News
The Prime: Pop Through The Ages (Pop-Punk)
Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Genre: Pop
Subgenre: Pop-Punk
RIYL: Sum 41, The Offspring, Green Day, Avril Lavigne, Paramore
Pop-Punk emerged in the late 1970s as a fusion of punk-rock and pop music elements. It combines the rebellious, DIY ethos of punk with catchy melodies and accessible song structures found in pop music. The genre’s roots can be traced back to the early days of punk rock when bands like the Ramones and Buzzcocks were experimenting with pop hooks and shorter, more pop-like songs. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that Pop-Punk truly came into its own and gained widespread popularity.
Posted in Featured, Music, News, Reviews | No Comments »
SOTW: Alice Phoebe Lou – “Shelter”
Friday, July 28th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Song of the Week: Alice Phoebe Lou – “Shelter”
Released: March 2023
Rate: 8/10
RIYL: Faye Webster, Nico, Lucy Dacus, Alvvays, Haley Heynderickx
Alice Phoebe Lou is a singer-songwriter known for her soft vocals and resonant lyrics. Born and raised in the coastal town of Kommetjie, South Africa, Alice’s love for music began at a young age. Her adventurous spirit led her to Berlin, where she found creative freedom and a community of like-minded artists. (more…)
Posted in Featured, Music, News, Reviews | No Comments »
Alumni Spotlight: Jeffrey Poulos (2013)
Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 by Liz Kosik
Jeffrey Poulos (Right), a class of 2013 graduate, discusses his experiences at WLOY and shares some charismatic advice for college students.
Q: Can you tell us about your show at WLOY? (name and theme, genre of music)
A: The name of our show was ‘Know Your Role’ which received its name from the famous wrestler, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who would tell his opponents to know their role during his promotion videos before a match. I co-hosted the show with my best friend, Anthony Medina ’13 (Left in Photo), who also shares a similar passion for classic wrestling theatrics and storylines from The Rock’s era. More specifically, the show featured flashbacks of classic rock including, Black Sabbath, CCR, The Beatles, Bachman Turner Overdrive, and even lighter tunes from Cat Stevens, to Jim Croce and everything between the late 1960s through 1980s. Every show ended with either Anthony or I agreeing to tell a person, place, or thing to ‘Know Its Role’. Some examples included the weather (depending on the day), midterms/finals, and or a specific sports team. At times, we also called out slow walkers on campus and even John Devecka who never fixed the servers in time when we broke them due to the listeners we had tuned in across the world! I kid. (more…)
Posted in Alumni Spotlight, Featured, News | 1 Comment »
AOTW: Mainland Break – “One Way Ticket to Midnight”
Friday, July 21st, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Album of the Week: Mainland Break – “One Way Ticket to Midnight”
Released: July 21, 2023
Rate: 7.8/10
RIYL: Yam Haus, Desert Mambas, The Thing With Feathers, Mae Mae
Mainland Break is a rising band that finds inspiration in the Jangle Pop side of Indie Rock. Their music pays homage to influential indie bands like R.E.M. and The Feelies, while infusing contemporary beats reminiscent of Australia’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Based in Denver, Colorado, the band is composed of Evan Oliver, who handles vocals, acoustic guitar, and keyboards; Kevin Kohl, contributing vocals and bass; Travis Rice, skilled in guitar and synthesizer; Ian Gassman on guitar; and Steven Hennig as the drummer. Following their initial EP release, “Short Stay,” in 2019, the band went on a hiatus. However, they are now making a comeback with the exciting announcement of their debut album, titled “One Way Ticket to Midnight.” (more…)
Posted in Featured, Music, News | No Comments »
SOTW: Cable Ties – “Time for You”
Monday, July 17th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Song of the Week: Cable Ties – “Time for You”
Released: June 23, 2023
Rate: 9/10
RIYL: Private Function, CLAMM, Sweeping Promises, Blonde Revolver
Australia’s hottest trio, Cable Ties, is back with its newest album and ready to make a statement. Formed in 2015, Cable Ties emerged as a cornerstone of Melbourne’s feminist punk movement and by 2017 had released their self-entitled album “Cable Ties.” In March 2020, they unveiled their second album, “Fair Enough,” which claimed the coveted Best Rock/Punk Album title at the prestigious 2020 Music Victoria Award. Flashforward to 2023, Cable Ties has released its 9-track album, “All Her Plans,” addressing the trials of life and the blessings of love. (more…)
Posted in Featured, Music, News | No Comments »
Arts Fishing Club In Studio Today!
Thursday, July 13th, 2023 by The Professor
Tune in around noon today as Song of the Week winners the guys from Arts Fishing Club are swinging by on the way to their show at MilkBoy in Philadelphia! Rumor has it they’re going to do something live too! If you miss it, don’t worry, we’ll post photos and the interview soon. Check out Instagram for updates today!
Posted in Events, News | No Comments »
SOTW: Babe Rainbow – “Sunshine”
Thursday, July 6th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Song of the Week: Babe Rainbow – “Sunshine”
Released: June 23, 2023
Rate: 8.2/10
RIYL: Tame Impala, Mac Demarco, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Pond
Babe Rainbow is a psychedelic rock band originating from New South Wales, Australia. Formed in 2014, Babe Rainbow consists of Angus Dowling, percussion and vocals; Elliot (Lulu) O’Reilly, bass, keys, and vocals; and Jack Crowther, guitar and vocals. The group has their attention on the 60s and 70s harmonies, creating a retro surf-pop sound. Babe Rainbow has held a notable presence in the music scene since their 2017 self-entitled album “The Babe Rainbow,” featuring sounds like “Peace Blossom Boogy” and “Fall in Love.” Flash forward to 2023, Babe Rainbow has recently released its newest album “Fresh As A Head of Lettuce.” (more…)
Posted in Featured, Music, News | No Comments »
AOTW: TAUK – “TAUK Moore”
Wednesday, June 28th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Album of the Week: TAUK – “TAUK Moore”
Released: June 16, 2023
Rate: 9/10
RIYL: Haitus Kaiyote, Ghost Funk Orchestra, Khruangbin, Vulfpeck, No Doubt
TAUK is a captivating band that consistently pushes the boundaries of genre. The New York based-group has teamed up with vocalist, Kanika Moore, to complete their latest album, “TAUK Moore.” Their unique fusion of rock, jazz, and EDM creates a sonic landscape, proving they’re not afraid to experiment with their sound. The band’s intricate sound arrangements shine through on almost every track, showcasing their immense talent; more than worthy of our favorite album of the week. (more…)
Posted in Featured, Music, News, Reviews | No Comments »
Alumni Spotlight: Alex Fili (2013)
Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
Alex Fili, a Loyola class of 2013 graduate, discusses her experience at WLOY and shares some of her favorite memories over the years.
Q: Can you tell us about your show at WLOY? (name and theme, genre of music)
A: “Not quite happy hour” from 3-5, in which I played only songs I liked. I probably wasn’t the best DJ. However, I did run “What Happens Next?” and helped WLOY win a couple of awards at CBI, this is probably more of a highlight for me than my radio show. Working with kids and giving back to the community was such a highlight of my college career.
Q: Who is your favorite artist now?
A: Hozier.
Q: What do you do for work? Did your experiences at WLOY transfer into your work?
A: I own my own dental office, I am a dentist! My experiences at WLOY are part of the reason I probably graduated Loyola, John helped keep me in line. But the work I did at WLOY, volunteering, and having a paid job during college always ensured a work ethic, time management, and responsibility.
Q: Tell us your favorite WLOY memory.
A: So many, probably running “What Happens Next?” Oh, I got to do a color commentary at the Orioles stadium for the President’s Cup Baseball Tournament! That was badass. Decorating the outside wall with all of the old vinyl covers. Taking pictures for Good DJ and Bad DJ. John not firing me is a good one.
Q: One piece of advice for current students looking to enter the broadcast/entertainment industry:
A: I do not have any advice for this as I do not work in that industry. But, working for the radio station during my college career is the reason I still love Loyola. WLOY was my family and I consider it very near and dear to my heart.
John’s note: I cannot believe that winning both the Cafe Hon Bread Pudding Eating Contest AND the Holy Frijoles Taco Eating Contest the SAME DAY at Hampdenfest wasn’t the highlight of Alex’s entire WLOY career.
Oh, and then retaining her crown by winning the Bread Pudding Contest 2 YEARS IN A ROW.
Posted in Alumni Spotlight, Featured, News | No Comments »
Honfest 2023
Thursday, June 15th, 2023 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Another year in the books! Baltimore’s 2023 Honfest was a vibrant celebration, reminding us of the town’s community-based pride. The streets of Hampden filled with families and parade attendees, all coming together to embrace the quirky spirit of the event. The energy of the event was infectious as the air was filled with laughter, music, and the smells of Baltimore’s best foods. WLOY had the pleasure of hosting 15 local artists this past weekend at the WLOY STAGE at Honfest. We were visited by alumni, students, and community members in the gathering of WLOY’s favorite event of the summer. Honfest is a great function for local artists to showcase their talent and we couldn’t be more grateful to have shared another parade with them.
We have to give a big shout-out to Garrett Long for making the stage run smoothly and soundly all weekend. He danced between solo and group artists, doing his magic with smiles and swift hands. Garrett is the recording engineer for the Watermelon Room, a local recording studio based in Hampden, MD. They’re known for their variety of instruments and recording equipment, encouraging artists to pursue their musical creativity. Definitely check them out!
Eddie Fine ’23 exceeded MC expectations, keeping everyone appraised for the upcoming acts. Students Johnny Cozza ‘24, Aliyah Smith-Bradley ‘24, and Liz Kosik ’25 manned the tent for the weekend, engaging with community members and raffling off some cool prizes. Attendees loved the nifty turn-table that was repurposed for the raffling, allowing participants to “spin and win” a variety of prizes such as Thread Coffee, mugs, t-shirts, and vinyl. Despite a flat tire immediately upon arrival (lol silly John).. the weekend was full of excitement!
WLOY is proud to have concluded its 7th year hosting a stage at Honfest. It’s impossible to talk about our stage without mentioning the talented cast of artists that came and performed. We would like to express our gratitude to all the incredible bands and artists that dedicated their time this weekend. From Red Sammy kicking us off on Saturday morning to Old Eastern closing us out on Sunday night, every one of them delivered an amazing performance. We were showered with compliments and positive feedback all weekend from members of our favorite community and are ecstatic to be back next year!
The full schedule (and links to the artist’s pages) is here – go buy their merch!!
Be sure to watch this space for a gallery full of images and links to videos as we put them up. Also, check out our Instagram @wloy_radio for some Honfest recaps, alumni spotlights, and WLOY news. 🙂
Posted in Events, Featured, Music, News | No Comments »
