Skrillex - Ruffneck music video

Skrillex released a Christmas themed video as a gift for fans, and I think it's pretty cool.  It's interesting to see a dubstep video (this being my first one).  Even though there are no lyrics to help propel a story, the video is still intriguing but also a bit disturbing with its narrative - Santa be poppin' them pills!  This is my favorite track from Skrillex so far, so I'm glad to see he made a music video for it.  I guess it's a given that with a lyric-less song some of the video shots would sync up with the music, so I really enjoyed that a lot especially at the very end when the blood falls in the snow in rhythm with the piano.

Skrillex also released his Bangarang EP.  I haven't gotten the chance to listen to it yet only because I don't have the current funds to purchase it due to the excessive expenditures from this past Christmas holiday, BUT I will get it eventually and write about it!  If you have the time and money, be sure to check it out and buy the tracks and take a listen!

Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to wish you all a merry Christmas and happy holidays! Stay safe, eat lots of noms, and spend this joyous holiday with the people you love!

Xoxo,
Siri

NEW Jonas Brothers song "Dance Until Tomorrow"

My days as an avid Jonas Brothers fan are coming back to haunt me!  I feel like I'm back in high school.

After a few years, the beloved trio of Jonas has a new song out!  In complete honesty, I never thought I'd see the day when Kevin, Joe, and Nick reconciled their music as a band again especially after Kevin's marriage and Nick AND Joe's solo projects.  They seriously separated themselves musically, but here they are again with a new song.

"Dance Until Tomorrow" (below) showcases a new sound much different from their pop rock tunes of their first three albums.  It sounds very radio friendly, and I can hear this being jammed out to in the car and blasting through the speakers of a club - probably due to the title having the word "dance" in it.  I'm hesitant to admit that I like it, but that's only because I like their pop rock sound better.  It's weird to see the Jonas Brothers making club/dance/trance music, which is what I'm hearing right now.  There's no doubt that the song is incredibly catchy and will probably be stuck in my head all day thanks to the "oh oh oh" hook at the beginning that plays out throughout the entire song.  Not to mention that Nick's voice still makes me melt just a little bit...



I wonder what this means for the JoBros.  Are they really going to continue their music careers together or is this a one time deal?

What Happens in Vegas "Ghost"

What Happens in Vegas released a demo for a new song "Ghost" (below).  I like the music and the catchy chorus, but what's sort of throwing me off is the constant repetition of, "Where did you get that?" because it seems rather random.  Gonna keep this short so you guys can listen and make your own assessments about it.

Beyond December "Her" teaser

The Aussie boys from Beyond December released a teaser for an upcoming music video for the song "Her," which drops December 26, 2011 - that makes it next Monday.  They also have an album titled Discontinued that will be available for fans on New Years' day!

I discovered these guys on YouTube by stumbling upon cover videos made by their lead singer, Sam Koster.  They used to be known as The Blaqk Year but dissolved into Beyond December.  These guys have a lot of different sounds going on, but in a general sense I'd categorize them as pop rock with hints of techno, hardcore, and punk.  What really won me over is their rendition of Rebecca Black's "Friday."  You might think me crazy to like the song in the first place, but Beyond December does the song so much better than the original, which, if you think about it, shouldn't be that hard to do.  There are different covers of it out there, but Beyond December's version is my favorite:



One day I hope to see them make a trip to the States, so take a listen and spread the word about them!

I See Stars new album release date

I See Stars announced their new album release date: March 13, 2012!!  I am beyond stoked!  They had been hinting a new album for awhile, and it's great to see that there is one on the way!  The guys have been saying it's going to be heavier than their previous album, End of the World Party, which should be interesting to hear.  You can hear snippets of it in this promotional video for their upcoming headlining tour, "Leave it 2 the Suits" tour:


For this tour there is a line up of I See Stars, Stick to Your Guns, Memphis May Fire, Our Last Night, and Make Me Famous, and you can hear a short clip of each band's music in the video, which I think is a cool idea!  Though I'm glad to see I See Stars as the headliner, I'm a little peeved because their drummer, Andy, told me that they would definitely be back in Austin especially after their technical difficulties mishap when they toured with Of Mice and Men.  I checked the tour dates and watched this video, and Austin (let alone Texas) is nowhere to be found!

I'm guessing the snippets of their new music is in the beginning of the video before it segues into "3D" and at the end when they stream the tour dates.  If I'm correct, then it sounds pretty good so far.  I'm not jumping up and down, so we'll have to see in March what the verdict will be.

Hey Monday Christmas EP, taking a break, Cassadee solo tour

Please excuse my absence from the blog!  Busy family stuff AND I'm sick in bed!

Anyway, a really big story that's been buzzing is that pop rock band, Hey Monday, has announced they are taking a break after their lead singer, Cassadee Pope, announced her solo tour to take off in 2012.  Cassadee released the official statement below:

"...Hey everyone! Cassadee here. I know since I announced my solo acoustic tour, there has been a lot of rumors and confusion swirling around. I wanted to let you all know that Hey Monday is not "broken up." We are, however, taking a break and pursuing things on our own. In my case, that is a solo project. I hope you all understand that this does not mean we'll never release new music or tour ever again. I just felt the need to fill you all in since I've gotten a good amount of questions pertaining to this. Me and the guys are still friends and always will be, and this was a decision we all agreed was for the best. I could not have imagined experiencing everything we were able to with a different group of people, our crew included! So we would really appreciate all of your support with this decision. We love you guys and we thank you for everything you've done for this band and each one of us individually. We have the best fans ever...."

It's a relief to know that they aren't officially breaking up like some bands have this past semester, but let's keep our fingers crossed that they get back together after the break. 

To keep fans tied over for the meantime, Hey Monday released a Christmas EP consisting of four songs - Cassadee's voice in "O Holy Night" is phenomenal.  Honestly, I'm a little bogged down with all the Christmas music that these bands are putting out, but I guess it's good to see that they're all getting into the holiday spirits and want to share it with fans.

I'm curious to see what Cassadee has in store for fans on her solo tour.  She claims to have a set with Hey Monday songs and songs that she's been working on on her own time, so it should be interesting!  Looking at the dates, she's not venturing to the south - more specifically Texas - so anyone who gets the chance to see her should!  I think Cassadee is one of the most talented female vocalists in the alternative music scene because her vocals never disappoint when she performs live!

Black Veil Brides Rebels EP

I realize that I'm incredibly late on this, but Black Veil Brides released their Rebels EP for the winter holidays.  As the picture says, the EP includes three songs and extended version of "Rebel Love Song."  Listening the songs right now, and you can definitely tell it's the BVB guys.  It seems as though they don't stray away from the new sound they used for their second album, Set the World On Fire, but I can digg it.  Give it a listen!

LIGHTS - Siberia live music video

LIGHTS released a live music video for her song "Siberia," also the title of her album that dropped earlier in the semester.  I still have yet to see her live, but this video looks like a good window to what it would be like.  This is intriguing!  I'm glad to see she doesn't just stand there with the mic singing mellow electronic pop - she's actually playing intstruments and has her own little station of instruments surrounding her.  It doesn't seem like she'll be in Texas anytime soon, but when she is, I definitely wanna check out her set!

Sing It Loud band announcement

The boys formerly from Sing It Loud sent out a glimmer of false hope to fans when they sent out tweets from their band Twitter.  The band has been out of commission for about a year now, so it seemed as though they were hinting a reuinion but alas no.  To clear up the confusion, the guys sent out a statement:

"...Now on to what we are here to talk about… First of all, despite what some of you may have “heard”, we are NOT officially getting back together as Sing It Loud. Sorry if that upsets anyone, but we are all busy at the moment with what we are doing individually. However, with that said, we ARE entertaining some cool ideas of how to give back to all the amazing people who have supported us throughout the years and continue to support us. We don’t want to be the band that breaks up and gets back together every six months as if it’s a volatile high school relationship. That’s bullshit. We all love each other and want to have fun with our band again and plus, we care about our fans way too much to do that. So instead we are re-launching our original EP which we recorded before we signed with Epitaph. Obviously bands who re-release material annoy people, so we have added two acoustic b-sides to the record. The album is live on iTunes, you can get it at the link below. 

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sing-it-loud/id488472248"

I will admit that I got intrigued when I read that Sing It Loud had an announcement, but unfortunately it wasn't what I expected.  I remember last year when I saw Mayday Parade, Sing It Loud had performed earlier in the night but I missed them.  We met up afterwards, chatted, and got their latest album at the time.  They seemed pretty cool, but it was sad that they broke up shortly after.

The guys say they're all working on independent projects, so I guess we shall see where the wind has taken each of them.  They also mention that they wanna give back to the fans who have supported them, so it will be interesting to see what they've cooked up as well!

Happy 24th Birthday Alex Gaskarth!

Everyone who knows me knows I have to do this, and like the title says: Happy 24th Birthday Alex Gaskarth!  You are talented, you are kind, you are amazing, you are an inspiration.  Keep the music alive, and I can't wait to hear what you've been cooking up for the past few weeks!

If anyone reading this has a spare minute, you should tweet Alex wishing him a happy birthday!

Christina Grimmie performs on So Random!

Christina Grimmie never fails to put on an awesome performance.  Starting from recording covers for her YouTube channel to touring with Selena Gomez to performing at the American Music Awards, this girl is seriously talented and well on her way to the top.

Awhile back, she went to the So Random! studio to perform her hit single, "Advice," and last night the episode aired!  I was in the middle of writing my research paper, but once she came on screen, I paused for three minutes to give my support to her!  No words can describe how incredible I think she is.  She has a unique and powerful voice that I don't think many people could mimic.  I think she's talented, and I can't wait to see her live one day because I know I won't be disappointed!

Rocky Loves Emily - I'm Not a Dang Polar Bear, I'm a Human Being lyric video

On December 6th, the boys from Rocky Loves Emily released an official lyric video for their Christmas single, "I'm Not a Dang Polar Bear, I'm a Human Being," and it's pretty cute.  If you like to see skinny band boys strip down, then this video is perfect for you.  I'm just kidding, but there is a lyric that says, "Take your shirt off," and a couple of them do - just be prepared for that.

This is probably one of the coolest lyric videos I've seen because a lot of bands have followed the trend of releasing lyric videos with just the words flying on and off the screen in cool artsy patterns, but these guys are actually in the shot the whole video.  It gives more reason to watch this video.  Because the guys are in the video, fans are able to sing along with them.

As mentioned in my last post, Rocky Loves Emily is currently on The Secret Santa Tour with Move Out West, so be sure to check the tour dates and see if these fellas will be stopping by your city!

Move Out West downloadable EP

Move Out West started following me and my sister's combined Twitter page over the summer, so I checked them out.  They're a cool band from Hartford, Connecticut with a rockin' pop rock sound.  I was supposed to see them for the first time at the Red Eyed Fly when I saw Phone Calls From Home, but unfortunately these guys couldn't make it out there.

They just embarked on The Secret Santa Tour with Rocky Loves Emily, and sadly they're not coming to Texas.  If they're going to your town, be sure to see them because they sound like they'd put on a great show.  I know that Rocky Loves Emily puts on a fun show, so both would be a double win!

Recently, Move Out West was spotlighted on the front page of Purevolume with their free downloadable EP!  I'm currently listening to their songs, and they sound good - I feel like dancing in my chair and whipping my hair back and forth.  Go check it out and get their music, IT'S FREE!!

Britney Spears - SIMS2 Scary music video

On Friday, Deceberm 9th, RS Productions released their SIMS 2 rendition of "Scary" by Britney Spears.  Keep in mind that this is created and filmed with the SIMS computer game, so it's not going to be as cinematic as a regular music video - though this video does have some cinematic qualities to it.

The director and creator, Roland, gives me my daily dose of Britney.  I admit that even though I love Britney, I never keep up with her music and such, so this is my way of hearing her latest music.  Roland is notorious for making music videos with the SIMS (especially Britney videos), and I think he rocks at it.  He also makes his own drama series using the SIMS, and those are quite popular as well.  It's something new, something different, and I think it should be given a chance - it's a great way to save money on production costs if you think about it economically.  Be sure to go to the actual video on YouTube and leave comments!  They're greatly appreciated!

Christofer Drew/Gonzo - Earthling

Christofer Drew of Nevershoutnever has had a new side project mixing dubstep tracks under the name of Gonzo, and he recently released the track "Earthling" (below).

Now I'm no expert on dubstep, but I've listened to the other songs he's mixed and they sound more like trance music than dubstep.  There are some dubstep elements in small snippets of the songs but overall it sounds techno-trance especially with the echoing chanting that's mixed into a few of the songs.  The songs sound like they would fit perfectly in a club - I'm sure dubstep could be played a club too, but you get my point.

I think it's interesting to see some of these bands segueing into the dubstep scene.  Can't say I blame them since dubstep is the really big right now - Skrillex is up for a nomination at the Grammy's for "Best New Artist!"  Anyway, a couple of songs are up for free download on Gonzo's soundcloud, so if you like what you hear, be sure to snag a copy of it for yourself!

Earthling by The GONZO

Absence

I apologize for my few days of absence.  Been caught up in the process of coming back to Houston, seeing my sister perform for her high school choir, and now finally getting a major research paper done.  I promise to be back to posting regularly tomorrow!  I'm currently watching Christima Grimmie perform on So Random!, and she's doing an amazing job of course!  I'll be sure to post up her performance later on!  In the meantime, take a gander at this picture of All Time Low - they were in Dallas last night performing for Unsilent Night 4.

My Geuine Find - King Midas

I meant to post about this the other day, but I've been so bogged down with papers and finals.  So Bobby from My Genuine Find experimented with something different from his usual poppy sound - rapping.  As much as I love him, I can't take it seriously because his whole image is centered around being cute and adorable, and this doesn't exactly exude cuteness.  The lyrics are kinda cool but not amazing although I do like the Nicki Minaj reference thrown in thurr, I mean there.

Bobby's music career is quite phenomenal.  He's unsigned but is extremely popular.  He does everything without the help and support of a label, and I think that's pretty amazing.  From his home studio he records songs, mixes them, makes his own EPs, films his own music videos, the works, and he's very successful at it.  There are thousands of fans who love him and would die to meet him.

I wanna say Bobby is the face of the interwebs (for the underground music scene) because that's basically how he got famous. A major aspect that feeds into his popularity is through Stickam.  He used to do weekly Stickam chats with all of his fans every Friday night, and he always got a tremendous turnout (I'm talking six figures).  If you think about it, that's an amazing feat because it's Friday night...you'd think that people have plans and go out to have fun but no, they stay at home to watch this unsigned fella talk to a camera!  I'm not bashing because I admit I've stopped by a few times, and what draws in so many viewers is his quirky charm.  Who wouldn't like to see a cute guy being dorky and serenading you with his guitar and ukelele?

Aside from the music, he's also been working on this.  Seriously is there anything this guy doesn't do?  Recently Bobby launched his own clothing line: Heart Drop Clothing.  All his fans are buy the shit out of his new line, and it's only been about a week.

I promise I'll stop babbling about Bobby, but I'd just like conclude this post by reiterating how crazy his career is.  He hardly ever tours, so basically he works from his house.  He's constantly thinking about his fans and continually keeping them interestd by always working on new EPs and holding contests for song or music video releases.  He's always keeping them involved and on their toes.  I think that's where most bands fall because once they obtain a small amount of popularity, they relax for a bit without having anything new for their fans, and they end up financially in trouble when they try to get back on the horse.

Bobby may be unsigned now, but last time my best friend and I hung out with him at his show in Austin, he said he had been talking with several labels.  Let's see what happens next!

All Time Low - Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass music video

[[EDIT: Apparently the video wasn't supposed to be released until tomorrow, so the video ceases to exist elsewhere except on AOL Music]]

All Time Low released a music video for their Christmas single, "Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass," and it's ... interesting.  For starters, I thought they weren't ever going to film a music video for the song especially after the song has been out for a long time, so when I saw that they did, I got excited.  Two All Time Low videos within a month of each other?  Yes please!

Unfortunately my hopes got up a little too high.  The video's narrative revolves around the love troubles of a puppet by the name of Stuart who imaginese the slutty and trashy things his lady-crush does with the other employers in the office.  It's a cute and funny little video, but where are the guys?  The least they could've done was have all four of them as the employees in this video.

Other than that, I still like the song.  It gives a whole different twist on Christmas songs.  Usually Christmas songs are happy and jolly, but All Time Low's song is almost the complete opposite.  Just look at the title: "Kiss My Ass."

Driver Friendly - Ghosts music video teaser

These guys are an Austin based AND UT based band who just released a teaser for their upcoming music video for their song "Ghosts."  It's been almost two years since I've seen anything from Driver Friendly (changed from Driver F).  The last time I saw them was at Stubb's Jr. two winters ago, so now I'm excited to see what they've been up to.

From the teaser, they mention that the way they shot this video was in one take using 22 different camera angles, and that sounds quite interesting.  That's awesome that they were able to capture everything they needed to in just one shot, but it must have been a pain to edit. 

There is no official release date for the video so be sure to stay tuned!  In the meantime, enjoy one of their earlier videos:

"Two Words, Mr. President: Plausible Deniability" by: Driver Friendly

Top Ten Shows of 2011 (#5 - #1)

For the year 2011, I have been to 25 shows. You can't imagine how hard it was to pick my top ten, but I did it! Here are numbers 5 through 1!

#5 - Of Mice and Men on the Outbreak Tour 11/07/11
Primarily I was excited to go to this show to see one of my favorite bands, I See Stars, but I was also interested in seeing Of Mice and Men for the first time.  Heard a lot about them, so naturally seeing them as well was a bonus!  Out of all the shows that I've been to, this was probably the most intense.  Each band got the crowd going, and with each new band taking the stage, the crowd got rowdier and rowdier.  By the time Of Mice and Men took the stage, the crowd had gone nuts.  There was a lot of pushin', shovin', dancin', and people on each other.  Honestly this would have ranked higher, but unfortunately I See Stars weren't able to play their full set due to technical difficulties.  A minor setback, but Of Mice and Men made up for it especially because the vocalist, Shayley, claimed to not been able to hear himself - he still rocked it though!  Aside from the performance, it was awesome catching up with an ol' pal, Billy, who was working the OMM merch!  Hadn't seen this fella since The Dangerous Summer show from last semester (which didn't make top ten, boooo).  I know some people aren't fans of the hardcore/scream scene, so I'm gonna post a cover that Of Mice and Men did for a Punk Goes Pop album:

"Blame It" covered by: Of Mice and Men

#4 - Breathe Carolina on the Scream It Like You Mean It tour 07/28/11
Another intense show snags a spot in the top five!  The tour name suggests what it says: bands that scream and make audiences scream.  Four of the five bands that played that tour were all relatively from the same genre except for one.  The odd one out at the show was MODSUN who was more of a hip hop act.  I had heard about MODSUN before but never seen him or heard his music, and if you see him for the first time, you would probably be shocked like me because MODSUN is a messy white guy rapping and jumping around the stage like a monkey.  Don't get me wrong, the music was good, but it was just weird to see this hip hop act intermixed with hardcore/screamo bands.  This show made a big impression on me simply because 1. all the bands did a superb job, 2.  I See Stars performed on this tour, and 3. it was my first time seeing Breathe Carolina ever.  Every single band got me jumping off the ground and pumping my fist in the air - which I don't normally do - so they deserve props for that.  I See Stars, of course, was amazing as always, but the most impressive performance was Breathe Carolina.  Their latest album Hell Is What You Make It had dropped fairly recently before the show, so they played a mix between their new songs and their old ones.  Their performance was the epitome of a massive dance party.  I really like the combination of electronic and screamo in Breathe Carolina's sound, and it was awesome to see live.  I hope I can see them again.  Here's the first Breathe Carolina song I ever heard (from the iPhone Tap Tap game) and got me hooked:

"Hello Fascination" by: Breathe Carolina

#3 - All Time Low on the Dirty Work tour 04/09/11
It's expected that these guys would make it onto my top ten although in the future they might not be because I never get the chance to see them anymore!  To promote their upcoming album release for Dirty Work, All Time Low set off to tour around the States (and the rest of the world as well).  They had a good group of bands to tour with which included The Summer Set, Hey Monday, and Yellowcard. That's right: Yellowcard. These guys had been MIA for awhile, but they came back and rocked the stage! They're definitely back in action.  All Time Low's set consisted of their new songs along with their old stuff, and it was a great time.  In all honesty, I think All Time Low is one of those bands that never disappoints their audiences.  They're awesome live, they act like raunchy idiots onstage, and they're actual sweethearts offstage - you can feel the love they have for their fans.  They appeal to both female and male audiences, which I think is a great thing because most bands are only popular with female audiences.  Hate to admit this but All Time Low is probably one of the only bands that I will truly fangirl over.  I have my moments when I squeal like a starstruck teenage girl, but to me, that just shows how much I love them.  In honor of the holidays I'm going to post All Time Low's original Christmas single:

"Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass" by: All Time Low

#2 - Tyler Ward on his self-titled tour 10/09/11
I never thought I would ever be a fan of Tyler Ward.  My sister talked lots and lots about him and his YouTube prestige, and quite honestly, I didn't think he was anything special simply because there are a lot talented people on YouTube.  Boy did he prove me wrong.  When I heard he was going to be in Texas, I was genuinely curious to see how if he was good live, so I went on an adventure to San Antonio to see him.  As said in my post, him and all of his band are talented people, and their passion for music and performing really shines through.  Along with his original songs, he also played covers of popular songs on mainstream radio, and I have to say that I probably like them better than the originals.  The entire ensemble's performance engages you immediately, and you can't take your eyes off of them.  Before you know it, the show's over, and you're left wanting more.  Another amazing thing about Tyler is that he's becoming a more avid music producer, and literally everything he touches (aka every person he works with) turns to gold.  He has a keen eye for talent, and without a doubt he'll make them famous.  Maybe I should look into that?  My favorite to date is his collaboration with Christina Grimmie on "How To Love" by: Lil Wayne:

"How to Love" covered by: Tyler Ward and Christina Grimmie

And the #1 spot goes to...
Panic! At the Disco on their fall tour 10/19/11
Yup!  Panic! strikes again!  It's been a good year for them especially after their split.  The line-up was really good to begin with: Foxy Shazam, Patrick Stump (formerly of Fall Out Boy), and Panic!  All three performances were utterly amazing and constatnly full of energy.  La Zona Rosa was pretty filled inside and even outside in the chill area.  Panic! played new songs and old songs and even a couple of covers, which were fantastic by the way.  If you ever go to one of their shows, you will want to dance and never want to stop.  Ever.  Also, Brendon Urie is my muse - his voice has become more incredibly phenomenal than it was already.  I especially loved when he sang a lot in his falsetto, that was kind of awesome.  Altogether, the entire band fits the perfect description of performers because you're constantly entertained watching them live onstage.  I think it's safe to say that I will go see them anytime they're back in Texas in a heartbeat.  They're definitely worth it.  (I realize this description is shorter than the others, but I don't wanna repeat myself from my regular post.)  Here's one of the covers they played - just watch how they perform:

"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" covered by: Panic! At the Disco 

Well guys those are my top ten shows of 2011.  2012 is just around the corner, and there are a few shows planned already!  Let's see what the new year will bring!  Happy Holidays!

SIMS 2 Britney Spears - Scary teaser trailer

Here's something very different than what I usually post!  One fun fact about me is that I do amateur voice acting for SIMS, and this teaser trailer was made by one of the directors I work with - RS Productions.  Not only are his SIMS drama series popular, but he's famously notorious for creating superb music videos of Britney Spears songs.  He gains thousands of views for them and the utmost praise, and I'm proud of all the work he's done - not to mention how honored I feel to be working with him!  As the video says, he will be releasing a music video for "Scary" on Saturday, December 10th, so be sure to check it out!  I've also included some of his most popular videos to date.

"Lucky" - This one is four years old and has the most views.
"Hold It Against Me" - This is a more recent song that is very popular.

Top Ten Shows of 2011 (#10 - #6)

For the year 2011, I have been to 25 shows.  You can't imagine how hard it was to pick my top ten, but I did it!  Here are numbers 10 through 6!

#10 - Mayday Parade on The Noise Tour 11/08/11
Before semester even started I was looking forward to this show a lot because it'd been too long since I had seen Mayday Parade and There For Tomorrow.  Plus, I was always curious to see We Are the In Crowd and You Me at Six, so it was like a win-win situtation.  Even The Make on their first tour did a great job.  Sarah Ann really impressed me with her multitude of instruments and has inspired me to become a better musician!  Overall, the bands did awesome performances and left me wanting more, which is a good indicator of how good the show was.  Down below is a song from my Top Ten Songs List of 2011:

"Hunt, Hunt, Hunt" by: There For Tomorrow

#9 - Bo Burnham at the Student Activity Center grand opening 02/08/11
Every year since I came to UT I've seen Bo Burnham perform.  He does a great job mixing a comedy show with music, so it's the best of both worlds!  I'm a part of the Music and Entertainment Committee on campus, and when we were trying to plan out a week of events to kickstart the grand opening of the Student Activity Center, I suggested Bo Burnham.  I never thought it was going to happen but come spring semester 2011, he was scheduled to perform - not to mention he was one of our biggest turnouts next to Zach Braff.  One of the most memorable moments of that night was when I lent him my capo for the guitar.  He has a bad habit of not having either a guitar pick or a guitar capo when he performs, but luckily he had me to save his show.  Other than that, Bo never disappoints his audiences.  His scripted act is hilarious, and his improv is even more hilarious!  I think the best part of his artistry is his use of words - lots of metaphors, puns, idioms, etc.  Listen carefully cause he's a word wizard.  I definitely recommend seeing him live if you ever get the chance.  Appropriately enough, here is his music video that showcases his clever use of words:

"Words, Words, Words" by: Bo Burnham [Hm, I like titles with repeated words.] #8 - The Autumn Advance Stickam Show 04/27/11
The Autumn Advance is a one man band from North Carolina.  The main guy is my amigo, Tripp Rowe, and he does weekly webchats on Stickam Wednesdays at 8:30PM CST.  He had an acoustic EP drop back in April and to follow up on it, he had a stickam show, which is essentially a concert via the interwebs.  Before he became The Autumn Advance, he the drummer of a six piece band with his brother and friends by name of The Fear of Falling.  They too had weekly chats on Tuesdays and once or twice had online stickam shows with the people from Stickam, and they got good audience turn outs.  Anyway, Tripp has continued this "ritual," if you will, and had a stickam show to promote his album.  Usually he has his chats in his room (and more recently also at a friend's house), but for the stickam show he wanted to have better sound quality so he went to another friend's home studio.  I helped him with sound check - the sound improved by 100% - and later that night, he had a good crowd to perform to.  The reason why this made my top ten is because I think it's unique how he's able to have a show that broadcasts around the world.  He's able to reach out to his fans that he can't physically see on tour.  It's amazing what the interwebs can offer us nowadays.  Currently he's thinking about having another stickam show soon, so stay tuned for that update!  Here's his first single that is very popular with fans:

"Watch That Girl" by: The Autumn Advance

#7 - Joy Island on the Spring Fling Party Tour 05/01/11
Many people will probably recognize the guy behind Joy Island as the guy from Rookie of the Year.  His music shifted from each project: pop rock to electronic club music.  The performance was rather raunchy as he was accompanied by his fellow bandmates and his exotic dancer who didn't hold back from being seductive in her movements.  The band that played before was Rocky Loves Emily, and I probably wouldn't have discovered this group of lovely boys if it weren't for the boys from The After Party, whom I was going to this show to see.  Rocky Loves Emily has a pop rock sound similar to The Summer Set and The Maine (as they told me) - very cute sounding.  Before them was, of course, The After Party, who never fail to get the crowd going!  I think I've talked about them enough that you get the picture. Nevertheless, all three performances got me dancing in the crowd, and I quite enjoyed myself.  I wish I could go back to that night and re-live it all over again.  Here's my favorite song from The After Party:

"Falling Out of Love" by: The After Party

#6 - Panic! At the Disco at Discovery Green Houston 04/02/11
To end this post for tonight, Panic! At the Disco takes the #6 spot.  I've seen them twice this year, but the first time I saw them (and for the first time ever AND since they announced their split up) was when they played at Houston's Discovery Green for FREE!  My sister and I were invited to go see them play live, and I was more than ecstatic to go because I had just bought their new album, Vices & Virtues, that week.  It seemed like fate.  There were a lot of people there sitting and standing in the grass.  I wanna say it was close to 1000 people there.  Words cannot describe how I felt seeing them play live for the first time.  I had always loved them in middle school and high school and became very devastated when they "broke up," but after seeing them live, it was awesome.  There is no doubt that they are talented and deserve to be on stage.  Brendon Urie's vocals alone are insane (not to mention sexy) - he can go low and he can go high into the stratosphere with his falsetto.

"Let's Kill Tonight" live by: Panic! At the Disco [the syncing is a bit off but it's still great!]

Christina Grimmie on So Random!

Christina Grimmie performed on Disney's So Random! Sunday evening and will air on December 11th.  She will be performing her hit single, "Advice."  I recommend watching this performance because she is awesome and always delivers!  Here's the music video for a preview:

Forever the Sickest Kids - Mistletoe is for Quitters

It seems as though there's a trend among many bands to post Christmas songs during the winter season.  From the many I've seen, I decided to post this one because I don't think that I've posted about these guys yet.  Dallas boys from Forever the Sickest Kids release their two cents of a Christmas song for the holiday season, "Mistletoe is for Quitters."  For some reason, bands like to pick obscure song titles that don't capture the sound of the song.  This song is a sweet acoustic ballad of original verses woven with the lyrics from "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and I think it works well together.  Most of the music that I hear from FTSK is upbeat, so it's refreshingly nice to hear something slower and bittersweet.  I can see them playing this song at a coffee shop while it's snowing outside.  What do you guys think?  Yay or nay?

The After Party

Made another adventurous trip to San Antonio's White Rabbit to see my buddies from The After Party rock the stage!  It's been months seen I've seen them, and I'm glad that I did on Friday, December 2nd.

The White Rabbit has two stages, so it gives concert-goers the opportunity to see two "shows" for the price of one - talk about more bang for your buck!  When my best friend and I arrived, the first band we saw was Erasing the Messenger.  We only saw the last two songs of their set, but they exerted a pure pop rock sound that you can easily dance to.  They were a rather young group, so they have much potential to grow and gain a loyal fan base!

The venue is a hot spot for bands because it tends to attract local bands of San Antonio, and the band that had the biggest crowd was Another Song for a Girl.  Last time I was at the White Rabbit, they performed, and I remember them to be quite good!  They have a punk rock (maybe even pop-punk) sound that really gets the crowd going.  It's amazing to see how rowdy the crowd got.  There were many mosh pit dancers, and they nearly knocked the whole crowd over when they raced to the stage to sing with the lead singer, Reed Washington.  I'd say there were about five to seven guys screaming into the microphone with Reed, and it was a beautiful sight to see.  It's as if the band and the crowd were performing together as one united force - at one point Reed came out into the audience and sang and got mobbed by the mosher guys.  Another great thing that happened during the set was that we all sang "Happy Birthday" to Reed, and it was tres cute!  I can't wait to see where this group goes, and if any of you get the chance to see them in the future, don't miss out!

Tried to get all four guys in one pic on stage but failed.  Sorry Kenny!

The highlight of our night was seeing The After Party guys perform.  It's always a delight watching them rock it out because my best friend and I have seen them five times now, and they never disappoint us or the crowd.  While they were on stage, we hung out with an old friend of the bassist, Brandon (right), who was seeing them live for the first time.  Needless to say, he said they were awesome.  Their infectious beats will draw you in, but the catchy lyrics and melodies will get you dancing almost instantly.  I'd like to see someone try to not dance to their music.  Don't believe me?  Go watch their music videos for "Can't Stop" and "Secret Lover."

If I haven't emphasized it enough, The After Party are definitely on their way to the top.  I chose them as my subject for a documentary assignment for my screenwriting class, and I mapped out their musical career from the past two years.  They've accomplished a lot.  I wish I could name them all, but that would take too long.  To jumpstart 2012, the boys will be touring with the notorious Allstar Weekend, and they'll be back in Texas in early February.  Be sure to see them when you can!  Unfortunately they won't be stopping in Austin but definitely will only be an hour away in San Antonio on Friday, February 3rd!

After the guys performed, they had a massive crowd of fans surrounding their merch table.  Once the guys loaded up their equipment into the van, named Little Miss TAP, they sold merch, signed stuff, and took numerous pictures.  If I had to choose a band that is really down to earth and truly love their fans, it's these guys (and I'm not being biased).  They seriously care a lot about them and do their best to make them happy!

The last band that we saw caught our attention from the outside hangout area with their cover of "The Kill" by 30 Seconds to Mars and then a cover of a Guns N Roses song (the title escapes me - I fail).  They were another young band - young looking and playing covers - but they were good.  They definitely have potential.  I especially loved the female vocalist.  She can belt out melodies almost flawlessly.  They call themselves...7,8,9 or Seven Eight Nine or something along those lines.  I wish I could locate them on Facebook.  To close out the night, they played an original song and it was quite catchy; my best friend and I were humming it when we left the stage area.  I hope to see more of them.

Overall, it was a nice trip down to San Antonio, and I can't wait to go back!

I Am Skywalker

Here's a cool little discovery!  Drummer of I See Stars, Andy Oliver, has a side solo project under the alias of I Am Skywalker.  It seems as though he does a lot of mixing and working a bit with the dubstep, which I can appreciate.  Not too sure what he plans to do with this or what he's planning for the future, but I think this is cool stuff - just as long as I See Stars stays a band!  Take a listen to it, and I very much enjoy "In Your Eyes" (below).

In Your Eyes (Original Mix) by iamskywalker

Moonlight Social

On Thursday, December 1st, local Austin (and UT) band, Moonlight Social, filled the starry Texas night with alternative-country rock at the Art Institute of Austin. Their sound is not particularly my cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed their performance! At first you think that there are five members to this group, but in reality there are only two: Jeremy Burchard (center) and Jennica Scott (on Burchard's right), whom are members of the Longhorn Band!

I never realized how much talent was brewing on the UT campus, and I wouldn't have known about Moonlight Social if it weren't for Vicci, who not only has posted about them numerous times on her blog but also wrote a kick ass band profile on them for her journalism class!  I would share it with you, but I'm not sure if I have the power to do that! [[EDIT: She posted it!]]

Anyway, I enjoyed seeing Moonlight Social perform.  Country's not my forte, but they definitely captured my attention.  They give off a stage presence similar to Tyler Ward and his band.  Each member of the band looks like they're genuinely enjoying themselves while performing and that they really love music.  What I thought was the most impressive aspect was the vocal stylings of Jennica. She has an amazing voice - good range with a very crisp sound - and she works it.  The band played a mixture between original songs and cover songs - one that I knew for sure was "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum.  My favorite original song they had would probably be "Neither Are You," which is the song they closed the night with.

From what I've seen and learned about Moonlight Social, I have no doubts that they're on the right track to making it big.  Jeremy and Jennica have only been working together for a year, and they've accomplished so much (only naming two of many): from performing at the 2011 SXSW showcase to having the opportunity to record with a member from Blue October.  I sense great things to come from this group especially because they'll be heading to the studio to record a new album,so be on the lookout for them in the future!

Big Time Rush at an All Time Low part II

Alex Gaskarth wrote a message on his Tumblr addressing the "issue" between All Time Low and Big Time Rush.

"Big Time Lush 

Apparently I pissed a few people off today— What’s new?  Big Time Rush fans, in NO way did I intend to disrespect the guys. My explanation was rushed (teehee) and worded wrong in the final iteration of the interview.  

To clarify, BTR’s reps asked to do a version of No Idea, which we were totally cool with, and that version of the song ended up on their newest record. (They even credited me.  Aww.) 

When I compared them to The Monkees, I was merely attempting to explain how and why they ended up with an alternate version of our song on their album in the first place— certain aspects of their band are determined by the powers over at Nickelodeon, and their TV show, which the band was formed around, (as was their music, respectively.)  That’s just fact. No denying it. 

However, what defines a “real band” is subjective, and taken out of context, my comment definitely came off as condescending, which was never my intention. 

Those guys are homies, and they’re doing what they do very well— I certainly wasn’t tryna hate.

xo"

As many have predicted, it was a known fact that "No Idea" was being incorporated into Big Time Rush's new album.  I think that Alex handled the situation well by calmly explaining himself - I would like to locate the interview he mentions.  So no worries: All Time Low and Big Time Rush won't have to duke it out with each other!

All Time Low - Time Bomb music video

The first thing that I wake up to on my phone this morning is this lovely music video right here that I've been patiently waiting for for the last few days, and it's a great way to start my day.  All Time Low releases their music video for "Time Bomb."

I very much enjoyed this video and not because it's my favorite track on the record.  I think this might be their first one to have a legit narrative accompanying the band performance because their videos usually include them playing the song and them messing around in the video (especially for "I Feel Like Dancin'"), but I digg this.  What's also cool is that although at first you may think, "wtf?" I still appreciate the reference made in this video.  And what is that reference?  Go watch the video and find out yourself!

Le sigh.  Ten days until these guys will be in Dallas.  It's in big permanent marker letters on my calendar over there on my wall.  Such a shame.  The video makes me want to see them live again because they always put on an awesome show, but alas I can't.  Aside from that, they've really come a long way, and I'm so proud of what they've accomplished in just a few short years.

While We're Up

It's been awhile since I've done a band profile post, but here's one!  This band, While We're Up, sent me one of their songs to listen to via YouTube, and fortunately for them I actually did cause usually I ignore those messages.  The song is called "Hold," and it's a slow love ballad with sweet words that would make any girl's heart melt.


"Hold" - While We're Up

Aside from the love song to induce some winter cuddling, While We're Up is normally an unsigned acoustic pop rock band from Tempe, Arizona, and they sound like it for sure.  Their songs have a happy feel to it and could potentially brighten anyone's day.  You don't even have to listen to the lyrics - just listen to the music and the vocal melodies.  This boy duo definitely give off a coffee shop vibe, but if they get signed, I could see them doing some tours.  Give them a listen!

The After Party - California Music Video

Surprise, surprise!  Nearly a few days after they release their single, "California," The After Party boys release a music video to go along with it!  The video has a more serious tone to it than their previous ones, and it's a good video nonetheless!  It shows the guys living life on the road and their touring adventures - I see footage all the way from when they played Kansas City Warped Tour this passed summer.  It's a nice little video, and I enjoyed it a lot.  It makes me more excited to see them in a few days!

Be sure to spare about four minutes of your time to watch this video and also buy their single on iTunes!

Blackout by Breathe Carolina on the radio

So a shocking discovery was made over the holiday break: Breathe Carolina is on the effing radio!  My sister and I are just cruising on the road when I hear "Blackout" - their recent hit single - and I nearly stop the car and flip shit!  As some people would put it, "That shit cray!"  This is the first (okay second) time that an "underground" band that I listen to is on mainstream radio; the first being The Ready Set's "Love Like Woe."

Not that I'm not happy for this great achievement, but there is always that small "hipster" part of me that is thinking, "Well that's great.  Everyone is going to fall in love with them and I'll have to stop listening to them," which I refuse to do because I really do love Breathe Carolina (with thanks to my best friend for introducing me to them).  The thing is..."Blackout" is probably one of my least favorite songs on the album, but hey - it's got a nice beat to it and it's catchy therefore radio-worthy.  It's been said that half of their latest album, Hell is What You Make It, is half radio-friendly songs and the other half is their usual heavy sound.  I much prefer the heavier songs on their album than the radio stuff they put out, but it's whatever.


"Blackout" - Breathe Carolina

Another factor that might have to do with their recent exposure is that they are going on tour with Flo Rida.  Enough said.

Congrats to Breathe Carolina for making it onto the radio, but I hope to be able to see them live again before they get too big!

The After Party - California

At midnight, my buddies from The After Party released their single called "California," and they're currently featured on the homepage of Purevolume.  Much like Rocky Loves Emily, the boys have toned it down from their usual upbeat sound with a calm acoustic sound.  It's a sweet ballad about wanting to venture to the lovely state of California (or perhaps for a certain girl they're serenading to).  I remember hearing this song live back in February, and I couldn't wait for them to release it!  Be sure to listen to the song (below) and if you like it, buy it on iTunes!

Starting in Janurary they will be touring with Allstar Weekend and will be coming back to Texas, but this Friday I will finally be seeing these fellas in San Antonio with my best friend.  We are incredibly stoked!!  It's been way too long since we've all seen each other.  There is no doubt in my mind that they will put on a great show - they never disappoint.

All Time Low - Time Bomb teaser

FINALLY.  All Time Low releases something regarding their upcoming music video for "Time Bomb."  I've probably watched this bit of 21 seconds about ten times already because it's just that amazing.  Just a disclaimer: they're one of my favorite bands, so that's why I'm more compelled to watching this teaser multiple times; plus it's my favorite song on their last album!  There hasn't been an official release date announced yet, but it's "Coming Soon!"

Again, All Time Low will be performing in Dallas December 10th for Unsilent Night, and sadly I cannot be there.  Besides that, I've been hearing rumors that they will be playing Warped Tour 2012, but there is no confirmation because bands haven't been officially announced by the Warped Tour website.  That would be awesome though if All Time Low played at 2012 cause then I would definitely go see them!

I See Stars on THE WARRIOR SHOW

Not really a music related post, but I thought this was interesting.  My favorite band, I See Stars, is featured on episode two of "The Warrior Show," - episode one featured the band, Asking Alexandria.  I've never seen it, never heard of it, but it looks intense.  From this trailer it seems as though the boys of ISS will be put through the workout/training of their life, but why?  They're super skinny as it is!  Anyway, the show looks interesting, and I'm sure that the warrior life is interesting for them as well!  Maybe I'll check this out just to see what happens!

Punk Goes Pop Vol. 4 Streaming!

After much anticipation, "Punk Goes Pop Vol. 4" released on Monday, November 21st, and the album sounds great!  All your favorite radio hits covered by your favorite punk/alternative/hardcore scene bands compiled onto one album!  Check out it out!

Rocky Loves Emily - I'm Not a Dang Polar Bear, I'm a Human Being

Recently the boys from Rocky Loves Emily released a Christmas single called "I'm Not a Dang Polar Bear, I'm a Human Being."  (Also available for purchase on iTunes)  Don't let the song title confuse you cause it's a cute song that presents a more chill (pun intended) sound from their usual upbeat pop rock.  The song epitomizes the ultimate Christmas song sound - I can imagine a music video with them singing outside in the snow with Christmas lights in the background.  What a great way to start the holiday season!

Rocky Loves Emily will be embarking on their Secret Santa tour with Move Out West starting December 9th, but unfortunately they will not be stopping in Texas.  For my dedicated readers who are in other parts of the US, check out their tour dates to see if they'll be stopping by your city!  They put on a great live show, so don't miss it!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!
I had a wonderful thanksgiving yesterday with my family, and I hope everyone enjoyed their thanksgiving as well!  Just wanted to make a quick post to say thankful I am to have all the readers I've obtained in the past two months!  It warms my heart to see my stats everyday and see that I have readers not only from the states but from around the world!  I started this blog for a class but now it's grown to be a part of my life, and I'm happy to know that other people like reading it!  So once again thank you, thank you to all my dedicated readers!

xoxo,
Siri Svay

Runner Runner - We are the World Tonight

Runner Runner released a new single this week by the name of "We are the World Tonight."  Been awhile since I've heard anything from these guys - which was expected since the lead singer, Ryan, got married recently (my utmost congratulations!).

WE ARE THE WORLD TONIGHT by RUNNER RUNNER

The song is a bit slower than their usual upbeat stuff, but I can digg it.  It's still a fun song about enjoying life, and I can imagine raising our drinks in the air and singing along with them.  If you're having a down day, take a listen to this.