Yellow Roman Candles is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Aaron Morse, and based on their first release, If It’s Right, there is a sense that this band could really make a run at achieving a certain level of national notoriety. The album certainly has shades of LaMontagne’s earlier work. Its gritty and working-class sensibilities leave the listener transported to perhaps a greater understanding of the plight of much of middle America….. If It’s Right is a decidedly raw album, which, if given a few listens can really tear into one’s soul. It’s part Springsteen and part Dylan, but certainly all Maine. Not to say that I am surprised, but this simple little album proves that Yellow Roman Candles will one day be deserving of a place among the pantheon of great Maine folk musicians.”

Phantogram took the stage next, playing songs off of their recent full-length release, Eyelid Movies. The performance featured Josh Carter on guitar and keyboardist Sarah Barthel playing and singing over big-beat inspired drum machines.  The band’s simple setup echoed the style of Matt & Kim, who proved that complex is not always best at a Bates show last fall.  Barthel mixed the performance live onstage, layering different parts to create a sound that was both expressive and danceable.  It was easy to see why the duo are known for their energetic live performances.  The night was capped off with a DJ set from Bates’ Jamie Cook, a preeminent campus DJ.

http://www.myspace.com/phantogram
http://www.myspace.com/theyellowromancandles
http://www.myspace.com/jamiemcook

Photographs courtesy of Peter Senzamici

More details coming soon, but this show, this musical experience if you will will make all others seem like a poor attempt at entertaining you.

WRBC presents Hey Mama

Hailing from Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hey Mama is a contemporary rock ‘n roll four-piece band, featuring Avi Salloway and Celia Woodsmith, formerly of the aptly named Avi and Celia. This show will be held in the Benjamin Mays Center.

From Myspace:
“Originally a powerhouse duo, Avi & Celia found an outlet, literally, and have plugged into Hey Mama, a contemporary rock n’ roll band. The ever evolving Avi & Celia have been a professional band since 2005. They have released two captivating records; Let it Rise (2008) and Off the Floor (2007), have played over 400 shows, building a loyal fan base and have received acclaim from Yankee Magazine, the Boston Globe, and NHPR.

Hey Mama features Avi & Celia with Jared Seabrook and Ben Kogan on drums and bass. The rock & roll vibe of the band explores the groups deep influence in blues and roots-country music. Avi Salloway and Celia Woodsmith hold a special chemistry both with song writing and performing that is accentuated by the talents of Seabrook and Kogan.”

From their website, on the subject of their self-titled record:
“Hey Mama was recorded with Grammy nominated producer Jack Gauthier. We weaved in recording sessions throughout our summer tour, when we jazzed up from the energy of the live shows. While proudly displaying its rock vibe, it’s hard to miss the undercurrents of blues and roots-country music that run throughout the songwriting. The album resembles an art collection, providing a many-textured look at contemporary experiences, political and personal. Launching off the band’s fiery synergy is Celia Woodsmith’s explosively emotive voice, powerful but at times peacefully tender. The record also features guest appearances from The Tecumseh Strings, a chamber group of Boston’s finest string players.”

Hey Mama have been touring since early January and are playing at Bates shortly before they perform at SXSW in Austin, TX.

The most fun you will have on a Wednesday, hands down.

Light a fire of sensuality into your internal organs and unDISCHARGE yourself. This, the “Empire Strikes Back” to DISCHARGE’s “A New Hope,” is not a concert in the traditional sense. This is an audiovisual exhibition of what can only be called performance art because it will synthesize music, images, and bodies into a psychedelic experience appropriate for those willing to explore the inner workings of collegiate humanity.

Indeed, this event will not follow the most traditional concert format but will instead function as a collaboration between your dancing body and the following artists:

Anamanaguchi (http://www.myspace.com/anamanaguchi)
Sw33t America (http://www.myspace.com/sw33tamerica)
kid consumption (http://www.last.fm/music/DJ+Kid+Consumption)
vol-au-vent (http://www.last.fm/music/Vol-Au-Vent)
the public service announcements (http://www.myspace.com/thepublicserviceannouncements)
nando & the robo-teeth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=683cbW7jdG4)
jamie cook (http://www.myspace.com/jamiemcook)

The Big Skadoosh, a freshman team, has surpassed all obstacles and acquired the most glorious prize sought after by mankind, the Trivia Night Victory!!!

• Here is coverage of Trivia Night from the Bates Student
• Here are the Questions and Answers for Trivia Night 2009.

In an effort to learn communication skills, a troup of Boy Scouts from Lisbon came to visit WRBC.The WRBC board led the group of 15 or so 10 year olds around the station and explained how WRBC works.

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Alex Hernandez '09, the tech director, covered topics such as FM vs Am frequency and the complex inter workings of the transmitter and radio antenna. Jamie Donahue '10, the music director, explained how record companies send pre-released album copies to aid the distribution efforts of "up and coming" artists.

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The Boy Scouts seemed to enjoy their visit and even got to voice the WRBC FCC call letters live on the air. Bates is always trying to engage with the Lewiston-Auburn community and WRBC is great tool to make that vision possible.

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The February 28th FM Belfast Concert was widely attended and a huge success on campus. Here are some links highlighting the event:

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• Icelandic Article

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• Bates Life Blog Post

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• FM Belfast Official Website\

   

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Trivia Night is an annual event hosted by your college radio station, WRBC (#20 College Radio in North America). The event was started way back in 1979, when Bates had only one activity, Trivia. Trivia is a Team sport, consisting of teams of sizes ranging from about 5 to as many as you want. 8 is a pretty good number. Hopefully you have at least seven friends, if not, talk to that popular kid down the hall. The aim of Trivia Night is to win, but the question you may be asking yourself now is, how do I win. You win by having the most points. Points are won three different ways: 1) Trivia: Throughout the Evening, songs generally of an obscure nature will be played on 91.5 FM. These songs will be accompanied by a trivia question. You have to call the station and tell us: THE TITLE OF THE SONG, THE ARTIST PERFORMING THE SONG, and THE ANSWER TO THE TRIVIA QUESTION. Each item is worth 1 point, so 3 points are up for grabs on each song. You have to call in before the song ends. There are no bonuses for being the first caller.

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