The Girl at the Rock Show

Bamboozle on the beach

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Thank you Instagram for making this even prettier.

I spent this past weekend in Asbury Park, New Jersey for Bamboozle. Before I arrived, I had no idea that the festival would be on the beach. Seriously. This made the layout of the stages slightly confusing, but I got to dance to several of my favorite bands with my feet actually in the sand, so I'll overlook it.

My highlights of the weekend:

Incubus. This band influenced my life more than any other, and seeing them live is always like a religious experience for me. Plus, hearing "Wish You Were Here" and realizing I could literally go dig my toes in the sand at that moment was just surreal.

Incubus playing "In The Company of Wolves"

Watching people dance to Skrillex. Dubstep is really not my thing, but after watching these kids, I started to appreciate it just a tiny bit more. (There were even better moves going on before, but it was too dark for my camera at that point!)

Motion City Soundtrack. To be honest, I haven't really kept up with their latest albums (I know, shame!) but they consistently put on a fun, energetic show that's not to be missed.
The All-American Rejects. I don't know what I love more, the music or Tyson Ritter's habit of changing the words to their songs. He is easily one of the most entertaining frontmen I've ever seen.
Jimmy Eat World. Do I really need to elaborate on this? They're a fantastic band and they always put on a beautiful show. They've been around for almost two decades for a reason.
Foo Fighters. I only know a couple of their albums, but this band is just a must-see live act. In an industry full of computers and Auto-Tune, it is so refreshing to see true rock 'n roll like this.

I didn't stay for Sunday, although I would have loved to catch Brand New and the Gaslight Anthem. Oh well. At the end of Saturday night, I had almost no voice left and my legs were barely holding out. Aside from being forced to sit through half a Mac Miller set, I'd call Bamboozle 2012 a great success.

Taking on Ticketmaster

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Most music fans can agree that Ticketmaster is evil but unfortunately, there isn't much we can do, aside from complaining (something I do quite frequently). Even worse, Ticketmaster is an unavoidable monopoly, and unless you happen to be attending a show at an independent venue, you're stuck paying all those ridiculous charges. (Then there is always a slew of articles written about how concert ticket sales are down every year. Gee, I wonder why?)

Well, the jam-band String Cheese Incident is attempting to fight back. According to the New York Times, the band is buying a large amount of tickets to its own shows from Ticketmaster and then re-selling them to fans without service charges. Obviously Ticketmaster is still charging the fees though, so the band is essentially losing money in order to "stage a symbolic protest as part of a decade-long conflict with Ticketmaster."

The String Cheese Incident: our heroes in the battle against evil

"It costs us money to sell the tickets," said Keith Moseley, the band's bassist. "But we're going to eat that cost this summer in order to make a better deal for our fans and let them know how much we appreciate them."

This is a nice gesture for the fans, and I respect the String Cheese Incident members for their efforts. But unfortunately, Ticketmaster is still getting the money for those service charges, so in the end, it doesn't make too much of a difference. Too bad there isn't a better way to stick it to them. But still, it's nice to see high-profile artists drawing attention to how awful the concert ticket business has become, and at least the fans get a little bit of a break. Let's hope fans buy lots of merch at the shows to show their gratitude.

The fabulous Veronica Roth signs books in Tribeca

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:06:00 +0000

While this blog is almost focused on music, I do reserve the right to discuss other forms of entertainment. Well today, I'm going to exercise that right, because I'm also a huge book nerd and last week, I went to a Veronica Roth book signing!

For those of you lame enough to not know, Veronica is the New York Times best-selling author of Divergent, a young adult Dystopian novel. Divergent won lots of praise and awards last year, and it was one of those rare books that I could not put down (I confess, I was seriously considered reading a few chapters at work when no one was looking. Not that I would ever actually do such a terrible thing...) So I was psyched that the sequel, Insurgent, was finally coming out on May 1st, and I was even more psyched to hear that Veronica would be celebrating the release day at the Barnes & Noble in Tribeca.

Real talk.

So anyway, last Tuesday night, I was in the audience while Veronica read a small, spoiler-free excerpt from Insurgent (she almost gave something away, but caught herself just in time). She then followed up by answering a few questions. Here's some of the information she gave us:

There will be a third book in the series, although she herself still has no idea how it will end.
Once the series is over, she plans to continue writing young adult literature, but she doubts she will have any ideas leftover for another dystopian story.
She also mentioned having an anxiety disorder, and described how even ordered meat at the deli counter makes her nervous. I can only imagine how much stress talking to crowds of strangers must cause, but she seemed so comfortable and casual in front of us that I never would have suspected.
She chose the name Beatrice for her main character because it was one of the only names she could think of that sounded sort-of old-fashioned but could be shortened into a tough nickname ("Tris"). Likewise, she loved the name Tobias, but has since had tons of fans tell her that's the name of "that blue guy" in Arrested Development.
One fan asked which faction Veronica would be in, and while she did say that Abnegation was her favorite faction, she ultimately said, "I would just fail at this world."

Truly a terrible photo, but this was the best I could get.

Have I mentioned how young Veronica is? We both graduated college in 2010 but she's several months younger than I am. So now I feel like the slacker.

Anyway, then I got my book signed! Ta-da:

Yeah, I'm pretty pleased with myself.

She's right though, I will need to be awfully strong while I wait until 2013(!!) for the next book to be out. I tried to make Insurgent last, and in a way, I was semi-successful as I think I made this one last three days instead of two like Divergent. Anyway, the book is full of action and intensity and there's never a dull moment. If you liked the first, you will like this one. But there's not much recapping (thank goodness, I get sick of pages wasted on explaining what happened in the previous book!) so either reread Divergent or check out the recap Veronica recently posted on her blog before you pick it up. Also, so I can pretend this post is about music, see the playlist Veronica listened to while writing.

Finally, if my post wasn't enough for you, check out the archived livestream of the event:

epicreads on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Florence Welch amazes yet again

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:09:00 +0000

As usual, Florence Welch has outdone herself. Listen to her new song, "Breath of Life," that will be featured in "Snow White and the Huntsman." EPIC.

I have not really been paying attention to this movie, but the soundtrack is apparently coming out on May 29, and if the rest of the tracks are on a similar level as this one, maybe I'll have to check it out.

More info on the song is available on NME's site.

Welcome back, William Beckett

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:49:00 +0000

A few months ago, I wrote a post mourning the end of one of my high school favorite bands, The Academy Is... I didn't know it at the time, but I only had to wait a few months for lead singer William Beckett to put out his solo EP, Walk The Talk.

Now, to be totally honest, I wasn't that excited when I first heard about this. A huge part of my attachment to TAI came from nostalgia and memories of hanging with my best friends during summer break. So a new solo album did not really seem like a huge deal, but I've always respected William Beckett as a musician and he was always so nice to my friends and I when we talked to him at shows back in the day. So out of loyalty, I purchased the EP (it was less than $4 on iTunes, so really, there is no excuse!) And it turns out that I actually really like all four tracks. "Compromising Me," and "Girl You Shoulda Been A Drummer" make me want to open all the windows on a sunny day and dance ridiculously around the room. If you were a fan of The Academy Is..., then Walk The Talk is definitely worth a listen.

So it looks like William Beckett will be accompanying me while I make some new summer memories this year. Reunited and it feels so right.

Writing, writing, writing

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:42:00 +0000

Please excuse the lack of posts lately, but I've been busy. I started a new job (hurrah!) writing about music, and I'm still freelancing for several different websites, so needless to say, when I had some spare time, I wasn't exactly dying to write more. But, if you'd like to see the writing I've been doing in other places, feel free to check out my interview with Justin Sane of Anti-Flag and my interview with Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers. Both of them were lovely to talk to.

I truly feel blessed to be writing professionally about what I love at last. Moving to New York without a job was a gigantic, scary risk but I went for it, and now it is finally paying off. I still have lots of goals for myself, but at least I've made some progress now. I wish I could say that it feels great, but honestly, it doesn't even feel real yet. I guess the moral of this story is that hard work pays off, so stick with it.

Now, I leave you with a new song by a band that I really, really love. Enjoy!

I just really love Fiona Apple.

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:32:00 +0000

I am still in shock that I was this close to Fiona Apple a few nights ago. She sounded incredible, and she seemed much happier and healthier than when I saw her back in 2006. By that, I mean there was less incomprehensible screaming during instrumental breaks, and a lot more smiling and joking with the audience. It's amazing to have Fiona making a comeback, but even better to see that she seems to be enjoying herself as well.

"Paper Bag":

Fooling with the crowd, and then performing an incredible cover of Conway Twitty's "It's Only Make Believe":

Somewhere in these videos, I am fighting the conflicting urges to bawl my eyes out and shriek with happiness. Did this all really happen, or did I dream it?

My most anticipated spring albums

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:11:00 +0000

Every spring, I start assembling playlists of music that feels perfect for the upcoming warm weather. Some music just feels like it was meant for a sunny day. Last year, the best example was All At Once by The Airborne Toxic Event - it came out right when the weather was starting to get nice, and I listened to it quite often in the beginning of the summer. In fact, it began to embody summer so much in my mind that when I tried to listen to it this winter, it just made me want to burrow up under a comforter and bawl because spring was still months away. But that's a story for another time.

A lot of the music that is going to make up my summer playlists hasn't been released yet, but I already know what it's going to be. There are three particular albums coming out in the next few weeks that I am psyched about.

Kids In The Street - The All-American Rejects

So I won't get any street cred for this one, but I just really love AAR. They are one of the only bands that I love all of their albums pretty much equally - usually one of them at least has to be a flop. Not these guys. They are masters of catchy, feel-good pop-rock, and they know it. Plus, just check out that trailer above. Early reviews are saying this is their best and most ambitious album yet. And besides, few acts make music as perfect for summer as AAR. I can't wait and I have no shame.
The Lumineers - The Lumineers

Okay, I confess: I watch some embarrassing TV shows. But the thing is, some of them have such great soundtracks (that's the only reason I watch, I swear.) I found The Lumineers through one of these shows that will remain nameless. I immediately loved the song (the stomping, folky first single "Ho Hey") but could not find any other recorded songs from the band. Thankfully, that's all about to change on April 3rd, when the band's debut comes out. You can stream the whole album now though here.
My Head Is An Animal - Of Monsters and Men

I already raved about this album a few months ago, and now it is officially being released in the U.S. (on the same day as The Lumineers as well!) I'm psyched. I love this band and I cannot wait to see them in April.
There you have it. I'm sure once these come out, I'll be posting full-length reviews/rambling about how much I love them.
Honorable mention: this will cost me even more scene points (like I had any to begin with, c'mon) but that new Flo Rida song featuring Sia, "Wild Ones," is just so CATCHY. Anyone who enjoys a summery pop song should check it out.
Now that I'm actually recommending Flo Rida songs on my blog, I think it's time to end the post. Happy spring, everyone!

The triumphant return of Fiona Apple

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:02:00 +0000

AP Photo

A few weeks ago, I wrote an angry blog post about the Fiona Apple Ticketmaster fiasco. While I'm still unhappy about the situation, I have a confession to make: my friend Ali and I gave in to the scalpers and purchased tickets to the Boston date on StubHub (New York would have been more convenient, but the prices are just absurd for those shows).

I have some moments when I feel irritated that I gave those damn scalpers my money. Plenty of fans are holding strong and refusing to cave in. I completely support that idea, but let's be real here. You never really know with Fiona - for quite a while, I accepted that Extraordinary Machine just might be the last album she ever put out. I saw her once in 2006 and resigned to the fact that I might never see her again. Now that I have another opportunity, I'm snatching it up because maybe this is the last chance. You just never know. So forgive me for being weak, my friends.

Yesterday, Fiona performed at South by Southwest, and people have not stopped talking about her set since. My Twitter feed is blowing up and critics are naming it as one of the best performances of the festival so far. Plus, she played three new songs (gah!).

So I watch this video and feel giddy, knowing that in just a few weeks, I will be in the crowd while Fiona flails and shouts and acts like she's possessed. Welcome back, Fiona. I can't wait to cheer myself hoarse in Boston.

"No Room For Rock Stars" perfectly captures the Warped Tour experience

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:55:00 +0000

In high school, Warped Tour was a summer tradition for my group of friends. At first, my mom had to drive us, since no one actually had a license (thankfully, I have a "cool mom" who has been known to pull my friends out of mosh pits and still loves going to shows with me today). Once college started, we continued the tradition for a while; we endured extreme heat, downpours of rain and mud so deep that you frequently saw abandoned Converse Chucks sunk halfway in it.

Sadly, we've stopped going these days, simply because of the recent lineups. Maybe we're getting too old for that scene, or maybe Myspace enabled too many generic bands to gain passionate fandoms. Maybe a little bit of both. Nevertheless, I will always have a very special place in my heart for Warped Tour, because ultimately, some of my favorite memories come from my days at those festivals.

So naturally, I am really excited about No Room For Rock Stars, a new documentary about Warped Tour produced by the same team who made Dogtown and Z-Boys. The crew shot more than 300 hours of film on the 2010 tour and they cover just about everyone involved, including Warped mastermind Kevin Lyman, the musicians, the crew, stage managers, tour bus drivers and even a few of the musicians' family members. Director Parris Patton offers a thorough, comprehensive look at what Warped Tour is really like on both the good days and the not-so good days.

Warped Tour has always been a grab bag of alternative acts, and that is accurately shown through the variety of musicians focused on. The cameras primarily follow R&B/pop star Mike Posner (whose hit "Cooler Than Me" is all over Top 40 radio), metal band Suicide Silence, struggling pop-punk act Forever Came Calling, and Christofer Drew, frontman of the cutesy feel-good pop act Never Shout Never. The gang's all here, from the guy on the verge of stardom to the band that can barely afford gas; from Suicide Silence's lyrics about how the "human machine will finally bleed," to Never Shout Never's determination to bring "love energy" to the tour; from Posner, who claims he has already sold more albums than 95 percent of the other acts will ever sell, to his bus-mates in Anarbor who had never even been on a tour bus before. Warped Tour attracts such a wide array of fans precisely because of all these contradictions.

This documentary is not all mosh pits and adoring crowds though. Some musicians become disillusioned, fans get a little too personal, and a lot of people get homesick as the 16,906-mile journey continues. Critics sometimes make a valid argument that Warped Tour has evolved into nothing more than a giant corporate marketing opportunity for the youth demographic. Patton's film never leans one way or the other; it just presents the footage you need to make your own judgement. But in the end, the greatest strength of this film is how well it captures the sense of community felt between everyone involved on this tour. Ultimately, most people involved in Warped Tour love it because they feel like they have finally found a place they belong.

I truly enjoyed every second of this documentary, despite the fact that I don't actually like any of the featured acts all that much. Even the musicians I do not care for made for some great interviews - I generally find myself covering my ears the second I see Cristofer Drew's face but this time, I actually found myself nodding while he spoke. I never thought I'd see the day. So, I would highly recommend this film to any music fan, no matter what your musical tastes are or whether or not you've been to Warped Tour before.

No Room For Rock Stars will be in theaters across the country in an exclusive, one-night engagement on Thursday, March 1, 2012. For a complete list of cities, theaters and showtimes for No Room For Rock Stars, please visit: www.noroomforrockstars.com. The film will be available on iTunes on April 2 and on DVD May 8.

Rage against Ticketmaster

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:08:00 +0000

This post will not change anything but I need to write it so I have somewhere to direct my rage against Ticketmaster (aka THE WORST). Sure, they charge absurd service charges for no apparent reason and that's annoying, but I've dealt with it for years and at this point, I am resigned to it. My complaint now is about how I can no longer even reach the point to pay those crazy fees, because I CAN'T GET ANY TICKETS. To anything!

Three times in the past month, I've tried to buy concert tickets off of Ticketmaster, and all three times, the available tickets have sold out as soon as the shows are on sale. This morning, apparently Fiona Apple tickets sold out in about 8 seconds...if any were actually even available, because right now, Twitter looks like this:

Apparently, no one got tickets. My boyfriend, friend and I attempted to buy tickets for three different shows (hoping that one of them would work out for us) exactly when they went on sale, and nothing. Sure, I get it - the venues Fiona is playing only hold a couple hundred people and a lot of fans want tickets. I would be disappointed but accepting of it if other fans had bought all the tickets up and I couldn't get one. At least people who appreciate her got the tickets. But that's not the case. Let's talk about how many tickets are already available on StubHub from scalpers:

116 tickets for one venue are already available on StubHub, and the cheapest one costs over four times the original price. Not to mention, there was supposedly a limit of four tickets per person, yet some scalpers are offering up to 16 tickets. Craigslist is no better.

As if this weren't frustrating enough, this happened the last time I went to buy tickets on Ticketmaster as well, for Florence and the Machine. For that show, tickets had been "on sale" (aka sold out) for five minutes and there were already four pages of tickets available on StubHub. My friend went to buy tickets for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the same thing happened.

This is not fair to the fans, but it's also not fair to the artists. I don't know the process of how the tickets go from Ticketmaster to being snuck over to StubHub, but the artists cannot be making the extra profit. Other people must be making a lot more money off of Fiona and Florence's shows than they are. Shouldn't their management teams be upset about this?

I don't know what the answer is. I wish it were easy enough to just boycott Ticketmaster and LiveNation, but they've got the monopoly and I certainly won't stop going to concerts. All I know is that musicians and promoters are constantly complaining about poor ticket sales, so maybe they should figure out a way to fix this flawed system.

In the words of Fiona herself: "This world is bullshit!!" Seriously, if I don't end up with tickets to this show, I'm going to have my own Fiona-style breakdown. Ticketmaster, you are the worst.

UPDATE [2/28/12 5:50PM]: Today, I received a kind email from the creator of the Facebook group, "Scalpers Took My Fiona Apple Tickets." The group is growing steadily and has received some media attention. Best of all, some of the people are actually working productively to help the situation, including contacting Fiona's agency to make them aware of the situation, and signing a petition. So if you want to help out or if you just need a place to vent all your anger, be sure to check out that page.

Jukebox the Ghost keep me upbeat while I relocate

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:31:00 +0000

I know, it's been too long since my last update, but I have a good excuse. I just moved from my beloved New Hampshire to New York City! Part of me still can't believe I'm here, but I'm excited for my new life in the big city. It's time to pursue my journalism dreams, and this is the place for me to do just that.

I will miss having all this in my backyard though. Live free or die forever.

Obviously, moving has been pretty stressful. Thankfully, I've had music to get me through it. One of my first nights here, I caught a set by Jukebox the Ghost at Irving Plaza. Now that's some serious melodic power pop for you. I'd never heard of them before, but within just a few minutes, I was tapping my toes and bopping my head along.

My favorite Jukebox song so far.

After the show, I checked out the band's latest album, "Everything Under The Sun," and I'm pretty impressed. I know I'm late to the party, as this album came out in 2010. But better late than never, right? These tunes are sunny and catchy and will make you want to dance down the street. It's certainly no wonder the band is currently on tour with piano-pop powerhouse Jack's Mannequin right now. Just don't bother listening to Jukebox the Ghost if you're feeling bitter, as the overly cheery sound will probably just irritate you. But if you're in the right mood, this snappy, sweet brand of pop will hit just the right spot.

The album artwork sums up exactly how this record makes me feel.

www.jukeboxtheghost.com

Goodbye, Chuck.

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:48:00 +0000

I meant to write this blog post earlier but I've been in mourning. Chuck, one of my absolute favorite TV shows ended forever on Friday, and I am still grieving.

Me.

This heartwarming, incredible show was criminally underappreciated, but thankfully, it had one of the most passionate fanbases I've ever seen. Fans stuffed themselves with Subway sandwiches, tweeted sponsors, and sent bundles of postcards to the network - anything to keep the show alive. We showed the industry that Nielsen ratings are not the most accurate way of measuring a show's success but more importantly, we kept Chuck alive for several seasons longer. That's something to be proud of.

Josh Schwartz knows what's up.

I have mixed feelings about the finale. I mostly love it, and I think the story was beautifully told, but I was raised on Disney movies, so I naturally demand rainbows and bunnies and happily-ever-after type endings. But despite the open-ended nature of the finale, I know that Sarah and Chuck will live happily ever after, whether her memories return on their own, or if Chuck just has to reenact them all for her. Besides, how perfect was that last scene on the beach, with the montage of Charah moments going by? One of my favorite reviews that I've read so far put it best: "The show gave us ton of awesome spy stuff, but in the end it was about a guy and a girl on a beach."

I heard that a lot of the footage for this scene is just Zac and Yvonne on the beach, laughing and crying together. Sigh. I swear I'm not crying, it's just been raining on my face.

I love so many things about Chuck, from Team Bartowski to the pop culture references and the goofy humor. But I think what I love most is just how much heart this show has. It taught us that it's okay to be a nerd. It taught us to dream big and follow our hearts. It taught us to fight for what we love and what is right. Truly, this experience has been a journey and an honor.

As this is mainly a music blog, and Chuck is a show that relies heavily on the soundtrack, here are some of my favorite songs from throughout the seasons to get you through the withdrawal:

1. "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" - Cake

2. "Cobrastyle" - Teddybears

3. "The General Specific" - Band of Horses

4. "Don't Look Back in Anger" - Oasis

5. "Dropped" - Phantom Planet

6. "Skinny Love" - Bon Iver

7. "Buildings & Mountains" - The Republic Tigers

8. "Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads

9. "40 Day Dream" - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

10. "I Am Your Skin" - The Bravery

11. "Howlin' For You" - The Black Keys

12. "Beat The Devil's Tattoo" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

13. "Kiss With A Fist" - Florence and the Machine

14. "Woman" - Wolfmother

15. "Young Blood" - The Naked and Famous

16. "Blow" - Ke$ha (Okay, I don't love Ke$ha but this song was SO perfectly placed that I have to include it).

17. "You Are A Tourist" - Death Cab For Cutie

18. "First Day of My Life" - Bright Eyes

19. "We Are Young" - fun.

20. "Rivers and Roads" - The Head and the Heart

21. Anything ever by Jeffster

(A full list of all the fantastic music from the show)

So turn up the volume, grab some tissues and remember how fabulous this show was. Let this playlist and the following GIF be my way of e-hugging all of you Chucksters out there:

And in the meantime, if you start to feel horribly depressed again, I find admiring this stunning photo of Zachary Levi makes me feel a lot better about everything:

Nerd Herd for life.

Of Monsters and Men - my first new favorite band of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:38:00 +0000

Meet my newest obsession, Of Monsters and Men. This six-piece from Iceland makes such gorgeous music that it's almost impossible to not fall in love with them immediately. The instrumentation on their debut album, My Head Is An Animal, seamlessly transitions from melodic and soothing to crashing and then back again. Mix that with dual vocal harmonies, and you have an epically beautiful collection of indie folk pop songs. If I absolutely had to choose a favorite song, I'd probably go with "From Finner," but really, they are all fantastic. After only a few listens to this album, I knew it would be one of my favorites of the year.

The album reached No. 1 in Iceland, but it is not available in the U.S. yet, although it should be released worldwide this year. In the meantime, an EP, Into The Woods, is available now. Do yourself a favor and listen to it.

Favorite Albums of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

In no particular order.

2011 was truly a great year for my music collection. A bunch of my favorite bands released new material, and almost all of it actually lived up to my ridiculously high expectations. I also fell in love with some new acts that I stumbled across. Last year, I couldn't even come up with a top ten list; this year, I can't keep it to ten, so I had to expand to twelve. Here they are, along with links to any reviews I wrote earlier.

Incubus - If Not Now, When?: If I had to choose a favorite album of the year, it would probably be this one. So many critics and fans disliked this album, leaving me to wonder if the rest of the world is crazy. This album is just gorgeous. It reawakened my obsession with Incubus and I ended up spending a combined total of approximately four months listening only to their music.
The Airborne Toxic Event - All At Once: I was originally disappointed in this album, but turns out I just needed some time to let it grow on me. TATE has to be one of the most hard-working bands I listen to, and also one of the most fun to see live.
Hard-Fi - Killer Sounds: I dare you to resist busting a move while listening to this.
Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials: I do still find a few songs to be a little boring, but when these songs are good, they are great. Florence Welch is a goddess.
Midnight Youth - World Comes Calling: My only complaint about this album is that it is too short. These songs are so epic and catchy that I simply am not satisfied with only ten.
City and Colour - Little Hell: City and Colour always puts out staggeringly beautiful music, and this latest effort is no exception.
The Black Keys - El Camino: This band blew up for a reason. The album just came out so I'm still getting acquainted with it, but I knew on the first spin that this one would be constantly on repeat.
Jack's Mannequin - People and Things: This album makes me both desperately sad and insanely happy. Damn you Andrew McMahon for manipulating my emotions.
Movits! - Ut Ur Min Skalle (Out Of My Head): If you're looking for a Swedish hip-hop swing jazz band that will make you dance like you're in an old school iPod commercial, Movits! is the band for you.
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light: You know, I never really listened to the Foo Fighters before this year, despite my great admiration for Dave Grohl. So I can't claim to be a loyal fan, but I do love this album. 
U.S. Royalty - Mirrors: This was my soundtrack to summer this year.
The Chevin - Champion EP: This band, formerly known as Your Vegas, did not make it easy to get this EP. Thankfully, it was worth the wait.

It's been real, 2011.

City and Colour - live at Terminal 5, 12/7/11

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

I waited seven years to see City and Colour live. This past Wednesday, I finally made it to see Dallas Green and friends at Terminal 5 in New York City, and they were absolutely phenomenal. There will be no dorky jokes or snarky comments in this post, because I'm still just too in awe of Dallas's voice to attempt any sort of wit.

This photo is not actually from my event, but you guys probably are not interested in the crappy cell phone picture I took myself.

It is truly an honor to watch such a gifted musician perform. Unlike many of today's famous acts, Dallas doesn't need a flamboyant costume or flashy backdrop to distract the crowd, and he certainly doesn't need Auto-Tune. All he needs is a guitar, his amazing voice, and some fellow (and also very talented) musicians to accompany him. The fans were enthralled, singing along loud enough to be heard throughout the entire set. It gave me goosebumps more than once.

During the set, Dallas thanked fans for braving the downpour of rain to come out, rather than curling up in their jammies, and then began cracking jokes about how City and Colour was pretty much the "musical equivalent of pajamas." You wouldn't know it from the music, but Dallas is a pretty hilarious guy. When a heckler in the crowd interrupted some of his goofy ramblings, Dallas sassed him right back. If his career in music doesn't pan out, I'd pay to see him do a little stand-up comedy.

"The Grand Optimist" (this one is actually from Wednesday's show):

This concert was so worth the wait. Let's hope Dallas and I meet up again before another seven years go by.

Hot Chelle Rae: Cliche and cringe-worthy, yet strangely catchy

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:54:00 +0000

Review: Hot Chelle Rae - Whatever
Review written for Blast Magazine

Whatever is an appropriate title for Hot Chelle Rae’s generic second album. The Nashville-based quartet’s style of dance-pop/wannabe-rock has been done before, and it certainly has been done better by more talented pop-punk acts. Each track is basically just a slight variation on the last, the lyrics are clichéd and often cringe-worthy, and the vocals are decent at best. Yet despite the fact that there is nothing particularly good or original about the album, these choruses will indubitably get stuck in your head. They are just so catchy. Ultimately though, it’s fluff — enjoyable enough for a tween party or getting down on the dance floor, but not an album that is going to have any sort of lasting influence.

Hot Chelle Rae released their debut (Lovesick Electric) in 2009, but it wasn’t until the obnoxious yet also strangely infectious “Tonight Tonight” off of Whatever started blowing up the radio airwaves this year that they really gained popularity. An actual sample of lyrics from this song: “I woke up with a strange tattoo / Not sure how I got it, not a dollar in my pocket / And it kinda looks just like you / Mixed with Zach Galifianakis / La la la, whatever, la la la.” You’ll probably be rolling your eyes at least a few times in every song, but then the hooks will start back up and suck you in again. It’s a vicious cycle.

Somehow, the band managed to win the New Artist of the Year Award at the American Music Awards last month. Snide comments about what this says about today’s music scene aside, Hot Chelle Rae is by no means the worst thing on the radio right now. The glossy pop is certainly a guilty pleasure, and perfect for those who don’t look much further than Katy Perry and Lady Gaga for their music collection. But if you’re looking for a creative and inspiring new record to listen to, Whatever is definitely not it.

Is this real life?

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Last week, I actually got to interview Mikel Jollett, the lead singer for one of my favorite bands, The Airborne Toxic Event. Mikel regaled me with tales of being raised by wolves and blowing up pianos. Great interview or GREATEST interview?

Here's a little sample of the completed article, and you can follow the link to read the entire piece.

Interview: Airborne Toxic Event frontman Mikel Jollett
By Chrisanne Grise

After touring almost non-stop for the past few

years, the members of The Airborne Toxic Event are understandably worn out, but that does not stop frontman Mikel Jollett from goofing around during interviews.

“Wouldn’t it be great if I gave you a bunch of misinformation and stuck with it?” he said, before launching into an epic (and made up) tale of bonding over music in Bangladesh with drummer Daren Taylor. Then, with barely a beat in-between, he switches angles: “I was raised by wolves. We would ritualistically and tribally chant every night before bed as a way of trying to further stay in touch with our roots. My introduction to rock ‘n roll – it makes sense if you think about it.”

The Los Angeles-based quintet is in the middle of yet another tour promoting their second full-length album, “All At Once,” and there is no rest in sight. As one of the hardest working groups in the current rock scene, fans have gotten used to seeing Jollett and his band mates roll through town every few months. But despite being away from home so often, the group still manages to retain that sense of humor and passion for music, no matter what.
Read more

World Comes Calling - Midnight Youth

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:21:00 +0000

Wow. The new Midnight Youth is not what I expected, but I love it. Somewhere between the band's delightfully catchy debut album, The Brave Don't Run, and the recent release of World Comes Calling, these Kiwis turned into rock stars. Last time, the hook-laden hits were fantastic pop singalong-starters. This round, Midnight Youth sounds ready to rock stadiums. My only complaint about the new album is that it is too short. These songs are so epic and catchy that I simply am not satisfied with only ten.

Much like the band's debut, this entire album is grandiose, with guitar solos in just about every song and dramatic choruses chock full of gang vocals. The fierce first half of World Comes Calling is guaranteed to have fans pogoing and moshing in no time, while the second half is a bit softer and more reflective, although the hooks never stop. Midnight Youth is admirably experimenting with its sound, rather than making album after album with the same style. Some standout tracks include "The Street," "Come One Come All," and "Too Young To Wonder," but really, all the songs are great.

The New Zealand band is huge at home, but with this new album, they sound ready to take over internationally. I had to send away to the other side of the world for the first album, because after scouring the internet, there was simply no other way to get ahold of it here in the States. This time around, I simply had to wait an extra couple of weeks and the album was available on the U.S. iTunes. I'm going to be optimistic here and assume this means the rest of the world is finally starting to catch on, albeit slowly. So really, there's no excuses now; start paying attention to Midnight Youth.

They may look tough and intimidating, but I swear, the music is really fun.

Ceremonials - Florence and the Machine

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:58:00 +0000

There's a version of Florence Welch that sometimes comes out during interviews, where she's soft and shy and occasionally giggly, like an embarrassed little girl. Listening to her new album, Ceremonials, I can hardly believe the woman roaring through these dark lyrics about devils and death is the same person I saw practically blushing her way through an interview on The Colbert Report last spring. You can't pin Florence down, and that's what makes her so awesome - one minute, she's an art school dropout, shrieking about cutting someone's eye out and beating up an old lover. Then, the next thing you know, she's twirling around onstage in a yellow ballgown like a fairy queen, while thousands of fans worship her every note.

That being said, I must admit that I'm not completely head over heels with the new album, at least not yet. I certainly like it; I've been listening to it multiple times a day since it came out this past Tuesday. There are some tracks that I loved immediately, like "Shake It Out" (easily the "Dog Days Are Over" equivalent this time around), "Never Let Me Go," "No Light, No Light" and "Leave My Body." The bonus tracks are also fantastic, as "Strangeness and Charm" and "Bedroom Hymns" were both two of my new favorites when I heard Florence perform them over the summer. The first album was a bit artsier and more experimental, while Ceremonials is more cohesive and robust, as though she's developed a greater sense of the music she wants to create. The music is mature and dramatic, with an even heavier focus on darkness and demons than the last time. Let's not forget those pipes, because her voice is an incredible as always. When these songs are good, they are great. This is the Florence I adore.

Florence and her many personalities, looking creepy.

But then there are a handful of tracks that leave me feeling bored. I'm mostly looking at you, "Breaking Down," "Seven Devils," and "Remain Nameless." These songs are not particularly horrible. It's just that I expect much greater from Florence, the queen of soulful verses and belted out choruses. I want epic, I want to be moved, I want goosebumps covering my arms. In fairness, there were a few tracks on Lungs that took me a while to warm up to as well, so maybe it will just take some time. I already like several songs more now than I did on the first few spins, so there's hope yet.

However, that does not address some of the overly dramatic lyrics that may cause some eye rolls. "Shake It Out" is full of so many clichés ("It's always darkest before the dawn," "It's hard to dance with the devil on your back," "Damned if I do, damned if I don't," "It's a shot in the dark," and so on) that it seems like it must be intentional. One song, "All This And Heaven Too," addresses frustration with being unable to properly describe a feeling with words: "Words, poor language / Doesn't deserve such treatment / And all my stumbling phases never amounted / To anything worth this feeling..." Okay, okay, we forgive you, Florence.

To be honest though, the albums will never be as good as seeing Florence and the Machine live. Her live performances never cease to amaze me, as she can make even the disappointing songs sound like the greatest music of all time. She's that fabulous.

People and Things - Jack's Mannequin

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:32:00 +0000

The new Jack's Mannequin album will not stop toying with my emotions. One minute, peppy songs like "Release Me" and "Amelia Jean" are making me want to twirl in circles in the sunshine and shout about how beautiful life is. Then suddenly, the slow acoustic "Restless Dream" comes on and I'm fighting the urge to burst into tears at my desk, for no apparent reason. Then again, this is nothing new when it comes to mastermind Andrew McMahon's music, whether it be Jack's Mannequin or Something Corporate. His lyrics are both powerful and vulnerable at the same time; pair that with some piano pop and a few haunting guitar riffs and I'm a goner.

Andrew plots the next way to make me cry.

All of the songs on this album are worthwhile, but a few of my favorites are "Release Me," "Television," "Amelia Jean," "Restless Dream, " and "Casting Lines." (You don't know how hard it was to not just copy and paste the complete track list here). Plus the more I listen to it, the more I like all the songs. There are a lot of bonus tracks floating around as well, and they are just as good as anything on the official release. In fact, "No Man Is An Island," off the deluxe edition, is one of my favorite new Jack's Mannequin songs.

Andrew is a Leukemia survivor, and his determination and appreciation for life shine through every song. So despite making me desperately sad at points, People and Things mostly reminds me that it is good to be alive. Crank up the volume, dance around to this album, and be thankful for what you have (and for the existence Andrew McMahon and Jack's Mannequin, of course.)

My farewell to The Academy Is...

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:17:00 +0000

The writers weren’t kidding about how all good things must end.

When I read this yesterday, I felt like a little piece of me died. That might sound melodramatic, but this band has been with me through high school art classes and study halls, through multiple Warped Tours, through late nights in my college dorm, through long car rides. I've waited in line during both sweltering and freezing temperatures to see them. Hell, I even named my first iPod Sisky Business, in honor of the band's ridiculously silly bassist. In more recent years, I probably haven't appreciated the band as much as they deserved, but the music will always remind me of some truly wonderful times.

From my first TAI show

I put on Almost Here, and I'm instantly 16 again, sitting in my friend Ashley's living room while she makes me watch the "Checkmarks" video over and over and over (and OVER! and OVER!) just to see the split second shot of singer William Beckett in the bathtub. Then, I switch to Santi, and I'm back in my college dorm room, rockin' out with my friends Ali and Kailani. And finally, the band's last album, Fast Times At Barrington High, and I'm at the last Warped Tour I ever went to (before the line-up became all the worst Myspace bands ever). Listening to TAI is as close to a time machine as I'm going to get. These songs will forever be souvenirs of my adolescence.

My first Warped Tour with TAI

While I'm extremely saddened by the end of TAI, I'm even more grateful to have had these experiences in the first place. There will always be a very special place in my heart for The Academy Is, and all the band members can count on my support in whatever endeavors the future holds for them.

The writers weren't kidding but the good things will live in our hearts.

Getting to know: Movits!

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:45:00 +0000

So I interviewed a Swedish hip-hop jazz swing band called Movits! for Blast Magazine. Seriously.

I've actually become a big fan of these guys now, and not just because they look snazzy in their matching suits and bow ties. Their music is ridiculously catchy, so much so that I can barely control the urge to bust a move in the middle of my office whenever I listen to them.

So do yourself a favor and check out Movits! - I guarantee they are better than whatever other Swedish hip-hop jazz swing bands you listen to.

And while you're at it, please be sure to read my interview with saxophone player Joakim Nilsson.

A love letter to Incubus

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:13:00 +0000

I remember standing in the record store with my precious babysitting money clasped tightly in one hand, and a copy of Morning View in the other. I was pretty sure I would like the album, but at 14 years old, I was just barely starting to develop a taste in music other than the Backstreet Boys, and to be honest, I was a bit concerned that I wouldn’t like the album enough to justify spending the only cash in my possession. Little did I know that almost ten years later, I would still consider the album one of my top five favorites of all-time. That’s more than I can say for Millenium, anyway.

I was lucky enough to attend two Incubus concerts recently – September 3rd at Jones Beach in NY, and September 9th in Mansfield, MA. These shows were incredible. Both were outdoors on comfortably cool evenings. The wind was weaving through my hair, as I sang along with hundreds and hundreds of other fans. One of my favorite parts was in Mansfield, during “Drive,” when Brandon stepped back from the mic and the band stopped playing to listen to the crowd shout back the lyrics. I never get tired of those moments, when everyone is connected by a single song. That’s my kind of religious experience. These were the type of shows that reminded me not just why I love Incubus, but why I love music in general.

Someone else's surprisingly good quality video of "Drive" from the Mansfield show

When I first started writing this post, it was just supposed to be a review of those shows. But as I put words onto paper (yes, I handwrote a rough draft because I’m old school like that), I quickly realized that a brief summary was not enough to describe how emotional of an experience seeing Incubus is for me. In fact, there are a lot of artists that I love dearly, but none have changed my life the way Incubus has. I actually realized I’d like to go into journalism after reading an article about the band many years ago. I was so jealous of the reporter who got to talk with the band, and then it dawned on me that I could interview brilliant and fascinating people some day too.

It was actually this issue of YM, which wasn’t exactly the high standard of journalism I’m shooting for, but hey, at least it gave me the idea.

Aside from setting me on my actual career path, Incubus is entwined throughout hundreds of my memories from the last decade. Important memories, like the second concert I ever went to. It was at the Worcester Centrum, and I went with my friend Sammi. To this day, when I hear the opening riff to “A Certain Shade of Green,” I am instantly 15 again, shuddering and thinking “OH MY GOD I’M GOING TO DIE” as a bunch of bros break out moshing all around us. For the record, we did get crushed, the crowd broke down the barricade a few minutes into the set, and as I recall, Sammi lost her shoe for a while, but we ultimately had the time of our lives.

Then there are the less vital memories that make up my every day life, like the high school German exchange student presenting me with her Incubus poster because it wouldn’t fit in her suitcase home. She promised me if I didn’t take care of Brandon’s picture, she’d “come back and kick my ass.” (Don’t worry Minh, it still hangs on my wall even now, and it is in great condition. Although I have occasionally considered taping a picture of Ben Kenney over Dirk Lance). I remember sitting in my friend Veronika's basement, not caring about the dude in Final Destination 2 trapped in his burning apartment because “Vitamin” was playing in the background. (If you have to die like that, at least be glad you’re dying while good music is playing, amirite?) I remember listening to Light Grenades over and over during my first year of college. The list goes on for pages. And now I can look back on the past couple nights spent with my pal Ali, obsessing over the music and eventually suffering through the inevitable post-show depression together. These songs are my souvenirs of amazing times with friends and hours spent screaming myself hoarse at concerts. I realize now that I grew up with Incubus, and as a result, when I look back on my life thus far, I see the band at every step.

"Wish You Were Here" live is just perfection.

I don’t know that I will ever be able to fully express how much this one band means to me in words. I hope some day I can thank the members in person. Until that day, this little love letter will have to do. Thanks for some great shows, guys. Now hurry up and come back soon before I waste away from withdrawal.

The story of this morning's unnecessary panic attack

noreply@blogger.com (Chrisanne) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:34:00 +0000

Today, someone hacked into the AFI message board and posted a fake break-up announcement. AFI was one of the first bands I ever got into and as a result, they will always have an extremely special place in my heart. I never truly believed the post as it was no way near eloquent enough to have come from the band. But still. Let’s not do that again.

So in honor of this all turning out to be a big hoax, here’s my AFI jam from 9th grade computer class.