DIG Magazine: April 2013 by DIG MAG LB

magazine

SXSW

UNITING ALL MUSIC LOVERS P. 12

EARTH DAY GET YOUR GREEN ON P. 11

JORDAN SEGGMAN BRINGS US

DROPGOODSP. 8 LB GRAND PRIX

FORMULA DRIFT BURNS RUBBER P. 5

APRIL 2013

team

editor’s note BY SASHA MILENA

EDITORIAL Editor-In-Chief Sasha milena Art Director Leroy matthews ASSOCIATE EDITOR Julie Chung ONLINE EDITOR DIANA SANGLAB PHOTO EDITOR NATALIE BOUROUMAND ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR NINA LODICO ART ASSISTANT RACHEL THOMAS Violet banks VIPUL CHOPRA EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS VIVIAN GATICA DANIEL GOLDSBARY SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Cat TOMPKINS STAFF Writers ANGELA RATZLAFF MATT GRIPPI CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JOSH ESQUEDA SIMONE GULLBERG CORTNEY LONG Amy Patton Areilla Rams MATTHEW SOUSA LYZETTE SALWAY

Alison Traux

digmageditor@gmail.com 1250 Bellflower Blvd. SSPA 030, Long Beach, CA 90840-4601 Phone: (562)-985-7984

PRODUCTION Advertising Beverly munson publication ADVISeR GARY METZKER 1250 Bellflower Blvd. SSPA 010B, Long Beach, CA 90840-4601

When I learned about Cal State Long Beach student Jordan Seggman and how he started a charitable business out of a dorm room, I immediately knew that his story had to be told. Seggman’s story about Drop Goods is so compelling because he’s just a regular guy from Riverside, Calif. who goes to class every day just like you and me, but decided to be more than just an average student. I finally met the man behind the bracelets at the cover photo shoot, where he graciously posed for our new photographer. Dig has featured original student photography on the cover of every issue since September. This issue was no exception when Dig Photo Editor Natalie Bouroumand brought on CSULB photo major Jonathan Castillo to take Seggman’s photos. If you live in Long Beach, especially near downtown, you might not need an alarm clock this month. The thundering sounds of race cars practicing in the wee hours of the morning can only mean one thing: The Long Beach Grand Prix has arrived. Our city becomes inundated with motorsport fans from around the world, but locals can partake in the fun as well. In “Driving Sideways,” we take a look at an alternative motorsport that will take on the streets of Long Beach this month - Formula Drift. For those looking for a more mellow experience, the LA Times Festival of Books held at the University of Southern California is sure to please book lovers. You’ll also find CSULB professor Charles Harper Webb reading poetry excerpts from his new book, “What Things Are Made Of.” Speaking of what things are made of, it also happens to be Earth Day this month. Earth Day is a perfect time to reflect on the impact we have on our planet. At CSULB, many students make the environment a priority. Turn to page 11, to see what other students are doing for Mother Earth and to see what you can do for the planet this month. From smoking tires to going green, we’ve got you covered this month. So, Dig in!

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FEATURE

CONTENTS 08 DROPGOODS

04 FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

05 FORMULA DRIFT

A STORY ABOUT A GUY, HIS WRISTBANDS AND A WHOLE LOT OF HEART

ABOUT THE COVER We caught up with DropGoods creator Jordan Seggman in front of the Hillside dorms at Cal State Long Beach. New Dig photographer and photo major Jonathan Castillo brought his creative perspective, expertise and fancy equipment to get the perfect shot for our April issue. Photography by Jonathan Castillo

BACK COVER PHOTO BY LARRY CHEN/ FORMULAD.COM

10 BREAST CANCER

11 EARTH DAY 12 SXSW

14 OPENING DAY 15 CALENDAR

a novel idea The LA Times 18th Annual Festival of Books by Cortney Long and Simone Gullberg

elebrity sightings, food truck tasting, the opportunity to expand your literary repertoire beyond “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games,” and a chance to support Cal State Long Beach’s very own Professor Charles Harper Webb. What more could any student ask for? Our lives have become a rinse and repeat cycle of an online world. In this not-so-new age of technology, books have become outdated, vintage almost. However, the LA Times 18th Annual Festival of Books on April 20 and 21 at the University of Southern California allows you to break the monotony, and rock those bookworm glasses that have been collecting dust in your room. The Festival of Books is a free event that celebrates the love of all things literate. It features exhibits and seminars from prominent authors, along with storytelling and poetry-readings. If your pockets are feeling a bit heavy with the free entrance, there are more than 300 exhibitors selling and promoting books and book-related items from the Los Angeles area. The festival has become the largest and most prestigious book festival in the country, attracting more than 150,000 people each year. The festival attracts all type of book lovers: even celebrities. This year’s Festival of Books will feature timeless Breakfast Club actress Molly Ringwald and Comedy Central comedian Demetri Martin.

An even better reason to attend the Festival is to cheer on Professor Webb as he gives a reading of his newest collection of poetry, “What Things Are Made Of.” Webb has been teaching creative writing at CSULB for more than 20 years and has participated almost annually in the Festival of Books for the past 10 years. “What Things Are Made Of” debuted last month, and Webb is excited to give its first reading at 3:30 p.m. on Sat., April 20.

will be surrounded by food trucks- an LA staple. There will be food trucks there…need we say more?

“I think it’s fairly typical of my work, and it’s seriously funny,” Webb says. “I use a lot of humor in my work.”

If in need of intellectual stimulation, head over to the conversation panels where current events and social matters will be discussed. The topics range anywhere from legalization of marijuana and gun control policy, to sexuality and religion. A must-see is the panel on humor-writing with Twitter legend Kelly Oxford, Chelsea Lately’s Heather McDonald, and NPR and The Moth’s Ophira Eisenberg.

As a veteran of the Festival, Webb urges students to attend, especially if they have any interest in writing or reading. “The festival is the place,” he said. “They have really well-known writers and terrific poets, and a bunch of celebrities. I even saw Eric Idle from Monty Python one year.” Even if you aren’t the most avid of readers, don’t throw this Festival on the shelf just yet. (Pun intended). The Festival offers much more than just books. Unleash the inner Emeril Lagasse with cooking demonstrations and appearances from famous foodies. Brian Boitano, Olympic gold medalist figure skater, and host of Food Network’s What Will Brian Boitano Make, will be attending, as well as Top Chef’s Susan Feniger and Antonia Lofaso. The cherry on top? Once again, pun intended. The entire cooking stage

The Festival of Books is sure to attract huge crowds on the USC campus every year.

For those who fancy themselves more cultural than culinary, this year’s Festival boasts the addition of a Pop & Hiss music stage. All weekend long, local LA bands like Max Lugavere, Dustbowl Revival and Jasper Dixon Review will rock the eardrums of attendees.

This month, forget about your electronics and take a step into the past. Revisit a time where books actually had covers and pages, rather than screens and buttons. No time machine required. The Festival of Books runs approximately from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at USC, on the weekend of April 20 and 21. The metro is running through the USC campus for the first time this year, so without the hefty $10 USC parking fee, there really is no excuse not to go. Leave your car in the LBC, hop on the metro and enjoy a weekend of books. You can even take your phone with you for the mandatory Facebook, Twitter and Instagram updates.

Photo by Cortney Long Professor Charles Harper Webb featured with his book, “What Things Are Made Of.”

driving sideways BEHIND THE SMOKE OF FORMULA DRIFT AT THE LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX BY SASHA MILENA

Formula Drift takes on the streets of Long Beach during the 39th Long Beach Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Ryan Tuerck. “

hat’s not to like about the recklessness of driving a car - being able to practice controlling something that’s, you know, essentially out of control at the same time?” Professional driver Ryan Tuerck has hit on the best way to describe Formula Drift - just one of the motorsports set to take on the streets as part of this year’s Long Beach Grand Prix, the longest-running street race in the US. Formula Drift is kind of the stepchild of the more established race formats we’ll see there, like Le Mans and Indy cars -- an irreverent, distinctly flashy stepchild. Here’s the thing: it isn’t a race. Just as

BMXers moved from the dirt course to the half-pipe and the sport took a turn more about style than speed, Formula Drift is a blur of colors, wheels - and tons of smoke. “It’s like doing a big-ass burnout, but for a long, extended period of time through a series of turns,” says Tuerck. But that control Tuerck mentions is key - with the flashy comes finesse. “We’re judged on speed, angle, line and overall style.” As cars go head to head in tandem battles, skills become essential on the track. When the drivers turn corners, they drift in synchronicity, dangerously close to one another. Professional driver and 2009 Formula Drift

champion Chris Forsberg describes just how risky the Long Beach course really is. “The track is super dangerous,” Forsberg says. “It’s got walls on both sides, which makes no room for error and since it’s a streets course, the fans are sitting right at the edge.” The Long Beach course is one of the riskiest because the narrowest point on the track from one concrete block to another is only about 45 feet, says Formula Drift founder and president Jim Liaw. Just imagine two cars squeezing through this narrow space, while attempting to maintain control in order to get points, with screaming fans only inches away from the fence. It gets trickier, too – this year, Formula

“IT’S LIKE DOING A BIG-ASS BURNOUT, BUT FOR A LONG, EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME THROUGH A SERIES OF TURNS.”

Photo by Larry Chen / FormulaD.com

Photo by Mike Burroughs

drift will become the first series in the 39-year history of the LBGP to be run at night. The fans are more than simply spectators and they play a more significant role in the outcome of the competition than some realize. Judges are not only scrutinizing every turn on the track, but they’re also watching to see how excited the fans get when drivers push clouds of smoke into the air. The intent is to create as much smoke as possible, and drivers set up their cars to do exactly that. “Essentially, in Long Beach the cars are only going about 60 mph through the course, but the rear wheels are going about 120 [mph],” Forsberg says. “The faster you can get the rear tires spinning over ground speed, the more smoke you’re going to generate.” Each Formula Drift driver expresses himself in his own way, whether it’s in the way they drive, modifications made to the car, what they wear or even with

6 6

Ryan Tuerck (left) and Chris Forsberg (above) will be gunning for the grand prize in a top 16, all-star event during the Long Beach Grand Prix Superdrift Challenge.

how they interact with fans on and off the track. “This is self-expression and it’s freedom,” says Formula Drift announcer Jarod DeAnda. The man considered to be the voice of Formula Drift has been with the series since day one. DeAnda has seen the sport evolve and progress over the years. Although the sport is becoming more mainstream and accepted by other motorsport fans, he says that the rebellious and true spirit of Drift culture remains. What you see on the course is a reflection of the drivers’ personalities and of the Drift culture. Many of the drivers have crossed over from BMX, skateboarding or other action sports. That adrenaline-junkie spirit can be seen on the track, where drivers are constantly pushing the boundaries. Forsberg describes the Drift community as a tight-knit. He has seen competitors on the professional circuit help each other out and lend spare parts. He says “it’s all about getting everyone out on track and having a fair competition”.

When the engines are turned off, and the smoke clears, Tuerck keeps his adrenaline withdrawals at bay with off-course extracurricular activities. In an online series produced by Network A called “Tuerck’d,” the young driver can be seen snaking through country roads in New Hampshire, drifting through a skate park, or jumping over a flaming pit in one of his custom-built cars. Forsberg occasionally joins in on the fun, and in one episode the guys create a drifting game where they have to graze barrels with their bumpers and parallel park a car while drifting at high speeds. Formula Drift may be considered the stepchild of motorsports, but after 10 years the series has become the fastest-growing motorsport in the world. And on April 19 and 20, Formula Drift drivers will be competing for prizes totaling $25,000. “We’ve gone from something that traditional racing fans did not respect at all, and now we’ve legitimized ourselves a lot more,” Liaw says.

motorsport events happening in long beach, on and off the track:

FORMULA DRIFT

LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX

// Wednesday, April 10 // Drivers will be exhibiting their cars and hanging out with the locals at the following venues:

// April 19-21 // The Long Beach Grand Prix hosts a variety of series on both days, from the Indy Car series to the Le Mans series.

•Pike Restaurant and Bar - 1836 E. 4th St., Long Beach • Legends Sports Bar and Cal Shabu on 2nd Street.

// April 12-13 // Formula Drift breaks in the Long Beach Grand Prix track during the Round 1 competition of the Formula Drift series.

// Friday, April 19 // 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pro/Celebrity Race Practice 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. American Le Mans Series Qualifying 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Super Drift Challenge

// Friday, April 12 // 12:00 p.m. Gates Open & Qualifying 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Autograph Signing Session

// Saturday, April 20 // 2:00 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. IZOD IndyCar Series Qualifying 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. American Le Mans Series Race 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Super Drift Challenge

// Saturday, April 13 // 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Formula Drift Main Competition 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Trophy Ceremony & Closing

// Sunday, April 21 // 11:50 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Stadium SUPER Trucks 1:40 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Round #3 of IZOD IndyCar Series 3:55 p.m. - 4:10 p.m. Formula Drift Demonstration

Go to formulad.com for information and tickets.

Go to gplb.com for a complete schedule and tickets.

Formula Drift drivers mimic their opponent and try to stay as close as possible to each other during tandem head-to-head battles. Photo by Larry Chen // FormulaD.com.

DROP GOODS Giving back one bracelet at a time by Josh Esqueda and Amy Patton photos by Jonathan Castillo

eadquartered in a Cal State Long Beach dorm room, DropGoods founders Jordan Seggman and Salam Zahour try to make the world a better place, one bracelet at a time. Junior fashion merchandise major Seggman works with business partner Zahour to hand-produce the colorful cotton bracelets. They donate more than 30 percent of the profits to charity programs. Proudly wearing the original prototype

bracelet he hand-sewed, Seggman’s eyes come to life as he describes his company. “It’s my baby,” he said. Fueled by his own ambition and maxed out credit cards, he started the company from the ground up. Inspired by companies like TOMS shoes, Seggman continues to nurture the brand almost a year after starting the company in 2012.

“I am a young man with a passion for fashion, as well as a heart to give back,” Seggman said. Seggman started the brand in order to send a positive message out into the fashion industry. When creating the name, he knew he wanted the name to give off a good vibe before people even knew what the brand was about. He chose the word “good” because commercially it would allow him to expand further than wristbands. “Drop”

of the fabric and makes as many bracelets from it as possible. Seggman initially created a Craigslist ad to find someone to produce large batches of bracelets at one time. Gayle from Ontario answered the ad and produced the first batch for the company’s December launch, but had to quit due to other employment. Zahour’s connections with Active allowed DropGoods to partner with the Active production company, and the bracelets are now produced in Los Angeles.

One hundred limited edition bracelets are hand-sewn every month to raise money for different charities.

was already a word he was fond of using in his previous brands and he liked the way it sounded. After pages and pages of brainstorming, a brand was born. Relaunching this month, DropGoods will no longer write a charitable check to an anonymous organization in need. Instead, each month will focus on a new bracelet and a new story. At the beginning of each month, Seggman and Zahour will select a specific person or group in need and create a video to share their story. Seggman felt that sending off a check at the end of each month was too much of a cop out; he wasn’t seeing the effects of his hard work. He wanted a way to show customers what their money was going towards and “hopefully inspire random acts of kindness in them.” After selling the first batch of bracelets in his first month, Seggman chose three different organizations to donate to: Gem, Matthew 25 Ministries and an organization dedicated to breast cancer. “I chose where to donate based on what I have a passion for,” he said. Because his grandmother and several close friends have battled breast cancer, this was a charity that he felt strongly about. But he didn’t feel like it was enough and he wanted to do more and get more involved with the people he was helping. When Seggman first launched DropGoods on his own in last December, he sold 60

bracelets in the first two weeks. Originally a business major, designing a bracelet was no easy task for Seggman. It took 36 different designs before he could find one he was happy with. “It was pretty hilarious,” he said, describing some of the first designs. He partnered up with Zahour after selling his first batch. Zahour was a customer and was impressed with the product. Having business experience as a manager at clothing brand, Active, Zahour gave Seggman advice through email for weeks before they both decided to officially partner up.

Seggman wants to continue to grow and develop DropGoods after graduation. He eventually wants to get his products into stores, or even open a wristband shop where customers can create their own custom bracelets. Big on social media, Seggman and Zahour utilize their Facebook page to reach out to customers on the Web. They currently have about 1,400 followers and are still growing. Friends and family alike have been supportive of Seggman’s vision. Junior communications major Ben Brickey has known Seggman for two years and has witnessed DropGoods develop from the beginning stages. “Jordan not only has a very creative mind, but he is also an amazing friend,” Brickey said. “And from day one he has had a passion to help people. He knows his calling is through fashion, and he will find a way to help people with that calling.”

Seggman and Zahour produce 100 bracelets of single design at the beginning of each month. Bracelets are sold through the official DropGoods website until they run out. Once a bracelet design is gone, it will not be brought back ever again. This way the bracelets are limited edition. Seggman came up with the idea of selling limited edition bracelets because a lot of the brands he admires often do this too. “I want the bracelet to be something you can be proud of,” he said. He explained that making each bracelet design limited allows them to stand out.

Seggman uses the classic stork image to represent his brand.

When choosing a design for the bracelets, Seggman goes for abstract patterns. He gets inspiration from popular trends, like animal and Native American prints. Once he finds a print he likes, he buys two yards

GET TO KNOW YOUR BREASTS New legislation may help early detection By Ariella Rams and Alison Truax

Breasts. Boobs. Tits. Funbags. Milkjugs. Tatas. Knockers. Puppies. Racks. Hooters. Melons. You know them, you’ve seen them, but how much do you know about the cancer that can take the fun out of the bags? Breast cancer is a devastating disease that affects one in eight women and more than 2000 men annually. Cal State Long Beach, a campus that is 58 percent female and 42 percent male, should be 100 percent aware of breast cancer basics. So it’s about time we got down and dirty with the details behind that pink ribbon we’ve come to know so well. It’s been several months since National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so why bring up the boobs in April? On April 1, California jumped on the breast cancer legislation bandwagon behind New York, Texas, Connecticut and Virginia, requiring mammographers to inform women if their breast tissue is dense. Dense breast tissue in women under 50 is common, said breast surgeon Dr. John West, M.D. of Breastlink Center in Orange. When a woman is getting an annual mammogram, dense tissue can make the results more difficult to evaluate. In other words, it can be a contributing factor to delayed diagnosis in breast cancer. “This new legislation is great,” he said. “There are three caveats and it will help to change things. It will let you know if your breast tissue is dense, inform you that you’re at an increased risk, and with that information you and your physician can decide on alternative imaging.” Aside from dense tissue, there are many more contributing risk factors you can identify in order to be proactive with your own health.

Photo by Karina Cornejo Women of any age are susceptible to breast cancer and the scars that come with it, but new legislation offers a greater chance of early detection.

The biggest risk factor is a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. “A first-degree relative is a red flag,” Dr. West said. “A male relative is a huge red flag too.” However, if a first-degree relative has suffered from the cancer, it doesn’t necessarily mean you carry the gene. New genetic testing has allowed doctors to detect the presence of a cancer gene. Having previous biopsies, chest radiation, longterm and high-estrogen birth control use, alcohol consumption, and obesity are linked to the risks of breast cancer. So how can you be proactive as a college student in keeping up on your breast health? The health center on campus offers well-woman exams for anyone looking to stay on top of their health, which includes a clinical breast exam. In addition, the free and confidential Sexual Health Awareness Workshop is offered at the Health Resource Center on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the spring semester. “The SHAW workshops include a short component on the well-woman exam,” explains Emma Hawes, a student assistant for health services. “Attendees are instructed on how to do their own self-exams at home using a model and short video.”

Students who can’t make the workshops can also download information that is presented at the workshop from the Heath Resource Center section of the CSULB website. Since the 90s, breast cancer mortality rates have continuously decreased. Prevention, detection and awareness are all key in the push to make those pink ribbons obsolete. So as legislation and advancements move forward, don’t hesitate to get to know your breasts. Who knows, touching yourself could save your life.

Earth day Eco-friendly campus every day at CSULB By Vivian Gatica

The “Go Green” trend goes beyond the reusable water bottles, recycling, and beach clean-ups. It is a movement that launched on April 22, 1970 to fight for the Earth, raise awareness of environmental problems, and give people a sense of urgency to act upon them. Earth Day is a representation of the strength of this movement and the continuous determination of honoring and protecting the planet in order to make it a safe place to live. “Environmental problems do not go away like an illness,” Associated Students, Inc. Commissioner of Conservation Alben Phung said. “They will persist and will become a bigger problem if ignored.” Cal State Long Beach has recognized the importance of leaving a clean ecological footprint, and has made it a priority to make the campus eco-friendly. Refill stations are available campus-wide for water bottles, bike maintenance stations are available to encourage students to bike to school, and there are even solar panels that provide electricity to Brotman Hall, the Facilities Management Corporations Yard, and the Vivian Engineering Center. Projects and initiatives underway to make CSULB a “green campus” include more energy efficient lighting around campus, the implementation of drip irrigations systems, and the installation of more Electric Vehicle charging units in parking lots across campus. “The job towards sustainability is really never ever completed, so our efforts continue,” CSULB energy and sustainability manager Paul Wingco said. Each year, the Environmental Science and Policy Club on campus hosts an Earth Day celebration known as Earth Week. Last year, there was environmental information tabling, along with an eco-friendly fashion

show called (Eco)uture. The opening event this year will be a Green Generation Mixer where various speakers will demonstrate their environmental projects, and show how the CSULB and the city of Long Beach have become more sustainable. The Earth Day celebration will take place on April 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be a Recycling Information and Green Job Fair event on April 22. “These programs present students with information that will help them address environmental issues, and lessen the negative impact on the local environment and the planet as a whole, as well as opportunities to get involved and volunteer

April 22, the day of the first celebrated Earth Day more than 40 years ago. It is a day to appreciate nature’s beauty and the environment that surrounds us. Phung said that CSULB’s Earth Day celebration is an opportunity to enlighten the people living on the Earth to take action to protect it. “Every aspect of life has a strong relationship with Earth,” Phung said. “We need to be stewards of this Earth, and to ensure that this natural beauty is not destroyed by its own guests.”

“We need to be stewards of this Earth and to ensure that this natural beauty is not destroyed by its own guests.” with local environmental organizations committed to sustainability and improving the local environment,” CSULB Environmental Science and Policy club president Nicholas Thibeault said. One of the highlights of Earth Week on campus will be the Green Technology Expo on April 29. Participants will display a variety of creative green technology projects in wind, solar, kinetic, and zero waste technology. According to Phung, the main purpose of the event is to expose students to environmental projects that they are not aware of. “Technology is a neutral item, if people do not know how to use it or know about the technology then it is useless,” Phung said. “We want to get students exposed to these future technologies, as well as inspire creativity in their everyday lives.” This year, Earth Day will take place on

Photo by Amatullah Guyot

Senior communications major Mohammad Ahmad refills his water bottle at one of the many refill stations around campus.

Music mayhem SXSW brings together musicians and fans from around the world. by Angela Ratzlaff Photos by angela ratzlaff and michelle ratzlaff

The Black Angels drummer Stephanie Bailey hammers out heavy drum beats for the psychedelic Austin-Based band at the Scoot Inn

constant ringing in ears. Soles of feet that feel like they have been run over by bulldozers. A lack of sleep, strong enough to make anyone feel discombobulated or at least lost.

After almost a week of high-tech conventions, panels and expos, hoards of musicians, music publicists and fans took over for the music portion, filing into the nearly 200 live venues that Austin has to offer.

No, this isn’t a warzone. This is South by Southwest, an annual film, music and interactive festival that takes place in Austin, Texas and is held during March.

“People are here, and they are hungry for music,” Austin resident Alejandro Rose Garcia, better known by his stage name Shakey Graves, said. “As a musician, it’s a great opportunity to play in front of people I would never get to see otherwise.”

SXSW was started in 1987 with the motive of promoting local artists, musicians and filmmakers from Austin to the outside world. Now, almost 30 years later, the event rounds up about 150,000 people to the music capital of America every year. This year’s festivities started on March 8 with interactive and film elements that filled the streets of Downtown Austin with tech geeks and film enthusiasts.

Garcia plays soul-filled Southern folk music, complete with a suitcase kick drum, tambourine and electric hollowbody guitar. This year marks Garcia’s second SXSW, and he had seven shows scheduled during the festival. “Basically the city turns into a kind of, as one of my friends put it, like a band summer camp, like adult summer camp basically,” he said after

having played a 20 minute set at the dive bar Antone’s. “I mean there’s delicious free food everywhere, I have a pile of koozies in my car, there’s a lot of fun objects to take away.” By day, the Austin Convention Center, located in the heart of Downtown, filled its ballrooms with musicians and gear-heads looking to take a peek into the latest music technology. Keynote speaker and Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl easily sat 2,000 people in Ballroom D on the morning of March 14. His speech, which inspired individual creativity and finding a unique voice, kicked off the music festivities on a high note. After visiting the convention center, attendees hit the streets to take a peek into the current music scene. Bands packed venues, restaurants and bars with young hipsters and seasoned music lovers. Musicians played on sidewalks, in houses, in back yards and on the back of truck beds. Even Jack White’s Third Man Records Rolling Record Store drove in live music, including Third Man artists Pujol and Pokey LaFarge, as well as physical copies of music for fans like Austin resident Cameron Weed to take home. “I’ve been part of the [Third Man Records] vault subscription series since the start when they first opened Third Man, so it’s just one of those things whenever I can kind of come out and support them and listen to new music, I do it,” Weed said sitting outside the bright yellow truck.

Seattle soul man takes Austin back in time with his 1970s-inspired tunes.

It is impossible to walk outside and not hear

five songs within one block. Bands like Shakey Graves, Seattle soul man Allen Stone, psychedelic rock group the Black Angeles, Los Angeles rock ‘n’ rollers Eagles of Death Metal or Long Beach natives Cold War Kids filled the tobacco-kissed and beer-stenched daylight with muffled sounds of music. The music wasn’t limited to rock and folk, however. Hip-hop, rap, soul, gospel, blues, techno, experimental, classical, jazz, metal, punk rock, psychedelic rock, surf rock, prog rock and every other genre in-between could be heard Downtown and throughout Austin neighborhoods.

Surprise appearances, however, like Erykah Badu who joined the Robert Glasper Experiment on Friday night, shocked fans and gave them a close up performance they would never forget. Los Angeles resident Hannah Haines broke down in tears after watching Badu perform from inches away.

“Just with the sheer amount of music, you’re going to stumble on to something,” Weed, who has attended the festival for 12 years, said. “What I do like is you can see some of these bigger bands in much smaller venues than they’ll normally play.”

After hours, Sixth Street, most known for the string bars chained to each other, comes alive. The scent of weed burns nostrils while music booms out of each passing venue. A mass of young music enthusiasts crawls down the street like a heard of sheep guided by neon signs. By 3 a.m., ears are plugged from pounding music while groups of people chase after cabs and buses to rest for the next day of music mayhem.

Bigger acts, like Foo Fighters and Sound City Players, Prince, Justin Timberlake, Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Wiz Khalifa formed snaking lines outside of smaller venues after the sun went down. With attendance for the big shows determined by random drawings, hopefuls with full credentials and platinum badges still had to wait outside for hours to have a shot at getting in.

“She’s basically like the reason why I live, basically it was amazing,” Haines said. “I love her. She has an insanely beautiful voice. It helps you when you’re happy, and it helps you when you’re sad. You can listen to it all the time.”

“Like any sort of art it’s just an expression that can really get people together and have one of those unified experiences, you go to a concert you’re going to see it with a bunch of people,” Weed said. “I just like going to shows and experiencing it with other people and having that moment.”

Bands to look out for Austin Locals The Ghost Wolves The blues-rock duo made of guitarist Carley Wolf and drummer Jonathon Wolf spills out sloppy reverb and electrifying vocals. Shakey Graves A one man act, Graves howls out soulfilled folk while stomping on a suitcase bass drum and tambourine. The Black Angels The psychedelic rock group conjures up 1960s imagery with their fuzzed guitars and keyboard, which are backed up by thumping drums, maracas and tambourines.

Soul and R&B Allen Stone Seattle’s soul musician brings his music to life with vivacious dance moves and vocals that could melt any R&B lover’s heart. The Robert Glasper Experiment Texas musician Robert Glasper put together this jazz-funk jam band, which features artists like vocalist and saxophone player Casey Benjamin, bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Chris Dave.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Eagles of Death Metal The Los Angeles rockers, who play music specifically for the ladies and the gods of rock ‘n’ roll, get booties shaking with their upbeat tempos and guitar-heavy songs. Pujol Fronted by Tennessee musician Daniel Pujol, the punk rock group shreds out fast songs with heavy-weighted guitars. Lantern Philadelphia’s blues-punk trio hammers out ferocious renditions of classic delta music as well as upbeat punk rock. Soul songstress Erykah Badu shocks audience members with a surprise appearance with the Robert Glasper Experience.

DODGERS

ANGELS

OPENING DAY

STADIUM

DODGERS STADIUM VS. ANGELS STADIUM

Location: Los Angeles Year Built: 1962 Capacity: 56,000 View: San Gabriel Mountains

BY MATTHEW SOUSA AND LYZETTE SALWAY

he sound of a ball being knocked out of the park with thousands of fans cheering, the echoes of an umpire yelling “steee-rike,” and the taste of a flavorful hotdog with an ice-cold beer in hand can only mean one thing- Major League Baseball season is back in full swing. The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their season April 1 by squaring off against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will have their first home game, against the Oakland Athletics, on April 9. If there’s one rule regarding America’s favorite pastime, it’s to always root for the home team. But with two home teams in the area, who do you root for? We’ve put together a list of information and prices to help local baseball fans choose between the Dodger or Angel experience this season.

TICKETS General Tickets from $10 up All You Can Eat Pavilion $30-40

Dodger Dog (Farmer John) $5 Peanuts $5.75 Cracker Jacks $3.75

FOR FALL 2013

magazine PICK UP AN APPLICATION IN SSPA 004

APRIL 10 @ 5PM QUESTION ABOUT THE POSITION? CONTACT SASHA MILENA DIGMAGEDITOR@GMAIL.COM 562.212.8017

General Tickets from $11.50 up All You Can Eat Pavilion Not Offered

FOOD Angel Dog (Wienershnitzel) $4.50 Peanuts $2.50 and $6.50 Cracker Jacks $3.50

BEVERAGES ICEE $6.50 Bottled Water $4 and $6 Draft Beer: Large $10.25

ICEE $4.50 Bottled Water $3.75 Draft Beer: Large $9

Margarita $11

Mike’s Hard Lemonade $8.25

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

APPLICATION DUE

Location: Anaheim Year Built:1966 Capacity: 45,050 View: 57 Freeway

12-14 19 - 21

4 Chockablock | University Art Museum | 12 pm-5 pm 5 Long Beach Downtown Farmer’s Market | City Place Center | 10 am- 4pm

magazine

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