Dream Concert Line-Ups

If I could create my dream concert line-up within 4 different genres using any music artist in recent history I would totally have things under control. 

For my 80s Alternative Rock concert, my opening act would have to be The Smiths. Now imagine them followed by The Cure. The magnitude of such an awesome New Wave line-up would be the headliner Depeche Mode. This would be the sweetest concert ever; heads would roll. I mean usually if you like one of these bands you automatically love another. Synthesizers rule old skool. 

To go even more back in time, for a classic Jazz concert I'd want to open with Nancy Wilson and have the fabulous Cab Calloway as my mid-act. To follow up his dazzling number I'd headline with the best female blues singer of all time, Billie Holliday. I know this line-up would not be possible today, but to see those two together would be quite the experience; memorable to say the least. 

Now for a contemporary Hip-Hop concert I'd like to open with a personal favorite of mine, Palo Fiasco.  The mid-liner would have to be another favorite 3-6 Mafia; but the headline would have to be one thats many people's favorite: the talented Lil Wayne. This would be an interesting concert that would bring in so many people just because of how big these names are. 

My final dream concert would be a massive, Spanish-style rave where people would loose their minds to the orgasmic ecstasy of the moment. The opening act would simply have to be M83, a headline act in their own right. Following them MSTRKRFT would rock the blood out of every body in the stadium. Now if this was mind-blowingly awesome enough so far, I'd headline this rave with none other than DJ Tiesto, the most sought-after DJ of all time. It doesn't get much better than him; not only mine but everyone else's dreams in the techno fan world would be thrillingly fulfilled.

Damn I feel like going to a concert now lol 

CANTED MAGAZINE

The U of A Media Arts program has some really cool cats within it. The ones who came together to create the media-oriented Canted Magazine are a great example of this awesome phenomena. You should check out their sweet website, decked out with goodies galore. Its entertainment in cute bite-sized, gummy bear form; a delicious delight to be sure. 

Susan Tan is this month's featured student. I just worked with her today filming an experimental lighting project, she's the perfect partner. I'm hoping I'll get to be featured in the CM interview section sometime because that would just be sick. 

I have one of the creators of this new mag in several of my classes- Estevan  Castellanos that beautiful boy. I remember him saying they're hoping to get more U of A funding to publish their stuff for mass consumption. I also hope so because as sweet as their website is, they can get more readership if they were in print. 

At any rate, its creations like Canted Magazine that make me proud to be a Media kid at the U of A. Someday we'll all make it big. 

www.cantedmagazine.com

MSG

There's MSG in all the cheap, college-kid price friendly food. They put it in Ramen, Easy Mac, Nacho Cheese, Doritos chips, lots of Chinese food, anything with an addictive, spiced flavor. MSG causes a chemical reaction that creates an excessive love to what you're eating. Kinda like sugar, but in a bad way apparently. I guess what the difference is is that MSG is addictive and sugar really is not. And supposedly it causes, Altimers, but then again my boyfriend's mom said that and according to him she's crazy. 

But MSG is yummy, and I like it. I'm just indignant its potentially dangerous. They're always trying to kill off poor people. Or at least make our brains pudding. Jeeze life is hard enough as it is.

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

So Franz Ferdinand just released their album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand last week. Its already #9 on the Billboard 200 list and with good reason; this album is a sheer pleasure to listen to. The 4-some who brought you the post-punky Take Me Out have a refreshingly new sound that still resonates the same "dirty pop" sound that they're famous for. 

I love the extensive use of synthesizers on this album and the way they add flavor to destined hits Ulysses and No You Girls. The soft, acoustic Dream Again provides a sentimental touch while the flirtatious Katherine Kiss Me maintains the catchy, pop feel of the band. The range is quite impressive and I know these will be played extensively on the radio as soon as everyone else catches on. 

The U of A had the pleasure of having FF perform on-campus at Centennial Hall about two years ago and I can only hope we are able to somehow snag these talented boys again; too much fun ^o^