THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2002
MUSIC
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3
'Bands & Ballots' tries to get students to vote Nov.5
By Amy Kelly akelly@kansan.com Jayplay writer
In the days leading up to Bill Clinton's election to the presidency in 1992, the phrase "Rock the Vote" echoed in the ears of MTV disciples on a daily basis.
The national campaign started by members of the recording industry struck a chord with a new generation. Between 1992 and 1997 voting among younger voters increased 13 percent.
The position of president is not up for this year's election on Nov. 5, but the Kansas Democratic Party (KSDP) is hoping the buzz words "Bands & Ballots" will carry the same weight as "Rock the Vote" in Lawrence.
On Oct.29, a week before Election Day, the KSDP will sponsor an event with the catchy title of "Bands & Ballots" at the recently refurbished Granada Theatre, 1020 Massachusetts St., as a way to encourage younger voters to make a difference.
Organizers will also collect advanced ballots that evening to submit the next morning.
"This is an idea that we've had for awhile," Julia Gaughan, KSDP field organizer, said. "It is an opportunity to turn in advanced ballots and just have some fun."
Although the theme of "Bands & Ballots" revolves around the political election, those in attendance could very well mistake the atmosphere for any jamming night at a downtown club.
Bands Phat Albert and KB Posse are lending their talents to the voting gala that kicks off at 9 p.m.
Saxophonist for Phat Albert Brendan O'Bryhim said Phat Albert signed on for "Bands & Ballots" through the band's connection to Jason Hodges, a finance director for Democrat Dennis Moore's campaign for the Third Congressional District.
O'Bryhim admits he considers himself more of an independent than a democrat, and his band does not intend to spew political propaganda.
"Hopefully it will be a break from all of that," he said. "I know that politics can be pretty dull."
Regardless of what side of the political spectrum one supports, Gaughan said the main purpose was to get the college community excited about the upcoming election.
The various voting opportunities on campus had already made an impression, she said.
"There been a lot of activity on campus with voter registration," Gaughan said. "I know that thousands of people signed up."
There is no cover charge for "Bands & Ballots," although attendees must be 18 or older.
Organizers will be accepting advanced ballots throughout the evening.
For more information about "Bands & Ballots," contact Gaughan by phone at (785) 749-2121 or by e-mail at juliag@ksdp.org.
— Edited by Lauren Beatty
Local band strives to succeed
By Bill Heinen bheinen@kansan.com Jayplay writer
There are only a handful of local bands that exist somewhere between the underground and the mainstream. Despite its self-proclaimed underdog status, Lawrence rock band Podstar has found itself in such a stance for the past few years. Now it's ready to explode, hoping to put this college town on the map.
"If we could be synonymous with Lawrence, that would be awesome," bassist and singer Cameron Hawk said.
Three out of four members, Hawk guitarist and singer JoJo Longbottom, and guitarist Aaron Swenson have been together since the eighth grade. Drummer Ryan Magnuson is the most recent addition. In that time, the Lawrence residents have worked diligently to make music their career.
"We'd like to do this for as long as we can hold out," Hawk said.
The quartet has played a slew of shows all over Kansas City and in Lawrence, most recently headlining with Lucky Boys Confusion and The Stereo at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
While some music-lovers might come for the other bands, Podstar has a way of winning over the audience during a live set, as its members jump around the stage furiously pounding their heads to the beats.
"We all aspire to one day have a show just like Kiss," Longbottom said. "Hot licks, hot chicks and explosions."
The band cites Kiss as a major influence, along with Foo Fighters, The Replacements, and pretty much anything that rocks, Magnuson said.
And while there haven't been any pyrotechnics on stage alongside the blaring amps, Podstar's members still love to have fun and rock out on tour as often as they can.
"We'd like to be out there all the time, just having a blast with the audience, just like a party," said Hawk.
The group has completed two albums Podstar and Lovely 32, which were both released by Noisome Records and are available at 7th Heaven, 1000 Massachusetts St., Ste. D.
The group has played with such acts as Superdrag and Ultimate Fakebook.
Podstar also boasts several tours in its music career already, with wild stories about each venue, from Longbottom spending a night in a Brooklyn, N.Y., bar being cared for by a 60-year-old Vietnam War veteran, to the group being forced to stay overnight in an arcade in Utah as 17 police cars and a patrol helicopter scouted the surrounding area for three escaped convicts.
Podstar is currently preparing to tour the east coast, traveling from New York to Savannah, Ga. Upcoming projects also include polishing new songs, and the band plans to record a third album in spring 2003.
Podstar will play with National Fire Theory at 9 p.m. on Oct. 31 at the haunted house, The Beast, 1401 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo.
—Edited by Christina Neff
DOCK BOYS
BY SCOTT DRUMMOND, FOR THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KJHK SPIN CITY 10.13.02-10.
20.02 TOP 30
ARTIST  Recording
1 JURASSIC 5 Power In Numbers
2 APPROACH Ultraproteus
3 SOUNDS GOOD Sounds Good
4 BRIGHT EYES/BRITT DANIEL
Home Volume IV
5 BELLES Omerta
6 BECK Sea Change
7 JEFF BUCKLEY/GARY LUCAS
Songs To No One: 1991-1992
8 SIGHTS Got What We Want
9 A WHISPER IN THE NOISE
Through the Ides of March
10 HOT HOT HEAT
Make Up The Breakdown