Reviews – Page 4 – WLOY Loyola Radio

Review: Shooter Jennings and Jason Boland – Baltimore Soundstage

On December 6, 2017, Shooter Jennings and Jason Boland rocked the Soundstage on the very first night of their joint tour. The opener was Sean K. Preston (not Britney Spears’ son as he mentioned) and he was equally as amazing. With a sound somewhere between Johnny Cash and Elvis, songs of divorce and snakeskin boots, and incredible vibrato, Preston set the stage perfectly for Shooter and Boland. Preston’s classic country sound complimented the mellowness of the genuinely heartfelt performance that ensued.

By WLOY Staff December 10, 2017Music, ReviewsNo Comments

Music Reviews

Hitting the Jackpot with The Yardbirds

The Yardbirds mark their premiere appearance in Atlantic City

by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman

Formed in London in 1963, [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-yardbirds/id535787?uo=4″ title=”The Yardbirds” text=”The Yardbirds”] finally debuted in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Friday, July 7, 2017, among the assorted characters who gamble their fortunes on the turn of a card. The talented musicians appeared at the Resorts Superstar Theater anchored by original drummer Jim McCarty who is the last founding member of The Yardbirds.

By The Professor August 11, 2017Music, ReviewsNo Comments

Featured Music News Reviews

Earth People! The Triumphant Return of Dr. Octagon

by Earl Crown, host of Crucial Cuts on WLOY

On June 4th 2017, Kool Keith (aka Dr. Octagon) came to Baltimore Soundstage with his hip-hop super-group, and reminded us why we loved Dr. Octagon in the first place. His 1996 album, [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/1977/id310121423?i=310121516&uo=4″ title=”Dr. Octagonecologyst” text=”Dr. Octagonecologyst”], is considered by many to be among the most important albums of that decade and a must-own LP for any serious fan of the genre. With the help of producer and DJ Dan “The Automator” Nakamura, as well as world-class turntablist DJ Qbert, Octagon was able recreate the genius of his groundbreaking 1996 album on stage.

The Dr. Octagon tour features an all-star stage band, with a live drummer and bass player, along with two DJs, the aforementioned Dan the Automator and DJ Qbert. The set list for the Baltimore Soundstage show included many tracks from the Dr. Octagonecologyst album, including “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/3000/id310121423?i=310121435&uo=4″ title=”3000″ text=”3000″]”, “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/earth-people/id310121423?i=310121448&uo=4″ title=”Earth People” text=”Earth People”]” and “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bear-witness/id310121423?i=310121476&uo=4″ title=”Bear Witness” text=”Bear Witness”]”. The appreciative crowd got especially wild for “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/blue-flowers/id310121423?i=310121467&uo=4″ title=”Blue Flowers” text=”Blue Flowers”],” a fan-favorite from the 1996 release.

By The Professor June 26, 2017Featured, Music, News, Reviews1 Comment

Featured Music News Reviews

Pretty Don amazing: Don Broco Live

The British rock band, [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/don-broco/id307317604?uo=4″ title=”Don Broco” text=”Don Broco”], has been around since 2008, but have just embarked on their first US tour. Aside from having the pleasure of interviewing the band, I had the opportunity of seeing them live at Baltimore Soundstage.

Anyone who knows Baltimore, knows that the music fans of the city are very hard to please, especially the pop punk scene, who have seen acts like Modern Baseball, All Time Low and many more jump off to headlining acts at major festivals and their own tours. And to be honest, Don Broco is definitely the odd ball out when looking at the bill. They are lined up with bands like: With Confidence, Against the Current and State Champs. Fortunately, there were a few fans there, but Don Broco definitely had a challenge ahead of them.

By WLOY Staff May 11, 2017Featured, Music, News, ReviewsNo Comments

Featured Music Reviews

Concert Review: The World is a Beautiful Place @ The Metro Gallery

On January 29th I got to see The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, along with the local openers Us &Us Only and Purrer. Although The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die wasn’t the reason I wanted to go to the show, the whole concert was an all-around great experience.

By WLOY Staff March 16, 2017Featured, Music, ReviewsNo Comments

Music Reviews

Album Review: Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection

Review by: Claire Riley’20

Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection

Released: October 30, 1970

Rate: 10/10

LIYL: Billy Joel, Chicago, Paul McCartney, James Taylor

First and foremost, I would like to give credit to Billy McLaughlin (Class of 2020) for recommending this masterpiece of an album. In “Tumbleweed Connection,” Elton John incorporates a unique twist on his classic and iconic style that has made an indelible mark on music history. He takes his audience to the cowboy era of the Midwest in each ballad with his mesmerizing and soulful piano-playing and distinct vocals accompanied by the harmonica, drums, guitar, and harmonies that are sure to stick in your head and draw you right back in when the album concludes. Some of my personal favorites include “Ballad of a Well-Known Gun,” “Country Comfort,” and “Where To Now Saint Peter?”

By WLOY Staff February 17, 2017Music, Reviews2 Comments

Music New Releases Reviews

Album Review (New Release): John Mayer – The Search for Everything – Wave One

Review by: William O’Connor ’20

John Mayer – [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/moving-on-and-getting-over/id1195111784?i=1195111863&uo=4″ title=”The Search for Everything – John Mayer” text=”The Search for Everything – Wave One”]

Released: January 20^th, 2017

Rate: 8.5/10

LIYL: Train, Ed Sheeran, and the John Mayer Trio

This first “wave” had a lot of hype leading up to its release and it’s finally here. This is his first release since [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dear-marie/id672720304?i=672720308&uo=4″ title=”Paradise Valley – John Mayer” text=”Paradise Valley”] and [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/something-like-olivia/id516701586?i=516701811&uo=4″ title=”Born and Raised – John Mayer” text=”Born and Raised”], those two albums being very different compared to what he has put out in the past. They were definitely not his best, and in anticipation of this new release we were all hoping for a huge improvement, something different from the singer-songwriter. For one thing, his trio band members who have made some of John Mayer’s best music with him, Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino, are backing in the drums and bass. They played songs with him such as “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gravity-live/id388127285?i=388127511&uo=4″ title=”Gravity – John Mayer” text=”Gravity”]”, “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/who-did-you-think-i-was-new/id295970158?uo=4″ title=”Who Did You Think I Was – John Mayer” text=”Who Did You Think I Was”]”, “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/daughters/id322697981?i=322697997&uo=4″ title=”Daughters – John Mayer” text=”Daughters”]”, and “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/try-live/id159527304?i=159528791&uo=4″ title=”Try – John Mayer” text=”Try”]”.

By WLOY Staff February 10, 2017Music, New Releases, ReviewsNo Comments

Music Reviews

Album Review: Modern Baseball – Holy Ghost

Review by: Tara Howell

Modern Baseball (MoBo) – Holy Ghost

Rate: 9/10

LIYL: Say Anything, The Front Bottoms, Joyce Manor, The Hotelier, Sorority Noise

My favorite tracks: “Wedding Singer”, “Breathing in Stereo”, and “Just Another Face”

Modern Baseball has been one of my favorite bands for a while now. My love affair started on my very first day of work at WLOY, where my coworker and now really great friend told me to listen to their song, “Your Graduation”, after asking him what song reminded him of high school. It took me a little bit to finally sit down and listen, but when I did, I fell hard. Don’t even ask me to pick a favorite album. That’s like picking a favorite best friend.

By WLOY Staff February 2, 2017Music, ReviewsNo Comments

Music New Releases Reviews

Album Review: Fractal Cats – The Tower

Review by: Claire Riley

Fractal Cat – The Tower

Rate: 8.5/10

LIYL: Brooks Long and the MadDogNoGood, Pink Floyd, Stanley Roots

Local Baltimore band Fractal Cat released their third album “The Tower” on the 26th of this month. It can now be streamed online via Spotify and Apple music and purchased on iTunes and CD as well. Previous albums include “Loving Kind” released in 2014 and “The Eye in The Dawn” released in 2012. All three albums have a similar musical style, so if you liked “The Tower,” check the other two! As a band inspired by the golden age of rock n roll when legends like Buddy Holly and Smokey Robinson dominated the music world, Fractal Cat is known for their personal twist of trippy, psychedelic rock.

By WLOY Staff January 31, 2017Music, New Releases, ReviewsNo Comments

Music Reviews

Album Review: Gift Shop-Jokes Jokes Jokes

Review by: Stephen Vanyo

Gift Shop– Jokes Jokes Jokes

Rate: 9.5/10

I had the chance to catch Gift Shop live when one of my bands played the same show that they did in a garage in suburban Nazareth PA. The PA was quiet and noise were just bouncing off the walls but even with all that, they sounded like they belonged on much larger stages. Gift Shop is the project started by former members of the gone-to-soon pop punk act Grandview as well as fellow massachusetts band The Dirty Looks.

By WLOY Staff January 26, 2017Music, ReviewsNo Comments