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Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Kati Morris

All content by Kati Morris
A sign posted on the window of the Laxson Auditorium box office stating all Chico Performances, North State Symphony and School of the Arts shows have been canceled.

Chico State arts programs are planning for a semester online

Danielle Kessler and Kati Morris
May 4, 2020

With the university’s shift to online instruction, many arts programs have found new ways to adapt. With in-person classes already canceled and potentially next semester, events are being reimagined...

"Fetch the Bolt Cutters" album art.

Fetch the Bolt Cutters is Fiona Apple, untethered

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
April 22, 2020

Singer-songwriter and pianist Fiona Apple released her first album, “Tidal” in 1996 when she was only 19, earning the award for Best New Artist at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. After a controversial...

Brett Johnson, owner of Houser's Music in Oroville, says people can support local artists by "watching live feeds, and try to tip electronically if possible.”

Songs from the Sofa keeps live music alive in Chico

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
April 16, 2020

In the midst of California’s statewide shelter-in-place order, all scheduled concerts and music festivals have been put on hold. With the season of live music having essentially been wiped out, one...

The Strokes can’t revive the ’ 80s

The Strokes can’t revive the ’ 80s

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
April 16, 2020

The late April weekend of Indio, California’s famed music festival was graced with the buzz band of the decade. The Strokes had just released their debut album, “Is This It.” They were set to play...

The Senator Theatre in Downtown Chico have had to postpone every event through May.

Shelter-in-place takes a toll on Chico music venues

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
April 1, 2020

The beginning of spring is supposed to be one of the most active times of the year for live music, with festival line-ups being announced and fans eagerly awaiting concerts they bought pre-sale tickets...

Photo by Dayanna Negrete

Apollo transforms into a collective space for local artists

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
March 12, 2020

On Saturday night the Apollo School of Music turned into a buzzing art gallery, showcasing the work of various local artists. The event, which was hosted in collaboration with NorCal Musicians Collective,...

Thundercat brings jazz fusion and high emotions to Chico

Thundercat brings jazz fusion and high emotions to Chico

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
March 11, 2020

On Wednesday night, Stephen Lee Bruner, better known as Thundercat, took the stage at the Senator Theatre to play a night of electrifying jazz fusion. The bass-playing, Grammy winning, former crossover...

Jaik Hakkarinen performs his original music.
Photo credit: Kati Morris

New Music Symposium showcases student work

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
March 6, 2020

On Thursday, the School of the Arts opened with the first night of the 16th annual New Music Symposium, a two-day event that highlights a broad range of original music performed by Chico State students.  “Dedicated...

Illustration by Melissa Joseph

Ozzy Osbourne proves he is no ordinary man

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
March 6, 2020

“Ordinary Man” is Ozzy Osbourne’s first album in a decade, consisting solely of original music. Despite a string of serious health issues that left the 71 year old musician hospitalized and forced...

Bieber's album "Changes."

Justin Bieber reaches the end of his career on “Changes”

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
February 28, 2020

At some point during the early 2010s, “Bieber fever” was a pop culture phenomenon and no teen was safe from the sickness. Fast forward to 2020, and Justin Bieber is a washed up teen pop idol trying...

Damien Sneed performing with a choir

“We Shall Overcome” evokes the spirit of African American leaders

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
February 26, 2020

Chico Performances hosted the musical production “We Shall Overcome” in celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Laxson Auditorium on Saturday night. The production encompassed...

Kevin Parker of Tame Impala

Tame Impala returns with the ‘The Slow Rush’

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
February 19, 2020

“Has it really been that long?” frontman Kevin Parker asks, a question that seemed to echo the thoughts of fans everywhere who, although eager for Tame Impala’s return, were still enamored by the...

Destroyer's album cover

‘Have We Met?’ is dark, terrifying and somehow danceable

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
February 19, 2020

Led by frontman Dan Bejar of “The New Pornographers,” Canadian band “Destroyer” turns nightmare fuel into dreamy sophisti-pop on their newest album, “Have We Met”. Drawing inspiration from...

Kobe Bryant painting by Ernie Gomez

X-Pressions Art Gala showcases black creativity

Kati Morris, Staff Writer
February 19, 2020

On Saturday night, Chico State student organization Just Unity Sistas hosted their own take on the famous Met Gala by showcasing work from black artists in Chico. Held at the 1078 Gallery, The X-Pression...

"Music Man" tells the story of a traveling salesman and con man by the name of Harold Hill (Michael Walker), who poses as a music teacher.

‘Music Man’ tells a tale of redemption and romance

Kati Morris
February 5, 2020

On Sunday, The Chico Theatre Company hosted the first performance of Meredith Wilson’s classic musical “The Music Man”, directed by Rick Anderson.  A classic tale, the 1962 musical tells the...

A still image from the Blue Room Theatre's production of "Measure for Measure."

Measure for Measure is a morbid tale of morality

Kati Morris
January 28, 2020

Blue Room Theatre hosted the performance of William Shakespeare’s dark comedy “Measure for Measure,” directed by Joe Hilsee, on Saturday. Although the play takes place in Vienna, Austria in the...

Album cover of Wolf Parade's Thin Mind

Wolf Parade attempts to revive indie rock, again

Kati Morris
January 27, 2020

On their new album “Thin Mind,” Wolf Parade is as energetic as ever, bearing a comforting dose of nostalgia with a modern perspective.  Wolf Parade isn’t exactly an indie household name, but...

Playlist: best songs of 2019

Kati Morris
December 13, 2019

2019 had plenty of brilliant tracks, largely made up by a number of impressive pop songs by women -- Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Carly Rae Jepsen, to name a few. The following is just a list of some that...

Photo credit: Melissa Joseph

The nude selfie as an act of sex positivity

Kati Morris
November 26, 2019

The leaked nude photo was a nightmare that young women of the previous generation only hoped would never happen to them. Now, many women freely choose to share their own nudes, whether publicly, to a “fake”...

"MAGDALENE" album art

FKA Twigs brings pop from the future on ‘MAGDALENE’

Kati Morris
November 12, 2019

An eccentric, multi-faceted artist, Tahliah Barnett, better known as FKA Twigs has earned a dedicated following since her 2014 debut, "LP1." Her work, often seen as genre ambiguous, experiments with trip-hop,...

Leeya Shaw is an artist that was displaced by the Camp Fire last year. Photo credit: Kati Morris

Pianist Leeya Shaw shares her experience post Camp Fire

Kati Morris
November 12, 2019

Leeya Shaw, a music student at Chico State, was living with her mother in her childhood home in Paradise when the Camp Fire started a year ago. When evacuations began, Shaw was staying with a friend and...

Your alternative Halloween playlist

Kati Morris
November 3, 2019

1. Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's DeadThis playlist begins with the iconic post-punk song from Bauhaus — an ode to the 1931 classic horror film, "Dracula". 2. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Red Right HandRegarded...

Album art for "There Existed an Addiction to Blood" by clipping.

‘There existed an addiction to blood’: horror meets hip-hop

Kati Morris
October 31, 2019

In their latest concept album, rapper Daveed Diggs and producer group Clipping, comprised of William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes, tap into the world of horror film tropes.Through the lens of the horror...

Webster Moore and Aron Linker Photo credit: Kati Morris

‘Love Is’ showcases music to promote healthy relationships

Kati Morris
October 22, 2019

On Sunday, the 5th annual "Love Is" showcase was held at the Chico Women's Club. The event was a benefit for Catalyst Domestic Violence Services, a local nonprofit organization that works to promote healthy...

Big Theif album art

Big Thief releases second great album this year

Kati Morris
October 21, 2019

Having only been together for about four years now, Big Thief has quickly become a revered group in indie circles. Their 2017 album, “Capacity” was a landmark for the genre; an intricate and...

Big Mouth promotional image from Netflix

Big Mouth gets bisexuality all wrong – here’s why it matters

Kati Morris
October 15, 2019

In the wake of a recent controversy surrounding Netflix series "Big Mouth," co-creator Andrew Goldberg came out and apologized for an episode the show aired regarding bisexuality. Until now, the series...

Album art from Ansel Olsen's website.

Angel Olsen writes a masterpiece with ‘All Mirrors’

Kati Morris
October 14, 2019

Angel Olsen’s music has always been confessional. Whether she writes twangy, Americana style folk like on her 2014 debut album "Burn Your Fire for No Witness" or venturing into straight-up jukebox...

Photo by: Spotify

Your Spotify algorithm is limiting you

Kati Morris
October 10, 2019

"Your weekly mixtape of fresh music. Enjoy new discoveries and deep cuts chosen just for you."This is the message you’ll see tagged onto Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” feature. It’s...

Love Eternal perform at Tender Loving Coffee. Photo credit: Kati Morris

Love Eternal performs soulful reggae-rock

Kati Morris
October 6, 2019

On Sept. 29, Tender Loving Coffee hosted the soulful performances of reggae-fusion act, Love Eternal, with an opening set by Chico State’s own singer-songwriter, Caloy.Love Eternal is a roots reggae...

Album cover of Pixies' "Beneath the Eyrie."

‘Beneath the Eyrie’ another modest rebound for Pixies

Kati Morris
September 26, 2019

When the iconic, alternative rock band The Pixies announced a reunion after an 11-year hiatus in 2004, they were met with a clamor that built up hype for about ten years. Eventually, all of that deflated....

Norman Fucking Rockwell! tears up the modern feminist message

Kati Morris
September 18, 2019

Listen to the track "The Man" from Taylor Swift's new album, "Lover" and the message it sends is immediately clear. If I was the man, she said, "I'd be a fearless leader. I'd be an alpha type."Swift is...

(Left to right) Mitchell Koff (drummer), Anthony Coseo (vocals/guitar),  Ian McIssac (bass), and Matt Crocco (lead guitar) sat down for an interview at the Naked lounge. Photo credit: Melissa Herrera

Featured Artist: JAMM tells all about upcoming music and the Chico music scene

Kati Morris
September 15, 2019

In just a year, the band JAMM has made a name for themselves in Chico. With upbeat, feel-good music and a sound that combines a variety of styles ranging from reggae and blues to heavy metal, they are...