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.

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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

The 1975

Last weekend I had the amazing opportunity to see a very popular British boy band - no not that boy band. The 1975 made a stop in Phoenix for their 2014 North American Tour on November 22 and since my friend had an extra ticket, I was actually able to see them. The band from Manchester is probably most well-known for their song "Chocolate." They had two opening acts who had the same mellow vibe as The 1975 - Young Rising Sons and Cruisr.

Young Rising Sons + Cruisr

The first act of the night, Young Rising Sons, came on stage at 8 p.m. YRS is a band from New Jersey composed of Andy Tongren, Dylan Scott, Julian Dimagiba, and Steve Patrick. They were my favorite of the two opening acts. They were able to get the crowd - who was unusually less pumped than I expected them to be - to get up and almost get loud. The most memorable part of their set was when they covered Modern English's "I Melt With You" (I always associate this song with Sky High...).

In case you didn't know the band's name, it was spelled out on a giant banner behind the group and they made sure to mention that a few times while they were playing. Cruisr is an indie band from Philadelphia made up of Andy States, Jonathan Van Dine, Kyle Cook, and Bruno Catrambone. I felt bad during their set because the crowd was not animated at all. I just don't understand that. How do you not get excited when you're at a concert?? Despite the lack of emotion from the crowd, they still put on a great show. Very indie and very subdued kind of sound. Both of these acts were a good choice for the tour.

The 1975

The 1975 truly have a one-of-a-kind sound. I can't compare them to anything I have heard before. The British band comes from Manchester and includes Matty Healy (vocals, guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums, backing vocals), and Ross MacDonald (bass). Matty introduced the newest member of the band, John Waugh, a saxophonist.

Before they came on, it took the crew about 30-40 minutes to set up the stage and most of that time was spent pumping the arena with smoke. It was really annoying at first, but the effect it had was absolutely astonishing. You couldn't see the smoke until the lights hit the air at the right angle and somehow they were able to make the effect that there were clouds right about your head. You can raise your hand up through the smoke and it was one of the coolest feelings. From pictures, I could tell that part of a The 1975 show was the smoke, but pictures never caught the full effect. Just this detail was probably one of my favorite parts of the performance.

Opening with "The City," The 1975 make their way on stage. I'm not sure how to describe Matty, but he is what I picture a typical British indie rock star to look like. Loose white unbuttoned shirt, longish hair that falls in his face, tattoos that cover his torso, piercing eyes, the IDGAF expression on his face. He performs almost lazily, like he's in a dream. Their songs make you feel dreamy too and that's one of the things I love about their music.

Matty asked everyone to put their phones away during a song so they can live in the moment. "This is the first time I am ever seeing you and I want to see you, not your phone." Of course, I put my phone away and enjoyed every second of the moment. Later, once the song was done and people pulled their songs back out, Matty actually reached over the barrier to take someone's phone. He took pictures of himself and the crowd plus a few funny selfies and gave it back. What a lucky fan.

My favorite song of the night (also one of my favorite songs by the band) was "fallingforyou." Matty drank from a bottle of wine he was carrying around stage and softly sung the words to the crowd. When he actually talked, it was hard to understand a word because I couldn't tell if he was slurring or if his accent was just really thick (or maybe a combination of the two). It was one of the songs where the lights were positioned just right to create the cloud allusion. Another thing I found different about Matty's performance other than the drinking on stage was the smoking on stage. Both him and George Daniel had a few cigarettes that night and I can't say I have ever seen an artist do that. It kind of just fit with the atmosphere and their characters.

Apparently this was one of the largest crowds the band has played to on the tour and they made sure to make it extra special for the audience. Matty with cigarette in hand sat down at his piano and played "Is There Somebody Who Can Watch You" for the first time on tour. While the person behind me complained that they were falling asleep, I couldn't be more awake. Matty sniffled and you got the idea that he was crying a little bit and the entire crowd let out a simultaneous "awww." I'm happy that the band made the night extra special because hopefully they'll remember it just like I will.

The last four songs they played - "Girls," "Robbers," "Chocolate," "Sex" - were some of their most popular and it was a great way to end a great night. The lights got brighter and pulsed faster as they approached their finale. The crowd was more than awake now and everyone singing along was a beautiful sound. I know The 1975 will be busy in the studio after they finish this tour, but I hope they come back soon.


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Even though November has been one of the more stressful months of the year, it definitely had some of the most memorable moments. I turned 18. I got to see four concerts which in total included 14 incredible acts. I have met new friends. I have my best friend coming to live with me over winter break which is just a little over three weeks away. I'm more excited than I have ever been about my future career (even though from my gov project I have learned that it will be a very competitive field and I won't be making a huge amount of money, but I know it will be rewarding nonetheless). I know I'll be making even more incredible memories in December once Kaitz arrives. :)

Thanks for reading!

xx Nikole

**The pictures aren't uploading so I'll try to update this post with pictures tomorrow

The Outsiders Tour

On the night of November 19th, I got to see five incredible bands play in this tiny venue hidden away in Phoenix. The venue is called Joe's Grotto and there were probably 200 people tops (based on my rough estimation). There are four bands that tour and one local band opened for them. I had a VIP pass for The Ready Set which included a private acoustic set and a meet & greet. I'll just go in order of what happened that night.

TRS Acoustic Set

I have never seen an acoustic set like this. In fact, the only acoustic set I have ever really seen was Nick Santino during Warped Tour this year. This was nothing like that. There were about 15 to 20 people in the small audience and we all stood around two tall chairs and sitting on those chairs were Mike Naran and Jordan Witzigreuter. (Background info: The face of The Ready Set is Jordan and then he has a band that tours with him.) Mike was playing the guitar while Jordan sang. Damn, are his vocal incredible. I can't really explain it, you just have to hear it for yourself. I wasn't sure how he was going to sound because I can't picture most of his songs without that loud bass in the background, but it turned out they sound just as great with only an acoustic guitar.

Anyways, the two played about five songs including "Freaking Me Out," "Fangz" and "Castaway." All great, great songs. "Fangz" was probably the last song I expected to be in an acoustic set. If you ever happen to be by my car when I'm playing music and all of a sudden there's this insane bass that comes out of nowhere during the chorus, then I'm probably listening to this song. I highly recommend it. It's one of those feel good songs.

The acoustic set was really personal and Jordan talked to some of the people in the crowd in between songs. Overall, it was a great experience. I hope to go to more acoustic sets in the future.

TRS Meet & Greet

This was my very first time meeting Jordan. For others in line, it was their 3rd or 10th or 20th. So of course I was just a little shaky but I think was pretty good at keeping my cool. Once I got to where he was standing, the first thing I told him was that he had a big fan in South Africa which he thought was pretty cool (shout out to Kaitz!). I gave him a note card to write "I'm Alive, I'm Dreaming" (title of one of his EPs and just an overall cool saying). He also signed a poster and my VIP pass. We talked for a little bit, hugged, and got a picture. I'm smiling just thinking about it :)

Run 2 Cover

Let me start off by saying that I will have another blog post very soon dedicated to just these three guys. I can't stress enough how great they were. They played songs from their debut EP which dropped a month ago along with a cover of "1985." The band is composed of three guys from right here in Arizona. Christian is the lead singer and bassist while his litter brother, Brandon, plays drums and their best friend, Colin, is on guitar. I honestly don't know how I have never heard of them before this but better late than never.

The guys were really interactive with the crowd and got them really pumped which couldn't have been an easy thing to do assuming that not many people know your songs and knowing that they are all mostly waiting for the other bands, so kudos to you. Christian was the most talkative and he even through a few of their EPs into the crowd! I'm actually really curious how they were even able to book a gig like this, but I'm really glad they did.

I caught up with the band after their set at their merch table. There was no way I was going home without an EP. I'm really glad I got to talk to them and tell them how great they were. As an aspiring music journalist, these are one of my favorite moments. Finding new music. I LOVE when people recommend music for me to listen to. And right now, I'm recommending whoever is reading this to check out this band. Their music can be found on their website.

I talked with them again during another set change about what kind of music they like and I got even more excited because my music taste was very similar to theirs. I'll talk more about this local band and what I think about their EP on probably the next blog post. I'm also hoping to suggest them as a topic for the next magazine issue at school because why not write about a local band? Just an idea. Anyways, I can't wait to find out when their next show is!


The Downtown Fiction

The Downtown Fiction is a band that people don't think they know but they actually do. You have probably heard of the songs "I Just Wanna Run" and "Thanks for Nothing." I'm really happy they played these songs. Their other music sounded great, too, especially "Don't Count Me Out." The lead singer and guitarist, Cameron, showed off some dance skills on stage which had me laughing.

Against the Current

This is another band that I had never heard of before, but I was not disappointed. Chrissy Costanza is the lead singer and face of the band and an incredible performer. Apparently this was their first time ever in Arizona and it sounded like we left a good impression. Their songs were all really upbeat, but my favorite part was when they covered Paramore (a song I actually knew).

Metro Station

Metro Station was another band that I have heard of, but I didn't exactly know any of their songs. In case you didn't know, the band is led by Trace Cyrus and Mason Musso. I could understand why a large majority of the crowd was looking forward to seeing them - they were incredible! The songs are great and the way they preform them is even better. During their set, they had special guests Chrissy Costanza and Jordan Witzigreuter join them for two of their songs. I forgot what song Chrissy joined them in, but I want to say it was "Seventeen Forever." Jordan helped produce their song "Forever Young" and that one was definitely my favorites. One more song that also really stood out was "Kelsie." I'm definitely going to have to start listening to these guys more often.


The Ready Set

The part I have been waiting for has finally arrived. The stage itself was different from any of the others. Two giant inflatable cats were on both sides of the stage along with a lot of lights - a lot. There was also the memorable scarf tied around his mic stand - just like I saw during Warped. I figured out why the lights were important though. I honestly can't picture the show without the lights pumping along to the rhythm of the bass.

Jordan's set couldn't have been better. A few of my favorites included "Killer," "Trash Talking Love" and "Fangz." As much as I loved hearing "Fangz" acoustically, it was meant to be played to a loud, thundering beat. "Trash Talking Love" is one of TRS's newest singles, released a few months ago, and was definitely a song that I had on repeat for weeks. The song's "la da da da da da"'s had everyone singing along and Jordan stood tall and waved his arms back and forth like he was conducting the crowd.

That smile!

I need to talk about Jordan on stage. This guy was born to preform on stage, I can't picture him doing anything else. Lacking an instrument, he has to improvise what he does on stage besides just standing there. Jordan is never boring on stage. He goes crazy. Jumping and bouncing and running all over the place. Never a dull moment. That's one of my favorite things about The Ready Set though is that his performance on stage reflects his songs. The songs make you want to dance like crazy even if you can't dance. Being very close to the stage (there were only maybe two people in front of me) made the experience that much more enjoyable.

Jordan did a very impressive drum solo a little over half way through the set. Just him and the drums, no one else on stage. There were a couple malfunctions during the set - a guitar stopped working and the kick drum broke. No worries. Jordan is a great comedian (heavy sarcasm). Really though, I love when these things happen because then the artist just has to keep talking about random things and I'm perfectly fine with that.

I have to mention another thing that really made me enjoy the show. The fact that the fans got to stand right up against the stage was beyond cool. I've never been to a venue as small as Joe's Grotto and apparently they're less strict on how close you want to get to the stage. It's not like anyone needs to climb on stage because all of the bands literally went straight to their merch tables so they could start meeting fans. I loved that too because it showed that they really cared about everyone who showed up, we weren't just another city on their tour. I kind of digress. The way Jordan leans into the crowd at times and gets in our faces puts more emotion into the songs. It feels like he is directly singing to you. I seriously loved every second of this show.

A few more cool things happened to me during the TRS set. Out of no where, I felt something gently hit me and I used my phone's flashlight to look on the ground and there it was! A TRS guitar pick! It had to have been Mike's because he was the only one with extra picks on his stand. I was so stunned. This night just kept getting better and better. Then after the show finished, I lingered by the stage and casually asked one of the crew members if he could hand me one of the set lists and he did! Never hurts to ask!






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I could probably keep talking on and on about that night but I'm going to stop here. This was definitely the highlight of my week. I can't believe my next concert is already this Saturday! So stay tuned for a review about The 1975 very shortly. Thanks for reading!

xx Nikole

I listened to Run2Cover's "Someday" EP and songs by Metro Station while writing this.

5 Seconds of Summer : Rock Out With Your Socks Out (Pre-) Tour

This has been an insanely busy week for me. I have had multiple tests on top of the AcDec scrimmage but the reason I could get through all of that was because of what I was preparing for on Thursday night. Before I get to the actual concert date, I should mention what I did on Tuesday.

Side note: When I say I am a fan of 5sos, I don't just mean I bought there albums and I think they are cute. I originally became a fan during the summer of 2013. It was honestly the best time to be in the fandom because things were chilled and so much fun. Now everything is go, go, go and 5sos are always up to something, never settled down. But that's part of living the dream. Anyways, I am so grateful that I got to see them grow as people and a band. That might sound weird because while no I don't know them personally, I sometimes feel like I do (I can't explain it but my life pretty much revolves around the bands I love). From their first official EP released in February (besides "Somewhere New") to their first amphitheater show in Phoenix, 5sos have never failed to impress me. I am prouder beyond words of these boys. I can't really explain how they make me feel, it's a special kind of happiness. I like that I can relate to them, they're real people, not just some billboard icon. They show what can happen when you chase your dreams aaaand I'm becoming really sappy and cheesy now so I'm going to stop.

5sos arrived in Arizona on Monday night and from that point on the rest of my week revolved around those four boys. Thankfully, there wasn't any school on Tuesday so I could dedicate my day to them. My friend, Sam, and I stopped by their hotel (I know it may sound creepy, but I promise we aren't the type to sneak into their rooms or anything). There were already a huge crowd of girls and the chances of them saying hi in Downtown Phoenix to a crowd of ~50 girls didn't seem very likely. We left the hotel and headed to the Ak Chin Pavilion which they were going to preform at in two days. Minutes after we arrived, we witnessed 5sos drive into their venue. They rolled down their windows and waved to us. At the time there were probably about 50 to 60 girls. Once 5sos were behind the gate, they would occasionally wave to us but security made sure to keep the crowd under control. In the early afternoon, we could hear 5sos rehearse a few songs before they disappeared into the building once again.

5sos tweeted this picture on their band page of the crowd
 outside the venue on Tuesday afternoon. I'm somewhere
among all those people on the right side.

One amazing thing happened that day and another amazing thing almost happened. The security guards were really nice to us and it was probably because the group was extremely well-behaved. At around 4 pm, our small crowd was told that 5sos wanted to come out to meet us - of course, everyone freaked. It gets better. 5sos wanted to take groups of 10-15 people at a time to bring behind the gate and have a chance to meet everyone. I was speechless. Could I actually be meeting 5sos? This was one of those best-case scenarios that I plan in my mind that I never think will really happen. The security guard told us that 5sos were planning on staying at the venue until 8 or 9 that night. This meant we had 4-5 hours to wait around for confirmation. I'll skip the waiting part. Starting at 7 pm, 5sos began their real rehearsals. That night, 5sos preformed every single one of their songs from start to finish that they planned to play on Thursday. Unbelievable, truly unbelievable. They preformed songs that night that have never been heard played live before and I got to be a part of the select few to hear it first (this is the amazing thing that did happen). I'll talk more about the songs and their performance when I write about the concert itself. At 8:30 when they finished, the security guard let us know that the managers of 5sos decided there would be no meet and greet. I can't say that I was let down though. I know they would have met us if they could and I can't complain because I got to hear their entire setlist with my own ears before most people and that was truly amazing. It's kind of obvious why the meet and greet was rejected. Everyone was told not to tweet or post anywhere about this secret m&g but someone must have told someone because by the end of the night there were probably 150 girls, maybe more.

Alright, now on to the day of the concert.

My sister and I got to the venue about 5 hours early in the hopes of the slight chance we could meet 5sos. It didn't happen but we did see them in their cars pull into the venue. The show began at 7:30 with the opening act, The Veronicas. I have never heard of this group before but damn did they rock out. The group is composed of two twin sisters from Australia. Their music was pop and the vocals on those girls were breathtaking. Their set only lasted about 30 minutes then the real show began.

Luke Hemmings

Of course the intro had to include sock puppets introducing the band on stage, the tour is called Rock Out With Your Socks Out. 5sos opened with "End Up Here," a new song from their debut album. Would it be lame to admit I cried from being so happy and maybe more than once...? Anyways... Let me talk about the stage set up. I know they have been working long and hard on making this as perfect as this can be and they did a great job (or fantabulous as Calum said that night). Ashton and his drums were elevated higher than the other guys but it moved up and down so sometimes he was at their level. Man, Ashton is amazing. Even though he was the farthest away, I could still easily see him rocking out. He even had a solo in the opening song!! My sister and I had seats on the left side of the stage (in other words, Michael's side). Luke, Calum and Michael were super energetic and they bounced all over the stage which was awesome. Giant screens were placed where they are normally which was helpful because who doesn't want to see a HD view of the boys jamming on stage. The lighting for the stage couldn't have been more perfect. It seemed to fit so well with whatever song was playing. There were also some pyrotechnics that lit up the stage and audience and made everything just that much more cooler (or hotter?).

Michael Clifford

I'm going to talk about the songs that really stood out to me but I promise they were all memorable and something I could never ever forget. 5sos played a personal favorite of mine as well as an oldie in the beginning of the show. "Voo Doo Doll" is just one of those great fun songs that are easy to sing along to. Plus, Michael has that bit where he screams the lyrics and my heart melts. I never thought I would hear this song live (along with a lot of the songs this night!). They played "Don't Stop" next and then they talked for a little bit. The talking bits might have been my favorite part. It was obvious that they were very very excited, we were their first amphitheater crowd after all. At the end of their first chat, Luke made a request for everyone to put their phones away because the next song was his favorite song that the band has ever written ("Disconnected") and he wanted all of us to live in the moment. This was the only song that I don't have any footage of because of course I wanted to enjoy living in the moment like he said and I don't regret it because it was epic.

I'm not even sure if I can write about their next song without getting emotional. Calum took out his acoustic guitar and began singing the first lines to "Amnesia" (a really sad song if you haven't gotten the chance to listen to it). The crowd looked beautiful with all their flashlights held up. It was one of those songs where the guys stood back and just looked at the crowd. You could see the amazement in their eyes, no joke. Michael even requested all the lights to be turned on later so he could have a good look at us all. I'm glad their night on stage sounded just as amazing as my night in the crowd.

Ashton Irwin

"When I was younger, I was the biggest outcast, didn't have any friends, did have friends that didn't like me. I was a weirdo. I learned one thing [about being in the band]: that it was absolutely okay to be an absolute reject." Ashton's speech before "Rejects" made me feel all kinds of things. It was so sincere and so honest, it made the song more personal. There was more to the speech about how much the three guys who started the band (Luke, Michael, and Calum) and the band itself mean to him. This was one of the songs that they were performing live for the very first time and they did it perfectly. This song was meant to be played live. There is so much energy that comes from the music and lyrics, I don't know how they couldn't have included this in their set. Something really cool happened during this song. Michael disappeared and all of a sudden he came back on stage with a fan he pulled out of the crowd. It was a guy named Colton, about the same age as them, and Luke was telling him that he was going to replace Michael. Get this: Michael asked if he had ever played guitar before and he said "a couple of times" and the kid strapped on Michael's very own guitar and began this epic guitar solo. So much for only playing guitar a couple of times. The reactions on 5sos's faces were priceless. Luke actually bowed to him and Michael acted all embarrassed that the kid could play almost better than he did. That must of been so much fun to be on stage with them and show off some crazy guitar skills.

There's this song that has always stood out for me and was on the bottom of my list for possible songs 5sos would play live, but low and behold, just like "Rejects," this song was also made to be played live. "Wrapped Around Your Finger" is a less well-known song but it is without a doubt one of my favorites. Not only are the lyrics great, but the guitar playing and the vocals never fail to blow me away. This is a Michael song. 5sos tend to alternate verses or who dominates a particular song but this one definitely put Michael in the spotlight - literally. It started out with just Michael and his guitar standing in the usual place, no one else seen on stage, and the spotlight on him. Not even a year ago, this same guy was nervous and insecure whenever he got a solo and now he was up there on stage blowing everyone away with his incredible talent. I'm sounding all mushy again, aren't I? Well, I think I kind of deserve to be because I am beyond proud.

For awhile now, 5sos have been covering Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" during their sets and thankfully tonight that changed. It's not that I didn't like "Teenage Dream" but I just knew that there was another better song out there for them to cover during shows. Green laser lights decorated the stage as 5sos began to preform Green Day's "American Idiot." The cover was included on their Amnesia EP but 5sos have this thing where they always sound better live. That is a huge thing to be proud of because a lot of artists rely on computers to enhance their sound but 5sos don't need that. The concentration and focus was obvious on their faces as they tried to nail every chord without slipping up and in my opinion, especially being a long time fan of Green Day, they did a really good job. I hope it is covers like these or songs like "Rejects" that show people who aren't fans of 5sos what kind of band they are. It's amazing how many people think that 5sos and 1D are basically interchangeable when that is not at all, never has been and never will be the case. 5sos are 5sos.

Calum Hood

5sos ended the night with possibly their most well-known song (or at least the most commercial song), "She Looks So Perfect." And it waaaas great. I'm running out of adjectives to describe how amazing these guys are and their performances. There were more pyrotechnic stuff to light up the stage but the real finish was when they came back for the encore. They played two more songs during the encore, "Good Girls" and "What I Like About You." Good Girls is their latest single and EP (technically released in the States on Monday). This song has never been not good live. It is such a FUN song, I can literally have it on repeat for days and never get sick of it. With a chorus like "good girls are bad girls that haven't been caught," what's not to love? "What I Like About You" has also been included in the set for awhile now and I though it was a really good note to leave on. They gave us all they got during that encore, it looked like they really did not want to get off that stage. I haven't mentioned the best and most unforgettable part of the encore: Ashton was drumming shirtless. Yes, as in without a shirt on. This may not seem like that big of a deal because a lot of drummers do that but Ashton has never done that! Ever!

Phoenix was on fire on the night of November 13th. Over 20,000 people got to share 5sos's first amphitheater show and all of the crazy fun things that happened. It makes me so happy that I know 5sos won't be forgetting Phoenix anytime soon.

Not my picture so thank you to whoever took this amazing shot.

I feel like this was really long, but I promise it could've been longer. I can talk on and on about these four guys and they amazing show they put on. I hope I didn't leave out any really big things. Hmm... Luke fell on stage, Calum forgot lyrics, Michael spit water on Luke, Calum and Michael switched instruments, the awesome guitar cam Michael had on the neck of his guitar... I think that covers some of the other things I don't want to forget. :)

I honestly don't know how I am not sleeping right now. I have been struggling to stay awake all day then all of a sudden I had the urge to blog right this instant. It's probably because I was in desperate need to relive last night. I hope they come back soon and I wish them the best of luck on the rest of their ROWYSO 2015 Tour, I know they'll rock the socks off of everyone who sees them. :)

Until next time,

xx Nikole

P.S. When someone complains about pcd (post-concert depression), do not laugh at them. I promise it is a very real thing and it is not pleasant. But being sad that it's over just confirms that it really happened :)

The World Tour: Pierce the Veil and Sleeping with Sirens

If you know me, I almost always describe the concerts that I go to as unforgettable, but it's true! Last night was unforgettable for a different reason - Pierce the Veil and Sleeping with Sirens are currently co-headlining their own tour and their third stop was in Tuscon, Arizona. Co-headlines can be tricky because people try to figure out who is really headlining the show (I don't understand why it can't just be both - that's why is says co-headlining). However, from what I heard about the two previous shows, the bands alternate who preforms first and last. For the show I went to, PTV went first and then SWS. Anyways, that's just a little thing that I thought I would point out. I think it was a genius idea for these bands to get together.

Meet and Greet

There was no way that I could pass up the opportunity of getting VIP tickets to this show. VIP included a meet and greet with both PTV and SWS including a photo with each, a poster signed by both of the bands, a cool VIP badge, and early admission into the venue. 

I walked into the meet and greet room and there they were. I saw Kellin (lead singer of SWS) first and a giant smile took over my face. I just couldn't stop staring at him. He saw me smiling in line and he looked right at me and smiled back. I took a picture with SWS first and I had a little speech prepared to tell them but I completely forgot it. I was wearing a shirt made by Anthem Made, Kellin's clothing line and the entire band recognized it! They actually cheered and were so happy that I was wearing it! I didn't see anyone else with an Anthem shirt so I felt special. I told Kellin that I was a huge fan of the brand and I gave him a hug. I was going to tell him how much the song 'Satellites' means to me and how it is really underrated. 

Next I met PTV and I think they could tell that I was kind of nervous. They were super nice and talkative, asking me how my day was going and how excited I am and other things. I was kind of surprised that they were all around my height and I'm not that tall. I told them about how excited I was for the show and that I've been looking forward to it for what feels like a long time. After that, I picked up the poster that was signed by them all (side note: I think it was really dumb that we got our signed posters before the show because I had to carry it for the next 5 hours in a giant pit of people so of course it got bent and tore a little bit).

This Wild Life and Beartooth

This Wild Life

There were two opening acts, the first was This Wild Life and the second was Beartooth. I haven't heard any of their music before the show. TWL performed an acoustic set which was really nice except for the people trying to mosh to an acoustic set. I really wasn't expecting the sound that came out of TWL - a band composed of two guys, one (the singer and acoustic guitarist) has a giant beard and the second (backing vocals and acoustic guitarist) is tattooed from head to toe. The vocalist's voice was really smooth and mellow, I really don't understand how people could have started moshing.

Beartooth was the exact opposite of TWL. This was your typical heavy hardcore band. This was the kind of band people mosh to. It really wasn't my favorite - too heavy for me. They even encouraged people to form giant circles to mosh in. During the show, a couple of people started to crowd surf and one person went directly over me - hitting my head with their shoe in the process. All part of enjoying a concert like this in a small venue, I guess. 

Pierce the Veil

Pierce the Veil

Where do I begin... They opened with the song with "Hell Above" which led into one of their most well known songs, "Caraphernelia." I was on the left side of the stage, right in front of Jaime (bassist). Without a doubt, I rocked out to PTV the hardest. As soon as they came on stage, I was beyond pumped. A concert is 5000x more enjoyable when you know all the words to every song (compared to trying to rock out to the opening acts, whose songs I have never heard before). 

Jamie, Vic (lead singer, guitarist), and Tony (guitarist) all had roughly 20 extra picks on their stands which they kept throwing into the audience which I thought was really cool. Also, Mike (drummer) threw his drum sticks into the crowd at the end of their set. What I love about seeing bands like PTV and SWS is that their sound is raw music. I always try to see if I can hear a difference between a band live and in the studio. PTV actually sounded better live - which is a huge feat for a band. Vic's range is vocals didn't fail to amaze me. It's crazy how he can go from singing sweetly to belting out lyrics, and sound amazing the entire time. 

Vic Fuentes

PTV performed one acoustic song ("I'm Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket") and it blew me away. It was just Vic, a guitar and the audience. He had the audience sing the last part of the song and I caught a picture of him with a huge smile on his face while he listened to us. I love moments like that where you can see the happiness on the face of an artist, doing what they love and enjoying it. 

Before they started their second to last song, "Bulletproof Love," they invited someone on stage. Vic actually sang the intro of the song to her while she sat on stage. How amazing is that? PTV did a really good job at making this concert personal and being interactive with the crowd. They performed way better than I would have expected (and my expectations were already pretty high since they sound great in the studio). 

PTV ended the night with a personal favorite, "King for a Day." I couldn't have picked a better song to end their set, especially since the song featured Kellin (lead singer of SWS). The first time I ever listened to this song was the first time I ever heard Pierce the Veil. I was a little slow getting into their music because it's kind of different from what I usually listen to, but as soon as I heard their albums in entirety, I was hooked. This was definitely my favorite song of the night. The lighting was perfect (they started out with police lights lighting the stage, I already knew what song it was by then), the sound was perfect (the way Vic and Kellin alternate verses and how well their voices go together), their performance was perfect (the way they moved all around the stage - they didn't favor one side or the other). 

Sleeping with Sirens

To my surprise, a lot of people left after PTV finished. It's not like PTV is better known - I thought that the two bands were equal in their amount of popularity. Although, I did see that there were a lot more PTV shirts. Maybe the Arizona crowd just favors PTV more than SWS. Honestly, I was more pumped to see SWS because I have been listening to them longer than I have been listening to PTV. However, at the end of the night, if I had to choose whose performance I enjoyed more, it would have to be PTV.

There was a really cool intro video that was played before the band walked on stage. I have to find it on YouTube or somewhere because I really liked it. It introduced all of the members in the band and they were all messing around in the video, making funny faces and just goofing around. The video led to SWS's first song of the night which was brand new called "Kick Me." Kellin surprised the crowd (well at least he surprised me) by announcing that "Kick Me" will officially release on Monday (tomorrow!!) along with its music video. Thanks, Kellin.

Quick shout out to the other guys in the band who do not get enough credit. Kellin is the face of the band since he is the lead singer. Justin (bass guitar) and Jack (lead guitar) were the most energetic and were constantly making me laugh just by the way they were acting and messing around with each other on stage. I couldn't really see Gabe (drummer) but he sounded great. I only really noticed Nick (rhythm guitar) during the acoustic songs because he stayed put on the right side of the stage while I was on the left side. Justin and Jack (and maybe Nick, I couldn't see) had a bunch a picks that they were throwing out into the crowd like Vic, Tony, and Jaime were doing.

The next song was one of my favorites called "Congratulations." Kellin's voice is so unique, I really can't compare it to anyone else. If you have never heard it before, it is really high-pitched but it is part of what makes him a great singer. He was super energetic on stage, jumping and running around, unlike the crowd, who had stopped moshing and everyone was kind of just standing there and bobbing their heads. I was really surprised! I thought more people would be going crazy during their set! Kellin urged everyone to form a circle and start moshing so that helped wake everyone up.

Sleeping With Sirens

SWS performed two acoustic songs: "Part Two: Roger Rabbit" and a Goo Goo Dolls cover, "Iris." It was just Kellin on vocals, and two acoustics guitarists, Nick and Jack (I think). Kellin did a really nice speech before both songs, saying how he loves to watch music bring so many people together and he encouraged us to go start our own bands. Kellin beat boxed during the first acoustic song and I was so happily surprised. Kellin used to be in a few smaller bands (Closer 2 Closure, Our Name in City Lights, Screenplay) and he used to beat box a lot more frequently. The reason it was a surprise was because in the studio version of the song he doesn't beat box so I'm glad he added his own twist to the live version. "Iris" has always been a famous cover for SWS, but I didn't even imagine the possibility of them playing it live. 

After playing one more new song, SWS ended the night with "If You Can't Hang" as their encore. Another really popular SWS song and a perfect way to end the night. I liked that the entire band stood at the front of the stage and took a bow at the end, I wish PTV would have done that too.

What made me enjoy PTV just a bit more was for a few little reasons. My favorite SWS songs happen to be their less well known songs which they didn't play, but that didn't really take anything away from the show. Also, the lighting for SWS wasn't that great because it was hard to see the guys on stage at times. I think the crowd not being as pumped also had something to do with me liking PTV a little bit more that night.

__________


I realize that this was pretty long post but hey I had a lot to talk about. I hope it doesn't sound too choppy, I was writing about it throughout the day. Aaaand I just have to mention that I am 18 now :) woo!


x Nikole

(I was listening mostly to PTV while writing this)

Emblem3: Forever Together

It's been a little while since my last post but I'm trying! I'm going to start doing what I originally wanted to do with this blog which is to write music reviews. If the music isn't your cup of tea, then suggest me something to listen to and I can write about what I think. I try to cover a wide range of music though. Today I'm going to cover Emblem3's new EP called "Together Forever."

~

Emblem3
For starters, I need to say that I'm really proud of these guys. I've been a fan since their X-Factor days so this review is probably somewhat biased. If you don't know them, the band features two brothers, Keaton and Wesley Stromberg. At the end of June this year, a former third member of the band, Drew Chadwick, dropped out and the brothers really struggled. The three of them released an album, "Nothing to Lose," in July 2013. Despite their loss, Keaton and Wes have been working harder than ever and constantly update their fans with what they are up to. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to carry on when their best friend drops out of the band to peruse a solo career. E3 deserves every ounce of attention they get.

"Forever Together"
Released two days ago, E3 published their second EP and first product without Drew. It's currently #25 in the iTunes charts. Overall, I loved it. If this is any prediction of what their next album will be like, I'll be really happy. I'm going to go through each song and give a quick review of what I think of it.

1) Forever Together
There's something E3 has always done in their songs that always makes me smile and I was glad to still hear it in their newest EP. During the second verse, you can hear Keaton make small comments and hear him laugh while Wes sings. There's always small comments or conversations going on in their songs and it makes the music lighter. Wes's high notes during the last chorus were impressive especially when he didn't really get any high notes in the album. The lyrics are light and cheerful. They were smart to choose this song to title the EP.

2) Obsessed
I'm kind of obsessed with "Obsessed." From the lyrics to the vocals, I love it all. It really shows the difference between Keaton and Wes' voice by the way Keaton sings the verses and some backing vocals and Wes takes care of the chorus. The intro is my favorite part because it's just an acoustic guitar and Keaton. It flows really well into the chorus and the rest of the song.

3) Don't Know Her Name
This was really slow and mellow for E3. I'm used to their upbeat, party vibe. I like that the song told a story and it wasn't just about going to a party and meeting a pretty girl. This song really highlighted Wes's vocals in a good way. He usually - I don't want to say rap because it isn't really rap - takes care of the verses by singing quickly and that's just his thing. This song shows the different kind of music E3 are capable of.

4) Heavy
If I had to pick favorite, it would probably be "Heavy." It's the lyrics that get me. It's not about a girl, for one. They're talking about how heavy the world is. The different expectations, responsibilities, possibilities, adventures. They're all out there and they sometimes feel like they're crashing down and we wish things could slow down. The vocals on this song are just amazing, as well.

5) Love Will Be There
This song stands out because of the way Wes and Keaton alternate lines in verses. I love hearing their voices side by side because it shows why each of them are talented for their own reason. The love they are singing about isn't about being in love with someone. It's about not giving up and when "all else fails, love will be there and time will tell who really cares." This was the first song that was released in July-ish this year, right after Drew left. I like to think it's like the fans who stayed despite not knowing whether E3 was broken up for good after they lost a member.

~

I noticed that that was probably more than a little biased. I can't ignore that I like these guys and I had a feeling I would like the EP before I even heard it. Random thought: E3 did a cover of "All About That Bass" and I heard it way before I heard the original and it's one of the rare times where I actually like the cover more than the original. If you want to check it out, it's here.

Side note: I promise I mean to update my blog more than I actually do. I actually start posts then save them as drafts and never post them. They're not really about anything interesting which is why I don't post them. I want to write more music reviews (concerts, albums, singles, etc.), but then I think about how no one probably wants to read that and I have to remind myself Who cares?? I'll write what I want to write. If you read it, thank you! I think I might review "1989" next even though I've only heard 3 or 4 songs from the album so far... Also, 10 days until my next concert and 11 days until I turn 18 (whaaaaat?!?)!

Thanks if you got this far :)

x Nikole

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.