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| Bands |
 JP and The Ambassadors
Like a breath of nostalgic air, Jarell Perry & the Ambassadors serve up Motown-influenced tunes with a modern-day twist. The band formed to compete at a UCLA talent competition, but upon winning its category, the motley crew of collegiate students decided to stay together and make more sweet soul music. Drawing from a variety of musical styles from alternative rock to jazz, the boys have played everywhere possible on the UCLA campus and are posed to take over anywhere that “pays them with food,” according to guitarist Jack Reilly. While today’s music scene might be dominated by indie rock stars and hip-hop royalty, JP & the Ambassadors prove that some music will always remain timeless. – Michelle Castillo
 Lady Danville
Resident celebrities Lady Danville, named after the small town in Northern California, consists of three UCLA alumni -- Matt Frankel on drums, Dan Chang on acoustic guitar, and Michael Garner on keyboard. In 2006, the band took home best overall entry for its song “Cast Away” as well best duet at UCLA’s biggest talent competition, Spring Sing. Since then, Lady Danville’s soothing folk-pop has been delighting local audiences. The band won Star 98.7’s Star Lounge CD contest with its ballad “Tired Magician” and played at this year’s UCLA AIDS fundraiser Dance Marathon. It is always a treat when Lady Danville’s in town. – Kimberley Wong
 Cavil At Rest
One of the newest additions to LA’s hot indie scene is Cavil at Rest. The five-man group of Ryan Hahn, Kelcey Ayer, Taylor Rice, Andy Hamm and Matt Frazier has taken the college scene by storm: Cavil at Rest’s video for “Who’s There” was awarded the No. 11 spot on MTV2’s 2007 Top Indie Music Videos, and the group was also voted among the top 10 bands in mtvU’s 2008 Battle of the Bands contest. Influenced by 1960s harmony bands, this group proudly performs with three lead singers, a bassist and a drummer. With hints of folk, experimental and Motown, these five musicians plan to take on the U.S. with a national tour and their first full-length release this summer. -- Vanessa Frigillana
 Fusion
In L.A. it’s always a struggle to become an established musician. But UCLA’s Fusion music group helps to alleviate those issues in more than one way. By incorporating styles from rock, jazz and instrumental, this group aims to create a new eclectic sound not familiar to most. Its goal is much more than attaining rock-star status, however -- Fusion aims to reach out to the community by hosting a series of events that benefit AIDS awareness and other global issues. In addition, Fusion is currently tackling the lack of music education in the Los Angeles school district by using its musical talents to expose disadvantaged children to the art of music. -- Vanessa Frigillana
 Monsters Are Waiting
Note to indie hipsters who thrive in the underground: sorry, you’ve probably already heard of these guys. But, for the rest of us who are not as “hip” and just enjoy good music, Echo Park’s Monsters Are Waiting embodies the ongoing spirit of Los Angeles’ music scene. Caught somewhere between a less eerie Blonde Redhead and a more upbeat Coldplay, the band’s light, airy melodies coupled with lulling vocals will soothe you into a hypnotic state of relaxation, taking away the stress of driving through 405 traffic or dealing with finding a parking spot along Sunset Strip. – Michelle Castillo
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This section's contents are produced entirely by student journalists, brought to Billboard.com by UWIRE, the leading provider of student-generated content. UWIRE aims to identify and promote the brightest young content creators and deliver their work to a larger audience via professional media partners such as Billboard.com. Visit UWIRE.com to learn more. |
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- Amherst, Massachusetts
- Athens, Georgia
- Austin, Texas
- Bloomington, Indiana
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Los Angeles, California
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Nashville, Tennesse
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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This town profile was produced entirely by student journalists from The Daily Bruin, the leading news source for the UCLA community. You can learn more about the individual student contributors by visiting their profiles on UWIRE.com:
Text: Michelle Castillo, Vanessa Frigillana, Kimberley Wong
Photo: Daily Bruin staff
Video: DBTV's Corinne Crockett, Ivana Gabella, Marisol Yanez
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