KCSU In-Studio

Moving from New England to Boulder, Nic Lussier is vocalist/guitarist for local indie rock band The Brazen Youth. Downey Chase is his solo folk project, releasing his first single in May 2024. Lussier was surrounded by music growing up, as his dad and brother are both musicians. The Brazen Youth was originally a Red Hot Chili Peppers' cover band, but transitioned to original songs and even had the opportunity to perform on Live & Local back in 2019. Lussier has written folk songs throughout his time with TBY, but kept them in his back pocket in hopes he'd use them later; Downey Chase was just the thing. He gets inspiration from Bob Dylan and Adrianne Lenker, and tries to write songs every single day. He's made connections with people like Anna Frick, a local sound engineer and mixer, and Carson McHaney, a fiddler who played on his debut album. Downey Chase's solo album "Downey Chase" was released back in October 2024, and he has new music coming this summer.

Wunderbus is a project by Jalen Thompson, otherwise known as KCSU's 2023-2024 Music Director. Growing up in Missouri, Thompson was surrounded by music while in school, and they began playing in their middle school band. They were hooked and quickly began scouring their community for opportunities to keep playing music; they were in a jazz band and a rock band, playing keyboard and singing for the first time. Once they moved to Colorado and started attending CSU, Thompson began to explore contemporary classical and connect with the local scene. Joining Thompson is Raemi Morin, Thompson's partner and CSU music therapy alum. Morin grew up being classically trained, wanting to play violin but ended up with piano, clarinet (band kids all around!), and finally guitar in college; she names Thompson as one of her inspirations to break out of the rigidity of the classical genre. Now a CSU graduate, Thompson is always trying to find new music and do things when they feel called to do them. Wunderbus is their "playground", helping them remember how much music means to them and what they can achieve with their passion. 
Wunderbus is planning on releasing new music around May, 2025!

Growing up together, Rex Stowers and Cooper Stowers shared an affinity for music that was hard to find anywhere else. The two went to Catholic school and found community with one another through dad rock and punk music, quoting Beastie Boys' "License To Ill" as their first CD they ever bought. They wanted to make a name for themselves, remaking the Saturday Night Live skit "More Cowbell" during a talent show and blasting "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana during a school dance. Once Finn Stowers came into the picture, the musical family grew into itself, with local band The Crooked Rugs erecting while Rex and Finn attended Colorado State University. illFRAME came into the picture in 2023, when Cooper returned from California after working in the film industry and the three found Jorge Coronel through his roommate working at a local shop with Rex. Since then, the band has been on the rise in the Northern Colorado scene, with their debut EP "Otis" dropping February 21st. Their genre being "non-core alt-punk", illFRAME is ready to knock your socks off with their eccentricity and nihilistic lyricism. 

A.M. Pleasure Assassins has been good friends with KCSU for many years. Originating in 2010 after Jared Meyer's band Rad Vibes came to a conclusion, A.M. Pleasure Assassins began as a 90s rock band, pulling inspiration from bands like Modest Mouse and The Smashing Pumpkins. Jared, also a visual artist, made a collage with old vintage magazines that just happened to have the phrase "A.M. Pleasure Assassins" within it, and he snagged it as the band began to come into fruition. Developing over the decade into something more indie bedroom experimental, their new album "Cloudy, Black, Red, and All Over" was recorded in a home studio. Jared chats about some influences for their songs, including "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig and "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn. He shows off his extensive list of possible band names, and shows appreciation for his involvement with the Fort Collins Music Association. 

Describing their music as "southwest emo"/"plant rock", no fauna has been on the rise in the Fort Collins music scene since 2023. Lead singer and guitarist Trip Renner and drummer Sam Kanter met in high school and had a "pirate punk" band, splitting and reuniting years later to make more pop-punk music. The duo found bassist math rock lovers Zip Roberts and guitarist Brian Holdbrook and the band was set in stone. "Live & Local" is no fauna's first appearance on the radio waves, and their performance brings a driving energy and a clear love for their music and each other. The group chats about their new EP, fall, and the process of writing and recording their songs, reminisces over their start in bands in high school, and how a mysterious voice appeared on their song "rugby sox". 

Safekeeper is one of Fort Collins' most well-known bands. Called "slacker rock", Safekeeper was created with a ragtag group of friends, with all the frontmen being Zachary Visconti and Matt Scorca. On Live & Local, Zach and newest member Gail McDonald-Crook play a few of their songs, including "us little devils", "western slope", and "ono". The two reflect on how Gail joined the band through intense enthusiasm watching Safekeeper at The Atrium, as well as how they came about playing music professionally, with both having roots as middle school band kids. Gail was also involved at KCSU years ago, so they reminisced about the On-Air studio and how much has changed since they graduated.

Describing their genre as "mysterious noise", psych-rock band The Crooked Rugs is no stranger to KCSU. Established in 2019, the band is prominent to the Fort Collins music scene and has evolved their sound over the years together. Back when the band was first getting started, they performed for KCSU's "Live In-Studio" with their song "Ska"; now, they're opening for Babe Rainbow at The Gothic and going on tour with Boogarins. The Crooked Rugs' "Live & Local" episode welcomes the band back to the studio, navigating their time together through questions of rehearsals, inspirations, and dream venues. Their performance portrays their synchronicity, complex chords, and impressive finger-picking guitar techniques. 

Originally from Chicago, Johnny Speaks found his voice with a drum set in his garage as a kid. His voice grew as he did, and as he followed his career of being a plant geneticist, he started writing his own songs in college and finally performed in 2022 at The Atrium. His new EP, "JJ", looks at his familial relationships and the small details of his shared stories with them. His "Live & Local" performance is full of joy and passion, and is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Local Music Director Riley Hilbert, otherwise known as DJ Retrograde, chats with Autumnal once again for this episode of Live & Local.

CSU's Bassic A Capella got the opportunity to perform and interview live on air at KCSU with DJ Mae. The group talks about their history, what they love about acapella, and sing songs mixed by the performers themselves.