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Long story short, Wednesday happens to be one of the favorite bands of KXSC. After the release of Twin Plagues back in 2021, the anthems of “How Can You Live if You Can’t Love How Can You If You Do”, “Birthday Song”, and “Cody’s Only”, appear to seamlessly represent all backgrounds of the folks here at college radio.

I thanked the powers above that I didn’t have to reconcile this absolute scene with a day job, unlike the army of Gen X-ers in cargo shorts that comprised the vast majority of the mob. This was no place for a 19-year-old, this was a grown man’s land. Seeing as I wasn’t yet a seasoned Phish veteran, I quickly vacated the premises with the pieces of my soul that remained uncorrupted.

On any given Tuesday evening in Highland Park - you can expect to be packed at an establishment with five hundred millennials and their newer ending supply of quirky craft brews. However, on Tuesday, March 28, I was at the Lodge Room, with five hundred millennials, their quirky craft beers, and France’s finest, Melody’s Echo Chamber. 

Despite her demure stage name, Shygirl isn’t afraid to embrace her sexuality. The British hyper-pop artist sings bluntly about her late-night escapades, with wispy vocals over bouncy, synth beats. Her light, falsetto voice contrasts with the provocative lyricism behind songs like “Shlut” and “Nasty,” creating surprisingly introspective dance anthems. 

This past Saint Paddy’s Day, I was really feeling the luck of the Irish. While I’m not Irish, I was lucky enough to attend a sold-out show featuring The Beths and Sidney Gish at the Fonda Theater. As a sea of green stood in a long, cigarette-ridden queue on Hollywood Boulevard, my sister and I were geeked to see Sidney Gish live. Though I was less familiar with The Beth’s discography, my sister and I were lucky enough to sit in five hours of traffic during the drive to Hollywood from San Diego - which was plenty of time to get acquainted with The Beth’s latest release, Expert in a Dying Field. 

“Do you believe in faeries?” reads the banner draped above the stage at the Lodge Room in Highland Park California. The same poster features drawings of horses and a large heart with the name of the headliner, Cowgirl Clue, painted on the center; Below it, in cursive writing, was her self-described genre: “Y’allternative Music.” 

The endlessly adored experimental musician, Alejandra Ghersi Rodríguez, more commonly known as Arca, unexpectedly announced a one-off show in Los Angeles following an extensive festival tour in the fall of 2022. This announcement instantly sparked excitement among old and new fans alike. Leading up to the show, fans did not know what to expect of the elusive performer considering there hadn’t been a major release since the completion of the Kick series of albums ending with its fifth and final volume in December 2021.

The band's unique blend of funk, pop, and indie-rock had the crowd dancing and singing along from the very first note. The band's energy was contagious, and their chemistry on stage was evident throughout the entire performance.

Yo La Tengo. I always thought that was a silly name for a trio of straight-faced white folks making soft, artful indie rock. Spanish for “I have it,” the name comes from old baseball lore. In 1962, New York Mets center fielder Richie Ashburn frequently collided with shortstop Elio Chacon in the outfield. When going in for the catch Ashburn would yell, “I got it! I got it!”. Chacon, however, only spoke Spanish, so with time, Ashburn learned to yell, “Yo la tengo!” instead. 

The energy within the Fonda Theatre only heightened as White Reaper took the stage. I love a crowd whose demographic is so wildly different because, at the end of the day, we’re all there for our shared love of music for the band(s) playing. I think this show was one of the most respectful rock concerts I’ve ever been to. Their stage presence was awesome, they kept the crowd engaged, and they matched the crowd’s energy, which to me, is one of the most critical parts of live music. The mutual respect and understanding between the artist and the audience was the thing that stuck with me the most after the show.