Revelry has been a buzzy topic on campus lately and seems to pop up in every discussion regarding the endlessly controversial Mifflin Street Block Party. Discussion surrounding Revelry has been so focused on pitting it against Mifflin that the music itself has been overshadowed. My only conviction regarding Mifflin weekend is to make sure students are aware that there are talented artists playing at Revelry, even if they aren’t as recognizable as the Skrillex or Kid Cudi songs that will be blaring from every house on Mifflin Street. These are a few artists performing this weekend:
Toro Y Moi: If you aren’t patient or interested enough to follow the endless amounts of new electronic sub-genres to emerge over the last few years, you will probably roll your eyes as I describe Chillwave, a genre that layers warped ’80s-sounding synth loops and ambient distortion to create deliriously sedated songs that often follow a pseudo-pop template. This is the genre that Toro Y Moi helped invent.
Chillwave isn’t exactly a trending topic on Twitter at the moment, but Toro Y Moi’s music is good enough to make him one of the surviving relics of a genre that is destined to become a blip in the history of Indietronica. His music is less sugary than Memory Tapes, Neon Indian, Washed Out or any other Chillwave’s pioneers; Toro Y Moi prefers restraint, forgoing the genre’s usual reliance on ear-tickling, day-glo-drenched synths for simpler peddles and funky bass lines that seem to chase each other across his songs. For detractors of electronic music, Toro Y Moi’s appeal does not come from cheap tricks; there are no glittering arpeggios or thunderous bass drops, only meticulously constructed songs. Toro Y Moi is accompanied by a full live band, so be assured this will not be a laptop show.
Delta Spirit: This band makes soulful Indie Pop/Rock. The lyrics are direct and heartfelt, generally focusing on love and loss. The guitars that accompany the vocals are at times bluesy, at times blaring and rough, but always emotionally engaging. Delta Spirit may not be the most forward-thinking band, but they are skilled musicians and they sound excellent live. They are difficult to dislike.
Oh Land: She sounds like a conventional female-oriented singer/songwriter Pop artist, but with more experimental and electronic soundscapes. Her lyrics generally are more playful and abstract than other artists in her genre. Her vocals are often bouncy and rhythmic. At her best, Oh Land is a lot of fun.
Chance the Rapper: Chance is a teenage rapper from Chicago—a label that conjures images of a testosterone-filled Chief Keef with something to prove. But Chance is not an aggressive rapper. He is extremely enjoyable to listen to, with a cartoonishly expressive delivery, clever wordplay, loads of charisma and smart production choices. His production style is eclectic and not particularly genre consistent, but it always has a more optimistic flavor than the Trap beats that have become the default choice for most rappers. Chance’s music has a joyousness that is uncommon in Rap. Like Toro Y Moi, Chance avoids many of the objections that people have with his genre.
PHOX: For such a disorganized approach to music making, PHOX sounds incredible. They are certainly unpolished, with each member of the band seemingly doing whatever they want. Acoustic Guitars are strummed, waves of electronic psychedelia pummel the songs and comforting piano melodies are plucked out one note at a time. There is some mournful harmonica buried in there somewhere and above everything, PHOX’s Gospel-sounding female vocalist, Monica Martin, belts out superbly written lyrics with one of the most emotive and striking voices you will hear for a long time. Do not miss this show.
