PODCAST:

WXTJ is hosting a live show at the Southern in Charlottesville to showcase a diverse range of bands, including cover bands and original music groups.

TRANSCRIPT:

Nadyah Ahmed:
You’re listening to WTJU Charlottesville. For arts this week, we spoke with Ben Lerner, second-year student and junior events director for WXTJ, in order to find out more about their upcoming show at the Southern. Can you start by telling us a bit about yourself?

Ben Lerner:
Hi, my name is Ben Lerner. I’m a second year at UVA, playing to study political and Social Thought, and I am one of the events directors for WXTJ, the student radio station.

Nadyah Ahmed:
Great. So, can you tell me more about WXTJ’s show at the Southern?

Ben Lerner:
Yeah, of course. So, last year we set up a show around the start of the spring semester at the Southern, and we wanted to do that again. We wanted to collab with them once more, so this year we thought it would be fun if we ask ask the people of UVA, hey, what bands you want to see? We made a little Instagram post and asked people to nominate some of their favorite bands, and then from there we went through and thought what could make the show most fun. We want to get a variety of bands because we have quite a scene at UVA, but we want to make sure that we kind of cover everything there is. We have a lot of we have a few cover bands. We have a we have like a funk band, an R&B band, and then we have some indie rock. Yeah, we we try to cover all our bases with this. So I think we did a good job making a lineup that will appeal to as many people as we can. We got an overwhelming amount of votes for Loose Champagne and the Remedies and No Composure, and then there were a few toss-ups, but we ended up going with Ranger, my band. That was not me. There was no nepotism involved, but we we decided to have one band who specializes in original music when we were just signing on the last band, just once again to get the variety. And I think Ranger had the most votes for bands who mainly perform original songs.

Nadyah Ahmed:
And what’s the significance of having a show at the Southern rather than the regular house show setting?

Ben Lerner:
I think that our goal with the Southern shows is to hopefully expose the greater Charlottesville area to the music scene of UVA a little bit. I mean, obviously, I’m sure it’ll be mainly Skugans there because they want to see their friends, they want to see the bands that they know and love. But we hope that we can get this out to the community and have them stop by and see what we have going on in the UVA scene, because I know I don’t really think anyone who doesn’t go to UVA will typically go to a house show unless it’s like maybe a couple high school students here and there. But like, I don’t think much of the Charlottesville community is represented in the crowd at a typical house show.

Nadyah Ahmed:
And how do you feel about playing this show? I know you’re used to playing house shows, but how does this compare? Kind of playing at the Southern.

Ben Lerner:
Yeah, I’m very excited. I mean, I I haven’t had the chance to play like a real like I mean independent venue, but still like a real deal feeling venue at UVA. In high school, I played in there’s a place called the the Aguar in Baltimore. I played there a couple times, but this feels like such a bigger deal because Augobar still feels like very DIY. Like we kind of put that together ourselves. Like Southern, like I checked my inbox and I have like an email that’s asking me for like my stage plot and everything. I’m like, whoa! Like this is this is huge. Like I this feels way bigger than anything I’ve ever done, and I’m very, very excited to have that opportunity. But it is definitely a little bit scary, for sure.

Nadyah Ahmed:
I know you have experience booking for WXTJ now. How’s that been for you?

Ben Lerner:
Yeah, I’ve. This has been a very fulfilling thing. I, I mean, I’ve booked in high school, but it’s really cool. Like hearing people talk about the shows that I put together, seeing I wasn’t able to make it to the midsummer show, but like seeing the pictures from that, hearing people talk about how much they love the bands that I reached out to, that I decided I need to bring this band here. I love this band, and seeing people share my excitement for these bands is super exciting, and honestly, one of my favorite things that I’ve gotten the chance to do here at UVA.

Nadyah Ahmed:
And when is the show?

Ben Lerner:
September 5th, 8p.m. at the Southern on the downtown mall. We have the order of bands from First Class is Ranger. It’s my band, original indie rock. Then we have, I think, no composure will be next. Like a mix of original indie rock and some like crowd pleasing covers. They’re always a fun time. The Remedies are like a little funk, like classic rock cover band. Just incredible performers. And then the headliner is Loose Champagne. They’re a mix of UVA students and UVA alumni who have like a mix of original and cover R&B funk songs, just very exciting bands.

Nadyah Ahmed:
The WXTJ show at the Southern will be on Saturday, September 5th at 8 p.m. For more information, go to the thesoutherncville.com or WXTJ radio on Instagram. For WTJU, I’m Nadyah Ahmed.