Author: Kelsey Donahue

Programming Preview

Kelsey Donahue

KCR is in the midst of the first week of shows for the 2017 Spring semester. With so much programming to choose from, it is impossible to pick just one show to listen to. Here’s a quick preview of a few shows to listen for this semester. Beware of some shameless self-promotion ahead…

The Road Less Traveled, Tuesdays 8-9 pm with Kelsey Donahue

Genre: Music

The title says it all, this show takes you down the musical road less traveled by the general and musically challenged public. From punk to classic rock and everywhere in between, the only top 40 songs on this show are the ones that ended up there on accident. Solo host Kelsey rants about random music knowledge, her personal irritations and provides the occasional wise words of wisdom.

I’m Shook Radio, Wednesday 7-8 pm with Alex Piscatelli and Will Fritz

Genre: Entertainment

I’m Shook Radio with Alex Piscatelli and Will Fritz is a nationally-renowned show about friendship, love, happiness and being yourself. Just kidding. They mostly rant and make jokes about their lives.

Brett & Mackee In The Morning, Thursdays 7-9 am

Genre: Variety Morning Show

The show is hosted by Brett Michel and Mackee Dimick, two friends from Southern California who met in their first year at State. Every week, they’ll be playing games, reading news and providing you with entertaining talk radio for your morning! If you’re looking for music, they’ll be playing a unique mix of punk, rock, electronic and hip hop. Whether you’re in the car, at home or on campus, Brett and Mackee In The Morning will be there to help you start your Thursday right!

 

 

21 & Not Pregnant, Thursdays 8-9 pm

Genre: Entertainment

21 and not pregnant is a ghettofab perspective on important issues like reality television, dumplings and our lord and savior Kanye. Tony and Daisy have blessed the airwaves since they were 18 and not pregnant.

 

These are just a few of the dozens of shows on KCR this semester. Tune in 24/7 for all of the great programming that KCR has to offer!

Grammy Insights

Kelsey Donahue

Every music artists dream is to win a Grammy; it is one of the highest accolades in the music industry. The nominees for the 2017 Grammy Awards were recently announced. However, this academy of electors seems to have made some interesting nomination decisions this year and I’m here to point a few of them out. Get ready for some cynicism.

How is Chance the Rapper nominated for best new artist?

I saw Chance the Rapper in 2015 at an SDSU sponsored concert.  He gained recognition three years ago with his mixtape “Acid Rap”. Three years of recognition doesn’t really seem like much of a “new” artist to me. He often performs at college campuses and offers up all of his music for free online download. While this helps to avoid the streaming issues that can are often associated with artists and payment, it leaves question as to how Chance survives in a competitive market. Additionally, and with all biases aside, that performance that I saw was awful. The song “Cocoa Butter Kisses” really creeped me out.

A better nomination in this category is The Chainsmokers. Although I am not primarily a pop/dance/electronic music listener, there is no doubt that The Chainsmokers have had a very successful year. They have had multiple hits including my personal favorite “Closer” and continue to bring new things to the table in terms of collaborations and performances.

How did Blink-182’s California get nominated for Best Rock Album?

Don’t get me wrong, I love Blink-182. However, I prefer pre- Matt Skiba Blink, as do most sane people. California was a good album, but not a great one, especially when compared to past Blink albums.

A better nomination in this category is Weezer’s self-titled album. My favorite song of the album is “Thank God for Girls”. This album is Weezer’s tenth studio album. Whether or not Weezer actually receives the little golden trophy, they sure are fabulously prolific.

The Song of The Year

This is perhaps one of the most important categories of the whole awards ceremony. It is left until the end so that you have to stay tuned the entire time for fear of missing it. This year the nominees are pretty standard 2016 hits: “Formation” by Beyoncé, “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber, “Hello” by Adele, “I Took A Pill In Ibiza” by Mike Posner, and “7 Years” by Lukas Graham. The nominees in this category were relatively well selected and all five songs have equal capability of winning, but I have a favorite, of course.

2016 brought about the Lemonade bug and while I truly appreciated seeing Beyoncé’s extra sassy side, I’m going to have to go with “7 Years” by Lukas Graham as my Song of the Year choice. Like many Top 40 hits, “7 Years” was a bit over played on the radio, but otherwise was a rather well written song. Perhaps the most award-winning part of this song is that it tells a story, which can be quite difficult in popular music. This story of a man throughout different stages of his life is relatable to everyone in some way, even if it’s just a little one. My favorite aspect of music, specifically lyrics, is that it can really touch people and “7 Years” excels in that way.

A Year In Concert Review (Or More Like Half A Year)

Kelsey Donahue

2016 is winding down and it’s been quite the year to say the least. Unfortunately, I was MIA from the concert scene for the first half of the year due to insufficient funds. However, the second half of the year was enough to fulfill all of my concert needs.

August- Flogging Molly

Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theater at SDSU

This concert was an early birthday present from my brother and it was incredible. The open air theater is not my favorite venue because if you have cheap seats, it’s difficult to see the stage. However, the dancing middle aged adults and great Irish music made the literal height of the seats manageable. I always welcome an excuse to celebrate my Irish heritage, other than wearing green and eating copious amounts of potatoes.

 

October- Yellowcard

House of Blues

Even if you don’t know me, a quick click on any one of my social media accounts will tell you that I am OBSESSED with the band Yellowcard. So, I was obviously biased going into this concert. I loved it, aside from their new music which is sub-par at best. This show was advertised as their last show in San Diego ever, but they have since added another San Diego show in March. Although I am a die-hard fan, I was really off put by what seems like a ploy for more money.

 

November- Watsky

SOMA

I’d never been to SOMA before this show, but there’s nothing really exciting to say about the venue. It’s got a warehouse kind of vibe, which would definitely be cool at a punk kind of show, but this was a white rapper kind of show. The phrase “white rapper” gets a negative connotation typically and rightfully so (cough, cough G-Eazy). George Watsky changed my opinion on this as his rap really leans into the poetry aspect of rhythm and poetry (aka rap) and he is accompanied by an actual band. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this show, I highly recommend checking out Watsky.

 

November- Iration

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Iration seems to be the perfect musical sound for the San Diego area, cool and calm. Did I already say cool? That needs to be stated multiple times. This concert happened immediately following the horse races at the Del Mar Racetracks, which is important to note because that brings a cast of interesting characters to the show. This includes high class San Diego race goers wearing fancy hats and smoking jackets as well as the hordes of college students pretending to be them. Then there were people like me, dressed in dark colors, solely there for the music. Anyways, this was my favorite concert of the year because I really felt the music. It was one of those unexplainable music moments; I will always be able to look back on that day and remember exactly how I felt listening to my favorite song, “Falling”. My holiday wish to all of you is that you get to experience one of these unforgettable moments, whether it be at a concert or at home with your family this holiday season.

 

Politically Driven Radio

Kelsey Donahue

There is no doubt that we are currently in the midst of a Presidential race that our children will ask us about and that will be written into history books. It’s an interesting time in our country to say the least. I’m not one to put my two cents in about political matters online, but many musical artists use their music as a platform to do so. This week’s mini playlist is what I like to call Politically Driven Radio. Here are a few songs driven by politics or some sort of political issue that may just get you thinking

1.God Save The Queen- The Sex Pistols

sex pistols

According to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of allmusic.com, the BBC banned this song because of its anti-royalty language. Although the Queen doesn’t actually run England (I’m laughing at you if you thought she did.), she is still a notable and respected figure. This song was released in 1977, when rock and roll was still relatively new, making the added political element extra scandalous. With a name like The Sex Pistols, there’s bound to be controversy, even if they only lasted a couple of years.

2. Two Weeks From Twenty- Yellowcard

yellowcard

This song touches on more recent issues concerning the United States involvement in foreign war. Perhaps the most provocative line of the song is, “There’s still no shame from the man to blame”. Released in 2006, during the George W. Bush presidency, we are only left to assume who the man to blame is intended to be.

3. Hero of War- Rise Against

rise againstAnother account of the United States involvement in foreign wars, “Hero of War” tells the story of a young military member, presumably fighting in foreign conflict around the time of the 2008 album release. The graphic detail of this song can make it tough to listen to, but it may get you thinking about some issues that have never crossed through your brain before.

4. Buffalo Soldier- Bob Marley & The Wailers

bob

One unfortunate part of our country’s history that many don’t like to talk about or remember, slavery, is touched on in many forms of art. Although slavery has been abolished, racism is still an ever present political and social issue in America. Bob Marley tells this tale of the slave trade through music, singing   “Stolen from Africa, brought to America” “Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival”

5. April 29, 1992 (Miami)- Sublime

watts

The image above is of the Watts towers in Los Angeles, an important area in the 1992 riots. You may or may not have been alive in 1992. Even so, you’ve probably heard about the Los Angeles riots that occurred after the police brutality instilled upon Rodney King (If this doesn’t ring a bell, google it). This song gives an account of riots that occurred all over the United States as an outcry against racially motivated police brutality. Has much changed surrounding this issue in the last 24 years? I’ll let you be the judge.

 

Listen to and follow the playlist here! 

For more information on voting and a non-partisan view on the candidates take a look at the KPBS Voter Guide.