“Kids” fans: good luck humming this one incessantly. Go ahead and try.
“Flash Delirium,” our first taste of MGMT’s upcoming Congratulations, is available now on the band’s website. I’m not sure how I feel about this one. It’s retro, clever, and slightly schizophrenic in a distinctly White Album sort of way (see: “Happiness is a Warm Gun”), but maybe too . . . ironic? Smugly detached? Something about those nifty ’50s doo-wop flourishes seem to preclude any real sincerity. But maybe it’s just the dry-as-fuck production (and from Spacemen 3’s Peter Kember, of all people) that irks me.
Oh, spring break. Weather’s getting warm, trees are budding, flowers are blooming, and birds are chirping. And taking a hint from those baby birds who are taking wing and flying from the nest, Wes bands Duchampion, The Last Minutes, Apache Kid, Metacomet, and Ishmael are using this break as an opportunity to sing their songs in new and exciting locations. For those of you in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia who are feeling a little homesick for Wesleyan already, check out the tour dates after the jump to see when you’ll have the opportunity for a little Wes love. I’m not listing college shows, as they might not be accessible… Oh, and Aural Wes put up a similar post with some more info on some of the bands, so if you’re curious about any of the individual bands you should check that out here. Read More »
Nowadays when you can find almost any new release for free on teh Interwebs, it’s no surprise that musicians are looking for new ways to draw listeners to physical copies of their albums. The resurgence of vinyl is helping artists in this respect, but now MGMT has new ideas for how to boost CD sales: a 32-page booklet, free “custom metal” coin, and a hidden scratch-off cover! They announce the exciting packaging in a mock infomercial:
Moral of the story: buy the CD if you like the Nintendo-inspired cover art but only want to appreciate it until you get curious about what’s underneath. Also, did you know that their web site prominently features a live video feed of the ocean?
Come to Buddhist House for an evening of jazz and free form haikus featuring the poetry of Jack Kerouac, Zen poet Matsuo Basho, and our own Sierra Bintliff ‘12 accompanied by the esteemed Owen Callahan ‘12on saxophone.
Afterwards, Wesleyan’s own Butter Knife (Hannah Overton ‘11, Jon Myers ‘11, Owen Callahan ‘12, Matt Hurwit ‘12) will tear it up in the living room.
Date: Wednesday, March 3 Time: 9:30 PM – 12:00 AM Place: Buddhist House, 356 Wash.
A commenter on the WesTech post pointed out another song that sounds like a mock-up made for Rock and R&B. It’s more focused on the two most popular forms of inebriation on campus and doesn’t actually have a video–just this marvelously sexy still of a bikini-clad black squirrel. Also features lyrical shout outs to Grandma Mocon, the old late night at Summerfields, and the class of ‘09.
[Edit] “Wesleyane” has a whole YouTube channel, featuring another hit single called “LAX is Life,” uploaded yesterday. Maybe it’s a reaction to the “LAX bro” verse of MIDD KID?
Could’ve done a better job editing out Alicia Keys during the chorus, but it certainly puts Midd Kid to shame, at least in this writer’s opinion. Thoughts?
Middlebury is the latest college to receive attention for having a video paying homage to it on YouTube. “MIDD KID” is a legitimate looking music video produced by Middlebury kids rapping about themselves and their college. Unlike the “Why I choose Yale” video, though, it’s not intended to attract pre-frosh. The video was completely student initiated and had no relation to the Middlebury admissions office. In fact, Middlebury neither gave the students permission or stopped them from producing the video, saying they would have no official comment. Watching the video clearly shows why. The lyrics go along the lines of:
I’m a Midd Kid
I roll my jeans up high
With my Teva strap tight and my flannel so fly.
If the comments on the video are any indication, they’re getting compliments from peers at other colleges too. So any guess on how long until we have a new video lionizing Wesleyan and its noble aspects? Not to say that we don’t already have a significant YouTube presence, though.
Turkish-born classical guitar virtuoso Cem Duruöz is performing at Russell House on Sunday afternoon. Come hear him play music from Spain and Turkey, and tangos from Argentina.
Date: Sunday, February 28 Time: 3 pm Place: Russell House Cost: Free
Jordan Lewis ‘12 writes in about a sweet Westco show this Saturday:
Wesleyan affiliated band Ishmael will be playing live music at the Westco Cafe on Saturday, February 27. Ishmael is Jordan Lewis and Andy Werle, along with Aaron Silberstein of NYU and Nick Otte of the New School. We will be playing at least two hours of music and are gonna give the Wesleyan premier of a bunch of new songs. Come for an evening of exuberant progressive music.Facebook event here.
Check us out at myspace.com/ishmaeltheband.
Date: Saturday, February 27 Time: 10:00 pm – 1:30 am Place: Westco Cafe Cost: Free
I’m continually impressed by all my friends who are doing theses. Aside from my housemate (who is partially enrolled and therefore able to devote himself to cool side projects even as he finds the time to seduce me into re-watching all of Twin Peaks), thesis-writers manage to balance their already busy lives with the huge commitment of creating an academically creative piece to punctuate their Wesleyan careers.
Asa Horvitz ‘10 falls into the category of over-committed creative rock stars. He spends time rehearsing with Wesleyan’s resident supergroup and creating dreamy disco revival in my housemate’s bedroom, yet he has still dedicated himself to composing and directing an original thesis for the music department. All his hard work comes to fruition this weekend: his thesis, A Noise Like Wings, will go up Zilkha gallery at 9 pm on Thursday, 10 pm on Friday, and 9 pm on Saturday.
Asa usually involves himself in very conceptually rich performance pieces, and I’m sure that his thesis will continue the trend. He promises:
a medieval polyphony sung by a quartet, music by the members of Duchampion set to physical action, and reoccuring dreams of forests and the flotsam and jetsam of the parcel post system. Also, a letter sent (in the shape of an eagle) to wake up a person who has forgotten who they are.
Like I said–conceptually rich. He’s got am impressive cast of designers and performers, too. Where do they find the time to be this awesome?
What: “A Noise Like Wings,” an original music thesis performance by Asa Horvitz Date/Time: Thursday, February 25 at 9 PM; Friday at 10 PM; and Saturday at 9 PM. Place: Zilkha gallery
Reb Drew is a rabbi in the Reform movement who “weaves traditional Jewish liturgy and musical modes into the increasingly popular call-and-response chant technology from India, known as Kirtan.”
His main vocation is to make Torah accessible, deep and fun, — to Jew and non-Jew alike — in a way that is participatory and memorable. David Leipziger Teva, Rabbi and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at Wesleyan University, recently wrote to Rabbi Hahn, saying, “You have enlightened our community in countless ways. I am envisioning your coming back every eighteen months or so. We should not let students graduate without being exposed to your Torah.”
Come for an afternoon and evening of “great energy, passion and melodic flow.”
BuHo: 3-4pm
The Bayit: 6pm (with FREE home-cooked dinner to follow!)
Date: Feb. 26 Time: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM Place: BuHo (356 Wash) and The Bayit (157 Church)
That’s right. We’re writing a musical and we’re looking for someone to help us do a simple, five-piece arrangement. Charlie Greengould Meets Himself (working title) is a coming-of-age story about an insecure college freshman who meets a cooler, more confident version of himself from a parallel universe—and that’s just in the first twenty minutes. Interested? Want to know more? Send an email to Nat Leich: nleich(at)wesleyan(dot)edu.
Come see Bad Island, an opera by Ben Bernstein ‘10 based on the book by William Steig. One day on an island filled with horrible, ugly, rotten monsters, complacent in their horrible life, a beautiful flower comes out of nowhere. The monsters then explode into a new kind of violence. This staging uses 16 singers, many instruments, visuals, vibrant costumes and choreography to depict layers of treachery, pride, and violence.
Tickets are available day of at the box office. Capacity is extremely limited. Sponsored by Second Stage and the Wesleyan Music Department.
Date: Friday, February 26th and Saturday, February 27 Time: 8:00PM both nights, 1:ooPM matinee on Saturday Place: ‘92 Theater Cost: Free Friday show and Saturday matinee; $5 Saturday night: all proceeds and donations go to benefit the Matenwa Community Learning Center in Haiti.
This Saturday night, come to one of the most transformative shows you’ll ever see at Wesleyan.
F to eMbody, a multi-media hip-hop/spoken word show, features two transgender performers: Athens Boys Choir (right) and Katastrophe (left). Athens Boys Choir is a one man explosion from Georgia known for his heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics and award-winning videos. San Francisco based rapper Katastrophe performs passionate hip-hop about lives lived outside the mainstream.
DJ JD Samson (center, from le Tigre and MEN) will finish the night with a queer dance party dj set sure to please.
Come on out for this equally thought-provoking and booty-shaking event!
Tickets sold at the door, and all week during lunch at Usdan. Get yours before it’s sold out!
Date: Saturday, February 27 Time: 10:00PM Place: Eclectic (200 High Street) Cost: $3
Open House, in conjunction with the Queer Resource Center, is sponsoring Queer Cafe again this Wednesday!! Queer Cafe is a fun, open space to meet new people, enjoy baked goods and tea, and showcase your talents! It was great last time, don’t miss out.
There will be crafting (including face painting!) starting from 7pm and an open mic starting at 8:45.
If you would like to sign up ahead of time for the open mic, please email Camara at cawkwardrich@wesleyan.edu. Also if you are a visual artist and want a place to show off your work we’d love to see it, just give us a heads up at the same address.
Tea (i.e. tea bags and hot water) will be provided. We might have some cups, but it’d be great if you brought your own. Better for the planet.
What: Queer Café When: this Wed. February 24 Time: 7 pm – 10 pm (come and go as you please), open mic at 8:45 pm Where: Albritton 311, at the very top Who: You How Much: Free, but bring some dollars because baked goods and FtoEmbody/JD Samson tickets will be on sale
Posted by MVon February 22, 2010 at 6:05 PM|Comments (0)
The Sweeney Todd pit orchestra needs a percussionist! We’re looking for someone comfortable playing orchestral percussion, and whose excited to learn some awesome music and be involved in a second stage production. We rehearse Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:45-8:45, and the show goes up May 6-8.
Please contact Alex Pfeifer-Rosenblum ’10 (apfeiferrose@wes) if interested.
Rarely does it occur in our lives an opportunity to not simply hear good music, nor just see it being performed, but to truly experience it, in every sense of the word. This Saturday’s performance promises to leave you as satiated as one might feel while departing the Usdan, on weed. This show pledges to provide sensations akin to divine ejaculation; moments of climatic experience that are both fleeting, yet forever remembered. The aural interludes and heavy dub supplied by Buru Style will certainly cause a sensory explosion all over your face. Guaranteed.
Come to the WestCo Cafe this Saturday at 10PM to bask in the sounds of Men With Bad Manners and BURU STYLE, and to see a space transformed by the vibrations of reggae. There is no stage, no separation. Just really good mood lighting, and some sick decorations. We are all reggae, we are all music, we are all high.
COSTUMES AND DEBAUCHERY are encouraged. Try a brownie, have some fun.
Well Being House will be a 90s party this Saturday! There will be playdough, 90s music, goop, and your favorite childhood snacks (including vegan treats!).
Date: Feb. 20 Time: 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM Place: Well Being House, 250 Court
Concert, evening of free improv jazz/acoustic/americana music. Featuring Jordan Knecht , Almonds & Elephants (Wes students Matt Hurwit and Owen Callahan), and the Dustin Carlson Trio.
Date: Feb. 20 Time: 10:00 PM – 1:00 AM Place: Buddhist House
Party up in February! The love continues after Valentine’s day! If you can, wear red! Wear lots and lots of red! Be in love! Dance, drink, make out, go home with different people, etc.
Drink specials as usual, and nasty disco action on the dancefloor.
New in the set this month: Ellie Goulding, Passion Pit vs. Jack Beats, Biz Markie vs. Phoenix, New Young Pony Club, Annie vs. Designer Drugs, etc. More on shag frenzy.
Date: Feb. 20
Time: 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM Place: The Shadow Room, 170 Main St, Middletown
Every program house will be open on Sunday, Feb 21st from 12-5pm for potential applicants. Stop by and meet current residents, talk to the house managers, and check out the house! Some houses have special events happening, so be sure to check it out!
Date: Sunday, Feb. 21st Time: 12pm-5pm Place: every program house on campus
Head over to The Shadow Room tonight to dance along to the grooves of the Ben Block Solo Trio (aka The Last Minutes served with a twist) and partake in the ages-old tradition of bar night. Musical guests abound, bringing to the table everything from rap to harmonica. $3 well drinks before 11… That pretty much sums it up.
Time: 10pm Date: February 17th Place: The Shadow Room, 170 Main St Cost: however much you decide to spend on booze…
The First Annual Bob Dylan Wannabe Contest. Come at 8:30 to sign up to play or at nine to be an audience member. You know you want to hear “Blowing in the Wind” twelve different times. It’s going to be a jam.
blues
Lineup:
Rarely does it occur in our lives an opportunity to not simply hear good music, nor just see it being performed, but to truly experience it, in every sense of the word. This Saturday’s performance promises to leave you as satiated as one might feel while departing the Usdan, on weed. This show pledges to provide sensations akin to divine ejaculation; moments of climatic experience that are both fleeting, yet forever remembered. The aural interludes and heavy dub supplied by Buru Style will certainly cause a sensory explosion all over your face. Guaranteed.
From 
Party up in February! The love continues after Valentine’s day! If you can, wear red! Wear lots and lots of red! Be in love! Dance, drink, make out, go home with different people, etc.
Every program house will be open on Sunday, Feb 21st from 12-5pm for potential applicants. Stop by and meet current residents, talk to the house managers, and check out the house! Some houses have special events happening, so be sure to check it out!
Wesleyan’s own bluegrass band will be tearing it up and playing what, in some circles, could arguably be referred to as “music”.
