WVAU’s concert series Capital Punishment returns this Friday, December 2, featuring instrumental noise-rock group the Psychic Paramount. The band’s recent album II was featured in Pitchfork’s Overlooked Records of 2011:

Riffs churn and bang, guitar leads triumphantly well up, and drummer Jeff Conaway smashes his kit hard enough to break skulls. This is experimental underground rock that the kids from Dazed and Confused could appreciate– a pure-badass astral exploration that always keeps its toes in the mud. It took the Psychic Paramount six years to make the album, but it still sounds– in a good way– like the result of a week’s worth of seriously locked-in garage jamming.”

This year, we’ve moved the show upstairs to Kay Chapel to provide a dramatic backdrop for the Psychic Paramount’s dynamic live set – lights off, backlit, with a constant smoke machine. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. Don’t miss WVAU’s largest event of the semester. It’s free. Bring everyone you know.

The Psychic Paramount @ Union Pool:

A man with a tinkering intuition for developing production techniques, some come to know him by his alter-dj moniker, R4ns0m. Equal parts Drum & Bass producer and live DJ, the brooding complexities of his sound really build to something higher. I’ve been reading Harry’s explorations and technical ventures in the genre via his tumblr and DCDNB, a project he’s running for local D.C. area Drum & Bass minds to collaborate.

Download his Drum & Bass track “Instigator” on his Soundcloud:
Harry Ransom – “Instigator” [FREE DOWNLOAD] by R4NS0M

Ransom will be giving American University a taste of his work via a live DJ set on WVAU’s resident indie/electronic promo show Electric Factory, this Thursday November 17 from 4pm-6pm EST.

We’ll also be giving away tickets to the Switch, Scottie B, and Harry Ransom show during the broadcast. Tune in to win!

Check out Harry Ransom on Facebook and Twitter

WVAU’s next Open Mic Night will be this Friday, October 28th at 5pm (note the early time) in the SIS Atrium. The Davenport Coffee Lounge will be open late for this event and will be serving coffee, chai and other caffeinated treats until 7pm.

Since Halloween is right around the corner, we’ll be holding a costume contest with FABULOUS PRIZES. And just for showing up, costume-clad or not, you’ll receive a ballin blue sweatband.

To sign up, email Carrie at wvauevents@gmail.com. As always, there is a two-performance limit per act, and we’ll be accepting sign-ups for the first half hour of the show. We’re holding this one early, so come by, drink some coffee, wear a dope costume and perform for us!

Thanks to Louise for the awesome poster!

The meeting is mandatory and you will be struck with a strike if you skip it. If you can’t make it, email Emily at wvauprogram@gmail.com before Sunday.

Bring a mix CD! We will be exchanging mixtapes at the meeting, so grab a blank CD from the studio while supplies last.

WVAU will host its first Open Mic of the semester this Saturday, September 17th at 8:00pm in the Tavern. Dust off your acoustic guitars, form your joke bands, go dumpster diving for some children’s poems to read, whatever floats your boat. THERE WILL BE FREE PIZZA.

Promo Director Louise made this dope poster, so help us spread the word by printing it out and posting it on campus. Also, don’t forget to RSVP on the Facebook link here. See you there!

Come out to WVAU’s Open Mic Night! Like it says up there in the subject, this will be our very last one of the semester. It’s also our very first Open Mic Night in the SIS Atrium. The Davenport will be extending its hours to be open during the event, so look forward to your favorite beverage, paired with entertainment provided by AU’s finest!

Contact our General Manager, Dan, at wvaugm@gmail.com if you plan to perform.

Watch the Pitchfork video where Javelin performs live with marionettes.

We hope to see you there!
Attend the event on facebook here.

These two rad bad dudes have toured with Warpaint, Yeasayer and more super cool bands you probably love and now they’re turning their eyes towards American University.

Show starts at 9pm on Friday, January 21st in the Kay Basement. It’s FREE so bring as many people as you want.

Let’s jam!

Within the next 24 hours we will have all the pictures from September’s WVAU Open Mic up online! We had a festive first public event this year at a new location in The Perch. The ambiance was perfect for a sit down student concert including the perch’s vast Tazo Tea collection, lattes, and coffee, not to mention comfy chairs and floor cushions from Crate & Barrel. And best of all, we had live entertainment. Performances were of the variety with everything from a Korean indie band to a vocal impersonation of Bobby McFerrin. The friday night was a hoot.

Check back within the next day then and save, share, and tag your friends on our flickr photo album.

Also, congratulations to all of our new DJs. By the beginning of this week, most of our new crew will have finished their required sit-in show, and starting today will now be broadcasting live during their time slots. Check the schedule to see the 100+ DJs we have this semester!

If you want to buy a shirt, WVAU will be selling them at our final Open Mic, which takes place Friday, April 30th in Batelle Atrium, 8-10 pm as always! The shirts are American Apparel brand, and we have sizes S, M, L, XL.

Wow, these t shirts are (the) tops!

One Friday every month, about 60 AU students gather to attend the open mic night. Anyone is allowed to perform at the two hour events, which showcase AU’s top musical, poetic, and comedic talents. Attendance at the monthly event is growing.

There are as many reasons to attend open mics as there are attendees. Sophomore Malina Keutel attended her first open mic last year to support a few of her friends who were performing. Seth Shamon, a junior who is also a DJ for WVAU, was drawn by the promise of “free performances by peers.” Keutel and Shamon now rarely miss an open mic.

Much of the appeal of WVAU open mics is the opportunity to witness peers’ abilities. “I keep coming back to open mics because the talent at this school never ceases to amaze me,” said sophomore Danielle King. For Keutel, the camaraderie that comes with belonging to a small community within AU is the main draw. “I absolutely love listening to my friends perform,” Keutel said.

King, Keutel, and Shamon are not only enthusiastic fans, but performers as well. As a freshman, Keutel was “was anxious to find my place within the AU community.” She put past stage fright behind her and pulled together a song that she played on piano while a friend sang. Keutel has since performed many times, and always finds the experience “exhilarating, fun, and a great way to bond with my friends.”

Shamon realized that after attending and appreciating many open mics during his AU career, it was time to “give back to WVAU.” He shared a Ginsberg poem that he had stumbled upon at a bookstore earlier in the day. His performance was such a hit that he was invited back for a collaborative encore with the aforementioned funk-soul act Jesus and the Kennedys.

“The setting is comfortable and welcoming,” said King, explaining why she chose to sing a duet with a friend. “The intimacy at open mics creates an environment of sharing that can at times be difficult to find on a college campus.”

This sentiment was echoed by King’s peers. “I think WVAU open mics have become a very welcoming space,” said Keutel. “Performers can try out new material or just revel in the joy of making music.”

These feelings are exactly what WVAU General Manager Iliana Berkowitz wishes to create. She hopes that each open mic is a safe space where members of the community can “feel proud of their talents.” Now a senior, Berkowitz led an effort in 2007 to institute a regular open mic through WVAU. Prior to 2007 many groups on campus hosted open mics as one-time events, but it wasn’t until WVAU started having them regularly that open mics became associated with the radio station. “They started out in the Davenport,” Berkowitz said. “Soon, they became so popular that we needed a larger space.” Berkowitz feels that as the most prominent musical organization on campus, WVAU is responsible for ensuring that open mics occur.

It’s not too late to sign up either, so e-mail me up big top: wvaugm@gmail.com