Pot of Gold Festival: Bleachers, Awolnation, Bastille, Fall Out Boy

This weekend I had the great pleasure of attending two of the days of the Pot of Gold Music Festival. The major acts I saw included Bleachers, Awolnation, Bastille, and Fall Out Boy. I also got to see Girl Talk, Chromeo and Milky Chance on the side stage. Festivals are one of my all time favorite events. Despite the fact that the artists are limited to a short set, the vibe and energy of a music festival is so unique.



BLEACHERS
I was so psyched to see this band. I grew up as a huge fan of fun., and considering that the lead singer/songwriter of Bleachers is also the lead guitarist of fun. made me instantly interested in the band. They're most well known for their songs "I Wanna Get Better" and "Rollercoaster" which are often played on the radio. One of my favorite things about loving a band is that you can almost guarantee that they will be even better live! (So if you ever get the chance to see one of your favorite bands live, never pass up the opportunity.)

The show started off kind of slow, but it only kept getting better and better. The band's stage set up really stands out compared to other bands. They have two drummers, two keyboardists, saxophone player, a bassist, guitarist, and lead singer; yet, there are only five members of the band. Jack Antonoff, lead singer/songwriter/guitarist, has an incredible amount of energy on stage. Even with some of the technical difficulties that occurred, his energy never wavered. I find that one of the best ways to find what the chemistry of a band is like is by watching how they introduce themselves, if they do it at all (I can talk for a long time about this, but I won't get into now). Jack introduced every member which was followed by them doing a wicked solo. The band spends a lot of time of just instrumental stuff, which I'm usually not a huge fan of, but they totally pulled it off.

Closer to the end of the show was possibly the best part of the whole night. During "You're Still A Mystery," the saxophone made an appearance and wow'ed the crowd. The saxophonist was beyond talented - he strutted around the stage and had everyone's eyes on him with some help from Jack shouting "The louder you yell, the harder he blows!" The saxophone solo was followed by a guitar vs. saxophone show down. The guitar would play something, then the saxophone would repeat it exactly and it was absolutely amazing!

Bleachers closed their set with "I Wanna Get Better" which is a song that I could never stop loving, despite how many times it is played on the radio. It was a great way to end the show, and they really seem to pour their heart and soul into the song.


AWOLNATION
I thought that Awolnation was a completely different band before I saw them live. I knew their song "Sail" (who doesn't?) and I guess I made this assumption in my head of what kind of band they are, but, wow, was I wrong. They are a lot BETTER than I had assumed. Actually, I have been listening to this band on repeat all weekend because they sound so good. Most of their songs are filled with really dark themes, but the vocals and beat draws you in to listen to more. It took me by surprise on Friday night when Aaron Bruno, the lead singer, screams the lyrics to almost every one of his songs. Don't get me wrong, it isn't all screaming. But when he did break out like that, to see him casually lean into the mic, hands in pockets, I has amazed that that sound was coming from him, a 36-year-old quiet kind of guy. Add that to his awesome dancing moves and it was an interesting combo, but a combo that keeps your eyes glued to the stage.


While their sound was completely on point and blew me away, I'm disappointed when bands don't make that much conversation with the crowd (even though it's usually the same kind of stuff). However, Aaron did say a really nice speech about music, pointing out that everyone in the crowd were there for the same reason - to enjoy the music and have a good time. That is possibly may favorite thing about going to shows and is probably the reason why I feel the most comfortable at concerts. Every single person is there to listen to the band on stage and enjoy themselves. The speech was followed by a song where Aaron requested everyone to put their arms around the person next the them, and before you know it, the whole crowd was swaying (I believe it was to the song "Jump on My Shoulders").


Awolnation performed some songs from their new album, "Run," that is set to be released tomorrow, March 17. If the album is anything like the songs they played, then I'll be very happy. I suggest checking out the songs "Hollow Moon" and "Kill Your Heroes" if you have never heard this band before (besides "Sail").


BASTILLE
If you haven't heard of these guys before, you are probably at least familiar with their song "Pompeii." Well, these four English guys put on a hell of a good show. Equipped with humor, seriousness, interaction with the crowd, and great music, Bastille has everything you could ask for. Between almost every song, Dan Smith thanks the crowd and is extremely polite and humble, especially considering that the band has been nominated for two American Music Awards, a Billboard Award, and two Grammy Awards. Dan Smith is mostly a vocalist, but he does have two little drums set on each side of the stage that he goes to from time to time. Being a front man is usually a hit or miss. For Dan, it is definitely a hit. He was born to do this and the audience can tell this by how comfortable he was on stage and his entertaining dancing.

Performing most of the songs from "Bad Blood" album, they also included the song "The Driver" from BBC1's rescoring of the movie Drive and a cover of TLC's "No Scrubs." One of the best moments of their set was when they played the song "Overjoyed" which was a cue for everyone to hold up triangle paper cut outs. The act was designed by some fans and the triangles were passed out to people before Bastille walked on stage. You could tell that they were all taken for surprise, Dan whispered "wow" into the mic and they all had to take pics of the crowd after the song. I love when the crowd can do something that amazes the artist.

During "Flaws" another special thing happened where Dan jumped off stage and then continued to walk through and around the perimeter of the crowd. I expected him to stay behind the barrier that separated the stage and fans, but that wasn't enough for Dan. As he walked over to my side of the crowd, I actually got to shake his hand! This was such a great way to interact with the crowd.


FALL OUT BOY
Fall Out Boy performed on Sunday night while the previous bands I talked about played on Friday. I signed up to volunteer on Sunday, and that was how I got a free ticket for Friday. I signed up to work at a station where I knew I could have a clear view of the stage, but that didn't happened. I ended up having to work in parking where I couldn't see the band whatsoever and the sound was okay. While that was a huge bummer, I'm still happy that I got to hear most of their set. Then, I was released early from my shift and got to catch the last 30ish minutes of Fall Out Boy's set and that made the night 10000x better.

I got to witness a lot of great songs, including quite a few songs from their latest album "American Beauty / American Psycho." Hearing those songs live made me love the album even more. I wish I got to see the crowd react to them playing "Uma Thurman" since that song is such a hit, but I did get to see other fan favorites. "Young Volcanoes" was made more interactive by having the crowd help Patrick sing the beginning of the song. They ended night with "Saturday" which never fails to impress me when Pete ditches his bass to scream into the mic instead.

I had the amazing opportunity to see FOB live last August so I had an idea of what to expect and in no way do they disappoint. Pete is really chatty with the crowd, and the fans love it when he gets shy Patrick to chat with them. Their guitarist, Joe Trohman, didn't play that night due to recovering from surgery. That inconvenience didn't stop the rest of the band from putting on an amazing and unforgettable show. However, I have to mention how different it is seeing a band during their tour and at a festival. That extra hour that they don't get to play at a festival makes a difference.


--------------------------------------------

The crowd at Pot Of Gold on
Friday night during Chromeo's
show.

Pot of Gold was a huge success. Tempe Beach Park came the closest it has ever been to selling out on Saturday night with Kendrick Lamar as the headline. This weekend was a great way to begin Spring Break. Tomorrow morning I leave for California for the next week! And today something very incredible and magical and amazing happened - I GOT TICKETS TO SEE BLINK 182 ON WEDNESDAY AT THE ROXY IN HOLLYWOOD. I have never in my life been so excited to see a show. I've been buzzing all day long. To be honest, I'm surprised I sat still long enough to write this post. The Roxy is a nightclub that holds 500 people. And blink are playing there. And I will see them. I can't believe this is real. I will also see blink on Sunday night at the Musink festival that Travis Barker is hosting. These next few days are going to be - I don't have a word strong enough to describe how awesome it is going to be. (*When I say blink-182, I mean blink-182 ft. Matt Skiba)


On a side note, because I was at the festival last night, I didn't do my weekly Sunday's Seven Songs. I also won't be able to do it next Sunday because I will be at the blink show. Not like that many people follow my blog, but I thought I would just mention that I haven't forgotten about it!

Looks like the next time I will blog will be after I see blink. Wow. What a thought.


Until then,
Nikole

The Most Anticipated Music of 2015

I got the idea for this post from Alternative Press magazine. Some of the anticipated music I'll be listing is also included in Alt Press's article, but I'm adding my own expectations. 2015 already sounds like it is going to be an incredible year for music and I doubt we barely know even half of the expected music to be released this year.

FALL OUT BOY
American Beauty / American Psycho 
January 20

Little by little, Fall Out Boy have been releasing songs from their album. "Centuries" has been by far the most popular since the song is played everywhere from ESPN to pop radio stations. They have also released "American Beauty / American Psycho," "The Kids Aren't Alright," "Immortals" (featured in Disney's Big Hero 6), "Irresistible" and "Uma Thurman." The songs are extremely promising and set some high expectations for the rest of the album. I've been looking forward to how the band would follow their last album, Save Rock and Roll, since it was such a large success. They've taken a few aspects from that album such as the story-telling technique. Based on their newest music video and comments from the band, the album focuses on an unhealthy love between the "American Beauty," Nancy, and the "American Psycho," Sid. Only a little over a week left until we find out the rest of Sid and Nancy's story.

SLEEPING WITH SIRENS
February

Three months ago, Sleeping With Sirens released their single, "Kick Me." This was the first sound of new music since the release of their last album, Feel (June 2013). The single was followed by another single called "We Like It Loud," which has some more rock vibes than their previous songs. The band decided to end their ties to their previous label, Rise Records, and instead sign with Epitaph in order to work more independently as a band. John Feldmann has also been helping in producing the album. The band is currently on their world tour alongside Pierce the Veil.

IMAGINE DRAGONS
Smoke and Mirrors 
February 17

Imagine Dragons were deemed by Billboard as "2012's Brightest New Stars" and "The Breakout Band of 2013." They also added three more Billboard awards to that list in 2014. Their last studio album was released in September of 2012 which was followed by a live album in April 2013. The band mentioned to Rolling Stone that the new album is mainly rock-driven with more hip-hop influences than their previous work.

THE MAINE
American Candy
Spring

This is one of the most anticipated albums of the year for me personally. I've grown to love this band more and more over the last couple of years and I even joined my first street team to help promote the band. Earlier this week, the band came out of hiding from the recording studio they were living at in Joshua Tree, California. They shut themselves off from the internet and dedicated themselves to the music. There hasn't been any released singles as of now, but they did release information about their new tour (which I have tickets to!). They've mentioned how they brought back some of their early pop sounds and tried to make the album not as serious as Forever Halloween was. The band sounds like they are about to jump out of their skin, they are so excited to release something new.

ALL TIME LOW
Future Hearts
Spring

I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for this album and the new single that premieres TONIGHT. The last time we heard new music was in September of 2013 when the band re-released their October 2012 album as Don't Panic: It's Longer Now! which included some bonus songs. Just two days ago, All Time Low announced on BBC radio the album title and artwork. They were featured on the cover of Alt Press magazine as the most anticipated album of the year and the article by Evan Lucy is absolutely amazing and I recommend everyone to read it. They produced the album with John Feldmann. The band collaborated with Mark Hoppus of Blink-182, Kool Kojak and Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte. I can't think of a better way to describe the band's goals for the album other than how Lucy says it.
"If anything [All Time Low's] goal was simple: harness the parts of their sound that make the band great, amplify them and expand the sonic palette without losing sight of their roots." -Evan Lucy, AltPress

PIERCE THE VEIL 
Spring

Pierce the Veil have been working hard and long on their upcoming album and the only thing coming in the way of them putting on the final details and releasing it is the fact that they are constantly busy on tour. For months now they have been touring next to Sleeping with Sirens and they won't finish until early this summer. The band claims that touring and recording has actually been really helpful because they find a lot of their inspiration for new music while they are on stage and on the road. They plan to design their album based on their performance on stage, including some loud and exciting songs, but not forgetting about the softer places.

TWENTY ONE PILOTS 
Summer

There hasn't been much talk about a new 21P album, but the duo admits that it is definitely in the works and they are very worried about it. It's been quite awhile - two years -  since the guys last released new material. Tyler Joseph mentioned in AltPress that he was scouting in LA for someone to help produce an album. He described that the trouble was finding someone who didn't want to "polish" their sound. I love that the duo are staying close to their roots and not letting anyone change who they are. In the AltPress issue that they were on the cover of, they sounded like they had huge plans for 21P. Despite their confessions of being nervous, I'm looking forward to what they decide to release.

PANIC! AT THE DISCO
Summer

I hadn't heard anything about new P!ATD music until I read the AltPress article. There was an interview in September of last year where Brendon Urie stated that he wasn't sure if the fifth studio album would be a P!ATD album or a solo album, but according to his comment in the latest issue of AltPress, he is calling it a P!ATD album. The band is currently cut down to only two people - vocalist/guitarist Urie and bassist Dallon Weekes - so Urie kind of steals the show whether the music is released as a band or solo. Either way, I'm psyched (despite having to see some really talented guys enter and leave the band). I was impressed with the last album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, which was released about a year and a half ago, so I'm looking forward to see what else P!ATD has for fans.

MAYDAY PARADE 
Fall

Mayday Parade have announced that they are planning to experiment with their fifth full-length album. Their goal is to try to bring the raw human element that is seen on stage into the recording studio and onto the album. Their last album was released in the fall of 2013 and featured the pop-rock sounds that they are normally associated with. The band was traveling on their The Honeymoon Tour during the last few months of 2014 and have some international shows set for this year's spring and summer. I'm crossing my fingers to see them again at Warped Tour this year.

BLINK-182
Late Fall

A new Blink-182 album sounds like a myth nowadays. Their sixth
studio album was released in September 2011 and was followed by the Dogs Eating Dogs EP in December 2012. It's not like they've been sitting around doing nothing. Tom Delonge released an album with his band Angels and Airwaves in December 2014. Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker have been busy with their families and their own side projects. Even though whatever they release won't sound like the Blink most of us fell in love with in the late 90s/early 2000s, a new album is still a new album and it will show the band's growth and how they've changed. Delonge commented that the recording process for the new album will begin early this year and will have a lot of similarities with their self-titled album which was released in 2003. Delonge also mentioned in the AltPress issue that they are currently trying to find the perfect producer for the album. (I want to know why they don't produce it themselves since they all have experience in producing. Maybe they can't agree or something. Or hire John Feldmann because I've become a fan of his but his ideas may not reflect Blink's new sound...) I saw a rumor that they could be touring with Fall Out Boy and Cobra Starship this year, but it's unconfirmed (just think of how amazing that would be though).


**GREEN DAY

"I'm in a hardware store in queens. and this
is on my mind. #greenday15 #thefutureisnow
#greendayforever" -Billie Joe Armstrong on instagram

I have no information on a new Green Day album other than Billie Joe Armstrong saying on instagram that the band has big plans for this year. They released ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!  in September, November and December of 2012 and that was the last time they released anything new. A lot of events have been happening in their personal lives such as Mike Dirnt's wife developing (and beating!) cancer and the band's guitarist Jason White being diagnosed with tonsil cancer (which is said to be treatable). I hope after everyone is healthy again that they will be back in the recording studio soon and maybe even start touring again.



---------------

As you can see, there is so much great music coming out this year. Think about all of the bands who haven't released information about new music or the artists that we may not even know yet. This year is going to be huge. Along with the music, I'm going to be graduating this year!? Actually, it's just four short months away. Then I move into a dorm at ASU and start my journalism major. Last week I interviewed a local band for the first time and while I noticed I have a lot to improve on in my interview skills, I had a lot of fun with the whole thing. On Monday I begin working at my first job at a local community college bookstore. It may not sound like much, but I am so excited to start. The closest I've come to a job is babysitting and tutoring.

I know it's been awhile since I last blogged but I promise to be more dedicated to this site. I've grown to like it a lot. I'm regretting not committing to this earlier. I love getting all my thoughts down on artists, albums, concerts and whatever else.

Anyways, I'm going to list the upcoming concerts I have coming up:

-Run 2 Cover (along with Jonny Craig, Kyle Lucas, Captain Midnite, Down with Webster, and So Loud) (January 17)
-Pot of Gold festival (March 13, 14, 15, 17)
-The Maine (April 3)
-Warped Tour (June 23, not sure if I'm going yet)
-APMAs (hopefully!!!!!!!!!!!) (July 22)

That's all of them for now. Well, I hope everyone's new year is starting off great and I will blog soooon.


Until next time,

Nikole xx

Legendary // The Summer Set

Two weeks ago, The Summer Set re-released their latest studio album, "Legendary," with some extra b-sides and an alternate version of "Lightning in a Bottle." The first release was debuted on April 13, 2013. Forming in 2007, The Summer Set is an Arizona-native band that features frontman and vocalist Brian Dales, Jess Bowen on drums, John Gomez on piano and guitar, Stephen Gomez on bass, and Joshua Montgomery on guitar. They're a pop band with extremely catchy beats that makes you want to dance and sign along. Starting in September of this year, they announced that they are working on a fourth studio album. I had the pleasure of seeing them during Warped Tour this year and that was the first time I really got into their music. I listened to the album Legendary a few times after that and didn't press play again until this week. I don't think I fully appreciated the album when I first heard it - or maybe it just means more to me right now. Now I can't get the words that make up this great album out of my head.

~

This is the intro to the first song of the album, "Maybe Tonight." I can't recall any memorable album intros that begin like this. I love it. To be honest, this may be my favorite part of the album - or at least one of them. This intro isn't sung, either, it's said. The introduction automatically draws you in. This album is far from some formulaic, autotuned pop album made from greedy "artists." It has a message and the band wants this message told. 

Cause there's gotta be something out there

If I fly high enough I'll find it somewhere

So I'll hold my breath till I float away

Maybe I'll come down someday

(Someday)

One of the slower songs on the album, but it caught my attention. It's hopeful. I won't argue that some of the themes on this album - break ups, make ups, never giving up - is a bit cliche, but that doesn't stop it from being a great song. I really like this song because "it" is never specified. "It" can be whatever you want it to be. Based on the context of the other songs, "it" can be love. Or maybe "it" is adventure, a new opportunity. Maybe "it" means breaking out of an everyday routine so you float away until you find something new to discover. It's really up to the listener to decide what "it" is.

We caffeinate our blood, talk religion and our families

Graduate then separate, throw our caps in the air

(Rescue)

I'll admit it, this songs makes me emotional. It's not that I loved high school - I actually can't wait to get away. But that doesn't erase the fact that in five short months I'm going to be graduating, enjoying my last summer at home, move into my dorm in a city, and begin college. It's a little overwhelming writing that all out, but I'm excited. "Rescue" is more about being there for a friend than the line I pulled from the song. I actually wish this song got more credit because it can be an anthem for any best friends. When you need me I'll be there, a friend in the eye of the storm. 

When I was a kid, I'd fly around and Peter would mention

Don't be afraid to die, 'cause to die would be an awful big adventure

(Legendary)

THIS IS LEGEN - wait for it - DARY. LEGENDARY. Okay, when the chorus is filled with references to "How I Met Your Mother," how can this not be my favorite song from the album? I feel like this song can be taken in a few different ways. Whenever anything mentions Peter Pan, you know there is an element of refusing to grow up. I just need to accept, friends grow up and lovers will lie. Like many of the problems in HIMYM, the song is also about wanting to find your "yellow umbrella" (in other words, finding that special person you eventually want to settle down with). The term 'settle down with' might be a bit strong, but Ted did settle down with his yellow umbrella so... This song can also be simple - everyone wants to be legendary. It's not until the last chorus when he sings, we all wanna be legendary to somebody, that makes you rethink it isn't that simple.  

I wanna fall in love for once

I want to find my place

This big city life ain't the fairy tales I'm told

(One Night)

This is the first bonus song from the deluxe version of the album and it takes quite a turn from the rest of the album. Despite the cheery sounds of the instruments, the lyrics are sad. I know sad is a terrible descriptive word, but I can't think of another word. The lyrics talk about how it only takes one night to mess everything up, yet it also only takes one night to fix things. Then the chorus switches to the scene of friends in the back burning holes in their heads, saying 'This is the good life, wish we were dead." It's ironic, isn't it? If life is good, then why would you wish you were dead? The song suggests that there is more to it than just that. The lyric I quoted above is from the second verse, and the vocals seem to pick up a bit, suggesting some hope. In a way, I can see what it's trying to say. The band went from living in Scottsdale, Arizona to spending most of the time in Los Angeles. Of course the 'big city life' is often overemphasized and many people seem to bite off more than they can chew. Despite the new challenges, it's one foot in front of the other. One night to fix it all.

~

This album proved harder to break down than I thought. It's one thing to listen to the lyrics and try to understand them, and it's a whole other thing to read the lyrics like a poem (something I try to do when I want to figure out what it's trying to say). I feel like I just over-analyzed a great album, but I was dying to blog about something and this album has been on repeat for the last few days. Anyways, after months passed and I picked this album back up along with its new b-sides, I gained a new respect for the album.

It's not all that uncommon to not get attached to an album the first time you here it. Actually, it's probably really common. Sometimes you have to wait for the music to come to you (that sounds cheesy, but just go with me). I think everyone can understand the feeling of hearing an old song and loving the feeling of knowing that you remembered every single word. The rediscovery of an album or artist is almost as great (or maybe even greater) than the first time you pressed play. I can't wait for the deluxe version of Legendary to feature in my amazing roadtrip playlist, it'll fit perfectly.

~

I hate to say it, but I might not blog so much in the next few weeks. In less than 48 hours, I will be picking up my best friend from the airport. The day after Christmas, we roadtrip to California and I know it will be the most amazing vacation ever. Disneyland, Hollywood, Venice, Huntington, San Diego. I can't even explain how much I'm looking forward to this. I'll try to blog, but no promises.

(Side note: I'm still trying to get in the hang of blogging. I like the style I'm using right now, though. Bringing up an album, pulling out some songs and trying my best to explain them. I just hate making something more than it is - it makes me feel like I'm in my AP Lit class - so I'm trying hard not to do that. I know this is far from what you would find in something published, but I don't plan on any of this getting published. Either way, I love that I'm actually putting words to how I feel about some of the music I'm listening to.)

Until next time,

-Nikole xx

The Dream Walker - Angels & Airwaves

It's been three years since we last heard new music from Angels & Airwaves and they have officially broken their silence. AvA released their fourth studio album, "The Dream Walker," today. AvA is most well-known because of frontman Tom DeLonge, who is guitarist/vocalist of Blink 182. The album is only one-fifth of a multimedia project that includes a short film, novel, comic books, and a graphic novel that follows the journeys of a Dream Walker named Poet Anderson. The short film recently won the Best Animated Short Film Award at the Toronto International Short Film Festival and the album is currently #1 in seven countries.

AvA have always been a band driven by spacey synth sounds and DeLonge's recognizable drawl and this album isn't much different. The album opens with a piano and synth introduction in "Teenagers & Rituals." The blur of time and dates, that a drink or 2, or 3 relieve. I'm not sure if I can get into analyzing the lyrics because DeLonge can be a complicated guy. The first time I heard this song (just under 12 hours ago) I was happy and relieved. I didn't want AvA to dive deep into the use of synths that drown out the vocals and guitars (like the singles, "Paralyzed" and "The Wolfpack") and I wasn't disappointed.

"Paralyzed" and "The Wolfpack" were the two singles of the album and, to be honest, they didn't set my expectations very high. I just wasn't a fan of the sound. The lyrics were thoughtful and deep like many AvA songs, but I couldn't hear them because the synths were too overpowering. If I had to pick, I would say "Paralyzed" is my favorite of the two because it has a catchy chorus and beat. The only music video so far is for "The Wolfpack" and it had nothing to do with how I interpreted the song. Full of animal masks and confused looking people, it was just overall hard to follow. The intro definitely emphasizes the spacey feeling. After looking up the lyrics, I gained a greater respect for each song because DeLonge is truly a lyrical genius. I'm not saying that I don't like these songs since you can still find me singing along to every word, they just weren't my favorite.

DeLonge wrote a lengthy interpretation of "Tunnels" on Facebook that greatly helped how I was able to listen and understand the song. He wrote the verses years ago, which explains why the sound resembles something a little older than the rest of the album. DeLonge stated on his Facebook that he wrote the verses based on a paranormal experience where he woke up and felt his late father's presence. Then two years later, he wrote the chorus about how "something beautiful and epic is on the other side." I'd thank God, but then what is he for? Because I left a few calls at his front door, I'll leave more. I love the high guitar motif in the background - it especially stands out when DeLonge takes a breath and transitions into the next verse/chorus. The last few verses that end with "when you die" is kind of chilling, but like DeLonge said, "there is something beautiful and epic" waiting. Bringing in some religious ideas and even mentioning God is a rare moment in the songs DeLonge writes which is how they seem to pack a bigger meaning.

After a one minute intro of synths, DeLonge breaks out into a fast-paced song, "Mercenaries." The vocals are strained differently which makes the song stand out to me. I feel kind of hypocritical because in a way this song resembles the two singles, yet I really I love this song. When you feel alone, here's a little hand, and a thought 'cause you were on my mind. I've watched countless videos of DeLonge perform (from Blink 182 to AvA to Box Car Racer) and I can tell - if AvA decides to tour - that this will be an amazing song live. I have a picture of what it would look like and I hope it becomes reality one day (even though I'm against the idea of DeLonge performing without a guitar like he usually does with AvA - it just doesn't look natural). Another song that shows a different strain of the vocals and a different energy is "Bullets in the Wind" which I also believe will be a great song to see performed live.

I might have saved the best for last. I don't want to say it's my favorite, because all of the songs are great for their own reasons, but this song I did put on repeat for a few times during the day. "Anomaly" is a very rare kind of AvA song and I'm grateful. The only song I can relate to this is the acoustic version of "The Gift" that is at the end of their first album, "I-Empire." The intro also reminds me of the start of Blink 182's "Boxing Day" - it's a very slowed down, quieter version of the same guitar riffs. I never wanted to say how much I liked you, I never wanted to be one of your sad discoveries. Maybe one of the reasons I love this song is because the lyrics seem relatable. It's a love song, nothing more, nothing less. I never wanted to coast, always wanted to be an anomaly. It's such an unexpected sound from this band. There's no synth whatsoever. It's a perfect ending to the album that parallels the ending of 2007's "I-Empire." My girl, I think I'm in love, it's the scariest place to be alive.

I did leave a few songs out, but I wanted to talk about the few that have stood out to me in the 12 hours that this album has been out. I know I'll probably interpret these songs a bit differently after I see the other adaptions of Poet Anderson's story, but I wanted to get my thoughts about just the album down first. This album only confirmed that DeLonge's voice is possible my favorite voice I have ever heard (which is saying something). There's nothing like it. As much as I love AvA and their current success, I hope DeLonge gets back in the studio with Blink 182 again soon.


xx Nikole

Happy Birthday to The Maine's "Pioneer"

Happy 3rd birthday to a very special album by a very special band: The Maine's Pioneer. I've blogged about The Maine a couple of times before, but I haven't fully dedicated a post to them and it's about time I did. The Maine are a local band based in Tempe who have been active since 2007 but have gained more recognition as they toured during Warped Tour. Bassist Garrett Nickelsen and drummer Pat Kirch started the band while they were in high school and later guitarists Kennedy Brock and Jared Monaco along with vocalist John O'Callaghan would join the team. Their first full-length album, Can't Stop, Won't Stop, was released in December of 2007 and was characterized by pop-y guitar riffs and vocals. Their lyrics got a more serious in 2010 with their second album, Black & White. The band is currently in the studio putting together their fifth album.

Three years ago today, The Maine took a giant step in their career and released their third album, Pioneer. This marked a huge change in the direction this band way going. Ditching the pop sounds that were featured in their first album and played a small role in the second, Pioneer showed the seriousness of this band. The Maine transitioned into their alternative rock/indie tone that carries into Forever Halloween (2013). Reaching number 90 in the Billboard 200 and selling 12,000 copies in the first week, the album was no failure. Good Love (Pioneer the B sides) was later released that included 7 more songs. 8123 (an artist collective that includes The Maine) recognized the album's anniversary on instagram and commented that "this album proves that if you want to do something you can make it happen with a little hard work."

I'm not going to go into detail about each song, but I do want to talk about some of them that really stand out to me (from the first released version of the album). So this is just my rough idea of what each song is intended to mean or why it stands out. I'll try to keep them somewhat short, but it's kind of hard for me to stop writing once I've started.

Some things are out of my hands

I'm what time and consequence have made me

Sit back and watch the world explode

3, 2, 1 here come the fireworks, baby

(Identify)

"Identify" introduces the album with a subtle guitar riff and John's vocals softly singing the first verse. Then after "here come the fireworks, baby," the drums enter and the guitar gets louder. That's the pattern for the rest of the song. Gentle verses, then screaming the chorus. It's a song that stands out and describes the band at the time. They're building their identity. It's not worth "standing in line," it's time to "identify." I also need to point out the lyric "I bought the last plane ticket to the end of the world" because it emphasizes that the time to identify is now.

I'm feeling pretty dirty, baby

Forgive my sins.

I got the feeling you can save me honey,

My heroine.

(My Heroine)

This song has a very recognizable opening and the first verse (above) draws you into the song. It's pretty self-explanatory. This girl is his heroine - his drug - something he is addicted to and could never get enough of. I like the double meaning of heroine. While in the song, it is mostly intended to be the drug, but heroine is also defined as a "woman admired for her noble qualities." Both definitions make this heroine an irresistible person.

Some days, they taste like lemonade

Some days can feel like razor blades

I wish I could float away, some days

(Some Days)

A little more cheery sound than the first three songs on the album, however it is serious just like the rest. The chorus (above) is powerful and is definitely packed with a lot of emotion. It says what is true for everyone - some days we feel on top of the world, some days can feel agonizingly painful. Then there are days where you wish you could float away, leave it all behind. The line "I hate to say I told you so" makes me think that he has been trying to make a point and it's finally coming across. 

I am selfless, I am selfish,

I'm anything that I want to be.

This is violent, this is honest, 

It's the anthem for a dying breed.

(Don't You Give Up On "Us")

There's a list of ideas of what this could mean in my head and I think every one has a bit of truth in it. Since there are quotations around "us," it makes me think that this song is meant to have multiple meanings. First, I thought of "us" as in a relationship. He doesn't want to break up and this is his plea for her to stick around. I don't really think that is it, although there are some lines that back that idea up. I also thought it could mean "us" as in the band. The song starts with "I am anything you want me to be" then it transitions into "anything I want to be." The band started off as any other pop band, which is probably what many people wanted. It would definitely be something the radio would play. However, the band realized that they will be what they want to be, even if they won't get the same attention. The dying breed could be the genre of music which is definitely different from the "mainstream" music found on the popular radio stations these days.

Looking for misery, but she found me

Lying naked on the floor

(Stay away, sweet misery)

I was headed insane, the devil told me his name

But he's not welcome here, anymore

(Misery)

Possibly my favorite song on the album for many, many reasons. The first time the lyrics really sunk in for me was when I watched the music video. It left me speechless. There's so much emotion that goes into this song, probably more than any other song on this album. Misery is a very intense emotion - it's something deeper than just being sad. Misery is personified in the song and is able to view the speaker at his lowest. I have a lot of questions about the some of the meanings in this song so it's hard for me to go into detail. For instance, why was he looking for misery? And then once "she" finds him, he tells her to stay away? I have some ideas but too difficult and wordy to type it all out now. I love how with every succeeding chorus, John sings louder until the point where he is desperately calling out to Misery.

Turn it up, it's my song

I can't sing, but I'll sing along

I can feel it in my bones

A little rock, a little roll

(While Listening to Rock & Roll)

Finally a more cheery song. Well, I don't think I would call it cheery, but I love message of the song which is crystal clear - don't stop listening to rock 'n' roll. The guitar reflects the old feeling of real rock n roll (although I don't think you can define "real" rock n roll - it's something you feel in your bones like the song says). It's a song that can be related to as well. I love those songs that you can feel. The lyrics and vocals, the drums, the guitar, the bass, the piano/keyboards - everything fits together and rolls along. I can definitely relate to the line "I can't sing but I'll sing along." I know I can't sing, but that will never stop me from singing along.

Oh my gorgeous Arizona

Here's to gettin' caught with you

I was runnin' with the wolves

I was howlin' at the moon

(Waiting for My Sun to Shine)

I'm not going to go really into this song because, well, there's a lot to say about about a 15 minute song. Right now as I'm writing this I'm enjoying the incredible guitar solo that really picks up at 2:38. I like that this song is at the end of the album. It feels like the final toast. All I know is I'm still waiting for my sun to shine. There's a lull that is broken at about the 8 minute mark. It's soft. It kind of feels like a giant sigh. 

Happy birthday, Pioneer.

------------------

I feel like I haven't updated my blog in a long time. Acdec competitions were all last week and I find out if I make the team on Monday. Then I have to deal with the ACT and finals coming up in the next two weeks. I promise I'll write as often as I can. I really enjoyed writing this post so I'll probably something like this again. :)

Until next time,

Nikole xx

Looking Back on Warped Tour

     Quick side note: I really am going to try to blog about the recent concerts I've been to as well as the concerts that will be coming up. I don't really have any order, I'm probably just going to go with whatever concert that comes to mind first. I'm going to start with Warped Tour because that was one of my favorite days this summer.

     On June 18 I went to Quail Park in Mesa to go to Warped Tour for the very first time. I honestly don't know what stopped me from going before this summer but at least I went this year. I got there as soon as the doors opened. It was a pretty cool day for being summer in Arizona. I can't even explain my excitement for the day's lineup. The schedule isn't known until you get there so it's super important to find the giant blown up schedule that is by one of the main stages.

     The first show of the day began at 11:30am and it just happened to be one of the top bands that I was most looking forward to: Mayday Parade. Since it was morning and not as hot, everyone was super pumped and were dancing and singing. The lead singer, Derek Sanders, ran around stage barefoot and sang with a lot of energy to get the day started. They performed songs from their newest album, "Monsters in My Closet," along with older songs from their 2011 self-titled album and "Valdosta" EP.

     I had some time between Mayday Parade and the next act I wanted to see so this gave me some time to scope out my surroundings and check out all of the tents. One that stood out was the AltPress Magazine tent which was where a few signings would be held throughout the day. I picked up a pass from that table to come back later to meet one of my favorite bands (which I will get to soon). Some tables were really interactive where they had photo booths or paint so you can paint your friends (I'm not sure how to describe that because I didn't actually go to that table). Alright, I'll get back to the music.

     The second show was an Arizona native band called The Summer Set. What really stands out about them is their female drummer, Jess Bowen. It's awesome seeing that one girl in a band because I think it really shows that the guitars and drums aren't just meant for guys. They played some of my favorite songs of theirs like "Lightening in a Bottle" and "Chelsea." They were super pumped and kept mentioning how excited they were to be in their hometown.

Raising his middle finger, John O'Callaghan
from The Maine sings every word with
emotion.

     The next act was probably the act I was looking forward to the most. I got to the stage over an hour early and watched a group called The Protomen. After they finished their set, I made my way to the front of the crowd and right up again the barricade. The next band to perform was another Arizonian band, The Maine. It's really hard to describe how much I love this band and if you haven't heard of their music then I highly suggest you look them up. John O'Callaghan, the lead singer, reminded me of Kurt Cobain the way he acted on stage. It's more just the similarity of physical appearance rather than anything else. O'Callaghan has said the secret to his long and messy hair is to never cut it and never wash it. While that may sound gross, the look suits him somehow. The other members of the band include Pat Kirch (drummer), Kennedy Brock (guitarist), Garrett Nickelsen (bassist), and Jared Monaco (guitarist). The emotion that O'Callaghan performs with is truly inspiring and hard to forget. The band played a couple of hits from their first album "Can't Stop Won't Stop" and mixed in some of their newer stuff from their most current album "Forever Halloween." It's a great feeling to watch a band and be able to sing along to every word. I hope everyone gets to experience that sometime in their life. At the end of their set, Brock threw his guitar pick into the crowd and the guy behind me caught it. Luckily, he said he didn't want it because it didn't have the band's symbol or anything on it so he gave it to me (and it is currently taped on my wall right next to my Maine poster. I don't need something to show that it belonged to Brock, I know where it came from). It wasn't over. While they were packing up, Kirch through his drumsticks into the crowd and one of them landed right in front of me so it was as simple as asking the security guy to pick it up and the stick was mine. Amazing.

     After that incredible performance, I stayed at the same stage to watch the next act play which would be We Are The In Crowd. It's a really great pop punk band featuring lead singer Tay Jardine and singer/guitarist Jordan Eckes. My favorite song of their set was called Kiss Me Again which features Alex Gaskarth from All Time Low.

     Things simmered down and I headed over to the acoustic stage. I had no idea this stage even existed until I happened to walk by it. It's designed to hold amazing acoustic shows and it's under a giant tent which was very nice as the day started to become warmer. The only artist I saw on that stage was Nick Santino. I hadn't heard of him before this. This is an example of why I love Warped so much, you can find artists or bands you never knew you liked.

     The reason I was passing the acoustic stage was to make my way back to the AltPress tent. Now was the time I was going to officially meet The Maine. The five guys all sat in a row at a long table, signing posters and whatever else. Sadly, no pictures or hugs were allowed but I'm still thankful that I got to talk to them and thank them for their music. I was so tongue tied when I actually came up to the table, I'm not even sure if I actually said anything or just imagined it. Even though we were limited to one item for them to sign, I still got Kirch to sign the drumstick I caught along with a poster.

As the sun set, Shaant Hacikyan from
Cute Is What We Aim For got up close and
personal with his fans.

     Up next was Jordan Witzigreuter, known better by his stage name, The Ready Set. I was a minor fan before seeing his show at Warped. I knew the words to his hit songs but there was one song I heard him play that really caught my attention. The song was called "Fangz" and it is seriously one of the best songs to listen to to get in a good mood and make you feel invincible. I downloaded all of his albums when I got home and I listened to them nonstop for quite awhile. His latest album is a real "feel good" album so it always makes me smile (so cheesy). I get to see him again this year on Nov. 19.

     The last and final band I saw was Cute Is What We Aim For. My friend recommended this band to me a few weeks before Warped and I'm so glad I was able to get to know their songs before I saw them live. The lead singer, Shaant Hacikyan, was really involved in the crowd and he would stand over the barricade and sing right in our faces. It was a beautiful show because of the Arizona sunset in the background (which are truly underrated). At the end of their performance, I managed to grab their set list. I also got to see them randomly walking behind their stage after the show and complimented them on having such a fun set.
   
     That was my first Warped Tour experience. I love how involved the bands are with their fans and how personal it became, like being able to meet your favorite artists and have conversations with them. I am most definitely planning on going to many more Warped Tours in the future.


✖ Nikole ✖


I didn't listen to any songs while writing most of this because I was watching The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon with special guest 5 Seconds of Summer instead.

Summer Ends Music Festival

     After this weekend it really does feel like summer is over. Not that I'm complaining, I can't wait for this fall/winter. This past Friday and Saturday I went to this really awesome music festival. I'll break it down by days because I feel like so much has happened.

Friday:
     I made my way down to Tempe Beach Park at about 6pm, an hour before my first volunteer shift. I signed up to volunteer on Friday and Saturday which allowed me to get into the entire festival for free so that was really nice. The first act I saw was O.A.R. I didn't think I knew who they were so it was a happy surprise to find that I was able to sing along to a lot of the songs. It was a cool night and the entire park was filled with university students. After O.A.R., I began my shift at the water truck. I spent the next two hours with another girl filling up little water cups. The water table was right next to the main stage so we had the perfect view to see Lindsey Stirling perform. If you don't know who she is, I suggest looking her up. She plays the violin and she resemble a pixie the way she dances and hops around stage.
     After volunteering, I stuck around for a couple more hours to watch the American Authors and Capital Cities. American Authors were my favorite act of the night. The lead singer, Zac Barnett, got really involved with the crowd. He said he felt too far away from us,so he jumped off stage and sang a few songs while leaning across the barricade that separated him from the fans. There was one time that he ran over to exactly where I was standing and he sang with such passion. I love those kind of performers, the ones where you can tell they are doing exactly what they want to do in life.
     Capital Cities did a really good job but I didn't stay for the last half of their set. I was surprised that they attracted an older audience. I don't know where they came from, but a bunch of people in their late 30s, maybe 40s, were dancing and singing. I love seeing that the festival was able to make everyone happy.

Saturday:
     Where do I start. Well, if you don't know, this was the named "the wettest day in Arizona history". Before the rain hit, the day was beautiful. The sky was filled with clouds and there was a nice breeze. I got to see a local band called Katastro play. My dad sat towards the back of the park while I had the best spot in the house, right up against the barricade, slightly right of center stage. There was a reason I made sure to have the best spot. The next act to perform after Katastro was going to be one of my favorite bands, The Maine. I loved being slightly right of center because I was able to see all five members perfectly, especially Garrett, the bassist. I spotted Pat (drummer), Kennedy (guitarist), and Garrett setting up on stage before IT happened.
     A giant, dark cloud was quickly approaching but that was not going to make me give up my spot. Unfortunately, that choice wasn't up to me. Security made everyone at the festival take cover under the bridge. Everyone laughed because, well, it couldn't be that bad. It was Arizona, after all. Oh, were we wrong. The storm was nothing like anyone expected. I later found out that the storm had 60+ mph winds and up to 2 inches of rain in just two hours. I know I would've fallen over a few times if it wasn't for the nice people around me. Police ordered everyone to head towards the parking garage. By the time I made it to the garage, I felt like I just went swimming. I soon got a message saying that the event had been cancelled for the day. I couldn't - wouldn't - believe it. I was literally just about to see The Maine and they had announced that it was their last Arizona show for the year.
     Anyways, I'm going to fast forward a few hours. A new message went out saying that the rest of the shows planned for the day had been moved to the Marquee. If you don't know the Marquee, it holds just about 1,000 people. Good thing there were less than 1000 people who paid for tickets, but people who had comp tickets (like myself) had to rely on "first come first serve" to get into the venue. (Side note: A few weeks ago I won tickets for Day 2 of the festival because I wrote this thing about how much I wanted to see The Maine and a website gave me a pair of free tickets.) I waited two hours in front of the venue, impatiently watching all the paid viewers go inside to get ready for the first act which just happened to be The Maine. I'm not even sure how to say this because I can't even describe how I feel. While I waited outside, The Maine performed their show inside. They had the shortest set - only 20 minutes, just enough time for four songs. The second I got inside, they walked off stage. I was speechless. How ironic was it that I won tickets to see this band and ended up missing their show? Who knew free tickets could be a bad thing...
     Moving on from that huge disappointment, I was still able to enjoy a few other bands. The first band I saw was Switchfoot. Even though I was most looking forward to Taking Back Sunday and The Descendents, these guys were probably my favorite part of the night. They were so energetic and lively. The lead singer and bassist (I think it was the bassist) were brothers so I thought it was pretty cool how they have had the experience of being in a band together. The lead singer was also one of those performers who like to get close to the audience. He stood against the barricade and there was even one part of the show where he crowd surfed!
     The next band was Taking Back Sunday. I felt bad because a lot of the equipment was destroyed in the storm so their sound was a bit sketchy. They still put on a great show though. Unfortunately, they didn't play my favorite song (Flicker, Fade) but they still played a lot of songs I knew and was able to sing along to.
     After TBS, The Descendents took the stage. I never, ever would have thought that I would see The Descendents live in concert. They were first formed in 1978, 18 years before I was born!! Age had no effect on these four guys, they played with as much energy as they probably did in the 80s. I have to admit, it was funny to hear guys in their 40s sing a couple songs about girls and how much school sucks! They are literally the fathers of punk. It was amazing to be able to hear them rock out.
     The next group was The Replacements, which I am sad to say I missed because I left after The Descendents. I heard it was The Replacements first club show in twenty something years which is pretty incredible.


     The third day of the festival still took place. Much of the equipment and stage was ruined during the storm and the power at the park was still not on, so the shows had to go on in the Marquee. I didn't go to third day but I was still able to get something out of it. Volunteers, who were allowed to go to all three days for free because of their help, were unable to get into the venue because it hit full capacity. To make it up to us, the coordinators of the festival are gifting us with a pair of tickets to any upcoming Marquee show. While I'm still bummed that I couldn't volunteer and help out, you can say I'm pretty happy with this news. Some of the bands that headlined Sunday included Foster the People, Violent Femmes, Fitz & the Tantrums and Kongos.


And that was my weekend.

✖ Nikole ✖

Some of the songs I listened to while writing this:
Cigarette Daydreams (Cage the Elephant), Young Hearts (Strange Talk), Bad (The Cab), Off to the Races (Lana Del Rey), When the Sun Goes Down (Arctic Monkeys), Voo Doo Doll (5SOS), Bad Blood (Bastille) and then a bunch of songs from Jimmy Eat World

Twenty One Pilots Concert // Tempe, Arizona

    On May 7 I went to the the Twenty One Pilots concert at the Marquee Theater in Tempe, Arizona. The opening acts included Hunter Hunted and NONONO.
    If you have never heard of this band, it includes two guys, Tyler Joseph (singer, pianist, guitarist, ukulele-ist) and Josh Dun (drummer). The duo formed the band during high school in Ohio back in 2009. They have three albums: "Twenty One Pilots" (2009), "Regional at Best" (2011) and "Vessels" (2013). Twenty One Pilots remind me of a mix between Eminem and fun. The verses resemble rap while the choruses tend to be more pop. The band refers to themself as a "distinctive fusion of piano-driven schizoid pop and lyrical uplift."
    The two opening acts are a little less unheard of. Hunter Hunted, formed in early 2013, are an indie pop band from Los Angeles. The members include Dan Chang and Michael Garner. They released their first EP in 2013 and have an album coming Fall 2014. NONONO are a Swedish trio with an electro-dance type of tune. Their most well-known song called "Pumpin Blood" debuted in 2013.

Ok, now I'll get to the actual concert.

    The Marquee is a small venue that holds roughly 1000 people. My spot in the venue was halfway between the stage and the exit, and I had a good view of everyone in the band. The first to make an appearance was Hunter Hunted. I admit that I had never heard of this band before that night so I didn't know what to expect. Their microphone stands were wrapped in white Christmas lights and the stage was giving off a comfortable feel. The band looked at ease on stage and the crowd sang Happy Birthday to Dan. They didn't try to just play to the audience, but also have a conversation. I always find this surprising because it isn't easy trying to talk to the audience as an opening group when you know the majority of the audience is waiting for the main act. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed their sound, and I picked up their EP after the show. This is definitely a band that you can listen and chill out to.
    The morning of the concert, I listened to NONONO's EP to have an idea of who else I would be seeing that night. If I'm being honest, I enjoyed Hunter Hunted's show more. NONONO didn't act or sound like they wanted to be on stage that night. Their songs sounded rushed and they didn't talk much. What I heard on their studio-recorded EP didn't sound like what I heard that night. There were on stage, played about 5 songs, and were gone.
    Now to the part that everyone in the venue was waiting for. Jumping on to stage with their traditional ski masks in place, Twenty One Pilots opened their show with the song Guns for Hands. Talk about a light show. A storm of flashing lights of all colors flooded the venue and that was the theme for much of the show. Josh was stable in his seat, drumming away, while Tyler ran everywhere and anywhere on stage. The only time Tyler wasn't moving was when he was seated at his piano or when he was playing the ukulele during House of Gold. There were many memorable parts to the show but the first one that comes to mind is the dual drumming that Tyler and Josh showed off towards the end of the night. The room was black except for flashing blue lights that illuminated the two. The moment was filled with such energy and passion that it isn't easy to put into words. A second amazing moment is a special interaction with the crowd that I have never seen or heard of happening at any other concert. First they send out platforms into the crowd and it is either equipped with a small drum set or nothing at all. At one moment, Tyler was on top of the platform, singing his heart out. Another time, Josh was drumming right on top of the crowd. Unfortunately, I wasn't close enough to really touch the platform so it's difficult to describe. It's something that's hard to appreciate without seeing.
    Twenty One Pilots preformed most of their Vessels album along with a couple songs from their first album. What I was happy to find out was that the duo were better live than they are in the studio. You can feel the energy and hear the emotion in Tyler's voice as he shouts the lyrics. A lot of energy was put in to the two encore songs, Car Radio and Trees. It was a great feeling to be able to listen to Car Radio live because Tyler wrote about how "sometimes silence is violent," but with their music, Twenty One Pilots gave everyone in the venue something to connect to. The night had no reason to be silent. Tyler is extremely talented with words and his speech before their final song was the perfect ending to a great show.

"Whatever's weighing you down, whatever it is

that you're going through right now;

you can use these songs,

you can use this show,

to leave it all here tonight." -Tyler Joseph

When they took their final bows, the smiles on their faces were brighter than the light show. You could tell that they were at home on stage.


--Nikole--

Tuning In

    Hello! My name is Nikole, and I've started this blog to talk about music and recent concerts I've been to. I'm currently thinking about majoring in journalism (specifically music journalism) once I attend college. I figured I should start writing stuff down if I want to be a journalist. I'm not too sure what my ideas are for this blog but my thoughts just include writing reviews on recent bands I'm listening to and reviews of concerts I have gone to. I might as well have this first post be an "about me" post so I'll tell you a bit about myself. This probably isn't considered professional, but this is also me figuring out how to use this Blogger website (and I'm not professional).

1. My favorite band of all time is Blink 182. I have too many other favorite bands to list here.
2. The first concert that I can remember is Kelly Clarkson back in 2008.
3. My favorite concert I have been to would have to be Blink 182 in 2011 during the Honda Civic Tour. The opening acts included My Chemical Romance and Matt & Kim. 
4. My favorite concert experience was when I saw Green Day at the Marquee Theater in Tempe, Arizona. That was the first time I witnessed a mosh pit and crowd surfing. A second favorite is All Time Low in 2014 because it was the first time I was against the barricade that separates you from the stage. I have never been that close. 
5.  My music taste is very expansive (I would like to think), but if I had to pick a favorite genre, it would be punk.
6. I considered majoring in biology, but I can't picture myself in a lab anymore. Music is my passion.
7. Sadly, I do not know how to play any instruments. I wish I could play guitar or piano or the ukulele. I have a guitar so I'm considering about picking that up again and trying to teach myself over the summer.
8. My favorite movie is Almost Famous.
9. I want to travel. Anywhere. Everywhere.
10. I don't want this blog to be very formal. I just want to test it out and have fun with it. (Knowing me, I will probably dedicate myself to this for a month and then forget about it. Or probably not. Who knows)

So I noticed that this ended up being a "My Favorite..." list than anything else. 

I hope I can update this blog a lot during the summer. I know I can talk about music for days and months and years. I feel like I can have fun with this.

*insert catchy signing off phrase I'll think of later here*

--Nikole--

Songs I listened to while writing this:

Let's Dance to Joy Division (The Wombats), Jet (Paul McCartney), Viva la Gloria (Green Day), Mountains (Biffy Clyro), In Too Deep (Sum 41), Goodnight Moon (Go Radio), Island in the Sun (Weezer), Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)