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/