Filed under: 20 Watts Radio | Tags: 20 Watts Radio, Concerts, Miike Snow, podcast, roundup, Sleigh Bells, Syracuse
A special guest joins me to talk about upcoming Syracuse concerts.
LISTEN: “Concert Roundup”
A special guest, Adam Biswanger, a.k.a. the classic rock scholar, dishes his thoughts on upcoming indie performances at Syracuse, Miike Snow and Sleigh Bells. Biswanger also talks about the role of indie rock and the hardship of crossing over to the mainstream. He’s excited about one band, and not the another, but who’s got the leg up? Sleigh Bells and Miike Snow go head-to-head in this special 20 Watts podcast.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Concerts, Editor's Picks, NPR, Sleigh Bells, Spark Art Place, SXSW
Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells rocking out at SXSW in Austin, TX, shot by SPIN.
PREVIEW THE BAND: Sleigh Bells’ MySpace
PREVIEW THE EVENT: Sleigh Bells @ Spark Art Place (4/8/10)
LISTEN: “Crown on the Ground” by Sleigh Bells Live at SXSW Festival (Recorded by NPR)
Just in case you missed it last week, Sleigh Bells tore it up at South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX, and the critics raved loud. NPR recorded the whole set, but I edited it down to their final song “Crown on the Ground,” which sounds so much better live than on their MySpace with the fuzzy bass. It’s fitting because Sleigh Bells’ long-awaited performance at Syracuse’s Spark Art Place is less than two weeks away! Until I heard NPR’s podcast, I had no idea what their live concert sounded like, and I’m now ecstatic more than ever. I can’t wait.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: 20 Watts Video | Tags: 20 Watts Video, Concerts, OMorning Records, The Northbound Traveling Minstrel Jug Band
PREVIEW: VISIT The Northbound Traveling Minstrel Jug Band’s MySpace
Filed under: Scene Around Town | Tags: Concerts, Don't Panic, Road to Recovery, Stay Six, The Ataris, The Weakness, The Westcott Theater
The Ataris, The Weakness, Don't Panic, Stay Six and Road to Recovery played the Westcott last night!
PREVIEW: VISIT The Ataris, Road to Recovery, Don’t Panic, Stay Six and The Weakness on MySpace!
The crowd at The Westcott Theater Tuesday night was one that was constantly in flux. With The Ataris headlining and four bands preceding them, there was an ebb and flow to those in attendance; the constant being the two dozen or so fans who eagerly hugged the stage for the entire night, eagerly anticipating the headliners taking the stage. Opening act Road to Recovery performed the admirable feat of making the sparse crowd a little more lively, with their Taking Back Sunday-esque emo-punk sensibilities getting heads to nod and a promise of high fives to those who moved closer to the stage.
Stay Six, a four piece pop-punk band continued in a similar vein with each member, sans the drummer, rotating on vocals providing a brief but energetic set as the crowd began to fill out more. (more…)
Filed under: 20 Watts Video, Emerging Artists, On-Campus Artists | Tags: 20 Watts Radio, 20 Watts Video, Concerts, The Fly
PREVIEW: The Fly’s Vimeo Page
Even ice-cold Syracuse University has a little sizzle and spice, and The Fly are just that. This misfit group of hip-hop/R&B specialists provide a much-needed blend of contrasting style for the SU music scene. It’s not folk and definitely not remixed–it’s straight soul, power and urban rhythm. Led by the sassy and highly talented Keith Smith and Farasha Baylock, The Fly are a must-hear-now kind of act. Watch this video and you’ll see what kind of attitude and savvy dance moves they bring to the stage. Also, stay tuned for this Thursday’s live sit-down with The Fly on 20 Watts Radio!
–Jett Wells + Irina Dvalidze
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Away From Home, Concert Coverge, Concerts, Drake, News of Note, NY, Syracuse
According to his MySpace, Drake will play in Syracuse, NY on April 30th at a "private location."
PREVIEW: Drake’s MySpace
The Spring 2010 concert season keeps getting better—maybe. According to his MySpace, personal website and Billboard, Drake will be playing at “private location” in Syracuse, NY on April 30. He’s on a college tour, “Away from Home,” so it’s not completely crazy to think he’ll be coming to Syracuse University at that date. Nick Cicero, an SU grad student and producer signed to the same company as Drake’s producer, Neenyo, said Drake is “supposed to be coming,” but it isn’t “uber-official” yet.
Of course, this all could change as we get closer to the date. Don’t give your hopes up, but the hottest indie rapper could be coming soon.
Stay tuned for updates later.
–Jett Wells and Nathan Mattise
Filed under: 20 Watts Video | Tags: 20 Watts Video, Concerts, Hamilton College, MNDR, YACHT
PREVIEW: YACHT’s MySpace
Talk about changing plans on a dime. I started planning to go see Big Mouth perform at 701 Ackerman off campus (which has a video coming up shortly!), but then YACHT and MNDR announced they were stopping off at Hamilton College in the same night, so I made a judgment call and decided to catch what was supposed to be an epic dance party. Boy, it was.
MNDR opened up in the pavilion-like venue, pumping loud and fun dance beats with her awkward yet hilarious dance moves. While rocking big white-rimmed glasses and a chandelier-like necklace, she won the crowd over by the final song. In between songs she tried explaining her story, but she seemed to burp and mumble a lot, and people were slightly thrown off. Nevertheless, she let her music do the talking and the Hamilton College kids got a lot more bang than they thought. However, there were a few low moments when a couple Hamilton kids walked on stage to air hump against MNDR while she wasn’t looking. See photos from MNDR’s set below.
