music

featured stories

Our 10 Favorite Sets from Pitchfork Fest 2024

20 Aug, 2024

blog / music / show reviews

With the summer sun in the sky and a verve for live music, KCSB was on the scene to witness a wonderful weekend of live music at Union Park in Chicago. Here were our 10 favorite sets of Pitchfork Chicago 2024. words by: Will Bacaj    Rosali Situated on the […]

An Interview with Jeffrey Lewis

06 Aug, 2024

blog / interviews / music

KCSB-FM’s Digital Media Coordinator, Avery Morgan, sat down with Jeffrey Lewis after his set at the Troubadour to have a conversation about changes in DIY culture, his creative process, and inspirations. Photos by Avery Morgan Jeffrey Lewis is a musician and comic book artist, and when he performs live, he […]

☆ExComm’s 2024 Summer Playlist☆

22 Jul, 2024

music / playlists

A few of the newest members of KCSB’s Executive Committee bring you some wonderful tunes to spin while walking on the beach, gathered around a campfire, swimming in a pool, or any other activity suited for a hot summer’s day. PARKERS’S RECS  “Not Like I Was Doing Anything” by The […]

Pre-Fest Excitement for Pitchfork Festival 2024

18 Jul, 2024

music / show reviews

  In honor of Pitchfork’s infamous 0.0-10.0 ratings scale for albums, KCSB’s Will Bacaj scores his most anticipated sets of the upcoming festival weekend. words by: Will Bacaj After Conde Nast fired several of Pitchfork’s editors and placed the website under the umbrella of GQ Magazine in January, outside observers […]

Cali Roots 2024

19 Jun, 2024

music / show reviews

KCSB programmer Marley Jay takes to Monterey to give you an inside look into the 2024 Cali Roots Festival. Read on for the inside scoop into a weekend of love, reggae, and community.  Words and Photos by Marley Jay I sat amongst like-minded individuals of the California Roots Sol Tribe, […]

Cruel World 2024

14 Jun, 2024

blog / music / show reviews

Production Coordinator Will and Publications Coordinator Galilea took on Huntington Beach’s Cruel World Festival this past month, ready to report back to KCSB’s audience with all the scintillating details. Check it out.  words by: Will Bacaj and Galilea Trujillo photos by: Will Bacaj Mark Almond of Soft Cell Duran Duran, […]

☆PRIDE MONTH PLAYLIST☆

14 Jun, 2024

blog / music / playlists

As the end of the 2023-2024 school year approaches, so does LGBTQ Pride Month! KCSB’s Music Department wanted to highlight some wonderful Queer musicians to celebrate and uplift these artists. This is just a small portion of all of the work that LGBTQ artists contribute, we hope that these picks […]

Just Like Heaven 2024

29 May, 2024

blog / music / music reviews / show reviews

If you’re longing and looking to tap into your indie-centered nostalgia, Just Like Heaven is the place to be. Every May, Goldenvoice puts on their annual Just Like Heaven festival, and this year marks 5 years since the first edition. It’s the time of year where you can bring back […]

Shabang 2024: The Framers, No Drout, & The Walters

20 May, 2024

blog / music

words by: Carly Kalunian Shabang, San Luis Obispo’s yearly music festival, celebrated its 10th anniversary this May. The all-ages event attracts many college students from around California, but of course is very popular with those attending Cal Poly SLO and UCSB thanks to its’ close proximity to campus. This year’s […]

Local Bands Take On Shabang Music Festival

17 May, 2024

blog / music

KCSB’s Clarissa Rios reviews Shabang’s locally featured Saturday acts, including Santa Barbara’s own The Framers. Read on for her insight into the performances.  words and photo by Clarissa Rios San Luis Obispo’s Dairy Creek Golf Course was home to dozens of musical acts over the May 3-4 weekend as part […]

Reviewing George Clanton @ Shabang Festival

17 May, 2024

blog / music

KCSB sent our top music journalists to Shabang in San Luis Obispo to recap and review the festival. Multidisciplinary electronic musician George Clanton’s performance was one for the books… and Avery is here to take you back in time with her.  words and photos by: Avery Morgan Despite not being […]

April’s Add of the Month – All Heartbeat by Flung

17 Apr, 2024

add of the month / blog / music

Words by: Marion Suchowiecky (Internal Music Director 23′-24′) Kashika Kollaikal’s newest project, All Heartbeat, represents a brimming and glittering cacophony of emotions bound together  by her musical artistry. Kollaikal was inspired by the powerful sense of limbo she felt as she found herself trapped at Seattle airport by an ever-delayed […]

El Vive Latino 2024

11 Apr, 2024

blog / music / show reviews

Words by: Angel Lopez Photos courtesy El Vive Latino El Vivo Latino music festival happens once a year, usually on the 3rd weekend of March in Mexico City. This year had 5 stages, 1 surprise stage, a comedy stage and a Lucha Libre ring. 88 bands performed in the span […]

☆Women’s History Month Playlist☆

19 Mar, 2024

blog / music / playlists

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the KCSB music department, with the help of our Assistant MD’s and members of the Executive Committee, have put their heads together to bring you a curated playlist featuring some of our favorite women musicians!  This playlist aims to show that the power and prowess […]

An Interview with Fire Trail

19 Mar, 2024

blog / interviews / music

KCSB-FM’s Assistant Music Director Maya Widom sits down with Berkeley band Fire Trail to discuss their album “One of the Two” and their upcoming projects. Fire Trail is a four piece band made up of current and former students of UC Berkeley with a rock backbone.“One of the Two” was […]

Valentine’s Day Playlist

15 Feb, 2024

music / playlists

There are so many types of love – love for a partner, love for a friend, love for a radio station. Here at KCSB we want to celebrate love this February with a curated Valentine’s Day playlist by our lovely Excomm. Check out our picks as you’re shopping for chocolate, […]

☆BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST☆

29 Jan, 2024

music / playlists

It is impossible to overstate the profound impact that Black musicians have had on modern music. Almost any contemporary musical genre can be traced back to Black musicians who pioneered it. This Black History Month, KCSB’s staff is putting their heads together to highlight some of our favorite Black musicians […]

Shabang 2023 Festival Review

29 Jan, 2024

blog / music / show reviews

KCSB’s program director, Naila, visited San Louis Obispo last year to get our audience the scoop on Shabang! As the 2024 lineup begins to make its rounds, we hope this review of last year’s festival gives you an idea of what to expect and look forward to. words and photos […]

Reviewing Vyva Melinkolya’s “Unbecoming”

05 Jan, 2024

blog / music / music reviews

KCSB’s Fall ’23 Assistant Music Director, Amber Cooper, reviews Vyva Melinkolya’s second album Unbecoming. Read on to learn more! Words by Amber Cooper Vyva Melinkolya’s Unbecoming feels like it slowly sucks the air out of your lungs; it carries a lot of weight, and its crawling pace feels like a sinkhole, drawing […]

Down the O’Rourke Rabbit Hole

05 Jan, 2024

blog / music

Our Assistant Music Director, Liam Hogan, takes KCSB on a voyage through American instrumental master Jim O’Rourke’s discography. Keep reading for Liam’s recommendations, reviews, and guidance on how and where to get started.  Words by: Liam Hogan Jim O’Rourke is one of those names I heard a thousand times before […]