By Julia Weber, Features Editor [Photo courtesy of Sophia Matinazad] Matt Vinson is the bassist in the Ohio-based folk band Caamp. He also plays solo music as The Wonderfool, and is an Ohio University alum. I recently talked with Matt about the upcoming Ohio University Music Industry Summit, his time spent in Athens and Caamp’s…
Category: Features
Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees passes away
Mark Lanegan died last week, and that just sucks for music. This brings the world closer to finalizing the long list of iconic singers from the 90s Seattle scene that died early after dark, troubled, and drug-fueled lives. Lanegan follows the precedent set by Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, and Chris Cornell who all fronted bands at the same time, same place, and died because of it. They used drugs, battled demons, and lived fast. And they are all dead.
Preview: ACRN Goth Prom with Short Fictions, Enlove, and Kaiba
By Paul Nern, News Editor
Can you feel it? There’s a foreboding sense of angst and aggression in the air, which can only mean that heavy music is about to grace the ears of all Rock Lobsters this Friday. Short Fictions, En Love, and Kaiba are about to bring the house down at the Union for ACRN’s 2022 Goth Prom. It is going to be intense. It is going to be hardcore. But most importantly, it is going to be fun. There is absolutely no excuse to miss what will surely be a rocking night of heavy music bliss on Union Street. Come hang with all of us!
ACRN’s Top Movies of 2021
Pig, [Neon; 2021] By Ben Lindner, Staff Writer Michael Sarnoski’s “Pig,” a meditative tale of learning to cope with loss, stands as one of the year’s best films. Nicholas Cage stars as Robin, a former chef who has transitioned out of city life and now lives with his truffle pig in the woods. When his…
ACRN’s Best Albums of 2021
20. Parannoul – To See the Next Part of the Dream, [Self Released; 2021] By Ethan Bloomfield, Staff Writer Korean mystery artist Parannoul released a hidden gem for 2021: To See the Next Part of the Dream, a shoegaze album that expresses a level of skill not heard in the genre in many years. As…
ACRN’s Most Disappointing Albums of 2021
10. Mastodon – Hushed and Grim, [Reprise; 2021] ACRN Contributor Mastodon’s latest project, Hushed and Grim, brings almost nothing to slake fans’ thirst for innovation. The album isn’t terrible, but it is a 90-minute exercise in patience with close to no payoff. Keeping Mastodon’s trend of memorializing loved ones through their projects, Hushed and Grim…
Battle of the Bands 2021 Q&A: Salva Bryn
By Ethan Bloomfield, Staff Writer
[Photo provided by Salva Bryn via Instagram]
The 2021 Battle of the Bands took place in Athens at the Union Thursday night, and it was one to remember. An array of wonderful acts came to compete, not the least of which being Salva Bryn, an experimental electronic artist who put on the most unique and energetic show of the night. I was able to sit down with her and ask a few questions about her music, the show, and her plans for the future.
Q&A: Plastic Lemonade
By Amy Szmik, Copy Editor
[Photo provided by Plastic Lemonade via Facebook]
Q&A with Nathan Cain (vocals, guitar and harmonica), Damon Bonar (electric guitar), Kyle Willison (bass), Kaitlyn Markert (vocals and ukulele) and Joe Ash (drums) of Plastic Lemonade
Q&A: Beach Girl (Marcy Adams formerly of Athens)
Former Athens-based EDM producer Beach Girl, AKA Marcy Adams, is set to drop three singles in June, starting with their reimagining of Alice Deejay’s “Better off Alone” on June 2. “Let U Down” drops June 17, followed by “i can’t stop myself” on June 30. The singles follow two tracks Adams released in March, “I Do It Like That… You Love It?” and “SADNALONE” in addition to their recent move from Athens to Atlanta. ACRN spoke with Adams to inquire about the move, the new songs, the new place and how Krewella’s “Alive” fits into all of that:
Album Review: Giant Claw – Mirror Guide
By Kiah Easton, Editorial Director[Orange Milk; 2021]Rating: *_??//@@#$*&/10 Key tracks: “Earther”, “Disworld (Vocals: NTsKI)”, “Mirror Guide, Pt. II (you and me)” Published by am spritzer and ACRN Media Experimental electronic music often finds itself positioned opposite to the idea of organic sound. While electronic production has allowed for the abstraction of “traditional” sounds, it has…
Q&A: Kiid Spyro
First off, I personally do not hear about hip-hop artists from Australia often. What is the scene like there? Who and what inspired you to start making music?
Kiid Spyro: The scene in Australia is drill, and I don’t make drill. People don’t really listen to this stuff I make. People really don’t make it. I grew up listening to American music. Kid Laroi was the only person from here making American style hip-hop. He was getting seen a lot because his style wasn’t popular down here. It was different, and people were like, “Why is an Australian making American music?” What’s popular here is, like, pop, EDM and whatever is on the radio. I’ll play a trap song, and people will be like, “What was that?” If people do listen to rap, it’s mostly drill.
Beli and the Pulse of L.A.
If the band Beli were a car, they’d be a 1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Not a lowrider, but a nice vintage ride with the potential to be converted into one. The body of the car is painted orange copper candy pearl, but the roof’s exterior is a seamless white. On the dashboard is a laminated image of the virgin Santa Maria. Hanging from the rear view mirror are two Royal Pine car fresheners. A purple LED mood light lines the inner rim of the car’s roof. When this car drives by during the day, one would expect it to serenade a quiet suburb with the classic trumpets emblematic of musica ranchera. But at night, when the LED lights are turned on, this car looks like the wheels could invert and turn into jet engines. You’re more likely to find this car parked on a cul-de-sac, windows up, with the faint sound of Lil Peep playing.
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