2008 Woodie Awards
Real "Lyfe" struggles
Joe Thomas
Issue date: 3/11/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment
Students from all facets of the campus community packed into the Pub last Thurs, Mar. 6., for a night of spoken poetry. The speakers incorporated issues such as race and discrimination, governmental corruption, and the social issues surrounding youth with their passionate and heartfelt delivery.
Hunter Blackwell, from the band Sonicbloom, opened up the evening. Blackwell went to school in Eugene, Oregon but left that world behind as he traveled to Northern California to begin his career as an artist.
His underlying philosophy is that "words last longer than people", and he "strives to inspire permanent reactions" by means of his work, always trying to annunciate the truth.
Blackwell believes that the human voice is the most powerful weapon in modern warfare.
"The holy scripture I now live for has been ripped, torn, bound with duct tape, baptized in fair trade coffee stains and brought to life through compulsive editorial spouts of scratch that sh** out and start over again," said Blackwell.
The music of Blackwell and Sonicbloom "appeals to the body, mind, and soul." Their newest record, "Paradigm Lift," hits stores on May 13. They will be performing at the Tradewinds (21+) in Cotati on Mar. 16. For more information visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/sonicbloom.
Ise Lyfe had audiences cheering from every direction in the room as he walked to the podium. Lyfe is an Oakland native and began his career at 17.
He would observe the happenings of the world around him and write on anything that he could get his hands on, from napkins to the back of homework assignments.
Lyfe grew up on the corrupt and crime filled streets of Oakland and is used to challenging the status quo. He struggled through his high school years failing his classes, smoking marijuana, and consuming alcohol. However, he transformed this negative energy into his music in hopes to empower his listeners.
He speaks of this transition when he attended a concert in Oakland and witnessed a death. The death did not affect him, and he realized that he had grown numb to death and violence because it was a daily component in his life.
Hunter Blackwell, from the band Sonicbloom, opened up the evening. Blackwell went to school in Eugene, Oregon but left that world behind as he traveled to Northern California to begin his career as an artist.
His underlying philosophy is that "words last longer than people", and he "strives to inspire permanent reactions" by means of his work, always trying to annunciate the truth.
Blackwell believes that the human voice is the most powerful weapon in modern warfare.
"The holy scripture I now live for has been ripped, torn, bound with duct tape, baptized in fair trade coffee stains and brought to life through compulsive editorial spouts of scratch that sh** out and start over again," said Blackwell.
The music of Blackwell and Sonicbloom "appeals to the body, mind, and soul." Their newest record, "Paradigm Lift," hits stores on May 13. They will be performing at the Tradewinds (21+) in Cotati on Mar. 16. For more information visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/sonicbloom.
Ise Lyfe had audiences cheering from every direction in the room as he walked to the podium. Lyfe is an Oakland native and began his career at 17.
He would observe the happenings of the world around him and write on anything that he could get his hands on, from napkins to the back of homework assignments.
Lyfe grew up on the corrupt and crime filled streets of Oakland and is used to challenging the status quo. He struggled through his high school years failing his classes, smoking marijuana, and consuming alcohol. However, he transformed this negative energy into his music in hopes to empower his listeners.
He speaks of this transition when he attended a concert in Oakland and witnessed a death. The death did not affect him, and he realized that he had grown numb to death and violence because it was a daily component in his life.
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