The Police, also known as Gordon Sumner (Sting), Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers. Sting the iconic bass player, Andy on guitar and Stewart on drums. This trio would make the punk rock industry watch them with every breath they took. Every move they were making well was watched by many with anticipation. In the beginning, The Police struggled just as every beginning act did in those days. Nobody would listen to their records and thought they were awfully strange. It got to that point that they pulled off an act of their own to gain more attention. They were scheduled to play along with another musician on a British TV show at the end of the program. Instead of going out as themselves, they put on weird outfits and masks which immediately drew the audience's attention. Imagine how cool that would be to say that you were at a Police concert even before they were the police - masked up as well! After that, a local talent producer noticed them and decided to give them a chance by making an LP. This LP would end up turning heads in the British punk rock scene. Outlandos D’amour, released in 1979, would be The Police’s epic jumpstart to acclaiming their fame. What’s strange about the release is that it didn’t end up becoming popular until the next year. This album tremendously correlates to wine - as it ages, it gets better. As soon as their electrifying sounds broke loose, so did they, playing rambunctious and enticing shows around Britain and eventually coming to the states. They found success, but just at a slower rate than other groups at the time which isn’t something to be mad about, some things just take time. Amid their career, things started to get ugly in the creative differences department between Sting and Stewart. It got to the point where Stewart would write offensive comments about Sting on his drums to knock everyone away. A good way to channel that frustration I must say! "Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" is all he really could say to him. The band split in the ’90s due to this tension but reunited in 2008 for reunion tours.

WIDR is proud to announce a very special, very dope screening of 2020’s Psycho Goreman on Thursday the 14th at 8 PM--just in time for the Halloween season! Grab your pillows and blankets--we’ve got the food--and settle on in for the rowdiest take on the kids-stumble-upon-alien story you’ll ever see! When Luke is forced to dig his own grave by his nutso sister, Mimi, after having his ass handed to him in “Crazy Ball,” he discovers a gem from Gigax, a planet ruled over by a tyrant called “The Archduke of Nightmares.” The villain comes after them, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake, while a group of elites called the Templars track his every move. But what makes this movie special is the villain’s dynamic with Mimi and Luke. While most movies would have these kids stalked by the monster, this one turns him into unwitting hero, imprisoned in friendship and renamed “Psycho Goreman” when Mimi won’t give up her awesome new gem. Ensuing is a buffet of b-horror schlock, with the comedic sensibilities of 1995’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie as ET is perverted to new, Cronenbergian heights. Come for the gruesome dismemberments, stay for the hunky boys, bonkers costuming, and America’s new pastime, Crazy Ball--as well as smash hit, “Frig Off!” as performed by Mimi, Luke, Psycho Goreman and a giant brain on keys. It’s the most fun you’ll have at the Faunce Center this year, and anyone who’s anyone wouldn’t miss it. We’ll see you there, wild child. It’s Psycho Goreman.

Planets, the debut LP from saxophonist, composer, producer, and Kalamazoo native Stratøs is here (well, it will be tomorrow)! In contrast to his previous work on the project DiE - created during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and focusing on isolation, Planets takes a collaborative approach featuring some of Stratøs’ closest friends and mentors. The album brings together the many genres featured including jazz, hip hop, electronic, classical and more through one cohesive narrative. We sat down with Stratøs himself to learn a little more about the project in the following interview. What was your inspiration for this album? I wanted to make an album that was really "collectible" for lack of a better word. I really like collections. The 8 Planets, the 12 months, etc. Gustav Holst is perhaps most famous for his 7 movement suite "The Planets." While I quite enjoy this work, it wasn't necessarily the inspiration behind this album. However, also being a fan of lineage, I tried to pay homage to his melody from "Mars, the Bringer of War" in my track 'Mars (feat. David Binney)." I wanted to best find a way to encapsulate the past 6 or so years of music I've been doing in a complete standalone set. How was it collaborating with so many people on this project during the pandemic? It was an interesting yet fulfilling challenge collaborating with so many different people for this record. I had to write the tunes differently than I normally would. A lot of my music is based in Black American music of the 20th century, which heavily utilizes improvisation. Collective improvisation is better when you are playing with people in real time, so I had to rethink how the tunes would work. I couldn't rely so much on raw improvisation so instead I focused on composition and production, and tried creating elaborate landscapes for people (and myself) to improvise over. What is your favorite song on the album and why? It's hard to say what my favorite tune on the record is but I'd say the one I had the most fun putting together was probably "Neptune." I wrote a melody for my girlfriend and collaborator Julia Moffa to write lyrics to, and built the rest of the tune around that. I worked together with drummer Madison George and bassist Daniel Durst to make a harmonic and rhythmic landscape I'm currently most proud of. I love working with Madison and Daniel, which is a little funny because they have never met in person. However, they both bring an energy that enhances my music to a level I'm always surprised to hear. Working with Julia comes so naturally and it's always a treat to see what she comes up with. The poem she wrote for this piece as well as lent her voice to elevates the tune and gives it a texture it would otherwise be empty without. How did you first get involved with music? I started playing saxophone in 5th grade. They wanted me to play violin because apparently I have long fingers but when it came time to try the instruments out I purposely sucked at the violin, flute and clarinet so that they'd let me play saxophone lol. What do you hope to do next musically? I'm moving to LA in August so I'm hoping to just work the scene. I'd like to keep doing what I'm doing; play saxophone, compose, produce, and do film photography. Just in a major music scene. How has the Kalamazoo music scene influenced your playing/production? Kalamazoo is where I learned a lot of important lessons as a musician and a person. I think the unique thing about Kalamazoo is that there isn't a clear cut "sound" of the town. Everyone does their own thing or finds other people who want to help them do their thing. I just try to keep up with everyone else and make the music that makes the most sense to me. Is there anything else you would like to share about the project? I'd just like to thank each person that contributed to the record. A lot of people contributed their time and energy to this project and it continually blows me away that people would do that to help me. If you're in NYC on October 20th, my band is premiering this music live at Rockwood Music Hall. Hope to see you there! Tune in at 2 PM on Friday to hear Planets live on-air!

I wanna live. I also wanna GIVE you an insight into this wonderful track by Neil Young titled: "Heart Of Gold". Beginning with the basics, this track was released off of the album Harvest Moon in 1972. The album also includes "Old Man", another highly favored track of Neil Young. The record commences with a strong strumming pattern and harmonica which exposes the powers it has to reach so many. It tells the story of being a miner for a heart of gold, the motivation to search for a soulmate when time seems to be catching up to him, being unlucky in love and shouting the mantra to keep looking for it. An overall solid message - to never give up and keep searching. Even though you may be growing old, there’s still time. From him being in Hollywood to Redwood (not in Kalamazoo unfortunately) to thinking he’ll cross the ocean for a heart of gold, the drive to find love was high in this period of time. The story he shares is painfully accurate, turning his struggles into a song. It's incredibly mind-blowing how artists can take a spin on their own lives and write a great tune that reflects it so well. The great blend of country and rock along with folk is solidly founded with the poet and dreamer-like lyrics. Before I read the details behind this record, I envisioned a totally different message. Having a heart of gold to get you through anything. Incorporating resilience and strong will to complete what is necessary for you in your daily life. Not paying much mind to the things that distract you from doing what you love. It’s so great to have that with music. To interpret it your own way and find out the real source after some research. That’s one component that’s so exhilarating about music like I’ve said many times before. One of Neil Young’s fans became a rock and roll star himself. You may know him as Kurt Cobain. Kurt was infatuated with Neil Young in his adolescence. Kurt wrote a letter shortly before his passing in April of 1994. One line includes the lyrics of Neil Young’s "Hey Hey Hey, My My": “It’s better to burn out than fade away.” There’s an excerpt of an interview you can find when searching the two names together. Neil had actually tried to get in touch with Kurt shortly before his passing. He heard in a statement that Kurt was tired of playing and doing the same old thing. Young wanted to reach out and tell him something along the lines of, ‘It’s okay. It’s normal to feel like that. Play whatever you want to play.’ It tragically was too late for Young as he was informed on the day when Kurt passed. When Neil found out about his letter, it messed with him. It’s crazy how these two were so connected in finding their hearts of gold, but never got a chance to sit down and talk about it.

Rubber Band Moments or: the effect of music on self-talk: a narrative itinerary [with the music of Spellling and Alexis Marshall] by Josh Vesper. On September 19, 2021, a moment of understanding was realized. This moment was not a pointillistic spec of ink relative to the greater landscape of a personal storyboard. No. I hate pointillism. //The moment was a hot rubber band, stretching, pulling, and sculpting itself across the hours of the day. The melting rubber sept into every groove, nook, and cranny in its path. // Yes. That was the moment. 11:00 AM Wake up. It’s late. // The internal dialogue deafens. // Think straight. Stretch. Think right. Think less. Not that. Not that either. Think more. More. more. More!! Just right. 11:30 AM I cannot stay trapped here. Pull the shelter back and away. I cannot operate this machine today. Craving organic movement. Travel on foot. Where are we going? Anywhere but here. Do not forget your glasses you must have Vision. Do not forget your journal you must have Voice. Wired headphones as intravenous therapy. [PLAY] - [Spellling – The Turning Wheel] stave off the dehydration. 12:00 PM The walk is brisk, but unhurried. No screens, just feelings. [Spellling – TTW-“Little Deer”] Feelings are terrifyingly beautiful. Who is the little deer? Am I the little deer? Maybe I am the hunter. “Little deer, little deer, the arrow hurts to fly to you. How do I fear, little deer? To take the precious life from you away.” I do not want to be the hunter. The hunter has an honorable duty, and I do not envy the honor. The world passes me by, I pass by the world, life in synchronicity. 12:30 PM Like a beached whale, I have arrived. Whether you like it or not. [PAUSE] I can hear the surface level interactions again. How are you today? So nice to see you! Ope do I really need another coffee today? Oh shucks! I guess so. Suppress the urge to vomit. I need to go back to that dreamland. The cathartic absence of reality launches me higher than any drug could ever wish to. Spend another dollar. Another dollar. Another dollar. There are worse addictions to have. Do not fear, little deer, you have those too. [PLAY] - [Spellling – TTW – “Boys at School”]. With the press of a button, optimism is no longer dead. “I hate the boys at school. They never play by the rules.” I will never exist within a prison of rules. You. Must. Leave. Now. 1:00 PM I seek no destination. Just move. Fluid and clean and natural. Just move. [Spellling – TTW – “Sweet Talk”]. “I hear the musical words. In the arc of a rainbow. In the spider’s harp.” [STOP]. //I am no longer deaf.// I hear the wind and the birds and the cars and the beggars and the salutations and the yesterday rain and the wine glass clinks and the sweet nothing whispers. And I walk in the blissful silence. 1:15 PM Silence appears most often in places of discomfort. Thank God the church gate is open. 2000 years of religious dogma casts shadows over the meticulously cared-for shrubs, the ornate fountains, and cobblestone crucifixes. I have the journal. Project Voice in the silence. Project Voice in the silence. Project Voice in the silence. 2:00 PM Church is dismissed. I must walk “home.” Must. Musty. Dusty. Walk “home.” My dreamland meets its antithesis. [PLAY] – [Alexis Marshall – House of Lull. House of When – “Hounds in the Abyss”] “Are you the one letting the air out the tires of my car? Are you the one breathing on the other side of my bedroom door? Are you the one walking across the mouth of my open grounds?” thoughts untamed. uncontrollable conversations with myself. this young man is paranoid. trademark on that pussy™. trademark on that pussy™. trademark on that pussy™. The abyss of reality returns, I am “home.” 2:30 PM The door opens unwelcomingly. [Alexis Marshall – HoL.HoW. – “It Just Doesn’t Feel Good Anymore”] “Don’t get up. Don’t go out. Don’t touch anything. Don’t look at anyone. Don’t look at anything…You have OBLIGATIONS. Stay where you are. You have OBLIGATIONS.” I reside in the prison of rules. //obey. collapse. cover your eyes. the kitchen floor has never felt more comfortable//. no Vision. fear is an unforgiving god. I fear it. they cannot see what I see and what I see is everything in the nothingness of blindness. the tears flow //let them// I do not want to cry //let them//let them//. [STOP] open your eyes. there is still light here. the moment has passed. you are safe now.

I discovered Bratmobile’s Ladies, Women, and Girls when I was a sophomore in highschool. It was the beginning of discovering how to become a riot grrrl. I am a riot grrrl because of Allison Wolfe & Bratmobile. Although the album was made in 2000, it can be felt in feminism today. When I found the CD in WIDR’s collection, I saw a mini-review of the album taped on the back by Migraine Boy. They said “the closest comparison I thought of was the B52’s” and “grrrl punk with a late-70s new wave vibe.” While I agree partially because of the surf-esque guitar, it would be impossible to ignore Bikini Kill’s influence on Bratmobile. After all, Tobi Vail, Kathleen Hanna, and Kathi Wilcox were the original “Riot Grrrls.” The ideology of Bratmobile is far more important than the music itself. They existed because of the lack of girl punk, which is why I believe that Bratmobile looks back at Poly Styrene or The Raincoats, rather than Kate Pierson of the B52s. For example, the second song on the album “Gimme Brains” is far more raw and truthful than that of an 80s hit single. The lyrics are feminist and angry. It feels like a song you know hundreds of other grrrls have screamed together. You can hear the influence of 90s fanzine rhetoric and it feels unprofessional in the best way possible. We know Bratmobile did not want to make radio hits, they wanted to make grrrls feel heard. Other tracks such as “Girlfriends don’t keep” feel reminiscent of twee pop bands such as Beat Happening… Which makes sense. Bikini Kill and Beat Happening are also bands that arose from the Olympia, WA scene. “Girlfriends don’t keep” is a song that you’d think Allison Wolfe would sing, rather than her other hardcore punk tracks. It’s a cute song, but I believe that the intensity of their screaming, upbeat songs like “Eating Toothpaste” changed the lives of grrrls everywhere. While my favorite of Bratmobile is their debut album, Ladies, Women, and Girls is still just as life changing. The meaning and depth of their words showed grrrls they can be angry, feminine, and punk all in the same breath. It’s revolutionary.

"Donda", A word you’ve probably heard daily for the last three months. With it now being released on all streaming platforms, there’s a sudden urge to review Kanye's marketing strategy for the project. It all started when Kanye planned to rent out a luxury room at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Now, this on its own is a headline for fans of his who wondered, ‘what is Kanye doing spending an outrageous amount to reside in the stadium?’ Well, there’s a one-word answer for that, Donda. He set up his space with the producer and began working on the project. While this was taking place, Kanye acted in his usual Kanye persona - deleting everything off of his Instagram to base it around the project and being wishy-washy with the final product through multiple (3) Apple Music listening events. I attended the first one when I heard the breaking news of it last minute through social media. It was kind of surreal since this was the first unveiling of what Donda looked like in Ye’s head. In a typical fashion, he did some weird rituals involving him doing push-ups. But, that’s not even the craziest part. For the third show, however, Kanye wanted something personal for this project. He replicated his Chicago childhood home while turning it into a church then placed it dead center of Soldier Field for the ultimately sold-out show featuring artists such as Playboy Carti, Lil Baby, and Jay-Z. The way it flowed was miraculous after multiple discrepancies of actually placing artists on their respected tracks. He announced multiple times that he took Jay-Z and Kid Cudi off for no reason but ended up putting them on the album anyway. It’s a ludicrous tactic, but it worked well in terms of streaming revenues. However, this wasn’t the only fuel added to Ye’s already highly stressed fire. Kanye’s label had released the project without his consent earlier than expected. Finding that out, Ye was mad until he saw the streaming numbers Donda had created. His producer, however, wasn’t so lucky. The producer overslept the session they’d booked previously and Kanye fired him. He also left him with these words, “Go find God.” In conclusion, this marketing strategy is something that is barely touched on in the music industry, let alone the marketing industry as a whole in terms of mainstream marketing ideologies. The streaming numbers spoke for themselves and did well for an album that has changed its release date more than three times.

If you know me, you know that I tend to resent country music. This isn’t to say I haven’t loved it growing up. I was a big Tim McGraw and Keith Urban fan in my younger days. But then I grew up. I found that my ears needed more visceral entertainment. I ventured into things like drum and bass, math rock, and other unclassifiable music. This about describes my music taste. I like exploring music that is uncomfortable for those who typically get their dosage of sounds from algorithms and not from manually searching for it. However, the algorithm seems to know that there is one country anomaly that I enjoy very much. This would be Kacey Musgraves. I remember listening to Golden Hour during my sophomore year of college and remember saying something to the effect of “this is the ONLY country album I will listen to consistently”. Well, except for Devin Townsend’s gloomy country album Casualties of Cool, which is interesting since Townsend is usually a metalhead. But now, I’m at a new crossroads. I have graduated college and settled back into suburban life a little bit. Things I value haven’t precisely changed, but I think I understand the human condition a bit better. And that is precisely what star-crossed illuminates. I don't want to dig into Musgraves’ personal history too much, but I know creating this album was very demanding and could very easily help to create some personal catharsis. This is a breakup album, but it is cinematic in its construction. Not quite a musical and not superficial in many ways. In my view, many albums produced with corporate record labels seem to have a few throwaway songs that are made as cash grabs. This album has none of that. It has the same spirit as Happier Than Ever and really dives into our human deficiencies that we all experience in relation to love. And don’t even get me started on the production. Ever since Golden Hour, Kacey has been pushing the country playbook. Wild synths serve as a fantastic foundation for songs that you want to just drool at for their perfect composition. If you want an album that will very much make you consider the dynamics of human relationships and the complexities that such entails, then this is an album for you. If you are a music lover, I would highly recommend this too. It hits different, and it’s all due to Kacey’s genuine storytelling.

Keeping time is any drummer's basic duty in their respective ensemble. However, Neil Peart did more than just that which made him one of the greats. He, Alex Lifeson, and Geddy Lee formed Rush, the headbanging prog-rock band formed in 1968. The three had all met in Toronto which is where they formed their band. They all chose free will for their futures. None of them were enticed by working 9-5 jobs like their peers and parents. Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee were the first two members of Rush put in a circumstance to take some chances. The duo, consisting of extensive guitar and bass knowledge, was in a search for the real-life metronome that captured their desired sound. After some searching, they found the man himself. The true master of timekeeping, Neil Peart. Rush had their beginnings like any other band. But when they found their Limelight, everything had come together for their first studio album release of Rush in March of 1974. The album skyrocketed into popularity with its new take on rock and roll. Nobody could believe that they were only a three-person band. The sound was that astonishing at the time, as it still is today. After the first release, everything was shaping up to be as if they’d found their sound. Moving Pictures, Fly By Night and Permanent Waves exemplify this sound. Released in February of 1981, Moving Pictures made Rush widely known with captivating tracks such as "Tom Sawyer", "YYZ", and "Red Barchetta". "The Spirit Of The Radio" off of Permanent Waves had put a spirit in everyone’s radio. It virtually set the tone of how one likes to believe in the freedom of music. Getting back to our timekeeper, Neil has written most of Rush’s tracks with the collaboration of Alex and Geddy. Every drum part is his writing of course but his contributions weren’t limited to just that. He also has chimed in on the lyrical parts, which are sick if you ask me. His most famed solo, the YYZ solo, has reached millions of views on YouTube which raised a lot of interest in fans coming to their live shows to witness his greatness. Neil, unfortunately, passed away in January of 2020. Which was only the start of unfortunate things to happen that year. However, Neil still lives on. When you listen to Rush, you always know he’s there with his magnetic groove and driving force to muscle up those tracks. His legendary performances will never be forgotten. He is survived by Alex and Geddy, his eternal music brothers. Neil always seemed like he was flying from so much joy on the drums. I will never forget the inspiration he and Rush have been to me as a fellow musician. God bless that prog-rock band. Thanks for tuning in to another blog. Make sure to be in touch with widrfm.org to see all the new content we have coming including one of our newest DJ’s, Corey D! His insights include music and food along with the biggest record collection I’ve ever seen. Tune into his shows on Wednesdays from 7-8 PM!

Hey y’all and HAPPY START TO THE SEMESTER BRONCOS!! I just started my final year of classes today as I’m writing this which are already driving me mad. On the bright side, The Skinny Limbs released their new EP, Jade this past Friday which is about the only thing getting me through right now. I really got into The Skinny Limbs earlier this year but they’ve actually been on my radar since high school when they played at my high school's music festival, WO Stock! The Skinny Limbs rock and I’m absolutely in love with Jade which is what I’m here to review for y’all today :) This EP starts off with “Tenderness” which feels very upbeat musically but lyrically... not so much. This is definitely a song of contrast to say the least. The song begins with melodic synthesizer and guitar lines that pair so well with Max’s smooth vocals. My favorite part of “Tenderness” may be the instrumental break in the middle with the beautiful guitar solo and following guitar JAM. Overall despite the not very upbeat message I get really good vibes from this song! Next up is “Folly” which starts off a bit more toned down but keeps with the synthesizer notes in the instrumentals. I’ve listened to quite a bit of The Skinny Limbs’ music and this undoubtedly feels like a song of theirs but to me shows some growth they’ve had. I fell in love with them for their melodic guitar lines and dreamy vocals but the synthesizer brings such a cool new almost 80s-esque vibe. In this song they also change up the feel quite a bit throughout where it will feel like it’s moving faster or slower which is so cool to hear! I'm a big fan of this song too, what more can I say?? “Jade”, the title track is our next song! This song is so interesting and such a contrast from the first two tracks. In this song they introduce a more pronounced base line which gives it a very different energy, definitely matching the feel of the mellow vocals more than the previously prominent high melodic guitar lines. Despite being local to Grand Rapids, The Skinny Limbs’ music feels undeniably island-y to me and this song is no exception. “Jade” feels like a song to listen to on the beach as summer winds down – a melancholy song for a melancholy mood. “Color of Morning” comes next which is one of the three songs on this EP released as singles before it came out. The opening instrumental line that continues throughout the song feels really reminiscent of the music Youtubers I watched would put in their videos way back in the day... don’t ask me why but that’s what it reminds me of. This is again a very vibey song but also feels very adventurous. I’m a fan yet again! “Persistence” is the next song up which is for sure my favorite!! This song has even made an appearance in my show I love it so much! This song to me is the epitome of what The Skinny Limbs do best, it’s got it all! The opening to the song feels extremely dreamy before the light guitar helps transition to the heavier BOP of a guitar line. The first couple minutes of the song are really solid don’t get me wrong, but my favorite part is in the interlude when the vocals trade off with the guitar before eventually just trading lines between vocals. The sturdier lower notes contrast so well with the dreamy higher notes and that section feels so MAGICAL to me! I can’t recommend this one enough, be sure to give it a listen y’all. Last on the EP is “Future Days” which personally is my least favorite but that’s really just because I’m not a big slow song gal. Though this song probably isn’t one I’ll listen to regularly, it is really gorgeous and good to mellow out to. I am so impressed with this EP and will definitely be jamming to it as I suffer through the first few weeks of school! That’s mostly a joke but I am excited with the timing that this lovely EP came out. Thanks for reading y’all and don’t forget to listen to Jade!

The winding down of summer is coming sooner than I expected. Knowing this, there was something I had to do before the weather changed. My two friends and a mutual friend of ours decided to plan a two-day camping trip in the Manistee Trails. Located in Brethren which is a part of Manistee County, these trails have some of the most unique views of northern Michigan I’ve experienced to date. I departed from Kalamazoo that Friday to link up with them in Holland. Ryan and our mutual friend Brayden both attend Hope College and are members of the Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity. We took two cars since our gear was taking up a lot of space, I ended up riding with our other friend Owen. We arrived at about six o’clock and started our hike to find a nice camping spot. It only took about two miles to find one we were content with. It overlooked the river off of this cliff that separated the site and the walking areas. We ended up diving into the river to cool off from the long drive and journey. The water felt immaculate along with the stunning views surrounding the river canyon. There was a strong current that almost pulled me away when I tried to swim against it. Luckily, I realized I was getting swept and acted fast. The whole time we were there, we put on a lot of music that fit the scenes tremendously. The main artist put on our playlist was Goth Babe featuring hits such as "Car Camping", "Sunnn", and "Swimming". I definitely recommend these as new tracks for your playlists. He is an independent artist from Nashville who came onto the scene in 2015. He is tremendously versatile with his sound on each record. Later that night, as we were setting up the fire and sleeping arrangements, Ryan informed us that a meteor shower was going to take place around midnight. After preparing our site, we went to the cliff to witness it. The first meteor came out as soon as the clock hit 11:30 and we saw it simultaneously. The rest that followed was pure bliss. They would come in waves of six every ten minutes or so. Up until that I had never witnessed such a beautiful natural event. We went to bed around 1 and got up around 7 the next day. We ended up walking a decent amount and found another enticing camp spot. This one was lower to the ground and right next to the shore of the river. The Manistee River was one of the most refreshing bodies of water I’ve dove into, the water was also very clear. Like I said before, the stream was rapid so you’d have to be careful and swim near the shore more than the outer distance. We went fishing for trout on breaks between hikes and resting at our camping sites. This was one of the best camping trips I’ve been on. Keep on popping into WIDR FM to hear our wonderful DJs speak their taste in music as well as their respected writings in our blog posting. Keep on truckin’.

Sometimes Spotify’s Discover Weekly that they curate for you is a hit or miss, but lately I’ve been finding some good tunes on there! Recently I found Indigo De Souza’s single “Take Off Ur Pants” from her album I Love My Mom and I immediately added it to my liked songs. I was surprised to find out this was released in 2018, but you know, it doesn’t really matter if the songs you discover were released a day ago, or decades ago, the point is that you got to hear it. I was hooked on the low groovy guitar line that introduced the song, which continues to play beneath the rest of instruments once they come in. Also, I really like how the tempo of the instruments have some dissonance with the vocals. When you first hear it, you think it might be a slower, vibey song, but the vocals change it to more of an angsty and faster tune. And we get the crashing of drums and other guitars that join in, especially as we get further into the song. The other thing that I love about this song is the lyrics. The lyrics are repetitive, but that’s how it gets it’s point across. You can hear them clearly, and I also think that they are just entirely relatable. Comparison in this world is almost inevitable, especially with the media, and even just people in your environment. It gets far too easy to focus on other people’s lives instead of our own, and that’s where jealousy and insecurity comes in. She sings of everyday tasks, like “when am I gonna get out of bed, like everybody else does” or “when am I gonna start being cool, like everyone else is.” But she eventually screams out, “now that everyone’s gone, I can tell you the truth,” like she’s finally able to express what she’s feeling without being overcome by others. The media and other people continuously make us feel like we should be in some great place, and that we have to achieve so many things. But it’s perfectly okay to be proud of getting out of bed. Go take a listen to this song! Maybe you’ll interpret it differently than me! To me it’s 100% the kind of song I have to sing out loud to. Thanks for reading <3

In 1964, The Beatles had acclaimed a large amount of fame. Their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9th and release of their LP A Hard Day's Night in July of that year helped make this possible. Their tour of North America lasted barely a month but had many destinations. The one I'd like to discuss today is the fab four’s appearance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison Colorado. Beatlemania swept the US under its feet with its hypnotizing harmonies and unique sounding instrumentals. A ticket for this performance would cost you only six dollars and sixty cents. What a deal! It hadn’t even sold out leaving Red Rocks the only venue the Beatles didn’t fully sell out according to the Red Rocks Museum near the amphitheater. Before arriving in Colorado, The Beatles were informed that the air is much thinner due to elevation. They didn’t seem thrown off about it and thought it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle. That is until they played their famous cover of Little Richard’s "Long Tall Sally". Paul McCartney recalled his experience with the altitude change and performing, “I remember singing ‘Long Tall Sally’ and thinking, ‘Hey, this is great, hyperventilation of the highest order! Well, Long Tall Sally, wheeze, wheeze…’ I was sweating, but I got through it. It was an interesting experience, physically. It was a lovely arena. It looked beautiful at night.’’ The Beatles put on an electric performance, even with the altitude difficulties. At the end of the show, the fans pelted The Beatles' with their favorite candy, jelly babies. This was pretty much a ritual at the end of every Beatles concert until they stopped touring in 1967.

Festival fans across the state will have an opportunity to experience a new and independently-run music and arts festival in Northwest Michigan at the end of August. The Big Fam Music and Arts Festival will be celebrating its debut in Lake Ann, MI, after being postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival will take place from Friday, August 27, through Sunday, August 29 at Harmony Pines. The lineup boasts big names that are recognizable from elsewhere on the Festival Circuit, as well as a cornucopia of local and regional artists - many of which are from Michigan. On a personal level, this weekend will be very important to me, as it will be my first festival since September 2019, and the first opportunity I’ve had to write a story about one since August of the same year. Ahead of the big weekend on the horizon, I had a chance to speak with Andrew Martin, who acts as the Marketing and Communications Director for Big Fam. Since we run in the same circles, I’ve met Martin a handful of times, but have never actually had an opportunity to talk with him at-length. Earlier this week, Andrew communicated with me via Email to fill me in on the details. Martin, along with several other people behind Big Fam, has been involved with other small, independent festivals and small-scale events in the past, such as Sacred Vibrations and UpNorth Music Festival. “Our team has contributed to many different festivals and events over the years,” Martin told me. “Those experiences have led us to collaborate with one another and achieve total comradery to create this immersive and unique experience at Big Fam.” Speaking on the mission statement for Big Fam, Martin says the team is looking to create an enjoyable and unique experience for all involved. “We aim to produce a top notch, professional event that builds relationships spanning near and far,” Martin said. “Our goal is to support the community that we are making our home in, we hope to be an impactful and helpful entity in the local community. I hope the attendees will love and cherish this event as much as I do. We’ve devoted our hearts and souls to this project for over two years, and it’s great to see how much support we’ve gained already. My intention is for us to be a bright light for not only the attendees, but the community as a whole. That’s all we can ask for.” With the pandemic considered, Martin says that postponing the event has given the team more time to get creative and reassess the production side of things. To help make up for that, the Big Fam team also hosted a series of livestreams featuring the artists on the lineup, which were viewable on Twitch. “To give a simple response, 2020 gave us an opportunity to sit back and take time to look at this project from a birds’ eye view,” Martin said. “We got to reevaluate some things, gain more production and put a lot more detail into this project in all aspects.” As previously mentioned, the event will take place at Harmony Pines at the Harm Farm. As its name suggests, the venue features several acres of property surrounded by a pine forest. “This property is a hidden gem of over 300 acres of gorgeous fields, forests and magic that we’ll get to unfold together,” Martin said. “One of our Directors, Kevin Kreta, found this property a couple years back, and I'm beyond blessed that we found him and have him as a part of our family and team.” When looking at the lineup, many festival-goers should recognize names on the top bill. For example, Sunsquabi is an electronic jam group who has collaborated with artists like Griz in the past. In addition, readers may recognize Dixon’s Violin, who has played at events such as Electric Forest. Those who have attended may have seen him play his ethereal electronic violin music during yoga workouts in the early afternoon. “We’ve been curating the lineup for about two years now,” Martin said. “At this year’s event, you’ll get to experience a glimpse at each one of our favorite music styles and projects.” In fact, Martin himself will be performing under his DJ Moniker “A Tropical Martian” on Saturday at 1 p.m. Interview With a Local Artist- While the lineup boasts these well-known names, the lower bill also features a curated selection of local and regional artists as well. Among those are the Kalamazoo-based electronic duo FENDZ, who have been active in the local scene for years. Earlier this week, I was able to speak with Patrick McKenzie, one half of the duo. McKenzie had previously been performing under the name Large Mouth Bass before joining up with Travis Wagner, who makes up the other half of FENDZ. To start with, McKenzie explained the style of FENDZ. “We like to do a little bit of everything, but the main chunk of our music comes from the 2012-era dubstep, a little more melodic rolling bass,” McKenzie said. However, the duo’s style isn’t limited to dubstep. Recently, they released the “Chemicals EP,” which encompasses more of an alternative rock sound. “When me and Travis teamed up, he made it clear that he didn’t want to have any side projects, and that whatever kind of music we wanted to create, we were going to put out under one name,” McKenzie said. “That’s truly shown by the Chemicals EP. It’s something he wrote like five years ago. We’ve also been working with a live bass player and a drummer, just writing whatever kind of music we want in hopes of making a live performance stage show out of it at some point.” While McKenzie was originally a solo artist, he joined Travis Wagner about two years ago. “About 2019, we came to the conclusion that we enjoyed making music together more, that we made better music together,” McKenzie said. “I have a pretty good connection as a DJ and a pretty good following in the local scene, and he had a lot more experience producing and marketing. We both figured that we complimented each other perfectly, so that when we teamed up, it would really benefit each other.” In speaking of Big Fam, McKenzie says he is excited to see how Big Fam will fare on its debut installment. “A lot of people that are doing work behind the scenes, I worked with them on Sacred Vibrations too, so I know what kind of work ethic and attention to detail they bring to throwing shows,” McKenzie said. “I know a lot of people that are involved, I’m really excited that it’s like a grassroots festival. No corporate big interest, it’s all put on by people that love music and have been doing it for a long time.” FENDZ plays Sunday night at 7:00 p.m., and McKenzie says he has some surprises in store for the crowd. “A lot of times, I like to play based on what kind of crowd is gonna be there, and we’re gonna play a lot of our originals,” McKenzie said. “We have a ton of unreleased material, we have two EP’s that are almost done. You can expect a mix of everything. We’re just gonna play the music that we love to make.” After discussing the basic details of FENDZ, the conversation turned to the rest of the lineup. “I feel like they did a really good job of putting on people that have been working for a long time, who have been really supportive of the Michigan scene,” McKenzie said. “There’s a couple Michigan people that have blown up and done well, such as Angelic Root, he’s from Ypsilanti and moved out to Colorado. Viskus and Super Future have both blown up in the last year and a half.” He also noted the mix of genres present on the lineup. “I also like the mix of bands and everything they have, like Act Casual,” McKenzie said. “Sunsquabi is an amazing mix of jam band and a little electronic, they’re really fun to see. Yheti brings the weird bass, and the Widdler plays some massive dubstep. The old dubstep where it’s deep and heavy, and not so metallic and crunchy.” McKenzie also said that the lineup appears to live up to the festival name itself. “I really feel like it is ‘Big Fam,’ like they literally reached out to all the people in the Michigan and Midwest area here, that have been doing music, those are who you’ll see there,” McKenzie said. “And the people that are attending are going to be your friends, the other people you see when you go out to these shows. That’s what I think is the most exciting thing about it, it’s literally going to be a big family reunion.” Further Attractions - Aside from the music, there will be other attractions, as well. Several visual artists and painters will be on hand to display their creative works. There will also be several workshops available, including activities such as yoga and guided meditation. There will also be an art gallery and even a recently announced disc golf course. Visitors can also look forward to the KatFish EyeKandy Wonderland, which is an interactive visual experience based on Alice in Wonderland. The festival grounds are also a short drive from Lake Michigan, should anyone feel like going for a swim. Closing - In closing, Andrew Martin offered these words for those that are preparing to embark on this journey - “Big Fam will be an experience not even myself can quite yet fathom, I never imagined being part of such an amazing community and talented individuals,” Martin said. “Everyone is beyond passionate and cares so much about each other. We welcome everyone with open arms and accept them into our Big Family, why would you ever want to miss out on an event like that?” More Information - All information about Big Fam, including how to buy tickets, is available online at https://www.bigfamfestival.com. Again, Big Fam will take place from Friday, August 27 - Sunday, August 29, with everyone leaving for home that Monday. Harmony Pines is located at 4846 N Hulbert Rd, Lake Ann, MI 49650. Recently, WIDR FM held a ticket giveaway contest, during which one lucky winner was selected for two digital passes. We here at WIDR would like to congratulate the winner, who has already been contacted, and wish them a great weekend ahead. RADIO PREVIEW SPECIAL - Under my radio host moniker [DJWILLKILL], I will be hosting a special one-hour preview that will highlight a selection of artists performing at Big Fam. To listen, tune in to WIDR FM This Monday, August 23, at 1 P.M. EST. You can also tune in through www.widrfm.org. In the meantime, readers can enjoy a preview playlist featuring some of the artists that will be performing.

Hey everybody! Many of my favorite artists have been releasing absolute bangers recently with Hippo Campus being among them. Recently, I was delighted to see that their new single, “Sex Tape” came out which I then found out was part of their new EP, Good Dog, Bad Dream that came out on August 6th. I’ve been listening to Hippo Campus since 2017 before they came out with their first full length album, Landmark. Hippo Campus to me has very much been a coming-of-age band whose music has been there for me during some of the biggest changes in my life. Anyways, I’m here to review Good Dog, Bad Dream for you today, so let’s get into it! We start off this EP with “Bad Dream Baby” which was the first single to be released. I have been jamming to this song non-stop since it came out in June but I’ve got to say, it initially surprised me. The vibe of this song is quite a bit different than the music Hippo Campus has previously released. The lyrics are a little more blatant – to the point that they make me laugh hearing them sometimes. “I’m kind of worried about Brittnay Spears, it’s pretty fucked up how her dad runs her life, I wish my dad were more involved in mine but not like that, really not like that” is a great example of the lyrical vibes in this song. In terms of the instrumentals, “Bad Dream Baby” kicks off this bass heavy EP and overall is very fun and high energy. Next up is “Deepfake” which is a little mellower but brings in some more unsettling elements like the super autotuned vocals and background static. The song doesn’t feel sad per say, but the lyrics aren’t too optimistic - being about feeling like a fake and not very cool person. I guess the song feels a bit dreary, but I think some of those unsettling elements keep it feeling at least a little fun. “Sex Tape” is next which is my favorite song on this EP. This song has the vibe that I really fell in love with Hippo Campus for, which is very mellow, and a little island-y. I love the dichotomy between the message of someone wanting to film a sex tape and the super chill and fun instrumentals in this song. Hippo Campus has done a great job of changing up their music while keeping their vibe and this song really is the perfect example of that. “Where to Now” is probably the darkest feeling song on this EP with a minor bass line dominating the instrumentals. Halfway through the song we get hints of the island-y sounding guitar that lightens it up a touch, but for the most part this song feels heavier than the other songs on this EP. I personally prefer their more upbeat songs, but that being said I think this song balances out the other songs quite well! We finish out the EP with “Mojo Jojo” which brings back the autotuned vocals that are quite fitting in this upbeat song. The electronic and autotuned feel isn’t my personal favorite, but the song is pretty fun and makes a great closer for this fun EP. Overall I’m loving this new music from Hippo Campus and I’m excited to see what adventures in my life it accompanies me for. I highly recommend checking it out and listening to their older music as well!