the underground

Special Update: Framing

2008-04-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

Attention Readers,

I have recently been learning about the concept of framing, especially in relation to internet sites. Many sites, like blogger, confine the author to a few options, and limit the creativity of the author. Seeing as I am not HTML savvy and are forced to rely on pre-made setups, I had chosen blogger as a way to slowly open up my eyes to the world of blogging.

At one point or another, we all grow, we all change. My knowledge of blogs has begun to exceed the limits of blogger, and it is time to search for newer, more challenging, more professional setups. In hopes that this zine will someday go somewhere, it is important for me to have a visual pleasing, professional looking site. I do not believe that I can find that here, and after much searching and investigation, I was able to locate a site that gave more creative freedom.

Realizing that this new site will one day too, be limiting to the vision I have for this zine, I am still taking a necessary step towards growing my project, a step that is important for the history of The Underground.

I have learned that the way this site is framed is very limiting, and that even the set up of the internet itself (like why all browsers are squares) is also limiting. I think that maybe one day, hoping The Underground can go into print, I will make a shape other than a square. For now, I do not know how to make circle or triangle web pages, so I will have to stick with the square, but I would prefer to be able to separate articles, have a main page, and a contact form. All of these can open up the Underground to more viewers, and more networking possibilities.

Speaking of networking, I can't exactly write off blogger completely. I have gained attention from more professional websites and magazines due to the content of my site. I have set up an internship writing for TheCelebrityCafe.com this summer, and look forward to gaining more writing samples in order to progress my ideas to an even higher level. And I believe that the new and improved Underground will open up more contacts, and will give UG a bigger chance of reaching more people.

In other good news, we have been published (a rendition of The Skies Revolt article) in a student-run fashion magazine called Shei. Picture soon to be posted.

Not wanting to lose all of you, this site will remain open, but feel free to transfer to the new site,

The articles will remain the same, the type of content will remain the same, and the dreams will remain the same. I'm only hoping to take it one step at a time to be able to reach who I want to reach, and go where I want to go. I hope to take you all with me.

To new and future frames,
-The Underground

Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions

2008-04-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

You can't exactly describe it unless you've seen and heard it. The only memory I have is a makeshift mic made out of an old telephone which give a scratchy, eerie sound. Labeling themselves as 'funcore,' these Kalamazoo students are doing exactly that..having fun.

A refreshing sound that can't be heard anywhere else, probably because no one can really even name it (Best try, Indie/Electronica. Good friends of Grand Rapids' The Skies Revolt, they join the pioneer voyage to new music history. Fronted by Jen and Glenn, raw talent and a high-pitched carnival sound is all that comes to mind.

Keep an eye out for their CD, which debuts THIS FRIDAY (April 4th), in KZoo
"Everyone made it out alive...almost" is sure to turn some ears.
---

Sorry for the short post..but GREAT news for The Underground is yet to come!
(publishing?! real job?!)

The Redflecks.

2008-02-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

This Nashville band is anything but native. With a bassist from South Africa (and I'm pretty sure the singer is either from there or England) this band defiantly has a foreign-appeal. Not to mention the female-to-male ratio being slightly higher than what is normally seen in bands.

Ben, Amy, and Nicole are making a name for themselves as fresh talent in Nashville. Brilliant vocals paired with keyboard-influenced (3 keyboards!) instrumentals give them a style all their own.

My favorite part: they might actually be better live.

I saw this band in their hometown and was absolutely blown away by how good they actually sounded. Mind you, they did spend an hour and a half on their sound check, but it all proved worth it after they put on a phenomenal show. I was able to catch up with the girls later and the told me that their new EP is releasing on February 18th. The Shiny Part is also FREE if you are at the show.

It all just keeps getting better and better.

Not to blow you off your wonderful world of Redflecks pedestal, but unless you are planning a trip to South Africa for their March-April tour, or can make it to Nashville in the next week, you won't be seeing much of the Redflecks for awhile.

But you can hear parts of their new EP on their myspace. (myspace.com/redflecks) or their personal webpage (redflecks.com). Lafayette Alternative Press, The Note Worthy, Truth Magazine, New Music Report Spotlight, and Uprise Magazine have already given great reviews...check it out for yourself and write your own for the collection!

Where did he go? --Reggie and the Full Effect

2008-01-17T15:03:00.000-08:00

The first two records put out by R&FE were a complete mystery, who is(are?) this(these?) guy(guys?). This silly, happy-go-lucky keyboard heavy music heard on the first two cds never revealed the artist(s?), but when 'Songs Not to Get Married To' released in 2005 let the word out, The Get Up Kids' James Dewees was indeed 'Reggie,' and his partner, whose name I was unable to locate, but is/was the metalcorest drummer from Coalescewas. Before 'Songs Not to Get Married To' released, Dewees claimed 'Paco is dead.' And the mystery of R&FE lived on.

Apparently, 'Songs' is a more serious, yet still just as crazy record. Dewees separated from his wife and claimed the album was inspired by his divorce, but still had a few of his 'typical' songs, heard in "Laura's Australian Dance Party," "The Trooth," and "Dethnotronic."

The album opens with "What the Hell is Contempt?" which Dewees claims was what his divorce case was suing him for, and he honestly had no idea what the charge was about.

Whether or not Dewees is the only man behind the music, or where he draws his inspiration for these crazy techno songs, the real question is....what happened to this band?

RF&E's myspace site has been completely stripped of all of its content and music, shows are no longer scheduled, and no new music has been released. Fans remain disappointed and confused to what exactly happened, and Vagrant Records has not updated the band's account to give any information to the whereabouts of this original creation.

If anyone has any information, any new releases, please contact Underground.
We'd like to know where our fun went.

Lights

2007-12-11T16:52:00.000-08:00

More like light. This Toronto girl is producing the lightest, happiest music i've probably ever heard. A tiny girl with a tiny voice is making whimsical music from her bedroom, hoping to make other people feel happy. She's defiantly doing just that.

An unsigned artist that is playing at clubs and small venues along with two guys, because she says that she 'doesn't have enough arms.' No album out yet, just three songs on myspace that will all take you on a separate journey of emotions.

When will the album come out? Lights says around April, I hope sooner, and I know all the fans are getting on her case as well.

Where can I see this hipster? Lights plays mostly in Toronto...rough.
Don't you need a passport to go there now?

I suggest you get one, an easy way to get your first stamp and see a great show!

The Meat Business

I'm currently writing a research paper on factory farming, and I find it to be a very interesting topic that I honestly, even as a vegetarian, didn't know much about. This stuff is crazy! Billions of OUR dollars are going to waste because the animals are dying, no, not for meat, they are just dying because the conditions are so poor.

More info? Check out the 'Meatrix'...a funny animated video with Leo and Moofius

Something original.

2007-12-07T13:41:00.000-08:00

Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Skies Revolt is one of the few bands that has a style all their own. Singer/Guitarist/Keyboardist Dave has a unique voice paired with even stranger lyrics.

With songs like "The Great White Shark is a Racist" and "Tetris was a Bad Choice," this band is without a doubt original. Uprise Magazine and Punkbands.com both agree that this band cannot be put into a genre, which is my mind is a very good thing. Even the members (Dave, guitarist Nate, Steve on bass, and Brent on drums) can't really put a name on themselves.

Whether or not Dave's voice is to your taste, you can't help but dance and chant along
"Run, Run, Stay Alive" with the crowd, who even knows the words to the two songs that have not been released on the 2005 Some Sort of War EP (which recieved 5 out of 5 stars on Punkbands.com), or full length Kamikaze.Romantic.Thoughts released last year.

After talking them up...
where can you see TSR?
They are currently on tour through Indiana, Illinois, Nashville, and home in Grand Rapids, and will soon be passing through other states, with a possible tour planned out to California in January. Look out for their cardboard robot in your hometown.

I don't live there..can I still be part of the TSR experience?
Of course. Every band now a days, good or bad, signed or unsigned, has a myspace.
Myspace.com/theskiesrevolt
If you like what you hear, you can buy their music on itunes

TSR is currently signed with Holdfast Records, look out for their new cd to be released around March.

Check out TSR's new video 'The Transitive Deficiency'
made by Dave himself!
The Skies Revolt

Add to My Profile | More Videos