Entertainment: Multimedia Belt

Thousands eat their biscuits at Camp Bisco
By Eric Vilas-Boas
July 15, 2011 - 8:18am
Review: The Disco Biscuits' 10th annual music festival sold out this year because fans cared enough to make the trip.

Not everyone likes or even respects jam bands. The golden age of acts like the Grateful Dead or Jefferson Airplane are for the most part, gone, replaced by the followings of moe., Phish, or the Disco Biscuits.

The Disco Biscuits' sold-out, 10th festival in Mariaville, NY — 12 miles from Schenectady — drew flocks of hippies and drug-addled electro-nuts by the thousands this past weekend.

Super Ball IX reflects Phish's remarkable projection
By Lorna Oppedisano
July 7, 2011 - 10:51am
For its ninth musical festival, the now legendary jam act creates a fan experience like no other at Watkins Glen.

You’ve probably seen the reviews of Super Ball IX already: “Jam band Phish played to a crowd of 30,000 this past weekend" or “Hippies flock to Watkins Glen for weekend music festival.”

But here’s some fresh news you may not have heard: Phish members’ projections from 23 years ago manifest for weekend long phestival, creating a community and experience like no other.

Summer shows yield impressive lineups for CNY
By Eric Vilas-Boas
June 27, 2011 - 12:13pm
With a wide variety of New York music festivals in full swing, Camp Bisco X gives us many reasons to go.

With Bonnaroo 2011 now a thing of the past, Lollapalooza 2011 on the way, Coachella 2012 announced (as two identical weekends, no less), Central New York music junkies should probably turn their ears toward Mariaville, N.Y., and Camp Bisco X.

Kid Cudi rocks the Carrier Dome
By Sophia Botchway
April 30, 2011 - 4:33am
Cudi brings crowd to life after mixed reception to Damian Marley, Nas

The energy for the Block Party 2011 was in yo-yo form as anxious Kid Cudi fans waited for him to take the stage. Instead of the high energy throughout the night that was expected from the crowd of 15,000, the hype was visible at some times and hard to find during others.

A Syracuse University tradition, this year’s Block Party brought thousands of people out for the annually anticipated concert. After the Mayfest festivities in Walnut Park ended, the crowd of SU students made their way to the Carrier Dome for the performances.

Review: "Spelling Bee" a G-O-O-D time
By Heather N. Duggan
April 15, 2011 - 1:49pm
First-year students shine in the Tony-award winning musical, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

There was hardly an open seat on the floor of the Goldstein Auditorium as the First Year Players opened their rendition of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The actors' vibrant performances were the strong point of the single act, two-hour play.


“The Spelling Bee” is about pre-teens, complete with stereotypical personalities, trying to win their county's top spelling competition. It's a musical sprinkled with humor and has been preformed on Broadway, as well as by theater groups all over the world.

STRFKR makes a name for themselves in Ithaca
By Nathan Mattise
April 13, 2011 - 8:47am
Review: The Portland, Ore., electro-pop act makes an impression on fans and local authorities with an intimate, raucous set.

The alarm continued to wail in rhythm with the music as STRFKR played their version of “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” None of the 100 or so people in attendance really noticed or reacted, all too busy dancing. Firefighters eventually ushered everyone out of the attic-like space. The lead singer of the local opening act, Bruce Hyde of Blow!, grabbed his equipment and evacuated to the street like everyone else.

“Great show tonight.”

Thumbs Upstate debuts improv festival
By Alexandra Spychalsky
April 9, 2011 - 7:26pm
The Syracuse improv group hosted a weekend of spontaneous scenes and laughter Saturday, bringing in groups from Rochester, Buffalo and Albany.

Two men who'd known each other for just a few hours jumped on stage and into the scene. One grabbed the other and pushed him around, pretending that he was an “emotional crayon.” He began sketching his feelings across the stage.

“That’s what it’s all about. Get everyone to meet each other, perform together, and open people’s minds a little bit,” said Joe Blum, co-director of the Thumbs Upstate improv festival.

Ra Ra Riot delivers a long-awaited show at The Westcott
By Ana Barbu
April 8, 2011 - 1:03am
Review: Hometown heroes and SU alums provide a top-level performance Thursday while reminiscing a bit about how it all started.

A full house of college-aged students and Syracuse locals played a game of patience. They waited to see Ra Ra Riot's performance for nearly three hours after The Westcott Theater doors opened last night, but the group's passionate and energetic delivery of a wholesome setlist, lasting a little over an hour, was well worth the wait.

SXSW '11: Music fest is big, loud and (sometimes) tiring
By Seth Sommerfeld
April 6, 2011 - 6:21pm
Otto-Tune music blogger Seth Sommerfield breaks down the annual Austin, Texas, music event's best sets, breakout bands and acts coming soon to CNY.

If one word could describe SXSW it would be “exhausting,” but in a very, very awesome way. 

For of four days, Austin, TX becomes the epicenter for the music world.  Live music pours out of every nook and cranny from noon to the late hours of the morning.  SXSW is an audio barrage that pummels even the most intense listeners into a tired mess so full of bliss that all one could want is to hibernate and dream of even more music.

Concert Crowdsourced: Diplo at SU
By Nathan Mattise
March 27, 2011 - 2:18pm
The popular DJ partied both during and after his set on Saturday to the delight of all at Goldstein Auditorium.

Diplo's show on Saturday was the most anticipated event on campus up to this point in the year. So when the DJ actively engaged our fondness for social media throughout his night in addition to providing what seemed to be a highly regarded set, it all lived up to the hype.