I know there’s a lot of adjectives in the title, but hey, they said we could blog about whatever we wanted…

As a grad student, I’m a little older than most of the other DJs at the station, so this summer I did what older people do – I got married.

Yes, it is everything people say it is – and more.  (If you want to know more about it, just catch me at the station.  I’ll be hanging around Fridays at noon…)  The purpose of this post isn’t to bore you with 1000 details; it’s actually to give a glowing review on our wedding photographer Linda.

If you’re an undergrad DJ thinking, “Dude, marriage is like, 20 years away,” well, first of all, it probably isn’t, and second of all, tough luck!  I read about your obscure music shows all the time and think, “I’m not going out on a Wednesday night,” so just bear with me.  In fact, just IMAGINE that you’re getting married soon…or archive this and bring it up a few years down the road.  Trust me, you’ll need it.

Back to the hip LA wedding photographer.  Linda’s the type of person who finds the cool part of everything, and that enthusiasm comes through in her work – she does music videos and other photo shoots when she’s not doing weddings.

But the best thing about Linda is that she’s relaxed; cool, calm, and so positive – she really likes taking photos.  And because of that, she helps everyone have a good time.

And at a stressful wedding, having a cool photographer is pretty goddamn amazing.

So if you’re an actor, script doctor, or just a normal person getting married in the LA area…and maybe you’re a little artistic or cool, or at least want to have something slightly different than the normal, stodgy, wedding photos, check out Linda Abbott Wedding Photography. You’ll thank me, later.

Seriously.

-DJ Octoon

Sept 23-24, 2011: Nocturnal Wonderland at the NOS Events Center.

This is a new time and we are a new generation of music listeners, not just on the west coast but quickly all across the US. Electronic music really began to take hold as a prominent genre in the 90’s with the emergence of names such as Daft Punk and Fedde Le Grand pioneering the way, and has exploded onto the entire musical frontier over the past few years with newer artists such as Kaskade and Avicii being played in clubs, radios, and iPods everywhere.  Insomniac, the company that presented EDC earlier this year for an epic 3-day weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, returned to their roots in this year’s Nocturnal Wonderland, in which the latter 3 of the 4 DJs already mentioned showcased their skills, along with many more. This event was a dazzling union between the organizers at Insomniac, the world-class DJs performing, and the beautiful people who came from far and wide to not just hear their favorite music, but to experience it live and with a firm message from the DJ standing in front of them. The organizers of Nocturnal strive to provide more than just a musical environment when they plan out a magical weekend like this past one at Nocturnal, and they delivered, as the 30,000 who attended can attest. From the most advanced in lighting technology that harmonized beautifully with the various sets played by the DJs, to the sheer scale of the venue complete with carnival rides and colorfully festive people, it felt as if you were actually in a nocturnal wonderland.

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UCLA Radio is kicking off zero week by giving away tickets to Nocturnal Wonderland 2011, presented by Insomniac Events! Our DJs will be on campus all-week at all of the zero week festivities passing out flyers, so make sure you stop by to see us for more information. If you want to enter to win, be sure to like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, and join our membership list where we will be updating you all week!

Nocturnal Wonderland is in its 17th year and will take place on September 23rd and 24th, 2011 in San Bernadino, co-headlined by American DJ/producer Kaskade, one of the most widely known artists in dance music and a chart-topper on iTunes and Billboard. For a listening sample, please refer to his collaboration with Deadmau5, “Move For Me,” which has reached over 10 million views on YouTube.

Insomniac Events is a music festival and concert production company based in Los Angeles, California. They have brought the world’s best audiovisual production and top talent to cities across the country. Their signature festival, the Electric Daisy Carnival, is one of the biggest music festivals in the United States.

This is just the beginning of UCLA Radio’s Insomniac events giveaways this year so make sure you keep checking back to see what we’ll be giving away next!

September 13, 2011 marked the release of the much-anticipated third album Strange Mercy by Annie Clark (a.k.a. St. Vincent). You can stream the album through NPR’s First Listen here.

Before I get into this album review, I must say that if you’re the kind of person that is into the typical run-of-the-mill type of catchy, female pop music, run away right now. As a musician who has built a career out of her quirkiness and wide range of musical styles, St. Vincent has amassed quite the following after two very successful albums. At one point or another, you may have seen her on tour unknowingly and wondered aloud, ‘who is this mystifying, perplexing woman?’ as she’s performed alongside several groups throughout her career such as Arcade Fire, Andrew Bird, Death Cab for Cutie, and Grizzly Bear. A key point is that her music does stand out and after two straight years on tour, her fan base was brewing with anticipation for this third album. I’d say, after one time listening through, that she knocked it out of the park.

It’s hard to really pinpoint what is so attractive about St. Vincent’s music, but the fact that it’s so strange, yet I can’t turn away. Take “Surgeon” for example. The song starts out in a rather unimpressive fashion but just keeps growing and growing and suddenly, it has blossomed into something completely different from what it once was, like a butterfly that breaks out of its cocoon. Like the butterfly, it just takes off. There is nothing consistent about this album. It keeps you on your toes every second because you never know when its about to take a quick turn. Besides that fact, the rest of the album is a great listen. It is a nice mixture of high octane, catchy melodies and some soft, easy on the ears melodies. St. Vincent has a very complex style but I think it translates well in this album and as a result, there are bound to be multiple tracks that catch the ear and pique the interests of listeners. Every new St. Vincent album provides something new and something different and this one is no different. There are many sounds produced in this album that I know aren’t anything like anything I’ve heard before and it becomes simply mesmerizing, for lack of a better expression. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you should all give it a listen. Try it for yourself.

September 13, 2011 marked the release of the latest album Era Extrana from the hot and fast-rising band Neon Indian. You can stream the album through NPR’s First Listen here

With their debut album Psychic Chasms in 2009, Neon Indian really broke through the recent “chillwave” music scene and put itself firmly on the map. Psychic Chasms was well received, being named the 14th best album of 2009. Rolling Stones Magazine called Neon Indian one of the hottest new bands of 2010. With all the hype, it would be natural to wonder how Neon Indian would respond with their second album. Would it even be possible to top the debut album or would it become an overhyped letdown as they often do?

Although this is most definitely a cop-out answer, Era Extrana does neither. The latest album does retain some of the spunkiness and edginess of its predecessor. “Polish Girl”, the second track on the album, has the makings of an instant hit that will undoubtedly be the most played track on the album and will hopefully gain a lot of attention for this album. After that song, the rest of the album has a much different feel. Some of the track listings include: “Heart: Attack”, “Heart: Decay”, “Fall Out” and “Halogen (I Could Be a Shadow). If the doesn’t look like a somewhat depressing lineup, I don’t know what does. Nonetheless, depressing isn’t necessarily bad. It doesn’t possess the sort of catchiness one would come to expect of the genre but more of a soothing sound, as if I’m watching the Tom Cruise- Kelly McGillis scene in Top Gun. I’m not sure if that analogy had the right intent, but overall, the album has a satisfying blend of synthesized sound and vocals. This album, perhaps, marks a break in what many try to accomplish in this type of genre. Overall, it is an interesting and different album that I will listen to more of in the future, as the music will definitely grow on me. Listen for yourself to see what you think!

Peyton Manning has won four MVP trophies during his tender in Indianapolis, but as we saw Sunday, his value to his team was never appreciated enough. The Colts entire organization is based around one player. Their defense cannot stop the run because they normally are in situations where they are up, and the other team needs to pass the ball to keep in contention. They have no running game, as Peyton is such a dominant player, and can win games with his passing, despite the lack of a great running back since Edgerin James. While many believe that players such as Michael Vick and Tom Brady deserved the trophy more then Peyton last year for example, both teams would more easily be able to recover, as the Pats had great backup Brian Hoyer, who put up great numbers this preseason, and the Eagles had now starter for the Cardinals, Kevin Kolb. While losing a star player would be bad for any team, it is clearly obvious now after how the Colts preformed today that Peyton is the most valuable player to his organization in the league. Just saying, if the Colts finish 1-15 without Peyton this year, he would be deserving of the most valuable player in the league.

Bon Iver wil be playing a show at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Citywalk on Tuesday, September 20th! Of course, for those of you who haven’t already bought their tickets to the show, UCLA Radio is giving you a chance to win tickets!

Bon Iver recently released a self-titled album as a follow-up to their wildly popular and critically acclaimed album, For Emma, Forever Ago. The second album is described as an “ambitious musical departure” from the first. Prior to the album’s release, Vernon said that each song on the new album represents a place. The song “Perth” was described as a “Civil War-sounding heavy metal song,” the song “Minnesota, WI” was described as featuring “finger-picked guitars, double bass drums and distorted bass saxophone,” and the closing song “Beth/Rest” will be “horn heavy.” The album was recorded in a remodeled veterinarian clinic in Fall Creek, Wisconsin, which was bought by Vernon and his brother in 2008. It was converted into April Base Studios, built mainly over the defunct swimming pool attached to the clinic. Vernon’s reason for recording in the location was that “[it's] been a wonderful freedom, working in a place we built. It’s also only three miles from the house I grew up in, and just ten minutes from the bar where my parents met.”

To find out more about how you can win tickets to see Bon Iver at the Gibson Amphitheatre, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

UCLA Radio is giving away free tickets to see Straw Dogs in theaters! To find out how to win, make sure you like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. (NOTE: Tickets are valid through the run of engagement at any Regal Theatre in the Los Angeles area Monday – Thursday, excluding holidays, starting Monday September 19th, 2011.)

David and Amy Sumner (James Marsden and Kate Bosworth), a Hollywood screenwriter and his actress wife, return to her small hometown in the deep South to prepare the family home for sale after her father’s death.  Once there, tensions build in their marriage and old conflicts re-emerge with the locals, including Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård), leading to a violent confrontation.

Find out more about the movie by visiting the official Facebook page. Straw Dogs hits theaters this Friday, September 16th!

UCLA Radio is giving away tickets to see Dillon Francis at the Key Club on September 15th, as a part of the JusCollege.com EDU Only Tour! To enter, just head over to our Facebook page for details. You can also purchase your tickets to the show: here.

Almost out of nowhere, Los Angeles’ Dillon Francis has broken from the throng of young electronic music dj/producers. With a stream of world-class remixes and releases, Dillon has caught the attention of some of the top players in club land, including Steve Aoki, Diplo, Will I. Am, Drop The Lime, Sinden, and Tittsworth to name some. In less than a year his blistering productions have been heavily supported by Major Lazer, who opened their show with “Westside!,” a Dutch House-flavored monster that was consistently rinsed by top djs on both sides of the pond, including Sinden and Steve Aoki. The tune is finally seeing a proper release on Diplo’s Mad Decent label, where Dillon will be releasing his “Masta Blasta” EP as well in the near future.. From his first dubstep release on Play Me Records, the heavy “Take Me High” peaked at No. 13 on the Beatport dubstep chart and was played in full by Rusko in every one of his sets for his current OMG tour. In the coming months, Dillon will have releases on Mad Decent, Dim Mak, Top Billin’, as well as Plant Music, where he will be releasing his next club EP. At ease behind the turntables and in the studio, in the electro world and in dubstep, Dillon is what you would call an open-format electronic dj who sees no delineation between making music and playing it. He has gotten huge support from the most important dance music blogs (Dim Mak, Mad Decent, Discobelle, Gotta Dance Dirty) ever since releasing his first bootlegs last year, and 2011 promises to be Dillon’s breakout year.

You can find out more by following Dillon Francis on Twitter and liking the official Facebook page.

The end of summer is coming up and UCLA Radio wants you to have everything you need to keep you entertained through the school year! What better than some free food and video games? UPDATE 9/17/11: In anticipation of the upcoming release of The Elder Scrools V: Skyrim, Bethesda Software will be sponsoring a food truck to giveaway FREE FOOD on the UCLA Campus on September 23rd at 10928 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM so don’t miss it!

Also, we will be giving away copies of another Bethesda Software game: Fallout: New Vegas for PC via Facebook, Twitter and our membership list!

From the team that brought you Fallout 3, the next game in the award winning Elder Scrolls series returns with The Elder Scrolls V(five):Skyrim (Sky-Rim). Skyrim won’t be available until November 11, but you don’t have to wait long to get a taste of it. Stop by The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim food truck at the UCLA Campus to score some cool stuff and grab some free food. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be available for Xbox 360™, PlayStation® 3 and Games for Windows. Pre-order now at ElderScrolls.com.

Make sure you like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to find out how you can win! Also, come out to the UCLA campus on September 16th to enjoy some free food, sponsored by Bethesda Software.

Four Tet

FYF Fest lived up to its promise this year, with wide range of artists performing, from Death from Above 1979 to Glass Candy this past Saturday at LA State Park. In comparison to bigger and more mainstream festivals, FYF stands out from the rest. It’s much smaller and, thus, more intimate, as well as an 1/8th of the price of larger festivals. You don’t have to stand in place for hours to get a good spot for a band you want to see. Also, you’re able to see and meet the artists playing the festivals since a lot of them walk around to enjoy the other sets. The festival showcased a lot of smaller and less well known bands, not only from LA but from around the country.

Purity Ring was a great way to kick off the festival. This band is gaining momentum in the online world of underground electro-pop blogging and for a good reason. Their performance, especially of their internet hits “Ungirthed” and “Lofticries,” was chilling and beautiful at the same time. The audience’s enraptured-yet-calm reaction was similar to that of The Chromatics’ lo-fi punk performance.

Future Islands, a post-wave band from Baltimore, MD, played the best show by far, despite being on the smallest stage at FYF. The front man and vocalist Samuel Herring was intense, dramatic and enthused, which was reflected in his wild trance-like dancing. The beat from the drum machine mixed with
the reverberation of bass and shook the tent in which they were playing. The crowed was enchanted by the mellow euphonious melody of the keyboard and hanging on every word uttered by Herring. The show came to its peak when everyone rushed the stage for the last song and began dance and singing along with Herring. Future Islands will be release a new album entitled On the Water this October on Thrill Jockey records.

The Descendents, a classic fast So-Cal punk band from the 80’s and 90’s also delivered a top shelf performance. Although Milo is almost pushing 50, they delivered a text book punk performance exemplified by the two huge mosh pits which kicked up dust and gave the appearance of a smoke machine. They played classics such as “Hope”, “Loser” and “Im the One”, and each song sounded as perfect as when they first started out. The Descendents encompassed what FYF was all about—good old indie-punk music without all the corporate junk.

Four Tet picked up the mid-fest lull that concert goers seemed to be experiencing. As soon as he starting playing electronic dance/hip hop/jazz beats from his laptop, the audience turned into one huge dance party, complete with multi-colored lights.

Explosions in the Sky was my favorite artist at FYF and the perfect performance to end the day with. They performed one long, orchestral set that sounds awe-inspiring live in a way that you simply can’t imagine when you listen to their albums. Overall, I was very pleased with this year’s FYF. Every stage had something special to offer at all times. This was truly one of those music festivals that anyone could enjoy.

We’re giving away VIP tickets to the advanced screening of the new film Drive, starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan! The screening is taking place at The Grove on September 14th at 7:00PM. You can win a chance to see the film before everyone else by Liking our Facebook page for more details!

In the movie, breakout Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn (THE PUSHER Trilogy, BRONSON, VALHALLA RISING) throttles into the Hollywood fast lane with precision-crafted action caper DRIVE. Ryan Gosling stars as a Los Angeles wheelman for hire, stunt driving for movie productions by day and steering getaway vehicles for armed heists by night. Though a loner by nature, Driver can’t help falling in love with his beautiful neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), a vulnerable young mother dragged into a dangerous underworld by the return of her ex-convict husband Standard (Oscar Isaac). After a heist intended to pay off Standard’s protection money spins unpredictably out of control, Driver finds himself driving defense for the girl he loves, tailgated by a syndicate of deadly serious criminals (Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman). But when he realizes that the gangsters are after more than a bag of cash in his trunk – that they’re coming straight for Irene and her son – Driver is forced to shift gears and go on offense. With an all-star supporting cast that includes Christina Hendricks and Bryan Cranston, DRIVE is based on the James Sallis novel of the same name.

Be sure to Like Drive on Facebook for updates! Drive hits theatres September 16th! You can check out the trailer here:

FYF Fest returns to the notorious Los Angeles State Park this year! With help from Goldenvoice, FYF Fest promises to be the biggest and smoothest running fest that FYF has put on.

Must see acts include Descendents and Death From Above 1979, both acts happen to making their first LA appearances since breaking up in 2004 and 2006.
Other highlights include indie rock veterans Guided by Voices and Elephant 6 legends, The Olivia Tremor Control. Definitely don’t miss out on the off kilter punk rockers the Dead Milkmen who will be playing their first batch of new material in 16 years! Plus, a special live set by Simian Mobile Disco, which is sure to have audiences breaking in their newest pair of dancing shoes! Oh, and speaking of a dance party, don’t miss out on electronic acts Glass Candy, Chromatics, Four Tet and Nosaj Thing! For those of you interested in some Garage Rock (revival), check out Ty Segall, Strange Boys, and Tijuana Panthers.
FYF Fest is sure to have something for everyone, but be sure to plan accordingly, I have a feeling that for some of you, there will be some tough decisions to make! Here is FYF’s hourly schedule to help coordinate your day.http://fyffest.com/

If laughing and knee slapping are your thing, make sure to stop by one of the many comedy shows! Acts include the side aching stand up of Emo Phillips (who I liked best in Dr. Katz) and Steve Agee (the Sarah Silverman Program), and Matt Besser, one of the founders of LA’s very own Upright Citizens Brigade theatre.

Now, I know Los Angeles State Park is kind of a journey from Westwood, but no worries! FYF Fest is easily accessible on the Metro, which means not having to spend an hour looking for parking and paying $10 to park in some shady parking lot.

For more information on FYF Fest, including upcoming shows hosted by FYF, visit their website:

And for those unfortunate ones who are unable make it, follow UCLARadio.com on Twitter for live updates of this weekend’s fest!

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