RADIO RANDONE
THE MUMLERS
Anno Domini Street Market (San José)
Sept. 7, 2007

I feel really weird about writing a review for a show my band played, but the event itself was so much fun I just have to. And don't worry, I'm leaving my band out of it...

Apparently, during the summer in San José free shows are put on once a month by some really awesome people. The event is the Anno Domini Street Market, and it’s like a tiny arts fair/live music fest that happens in a parking lot downtown.

Friday, Sept. 7th, Schande (my band) played with The Mumlers and Radio Randone. It was one of the funnest shows I've played in a while. Typically, I hate playing outdoors since I really don't think rock music belongs anywhere but a closed, sweaty room. BUT, I was pleasantly, pleasantly proven wrong.

A good sound system helped with this turnaround, but ultimately it was the people that made the night so fun. The vibe at the street market was super chill. Everyone was out to listen to music, hang out with friends, and peruse amateur art. It was like a block party where you realize your neighbors are the sweetest people on earth and also have great taste in music.

I'm not gonna review my own band, nor am I going to review The Mumlers, as I have already reviewed them for WireTap (they were, of course, jaw-droppingly amazing, as always).

I do want to talk about San José’s Radio Randone, though:

Oh. My. God... These dudes blew me away with their jazzy-soulful hip-hop that is impossible not to love. Two guys, two turntables, and two microphones. They're style is mainly turntablism, but they had a few guest musicians and a guest vocalist for a few songs. An MC from Ozomatli joined them for 2 songs and blew everyone away with hilarious lines such as "giving more breaks than Nell Carter" and "back when Michael Jackson touched his first kid."

Everyone in the crowd was smiling, laughing, and had their hands in the air. Many were, in fact, waving their hands like they just didn't care. Radio Randone are the kind of DJs/musicians you could listen to everyday and never tire of. Never.
 
So ultimately, what did I learn last Friday?
 
        1. Outdoor shows can be really fun.
        2. San José's Anno Domini Street Market rocks.
        3. The Mumlers still floor me.        
        4. Radio Randone are my new favorite find of the year.
 

[Jen Chochinov]

[STREAM] Radio Radone: Various Tracks
[STREAM] The Mumlers: Various Tracks