Twenty-One and Under

Victoria Justice - Beggin' On Your Knees

2011-07-04T20:49:00.000-05:00

The latest from the crew over at Victorious. This tune is insanely catchy and, of course, Victoria is totes georg. (Not to mention pretty good at busting a move...) How else is loving this track?

And for some fun behind the scenes rehearsal footage from another new track ("Best Friends Brother") check out the below...

Y i Yell - Always the Weekend

2011-07-04T20:35:00.000-05:00

We're totally digging Y i Yell right now! With a cool style, super catchy hooks and an awesomely talented 12 year old drummer, they are right up our proverbial alley. Give this new band a listen below.

For more Y i Yell fun, check out this fun cover the group did of Adele's "Rumor Has It."

Morgan May - So In Like With You

2011-07-04T20:14:00.000-05:00

The themes/video set up are very "Teardrops on my Guitar," though that was a MASSIVE hit for Twenty-One and Under favorite Taylor Swift. What does everything think of this newcomer?

Joe Jonas - See No More

2011-07-04T20:06:00.001-05:00

This song is a bit 2006 Backstreet Boys to me, but they certainly spent a lot of money to make this music video look good. Ultimately Joe has an amazing voice and it should be interesting to see how the entire record turns out...Thoughts?

Watch "Behind the Video" of Taylor Swift's "Mean" tonight on GAC

2011-07-03T17:59:00.000-05:00

Catch all the behind the scenes action during the making of the video for "Mean," T-Swizzle's current single, tonight on GAC at 9/8c and check out the finished product below!

Fun Fact: "Mean" is reportedly about music critic Bob Lefsetz, who gave Swifty a pretty tough time after her, ahem, rough Grammy performance last year.

Lexi St. George - Dancing to the Rhythm (With Me)

2011-07-03T17:01:00.000-05:00

From the creators of Rebecca Black in association with Good Morning America, here's Lexi St. George with Dancing to the Rhythm (With Me). What do you guys think of Ark Music Factory's svegali -like approach to creating internet sensations? Let us know in the comments!

Justin Bieber's Rise

2011-07-03T16:37:00.000-05:00

Obviously The Bieber is a mega-superstar now, but let's take a look at some of the videos that started the insanity.

Heartless/Successful (A personal fave.)

Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River (The Power of the Justin's!)

U-Smile Rehearsal - WHo doesn't love a bit of parlor shop!

Never Say Never - Bieber Mania today (Or at least in late 2010)

Greyson Chance - Paparazzi

2011-07-03T16:22:00.001-05:00

A YouTube sensation who made good.

The video that got Greyson noticed - Paparazzi

And look at him now (How killer is that piano?!?)

Unfriend You:

Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight, Tonight

2011-07-03T16:09:00.001-05:00

Super catchy. Super fun. Chord Overstreet. Need I say more?

Eva - Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover)

2011-07-03T16:06:00.002-05:00

Eva Ricci (kiddiva07 on YouTube)

This is my favorite song of all time and I really like her rendition. This song doesn’t really show off her folky/pop sensibilities, but I could see her as being the next Michelle Branch for sure.

Madilyn Bailey - Stuck Like Glue

2011-07-03T16:01:00.002-05:00

Madilyn Bailey - The next YouTube Sensation. A lot of her covers are great, but I have a soft spot for Sugarland so I’m highlighting this one. :)

Demi Lovato - Mercy on Me

2011-07-03T15:58:00.004-05:00

A great performance from Demi Lovato, before anyone else knew about her amazing talent. And to think she’s only gotten better!

American Idol's Josiah Leming

2011-07-03T15:46:00.002-05:00

While David Cook may have won the 7th season of America Idol, there’s another talented cutie who didn’t quite make it as far as he deserved. Josiah Leming, best known as the homeless teenager who sang with a British accent, just released his debut album on Warner Brothers Records.

Josiah's sound is reminiscent of OneRepublic or Coldplay. With a strong, emotive voice and solid songwriting abilities, Josiah is definitely an artist to watch!

Check it out on iTunes!!

My New Apartment Part 2

2009-01-15T22:37:00.002-06:00

Here are the rest...

My favorite part of any room...My desk and my computer....

The closet...which is inside of the bathroom...

Annnd, the bathroom.

Well, that was terribly exciting. Now I'm off to watch 30 Rock. An exciting life I lead. I'll try and take some pictures around the (very cool) Warner Brothers office and at Jimmy Kimmel, etc.

My New Apartment

2009-01-15T22:24:00.007-06:00

Okay, so I'm a little late with the blogging thing, but some friends/family have been asking about my experiences in Los Angeles, so I figured I would just update this from time to time with new information.

Below are pictures from my apartment. It is small. It is outdated and rent is about 5x more expensive than it would be in KC. Yay! But, it is also very clean, very safe and very close to my internship. Without further ado...

The shower. Unfortunately, there's no light, so you have to shower with the curtain open...It makes kind of a mess...

A fully stocked cabinet. Thanks Dad!

My dining room table. Interesting tidbit: The door has to be closed in order for two people to sit down.

This is my "sitting area"

Ok, so I'm not necessarily the cleanest person...

Apparently I can't upload any more pictures. More to come!

Music Review: Lady Gaga "The Fame

2008-11-17T14:04:00.003-06:00

In a lot of ways, Lady Gaga is Justin Timberlake’s new, female counterpart. Like Timberlake’s 2006 release “Futuresex/Lovesounds,” her album The Fame is a futuristic voyage of spaceship rock, full of electro-pop hooks and dance floor come-ons.

By now, most are familiar with her fabulous first singe “Let’s Dance,” an instantly catchy track that’s nearly impossible not to dance to. There are many more like it on this almost entirely upbeat album (The only slow track is the electric guitar and piano driven “Brown Eyes.), including the easy to sing along to “Boys Boys Boys,” Mariah Carey-esque “Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say), and “Starstruck,” which features an obligatory rap for an album like this from Flo Rida.

While the album is great for a fabulous night out, it does leave the listener with the sense of an void, similar to one someone might feel after a rough night out. On the surface is glamour and intrigue, but there is nothing but an empty hole as listeners delve a little deeper. The music, just like one of the song titles, is all about feeling “Beautiful, Dirty and Rich.” The Fame is the Paris Hilton of albums; it might be a good time for awhile, but ultimately people will move onto something else.

Can P!nk Be a Rock Star, Please?

2008-10-31T09:18:00.002-05:00

I love Ann Powers. She's the main music reviewer at the Los Angeles Times and every time I read one of her articles, whether it's a review of the Kanye tour, a preview of Kelly Clarkson's last CD or something in between, I always feel that she's able to say exactly what I want to, but in a much better way. Therefore, I'm posting a recent article she wrote about P!nk's 'rock star status" to go along with my review, which can be found in the blog below...

Pop music is a crazy, mixed-up confetti pile, best when it's brimming over with colors and textures and shiny bits. That's why pop artists so vehemently fight being categorized; not only does it hurt their egos by shoving their precious self-expression into a box, it's bad for business. The truly super pop star leaps across radio formats and sales charts in a single bound; Lil' Wayne benefits greatly from being the only rapper on a Joe Nickelback fan's iPod, and John Mayer makes bank as a fantasy date for ladies who love Mary J. Blige.

That said, categories do matter. People build their wardrobes, calendars and chosen families around them. Loving a kind of music becomes living a kind of life. The messages that artists send out about matters that go beyond rhythm and noise -- like what it means to be a man, for example, or how a woman should behave -- influence fans' thinking beyond the reach of their headphones.

The rest can be found here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/10/can-pink-be-a-r.html

Music Review: P!nk "Funhouse"

2008-10-27T22:13:00.004-05:00

Below is a review I did for my college newspaper. It is not one of my more well-written reviews, but I really enjoyed the CD, so I wanted to post it. There's just a lot to talk about with this album, from her desire to focus on slower songs to how her divorce affected the lyrical content, etc. One thing is for sure; it's not nearly as upbeat as her previous releases, though I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. Anyway, the review is below...

After listening to the infectiously catchy first single, “So What,” off of P!nk’s fifth album Funhouse, one would expect her new CD to be a mix of party anthems and post-divorce tunes. (She split from husband Carey Hart earlier this year). While there are plenty of tracks about the divorce, P!nk’s playful side, so prominent on past releases, is sorely missing on this album. Funhouse is deeply introspective and often focuses on personal issues instead of the outside world and her partying lifestyle.

One of the best tracks on the album, “Sober” features minimalist instrumentation, something that is a theme for much of the album, but it is a great showcase for P!nk’s fabulously gritty voice and sometimes uncomfortably personal lyrics, dissecting why she sometimes feels better sober now.

Other standouts are “I Don’t Believe You” and “Glitter in the Air.” Heartbreaking tunes clearly about her divorce and her sadness in its aftermath, the song’s melodies are the best on the album; easy to sing along to, highly memorable, and they do a great job of showing of the versatile layers of her voice.

While most of the tracks on the album are well-written and interesting melodically, something seems lacking by the end of the disc. P!nk just couldn’t live up to the party girl image she’s cultivated for herself on previous records; it’s clear that the party is over for her. While writing music based on life experiences are always a good idea, so is offering catchy, upbeat music to the Top 40 audience she’s cultivated for herself.

Music Review: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

2008-10-10T15:56:00.003-05:00

There have been a lot of comparisons between last winter’s surprise smash hit Juno and the recently released Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and rightfully so. Both star Michael Cera, both feature hipster kids falling in love, and both have killer soundtracks made up of great bands most mainstream music fans have likely never heard of.

While Juno’s music was centered on The Moldy Peaches, which made them popular, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist soundtrack is much more diverse and gives exposure to a plethora of up-and-coming bands. The movie focuses on a night of seeing bands in New York City, and the album is full of indie rock and electro acts that would likely be a part of just such a night.

Standout tracks include the very catchy Bishop Allen and Richard Hawley tunes “Middle Management” and “Silvery Sleds,” “Negative,” a song by Project Jenny, Project Jan that features amusing and slightly inappropriate lyrics, and the lazy, happy, electro melody of “Nick & Norah’s Theme” by Mark Mothersbaugh. Indie rock fans should also be excited about tracks from Vampire Weekend, We Are Scientists, Band of Horses and Shout Out Louds, all favorites among the hipster elite.

The only unfortunate track is by The Jerk Offs, Cera’s character’s band in the film. The track is clearly weaker than the rest and sticks out like a sore thumb.

It’s nice when a good movie is paired with a good soundtrack, and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is up there with the soundtracks of Garden State, Dan in Real Life and, of course, Juno.

New Blog: Cake Wrecks

2008-10-10T15:30:00.010-05:00

I am a huge fan of food. All kinds of food. I love spaghetti, asparagus omelets and cheese enchiladas, just to name a few of my favorites. I also love cakes; Funfetti being a particularly successful option. As such, one of my favorite shows on television is Ace of Cakes, a show about some insanely creative cake designers. The Ace of Cakes blog http://www.charmcitycakes.com/, which is a great read in and of itself, lead me to my new favorite blog of all time!!! CAKE WRECKS! http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com

The blog shows some truly horrible designs. My favorite of which are the ones that show the picture from the cake book and then the final product. I had a bad experience recently when I found myself in this very same situation. My Aunt and I were in charge of the cake for my great-grandpa's birthday. We picked out, what we thought was, a very respectable cake with a good color palette and some pretty abstract designs. What we got was an abomination...I'm sad I don't have pictures, but I do have some pictures from Cake Wrecks that I thought I'd share.

From the book:

And the result:

Once again...From the book:

Annnnd...The result:

The site also posts some cool cakes. Here are a few of my favorites...

Music Review: Kings of Leon

2008-09-27T09:56:00.003-05:00

Kings of Leon seem to pull from a lot of musical influences on their new album, Only By The Night. On some tracks, like the opening song “Closer,” the Kings sound a lot like Radiohead, particularly like the band’s 90s hit “Creep.” On other tracks, such as “Manhattan,” the guitars are more reminiscent of Coldplay’s “Fix You.” Either way, Kings of Leon have chosen their influences wisely, and this album, their fourth, is by far their strongest.

The two standout tracks on Only By The Night are the first single, “Sex On Fire,” and the track that follows it on the album, “Use Somebody.” Both songs are catchy and well structured. As an added bonus, lead singer Caleb Followill’s voice—which on other tracks can come across as grating and scratchy—is at its best in a solid wail and strong falsetto.

The band hasn’t managed to fix all its kinks, though. Most tracks are too long and a bit self-indulgent. The Kings’ lyrics could use some of the same inspiration they put into their music. Most songs are about booze, girls and all-night partying. Nothing is particularly insightful, and the songs are not even all that unique from each other, which makes for a boring listen.

But the Kings are indeed heading in the right direction, and doing so in the style of some of the greats in current popular music. If they focus as much on lyrical content as they do on guitar riffs, they could move into a whole new stratosphere with their next release.

Suzannah Johannes

2008-09-17T17:04:00.006-05:00

As several of you know, this semester I'm interning for Range Life Records, which is distributed by Saddle Creek. I got hooked up with them because I worked for Saddle Creek over the summer. (Super fun, by the way.) Anyhow, one of our artists, Suzannah Johannes, is releasing an E.P. on the September 23. I with it's a great record and is piano-driven folk sounding. She's got a great voice and is super talented.

For KJHK staff/fans, she won our annual battle of the bands event, Farmer's Ball, a few years ago. My personal favorite song was when she covered Outkast's "So Fresh, So Clean." Fabulous.

Anyway, I have permission to give away one song for free, entitled "Horserider's Smile," which you can download below. The album is available now on iTunes and will be available on vinyl starting September 21 at the Lovegarden release party.

Thanks, enjoy and pass it on to anyone else you think might enjoy it.

http://www.zshare.net/info.html?18954413-979871a5b8e78877da8178229c911f43

Bo Burnham is funny

2008-09-17T17:04:00.003-05:00

I'm pretty sure I'm late in the game on this one, but I love Bo Burnham. He's so funny...and I'm kind of jealous of kids who are so talented and take the initiative to do something about it. Check out some of his videos below. He also has a great new E.P. out on iTunes lwith songs that aren't available on youtube and a sweet deal with Comedy Centra. My personal favorite from the E.P. is High School Party (Girl).

Music Review: Gym Class Heroes

2008-09-11T16:03:00.003-05:00

The boys of Gym Class Heroes have Fall Out Boy, and specifically lead singer Patrick Stump, to thank for their breakout success with lead single “Cupid’s Chokehold,” which was produced by Stump, who also sung the hook. The Heroes also owe a lot to Stump for their new record The Quilt. Once again he lends his vocals to a fantastically catchy song, “Blinded By the Sun,” and produced about half the record.

It’s the catchy songs, such as “Blinded” that make the album worth listening to. Gym Class Heroes are, quite frankly, little more than a band who can write a great hook, collaborate well with other artists and sound pretty on the radio, nestled between Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” and “Disturbia by Rihanna. However, there’s nothing wrong with that, a lesson the Heroes haven’t quite seemed to grasp yet. Highlights on the album include the fabulous horn and hook song “Guilty as Charged” featuring Estelle and lead single “Cookie Jar.”

On “Don’t Tell Me It’s Over” lead rapper Travis McCoy says, “Tell’em I can’t rap, tell’em I dumb it down,” as if it’s a bad thing, but the truth is the album really suffers when Gym Class Heroes tries to be a band they’re not (ie The Roots). “Peace Sign Index Songs” make McCoy seem a bit ridiculous trying to keep up with Busta Rythems flow and other songs without a catchy pop hook come off as repetitive and boring.

Gym Class Heroes truly shine when they embrace their inner pop star. For more fun tracks from them and other Fueled By Ramen Bands, such as Fall Out Boy, check out the Welcome to the Administration, available for free at http://www.friendsorenemies.com/web/foe/users/falloutboy/

Yay for Britney!

2008-09-08T13:33:00.000-05:00

After much hype surrounding Britney’s return to the public spotlight (would she perform? would she be a mess? Who would she be with?) it turns out that Spears did little more than talk in a coherent manner…and I was thrilled.

It’s been painful to be a Britney fan these past few years, what with the 55 hour marriage, head shaving extravaganza and the sad, sad 2007 VMA performance. She’s been a staple in tabloids, in the blogosphere, and in Kathy Griffin’s fabulous stand up act. But, underneath it all, I can’t think of a single person on this planet who truly doesn’t want to see her succeed. After all, being a Britney fan from 1999-2003 was a lot of fun, and scandals were well choreographed events. I still remember the 200 VMA striptease, the Britney/Justin are they or aren’t they and the wonderful dance pop that came with it.

So, while Britney might not quite be back to her old fighting for yet, I say bravo, not just for showing up, looking hot, and making sense, but also for starting to pull her life back together. I was so excited to see she chose to come with longtime manager Larry Rudolph and I was glad she thanked God, her family and her fans in her speeches…though they all were a bit similar. (Baby steps people, baby steps.) Who knows, maybe next year we’ll get a CD and tour to rival the Oops… era. Stranger things have happened and American seems to be rooting for her all the way.

Music Review: Conor Oberst

2008-09-03T19:07:00.001-05:00

Conor Oberst, in a song called “Eagle On A Pole” from his new, self-titled album, sings, “I tried so hard to settle down.”

Settling down is clearly not something he’s good at. Oberst, under the moniker Bright Eyes, has long been known as Omaha’s golden child, a beacon of creative hope in a town otherwise known only for its zoo and the College World Series. But Oberst has been spending a lot less time in the city, recording his newest album in Tepoztlán, Mexico. He even chose to release it on Merge Records rather than his longtime label, Saddle Creek Records, which he helped form.

The change seems to have done him good, however, as Conor Oberst is his best release since 2005’s I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, and a serious improvement from 2007’s Cassadaga.

The story goes that Oberst and crew found a hotel made up of a few houses, rented it out, and went about recording, hanging out and meeting the locals. The album reflects this with its relatively mellow vibe and a strong focus on string instruments and big band numbers. It’s reminiscent of a jam session attended only by people who are incredibly talented. On several tracks the listener can even hear insects and people in the background. It’s perfect music to play while spending a night with friends, or to have on in the background during a study session.

The songs also show a marked improvement in songwriting, something that’s always been Oberst’s strong suit. Songs are much more structured than they have been in the past, and Oberst’s vocals are also stronger, especially in his lower register.

This album is a solid effort, and Oberst has pushed his own boundaries to offer fans something new and refreshing.

Please Don't Stop the Music

2008-09-03T15:50:00.000-05:00

I still remember getting my first CD. I was in kindergarten and fresh off the yellow school bus when I walked into my kitchen and sitting on our round, wooden table was The Little Mermaid: Splash Hits in all of its Disney cartoon glory. I immediately grabbed the CD, ripped the packaging open (no easy task today, much less with 5-year-old fingers) and forced my mom to set up the stereo. It was the best present of my young life, one that I cherished and, much to my family’s dismay, played constantly throughout the next few years, singing along, karaoke-style, at the top of my little lungs.

While my love of music, specifically Disney musicals, was a fun and probably slightly annoying habit in my early years, it became a mode of survival the summer after third grade. My family moved to Omaha from Olathe. The transition wasn’t pleasant, and by summer I was friendless. But two discoveries made it not only bearable, but actually pretty fun. The first was the public library’s The Baby-sitter’s Club section. The second was Top 40 radio. When it came to my friend problems, I took on The Fresh Prince’s philosophy and assumed that “Parents just don’t understand.” As a result, I locked myself in my horrifically green-and-pink-flower-themed room with my most prized possession, my mini-stereo, listening to the sweet sounds of FM radio station Sweet 98 and reading.

I learned a lot that summer. I learned how to baby-sit. I learned that locking your room doesn’t mean your little brothers won’t find their way in. I learned that radio DJs get annoyed when little girls call repeatedly to request a song that isn’t on their playlist. I learned how to use music as a way to escape. In the confines of my room, Gwen Stefani told me what it was like to be “Just A Girl.” I wanted to have “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with Deep Blue Something and I questioned who would save my soul right along with Jewel. I wasn’t sure what champagne was (I was a sheltered child), but I wanted to experience its supernova the same way Oasis did. Music became my perfect escape, and the artists blaring through my speakers, as well as the five members of the Baby-sitter’s Club, became my substitute friends.

By high school five years later, I had real friends. I made several of them, in fact, because—lucky for me—our huge choirs allowed me to use music to my advantage. Instead of using music as a way to pretend I had friends, I was able to use music to make more real ones. As Madonna says, “Music makes the people come together.” No matter how busy life got—and between musical, theater and show choir rehearsals, it got pretty busy—I never lost my love for radio, which is why, my junior year of high school, I began interning at the very station I once speed-dialed daily. The life of a radio intern isn’t exactly glamorous. I wasn’t partying with Linkin Park, or even blink-182, for that matter. I spent most of my time cutting apart station posters, going to promotional events at movie theaters and sports bars and, once, judging a kissing contest at the local mall. I had a blast. While the DJs were certainly a far cry even from Good Charlotte, they were rock stars in my eyes, and I got a kick out of getting to meet and spend time with Pat and JT, the morning show hosts, and the rest of the crew.

By the time I got to college, radio was officially my thing, but I didn’t know the University of Kansas had a radio station until Hawk Week. I still remember going to the Union and meeting Nick Ray, the promotions director at the time, a slightly flamboyant man with a sunny disposition and cool demeanor, a purveyor of all things hip. He was loud and proud of his station and immediately shoved an avalanche of red and black stickers and pins in my hand, along with a sign-up sheet to join the station’s staff. Before long, I was one of his minions, approaching people at football games, attending local concerts (for free!) to sit at the promo table, and helping plan stunts that would grab students’ attention (Remember the massive tractor outside the Union for Farmer’s Ball?). Nick took me under his wing—or maybe it was his turntable—and once he moved on, I took over his position, and am now the Live Events director for KJHK, and next year I’ll take over as station manager.

Music started out as a love for me. It became a necessity and then turned into a career path, which is really what these years are all about. You should find something you love and figure out a way to get paid to do it. It turns out I have no desire to baby-sit, or do anything else with kids. But radio is right up my alley, and I’ll be happy whether it’s working promotions for Z100, the biggest radio station in the country, or acting as faculty adviser for a station like KJHK. I guess, in that sense, college has done exactly what it was supposed to do for me. I’ve found my purpose. And in the words of Rihanna, “Please don’t stop the music.”

Jayplay

2008-09-03T15:48:00.000-05:00

Hey. So as you'll notice below, I've posted a bunch of articles today. Essentially, I wanted to archive all of the article I've written for Jayplay, KU's student news magazine. This semester, I'm focusing on music reviews, so there will be a lot more of those, both published an unpublished. Enjoy!

Concert veteran has positive impact on industry

2008-09-03T15:45:00.000-05:00

acki Becker has hung out with The Shins. She has traveled across the country to see Ben Folds. She considers The Get Up Kids part of her “extended family” and she travels almost half the year to promote concerts and bands. As founder of Up to Eleven Productions, based out of Lawrence, she’s one of the most influential people in the Lawrence and Kansas City concert scene, and yet almost none of the fans know her name. A lot of their favorite bands do though, because she helped them when they were starting out and she continues to book and work with many of them today.

“Death Cab for Cutie are some of my dear, dear friends,” Becker said. “I remember the first time they came through here, they played at Love Garden and I passed the hat and cooked them dinner. Cookies and brownies are kind of my thing.”

Despite her work booking, promoting and dealing with the set-up and tear-down of their shows, not all bands are easy to work with.

"Ninety-nine percent of the time bands are amazing,” Becker said. “But anyone that knows me knows that there are stories of Weezer. It was never ending. Whether it was the rider or Rivers’ paranoia to people following him or needing to have an hour to play piano of golf by himself.”

No matter which band it is she’s working with though, she maintains a sense of professionalism. Up to Eleven books shows in Lawrence, Kansas City, Des Moines, Iowa City, Omaha, Springfield and St, Louis. Her job frequently allows her to work with other promoters and a variety of venues.

“I’ve never had a bad experience with Jacki,” Jon Lunkwicz, Vice-President of the Beumont Club, Grand Emporium, Westport Beach Club and Karma, said. “Jacki has a good ear for new music and creates a good reputation for new bands in the Kansas City area. Their first experience is good because of Jacki and the way she runs her operation.”

According to her friends and business associates, it is largely due to her that Lawrence has such a vibrant concert calendar throughout the year.

“I can guarantee that if she wasn’t around to book shows as a promoter we would not have as many shows as we do now,” Joe Noh, a friend and musician, said. “I don’t know if there’s anyone that could replace her as a promoter. If we were to lose her, the music scene would take a pretty big blow.”

The way she runs her operation also has a positive impact on the people she works with. She often hires new interns and students to help her with shows and she teaches them about the industry.

“She’s a crusader for women in the industry,” Jenny Kratz, who has worked with Becker and is the Live Events Director for KJHK, said. “She wants to support women interested in promotions and production. For ‘Day on the Hill’ last year we went to her to help find bands and learn how to do large scale productions and on the day of the show she just stepped back and watched the show. She championed those who did the show and is a really great mentor.”

Kratz is also connected to Becker in another way. Kratz is the current host of KJHK’s local music show Plow the Fields and it was sixteen years ago this semester that Becker founded the show and was its original host. In March, KJHK held a Sweet 16 birthday party for the show to celebrate the occasion.

In addition to her start at KJHK, Becker has also run The Bottleneck, toured with bands and, for awhile, was doing production work for the House of Blues. Though she spends most of her time working, she does have a few outside hobbies, most of which she picked up from her mother.

“I do a lot of cooking, sewing and gardening,” Becker said. “I’m a mom, but not a mom. These were things that my mom taught me. I have two gardens and a huge compost pile. I’m sort of a hippie I guess. I like the Earth.”

Those are not the only skills Becker’s parents taught her and it is her background that has made her the person she is today.

“My parents taught me to work hard and that there’s nothing I can’t accomplish. They taught me to inspire others,” Becker said.

Becker continues to run Up to Eleven Productions and also owns a bar and music venue in Iowa City. Up to Eleven Productions has several upcoming shows in Lawrence. For more information, visit www.uptoeleven.com.

Painting the Town

2008-09-03T15:42:00.000-05:00

Sarah Garlow, a 21-year-old Lawrence resident, used to be a lot like students attending the University of Kansas. She was going to college out of her home state of Kansas and living a normal college life, except that she was dealing with depression. The depression was so debilitating that it was hard for her to go to class, Garlow says. Garlow eventually decided to leave the University and moved back home to Lawrence, but she needed a job to support herself. Like most people on a job search, she checked the classified ads where she came across a listing for Van Go Mobile Arts. Before long she’d signed a yearlong contract and was ready to work.

Van Go, located at 715 New Jersey St., is a program that pays youths ages 14-21 to do commissioned artwork around Lawrence and in surrounding communities. Youths must be living in poverty or have a condition, such as depression or a learning disorder, that causes them difficulties in school to be accepted into the program. The program is divided into two groups, JAMS (Jobs in the Arts Make Sense) for 14 to 18-year-olds and Life JAMS for 18 to 21-year-olds. JAMS accepts 21 kids at a time and holds three 8-week sessions a year. Kids may return as many times as they’d like. Life JAMS is made up of six people, and each signs a yearlong contract. Van Go is more than just a job, though. The program cares about its participants. Sometimes the staff give participants a self-esteem boost, but other times it works to help them achieve life goals, according to Program Director Jim Lewis.

Van Go Mobile Arts, Inc. provides year-round after-school and summer programs that employs about 22 youths every season.
“We try to help the kids figure out what they want to do next, “ Lewis says. “We help them apply for financial aid, help them fill out applications and the social worker takes them on field trips to job sites so that they know what’s out there.”

While most Van Go participants don’t go on to work in the art field, Danielle Christie, a 20-year-old from St. Joseph, Mo, would like to take up art, specifically photography, as a profession. She says she hopes being in Van Go will land her an internship as well as improve her overall ability as an artist.

“I learn about different kinds of art,” Christie says. “I will be able to improve my skills.”

Cathy Ledeker, Van Go’s art director, has been with the program for about eight years. She came up with the group’s current project, which is to make a nature scene out of pillars and decorate it with recycled items. Recently, Life JAMS members worked on this project by doing things like meticulously gluing tightly rolled newspaper to cardboard poles. Ledeker says she was originally attracted to her position at Van Go because she likes the kids and she has the ability to create projects that are innovative and unique.

Some of their more famous projects include the painted benches downtown, the mural outside the Lawrence Public Library and another mural in City Hall. Because the year is divided into three sessions, there are usually three main projects throughout the year. In the summer, the group works on benches, which sell for around $800, according to Lewis. Patrons of these works of art include local stores and the City of Lawrence itself. In the spring they create a mural, and in the fall there are a variety of activities, including beading, fabric work and glass making. Some of their crafts are sold during the group’s annual Adornment Show, which takes place every year after Thanksgiving. The group also spends time working on commissioned pieces.

While the commissioned pieces and shows help with the cost of running the program, various grants and foundations pay for the bulk of Van Go’s expenses. Kids in the JAMS group start out at minimum wage, with the opportunity for raises, and the Life JAMS group makes a few dollars more. 21-year-old Van Go participant Andre Padilla says he makes $8.70 an hour.

Van Go will soon expand, with a construction project to be completed in the summer. The new space will allow Van Go to broaden its programming and help more youths in need. For more information about Van Go, visit its Web site at www.van-go.org, or stop by in person to buy a piece of art.

Tomorrow's News: Pandora

2008-09-03T15:41:00.000-05:00

In the age of the Internet, countless bands pop into the public’s collective conscience, only to disappear into MySpace purgatory a few weeks later. For the casual music fan, it can all be too much to follow, which is why we have Pandora.com. Created to put to use the data collected from the Music Genome Project, an application that studies and groups popular music, Pandora serves two purposes according to founder Tim Westergren.

“First, it’s a radio service that allows you to easily personalize what you’re listening to,” Westergren says. “And second, it’s a place where you’re going to hear a lot of music you’ve never heard before.”

The site is free and easy to use. The user fills out a short registration form, the enters a favorite band and, “Voila!” A personalized station is created. For example, if a user enters The Decemberists, the station starts playing the band’s song “From My Own True Love.” The site then moves on to other songs with a similar sound such as an Elliott Smith track, followed by a song by Fruit Bats. If you don’t dig everything that pops up, simply use the skip button or you can also offer feedback about a particular song.

Part of the reason for Pandora’s success is that not only does it accept major label artists, but it also reviews indie-label acts. Next time you want to explore new music, make it easier on yourself and let the people at Pandora do the grunt work for you.

What It's Like: To Audition for American Idol

2008-09-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

Every year, millions of people watch the American Idol auditions on TV, but last summer, 18-year-old Dallas native Shannon Murray experienced the process firsthand.

Shannon Murray (left) during the American Idol audition process.
Murray auditioned in Dallas for the show’s seventh season with about 12,000 other Idol hopefuls, and Murray says the experience is much different than it appears on television.

Before getting their shot at a stint on TV, contestants begin by auditioning in groups of six in one of 12 tents with two judges in each tent. Simon, Paula and Randy aren’t anywhere to be found, and they actually don’t come to town to film their segments until several months later.

Murray says another surprise was the amount of waiting time. Murray and her dad arrived at the stadium where the auditions were held at 3 a.m. the day before, and waited hours just to get a wristband, which would guarantee an audition spot the following day. Getting in to audition then required another long wait. You might be the next Kelly Clarkson, but you’ll have to suffer long lines for your art.

Murray was cut in the very first round in Dallas, but to check out those whose suffering paid off, tune in to American Idol every Tuesday and Wednesday (and sometimes Thursday) at 7 p.m. on FOX.

Small Town, Big Sounds

2008-09-03T15:33:00.000-05:00

Eudora is a typical small Kansas town. Pick-up trucks drive along the one-lane roads, gas stations are plentiful, and there’s a picturesque Main Street with quaint shops and too many empty parking spots. One thing, however, is very abnormal about Eudora, located about 12 miles east of Lawrence. The town is home to a recording studio at which Kurt Cobain, The Get Up Kids, Puddle of Mudd, Motion City Soundtrack and Senses Fail have all recorded.

Black Lodge Recording, 701 Main St. in Eudora, was founded in 1988 as Red House Recording. The studio is now owned by record producer Ed Rose and Ryan and Rob Pope, former members of the Lawrence rock group The Get Up Kids.

The studio is now available to local bands, and several groups made up of University of Kansas students record there.

“As opposed to paying another studio, we thought it would make sense to take that money to buy a pre-existing studio,” says Ryan Pope, who now plays in the bands Roman Numerals and Olympic Size. “It’s something we can use for years to come and expand on, as opposed to blowing tons of money by going to expensive studios.”

One local band that’s glad the three took the leap is Ad Astra Per Aspera. Mike Tuley, guitarist for the band, says that, like many local acts, his group never considered recording anywhere else but Black Lodge.

“As a band, we’re pretty seriously loyal to local businesses,” Tuley says.

The band recorded their second EP at Black Lodge after recording their first in a basement, and they also recorded their first album, Catapult Calypso, at the studio. Entering the studio for the first time, the relative rookies seriously underestimated the time it would take them to record, and they were also sick with the flu, which they had caught from tourmates. Tuley says Black Lodge worked with them to make sure everything turned out right. Ad Astra Per Aspera is in the studio now working on a follow-up disc with Black Lodge engineer Nick Day.

In additon to working with Ad Astra Per Aspera, Day has worked with several other local artists, and recently put the finishing touches on new records for the bands Koufax and Roseline. He enjoys working at Black Lodge because of the talent in the area, and says it’s important for engineers to form a connection with the bands they work with.

“You have to get a band and get what they’re going for,” Day says. “The job of an engineer is to get the best performance out of everyone.”

At Black Lodge, Rose is the chief engineer, Ryan is the general manager and Rob isn’t able to be as involved these days because he lives in Seattle and is bassist for the band Spoon. One of Ryan’s jobs is to help bands find the best engineer for their project and make sure they are happy with the studio, their final product and accommodations.

One band that is happy with its experience is Motion City Soundtrack, who recorded their first album, I Am the Movie, at Black Lodge, with Rose producing. They chose to come check out Black Lodge at the recommendation of a friend when the band wasn’t achieving the sound they wanted.

“In Eudora, there’s nothing to do except make the record,” says Josh Cain, lead guitarist for Motion City Soundtrack.

In addition to the two studios, Black Lodge Recording also offers its clients a 2-bedroom apartment, which looks a lot like the perfect college kid’s apartment. The apartment costs $100 a night, but most bands are from the area or have relatives nearby. Motion City Soundtrack did live in the apartment, right after Black Lodge first acquired the space.

“There were a bunch of mattresses thrown on the floor and we were living up there in one room,” Cain says. “We would be watching TV and some guy is walking around without his shirt on, but the place was rad and Ed was awesome.”

Rose gave a tour of the two studios housed in Black Lodge. Studio A is the biggest and runs $400 a day. It has a large mixing room, large recording room and three isolation booths. Isolation booths are used in recording so one instrument’s sound doesn’t mix with another’s. If one player makes a mistake, the rest of the band doesn’t have to re-do a take. Studio B runs $200 a day, is about half the size of Studio A and has one isolation booth. The apartment is booked three to four months a year, and the studios are booked about 8 months a year, with Studio B getting a bit more time, according to Rose.

If you’re not in a band but simply enjoy the recording process, Black Lodge hosts recording workshops throughout the year. According to Rose, classes cap at four participants, and those in the workshop get a complete overview of the recording process, and even practice the craft with a live band in the studio.

Black Lodge will hold its next recording workshop June 2 through June 6. To sign up, or to book recording time for your band, visit the studio’s Web site.

Book Review: Diablo Cody's Candy Girl

2008-09-03T15:31:00.000-05:00

The life of a stripper is hard. There are the odd fetishes, bad tippers, bruised bodies, drug-addled managers, late hours and bitchy girls.

Diablo Cody, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Juno, details her yearlong adventures as a stripper in her 2006 memoir, Candy Girl. Written in a witty, amusing and self-deprecating style—not unlike Juno—Cody’s blatant honesty is often hilarious. At several points throughout the book, she offers a Top 10 list (for example Top 10 Worst Stripper Names, Top 10 Best Songs to Strip To) that had me laughing out loud at its frankness and absurdity.

Despite the book being one highlight after another, there were the occasional awkward moments. The phrase “too much information” is clearly not part of Cody’s vocabulary. Do you want a detailed description of a certain area of her anatomy? You’ve got it here.

The book reads less like a novel and more like a blog. It’s always ready with the next gag or shock, and Cody focuses on the stories with the most wallop, with quick transitions in between. The blog style makes sense, as Cody first got noticed after a big-time Los Angeles agent googled various inappropriate terms and came across her blog chronicling her stripper tales called The Pussy Ranch. Cody still blogs, in a slightly less personal fashion, at www.myspace.com/diablocody.

Candy Girl is a perfect read for those used to skimming MySpace pages and Facebook stalking during lunch breaks. It’s intensely personal, insanely funny and, at times, thoroughly uncomfortable.

Four out of five stars

Tomorrow's News: LiveFlash

2008-09-03T15:23:00.000-05:00

Nothing beats seeing a great concert, and now with LiveFlash, concertgoers are able to relive their favorite shows over and over again. LiveFlash technology uses the soundboard audio from a show and uploads it to a USB wristband. The wristband contains MP3 files of the entire concert, and customers can upload the music to their computer or burn it to a CD. LiveFlash is easily reproduced (so there are no shortage worries) and can be purchased by fans after the show.

LiveFlash is a product of All Access Today, a fan services community and, according to Wristband Project Manager Chris Collins, artists such as Matchbox Twenty, Willie Nelson, Mary J. Blige and Ringo Starr are incorporating these wristbands into their shows. Deals with several other artists are in the works.

Wristbands for Matchbox Twenty’s latest tour cost $35 and were available approximately 15 minutes after the show ended at their recent stop at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The show audio is great, but it’s only the beginning. By summer, All Access Today says it hopes the wristbands will be able to hold concert video, as well.