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Frank Warren has been called both the most trusted person in America and a secret observer.
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Frank Warren has been called both the most trusted person in America and a secret observer.
MTV reality shows have been the target of controversy for years, touching on many hot-button issues like teen pregnancy and partying and shooting young teens and 20-somethings into a life of largely undeserved fame. The cast of “Jersey Shore” has become internationally known, making millions by perfecting the art of working out, tanning and doing laundry, while “Teen Mom” stars are plastered on the covers of tabloids week after week. Although these “reality” shows all share some questionable values, we can’t help but love a few of their starring personalities. These are the five MTV reality stars we’re obsessing about this week. 1. Snooki (“Jersey Shore”)
Far from the tired lyrics on ex-lovers and young heartbreak, Senseless Beatings, an alternative/progressive band from Rock Hill, S.C., presents a new breed of rock.The sound is best represented in the tagline for its debut LP: “An exploration of World War II as the event that ended the dialectical movement of history.”
After a full week of hard work shooting, editing and finalizing production of a five-minute video, students participating in Campus MovieFest , sponsored by Carolina Productions, will unveil their finished products to fellow students in the Russell House Ballroom tonight.
YouTube has taken over the Internet, leaving millions across the world glued to their computer screens, amazed by everything from singing animals to pranks gone awry to undiscovered talents. Many aspiring musicians from all around the globe use the site as an outlet, with some of the best musical gems hidden in the clutter of clips. These are the five YouTube songsters we’re obsessing about this week.
The city’s venues can be hard to spot, so we’ve gone ahead and scouted out the best music joints in the area. We primarily looked for upcoming acts, venue vibe and menus. These are the five local music venues we’re obsessing about this week.
After only eight months and roughly 10 gigs, A Brighter Life is set to release its debut EP, entitled “Where Tonight Can Go,” at New Brookland Tavern tonight. The band cites its eclectic tastes, ranging from Taking Back Sunday and Four Year Strong to Lupe Fiasco, as main influences on its music, which is labeled as pop-punk. Despite understandable hardships with the local music scene, A Brighter Life has spent the last eight months using Internet resources like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace to build up its fan base and promote the its EP. “[Our biggest challenge has been] just trying to stay relevant in a dying scene. Columbia’s really known for its indie music scene and not its pop-punk scene. We’re in a dying genre and at a weird age for it, but we’re working every day and writing, so I guess we’re overcoming it,” guitarist Alex Koss said. The band members draw mainly on their own life experiences to create their music, including inspiration from work and school. Koss, bassist Chris Cousins and vocalist Jordan Kirk all attend USC, while guitarist Byron Dooley and drummer Chris Seiferlein have full-time jobs. “[We write] mostly just about life in our early 20s, but [we are] reflective about where we came from. Half of us are at school, and the other half work, so we just write about the monotony and the ups and downs of it all — just things that kids like us have to think about,” Koss said.A Brighter Life has used its music to grow both personally and musically since its formation in May 2010. Koss maintains that the band’s main goal is not fame and fortune, but rather to connect with listeners and provide an outlet for the pressures of young adulthood. “The ultimate goal is just to write music that someone thinks is relevant to them. When we were growing up, and even now, we used music as a way to figure out what everything’s all about. We just want to make something that means something,” Koss said. While the songs on the EP were written by Kirk and Dooley before the current lineup was in place, Koss said the band has grown since then and has written songs together that further flesh out its signature sound.The EP was recorded and mixed by Charlie Jackson of West Columbia, who has worked with other South Carolina bands such as Clever Words and the popular Columbia-based ensemble CherryCase. The record will be available in physical form at the release show tonight and for digital sale on iTunes and abrighterlife.bandcamp.com soon.
Although “Love and Other Drugs” wasn’t widely recognized at The Globes, it did earn nods for its two leading roles. Jake Gyllenhaal, who stars alongside Anne Hathaway as her beau Jamie Randall, manages to bring light to a been-done role. The plot is a bit predictable and cliché, but Gyllenhaal gives reason to keep watching. Aside from adding some on-screen eye candy, the actor on the rise perfectly plays out the struggle among money, success and love. The pharmaceutical representative who makes it big by nabbing rights to Viagra sales leaves Hathaway and women across the country swooning.
1. Full Color FootageFrom the first note on Full Color Footage’s EP, “Tough Luck, Kid,” one can’t help but stand up and take notice. After only a year together, the band has managed to find a plethora of fans in the Columbia area, as well as in other areas of the state. The individual talent of every member is a huge part of what makes Full Color Footage deserving of the name “Best Local Band.” Guitarist Jeremiah Negron finds ways to use his guitar that set his riffs apart from the group while managing to meld perfectly into each and every song. Bassist Scott Smith and drummer Matt Crumpton provide the perfect accompanying rhythm to Mario McClean’s soaring vocals and challenging piano melodies, but not once does the sound of the bass or the drums get lost in the beat. With musical prowess, upbeat and energetic live shows and a down-to-earth attitude that Full Color Footage brings to Columbia’s music scene, they won’t be local for long.2. Death of ParisDeath of Paris, born from the breakup of well-known Columbia band This Machine Is Me, worked since day one to build its grassroots fan base. Not many bands can say they’ve had as much success and coverage in 18 months as Death of Paris. The hard-working band is not short on talent either. One of the founding members and vocalist Jayna Doyle has an amazing voice, and when combined with second founding member and guitarist Blake Arambula’s musical genius, the result is nothing short of spectacular. 3. KingslynFormer Marry a Thief vocalist Erich Skelton brings both his passion and incredible voice into his newest project, Kingslyn. With extremely talented musicians Scooter Fowler and Matt Bundrick, paired with lyrics that manage to be both personal and relatable, Kingslyn has plenty of staying power. Skelton’s vocals sound so much like Nate Ruess’, formally of The Format and currently of fun., it’s uncanny. Fans of both bands can really get behind the indie pop rock of Kingslyn, whose sound is a complex and unforgettable blend of country and pop rock. 4. Sing Sing 76Spartanburg-native band Sing Sing 76, while not originally from Columbia, has graced the capital with its sweet pop rock tunes many times since its formation in 2007. Lead vocalist and guitarist Thomas Keim, guitarist and backing vocalist Dylan Cobden, drummer Scott Kittel and bassist Devin Burnett work together to create the band’s self-titled and self-produced EP. From the first song, “Saint of Saints,” Keim’s vocals catch the listener’s attention and don’t let go throughout the entire record. With sing-along hooks and high energy, the unsigned band has carved out its own place in both the upstate and the rest of South Carolina’s music scene. 5. CherryCaseWith the release of its largely-acoustic album, “Change,” in early November, CherryCase solidified its place in Columbia’s music scene. During a packed release show, lead singer Jake Etheridge proved that CherryCase deserves its extensive and loyal fan base. Etheridge’s heartfelt and honest lyrics add to the band’s smooth sound, leading to an obvious and accurate comparison to Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional. 6. kemp ridleyUSC-based kemp ridley has made a name for itself both on campus and in Columbia’s music scene since its formation, when the members — who are all currently juniors — were starting out their freshman year. Vocalist Cayla Fralick’s voice sets the group apart from the typical indie pop band. Her range alone puts many mainstream pop singers to shame, and despite the band’s insistence that they simply play music for fun, the fivesome’s pure talent indicates a bright future ahead.7. Charming HalaCharming Hala, featuring Columbia music scene veteran Don Russo, is an indie rock four-piece from the Blythewood area. The group’s new self-titled album, released in December of 2010, features an alternative rock sound that keeps fans wanting more. From the beginning, the mellow sound is somewhat akin to Cold play. But later in the record, with songs such as “How Is the Weather?” and “She Keeps Me Hanging On,” the band takes on a fast-paced and captivating tone that distinguishes it from similar groups.8. Octopus JonesOctopus Jones, while from Myrtle Beach, recently stole the show at New Brookland Tavern’s Battle of the Bands, which concluded in late November. The group took home the grand prize of $2,000, and rightfully so. Though the members originally met at Coastal Carolina, one member of the five, Chris Wilson, is a biology student at USC. The band’s experimental rock sound is a unique blend of instrumentals and melodic vocals that definitely keep listeners on their toes. 9. A Brighter LifeThough A Brighter Life has only been together since May of 2010, it has already formed a solid fan base in the Columbia area with catchy pop-punk tunes. With a little more pop than punk influence, A Brighter Life draws the vocal styles and song structures of bands like All Time Low, The Maine and Hit The Lights. In such a short period of time, vocalist Jordan Kirk, guitarists Byron Dooley and Alex Koss, bassist/vocalist Christopher Cousins and drummer Chris Sieferlein have created a memorable sound. A Brighter Life will release a self-titled EP on Jan. 19 at New Brookland Tavern.10. Do Your WorstDo Your Worst, a pop-punk foursome, including vocalist Kevin Winch, bassist Brett Pickert, drummer Colin Morrell and guitarist Cameron Morrell, released an EP in October entitled “Take the Current.” Winch is a secondary education graduate student, and Pickert is a fifth-year sports and entertainment management student at USC. The band’s classically punk sound, while a little rough to the ears at first, is an intense blend of heavily distorted guitar riffs and gang vocals reminiscent of pop-punk bands like Four Year Strong. Do Your Worst is one of Columbia’s most fun-loving and exciting bands.
One of the most striking things about Swift's new album is how honest it is. She has been known for her highly personal and detailed lyrics. Somehow, though the songs are written specifically about her life, they are easily relatable. This is what Swift's music career and growing success have been most heavily based on, and something she continues to use in her new work.
The audience at last Friday’s Battle of the Bands came to New Brookland Tavern expecting a showdown of the best bands in the area. The floor in front of the stage filled up almost as soon as the doors opened, proving that the final round of the two month-long competition would be the most exciting yet.
Many columnists have pointed it out before: Russell House kind of sucks. The bookstore makes you wait in line for hours and hours, the food court inadequately manages the huge amount of people who pack in for lunch and dinner and the food can range from pretty tasty to completely inedible. One more problem to add to the list is sanitation.