After a few days with LMFAO, The Pink Logs opted to skip the Oscars this year and head to Japan for some much needed rest and some sightseeing. In their adventures, they were entertained by Buddha, visited with the Colonel from KFC, attended a speech by Emperor Akihito, discovered the surreal Fuji-san and even wrestled with a Yokozuna. To see other photo's of the beloved Pink Logs, go here and go fast.

Read at your own will.

DJ Llu

DJ Llu - WBTZ Burlington, VT

How did you get started in radio?

I got started in radio back when I was 13 and in high school. I got a spot on a local community radio station at a local college and really got hooked.  From there I went off to college and became my station's GM, MD, and just about every other role. I did my time graveyarding in commercial stations around Vermont throughout college for extra dough and time. (On formats that well, I am too embarrassed to reveal).  Finally, my senior year in college I got an internship with 99.9 The Buzz and was hired after graduation part-time to take on weekend work.  About four years ago the new music show, Early Warning, was turned over to me and the Buzz airwaves have never been the same. I have to say, being a woman in radio, especially in what I do now, is a really unique position. I am the only female on the air at the Buzz and have continued to recognize the importance of my role for other women who want to get into the biz, especially in Alt. Rock radio. 

Describe Early Warning to someone tuning in for the first time?

Early Warning is like your iPod, but better. The show really stretches the Alternative Rock genre to fit everything from electro-pop, to Emo, to indie rock, to good old plain rock. It is sort of a more mature Warped Tour meets Bonnaroo meets SXSW minus the wallet chains, stoners, and skinny jeans.

Tell us about your market.

The Buzz's official market is most of Vermont and upstate NY.  While we are the only Alternative Rock station, our main competition is the Country and local Top 40 stations.  The Buzz has a strong signal that crosses over into Canada and up to Montreal, so we also have a significant number of listeners from above the border and a growing cliental that reflects Montreal businesses.  Because of our history as a cutting edge alt rock station nationally and our rep locally about getting local music on the air through our weekly Homebrew show, the Buzz remains true to both breaking national and local acts. Located in liberal Burlington, Vermont, the Buzz generally is hooked up with all major shows coming through the area at local venues such as Higher Ground, Memorial Auditorium, and the Flynn. Early Warning picked up the major sponsorship of the Gillette Entertainment Group in Montreal last year and as a result, the Buzz now supports a majority of their shows in Montreal. Besides music what else is there? Oh, this time of year, the mountains!!

What are some of the bands that you help break in the area?

Local bands have repeatedly gotten their first radio airplay on the Buzz. Montreal band, Meesh was the most recent one to have broken with our support. Nationally, the Buzz regularly jumps onto to bands first and certainly locally, we debut almost every rock band first among VT stations.

In your opinion, what is the "next big thing" in music? Do you see any trends? Any favorites you can share?

I think the fusion sound of Gnarls Barkley, retro sounds of Amy Winehouse, and increased presence of a mix of electro-indie-pop rock will continue to get bigger.  We are quickly moving out of whiney indie rock and into whiney indie rock with a back beat. As for latest favorite bands, I like The Blow, MGMT, Tegan and Sara, Hot Chip, and Mika.  

If you could change anything in the music business, what would it be?

I would ensure that the musicians get their fair share, while their fans get access to music easily and at reasonable prices. I think the labels are taking the wrong approach to the decline in CD sales. Suing customers for illegal downloads doesn't really build the loyalty factor that much. If they instead focused on competitive and quality downloads of their catalogs, I think everyone would be way happier.

Give us some of your future goals.

A woman in the white house, peace on earth and seeing Bruce Springsteen live. The last one is happening for me in March.

Random question time

The most money you've paid for a CD: $25?  I think it was a double remix disc.

Favorite food: Almond Butter and Honey sandwich on toasted bread. Fast, easy, and surprisingly good for you. I have like 2 a day.

Beastie Boys or Backstreet Boys: Beastie. Is this seriously a question?

Web site do you visit the most: www.999thebuzz.com duh!

Name one guilty pleasure: Bravo TV's reality shows. Project Runway...Top Chef....it is really bad. Actually....my big one is the Road Rules/Real World Challenges. Does that make me a shallow 14 year old?

SMALL MERCIES - Songs From Beautiful Hum EP (Rough Cut Music/Sony BMG)

Suggested Track No. 1 "Innocent" (as heard on Fox's Prison Break)

Produced by Matt Walace (Train, Maroon 5)

Toured with Nickelback, Daughtry and Hinder

For fans that like INXS, Counting Crows and Live

For additional information: http://www.myspace.com/smallmercies

THE RED PAINTINGS - Walls (MRA Entertainment Group)

Suggested Tracks No. 1 "Walls" No. 4 "Mad World" (Tears For Fears)

Toured the USA, UK, NZ & Australia as direct support for The Dresden Dolls

They encompass sounds and ideas that run a wide spectrum sonically.

For fans that like: Placebo & Radiohead

For additional information: www.myspace.com/theredpaintings

THE GIN CLUB - Songs from the forthcoming album Junk (+1 Records)

Suggested Track No. 1 "10 Paces"

Five distinctive song-writing voices backed by cello, accordion, piano, acoustic and electric guitar, drums, harmonica and saxophone

Have toured Australia with Youth Group, Iron & Wine and Pete Murray

For additional information: http://www.myspace.com/theginclub

MARYA ROXX "21" (Ram Music)

By the age of 7 Marya won the national Estonian singing contest for children "Laulukarusell 1993" (in English "Singing Carousel") organized by Estonian National Television. Winning the contest again in 1994 and 1998 has made her the only person to win the contest three times. Soon Marya was known as the face and voice of an internationally known pop girl-group Vanilla Ninja. In 2004, Vanilla Ninja's album "Traces of Sadness" reached gold and platinum status in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (selling more than 200,000 units). The album was released in many other countries around the world including Japan, South Africa, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Hungary, Russia and Czech Republic. Despite the fame and high ranks in various international music charts, TV shows and awards,

Marya decided to leave the band at its peak to make real rock music.  In the summer of 2007 she made her dreams comes true...she recorded her solo album & was deeply involved in the writing process for all of the tracks as well. It was recorded at the Document Room in Malibu with world famous producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley (Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Led Zeppelin, HIM) with the help of some amazing musicians: Paul Crook (Meatloaf, ex-Anthrax, Sebastian Bach) on guitar, Scott Metaxas (ex-Nuclear Assault) on bass, Derek Sherinian (Yngwie Malmsteen, ex-Dream Theater) on keyboards and Brian Tichy (ex-Ozzy Osbourne, Slash's Snakepit, Gilby Clarke, Pride & Glory) on drums.  Marya is truly an amazing singer/songwriter; she wants to rock the world and is ready to prove it with her new songs, powerful performances and incredible recordings!

The song "21" is already starting to get support from Indie 103.1 Los Angeles, WRUW Cleveland, KHTB Salt Lake City, KVCU Denver and more. Marya also scored an opening slot for Metal Skool at the famous Key Club in Los Angeles on Cinco de Mayo (May 5^th).

Friday, February 29, 2008

Justin Hopkins is a guitar-slinging singer/songwriter who left his hometown of Portland, Oregon five years ago in order to pursue his twin passions of music and surfing. After several years of banging up and down the West Coast and residing everywhere from Eugene to San Diego, Justin relocated to Los Angeles, where he gathered together the musicians who would form the Guilt: guitarist/vocalist Jeff Bethke, bassist Corey Britz and drummer Donald Barrett. Justin describes the resulting music thusly: "When properly executed, our songs sound like what you sing in your head while driving 85 through the desert." Sounds like it would be right up the late writer Hunter S. Thompson's alley, no?

"Fear and Loathing" allusions aside, the songs of Justin Hopkins and the Guilt reflect a rich background of influences, ranging from the Police and Clash to Bruce Springsteen, Marvin Gaye and Don Henley. Although he's not exactly a fan of the 21^st century music business, Justin has achieved a wisdom concerning its machinations that goes well beyond his years: "While we may be hungry we've learned that humility and good character, despite what they say, can get you a long way in this biz."

THE MOZZ ALSO RISES: Shoplifters of the world were united in their delight this week when "That's How People Grow Up," the new tune from Morrissey's recently released Greatest Hits (Decca/Polydor), leapt 8-1 on the Mediaguide Alternative Specialty Song chart...a feat which was topped only by the performance of said disc on the Album index, where it catapulted 13-1 to give the Mozz the daily double. Last week's number one on the Song side, the Gutter Twins, held strong, dropping a single spot to #2 with "Idle Hands." The new project from Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli also slid a slot on the Album end, with Saturnalia (Sub Pop) slipping to #5. Meanwhile, another influential Alt-artist, Moby, moved 7-3 on the Song chart with "Alice" (Mute), garnering enough spins for the song to also come in at #6 on the Album end. The top debut on the Song side belongs to Justice, who follow up the #1 success of "D.A.N.C.E." with a #8 bow for "Dvno" (Because/Ed Banger/Vice), helping full-length Cross rebound to #14 on the Album chart. Right behind Justice on the Song listing is Born Ruffians, who debut at #9 with "I Need a Life" (Warp), assisting new album Red, Yellow and Blue to a #15 bow on that chart. Also making a splash on the Album index was Kelley Stoltz, who enjoys a #12 debut with Circular Sounds (Sub Pop), with the majority of Song play going to "Your Reverie," which sneaks onto the Song chart at #20. And finally, what with St. Patrick's Day rapidly approaching, is there a better time for Flogging Molly to make an appearance on the Album index? Specialty programmers are in agreement, as the Irish-American septet's Float (Side One Dummy) shows up at #16.

Did you hear about the psychic midget who escaped from jail? Yeah, the headlines in the newspaper read "Small Medium At Large."