Musicians come from all walks of life, even from the sports world. But the results are, as they were in Shaq’s rap career, often less than great. So who knew that a pair of former University of San Diego football players and ukulele-slinging singers from Hawaii, who formed the upbeat island reggae band Ho’onu’a (pronounced […]
Author Archives: Angela Shawn-Chi Lu
[Online] Hollywood Entertainment Museum exhibit gives albums a psychedelic twist
With a pink planet above and a neon-colored mosque behind him, Mick Jagger is sitting Indian-style, wearing a black Merlin hat and a Middle-Eastern silk robe, and forming an “X” with his forearms, palms facing himself. He’s also displaying a transfixed facial expression. Jagger must no doubt be confused about the quirkiness of his band’s […]
Strumming to keep culture alive via Turkish folk
Just walk around campus, and it’s clear that many students are literally hooked to their iPods, yet Turkish musician Latif Bolat sees them as an evil that is killing off musical tradition. “These days, all around the world, we have tape recorders, CD players and TVs,” Bolat said. “So you, as a person, you really […]
Quartet aims for informality in classical setting
It’s hard to believe guitar virtuoso Scott Tennant when he says he once performed onstage wearing a garbage bag, especially when he says it so frankly. “Twenty years ago, when we did our first big tour in Mexico, we went out to the backcountry and played for communities that normally couldn’t have music,” explained Tennant. […]
Pop goes the Indie Rock world
In the same way that parents often feel toward their children, fans of a certain musical genre often see their own as the best. Indie rockers are particularly notorious for this musical elitism. San Francisco-based indie rock band Irving, who will play at Spaceland tonight, doesn’t deny that its peers often look down their noses […]
Band of Bruins takes the stage in L.A. clubs
Each year thousands of students come to UCLA to advance their education, but education isn’t the university’s only attraction. Los Angeles is home to one of the world’s largest entertainment industries, and for some students, homework isn’t the only thing on their mind. UCLA students Ryan Blakeley Smith, his brother Oliver Retford Smith, Tyler Lawrence […]
Instrumentalist to bring music creativity to Royce
Although the oud is traditionally played with an eagle’s feather, eclectic multi-instrumentalist David Lindley prefers finger picking the Middle Eastern lute instead. For Lindley, who performs tomorrow night at Royce Hall in the Global Guitars concert, an unusual approach to music is his typical key to success. Lindley has spent his life learning, perfecting, and […]