Otto-Tune

How You Make Your Concert Experience Rock
By Trevor Jett Wells
October 19, 2009 - 5:58pm
Being a part of a concert audience is an art form. In light of the upcoming St. Vincent show in Ithaca this Thursday, here's some tips on how to get the most out of your concert trip.

Just like any college football game, there's a lot of different elements that going into the preparation, viewing and reflection of a concert. It's more than just about going and standing idly as the music swoops in one ear and out the other. For the people who really love going to live concerts, they have a technique to get the most out of the experience. Fortunately, most of it is just a head game. Concerts embody a wild spirit that can only be harnessed with the right state of mind.

1) Do it Small

Otto-Tune Podcast: Most underrated acts of 2009
By Nathan Mattise
October 19, 2009 - 1:13pm
Two Otto-Tune writers debate what acts you should be paying more attention to in 2009.

After blogger Jett Wells offerred his most overrated acts for 2009, it was time to switch focus to bands everyone should be paying more attention to. Wells and fellow blogger Nathan Mattise debated the most underrated acts of 2009 on the first Otto-Tune Podcast.

How did I miss this?
By Nathan Mattise
October 14, 2009 - 3:44pm
Kanye told her Beyonce had the best video, but clearly he didn't see this.

I was flipping through some of my HD music channels this afternoon and thought I missed the most unique mainstream collaboration in quite some time. Turns out T-Pain and "T-Swizzle" recorded this track ("Thug Story") back in the early summer for the CMT Music Awards. It still merits a viewing even today however...

Artist to Watch: Parlovr
By Trevor Jett Wells
October 12, 2009 - 1:31pm
Canada is quickly becoming the next great country for hot music, like Sweden has proven over the years, and Parlovr is Canada's latest contender.

With gust-busting drumming, seismic crashing hooks and addictive melodies, Parlovr is my latest Canadian crush.

So many great bands are bursting out of Canada now and have been for years, like Tokyo Police Club, Crystal Castles and Metric, just to name a few. It's also no wonder Parlovr sounds a lot like the next coming of Canada-great, Arcade Fire...

Around The Blogs: Yacht Rock, new singles and an entire cover album.
By Nathan Mattise
October 10, 2009 - 2:13am
Only in the world of music blogs can you find Christopher Cross side-by-side with Animal Collective.

Does it get any better than beginning a week of blog material with Christopher Cross performing "Ride Like The Wind" while backed by the Roots? Jimmy Fallon developed his Monday Yacht Party just for me and my Time Life Soft Rock Classics obsession (over/under on how many times I've viewed the entire infomercial? Eight? It's more than just a collection of songs, it's a collection of emotions).

Top 5 Most Overrated Bands of 2009
By Trevor Jett Wells
October 6, 2009 - 9:20pm
There was a lot of great music in 2009, but some bands didn't deserve the hype.

I loved 2009, and I’m going to continue to love 2009 because it’s been a great year for music. No one can deny that with so many strong acts  hitting their strides, like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dirty Projectors and Phoenix. However, with the release of so much great music, there tends to be a lot of overhyped bands. The bothersome part however, is that some critics herald these bands as some of the best in...

Matt and Fern's Magical Jukebox Adventure: Taps Edition
By Matthew Doxtad
October 5, 2009 - 4:50pm
A review of the jukebox at the Westcott establishment, Taps.

Name: Taps

Location: 515 Westcott St.

List:

Beastie Boys, No Sleep till Brooklyn — This is it. When you come walking into Taps and jog up those steps to catch their Wednesday night specials and shoot haphazard pool on table in the back, you have got to appreciate an anthem like this greeting you at the door.

Can't miss CNY concerts for October
By Nathan Mattise
October 1, 2009 - 6:33pm
If you want to create a music "scene" for yourself in Syracuse, you need to expand your horizons (specifically south to Ithaca and west to Buffalo). Luckily, October is a pretty robust month.

Fellow blogger Jett Wells did a good job of highlighting the premier show to catch this month (indie darling St.

St. Vincent coming to Ithaca
By Trevor Jett Wells
September 29, 2009 - 9:39pm
Indie-pop singer, songwriter and musician Annie Clark makes her way to Ithaca in October.

If you don't know who St. Vincent is, get acquainted. She's coming to Ithaca on Oct. 22. 

St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark and her supporting band, are an electric live band. I was lucky enough to catch Annie Clark perform over the summer at the 2009 All Points West Festival in Liberty Park, NJ, and I underestimated her big-time. With Jimi Hendrix guitar skills, and sultry vocals, Annie Clark is a stead-fast rising star. 

Visionary Podcast
By Renee Orenstein
September 26, 2009 - 1:01pm
New podcast from Fader magazine melds music with visual art.

Fader released its first Visionary Podcast, which incorporates music as well as visuals. The first theme, “Doing,” is significant in our college sphere because we are always doing one thing or another. Many of us are plagued with being over programmed and having to constantly get things done.