

Brokechella Diary
Xavier Veccia, Staff Writer One of the worst things about being a music fan and a broke college student is “festival watching.” It's when you not only look at, but look forward to, the announcement of festival lineups. You might camp out on Twitter, reading every single Pitchfork tweet as the announcements come in. Or maybe you'll watch Weird Al Yankovic do Weird Al Yankovic things for three hours as he slowly reveals the lineup. Or maybe you'll just wait for your hipster fri

Jéan P the MC
By Alexis Evans, Contributor The journey began in Canton, Ohio--a city known for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and ranked Forbes’ ninth most miserable city in the United States in 2010. It was in this blue-collar city that a young Jéan Pfound and began developing his passion. It wasn’t until his eighth grade teacher, Mrs. Mitchell, assigned him to write a rap for a book he was reading for class that Jéan P finally discovered his ability to rap. “I was really shy in school,” s

Creativity Over Comfort
By Chris Dobstaff, Editorial Director The suburban basement just outside of Columbus is cramped. Golf clubs, exercise balls and even a treadmill have been pushed into various corners to make room for the four young men and their equipment. Two guitarists, a bassist and a drummer fit into the room that is, quite frankly, not the most ideal band rehearsal space. The drum kit sits in front of a washer and dryer. But it works. The members crack jokes and play random riffs, until

Where Will the Silence Happen?
By Hannah Cook, Staff Writer A homeless man’s voice filled the First United Methodist Church. “Jesus’ blood never failed me yet,” he sang. It was like you could see him in a crackling black and white film, his face dirty and unshaven. “There’s one thing I know, for he loves me so," he continued, the scratches of the recording bouncing off the pillars and stained glass. After a couple of loops, the Ohio University New Music Ensemble began easing its way into the song. One by o

Hitting it Big: Trials and Triumphs of Underground Musicians
By Mike Kasarda, Staff Writer A distinct energy surges through the cold night in Athens, home to students, thinkers, dreamers, intellectual elite, blue collar folk, "townies" and vagabonds. Like any Saturday evening uptown, shady 20-somethings lean on rickety stools and cram into flooded bars, weary with the weight of pint glasses. Others inhale smoke from American Spirits and scarf down slices of cheap, greasy pizza on the sidewalk. A magnetic pull from the bricks draws Athe

The Smith Tapes: Relics of Time Past
By Amanda Norris, Staff Writer It was the Summer of Love, or so they say. But in 1969, not everything felt like love. For those cloaked in camo, stumbling through Eurasian jungle, it often felt like the summer of hate. For the Civil Rights movement, it meant another year without a leader. For the young kids sleeping on the corner of Haight and Ashbury, it meant another year without a home. And for one man, Howard Smith, it meant that things were just beginning--though he didn

Damn Son! A Look Into Trap Music
By Kyle Rutherford, Staff Writer Songs to Listen To: Major Lazer – “Original Don (Flosstradamus Remix),”Sleigh Bells – “Demons (Diplo Remix),” Bro Safari & Knuckle Children – “Freak” Every year a new genre of electronic dance music pervades the Beatport charts. This genre shows up in the sets of many DJs and many producers see it as a new challenge. In 2010, it was dubstep and heavy bass music. In 2011, it was moombahton. And in 2012, it is "trap" that is the sweet nectar of

Songs That Make You Wanna: Exercise Your Civic Duty
By Carolyn Menyes, Managing Editor Election Day here in the United States is right around the corner. Only one question persists in the minds of the electorate. And, no, it's notObama or Romney... it's "What should I listen to on my way to the polls?" Worry no more, America! ACRN has the 10 songs that will get you pumped and make you wanna exercise your civic duty! “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)”-- Beastie Boys “You gotta fight / for your right / to party!” this

Sweater Weather Soundtrack
By ACRN Staff The nights get colder, the leaves start to fade into oranges, reds and golds, and Donkey Coffee begins selling Chaider--it’s then that you know. Yep, it’s officially fall, and you better believe that we at ACRN love us some autumn weather. But mostly, we just love wearing our favorite sweaters. Here are a few tracks that make us want to throw on our biggest, comfiest and maybe even Cosby-est sweater. You should go grab yours too. "4" by Aphex Twin This particula

Appalachia Rising: How Art Liberated a Small, American Town
By Amanda Norris, Staff Writer Nelsonville, Ohio, population 5,392, is, on the surface, unremarkable--another former boomtown, left to disappear into the shadow of the American landscape. It's the kind of town that people “just past through,” maybe stopping for a bite to eat or to glance up, perplexed, at the 65-foot cross that crests the hillside. The kind of town where the adults grow old and the children grow up, leaving for jobs in the city. The kind of town about which l