KTRU Outdoor Show, Tomorrow

Yep, it’s that time again — the ever-entertaining KTRU Outdoor Show (the 19th, apparently, as of this year) is tomorrow, Saturday, April 10th. The fun starts at noon and runs ’til 9PM or so — actually, I first saw the end time as “nightfall,” but the KTRU site lists it at “9PM,” so that’s what I’m going with.

And as always, the lineup looks pretty great. I’ll be honest and admit I’ve never heard of San Diegan headliner Rafter before, but it’s weirdly, intriguingly funky; honestly, though, I’m more interested in the middle of the bill.

There’s Fat Tony, who’s probably the coolest, smartest, savviest rapper in town right now; check out “Invasion” on his Myspace (it’s also on our Opentape, too) if you don’t believe me. Before him, there’s Ghost Mountain, who’re also sorta a rap act, but they’re far more on the psychedelic side, like cLOUDDEAD as interpreted by a couple of ’80s synth-obsessed, nerdy high school kids. I know that may not sound great, but trust me, they’re one of the most unique bands I’ve heard in quite a while.

Not as familiar with the rest of the bill, unfortunately; I know of Wasp and Pear, enough to know the duo makes strange ambient-ish, soundscape-type music, and I’ve thought gamelans were freaking cool since I first saw Akira, so Space City Gamelan sounds awesome just by virtue of what it is.

Rachel Buchman’s Homemade Band is new to me, too, but the pedigree’s impressive; Ms. Buchman’s a lecturer at the Shepherd School of Music and is head of the Young Children’s Division at the School…which, um, I didn’t even realize Shepherd had. Dang. As for Office Party, I’ve got no clue, sorry…

At any rate, this should be a good time, esp. since the weather’s supposed to be nice tomorrow. And hey: free! Good music, laying on the grass between the RMC and Herring Hall, all for no dollars; hard to beat that.