorites as well as new and upcoming groups. Pop/rock bands this year include All...
6 tags
Hey, we're looking!
Everybody clap your hands! The end of the semester is approaching, and whilst a fun one it was, we are already in the works of brainstorming for next semester’s extravaganzas. But we’ll have you know the fun doesn’t stop here.
We are looking for crazy fun, music-passionate, creatively-fueled individuals to join our Radio UTD family.
The cool cats we’re looking for:
...
13 tags
Review/Interview: Ratboy
[caption id=”attachment_7717” align=”aligncenter” width=”350” caption=”Ratboy’s self-titled EP”][/caption]
While chit chatting with a friend of mine who attends Notre Dame, I was linked to Ratboy’s bandcamp, and from the start of the first song I was hooked. Singing that will lull you into a trance and warm atmospheric instrumentation are at...
9 tags
Interview: The Drums
Touring to support their latest album, Portamento, Brooklyn-based band The Drums made a stop at The Loft in Dallas to play new and old songs for an eager crowd. Although the band couldn’t talk to us that night, lead singer Jonathan Pierce called me up a few days later to do a phone interview. We chatted about old musical projects, what makes pop, and a stolen letterman jacket.
How has...
5 tags
Head Noddin' to Old School Hip-Hop
We got a pretty poppin’ event to be at tomorrow night in the Galaxy Rooms. Though exams are coming up, we’re ending this semester’s dance parties with a bang. DJ’ing for our Old School Hip Hop Dance Party is fellow UT-Dallas student/DJ, Sissy Ross. Spinnin’ beats around town, she’s bringing the party to OUR party. Two parties combined equals extra partying and...
7 tags
[Contest Over] Real Estate 11/17
It may be hard to search for these guys on Google, but once you find it, you’ll have no problem recognizing ‘em. Real Estate burst into popularity after their self-titled debut album received critical acclaim. After touring with Girls, Woods, and Deerhunter, they went on to perform at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. The breezy simplicity of their sound was refined and expanded...
11 tags
Review/Interview: Trauma Harness
Trauma Harness recently released their debut album Trauma Demolitional, and after listening to it straight through just once, I was filled with such sadness. The seven songs on the album are equal parts gloom, post punk, and catchiness! Here’s my two favorite songs of the album and a cool interview with singer/guitarist Josh Jenkins.
Review of Trauma Demolitional
“Eternal Return Company”...
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Interview: Bianca Radd of BRUXA
BRUXA is the hot Portland-based Witch House trio casting sound incantations enchanting and dark. Listen to vocalist Bianca Radd chat it up with Black Mirror, recorded live on the air October 23rd.
Check out BRUXA:
“WitchStep”
link
“Aqui”
link
Also be sure to check them out on SoundCloud, Facebook, and Bandcamp!
Original Article
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Interview: Grouplove
Our DJ Hannah Weir recently got the chance to sit down with Sean Gadd and Hannah Hooper from Los Angeles-based indie rock five-piece Grouplove. They recently released their debut album, Never Trust A Happy Song, and are currently gearing up for a tour through Australia. Read on for their thoughts on Greece, financial troubles, and making people happy.
So your history is far from common for a...
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Photos: Fun Fun Fun Fest Sunday
The final day of this packed, energetic festival was surely exhausting. Check out some photos from Sunday of Grimes, Austra and Baths plus some crowd shots from the rest of the weekend. Now lets all nap for a week.
[caption id=”attachment_7602” align=”aligncenter” width=”553” caption=”crowd for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah on Friday at the Orange...
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Fun Fun Fun Fest Sunday: Part 2
As the festival came to a close Sunday night, it’d be a shame to leave Austin without catching the biggest acts of the weekend. As some bought Sunday wristbands just to see Odd Future, Slayer took over and packed the Orange Stage. And then there was Ryan Gosling….
Cannibal Corpse
Part of the mythical status of the death metal band Cannibal Corpse is that they managed to get big...
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Fun Fun Fun Fest Sunday: Part 1
3 days flew as quickly as the fun times we had at Fun Fun Fun Fest. Regardless, Austin was the hot spot this weekend for all music lovers. We are sad to see it end, but here’s a little reminiscing of what went down yesterday. Did you see Slayer? The Sexy Saxophone Man? Did you eat tacos?
OBN III’s
When Orville Bateman Neeley III and crew hit the black stage, not a lot of the...
8 tags
Artist Feature: Laibach
Laibach is one of the most interesting avant-garde music/art projects I’ve seen, spanning thirty years of creative provocation with their music, videos, and conceptual idealization. They were formed in Yugoslavia in 1980 by the members: Dejan Knez, Srecko Bajda, Andrej Lupinc, Tomaz Hostnik, and Bine Zerko. Laibach is known for their unique cover songs that often co-opt the original...
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Photos: Fun Fun Fun Fest Friday
Fun Fun Fun Fest has already proved to have some crazy days and nights, and apparently a lot of Ryan Gosling tweeting. Check out some photos from day 1 of the festival featuring Fat Tony, Mind Spiders, Black Milk, Cloud Nothings, Yacht, Ty Segall and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.[gallery columns=”4” orderby=”title”]
All photos by Laura Carroll
Original Article
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Fun Fun Fun Fest: Friday Part 2
Four Tet
Kieran Hebden is a limited commodity. His recent and upcoming US tour dates consisted of two shows with Radiohead in September along with two festival appearances. To everyoneâs dismay at Fun Fun Fun fest, his talents werenât treated as preciously as they are dished out. With an ingenious stage setup that they have used since their inception, FFFFest places two stages right next to...
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Fun Fun Fun Fest: Friday Part 1
Mind Spiders
As one of the earliest acts of Friday, Mind Spiders had a tough job of entertaining the rough, eager, black stage crowd in a venue space very different than what they’re used to. This Fort Worth based act, led by frontman Mark Ryan, managed to captivate this rather small crowd, and even had some onlookers dancing with maximum enthusiasm by the end of the set. With help from...
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Fun Fun Fun Fest: Sunday Picks
OBN III’s, 1:05PM
Orville Bateman Neeley III is as impressive as ever with his newest venture among Austin’s OBN III’s. If Bad Sports channeled the 60’s and punk into delightful power-chord pop, then OBN III’s is a near-perfect turn into proto-punk. Their berserk but calculated lo-fi recordings will no doubt translate into a live performance that will medicate any...
11 tags
[Contest Over]: Phantogram 11/8
Phantogram had us all in the palm of their hands within the first 30 seconds of  ”When I’m Small” from their first LP, Eyelid Movies. Back again, this electronic duo has basically melted us all into grooving puppies with their newest EP, Nightlife. Trip-hop inspired dance beats permeate the entire 6 song release, particularly in standout single, “Don’t Move”....
7 tags
Review/Interview: Comfort Food
With a name like Comfort Food, one could quickly conjure up images of a massive soul band, where everybody snaps their fingers and the funk flows freely, but that vision is only half true. Comfort Food certainly brings the funk, but they are far from massive. Bassist Daniel Wolff and drummer Jake Marshall create music that often feels off balance, but always grooves. Each song is not just a...
8 tags
Beirut at The Prophet Bar, 11/1
I walked into the massive ballroom of The Prophet Bar just in time to hear the opening notes of Ramesh’s set. From the start I was bothered. The band was big, eight musicians on stage in total, but the sound just wasn’t big enough. If I wasn’t watching I would have had no idea I was hearing an eight-piece band. However, Ramesh picked up steam over the course of their set and by the end they had...
1 tag
Live and Local shows: Nov 4 - 7
Every Wednesday at 5pm(ish) Evan of Live and Local stops by Worried Poodles (4-6pm) to highlight some of the great local artists playing in Dallas over the next 7 days. Come here for your weekly dose of local music info.
Bands Profiled This Week:
For the show they’re playing this week, see below.
The Demigs - Sophisticates and Sedatives from Cities Can Wait (stream)
Peopleodian -...
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Fun Fun Fun Fest: Saturday Picks
Future Islands: 1:20PM
It’s hard to understand why Future Islands isn’t headlining at festivals yet, but at least we know they’ll get there. The rising talents have been under the radar since their 2010 Thrill Jockey release In Evening Air. Featuring synthpop, themes of hurt, heartbreaks, home, and Herring’s rare Tom Waits-esque vocals, Future Islands’ music is...
18 tags
Fun Fun Fun Fest: Friday Picks
Radio UTD is setting out for some fun times at the Shores this weekend. Fun Fun Fun Fest’s line-up is both killer and overwhelming this year that we wanted to highlight a few that we’re looking forward to most. Let’s do this.
Fat Tony, 12:40PM
Having already established himself as an important player in Houston’s notoriously active underground rap and hip-hop scene (with...
10 tags
SFH – From The Dumpster To The Grave
I have always wondered where Star Fucking Hipsters get their name. Is it a reference to a trendy youth who procreates with a moderately famous resident of Hollywood? Or maybe a famous hipster that has an expletive to put emphasis on his stardom? Regardless, their new CD, From the Dumpster to the Grave, speaks for itself.
They have not only overcome the loss of a co-lead singer, Nico de Gaillo,...
October 2011
47 posts
10 tags
[Contest Over]: Purity Ring 11/7
Purity Ring makes lullabies for the club, drawing from airy 90s r&b and lush dream pop. Megan James’ remarkable voice soars joyfully through Roddick’s trembling synths rendering the entire musical backdrop beautifully alien. After Purity Ring’s tour with Neon Indian and Com Truise, they crossed over the pond and played several shows in the UK. This futuristic pop project then went back...
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Artist Feature: Lebanon Hanover
Lebanon Hanover is the latest greatest cold wave musical bliss to come out of Berlin and Newcastle. Larissa Iceglass and William Maybelline make up this Neo-Post-Post-Post-Punk duo. Lebanon Hanover combines driving bass, simplistic doom synth, layered with vocal delay on delay. Lebanon Hanover is the underground darlings of the moment. Sure their sound is a regurgitation of past New Wave titans...
7 tags
Zola Jesus at Dan's Silver Leaf, 10/28
[caption id=”attachment_7230” align=”aligncenter” width=”500” caption=”Photo by Carolina Pereira”][/caption]
Dan’s Silver Leaf was the place to be the other night with the return of Zola Jesus in their first headlining tour to hit Denton. The one-man machine Xanopticon opened. When he entered the stage with his laptop and mixer he was able to bounce...
13 tags
Feature: Halloween Jams
Halloween is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with some music perfectly themed for the holiday? Of course, everyone is familiar with such classics as “The Monster Mash” or “Beetlejuice”, but how about some tunes with a little more energy to get your party bumping this weekend? In this post, I’ve delved deep into the depths of the internet to bring you some modern-day...
9 tags
Review/Interview: FigureHead
Despite their own claim of being “dirty kids playing sweaty music,” FigureHead is much more than just kids banging around on instruments. Throughout their 6-song self-titled debut, the guitars are crisp, clean, and fast; the vocals are aggressive; and the recordings are understandably lo-fi. Despite being a punk band, FigureHead have a sort of playful and fun pop sound. In addition to playing in...