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The First Ever Breakaway Nashville

October 8, 2018

This past weekend I had the absolute thrill of attending the first ever Breakaway Nashville. Typically held in Ohio, North Carolina, and Michigan, this was the first year the festival headed to Music City. The festival was Friday and Saturday and we were fortunate enough to attend each day, listening to a variety of different artists. And while the festival still has a few kinks it must work out (naturally, as it was the first one), I believe this is such a great step for the live music scene in Nashville. The festival featured one main stage silhouetted by the Nashville skyline, with 18 different artists as well as a Silent Disco tent that raged throughout the day with multiple acts. Here are some of the highlights of the festival.

Pitchfork Festival 2018 Highlights: DAY 1

July 20, 2018
(photo: Meredith Mattlin)

The first day of Pitchfork Festival brought a whole host of heavy hitters. We were grateful for Pitchfork’s urban park setting, making for small walking distance between stages–it would have been hard to see our favorites without that. Despite the ominous weather forecast, there was a vibrant and energetic feel to the festival–we prayed for the rain to hold off, and ventured in to start off with Julien Baker.

Your Summer Guide to Music Festival Conflicts

April 15, 2018

Music Festivals! They’re so much fun. All your favorite artists are there! You can’t wait to see them all. You start listening to them obsessively, imaging what it will be like when you obviously get front row at each show. The festival approaches, the schedule drops, and to your complete horror EVERYONE you want to see plays at the exact same time.

WRVU Up-And-Coming: Still Woozy

April 9, 2018

Among the droves of indie “bedroom pop” artists saturating the music industry right now, Still Woozy stands out as one of the best. The man behind this whimsical name is Sven Gamsky, a recent college graduate from Oakland, California. Writing, producing, and recording everything in his own garage, Gamsky is obviously a man of immense talent and creative aptitude. His music is reminiscent of fan-favorites like Clairo, Gus Dapperton, and Rex Orange County, but his combination of live instrumentation and his affinity for genuine emotional connection set him apart from the rest.

Upcoming Releases All the Cool Kids Are Excited About

March 17, 2018

In regards to emo and pop-punk, 2018 has not been off to a particularly bangin’ start. I imagine you’re probably thinking something along the lines of: that’s because those genres died, like, ten years ago. But that’s where you’re wrong. Whatever wave of emo is currently happening is still sputtering on, asphyxiating slowly resultant of its cultural irrelevancy. Despite the poor state of the scene at present, however, there are still a few upcoming releases everyone can look forward to, both in and out of the genre.

Grammy-Eligible Joywave Rocks The Basement East

March 12, 2018

Atop the dark stage in the large ballroom of Nashville’s The Basement East sit six vintage television sets, arranged in a cultish semicircle. I’m here to see Joywave, the glitchy indie-pop group from Rochester, New York. They’re 10 minutes late. I begin to look at my watch when I hear a dull murmur emerge around the room. As I lift my gaze, I see a single man emerge from the darkness. A dim light illuminates his body from below. I can’t make out his face, but I can see his shirt strikingly clear. On it reads one succinct sentence: “I don’t like corn dogs, but I do like Korn, dawg.”

Janelle Monáe Returns with Two New Singles

February 27, 2018
Stereogum

On April 27th, musician, actor, and activist Janelle Monáe returns with her 3rd studio album, Dirty Computer, after a 5 year long hiatus. In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Monáe introduces the album, saying:

“I actually had this title and concept before my first album, The ArchAndroid. It scared me because I knew that a lot of the things I needed to say were very deep, very personal, from the heart. This is an album that will give you the opportunity to get a closer glimpse into my mind.”

Worst Party Ever Surprisingly Lit

February 23, 2018

Southern Florida may not have much going for it, but its local music scene is nearly unparalleled.  Breeding some of the most quintessential emo/pop punk/hardcore bands of all time (read: New Found Glory, Yellowcard, Underoath, Mayday Parade, Anberlin, A Day to Remember, and the like), no one really feels ~the pain~ as much as this slowly sinking state. Sarasota-based emo/punk band Worst Party Ever is no different. Worst Party Ever have been progressively banging out some exceptionally depressing tunes since 2014.  In 2016, they put out Anthology, a compilation (or, dare I say, an anthology) of all 21 of their recorded songs. And they’re all amazing.

Lana Del Rey Graces Bridgestone Arena

February 21, 2018

Lana Del Rey is brilliant. She is the queen of rootless melancholy, an emotion many people seem unable to access fully — except through her. She’s a master of her own persona, and she’s constructed it with such consistency across all platforms that it’s baffling. She remains accessible enough to still convince us of her humanity, but remains removed enough that it’s still a question asked: is she real?

SOB x RBE: A Look at the Vallejo Rap Group that is Taking the Hip Hop World by Storm

February 20, 2018

The hype around the Marvel movie Black Panther has been ridiculous. So, it’s no surprise that when the undisputed king of rap, Kendrick Lamar, dropped a collaborative album with various artists with tracks from and inspired by the movie, almost everyone with an inkling of interest in contemporary hip hop lost it. But, amidst all the big names and music stars, from SZA to The Weeknd, there was one song, “Paramedic!” by an artist not nearly as well known, SOB x RBE.

The Dangerous Summer Self-Titled Album Review

February 9, 2018
The Dangerous Summer performing at Grimey’s New & Preloved Music (source: Karina Schechter)

Fresh off hiatus, The Dangerous Summer’s comeback has generated a pleasantly surprising amount of hype within the scene.  Their self-titled was released on January 26, 2018 through Hopeless Records, and general response to it has been positive, albeit far from glowing.

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