Thursday, November 17, 2016
E s t ab l ishe d 1916
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JOHN BROWN’S BODY | COURTESY PHOTO A DIFFERENT ST YLE
| The sound of John Brown’s Body combines traditional reggae music with electronic and funk influences, creating music that’s unique and raw compared to their reggae counterparts.
John Brown’s Body brings new sound and energy to SLO Brew Nicole Horton @ CPMustangNews
From the heavy bass guitar presence found in traditional reggae music to the high intensity of electronic music to the dance-friendly beats of funk, it’s about time John Brown’s Body (JBB) created their own genre of music. With a sound so unique and raw compared to their reggae
counterparts in the music industry, JBB’s self-named sound “Future Roots Music” has gained the band quite a following. On Sunday night, the members of JBB left their mark on San Luis Obispo, performing in the newly renovated SLO Brew. The band kept the crowd engaged throughout the show by playing old favorites, as well as an eclectic mix from their recently released
album, “Fireflies.” The open environment of SLO Brew provided the ideal atmosphere for those looking to groove to the reggae beats, which many attendees did. Before JBB hit the stage, the floor was filled with people. Immediately during the first song, the small groups of people chatting dissipated into a sea of foottappers and hipshakers. JBB’s setlist for Sunday night
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created a crescendo effect, as the band started with lower intensity compositions such as “33 Rpm,” which showed off the band’s magnificent three-piece horn section and ended with fan favorites from their newest album. The band’s supreme stage presence can mainly be credited to their history. Hailing from Ithaca, New York, JBB has been creating music together for nearly
two decades. The band’s chemistry was undeniable and added to the show. “We’ve been together for a while, so the interaction between the musicians on stage is at a pretty high level,” JBB drummer Tommy Benedetti said. “It’s hard to beat playing music with your great friends, night after night.” Songs such as “New Fashion” and “High Grade” nestled into the middle of the show displayed lead singer Elliot Martin’s killer vocals. Martin’s pure talent was showcased through his powerful projections in heavy choruses and fast tongue in rap-style tunes. Many audience members sang along to JBB’s lyrics, another thing that differentiates them
from most reggae bands today. Most American reggae bands write lyrics that fall within traditional reggae themes, while JBB gained success from writing about personal experiences. While their records serve as the perfect escape from daily life, JBB’s live performance seemed to add another dimension to the word “escape.” The crowd was deep in the music from the time JBB was greeted by the Central Coast brewery to the time they completed their highly demanded encore. Their music captivated people in a way that was almost hypnotic, bringing smiles to the faces in the crowd and igniting a little more life into this small town.
A look into the Establishment
WILL PEISCHEL | COURTESY PHOTO HIDDEN TREASURE | Inside its exterior, the Establishment holds years of memories from past tenants.
Will Peischel Special to Mustang News
Anjana Melvin @ CPMustangNews
Music often plays a huge role in how athletes prepare for competition. It can offer a means to calm, excite or focus before performing. Here are a few fall athletes and what they listen to before hitting the court or field: ZACK SPANIER | PHOTO ILLUSTR ATION
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The communal living space called the Establishment at the corner of Leff and Santa Barbara streets has room for 19 tenants. Even when nobody is home, the Establishment is packed to the gills. The exterior of the place is hard to nail down. Overgrown trees shade the profile of the Establishment’s front wall. To see the sign above the front door, you’d have to be looking
for it. Between the trees and the fenced-off yard, only one side of the building is fully visible from the street. It’s easily overlooked. Inside, tenants regularly collide with keepsakes from past residents in the Establishment’s innumerable nooks and crannies. The Establishment is one of the few cooperative living spaces in San Luis Obispo. Since 1976, tenants have come and gone, leaving their marks. Each tenant has their own room, but the living room, kitchen and
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bathrooms are shared. But even when the building’s common room is empty and seemingly dead, it has evidence of the liveliness that walks through it day to day. The room is full of keepsakes, photographs of tenants from generations ago and an unfinished puzzle from the week before. The ceilings, which feel higher than the outside should allow, insulate the traces of those memories. Continued on page 3