Fred Durst?!

So I saw this video on Absolute Punk....Just when I was wondering what ever happened to Fred Durst, YouTube filled me in...

Melee-less

I almost forgot...

Apparently Melee was supposed to tour with Eisley but they had to back out for some reason. I can't find any pertinent news about it. This is sad...Melee and Eisley together? Awesome. maybe next time?

This week in live music...

So this is a big week in Abbey Carr's life of musical endeavors.

Monday: First Monday without a CAT Exec Board meeting...weird
Tuesday: Probably my last CAT Music Committee meeting ever...weirder
Wednesday: Live Music Wednesday in Belle Air Terrace...2nd to last
Thursday: WXVU's BandAID show with Lucas Carpenter in the West Lounge of Dougherty Hall...classy
Friday: Student bands at the Oreo to kick off NovaFest weekend (building stage, sound, and lights in the afternoon...hopefully followed by a fieldtrip for me to go see Eisley at the First Unitarian Church)
Saturday: Cover bands on Sheehan Beach at the NovaFest field festival

SATURDAY NIGHT: all things NovaFest come to a head at the evening concert featuring Brand New and Sean Kingston!
Sunday: finish loading out band equipment, sound, stage, and lights until the wee hours of the morning...then CAT Banquet on Sunday morning...I will be so dead

I'm really excited to see Eisley on Friday night too! I hope my life isn't too out of control by then so I can enjoy it. I've seen them at the Church before...actually I've only seen them in Philly. Twice at the Troc and once at the Church. Good times. I just bought their latest album off of iTunes so I'll have to give a review once I get a good listen.

So with all of this craziness, I should probably get some of my homework done...whomp whomp

Abbey

My poor aunt is on YouTube...

My cousins are cruel and posted this video of my aunt singing along with Rock Band on Christmas morning. She didn't know it was up on YouTube until another parent came up to her at a basketball game at the local high school and said, "Oh! I saw you on YouTube!"

Poor thing...she's pretty cool though. Her nickname is YiYi...that's what they are saying in the video if you are confused.

But she's awesome...who else's mother would sing along with Rock Band and allow it to be videotaped? Good for you, Lori!


Abbey

Panic at the Disco v2

I can't resist...

I should be writing a paper right now, but I am a master procrastinator (see the post written by my guest blogger RE: senioritis)

So I got home from a party on Saturday night and caught the last few minutes of Panic at the Disco on Saturday Night Live. It was quite disappointing in my mind. I only got to see them perform "I Write Sins Not Tragedies," but the sound was off and Brendan Urie sounded off and nervous as hell. They always seem to be more worried about the show than the sound...they had strings in the of the stage in full costume (crazy costumes typical of PATD). Here's a video I found on YouTube, but NBC will probably take it down within a few hours because of copyright issues...



So I just watched a video on YouTube of "Nine in the Afternoon"...that performance was MUCH better. Not to mention I am kind of obsessed with how catchy the song is.



Okay panic...I'll even it out and give you 6 on your whole SNL performance, but try harder next time :) My sister made fun of me for liking their new album, but she likes Cobra Starship's new album...so what does she know?

"The city is at war, a place among the young and rich.
ignore me if you see me, cause i just don't give a shit.
the city is at war, plus the young and rich with designer drugs and designer friends.
bang bang, shoot 'em up, shoot 'em up, yeah"
~Lyrical genius, Gabe Saporta

(Please note the sarcasm above...although I still believe that "Snakes on a Plane" was insanely good...but probably mostly because William Beckett had a hand in the penning of that one)


Anyways...good job Panic...your new album is better than I thought it would be...now you just need to work on your live performance. Maybe if you had played a show or two before being signed to Pete Wentz's label, you would have worked out the kinks in your act by now...


Overly critical, grumpy, tired, (with extra sass apparently),

Abbey

The History of Entertainment at Villanova University

Hey guys...this is an article that I wrote for the Villanovan a few years ago about the history of entertainment at nova. Don't make fun of how bad my writing is...it was only for the Villanovan.

Making History

By: Abbey Carr

Posted: 9/7/06

During my last three years here, Villanova has had some pretty big acts entertain its students including Dane Cook, The Starting Line, OAR, Third Eye Blind, Dashboard Confessional and the list goes on. Those are just some of the bigger names that have appeared. Hidden in Plain View, Hanson and Murder By Death have made smaller appearances in the Connelly Center, as well.

So doesn't this make you curious about who entertained Villanovans before our arrival? I bet you would be surprised.

Would you believe that Bruce Springsteen and Guster used to be frequent performers at Villanova? In fact, Brian Burkhard, a former CAT president, told me about one of his predecessors, "Guster's Tour Manager for many years, known as 'Pasty', was once CAT President. Guster was known to play at 'Nova quite a few times during his tenure on the Board." Guster returned last year to play with Philadelphia natives, The Roots, at one of Villanova's largest concerts to date, Concert for a Cure.

Billy Joel played here, as well. I have heard several conflicting and unconfirmed claims that either Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen was once booed off of stage while opening for another act. How about performers that we could have hired, but missed on their road to fame? Villanova once passed on John Mayer who was going to play in Belle Air Terrance for a few hundred dollars. Who would have thought?

The next time someone plays in the Belle Air Terrace or the Villanova Room, you might want to check it out, even if you have never heard of them. You might discover your new favorite band or comedian.

Some acts to pass through Connelly include Dave Chapelle, Naughty By Nature, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, and Q and not U. Class of 2000 grad Kristina Kopach remembers seeing Dave Chapelle when no one had heard of him. A good sized crowd gathered, but nothing like the attention he gets today.

Novafest has always been known to bring in great performers including The Ataris, Bowling for Soup, The Calling and Lifehouse. The 2005 Novafest lineup was no different with The Starting Line and Dane Cook. Some of the backstage footage even made it to Dane's Tourgasm DVD.

That wasn't the only backstage drama that year - MAE was supposed to open for The Starting Line, but a last minute cancellation due to an illness caused lots of confusion and a few angry fans.

The 2005-2006 school year left many memories as well, Hanson's documentary screening being one of my favorites. Hanson came face-to-face with Mendel Doug when he somehow snuck through the kitchen just in time to harass the band before they took the stage. The band came out, the Q and A session began, but then was interrupted with a challenge. Doug informed the band that their only hope for success would be found in constantly remixing MMM Bop. Needless to say, that did not go over so well.

It is always interesting to see what a band asks for on their rider, but sometimes the requests made on the day of the show can be even more entertaining. During Novafest with Third Eye Blind, I was sent out as a production runner to get a few last minute essentials: a black belt for the drummer to replace his broken one, fingernail clippers, black nail polish, a specific brand of energy bars, a hot pot to make tea, and a fan among other things.

Jeremy Osinski recalled that during Concert for a Cure, one of the Guster band members hijacked a walkie-talkie and requested that more food be brought to the Guster dressing room. Sometimes the artist will not perform until all of their demands are met. Dane Cook would not start his show until every seat in the first few rows was filled. I gladly did my part as a seat filler!

When Villanova books a band, one can never know what to expect. Sometimes bands bring their famous friends along, like the year that Blues Traveller played Jake Nevin Fieldhouse. In the middle of their set, their close, personal friend Bruce Willis joined them on stage to play harmonica!

During another year, Tom Mogan, Director of Student Life, told me about one Parents' Weekend that went awry. Villanova hired a comedian (who we all know now) to entertain parents one evening. The comedian did not alter his stand up routine for a Catholic university and the older, unsuspecting crowd. Many parents left during the show, outraged and demanding their money back. Would you have guessed it was Robin Williams?

Never heard of the band that is playing in the Belle Air Terrace? Maybe you should check them out anyway. Many bands have passed through Villanova on their road to bigger and better things. You could be seeing the next Dave Chapelle or John Mayer. Next time Villanova hosts a performer, check it out and bring a camera. Maybe one day you'll be able to say, "I saw them back when…"

NOVAFEST

OK...

so...

The real story of NovaFest...

Brand New is the headliner with Sean Kingston opening. I am very happy to say that I have only heard ONE negative comment about the lineup and that person will go unnamed. Every response that I have heard so far has shown very strong feelings about at least one of the artists. NOW THAT'S A GOOD NOVAFEST...at least in my opinion.

I know that it's impossible to please everyone. We obviously can't find ONE artist that appeals to everyone's musical tastes...even if we could, I'd bet exactly $50,000 that we wouldn't be able to afford them. And besides, I don't like Dave Matthews Band...so that excludes him...now who are we left with?

...more on NovaFest later...


Abbey

NovaFest

this was the article about NovaFest in the Villanovan today....


Brand New to headline NovaFest

Popular band Brand New, along with opening act Sean Kingston, will highlight this year's NovaFest concert on April 26. Sean Kingston to open concert during Hollywood-themed weekend.

By: Thomas Celona

Posted: 4/3/08

Brand New will be the main act for this year's NovaFest concert on April 26, with Sean Kingston scheduled as the night's opening act. "Hollywood" will serve as the theme for this year's NovaFest.CAT officials announced the lineup for the concert, along with a listing of all events for the weekend, at the NovaFest 2008 Kickoff Event at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the President's Lounge in Connelly Center. The event was also shown over the Web."For 2008, we have set the bar high," said Jeremy Osinski, director of public relations for CAT.A Villanova tradition celebrating the last weekend before final exams, NovaFest will officially kick off on April 25. However, this year, programming is scheduled for April 24, starting the weekend's festivities on a Thursday. At 7 p.m., WXVU, Face AIDS Villanova and Late Night will sponsor "Band-AIDS." The event will be a concert benefiting Catholic Relief Services' South African HIV and AIDS Programs. The concert will feature performances from Lucas Carpenter, Rusty Santos and additional artists to be named later. Admission to the event is free, but donations for Catholic Relief Services will be collected. While "Band-AIDS" is technically not a NovaFest event, it was included in the list of programming CAT announced at its press conference."An important part of NovaFest 2008 is music for a cause," said Siobhan D'Angelo, co-director of CAT's Ideas and Issues Committee.NovaFest events will begin on the afternoon of April 25 with a celebration at the Oreo from 2-4 p.m. The event will feature food provided by Taste of Philly, a live broadcast by WXVU and performances by student bands to be named later.Later that night, Wayne Hoffman will perform a mentalist and illusionist show. According to his MySpace site, Hoffman is a professional mentalist and illusionist who recently appeared on the NBC TV show "Phenomenon." His act, co-sponsored by CAT and Late Night, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Belle Air Terrace.Following Hoffman's performance, an outdoor movie will be shown on Sheehan Beach from 9-11 p.m. The movie has yet to be announced. In the case of inclement weather, the film will be shown in the Connelly Cinema.NovaFest will continue on April 26 with the traditional field festival on Sheehan Beach. The event occurred behind Connelly Center last year, but in response to student feedback, CAT officials decided to return the festival to Sheehan Beach.The theme for this year's festival is "The Hollywood Walk of Stars." The outdoor celebration, which will run from 1-5 p.m., will feature live music and food provided by Dining Services and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Additionally, there will be a red carpet area, and students will have the opportunity to purchase walk of fame stars, with proceeds going to Relay for Life.The weekend will culminate with the evening concert featuring Brand New and Kingston in the Pavilion. "For the first time, we bring together two styles of hit music," CAT's Music Events Co-Coordinator Lauren Christman said. Doors will open at 8 p.m., with the concert starting at 9 p.m. Tickets to the event will cost $17 for Villanova students and $20 for all others.Tickets will be on sale beginning on Monday in 108 Dougherty. This year, students will be able to use their WildCards to gain admission to the concert.Long Island pop-punk band Brand New will highlight the evening's concert. Made up of band members singer/guitarist Jesse Lacey, drummer Brian Lane, guitarist Vin Accardi and bassist Garret Tierney, Brand New has been together since 2000 and have produced three studio albums. The most recent, "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me," was released on Nov. 21, 2006.Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, 18-year-old singer/rapper Kingston will undoubtedly bring his dancehall- and reggae-influenced hip hop to the Pavilion. Kingston burst onto the music scene this past summer with his hit single "Beautiful Girls." The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on August 11, 2007, making him the first artist born in the '90s to have a No. 1 song, according to Billboard.com. "Beautiful Girls" held onto the top spot for four consecutive weeks. His debut self-titled album was released on July 31, 2007, and reach No. 6 on the Billboard 200.Kingston followed up the success of "Beautiful Girls" with the Top 20 hit "Me Love" and the Top 10 hit "Take Me There." Additionally, Kingston provided vocals for Natasha Beddingfield's hit single "Love Like This" and for the remix of Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry." The fourth single from Kingston's album, "There's Nothin'" featuring Juelz Santana and The DEY, was released in February, according to his official Web site.

Manbearpig aka guest blogger

Guest blogger, at your service!

Know what grinds my gears? Sticks in my craw? Bleeping pisses me off? The fact that I'm a second semester senior, with a job, and yet teacher's keep giving me work. Don't they know I'm not going to do it? And if I do bestow them with the honor of doing homework, it's going to be a minimal effort at best? Shouldn't Villanova offer a "senior" track for the spring? Classes where the teacher and students mutually give up and everyone goes home happy, and possibly intoxicated.

Because, I've gotten this far, 7 1/2 semesters should show that I'm mildly competent that I really shouldn't have to make any further displays of my academic prowess. And for all you teachers, I know you hate teaching second semester seniors, and it's not like we like it any better. We'd much rather be sitting around all day and not expanding our cultural and academic horizons. However, some of us still need health insurance, and the only way to do that is to incur 12 credits. At this point, I'm regretting my choice to stay a full time student and mooch off my parents - I should have called Blue Cross.

But so it goes. While I'm not intentionally trying to be outright rude and a pain in your tuchas, I simply do not have enough room in my social calendar for your homework. If I had any association with you other than 10:30 in the morning (I don't care what everyone says about the real world, 10:30 is still too early on a friday morning), and you being the person that makes me feel guilty for opting to have fun instead of staying at home to do the work that I have become so accustomed to putting first in my life for the past 18 years. Maybe if you had bought me a beer, or had been cool about handing in that project late, I'd feel obliged to put you ahead of quizzo.

However, you have done none of these. So I will not do anything you ask of me. So I will continue to show up to class, but really just day dreaming and writing down whatever's on the board, but pulling up my lap top to surf facebook or talk on aim to the person in the row behind me. And you will continue to teach to the juniors in the class, and we'll all go home mildly disgruntled and try to avoid eye contact if we ever see each other outside of that stupid classroom.

slainte!

it's been awhile

Hey there...

I know it's been awhile, but with Spring Break, Easter Break, and 8 (EIGHT!) job interviews...it's been a little crazy.

So I got the new Panic album, Pretty. Odd., from my friend Kerri--yes, another shout-out to the great Kerri! She is pretty. awesome.

I think I'll write a review of that album, and I also went to a weird little show in Philly this past Sunday...weird isn't a good word to describe it.

anyhoo...coming soon

Acappellapalooza

With all of the a cappella groups on campus, it might be hard to keep them straight. Thank goodness they put on an annual spring concert featuring all of the groups so you can get a preview of each group in one convenient location.

This year’s Acappellapalooza was held on Saturday, March 15th in the Villanova Room. The room was packed, all seats were taken, and there was barely enough room to stand in the back—Villanova is serious about their a cappella groups! The seats were filled with family and friends of the singers. I stood in the back next to a devoted a cappella fan and a tipsy Irishwoman who constantly shouted praise to her friends singing on stage.

First up, the seniors from all of the groups came together to sing one of my all-time favorite songs, “Snakes on a Plane” by Cobra Starship. A certain DJ refuses to play that song for me when I request it, but the seniors know what’s hot!

After adjusting some issues with the mics and the lights, the Haveners took the stage with “crushcrushcrush” by Paramore, “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles, and a medley of Disney songs.

Next, the Villanova Spires stole the show with their matching Nova jumpsuits and aviators. This all male group covered “What I’ve Done” by Linkin Park, “Every Other Time” by LFO, and “Low” by FloRida. During their last song, a few parents appeared a bit nervous when the Spires began stripping their jumpsuits and were joined by members of the Villanova Dance Team, but everyone loved the Spires’ take on the song. The boys even changed some words to give shout outs to Jay Wright, the Oreo, and said “had but one desire, to get with every Spire.”

The Sirens had a tough act to follow, but they delivered a fun performance as well. They started out with Fall Out Boy’s “Sophomore Slump” and Sugarland’s “Baby Girl. For their last piece, several of the girls put on blonde wigs for Hannah Montana’s “See You Again.”

Acappellapalooza is such a big show that they even have half-time entertainment which consisted of beatboxing exercises featuring participants from each group.

Vocal Minority was up next, the second all male group of the night. This group interacted with the crowd very well, and covered songs like, “Feel It (In the Air Tonight)” by Naturally Seven, “You and I Both” by Jason Mraz, and “Running Away” by Hoobastank. The gentlemen had a small delay with getting started for their last song, but they turned it around and sounded great!

The last all female group, Nothing But Treble, was up next. This group’s performance had special meaning because the founding members of the group will be graduating this year. They covered some great songs—“Amsterdam” by Guster, “Beat It!” by Michael Jackson, and “Somebody to Love” by Queen.

The final group to perform was the Supernovas, the only co-ed a cappella group at Villanova. They covered a classic song, “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles, and two newer songs, “Wine Red” by The Hush Sound and “Thanks for the Memories” by Fall Out Boy. This group gave a great performance and entertained the crowd by adding humor to their songs.

The night concluded with another song from the seniors, “Dig” by Incubus and many hugs to celebrate a great, end of the year performance. Senior concert-goer, Jenny Murphy-Lubowicz said, “I loved the Spires' jumpsuits. When they perform, they always come up with something crazy & entertaining!” Senior Supernova, Pam Natale remarked, “Each group prepared and worked hard for this performance, and it definitely showed. This was hands down the best show we've had since I've been at nova!”

If you missed acappellapalooza this year, you must make sure to catch it next year. It is definitely a fun, change of pace to the typical weekend at Nova. You can also catch the groups singing a couple of times before the end of the year. My advice for next year’s Acappellapalooza: set up more chairs for the huge crowd, think about hiring tech crew to pump up the volume, don’t have it on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend, and sing more songs!


-Abbey

no show

whomp whomp...

So I got busy and tired last Sunday and didn't go to the mae and The Honorary Title show. I'm sad I missed it, but it was going to take too much effort.

Next time...

In other news, Panic at the Disco's new album is coming out next week and they have leaked it through MTV. I am going to write up a review of that for the Villanovan probably. However--it won't go in the next issue because I already have an article going in that one about Acappellapalooza. That's what my next post will be about...

Abbey

mae and The Honorary Title

Hey there,

So I just got home from backpacking around Italia with my mom--my version of Spring Break. It was great! Very cold and a little rainy, but it was beautiful when we were in Siena, and that's all that matters.

I think I might go see mae and The Honorary Title at the TLA this Sunday. I've seen mae quite a few times before, and they finally played at Villanova last semester when they opened for Motion City Soundtrack. mae has popped up on other tours that I have been interested in because of opening bands and that's how I started to get into them.

Many people consider mae to be a Christian band like Anberlin, but I would just call it emo--ha! I have to warn you that they are severly emo and mushy, but it's not bad. Their keyboardist left approximately last summer, which is a tremendous loss in my opinion. I loved to watch it play--he was so intense. Watch this video at about 35 seconds in, he's the bald guy on the right...so into it! He always looks angry and sad and sweaty (this really doesn't do him justice, but let your imagination run wild). But he's great at what he does...



Anyway...I'm not going to try and make excuses for their music being so emo, but another fun fact: mae stands for multi-sensory aesthetic experience. I think that's badass.

Okay...no more for now... Next I will probably write about how I like The Honorary Title and they are just as emo as mae and sound like Dashboard, only post-puberty....get excited for that!

Abbey

Anberlin

To move away from the pop that I have been loving lately, we'll go with a Christian Rock band--Anberlin.

Basic stats...

Hometown: Orlando, FL

Label: Universal Republic Records (haven't released anything through URR yet), Tooth and Nail Records

Albums: Blueprints for the Black Market, Never Take Friendship Personal, Cities, Lost Songs

I first caught this band opening for Fall Out Boy in 2004. (I don't care how much you hate Fall Out Boy or Pete Wentz, but they have a solid history of touring with great bands) I saw them first at one of my favorite venues ever, mostly because it is so small, yet filled with great memories, Top Cat's in Cincinnati. (I hate doing research because I always find out bad news...according to their myspace page, Top Cat's is now closed! :( I'm waiting on confirmation from my friend Brittany who still lives there) Anyways, I have seen them all over the country with different types of bands--Story of the Year, Plain White T's, Bamboozle 2005, Motion City Soundtrack, etc.

More (sad) news that comes from research, Anberlin's guitarist, Nate Strayer, recently left the band, but Christian McAlhaney (formerly of Acceptance) has joined the band.

I had an opportunity to sit down with vocalist and band representative Stephen Christian for an interview a few years ago when they played at the Factory. Stephen told me that his band borrowed its name from him--Anberlin was a name that Stephen was saving to name his daughter, if he ever had one. He said the name stuck with the band and he wouldn't use it for his daughter anymore--wouldn't want people to think it was an ego thing. The band is NOT named after porn star Amber Lynn--really? Do people really think that a Christian rock band would borrow a name from a porn star?

Stephen Christian is quite the inspirational guy. He insists that Anberlin is not a Christian rock band, but I can see the influence on their music. He has a side project that is clearly inspired by his religious views, Anchor and Braille.

Over the years, Anberlin's sound has changed quite a bit. If you listen to tracks like "Glass to the Arson" and "Change the World (Lost Ones)" from Blueprints, and then compare them to newer songs from Cities (that are up on their myspace page) like "Dismantle. Repair." and "The Unwinding Cable Car", you can see a BIG change. However, "Hello Alone" and "Godspeed" are very reminiscent of the older Anberlin sound. I didn't really notice until now, but they even introduced more synth throughout Cities, where Blueprints only let it slip on "Autobahn".

By the way, don't think this band isn't a little poppy...tracks like "A Day Late" and "Stationary Stationery" could easily be Top 40 material--in heavy rotation. Both of these songs are from Never Take Friendship Personal which is a solid alt/pop album, but still makes a pretty even mix of Cities and Blueprints.

...and about 2 hours later, YouTube is still not working on my computer. I'll post some video later, but you definitely MUST HEAR THEM!

Abbey

Forgive Durden

More on this band later...I'm in love with their music, but for now...

*This is one of my favorite songs, "For a Dreamer, Night's the Only Time of Day"

*at one of the coolest venues ever, CBGB's, (unfortunately, I never got to see a show there)

*by one of my favorite bands (also, unfortunately, I never got to see them play) which recently broke up

*and this live performance starts out with a line from Romeo and Juliet, which is pretty cool in my book...here it is:





Abbey

Panic at the Disco

Obviously I am not claiming to have just now discovered this band, but I have been following them for awhile and they have a new video out.

Now that they have a new record coming out, sans the exlclamation point, Panic have a lot of pressure on them. I actually can't wait to hear the new material. I really liked A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, but I felt they were going in a different direction than I expected. This new song pleasantly surprised me--surprised me because I actually really like it. It's catchy as hell and gets stuck in my head for hours. Lyrically, it's nothing to write home about, but whatever. Everyone needs a feel good tune every once in awhile.

I saw the band live in February 2006 and was pretty disappointed. The amount of excitement in the crowd had expectations high, but let me down. I saw them at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ--which was probably one of the smallest venues they have ever played. They graduated from small clubs immediately after this tour opening for The Academy Is... and began selling out the bigger clubs.

They are currently preparing to embark on the Honda Civic Tour with Motion City Soundtrack, The Hush Sound, and Phantom Planet (yes...Fueled By Ramen and their friends have formed a cult and are slowly taking over the music industry). The Honda Civic Tour has had quite an impressive line-up over the years:
2001 Blink 182, Everclear, Alkaline Trio
2002 Incubus, Hoobastank, and Phantom Planet (weird that PP is going on it again, right?)
2003 New Found Glory, Good Charlotte, Hot Rod Circuit, Less Than Jake, Stretch Armstrong, The Disasters (I saw this tour...it was a great show too...I got to see NFG's set from stage right!)
2004 Dashboard Confessional, The Get Up Kids (oh how I am glad to have seen them at least this once before they broke up), Thrice
2005 Maroon 5, Phantom Planet, The Donnas (someone in PP must be related to someone important to have landed this tour THREE times)
2006 Black Eyed Peas and The Pussycat Dolls (random)
2007 Fall Out Boy, +44, The Academy Is..., Cobra Starship, Paul Wall (FBR reigns supreme)

Well anyways...enough of my rambling history of Panic/Honda Civic Tour...I didn't even realize how many times I had seen this tour...good job Honda.

Panic's latest effort, Pretty. Odd., is due out March 25, 2008, but will probably leak sometime next week. Here's the video...fall under the spell that is FBR....




Abbey

show review...

Hey everyone,

So I went to the First Unitarian Church this past Friday, February 15th to see the Pac Tour with The Audition, Envy on the Coast, Danger Radio, and Another Day Late.

(Here's a photo of the stage the the church I found through Google images...I didn't get any pictures of the bands who played Friday, but this will give you an idea of the quality of the stage...you can't see from this picture, but the speakers are held up by scaffolding on the left of this picture. The bands have to squat to load equipment under the structure...bootleg!)

Conclusion of the night: Scene kids get weirder and weirder everyday....

The first band, Another Day Late, was great, but their vocals were so drowned out that you couldn't hear anything. They had sick guitars though....I think most of the parents who were in the crowd thought it was more like noise, but not a terrible band.

Danger Radio had a singer that looked a bit like Pete Wentz. I liked their first couple of songs because they were kind of like a dance-electronica. At the same time, however, the first three or four songs all had a crowd clap-along chorus that annoyed me. Probably the most disturbing thing of the night happened during DR's set...a bunch of tweens started throwing their (training) bras on stage--really not that unusual at a rock show, I guess, but that's not all....after the band concluded their set, the girls came to the side of the stage talking to the guys about something. A few minutes later, I realized what they were talking about--they wanted their bras back! The annoyed musicians pointed to a corner of the side-stage that had a small pile of adolescent undergarments. What are kids thinking these days? I feel old.

Next came the two main acts, Envy and The Audish. The crowd was going wild, and the bands were getting pumped, and I was getting sick. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into the show like I normally would because of a pending cold. I hung on the side of the room with some friends and enjoyed the show. Envy put on a great performance--a ton of fun! I wish I knew more of their music to sing along with, but I suspect that I will see them again soon.

The Audition's set was intimidating for a new fan. The kids in the crowd were so devoted and filled with excitement that I felt overwhelmed, even as I moved to the back of the church basement. I have to say, I think their singer looks like a love child from Isaac Hanson and Bigfoot...(on the right)

Creepy right? Anyways...my friend Kerri is a huge fan of both of these bands. She said she loves Danny from the Audition because he has some sweet dance moves on stage. Shout out to Kerri! Thanks for the tunes!

That's all for today...I don't feel right judging this show very critically because I was a little distracted by my cold and old friends. Until next time...

Abbey

Jealousy Curve

Ever heard of Jealousy Curve? I doubt it, unless you are from Philly...even then, you might not have heard of them.




This unsigned indie/alt/rock band caught my attention when they won an opening spot on the 2005 Zippo Hot Tour which was headlined by The All American Rejects, Rooney, and The Academy Is... This was a great opportunity for the band to engage new fans, and even led to 3 shows at SXSW festival, but this success was slightly short-lived.

It seems like the band has been taking it slow lately. Since March 2006, the band has done 2 small, national tours and spent nearly a year putting out an EP, This Is For Your Own Destruction. They had another great opportunity when their song, "Don't Lie Down," was featured on the soundtrack for Dane Cook's Tourgasm DVD.

I booked this band to play at the Campus Philly Kick Off last September on the Local Music Stage and they had a killer performance. I think if they pick up the momentum a little more, they will have a bright musical future ahead of them....what do you think?

Abbey

Melee part 2

Hey there...

I found this video of Melee playing at the TLA in Philly from Summer 2007. They are a great live band...

Thanks for watching!

Abbey

Suburban Legends

I am going through my favorite bands very quickly...pretty soon I'm going to have to start listening to newer music and writing about it in here...but for now, I'm sticking with an oldie, but a goodie...

Suburban Legends!

Watch this video for "Come Back Home"...

Suburban Legends is a ska/pop/rock band from Orange County, CA (yes, they are friends with the guys in Melee). I've seen them a few times with bands like Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, Patent Pending, Lucky Boys Confusion, RX Bandits, Streetlight Manifesto, etc.

I have to say that I love their first album, Rump Shaker, the most. I'm not a big fan of their newer material that is much more pop than ska. Either way, these guys put on the best damn show I have ever seen. My MOM even loves them. With choreographed dance moves, Disney cover songs, and tons of energy, you can't help but fall in love with this band.

Another impressive feat--they often play at Disneyland in CA, and they can brag that they are the only Disney house band that is allowed to play their own original music! Fun Fact!

Here are the guys covering "Under The Sea" from the Little Mermaid...watch it...you know you wanna...

These guys have to be the nicest ever, and they have gone through a lot together as well.

One of their trombone players, Dallas Cook, was killed in a hit-and-run accident a few years ago--so very sad. The story is really sketchy, too. Supposedly he hit a Hyundai exec's vehicle, who parked it in the carpool lane while intoxicated, and then the Hyundai company help the guy flee the country!?! Check out this article...

"On April 4, 2006, police announced they had determined the identity of the driver who killed Dallas. Youn Bum Lee, a Hyundai executive, parked his car in the carpool lane on the freeway and turned off his lights while under the influence of alcohol. Police believe that Dallas never saw the car that was the cause of his death. After contacting his lawyers and showing the damage to associates, Lee fled to Korea. It is suspected that he is still currently located there.

On May 23, 2007, Dallas' family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hyundai, with allegations that airport surveillance footage shows Lee accompanied by two fellow Hyundai executives as he boarded his plane. Hyundai released a statement that they terminated Lee's employment shortly after the incident and do not know his current whereabouts."

Crazy right?

Well, not too long ago, Suburban Legends played a show in Philly and woke up the next day with their van and trailer missing. They turned to the local news stations for help, and were able to locate their van and trailer. When they reclaimed their transportation, they realized all of their belongings were missing, and the thieves had filled the gas tank with sugar.

Now these poor guys were stuck in Philly with an empty trailer.

Suburban Legends are a great band and they deserve nothing but success because of all of their hard work and dedication--oh did I mention they have great music? They have had quite the line up change throughout the last 5 years--Vince Walker is now on vocals, but started out on trumpet. He has a great stage presence and commands your attention.

That's all you'll get from me today...

Abbey

"High fives to all the guys! Props to the homies in the field!" ~ my mom's favorite lyric

Melee

Before we get into it, I have to say that music and I are not in a good place right now. Besides trying to find a job, NovaFest is also slowly breaking my spirit. I am the Director of Musical Events at Villanova, and we are currently trying to program NovaFest, our spring fling concert. The good news is that all of the other schools in the area have already booked their talent so we don't have any competition. The bad news is that this is the hardest thing to do--try to filter everyones' thoughts on music (good and mostly bad) in an attempt to make the most amount of people happy...oh, while staying under budget, keeping the act clean (a signed Augustinian waiver is a must), and keeping the big secret out of The Villanova Times. I hate the Villanova Times...but that is another story.

At this point in the process, I'm about to quit and let the advisors do all of the work because they aren't listening to our feedback and decisions anyway. Did I mention that I withdrew my application for NovaFest Director? I wonder why...

It's time for some piano rock...

Melee is a rock/pop/soul band from Orange County, CA. Their latest album, Devils and Angels is amazing. Sometimes it's a bit sugary for me, but hands down, still a great album. The band is now on Warner Bros Records, but started out on Hopeless/SubCity Records (known for launching musical careers for Thrice and Avenged Sevenfold to name a few). That is a cool label because all of their bands donate a portion of their profits to a cause chosen by the band. Melee supported Orangewood PALS to help fight child abuse and neglect in Orange County. I don't know how big that problem is in the OC, but still an honorable effort.

Their last album, Everyday Behavior, captured me, and the big single off that album, "The War," really left an impact on me. Not to go into too many details, I remember leaving Villanova after my freshman year listening to "The War" and deciding it was my anthem for that year/summer/point in my life. They actually re-recorded it making it a much more musically heavy song. Check out the video...I'm kind of obsessed with the fact that they pitch blue cherries against red lightning bolts...

LOVE it!

The band has been doing a few small tours lately and traveled to Japan last October to celebrate their number one single overseas, "Built To Last," off of Devils and Angels. I'm not quite sure what they are doing right now, but they need to tour on the east coast again. It's been too long!

The first time I heard this band was at the first Bamboozle in 2005. They plays an amazing song that caught my attention. I can't be sure, but I think it was "Perfect Mess." After Bamboozle, I caught the guys opening for Lucky Boys Confusion in Cincinnati and did an interview. The guys are hilarious--I tried to sit down with Ricky, but he was too shy to do it alone, so he brought the drummer, Mike. Then Ryan was lonely, so he came to sit down. Then Chris, the singer, who was swarmed with girls, got jealous and felt left out. I ended up with all 4 guys with indistinguishable voices--a ton of fun, but I ended up having to scrap the interview, otherwise it would have been 'Melee Dude #1 said...' I saw the guys this summer--not the best tour--with Bowling For Soup and QuietDrive. QuietDrive has been getting some attention for their cover of "Time After Time."

I'm excited to see this band continue to grow. On top of writing their own great songs, they do great covers. Once I saw them do Elton John's "Tiny Dancer," and they also covered Hall and Oates' "You Make My Dreams" as a hidden track on Devils and Angels.

Listen to the H&O cover here (you may need to turn off your pop-up blocker): http://play.napster.com/track/19552622

That's it for now! Hope you enjoy Melee!

Abbey

Envy On The Coast

Two recommendations in one day!

Also touring with The Audition on the Pac Tour will be Envy on the Coast from Long Island, NY.

Their new album, Lucy Gray, is really interesting to me. I can't decide if I like it. It's not bad, just not my usual taste. They are on Photo Finish Records, which I had not really heard much about before now.

Here's some info from wikipedia, the ultimate source of band information...

"The bands first full length CD was released on August 7, 2007 and is entitled Lucy Gray. The song title "I'm Breathing...Are You Breathing Too?" is taken from a line of Robert Bolt's novel A Man For All Seasons. The song title "...Because All Suffering Is Sweet to Me" is taken from the last words of Saint Thérèse. The CD title itself is from the poem "Lucy Gray" by William Wordsworth.

They have toured with bands such as 30 Seconds to Mars, Agent Sparks, Angels & Airwaves, The Audition, Boys Like Girls, Emanuel, Forgive Durden, Hit the Lights, June, Mikoto, The Outline, Permanent Me, Saosin, The Sounds, and Valencia. They were on MTV2's $2 Bill tour featuring 30 Seconds to Mars, Head Automatica, and Cobra Starship.

In the Spring of 2007, Envy took part in the first Alternative Press tour with Cute is What We Aim For, As Tall as Lions, and Circa Survive. In the summer of 2007 the band toured with acts The Sleeping, A Day To Remember, and Valeyra and Kaddisfly, Powerspace, and Danger Radio, as well as a month long stint on the Vans Warped Tour.

In November, Envy on the Coast had to cancel the tour with From First to Last and several college dates after lead singer Ryan Hunter's vocal problems worsened so that he could have time to visit specialists and heal. However, instead of canceling their hometown show in Long Island, Envy on The Coast took the stage without Ryan and had the audience sing their set for them."

So check out the band next Friday, February 15th at the First Unitarian Church with The Audition, Danger Radio, and Another Day Late. After this tour, Envy will hit Australia for some festival dates with acts such as Thursday, Incubus, Motion City Soundtrack, and more.

The Audition

Okay...Today I am going to cheat a little and make two posts that are linked...

My first pick of the day is The Audition. My friend Kerri has been telling me about this band (and the next one as well) for a long time now. The Audition hails from Chicago, and almost all bands from chi-town hold a special place in my heart.

Their latest album, Champion, just came out in late January. I love their track, "Warm Me Up." I think I might have to use my iTunes giftcard from Christmas on this album.

This Victory Records band has toured with Jack's Mannequin, Silverstein, Spitalfield, mae, Lovedrug, Head Automatica, Rock Kills Kid, etc.

Next Friday, February 15th, the band will hit Philly at the First Unitarian Church on the Pac Tour (sponsored by Pac Sun, of course)...with my next recommendation.....

Abbey

Lucas Carpenter

Hey everyone,

My next recommendation is Lucas Carpenter from Williamsport, PA. I booked Lucas to open for Pete Francis at Villanova on Dec 8, 2007. I discovered Lucas when he was playing at The Gryphon Cafe (my favorite coffee shop!) in Wayne, PA last summer while my roommate was working.

Here's a video of Lucas performing his song, "Sexual Tension", live at Villanova...




Hope you liked it!

When he was coming to Nova, I also wrote a little article for The Villanovan to introduce him to Villanova students. Here's a little bit of that article to give you some more insight to LC's music...


Carpenter grew up as an "art kid from the country," as the title and lead track on his latest album proclaims. In his biography, Carpenter provides a disclaimer of sorts to listeners - "Blending rock, R&B, folk and musical theater, Lucas Carpenter creates a danceable cocktail of deliciousness you will be humming in the shower Monday morning."
After spending an afternoon in a coffee shop with Carpenter, I learned a great deal about his songwriting style, life as a musician and more about music in general.
Like many college students, Carpenter went through a summer of reflection and soul-searching. He decided to take one summer slow, only taking a couple of classes, taking a break from playing shows and just trying to find himself. At some point in that summer before his senior year at Berklee, Carpenter found himself someplace in between Batman and Bubba Sparxxx. "I think 'Batman Begins' is the perfect movie for 20-somethings trying to find themselves," he says. "It is one of the few superhero movies where the plot makes sense. It's like, 'Of course, that's how he became Batman! Maybe I should move to Mongolia and become a ninja, too!' "Bubba Sparxxx's unique blend of country and hip hop showed Carpenter that you didn't have to do what people expect. "It was like a gift from the heavens when I wrote 'Art Kids,' " he says. "I was trying to figure out who I was, when it hit me: I'm just this awkward, outcast musical theatre kid from the sticks. "After talking to some friends with the same background, I realized there were these pockets of people throughout the country - we were all 'art kids from the country'!"
Besides Batman and Bubba Sparxxx, Lucas has been inspired by a wide variety of artists from The Beatles to Pharrell Williams to Bobby Pinson."
I try not to listen to singer/songwriters too much because a lot of it really bores me and it's the same thing over and over again," he says.
"That's why I listen to a lot of hip hop because I think it's progressing and really at the forefront of music today. "People like Pharrell Williams are completely pushing the envelope of what music is and what music can be. I love Bobby Pinson. Not many people know him. He did that tune, 'Don't Ask Me How I Know.' Lyrically, if Shakespeare wrote country music, he would be Bobby Pinson. The way he paints these pictures is so beautiful and so profound. "What Robert Frost did for the country and rural forests, and what Ansel Adams did with photography for the country, I think Bobby Pinson does that for country music - that's probably a bold statement for me to say, but I believe it. "Ben Gibbard of The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie is great, too; lyrically, he's on another planet. I think it's him, Bobby Pinson and Eminem hanging out on that lyrical genius planet.
"For new listeners, Lucas would recommend checking out "Art Kids from the Country" because it is probably the most representative of what he does with live looping where he records himself playing several different instruments. If you are checking him out live for the first time, he definitely wants you to hear "Ice Cream Truck" - one of my personal favorites. " 'Ice Cream Truck' is a lot of fun because I do a lot of looping with that, and I play the penny whistle for that one," he says. "I cover a lot of strange songs, like 'Sexy Back' by Justin Timberlake. This past tour, I did 'Don't Matter' by Akon which is another fun song to sing. I do a few pop cover songs because they are fun and people really get into them."
Catch him now, so you can say you knew him when …

I picked Lucas for today's selection because he will be playing in Ardmore, PA at the Milkboy Cafe this Saturday, Feb 9th. (A little birthday present to me, maybe!?)

The show starts at 7...Hope to see you there!

Abbey


OTHER LUCAS CARPENTER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
* His song GOD FELL SILENT, was featured in the independent film "Inclusions", which won Best Feature Film at the 2007 Northampton International Film Festival and will be featured at the 2008 Festivus Film Festival
* Has opened for Pete Francis of Dispatch, and members of The Click Five
* Has recorded his music with veteran producer Bill Scheniman (Mick Jagger, Carly Simon, Bon Jovi)
* Winner of the 2004, 2005, and 2006 Berklee Songwriting Contests with his song MORNING TOUCHING DOWN IN NEW YORK and MAKING MIRRORS EXTINCT
* LCs CRIMSON CROWN was selected from over 400 applicants for Berklees 2004 Heavy Rotation Records CD, distributed by Rounder Records
* 2006 Graduated of the Berklee College of Music with a degree in songwriting and has studied under Jeff Ramsey (Maxwell, Al Jarreau, Diana Ross), Jamey Haddad (Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Carly Simon), Pat Pattison (author: Writing Better Lyrics), and Livingston Taylor.

Fiction Plane

Happy Super Bowl!

What did you think of Tom Petty's performance? I did not like the production...weak. The weird black hole thing? The cheesy heart and guitar/arrow...weird. Not enough fireworks.

Anyways, today, my pick is Fiction Plane from England. I don't know very much about this band, but I love their song, "Two Sisters." Their lead singer, Joe Sumner, is the son of Sting...and you can definitely see AND hear the family resemblance. They gained some popularity after opening for The Police in 2007, but Joe has been quoted as not feeling very comfortable with being initially associated with his rockstar father.

I think it's okay to get your name out there because of your father, but you better have some great music to solidify your reputation among fans.

Check them out for yourself...





Abbey

Eisley

Time for another band!

Eisley is my pick for today. This band out of Tyler, TX consists of 5 members of the Dupree family--3 sisters, a brother, and a cousin--all extremely talented, too. The first time I saw this band was opening for New Found Glory, which is a rather odd pairing because their sound is definitely more folky than pop-punky. They describe their sound as indie-rock/pop. Their album, Room Noises, tends to put me in a such a mellow mood that I often mind myself falling asleep--but that's not a bad thing!



The band was formed in 1997 when the youngest Dupree wrote the band's first song at age EIGHT! Labels started taking notice early and the band is now signed to Warner/Reprise Records.

My last suggestion, Griffin House has the power to capture your attention right away, but Eisley is a little different. I don't think it's that you have to be in the right mood, but you have to be willing to hear something different. The band has opened for many big acts such as Coldplay, Brand New, Snow Patrol, New Found Glory, The Fray, Switchfoot, Taking Back Sunday, Mute Math, etc.

The Dupree sisters had been getting a lot of press in the last couple of years because their music has led to romance. Sherri Dupree married Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory (a while after the bands toured together), and Chauntelle Dupree was engaged to Adam Lazarra of Taking Back Sunday and set to marry in March of 2008. Sadly, as I was researching this band today, I discovered that both couples have split. No one likes to hear that kind of news :(

If you are thinking of romance, I swear that the songs, "My Lovely" and "Just Like We Do," are destined to be featured on the soundtrack for a romantic comedy someday. I have yet to be disappointed by any of the bands songs. Even when Sherri was sick at a show in Philly once, the live performance didn't suffer.

I don't think I can accurately describe Eisley's sound, but this is a little of what their myspace says:
Indie Rock, (on a major; but that's just a style vs. status issue). Emotional but not Emo (stop saying emo). Pop but not so popular (Warhol did pop in a commercial way. Rauchenberg did pop in fine art way). Soul-ful but not Soul,Dream-pop, but not a Dreamsicle (well, maybe... if dark chocolate replaced the vanilla interior). Alt (because AP magazine says so.) but not alternative...Maybe if the Fathers of "Alt" endorsed it, but Stipe or Cobaine will never agree. Haunting but not in an evil way; not like a scary, scary clown. Folkish (sometimes) but not country. Catchy - like when you catchy a fishy. Moody but not e-winey. Melodic - yes.very ...Radio Rock? Not so far; the machine says they're not "broad" enuf' lyrically, so maybe that's good...

Enough talking, not enough listening...go check them out! They have a new album that I haven't picked up yet, but what I have heard so far is great. Room Noises is great, and their newest release, Combinations, is even better.

Oh wait! They also have ANOTHER EP out called Like The Actors. I guess we both have a lot of listening to do now...


Abbey

Griffin House

Hey there,

My pick for today is actually an old favorite of mine that has recently been revived.

I first heard Griffin House at The Point in Bryn Mawr, PA in early 2005, I believe. The Point is unfortunately closed now; it was a GREAT little coffee shop for live music. Fun Fact: The Point was owned by Jesse and Rich of Point Entertainment, who I hired last summer during my internship to do production for the Campus Philly Kick-Off. Full circle!

Anyway, Griffin House is described as rock/folk/punk, but I would have to say he is pretty country. I normally don't like country music very much, but Griffin has a lot of soul and charm. He's from my homestate of Ohio, so what more needs to be said?!

You have probably heard him before, but never knew it. His song, "Waterfall" was featured on a commercial for Rembrandt Oral Health. During my research, I realized that this commercial debuted exactly a year ago today during an episode of Desperate Housewives. The commercial was deemed risque and controversy ensued...YouTube even has a disclaimer, but honestly, it's just kissing. Take a look...





If you are looking for a really sappy love song (that is actually good), fall in love with Griffin's "The Guy That Says Goodbye (To You Is Out Of His Mind)".

I haven't heard much of his new material, but it sounds pretty good. I recommend his album, Lost and Found. You can listen to some of his old stuff on his PureVolume site; I remember really enjoying, "Tell Me Lie", live when I first saw them. When I saw GH for the second time at World Cafe Live, they expanded a bit from their original acoustic sound to more of a rock and roll groove. All of the tracks that I have found online sound mostly acoustic and country-like, but believe me when I tell you that Griffin can be classified as blues/rock/jazz/country/etc....

This is great music to relax to, study to, take a hike or a drive to, whatever...Griffin definitely sets a mood. Lost and Found is pretty mellow, but tracks like "The Way I Was Made" take you by surprise. Take a listen and see if you are captivated like I was.


Bio of Griffin House:

Griffin House is a performer. The Ohio native possesses a talent for literally sucking the background noise out of a concert venue, turning it into his own musical vacuum. Go to a show in any city, and you'll find House playing a small, crowded venue. You've probably never heard his oddball name (is it one guy or a band?) before, but decide to pay attention between trips to the bar. An intense House approaches the mic, sings a few lyrics over a simple chord progression, and instantly you're locked on him. You can't look away, you can't think of anything else and wouldn't want to if you could. The room is silent, save the frequency from the amplifiers. Interrupted only by his own nervous chatter, House plays a brief but immaculate set of folksy rock tunes that sends you dashing to the merchandise table to buy up all the CDs you can get your hands on. This is how most fans, including VH1 Senior Vice President Bill Flanagan, have come to pay him accolades. "I bought (House's) CD (after a show in New York City), and this never happens. I took it home and must have listened to it 20 times that weekend," Flanagan said on the Aug. 28 edition of "CBS Sunday Morning." (A clip of the show is available at www.myspace.com/griffinhouse) Flanagan put House on an esteemed list of the five best emerging songwriters in the U.S., alongside Ray Lamontagne and Joseph Arthur. At 25, House is a study in ambition. He tirelessly writes lyrics and works out melodies on his Martin acoustic. House's career is in its adolescence, but it's also something of a quick success. After the CBS feature, House's second album "Lost & Found" went to No. 1 at Amazon.com and remained in the top spot for several days. "I think we are in the very beginning," House said. "Even Lost & Found, it was not a record that had any money pushed behind it. I'm hoping with the next record and with the touring and having a fan base, people will take better notice when it hits the stores." His newest tracks are a collection of gutsy rock songs like "Murder in the First," "Czech Republic," "Cause I Miss You," along with the quixotic "The Guy that Says Goodbye to You is Out of his Mind." A former golf phenom from Southwest Ohio suburbia, House carries himself as one might picture a young, sinewy Neal Cassady, with all the infectious energy. House is his own muse. He's a chameleon - audiences are never quite sure which guy will show up. Will it be the quiet, bearded troubadour who gently strums on a bare stage with only drum and keyboard accompaniment? Or perhaps a lucky crowd will get to catch a glimpse of a leaping gnome disguised as a front man for a band composed of Nashville musicians Ian Fitchuk on drums, Cason Cooley on piano, Court Clement on lead guitar and Jeff Irwin on bass. Despite not yet signing with a major label, House acknowledged there are certain perks of being unsigned. "I've met with labels that are interested in what we are doing, but no one's involved in giving us money to make a record, but nobody's telling us what to - we have complete freedom to do what we want," he said. House has said he didn't learn how to write songs until he heard Springsteen and Woody Guthrie, who he discovered after hearing to Wilco and Billy Bragg's Mermaid Avenue albums. VH1's Flanagan noted House's influences as a blend of Wilco, U2 and Ryan Adams. "He's a young man with a young man's influences," Flanagan said. His Nettwerk America debut, "Lost & Found," released in 2004 and recorded in Nashville, highlights the best of what House has to offer. In it, he expresses conflicting themes of spirituality, love, redemption and betrayal with lush melodies and clever lyrics. The experience of playing live shows and getting better at performing his songs has given House a new perspective. "In terms of learning about arrangements and learning how to keep a song interesting from start to finish is something I've gotten better at. I feel like I have writer's block 95 percent of the time. You'll hear a melody or a part that you've been kicking around in your head, a myriad of words that are the best way to express how you feel," he said. "I feel like words are guests who are knocking at your door and you either let them in or turn them away." Unlike those unwanted words, House has no intentions of ever being turned away.
~Benjamin Poston

Jet Lag Gemini

Hi there!

The first band I would like to profile is Jet Lag Gemini of Doghouse Records. Conveniently, their new album, Fire The Cannons, is hitting stores TODAY, January 22nd.

I first heard about these guys when I was doing some freelance writing for NYBreakOutBands.com. JLG was one of the featured bands, and they were also touring with some of my other favorite bands last summer, Suburban Legends and Patent Pending.

I spent some time with the guys last November in NYC, and I have to say, this isn't your average band. Read part of their bio from their MySpace to see just how unique this band is...

"Representing three countries between them, lead singer/rhythm guitarist, Misha Safonov (22), emigrated from Russia in 1993, lead guitarist, Vlad Gheorghiu (18) and his brother and bass player, Matt (Mathei) Gheorghiu (20), came to the U.S. seven years ago from Romania. Rounding out the band, drummer Dan Diliberto (18), the lone non-immigrant of the group, grew up in New Jersey.
The band’s first EP, Business (Doghouse Records 2006), with its playful and classic rock leanings, merely hinted at things to come. Jet Lag Gemini’s knack for blending the energy of more abrasive bands with great pop hooks and hair-raising guitar solos, has won them countless fans both locally and nationwide. This culminated in several national tours including dates on the Vans Warped Tour, as well as playing with Hellogoodbye, The Almost, The Matches, Halifax, and others.
Produced by Jon Kaplan (The Starting Line, Lola Ray), Fire The Cannons is the perfect marriage of both shimmery pop and rock ‘n’ roll grit, and will be released by Doghouse Records on January 22, 2008. It will be a rock odyssey you will surely not want to miss."

Their song, "Run This City," was used as a theme for Dunkin Donuts and their sponsorship of the 2007 NYC Marathon, and this same song was recently featured on an episode of MTV's "The Hills."

Their performance at the Marathon was impressive because it was freezing outside, very early in the morning, and they didn't really have a crowd. The stage was situated at the 26 mile marker, across from spectator stands (who were there for the Marathon...not the band). Here are some photos from their performance at the NYC Marathon...

Thanks for reading! Check out Jet Lag Gemini or even pick up their new album, Fire The Cannons!

The First Movement

Hi there!
Welcome to my blog about music. I love to discover new music--online and at shows. A lot of the bands that I have been following over the last 5 years or so are starting to hit it big (like Paramore getting a Grammy nod?!).

I will be selecting a band to highlight a few times a week. Let me know what you think! Good or bad!

Thanks

Abbey