Otto-Tune

September 9, 2010 - 7:29pm
Otto-Tune previews the annual back-to-school concert and names 10 tracks you must hear before you go.

Juice Jam 2010 sold out four full days before the annual back-to-campus show -- indisputable evidence, we think, that this year's line-up skews well above past offerings. Between the witty, genre-melding rap of bespectacled legend Lupe Fiasco and the dance-inducing synthpop of blogosphere faves Passion Pit, there's something at Juice Jam for everyone to love.

August 28, 2010 - 3:56pm
Review: SU's most famous indie rockers returned to campus to start their tour to support 'The Orchard.'

It wasn’t a surprise that the hottest spot for the first Friday night of the SU academic year was Marshall Street. Both Chuck’s and Faegan’s recently made a pretty heavily circulated list of the best college bars in the country after all. The real event to be at however was just below. That’s where hometown heroes Ra Ra Riot returned to perform an intimate, sold-out show at Funk N’ Waffles to kick-off their upcoming North American tour.

August 26, 2010 - 5:33pm
With Lupe Fiasco and Passion Pit headlining, SU's music festival looks solid, but not overly exciting.

I've been hyping myself about Juice Jam 2010 since June. It's like the off-season in any major professional sports league  - speculation about who's coming might be the most exciting part. Yesterday we finally found out:

Mash-up artists Super Mash Bros, homeschool dance tandem Mouth's Cradle, Passion Pit and advertised headliner Lupe Fiasco.

July 24, 2010 - 10:22am
Review: The talented multi-instrumentalist creates a blend of authentic jazz, soul and rock.

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews was clearly born to play music.

Master of three instruments – the trombone, trumpet and his voice – Trombone Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue used all his talents at the Westcott Theater on Tuesday to create a blend of authentic New Orleans jazz, soul and rock.

July 18, 2010 - 11:28pm
Day Three ended prematurely but Ween was among the interesting highlights.

The Camp Bisco hashtag was more active today than ever, filled with people declaring their need for recovery after the weekend. Taking that into consideration, this Day Three recap is downright early:

July 17, 2010 - 1:22pm
Day Two of the Disco Biscuits' festival was a juxtaposition of dance heavy music and the deep woods hangout.

These Day Two updates are coming to you live from an NY Thruway Rest Stop the morning after my first all-nighter at Camp Bisco 2010.

July 16, 2010 - 2:55pm
The festival opening salvo is a win with James Murphy and crew, but people watching is even more compelling.

Night One of Camp Bisco is officially in the books and Day Two is already underway. My regular 8-to-5 might keep me from getting back to the grounds before Thievary Corporation tonight, but it provides the perfect opportunity to provide a quick update (since the festival grounds don't have WiFi and aren't even very cell friendly).

The full recap is coming early next week, but here are some Night One highlights to tide you over:

July 15, 2010 - 9:19am
The fall concert calendar is building up strength and the Otto-Tune blog heads out on a special project tonight.

Summer is a time for festival travel and weekends to the city to catch your favorite band of the moment. You don't have that kind of access to the current must-see acts during most semesters in Syracuse. However, like this past spring session, this fall is slowly turning into something special ... particularly if you enjoy indie rock. 

June 2, 2010 - 7:18pm
Nearly half the year is behind us so Otto-Tune looks back and creates a playlist of the tracks you need to hear going forward.

The calendar is finally reading "June" so we're almost half way through 2010. Between all the labor that goes into spring semester and finals week,  no one should be faulted for being a bit out of the loop when it comes to the year's music releases.

April 26, 2010 - 3:23pm
Guru should be remembered for more than his hip-hop contributions.

Throughout his 20-plus year career, Guru gave hip-hop fans music that was not only entertaining but music that challenged them intellectually.

When people discuss hip-hop music and the top artists of all time, Guru should be mentioned. He produced quality music along with many other things that make him a hip-hop icon.

His music didn’t make you snap your fingers; it didn't come with a specific dance. That’s what separated him from many other artists.