Well, I'm Sorry.

I meant to update this blog more often. I really did! I had plans! It was going to be great!


And then, The Man got me down. Work, school, a major project that turned out to be pretty great, and general life got really busy.


But I have a few moments now to catch you up on a few things:

1. I'm a senior! Starting in late August I will be in my senior year of college! Still a philosophy major, still ginger. I'm so stoked to be this close to finishing!
2. I'm an editor. This year I undertook, along with a friend, being co-editor of my university's undergraduate philosophy journal, The Gadfly. Now, don't take this journal to seriously. We're a journal of satire and social criticism- so we're trying to make you angry as well as prove a point and get a few laughs in.
3. I'm knitting! I'm super slow at it, but it's going. My scarf is longer than expected but holy snot balls, batman- I am tired of the stockinette stitch.
4. I'm an almost grown-up! This summer I'm working as an AmeriCorps Summer Associate! I'm working towards ending poverty and increasing food security in my area. Bonus: I get to garden every week. It's fabulous.
5. I am still really tired. I get plenty of sleep, but somehow it's just never enough. Maybe I should have listened to my professor when talked about how you can't "catch up" on sleep. Oh well.
6. I have no idea what my future will be. Grad school eventually, but that's all I've got. Before graduate studies, however, I have a lot of stuff I want to accomplish. I have so much to do before I settle down for forever.

That's all I have for now! Thanks for checking in and keeping up.


later alligator.  


-----
Now Playing:
Clouded - This Wild Life
Classic - MKTO
This World Won't Last Forever, But Tonight We Can Pretend - Matt Hires

Forever Halloween: A Review

I haven't written an actual, legitimate album review before. I have never really felt the need to. It's usually just a quick "hey this is fantastic go buy it you can thank me later here is a list of other artists they sort of sound like" at the end of another post, but I couldn't stop myself from writing a sort-of-review for The Maine's new album, Forever Halloween.

The new album feels very personal. It threw me off at first, because I try not to snoop on a band's personal life. If they want me to know something personal, they'll let me know some how. This is their way of doing that. I was really worried. I knew before I ever got the album in my hands that it would be personal from reading various interviews the group has done recently. Shedding your skin, being personal with your audience can backfire, and it really worried me. After their last album, Pioneer, broke free how could anything else compare? It's kind of like thinking you know someone and the one day they break down this wall that you had felt but never seen and you see this other side of them.

Official Website
Check below for an interview, where to buy, and tour dates!

It will put a lot of people off, but it will also bring in a lot of new people. There isn't a single song that didn't hit me in the feels. The song "Fucked Up Kids" struck me more than the others. It describes me so perfectly, and no other song by any other artist has ever done that.
Even if you don't connect with the lyrics, the melodies, drum beats, and guitar riffs will snag you and drag you down into the depths. The last full minute of the album's title track had me with my hands in the air like I was praising Jesus in a holy roller, Southern baptist church.

Of course it's being compared to their previous albums and I'm not the only one who was concerned. Many fans have said it's good but it just didn't WOW them like Pioneer and some feel like The Maine has reverted back to their Black & White days. I beg to differ.

• First, no other album will WOW you like Pioneer did. They will never be in that situation again. It got a lot of attention because they had just broken away from their record label, it was their first album that was really on their own, and people were curious. That situation fueled a lot of the angst behind the album and helped prove it's place in the rock world. This album WOWs in other ways (this album was recorded live, on tape. No one does that anymore, WHY ARE YOU NOT IN AWE?!).
• Second, this isn't the power pop record Black & White felt like. This album puts out a distinct vibe, not unlike their other songs but different enough to know they're growing up. It feels very...alternative? I could feel influences like Ryan Adams and Brenden Benson (who helped with the recording process) flow through.

But in order for some people to love it, other must hate it and the criticism will tumble forth from the interwebs. But most of all, The Maine seems happy with this album. They seem happy with and proud of what they have produced, and that's something to pay attention to. That's like dumping the whole jar of rainbow sprinkles on my ice cream cake. 

It shows that they're still growing and that's the best thing of an artist. Maybe they don't quite know who they are yet, but that isn't something to hold against them. I have yet to meet a single person, of any age, who knows who they are. I've met a lot of pretenders, but never someone who could, at the end of the day, say who they were with confidence. They are human and this record shows us that. 

They have delivered unto us a record worth our money, our pleasure, and our soul. 

The Maine has done an incredible job and, personally, I can't thank them enough for this album. 

Alter the Press! Interview with The Maine front man, John O'Callaghan

Preview and Download Forever Halloween on iTunes!

On Tour Now with: A Rocket to the Moon, This Century, and Brighten!

Now Playing

                I love finding new music. I love rediscovering old favorites. I’m always a little afraid when I listen to new artists. I’m really afraid that they’re going to suck and I just don’t want to find out. I love promoting bands (I do it all the time, for free, even though I know a lot of people aren’t going to take my recommendations). Once, I talked about the band This Century for nearly a month straight before I finally got someone I know to listen to them. She told me that “I talk about them way too much for them to suck” so she gave them a listen. They then followed us both on Twitter and I fangirled like you wouldn’t believe.

                Music is my thing. So is food. If there’s a job where I get to promote music and cook food all the time, let me know because I have the best qualifications around. I can’t create music yet, but I sure can listen to it. I listen to the classics, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, George Jones, Johnny Cash, my list keeps going but you get the idea. But I also love finding new things. I have a “sticky note” (the one that PC’s come with on the screen) that I keep up 24/7 so I can add a new artist and I have a note in my iPhone specifically for music.

                You’re probably in need of some summer tunes, so here’s a list of all my favorites so far this summer.  Some of them are long standing favorites and some are new discoveries, but they’re making their rounds every single day.

Matt Hires

Wilhelm Tell Me

Frightened Rabbit

Surrogate

Ryan Adams

Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

Local Natives

Lydia

Fall Out Boy

Pocono

A Day To Remember

The Raconteurs

The Chain Gang of 1974

As the summer goes on, I’ll rotate my list out. There’s tons of new music coming out as well! Never Shout Never previewed a new song from their upcoming album on Property of Zack and We The Kings is climbing the charts with their two new singles.

What are you playing this summer?

Macklemore.

Do you have $20 in your pocket?
Do you find yourself popping tags?
What about your grandpa's clothes? Do you wear them?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, don't worry! I'm here to help.

Ready?

....Macklemore has songs other than Thrift Shop. In fact, he has a whole album! A WHOLE ALBUM! And not just one! 

There. I said it and now you know. 

Thrift Shop is a great song. It really is, especially if you listen to the words, not just hear them. His whole album, The Heist, with Ryan Lewis is just...*insert all words from a thesaurus for the word glorious/awesome/astounding*. 

I hear people* complain about rap music and artists all the time. 

 They're sending the wrong message.

They don't make any sense. 

They're ruining society. 

WELL YOU'RE WRONG.

Because this guy exists, this Macklemore fellow, and he uses his powers for good (and yes, he is a superhero. SURPRISE!). 

He tackles society and doesn't stop and it's catchy. 

But you have to listen. 




-----------------------------------------------------------------
[In other news, A Rocket To The Moon's latest album, Wild & Free, finally dropped this week! Pick up a copy if you haven't, it's one of the best things I've heard this year]

*People is referring to the older citizens I've run across in Wal-Mart and various Internet forums. 

Music Monday

I had a special post for today, but the music gods bombarded me with some great new goodies. 

So today, I present to you three new and exciting announcements! 

ONE.
Lydia's new album, Devil, drops tomorrow! Today, they released the music video for the song "The Exit" and it is perfect. 

Lydia's music has always moved me. I cried the first time I listened to the song "Hospital" (off of album Illuminate). I expect this album to be no different. 

Devil drops tomorrow!

Watch and listen to Lydia's new song, The Exit

TWO.
There's this kid named Austin Nivarel. I say kid, but he's actually older than I am. None of that matters though. His music is good and he put up a new song from his upcoming album, What We Don't Say Out Loud.  If you like A Rocket To The Moon, you'll DEFINITELY love him. 

But let's say ARTTM isn't your thing. You are still going to enjoy Austin's music. I won't waste time trying to describe his sound. Words will never do it justice. Give it a listen and fall in love. 

Austin's new song, Fall In Love!

Follow Austin on Twitter to make sure you can snag a copy of his debut album!

THREE.
I'm a huge fan of Ryan Adams. The first real record (by real, I mean vinyl) I ever bought was Ryan Adams' Easy Tiger. I play it and his last album, Ashes & Fire the most. 

So of course I had a small excitement attack when I read that he had started a new punk band!
They're called Pornography, and while you won't see any one naked, the first song is available to listen to on soundcloud and well...the album title 7 Minutes in Heaven is appropriate. 

It drops on Record Store Day, or April 20th for those who don't celebrate the made up holidays like Pi Day and Record Store Day. 

More information can be found here!

Guys, there is a TON of music out there. You may hate some of it, and some of it may hit you with a force not even Obi Wan saw coming. The point is, you don't have to waste time complaining about how the radio sucks. Just explore a little bit  and you'll find the music. 

(If you haven't yet, you should watch Dave Grohl's Key Note Speech from this year's SXSW Festival. He hits on so many points. Dave Grohl has always been one of my music heroes and his speech just confirmed his spot at the top of my list.)

Make it a good week!

Throw Back Thursday?

There's this crazy dumb trend called "throw back Thursday". You Instagram pictures from back in the day, but I'm that person who forgets to charge their camera or forgets the actual camera and they have to steal pictures off of their friend's Facebook profile. 

So, I shall participate in this throw back Thursday nonsense with my favorite medium: words. 

Time travel back to...September (?) of 2012 when I saw NEEDTOBREATHE in concert, along with Drew Holcomb, and Parachute. 

NeedToBreathe

I’ve been to a handful of concerts in my day. Ha, “my day” like I’m old and decrepit. I’m still young (young and useless*). But I can say with 100% certainty that the best concert I have ever been to was NEEDTOBREATHE. The first song they performed was “Washed by the Water” and the entire crowd didn’t stop singing. The members of the band quit playing, but everyone else just kept singing. It was like everyone was in a trance. It was packed. To use an overused cliché, we were packed in there like sardines. It was so hot but no one cared. People danced around the edges of the crowd, some held up their local beer in salute, some swayed back and forth (probably because if one person swayed, the whole group swayed). Every person sang along to every word and we never could hit all the notes. We were all lost.

This is all I could see without standing on my tiptoes and zooming in.

And getting lost in NEEDTOBREATHE, I can’t even begin to describe what it was like. It was like…an out of body experience. It was almost religious. I danced and honestly didn’t care who saw. I couldn’t see anything, trapped in the back beside the light guy. But I danced, I head-banged, I put my hands up like I was praising the Lord in a holy-roller Baptist church. I was absolutely, wonderfully lost in their music. 

I should point out that I was a little emotionally compromised (which is another story for another time), and every song played by Drew Holcomb, Parachute, or NEEDTOBREATHE was exactly what I needed. 

Music is magic. It has so much power and 

trying to explain it is futile. 

Nick Cave Pushes The Sky

I found Nick back in my freshman year of college, through Harry Potter no less. His song O’ Children was featured in the seventh installment (part one) of the ten-year series and, me being the person that I am, I Googled all the lyrics I could remember. So I bought the song. And then I found Spotify and listened to every single album Cave and the Seeds put out.

 I was obsessed passionate.

Fast forward a few years, and Nick Cave releases his 15^th studio album, Push The Sky Away. The whole album is a bit like a bad trip. It’s dark and a bit depressing, but the inflection Cave puts into each song when he sings literally paints the song into a story before your very eye/brain. Each song, on its lonesome, is fantastic. Songs tell stories and each of these nine songs does just that. But when you put them together, the album tells an even greater story. Cave has left little to prove.  Instead of describing each song and (unfairly) comparing this album to his previous ones or to some obscure musician you don’t care about, I’m going to tell you to go listen to it. Then I’m going to tell you to go buy it.

Believe me, it’s good. 

credit

Go ahead, order it! I know you wanna!  

Music Monday: Imagine Dragons

The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC

I went to an Imagine Dragons concert. At The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC. Win-win.

Dan Reynolds

Yep, be jealous. I was there and you weren’t (but have no fear! This tour is sold out, but they’re adding more dates as we speak! Check below for links).

I’ve told you about the opening acts, Nico Vega and Atlas Genius. They were phenomenal, but I know why you’re here. You’re here for the same reason I was there.

DRAGONS.

There weren’t any real dragons, of course, but we all had the energy of dragon slayers. We got in line at 4:30 (doors opened at 7), and there it began. We met some really cool people in line. Go to concerts, make friends.

We all pre-gamed with every song Imagine Dragons ever put out, we were pumped. Even the girl who had her iPad confiscated was pumped (FYI- you can't use an iPad or similar device inside most venues).

Then they came out. Set up took nearly an hour, but it was worth it (a venue sing a-long led by one of the door men helped pass the time).  I can’t put into words how soul-shattering (in a good way) it is to be able to see these guys live. It’s something you should experience. 

The lights flashed with the rhythm and their brightness left you seeing those funny spots for hours. The amps vibrated and shook everything so violently, the image stabilization on my camera kept flashing and beeping at me to be still. No one cared what anyone else was doing. It was you and Imagine Dragons and for that hour and a half, nothing else mattered. 

These four aren't performers, they're artists. Performers are those like Beyonce and The Black Eyed Peas. They're talented, no doubt about that, but their shows are all about showing off. With Imagine Dragons, they're all about the music. They lose themselves in their music just as much as the rest of these kids. 

But what really got me wasn’t the actual set list (which you can see by looking The Orange Peel's Facebook, linked below). It was the artists. Not one of them ever stopped smiling. You could tell that they were absolutely astounded that they were doing this, that they were selling out venues left and right and that this tiny, thousand person venue was singing louder than the amphitheater they had sold out the night before, that kids were in line for hours and brought them presents.

These guys believe in their music, they believe in what they’re saying and doing, and are absolutely humble.

Ben McKee

One girl, her name was Erin, drove six hours. It was her 19^th birthday. The door man, leading the sing a-long, found out and handed Dan Reynolds a note about it. He read it, they told her happy birthday and gave her the set-list.

How awesome is that?

Dan Reynolds, Imagine Dragons

Dan Reynolds

There’s a lot of bullshit in the music industry, and I know very little of it. But just from a fan’s standpoint, it’s so refreshing to see people like this.

Good job guys. 

You can experience this all yourself! Grab your tickets!

Check out the professional pictures from The Orange Peel! 

Ever Enough

So, remember that band I've mentioned a few times... A Rocket to the Moon? These fine gentlemen. 

credit

Welp, their new album, Wild & Free, is being released soon AND they just premiered the video for their single, Ever Enough! It will break your heart. It will make your soul quake with love and sadness. 

These guys are good.

The video features their good friend, Debby Ryan. Give it a watch below, then you can head on over to their site to pre-order Wild & Free (and if you do it now you'll be entered to win a super nifty prize pack!). 

Music Monday: Openers

A lot of people skip the opening bands. Not going to lie, sometimes they really do suck.
You want to just rip your hair out, stuff your ears with porcupines and wallow in self-loathing for forcing yourself to sit through it.

Then, sometimes, those first bands are the shit.
You hear them and you wonder what you've been doing with your life and how you've managed to live so long without them.

That happens to me a lot. That's how I found A Rocket to the Moon and The Postelles.
It happened again on Saturday.
I found Nico Vega and Atlas Genius.

Nico Vega

Nico Vega

These guys. Aja, the front woman and part-time rock and roll gymnast, started out on the drums. Then drummer Dan, guitarist Rich, and bassist Jamila took their places and literally rocked our pants off (literally. We were right next to the speakers and I really should have worn a belt). 

I don't know the full set list, but believe me, these guys can make my psychology book sound bad ass. To top it off, not only are they good musicians, they're good people. Conversations were easy and enthusiasm oozed from every word. I snagged a copy of their EP Fury oh Fury. That was the best $5 I have ever spent at a concert (and I've bought more than my fair share of $5 EPs). 

Atlas Genius

They came out in suits. Front man and guitarist Keith wore a fedora. His brothers Mike and Steven took up drums and bass (respectively) and their BFF Darren rocked that keyboard. These Aussies are over-taking North America. Just have a look at Tumblr. 

Every girl in the sold out venue melted (or, as some would say, our ovaries exploded) when these four walked out and started up. Their Indie-rock sound fused auspiciously with today's need for modern electro. Luckily for you, their new album drops February 18th. Like Nico Vega, these guys are genuine. Meeting Keith and Mike afterwards was wonderful. There was not one awkward moment and they were more than happy to sign the shard of drumstick I caught. 

Keith, Atlas Genius

And these were just the opening bands. Just imagine what the headliners, Imagine Dragons was like. (full post on Imagine Dragons coming soon!)

Nico Vega has an e-mail address, but this is their website! Check it out to when you're ready to rock.

Ready for some Aussie love? Check out Atlas Genius' site for tour dates!

Steven, Atlas Genius

Pickles Are So Summer

"Pickles are so summer." 

    -John O'Callagan

That is, perhaps, one of the stupidest tweets I have ever read in my life. It is also one of the truest.  Pickles are quintessentially summer (and I spelled quintessentially right the first time, without Google). Think about it, summer is hot. It is the season of BBQs, cookouts, late nights doing stupid things, celebrations, pool parties, and good friends. And in the midst of all that awesome: pickles. We put them on burgers (hamburger dills, my favorite), on our hot dogs, in our potato salad, and sometimes we just eat them out of the jar using our fingers (don't tell my dad).

But only in the summer do we enjoy these slices of sour cucumber-y deliciousness. No one eats pickles in the winter, not even in the fall. “Here, would you like some pickles with Thanksgiving fare, perhaps with your stuffing?” See, that sounds disgusting. Pickles just aren’t right for winter. They were meant for summer, for friends, for BBQs. Some things are meant to be relished (pun intended) at certain times, and pickles, well they’re one of those things.

As I sit here in my dorm room, bundled up in a sweater, cotton socks, and rock out to The Chain Gang of 1974, all I want is to lay in the sun and eat a pickle. All I want is to have to reapply SPF 100 (it exists) to my pale Irish skin and have the sun beat down unbearably while I dip into a pickle jar.

But alas! I have a journal article to review and summarize for my psychology course and a religions test to study for. 

(and if you haven't, check out The Chain Gang of 1974. Your ears will be forever grateful! Find them on Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter!)*

*I'm not being paid to tell you to listen to them, honest! I just really want the world to hear. 

Music Monday: Concerts

That’s the thing about concerts, they’re a feeling, an experience and it’s hard to convey just what it’s like to be there. The floor becomes one massive person. There is no individual any more, just one big, hot mess.

The speakers are really too loud for the space, but it just wouldn’t be right if you turned it down any. The floor beneath you starts to vibrate with the bass and after the first couple songs you get used to it and don’t feel it anymore. Your ears adjust to the amps and speakers and you have to yell to be heard.  

The opening band might suck, but if you’re lucky you get someone good. Sometimes, they’re so good you walk away a new fan and they make more money selling you their t-shirts. You meet them after the show by their merch table and have them sign your phone case (or that t-shirt you just bought).

                                                 (Andrew Cook & Nick Santino of ARTTM)














   (Justin Richards & Eric Halvorsen of ARTTM)

The headlining band comes on. They play your favorite song. You sing along like you’re facing the devil in a sing off: the loudest wins and the loser sells their soul. If you mute the sound, the hands in the air look like you’re at a church service. People on the outskirts of the group are half drunk and dancing. They play their hit single and everyone moves in closer and you get to know people you didn’t really want to know.

Then it’s over. You hang out in the back of the venue trying to recover before you drive home. You look at your friends and just smile. You’re breathing heavy and sweaty but still on an adrenaline rush like you were just released from a hostage situation.

You drive home, singing all the songs you just  had rape your ears. You see your favorite member rocking out all over again in your head. You lay in bed looking at the pictures you took on your phone. You tweet about how awesome it was.

Tomorrow you’ll still be ecstatic but the next day you’ll come down with Post Concert Depression. You’ll look at your pictures longingly, listen to the songs yearning to have them sung to you again. You’ll miss it. It becomes an addiction, and soon you’ll have a shoe box under your bed of all the ticket stubs and concert memorabilia you’ve collected over the years.

The All-American Rejects with A Rocket to the Moon was my first real concert, and looking back now I had no idea it would be as life changing as it was.  I almost didn’t go. My friend forced me into it and I’m so glad she did. I have the best memories of that night. I discovered one of my favorite bands.

That summer turned out to be one of the best, and since then I’ve been to countless concerts. I’m not finished, though. There are plenty more. 

What was your first concert? 

A Rocket To The Moon- Dakota

All-American Rejects- Kids In The Street

Music Monday: Save Rock and Roll

They’re back.

My boys are back.

Today, February 4, 2013, Fall Out Boy returned from their hiatus and have graced the airwaves with a new song. The new album, Save Rock and Roll, drops on May 6^th (May 7^th, worldwide) and tour dates have been announced.

I found Fall Out Boy when I was in seventh grade (throwback!). My sister introduced me to them and I began to acquire every song and album the boys ever put out. Then they disappeared, each taking on a side project.

But we all began to miss them collectively, as a group. Then, slowly, they faded out of our lives. We still blasted a handful of their songs every once in a while, but new music was churning out like crazy thanks to the internet.

Years later, years full of longing and yearning for a new single, Fall Out Boy is back.

Tour Dates

My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light 'em Up)