TSO is freakin' metal.
You know, I never actually thought of them as metal until right before the show, but the few hardcore, head-bobbing fans really persuaded me. We had 4th row seats, which I managed to nab from joining the fan club and crazily clicking on the "buy tickets" button right when the fan club presale started. Let's just say it was pretty intense. The light spectacles were pretty amazing. The metal frames around the overhead lights started just above the stage floor and were lifted at the start of the show. Those same lights also moved around during the show for added effect. The guitarist and violinist came down on a platform, and there were a ton of crazy light and fire effects. A guy in the second row passed out, which was awkward, but the security and paramedics were there in a flash. Thankfully, he woke up.
The band played Christmas music for the first part of the show, which was the majority of the show, and probably why the majority of the audience was there. I mean, isn't Christmas Eve (Saraevo 12/24) everyone's favorite Christmas song on the radio? A narrator put all the Christmas songs together as a story, which was pretty cool. The second set was their non-Christmas stuff, which was just as metal as the Christmas stuff. All the talented musicians and singers really made it a great show. All in all, it was intense.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
11/25 The Wailers at Toad's
I don't think I've ever seen so many dreds in one place before.
The original Wailers, as in Bob Marley and the Wailers minus Bob Marley and a few other guys and plus a few new guys, brought the Bob Marley vibe to Toad's place. It was a pretty sweet show - from an emotional "No Woman, No Cry," with two soulful backup female vocalists to a 15-minute "Jammin'." They played all the great hits, pretty much everything from "Legend," and had everyone swaying and singing along to the good old "Three Little Birds." I felt pretty Rasta for like 3 hours, man.
The original Wailers, as in Bob Marley and the Wailers minus Bob Marley and a few other guys and plus a few new guys, brought the Bob Marley vibe to Toad's place. It was a pretty sweet show - from an emotional "No Woman, No Cry," with two soulful backup female vocalists to a 15-minute "Jammin'." They played all the great hits, pretty much everything from "Legend," and had everyone swaying and singing along to the good old "Three Little Birds." I felt pretty Rasta for like 3 hours, man.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Last Episode of TRL
The last episode of Total Request Live, which became TRL, which labeled its last show as Total Finale Live, ended with the number 1 video of all time on TRL.
Of course, this was Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time."
The thing was, I kept waiting for TRL to cut the video. As parts of the song slowed down, I was ready to hear some fans screaming for Britney as the video ended. However, they played the whole thing, and this surprised me.
And that is why it was no surprise that the show ended after a 10-year run.
Of course, this was Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time."
The thing was, I kept waiting for TRL to cut the video. As parts of the song slowed down, I was ready to hear some fans screaming for Britney as the video ended. However, they played the whole thing, and this surprised me.
And that is why it was no surprise that the show ended after a 10-year run.
Summary of Most of November
I am very happy about the election of Barack Obama.
Election Day was nerve racking.
We had a great Election Day party.
We went to see Rockapella 2 days later.
That was pretty cool, especially since they sang the Folgers' theme song and "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
I had a real hankering to watch "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
And then the last weeks before Thanksgiving break happened, so I was swamped in school work, which meant that I couldn't fully blog about all this.
And did I mention that I was really happy about Election Day?
Election Day was nerve racking.
We had a great Election Day party.
We went to see Rockapella 2 days later.
That was pretty cool, especially since they sang the Folgers' theme song and "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
I had a real hankering to watch "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
And then the last weeks before Thanksgiving break happened, so I was swamped in school work, which meant that I couldn't fully blog about all this.
And did I mention that I was really happy about Election Day?
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
10/28 Branford Marsalis
I can't imagine what the Marsalis household must have been like back when the kids were younger in their New Orleans home. Branford is a world-renowned saxophonist, and the family is full of distinguished musicians including his brother Wynton Marsalis, his other brothers Delfeayo and Jason, and their father, Ellis. It must have been pretty loud - entertaining, but probably loud.
Branford performed with his group, "Marsalis Brasilianos," featuring members of the Philarmonia Brasileira, at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts Tuesday night on campus. The show featured a variety of both instrumentation and styles of music, and it was an experience in itself. The musicians were incredibly talented, and they were able to showcase that.
Branford was the main soloist, and most likely the main reason why most of the audience attended the show, but while he had some incredible solos, he didn't outshine the rest of the musicians, which was nice. The first piece was played by only a small orchestra, and Branford came out afterward with a few other musicians for the next one. The charts went from exciting and invigorating to calming to jazzy. At any given point, it could have felt like being at a classical concert, riding on the train in the city, traveling through New Orlean's jazz district, taking a trip to the Carribbean, or relaxing at the end of the day.
Branford performed "Scaramouche for Saxophone (alto) and Piano Op. 165 c," composed by Darius Mihaud, and this, especially, showed his talent. He effortlessly nailed several sixteenth-note runs and varied it with both rhythmic beats and even speedier runs. The piece had three very different-feeling movements, and Branford's talent just shined through in every one of them -- actually, it did in the entire show.
Branford performed with his group, "Marsalis Brasilianos," featuring members of the Philarmonia Brasileira, at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts Tuesday night on campus. The show featured a variety of both instrumentation and styles of music, and it was an experience in itself. The musicians were incredibly talented, and they were able to showcase that.
Branford was the main soloist, and most likely the main reason why most of the audience attended the show, but while he had some incredible solos, he didn't outshine the rest of the musicians, which was nice. The first piece was played by only a small orchestra, and Branford came out afterward with a few other musicians for the next one. The charts went from exciting and invigorating to calming to jazzy. At any given point, it could have felt like being at a classical concert, riding on the train in the city, traveling through New Orlean's jazz district, taking a trip to the Carribbean, or relaxing at the end of the day.
Branford performed "Scaramouche for Saxophone (alto) and Piano Op. 165 c," composed by Darius Mihaud, and this, especially, showed his talent. He effortlessly nailed several sixteenth-note runs and varied it with both rhythmic beats and even speedier runs. The piece had three very different-feeling movements, and Branford's talent just shined through in every one of them -- actually, it did in the entire show.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
10/22 My 6th Hanson Show
To come clean and fully showcase any biases I may have, Hanson is my all-time favorite band. I've now seen them six times in concert, and this past one was just as good as any other time, which means that it was amazing.
The only bad part was that it was at the Webster Theater in Hartford. I used to like the place in high school, but since then, it's just been an awful venue. There's not enough close parking. The staff has no idea how to communicate with each other. Once I got into the main venue, I saw some friends on the other side of the little connector between the main theater and the Webster Underground. Once I went over to talk to them, the Webster staff closed the garage door, thus leaving me unable to get back to the main theater. For about a half hour, I went back and forth between two staff members - one saying the door was open and I could go through, and one saying that I could go outside and back around to the other entrance to the theater. Both of them said that if I did it the other way, I wouldn't be let in. I had to get an extra wristband to handle all this, and it was just ridiculous.
Just like every other Hanson show I've been to at the Webster, I was frustrated before the show started - last year, it had to do with being stacked like sardines in the Underground area because we were supposed to be let in first because we did "The Walk" around Hartford with Hanson, but that's a long story - but I felt much better by the time Hanson started playing. Basically, they play all of my favorite songs from the time I was 10 and listening to "Middle of Nowhere" on loop. They always play "Where's the Love," and everyone always does the little arm-twirling movement above their heads. They always play "Mmmbop," but they never sound quite as happy playing that. My favorite favorite song from "Middle of Nowhere" is "Minute Without You," and I've only seen them play this song like three times in concert, so that was the highlight of my night.
While the old stuff is what Hanson is mostly known for, that's not all they do. They've had a few new albums, including the latest, "The Walk," and the music has a much more mature, rock feel to it. They played a lot from "The Walk," and at the end, after the obligatory encore, which included "Hey," the entire audience joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to Zac, who turned 23. Basically, the show was a good time, and as it usually feels like a big reunion nostalgia party, this one really was a party for Zac's birthday. He and Taylor just threw cake at each other at the end, it was wacky, and lovable, and just Hanson.
The only bad part was that it was at the Webster Theater in Hartford. I used to like the place in high school, but since then, it's just been an awful venue. There's not enough close parking. The staff has no idea how to communicate with each other. Once I got into the main venue, I saw some friends on the other side of the little connector between the main theater and the Webster Underground. Once I went over to talk to them, the Webster staff closed the garage door, thus leaving me unable to get back to the main theater. For about a half hour, I went back and forth between two staff members - one saying the door was open and I could go through, and one saying that I could go outside and back around to the other entrance to the theater. Both of them said that if I did it the other way, I wouldn't be let in. I had to get an extra wristband to handle all this, and it was just ridiculous.
Just like every other Hanson show I've been to at the Webster, I was frustrated before the show started - last year, it had to do with being stacked like sardines in the Underground area because we were supposed to be let in first because we did "The Walk" around Hartford with Hanson, but that's a long story - but I felt much better by the time Hanson started playing. Basically, they play all of my favorite songs from the time I was 10 and listening to "Middle of Nowhere" on loop. They always play "Where's the Love," and everyone always does the little arm-twirling movement above their heads. They always play "Mmmbop," but they never sound quite as happy playing that. My favorite favorite song from "Middle of Nowhere" is "Minute Without You," and I've only seen them play this song like three times in concert, so that was the highlight of my night.
While the old stuff is what Hanson is mostly known for, that's not all they do. They've had a few new albums, including the latest, "The Walk," and the music has a much more mature, rock feel to it. They played a lot from "The Walk," and at the end, after the obligatory encore, which included "Hey," the entire audience joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to Zac, who turned 23. Basically, the show was a good time, and as it usually feels like a big reunion nostalgia party, this one really was a party for Zac's birthday. He and Taylor just threw cake at each other at the end, it was wacky, and lovable, and just Hanson.
Monday, October 20, 2008
10/17 The Guerilla Girls
I have been fascinated by the Guerilla Girls' movement since I learned about them in a women's studies class freshman year. Who were these women in gorilla masks? How were they so funny?
I've noticed their posters around New York City a few times, and I love what they have to say. Basically, they're feminists who want more equality in the art world. They wear gorilla masks and take the names of dead female artists to remain anonymous and focus the attention on their cause, not themselves. Their posters and advertisements highlight that most of the artists in major museums are white men. They also note that film awards often go to white men. They pretty much shout these statistics out in their posters, and by doing so, they call for social change.
The Guerilla Girls event, or demonstration, at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts at UConn included a video introduction of various Guerilla Girls in protests and just doing wacky things around cities with their posters and how much their work has raised awareness. Then they talked about their books and laid out some more statistics, always using humor. They asked the audience members to raise their hands if they would call themselves a feminist, and they got an overwhelmingly majority of hands and cheers - though, most of the people who would see them, especially when you had to buy tickets, would already be fans. The fact is, few people want to call themselves feminists because the word has such a negative connotation. A lot of people think that the word "feminist" applies to radical feminists or man-haters, but really, a feminist supports women and issues like the right to choose an abortion, equal pay for equal work and equal representation in career fields.
My favorite line of the night came when they showed a color-coded threat-level chart, much like the one that is used for the state of our national security. In this case, they offered levels of women's rights security. One of the highest threats included the government believing that abstinence was the best form of contraception and only teaching this in schools. In response to reading this one out loud, one of the Guerilla Girls said, "and let's not elect a vice president who believes this." On the Palin issue, while they didn't seem happy with Palin calling herself a "feminist," one of them did note that Palin has never apologized for being both a politician and a mother, which is a good thing.
The event was just a fun time, filled with laughs about stereotypical dolls and expectations of women, and I left feeling pretty good about being a feminist.
I've noticed their posters around New York City a few times, and I love what they have to say. Basically, they're feminists who want more equality in the art world. They wear gorilla masks and take the names of dead female artists to remain anonymous and focus the attention on their cause, not themselves. Their posters and advertisements highlight that most of the artists in major museums are white men. They also note that film awards often go to white men. They pretty much shout these statistics out in their posters, and by doing so, they call for social change.
The Guerilla Girls event, or demonstration, at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts at UConn included a video introduction of various Guerilla Girls in protests and just doing wacky things around cities with their posters and how much their work has raised awareness. Then they talked about their books and laid out some more statistics, always using humor. They asked the audience members to raise their hands if they would call themselves a feminist, and they got an overwhelmingly majority of hands and cheers - though, most of the people who would see them, especially when you had to buy tickets, would already be fans. The fact is, few people want to call themselves feminists because the word has such a negative connotation. A lot of people think that the word "feminist" applies to radical feminists or man-haters, but really, a feminist supports women and issues like the right to choose an abortion, equal pay for equal work and equal representation in career fields.
My favorite line of the night came when they showed a color-coded threat-level chart, much like the one that is used for the state of our national security. In this case, they offered levels of women's rights security. One of the highest threats included the government believing that abstinence was the best form of contraception and only teaching this in schools. In response to reading this one out loud, one of the Guerilla Girls said, "and let's not elect a vice president who believes this." On the Palin issue, while they didn't seem happy with Palin calling herself a "feminist," one of them did note that Palin has never apologized for being both a politician and a mother, which is a good thing.
The event was just a fun time, filled with laughs about stereotypical dolls and expectations of women, and I left feeling pretty good about being a feminist.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
9/27 -- Ben Folds
Ben Folds took a huge risk by playing nothing but new songs in the first set, then coming back for the encore to play old stuff. Still, his UConn fans seemed to buy it there in Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts.
The first half of the show was kind of a shock to everyone because it was all new, and what made it even more confusing was the fact that Ben Folds made two albums, a real one and a fake one, with songs of the same name. It was hard to tell which songs were real and fake, since he usually adds humor into his music. Some of the "fake" songs, about breaking up and wanting to kill yourself or bringing a crazy liberal "Jane fucking Fonda, Jr." to a Republican law firm Christmas party, were better than the "real" versions.
The crowd seemed pretty relieved when Folds came back for an encore and played old, familiar songs. It really kept them interested, and I realized that my favorite shows were ones where the band switched between new and old songs at appropriate times, bringing the crowd back in for each one.
I've always felt that you really need to go to a concert before you can actually get into a band. Seeing them live brings the music appreciation to a whole new level - it's when you can truly decide how good they are. Folds had to be pretty confident in himself to play an entire set of new songs to a lot of fans who were still in a state of limbo in deciding whether or not to be a big fan.
The first half of the show was kind of a shock to everyone because it was all new, and what made it even more confusing was the fact that Ben Folds made two albums, a real one and a fake one, with songs of the same name. It was hard to tell which songs were real and fake, since he usually adds humor into his music. Some of the "fake" songs, about breaking up and wanting to kill yourself or bringing a crazy liberal "Jane fucking Fonda, Jr." to a Republican law firm Christmas party, were better than the "real" versions.
The crowd seemed pretty relieved when Folds came back for an encore and played old, familiar songs. It really kept them interested, and I realized that my favorite shows were ones where the band switched between new and old songs at appropriate times, bringing the crowd back in for each one.
I've always felt that you really need to go to a concert before you can actually get into a band. Seeing them live brings the music appreciation to a whole new level - it's when you can truly decide how good they are. Folds had to be pretty confident in himself to play an entire set of new songs to a lot of fans who were still in a state of limbo in deciding whether or not to be a big fan.
9/26 -- Girl Talk
You couldn't beat this deal: Admission was free for students and $5 for guests. But what most people didn't know was that non-students had to be guests of Trinity students, who could only bring up to 5 guests. Getting in was pretty chaotic. Non-students, like me, had to find some nice Trinity students to sign us in. Many were more than happy to, but others were afraid that they would be responsible for us, so that proved to be a bit difficult. This was the start of my general observation of the night: School security just seemed really overwhelmed from start to finish, which took away from the fun atmosphere of the concert.
Because doors opened later than expected and Girl Talk didn't even go on until around midnight, there were a lot of people tailgating outside and dropping tons of solo cups on the ground. Also, bags weren't checked at first, so people were able to drink and light up smokes inside. After about an hour of that, security started checking bags on our way in and out - and we had to go outside to use the bathroom. There were only port-a-potties outside the field house. That was kind of weird.
And then it got weird again: When Girl Talk did take the stage, I could hear people in the crowd wondering out loud if he was even up there. As per tradition of a Girl Talk show, people rushed onto the stage to dance, and with that huge group on stage, I, too, wondered if they were just trying to fake an appearance by playing his music and filling the stage. Also, the staff kept turning the lights on and stopping the music as if they wanted us to leave and as if Girl Talk wasn't there. People did leave. This was also a time when people started leaving for cigarettes and coming back to tighter security checking bags. It was pretty late, but the show kept going on, and after a lot of spins and sampling of hip-hop, pop rock, oldies, classics, etc., I was convinced Girl Talk was there, and he had people dancing the entire time, both on stage and off, when they got kicked off, of course.
Despite the weirdness of the night, I didn't see anyone standing still during Girl Talk's set, and I met a lot of cool people. There was a DJ playing while people were getting in, and The Dig opened up for Girl Talk, but they were just OK because they were kind of a generic alternative punk band.
Because doors opened later than expected and Girl Talk didn't even go on until around midnight, there were a lot of people tailgating outside and dropping tons of solo cups on the ground. Also, bags weren't checked at first, so people were able to drink and light up smokes inside. After about an hour of that, security started checking bags on our way in and out - and we had to go outside to use the bathroom. There were only port-a-potties outside the field house. That was kind of weird.
And then it got weird again: When Girl Talk did take the stage, I could hear people in the crowd wondering out loud if he was even up there. As per tradition of a Girl Talk show, people rushed onto the stage to dance, and with that huge group on stage, I, too, wondered if they were just trying to fake an appearance by playing his music and filling the stage. Also, the staff kept turning the lights on and stopping the music as if they wanted us to leave and as if Girl Talk wasn't there. People did leave. This was also a time when people started leaving for cigarettes and coming back to tighter security checking bags. It was pretty late, but the show kept going on, and after a lot of spins and sampling of hip-hop, pop rock, oldies, classics, etc., I was convinced Girl Talk was there, and he had people dancing the entire time, both on stage and off, when they got kicked off, of course.
Despite the weirdness of the night, I didn't see anyone standing still during Girl Talk's set, and I met a lot of cool people. There was a DJ playing while people were getting in, and The Dig opened up for Girl Talk, but they were just OK because they were kind of a generic alternative punk band.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The McCain Debate Question
I just wrote a commentary to run in tomorrow's Daily Campus about this, but I just really believe that McCain should show up to the presidential candidate debate tomorrow. It's already scheduled. The fact that McCain would not show up because he's working on the economic crisis is silly. Yes, it's a great tactic from the campaign to show that he cares, but he and Obama are meeting with President Bush right now to discuss the plans. How much more can McCain do tomorrow for three hours? The American people want to know what is going on, and they want to know the presidential candidates' issues. Many believe that McCain is just stalling and doesn't want to face Obama. Many also believe that McCain just wants to look good by saying he cares so much about the economy that he's willing to pause his campaign. However, both candidates can quickly fly to Mississippi and back to Washington, so the debate won't take too much time from their work. Also, if they're working all hours of the day, they can afford a break. If McCain doesn't show up to the debate, some people will think he cares a lot about the economy, and others will continue to question his motives. And if he does attend the debate, he'll just continue his reputation as a flip-flopper, like in the posted video.
Side note: I don't know how much I believe McCain about his going to Washington if he bailed on David Letterman yesterday and said that he had to go to Washington to work on the financial crisis when indeed, he was getting interviewed by Katie Couric at the time he was scheduled to be on David Letterman.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
9/20 -- State Radio
UConn's SUBOG (Student Union Board of Governors) sponsored a free State Radio concert outside our student union. This was the best thing they've done for us, concert-wise, in my entire undergraduate career.
I showed up at 3:30 to watch my friend play in Johnny 9 in the Racers, a band I've seen at least 3 times before this. As usual, the local ska band gave a really good, fun show. They ended their set with "Somebody Else," the first song on their 'Open Up Your Ears' album. It might be because it's the first song on the album, and it might be because they've ended a few shows with this song, but I find this song to be my favorite and the most catchy, and the only one that I really know the words to. Who doesn't love a bitter break-up song that turns into an almost-happy tune because it's ska?
I skipped the next band to run some errands, but then I went back at 5:30 for the State Radio set. I hadn't really listened to State Radio prior to the show, but I had heard of them, and I knew they were politically charged, so I really wanted to see them. I wasn't surprised when I really enjoyed their set. Their reggae-infused rock music just felt right at that very moment when they were playing. The outdoor setting, the crowd, the college feel, the encouragement to register and vote and their Obama endorsement just all came together to give an already great concert the perfect atmosphere.
My boyfriend left with both the CDs State Radio was selling at the merch table. Together, both CDs cost $15, and the concert left us wanting to hear more.
I showed up at 3:30 to watch my friend play in Johnny 9 in the Racers, a band I've seen at least 3 times before this. As usual, the local ska band gave a really good, fun show. They ended their set with "Somebody Else," the first song on their 'Open Up Your Ears' album. It might be because it's the first song on the album, and it might be because they've ended a few shows with this song, but I find this song to be my favorite and the most catchy, and the only one that I really know the words to. Who doesn't love a bitter break-up song that turns into an almost-happy tune because it's ska?
I skipped the next band to run some errands, but then I went back at 5:30 for the State Radio set. I hadn't really listened to State Radio prior to the show, but I had heard of them, and I knew they were politically charged, so I really wanted to see them. I wasn't surprised when I really enjoyed their set. Their reggae-infused rock music just felt right at that very moment when they were playing. The outdoor setting, the crowd, the college feel, the encouragement to register and vote and their Obama endorsement just all came together to give an already great concert the perfect atmosphere.
My boyfriend left with both the CDs State Radio was selling at the merch table. Together, both CDs cost $15, and the concert left us wanting to hear more.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
8/20 -- The Allman Brothers, RatDog
The Allman Brothers Band and RatDog show at the Meadows, now known as the Dodge Music Center, in Hartford felt like a hippie fest. From the girl selling hash brownies car to car in traffic to the Merry Pranksters bus to the white van with a giant "Ron Paul 08" on the side of it, I felt like I was still in 2008 but blasted to the past in some way. The show was pretty mellow with a bunch of people just happily swaying and dancing to the rock music. Old Grateful Dead fans flashed back to their glory days as they watched their beloved band's founding member rock out with his latest jam band, RatDog. Tie-dye shirts included. The Allman Brothers included a lot of musical interludes in songs and long solos that led to half-hour-long songs, which was cool at times, but after a while, it felt a little redundant. Also, they didn't play Jessica.
8/8 - 8/10 -- All Points West
Forty-seven bands performed on three stages over the course of three days at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. It was just a ferry ride away from New York City, and almost every band commented on the awesome view of the skyline and Statue of Liberty.
While the festival was exhausting at times - we went from the train to the subway to the ferry to the long walk to the festival grounds and back each day - it was totally worth it for the festival experience. I love being able to see a bunch of great bands in the same place. Radiohead headlined the first two nights, and Jack Johnson ended the last day. After seeing a few bands and happily standing to the side or not having to push through to get close to the stage, the crowd was much more serious about the Radiohead set, which is understandable because they were the headliners, and amazing headliners at that.
Both nights, Radiohead played a lot from 'In Rainbows,' which was awesome and made sense because it was their newest album. Thom Yorke kept bending the entire top half of his body up and down over the piano and singing with the same emotion and feeling that draws fans in. A highlight for me: "All I Need" both nights. Also: pretty much the entire 'In Rainbows' album the second night. They didn't play "Karma Police," which I was hoping for but not expecting, and to keep up with tradition, they didn't play "Creep." But both nights, the entire band was great at every song with a musicianship that surpasses many bands these days. The light show was fantastic. A bunch of vertically hanging light rods were set over the stage, flashing with all sorts of colors and effects. That, combined with Radiohead playing their hearts out for fans listening their hearts out, made the concert not just another show, but an experience.
Jack Johnson was a nice, chill ender to the festival. I'd heard that some people who bought 3-day tickets to the festival left before his set, but when you pay nearly $300 for your tickets and even more for transportation to get to a show, it's really worth getting as much out of it as you can. I'm actually a Jack Johnson fan, and I thought his set was great. He did all his singles, and he brought Trey Anastasio from Phish, who also played a set on Sunday, which added to the fun of the set.
I also saw Ben Jelen for the third time on Sunday. It was pretty sad to see the sparse crowd in front of his stage, which was the furthest from the main stage. But that also meant that I was able to be right up front. He did a lot of new songs from his newest CD that I didn't buy until after his set, but he did play some older songs. He ended with "Christine," which actually made me cry. I was probably the only one though. I was able to meet him and take a picture with him after the set, and I got a signed poster for my friend, which was an added bonus.
My new favorite band from the weekend was the Roots. Yes, I probably should have listened to their music before. I've read about them, and I've heard some stuff. But sometimes you need to see a band live before you really get into them. The Roots put on a great show with their energetic band and sousaphone player. The hip-hop feel was authentic, and their music is really good. I read in Spin magazine about how ?uestlove's dad made him practice drums while growing up in a bad neighborhood and how he later felt that it was for the better. That practice showed, and it showed in every musician in the band.
The New Pornographers were already one of my favorite bands, and they were actually my favorite set at the festival. The Kathryn Calder's female vocals are just amazing with A.C. Newman's, and the music behind it all always builds up in an inspiring way. I like driving to their music, partially because it plays in the background in some car commercials, but mostly because it makes me feel good and just makes me want to go somewhere. The concert made me feel good, and at the end, they did a cover of ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down" and sounded just like the original. I actually heard two guys arguing over whether the New Pornographers actually did the original.
I also saw Mates of State for the second time, and they were great, as usual. Their dancey songs really got a pretty large crowd going. I feel like every time I hear about them, they're a little bigger, and it makes me really happy because they deserve it.
Other bands I caught: Underworld, CSS, Forro in the Dark, The Duke Spirit, Kings of Leon, Animal Collective, Chromeo, Trey Anastasio & Classic TAB, The Secret Machines, De Novo Dahl, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Rogue Wave.
8/25 -- Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles, Counting Crows (at the Meadows) and 8/12 -- Wilco, Andrew Bird (at Tanglewood)
I saw the Counting Crows, and they didn't play "Mr. Jones." One of my favorite songs of all time, one of the reasons I was especially excited about this concert, and they didn't even play the one single most people knew from them. They threw in a few "Mr. Jones" lyrics in the first few songs, so I started to worry that they wouldn't play it. I had some hope that they might have been teasing us and would play it at the end, but that didn't happen. Actually, not much happened during their set. Adam Duritz looked and sounded drunk the entire time, and I could barely understand a word he was saying. However, the band had a redeeming factor when they played the most angry, most emotional song I've ever seen live - "Goodnight Elisabeth," the "Fuck Your Christmas" version. That song was incredible. Duritz was emotional, and I think he made everyone hate whoever he was talking to. Still, it didn't make up for the rest of the set feeling too long, especially after a great set by Sara Bareilles.
Sara Bareilles is adorable and extremely talented. (Note: her website is also fantastic and adorable.) An announcer said the nicest thing about her - that in a year, she would have a big stage background of her own, much bigger than the banner she had up at the time, and that she would be headlining these shows. I really hope so. Yes, "Love Song" has become the romantic comedy song, but it's so catchy, and a really good song. I know and love all the words. The rest of her album is great, and she played a lot of it, and just everything about her -- with her simple ponytail, great taste in clothing, soft-spoken-ness and incredible piano skills -- is just lovable.
Maroon 5 reminded me that they were one of my favorite bands in high school, and they really reminded me why. This was my first time seeing them live, but Adam Levine is fantastic in winning over a crowd. He just walks across the stage with this ownership, and he really gets into all the songs. The band played all their singles - I can't think of a radio single they didn't play, which made the crowd happy. They played a lot of stuff from their first album in the beginning, which was great because that's mostly what I knew from when I was a huge Maroon 5 fan. (I think I am again, by the way.) They switched between big singles and some newer songs that some people may not have known. This line-up of songs is really ideal because it keeps the crowd interested, unlike the Counting Crows and their dragging set. Maroon 5 really kicked it up with a lot of power and energy, and I loved it. At the end of the encore, Levine gave a girl in the front row his white electric guitar. She was freaking out, and I was so happy for her. It was probably the best day of her life. It made me like the band even more, not just for their music and their show, but for their appreciation of fans.
A few days before this, I saw Wilco at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass. I couldn't see very well from my seats because of the tall people and spacing, but I enjoyed the music, which was really what the concert was for. Their "Jesus, etc." was great, and the rest of their music was just calming and really good. Andrew Bird opened for him, which was perfect because his use of different musical instruments and the musical feel of the whole set was a great transition into Wilco.
Sara Bareilles is adorable and extremely talented. (Note: her website is also fantastic and adorable.) An announcer said the nicest thing about her - that in a year, she would have a big stage background of her own, much bigger than the banner she had up at the time, and that she would be headlining these shows. I really hope so. Yes, "Love Song" has become the romantic comedy song, but it's so catchy, and a really good song. I know and love all the words. The rest of her album is great, and she played a lot of it, and just everything about her -- with her simple ponytail, great taste in clothing, soft-spoken-ness and incredible piano skills -- is just lovable.
Maroon 5 reminded me that they were one of my favorite bands in high school, and they really reminded me why. This was my first time seeing them live, but Adam Levine is fantastic in winning over a crowd. He just walks across the stage with this ownership, and he really gets into all the songs. The band played all their singles - I can't think of a radio single they didn't play, which made the crowd happy. They played a lot of stuff from their first album in the beginning, which was great because that's mostly what I knew from when I was a huge Maroon 5 fan. (I think I am again, by the way.) They switched between big singles and some newer songs that some people may not have known. This line-up of songs is really ideal because it keeps the crowd interested, unlike the Counting Crows and their dragging set. Maroon 5 really kicked it up with a lot of power and energy, and I loved it. At the end of the encore, Levine gave a girl in the front row his white electric guitar. She was freaking out, and I was so happy for her. It was probably the best day of her life. It made me like the band even more, not just for their music and their show, but for their appreciation of fans.
A few days before this, I saw Wilco at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass. I couldn't see very well from my seats because of the tall people and spacing, but I enjoyed the music, which was really what the concert was for. Their "Jesus, etc." was great, and the rest of their music was just calming and really good. Andrew Bird opened for him, which was perfect because his use of different musical instruments and the musical feel of the whole set was a great transition into Wilco.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
8/3 -- Gogol Bordello at Toad's Place
I had a ton of fun at the Gogol Bordello show this past Sunday (Aug. 3). I knew the band would put on a high-energy, crazy show sparking a lot of dance and "friendly moshing" in the crowd -- I was already warned and shown YouTube videos -- but the experience was better than anyone could describe to me, or even show me. There was a huge crowd in Toad's Place, which was a really cool surprise -- I mean, I know the band is highly praised in the underground music world, but I didn't hear about the show selling out, and I didn't think that many people in the area had heard of or were into Gogol Bordello.
But this was the kind of show where someone could bring a friend who hadn't heard much of the band who would end up getting really into it. I'll admit, I was a girlfriend in this situation, so this is proof.
The show was just a lot of fun. What really struck me was how cultural the "gypsy punk" music was just that, gypsy and punk music with Eastern European sounds fused together. I later read more about the band and learned from their website that they're made up of immigrants and refugees from Russia, the Ukraine and Israel, which makes them as much a statement as a band. And they make a big statement on stage with their shirtless lead singer jumping around and working the entire stage, other band members wearing feather collars, shaking tambourines and screaming and the two petite girls dancing on the side and later banging on a marching bass drum and crashing cymbals. Their energy was contagious. Their loyal fans were singing along and dancing hard, and their new fans joined in.
Toad's Place is my favorite concert venue because of its small size and intimate atmosphere. This year alone, I've seen shows as different from each other as The Mars Volta, where I started in the front of the crowd near the stage and had to move out after two songs so I could have enough space to breathe, and Daniel Johnston, where there were a lot of stage leaners singing along with maybe as much emotion as Daniel had when writing his songs. The Gogol Bordello show was different from any show I've seen at Toad's Place (or anywhere) but like the other shows, the crowd reaction made it feel right.
But this was the kind of show where someone could bring a friend who hadn't heard much of the band who would end up getting really into it. I'll admit, I was a girlfriend in this situation, so this is proof.
The show was just a lot of fun. What really struck me was how cultural the "gypsy punk" music was just that, gypsy and punk music with Eastern European sounds fused together. I later read more about the band and learned from their website that they're made up of immigrants and refugees from Russia, the Ukraine and Israel, which makes them as much a statement as a band. And they make a big statement on stage with their shirtless lead singer jumping around and working the entire stage, other band members wearing feather collars, shaking tambourines and screaming and the two petite girls dancing on the side and later banging on a marching bass drum and crashing cymbals. Their energy was contagious. Their loyal fans were singing along and dancing hard, and their new fans joined in.
Toad's Place is my favorite concert venue because of its small size and intimate atmosphere. This year alone, I've seen shows as different from each other as The Mars Volta, where I started in the front of the crowd near the stage and had to move out after two songs so I could have enough space to breathe, and Daniel Johnston, where there were a lot of stage leaners singing along with maybe as much emotion as Daniel had when writing his songs. The Gogol Bordello show was different from any show I've seen at Toad's Place (or anywhere) but like the other shows, the crowd reaction made it feel right.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Summer Concert Reviews
Spiritualized 7/27 Terminal 5, New York
This show was great, and I really liked the venue. It was my first time in Terminal 5, but it was a great size with a hip setting with its bar on the side and balconies above a large open floor. Spiritualized came out with two female gospel singers along with the band, and they played some great, ambient music with moving vocals and music that just built up in a way that just made it all exciting. Also at this show, a girl wearing the same outfit as me.
John Williams and the Boston Pops 7/26 Tanglewood, Lenox, MA
This show was pretty rainy, and we were drenched on the lawn, but we were watching John Williams conduct his movie music, and it was amazing. He did a lot of stuff from Indiana Jones because of the summer release of the newest movie, but in the beginning, he played a medley of a bunch of his work, including the Star Wars theme. The Pops also played some music from Close Encounters with movie scenes shown on a screen. For the second half of the show, Steven Spielberg showed up and MCed it. It was pretty amazing. Then a few actresses from the Indiana Jones movies came out. Always a surprise at Tanglewood.
James Taylor 7/4 Tanglewood Music Center, Lenox, MA
This was like a Dave Matthews concert for older people and their families. I couldn't believe the surprises that came out of this show. Well, first, Tanglewood is a great place for a show because of its lawn and the audience's ability to bring in coolers and lawn chairs. Second, that made it perfect for the Fourth of July. Taylor played a bunch of his classics, like "You've Got a Friend," and he brought friends. First, John Travolta came out to wish him a happy birthday. Then, he brought out Yo-Yo Ma to play with him. Then Carole King came out and sang "A Natural Woman" and joined him on a few songs. Then the show ended with fireworks on the other side of the lawn. It was a fantastic night.
Daniel Johnston 6/19 Toad's Place, New Haven, CT
It was pretty exciting to see Daniel Johnston play at Toad's Place. Here's the thing: we saw him in NYC, and it was worth going down there, but Toad's Place is practically in my backyard, and I loved that he was there. There wasn't as much crying as at the last show I saw, but Johnston was perkier in general. He covered couple Beatles songs, which lifted the mood. While Johnston is very much indie and not very popular, his fans are devoted, and they love him because he writes a great song. Many bands cover his music, and it's easy to see why. His lyrics combine everything from hurt to disappointment to hope, and he does it all emotionally, and one can't help but feel or what to feel what he's feeling.
Dave Matthew's Band 6/14 Meadows, Hartford, CT
This show was rainy. It was also hard to find a parking space because of all the kids partying without intending on going to the show. Still, it was a pretty good show, and with how much Dave Matthews I've heard on the radio and around college, the show felt like a pilgrimage I had to make before I graduated.
Tom Petty, Steve Winwood 6/11 Meadows, or Dodge Music Center, Hartford, CT
This show was great. Tom Petty played all of his hits, which was everything I wanted to hear. He got the crowd in, and it was fantastic. Steve Winwood opened for Petty and played "Higher Love," which was a highlight for me, and he ended with "Gimme Some Lovin'," one of my favorite marching band stands tunes, which made me really happy.
Panic at the Disco, Motion City Soundtrack, The Hush Sound, Phantom Planet 5/10 Oakdale, or Chevrolet Theater, Wallingford, CT
Th main act was actually a bit unsettling. Formerly "Panic! at the Disco," the band dropped their "!" because of their new sound. They played their old punky, fast-paced jumpy, dancey songs, but they mixed in some of their new stuff, which is like an attempt at a Beatles-like, poppy, mellow rock sound. Even their stage setup with fake flower vines wrapping the microphones and psychedelic scenery paintings felt like a time travel. Panic!, yes, I'm keeping the "!" in referring to their old sound, was good at what they did. Their old music was different, and it appealed to the masses of tween and teenage girls in their plaid skirts and colorful knee socks. Their new stuff just didn't feel right following their old songs, and the new songs and the lead singer's demeanor felt arrogant, like they were saying, yeah, we got fans, yeah, we can play whatever we want, and you love us. They're just OK at imitating the Beatles, and they don't really come close. The girls still seemed to love them though - the text screen between acts said "SCREAM IF YOU THINK BRENDON'S HOT" about every five seconds.
On the brighter side, Phantom Planet closed their set with "California" and really tried to work up the crowd, and the Hush Sound played a short, but refreshing set of their happy, kind of quirky piano rock with beautiful vocals from both Greta Salpeter and Bob Morris. This wasn't my first time seeing Motion City Soundtrack, and they were just as energized as usual. They look like normal guys in their later twenties, not skinny skinny like other popular bands (Panic at the Disco, cough), and they make the crowd dance. Their lyrics bring the crowd back to their most embarrassing high school moments but remind them that they're not alone.
Blue Man Group 5/1 Mohegan Sun Casino
This was an awesome show. It was my first time at a Blue Man Group show, and I've heard for the longest time that I had to go to one. I hadn't heard much of the music before, so a lot of it was a surprise to me, a really good surprise. The group used a lot of audience interaction in "Rock Concert Movements" and just put on a crazy, colorful and fun show.
Bottling Up A Ton of Posts/NKOTB
It's been a pretty busy summer. What's funny is that while I feel like it's been busy, it really hasn't been. I've been interning part-time at the Hartford Courant in the Middletown Bureau. This is technically my last week, but I'm still working on a column answer and will be working a few shifts next week.
I've basically been hanging out and going to concerts in my free time. That's what I've wanted to blog about: these concerts. I'll give them one big post with separated bits about each concert.
And just so this post doesn't lack substance, I will comment on the New Kids on the Block recent radio single, "Summertime." When I first heard it, I thought it was Jesse McCartney or some new boy band. It was catchy, a happy summer jam, even if it was a bit unoriginal. I thought it kind of sampled "Bittersweet Symphony," which, itself, samples the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time" for its background. The name "Summertime," and the basic chorus of "I think about you in the summertime, and all the good times we had, baby," just seemed so gimmicky and put together for a sale. I couldn't understand how NKOTB, who are much older than teenagers thinking about girls in the summertime, could relate to this kind of bubblegum song. I also couldn't understand why they're back on tour - it's been a long time, and Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre had a few singles after the band broke up. Donnie Wahlberg has a great career as an actor and producer. Maybe they just missed each other and the fame. They're back with an all-out tour and whole new album, and the radio's spinning their catchy tracks again. Good for them, hangin' tough. It seems that NKOTB want to sell themselves to us again, and actually, I'm kind of buying it.
I've basically been hanging out and going to concerts in my free time. That's what I've wanted to blog about: these concerts. I'll give them one big post with separated bits about each concert.
And just so this post doesn't lack substance, I will comment on the New Kids on the Block recent radio single, "Summertime." When I first heard it, I thought it was Jesse McCartney or some new boy band. It was catchy, a happy summer jam, even if it was a bit unoriginal. I thought it kind of sampled "Bittersweet Symphony," which, itself, samples the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time" for its background. The name "Summertime," and the basic chorus of "I think about you in the summertime, and all the good times we had, baby," just seemed so gimmicky and put together for a sale. I couldn't understand how NKOTB, who are much older than teenagers thinking about girls in the summertime, could relate to this kind of bubblegum song. I also couldn't understand why they're back on tour - it's been a long time, and Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre had a few singles after the band broke up. Donnie Wahlberg has a great career as an actor and producer. Maybe they just missed each other and the fame. They're back with an all-out tour and whole new album, and the radio's spinning their catchy tracks again. Good for them, hangin' tough. It seems that NKOTB want to sell themselves to us again, and actually, I'm kind of buying it.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Archives and Ethical Issues
I wrote the police blotter for the Daily Campus for an entire year, and this, itself, brought up a few ethical issues with archives.
(Disclaimer: The last blotter of the year was done Monday, and I will not be writing the blotter next year. Also, I cannot tell anyone who the new blotter reporter is because we do not want anyone to harass him/her.)
My boyfriend, who knew that I wrote the blotter, brought up an interesting point last week. One of his friends complained about the Daily Campus Web site at lunch because she was in the police blotter a few months ago, and now, whenever she searches her name on Google or any other search engine, her arrest is the first item that shows up. The Daily Campus archives are online for years afterward, so that means that her arrest will also be posted for years. All arrests are online for everyone to see for years, even if charges were dropped.
This brings up many questions. Is this ethical? Should we remove past police blotters from our Web site? If a mistake happens online, does it make libel worse because it will be up for anyone to see for any amount of time? One the one hand, all arrests are public record - that's why local newspapers report them in a police blotter. Anyone can find these records if they ask for them at a police station, even years later after charges had been dropped. This doesn't make it different from a Web site. Also, if someone had something embarrassing published about them, they're just stuck with it online. On the other hand, if something is false, it may be libel, and if the web master and the libeled person are unaware of this, it can be up for a long time.
Slate documents this effect well in its article, "Don't blame the New York Times for your bad reputation." While I understand that libel is unethical and a strong case for a lawsuit, if something is true, it is not libel. If a person was arrested, it is on public record, and it's not the newspaper that ruined her reputation - it was the arrest. If something is simply embarrassing information, it has already been reported, so the damage has already been done, whether it was online or not. Anyone can also look up newspaper clippings at their local library. When they look up a newspaper clipping, they may not even look at the next day's, when there was a retraction or an apology.
I would say that the online medium of journalism helps protect from reporters from libel. They can issue a retraction and apology and just go back and change the story. Those in fear of ruining their reputations from online news should consider this and take responsibility for their actions.
(Disclaimer: The last blotter of the year was done Monday, and I will not be writing the blotter next year. Also, I cannot tell anyone who the new blotter reporter is because we do not want anyone to harass him/her.)
My boyfriend, who knew that I wrote the blotter, brought up an interesting point last week. One of his friends complained about the Daily Campus Web site at lunch because she was in the police blotter a few months ago, and now, whenever she searches her name on Google or any other search engine, her arrest is the first item that shows up. The Daily Campus archives are online for years afterward, so that means that her arrest will also be posted for years. All arrests are online for everyone to see for years, even if charges were dropped.
This brings up many questions. Is this ethical? Should we remove past police blotters from our Web site? If a mistake happens online, does it make libel worse because it will be up for anyone to see for any amount of time? One the one hand, all arrests are public record - that's why local newspapers report them in a police blotter. Anyone can find these records if they ask for them at a police station, even years later after charges had been dropped. This doesn't make it different from a Web site. Also, if someone had something embarrassing published about them, they're just stuck with it online. On the other hand, if something is false, it may be libel, and if the web master and the libeled person are unaware of this, it can be up for a long time.
Slate documents this effect well in its article, "Don't blame the New York Times for your bad reputation." While I understand that libel is unethical and a strong case for a lawsuit, if something is true, it is not libel. If a person was arrested, it is on public record, and it's not the newspaper that ruined her reputation - it was the arrest. If something is simply embarrassing information, it has already been reported, so the damage has already been done, whether it was online or not. Anyone can also look up newspaper clippings at their local library. When they look up a newspaper clipping, they may not even look at the next day's, when there was a retraction or an apology.
I would say that the online medium of journalism helps protect from reporters from libel. They can issue a retraction and apology and just go back and change the story. Those in fear of ruining their reputations from online news should consider this and take responsibility for their actions.
Flash Media
I am working on a slide show for my bio page on my home page. The flash effects we had to try are
1. Fade in effect (your future slide shows begin here)
2. Zoom in effect (yeah, enter the nascar)
3. Blur effect (easier than you thought)
4. Photo sideshow (now to the real thing, complete with a remote)
I didn't have much trouble doing it. Kodi posted some resources to help us, so I just followed the directions. First I had to open Flash 8.0 and start the slideshow template. The photos I used aren't that great, but they were the only ones I had. I think this addition shows a good representation of myself.
1. Fade in effect (your future slide shows begin here)
2. Zoom in effect (yeah, enter the nascar)
3. Blur effect (easier than you thought)
4. Photo sideshow (now to the real thing, complete with a remote)
I didn't have much trouble doing it. Kodi posted some resources to help us, so I just followed the directions. First I had to open Flash 8.0 and start the slideshow template. The photos I used aren't that great, but they were the only ones I had. I think this addition shows a good representation of myself.
Multimedia
Web sites use multimedia to better tell a story. In many cases, it works well. In some, it deters from the main objective of the story. Here are some reviews, using Mindy McAdams Chapter 2 advice.
Tornadoes Injure Hundreds in Virginia
This article, featured on AOL news includes the written article and also uses two slide shows of photos from a tornado and the ruins. It also has a video of the tornado. This is everything one could ask for when it comes to reporting a story. The slides change easily, and the multimedia is easy for a user to navigate. One criticism, however, is the way the page is laid out. I understand the ads on the side are necessary to pay for the site, but they take up a lot of space. The story begins with the article, then a slide show interrupts it. Then there's more article text, then another slide show. Then after more text, there's video. The user has to scroll down pretty far to get to the video, and because it's an interesting piece of multimedia, it should be easier to access. Also, the placement of the multimedia detracts from the article.
Madonnarama
I love Madonna, so I appreciated this article and the multimedia that went along with it. It was interesting because she hasn't been around in the media for a while, and she's making yet another comeback. Vanity Fair does a great job with multimedia as the magazine makes use of its photos. The article reads thoroughly with one photo in the middle. It doesn't detract from the article. It also gives a small photo that serves as an info box to bring the user to a slide show of Madonna photos from the 1980s to the present. The slide show itself is a great work of multimedia. The photos fade in and out well - there are many photos, and it shows a history of Madonna. Also, when the user brings the arrow to the side of the photo, the screen simulates a turning page. That is a really neat use of interactivity.
Time.com Multimedia Page
Time.com has a specific multimedia tab from its home page. From it, one can access great and interesting multimedia that, by themselves, serve as journalism.
One in particular, an interactive graphic on dictators, especially shows that point. This graphic shows where dictators go when they are in exile. When the user clicks on an X on the map, the rollover image shows a picture of the dictator, some information on him and an arrow that shows where he started as a dictator and points to where he moved to later. This type of multimedia takes research, and I like that it can stand alone as a piece of journalism.
Tornadoes Injure Hundreds in Virginia
This article, featured on AOL news includes the written article and also uses two slide shows of photos from a tornado and the ruins. It also has a video of the tornado. This is everything one could ask for when it comes to reporting a story. The slides change easily, and the multimedia is easy for a user to navigate. One criticism, however, is the way the page is laid out. I understand the ads on the side are necessary to pay for the site, but they take up a lot of space. The story begins with the article, then a slide show interrupts it. Then there's more article text, then another slide show. Then after more text, there's video. The user has to scroll down pretty far to get to the video, and because it's an interesting piece of multimedia, it should be easier to access. Also, the placement of the multimedia detracts from the article.
Madonnarama
I love Madonna, so I appreciated this article and the multimedia that went along with it. It was interesting because she hasn't been around in the media for a while, and she's making yet another comeback. Vanity Fair does a great job with multimedia as the magazine makes use of its photos. The article reads thoroughly with one photo in the middle. It doesn't detract from the article. It also gives a small photo that serves as an info box to bring the user to a slide show of Madonna photos from the 1980s to the present. The slide show itself is a great work of multimedia. The photos fade in and out well - there are many photos, and it shows a history of Madonna. Also, when the user brings the arrow to the side of the photo, the screen simulates a turning page. That is a really neat use of interactivity.
Time.com Multimedia Page
Time.com has a specific multimedia tab from its home page. From it, one can access great and interesting multimedia that, by themselves, serve as journalism.
One in particular, an interactive graphic on dictators, especially shows that point. This graphic shows where dictators go when they are in exile. When the user clicks on an X on the map, the rollover image shows a picture of the dictator, some information on him and an arrow that shows where he started as a dictator and points to where he moved to later. This type of multimedia takes research, and I like that it can stand alone as a piece of journalism.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Extra Web Behaviors
For this assignment, we have to show that we can do the following:
i) swap image ii) pop-up window iv) Play sound iv) Jump menus.
i) swap image ii) pop-up window iv) Play sound iv) Jump menus.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Web Is Not Print
Kodi and our guest speaker, Marie Shanahan of ctnow.com, are always saying that web is not print, and it's not.
One of the main differences is that it's interactive. Web users are interested not only in the story but what can prove the story. This means that they want audio feed, video clips and links. A simple print story cannot give you that. When writing for the Web, a reporter has to remember that users are constantly delineating from the story to read something else and keep stories short and to the point. They should also have interesting pictures and multi-media that relates to the story. They also have to write headlines that are search engine-friendly, meaning that it can be found through a search engine when a user types in key words. All of this is important, and it reflects a new type of on-the-go reader. This is what all readers are becoming, and news media has to cater to it to stay in business.
One of the main differences is that it's interactive. Web users are interested not only in the story but what can prove the story. This means that they want audio feed, video clips and links. A simple print story cannot give you that. When writing for the Web, a reporter has to remember that users are constantly delineating from the story to read something else and keep stories short and to the point. They should also have interesting pictures and multi-media that relates to the story. They also have to write headlines that are search engine-friendly, meaning that it can be found through a search engine when a user types in key words. All of this is important, and it reflects a new type of on-the-go reader. This is what all readers are becoming, and news media has to cater to it to stay in business.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
RSS Feeds
In class last Thursday, we learned about about RSS feeds. It was interesting because I knew what an RSS feed was, but I didn't know what it was called. Being an acronym for "really simple syndication" is the perfect description - because it is really simple. Although we were given instructions on how to make RSS feeds from scratch, we were also shown ways to do it through online servers. That made it really simple. However, we still have to know how to make them from scratch, so here it is:
First, RSS feeds have to be done through XML, which is different from HTML, which is what we're used to doing code on. However, XML is more interactive. Then you have to give it a channel and give it information on what you want to blog. Then you add the RSS links, close the channel and validate it. That should work. I look forward to putting this all on my site.
First, RSS feeds have to be done through XML, which is different from HTML, which is what we're used to doing code on. However, XML is more interactive. Then you have to give it a channel and give it information on what you want to blog. Then you add the RSS links, close the channel and validate it. That should work. I look forward to putting this all on my site.
Review of 5 Blogs
Mindy McAdams
This is a blog that we were referred to in class. It's all about teaching journalism, and McAdams does a pretty good job at critiquing other sites and talking about her experiences with online journalism topics such as using flash. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifHer new blog site, which a link from her old site directs you to, is interesting because it shows her own style and doesn't conform to the basic Blogger layout. Her most recent post, from March 25, talks about a journalist talking to her class. This is much like a reported story, which is journalism. Although some may argue that blogging is not journalism, McAdams, who is a journalism teacher, makes her blog journalism by writing her own stories and doing research. Journalists are her audience, and the way she presents her material - in a journalistic fashion - is very effective.
Paul Bradshaw
Bradshaw's blog page immediately interests a reader because he uses basic colors and form in an appealing way. He thrives on the "less is more" concept. He even calls his blog the "online journalism blog" and the link is the same thing. He talks about online journalism in a commentary sort of way. I would consider him a columnist because he specifically sites different sites that he is writing about. Basically, he's doing the same thing that we're doing for our blogs for J295 - he just looks like he has more experience.
Dan Gillmor
Gillmor's site is different from a traditional Blogger layout site, but it's neat in the fact that it is a basic list of what he's writing about. He uses his blog to express his opinion on everything, and even though the list format may not be as appealing as Bradshaw's blog layout, readers can easily click on his articles. His articles are less formal than traditional newspaper commentary, but it seems like he's appealing to more casual readers, just Internet surfers.
Adrian Holovaty
Holovaty's site is more simplistic, but it appeals to readers looking for a simpler blog. The first page is more like a table of contents, which is appealing to someone who doesn't want to sort through a blog page to get to what they want. It's interesting because he has media coverage as well as his favorite music. His page is more personal, in that sense.
Jeff Jarvis
This site automatically attracts a reader because of its name, the "BuzzMachine." It's interesting, and like an actual buzz word, it's just attractive. Jarvis is very opinionated, and this is probably entertaining to his frequent visitors. He discusses newspapers and the FCC, and he just gives his honest opinion. His site is more like a commentary talk show with one of the news talking heads than a newspaper commentary, but he's appealing to a more modern, television audience.
This is a blog that we were referred to in class. It's all about teaching journalism, and McAdams does a pretty good job at critiquing other sites and talking about her experiences with online journalism topics such as using flash. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifHer new blog site, which a link from her old site directs you to, is interesting because it shows her own style and doesn't conform to the basic Blogger layout. Her most recent post, from March 25, talks about a journalist talking to her class. This is much like a reported story, which is journalism. Although some may argue that blogging is not journalism, McAdams, who is a journalism teacher, makes her blog journalism by writing her own stories and doing research. Journalists are her audience, and the way she presents her material - in a journalistic fashion - is very effective.
Paul Bradshaw
Bradshaw's blog page immediately interests a reader because he uses basic colors and form in an appealing way. He thrives on the "less is more" concept. He even calls his blog the "online journalism blog" and the link is the same thing. He talks about online journalism in a commentary sort of way. I would consider him a columnist because he specifically sites different sites that he is writing about. Basically, he's doing the same thing that we're doing for our blogs for J295 - he just looks like he has more experience.
Dan Gillmor
Gillmor's site is different from a traditional Blogger layout site, but it's neat in the fact that it is a basic list of what he's writing about. He uses his blog to express his opinion on everything, and even though the list format may not be as appealing as Bradshaw's blog layout, readers can easily click on his articles. His articles are less formal than traditional newspaper commentary, but it seems like he's appealing to more casual readers, just Internet surfers.
Adrian Holovaty
Holovaty's site is more simplistic, but it appeals to readers looking for a simpler blog. The first page is more like a table of contents, which is appealing to someone who doesn't want to sort through a blog page to get to what they want. It's interesting because he has media coverage as well as his favorite music. His page is more personal, in that sense.
Jeff Jarvis
This site automatically attracts a reader because of its name, the "BuzzMachine." It's interesting, and like an actual buzz word, it's just attractive. Jarvis is very opinionated, and this is probably entertaining to his frequent visitors. He discusses newspapers and the FCC, and he just gives his honest opinion. His site is more like a commentary talk show with one of the news talking heads than a newspaper commentary, but he's appealing to a more modern, television audience.
The Corruption of Journalism?
While I kind of know what Kodi means when he wants us to write on the topic of "The Corruption of Journalism," I also don't know what he means, so I'll just go on the topic of blogging.
Blogging may just be "The Corruption of Journalism." It's different from the traditional making phone calls, going out and finding sources and writing an objective story in the inverted pyramid style. Some journalists may be offended by bloggers who say they're being journalists, who get credit for the work that "real" journalists do. For example, we talked about bloggers who make money selecting news stories each day and just listing good ones. Are they really journalists? Could this be the corruption of journalism?
In a sense, these bloggers are journalists because they're finding sources and they're relaying information to their readers. I understand that this may be considered a form of corruption to a pure form of journalism, but really, I don't think there ever was a pure for of journalism. Style has changed. If blogging is a form of journalism, it's a new style. If it's not, then journalists can rest assured that bloggers aren't corrupting it.
Blogging may just be "The Corruption of Journalism." It's different from the traditional making phone calls, going out and finding sources and writing an objective story in the inverted pyramid style. Some journalists may be offended by bloggers who say they're being journalists, who get credit for the work that "real" journalists do. For example, we talked about bloggers who make money selecting news stories each day and just listing good ones. Are they really journalists? Could this be the corruption of journalism?
In a sense, these bloggers are journalists because they're finding sources and they're relaying information to their readers. I understand that this may be considered a form of corruption to a pure form of journalism, but really, I don't think there ever was a pure for of journalism. Style has changed. If blogging is a form of journalism, it's a new style. If it's not, then journalists can rest assured that bloggers aren't corrupting it.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
WNPR: Good Example of Use of Online Medium
The Connecticut Public Radio Station, WNPR, uses the Internet to its advantage. As more people are reading news online and fewer people are listening to the radio, this station has posted its broadcasts online, in an archive format. It uses the Internet to be accessible at all times.
It also has print stories and photos, something that people cannot get from just listening to the radio. The print stories tend to be written scripts of what the audio reports are, so they aren't catered to an online medium in that sense, but because they are broadcast stories, they are brief and to the point. However, the fact that they are brief does not mean that they lack detail. NPR has a reputation of being a good source of news, and it does not lose that reputation on the Web site.
It also has print stories and photos, something that people cannot get from just listening to the radio. The print stories tend to be written scripts of what the audio reports are, so they aren't catered to an online medium in that sense, but because they are broadcast stories, they are brief and to the point. However, the fact that they are brief does not mean that they lack detail. NPR has a reputation of being a good source of news, and it does not lose that reputation on the Web site.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Original Journalism on the Web
The Dressler Family Ranch
This Web site is a great example of original journalism online. Done by students at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, the site includes stories about the ranch, about why ranchers are in trouble. Stories are brief and interesting. The site includes broadcast stories as well as print stories, and it has great slide shows and interactivity. It is organized very well and has headlines that would entice the reader as well as show up on a search engine.
This Web site is a great example of original journalism online. Done by students at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, the site includes stories about the ranch, about why ranchers are in trouble. Stories are brief and interesting. The site includes broadcast stories as well as print stories, and it has great slide shows and interactivity. It is organized very well and has headlines that would entice the reader as well as show up on a search engine.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Election 2008 Online Coverage
People are really interested in the 2008 election. From primary coverage to polls of who could win the presidency, people are keeping track of it all - especially online.
I often check RealClearPolitics.com because they have informative and balanced blogs. You don't have to worry that it's all leaning toward one side. The site has many writers. It also has a good search system and breaks the election up into categories such as the parties and candidates. I had to write a paper for a political science class that predicted who would win the primaries in a certain state, Arkansas, and even though the answers would seem obvious - Clinton and Huckabee in one of their home states - the blogs helped me come to a full conclusion.
I don't have time to subscribe to the New York Times like I did for the past two years, so when I find time to read news, I often go to their Web site or other news sites such as CNN or NPR. I listen to NPR while driving to get some election coverage, but when I get home, I want to read about the coverage I miss when I park my car and go back to my apartment.
The CNN site is especially helpful because they have a full election center page, as linked above. It displays the number of votes each delegate has and shows a map of all the states and shows who has done primaries.
I often check RealClearPolitics.com because they have informative and balanced blogs. You don't have to worry that it's all leaning toward one side. The site has many writers. It also has a good search system and breaks the election up into categories such as the parties and candidates. I had to write a paper for a political science class that predicted who would win the primaries in a certain state, Arkansas, and even though the answers would seem obvious - Clinton and Huckabee in one of their home states - the blogs helped me come to a full conclusion.
I don't have time to subscribe to the New York Times like I did for the past two years, so when I find time to read news, I often go to their Web site or other news sites such as CNN or NPR. I listen to NPR while driving to get some election coverage, but when I get home, I want to read about the coverage I miss when I park my car and go back to my apartment.
The CNN site is especially helpful because they have a full election center page, as linked above. It displays the number of votes each delegate has and shows a map of all the states and shows who has done primaries.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
J295 Links
How do you get started, really?
-We looked at this site in class, and I thought these web design tips were a lot like newspaper copyediting tips. Basically, every web page, like a newspaper page, should have something dominant. Colors and fonts should match. I thought it was interesting because web pages are different and newer than old newspapers, but a lot of the things that make a page a quality page don't change, no matter what medium you're using.
Are Navs useful?
-I agree with this site, that users look at content before navigation points. When I first started making my page in this class, I thought it would be OK to put my navigations in different places on the side. However, as Kodi noted, navs are useful, and people need them to get to places on the site.
Prioritize.
-I don't have much experience in online journalism, but like I said about getting started, it is a lot like newspaper layout in that it appeals to human nature. People will read what's on top first, so as editors, we should put the most important information on top.
Design Tutorials
-These sites give basic information on design. At first, I didn't think I'd need these because I already had a design layout in mind, but because we had to look at this, I ended up finding it helpful to see other ideas.
Dmitry's design lab
-I liked how Dmitry gave us tips on font. The other day, I drove past an "Aquatic Wildlife" store and the font on the store's main sign was awful. It was too whimsical and curly for a pet store - it looked more like an artsy coffee shop. Fonts, like Web sites, have character, and the characters should fit together. The same goes for color. It's impossible to have a green Web site about anything other than nature or money because the color characterizes it.
Top 10 Mistakes
-These mistakes are easy to make for new Web designers. For example, I don't know what my site looks like online quite yet. If I were to use small fonts, they might not look that small on my computer screen but very small on another. Also, it could be easy to forget some content such as contact information, and that could greatly deter the site.
Web pages that suck
-From this site, I looked at the top 10 worst sites.
-We looked at this site in class, and I thought these web design tips were a lot like newspaper copyediting tips. Basically, every web page, like a newspaper page, should have something dominant. Colors and fonts should match. I thought it was interesting because web pages are different and newer than old newspapers, but a lot of the things that make a page a quality page don't change, no matter what medium you're using.
Are Navs useful?
-I agree with this site, that users look at content before navigation points. When I first started making my page in this class, I thought it would be OK to put my navigations in different places on the side. However, as Kodi noted, navs are useful, and people need them to get to places on the site.
Prioritize.
-I don't have much experience in online journalism, but like I said about getting started, it is a lot like newspaper layout in that it appeals to human nature. People will read what's on top first, so as editors, we should put the most important information on top.
Design Tutorials
-These sites give basic information on design. At first, I didn't think I'd need these because I already had a design layout in mind, but because we had to look at this, I ended up finding it helpful to see other ideas.
Dmitry's design lab
-I liked how Dmitry gave us tips on font. The other day, I drove past an "Aquatic Wildlife" store and the font on the store's main sign was awful. It was too whimsical and curly for a pet store - it looked more like an artsy coffee shop. Fonts, like Web sites, have character, and the characters should fit together. The same goes for color. It's impossible to have a green Web site about anything other than nature or money because the color characterizes it.
Top 10 Mistakes
-These mistakes are easy to make for new Web designers. For example, I don't know what my site looks like online quite yet. If I were to use small fonts, they might not look that small on my computer screen but very small on another. Also, it could be easy to forget some content such as contact information, and that could greatly deter the site.
Web pages that suck
-From this site, I looked at the top 10 worst sites.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl Halftime Show
I'm in the front pit playing the vibraphone for the first patriotic part and then playing the bells for "Sing Sing Sing."
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