catherine degennaro

Last Friday night, Dahlgren Quad was full of couples in tuxes and gowns snapping photos on their way to Dip Ball. And they were lucky that we dragged DC’s own Lightfoot outside to set up shop on top of the fountain for some impromptu serenading. Led by the strong voice of singer-songwriter Jessica Louise Dye, Lightfoot pared down its numbers to a folky, earnest sound with just a couple of guitars and a trumpet–accompanied also at points by the bells from Healy’s clock tower and many, many planes en route to Reagan. Take a listen to four originals as well as a killer cover of Hall and Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” after the jump!

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Not all covers are created equal. There are the straight-ahead renditions, and then there are the personal twists and complete genre re-workings. There are the covers that render your favorite songs unlistenable and, maybe most importantly, the kind that take a song you’d never given a second thought to and trigger that ah-ha! moment: “So that‘s what this is all about!” Suffice to say, most of us probably didn’t give JoJo’s 2006 hit “Too Little Too Late” a first thought. Read More »

As I sit curled up under two blankets on my couch telling my friends for the second and third times that yes, I am already on spring break, I can’t help but think that Georgetown gets it wrong. I understand. Really, I do. Any later into March and spring break would be too close to Easter, but come on — 40 degree highs and knitwear? This isn’t what spring break is about. It’s about enjoying rising temperatures or surf-side destinations, breaking out the cutoffs and bathing suits, soaking up the rays and sipping on tropical-flavored beverages. But if we can’t have that, we can at least have the soundtrack that goes with it: driving beats, jangly riffs, breezy lo-fi melodies. So grab your NSO shades, turn on the heat lamp and dig into these 16 cuts ranging from 1966 to 2012 and from The Beach Boys to Georgetown’s very own Text Message after the jump! Read More »

Do you love music? Do you have Hoya pride? If you answered yes to both of those questions, Grasping At Straws needs your help! The student band, featuring Anatole Doak (COL ’12) and Matt Galizia (COL ’12) as well as Charlie Burgoyne and Chris Harold, is playing in a Battle of the Bands this Sunday 2/19. Depending on how many tickets they sell by Thursday, they’ll either get to play a smaller venue like DC9 or the Rock N Roll Hotel or the ultimate DC stage at the 9:30 Club. Additionally, the winner of each venue will get 15 hours of studio time and $500. Watch this acoustic session we did with Anatole and if you’re interested in helping these guys to the big stage at the 9:30 Club, make sure to check out the details after the jump! Read More »

Woody Guthrie’s New Year’s Resolutions, 1942

After all the champagne is gone and the confetti swept off the floor, we’re faced with a brand new year and a second wind of optimism. This year, you’ll start running, you’ll quit smoking, you’ll waste less time, you’ll kick television, you’ll love more and eat less. Whether you’re trying to save up or get your weight down, as long as your resolutions last, here’s your soundtrack. Full track list after the jump! Read More »

Pull a chair up to the table and dig into this full course WGTB family Thanksgiving dinner. Pass around the turkey, yams and pecan pie and share your favorite Thanksgiving dishes and tunes in the comments! Playlist and full track list after the jump. Read More »