WSBU Presents: Pirate Radio
Apr 16, 2013
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In addition, the nominees also include two WSBU alumni. Nominators have chosen Mike Moretti as a contender for Specialty Promoter of the Year ("A new international man of mystery.") Justin Gressley has been nominated for Best Mentor ("Straight talk, worth listening to.") Both Gressley and Moretti work for AAM.
Similarity is dangerous. There is a fine line between a strong influence and unoriginality, and few musicians can tell the difference. Fruit Bats are an exception. Their fourth release, The Ruminant Band, begs to be played from a jukebox. The country piano and pedal steel guitar are instantly familiar without sounding stale. At its strongest, the band effortlessly channels Neil Young at his most refined (think Harvest or After the Goldrush) and shows that they can compete with contemporary favorites, like Sub Pop Records label mates The Shins and Fleet Foxes. While musical innovation is always appreciated, there's something to be said for the familiar: nostalgic chords that never sound dated. When the fresh feeling of innovation wears off, the sounds of Fruit Bats will play on.
Check out the title track from The Ruminant Band:
Critics are often too quick to label music, slapping together hyphenated descriptions, until the words mean almost nothing. Canadian duo Japandroids defy this and categorize themselves simply as "garage rock." They certainly aren't The White Stripes, though. The garage rock revival earlier this decade over-simplified music. The multitude of lackluster carbon copies quickly outnumbered the talented few. Japandroids, citing the Sonics as one of their primary influences, abandoned the traditional approach to the genre in favor of something fuzzier, louder, and more dynamic. Their music is anything but minimalist, despite featuring only guitar and drums. The finished product sounds like a hybrid of the post-hardcore of Braid and the Promise Ring and the fuzz of No Age and Wavves.
If there's one word to sum up Post-Nothing, their debut LP, it's youth. Youth is not synonymous with inexperience, though. Japandroids can hold their own as musicians. The fist-pumping, sing-along choruses are matched with intricate guitar riffs. The feeling it conveys is the only simple thing about their music. The songs on Post-Nothing, featuring lyrics like "You can keep tomorrow/After tonight, we're not gonna need it," express feelings of teenage invincibility. Although they aren't the first, there's still a refreshing ring to it. Critics have already generated new labels, including "post-teenage," to describe their music. Japandroids most likely titled their debut Post-Nothing, because they'd prefer to just call it "garage rock."
Check out "Young Hearts Spark Fire," off of Post-Nothing (high quality is recommended):

Don't forget to download Big Ass Manatee's 1994EVER. It's free! www.bigassmanatee.com. The band will be playing here as part of the Spring Weekend concert on Saturday, May 2!
The Buzz, CAB and SGA are proud to present the Spring Weekend 2009 Concert Line-Up. Look for these bands on the Ritcher Center basketball courts Saturday May 2nd!!!
Steel Train
Punchline
Big Ass Manatee
UE
Rod Tucker
**In between all sets...DJ D-Star
Come out and experience the music. Tune into 88.3 The Buzz to listen to Spring Weekend rock until the show!
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