I know it's been an eternity since I last updated this thing, and a lot has happened since then. But I don't want to bore you with all my personal crap.
Anyway, without further ado, here are my lists for Best Music in 2010:
Best Albums
50. Motion City Soundtrack- My Dinosaur Life
49. Band of Horses- Infinite Arms
48. The Gaslight Anthem- American Slang
47. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Soundtrack
46. Broken Social Scene- Forgiveness Rock Record
45. I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business- The World We Know
44. School of Seven Bells- Disconnect from Desire
43. The Dead Weather- Sea of Cowards
42. Stars- The Five Ghosts
41. Warpaint- The Fool
40. Ra Ra Riot- The Orchard
39. Circa Survive- Blue Sky Noise
38. Sufjan Stevens- The Age of Adz
37. Wavves- King of the Beach
36. Neon Trees- Habits
35. Jenny and Johnny- I’m Having Fun Now
34. She & Him- Volume Two
33. Broken Bells- Broken Bells
32. Titus Andronicus- The Monitor
31. No Age- Everything In Between
30. Tokyo Police Club- Champ
29. The Morning Benders- Big Echo
28. Steel Train- Steel Train
27. Sleigh Bells- Treats
26. Big Boi- Sir Lucious Left Foot
25. Linkin Park- A Thousand Suns
24. Brandon Flowers- Flamingo
23. Best Coast- Crazy For You
22. Angus & Julia Stone- Down The Way
21. Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest
20. Kid Cudi- Man On The Moon II
19. Deftones- Diamond Eyes
18. Young the Giant- Young the Giant
17. Surfer Blood- Astro Coast
16. Vampire Weekend- Contra
15. Janelle Monae- The ArchAndroid
14. Gorillaz- Plastic Beach
13. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
12. Two Door Cinema Club- Tourist History
11. Hellogoodbye- Would It Kill You?
10. Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More
9. Beach House- Teen Dream
8. The National- High Violet
7. LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening
6. The Tallest Man on Earth- The Wild Hunt
5. Frightened Rabbit- The Winter of Mixed Drinks
4. Freelance Whales- Weathervanes
3. The Black Keys- Brothers
2. Local Natives- Gorilla Manor
1. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
Best EPs
5. A Classic Education- Hey There Stranger
4. Lydia- Assailants
3. Tallest Man on Earth- Sometimes the Blues Is Just a Passing Bird
2. Girls- Broken Dreams Club
1. Geographer- Animal Shapes
Albums that I tried my BEST listening to but simply could not get into for one reason or another
5. Interpol- Self-titled
4. Jonsi- Go
3. Joanna Newsom- Have One on Me
2. Yeasayer- Odd Blood
1. M.I.A.- MAYA
Best Shows of 2010 (that I’ve witnessed within the Bay Area)
10. The Dodos w/Magik Magik Orchestra @ Palace of Fine Arts (Feb. 25)
9. Freelance Whales @ Rickshaw Stop (Nov. 19)
8. The Avett Brothers @ Oakland Fox Theater (Apr. 17)
7. The Black Keys @ Live 105’s Not So Silent Night @ San Jose Pavilion (Dec. 10)
6. Phoenix @ Outside Lands Festival @ Golden Gate Park (Aug. 15)
5. Atoms for Peace @ Oakland Fox Theater (Apr. 14)
4. The National @ Treasure Island Festival (Oct. 17)
3. Weezer @ Nob Hill Masonic Center (Nov. 29)
2. Mumford and Sons @ The Warfield (Oct. 20)
1. Arcade Fire @ Berkeley Greek Theatre (Oct. 2)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
New album releases for 6/22/10: VersaEmerge's 'Fixed At Zero'
My latest article posted on examiner.com:
Ah, it’s Tuesday! And you know what that means, right? New music! But, with the multitude of new music being thrown your way, deciding what album to pick up becomes that much more difficult. To make your life easier, here’s a suggestion—go buy VersaEmerge’s new album, Fixed At Zero.
At first glance, the Florida-based female-fronted alt-rock trio is likely to elicit comparisons to their Twilight-bolstered labelmates Paramore. Admittedly, they do have a few things in common. Yes, they’re both on the infamous Fueled by Ramen label, have a petite leading lady with powerhouse vocals and cute, emo-looking boys as back-up. However, it ends right there.
Just one listen to their full-length debut, Fixed At Zero, will make you scoff at even the idea of comparing the two bands (no strike against Paramore, because I love them, too). With grand orchestration, experimental twists, and pristine production, Fixed at Zero takes a unique and engaging approach to the usual alternative & punk that you’re used to. Lead singer Sierra Kusterbeck’s vocals are outstanding, with a controlled range that is way beyond her years. Her sweet yet fierce voice is nicely complemented by Black Harnage’s intricate and driving guitar work. From the enigmatically peering kick-off “Figure It Out” right down to the haunting and intense closer “Lost Tree,” Fixed At Zero is a mysterious pop odyssey that will you have intrigued and keep you going back for more.
Stream Fixed At Zero in its entirety on the band’s Mypace page.
Click here to download the album on iTunes, or you could get off your behind and pick up a physical copy at either Target for $9.99 or Best Buy for $7.99.
Other albums to check out today:
The Roots – How I Got Over
Kele – The Boxer
Sia – We Are Born
Stars – The Five Ghosts
Uffie – Sex Dreams & Denim Jeans
Coliseum – House With a Curse
Health - ::DISCO2
Chemical Brothers – Further
The Constellations – Southern Gothic
Ah, it’s Tuesday! And you know what that means, right? New music! But, with the multitude of new music being thrown your way, deciding what album to pick up becomes that much more difficult. To make your life easier, here’s a suggestion—go buy VersaEmerge’s new album, Fixed At Zero.
At first glance, the Florida-based female-fronted alt-rock trio is likely to elicit comparisons to their Twilight-bolstered labelmates Paramore. Admittedly, they do have a few things in common. Yes, they’re both on the infamous Fueled by Ramen label, have a petite leading lady with powerhouse vocals and cute, emo-looking boys as back-up. However, it ends right there.
Just one listen to their full-length debut, Fixed At Zero, will make you scoff at even the idea of comparing the two bands (no strike against Paramore, because I love them, too). With grand orchestration, experimental twists, and pristine production, Fixed at Zero takes a unique and engaging approach to the usual alternative & punk that you’re used to. Lead singer Sierra Kusterbeck’s vocals are outstanding, with a controlled range that is way beyond her years. Her sweet yet fierce voice is nicely complemented by Black Harnage’s intricate and driving guitar work. From the enigmatically peering kick-off “Figure It Out” right down to the haunting and intense closer “Lost Tree,” Fixed At Zero is a mysterious pop odyssey that will you have intrigued and keep you going back for more.
Stream Fixed At Zero in its entirety on the band’s Mypace page.
Click here to download the album on iTunes, or you could get off your behind and pick up a physical copy at either Target for $9.99 or Best Buy for $7.99.
Other albums to check out today:
The Roots – How I Got Over
Kele – The Boxer
Sia – We Are Born
Stars – The Five Ghosts
Uffie – Sex Dreams & Denim Jeans
Coliseum – House With a Curse
Health - ::DISCO2
Chemical Brothers – Further
The Constellations – Southern Gothic
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Perfect Summer 2010 Playlist
Here's the latest article I wrote for examiner.com:
The wait is over! Summer is finally here! Before you go out in the sun and have some fun, you’ll definitely want to stock up on the right music. Whether you’re chilling by the beach, throwing a killer party, or heading off to your next road trip, here are a few fresh jams to add into your iPod that’ll surely enhance your summer experience:
Katy Perry (feat. Snoop Dogg) – “California Girls”
This one’s a no-brainer. Pop queen Katy Perry’s latest single just screams summer smash: you’ve got palm trees, bikinis, daisy dukes, and Snoop Dogg putting down a slick rhyme. What's not to love about this song?
Sleigh Bells – “Rill Rill”
The Brooklyn boy/girl duo Sleigh Bells is generating some serious buzz with their debut, Treats, which combines sugary pop hooks and massively loud rhythms. Embedded within an album full of fierce sonic explosions, “Rill Rill” is like a refreshing breeze with its chill tempo, sweetly sedative vocals and soaring use of an old-school soul sample.
Surfer Blood – “Floating Vibes”
With a band name like Surfer Blood, one can only assume that surfer rock and beach music must be part of the equation. But, Surfer Blood’s Astro Coast is so much more than that. The album is packed with lots of punch, and “Floating Vibes” is just one of its many shimmering tracks.
She & Him – “In the Sun”
When Zooey Deschannel isn’t lighting up the silver screen, she’s impressing listeners everywhere with her wonderful and luminous indie pop tunes. Veiling hopeless longing with a sunny melody and aw-shucks attitude, “In the Sun” is likely to turn that frown upside down under any circumstances and will probably keep you smiling all summer long.
The Morning Benders – “Excuses”
Pitchfork shined the spotlight on this Berkeley quartet, giving them a glowing review for their sophomore album, Big Echo. In a perfect encapsulation: “…[Excuses] rubs the sleep out of its eyes with a single electric guitar surfing over a sea of hazy, twinkling piano keys, before an acoustic guitar figure bursts wide open like a summer sunrise.”
La Roux – “Bulletproof”
Who would’ve ever thought that a Ginger with a side faux hawk could create such a catchy song? As you much as you might want to escape it, this is one of those songs that’ll get stuck in your head for days on end.
Freelance Whales – “Kilojoules”
From the Brooklyn subway to South by Southwest, Freelance Whales are drawing crowds everywhere with their charmingly quirky sound and unique amalgam of instruments. As the title indicates, this gem of a track is about body heat, but it’s not exactly what you might think.
Janelle Monáe (feat. Big Boi) – “Tightrope”
Falling somewhere between a female version of Andre 3000 and James Brown, Janelle Monáe is making a name for herself with her electrifying stage presence and mad style. “Tightrope” is a funky soulful jam, with handclaps aplenty and colored by some smooth rapping from the other half of the eclectic duo of Outkast.
Travie McCoy (feat. Bruno Mars) – “Billionaire”
Enlisting the help of rising superstar songwriter/producer Bruno Mars, the Gym Class Hero gone solo must’ve known he had a summer hit on his hands way before it was even released. With its laid-back vibe and breezy, reggae-tinged hook, “Billionaire” is an essential sing-a-long made for the sunshine.
LCD Soundsystem – “Dance Yrself Clean”
Logging up close to about 9 minutes, “Dance Yrself Clean” is an epic emotional excursion of pure sonic bliss. It’ll have you laughing, crying, and dancing all at the same time.
Other songs to include:
Tokyo Police Club – “Bambi”
Minus the Bear – “Summer Angel”
B.o.B. (feat. Lupe Fiasco) – “Past My Shades”
Rogue Wave – “Good Morning (The Future)”
Broken Bells – “The Ghost Inside”
Band of Horses – “Laredo”
Jónsi – “Go Do”
Neon Trees – “Animal”
Gorillaz – “Stylo”
Drake – “Find Your Love”
The wait is over! Summer is finally here! Before you go out in the sun and have some fun, you’ll definitely want to stock up on the right music. Whether you’re chilling by the beach, throwing a killer party, or heading off to your next road trip, here are a few fresh jams to add into your iPod that’ll surely enhance your summer experience:
Katy Perry (feat. Snoop Dogg) – “California Girls”
This one’s a no-brainer. Pop queen Katy Perry’s latest single just screams summer smash: you’ve got palm trees, bikinis, daisy dukes, and Snoop Dogg putting down a slick rhyme. What's not to love about this song?
Sleigh Bells – “Rill Rill”
The Brooklyn boy/girl duo Sleigh Bells is generating some serious buzz with their debut, Treats, which combines sugary pop hooks and massively loud rhythms. Embedded within an album full of fierce sonic explosions, “Rill Rill” is like a refreshing breeze with its chill tempo, sweetly sedative vocals and soaring use of an old-school soul sample.
Surfer Blood – “Floating Vibes”
With a band name like Surfer Blood, one can only assume that surfer rock and beach music must be part of the equation. But, Surfer Blood’s Astro Coast is so much more than that. The album is packed with lots of punch, and “Floating Vibes” is just one of its many shimmering tracks.
She & Him – “In the Sun”
When Zooey Deschannel isn’t lighting up the silver screen, she’s impressing listeners everywhere with her wonderful and luminous indie pop tunes. Veiling hopeless longing with a sunny melody and aw-shucks attitude, “In the Sun” is likely to turn that frown upside down under any circumstances and will probably keep you smiling all summer long.
The Morning Benders – “Excuses”
Pitchfork shined the spotlight on this Berkeley quartet, giving them a glowing review for their sophomore album, Big Echo. In a perfect encapsulation: “…[Excuses] rubs the sleep out of its eyes with a single electric guitar surfing over a sea of hazy, twinkling piano keys, before an acoustic guitar figure bursts wide open like a summer sunrise.”
La Roux – “Bulletproof”
Who would’ve ever thought that a Ginger with a side faux hawk could create such a catchy song? As you much as you might want to escape it, this is one of those songs that’ll get stuck in your head for days on end.
Freelance Whales – “Kilojoules”
From the Brooklyn subway to South by Southwest, Freelance Whales are drawing crowds everywhere with their charmingly quirky sound and unique amalgam of instruments. As the title indicates, this gem of a track is about body heat, but it’s not exactly what you might think.
Janelle Monáe (feat. Big Boi) – “Tightrope”
Falling somewhere between a female version of Andre 3000 and James Brown, Janelle Monáe is making a name for herself with her electrifying stage presence and mad style. “Tightrope” is a funky soulful jam, with handclaps aplenty and colored by some smooth rapping from the other half of the eclectic duo of Outkast.
Travie McCoy (feat. Bruno Mars) – “Billionaire”
Enlisting the help of rising superstar songwriter/producer Bruno Mars, the Gym Class Hero gone solo must’ve known he had a summer hit on his hands way before it was even released. With its laid-back vibe and breezy, reggae-tinged hook, “Billionaire” is an essential sing-a-long made for the sunshine.
LCD Soundsystem – “Dance Yrself Clean”
Logging up close to about 9 minutes, “Dance Yrself Clean” is an epic emotional excursion of pure sonic bliss. It’ll have you laughing, crying, and dancing all at the same time.
Other songs to include:
Tokyo Police Club – “Bambi”
Minus the Bear – “Summer Angel”
B.o.B. (feat. Lupe Fiasco) – “Past My Shades”
Rogue Wave – “Good Morning (The Future)”
Broken Bells – “The Ghost Inside”
Band of Horses – “Laredo”
Jónsi – “Go Do”
Neon Trees – “Animal”
Gorillaz – “Stylo”
Drake – “Find Your Love”
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
New album releases for 6/8/2010
Here's an article I wrote for Examiner.com today about some new album releases:
With every Tuesday comes a flurry of new album releases. There are many great albums being released today. Here are a few top recommendations:
Against Me! - White Crosses
Punk rockers Against Me! put themselves on the map with their last release, New Wave, which landed on a number of “best album” lists when it was released in 2007. Once again, the band reunited with renowned producer Butch Vig, who has worked with the likes of Green Day, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins. Fans remain divided about Against Me!’s musical direction, but the Florida-based quartet continue to push on, with new member George Rebelo in tow.
Tokyo Police Club - Champ
Tokyo Police Club made a splash in the indie rock scene with their 16-minute EP, A Lesson in Crime, and subsequent debut Elephant Shell. A couple of years after their emergence, this Canadian foursome set to triumph over the sophomore curse with their latest effort, Champ.
Travie McCoy - Lazarus
Gym Class Hero frontman Travie McCoy makes his solo debut on his new album, Lazarus. His lead single, which features the hot talent of Bruno Mars, is already rising up the charts, peaking at #11 on the Billboard’s Hot 100. With all the buzz generated from his recent hit, it looks like Lazarus will take McCoy one step closer to realizing his dreams of fame and fortune.
“The Twlight Saga: Eclipse” Soundtrack
The soundtrack for the much beloved vampire romance boasts yet another all-star line-up, basically showcasing the who’s who of the indie/alternative scene. Muse, The Bravery, Vampire Weekend, and Beck are just a few of the notable names gathered for this impressive compilation.
Christina Aguilera – Bionic
She’s back! Pop/R&B diva Christina Aguilera clearly wanted to make a statement with her fourth studio album, Bionic. Enlisting the help of M.I.A., Sia, Santigold, Ladytron, and many others, Aguilera takes her music to new heights, and that very tendency towards experimentation and diversity demonstrates just why she’s on top of the music game.
Other recommended releases:
AM Taxi - We Don’t Stand a Chance
The Cure - Disintegration
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Destroyers of the Void - Blitzen Trapper
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Hanson - Shout it Out
Hot Hot Heat - Future Breeds
Here We Go Magic – Pigeons
Nada Surf - If I Had A Hi-Fi
Ratatat - LP4
Rookie of the Year - The Most Beautiful
Rooney - Eureka
The Roots - How I Got Over
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
Trash Talk - Eyes & Nines
The Young Veins - Take Vacation
What CDs are you picking up today?
With every Tuesday comes a flurry of new album releases. There are many great albums being released today. Here are a few top recommendations:
Against Me! - White CrossesPunk rockers Against Me! put themselves on the map with their last release, New Wave, which landed on a number of “best album” lists when it was released in 2007. Once again, the band reunited with renowned producer Butch Vig, who has worked with the likes of Green Day, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins. Fans remain divided about Against Me!’s musical direction, but the Florida-based quartet continue to push on, with new member George Rebelo in tow.
Tokyo Police Club - Champ
Tokyo Police Club made a splash in the indie rock scene with their 16-minute EP, A Lesson in Crime, and subsequent debut Elephant Shell. A couple of years after their emergence, this Canadian foursome set to triumph over the sophomore curse with their latest effort, Champ.
Travie McCoy - Lazarus
Gym Class Hero frontman Travie McCoy makes his solo debut on his new album, Lazarus. His lead single, which features the hot talent of Bruno Mars, is already rising up the charts, peaking at #11 on the Billboard’s Hot 100. With all the buzz generated from his recent hit, it looks like Lazarus will take McCoy one step closer to realizing his dreams of fame and fortune.
“The Twlight Saga: Eclipse” Soundtrack
The soundtrack for the much beloved vampire romance boasts yet another all-star line-up, basically showcasing the who’s who of the indie/alternative scene. Muse, The Bravery, Vampire Weekend, and Beck are just a few of the notable names gathered for this impressive compilation.
Christina Aguilera – Bionic
She’s back! Pop/R&B diva Christina Aguilera clearly wanted to make a statement with her fourth studio album, Bionic. Enlisting the help of M.I.A., Sia, Santigold, Ladytron, and many others, Aguilera takes her music to new heights, and that very tendency towards experimentation and diversity demonstrates just why she’s on top of the music game.
Other recommended releases:
AM Taxi - We Don’t Stand a Chance
The Cure - Disintegration
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Destroyers of the Void - Blitzen Trapper
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Hanson - Shout it Out
Hot Hot Heat - Future Breeds
Here We Go Magic – Pigeons
Nada Surf - If I Had A Hi-Fi
Ratatat - LP4
Rookie of the Year - The Most Beautiful
Rooney - Eureka
The Roots - How I Got Over
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
Trash Talk - Eyes & Nines
The Young Veins - Take Vacation
What CDs are you picking up today?
My New Gig- Bay Area Music Examiner
Hello Everyone!
So I started writing for the Examiner.com as an official 'Bay Area Music Examiner.' You can keep track of my articles here. Feel free to comment on and subscribe to my Examiner.com page. The more readership I get the better! And the more I could provide you guys with better coverage and content.
But, don't worry! I'll be sure to keep you updated on this blog as well, in addition to giving you guys special exclusives (some stuff that I might not include for my examiner.com articles). So be sure to still keep an eye out on this blog. :D
So I started writing for the Examiner.com as an official 'Bay Area Music Examiner.' You can keep track of my articles here. Feel free to comment on and subscribe to my Examiner.com page. The more readership I get the better! And the more I could provide you guys with better coverage and content.
But, don't worry! I'll be sure to keep you updated on this blog as well, in addition to giving you guys special exclusives (some stuff that I might not include for my examiner.com articles). So be sure to still keep an eye out on this blog. :D
Monday, June 7, 2010
So Long CW...
Hello Everyone!
Sorry for my absence these last few weeks. In the midst of school, work, and my internship, I was a very very busy girl. And oh yeah! Not to mention the little fact that I just graduated from college. It was an interesting run to say the least. Now that I've closed that chapter in my life, time to start a new one.
I think the saddest part of it all is that since I'm no longer a student, I had to say goodbye as an intern for the CW. I've had some of the best moments of my life through that internship. Of course, my favorite thing about the internship was doing the band interviews.
I've already posted up a few from the past, but here are the rest of them:
We did this interview with The Dodos during the NoisePop Festival in February, just before they took the stage with The Magik Magik* Orchestra. Even though I already had a few interviews under my belt up to this point, I was especially nervous during this one because well...I kind of have like this huge crush on Meric Long. Not gonna lie...the man is hott. Lol. The guys were some really nice dudes, though. I was super stoked that I got Meric to sing the Pito Land song. I had seen him do it in some past obscure interview, and I wasn't too sure if he was willing to do it again since it's so silly. But, Logan and Meric were such good sports.
Here's another one that we did during the NoisePop Festival with Pat from Rogue Wave. This interview was pretty last minute. I had just been informed of it only a couple of days ahead, so I crammed in the research and churned out the questions. I was worried going into it, since I didn't have as much time to prepare. Luckily, it turned out great and Pat was super friendly and enthusiastic. Oh and during the interview with Pat, John Vanderslice just happened to be there watching and hanging out (to be honest, I didn't know who he was at the time lol).
Here's an interview we did with the up-and-coming local trio Geographer. At this point, I think they were kind of new to the whole interviewing process (in front of the camera), but the guys did really well. Also, this interview was kind of hectic because we were in a bit of a time bind. We had to finish this interview before one of the other bands took to the stage for their soundcheck, so we only had like 20 minutes. Luckily, everything turned out alright and we finished just in time. It also helped that they answered the questions concisely. I also loved how Mike answered the T-Pain question. Lol. After the interview, Mike said he was glad that I asked him that.
Here's the last interview I conducted with Ryan Star. Knowing that he came from the show Rockstar: Supernova, I was apprehensive that he would have one of those rockstar, holier-than-thou complexes. But no, he turned out to be totally cool. He kind of was a little contrived with some of his answers, but his charisma definitely overshadowed the fact. I was especially excited to ask him about the Backstreet Boys question. I had only found about it like the day of, as I was checking out his twitter earlier on in the day. So, I just tagged it along with all my already-prepared questions. It just shows that up-to-the-minute research always pays off.
Well thanks for bearing with me as I was took that stroll down CW memory lane. Interviewing bands was a totally surreal experience. It was like I was William from Almost Famous. I never really ever got used to the whole experience. My nerves would always be there, but I always got through it, at the same time. This internship gave me a taste of what could be. I'm still determined to incorporate music into my career...no matter what...
Sorry for my absence these last few weeks. In the midst of school, work, and my internship, I was a very very busy girl. And oh yeah! Not to mention the little fact that I just graduated from college. It was an interesting run to say the least. Now that I've closed that chapter in my life, time to start a new one.
I think the saddest part of it all is that since I'm no longer a student, I had to say goodbye as an intern for the CW. I've had some of the best moments of my life through that internship. Of course, my favorite thing about the internship was doing the band interviews.
I've already posted up a few from the past, but here are the rest of them:
We did this interview with The Dodos during the NoisePop Festival in February, just before they took the stage with The Magik Magik* Orchestra. Even though I already had a few interviews under my belt up to this point, I was especially nervous during this one because well...I kind of have like this huge crush on Meric Long. Not gonna lie...the man is hott. Lol. The guys were some really nice dudes, though. I was super stoked that I got Meric to sing the Pito Land song. I had seen him do it in some past obscure interview, and I wasn't too sure if he was willing to do it again since it's so silly. But, Logan and Meric were such good sports.
Here's another one that we did during the NoisePop Festival with Pat from Rogue Wave. This interview was pretty last minute. I had just been informed of it only a couple of days ahead, so I crammed in the research and churned out the questions. I was worried going into it, since I didn't have as much time to prepare. Luckily, it turned out great and Pat was super friendly and enthusiastic. Oh and during the interview with Pat, John Vanderslice just happened to be there watching and hanging out (to be honest, I didn't know who he was at the time lol).
Here's an interview we did with the up-and-coming local trio Geographer. At this point, I think they were kind of new to the whole interviewing process (in front of the camera), but the guys did really well. Also, this interview was kind of hectic because we were in a bit of a time bind. We had to finish this interview before one of the other bands took to the stage for their soundcheck, so we only had like 20 minutes. Luckily, everything turned out alright and we finished just in time. It also helped that they answered the questions concisely. I also loved how Mike answered the T-Pain question. Lol. After the interview, Mike said he was glad that I asked him that.
Here's the last interview I conducted with Ryan Star. Knowing that he came from the show Rockstar: Supernova, I was apprehensive that he would have one of those rockstar, holier-than-thou complexes. But no, he turned out to be totally cool. He kind of was a little contrived with some of his answers, but his charisma definitely overshadowed the fact. I was especially excited to ask him about the Backstreet Boys question. I had only found about it like the day of, as I was checking out his twitter earlier on in the day. So, I just tagged it along with all my already-prepared questions. It just shows that up-to-the-minute research always pays off.
Well thanks for bearing with me as I was took that stroll down CW memory lane. Interviewing bands was a totally surreal experience. It was like I was William from Almost Famous. I never really ever got used to the whole experience. My nerves would always be there, but I always got through it, at the same time. This internship gave me a taste of what could be. I'm still determined to incorporate music into my career...no matter what...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Avett Brothers @ Fox Theater
It was only last year that I grew smitten with The Avett Brothers. Their major label debut, “I and Love and You,” produced by Rick Rubin, was my top album of 2009. It was the way they blended these different elements of country, folk, and bluegrass with pop, punk, and rock ‘n’ roll that caught the attention of my ears. As I listened to the album more and more, I could feel a personal connection to the honesty of their lyrics.
I got to see them this past Saturday at the Fox Theater. Posted up my thoughts about it on the CW Blog:
Hailing from North Carolina, The Avett Brothers, consisting of brothers Scott and Seth Avett, on banjo and guitar, plus stand-up bassist Bob Crawford, cellist Joe Kwon and new touring drummer Jacob Edwards, are well-known for their intense and raucous live shows. Knowing this, I was incredibly excited going into their sold-out show this past Saturday (4/17) at Oakland’s Fox Theater.
Clean-shaven and neatly dressed to impress, the band surfaced onto the stage to the earsplitting cheers of the crowd, who were a random mix of young and old, frat boys and punk rockers, hipsters and hillbillies.
After the acoustic opener, “Four Thieves Gone,” the guys immediately went to work, segueing into their soaring epic ballad, “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” (my personal favorite off the latest album). The song was so powerful live, especially with everybody singing along and raising their fists in triumphant enthusiasm. From there, the crowd participation only increased, as the band proceeded with a couple of fun and bouncy numbers, “Go to Sleep” and “Kick Drum Heart.”
The energy level never let up throughout the entire show. Even with the slower acoustic ballads like, “November Blue” and “Murder in the City,” the audience remained completely engaged.
Brothers Scott and Seth were perfectly harmonized, both with their vocal harmonizing and complementary instrumentation. Their vocals were spot-on, switching from sweet, calming whispers to full-throated screams with ease. The two took turns on lead vocals and would swap duties between piano and guitar. Scott absolutely killed it on the banjo, frenetically strumming and plucking with superior skill (seriously, I’ve never seen anyone rock so hard on a banjo).
Bob Crawford on the upright bass and cellist Joe Kwon were just as animated and proficient with their instruments, pleasantly hopping along to the fast tunes and demonstrating their fine technique on the slower songs.
The Brothers were fine with handling percussion on their own, through their stomping and slapping of instruments, but Jacob Edwards stepped in to drum for a few songs when they needed an extra rock oomph to the overall sound.
The Avett Brothers’ performance was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. It wasn’t long before they came back on stage for the encore. Being the polite Southern Gentleman, Seth voiced his appreciation by saying, “You’re too kind” with a warm smile. The band ended the night with a Roger Miller cover, “Where Have All the Average People Gone” and their latest single, “Slight Figure of Speech.”
If you’re on the fence about The Avett Brothers, I recommend going to one of their live shows. It’s guaranteed you’ll be in for a good time.
http://www.myspace.com/theavettbrothers
Here's a little snippet I caught from the show of the band playing, "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise". Sorry for the not so great quality. My seat was pretty far, my hand was shaky, and people's heads were in the way:
Here's another video (that someone else took) of Scott playing "Murder in the City". One of the most memorable performances of the night:
I got to see them this past Saturday at the Fox Theater. Posted up my thoughts about it on the CW Blog:
Hailing from North Carolina, The Avett Brothers, consisting of brothers Scott and Seth Avett, on banjo and guitar, plus stand-up bassist Bob Crawford, cellist Joe Kwon and new touring drummer Jacob Edwards, are well-known for their intense and raucous live shows. Knowing this, I was incredibly excited going into their sold-out show this past Saturday (4/17) at Oakland’s Fox Theater.
Clean-shaven and neatly dressed to impress, the band surfaced onto the stage to the earsplitting cheers of the crowd, who were a random mix of young and old, frat boys and punk rockers, hipsters and hillbillies.
After the acoustic opener, “Four Thieves Gone,” the guys immediately went to work, segueing into their soaring epic ballad, “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” (my personal favorite off the latest album). The song was so powerful live, especially with everybody singing along and raising their fists in triumphant enthusiasm. From there, the crowd participation only increased, as the band proceeded with a couple of fun and bouncy numbers, “Go to Sleep” and “Kick Drum Heart.”
The energy level never let up throughout the entire show. Even with the slower acoustic ballads like, “November Blue” and “Murder in the City,” the audience remained completely engaged.
Brothers Scott and Seth were perfectly harmonized, both with their vocal harmonizing and complementary instrumentation. Their vocals were spot-on, switching from sweet, calming whispers to full-throated screams with ease. The two took turns on lead vocals and would swap duties between piano and guitar. Scott absolutely killed it on the banjo, frenetically strumming and plucking with superior skill (seriously, I’ve never seen anyone rock so hard on a banjo).
Bob Crawford on the upright bass and cellist Joe Kwon were just as animated and proficient with their instruments, pleasantly hopping along to the fast tunes and demonstrating their fine technique on the slower songs.
The Brothers were fine with handling percussion on their own, through their stomping and slapping of instruments, but Jacob Edwards stepped in to drum for a few songs when they needed an extra rock oomph to the overall sound.
The Avett Brothers’ performance was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. It wasn’t long before they came back on stage for the encore. Being the polite Southern Gentleman, Seth voiced his appreciation by saying, “You’re too kind” with a warm smile. The band ended the night with a Roger Miller cover, “Where Have All the Average People Gone” and their latest single, “Slight Figure of Speech.”
If you’re on the fence about The Avett Brothers, I recommend going to one of their live shows. It’s guaranteed you’ll be in for a good time.
http://www.myspace.com/theavettbrothers
Here's a little snippet I caught from the show of the band playing, "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise". Sorry for the not so great quality. My seat was pretty far, my hand was shaky, and people's heads were in the way:
Here's another video (that someone else took) of Scott playing "Murder in the City". One of the most memorable performances of the night:
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Atoms for Peace @ Fox Theater
Hey Peeps! Apologies for not updating for a while. I'll be graduating college in about a month or so, so these past few weeks have been quite busy.
Earlier this week, I got to go check out Thom Yorke's Atoms for Peace @ Oakland's Fox Theater. It was amazing to say the least. I posted about it up on my Cw Blog.
I ended up editing some stuff out on for that blog for the sake of keeping it concise, so here's my fuller, unedited review of the show:
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke released his solo side project, “The Eraser,” in 2006, but only late last year did he assemble the recently named Atoms for Peace. Consisting of Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, famed session drummer Joey Waronker, and Brazillian percussionist Mauro Refosco, this ragtag ensemble is on an eight-date tour, hitting up a few major cities in the US, of course, including the two sold-out dates in the Bay Area’s own Fox Theater in Oakland. I attended the first show on Wednesday night (4/14).
If you were like me, you probably thought WTH is up with this line-up, right? However, watching the band makes you come to understand how it all, in some strange and crazy way, perfectly fits together. It’s one of those things you have to see to believe.
I really didn’t know what to expect. “The Eraser,” with its electronic glitchiness and mostly gloomy tone, is one of those albums that is perfect for a rainy day or a lonely zone-out (or both). Apparently, Thom Yorke was set on turning the album inside-out, astonishing the crowd with an oddly colorful and groove-heavy live arrangement. Mostly, he just wanted to get people dancing (and I have a feeling this whole thing was an excuse for him to show us his crazy awesome moves).
Starting with the title track, “The Eraser,” Atoms for Peace were clearly ready to kick things off into high gear dance-mode as a jazz trumpeter burst out during the last few minutes of the song. The band managed to gain complete control of the crowd from the get-go and held on to it for pretty much the rest of the night.
The band surprisingly had some great chemistry. Thom and Flea were like a match-made in heaven, dance heaven that is. Flea was like this big blue-haired ball of non-stop energy, jumping all around and doing his whole tribalistic-like, convulsive strut. Thom had a couple of go-to moves of his own: one being the “sexy” dance, where he sensually swayed his hips from side-to-side, with arms flailing above his head; the other being the “freakout”, where he just spazzed out like crazy as if a bomb went off.
Anybody else pulling off those moves would’ve looked like a fool. But, it’s Thom Yorke, and anything he does is plain cool. Plus, there’s something endearing about losing all inhibition, not giving a crap about what people think. You go, Thom!
Lurking not too far behind Thom and Flea were the other three members, who anchored the set down with their calm and cool demeanor and impressive execution.
The band played the entirety of “The Eraser” album from beginning to end. It was truly amazing. Still, the night only got better.
A solo Thom Yorke returned to the stage for a special encore, and a resounding hush fell over the crowd as he played a couple of stripped-down Radiohead covers, including “Like Spinning Plates” and “Everything in its Right Place.” It was no less than awe-inspiring, and the audience loved every minute of it.
There was plenty more where that came from as the rest of the band joined him for a second encore, playing a handful of rarities and b-sides, such as “Paperbag Writer” and “The Hollow Earth.”
Towards the end of the night, as the band left the stage, the crowd showed their utter respect and appreciation with a standing ovation. Even when the houselights came on, the boisterous crowd refused to leave and continued to clap and cheer for a good 15 minutes.
Then, a remarkable thing happened—the band made a glorious return to the stage for a THIRD encore. In all my concert-going days, I’ve never seen anything like it. Atoms finished off the night with an impromptu jam session, as Thom took the helm, teaching the rest of the gang how to play a few parts.
This show was a unique experience I’ll never forget. It’ll easily go down as one of my top shows of 2010.
I took a little video from the show. My seats were pretty high and my hand was kinda shaky, so yeah the quality of this video isn't all that great. But, hey, at least it's something! Here's Thom Yorke playing "Everything in its Right Place":
Earlier this week, I got to go check out Thom Yorke's Atoms for Peace @ Oakland's Fox Theater. It was amazing to say the least. I posted about it up on my Cw Blog.
I ended up editing some stuff out on for that blog for the sake of keeping it concise, so here's my fuller, unedited review of the show:
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke released his solo side project, “The Eraser,” in 2006, but only late last year did he assemble the recently named Atoms for Peace. Consisting of Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, famed session drummer Joey Waronker, and Brazillian percussionist Mauro Refosco, this ragtag ensemble is on an eight-date tour, hitting up a few major cities in the US, of course, including the two sold-out dates in the Bay Area’s own Fox Theater in Oakland. I attended the first show on Wednesday night (4/14).
If you were like me, you probably thought WTH is up with this line-up, right? However, watching the band makes you come to understand how it all, in some strange and crazy way, perfectly fits together. It’s one of those things you have to see to believe.
I really didn’t know what to expect. “The Eraser,” with its electronic glitchiness and mostly gloomy tone, is one of those albums that is perfect for a rainy day or a lonely zone-out (or both). Apparently, Thom Yorke was set on turning the album inside-out, astonishing the crowd with an oddly colorful and groove-heavy live arrangement. Mostly, he just wanted to get people dancing (and I have a feeling this whole thing was an excuse for him to show us his crazy awesome moves).
Starting with the title track, “The Eraser,” Atoms for Peace were clearly ready to kick things off into high gear dance-mode as a jazz trumpeter burst out during the last few minutes of the song. The band managed to gain complete control of the crowd from the get-go and held on to it for pretty much the rest of the night.
The band surprisingly had some great chemistry. Thom and Flea were like a match-made in heaven, dance heaven that is. Flea was like this big blue-haired ball of non-stop energy, jumping all around and doing his whole tribalistic-like, convulsive strut. Thom had a couple of go-to moves of his own: one being the “sexy” dance, where he sensually swayed his hips from side-to-side, with arms flailing above his head; the other being the “freakout”, where he just spazzed out like crazy as if a bomb went off.
Anybody else pulling off those moves would’ve looked like a fool. But, it’s Thom Yorke, and anything he does is plain cool. Plus, there’s something endearing about losing all inhibition, not giving a crap about what people think. You go, Thom!
Lurking not too far behind Thom and Flea were the other three members, who anchored the set down with their calm and cool demeanor and impressive execution.
The band played the entirety of “The Eraser” album from beginning to end. It was truly amazing. Still, the night only got better.
A solo Thom Yorke returned to the stage for a special encore, and a resounding hush fell over the crowd as he played a couple of stripped-down Radiohead covers, including “Like Spinning Plates” and “Everything in its Right Place.” It was no less than awe-inspiring, and the audience loved every minute of it.
There was plenty more where that came from as the rest of the band joined him for a second encore, playing a handful of rarities and b-sides, such as “Paperbag Writer” and “The Hollow Earth.”
Towards the end of the night, as the band left the stage, the crowd showed their utter respect and appreciation with a standing ovation. Even when the houselights came on, the boisterous crowd refused to leave and continued to clap and cheer for a good 15 minutes.
Then, a remarkable thing happened—the band made a glorious return to the stage for a THIRD encore. In all my concert-going days, I’ve never seen anything like it. Atoms finished off the night with an impromptu jam session, as Thom took the helm, teaching the rest of the gang how to play a few parts.
This show was a unique experience I’ll never forget. It’ll easily go down as one of my top shows of 2010.
I took a little video from the show. My seats were pretty high and my hand was kinda shaky, so yeah the quality of this video isn't all that great. But, hey, at least it's something! Here's Thom Yorke playing "Everything in its Right Place":
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Geographer @ Rickshaw Stop 3/11/2010
I just posted up a blog about the Geographer show on the CW website. Here it is:
Celebrating the release of their new EP, Animal Shapes, local threesome Geographer stopped by the Rickshaw Stop this past Thursday night (3/11) to deliver a dazzling set of their electro-pop tunes. The band has amassed quite a lot of buzz within the scene, garnering a swirl of positive press, including a note-worthy nod from Spin Magazine.
The room was packed and the anticipation built up, as fans chattered in excitement, patiently waiting for the Bay Area trio to come on. The band began with a bold statement, kicking off their set with the transcending ethereal anthem, “Each Other’s Ghost.” They made a charming impression, though slightly veered off towards the end of the song with an awkward attempt to rouse a round of synchronized hand-claps amongst audience members. It might’ve been a slight misfire, but kudos to them for at least trying to stir up the crowd.
Once they got into their newer, upbeat and synth-heavy material, the band really started to take flight. Songs like, “Verona” and “Paris” earned an awesomely positive response and seemed to resonate with the crowd, as they shifted and bobbed along in enjoyment. It was clear that this crowd had an itch to get their dance on. And Geographer was more than willing to oblige.
What sets Geographer apart from many is their blend of traditional and classical influences with a heavy hand of modernized synthy sounds. Nathan Blaz is absolutely superb on the cello, providing an extraordinary and sensational touch of depth to the songs. Drummer Brian Ostreicher is like a beastly machine, meticulously holding down the beats with command and precision. Of course, there’s lead singer Mike Deni, whose soft and introspective voice adds a unique dimension and brings their music to new heights. It’s seriously astonishing to see how the band incorporates all these different elements and brings everything so flawlessly together in a live setting.
The band ended their performance on a high note, playing their latest single, “Kites,” leaving fans with a rush of musical joy and an overwhelming desire for more.
Geographer is a fairly new band, yet I already have a feeling that they have the potential to go far.
Animal Shapes is out NOW and available through itunes.
Also, just for you, here's a clip of them playing, "Kites," at the show:
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Tegan and Sara @ Fox Theater
Here's my blog for the Tegan and Sara show that took place this past Friday (3/5) at Oakland's Fox Theater:
Canadian indie pop duo, Tegan and Sara, are well-known for putting on entertaining shows, especially when it comes to their funny and playful on-stage banter. But, this past Friday Evening (3/5), the usually chipper twin sisters did not seem amused.
The Quins stopped by Oakland’s Fox Theater to play a gaggle of songs from their latest album, Sainthood. For the most part, the sold-out crowd were genuinely excited to see the duo, but there were the small few that were just plain rude.
From the get-go, fans knew what to expect when Tegan straightforwardly set down the agenda: “We’re going to play a bunch of new songs. Then we’re going to play a bunch of old songs.” With many of their songs barely clocking in at three minutes, T&S breezed past their set with cunning and precision. They played a good chunk of new material, such as “On Directing,” “Hell,” and their latest single “Alligator,” saving the older (and best) stuff for last.
Everything was running smoothly until a few belligerent audience members decided to throw some crap on stage. It wasn’t long before Tegan felt impelled to lay down the law (in a teasing way, of course), saying “If that beer hits this electrical equipment and I get electrocuted, I will be so mad.” Then she threatened to have the lights turned on and the offenders picked out if it happened again. If that wasn’t bad enough, some idiots hurled some glow sticks through the air, closely zooming past Sara’s face. She was adamant about making her frustrations known, telling off the “genius” who threw that thing: “Maybe if I was on my way to rave and this was 1996, I would be excited to get some new glow sticks. But seriously, please stop throwing them.”
With rowdy individuals aside, Tegan and Sara summoned the patience and mustered enough energy to put on an incredible performance. T&S mellowed out as the show came to a close, treating fans to a special acoustic rendition of “Back In Your Head.”
In the end, despite all the disturbances, there was the sense that all was forgiven, as the two lingered on stage to show their sincere gratitude, clapping and waving towards the crowd with warm smiles.
(Tegan and Sara playing "The Con." Sorry about the shaky/crappy camera work)
This Providence- CW Interview
Here's the interview that we did with This Providence fully edited and all. If you listen closely, that's me giggling in the background. teehee. woops. Enjoy!
Noise Pop 2010
Hello friends! This might be a tad late, but it's still definitely worth sharing. Last week was the Noise Pop festival, and I had the chance to interview Rogue Wave and The Dodos. Here's a little blog I wrote for the CW:
Alas, one of the Bay Area’s most awesome musical events, Noise Pop, has come to a close. Looking back, there were tons of memorable highlights from this year’s festival. From the intimate Rogue Wave show at Bottom of the Hill to John Vanderslice’s numerous yet welcomed appearances, there were tons of treats and surprises to keep indie-rock fans enthralled. Out of all the amazing shows, perhaps the best event had to be last Thursday evening (2/25), when The Dodos put on a collaborative performance with the Magik* Magik Orchestra at the Palace of Fine Arts.
Members of the Magik* Magik Orchestra opened up the evening with a few experimental instrumental pieces, which all culminated into a lovely duet featuring Minna Choi (Magik* Magik’s chief composer) and John Vanderslice (of course). The Dodos subsequently took the stage with a delightful acoustic set of their own, which included their latest single, “Fables.” After what seemed like a really long intermission, The Dodos, along with the 26-piece orchestra, stepped onto the stage to the sheer excitement of the crowd. The performance was something truly magical. The orchestral accompaniment made The Dodos’ music simultaneously tangible and transcending. It brought the music to life, giving it body and color, and, at the same time, took it to a whole different level. The entire ensemble effortlessly glided through the set, adding spice into some of the newer songs like “Longform” and “Two Medicines,” while putting a new spin to older songs like “Walking” and “Ashley.”
Personally, what made this show even more special for me was that I got to watch it all at the side of the stage. This’ll definitely be an experience I’ll never ever forget.
(Just for you guys, here's a peek of the magical performance. The Dodos playing "Red and Purple" with the Magik* Magik Orchestra)
(My view watching The Dodos from the side of the stage)
(Me interviewing Pat from Rogue Wave. Pic taken from John Vanderslice's blog. Yup, I'm famous. lol. j/k.)
Interviews should be up on the CW website soon...
Alas, one of the Bay Area’s most awesome musical events, Noise Pop, has come to a close. Looking back, there were tons of memorable highlights from this year’s festival. From the intimate Rogue Wave show at Bottom of the Hill to John Vanderslice’s numerous yet welcomed appearances, there were tons of treats and surprises to keep indie-rock fans enthralled. Out of all the amazing shows, perhaps the best event had to be last Thursday evening (2/25), when The Dodos put on a collaborative performance with the Magik* Magik Orchestra at the Palace of Fine Arts.
Members of the Magik* Magik Orchestra opened up the evening with a few experimental instrumental pieces, which all culminated into a lovely duet featuring Minna Choi (Magik* Magik’s chief composer) and John Vanderslice (of course). The Dodos subsequently took the stage with a delightful acoustic set of their own, which included their latest single, “Fables.” After what seemed like a really long intermission, The Dodos, along with the 26-piece orchestra, stepped onto the stage to the sheer excitement of the crowd. The performance was something truly magical. The orchestral accompaniment made The Dodos’ music simultaneously tangible and transcending. It brought the music to life, giving it body and color, and, at the same time, took it to a whole different level. The entire ensemble effortlessly glided through the set, adding spice into some of the newer songs like “Longform” and “Two Medicines,” while putting a new spin to older songs like “Walking” and “Ashley.”
Personally, what made this show even more special for me was that I got to watch it all at the side of the stage. This’ll definitely be an experience I’ll never ever forget.
(Just for you guys, here's a peek of the magical performance. The Dodos playing "Red and Purple" with the Magik* Magik Orchestra)
(My view watching The Dodos from the side of the stage)
(Me interviewing Pat from Rogue Wave. Pic taken from John Vanderslice's blog. Yup, I'm famous. lol. j/k.)
Interviews should be up on the CW website soon...
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Local Spotlight: Geographer
Lately, I've been really diggin this band called Geographer. They're a local indie band from SF. Their music has all the right elements. It's beautiful, poignant, ethereal, melodic, and mellow, yet uplifting all at the same time. Check out their latest music video for "Can't You Wait."
Also, the band is playing at the Rickshaw Stop on Thursday, March 11 with another cool local indie band called LoveLikeFire. Stop by and witness their greatness for yourselves! Tix are only $12:
http://www.rickshawstop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=265
http://www.myspace.com/geographermusic
Also, the band is playing at the Rickshaw Stop on Thursday, March 11 with another cool local indie band called LoveLikeFire. Stop by and witness their greatness for yourselves! Tix are only $12:
http://www.rickshawstop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=265
http://www.myspace.com/geographermusic
This Providence @ The Regency Ballroom
I posted a blog on the CW Website a few days ago about the This Providence show. Check it out:
Last night (2/16), The Dino Initiative Tour reached the point of extinction. This Providence, along with headliners Motion City Soundtrack, stopped by the old stomping grounds of The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco for the tour’s last stop.
The Seattle-based quartet delivered a fun and fierce performance, with a set list largely consisting of tracks from their latest album, “Who Are You Now?”
As soon as the band emerged onto the stage, they went straight to work, getting the crowd to rock out to the upbeat dance-floor anthem “That Girl’s A Trick.” For the most part, the band kept things popping and lively, but the highlights of their performance came in their more mellow numbers, such as the heart-tugging latest single “Keeping On Without You” and a slowed-down rendition of “My Beautiful Rescue.”
Australian-born vocalist Dan Young was an absolute natural, wooing the audience, especially the ladies, with his charismatic personality and dreamy accent. Despite nursing a recent ankle injury, Young gave a valiant effort bustling about the stage and encouraging crowd involvement. He made light of the whole situation, stirring some laughs with his epic tale that involved everything from chasing down thugs to dishing out roundhouse kicks (he really just fell into a pothole).
This Providence definitely did not leave the crowd disappointed, inviting fellow tour mate Jordan Brown (of Set Your Goals) up on stage to pull off a grand finale of “Letdown.”
“Who Are You Now?” is out in stores now. It’s an amazing album, so go buy it!
Also, be on the lookout for them this Spring, as they will undertake their first-ever headlining tour!
Check out the band’s website for more info: http://www.thisprovidence.com/
Last night (2/16), The Dino Initiative Tour reached the point of extinction. This Providence, along with headliners Motion City Soundtrack, stopped by the old stomping grounds of The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco for the tour’s last stop.
The Seattle-based quartet delivered a fun and fierce performance, with a set list largely consisting of tracks from their latest album, “Who Are You Now?”
As soon as the band emerged onto the stage, they went straight to work, getting the crowd to rock out to the upbeat dance-floor anthem “That Girl’s A Trick.” For the most part, the band kept things popping and lively, but the highlights of their performance came in their more mellow numbers, such as the heart-tugging latest single “Keeping On Without You” and a slowed-down rendition of “My Beautiful Rescue.”
Australian-born vocalist Dan Young was an absolute natural, wooing the audience, especially the ladies, with his charismatic personality and dreamy accent. Despite nursing a recent ankle injury, Young gave a valiant effort bustling about the stage and encouraging crowd involvement. He made light of the whole situation, stirring some laughs with his epic tale that involved everything from chasing down thugs to dishing out roundhouse kicks (he really just fell into a pothole).
This Providence definitely did not leave the crowd disappointed, inviting fellow tour mate Jordan Brown (of Set Your Goals) up on stage to pull off a grand finale of “Letdown.”
“Who Are You Now?” is out in stores now. It’s an amazing album, so go buy it!
Also, be on the lookout for them this Spring, as they will undertake their first-ever headlining tour!
Check out the band’s website for more info: http://www.thisprovidence.com/
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Dino Initiative Tour @ The Grand Ballroom
Just came back from the interview/show. It went great! Got to interview Andy and Dan from This Providence. They were such great sports! The CW will probably have the video up in a few weeks or so. I'll let you know.
(Me with Andy and Dan from This Providence)
The Swellers, This Providence, Set Your Goals, and Motion City Soundtrack all played awesome sets!
This Providence Setlist
Motion City Soundtrack Setlist
Sorry folks, I'm too pooped to go into greater detail... but sometime soon I shall delve into it... =P
(Me with Andy and Dan from This Providence)
The Swellers, This Providence, Set Your Goals, and Motion City Soundtrack all played awesome sets!
This Providence Setlist
Motion City Soundtrack Setlist
Sorry folks, I'm too pooped to go into greater detail... but sometime soon I shall delve into it... =P
Monday, February 15, 2010
This Providence
Tomorrow, I'll be interviewing This Providence for the CW, and I'm so totally stoked! Check out their latest video:
"Keeping On Without You"
"Who Are You Now?" out in stores now! Go pick up the album, it's great!
Myspace
"Keeping On Without You"
"Who Are You Now?" out in stores now! Go pick up the album, it's great!
Myspace
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day, bee-yotches!
And so ends another uneventful V-day. *shrugs* Meh...oh well. But, looking forward to seeing Motion City this coming Tues @ the Regency Ballroom (as well as interviewing This Providence)!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Coachella = No Go
This year, I was planning to make a trip to Coachella, and I was so excited about the possibility of going. Me amongst all the music and all the people, camping out under the stars. I had it in my head that this would be one those life-changing, grandiose experiences.
Unfortunately, things didn't pan out... people didn't want to go...
I was thinking of going on my own... but then reality set in. It would probably be dangerous for me, and it doesn't help that I'm a defenseless and naive little girl. A number of things could happen to me. I could get heat-stroke from the extremely hot temperatures, unassumingly get roofied, get crushed from the rowdy crowd, get lost on my way back to wherever I would be staying at... all alone... anything could happen to me, and nobody would know...
So, looks like this year, Coachella is a bust. It's a bummer because the line-up this year was pretty good, but I guess not good enough to get my peepz to go. =[
Oh well. Probably wasn't meant to be. Maybe sometime time in the near future, the stars will align and everything will work out so that I'd be able to go. And hopefully, the line-up will be even better.
Anyway, I'm trying to look on the upside of things. Now that I have come to grips that Coachella is out of the picture, I'm already thinking about the all the shows that I could attend, now that I won't have to use all my moolah on Coachella. I'm planning on attending the following shows:
Friday March 5, Tegan & Sara @ Fox Theater
Saturday March 27, Copeland @ Slim's
Saturday April 17, The Avett Brothers @ Fox Theater
At least the Avett Brothers are coming to town that weekend of Coachella, so I won't have to stay home and mope around about not getting to go.
Unfortunately, things didn't pan out... people didn't want to go...
I was thinking of going on my own... but then reality set in. It would probably be dangerous for me, and it doesn't help that I'm a defenseless and naive little girl. A number of things could happen to me. I could get heat-stroke from the extremely hot temperatures, unassumingly get roofied, get crushed from the rowdy crowd, get lost on my way back to wherever I would be staying at... all alone... anything could happen to me, and nobody would know...
So, looks like this year, Coachella is a bust. It's a bummer because the line-up this year was pretty good, but I guess not good enough to get my peepz to go. =[
Oh well. Probably wasn't meant to be. Maybe sometime time in the near future, the stars will align and everything will work out so that I'd be able to go. And hopefully, the line-up will be even better.
Anyway, I'm trying to look on the upside of things. Now that I have come to grips that Coachella is out of the picture, I'm already thinking about the all the shows that I could attend, now that I won't have to use all my moolah on Coachella. I'm planning on attending the following shows:
Friday March 5, Tegan & Sara @ Fox Theater
Saturday March 27, Copeland @ Slim's
Saturday April 17, The Avett Brothers @ Fox Theater
At least the Avett Brothers are coming to town that weekend of Coachella, so I won't have to stay home and mope around about not getting to go.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
The Avett Brothers' album "I And Love And You" was my top album of last year, and even till this day, I play it like crazy non-stop. The song "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" struck a chord with me, in particular. I'm in a crucial crux in my life, on the brink of graduation. I have to make some important decisions. I'm still trying to figure it all out, and to be totally honest, I'm petrified of what happens next. I feel that this song basically embodies my feelings on this whole situation... it speaks to me and it speaks for me (exactly what music is supposed to do)...
Here's "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise":
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it
When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There’s a darkness upon you that’s flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what’s wrong and what’s right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it
Here's "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise":
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it
When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There’s a darkness upon you that’s flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what’s wrong and what’s right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Coachella 2010 Mix Pt.1
I'm so excited for Coachella, I've been counting down the days (approximately 79 more days till the big day!). In order to prepare, I've been compiling some songs together from the bands that are going to perform to make the ultimate Coachella mix. Here's a playlist that I made up today... there will probably be more to come...
Create a playlist at MixPod.com
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Official Coachella 2010 Line-Up
It's here, it's here!
Jay-Z, Muse, and Gorillaz as headliners??!?! Hell yeah! I'm so there!
Other bands I'm most excited for: The Avett Brothers, She & Him, Ra Ra Riot, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, MGMT, The Dead Weather, The xx, Thom Yorke???, Mutemath, Jullian Casablancas, and so on...
Jay-Z, Muse, and Gorillaz as headliners??!?! Hell yeah! I'm so there!
Other bands I'm most excited for: The Avett Brothers, She & Him, Ra Ra Riot, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, MGMT, The Dead Weather, The xx, Thom Yorke???, Mutemath, Jullian Casablancas, and so on...
Monday, January 18, 2010
Coachella 2010
Coachella has to be one of the biggest indie-rock festivals of the year. And I totally plan on going!
The official line-up hasn't been announced yet, but the rumor mill has been a-buzzin about which bands are set to play. Some expected/rumored bands (and some which I really hope will be there)include: Muse, Gorillaz, Passion Pit, The xx, Kevin Devine, The Avett Brothers, Tegan & Sara, She & Him, Smashing Pumpkins, Imogen Heap, Deftones, Soundgarden, and so on... I'm so excited!
As a word of warning, there have been a bunch of fake Coachella posters circulating around the internet. Be weary of them! I mean you don't want to get your hopes up or anything.
Here are a few that I've come across:
(My personal favorite. This would be a dream come true line-up!)
(Wouldn't mind this line-up, either)
(This one is pretty lame, though)
For more information, check out the official Coachella website.
The official line-up hasn't been announced yet, but the rumor mill has been a-buzzin about which bands are set to play. Some expected/rumored bands (and some which I really hope will be there)include: Muse, Gorillaz, Passion Pit, The xx, Kevin Devine, The Avett Brothers, Tegan & Sara, She & Him, Smashing Pumpkins, Imogen Heap, Deftones, Soundgarden, and so on... I'm so excited!
As a word of warning, there have been a bunch of fake Coachella posters circulating around the internet. Be weary of them! I mean you don't want to get your hopes up or anything.
Here are a few that I've come across:
(My personal favorite. This would be a dream come true line-up!)
(Wouldn't mind this line-up, either)
(This one is pretty lame, though)
For more information, check out the official Coachella website.
2010 Most Anticipated Albums
So it's the New Year! And one of my New Year's Resolutions was to blog more frequently, but so far I have failed...
Sorry about that folks! When you think about it, though, who does actually follow through with their New Year's Resolutions, anyway, right?
If someone wants to better themselves, it shouldn't only be because a new year is dawning upon us. Self-improvement should be a constant thing. Pfft.
Anyway, last week, I posted a blog on the CW Website about my most anticipated albums of this year.
Have a look-see (with some added pics):
Last year was a big one for music, and 2010 is shaping up to be just as phenomenal. Here are some upcoming albums that I can’t wait to hear:
Motion City Soundtrack- Title: My Dinosaur Life, Release date: Jan. 19
With their upcoming fourth album (and major-label debut), Motion City Soundtrack set out to prove that extinction is not an option and that they’re here to stay with "My Dinosaur Life." Blink-182 bassist and co-frontman Mark Hoppus took on the reigns of producer and revealed that the album will incorporate a heavier, more experimental side of the group, but will still retain their trademark catchiness.
She & Him- Title: Volume 2, Release date: Mar. 23
Zooey Deschanel is one busy girl. She is a bona-fide movie star, after all, and that kind of tends to dominate one’s schedule. Not to mention, she recently took on a new role as wife to Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard. But, somewhere in between all of these engagements, she managed to find some time to get together with M.Ward to create the follow-up to 2008’s “Volume One.” In a recent interview with MTV, Zooey says that a She & Him tour is also in the works for 2010.
Deftones- Title: TBA, Release date: February 2010
This past year has been a tough one for the Deftones. In November 2008, while the band was working on their next record “Eros,” bassist Chi Cheng was involved in a serious car accident, which left him in a coma. Since then, the band has put everything “on-hold,” shelving “Eros” for the meantime and focusing their efforts on raising aid for Chi and the Cheng family. Amidst all this tumult, the band was able to create some new material. The band still plans to release “Eros” at some point, but wants to focus on a new album to give fans the "best Deftones record that [they] can make."
MGMT- Title: Congratulations, Release date: Spring 2010
2008 was a breakout year for MGMT, as tracks from “Oracular Spectacular” were featured everywhere, with the album going on to sell over 1 million copies worldwide. Two years later, with a 2010 Grammy nod for Best New Artist, it’s no doubt that their upcoming follow-up will be one of the most anticipated of the year.
Arcade Fire- Title: TBA, Release date: May 2010
The indie rumor mill has been on overdrive about Arcade Fire’s mysterious follow-up to “Neon Bible.” Not much is known about their forthcoming album, other than a few tidbits: it was produced by Markus Dravs, who engineered “Neon Bible,” and a single is slated to come out early 2010. The Canadian outfit is also expected to headline at least one major North American summer festival.
Linkin Park- Title: TBA, Release date: Early 2010
Putting their nu metal past behind them, Linkin Park endeavor to explore more new musical ground with their follow-up to 2007’s “Minute to Midnight.” In an interview with Rolling Stone, LP’s co-frontman Mike Shinoda says the band’s fourth studio album is going to be so unique, “they’re going to have to come up with a new genre name for what this record is.”
Other Anticipated Future Releases
Katy Perry- Title: TBA, Release date: Spring 2010
Interpol- Title: TBA, Release date: Early 2010
Radiohead, The Shins, Nine Inch Nails - ????????
What upcoming albums are you most excited for?
Sorry about that folks! When you think about it, though, who does actually follow through with their New Year's Resolutions, anyway, right?
If someone wants to better themselves, it shouldn't only be because a new year is dawning upon us. Self-improvement should be a constant thing. Pfft.
Anyway, last week, I posted a blog on the CW Website about my most anticipated albums of this year.
Have a look-see (with some added pics):
Last year was a big one for music, and 2010 is shaping up to be just as phenomenal. Here are some upcoming albums that I can’t wait to hear:
Motion City Soundtrack- Title: My Dinosaur Life, Release date: Jan. 19
With their upcoming fourth album (and major-label debut), Motion City Soundtrack set out to prove that extinction is not an option and that they’re here to stay with "My Dinosaur Life." Blink-182 bassist and co-frontman Mark Hoppus took on the reigns of producer and revealed that the album will incorporate a heavier, more experimental side of the group, but will still retain their trademark catchiness.
She & Him- Title: Volume 2, Release date: Mar. 23
Zooey Deschanel is one busy girl. She is a bona-fide movie star, after all, and that kind of tends to dominate one’s schedule. Not to mention, she recently took on a new role as wife to Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard. But, somewhere in between all of these engagements, she managed to find some time to get together with M.Ward to create the follow-up to 2008’s “Volume One.” In a recent interview with MTV, Zooey says that a She & Him tour is also in the works for 2010.
Deftones- Title: TBA, Release date: February 2010
This past year has been a tough one for the Deftones. In November 2008, while the band was working on their next record “Eros,” bassist Chi Cheng was involved in a serious car accident, which left him in a coma. Since then, the band has put everything “on-hold,” shelving “Eros” for the meantime and focusing their efforts on raising aid for Chi and the Cheng family. Amidst all this tumult, the band was able to create some new material. The band still plans to release “Eros” at some point, but wants to focus on a new album to give fans the "best Deftones record that [they] can make."
MGMT- Title: Congratulations, Release date: Spring 2010
2008 was a breakout year for MGMT, as tracks from “Oracular Spectacular” were featured everywhere, with the album going on to sell over 1 million copies worldwide. Two years later, with a 2010 Grammy nod for Best New Artist, it’s no doubt that their upcoming follow-up will be one of the most anticipated of the year.
Arcade Fire- Title: TBA, Release date: May 2010
The indie rumor mill has been on overdrive about Arcade Fire’s mysterious follow-up to “Neon Bible.” Not much is known about their forthcoming album, other than a few tidbits: it was produced by Markus Dravs, who engineered “Neon Bible,” and a single is slated to come out early 2010. The Canadian outfit is also expected to headline at least one major North American summer festival.
Linkin Park- Title: TBA, Release date: Early 2010
Putting their nu metal past behind them, Linkin Park endeavor to explore more new musical ground with their follow-up to 2007’s “Minute to Midnight.” In an interview with Rolling Stone, LP’s co-frontman Mike Shinoda says the band’s fourth studio album is going to be so unique, “they’re going to have to come up with a new genre name for what this record is.”
Other Anticipated Future Releases
Katy Perry- Title: TBA, Release date: Spring 2010
Interpol- Title: TBA, Release date: Early 2010
Radiohead, The Shins, Nine Inch Nails - ????????
What upcoming albums are you most excited for?
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