Looking for a way to get involved in something awesome at Loyola? Interested in music? Always wanted to hear your voice on the airwaves? Well, here’s your chance! WLOY is looking for DJ’s to host their own shows in the fall! If you’re interested in becoming a part of the WLOY team, come to our open houses on September 7th – 9th at 7 – 9pm in Bellarmine Hall (by the new Iggy’s Market). Can’t make it to one of the open houses? You can also e-mail wfpotter@loyola.edu with a short bio telling us how great you are, the type of music your show will highlight and a sample playlist for your show.

NOTE: This announcement only applies to Loyola students living on the Evergreen campus. This does NOT apply to people living in the Baltimore area.

If you haven’t noticed already, the TV channels in your dorm room have changed! There have been a bunch of great new additions made to the channel lineup over the summer, however you need a TV with a digital tuner to see all of them.

We have moved from Channel 50 to Channel 35. Some of you are wondering, why does a radio station have a TV channel? The answer is BECAUSE WE CAN! You can tune into WLOY on your TV and watch the pretty picture slideshow on your screen. You can also listen to us as the music bed to the new channel guide on Channel 3.

More information about the TV upgrades on campus can be found at Technology Services.

For some bands, it takes a lifetime to build this success, but few performers deliver an unrestrained blast of soul-clapping, get-down-on-the-floor, moneymaker shakers like Fitz and the Tantrums. Fitz and the Tantrums have resurrected a sound that’s been dormant for decades: the blues of a 1970’s love affair. It all started with a neglected vintage organ, and since then they’ve been keepin’ it real like it’s 1969. The organ became a driving force for the front man, Fitz, and helped him to find his voice. When his ex-girlfriend called him about the old organ, he knew exactly what to write about. It inspired him to compose the breakup song, “Pickin’ Up the Pieces,” which is also the title of the album.

The song immediately hits you with the uplifting groove from organ, flute and bass. Fitz laments about love lost during the first verse, then Noelle Scaggs joins him for one of the many duets throughout the album. Fitz makes it clear that Scaggs is not just a background singer, but a soul-singing force to be reckoned with. The duo sing together like they were a couple with a love affair, which strengthens the lyrics and the music.

The theme of the album is essentially that of an angry breakup, but the music creates an upbeat trance meant for the dance floor. Fitz is fed up with all the drama and he wants you to shake it like you don’t give a damn anymore. This reckless attitude is especially prominent in songs like “News 4 U” with the chorus lyrics, “I got news for you/ It’s goin’ down/ Before you come home and tell me/ That you’re not angry/ I’ll be leavin’ town.” The clash of defiant lyrics and infectious groove is irresistible to any listener. The only song that steps outside the theme is the foot-stomper “Dear Mr. President” that calls attention to the failing economy and tells the President to take action. Overall, this album is getting two thumbs up from me. I am really impressed with this unique sound, which is very defined and well organized. Every song on the CD is infectious and I can’t get enough of this band. If you like what you hear, be sure to see them when they play at Ottobar on September 23rd!

Grade: 5 out of 5

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With 240,000 people, 130 bands, on 110 acres of the beautiful Grant Park, Lollapalooza saw its 19th year as a festival as an overwhelming success for the Austin based promoters C3. Perry Ferrell’s traveling festival is a distant afterthought. Instead we’ve become accustomed to the three-day event and are finally getting used to it as a mainstay Chicago event every August.

It’s become evident that America really has three main festivals: Coachella in Palm Springs, California, Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee, and Lollapalooza in Chicago. Being from Maryland, Chicago and Manchester are both about 700 miles away, so it came down to the bands. I couldn’t resist a headlining indie lineup of The Strokes, Phoenix, and Arcade Fire. And although those three acts were probably the high lights of the show, there were several other bands that really brought their game to music’s biggest stage.

Of many memorable performances, a few really stuck out in my mind:

Day One:

The Walkmen: Playing an early 1pm set following up-and-coming rapper; B.o.B. was certainly not an easy task for this New York rock band, especially since their sound was out for the first 2 minutes. With smiling faces, Hamilton Leithauser and company embraced the adversity and laid down a flawless set of ambient but gruff rock tunes spanning across their 5 studio albums (including Lisbon, which drops next month). The highlight was when they played their breakout song, “The Rat” from 2004’s Bows + Arrows. Leithauser’s bellow lofted over the sweaty crowd of eager fans.

The Black Keys: If you’re into obscure indie rock or experimental music, The Black Keys are not for you. If you like retro blues rock, then they’re right up your alley. Not a stellar lyricist but one of the best guitarists I’ve ever seen live, Dan Auerbach is quite the performer. Auerbach’s partner in crime, drummer/producer Patrick Carney is nothing to sneeze at either. It was an ideal show to lead into The Strokes.

The Strokes: For upper twenty-somethings who’s musical taste evolved from The Cars and Guided By Voices into The Strokes and The White Stripes in the early 21^st century, this was clearly the weekend’s highlight. One festival goer even said to me right before The Strokes come on, “I’m going to find my wife in this crowd, right up front.” The show was not as tight as three years ago but it was more nostalgic. In the midst of various solo projects and a very mysterious album that is allegedly coming out in March, thousands of fans packed around the stage of Friday had a weird feeling that window to see one of this decade’s most influential bands is closing fast. I’d say the crowd got what they were seeking for and deserved from Casablancas and crew.

Day Two:

Spoon: The tenured indie band from Austin, Texas proved on Saturday why they’ve been around for so long and why they had such a large crowd of people, ranging in age from 15 to 50. Brit Daniel is a captivating veteran front man who’s gruff but bouncing voice sounds as good live as it does on their albums.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: The gang of hippies started by the alter ego of a newly sober Alex Ebert is a retro shock back to 1970. Starting in LA and working their way around the country, the show in Grant Park was euphoric. The highlight was when Ebert climbed down into the crowd, sat on the grass, and sang the beautiful ballad, “Brothers.”

Phoenix: Thomas Mars and crew have gone from the indie pop underground in France to the kings of indie music in America since their 2009 release of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Their unique blend of new wave indie rock and dance pop made for one of the best performances from Lollapalooza. Closing the show with the upbeat and catchy “1901” was certainly the highlight which included a crowd surf by Mars. Phoenix have yet to reach their full potential, we’ll hear even more from them in the coming years.

Day Three:

Blitzen Trapper: Imagine The Band, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Jackson Browne, and Pavement all wrapped into one. The up and coming Portland band, Blitzen Trapper are all over their place with their musical style, drawing from various folk and rock styles across the board.

Yeasayer: Wow. This band is a cross between cheesy art pop and afro electric. They’re Animal Collective meets The Cars and they’re catchy as hell. The musical swells of “Tight Rope”, “Madder Red”, and of course “Ambling Alp” are infectious live.

Arcade Fire: Not only the best performances of the weekend, but one of the best of the summer. Arcade Fire is a live band. Their albums are understood completely only after seeing them live. The way the switch instruments for nearly every song creates a captivating environment that keeps your eyes fixated on the stage for the entire set. Not to mention their backdrops and slideshows are as mesmerizing as they are bizarre. If you haven’t seen them, go see them right now. They’re only getting bigger. Radiohead, lookout…we may have another indie megaband on the horizon.

Next year is Lollapalooza’s twentieth anniversary. Can it get any better?

The Suburbs starts appropriately, with the title track that works as both a contrived summary and introduction to the fifteen songs that follow. Although not the strongest of the album, it serves its purpose. It then rolls into “Ready to Start”, which is a typical bombastic collective of Arcade Fire proportions, a jump-the-gun type song. “Modern Man” in my opinion is where the beauty and originality of the album starts. With lyrics that strike the heart wires of Bowie fans, it questions what to some might be obvious, but to many is obscure–is the modern world in a productive progression?

Then comes the poppy “Rococo” which appears to jab at the youth and their obsession with trends–in this case–a “terrible” song that has an infectious chorus. You can’t help sing a long to Butler’s quivering voice as he repeats Rococo over and over. Blasting into “Empty Room” Butler has help on vocals from his wife Régine Chassagne. The shorter, but poignant song works as a nice easy transition into the New Wave sound of “City with No Children.” The nostalgic lyrics prove that Butler and crew have spent time listening to the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. “Half Light I’s” slow build and Chassagne’s lofty voice creates a circus like environment resemblant of Funeral. Its dream like nature is once again a perfect pace changer for the album. Their ability to keep the audience constantly interested and guessing is impressive.

Through the sad and desperate pace of “Half Light II” we see a more personal Butler. Referencing his life with his wife, Regina, as well as his childhood. It has an Americana feel once again, which adds a unique tinge to the American perspective coming from a predominately Canadian band. The ending phrase, “one day they’ll see, its long gone,” rings through the brain long after the song ends.

“Suburban War” continues with the same melancholy style of “Half Light II” but with a choppier composition. “They say the past won’t rest until you jump the fence and leave it behind,” Butler calmly sings. More than their first two albums, Arcade Fire are offering some solutions to the problems they address. “Month of May” is perhaps the only song that could fit on Neon Bible, their slightly less popular sophomore album, would be a fitting opening to an Arcade Fire show.

“Wasted Hours” and “Deep Blue” return to the somber pace but only for a moment, and then we’re hit with slow but powerful build of “We Used to Wait.” “By the time we met, the times had already changed,” Butler sings.

“Sprawl I and II” help add to the lonely feeling of realizing that the things you used to recognize have changed dramatically. The saddened musical melody of “Sprawl I” makes it hard to not feel hopeless until the very end when Butler manages to bring it all back and inject us with just a bit of hope once again.

The trippy feel of “Sprawl II” compliment the somberness of part I. We are once again graced with Chassagne’s voice. Comparing shopping malls and urban development to mountains is not only gut-wrenching but incredibly accurate. How dare they be so honest to us! The final song, “The Suburbs (continued)” is in the same tone as “The Suburbs” but with Butler stretching his voice to an even higher falsetto. It’s a fitting end to a masterpiece.

Yeah sure, The Suburbs is filled with a lot of reoccurring words like “kids, houses, streets, and suburbs”. But instead of writing them off as cliche and unoriginal, consider the weight behind these words. The Suburbs is an analysis, a call to action, and a homage to the topsy turvy, suburban world we live in. No band since Radiohead has been able to reach out to the youth in such an infectious way. Their songs are dark, dreamy, nostalgic, religious, extremely powerful, but oddly hopeful and their shows are the same way. And they manage to do it all on an indie label and without the aide of digital recording. But even Butler knows that resisting the world that plagues us is impossible. At the very least we have The Suburbs to celebrate over.

I discovered that Interpol recruited a new member when I recognized the piano player as none other than Brandon Curtis of the Secret Machines! The Secret Machines were my favorite band before Benjamin Curtis left the band to form School of Seven Bells, but I was delighted to see Brandon yet again. Brandon added light backing vocals and dark synths that complimented the atmospheric quality of the music. My favorite song of the night was ‘NYC’ which was captivating because the combination of flowing guitar, vocals and glowing lights created a trance-like effect. Overall, I really enjoyed the concert and the entire lineup of the night that included the Postelles and Twin Tigers. Don’t forget! Interpol’s forthcoming album will be released in September. Stay tuned!

Before the show I got a chance to talk with two members of Twin Tigers. Indigenous to Athens, Georgia, Twin Tigers produce a distorted shoegazy rock sound that may be welcomed by fans of My Bloody Valentine or Minus the Bear. Nevertheless, this band is creating a path of their own with their first full-length album Gray Waves, which was released this past March. With songs like “Passive Idol” and “Red Fox Run,” the CD takes off with screaming guitar and heavy bass, while infusing dreamy vocals from Matthew Rain. I talked with Matt and guitarist Forrest Hall about life on the road, their newest album and some of the bands that they listen to. Check out the audio clip below for the full interview.

Interview Audio:

Download audio file (WLOY_INT_TWIN_TIGERS.mp3)
Download

We found out this morning that we’re officially in the running for a $50,000 grant that will allow us to expand the What Happens Next program into at least 5 more schools!

We’ll be able to print materials, provide enhanced teacher training, and build 5 in-school studios for at least 5 Baltimore City Public Schools if we win! Only the top 10 vote totals win grants, so we need your help! You can go vote here and please tell everyone you’ve ever met about it!

This is an awesome opportunity for us to expand our program and make a real impact on the kids in Baltimore City Public Schools. Every vote counts and we only have until the end of August!!!

Pre-Olympics Swimming Demo & Press Conference

We all know how much Michael achieved at the 2004 Olympics. The records set and shattered, and the shine of all that Olympic gold. What a lot of folks don’t know is the connection to Loyola. Michael was a volunteer swimming coach at Loyola in 2004, and came back to do a swimming demonstration and discussion in September BEFORE going off to achieve Olympic fame (do 14 medals constitute fame or demi-god status?) We just found a few photos and somewhere we even have audio from the press conference…

For now, ponder how Loyola has managed such an amazing connection to the Olympics. Phil Scholtz ’11 holds 4 medals won in the Paralympics in 2009 and will be competing again in August of 2010 for more. Olympian Katie Hoff, with her ‘mere’ 3 Olympic medals, also helped coach swimming at Loyola in 2008-2009! Is it any wonder that Loyola has won so many MAAC Swimming & Diving Championships?

It’s time for this year’s Middle Grades Partnership summer radio boot camp at WLOY! This year’s class is a bit smaller, at 13, but they’re already having a blast. Students come in for a 2 day session. Day 1 is a discussion of the process of radio programming and production, a chance to select and read news stories live on the air and planning for a feature story.

Over the course of the next week, the students work independently to develop their very own feature story on a topic of their choosing. For Day 2 the students sit down and review their written feature, convert it to a radio text and record it. We add in production elements from sound effects to music beds in order to enhance their work. Once complete, you’ll be able to hear their stories on the air on WLOY and right here on the website.

This is our 3rd year of the program and it’s always a ton of fun to give rising 9th graders a chance to experience something new and special Stay tuned for their finished works and tune in on the 13th and 14th to WLOY at 11am to hear their live news reads.

Filming begins this weekend on a Baltimore-set episode of the ABC program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Members of the Loyola community, including representatives from the Loyola Alumni Association’s Service and Spirituality Committee, have already volunteered to support the effort, but there is still a need for more help. We need to see more Loyola students at the project site this week! WLOY will be there with live broadcasts, music and free stuff to encourage more people to pitch in. It’s summertime, but that’s no reason to miss out on a great chance to help. You need to sign up to volunteer!

Boys Hope Girls Hope Baltimore, a non-profit organization that provides children who are at risk with a stable home, positive parenting, high-quality education, and other supports needed to reach their full potential. The Baltimore program opened a house for its male scholars in 2002, but has not yet established a dedicated facility for the girls. This project will offer Girls Hope and its seven promising young women a safe place to call home.

Join Nick Centanni on WLOY 12-2PM and 6-8PM for 2 separate beachfront broadcasts of the Moldy Oldie Show this July 4!

Nick will have a mix of upbeat summer songs, Independence Day facts, jokes, and of course periodic visits from campus royalty via the ‘gold campus royalty phone.’ Nick will be up to his usual tricks so you won’t know what to expect next.

There will also be a special Independence Day wishes from some familiar voices in the 8PM hour. This is high octane radio so make it a date and don’t be late! The fun begins July 4 at Noon all right here on WLOY 1620!

WARNING: This show should only be used under adult supervision. Keep out of reach of children. For outdoor use only. Do not hold in hand. Remember to place this show on the ground, light fuse and get away. Never attempt to relight this show should it malfunction or misfire. Keep others at a safe distance. This show is flammable, misuse may result in injury or fire.

It’s summer time and that means Pier Six is rocking! Outdoor theaters are always a great part of the summer experience, but Pier Six has that cool added location going for it. Sitting right on the Inner Harbor, you get great views and nice water breezes along with your great show. WLOY has your free tickets all summer long. Check out their lineup:

Yes & Peter Frampton: June 24 ALL AGES

Charlie Wilson & Will Downing: June 25

Frankie Beverly and MAZE w. Stephanie Mills: July 10

Counting Crows w. Augustana: July 12

B.B. King w. Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real: July 15

The BSO performs the music of The Eagles: July 16

Sublime with Rome w. Matisyahu, The Dirty Heads: July 18

The Beach Boys: July 24

Willie Nelson: July 25

Slightly Stoopid: July 29

Dave Koz & Jonathan Butler Together Again w. special guest Sheila E.: July 30

Heart: August 1

Goo Goo Dolls w. Switchfoot, The Spill Canvas: August 3

Sound Tribe Sector 9 w. RJD2: August 15

MIXFEST feat. Backstreet Boys, Train and more!: August 22

Jackson Browne: August 24

Trey Songz: August 27

Blondie & Cheap Trick: August 29

Rodrigo Y Gabriela: August 30

REO Speedwagon & Pat Benatar w. special guest Night Ranger: September 3

Prairie Home Companion Summer of Love Tour 2010: September 10

Crosby, Stills & Nash: September 15

Several Species: The PINK FLOYD Experience: Sepember 18

Darius Rucker: October 22

Need more info? Pier Six Pavilion is located at 731 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The main box office number is (410) 783-4189 or you can jump on the website for updated info on individual shows and rules for chilling on the lawn. www.piersixpavilion.com

Honfest 2010 is here! As usual, it’s going to be two of the hottest days of the summer. No need to worry! WLOY will be giving out free iced coffee courtesy of Zeke’s both Saturday and Sunday. We’ll be trying to keep cool under out tent on The Avenue in Hampden (that’s 36th St for those of you who don’t know). In addition to FREE iced coffee, we will also have CDs, bumper stickers, and WLOYcards!.

For those of you who want more information on Honfest and what it’s all about, check out the Honfest website.

A new festival for kids debuts this year in Lauraville. Kidstock promises to be a blast for kids of all ages with music and fun from noon to 5pm.

WLOY will be there all day running a special What Happens Next? program for any kids that wish to participate. Even if you don’t come to the regular sessions on campus (Fridays 4-6pm) you are welcome to come to the booth and finish one of the special stories created for the event. From noon to 3pm you can even meet the author Esta de Fossard and work with her on your story!

UPDATE: The recordings we did at Kidstock on Sunday will air this weekend (June 12/13) during the Baltimore Community Radio Hour (Saturday @ noon, Sunday @ 2pm). Hear what fun the kids had and you missed! Feel free to email wloy@loyola.edu if you would like to join our weekly groups – or stop by the booth at Honfest this weekend!

WLOY is proud to announce that our Operations Manager, John Devecka, has won the 2010 Loyola University AMDG Community Award. He is the man who started our push for Haiti relief fundraising. Without him, there wouldn’t have been a 100% match from the Aber D. Unger Foundation. John has made an impact on the Loyola Campus, the Greater Baltimore Community, and from his efforts this past semester, to countless people in Haiti.

The entire WLOY staff would like to thank John for all his hard work over the years at WLOY. We are proud of you and proud to say we work for WLOY. Read the full press release after the break!

Devecka Recognized for Public Service

May 11, 2010
Communication Dept.
410-617-2528

An administrator in the Communication Department won the 2010 Loyola University AMDG Community Award. John Devecka, Operations Manager of WLOY Radio, won the award for his leadership of a campus-wide campaign spearheaded to raise donations for victims of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

The AMDG Community Award recognizes the extraordinary collaborative efforts of a Loyola University administrator to enhance the University or greater community environment in keeping with Loyola’s mission, vision and values. The award is named after the Jesuit motto “Ad majorem Dei gloriam,” which means “for the greater glory of God.”

Devecka responded within 24 hours of the disaster to the overwhelming needs of victims by mobilizing dozens of radio students for an ambitious fundraising drive, with a donation goal of $10,000. He spent many hours in personal service, having set aside all other priorities to embrace the Haiti tragedy. He partnered with Catholic Relief Services because of its existing service operation on the ground in Haiti. Devecka’s community connections led to a matching gift from the Aber D. Unger Foundation. To date, the fund has exceeded $22,000 and is still growing.

Communication Dept. chair Dr. Russell Cook said, “John teaches Loyola students by example how to be men and women for others. He sought no notoriety for himself or his students. His motivation in this is Catholic/Christian charity for those in need. Through John’s efforts, we Baltimoreans can feel like we can make a difference in the best Jesuit/Catholic tradition.”

The WLOY Haiti Relief Fund project has been a vehicle for hundreds of students, faculty, and staff to collaborate in a top priority global service effort. WLOY is well known on campus for public service activities, having raised donations for Xavier University flooded by Hurricane Katrina, Relay for Life, and in community partnerships such as the Baltimore Community Radio Coalition and Baltimore Middle Grades Partnership.

In his acceptance remarks, Devecka dedicated the award to his students and said donations to the WLOY Haiti Relief Fund are still being received online at wloy.org/helping/haiti/.

Lance sheds a single tear in memory of the good times in Austin and all the graduating seniors of 2010. With thanks and great hopes for your futures, WLOY says goodbye to Eric “Hans” Sappington, Rich “The DJ” Rodrigues, Jeff “The X is Silent” Malone, Mike “The Red” Mennis, Jenna Mercadante, Brittany Sigler and Heather Doyle. We also wonder why only the guys got dorky nicknames.

You’re all leaving on a high note as Club of the Year! Not a bad way to go out. Congratulations and all the best for the future!! You will be missed. Well, maybe not Eric, but the rest of you certainly will be. Lance reminds Hans that what happens in Austin stays in Austin, unless you’re dumb enough to leave photos behind… which will be very helpful when soliciting alumni donations

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Rich keeps the beat while Mike, Heather, Nick and Eric look on.