Music Monday: FALL OUT BOY.

{I'm still working on those posts about mental health, but the amount of information I'm wading through is extensive. Article after article is full of information and some of it is from not-so-reliable sources. It's taking me longer than I thought, but I promise they'll be here soon.}

I've been absent due to travels. After our short stay in South Carolina, we headed north to Indiana to see my beautiful sister, her grill-master boyfriend and their adorable-as-fuck puppy. While seeing them was AMAZING, it wasn't quite as good as seeing Fall Out Boy live in Indianapolis.

The energy was astounding. I've been to my fair share of concerts, but I had never been to a concert this intense. We were next to an incredibly nice couple in their late thirties or early forties. They were bikers and I was scared until he started talking to my twin sister, and I realized he was probably one of the nicest people there. So, I head banged with a forty year old biker to Fall Out Boy.

About a quarter of the way through their set, however, my sister started to feel dizzy. We rushed her out of the main room and into the hall where she could sit. The staff was incredibly fast at getting her water and the girl working the merch table came to check on her. We remained here until the end of the show, and it was just as incredible out in the hall. We could actually see too! {and, if you're wondering, my sister's doing fine! she was just a little dehydrated. we're making plans to keep her hydrated for our next concert in Atlanta}

With concerts, comes new music (usually). This time, we had the pleasure of listening to The Unlikely Candidates.
Admittedly, I was concerned. Sometimes, the opening bands are barely better than me (and I sound like a slightly on-key seal). But these guys surprised me. Their rendition of House of the Rising Sun was the best cover I've ever heard. After arriving home, I bought the only two songs they have on iTunes, Howl and Follow My Feet. If you have a spare $1.99, spring for their EP and I promise you, it will be the best two dollars you've ever spent.

There's been a lot of talk about FOB's new album, and when I say "talk" I really mean hate. The most common complaint I hear is that they aren't "saving rock and roll". While they may not, technically, be rock and roll, I think it's important to realize that they are, in fact, doing something for music. For once, turning on the radio hasn't been dull. To know that a band I love with abandon is actually on the radio is amazing. They have raised the bar for other artists in all genres because no one is paying attention. Fall Out Boy is being played on every station short of the country stations.

The next complaint is that it's not the old Fall Out Boy. Well, of course not. In four years do you expect them to stay the same? I'm not the same person I was in sixth grade when I started listening to them and they have done their fair amount of growing up as well. Their new album has a new sound, but if it didn't I would be severely disappointed. This goes for all bands. All bands are allowed to be human. They are allowed to grow and experiment and change as individuals and as a band. How boring would it be if a band produced songs that sounded the same album after album? Sure, Taylor Swift sells a lot of albums but it's not compelling and exciting as it was on her first album.

Please, keep an open mind when listening to new music. If I hadn't I would not listen to half the music I listen to today and I like to think that I've been a better person for it. Open minds are wonderful things.

I'm laying low until July 13th, when I head to Atlanta with two of my sisters and my best friend to see the 8123 Tour at The Loft, featuring The Maine, Brighten, A Rocket To The Moon, and This Century.

Love & Good Tunes

***
Current Favorite Albums:
Peace & Quiet - Brighten
Follow My Feet - The Unlikely Candidates
Post-Heroic - Surrogate
Forever Halloween - The Maine
Prepare For Black And Blue - The White Buffalo

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!

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! 

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

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)