By Samir Mathur
Contributing writer
Fairly light round-up this week. If there’s anything else happening that catches your eye, mention it in the comments! Don’t be mean.
Tuesday - Nov 16
MC Frontalot / MC Chris at the Social
These are two of the biggest names in the Nerdcore Hip Hop scene. If you’re not familiar with this oeuvre, it’s populated by (predominantly white) dudes whose lyrics address topics like Star Wars, science, fantasy novels and the internet. You know, things that most rappers don’t talk about. They’re the kind of people who’d use “oeuvre” correctly in a blog post. I saw the documentary ‘Nerdcore Rising’ a couple of years ago, which follows Frontalot on tour, and was impressed that, even though these guys stray dangerously close to being one-note novelties, their lyrics are usually really well thought-out and intricate. I rather liked the songs by the end of the film. And their fans flippin’ LOVE them. Expect the audience to be wearing ties and pocket-protectors, and singing their hearts out to every single song.
Wednesday - Nov 17
Motion City Soundtrack / Say Anything / Saves the Day at House of Blues
How’s this for a line-up? Fans of radio-friendly, energetic pop-punk are probably already in line for Wednesday night’s show. (They probably aren’t. It’s Monday afternoon. That would be insane.) Headliners MCS put out a new record earlier this year called ‘My Dinosaur Life’, which was their first on a major label. The band has toured with Blink 182, and the album was produced by a member of Blink 182, so it’s fairly safe to say, they sound quite like (a heavier) Blink 182. And their drummer was on an episode of Doug Loves Movies, so he gets a thumbs-up. Say Anything is a band from L.A., and as befits a band that names itself after a Cameron Crowe movie, is best described as “emo-indie”. I don’t know anything about them, but that’s their description on Wikipedia. Saves the Day is the only band on this bill with whom I’m a little familiar – when I used to watch MTV2 in the UK all the time, their ‘At Your Funeral’ video was on steady rotation, and I certainly enjoyed that song. Overall, this is going to be a noisy, sweaty, fun show for people a lot younger than I am. (I am fifty-seven years old.)
Friday - Nov 19
Tiësto at UCF Arena
Last week Oakenfold, this week Tiësto? Orlando’s turning into a haven for some of the biggest DJ’s in the world. This dude is seriously one of the global dance music heavyweights. With a background in trance music, he’s only recently branched out, with latest record ‘Kaleidoscope’ into other ways of making you dance. You’ll be putting your hands in the air a lot during this one, so make sure you do some shoulder warm-ups beforehand. As a bonus treat, Light Up UCF is currently going on right in front of the Arena, so you can ride a Ferris Wheel before going to the show. Do that.
Tuesday - Nov 16
MC Frontalot / MC Chris at the Social
These are two of the biggest names in the Nerdcore Hip Hop scene. If you’re not familiar with this oeuvre, it’s populated by (predominantly white) dudes whose lyrics address topics like Star Wars, science, fantasy novels and the internet. You know, things that most rappers don’t talk about. They’re the kind of people who’d use “oeuvre” correctly in a blog post. I saw the documentary ‘Nerdcore Rising’ a couple of years ago, which follows Frontalot on tour, and was impressed that, even though these guys stray dangerously close to being one-note novelties, their lyrics are usually really well thought-out and intricate. I rather liked the songs by the end of the film. And their fans flippin’ LOVE them. Expect the audience to be wearing ties and pocket-protectors, and singing their hearts out to every single song.
Wednesday - Nov 17
Motion City Soundtrack / Say Anything / Saves the Day at House of Blues
How’s this for a line-up? Fans of radio-friendly, energetic pop-punk are probably already in line for Wednesday night’s show. (They probably aren’t. It’s Monday afternoon. That would be insane.) Headliners MCS put out a new record earlier this year called ‘My Dinosaur Life’, which was their first on a major label. The band has toured with Blink 182, and the album was produced by a member of Blink 182, so it’s fairly safe to say, they sound quite like (a heavier) Blink 182. And their drummer was on an episode of Doug Loves Movies, so he gets a thumbs-up. Say Anything is a band from L.A., and as befits a band that names itself after a Cameron Crowe movie, is best described as “emo-indie”. I don’t know anything about them, but that’s their description on Wikipedia. Saves the Day is the only band on this bill with whom I’m a little familiar – when I used to watch MTV2 in the UK all the time, their ‘At Your Funeral’ video was on steady rotation, and I certainly enjoyed that song. Overall, this is going to be a noisy, sweaty, fun show for people a lot younger than I am. (I am fifty-seven years old.)
Friday - Nov 19
Tiësto at UCF Arena
Last week Oakenfold, this week Tiësto? Orlando’s turning into a haven for some of the biggest DJ’s in the world. This dude is seriously one of the global dance music heavyweights. With a background in trance music, he’s only recently branched out, with latest record ‘Kaleidoscope’ into other ways of making you dance. You’ll be putting your hands in the air a lot during this one, so make sure you do some shoulder warm-ups beforehand. As a bonus treat, Light Up UCF is currently going on right in front of the Arena, so you can ride a Ferris Wheel before going to the show. Do that.