Death is an interesting thing. We assume that once something dies, it is never coming back to life and we must accept its passing as ultimate. For a music festival to challenge this very notion is unusual if not downright inappropriate, but that’s exactly what Coachella 2012 challenged us to do.
It’s been a well-known fact for years that Coachella’s...
Kendrick Lamar Interview
Poised to be the West Coast’s knight in shining armor, Kendrick Lamar delivered his first performance at UCR on Saturday night. This year could also mean another first for Lamar; the release of his debut album. With Dr. Dre behind him, it seems that there is a lot of great music to come and a lot of...
A warm yet breezy Saturday afternoon welcomed UC Riverside’s annual Spring Splash concert. The first sights after the entrance were a few pieces of innovative and eco-friendly art made from disposable and recyclable materials. A life-size bear stood covered in what seemed like strips of receipts and plastic bags. A few steps past that led to many different graffiti...
The Shins, known for their singles “New Slang” and “Phantom Limb,” released their fourth album, “Port of Morrow,” their first album in five years. Even with the break, the band has not sacrificed any of their appeal. This new album falls seamlessly into their signature style with calming narratives, James Mercer’s steady tenor voice and poetic lyrics. Though “Port...
Boiling with manic depressive energy, Xiu Xiu returns to the experimental rock and punk scene with their eighth studio album, “Always.” Frontman and founder Jamie Stewart made a name for himself and his band with their angst-filled lyrics and riotous music. Xiu Xiu has never been good at pleasing the masses, and this album is no different. The band...
Highlander Radar: What did you think of performing at UC Riverside compared to other venues? How was the crowd?
Mikel Jollett: It was awesome, it was exciting; I like playing for a college audience because a lot of the world events that the songs are about affect kids that are in that age range.
Steven Chen: I went to UC Berkeley...
UC Riverside’s annual Heat Music Festival continued this year with an incredibly successful show featuring eclectic and highly acclaimed musicians. Three different stages provided ample options for a variety of musical tastes.
The Highland Stage opened with a lively performance by Santa Barbara-based band Iration, who are known for blending reggae, dub and rock. First-year Kaley Pringle-Haymons said that Iration...
Fun. has released their second and latest album, “Some Nights.” The indie pop band, recently praised for their popular new single, “We Are Young,” has created a phenomenal album to accompany it. In comparison to their debut album, “Aim and Ignite,” the theatrical band, comprised of a trio of musicians and singer, has certainly lived up to their previous...
From her allegedly manufactured image to her atrocious live performances (YouTube her now infamous performance on SNL) and the much-anticipated debut of her second album “Born to Die,” Elizabeth Grant, the real name of the 25-year-old New York native “Lana Del Rey,” has absolutely nowhere to hide, much less offer up any good explanations for her tarnished image as...
For his longtime fans, “Old Ideas” offers all the rhyme, rhythm and baritone that make Leonard Cohen a legend. For those unfamiliar with his work, however, this folk-rock genre may not for everyone. It’s deeply poetic lyrics and minimal accompaniment make it far from a showpiece and more of a subtle work of art to be listened to attentively....