KrisNelson

A place I know well

2009-02-04T11:20:00.000-08:00

Down in Eugene, there is a little cafe where you can eat breakfast all day long. Everything there is fresh and made to order. They even have their own bread and pancake mixes for purchase. Played in the background is soft relaxing music while you eat. Served on the menu are things like french toast on your choice of bread, a variety of two and three egg omelets, and every day there is a new special. This place is down to earth, the staff are friendly, and the service is great. It's called the Keystone Cafe.

Profile questions

2009-01-23T11:24:00.000-08:00

1.Where did you grow up?
2.What are your influences?
3.What do you do in your spare time?
4.What are some of your hobbies?

CD review postponed, Weside article coming to a finish.

2009-01-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

So the cd mixtape review is going to be postponed, due to the fact that I need to finish up a story I started towards the end of last month. This new story is about Wes Smith also known as Weside from Weside Ink. There are a couple elements in this story. Weside Ink is no longer a group and Weside is now runs a label called Dub-U Records. Not that many people realize that Weside does all of the elements of the music business, including self-distribution, concert promoting, artist development, and recording.

Photo Critique

2009-01-14T10:26:00.000-08:00

This is a really cool photo I found of the group One Big Love. I really like it because it shows two guys performing in their true art of underground rap. I found it kind of odd though that the guy on the left is wearing a backpack on stage.

Photo Credit: James Willamor/Flickr.com taken on November 2, 2006.

Logical Contradiction CD review update

2009-01-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

I am going to review in depth the new mixtape presented by Contra and C-Logic. My sources for the review include the myspace websites of C-Logic and Contra, other rappers from Albany that they have shared the stage with, fans of their music, and C-Logic himself. I recently met up with C-Logic and received a copy of the mixtape CD. I plan to call a few of the rappers that I have been in contact with to see what they think of C-Logic and Contra's music. Also, I plan to get some quotes from some of Contra and C-Logic's fans and maybe some of the other artists on the mixtape CD.

Feature Story Topic

2009-01-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

My first feature story is a review on a new rap mixtape CD called the Logical Contradiction. This mixtape is presented by local rappers C-Logic and Contra.

Soufside Ink photos

2009-01-09T10:24:00.001-08:00

Top: Lyrical Hound rapping his verse to one of their songs.
Bottom: Louisiana T rapping his verse.
Photos I took on December 12 at a rap concert in North Albany

Poverty's Posterboy photo

2009-01-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

Poverty's Posterboy opening the show at the North Albany Grange Hall in December.
Another Photo I took on December 12.

Photojournalism Critique

2009-01-09T09:44:00.000-08:00

i found this photo that someone made into a collage of drummers. I thought it was really cool the way they pieced it together.
http://static.zoovy.com/img/surfcitymusic/-/endorsees/artist_collagerevised

First post for my photojournalism class

2009-01-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

Here you see a photo of the Albany rapper Bilyeu, rapping to the first beat he made. This photo was taken by me on December 12, 2008.

Video of the Angries playing at Old World Deli

2008-11-25T10:55:00.000-08:00

Angries at Old World Deli 11.22.08

Wobblies pictures (Old World Deli show)

2008-11-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

Pictures of the band KTP(Old World Deli show)

2008-11-25T10:41:00.000-08:00

Pictures from the Old World Deli Punk Show

2008-11-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Pictured clockwise left to right are The Angries, KTP, The Wobblies, and Bad Terms.

What I am workin on

2008-11-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

so i just finished up an interview with this guy named Dustin, who is in a band from Corvallis. The article I write from the interview will be up soon. Also, tommorow I'm going to the Old World Deli for a Punk rock show. Before the show I'm interviewing one of the bands, The Angries. If you are reading this you should come see the concert. It'll be fun and its only $3, you get to see 4 great bands. Besides the Angries, the Wobblies, Bad Terms, and KTP will be there.

Chesha Cat Article

2008-11-20T12:05:00.000-08:00

Chulo, Nuce, DJ Chill, Celly Cel, and Spice 1, those are just some of the rap artists Chesha Cat mentioned during the interview with I had him. Chesha Cat is a rapper out of Albany, Oregon. I discussed with him his time in the rap game, getting hip-hop going again, and how he wants to bring concerts back to the Venetian on a regular basis, among other things.

Chesha Cat started rapping for fun and before that he was in rock bands in high school. He started playing the piano when he was a kid. As well as playing the trumpet, when he was in middle school.

He started out playing small rap shows and then went on to play larger shows outside of Albany in places like Canyonville and Bend. He has worked with and played shows with artists such as Nuce, Chulo, Dole Beats, T.H.C., Northwest Mulisha, and some others.

Chesha Cat's musical influences include older Snoop Dog, 2 Pac, Mac Dre, C-BO, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, to name a few. He also, mentioned that he likes California artists such as Smoov-E, Too $hort, and Brotha Lynch Hung.

One thing Chesha Cat told me is that he wants to get music coming back to Albany again like it was in the '90s. "The last good show was probably Floater back in 2002 at the Venetian Theatre," he said. He wants to put on two shows next year with Floater. "Friday night would be the first one and then on Saturday would be an acoustic show." The first ever acoustic Floater show in Albany.

In January he is planning on having a big rap show at the venetian. He plans to get DJ Chill and Smoov-E to play at it. After the show he wants to have an after party at Riley's Bar and Grill with DJ Wicked. Eventually once everything gets going, he wants to put on shows out at the Linn County Fairgrounds. Chesha Cat would like to see artists like Andre Nickatina out there once all of this comes together.

Coming out soon is Chesha Cat's CD release of his album called "Ol' Memoriez New Daze." Chesha Cat is a producer, songwriter, music artist, and a composer. He recently played a show presented by another local rap artist Suganuts. It was the, "When the Freaks Come Out at Night," show on November 13th. His next show listed is on December 13th in Bend at the Domino Room. The show features him, Nuce, T-Dub of Northwest Mulisha and lots of others. I will keep you posted on this and other related rap shows.

For more information go to Chesha Cat's myspace page: myspace.com/cheshagenremuzik

Chesha Cat Interview

2008-11-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

I recently sat down with Chesha Cat, a local Albany music artist. We talked about his rapping, putting on concerts, and future plans.

He wants to put on concerts at the Venetian Theatre like there was in the 1990s. His first show is going to be DJ Chill and Smoov-e in January. Then in February, he wants Floater to have a welcome back show at the Venetian.

I am finishing up my article about all of this and you should see it soon.

Drummer from Frank Zappa's The Mothers of Invention died

2008-11-07T10:15:00.000-08:00

So I just read on CNN.com that the drummer from Frank Zappa's The Mothers of Invention, Jimmy Carl Black died. According to one of his musician friends he had cancer.

Black was 70 and living in Germany. Since he was in the group The Mothers of Invention, he has been known for the catchphrase: "Hi boys and girls my name is Jimmy Carl Black and I'm the Indian of the group." In 1995 he was briefly in a group, as a singer, called the Muffin Men. They played music from Zappa and Captian Beefheart.

I think that this is a very sad thing to happen. It seems like all of the classic musicians are dying, which sucks, because I never got a chance to see any of them on their reunion tours.

He was, in my opinion one of the best drummers from the 1960s-70s. They planned a fundraiser to memorium in London, the day after his death.

you can read what CNN has to say about it here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/05/jimmy.carl.black.obit.ap/index.html

here is the official Jimmy Carl Black site: http://www.jimmycarlblack.com/

The last thing I will leave you with is a link to a video of The Mothers of Invention
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2jUJQdN41g

So Obama Won.....

2008-11-06T10:42:00.000-08:00

I am happy the election is finally over...

Now we can focus on other things in the news...

Election Coverage

2008-11-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

So I'm staying at the Commuter office till like at least 11pm. It should be fun. Chinese food and politics, YAY!!! Yeah, so I have two articles in the paper this week, which is fricken sweet.

I will leave you today with this

Election is coming soon

2008-11-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

with the election coming up there is so much hype... thank gosh its almost done with and hopefully people dont elect another dumb prez like the last two elections... all I have heard Mccain say is MORE WAR... who wants that, I mean seriously?

Anyways Iam going to be on campus all night covering the election with the others from the commuter staff and I will be writing a short article about the election party at the hot shot about peoples reactions of what happens and predictions beforehand...

I leave you with this

The video that should sink John McCain's presidential dreams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-R5Vh5tOWk

Paradox Productionz

2008-10-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

Paradox Productionz
Friends Klutch and Phonix started recording and making music in high school. Little did they know that it would turn into something called Paradox Productionz. I recently sat down with Phonix and some of the other artists on Paradox Productionz. I talked with them about the history of the group of artists, influences, upcoming CDs, and a concert thats coming up in December.

Currently, Klutch and Phonix currently run Paradox Productionz, which is a local group of rap artists who are trying to bring real hip-hop back. Klutch makes beats and Phonix does recording and engineering. Paradox Productionz is home to artists, Klutch and Phonix, who make up the group Paradox. Also on the label are Yung Royal, E.R., Markus Tha Great White, and Pynt Syze.

Phonix started editing music when he was 13. Klutch started making beats when he met Phonix in high school. E.R. and Markus Tha Great White each started rapping in their freshman year of high school. Pynt Syze has been rapping since age nine and now he’s 12. Yung Royal began rapping at freshman year of high school. Now, besides Pynt Syze, the artists are in their are all at least in their early 20’s or older.

I asked the artists what inspired them to rap and what their musical inspirations are and in response Phonix said, “ Like most white rappers I liked Eminem.” “We were just hip-hop fans that wanted to bring real hip-hop back,” Markus Tha Great White added. Some of the artists said their influnce was 2pac. Phonix said he didn’t use to like Tech N9ne, but now he listens to his music.

When I asked about how they would describe their sound, E.R. said, “I think I can speak for Klutch, when I say his sound ranges from East Coast rap to Bay area sound.” Phonix said that Paradox's sound is what hey called rock/hop(rock and hip hop mixed). But they also said, that their sound varies from song to song.

On Nov. 12 Yung Royal is releasing his “Out Tha Shadows Mixtape” CD. Paradox’s new album, “Verse-a-tility” is coming soon. Markus that Great White told me to expect his CD out sometime in March of ’09. E.R. wants his to come out in the first quarter of 2009. Another plan Paradox Productionz has is they are putting on a show at the North Albany Grange hall. They are hoping it is a going to be a big show. Phonix told me that there are 7 or 8 artists on the bill, including Suganuts. Also with every paid admission they will be giving out raffle tickets to win tickets to a Portland Blazzers game. Six individual tickets will be given out.

If you want to hear some of the songs from the artists, here are their links.
Paradox: www.myspace.com/ParadoxProductionz
Yung Royal: www.myspace.com/imyungroyal
E.R. : www.myspace.com/youcantbeater
Pynt Syze: www.myspace.com/PyntSyze
Markus Tha Great White: www.myspace.com/MarkusThaGreatWhite

2008-10-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

here is the link to the Paradox Productionz article on the Commuter site

http://www.lbcommuter.com/ae/276/krismusicarticle1

a freestyle rap done by the artist E.R., who is one of the artists on Paradox Productionz will be uploaded to the site as soon as I figure out how to do that.

UPDATE

2008-10-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

The interview with the rapper Nuce went very well. He was very laid back and I got the information I needed for my article. Expect an article from that in paper soon. I just finished and posted my article about Paradox Productions, a local rap artist production company. My Voter education/get out the vote article is a work in progress and Im still in the process of scheduling an interview with The Wobblies. More to come from me soon...

i just revised my Rosenguard story

2008-10-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=45092647

here is a link to a video of Rosenguard the band I just did a story on to give you an idea of what they sound like.

Anyways I finished revising my article last night. I added some more details about their music, their tour they will be finishing by the end of this week, and I added my opinion about their sound. As well as other things were added and updated.

This weekend is pretty busy for me. Today I have a one on one interview with Nuce, formally of a group called Murder Creek Music.(One of the first rap groups in albany to make a CD that made it big onto the scene) More about him later. After I finish the interview I will let you guys know how it went. Then tommorow I am going to the Journalism workshop/conference in Eugene. Finally on sunday I have an interview with some of the artists of Paradox Productions and after that's over I have an interview with Albany Rapper Suganuts, who has been rapping about 17 years. Thats all for now, I better go I have a class in a 1/2hr. I'll check back in with all of you this afternoon.

articles im working on

2008-10-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

hello everybody, look forward to see some more articles from me soon.... I just finished an interview/story about the Chicago band Rosenguard. I talked with the vocalist over the phone. We talked a little about their fall tour with Devildriver, the band's influences, their history, and the band coming to oregon for the first time. Look for the article in an upcoming issue of the commuter. Other stuff I am working on: an article about the corvallis punk band the Wobblies, one about the Assoc. Student Government's effort to get out the vote, and some other interview articles about local bands and music groups and various topics.

so i found this site

2008-10-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

i found it helpful it has some good journalism tips... check it out
http://www.nowpublic.com/newsroom/tips/j-tips

My second blog

2008-10-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Today I had my first story in the Commuter.

My first blog

2008-10-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

My name is Kris Nelson and I enjoy writing about music.