LA based band See Scott Dance, was on UCLAradio.com News to give us a preview of their show at SLAM.

See Scott Dance was born when two Engineers and an English major needed a more fun way to distract themselves from their homework. The members of the band write and compose the majority of their songs, with the help of a few good friends.

Any inquiries about the band can either be made here or to the band’s email: see.scott.dance@gmail.com

or you can Visit their Myspace page for updates.

Singer/Songwriter Clare Means performs at the Hotel Cafe, Monday, May 10th, 9pm

Meanwhile…Listen to a few Clare Means tracks and Learn More about the Hotel Cafe Show

Seriously…

130,000 people flocked to the UCLA campus this weekend for the 14^th annual LA Times Festival of Books. The booths and stages have been packed away and all of the litter swept up, but one author left a lasting impression on a select few who stopped by his booth, where he sat all weekend promoting his two books of animal cartoons. Each year, most of the buzz belongs to the high profile authors and speakers in attendance like this year’s featured author David Shannon and popular speaker Buzz Aldrin. But for me, the author who left a mark on the fair was not one who got a booth placed up in front of the illustrious Royce Hall, but one who sat in a folding chair with his wife at his side the entire weekend down in a booth in Wilson Plaza, a booth that most visitors passed by without hearing his remarkable story.

Chris Ayers, just 30 years old at the time, was diagnosed with leukemia back in 2005. A successful character designer in the Hollywood film industry, Ayers’ life was flipped 180 degrees that spring. He underwent multiple bouts of chemotherapy, total body radiation and even a stem cell transplant. I have seen many family members and friends fight different types of cancer, including leukemia, and those who also have know of the destruction and the emotional tolls it takes on one’s body and their family. It is terrifying. After 8 months of intense battle with the cancer, through the success of treatment and the love and support of family and friends, Ayers slowly began to recover.

On the one-year anniversary of his diagnosis, April 1^st, 2006, Ayers began an art project called The Daily Zoo. For one year, his goal was to draw an animal each day. It was an assignment to test his creativity as well as a way to celebrate the gift of his health and his talent as a cartoonist. (more…)

For all the info to the show click on these letters that I’m typing right here that is actually a link to details about the Les Savy Fav and LA Ghost show at The Echoplex in Silverlake/Echo Park/LA.  Yeah.

Spindrift is an indie Spaghetti Western band.

Details about Spindrift’s show at The Echo

On April 15^th, a tense uncertainty settled over the crowd at the Fox Theatre in Pomona as The Middle East’s tranquil set came to a close, and Stephen Malkus & company prepared for Pavement’s first concert in North America since their set at Coachella in 1999 (which featured a meltdown by front man Malkus). Whenever a band reunites after an extended hiatus, there is always the fear that they will sound unprepared and out of sync, ruining whatever lasting memory we had (think Michael Jordan’s two-year comeback for the Wizards from 2001-03. Sure he played above average, but I want my lasting image of Michael to be the iconic shot that won his 6^th title, not of him hobbling off the court in a Wizard’s uniform). (more…)

jj is a Swedish electro-pop band consisting of baby-faced Elin Kastlander and stone-faced Joakim Benon.  The duo has been subject to a considerable amount of praise from the press and the blogging community despite remaining mysterious for so long.  Curious fans were ecstatic when they announced a North American tour, but most concerts were met with general confusion and angst.  Unfortunately, their performance at the Echoplex followed suit.  It wasn’t that their performance was bad.  It was just too…scripted.  And strange. (more…)

Over the past couple years, a new wave of hip-hop artists has burst on the scene from all over the United States. The torches are being passed on to these new artists, and an entirely different subgenre of hip-hop has been born. They’re entertaining and sing less about the hood and more about girls, parties and having a good time. Their songs have ridiculous bass lines, they sometimes sample some of the most popular indie/electronic songs of the moment (see Wiz Khalifa w/ Empire of the Sun), and they are being recognized and helped by some of the top artists in the business (see J. Cole & Jay-Z or Kid Cudi & Kanye).  The music is catchy, danceable and its what is blowing up our iTunes right now.  Last week, we introduced you to Kid Cudi; this week we are going to the nation’s capital to introduce you to Wale. (more…)

In case you don’t know by now, Voices of The Middle East is a unique program on UCLAradio.com. Every week the host, Khalid Seirafi, chooses a socio-political theme and discusses it from both Western and Middle Eastern perspectives. The show frequently features phone and live interviews with guests ranging from professors to students and activists. The program aims to focus on a different country from the region in every episode. It airs every Wednesday from 7-8PM, but in case you missed the last episode it is included here for your convenience. All future episodes will be uploaded to this blog as well, so check back and don’t miss out on this special listening experience.

This show’s theme is Turkey, its domestic politics, foreign policy, economic development, and its new position in the Middle East. This program features an interview with Dr. Ahmet Kuru, Assistant Professor of Political Science at San Diego State University.

Week 4: Turkey

Khalid Seirafi, Voices of The Middle East Wednesdays 6-7PM

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Of the many things I didn’t believe in, like the existence of a tooth fairy and Santa Claus, I didn’t believe I’d ever fall in love at first sight, or admit to being a fanatic of an all-girl band. I mean let’s face it, a talented all-girl band is like finding an approachable lady in a computer science lecture, and possibly rarer than that. There are only a handful of all-girl bands that I can think of off the top of my head. Destiny’s Child, Tegan and Sara, The Go-go’s, Coco Rosie, The Spice Girls, and the Dixie Chicks. And even of those 6, I would only admit to listening to 3 of them. That all changed after I saw Warpaint on April 21^st at Kerkoff Grand Salon. (more…)

We all have one.  A music blog, a Livejournal, a Facebook profile, a super secret music piracy community, even an embarassing digital shrine to the hotness of Britney Spears.  No matter what your website is, behind all of them is pages and pages of confusing source code.  We all know what the product of this code looks like – a gushing blog post professing your love to Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend, an update about what you were doing 5 minutes ago, etc. – but have you ever wondered what this code sounds like?

Enter CODEORGAN: a web application that takes any website and through some magical algorithms translates it into a series of notes and a drum loop – allowing you to hear what your website sounds like.

Check it out for yourself here.  And here’s UCLAradio.com’s CODEORGAN to get you started: UCLAradio.com

Attention metalcore fans: strap on your HazMat suits before checking these guys out.  Face-melting may occur.

Straight out of Fountain Valley (suburban Orange County, CA), five-piece Division Divide has been on the scene for the better half of a decade now (although under the moniker Miss Leota until 2010).  Influenced by fellow metalcore bands Zao, Sinai Beach, Norma Jean, and The Dillinger Escape plan, their melodic guitar riffs, blast-beats, well-timed and heavy breakdowns, syncopation, and intelligible screaming, sprinkle in some hand claps, sing-alongs, and bell tolls, well, ladies and gentlemen… you have yourselves a dance party! (more…)

Someone please explain this to me: why is it that people I have never met before in my life feel compelled to angrily inform me that the Westwood bar is actually called “Maloney’s” when they overhear me refer to it as “O’hara’s”? Usually I try to not get into it and apologize by telling them I was confused by that very distinct neon sign that says “O’hara’s,” but enough is enough. This has just happened too many times now, so let’s lay things out on the table. I realize that I am probably taking the side of the minority here, but you know what? Nothing like a little controversy to get the social gears going. So go ahead, do your worst!
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“What is in a name?”

B.o.B has numerous meanings, but the music he creates can only be described by one word: wow.

If you enjoy a beer and/or the occasional blunt, B.o.B may mean to you “Bring one Beer” or “Bring one Blunt.” If you consider yourself a scholar, “Books over Bullets” is for you. If you enjoy making money, “Business over Bullshit.” Regardless of the situation, all can find pleasure in B.o.B’s music. Put his “Beats on Blast.”
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