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Review: Surf Harp – Mr. Big Picture
Wednesday, February 21st, 2018 by WLOY Staff
Photo by Micah E. Wood
Album: Mr. Big Picture
Release Date: 2/23
Rate: 9.2/10
LIYL: Talking Heads, The Strokes
Surf Harp’s sophomore album, Mr. Big Picture, is a new, unique sound for the 5-piece local band. Drawing from their garage pop origins as well as their psychedelic 90’s sound from their first LP, Peel, Surf Harp has finally found their own rhythm. This new album perfectly blends their previous style with a hint of 80’s new wave in sound and in concept. A lot of the tracks take the average aspects of a mundane office life and make it interesting by exploring concepts that are not-so-mundane like not fitting in, death, and even what seems to me like dissociation. Such lyrical writing reminds me of Talking Heads, which is exactly what this self-proclaimed art rock band is going for.
Their song writing blends perfectly with these new wave lyrical themes. Mr. Big Picture not only includes varying, layered vocals, synth, and layered guitar, but it also experiments with distorted, lo-fi samples from everyday objects, such as a vacuum cleaner and power tools. Such experimentation allows each song to have its own personality, giving the album a holistic integrity as an art piece. My favorites are “D.I. Cig,” “Mirror Maze,” which makes you want to dance with its post-punk feel and alternating vocals, as well as “Mr. Big Picture,” which gives you the band’s pop roots with an art twist. However, all the tracks rock in their own way, making this an album you absolutely need to listen to. Find it here on Friday when it’s released by Friends Records or on iTunes. The record release party is being held at The Windup Space on Friday night.
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Mark Hopkins @ Coffeehouse 2/22
Tuesday, February 20th, 2018 by The Professor
Mark Hopkins is a Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, and more… He’s joining us for another coffeehouse because we can’t get enough of his excellent pop and rock songwriting. Whether solo or fronting his full band, Mark can rock out with his thoughtful songs and a lot of soul. Check him out at the Maryland Music Awards. Mark has played coffeehouse before and even graced our stage at Honfest and we know how much fun he brings with every song. It’s time for you to find out too!
As always WLOY will also have free tickets to upcoming shows you can win from Baltimore Soundstage as a bonus just for hanging out with us.
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Swampcandy & Doc Pine – Late Night 2/15
Monday, February 12th, 2018 by The Professor
Join us this Thursday night for a bluesy, swampy, rocking night. The great and powerful Swampcandy are playing again for us featuring Ruben ripping up the National Steel and Joey’s flailing bass (and mane). With 4 albums released, they’ve got a deep catalog of excellent songs to draw on, from “Drink Whiskey With Me” to “Devil in the Suitcase”. You’ll be transported to a late night roadhouse deep in the backwoods. Check out their website and amazing videos.
As a bonus this week you get 2 bands for the FREE price of 1! Swampcandy is joined by Doc Pine and The Respect He Deserves. A project of James Von Lenz (you may have seen his other band Voodoo Pharmacology on campus in the fall) they’re going to run the gamut from original twangy tracks to Springsteen covers (State Trooper!) and more. See if you can spot Ahren Bucheister in yet another band (is that 13 now?!).
Don’t order yet, there’s more! We also have a sample of the great bread pudding (and caramel sauce) from Cafe Hon for the lucky ones while it lasts, and free tickets to shows at Baltimore Soundstage you can win!
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WLOY Sports Director at the Winter Olympics
Friday, February 9th, 2018 by The Professor
WLOY Sports Director Bobby Trosset ’17 is no stranger to the Olympics and big events. While still a student at Loyola, Bobby worked for the Today Show as a runner at the 2017 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. He followed that up by helping to arrange the Guinness World Record Crab Walk at Loyola as part of the Rokerthon 2017. As the Sports Director at WLOY, Bobby did play-by-play of The President’s Cup city-wide high school baseball games and broadcast from the radio booth at Camden Yards several times. Now, out in the “real world” we find ourselves answering the question “Where in the world is Bobby?” with “South Korea”! Working for NBC Sports Washington, Bobby is covering the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Today we’re honored to have him tell us more about it during the 4-5pm (EST) weekly Sports Talk show with Stefan and Austin. Bobby’s joining us at 6am his time having just finished the first day of the 2018 Winter Olympics. We’re excited to hear more about it and continue the WLOY tradition of Sports Directors doing big things! Tune in today to catch the interview live from Korea!
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Coffeehouse 2/8 Bell’s Roar & QueenEarth
Tuesday, February 6th, 2018 by The Professor
WLOY & Spectrum present this weeks show featuring bell’s roar and Queen Earth. Join us Thursday night by Starbucks from 8-10pm for a great night of music!
Sean Desiree performs as “bell’s roar”: The name bell’s roar symbolizes the focus and attitude held in Sean Desiree’s solo project. It’s a reference to feminist writer bell hooks who speaks of intersectionality and solidarity in their work. Being a queer, gender nonconforming person of color Sean cannot isolate forms of oppression. The roar represents the fight to not be silent and to use their creative voice to stop ongoing domination.
Missy Smith aka “QueenEarth” is a Loyola (and WLOY) graduate who has been performing solo and with bands for years. QueenEarth is a singer/songwriter and creative professional. In addition to performing her music, she has combined her passions to create courses, programs, and events that encourage social justice and arts education. She finds the greatest joy when she can bring her experience together for education, music, and creativity.
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Review: Captain, We’re Sinking – The King of No Man
Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 by WLOY Staff
Captain, We’re Sinking
The King of No Man
Rate: 10/10
RIYL: The Menzingers, The Wonder Years, The Descendents
As a whole The King of No Man definitely has a softer tone than Captain, We’re Sinking’s last album, The Future Is Cancelled, which was released in 2013. Despite this, The King of No Man is still very distinctly the punk sound of Captain, We’re Sinking. Overall, the album has mellow verses with heavier choruses. This album’s tracks have similar sounds to that of The Wonder Years, Knuckle Puck, The Gaslight Anthem, classic punk bands such as The Rites of Spring and The Descendents, and complimenting other out-of-genre influences. I feel like this album is like the Thanksgiving meal of punk; there’s so many sub-genre punk tracks that work deliciously well together. Below is just a taste of what the album is like: (more…)
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Open Mic Night Thursday 2/1
Saturday, January 27th, 2018 by The Professor
Join us this week for an Open Mic Night at the Coffeehouse. Bring your instruments, laptop, voice or even your knee-slapping spoon collection. We provide the space and the PA and you provide the entertainment!
All talents are welcome to give it a shot.
Really, bring it on. Amaze us. Show your friends it’s pure talent.
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Late Night 1/25: Nalani & Sarina and The Wldlfe!
Saturday, January 20th, 2018 by The Professor
What a show this week! Not only the return of ever-popular Nalani & Sarina, but this time they’re bringing the full band! AND we’re bringing in serious up-and-coming-you’ll-be-bragging-you-saw-them-here-first talent from Indianapolis THE WLDLFE! Yep, either band could lay down a fantastic show for 2 hours but we know you need more stimulation so we’re putting 2 bands up in McGuire Hall just for you. And, as always, for FREE.
Loyola students already know Nalani & Sarina from their many performances as a duo on campus, but have never seen them here with the full band. Their new single “Young & Inexperienced” has been getting buzz in Billboard and even got them into the NY Post. These two audacious young artists, from west-central New Jersey, have developed a distinctive blend of traditionalist soul-rock and modern pop likely to keep their faces in the spotlight for years to come. Legendary music critic/Sirius radio host Dave Marsh called their EP, Scattered World, “some of the best music being made”, and fans, critics and taste-makers have echoed his praise.
The Wldlfe hail from Indianapolis and are about to drop their own new single (maybe you’ll here it in McGuire!) As an indie-alternative/pop band out of Indianapolis, IN they burst into the scene on March 3rd, 2016 when they released their debut EP entitled “NEW”. Since their debut, THE WLDLFE have released two EPs (NEW and I.L.Y) and one single (Text Me?). They have spent the last year performing across the United States and are currently home in Indiana working on their next project due out in April but they’re making a short run of shows including this one! Check out Queen Marge’s interview with The Wldlfe last year too!
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Matt Hutchison Kicks off 2018 Coffeehouse 1/18
Thursday, January 11th, 2018 by The Professor
WLOY kicks off the 2018 Coffeehouse series with another local artist who’s played on the WLOY stage at Honfest, and toured the world with his band Fools & Horses. With Fools & Horses temporarily parted (see what we did there?) Matt has been releasing great solo work.
Matt sees himself as, “A modern-day gentleman cowboy, earnestly looking West out of his East-Coast bedroom window”. With 2 solo albums under his belt Matt has a ton of excellent pop songs (plus Fools & Horses hits) and more to make a great night of it. Make sure to ask him about buying his anniversary present at the Cracker Barrel. Check out his website!
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PLRLS & The Hall Monitors 11/9 McGuire Hall
Wednesday, November 8th, 2017 by The Professor
This Thursday night marks the return of the amazing PLRLS to McGuire Hall. With a blend of punk, new wave, and a bit of sass, they’ll keep you jumping all show. From “Rose Garden” to “Look at the Nerds” there’s a bit of Talking Heads, a bit of Devo, a dash of Joe Jackson and some pop punk thrown in. As a bonus we’ll also have the great classic garage rock sounds of The Hall Monitors to keep you moving for another hour! The Hall Monitors bring us straight up fuzzed out classic 60s garage rock sounds. Everything they play should be on a slightly scratchy 45rpm 7″ record in every jukebox. Check out “She’s My Methodone” on their Bandcamp page for a sample of their style.
Check out the newest album from PLRLS on their website, or the single “Oh What a World” (aka “Worldstar”) below. And don’t forget to join us in McGuire Hall from 8-10pm on Thursday November 9th!
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