The Jackpot

Hello everyone! For the last post of the semester I have decided to blog about the Jackpot Saloon in Lawrence. This bar in particular is a special one. It has a very unique atmosphere with great owners and a great crowd.

Every Friday night there are local bands who perform at the venue, most are rock based groups with a few alternative looks. I have embedded a link below venues to the Jackpots website. There you can find all the future line ups. I hope one of you can find time during winter break to make it to a show. Well worth it.

Going Back to N'awlins

I just wanted to add a few photos from my New Orleans experience. I know I posted in the past but I can't get over how great of a time it was. The music and the culture that I experienced while I was there is very much missed.

Some of the photos above were taken on Frenchman street in the French Quarter. Every night during my stay I ventured on down to Frenchman, just to get a glimpse of what orchestrated group might be playing that night. In the background you can see one that we found. I would say these gentlemen were no older than eighteen but boy could they play. An amazing sight to be seen that will leave you in a trance and wanting more. I hope you enjoy.

My Limp Bizkit Concert Expericence

Hello everyone and happy Friday! Earlier on in the semester I posted a blog about free concerts that were performed in the Power and Light District of Kansas City. I have since then attended a show, not one that I completely expected to go to but hey, it was free.

Sometime during the month of September, Limp Bizkit performed a free live concert for the wonderful people of Kansas City and pretty much anyone else who wanted to attend. To my surprise I was not disappointed. Not only did they play a few of their best songs but they performed tribute songs to bands like Rage Against the Machine and Sublime.

The venue and atmosphere also complemented the experience. With the large outdoor venue, there was plenty of space for viewers to watch the show and find a decent view of the stage if preferred.
For anyone who is thinking about attending a concert at this particular spot, I would say go for it!

Granada Theater

Hello everyone! So winter break is upon us and for anyone who cares, I am beyond ready. However, incase some of you were wondering what to do during your time off, I have a few shows that will be coming to the Lawrence area at around this time.

The Granada Theater on Mass St will be featuring artists from EOTO to Shaggy, and one of my favorites, Bad Fish, who actually will not be performing until February. The Granada has a top and bottom level with a two bars. It is a bit smaller than what some may consider a theater, but in it's defense, I have seen some of the best and my most memorable shows there. Another plus is that it less than an hour away.

I have posted the link below for the Granada's website with full line ups well into 2015 year. I hope you all take a look and get a chance to make it to a show. http://thegranada.com

New Age Music Collaborations

Hello Everyone! I have recently been thinking about how music is changing and evolving as I grow older through the years. I consider myself a Millennial, and it seems that the new young generation that the music is appealing to is Generation Z. In this thought, I cannot say that I do not enjoy the genres of music I am about to speak of, I just have noticed that change becoming more prevalent.

What I have noticed more recently is the different collaborations between genres of music.
It can be seen in country, rock, rap and even pop music. One that I noticed in particular is the country group Florida Georgia Line. They have done collaborations with rap star Nelly in their hit song "cruise", even Tim McGraw performed a duo with the rapper back in 2004.

Country music is not the only genre of music that is seeing this shift. Rap is also coming around to adding a touch of classic rock to their mixes. I have heard songs featuring Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin mixed in with today's hottest rap star's beats.

This change up can be a great thing to expand the minds of music lovers everywhere.  Not only does shows that you don't have to like just one type of music and that all genres are bias against other music, but it brings an expansion to the listener that there are other great artists out there that may not particularly a part of your personal choice but worth a listen too. You never know, you might just end up liking it.

785 Magazine

Hello everyone, I would like to inform you of yet another way to discover local music. This time it comes in the form of a magazine. 785 magazine in a local source of media that allows anyone around the Topeka are to get insider interviews of local artists and musicians, and the insight behind what motivates their gifts. Each magazine produced also includes a section that provides information on all of the bands and musicians coming to the Topeka area and were they will be performing.

I find this magazine to be a great addition to Topeka's almost non-existant art scene. Most people would think of Topeka as being boring and dull, and if asked would refer to Lawrence as the place to go if you want to expand your mind in this area. It is here people, you just have to look for it, which in my opinion is not good. We should be informed that there is more out there in your own town than what you think and it's easy to find.

785 mag also has a Twitter and encourages anyone who is has a story to tell or any insight on a new movement in the art scene to tweet them about it @seveneightfive. I strongly encourage anyone to do this or at least give them a follow. Lets help keep the artistic community alive in Topeka!

Spotify and Algorithms

I know I have been on a Spotify kick lately, but it's simply because I love it. It's better than Pandora, and it doesn't cost like iTunes. With all the use that I have been getting with my amazing music app, it got me thinking, is there an algorithm to the was Spotify shuffles your songs for you? I seem to always shuffle my music in a way that it makes me feel like I won the prize from the cracker jack box. You never know what you might get next. In these thoughts I have noticed that a large number of the same songs continue to play and then suddenly a random song that I have no idea of what it is or why it is on my playlist, suddenly begins to play.

Out of my own curiosity I Googled that exact question and came up with a blog written by a man named Lukas Polacek, who gave the breakdown much better than I could. For the answer to the huge question I know you are all dying to know, I have posted his blog below. I hope everyone enjoys! https://labs.spotify.com/2014/02/28/how-to-shuffle-songs/

Boobie Trap

Happy Friday! Today I want to inform you of another local spot in Topeka that offers live music. The Boobie Trap bar offers the performances of many local and upcoming bands. The genres vary from heavy metal to EDM, and the staff is always friendly! The bar itself is a little small. There is a small stage towards the front and not much dance room but the atmosphere makes up for it all. If you would prefer to sit outside and listen to the music through the speakers versus the smaller area inside, the patio would be best for you. Located at 1417 SW 6th Ave, it is just a ways past campus. I have also linked their website below for a full list of line ups for the rest of the month.http://www.boobietrapbar.com

Musically Inspired Halloween Costumes For 2014

My post today is a little out of the norm. Due to Halloween coming up, I have decided to post an article showing a few costumes that are inspired by the looks of Beyonce, Lorde, and Pharrell's red carpet get up. These are simple costumes for any college student on a budget. I am sure that you own a few things that are fashion forward and where does the media get these looks to push on to it's viewers? No one other than you. I have placed the link below from instyle.com which offers the looks. I hope you all enjoy and have a happy and safe halloween. http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20308640_20863221_30235424,00.html

EDM What?

This is for those of you who are into the Electronic Dance Movement scene, or better know as EDM. It seems to be slightly brushing over college campuses with the eighteen to twenty somethings and causing a stir. I am not one to say that I don't enjoy the music, I just however feel no need to listen to the sound of transformers juxtaposed with Iggy Azalea's "I'm So Fancy." Not my gig. Yes, I have been to a Basenectar concert and  I have seen Skrillex at Kanrocksas a few years back and I did indeed enjoy myself at the time.
I believe with my age, I  have come to the realization that I will never be able to put on a furry raccoon costume and dance around with a hula-hoop until my socks fall off. I just can't even folks.

Putting all my rants aside, I would like to share with you a little tool that I have recently stumbled upon that I actually found to be genius. The website electronicmidwest.com allows one to enter thier state and city for the most up to date shows and festivals. I personally find this to be a great tool. I have learned first hand that most shows are found through word of mouth and sometimes you just end up missing one. This allows anyone to stay up to date and in-tune with their favorite performers. I have posted the link below for anyone who is interested. www.electronicmidwest.com

From Shazam To Spotify

Fun fact of the day folks. There is now an option on the Shazam application that allows you to link the identified song to your Spotify. For those of you who are not familiar with Shazam, it is an application which allows the user to place their phone near any song or movie clip in hopes to identify it. I personally love this application and have used it for a few years now. It eliminates that need to sit and ponder who sings "that" song or what the title may be. Why I feel like it gets even better is the new option to link those found songs to your Spotify account, making it much easier to immediately add it to your playlists and listen in full.

Lorde's Royals

Hello everyone! Last week I came across a post that was quite interesting. Apparently San Francisco baseball fans have sand in places that it shouldn't be over the Royals now taking the spot for the World Series. There have been reports that radio stations in the bay area will not be playing Lorde's "Royals" for the duration of the series. Being a Royals fan myself, I died laughing with a smirk on my face. Below I have posted the full article for anyone who would like to read it and on a second note, GO ROYALS! http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/10/20/san-francisco-radio-stations-wont-play-lorde-hit-song-royals-during-world/

Twitter Brings Good PR

I first and foremost have to start with the comment that I am not a fan of Twitter. I am almost 99.9% positive that if I did not have to use it for my school work, I wouldn't have an account. I personally do not understand why anyone would enjoy knowing every second of someones life. I do not care when you last ate, how good it was, or even when you fart. I just can't even!

Putting my rants aside, I will make a positive note that I do enjoy following one person, Lazlo, a radio DJ for 96.5 The Buzz. I already listen to his afternoon shows as much as I can. When three-o'clock rolls around and its handy, I will be listening. A sarcastic and blunt personality with the topic of funny controversial issues make it all worth a listen and surprisingly enough, his Twitter follows this format as well. One post that I noticed made me laugh so hard that milk could have spouted out of my nose. For the sake of class and anyone who may be offended, I will not repeat what was said but you can check him out for a good follow @lazlothebuzz.

For my other followers I chose WIBW news anchor Melissa Bruner. Considering that she is a professional news anchor and not a radio host, I can understand her clean comments. Although, I found disinteresting and not worth a follow. If I need to keep up with whats going on in my town, I will just get on the website or watch the news. I could personally care less about a behind the scenes look of what your job entails. I again apologize for my rants, but hey, to each's own. Hope the rest of your Monday is awesome!https://twitter.com/lazlothebuzz

What Ever Happened To MTV News?

Seriously? Su-chin Pak, Sway, and that old creepy white guy who slightly resembled David Bowie, please tell me you remember them? Do you remember the immediate breaks in your LFO music videos because you were such a tween and loved to sing "I like girls who wear Abercrombie and Fitch", like you really understood the lyrics but liked to pretend you did because you were SO totally 90's. The sound when MTV News came on was so rememberable that it is to be forever known as that sound.
Recently I was watching MTV, I noticed the graphic cube that appears in replacement of the old MTV News show. I must say, I was a little disappointed. The graphic cube displays the latest news in the music scene. When I first saw it, I thought to myself...how am I supposed to read this thing fast enough? This is not news! I want the MTV reporters to break in with their latest update to the world, with the delivery that made you feel as though what you were being told was critical information and you had to call your bff to make sure they knew that Nick and Jessica were totally breaking up.
It is safe to say times change and media changes with it. Although, we will never forget some of the little things from our childhood that made us oh so happy and kept us saying, I want my MTV!

Specks Jam Night

Each Sunday, Specks Bar and Grill offers a free jam night. Specks is a great place for college students who enjoy live music to mingle. The bar is close to campus, located off of 21st and Gage, and always free of cover. Specks includes an outside stage and and a patio. Music usually starts at around 9 p.m. and the crowd is always encouraging anyone who would like to sing or play themselves to join in. Although most would turn their nose up at the sight of the place, the people and environment make it a welcoming and enjoyable time. Specks also provides student discounts with a Washburn ID.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Seabrook+Tavern+%26+Grill/@39.0252657,-95.7265003,15z/data=!4m7!1m4!3m3!1s0x87bf0311abe1b823:0x534a86a02b40c26d!2sSeabrook+Tavern+%26+Grill!3b1!3m1!1s0x87bf0311abe1b823:0x534a86a02b40c26d

Bands In Town

Hello everyone!
Today I would like to share with you an application that I have recently stumbled upon, the application is called Bands In Town and it is iOs and Android compatible. Bands In Town allows the user to enter in their location or preferred location while it searches local venues for upcoming events. Once the upcoming events are posted, the application will notify you of the date, time, and venue, along with ticket prices that can be bought through the retailer.

Before finding this application I found it very hard to discover upcoming concerts without hearing about it through friends or on the local radio. There were always those times when I was unfortunate enough to buy tickets due to my lack of knowledge for an upcoming show. For a person like me this can be the worst feeling. Especially if you have been a die hard fan of the Backstreet Boys for years and come to find out that the concert you have been waiting to go to since you were nine years old, dancing in your platform sneakers is completely sold out. If you thought you were going to go...you better start checking Craigslist sister.

With the Bands in Town application you no longer have to worry about missing another Backstreet Boys concert. When signing up with the application, it takes down your e-mail address and sends you notifications each time a new concert posts, allowing the user to stay posted months in advance. A sure way to ensure that you never miss another event again.

Free Concerts

Hello everyone,
Today I will be informing you of free concerts, because who doesn't like free entertainment?
Every month you can find these free concerts at Kansas City's Power and Light District. The shows usually start at around 7:30 pm and have a wide genre of artists that play, plus the venue is HUGE! Power and Light is an outside bar that features over six different bars in one. Each bar has a different theme. A spot for each and every person. If you like to ride rodeo bulls, there is a PBR country if you like rock music, there is an Angels Rock Bar with women who swing from the ceiling, talk about a craze.

You can check out this venue and the artists who will be performing by clicking my event calendar  link below. The event calendar provides all of the artists and events that Power and Light will be holding for the next few months. I hope you enjoy.

Event Calendar

N'awlins Ya'll

Hey ya’ll! I recently took a trip to the great city of N’awlins, (a southern way of saying New Orleans) and needless to say they have great music. The whole city is flourishing with culture. You can see everything from local artists showing their work on the streets to fortune-tellers seeking to sell their skill to you.

My main focus was nothing other than the music of course! I could not help but notice that every time I walked to a new street corner or past a bar there was the most captivating live music playing. New Orleans is known for their brass bands and the sound that screams soul into your ears. You almost feel a hypnotizing effect that draws you near, making it almost impossible to not want to move your body in rhythm of the music once you are inside.

My favorite spot for live music in the French Quarter is a bar called The Spotted Cat Music Club. There are brass bands and local singers who perform daily. There is even a small taco bar inside which sells pineapple pork tacos, incase your hunger strikes, and I must say they are well worth the try. Another music club that is worth checking out is The Maison. They feature local bands such as Lagniappe, who have even recently performed their funky ensemble in New York City.

If ever you decide to take the trip to NOLA, remember that there is much more to see than just Bourbon Street. Take a walk down to Frenchman and give yourself a treat to the best side New Orleans has to offer.

Above I have also posted a video I found of an actual brass band that you can find on Frenchman Street in NOLA. Hope you enjoy!

Local Bands at Local Venues

To start off my first blog post I have chosen to discuss the topic of local musicians and the great music you can find in your own backyard. Last week I decided to take a venture to a bar in Lawrence, Kansas named Fatsos. A local band, 3 Son Green was performing and I knew it was something that I could not miss. For anyone who is into the whole tree hugging, seed eating, dread headed hippie counter culture you would very much enjoy this show. Not to mention the venue is freaking awesome!

3 Son Green is a local band who plays shows in Lawrence and West Port area of Kansas City. They have been playing for close to three years now. 3SG has a dual type of sound to their music. In some of the songs they produce sound very much like a jam band and in others they can bring on a tranquilizing effect to the crowd. Making you feel at peace and very serene. 

The lead guitarist Trey Green plays a guitar that brings out sounds similar to The Grateful Dead. The sound can definitely be heard in more of their jam songs. I like to describe the sound as the twang of the music that helps build the percussion lightly by adding that funky edge. 3SG is featured on iTunes and have songs like Sponge, Redbird, and La Cygne that are well worth checking out. 

Intro

Hello, my name is Kaycee Dillon. I am a junior at Washburn University. I have actually been attending Washburn for about 5 years. I am proposed to graduate within the 2015 year. I will be a fall graduate. I am a major in Creative Advertisement with a minor in Graphic Design. I am passionate about Graphic Design. I feel that it gives me an opportunity to express myself and visually show others what I am seeing in my mind but cannot express in just words.

I enjoy spending time with my friends, family and my puppy Sass. She is a year old bull terrier and full of energy. The most exciting thing I like to do is go to various concerts, festivals and vacations. I feel that spending money on experiences is more important and meaningful in life then buying material possessions. I have lived up to this and have a lot of wonderful memories and have seen many unforgettable things. In fact during this Labor Day weekend I will be taking a trip to New Orleans. I have never been so I am looking forward to eating authentic down south food and finding the Louisiana Brass Band. As I said before I frequent concerts and other live shows. I love live music and have a strong appreciation and connection to it. I have chosen to write my blog on different concerts and live music. It will cover upcoming concerts which I will be attending and critiquing the music, environment and overall experience. I am very excited to blog this semester. I have always wanted to start my own blog but was unsure of myself when I tried to do it. Hopefully with the feedback from my fellow classmates and gaining experience after this semester, I can start doing it on my own. 

Once again, Hooray! It's a new school year.