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rainbow kitten surprise concert review

10/26/2018

by tess vanek

the Doors opened at 7pm at the Pageant on Friday, October 19th.The opening performance was given by a playful Caroline Rose. With a monochromatic red track suit and a stuffed kitten by her side, the young artist interacted with the audience with a fun combination of humor, liberalism and funky music. The band’s set included Everybody’s Making Out, Soul No. 5, and Jeannie Becomes a Mom, for which they recently released a music video. They also performed a cover of Brittany Spear’s Toxic, which the crowd seemed to very much enjoy. Overall, the band was very entertaining and a great fit for the main act, Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

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I am the dancing queen

10/26/2018

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by caleigh horan

For as long as I can remember, I have absolutely detested the song Dancing Queen by ABBA. This was not without reason, however. One of my earliest memories includes my family singing the song’s beloved chorus to me, but instead of identifying me as the dancing queen, they replaced the lyrics, hailing me as the drama queen. This did not sit well with me, and I often ran out of the room in tears. Little did young Caleigh know that I was actually confirming my status as the very title I feared. This realization would not come until much later on.

Given that ABBA is the most commercially successful pop group on this planet, it has not been easy to avoid this song. Throughout my life, I have found myself going out of my way to remove myself from any social situation, whether it popped up on the radio or at a wedding or a school dance. The gentle teasing associated with the song had caused me to form a deeply rooted hatred for all things ABBA. I thought that college would give me an opportunity to escape this unfortunate childhood memory, but I soon discovered that the song had taken on new life, whether it was played in its original form at a dance or through a trap remix out at a bar. I simply could not escape the throws of the Dancing Queen.

This nationwide fervor for ABBA seemed to come to a climax this summer as the premier of Mama Mia 2 approached, a cinematic event that I felt indifferent towards for obvious reasons. My room mates, aware of my relationship with ABBA, were still dumbfounded that I had never seen the first Mama Mia movie, and insisted we watch it together. I reluctantly gave in to their request, and it was easily one of the best decisions of the summer. All it took was a couple hours of well-choreographed musical numbers in a picturesque location, and I was completely hooked on ABBA. For now, I associated them with the story of Donna Sheridan and her daughter, Sophie. In many ways, I strived to have a “Donna Sheridan summer,” living whimsically and passionately, without the multiple suitors. Something was beginning to change within me. I was starting to enjoy Dancing Queen.

Although my summer was full of freedom and fun, I also did a lot of contemplating. I thought about why the song had bothered me so much throughout my life, and I have come to the conclusion that it’s because the changed lyrics highlight a part of me that I’m not very proud of. In fact, I try to vehemently deny my status of the Drama Queen. Nevertheless, I really am I drama queen in some ways. I am outwardly passionate about everything I do. I love, hard, and I feel everything so deeply. So if that makes me a drama queen, I fully accept the title.

I have spent a great deal of my time in college trying to figure out who I really am, and I think I am finally ready to claim portions of my identity, even if they’re not the most positive. I think we as people spend too much time trying to avoid these truths. I am loud and talk too much sometimes and yes, I have really spastic dance moves. But you will see me every Friday out in the center of the school that has become my home, dancing my heart out as I lead the organization that I have spent so much of my time and energy rebuilding. I reclaim my identity not only the drama queen, but as the dancing queen. I hope in this year, you can reclaim a part of you that you never thought was possible. And don’t forget to dance a little bit too.

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8AM LECTURE SERIES: HORANCE

10/17/2018

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BY ANNIE BRYAN

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In the beginning hours of September 2017, KSLU held its first executive board meeting of the year. In a studio filled with three times as much furniture as it needed, onboarding Training Director Caleigh Horan and I sat on a couch and absorbed as much information on the inner world of college radio as we could.

College radio is entertaining because of the way that it is. KSLU, or the practicing organization of college radio at SLU, has been around since 1920. When founded, KSLU was named “We Empower the World,” or WEW, and was sold a few decades back and turned into a Christian Science radio station. Current WEW claims to be the second oldest radio in the United States- this statement being a complete and utter farce. Please boycott WEW.

Radio in general exists because of college radio, as radio in the States began as college radio, and college radio essentially began at SLU a century ago. A century later, radio still existed in cars to and from 9-to-5s, and KSLU kinda didn’t.

There is a difference between floating by and flying high, and there is a difference between rhyming intentionally and with a schtick in mind. Either way, a shift in the relationship between KSLU and KSLU and KSLU and the St. Louis and SLU community occurred mid-academic year in December 2017.

College radio essentially began with KSLU, and if college radio doesn’t die with KSLU, this will have all been for nothing. Caleigh Horan stumbled upon a lil breaking thing and nearly single-handedly empowered a generation of weird, music-enthused, ABBA-loving family-oriented young foolish college students to launch musical notes and spoken words into the ignored stratosphere in the form of sound waves.

This episode of the 8AM Lecture Series features Caleigh Horan, General Manager of KSLU college radio station.

In short, the interview devolved into a creature comprised of unintelligible inside jokes and patchwork memories of the 2017-2018 school year. If you end up listening to this 8AM, you will be listening to a portrait of how a beautiful friendship can be built when people meet to fix something. It’s an hour long.

College radio, and radio in general, is potentially on its way out of the cosmos by Carl Sagan. No matter what happens to radio, KSLU will probably still be holding on. Thanks to Caleigh Horan for strengthening our grip. Onward into extinction.

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hippo campus: minnesotan indie-rock band

10/13/2018

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delanie muenchen

With eleven days until the concert, Hippo Campus, the Minnesotan indie-rock band, released their second album, Bambi. I already had the tickets and I was excited to see them again for the 4th time, but now with this new album, I was too ready to pop off. Every morning on my way to work, on my way to class, while cooking dinner, pregaming with my friends, I was getting turned up to this album. The difference between Bambi and their first album Landmark is that Bambi encompasses each of the musicians different styles “four individuals under the name Hippo Campus (Hippo Campus Twitter)”. From the hype of the song the Bambi, for which the album is named, to the chill vibes of Passenger, you can’t go wrong. My friend, fellow and Hippo Campus lover, Morgan Divittorio said, “I actually enjoy every single song on this album, which literally never happens ”. We listened constantly to prepare for the concert. I always feel it’s more fun seeing live music if you’re able to scream the lyrics. On October 9th, my friends Paul, Morgan, and I jumped in my roommates car with our cups of vodka and headed to the Pageant, hyped as hell to see our favorite band.
We got to the Loop and jumped in line, surrounded by indie-looking teens. At this point we were really feeling it and we were prepared to dance our asses off and scream until we had no voices. I didn’t care that I had to nanny at 7 the next morning or that I was wearing a boot on my foot for some random injury, I was ready. The doors opened and we flooded in. Third row baby.
The Districts opened and even though I had never heard of them before, they were good vibes all around. They were sobering force, which was just what I needed.Riding a steady buzz, I made friends with my fellow concert gowers and we all agreed we had to dance as hard as our bodies would let us. I was as happy as could be.
The lights then dimmed and one by one, the sexy indie-rock band boys took over the stage. They shook our world opening with Bambi. My new friends and I danced, not caring where our bodies took us. When it got quiet, right before they played another song I would yell “let’s get it”, because for some reason those were the only words that could come to my head. This was a common theme throughout the entire concert. The lead singer, Jake Luppen, even heard me and smiled, which made me absolutely swoon; this man, so hot and so talented. Paul Hupp, a veteran Hippo Campus concert goer and a Minnesota native stated, “The lead singer’s voice is really powerful, and it stands out on their slower songs. Their stage presence has also improved so much since some of their early shows in MN.”
I showed up to nanny the next morning with no voice, tired as hell, and smelling like weird butter. The kids were confused and the parents were not so amused, but it was all worth it. Overall, Hippo Campus never fails to put on an amazing show. Their new album is so unique and a joy to listen to and I cannot wait for the next one to come out, whenever that may be.

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Brendan's kSLU

10/12/2018

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by brendan eckert

In my freshman year of college I was already aware of KSLU due to their appearance each time I was given a tour of SLU’s campus in high school. I liked radio, my mom has taken me to concerts, and my dad and papa were both in radio when they were my age. It felt almost like a duty to help expose people to new music, something out of the ordinary to make people happy. An old adage from my papa comes to mind “music is the best thing goin’ right now; it makes people feel good.” If I could live up to that standard, I was set.
I applied my second semester at SLU to be a DJ at KSLU. You would expect a happily ever after here, however it took until my sophomore year to get a show. After sorting through some scheduling trouble, I finally got into the studio. I had determined I would make my show a specialty show to play (almost) whatever I wanted. My first broadcast felt completely shaky. I had played the music, but my dialogue with the listeners (all 4 or 5 of them, mostly family) was wonky and wasn’t what I’d hoped. The next week I grew stronger and with each passing week I became more and more confident and began giving background to the themes, the albums, the band members, and anything else you could ask. I loved the trivia behind the music and I loved sharing what music was in my head that week.
In my junior year I became more and more involved in KSLU. After attending every event and meeting I could, I finally resolved to join the executive board. I got the role of co-website director with the formidable Ashleigh, who helped redesign the KSLU website. Over summer I had the honor of editing audio for multiple artist interviews and then published them to Already Bored. Our recent recruitment week was a smashing success with an attendance of 60 people at our open mic night. I’m proud to be a part of college radio because the people at KSLU are a genuinely great group of people that I’m proud to work, laugh, and party (in moderation ;) ) with. I look forward to spending more hours rockin’ the clock with these wonderful people.

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College Radio: A Niche Sentiment

10/4/2018

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BY BRENNA WALL

There is something very romantic about radio. Maybe that’s from a childhood of parents listening to NPR or dancing with my dad to Chicago’s XRT “Breakfast with the Beatles”. From all of these tiny moments, it is hard not being entranced by the person on the other end of the wavelength.
I think there’s something specifically beautiful about college radio. The odd conglomerate of folks who want a space, an hour to have their voice potentially heard (even when it’s only the Panera patrons who listen). It’s liberating without being intimidating, plus who cares if you bother people in the BSC.
The roles were switched for me when I applied to be a DJ my freshman year. I was the voice on the other side, who got to choose what everyone would hear and talk about how much the songs meant to me. Out of a need to make friends, I signed up with a girl on my freshman floor. Her named rhymed with mine, she was way cooler than me, but we had a similar taste in music; we were practically made to have a show together. The Jenna Brenna show was born, Sunday’s at one.
Two and half years later, KSLU is so dear to me. The tiny studio has been one of my favorite nooks, filled with friends, giggling on air, and stellar music. Jenna is still my co-host, and one of my closet friends, we still meet every Sunday at one. It has functioned as a sacred time and space in my college experience.
College radio is an under-funded, gold mine of distinctive individuals. My experience with college radio is defined by the strange collective of people who love music and want a space. I am happy to have found them.

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rainbow kitten surprise concert review

by tess vanek

I am the dancing queen

8AM LECTURE SERIES: HORANCE

BY ANNIE BRYAN

​CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

hippo campus: minnesotan indie-rock band

Brendan's kSLU

College Radio: A Niche Sentiment

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