Year in Review

As the year comes to a close, see what alternative news made the top ten list this year:

1. Gallagher Brothers’ Legal Troubles:

Liam and Noel battled it out in the media and in the court system this year. The Oasis brothers went back and forth with name-calling, possible Oasis reunion, and claims of alcoholism and violence. As it stands, with both brothers touring separately on new projects and fair-weathered apologies, fans will have to wait and see if a reunion will actually happen.


2. Biggest New Artists: Foster the People, Awolnation:

Foster the People hit number three on Billboard’s “Top 100” list for Torches. Their hit single “Pumped Up Kicks” crossed several genres of music and also made it to the number three spot in the same list for eight weeks; the song getting a Grammy nomination for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.” Aaron Buno finally found his niche with Awolnation and their first single, “Sail,” has been on the charts for 44 weeks, peaking at number five. They’ve recently released their third single “Not Your Fault” off their hefty 15-track album Megalithic Symphony.


3. Bush Tours:

After several years Bush finally came back on tour this fall (with Chevelle and Filter) to promote new album The Sea of Memories. Their single “Sound of Winter” is currently at number one on Billboard’s Rock Songs and has been in the running for 19 weeks now. The album reached to the number five spot for “Top Independent Albums.”

4. Big Boys of 2011: Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Arcade Fire:

The Foo Fighters had the longest run of being number one this year (13 weeks) on Billboard’s Alternative Songs list for their hit “Rope.” The band has six Grammy nods, including Album of The Year for this year’s released album Wasting Light. The Black Keys had a huge year receiving 3 Grammys regarding their Brothers album and are up for category “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for the 2012 Grammys. They are currently number one on Billboard’s Alternative list for “Lonely Boys” off their just released album El Camino. Cage the Elephant has made several appearances this year in Atlanta promoting album Thank You, Happy Birthday, which was released at the beginning of this year. The album made it to number two on the Billboard charts and had three hit singles, “Shake Me Down,” “Around My Head,” and “Aberdeen.” Arcade Fire had a big year with awards, winning the 2011 Grammy Album of the Year; the band up against top 40s heavy hitters Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry. The group also won the 2011 Juno Award for Album of the Year and 2011 Brit Award for Best International Album for Suburbs.

5. R.E.M. Disbands:

The Athens, GA band that has been around since 1980 and many of us grew up with decided in September to say their goodbye to fans. Mike Mills explained, “…there’s no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off. We’ve made this decision together, amicably and with each other’s best interests at heart. The time just feels right.” They reached stardom with many hits like “Losing My Religion” and Friends favorite “It’s The End of The World,” and were inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2007. We will miss you R.E.M.!

6. 2012 Hall of Famers:

Legends Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beastie Boys have been chosen to be inducted in the Rock Hall of Fame, and will be included with Guns N’ Roses, Small Faces/Faces, Donovan, and Laura Nyro. The Beastie Boys will be the third band in the hip-hop genre to have the prestigious honor. The ceremony will be on April 14th at Cleveland’s Public Hall.


7. Blink 182 Back Together:

The trio made their appearance at the Grammys earlier this year proving they were back together for good, or until they decide to call it quits again. Each had their own separate projects going on since they broke up in 2005. It seems they’ve settled their differences and released single “Up All Night” from released album Neighborhoods. The single debuted at number two on the charts, so it seems fans are welcoming them with open arms.


8. Steve Jobs Dies:

The genius of Apple died on October 5, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. He had announced his resignation as CEO less than two months before. Jobs had helped changed the face of technology with Apple inventions, and was also a quietly known philanthropic who used his ideas to help those in need.

9. White Stripes Breaks Up:

The previously married eccentric duo is no more. The band took a break, but still released a reissue of some of their albums. However, in February it was officially announced that they would no longer be recording together. Jack White continues to play for The Raconteurs.

10. Kings of Leon Tour Troubles:

Only days after coming to Atlanta for their tour to promote album Come Around Sundown, the band had to playing stop mid performance in Dallas. Lead singer Caleb Followill claimed voice issues and that he would finish out the concert, but never returned on stage. This led to a cancellation of the rest of the U.S. tour. Rumors spread of internal issues, alcoholism, and a break-up. The band did not talk about resuming any dates in the U.S. at this time, but their documentary, Talihina Sky, is available in stores.

Foo Fighters Cause Earthquake

In New Zealand, a Foo Fighters show caused an earthquake because of the 50,000+ people who attended. Check out the full story here.

99X's Year In Review

Here is the Year In Review I did for 99X.com. Let me know what else should be on the list!


In no particular order

1. Gallagher Brothers’ Legal Troubles:
Liam and Noel battled it out in the media and in the court system this year. The Oasis brothers went back and forth with name-calling, possible Oasis reunion, and claims of alcoholism and violence. As it stands, with both brothers touring separately on new projects and fair-weathered apologies, fans will have to wait and see if a reunion will actually happen.

2. Biggest New Artists: Foster the People, Awolnation:
Foster the People hit number three on Billboard’s “Top 100” list for Torches. Their hit single “Pumped Up Kicks” crossed several genres of music and also made it to the number three spot in the same list for eight weeks; the song getting a Grammy nomination for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.” Aaron Buno finally found his niche with Awolnation and their first single, “Sail,” has been on the charts for 44 weeks, peaking at number five. They’ve recently released their third single “Not Your Fault” off their hefty 15-track album Megalithic Symphony.

3. Bush Tours:
After several years Bush finally came back on tour this fall (with Chevelle and Filter) to promote new album The Sea of Memories. Their single “Sound of Winter” is currently at number one on Billboard’s Rock Songs and has been in the running for 19 weeks now. The album reached to the number five spot for “Top Independent Albums.”

4. Big Boys of 2011: Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Arcade Fire:
The Foo Fighters had the longest run of being number one this year (13 weeks) on Billboard’s Alternative Songs list for their hit “Rope.” The band has six Grammy nods, including Album of The Year for this year’s released album Wasting Light. The Black Keys had a huge year receiving 3 Grammys regarding their Brothers album and are up for category “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for the 2012 Grammys. They are currently number one on Billboard’s Alternative list for “Lonely Boys” off their just released album El Camino. Cage the Elephant has made several appearances this year in Atlanta promoting album Thank You, Happy Birthday, which was released at the beginning of this year. The album made it to number two on the Billboard charts and had three hit singles, “Shake Me Down,” “Around My Head,” and “Aberdeen.” Arcade Fire had a big year with awards, winning the 2011 Grammy Album of the Year; the band up against top 40s heavy hitters Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry. The group also won the 2011 Juno Award for Album of the Year and 2011 Brit Award for Best International Album for Suburbs.

5. R.E.M. Disbands:
The Athens, GA band that has been around since 1980 and many of us grew up with decided in September to say their goodbye to fans. Mike Mills explained, “…there’s no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off. We’ve made this decision together, amicably and with each other’s best interests at heart. The time just feels right.” They reached stardom with many hits like “Losing My Religion” and Friends favorite “It’s The End of The World,” and were inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2007. We will miss you R.E.M.! 

6. 2012 Hall of Famers:
Legends Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beastie Boys have been chosen to be inducted in the Rock Hall of Fame, and will be included with Guns N’ Roses, Small Faces/Faces, Donovan, and Laura Nyro. The Beastie Boys will be the third band in the hip-hop genre to have the prestigious honor. The ceremony will be on April 14th at Cleveland’s Public Hall. 

7. Blink 182 Back Together:
The trio made their appearance at the Grammys earlier this year proving they were back together for good, or until they decide to call it quits again. Each had their own separate projects going on since they broke up in 2005. It seems they’ve settled their differences and released single “Up All Night” from released album Neighborhoods. The single debuted at number two on the charts, so it seems fans are welcoming them with open arms.

8. Steve Jobs Dies:
The genius of Apple died on October 5, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. He had announced his resignation as CEO less than two months before. Jobs had helped changed the face of technology with Apple inventions, and was also a quietly known philanthropic who used his ideas to help those in need.

9. White Stripes Breaks Up:
The previously married eccentric duo is no more. The band took a break, but still released a reissue of some of their albums. However, in February it was officially announced that they would no longer be recording together. Jack White continues to play for The Raconteurs.

10. Kings of Leon Tour Troubles:
Only days after coming to Atlanta for their tour to promote album Come Around Sundown, the band had to playing stop mid performance in Dallas. Lead singer Caleb Followill claimed voice issues and that he would finish out the concert, but never returned on stage. This led to a cancellation of the rest of the U.S. tour.  Rumors spread of internal issues, alcoholism, and a break-up. The band did not talk about resuming any dates in the U.S. at this time, but their documentary, Talihina Sky, is available in stores.

Digital Media

This is a cool digital project a friend of mine did for class. These pics were taken at Hangout Festival and a Pretty Lights/Bassnectar show.

Ticketmaster To Pay Up

Ticketmaster is being sued for making money off of processing fees and not declaring the fact to their customers. Looks like they're settling and customers from 1999-2011 will receive $1.50 per ticket order up to 17 orders per person. Not a lot of money per customer, but hefty for Ticketmaster. The company will still be able to make money off future processing fees, but have to let the customers know. However, don't expect to get the credit until after April 15, 2012.

See full story here: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/everyone-used-ticketmaster-last-12-190940783.html

99X's The Stuffing II Review (November 23rd)

Here is the review of 99X's 2nd Annual Stuffing event with Manchester Orchestra, Cage the Elephant, Dear Hunter, and several more upcoming bands from Favorite Gentlemen Recording. Hope you guys like it!

The Stuffing II sold out again for its second year and brought all the creepy mustaches of “No Shave November” and students coming home for Thanksgiving to fill up on one night of local music before Turkey Day. 99X and Rival Entertainment featured several artists from headliner Manchester Orchestra’s independent record label, Favorite Gentlemen . Kevin Devine, Death on Two Wheels, All Get Out, Junior Astronomers, O’Brother, Big Jesus, and Gobotron took the stage, as well as some other local acts at venue Center Stage/Vinyl/ and The Loft.  It seems the record label is one big happy family as several members have a heavy hand in several of the side project bands under Favorite Gentlemen, obviously encouraging them to explore the different sub-genres of rock--Andy Hull and Kevin Devine for Bad Books, MO’s Robert McDowell as Gobotron, Johnny Dang guitarist for O’ Brother and Big Jesus, etcetera, you get the point. The music ranged from indie alternative rock towards an edgier metal sound; add some 50s pop rock and roll with a pinch of the eclectic and you have a recipe for The Stuffing Part Deux.
Big Jesus might have looked young to be serious musicians up on The Loft stage, then again Manchester Orchestra started in high school, but they delivered to a good-sized crowd that enjoyed the deliciously dark lyrics which teetered into the realm of a Pearl Jam sound. A: The Color downstairs at Vinyl created more of a Muse vibe with style and lingering high-pitched notes from singer Ethan Jack, who held onto a bright fluorescent light the entire set for effect and imagery. Guitarist Zach Beachman impressed with intense guitar riff creations heading into heavier songs. Back up at The Loft I watched Death on Two Wheels give a charged classic hard rock performance. Considering the band title and alluring badass persona they gave, I fully expected some motorcycles on stage to rev fire. The band invited Kevin Devine, whom performed later solo, on stage where he calmed the rough sounds to the melodic ominous tune “Brother’s Blood.”
Harrison Hudson took his turn on the Vinyl stage, and introduced the crowd to early Beatles sounds and cutesy lyrics dressed up in bad boy image-- think Johnny Depp’s Crybaby character without the cheesiness. Hudson offers endearing lyrics for love advice in happy-go-lucky tunes like “Cherish The One You Got” and “Every Girl” from his just released album American Thunder. All Get Out upstairs kept the crowd laughing with their jokes and even welcomed a fan all the way from Australia. The band ventured into the indie side of things while singing radio worthy “Bring It Home,” but weren’t all about pretty tunes; some songs loud and fervent kept the energy alive in the audience.  Andy Hull’s solo side project Right Away, Great Captain! played an acoustic set on the small Vinyl stage, and with the intimate setting it was as close as fans could get to the bearded musician.
Center Stage finally opened to the crowd as they rushed in to gain prime spots in the mini arena-like venue for the last three main acts, The Dear Hunter, Cage the Elephant, and Manchester Orchestra. Hailing from Rhode Island rather than Atlanta, The Dear Hunter kept the crowd’s taste buds satisfied. Singer Casey Crescenzo electrified the audience with songs “He Said He Had A Story” and “Home.” The band likes a congruency between their albums such as The Color Spectrum compilation, and delivered the same to their performance. While Kevin Devine finished out as the last act for the smaller stages, Cage the Elephant sidelined once again with Manchester Orchestra in Atlanta for the third time this year. This time we saw from frontman Matt Shultz several multiple dives into the crowd, in fact within the first few songs, and audience members actually holding him up vertically before jumping into the sea of hands again. He showed us his quirky side by wearing little bows in his hair as he stood still and with eyes closed crooned “Flow,” a gem that shows the band’s softer side before taking it up a notch again. The grungy rockers played several songs from latest album Thank You, Happy Birthday including radio favorites “Shake Me Down,” “Aberdeen,” and “Wicked.”
Then there was only one band left to top us off with that last slice of musical pie to make sure we really were stuffed, Manchester Orchestra. Andy Hull has the ability to cast a spell over a crowd and taking them on a rollercoaster of rises and falls through his songs from slow simple notes with just his voice and fans murmuring lyrics with him to fevered beats and screams connecting the pieces of the whole band back together in the same tune, such as in “End of The World.” The band played songs mostly from Simple Math like “April’s Fool,” “Pensacola,” and “Pale Black Eye.” Manchester played a slowed down version of “The Only One,” without the full band having so much of a part, entrancing the audience even more.  Keyboardist Chris Freeman impressed with his ability to pay attention to electronics, keyboard, and rock out on drums during the performance. For encore, I was expecting Cage the Elephant to return to the stage like they did at The Tabernacle for a duo performance. However, Kevin Devine came out and charmed us with an acoustic duet with Andy Hull for their Bad Books song “You’re A Mirror I Cannot Avoid,” before a slew of several drum sets and drum players finished out the night with “Where Have You Been.”
I am excited to see how the newbie bands under Favorite Gentlemen’s wing will progress in the competitive Atlanta music scene, but they have a good fighting chance from the talent I saw at The Stuffing event. Until next year when we come together again to fill our ears with great music! Check out pics from the photos here.

Orlando Calling 2011 Review

My review is officially up on the 99X website. Check it out and the pics I took too!

http://www.99x.com/common/more.php?m=15&r=1&item_id=72

Here is the full review since it won't be on the 99X site much longer. However, you can still check out the photos I took here.

Festival Republic’s Melvin Benn decided Orlando needed a music festival and felt the Citrus Bowl was the perfect place to do it. The Citrus Bowl housed the main stage with 4 smaller stages spread outside the west and south side of the stadium. The festival wanted to remain green, so they conveniently set up the line-up schedule next to the Heineken tent, rather than pass out glossy printouts. For a festival in its infancy, Festival Republic’s Orlando Calling experiment was organized and efficient for the most part regarding information, travel, bathrooms (real bathrooms instead of just porta potties); combine that with a stacked line-up and great weather, and I can see the festival returning next year. However, don’t expect the festival to turn into a Bonnaroo--think more Music Midtown.

Saturday offered a line-up for the younger crowd with favorites like Kid Cudi, The Avett Brothers, The Raconteurs, and The Killers. Freecreditscore.com had their own stage and to push the sponsorship even more, The American Secrets band responsible for the company’s catchy commercials made an appearance at noon. South African band Civil Twilight enraptured the crowd with single “Letters from The Sky” at the tented stage, and brother/guitarist Andrew McKellan joined the talented of those, (festival performers David Mayfield and Buddy Guy) who can play upside down. Iron and Wine just coming from Atlanta’s concert from Friday night appeared refreshed and ready to perform songs like “Freedom Hangs Like Heaven,” a bluesy, catchy tune and endearing “Tree By The River.”

I moved over to the Main Stage during the end of Kid Cudi’s act with song “Pursuit of Happiness,” a slow and quiet, but no less memorable “rap” about living life to the fullest in any circumstance. The Avett Brothers took the stage next with Seth Avett’s notorious beard shaven since I last saw them in Atlanta. The band usually likes to get the crowd going early and they were no different this time around with “And It Spread” and “Go to Sleep,” getting the crowd to clap and “lala” along. The brothers surprised the audience with a traditional gospel song, but perhaps not so surprising since religion is buried into many of their songs. However, don’t put the Avetts on a pedestal yet, a couple songs later they sang fast-paced “Wanted Man,” which Seth explains is “about killing your girlfriend’s boyfriend.” The Pixies next on the bill received a cheer from the crowd as they announced their performance would consist of the whole 1989 Doolittle album. One fan gushed, “The bass player is adorable! I like girls that can rock out,” when talking about the quirky Kim Deal. The album’s off-the-wall numbers like “La La Love You” and “Monkey Goes to Heaven” kept in theme with the different videos playing behind the band, such as psychedelic purple tunnels and walking cartoon hearts. After the finale, the band played about four more songs, such as “Nimrod’s Son” and “Gigantic” for encore; they were the first act to come back on stage of the night. Next were The Raconteurs, and I was interested in seeing Jack White perform with his project band, since the last time I saw him was for a White Stripes concert at 99X’s “On The Rocks” back in 2003. White pairs well with fellow singer/guitarist Brendan Benson, both giving thrilling shrills of the electrical guitar for “Level” and “Broken Boy Soldier.” White asked the crowd, “Do you guys feel good? Well, so do I damn it! Let’s do it!” before leading into the dark jam of “Blue Veins” before encore and leaving the crowd in awe of the band’s unmistakable talent. Fan Jon Staples declared the intricate guitar sounds of the song reminded him of Led Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” unable to suppress his admiration for his first Raconteurs show. The crowd called for more naturally, and The Raconteurs returned to grace us with a vengeful “Salute Your Solution,” and a free style rendition of “Steady, As She Goes.”

With an hour between sets until The Killers, many of us in the front camped down after five hours of stellar music to rest our knees and backs, trying to push through the next two hours without food or bathroom breaks. The Killers made a special appearance for some lucky fans that waited hours for a last-minute free private performance at The Beacham in downtown Orlando on Friday night (Nov. 11). A double performance was what die-hards needed, considering The Killers have been touring in Europe the past couple of years. The band took to the stage starting with “Spaceman” and “Somebody Told Me” while singer Brandon Flowers constantly moved across the stage jumping onto speakers casting a black silhouette against the colorful backdrop of lights and video screen. A bright bulbed “K” keyboard was set up for Flowers’ disposal during songs like “All These Things I’ve Done,” with the final number ending in an explosion of white confetti that looked like snow falling down onto the crowd. Drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. got his solos at the end and threw out not one, but several drumsticks after the main set and encore. Encore included “This Is Your Life,” “Jenny Was A Friend of Mine,” and “When You Were Young,” while fiery desert sunsets played in the background and real fire sparkles rained down on the band.

Day two brought out the rocker fans of the sixties and seventies decked out in rocker cowboy attire for well-established musicians Buddy Guy, Del McCoury, The Warren Haynes Band, Kid Rock, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, and Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band. It was all about the complex guitar playing and saxophones for Sunday. I started the day off with 99X’s “Unplugged In The Park” alum the David Mayfield Parade at the freecreditscore.com stage, excited to see David Mayfield’s peculiar and humorous stage persona just as much as his guitar techniques. The band did not disappoint, and I think converted many passer-bys who were unaware of the talent that claimed the stage. Mayfield and his band seduced the crowd with fluttery lashes, mock arrogance, and trance-like, get-down-on-the-floor playing for songs like “Human Cannonball” and “Rye Whiskey.” Mayfield introduced his ability to play guitar upside down rapidly, claiming “That’s really difficult to do,” and tune his strings to a coherent beat while surprisingly not breaking a string.

The Warren Haynes Band performed on the main stage and performed for a sizeable enough audience really starting off the day for classic rock fans. Kentucky boys Ben Sollee (cellist/singer) and percussionist Jordon Ellis brought us something different and intimate on the Festival Republic stage, crooning slow and prettily with traditional cello for “Prettiest Tree on The Mountain” and entering the jazzy folk sound for “I Want to Be Close to You.” One of the unforgettable acts to see was legendary Buddy Guy at the Authentic stage whose youthful personality and good-natured, if somewhat dirty, humor kept the crowd begging for more. True blues and jazz man Guy introduced his track “74 Years Young” from his latest album Living Proof as “I’m going to play something so funky you can smell it!” He certainly didn’t run out of ways to play his guitar…against his silk shirt, with a towel, behind him, with his teeth, and even one handed. Commenting on legends that taught him what he knows today, bits of John Lee Hooker and Jimi Hendrix appeared from the grave in Guy’s fingers. Those who caught one of the several picks he threw out to the crowd were lucky to now own a piece of Rolling Stones magazine’s thirtieth out of a 100 declared “Greatest Guitarist of All Time.” Blake Shelton was the next main stage act and the only modern country-pop act, since Kid Rock is more of a combination of hard rock and country. Shelton’s good looks and sweet lyrics of “Arizona” and new single “Honeybee” certainly kept the women in good spirits. Kid Rock’s performance created frenzy, however, electrifying the audience. Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” paused at “Just a city boy. Born and raised in south Detroit,” for Kid Rock to come out full force with his ready-to-party and rock and roll attitude and led into “Devil Without A Cause.” Kid Rock approached the DJ table to spin with his elbow, while drinking and smoking, and even with his feet for “Fuckin’ Forty,” his tribute song to him getting older. There were crowd pleasers like fireballs for “You’re So Hot” and sing-alongs “Feels Good To Me” and “Cat Scratch Fever.”

Just missing the end of The Drive-by Truckers, I wandered to the Festival Republic stage to see what the band there had to offer while waiting for Bob Seger’s performance. I seemed to have stumbled on a golden nugget of the festival that had me dancing to reggae punkish vibes. For Sublime fans, local Florida band The Supervillians is one to watch out for, dreadlocks and all. Singer and drummer Dominic “Dom” Maresco’s magnetic personality and the band's dynamic performance pumped up the crowd with songs like“Car Sex (Get It On)” and “Johnny Too Bad.”

Back at the main stage, Bob Seger headlined the last day of the Orlando Calling festival and rocked out to songs like “Going Back to Birmingham” and “Sunspot Baby.” Across the stadium fans sang along to “Turn The Page,” the saxophonist showcasing his melancholy notes for the crowd. Seger didn’t disappoint, tapping into those true rock and roll concerts where there are back-up singers, and at least ten people playing an instrument on stage ready to prolong any song for an intense jam out session. Kid Rock, not quite done with Orlando yet, returned to the stage during Seger’s performance for “Real Mean Bottle.” A fitting duet since Kid Rock inducted Bob Seger into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2004.

It is unknown yet if Festival Republic will return Orlando Calling for 2012, but if it pulls out another impressive line-up I think the festival will survive because who can really turn down a chance to see legendary artists all in one place in sunshine weather?


Check out some of the videos here:

The Avett Brothers



Iron and Wine



The Raconteurs

Orlando Calling: Last music fest of the year

Going to Orlando Calling this week and will write a review of the music fest next week, which will be posted on 99X.com. While the weather won't be too much warmer than it is here in GA. I'm excited to get away for vacay...even if my boss is a little miffed because I told her last minute. Oops. It's been one of those weeks where one thing after another keeps happening, and seems to be draining my pockets with each mishap before I can even reach Friday. Trying to stay on the bright side though! The line-up is ridiculous, and I'm most excited to see The Avett Brothers (top choice) and 3rd time this year I'll see them live. However, you also have the Pixies, The Killers, Blake Shelton (a random but interested in seeing), Pete Yorn (Unfort. on at same time as AB), Iron and Wine, The Raconteurs David Mayfield Parade (inspired my first post), Civil Twilight, and a friend suggested seeing the Ukraninan funk Borat king Gogol Bordello. Intrigued? Of course. Check out the line-up and tell me which bands you would be most stoked to see!


http://lineup.orlandocalling.com/

Artist of The Day: Luke Reynolds

I really like the sound of "One Step At A Time" that was featured on MTV's Chelsea Settles show.

Weezer and Foster the People Switch

It seems Weezer did their own version of "Pumped Up Kicks" in Cali early August. Foster the People returned their admiration by playing "Say It Ain't So" at a concert a week later. Check out the performances!

Weezer "Pumped Up Kicks" cover:




Foster the People "Say It Ain't So" Cover

Foster the People in Commercials

Love Foster the People's new single "Don't Stop (Color On The Walls)." They are part of the new commercial for the Nissan sedan. Check it out here:



Here is the song in full:

Recommended "Chill Out" Albums

1. Gauntlet Hair Gauntlet Hair:

Distant vocals and trippy beats. Creative Loafing's M.T. Richards describes them best:

"Denver's Gauntlet Hair is a band that defies easy comparison. The group's dreamlike, reverb-saturated showgaze tracks are rheumy in the most complimentary sense possible, at times recalling Grizzly Bear or even Band of Horses circa 'The Funeral.' But whereas those bands tend to prey on public nostalgia for 1970s psyche-folk, Gauntlet Hair is utterly timeless. Full of textural sprawl and breathy, disembodying atmospherics, this self-titled album stands out even in a 2011 crowded with extraordinary eponymous debuts (see James Blake and Cults). "Keep Time" boasts some of the most vicious drums committed to record this year, but it's a tender and devastatingly genial track. So too is the easy-riffing, piano-looping first single "Top Bunk." From the sounds of it, Gauntlet Hair was recorded on fuzzy audio equipment, but to call the aesthetic at work here 'lo-fi' would be a gross mischaracterization. These guys weave an amazing sonic tapestry. (4 out of 5 stars)"

-Check out number 5 "Lights Out"

2. Brown Shoe The Gift Horse:

Four brothers from northern Cali influenced by Band of Horses. Check out song 4 "Diving Bell."

3. Danger Mouse, Daniele Luppi Rome:

More instrumental with a lot of bass involved than voice work, but some good beats and Norah Jones and Jack White make cameos on some tracks.

-Check out number 7 "Two Against One" (feat. Jack White)

4. Agnes Obel Philharmonics:

Breathy vocals with hauntingly pretty piano tunes.

-Check out number 2 "Riverside"


Recently discovered Spotify, which seems to have blown up. This is a good, free way to listen to full albums to see if you like it before you buy.

New 99X Website

Just a heads up to all my readers. 99X has gotten a new website, so the Bush article and photos are not on there currently. They will be back up soon though! You can still check out the article on the blog, but the photos will have to wait. Thanks to all my readers who support my blog!

Bush/Chevelle/Filter at The Masquerade (Oct. 18, 2011)

99X has put up the review, but I will post the whole article here. I was lucky enough to take photographs for the concert and the Bush Meet and Greet for 99X. I have to say that meeting Bush was an awesome experience, and they couldn't have been more gracious.

Here's the review:

Tuesday night’s downpour didn’t keep poncho-clad fans from pouring into the Masquerade Music Park for Bush and Chevelle with Filter concert. Luckily, the rain let up for in time for Filter to take the stage. Filter had the duty of getting the crowd charged for the rock heavy line-up, and it wasn’t long before everyone was singing/screaming along with singer Richard Patrick in true mosh pit fashion. Patrick, who grew up in Kennesaw and still holds onto a southern twang, absorbed himself in the Atlantan crowd for much of the set by standing up against the railing and shaking hands with fans. Bassman Phil Buckman came out shirtless and ready to impress with a muscled body despite being 41 and moved his pecs to the beats of the music. Filter kept the crowd pumped with heavier rock beats, but did not fail to play the softer sounding “Hey Man, Nice Shot” and “Take A Picture” songs that everyone knows.

Chevelle helped continue the testosterone-infused energy permeating through the mass of people with their own hour long set. Fog, green spiraled lasers, and flashing lights decorated the band as they performed well-knowns “Send The Pain Below” and “The Clencher.” Singer Peter Loeffler chose to lend his guttural screams to “Sleep Apnea” and “Forfeit,” which is supposedly about overzealous concert mosh pitters such as Tuesday night’s show.

After two great heavy rock sets, and fans screaming for Bush singer Gavin Rossdale to come out, the alternative-rock band meandered out on stage around 8:45pm and led into oldies “Chemicals Between Us” and “Machinehead.” After Rossdale’s stint as a solo artist, Bush has come back together to tour and promote their new CD release The Sea of Memories, which has been received well in the alternative music world. Rossdale reminisced on his previous times to the Masquerade mentioning, “Place is filled with memories for me. I feel like I’ve been here a million times…It’s good to see you.” Getting into the groove of the songs with bouncing and head-banging, he donned his jacket and let his hair down literally to lose himself in the music and jam sessions with returned Bush guitarist Chris Traynor. The band showed true appreciation for its fans, as Rossdale seemed in awe of introducing the new single “Sound of Winter,” stating “I have this insane, manic, pleasure to introduce the number one song in the country, and that’s factual and not egotistical.” Sweaty and rain-drenched bodies bounced along with orange jack-o-lantern styled balloons included to commiserate the festive mood. Bush played some songs from the new album like “All Night Doctors,” a ballad about wasting life while bassist Corey Britz played the piano. However, Rossdale wanted to make sure he included songs that shot Bush to stardom in the first place, reassuring his fans, “I’m going to play the old songs and the new songs. I’m never going to let you down. I swear.” Encore included Beatles cover “Come Together” and Bush’s earlier singles “Glycerine” and “Comedown.” True rock fan Liza Palmer, 25, enthusiastically gave her opinion on the night’s concerts claiming, “Filter was old school. Chevelle was fucking awesome, and Bush is even better than both put together.” Each band could easily have headlined themselves, but thankfully decided to tour together bringing a stacked lineup for budget-conscious wallets. Congratulations to Bush for returning to the stage where they rightfully belong.

Here are some photos from the concert:

You can see more photos of the concert at the 99X site.

Coldplay's "Paradise"

New video for Coldplay's new song, "Paradise."

The Head and The Heart (9-21-11)

Sorry for the delay! So I was one of the lucky people Dave 92.9 FM chose to attend a private showing of The Head and The Heart before their concert at Variety Playhouse. I had tickets already to see Foster The People later (conundrum of 2 great bands on the same night), so I was very excited to get a glimpse of the Seattle-based band...if even only for a few songs. The six-person band came out barefoot and casual ready to play for a small group of about 20. Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell took turns with vocals and guitar-playing, sprinkling in some tambourine beats and shakers. Violinist Charity Rose Thielen lent her husky voice, sounding similar to Florence and The Machine's Florence Welch, even stringing out notes long enough warranting the audience's praise in "Rivers and Roads" (fan choice). Chris Zasche(bass),Kenny Hensley (piano), and Tyler Williams (drums) tied in the rest of The Head and The Heart's indie-folk sound. You can tell the group is dedicated to the music and collaborate well together, proof showing in the fact that they self-released their album The Head and The Heart; a mix of catchy tunes about family, religion, and life in general. I like how you can really hear each person's contribution to the songs, whether with instrument or voice. After the three-song set, the members came down and talked with the fans at length, signing autographs and answering questions. They had a nonchalance to their demeanor, almost timid, making them seem like down-to-earth people just wanting to make music for others to enjoy. Make sure to buy their CD; it's good on those long drives. I can't wait until they come back to Atlanta, so I can see a full show. In fact, you can check out their hit "Lost In My Mind" on my September 15th post, "Golden Nuggets."

The Head and The Heart Set:

1. Down In The Valley
2. Lost In My Mind
3. Rivers and Roads


Here are some pics and video from the show:

"Lost In My Mind"




"Rivers and Roads"

Death Cab For Cutie Remixes

DCFC announced on facebook today that they are releasing a remixed EPs of their Codes and Keys album. Each week they will release a new EP, and the collection will be available Novemeber 22. Today they started off the promotion with Cut Copy's remixed "Doors Unlocked and Open." It's interesting that they are choosing their latest CD to remix instead of some of their older albums, but it's worth checking out the songs.

You can pre-order the EP collection at http://store.deathcabforcutie.com/

Here is the video for the first EP:



Don't expect anything like Postal Service though...it is a remix after all. Seems that Death Cab is trying to jump on the electronic indie pop bandwaggon. Interesting sound pairing Ben Gibbard's voice with electronica.

Foster The People Masquerade Show

When I walked into the grassy area of the Masquerade Music Park, the weather warmer than expected, I didn’t think much of the band playing before me. I thought maybe Foster the People were choosing local bands for each city, but Atlanta/Athens/Asheville boys Reptar are officially touring with Foster, only really making news this year and considered as Spin’s “20 Must Hear Artists at Lollapalooza.” The band parallels well with Foster’s genre however, both producing versions of spacey 80s electro pop. The guys are still in college (two of them at UGA) and will probably be putting school on hold with their newfound fame and new record label signing. Check out more of their bio here . It’s hard to describe what Reptar is trying to accomplish, but here are some magazine interpretations of the eclectic group:

“'Where did these guys come from?' he asked with amazement. I started to explain that they had just played their first show back in May when I was interrupted by a an explosion of glitter."

Flagpole Magazine Live Review

"These Southern-fried electronic Afro-poppers are known for the sticky dance riots of their live shows. And now, thanks to producer Ben Allen (Animal Collective), who stumbled upon a Reptar show in Atlanta and booked studio time with the band the very next day, they've got an upcoming EP that whirs and palpitates like their signature sweat-on-the-walls gigs."

Paste Magazine “Best of What’s Next”

"[Reptar] thought the crowd was so wonderfully raucous they decided to hold a dance competition, to which the winner received a golden spatula. The ease with which Reptar was able to form a formidable connection with their crowd only added to the enthusiasm of the already electrical ambiance"

Performer Magazine 11-12-09

After listening to their music a little more they are starting to grow on me, so perhaps I’ll check them out again when they come back this way.

Listen to “Blastoff” from Oblangle Fizz, Y’all

Oblangle Fizz, Y'all! (Preview) by reptarmusic

The second act featured the Cults, a look-alike duo with long brown hair and thin frames from New York City. Also a newbie band, Madeline Follin sang with a girlish innocence for song “Oh My God” and "Go Outside," while Brian Oblivion played keys and back-up vocals…creating a futuristic 50s-60s pop sound.

Madeline in a shockingly short black dress claimed they were Clairmont Lounge lovers stating, “We always go to Clairmont Lounge. It’s our favorite place in the world.” Interesting place for such a claim, but hey parts of Atlanta have their own special charm for some people.



Cults "Go Outside"

After a long intermission, Foster the People decorated the stage with multiple keyboards, full drum set, and a moveable single drum for any member to come play rapid beats on it. The California trio added a couple more people to allow for full musical license to translate to the crowd. Lead singer Mark Foster would dramatically play the piano one moment, only to get up and do head-banging jigs around stage, beat the drum, and lean out to the crowd to make his connection with the audience. He was all over the place in a good way and can sing those high notes pretty well for such a deep voice when speaking. The band’s adrenaline filled show had people of all ages jumping up and down to the whirlwind notes with songs “Houdini” and “Miss You.” What I love about this band is that they are truly appreciative of their new lives and try to remain grounded by helping out local communities. Foster the People started a project while on tour to contribute to each city and helped clean up Piedmont Park earlier that day. Instead of zooming in and out of places they try to leave a positive mark.

Foster the People ended their set with new single “Helena Beat.” The crowd got a special treat with encore featuring a piano solo of unreleased track “Ruby,” a prettily romantic song that didn’t make it onto Torches, but rightfully so because I don’t know where they could have placed it on the album. The band ended their show with overplayed, but still much-loved for its catchy beats “Pumped Up Kicks,” carrying out a longer and more electronic version of the song. The show was definitely a fun time, and being up front against the railing reminded me how absorbed into the music a fan can be when a band can make that connection with good music.


1. Houdini
2. Miss You
3. Life On The Nickel
4. I Would Do Anything For You
5. Broken Jaw
6. Waste
7. Call It What You Want
8. Don’t Stop (Color On The Walls)
9. Helena Beat

Encore:
Ruby
Pumped Up Kicks

Standing in front of their bus.

Cults

"Pumped Up Kicks"


A big thank you to my personal photographer/helper Terrie Bechdol!!

The Avett Brothers/Summer Krush Tour- Atlanta (September 9, 2011)

For the unlucky ones who could not attend the free concert due to a bombardment of die-hard fanatics who snatched up the tickets, here is the review:


A mass of fans curved the block to get inside The Tabernacle for folk-rock band The Avett Brothers. Samsung and AT&T is appealing to the music world with their Summer Krush Tour again, featuring a free one hour concert with big names like Bush /Chevelle and Coldplay in nine cities to promote the new Samsung Infuse 4G. The mobile giants released the free tickets online at the end of August and offered an extra 200 a couple of days before the September 9th concert. Promotions for the Samsung Infuse 4G included interactive stations to create-your-own t-shirt, photo/Twitter displays on the stage curtain, and free Samsung souvenirs. The Samsung Infuse 4G and a Samsung embellished guitar were given to two lucky winners of the audience as well.

The Avett Brothers is a grassroots band encompassing North Carolinians Seth and Scott Avett, who are known for their high-energy performances and straightforward lyrics of simple life, death, love, and pain. Both brothers can sing and play the banjo, guitar, piano, drums, and harmonica. The brothers prove their mastery of music by swiftly switching from several instruments to microphone and back again throughout a song. For example, Scott Avett kept the beat going with a kick drum, banjo, and harmonica for “Denouncing November Blue.” I’m not sure there is an instrument the boys can’t play, though they added a full band for the show to help including a drum player, bass player, and permanent cello player Joe Kwon. The musicians are the male version of debutantes to the mainstream music world with the 2009 release of American Recordings album I and Love and You and radio hit single of the same name, but have enjoyed a cult following through a few previous albums since early 2000s. The brothers appeared right at home on stage back in their native south looking like they stepped out of a period piece (signature mountain beards included) to play for an intimate crowd of 30 instead of hundreds. The band did not disappoint as they started off with a slow buildup of “And It Spread,” and it was obvious that the audience knew every word as the song spread itself into the crowd. After a few high beat songs, The Avett Brothers’ voices hypnotized as they slowed the show down for fan favorites “January Wedding” and “Shame.” The brothers like to alternate being lead singer, showing true collaboration and harmony that perhaps can only shine through by starting a band with a sibling and having talented guitar plucking fingers. Scott and Seth came onto the stage by themselves to play acoustically, heads touching in front of one microphone for “Ten Thousand Words” and “When I Drink;” songs the older crowd could easily relate. The full band returned to play “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise,” a passionate piano piece from the new album about finding your own way in a world of unfairness and injustice. The screaming vocals and frenzied beats revisited with “Kick Drum” as Scott prepared the crowd with clapping to the beat while Seth arranged his guitar joking, “Don’t make him nervous y’all!” By this point in the show, their shirts were soaked through and Kwon’s cello bow was falling apart from his rapid playing. The boys exuded such raw energy and certainly knew how to have a good time, including the audience in on the fun. Scott remained at the piano as Seth came up to play alongside his brother. Then Scott left for the microphone; the whole transaction seamless without a note misplaced as they finished the set crooning “I And Love And You.” Of course the audience wanted more, and a trend following the concerts of Atlanta of the tomahawk Braves chant began until The Avett Brothers took the stage again. The boys dedicated “Murdered In The City,” to “Brittney,” an odd dedication and song choice for an encore. According to testimonials from the show, 26-year-old Atlantian Brittney Fox Watts was killed earlier this summer by her security guard and was a big fan of The Avett Brothers. During “Kick Drum,” a girl threw a Brittney’s funeral card from the balcony to Scott Avett written with lyrics “Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name” from the “Murdered In The City.” It shows the character of such a band to honor the dedication for a girl whose life was taken unwillingly. Not wanting to end on a sad note though, Kwon started strumming and plucking his cello in tune with the bass while the band led into one of their more adrenaline-fused songs, “Talk on Indolence.” Seth entertained with his trance like state of obvious euphoria of performing for fans, also kicking the cymbal for added effect of unbridled dynamism. The last notes ringing through The Tabernacle, the boys showed gratefulness as Seth blew kisses and Scott got on his knees, saying “We love you Atlanta. We love you Atlanta. We love you Atlanta.”


Setlist:
And It Spread
The Fall
Pretty Girl From Cedar Lane
January Wedding
Shame
Paranoia in B Major
Go To Sleep
Down With The Shine
Tin Man
Ten Thousand Words
When I Drink
Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
Denouncing November Blue
Kick Drum
Colorshow
I And Love And You

Encore:
Murdered In The City
Talk On Indolence




"Head Full of Doubt: Road Full of Promise"

Kings of Leon Is Back

Kings of Leon is back on stage! Luckily, I got to see them before their mishap, and hopefully the rest of the country will too. Check out the article here .

Music Midtown Review

Here is a recap of Music Midtown, which was on Saturday Sep. 24 in Piedmont Park. Hope you guys like it!

The Atlanta skyline and a Ferris wheel in the background, Music Midtown mogul Peter Conlon gave a taste of what could be to come for music lovers who remember the good old days of Music Midtown with heavy hitters like No Doubt and Stone Temple Pilots. The festival was a one day teaser this year, but stacked an alternative line-up of upcoming bands, and some underground ones whom are just gaining notoriety. Two stages were nestled on Piedmont Park’s lawn outside the Park Tavern, piggybacking each band as thousands of people migrated between the shows. The weather held up with a sunny, clear day and temperatures in the 70s. Early bands The Postelles, Walk the Moon, and The Constellations held their own with sizeable crowds. Atlanta’s own The Constellations took the crowd through a tour of their latest album Southern Gothic about Atlanta’s nighttime intricacies. The band sent a shout out to one of 99X’s own videographer, Rett Thompson, whom was listening from the crowd. Talented and young Indie band Walk the Moon are a relatively new band, but after hearing their set with songs like “Anna Sun” and cover “Burning Down The House,” I am excited to see what is up next for them. Welsh trio Joy the Formidable took to The Electric Ballroom stage, an upcoming band that broke out with catchy tune “Whirring.” Singer Ritzy Bryan’s sweet disposition gave way to girlish vocals, and her look and demeanor favoring Blondie. Band of Skulls, another trio with a female lead, rocked out in all black and embodied the harsher sounds of true rock and roll with underlyings of punk and blues. The crowd jumped and waved hands in the air to “My Body” from Young the Giant at the Great Southeast Music Hall stage. Cage the Elephant gave another charged performance, started off with latest radio song “In One Ear.” Lead singer Matt Shultz jumped down in front the crowd during the hour set, and considering he focused on the vocals without an instrument in his hands, he knew how to provide the audience with unabashed energy and erratic dance moves to keep them interested. Another local favorite Manchester Orchestra played songs like “Pride” and “I Can Barely Breathe” that slowly swelled in tempo and boiled over with screams and intricate notes.

The sun starting to sink lower behind the “King” and “Queen” buildings, duo The Black Keys came out with hard drum/guitar beats and a distinctive sound, a large dream catcher and an inflatable tire and tiki man dwarfing them. The first half of the show featured songs from older albums, and then moved into their popular Brothers album for the second half with radio songs “Tighten Up” and “Howlin’ For You.” However, it would have been nice to hear some teasers from the future album which singer Dan Auerbach describes as “straight-ahead” and “up-tempo rock and roll,” according to his interview with 99X’s Axel and Lewis.

The cool breeze kept the compacted crowd sane as sweaty bodies pressed closer to the stage for main act Coldplay. Chris Martin’s calming voice rang out against the harmonious blends of piano and guitars with familiar favorites “Yellow” and “The Scientist.” Coldplay honored other Music Midtown bands in the song “Politik,” changing lyrics to “Give me Cage the Elephant. Give me The Black Keys.” The band presented a spectacular lights show with multi-colored lasers and fireworks throughout, even having large colorful balls bouncing around the crowd. To commemorate Georgia’s own R.E.M. (the band announced their disbandment last week), which Martin described as “one of his favorite bands,” played an acoustic cover of “Everybody Hurts.” The encore included “Clocks,” Ray Charles’ “Georgia” before leading into “Fix You,” and “Every Tear Drop Is A Waterfall.” For those who attended, the day was a success, so let’s hope next year Music Midtown will return annually as a bigger and even better festival.


Here is an official video of "Anna Sun" from Walk The Moon. A cool Indie band I enjoyed at Music Midtown.





Joy The Formidable's Ritzy Bryan:

The Black Keys:

Coldplay:

Video for song "Lost." I apologize for the quality, but hard when people keep bumping you and tall people are in front of the camera.

Golden Nuggets

I know I have been slacking, but I just finished a piece for The Avett Brothers concert on Sep. 9 for Cumulus Media, so I will post it soon!


Here are some songs I'm digging at the moment to tie you over.

"Idiologie" by Siriusmo



"Satellite" by Guster



"Lost In My Mind" by The Head And The Heart

Music Midtown of Yore

I thought it was pretty cool that Creative Loafing put up pictures of old Music Midtowns (mostly 1997) to prepare for this month's new and improved Music Midtown in Piedmont Park. Here is the link to the photos (check out one girl's sweet 90s boots while crowd surfing.

http://clatl.com/atlanta/music-midtown-from-the-cl-archive/Slideshow?oid=3541644

Awesome Concerts for Labor Day

Friday, September 2:

Bud Light Downtown Touchdown Concert: O.A.R. will be playing at 4:15pm-5pm for FREE!


Del Yeah Fest: Terrapin Brewery will host bands The Del McCoury Band, Cornmeal, Drew Emmitt, Danny Barnes & The David Mayfield Parade (see previous blog post about their awesomeness).

Park Tavern:
The restaurant in Piedmont Park will be busy for the weekend hosting events Saturday through Monday. Sunday attend the 7th Annual Beer and Whiskey Fest from 2-11pm benefitting the Atlanta Beltline project. Sip on whisky and beer while listening to tribute bands of AC/DC, Beastie Boys, Stone Temple Pilots, and Rolling Stones. (http://www.beerandwhiskeyfest.com/home.html) On Labor Day come back to eat good barbecue and listen to blues for the 26th Annual Labor Day Blues BBQ Festival with Blair Crimmins and The Hookers. Cover charge is $20 and starts at 1pm. Then continue into the night with Americana In The Park with Dappled Grays. Music starts at 7pm and tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door.

Corey Smith

So, I guess I am doing this in the wrong order, considering this concert happened a week ago...but whatever it's my blog and I do what I want! :)

Let's go back to the days of when I still had 21 to look forward to and felt like I had the world at my feet and 2 years of college left. That's the last time I went to a Corey Smith concert. Now, I am 25, 3 years out of college and trying to figure out what to do with my life while juggling the weight of financial responsibilites (No more daddy's money to play around with). I've never been a huge Corey Smith fan, and pretty much stopped listening once my last relationship crashed and burned along with extracting from my vocabulary, The Dave Matthews Band, Oasis, Journey, Kenny Chesney and pretty much all country, and of course, Corey Smith. Even more so Corey Smith because my ex introduced me to him. However, once my good friends Courtney and Jordan expressed they were going I jumped at the chance to visit Athens and relive my college glory days at the new Georgia Theater (the first venue I saw him play).

I started off my night by eating at my old haunt Little Italy's and ordering my usual, cheese slice with green olives. Add a Mich Ultra and the whole thing costs $5.

Once I met up with my friends we went to Walker's Pub...usually an older crowd bar, but I'm pretty sure I saw some freshman in there. It is the first week of school after all. After we were nice and toasty we headed to the Georgia Theater. The venue was packed, and sold out I believe, not surprising since Smith is an Athenian celebrity. I even ran into some friends that either had never left or revisiting their youth like me.

As Smith took the stage, a few things had changed. He had a band, banners, better sound quality, and a snazzy new style. He was starting to blow up around the time I stopped listening to his music, and apparently got richer.

Smith played some of his new stuff, which being out of the loop for 5 years, I didn't know any of it. I was waiting for the good oldies. Singing drunkenly and doing a "Remember When" with "21" (I now know what it feels like on both sides of the coin of that song and I DO remember when 80s Bar was Chasers), "Every Dawg" (Perfect for the upcoming football season), and of course "Someone To Lose" (hits home the hardest).

Apparently, there is an official video out this year for "21," which was filmed in Athens appropriately:


Thank you, Corey for letting me retrace my steps of those early years of young love, foolish shenanigans, and pride for timeless football traditions.


This is a video of Corey Smith playing "Every Dawg" at The Georgia Theater in 2006. Not the best quality, but I'm pretty sure I was at this show, so it's going up.

New Career Path

So, for those of you who don't know...I am the latest music news reporter for Cumulus Media!! They are the 2nd largest broadcasting company and in Atlanta cover 99x, Q100, Rock100.5, and Journey 97.9. Considering I have been listening to 99x since I was ten, this is pretty much the coolest job ever. Yesterday, I got to see Switchfoot play live for a Live X session along with my good friends Diana and Claire. The San Diego band was super nice and did a great intimate show for the guests. Switchfoot played 5 songs...some old ones like "Dare You to Move" and new ones off their upcoming album, Dark Horses. Lead singer, Jon Foreman explained that he thinks about these homeless kids he met that are up against the world when singing the single "Dark Horses." I can remember listening to their songs throughout high school and it is awesome to experience them live and revert back to those care free days.

Check out the video here:

In Love with Ian Love

Such a pretty song. It was featured at the end of Teen Mom's 7th episode.

Portugal. The Man

Considering, I just got back from Alaska, I thought it was interesting to come across Alaskan band Portugal. The Man. Spinner.com of AOL reported the recent recovery of the band's van and gear that were stolen in Chicago, while on tour for their new album Mountain In The Cloud. Fitting title for the record, since frontman John Gourlet grew up in Wasilla, AK in a cabin with a rustic lifestyle. He admits that they the band issues in creating the album and turned to his roots to help. In the article he claims, "I still write about Alaksa. That's all I write about because it's what I really know...More than anything, I relate everything [I write] to Alaska rather than as new experiences." The band obviously has an interesting name, so AngelFire.com started off an interview with Portugal. The Man asking what it means. According to Gourlet, they wanted a name that represented a timelessness of being part of the big leagues of music. In his own words to explain the definitive Portugal,"
We wanted to give the band a person's name without necessarily giving it one of our names so we wanted to kinda have that David Bowie is Ziggy Stardust, The Beatles are Sgt. Peppers, we wanted that kinda feel to it, like that bigger than life, like back when you knew those people by name. We wanted to give it that name & still have it represent the group of people because we always knew it was going to be a group project. It started with the bass player Zakk & I, & we knew we were going to play together from then on, so a country was just the best way of going about representing a group of people & "The Man" just stated it was a person & not just a country." Glad you guys got most of your stuff back! Check out their radio song, "People Say" here:

Death Cab for Cutie Concert

I've been waiting for years to see DCFC live and I finally got my chance last night. While the venue (Verizon Amphitheater) was not ideal (I feel Death Cab warrants a more intimate venue like the Tabernacle), I was excited nonetheless.

Frightened Rabbit, an Indie band from Scotland, opened up for the band and will be with Death Cab for the first half of their "Codes and Keys" tour. Scott Hutchison used his childhood nickname for his solo career, and decided to keep it when members were added. Unfortunately, I only caught the last song for the band, but heard enough to know I wanted more. They finished their set with a passionate anguish for "The Lonliness and The Scream," at title that reminds me of Edvard's Munch's "The Scream."
Scott did a cover of DCFC's "Different Names for The Same Thing" (not played last night) in thanks for support of his Invisible Children charity. Check it out here: http://www.spin.com/articles/exclusive-frightened-rabbit-cover-death-cab

The night was breezy and perfect, and since there was no lawn dancing to go with the mellow vibe or even much standing even in the seats, the perspiration stayed away. Death Cab started with their longest intro song of (one of my favs)"I Will Possess Your Heart." Even though the tour was for promoting their new album, the band offered a hefty setlist of songs from various albums. I wish they would have replaced "The New Year" with "Summer Skin" to go with the open venue theme or "Passenger Seats," a slow, lazy melody. Ben Gibbard pulled out the double microphones to offer his famous echoing voice to the new hit, "You Are A Tourist." One of the band's most endearing songs, which even had a cameo in Friends With Benefits, "Follow You Into The Dark" swept through the crowd with Gibbard's voice and acoustics only setting the stage. Gibbard showed his multiple talents by constantly moving to different parts of the stage depending on the instrument he was playing, even playing on a double drum set connecting with Jason McGerr's own set for "We Looked Like Giants." They played their hearts out, and while we just thought they were done before encore, the band pulls out "Marching Bands of Manhattan." During a pause of songs, the crowd began singing "Happy Birthday" to Mr. Gibbard, and his touchfelt reply "I would love nothing more than to play for YOU on my birthday," made the crowd feel they were right where they needed to be.Some thought perhaps his actresss and singer wife, Zoey Deschanel might come sing a duet for a birthday surprise. However, the bands encore of 4 songs instead, three which are from Transatlanticism (their best album), was just as good. I was unprepared for Gibbard's erratic performance, considering the chillness of a lot of his songs and the mood of the crowd, but he put his all into each one. Even though Death Cab says their lyrics are straightforward, and perhaps they are, the lyrics are why they took over the music circuit. The creativity they are able to put out time and time again blows my mind. I can always go to their songs for outlooks on every day life and love to match my mood. I look forward to their next stop in Atlanta, but I hope it will be in the winter, so I can see a true Death Cab experience indoors with better sound control.

Best Coast- "Our Deal"

Get More: MTV Supervideo, Music, Best Coast

I really like the look of this video, and thought I would share Best Coast's new project "Our Deal." Drew Barrymore directed the video, including upcoming names Chloe Moretz from Kick Ass, Tyler Posey from MTV's own show Teen Wolf, Alia Shawkat from cult tv show Arrested Developement, and Donald Glover of Community. The video follows a West Side Story relationship that ends in tragedy.