Derek Mejia

April 21, 2022

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Perform at The Arlington Theatre

By Derek Mejia

Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard brought their mind-altering brand of psychedelic rock to the Arlington Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara.

March 22, 2022

Comedian and Podcast Host Marc Maron Performs at The Lobero Theatre

By Derek Mejia

The King of Existential Dread and stand-up comedian Marc Maron played to a packed house at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre on Sunday, March 6 as part of his “This May Be The Last Time” tour.

March 14, 2022

SBIFF 2022: In Conversation with the “Licorice Pizza” Director Paul Thomas Anderson

By Derek Mejia

On Friday, March 4, “Licorice Pizza” writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson, actress Alana Haim and producer Sara Murphy joined SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling at The Arlington Theatre.

March 3, 2022

Let There Be Rock: A.S. Program Board Presents Battle of the Bands 2022

By Derek Mejia

The bands — Art Official, Johann Vogus, Field Daze and Duende — vied for the coveted prize: bragging rights as the best band in Isla Vista and a spot to perform at the next I.V. Open Market.

January 16, 2022

On This Day: El Salvador’s Civil War in Three Songs

By Derek Mejia

As an act of unforgetting and to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords, here's a look at a few songs that were written about the Salvadoran Civil War.

October 28, 2021

Willie Nelson & Family Hit the Santa Barbara Bowl

By Derek Mejia

This past Thursday on Oct. 21, the father of outlaw country, Willie Nelson, took the stage at the Santa Barbara Bowl.

October 22, 2021

UCSB Theater and Dance Stages 24-Hour Play Festival

By Derek Mejia

The event was organized by the university’s chapter of the AMPLIFY Initiative, a performing arts initiative whose mission is to magnify the voices of underrepresented and marginalized communities.

March 4, 2021

Record Recap: 50th Anniversary Of “Tago Mago” by CAN

By Derek Mejia

The widespread influence of “Tago Mago” is reflected in the subsequent records of musicians who were inspired by the record’s creative exploration.

February 18, 2021

In Review: “For the first time” By Black Country, New Road

By Derek Mejia

Black Country, New Road has established itself as one of the most exciting new British exports, frequently drawing comparisons to the American post-hardcore band Slint.

December 19, 2020

Carsey Wolf-Center Virtual Presents: An Afternoon with “The Queen’s Gambit” Creator Scott Frank

By Derek Mejia

On Dec. 3, the Carsey-Wolf Center (CWC) invited showrunner and UC Santa Barbara alumnus Scott Frank to talk about the show and its success.

November 22, 2020

A.S. Program Board Presents: A Virtual Q&A with John Mulaney

By Derek Mejia

During the 45-minute Q&A, the comedian touched upon everything from ghosts, one of his earliest jobs as a host of Saturday Night Live (SNL) and his advice to undergraduate students.