YBOT & WIDR present Music at the Library. The new "Tiny Desk" inspired series showcases WMU music artists performing in a very raw and stripped down environment

If you have not been to many music festivals, the Audiotree music festival is a great festival to get started with; and if you have been to music festivals before, it’s one you’ll surely love. It’s the perfect size for a weekend outing: large enough to secure some extraordinary acts, but still small enough to be intimate and comfortable. The event was held at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place. It’s not a huge area, but there was plenty of room for everyone. Parking was close and decently priced ($15 altogether for both days). Security did not allow food or drink into the festival but there was a spot to refill water bottles and plenty of vendors. The assortment of vendors fit into the event was impressive; they brought food, drinks, records and merch, and a travel agency even showed up. The choices for food included barbeque, noodles and stir fry, or tacos. There was a vodka truck serving drinks inspired by the bands performing, and Topo Chico was handing out free bottles of sparkling water. The wait for the merch table was never excessive, and the people running it were friendly and pleasant to talk to. The single water fountain could have long wait times, though it never caused me to miss anything. The crowd started out small: until Smino performed, I would guess it was about 50-100 people by the stage. More people were sitting in the shade away from the stage. After the crowd filled out, it was still small enough that a decent view was almost guaranteed. On Saturday, the amount of people attending multiplied, but it was still possible to see the stage or to get to the front of the crowd, especially if you weren’t concerned with personal space. It took people a little while to get energetic. This was particularly noticeable during BADBADNOTGOOD’s set on Saturday, when the crowd was hesitant to go along with the band’s antics. This was probably due to the variety of bands playing: a lot of people were seeing some of the artists for the first time (myself included). This wasn’t really an issue though; the crowd’s energy was great once things got moving. It really was a pleasant crowd; even with mosh pits forming in the front and everyone dancing, I never noticed anyone being too pushy or inconsiderate. All in all it was a great crowd; it seemed like most everyone was always having a good time. Audiotree picked great headliners. SuperDuperKyle put on a fantastic show; he had great interplay on stage with his hype man and the crowd. The energy was palpable. Full disclosure, I had planned on leaving part way through his set as I’d never heard any of his music, and I had some friends tell me it wasn’t going to be good. I’m glad to say they were wrong: it was a crazy fun show. King Gizzard was a totally different kind of show. They filled the stage with their numerous members, and played for around 85 minutes. During the show there was improvised video loops projected behind the band. Their whole setup was impressive and looked and sounded incredible. The headliners weren’t the only ones that put on great shows. I enjoyed most everyone, and even the acts I wasn’t a huge fan of were still exceptionally talented groups. A few of my favorites were Pinegrove, Lizzo, and Twin Peaks. I had seen Pinegrove before, so I knew what to expect; their music always brings about such sentimentality and feelings of friendship--I felt so warm and fuzzy after they played. Lizzo was out of control: everyone on stage was electric, and one of my favorite moments of the whole festival was when she yelled, “Look at my ass Kalamazoo!” and proceeded to move her body in ways I wasn’t sure I was allowed to be clapping for. Twin Peaks could have easily closed the festival out. Their drunken energy was hilarious and contagious; I wanted nothing more than to play loud music while inebriated after they were done performing. The production and tech side of everything was satisfactory. The lights couldn’t be seen until the end of the night which was a bit of a bummer for the opening bands, but wasn’t a big deal. The sound was great; the best word to describe it was clarity: there was plenty of bass, but it wasn’t overpowering, and everything on stage could be heard from anywhere in the crowd. In case it isn’t clear already, I wholeheartedly recommend going to the Audiotree Music Festival. It is a perfect blend of intimacy and established acts. There was tons of great music and generally a pleasant atmosphere. It’s great for both avid festival-goers and those looking to get their feet wet. I know I’ll be back next year.

I discovered Dogleg while at a DIY house show @ The Cave in Ypsilanti, MI. From Ann Arbor, MI, Dogleg provides you with the perfect combination of catchy melodies, and powerful vocals. There is really no way to categorize this band neatly into one genre or sound, and that's exactly what's great about them. The first time I listened to Dogleg, I felt like an angsty teenager again who just discovered Paramore or Yellowcard. I couldn't help but jump around and scream the lyrics, and release the emotional tension built-up inside my stressed out college mind. Such a sense of innocent joy brought on by the emotional release from music is very under rated, and is a feeling I have yearned for a long time. My favorite part of this band is probably the vocals. Their vocals almost sound painful like the singer's voice is breaking up. Yet their sound remain consistent both recorded and live. This is where this band hits a sweet spot that gives them a lot of their unique sound. The raw energy of the vocals practically invites you to sing along, without caring if you sound perfect. You still crave to sing along. No one song Dogleg has released is quite alike. They sound similar enough, in that they are all clearly written and played by the same folk. But each song is like a different dish in a themed dinner. Each bite has a different flavor. In their song "Calling Collect", the lyrics that resonate with me are in the beginning of the song. "Getting up is the hardest thing for me to do tonight, never seem to find the right words to say. "I'm ohkay", is the only one that stumbles out of my mouth." I'm not sure what this song is referring to. But there is another part of this song that goes "Help yourself, or help yourself to me. I'm trying to ask you, whats the right thing to do?" These lyrics remind me of my own struggle with mental health issues. I asked the band what the song was about. According to the band, "Calling Collect is mainly about a battle/conversation with depression. For most of the songs I would portray it as a first-person perspective talking to their condition and trying to rationalize it and make sense of it. Calling Collect is specifically battling with the idea that you're always setting yourself up to fail when dealing with that." Alot of what makes this album so great is how relatable it is. I feel like there is something everyone can relate to in each song. Which again drives home my main point that you just want to sing along when listening to this album. If you are the kind of person who doesn't enjoy going to parties, but would rather jump on your bed and have your own party on a late weekend night, this album is for you! Anyone who doesn't fit in with societal norms can relate to this album. Part of what attributes to this bands sound, is that all their albums have been recorded in a basement. When listening, I thought this album was recorded in a studio. It's really impressive the quality they have gotten outside of a studio. The best way to sum up this bands sound in this album is D.I.Y. Their sound has grown greatly in the D.I.Y community across the midwest. They often can be seen playing with similar sounding bands like Swordfish, Complainer., and mover shaker. These musicians are D.I.Y through and through. Catch them at a local soggy basement punch-dancing near you! Favorite tracks: "Star 67", "Calling Collect", "Remember Alderaan?", and "Crimes".

Joe Vicari How long have you been volunteering at WIDR? I've been working at WIDR for about a year now. What is your most memorable moment at WIDR? Working the Already Dead Tapes Festival Which bands make up your dream lineup? For local bands it would be, Edith from Cardboard Highway and Guppy. What does WIDR and Radio Evolution mean to you? To me, Radio Evolution means bringing about chance in the scene with radio and through the community around it.

You can listen to DJ Peach Pit's playlist on Spotify!!!

YBOT & WIDR present Music at the Library. The new "Tiny Desk" inspired series showcases WMU music artists performing in a very raw and stripped down environment

Alternative 80's- We sat down with Turtle the DJ and asked about her experiences here at WIDR FM. How long have you been DJing at WIDR? I've been a DJ at WIDR for about a year now & I've been hosting "Alternative 80s" for about 11 months. What is your most memorable moment at WIDR? My most memorable moments at WIDR are speaking with callers! Hearing stories about concerts attended when these bands were in their prime, personal anecdotes about emotions these songs evoke, and kind general conversation all are very special to me. I consider my program to be interactive, as college radio was intended to be, and I enjoy taking part in college radio culture as a peer to the listeners. Who would be your dream guest to have on your show? My dream guest would be..... David Bowie! Tracks from Let's Dance get a lot of airplay on my show. I also tend to dip into the late 70's on the show because New Wave as a genre title looms over all sorts of tunes from different times & I also can't help myself from playing Bowie tracks from the Berlin trilogy. So yes, the late, great Starman, or perhaps Goblin King if we could transport him from the Labyrinth set, would definitely be welcome on my show. What does WIDR and Radio Evolution mean to you? For me, WIDR means a wider variety of music. I interpret the Radio Evolution part as the dynamic, ever-changing and always innovative character of the station! These two work hand in hand to ensure a quality of content that you're not going to hear anywhere else & a station that grows and ebbs and flows with the times.

This month brought WIDR's rotation rack a variety of indie pop and rock records, perfect for crawling under the covers and hitting snooze. With fuzzy guitar chords and groovy drum patterns, this playlist is a breath of light fall air, getting you into that back to school mood once again. 1. "Diving Women", by Japanese Breakfast off the album Soft Sounds from Another Planet This epic, clocking in at just over 6 minutes, starts the playlist as it does on its album and features Michelle Zauner's ethereal vocals atop overlapping guitars. This song will make you sink into your bed, ditching that 8 a.m. class for just a few extra minutes of solace. 2. "Caught in a Lie", by Chastity Belt off the album I Used to Spend so Much Time Alone Our second song on the September playlist sounds like a Seattle coffee shop on a rainy day. Pairing the easy-going guitar riffs with its desperate lyrics, this is the perfect song to put on the fuzzy socks alongside your favorite brew to start your assignment that's due at 11:59. 3. "Trump you", by Matt and Sam's Brother off the album My Brain Hurts a Lot This guitar driven love song begins somber and melancholic as it crescendos into an impressive raspy crooning vocal performance by Charlie Kerr, who makes his debut under the alias Matt and Sam's Brother. This record feels like a 60-degree rain shower and fits our September playlist nicely. 4. "Love is Like a Spinning Wheel", by Elephant Stone off the album Ship of Fools Featuring a psychedelic instrumental interlude, this track seems to melt into the background and offers a soft vocal from lead singer Rishi Dihr. This mellow lullaby feels like the leaves changing on the trees as it progresses through its completion. 5. "Beautiful and Evil", by Roya off the album Roya Cleverly written and delivered magnificently, Roya comes through with a breezy vocal performance paired with a hypnotic rhythm guitar throughout. With the leaves turning a myriad of different shades, and summer coming to an official end, "Beautiful and Evil" appears on our September playlist because it's title perfectly encapsulates exactly what this month feels like. 6. "Let the Good Times be Never Ending", by The Charlatans off the album Modern Nature An upbeat, fast paced catchy tune led by its enchanting keyboard riff played by Tony Rogers and its groovy bassline by Martin Blunt, UK juggernaut The Charlatans produce a fun song that fits perfectly on our back to school playlist. With an extended instrumental outro and a hook that matches the title, you'll be reminiscing over that summer romance, belting along with lead singer Tim Burgess, "Let the good times be never ending". 7. "Tourist Trap", by Sam Roberts Band, off the album Terraform Staying with the upbeat tempos, this song delivers an invigorating sense of renewal and energy. A fun jam sure to make you get on your feet or at least tap along to the beat, "Tourist Trap" features an exciting percussion performance perfect for ending the September playlist with a bang.

YBOT & WIDR present Music at the Library. The new "Tiny Desk" inspired series showcases WMU music artists performing in a very raw and stripped down environment

This list was inspired by The Sample Platter with DJ No9. No9’s show is filled with sampler, source and it is everything i’ve wanted at WIDR. This playlist is titled Featuring…, and this is because it is made of compounds of two songs. A song that features an artist, then the featured artist themselves. WARNING if you don’t like Gorillaz...sorry. “Street Talkin” by Slick Rick Ft Outkast, The Art of Storytelling This was the first show that I found for this playlist, as in I stumbled upon this song weeks ago, and couldn’t get the hook out of my head. This is Slick Rick's return album after being released from a correctional facility. Featuring Outkast’s Big Boi. 2. “SpottieOttieDopaliscious” by Outkast, Aquemini Introduced to me through our Business Director DJ Mony Tony, and this is Dopaliscious tune. I’ve been a fan of Outkast, but have never digged deeper. All I have to say to this track is damn. 3. “ To Binge” by Gorillaz Ft Little Dragon, Plastic Beach Swimming in synthy sounds this Gorillaz chart is a sounding out of two wayward loves, and hoping to hear them call again. The Poppy sweet of the sound, with the mix of heartfelt lyrics. When researching for this playlist, I’ve fallen for Little Dragon more and more! 4. “Runabout” by Little Dragon, Machine Dreams Wanting to pick a song around the same time as the recording of Plastic Beach. That being said Machine Dreams fits this spot perfectly! This hard, abrasive synth tune pushes the level of the playlist to a more Indie scene, in the middle of a two Hip Hop compounds. 5. “November Has Come” by Gorillaz, Demon Days Hitting it back to the featuring legends Gorillaz, this time with a feature from MF DOOM. This monster track hits hard as MF cuts through the beat with his sharp wit, rackus lyrics, and effortless style, add Gorillaz for flavor. 6. “Deep Fried Frenz” by MF DOOM, MM...FOOD This track is by far my favorite. Full of exposition on the DOOM story, hard hitting topics within DOOM’s life, and metaphors cooler than the Fonz in a cooler. Listen.

YBOT & WIDR present Music at the Library. The new "Tiny Desk" inspired series showcases WMU music artists performing in a very raw and stripped down environment

We're so ready for Audiotree... are you? WIDR's Directors have put together an Audiotree-inspired playlist in the hopes that you are all as hype as we are for this weekend!

I first came across The Accidentals about five years ago, when they were playing a hometown show in Traverse City. This was in the early days of the band, and The Accidentals were just a duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Savannah Buist and Katie Larson. I remember thinking how lucky I was to see them when they were still finding their feet as a band and as performers because I knew they were going to become something even greater. Sure enough, The Accidentals have quickly become a force to be reckoned with. It’s been four years since their last full-length album Bittersweet, and in that time, the band has gained a new member (drummer and equally as talented multi-instrumentalist Michael Dause), toured all over the country and to top it off, they were signed by a major label, Sony Masterworks. Needless to say, my heart was swelling with hometown pride to see this local band get this national recognition. When I first listened to their new album, Odyssey, this pride grew even more. The growth in their songwriting since their last album is seriously impressive. In the life experiences they’ve gained from being on the road, Buist and Larson have become even more prolific in their songwriting, showing a maturity beyond their years. The title track starts off the album. It’s an acoustic metaphorical journey that we can all relate to, as it tells of facing and overcoming obstacles in every odyssey. This is Buist’s songwriting at its best, with lines such as “Our new deceit’s an old perfume, it masks nostalgic times; forgotten crimes die in the fumes.” The next song, “Memorial Day”, sung and penned by Larson, slows it down a bit. Tinged with nostalgia, the memory of the anticipation of summer has never sounded so good. The band kicks it up a notch with “KW”, a romping funky guitar-filled tribute to singer/songwriter and guitarist Keller Williams (who also guest features on the track). My favorite of the album has to be the track “Earthbound”, another testament to the band’s progress over the past couple of years. It begins with strong guitar and an almost eerie violin line emanating out of the silence, which crescendos into a soaring rock chorus. What’s great about this track and this album in general is that the band haven’t lost any of their unique character in signing to a major label. They still live up to their genre-bending reputation and their lyrics are still that perfect mashup of clever, sentimental and a little bit nerdy, by including various literary references in their writing. An example is the bluesy “The Sound a Watch Makes When Enveloped in Cotton”, taking from an Edgar Allan Poe short story. Here Larson’s talents really shine as she lays down some hot licks on the electric guitar and an absolutely stunning, Edie Brickell-ish vocal. And let’s not forget Michael Dause in all of this. His drumming is rock steady and adds a whole new dimension to the Accidentals sound with his versatility. Odyssey ends on a poignant note with the instrumental “Ballard Tendered Gun”, which features virtuoso guitarist Kaki King. This track also showcases Buist and Larson’s talents on the violin and cello respectively, a nod to their “orch dork” days in high school orchestra (where the two first met), perhaps? And what better way to end the album, than with a shout out to the band’s beginnings, bringing their odyssey full circle. Favorite Tracks: “Odyssey”, “Earthbound”, “The Sound a Watch Makes When Enveloped in Cotton”, “Chekov’s Gun”, “Ballad Tendered Gun”

Emily Sabourin How long have you been volunteering at WIDR? I’ve been volunteering at WIDR for about 4 months! What is your most memorable moment at WIDR? My most memorable moment so far is getting the opportunity to go to MoPop Festival in Detroit. Which bands make up your dream lineup? Joy Division, Duran Duran, Pink Floyd, The Mountain Goats, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds What does WIDR and Radio Evolution mean to you? WIDR and Radio Evolution mean a lot to me because I get to bring my love of alternative music to the community and get the word out about college radio. It’s also a great way to express my creativity and expand my musical horizons.

For my playlist of the month, I created a compilation of my favorite songs that I've played on the station so far. The playlist features a lot of variety and indecisiveness to keep up with the theme of my show. The playlist is as follows (the listed order doesn't matter): Rattlesnake- King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Nothing Left Inside- Black Flag Can't Take That Away- Brother Ali Rings- Aesop Rock Dancing in the Dark- Cannonball Adderley 1234- Kevin Morby What's Golden- Jurassic 5 I Know You Got Soul- Eric B. & Rakim I Bought My Eyes- Ty Segall Band Until the Sun Shines- The Lillingtons The Balloonist- Kneebody No Compassion- Talking Heads Image- Brian Bennett Microtonic Wave- Pinback Better Off- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Ocean Drive- Miami Nights 1984 Electric Love- Kalax Interview A- Death Grips With You in My Mind- Stanton Moore Weyburn- The Real McKenzies I Dream in Neon- Dirty Beaches Oriole- The Afghan Whigs Another Weekend- Ariel Pink This is All We Know- Le Cassette Silver Ghosts with Crystal Spoons- Farflung