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.


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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

Sunday's Seven Songs (March 8)

Welcome to another week of Sunday's Seven Songs! Tonight concludes my last weekend before a series of very busy, but very fun weeks and weekends ahead. Next week is the Pot of Gold Festival! On Friday there will be bands like Bleachers, Awolnation and Bastille. Saturday will be hosted by bands like Hoodie Allen, Kongos and Kendrick Lamar. Sunday will feature New Politics, Echosmith, and one of my (many) favorite bands, Fall Out Boy!! Tuesday will wrap up the festival with bands like Korn and Godsmack. I am planning on volunteering on Saturday and Sunday, and I am crossing my fingers that I will also be there on Friday. On Monday, I leave for California during Spring Break. The day I have been looking forward most to is just two weeks away from tonight. Blink 182 featuring Matt Skiba will take the stage at Musink Festival and I am one of the incredibly lucky and fortunate people who get to see them. Then in April I will be attending the American Candy Tour (The Maine, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, The Technicolors), FestivALTAZ (Panic! at the Disco, Death Cab for Cutie), the Chipotle Festival (twenty one pilots), and Matt & Kim's show. So unbelievable. I love having this much to look forward to.

We have more than just concerts coming up in the next few weeks. Tom Delonge will release his first song from his new album tomorrow. All Time Low are releasing the second single from their new album tomorrow. The Maine are releasing their second single from their new album on Tuesday. Sleeping with Sirens are releasing a new song from their new album everyday until their album is released on March 17. The Technicolors announced they have a new single coming out this month. Can you believe all that new music headed our way??? I can't express how excited I am.

On a side note, Travis Barker did an interview with Alternative Nation where he talked about music, the Musink festival and performing with Matt Skiba, and a comment on Tom Delonge. While what I took out of the interview was that this concert at Musink is going to be absolutely incredible, every headline that I have read makes it look like Travis is talking trash about Tom which is not true. I know it's a catchy headline, but a headline like "Travis Barker Announces That This Is The Best Blink Has Ever Sounded" would have equally caught my attention.

Alright, I'll get started with the seven songs now:

1) All of the Stars by Ed Sheeran
This song is taken from the soundtrack from The Fault in Our Stars. Ed Sheeran has such an unique voice that could not be compared to anything else. I love how this song is just the piano and his voice, for the most part. The other instruments and soft and don't overshadow the vocals and piano. The soundtrack for this movie is so wonderfully put together. Everything from loving to sad to Swedish rap.

2) Wait by M83
This song also comes out of The Fault in Our Stars. I've kind of been obsessing over this song today. I love when a song is so calming that you don't really need to pay attention to appreciate it. It's fulfilling whether you listen to every word or if you just keep it on as background music. The vocals are easy to listen to and they also have a powerful effect that I can't exactly find the words to describe. It's that song that you want to play when you're out on a late night drive, trying not to think of anything.

3) Chocolate by The 1975
This is the song everyone knows by this group. It's popular for a reason. It's catchy and simple so why wouldn't everyone love it. I can still picture the band performing this song last November. The way the lights bounced off the smoke in the arena. Such an easy and creative effective, but I've never heard of anyone doing it quite like them.

4) This is Gospel (Piano version) by Panic! at the Disco
This is easily one of my favorite P!ATD songs. The piano version blows away anything I have heard by them. Brendon Urie's voice is one of the most talented and smooth and beautiful voices ever. Just click on the link in the song title and tell me I'm wrong. He's a natural performer. The music video took something that was simple and elegant and made it fun and messy which I totally enjoyed. I can't wait to see this band next month!

5) Asleep by The Smiths
This song comes from The Perks of Being a Wallflower - both the book and the movie. The song took on a new meaning for me after I read the book that's a little hard to explain. As the title suggests, it's the perfect song to fall asleep to. Morrissey will always and forever be a legend in the music world.

6) Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
This song is probably in a lot of films, but none come to mind at the moment. I was listening to a really well put together playlist on 8tracks and this song was on it. I feel like this is one of those songs where you know all the words, but you aren't really sure where you learned it from. It goes along with the theme of the rest of the songs though - really mellow, soft, something to relax to.

7) LA Girl by The Janoskians
This song does not whatsoever fit with the themes of the other songs. If you've never heard of them, The Janoskians are a group of five Australian guys who are best known for their dumb pranks they film and upload to YouTube. They've ventured a little bit into the music industry and their sound is nothing really serious, but almost solely to make someone laugh. I picked this song because I love the vocals the best in this one. All five guys take turns singing, however I promise they are nothing like One Direction if that's what you started to think. Anyways, they had an EP come out on March 2 and it's pretty good. I just thought that I would bring it up.

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That concluded this week's list of seven songs. I'm really looking forward to concerts and new music so I have something different to blog about (not that I don't love this weekly blog).


Until next time,
Nikole xx

Sunday's Seven Songs (March 1)

Today's weather is absolutely perfect, despite the clouds taunting me with no rain. The day's not over yet so I'm still crossing my fingers for a storm.

Changing subjects, Tom Delonge announced more information on his new album - "Demos, Odds and Ends." The album is set to be released on April 21. I was disappointed because he kept talking about March 1 so I thought the album was going to be released today. There are a few snippets in the video introducing the album and the sound seems really promising. I don't know how I couldn't love it though. The only thing that makes it less great is that it is neither Blink 182 nor Angels & Airwaves (however, it is AvA's label). Tom kind of led people on to believe that the album would be streamed so he got a spew of negative comments from people saying that they refuse to "give him anymore money" and stuff like that. I never considered him streaming the album since he is so adamantly against the idea of streaming. The first song from the album is supposed to be available on March 9, followed by a second song on March 23, a third song on April 6, then the full album on April 21. For more information on the album, go to tomdelonge.me .

After weeks of Netflix binging, I was able to catch up to the finale of Parks and Recreation. I can definitely say that it is one of the best shows I have seen. There was never a lull in the plot and it makes you laugh at the dumbest things at times. I can't imagine a better finale for the show - every loose end was tied up and you were left not needing any more. I will miss Pawnee and the awesome people in the Parks department. Since finishing the show, I've decided to try to cut back on Netflix (gasp). Instead, I decided to start reading again. AP Lit has caused me to sort of resent reading because I am not fond of the selections, so I decided I'm just going to make some time to read what I want to. I finally finished The Maze Runner and, while it had it's slow parts, it was a great story with an ending that made you wanting more (thankfully, there is a sequel). Next, I decided to start reading the Divergent series. I got hooked the second I started reading. I finished the first book, all 500ish pages, in three or four days. Now I'm on the second installment of the series, Insurgent, which is supposed to come out in theaters this month.

On a side note, I've also been listening to Jack and Alex's (of All Time Low) podcast, "Full Frontal." I am not a big podcast listener because it usually can't keep my attention. Jack and Alex are hilarious though. My favorite parts of their episodes are when they talk about what they are doing on tour and their music segment. It's great to listen to how much music means to them and their takes on different artists.

Okay, I know this is a longer intro than usual, but I felt like talking about what's been going on. Instead of listing seven songs that I have listened to this week, I am putting my music library on shuffle and listing the first seven songs that appear.



1) Enthused by Blink 182
This song comes from Blink's "Dude Ranch" album that debuted in 1997. Eighteen years old. This album captures so much of what early Blink was - three kids just out of high school, playing music and having fun. It shows the stupid humor that surrounded the band. At this time, Scott Raynor (not Travis Barker) was on drums. Most of the songs, like Enthused, are pretty short and emphasized with loud guitar riffs and Tom's unique vocals. The most well known songs to come out of this album are Pathetic, Dammit, and Josie (one of my favorite songs).

2) Listener (Acoustic) by The Technicolors
Only about a month left until I see these guys open for The Maine! The acoustic version of this song, which is also the title of the album, makes me crave rain even more. It's the kind of music that makes me want to go to a coffee shop, watch the rain, and read or something else that's pretty laid back. The vocals are simple and quiet for the most part, giving the song almost a lullaby quality.

3) Drunk (Cover) by 5 Seconds of Summer
Even though they are a huge band now (currently performing to giant crowds all the way in Japan), I have every one of their covers still on my phone. It's a nice reminder that they went from doing small covers of their favorite artists to selling out arenas (and also getting recognized by those same artists years later). This particular cover is by Calum Hood, and I almost forgot how much his voice has improved (even though it was still great then) and how much confidence he has gained since recording this.

4) American Idiot (Live Cover) by 5 Seconds of Summer
I am not even surprised that 5SOS came up twice. This is without a doubt my favorite cover from them. It captures the real sound that they are meant for (and hopefully the sound that they are leaning towards in their next album). Even though their covers of What I Like About You and Teenage Dream were great songs for a live performance, their cover of American Idiot just seems to fit so much better. Maybe that's because Green Day were the ones to really invent pop punk. They sound like they are having the time of their lives during this live cover. I still can't believe I got to see them perform it live back in November.

5) That Girl by All Time Low
It seems like people either love or hate "Dirty Work." I have seen comments leaning both ways, but never in the middle. I am definitely one of the people who loves it. I love that I can still hear the same energy in All Time Low's music since their first EP to their latest single. This is a song that is definitely meant for turning up the volume as high as it can go and shouting the lyrics. The sound and rhythm and beat of the songs is so catchy, you can't help singing along.

6) Ready to Run by One Direction
I used to refer to One Direction as a guilty pleasure, but I don't know why I have to be guilty for liking them. Their music is upbeat and carries a lot of energy in it. This song is from their latest album, "Four," which the group actually had a hand in the songwriting (which I was relieved to find out). I love that the song is relatively fast, yet it still has a very recognizable acoustic guitar in the chorus.

7) Berzerk by Eminem
Well, this is very different from the other songs. Hearing this song instantly makes me think of road tripping to California with my best friend and turning up the music and acting a lot cooler than we really are. How could you not get into this song? The chorus is easy enough to learn quickly and before you know it, you know all the words.


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I almost forgot that today is the first day of a new month. February felt like a brutally long 28 days despite being the shortest month. Here are a few things are coming up in March:

March 13, 14, 15 - Pot of Gold Festival (including Fall Out Boy!!)
March 17 - Sleeping with Sirens new album, "Madness"
March 22 - MUSINK FESTIVAL WITH BLINK 182 FT MATT SKIBA

March 31 - The Maine's new album, "American Candy"

You could probably tell which I am most excited for. It has been three and a half years since I last saw Blink 182 during the Honda Civic Tour. Only three weeks from today and I will be seeing them. I still can't really believe it's going to happen.

Anyways, that is all for Sunday's Seven Songs (and a kind of long update on other things).


Until next time,
Nikole xx

Sunday's Seven Songs

Week five of Sunday's Seven Songs! I would be lying if I said it's getting harder to remember to do this, especially because they aren't getting that many views. I just keep telling myself that it's good practice that I write every week, even if there is no one reading. This is better then giving up my blog all together. And there's a bunch of concert and album releases coming up, so I promise that this blog should be getting more interesting. 

Anyways, the Academy Awards are on so I'm a little distracted writing this. With that said, here are the seven songs:

1) Polaroid by Imagine Dragons

Imagine Dragons' new album, "Smokes and Mirrors," came out last Monday. I have to say that I don't love it as much as their last album. It's lacking the energy that made their first album stand out. However, I think that this band is extremely underrated. I've read some jokes here and there that poke fun at people who are still fans of this group, but I don't understand. They are an extremely talented bunch. I'm sure the more I listen to their new album, the more it will grow on me. "Polaroid" definitely was the first song to stand out to me. I love the tempo and sound of this song. I might to another blog post this week dedicated to what I though of the rest of this album.

2) One Foot by fun.

"Some Nights" by fun. will always be one of my favorite albums. There is such a deep meaning in every one of the songs that I find so inspiring and so unique. From the first time I heard this album in 2012, "One Foot" has always been my favorite song. When you really take the time to listen to the lyrics, it's amazing how simple yet thoughtful it is. This album is really about living and finding yourself. I hope the band comes out of hiatus soon, however I can't complain about what some of them have been doing in their spare time which leads me to the next song.

3) You're Still a Mystery by Bleachers

Jack Antonoff is the lead guitarist of fun., but he also is the lead singer and songwriter of Bleachers. It wouldn't be fair for me to compare the two bands because they're too different. Bleacher is best known for their radio his, "I Wanna Get Better." I think that song is probably the best on the album because it has a great meaning, not to mention that it is extremely catchy which makes obviously made it a hit. I thought I would make "You're Still a Mystery" the selected song because while it might not be as catchy, it still has a really good and simple sound. 

4) American Candy by The Maine

American Candy was released a couple of weeks ago and I could have sworn I already covered this in a previous Sunday weekly post, but it looks like I didn't. American Candy is a clear throwback to the early days of The Maine, the more poppy and carefree band. This song has almost a complete opposite vibe from the dark and sad, yet thoughtful "Forever Halloween" album. While I loved the last album, American Candy created some high expectations for the rest of the album. I cherished the early days of this band because of their songs were just so much fun and uplifting to sing along to and I believe their new album will bring back that feeling.

5) Reason to Believe by Sum 41

I have listened to a lot of Sum 41 this week and it's amazing to listen to how the band's sound evolved over time. "All Killer No Filler" remains my favorite album of theirs; however, "Screaming Bloody Murder" is definitely an album worth talking about. Their last album released in 2011 definitely shows that the carefree skater punks had grown up. Taking a darker and more serious turn, this album addresses some deep themes that all pack a powerful punch. "Reason to Believe" reminded me of an anthem song, like a song that makes you want to scream the lyrics on the top of your lungs.

6) First by Cold War Kids

I'm a new fan of this band and the reason that made me look them up is that they are coming in town soon (I'm not seeing them though). Their album "Hold My Home" was released last October. I'm not too sure why this song stood out to me the most, but I find it catchiest and it's been stuck in my heads a few times this week. I can't say that I'm totally hooked on this band, but there's no denying their talent. 

7) Rock a Little by Stevie Nicks

I know this song seems out of place, but I recently got a record player and this week I went record shopping and this was one of the vinyls I picked up. I can't say that I have listened to a lot of Stevie Nicks, but she is so talked about so I had to give her music a try. I can totally understand why she is the legend she became. The music is something you can just start playing, close your eyes and tune out everything else. It isn't always that easy to find music like that so I'm glad I decided to bring home this record.

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One week from today Tom Delonge releases "Songs Without A Home," an album with songs that were originally meant for Blink 182, but we know what happened there. 

Academy Awards are wrapping up soon so I'm going to finish watching that and call it a night. 

Until next time,

Nikole xx

P.S. Happy Birthday shout out to an incredibly thoughtful, inspiring, and talented musician, Kurt Cobain, who would have turned 48 years old this week. He is one of the most legendary people in music and he'll never be forgotten.

Sunday's Seven Songs (Week Four)

February feels like it never ends. My least favorite month will probably always feel like this one because it just feels too long even though it's the shortest month. Anyways.... I watched the 1999/2000 show Freaks and Geeks which was unfortunately cancelled right after it got started. It's honestly one of the best shows I have seen even though it's brief, but it is just so relatable. I highly suggest it to everyone, especially high school-ers, and you won't have to worry about getting hooked because there's only one season anyways. Plus, it has young James Franco, Jason Segel and Seth Rogan. Another show I have been completely hooked on is Parks and Recreation. Literally everything done and said on that show is absolutely hilarious. I can't even begin to explain what makes it so funny - just go watch it for yourself.

Well, anyways, here are the seven songs for the week:

1. Lock Me Up by The Cab
My sister started to play a couple songs in the car and it made me go rediscover their music. First of all, I have to mention that Alexander DeLeon (singer) seems like one of the coolest people ever. I follow him on Twitter and Instagram and he always seems to be enjoying his life and what he does and every day he seems to do something fun - whether it's working on music, hanging out with friends, going to Disneyland. The Cab came out with an EP about a year ago and I think they are working on new material, but don't take my word on that. I love the vibe of this song, just as much as I love the lyrics and the way you can't help swaying to the beat of the song.

2. Uptown Funk (Cover) by Fall Out Boy
I know there are a lot of people who would disagree with me on this, but I feel like Uptown Funk is extremely overrated. I feel like I was one of the last to hear this song, even though every other song on every radio station is playing it. I'm not saying it's a bad song, it's fun and catchy, but I'm getting tired of it. When I heard this cover by Fall Out Boy, it made me enjoy the song 100000x more. It's a guaranteed mood lifter, just like the tumblr caption said when I found it. Patrick Stump's vocals are perfect for this song and I can just picture the band playing this song which makes me smile. Pete Wentz, get the stretch. I find it impossible now not to like this song after hearing this.

3. Walking Disaster by Sum 41
I can't even remember when I started listening to this band and it's hard to believe that they have been playing since I was born!? "Walking Disaster" has always been one of my favorite songs of there's, despite it's sad theme. It's such an anthem song. I can't remember what got me listening to them this week, but I've had this song and their album "All Killer No Filler" on repeat. Honestly, it's probably because 5SOS just announced that they have been writing some songs with Deryck Whibley (vocals, guitar). Actually, Deryck announced last summer that he was working on some new Sum 41 stuff, so I'm still waiting to see if we're going to be getting anything out of that soon.

4. Let's Get Started by Dylan Gardner
A couple of days ago I got my new assignment for the last issue of my school's magazine. I didn't really care what the story was on, as long as it was about music. My teacher had some promotion stuff for an artist named Dylan Gardner, who I have never heard of before. That just made me more excited though. It's a new challenge, having to write about someone that I'm not already attached to and have seen live (compared to my previous stories on the 1D tour and Run 2 Cover). This 18-year-old multi-talented musician is extremely skilled at what he does. He was recently signed with Warner Bros. and his song "Let's Get Started" currently has over three million views on Spotify. He reminds me of a young, but modernized John Lennon (based more on looks and what I got from him from his music video, but not so much musically).

5. 18 by Anarbor
It honestly amazes me how much good music comes out of Arizona. Anarbor is an alternative rock back and it's hard not to fall in love with every one of their songs. I can have their latest album, "Burnout," on repeat for weeks. The album covers a broad range of emotions and I love when artitsts decide to throw a few alternative acoustic versions at the end. The acoustic version gives a deeper meaning to the song, but the original version is something that you can really rock out to. The beat is simple and the lyrics are catchy and easy to learn. I'm crossing my fingers that the band comes out of hiatus soon.

6. Addict with a Pen by twenty one pilots
I just found out that Chipotle (yes, the Mexican food place) is hosting their own free music festival that features twenty one pilots and some other musical acts. I think the point of the festival is to teach everyone how healthy and organic Chipotle is or something which is great, but the idea of a free music festival gets me on a whole new level of excited. Every song this band has written and the way they perform the show with so much passion speaks to me every time. There's a lot I can say about this song, but I really just suggest clicking on the link to the song and watching. Then you'll see what I mean about them performing with passion.

7. Come Sail Away by Styx
I mentioned earlier that I watched a show called Freaks and Geeks. So the show is based in the 80s and it has one of the coolest soundtracks of any show (which I had to look up since Netflic decided to replace much of the original soundtrack with cheap replacements). It really tries to capture the musical spirit of the decade and now it has me listening to bands like Styx. It's easy to forget just how amazing rock and roll bands were in the 80s. Last night I spent some time listening to Styx and it's so easy to get lost in this kind of music. I think I might be rediscovering some old classics this week.

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I made it a whole month with this weekly update! I know it doesn't get as many views as my album and concert reviews did, but I have to keep blogging somehow. As spring approaches, more tours and new albums are coming around and I promise you will see me blogging about that. Unless something comes up last minute, my next concert will be the Pot of Gold festival on March 13-15. Following that will be Blink 182 featuring Matt Skiba at the Musink festival on March 22. Before then, Tom Delonge's new album is scheduled to release on March 1. Lots of new stuff headed our way.


Until next time,
Nikole xx

Sunday's Seven Songs (Week Three)

Happy Sunday! I have a new update for my upcoming shows which I am super excited about. Tonight, I saw Run 2 Cover open up for Escape the Fate and The Family Ruin. I always love supporting local bands. Today I got tickets to go to Alt AZ's "Festivaltaz" on April 10 which includes performances from Death Cab for Cutie and Panic! At The Disco!! So far I have a concert every month until August. My life basically revolves around concert countdowns, but I'm not complaining.

With that said, here are my seven songs for the week:


1) Some Boys by Death Cab for Cutie

I know some songs by Death Cab for Cutie, but when I decided earlier this week that I will be going to the music festival hosted by Alt AZ, I felt I should get to know the band some more. I am so happy I made that decision. I've had their latest album, "Codes and Keys," on repeat all week. Their music reminds me of the early days of The Black Keys and also someone else who I just can't put my finger on. "Codes and Keys" has a relaxed vibe, but it doesn't put you to sleep. Listening to the album makes me a lot more excited for the music festival!

2) Lakehouse by Of Monsters And Men

My friend recommended this song to me in the beginning of the week and it really stuck in my head. Everyone knows the radio hits from this band like "Little Talks" and "Dirty Paws," and I feel like this song could have been a big hit just like the other two. The chorus is energetic, but not in the typical "gym playlist" energetic way. The album is really good to listen to in the morning to wake you up. I was disappointed to find out that the band only has one album that's been released (and I haven't heard of anything happening in the studio as far as I know).

3) Act My Age by Hoodie Allen

I first heard Hoodie Allen on the radio with his song "All About It" featuring Ed Sheeran. So I decided to give his album a look and it turns out I totally love it. It's not often that I find someone in the rap genre that I like. I'm honestly shocked that Hoodie Allen isn't more well-known than he is now because I can see a lot of his songs becoming big radio hits.

4) Stray Heart by Green Day

Green Day will forever and always be one of my favorite bands. There's never a time where I don't feel like listening to this band and the past few days I decided to put their 103 songs on my phone on repeat. There's a song for every emotion - from soft and thoughtful like the classic "Time of My Life" to the angsty (is that the right word?) and energetic "Know Your Enemy." "Stray Heart" leans more to the soft side, but I can easily say that it is one of my favorite GD songs. I can't wait to find out what the band has in store for 2015.

5) Someday by Run 2 Cover

I'm actually blogging from the concert right now as I write this because my sister, friend and I mostly came for R2C and the other bands aren't really our taste. R2C changed their sound for the show tonight and I totally loved it. They are currently touring with loud ("screamo"- I hate that descriptive but I don't know what else to call it) bands and Christian seemed to have picked up a bit of that technique in vocals. They also did covers of Bowling for Soup's "1985," Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" and Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean."

6) Budapest by George Ezra

The first time I listened to this song, I wasn't much of a fan; however, the more 93.3 played it, the more it grew on me and now I love it. I constantly have it stuck in my head and I'm singing along with Ezra on the radio. I'm curious now to look up what other songs Ezra has released because the vocals and lyrics of "Budapest" are really chill and I don't mind listening to it on the radio everyday on the way home from school now.

7) When Songs Collide - "Fat Lip" and "Feeling This" 

I stumbled upon this mashup by accident on tumblr and I'm completely obsessed with it. It combines the guitar riffs and drums and bass of "Fat Lip" with the vocals from "Feeling This" and it makes a oerfect combination. Tumblr is a great place for finding new music or mashups or anything really.

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It's really weird blogging from a concert - I feel guilty, to be honest. I promise I am almost never on my phone during a concert because it's all about being in the moment, but it's hard to be in the moment when you can't sing along to the songs. Right now people are moshing and I can't really understand what's being sung. Anyways, this post probably has more mistakes than usual because I'm typing from my phone, but there was no way I was going to miss my weekly post. I also realized on my way to the show that I'm missing the Grammy awards tonight! So it looks like I'll have to get caught up on who won in the morning. 

Well, that's all for this Sunday's Seven Songs! I hope you liked my music suggestions. 

Until next time,

Nikole xx

Sunday's Seven Songs (Week Two)

Happy first day of the month! First of all, I have to acknowledge that today was the Super Bowl. I'm not really a football fan, so I wasn't that passionate about who won or lost. Anyways, a big congrats to the New England Patriots. They came back from losing by 10 points in the fourth quarter so, needless to say, it was an exciting finish.

On Friday night I went to the Super Bowl party in downtown Phoenix where The Technicolors and Walk the Moon put on amazing performances. I've kind of been obsessed with The Technicolors this week. I recently discovered them and I am so happy I did because I enjoyed their show much more than I would have and I get to see them again on April 3 when they tour with The Maine! The music I listened to this week was also influenced by the Blink-182 drama that has been going on since Monday and has continued to escalate. I blogged about some of the situation in my last post but a lot has happened since then so it really isn't that up to date. In other big news, I got tickets to see Blink-182 featuring Matt Skiba on March 22 at the Musink Festival!

With that said, here are my seven songs for the week:


1) Sweet Time by The Technicolors

I can't believe I just now discovered this band. You know that feeling where you are trying to figure out what you want to listen to, but you can't find that one song/album/artist that fits what you're looking for? There's probably a better way to word that. Anyways, this is that band for me. The way that Brennan Smiley's voice (which my dad described as a cross between Led Zeppelin and the lead singer from Stone Temple Pilots) is perfectly reflected in the instruments and the lyrics is just what I was looking for. The music is very relaxing and calming, and also comforting in a way. The album "Listener" came out in 2012 and the band is expected to release some new music this year. Their show at the Super Bowl party was great and they didn't disappoint. I can't wait to see them again on The American Candy Tour.

2) What Went Wrong by Blink-182

The title itself sums up the reason why I am listening to this song. This entire Blink-182 mess has me constantly thinking What went wrong?? Mark, Tom and Travis were best friends. Especially Mark and Tom who have known each other since high school. I watched their show at Big Day Out in Australian in 2000 (my favorite show of theirs) and it's amazing how so much can happen between then and now (granted that things really started falling apart only a few years later during their first split). I love this song because 1) it's from my favorite album (Take Off Your Pants and Jacket) and 2) it's a "secret" song. It's not something you can buy on iTunes. It was originally released as a bonus song on the hard copy album. It's an acoustic song and you can start to hear how the band was drifting towards a more serious tone in this album. Anyways, I love this band. To see them argue publicly like they are doing now tears me apart.

3) Not Now by Blink-182

Usually I'm going to try not to repeat an artist on the same post in my Sunday songs, but this is an exception. The main reason I chose this song was for the music video. It flashes back to some of the most memorable times in Blink-182 history and the song itself is meaningful. This was released as a single not attached to any other album and I like it that way because it stands out. Despite the drama that is happening now, the song comforts me because I'm reminded that whatever happens to the band, the music they've recorded and the shows they played will last forever.

4) There Is by Box Car Racer

Box Car Racer is a band composed of Tom Delonge and Travis Barker of Blink-182 along with guitarist David Kennedy. The band was active between 2001-2003 which marked the years leading to Blink's first breakup. Box Car Racer just might be my favorite Blink side project. The lyrics are meaningful and the songs are packed with emotion. The music video is also worth watching because the emotion of the song is emphasized by looking at the band perform outside in the rain, seeing the expression on Tom's face and the story line that goes along with the video. Also, out of every artist I have ever heard, Tom's voice is honestly my favorite. I can't explain exactly why it is, it just is. And this song, like "Not Now," is comforting. The thought that you aren't alone in how you feel and that you can still find hope.

5) Little Death by +44

+44 is made up of Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker along with guitarists Shane Gallagher and Craig Fairbaugh. They were active between 2005-2009 during the Blink haitus. Mark commented that he will never consider +44 as being "done." Their entire album (they only had one) is mostly filled with sadness and I can't help but think it was largely influenced by the Blink break up. It's nice to hear more of what Mark is capable of vocally because he tends to stick to one sound (vocal range?) in Blink. The song feels like it has a deeper meaning than what I understand it as which is really what makes the album unique. There are a lot of songs out there where they seem pretty easy to decode, but that isn't the case with +44.

6) Everything's Magic by Angels & Airwaves

I've already had one post dedicated to this band and their most recent album, but as a recap, the band was started by Tom DeLonge and is one of the huge reasons he has been less committed to Blink. This song is featured in my favorite AvA album, "I-Empire," and is definitely in my top 3 AvA songs. Like "There Is" and "Not Now," the song is really uplifting. It has the same theme of "you're not alone" within the lyrics. It's one of those songs that can instantly lift my mood. I can remember the first time hearing this song and I instantly knew that this is a song that I will never get tired of.

7) Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons

Yesterday I watched the new movie, "Project Almanac," and it was by far one of the best new movies I have seen in awhile. The reason I bring it up is because the soundtrack is probably 99 percent Imagine Dragons, including songs from their new album that debuts later this month. It got me thinking about their first album in 2012 and how much I loved it when it first came out. Hearing the new songs in the movie created some high expectations for "Smoke + Mirrors." (On a side note, I highly recommend seeing Project Almanac. You get totally absorbed in the movie and forget about everything else. Also, the actors are all new - no one famous - and they did an amazing job for their first big break.)

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I was worried that I was going to slack on the Sunday songs, and I'm glad to find out I'm not. I know this is only the second week, but I'm really happy with this weekly post idea. Again, if you have any song suggestions, leave them in the comments and I will check them out. Or if you listened to any of the songs I mentioned, you should let me know what you think of them.

Anyways, I wish everyone a good week.


Until next time,

Nikole xx