1 A ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
* * March 29,2000 • the Seahawk
An
Oriaindl iKIng kohga’plays Charley Brownz
* u., I'DTC'n CTMr:pp
preview/ review section of :
bv KRISTI SINGER
The Scene
WLOZ: LoW'Power
FM still up in the air
by KRISTI SINGER
The Scene
The possibility of low-poweted
radio has become a hot topic in the
a. Final decisions are still being discussed in court.
“The National Association of Broadcasting is...fighting the FCC. It’s a threat to
coiporate and commercial radio because if you have non-commercial stations mixed in
with lai]ge stations you’re taking away listenership irom them,” said John Bundy, gen
eral manager of WLOZ.
Whether or not things will change is diificult to predict.
“I think eventually it will come into effect It looks hopeful but it still might be
awhile, a couple of years probably,” Bundy said.
The benefits of low-powered FM (LPFM) would mean WLOZ could be heard
throughout the city of Wilmington, gaining more support and listeners.
“A college town needs college radio. College radio is important, it’s something
different from the mainstream,” Bundy said.
Student and community support will be beneficial to WLOZ when they apply for a
LPFM license in May. They will be in competition with religious and non-profit orga
nizations that want air space.
“We have to prove the educational and informative value of WLOZ.” Bundy said.
by KRISTI SINGER
The Scene
Musicians desiring national recognition
can take advantage of music conferences
and festivals where industry bigwigs scout
for potential artists. South by Southwest
(SXSW), annually held in Austin, Texas
is such a conference. It has gained interna
tional recognition as a melting pot for bands
and the music/entertainment industry since
its beginning in 1987.
Over the past seven years the private
company SXSW, Inc. has combinal film
festivals and interactive media in additional
to. The 10-day festival included over 190
films and 1.005 bands from all over the
world.
South By Southwest 2000 took place
Match 10-19. The time was broken up into
a film conference, film festival, interactive
festival, music/media conference and mu
sic festival.
The Music Festival feamred 5 days of
shows with performances by John Paul
Jones, Steve Earle, Cypress Hill and
Sebadoh.
The Music Conference began witha
lecture by E-Squared/Artemis recording
artist Steve Earle. Demo listening sessions
and one-on-one meetings with industry
professionals from the SXSW Mentor Pro
gram were also available for musicians.
“Anything music industry oriented,
they had a seminar on it” said bassist of
local hand 6 Sigma, AtJam Granade, who
attended the conference with his band.
According to SXSW, Inc., the mentor
program is designed to give musicians ac
cess to professionals who have agreed to
share their time and experience. A&R, Co
lumbia Records, EMI, Epic Records, Arista,
Capitol Records, MCA Records and Dream-
work Records had personnel available.
Meetings were available in 10-minute incre
ments by appointment.
The demo listening segment was avail
able for musicians to hear paneUst’s re
sponses to their demos. The advice ses
sions are not considered auditions for record
companies.
“Nothing in Wilmington company [to the
conference] at all,” Grenade said. “The only
way I can even compare it to North Caro
lina would be if every restaurant and every
bar downtown had bands every night for a
whole week fiom 1 in the afternoon to 2 in
the morning,” Granade said.
In Granade's opinion, the musical inter
est was different in Austin.
‘The people are different there, total rock
n' roll. Here, there’s a much older crowd,
there’s not a lot of younger generation,”
Granade said.
Some big name bands, such as Fastball,
made appearances at SXSW.
Grenade had the opportunity to meet a
member of the Dead Kennedy’s, the drum
mer of Metallica, and Chuck D of Public
Enemy,
This was Grenade’s second trip to SXSW.
“It keeps getting better and better.” he
said.
Collage of King Konga members
• Wilmington had the
chance to experience a
small part of
Woodstock ‘99 when
King Konga (Steve Cook- bass, Dan Hannon - gui
tar/vocals, Tony Lymon - percussion/mallet KAT,
Skeeto - drums) played at Charley Brownz on Fri
day March 24“'.
King Konga was featured on the “Emerging Art
ists Stage” at WoodStock ’99 in front of 250,000
people.
The band has been compared to The Dave Matthews Band, Hootie and the Blowfish and Sist
Hazel. OnNashville magazine says “Yes, these guys are that good, especially given that the raspy. Pet
Gabriel-like voice of singer Dan Hannon beats Matthews’ parrot squawk hands-down.”
King Konga’s unique sound combines funk, world beat and acoustic groove.
They made their debut release in 1994 with Last Laugh. Since 1997 they have sold over 15,000
copies of their second independent release, monkey see. monkey groove. Their latest accomplishmen
Halo(l999), features seven new songs earning the description of “powerful, spirited and musical
tight.” Halo features appearances by Larry Chaney and Dave Harrison of the Edwin McCain Band. Th
disc is CD-ROM and DVD compatible, with video interviews, live performances, audio clips and iyn
sheets. The disc was rated five stars out of five by Amazon.com.
Three King Konga members met while attending the University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg. The band was completed by drummer Skeeto from DeU-oit after an Internet search an
over 700 phone calls.
King Konga is currently on their spring 2000 tour from March through June. They will perfomi
nearly 50 shows in Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.
For more information on King Konga, check out www.kingkonga.com.
Texas entertainment/media
industry conference successful
of the fp
by JOSHUA HENSON & KRISTI SINGER
The Seahawk
Scott Carpenter & the Real McCoys’ album Dedicated Stmtl offers a walk on the rockin’ side of
life. This band is« must-Iisten for that rock n’ roller in all of us, offering a sound for every taste bud
in your ear. Wi^ a mixture of rockabilly to near punk, a little pop and even country, it's difficult to
categorize this under one genre.
The group .MHiM of Scott Carpenter d^ocalist/guitarist), Brian Daddis (drummer), “Little Joe”
(bassist, voc^l^) and Matt Smith ||pj|8rist, vocalist). Togefli» they create an iapssssive mix of
vocals and inMMWals on this 1998 {please.
Recorded at Sound of Music StuSos in Richmond, VA, asiA produced by Armaijd John Petri,
Scott Carpen® & the Real McCoys Ifow off a polished soun| on Dedicated Stroll. Critics call this
fourth record^ the best work. It tells^aBotional tales of relatisw4i(®, love and broken ^arts, taking
the listener oit a ride from happiness lo teirtache in one CD.
Some pers(^ favorites are the title te8Sfei-.“TemperaaK9Biar and “Veronica." Us* tracks just
have toe-tappi^ almost honky-tonk rhythms, Qose seconds would be “Come A Little Closer,”
“Come Out Swinpng" and ‘Where Ya Gonna Go.”
Coming from New York, this band has opened for the Goo Goo Dolls and recorded four
albums prior to DeWkaied Stroll. Uve From Mohawk Place (1996). 2 A.M. Tragedy (1995), Scott
Carpenter and the Kefll McCoys (1994) and Scott Carpenter and the Orbits (1988).
Scott Carpenter & the Real McCoys’ music mixes variety with reality oB Dedicated Stroll: it is
definitely one for the collectm Check out Scott Carpenter & the Real McCoys on the web at http:/
/wnywebshop.com/scotsnd.htm.
Studentitolce__
Lisa Hill Productions is kicking ass. I say that because she’s biinging in a lot
of big bands and the more money she makes the better bands she can bring in.
She s bringing in The Melvins, Hank Williams III and Agnostic Front,” sopho
more Myk Crouch said.
Lisa Hill Productions books bands for Ziggy’s by the Sea in Atlantic Beach,
Bessie’s and Rockit’s. .