Blogs
Porcelain Raft & Dirty Beaches Ticket Giveaways
WVAU is back and we’re looking to start the semester off right by offering you not one, but TWO chances to win FREE tickets to some upcoming shows at the Rock & Roll Hotel. For more information, continue reading below: We’re giving away two FREE Porcelain Raft...
WVAU Wants YOU!
Interested in getting involved with college radio? Come hang out, meet the exec board and learn about the many opportunities available within the WVAU community. Stop by and join us at one of our THREE general interest meetings: Go the Facebook event page, RSVP and...
WVAU Q&A: Oshwa
Chicago band Oshwa stopped by the WVAU studio today for a quick on-air chat with WVAU General Manager Maxwell Tani to promote their debut record Chamomile Crush, available to stream and buy on Bandcamp. The Chicago four-piece discussed their place in the local music...
WVAU Top Music of 2013 (So Far): Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s II
It may be bit early for “Best of 2013? lists, but it's the middle of 2013 and we're excited to share our most-repeated new albums from the last six months. Read about some of WVAU's favorite records released in 2013. I'm a big fan of letting things speak for...
WVAU Top Music of 2013 (So Far): Mount Kimbie’s Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
It may be bit early for “Best of 2013? lists, but it's the middle of 2013 and we're excited to share our most-repeated new albums from the last six months. Read about some of WVAU's favorite records released in 2013. Kai Campos and Dominic Maker are intimidating...
Uncharted: The Rubens
Summer means festival season and this year The Governors Ball Music Festival on Randall’s Island in New York City has an interesting lineup with a variety of artists from different genres. Many of the bands playing this year are quite new, having formed and released a...
WVAU Top Music of 2013 (So Far): Foxygen’s We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
It may be bit early for “Best of 2013? lists, but it's the middle of 2013 and we're excited to share our most-repeated new albums from the last six months. Read about some of WVAU's favorite records released in 2013. Listening to We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors...
WVAU Top Music of 2013 (So Far): Devendra Banhart’s Mala
It may be bit early for “Best of 2013” lists, but it's the middle of 2013 and we're excited to share our most-repeated new albums from the last six months. This week, read about some of WVAU's favorite records released in 2013. Our favorite hippie/freak folk/sex...
WVAU Top Music of 2013 (So Far): Kurt Vile’s Wakin on a Pretty Daze
It may be bit early for “Best of 2013? lists, but it's the middle of 2013 and we're excited to share our most-repeated new albums from the last six months. This week, read about some of WVAU's favorite records released in 2013. In between four months of traveling...
WVAU Top Music of 2013 (So Far): Kavinsky’s OutRun
It may be bit early for “Best of 2013” lists, but it's the middle of 2013 and we're excited to share our most-repeated new albums from the last six months. This week, read about some of WVAU's favorite records released in 2013. A quick succession of excerpts from...
WVAU Top Music of 2013 (So Far): Pantha du Prince & The Bell Laboratory’s Elements of Light
It may be bit early for “Best of 2013” lists, but it's the middle of 2013 and we're excited to share our most-repeated new albums from the last six months. This week, read about some of WVAU's favorite records released in 2013. Daft Punk sought to break the...
WVAU Top Music of 2013 (So Far): Deerhunter’s Monomania
Six months in and 2013 is proving to be an exciting, surprising and fantastic year for music. My Bloody Valentine surprised us with m b v, suddenly releasing the record at midnight on a February Saturday after 20 years of silence. Followed months of teasing, Daft...
WVAU Presents: Caveman in the Studio
Caveman visited the WVAU studio before their Black Cat gig in April, supporting their second, self-titled record, and filled the tiny space with their expansive, shimmering melodies. Guitars surfed on waves of reverb as the punchy melodic bass provided a sonic floor...
Video Voyage: Fire We Make
Alicia Keys and Maxwell. Together. When I first saw that they had a track together on Key's latest album, Girl on Fire, I was elated. I knew that I was not going to be able to handle the sensual experience that was, without fail, going to occur. In my head I was...
No Cover: Finals Week
I know it's finals week and no one could possibly have time to go out to a movie, nonetheless a concert, but there are such cool things happening in D.C. this week that I had to let everyone know about them. I'm sure if you actually did your work instead of looking...
Mood Music: A Fond Farewell
It’s that time of year where the dorm rooms are cleared out, finals are completed, and paths diverge as the summer holidays roll in and the semester comes to a close. Feelings of relief, nostalgia and regret mix in the air as friends hug, enemies shake hands and...
WVAU Presents: Luke Lalonde of Born Ruffians in the Studio
Where should I begin with these guys? Maybe I should start by explaining that they were a gateway to an infinitely wide ocean of great new music that I would have never discovered without their influence. Or maybe that they put on the most fun live shows I’ve ever...
Pop with a Capital ‘P’: The Art & Science of Guest Raps ft. Lil Wayne, Drake, TI & More
Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris. Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull. Katy Perry featuring Kanye West. The mere suggestion of a guest rap sounds … enticing. They promise more bang for the buck, two for the price of one. They're economically savvy. But are they...
Deerhunter Hypnotizes at First DC College Radio Concert
This is an edited version of a story originally published on USA TODAY College. Deerhunter’s art-rock noise reverberated off the domed ceiling of D.C.‘s Sixth & I Synagogue, under which the capital’s college radio community united for a first-ever collaborative...
The Undercurrent: Follow Up Review – Their/They’re/There
Well, the apocalypse is here. Some of you may remember that, a few months ago, I did a post discussing the upcoming release of the first EP from Their/They're/There, the three-piece collaboration from Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It), Mike Kinsella (Cap'n Jazz,...
Mood Music: Serenade Suggestions
Whether you want to impress that cutie at the Dav or maybe serenade that one classmate you've had a crush on just before you leave for summer break, here are a few tracks that are a bit heavy on the sentiment, handpicked for romantic endeavors. Don't be afraid to...
D.C. College Radio Presents Deerhunter, Jackson Scott and MAS YSA at Sixth & I Synagogue
WVAU, in collaboration with American University’s Student Union Board, Sixth & I Historic Synagouge, WGRW and WMUC, is proud to announce the first-ever D.C. College Radio concert featuring Deerhunter, Jackson Scott and MSA YSA. — April 22 at 8 p.m. — Listen...
WVAU Presents Capitol Punishment: Two Inch Astronaut with Slay Ride (FREE SHOW)
WVAU presents the next show in its ever-ongoing FREE concert series, Capitol Punishment, with local up-and-comers TWO INCH ASTRONAUT and the debut performance by AU’s very own SLAY RIDE. Join us in Kay Basement for our first and last basement show of the spring...
Revenge of Rock: The Virginmarys at DC9
The Virginmarys rocked U Street’s club DC 9 April 2. The rising band from Macclesfield, England is currently touring the U.S. following the debut of their first studio album, King of Conflict. I had the opportunity to talk to the band before the show: Lead singer and...
Mood Music: Guilty Pleasures
Sometimes, fast-paced, nonsensical music is all you need to start the day. Although it's great to have music filled with meaningful lyrics and intricate, unique instrumentals, it's also good to have music that’s just pure entertainment, something to listen to as a...
No Cover: Everything
We've got everything this week. From great shows to great band names, the only way this week can go wrong is if you choose to ignore all of it and stay inside. Take a chance and see a band you've never heard of on the cheap or spend a little more for a performance...
The Undercurrent: Daylight’s "Jar"
For months, many members of the punk community have been anticipating the first full-length release from Pennsylvania grunge band Daylight. After releasing a series of EPs over the past couple years and finishing up their tour with Balance and Composure (on which they...
Kaleidoscope Sound: Los Blenders
Have you ever heard the perfect combination between sun, guitar riffs, pool parties and skating/surfing vibes? If not, you should probably start listening to Los Blenders. All the way from Mexico, these four guys became the hottest band from 2k12-2k13 for the Latin...
Transitory Rage: James Blake’s Genius is Showing
James Blake made a name for himself as a pioneer of electronic music. Glitched explosive beats, sweeping synth and Joni Mitchell-esque crooning are just a few of the technical weapons in Blake's ever-expanding musical arsenal. His new album Overgrown doesn't break...
Label Review: Dog Knights Productions
“Is that a cat on your shirt?” I can't tell you how many times I get that question whenever I wear my navy baseball shirt from this British screamo label. The answer is no, it's not a cat. It's a Shiba making a record with a buzz saw. Duh. Behold the first of many...