Volume 124 Issue 24
kansan.com
Friday, September 23, 2017
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CLAIRE HOWARD/KANSAN
Beebes' interim replacement will be former Big Eight Conference Commissioner Chuck Neinas; he will start working immediately. Neinas served as Big Eight commissioner from 1971 to 1980. Neinas currently runs his own consulting firm, Neinas Sports Services, out of his home in Boulder Colo.
Contributed photo Electric feel. Big Gigantic, an electronic group from Colorado, rocked The Granada last month.
The mandolin has been replaced with a synthesized keyboard, vocals substituted with heavy bass drops and subwoofers, and even the traditional drum set has been swapped out for an electronic drum kit. Lawrence used to be all bluegrass and rock n' roll, but lately the scene has changed from traditional jamming to electronic dance music.
With a new semester comes new bands touring through town, and University of Kansas students are seeing less hip-hop and rock and more dance-your-face-off dubstep and electronic groups. Just last month, Big Gigantic from Colorado blasted the bass and shook the dance floor at The Granada Theater with The Floozies, originally from Lawrence.
"Playing a sold out show at the Granada with them was like a massive homecoming party," says Matt Hill, guitar and synth player for The Floozies. "We debated a lot of new material at that show and it couldn't have been a better experience. Lawrence has shown us a lot of love from the beginning, and they continue to every time we play here."
Electronic groups like Big Gigantic and The Floozies incorporate traditional instruments along with soundboards, synthesizers and computer programs — to create a blend of music that's overwhelming the Midwest market one venue at a time. Dominic Lalli, from Big Gigantic, plays a saxophone dubbed over with computerized instrumentals and electronic drums to produce an original sound. The Floozies use an assortment of instruments, electronic beats and prerecorded sound files, blending a rock 'n' roll, bluegrass melody with pure, funky dance music.
While music venues in Kansas City and other bigger cities are still attracting mainstream artists, The Granada Theater and Liberty Hall in Lawrence are bringing in more electronic acts. Although these groups aren't the typical artists most people would listen to on the radio, they definitely attract a crowd of their own and appeal to the more modern fanbase. Dubstep artist DATSIK announced a show at The Granada later this month with other local electronic groups, and The Floozies are returning to The Granada stage in mid-October.
"Two or three years ago, bands like us, Big Gigantic, EOTO, and Vibesquared were all playing much smaller venues like the Jackpot and the Jazzahaus," says Hill. "Now it's 800-1000 capacity venues like The Granada and Liberty Hall. I wouldn't necessarily say it's because its dance music, but the role of electronics in music is so unexplored. There are all these new sounds being created every day."
Liberty Hall, home to some of the biggest acts to pass through Lawrence, is also hosting several big electronic shows. Sound Tribe Sector 9, self-described as "post-rock dance music," is performing at Liberty in early October. EOTO,
another electronic group, is playing on Halloween, and dubstep artist Skrillex already sold out his November tour date.
"I love the good vibes and positive energy I feel during a show," says Ali McGee, a senior from Overland Park. "Dancing is also one of my favorite parts to any good show. If you can't dance to it, it's not worth it."
Brittany Schulenberg, an alumna from Lincoln, Neb., describes going to an electronic dubstep show as, "magical, because the music moves everyone together in unison. It's like an adventure through music and dance, and everybody is getting down." More students like Schulenberg are experiencing it for themselves, especially with rising popularity and all the hype going around. Local bars are playing more music for students to dance to, but it's not just about the sound and heavy bass beats that attract a crowd.
"The shows are always unique, and are almost always better live than recorded, unlike most other music," says Ryan Guenther, a senior from Lawrence.
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Contributed photo
Sound crews at Lawrence venues, working with technicians who tour with the groups, create a visual masterpiece of flashing, multicolored lights that intensify every aspect of an electronic show and illuminate the crowded dance floor. Usually, lights and strobe flashes follow every bass "bump" and there's a different light show to accompany each song, further adding to the overall entertainment factor and attracting more people to each show. The lights and music go hand-in-hand to create the best experience for show-goers and venue employees.
UPCOMING SHOWS
DATSIK THE GRANADA THEATER Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 8:30 p.m. With FSTZ, Till Bastards, and Sick Nifty
Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9)
LIBERTY HALL
Saturday, Oct.1 at 7:00 p.m.
Vibesquad + The Floozies THE GRANADA THEATER Friday, Oct. 21 at 9:00 p.m.
EOTO LIBERTY HALL Monday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m.
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Miguel Camacho, president of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO), said these events on campus are important to bring exposure to HALO and the Hispanic community.
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HALO kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 16 by showcasing Hispanic dance and music, two things Camacho said are very important to the Hispanic culture.
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GROWING UP HISPANIC
Velasco knows all about the importance of these traditions, having
GROWING UP HISPANIC
Edited by Sarah Champ
"When you say Hispanic or Latino, there's so many different cultures within that from each country," Stern said. "Each one has its own really rich tradition and it's really important to recognize and distinguish between those different cultures and not just lump them all together as 'dispanic.'"
"Being the new student and being the minority student as well, I kind of tried to blend in as much as I could since I am lighter skinned," Velasco said. "Rather than just trying to challenge them and make them see the real side of being Hispanic, I didn't want to stand out
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Once Velasco and his family moved to Wamego when he was 15, that all changed. As one of three non-white kids at his new school, Velasco, for the first time, felt ashamed of his culture.
"Come to KU it was really great to see not just Mexicans, but people from other Hispanic countries fully embracing their heritage," Velasco said. "It was really easy for me to accept my own culture when I saw so many people celebrating it and people I could identify with."
for immigrant rights, even res-
spending time with the Hispanic
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see how important this culture is.
The unity of Hispanic culture on campus is evident to non-Hispanic students as well. Sarah Stern, a junior from Lawrence, was vice president of HALO last year but now
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CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 3
Kellen Bolt, a senior from Iola and co-director of the University Center for Community Outreach, encouraged students to contribute to the United Way's efforts in supporting Lawrence non-profit organizations.
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"I don't think many stu-
SPORTS 12
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University students tossed footballs and donated money outside the Kansas Union yesterday afternoon as part of the United Way of Douglas County's fundraising kickoff event.
The Legends of the Phog basketball game is this Saturday.
Don't forget
After several preliminary donations, including a $62,000 gift from Rock Chalk Review, the United Way is well on its
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
munity — I really didn't until I started getting involved," he said. "I don't think they realize how much the United Way does and helps to make the Lawrence community as strong as it is. It's here making the city a more attractive place to live."
SEE UNITED WAY12
Today's weather
Forcasts done by University students. For a more detailed forecast, see 24A.
HI: 72
LO: 50
Nice fall weather.
.