Your Caffeinated Campus hosts fall music

So if you’re a Yale student by now you might have some idea of what you’re taking this term (hmmmmmm or maybe not), but before you dive into that fluid mechanics problem set how about a free concert?

After all, the year hasn’t actually started until the music scene kicks off.

This is actually in my room...

Unfortunately for this procrastination technique—and fortunately in every other way possible!—it is kicking off this Saturday, with not one, but two, events.

OMGNOWAY.

First the YCC Fall Festival is running from 11am until 2pm on Old Campus. The event features two YMS bands—The Black Marias and The Keep Calm.

The Keep Calm struts down Old Campus

Here’s the line-up:

The Black Marias 12-12:50

-- Caitlin Pequignot ES '14 (violin, lead vocals), Sam Gelernter SM '14 (guitar, backup vocals), Jacob Backer MC '14 (bass, lead vocals), Ethan Schneider ES '14 (drums)

The Keep Calm 1-2

-Alexander Bae BR '14 (vocals, guitar, pinao), John Cocco JE '14 (drums), Kenneth Crouch (bass), Ishan Sinha BR '14 (lead guitar)

The Black Marias made their big breakout at Battle of the Bands when they seriously wowed the crowd with a high energy performance of violin riffs, distorted guitar and harmonized male and female vocals, all backed by simple yet effective drum beats. The violin fits well within the rock riffs and doesn’t feel forced. In fact, it provides some nice melodic fills that keep the songs interesting (some additional drum fills might also be nice). I also really like the bluesy basslines.

The band’s cheery background vocals, and the band members themselves (sophomores), radiate youth. But lyrics are not so naïve as one might expect. Example “Sentiments” ““I never said you were special. You’re just the best that I could find.”

Ouch.

This is one band that sounds much better live than on their recordings, especially since they’re new to making them. I always love bands that give performances their all and expect The Black Marias to continue this trend.

The Keep Calm is a revamped version of Seven Locks, which won the award for the loudest cheering section at BATB. They seem to manage to bring all of Branford College to their shows. Impressive.

Seven Locks at BATB

Ishan, lead guitarist, said the band changed its sound over the summer, so a name change was appropriate. The songs are mostly the same, but the band spiced up the bass parts. I approve.

Instead of intense rock, the sound is chiller. Frontman Alex Bae is a talented lyricist (so listen up!)—straightforward, interesting, genuine—and the riffs are super catchy. I have a few suggestions for this group, but I will save them for after the performance. I will say that adding a bit of reverb will help round out the sound.

Download their stuff here. (you have to “like” the page, sneaky, but you can unlike it later if you so choose) Warning: If you listen to “Disappear” or “Overcast” it will be stuck in your head.

Seven Locks playing “Pasadena,” which you should hear tomorrow at BATB last year. Notice loud cheering.

YCC Events Coordinator Katie “bringsdafun” Donley ES ’13 said she asked the WYBC for band suggestions and Carl “radboss” Chen MC '13, general manager, suggested The Black Marias. Since Ishan is in WYBC, he volunteered his band too. Jamestown, The First Town in America had originally planned to play too.

Because of Hurricane Irene, the extracurricular bazaaaaaar was pushed back a week, as you probably realize by now, so the YCC was nice enough to offer to move Fall Fest back a week.

But this had consequences.

Jamestown now can’t make it, so the festival is a band short(er). (Hurricane Irene feel my wrath!) Katie said she might plug in a DJ instead or let The Black Marias and The Keep Calm play longer sets. And because the event is no longer on a Sunday—and there’s a rule about playing music before noon during religious services (whatifmusicisyourreligion?!?!?)—the noice can to start at 11. Wake up and hear the amplifiers!

“Stick around and enjoy the atmosphere,” Katie said. “Listening to music serves the double purpose of introducing freshman to the music scene at Yale.”

Please and thank you.

The YCC was also originally interested in having Plume Giant play at Fall Fest (I mean why wouldn’t they be), but because PG is really busy working on their new album, they won’t be doing as many concerts this fall.

The members of Plume Giant will be busy in another way. Which brings us to kickassmusicevent number 2.

The PG members are kicking off the grand opening of their Underbrook Coffeehouse concert series, which runs every other Saturday from 7:30-9:45ish (bands go on at 8) in Saybrook Underbrook (entryway H) and features one Yale and one non-Yale band and artwork, maybe poetry too. AWESOME!

This week the artwork will be by Rebecca Schultz SM '12. Don’t ask me what she does but I bet it’ll be cool.

Even Artichokes Have Hearts, a tamborine-uke duo with Sarah DeLappe BR '12 and Chloe Sarbib SY '12 will set the mood with heartfelt uked-up songs. They’re fun, but don’t expect to be jumping up and down to the riff. It’s a coffeehouse, after all.

Even Artichokes Have Hearts at Relay For Life 2011

Anthony daCosta, a folk musician from NYC, will then take the stage. Check him out here. The Washington Post thinks he’s “promising.” Not really my style, but it should be interesting.

Anthony DeCosta. Photo by Jake Jacobson.

Even if you’re not into these particular artists, I would at least go to hang with music people, get some coffee, and see what this series is all about.

Coffee is 50c and cookies are 25c. Mmmmm. Caffeinate yourself.

Z

BATB Recap and Spring Fling Lineup

On the eve of Spring Fling, I would like to do a quick recap looking back on Battle of the Bands (plus, it’s more fun than writing my papers) before laying down the lineup.

So I’m going to give the bands my own awards based on the scores and comments from my notes.

**Random Side Note: “Radio Junky” couldn’t make it to judge, so Ralph the security guard stepped in.

In case you forgot, Sister Helen took 3^rd, Gets the Girl 2^nd, Jamestown, The First Town in America, 1^st. Champs.

Now for the UNOFFICIAL AWARDS.

CRAZIEST PERFORMANCE: Sister Helen.

They were prettttty insane. Frontman Nathan Campbell ES ’14 is quite the performer. He stripped on stage and did a headstand in his boxers. Mmmm… The guitarist was solid, but I really think the only reason they won was the "experimental sex rock" spectacle.

These are the eyes of a crazy person.

BEST BREAKOUT BAND: The Black Marias.

Great job, freshmen. The level of improvement they showed from their acoustic demos really blew me away. Solid rock band with an electric violin—a nice touch. I’m looking forward to hearing an album put out soon—I’d recommend some high-energy violin and guitar solos--and I’d say they have a shot at future BATBs.

LOUDEST CHEERING SECTION: Seven Locks.

Few people stayed for the entirety of Battle of the Bands. People milled in and out, with a fairly constant 50 or so average attendance. But as soon as Seven Locks was about to go on the audience got a LOT louder. Audience enthusiasm way up. Clearly, friends of this freshmen group are not afraid to yell their heads off. Let’s hope Seven Locks rocks as hard as its cheering section in future BATBs.

Just listen to them scream.

SEEMLESSNESS AWESOMENESS: Jamestown, The First Town in America.

Their orchestration blends really well within each song, and at BATBs, so did their set. Jamestown played it straight through, making full use of their time and maintaining the energy level. With no gaps in the music, slower songs were just interesting changes of pace. This is how it’s supposed to work.

Here's a song Jamestown didn't play at BATB that I hope they play at Spring Fling.

(the water pipe thing is there for artistic purposes...I swear)

CREEPIEST PERFORMANCE: Roark. I was actually scared. These people are scaaaary. No really. Creeeeepy synthesizers/outfits.

THE “IS THIS STAGE A FIRE HAZARD YET?” AWARD: Gets the Girl.

This group is described on the former YMS blog as a “duo.” Right…

Looking a liiiittle crowded there...

Ellis likes composing for all different sorts of instruments. Blending genres is cool. Rock band? Jamestown has a trumpet; let’s add one. Hell, let’s add a string section! SIC InC (I hope this crazy capitalization thing is right...) goes rock? Nah, we’ll just take Plume Giant; they’re coming anyway. The end result? A very crowded stage of very talented musicians from all walks of the campus’ music scene. Hot musical mess.

Smokin’

And why not? Not too big a fan of the fire marshall myself anyway (‘cuz he seems to think juggling/spinning/eating/breathing fire on campus is NOT a good idea…idk why, I think it’s a great idea) So thanks, Gets the Girl!

BEST OVERALL: Plume Giant (thought we could get through a post without talking about them eh…?)

Plume Giant just gets better every time I see them. At the end of that performance, I was convinced they had won.

Because they were clearly the best.

PG battling with "Fool Hall" (NOT "Honey Pie" this time haha foooled you)

They play their songs on a whim because they know them so well; they have great group chemistry; they don’t stop having fun at no cost whatsoever to their musical focus.

Maybe the judges thought they wouldn’t be able to engage a crowd.

I disagree.

Check out Oliver at SOB. Pretty engaging stuff.

If they’re not opening at Spring Fling next year there will be a tantrum.

So anyway here’s the lineup for Spring Fling (in case you didn’t get the memo..)

With an after party at Toads at 11pm with DJ Earworm.

I kind of want to hear more than three student bands. Do you think we could start a riot? Like get reeeeaaallly angry about one of the artists performing and stage an alternative concert in Trumbull? Designer Drugs! How dare they! Everyone Designer Drugs is racist.

Spread it around.

Remember to pick up a copy of 17O1’s CD “Blue Noise” if you like hard copies of things or download it tonight. Because you won’t be able to get it free anymore.

What are you most looking forward to tomorrow?

Z