Upcoming Concerts to "Fall" For

Hello world. Particularly the Washington DC and Baltimore metropolitan areas. It's that time of year again when so many bands announce their fall tours that I'm about to burst like an overinflated balloon if I don't let the world know all the awesome stuff going on in the next 3 months. Or at least my voice will sound all high-pitched and squeaky when I try to tell people about them. Excitement and overinflated balloon effect.

First up, those up-and-comers The Noisettes (or is it just Noisettes? There should be some standardizing of when to use The or the nothing at all...) will be coming to Rock N Roll Hotel with Phantogram next Wednesday, 8/12. Like most of America, I've only heard the British indie rockers' song "Don't Upset the Rhythm," but since they're fresh off tour supporting Lady Gaga, I figure they have to be worth a look.

That same night, Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, and Chester French will all be performing at Hersheypark Stadium, which I suppose is kind of a bigger deal. There will be more amazing pop-punk/emo bands at that one show than there were on Warped Tour (no offense). I'd definitely make the two-hour drive for that show, especially since it's the closest Blink-182 will come to DC until Virgin FreeFest, and if you scored tickets to that, stop reading this. You're clearly on top of your concert schedule.

Concerts at Hersheypark are kind of the most amazing thing in the world, by the way. Better roller coasters, better gift shops, and better bands than Six Flags. Plus you can buy tickets to Hersheypark the day of or the day after the concert for about 40% off. It's awesome. Click for more info on shows and reduced price tickets. I saw the Jonas Brothers and Avril Lavigne play at Hersheypark Stadium last summer, and it was pretty much the greatest day-long concert experience imaginable. And if you're looking for something a bit lighter than Blink-182 to end your day at the park, may I suggest Demi Lovato and David Archuleta's show on Friday 8/21. David's sweet tunes should fit right in at a park full of people dressed up like Hershey Kisses and Reese's, and Demi's new album ranged from syrupy ballads to harder rock candy (with plenty of sugar throughout).

Alternatively, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker will be playing Hersheypark Stadium on Wednesday 8/29.

A bit closer to home, Baltimore has some great shows in August that haven't sold out yet. On Saturday 8/22, The Scene Aesthetic, The Color Fred, The Ready Set, Stephen Jerzak, and Tyler Williams (man, that's a mouthful) will all be playing at Sonar. Never heard of those last two guys, but since half of The Scene Aesthetic is Andrew from Danger Radio, I'd see them.

Why not just make it a weekend in Baltimore and stick around for Switchfoot and Blue October's show at Ram's Head Live on Sunday 8/23? (Or you could go home and come back. It's not that difficult.)

Although September is typically every teenager's nightmare, it will bring a few good indie bands to lighten your mood. I know I will be positively bouncing off the walls of my classrooms because I am super duper psyched to see OWL CITY at Rock N Roll Hotel on Saturday 9/12 WOOOOOO!!!!! Haha, I'm positively in love with that guy and his breath-taking electronic music experience. British electropopper Unicorn Kid will be opening, as will Norwegian indie darling Kate Havnevik. Kate's music seems a bit more subdued than Unicorn Kids' (Based on the tunes and pictures on his MySpace, I think he'll be bouncing off the walls as well, probably wearing a hat shaped like an animal's head). Performers from three different countries, coupled with Owl City's affinity to painting pictures of the sky, sea, and Seattle through his music, as well as Unicorn Kid's tendency to dress up like a lion, indicate that this should be a pretty exotic show. Being blindly in love with Owl City's songs, I may be a bit biased, but I think this is the must-see show for fall.

(Also, have I mentioned often enough that Owl City's fabulous new album is available now? And have I posted the spiffy banner yet? Sorry, I love this banner. Even if the single of the week dealio ended a while ago.)



After that little lovefest, I can't really make Yo La Tengo's show at the 9:30 Club on Thursday 9/17 look good. But it should be good.

Later in the month, a few good acts are coming to DAR Constitution Hall. Snow Patrol will storm in there on Friday 9/25. Lady Gaga will perform on Tuesday 9/29, and Regina Spektor will follow on Wednesday 9/30. I know quite a few people who are pretty pumped for Regina, so it looks like that might be a hot ticket as well.

Then October basically belongs to the 9:30 club and pop-punk. The first exciting show to hit there is Family Force 5, Breathe Carolina, Cash Cash, Queens Club, and I Rival on Wednesday 10/14. I personally have found that Breathe Carolina are impossible to listen to, live or on their recordings, because the bass is just so much louder than the music. But I'd gladly check out Cash Cash then try to snoop around and catch glimpses of the bands at their merch tables (or anywhere else) while waiting for Family Force 5.

But wait, there's more. October just keeps getting better, with All Time Low, We the Kings, Hey Monday, and Friday Night Boys (another one of those awkward band names that might or might not need to be preceded by "the") playing the 9:30 Club on Sunday 10/18. If you aren't drooling over that line-up, you need to listen to more Fueled by Ramen and similar bands.

Then comes the next-most drool-inducing tour of the fall: Hanson and Hellogoodbye co-headlining. (Steel Train and Sherwood supporting.) They're coming to Ram's Head Live on Monday 10/19 and 9:30 Club on Tuesday 10/20. I would post about how excited I am for this tour in gigantic, colorful letters, but I kind of want to keep it all to myself so it doesn't sell out before I convince my parents to let me go :) So I guess this subtle little blurb is your reward for reading (or skimming) through the August and September shows: Hanson, the forefathers of all boy bands, touring with Hellogoodbye, who are disappointingly far from boy-band territory, but still one of my favorite bands ever. Sure, Hanson may be pretty darn old at this point, but they are, like, classic. Compared to the Jonas Brothers, anyways.

Also, make sure you prep for the concert this week by checking out Hellogoodbye's new song "When We First Met" being streamed on Absolutepunk.com tomorrow.

Not too many November shows have been announced yet, but I'd start making plans now if you want to see Peter Bjorn & John with El Perro del Mar at the 9:30 Club on Saturday 11/7 or They Might Be Giants, also at the 9:30 Club, on 11/28. They Might Be Giants actually have two shows that day - a "special family show" at 3:00 and a show at 8:00 presumably geared toward audiences that are mostly of age. Spending Thanksgiving weekend with a bunch of small children at a They Might Be Giants Show? That sounds like a new holiday tradition I could get used to.

In the interest of not wasting time tediously linking to tickets for every single show, you can find tickets, times, and more information for each venue here:
9:30 Club
Rock N Roll Hotel
DAR Constitution Hall
Ram's Head Live
Sonar
Hersheypark

This Week's Concert Forecast: Hot with a Chance of Dancing and Jumping for Joy

Although summer in DC is almost always blazing, a few weeks are certainly hotter than others in the music scene. This week has a pretty major heatwave in store for Marylanders.

First up, start your weekend early by catching electropop genius Owl City at Sonar tomorrow night. His albums can magically pick you up and take you on a whirlwind tour of the skies from California ("West Coast Friends") to Vienna ("Dear Vienna"). He may be known for his good production and MySpace success, but his live performances are said to be just as flawless as the performances he records in his basement. His sold-out show in Vienna, VA this May got stellar reviews on his official street team site. I've heard that show was a non-stop dance party, and I'm sure tomorrow's show will be no different.

Owl City's summer tour is winding down in preparation for the release of his sophomore album, Ocean Eyes, this July. Sorry for the short notice, but tomorrow is the last chance to catch him until his fall tour stops at Rock n Roll Hotel on September 12th.

The big festivals don't come to Maryland until July and August, but it's never too early to start preparing for Virgin Mobile Festival. Normally, this preparation would include months of saving up for the event (but wasn't it worth $80?), but this year, the cheap music gods have smiled upon Maryland. The Virgin Mobile FREEFESTival will be bringing Blink-182, Weezer, Taking Back Sunday, Mates of State, and too many other amazing acts to list to Merriweather Post Pavilion. And no, by "free," they are not referring to freedom and liberty and all that jazz. Tickets really are free. Really. Check The Washington Post if you need proof.

Calling the tickets "hot" would be like calling dry ice "lukewarm," so you'd better plan on snagging some the second they go on sale - er, on give away? how do you describe this? - this Saturday at 10:00. Get to that website like your life depends on it, or better yet, like you're getting Jonas Brothers tickets for kid sister who will pout all year if she misses their summer tour.

Then on Tuesday, the party's coming to Recher Theater in Towson. Cash Cash, Every Avenue, Valencia, The Morning Light, and Sparks the Rescue will all be performing. Five bands for $12: now that deal's almost as good as Virgin's. Listening to Cash Cash is always a party, in your bedroom or elsewhere. I don't really listen to any of the other bands, but I've heard great things about Every Avenue and Valencia, and I definitely think they're worth a look.

Those are my must-sees for the week (and since I'll be out of the country for the rest of the week, I fully expect you readers to check them out then comment on their fabulousness). I predict that the next big heatwave coming to the area begins around July 13th, when the Jonas Brothers, Jordin Sparks, and Honor Society's fans mob the Verizon Center, those not blessed enough to get tickets party with Honor Society at a church in the middle of the night, and those too cool to care about those guys see Hey Monday, This Providence, The Friday Night Boys, Stereo Skyline, and The Bigger Lights at Jammin Java. (Funny story: Hey Monday's show has sold out, but the Jonas Brothers still have a few single seats available. But Hey Monday aren't the one's touting a "sold-out tour"...). Then of course, Warped Tour comes to Merriweather Post the next day.

May I Just Say "Yum"?

From ear candy to eye candy to gigantic bowls of Froot Loops, here are a few quick ways to satisfy your sonic sweet tooth:

"Strawberry Avalanche" by Owl City


Owl City's single of the month for June is a refreshing journey under the candy-coated clouds... sounds gag-inducing, I know, but this magical electropop song is really more substantial than just saccharine. Let this "Strawberry Avalanche" crash you. You won't be disappointed.

Also, check out a cute fan-made video for the song here. Crayon drawings of people in sleeping bags and strawberries? Awww.


Looking for a few more songs to whet your appetite? Check out:

"Sugar Rush" by Cash Cash - I've said it before but I'll say it again... Actually, I don't even have to. This pop confection's name says it all.
"Chewing Gum" by Annie - Another aptly named track. Though Annie's strong beats and high-pitched vocals aren't rich like chocolate, this electropop tune will stay in your head longer than any gum's flavor.
(Warning: The video for "Chewing Gum" flat-out scares me... And after having it in your head for an hour or two, your gag reflex may be extremely heightened. Actually, I cannot in good conscience suggest that anyone listen to this song... But it is quite sugary.)


Okay, and now for a picture that will really make your mouth water:
Mike Goodrick may still be struggling to make it big in the music industry, but he is clearly no starving artist. Check out that ginormous bowl of Froot Loops. Yummm...



Are his acoustic songs sweeter than all that sugary cereal? Is that even possible? See for yourself at his MySpace.

And more importantly, how many gallons of milk would you need for all that cereal???

2009's Perfect{opop} Summer Playlist

Ah, the sounds of summer. Birds chirping, cicadas buzzing, air conditioners whirring... oh yeah, and all the sounds blaring from your radio and ipod. With concerts on weeknights (no such thing as a school night - w00t!), concerts at theme parks (gotta love Six Flags' freebies), concerts that take all day to drive to and all night to drive home (how far is Bristol? who cares?!), and lots of time to browse MySpace Music, summer's the perfect time to check out some new tunes.

Only time will tell which of this summer's songs will be the most memorable, but here are my predictions of 12 songs from the soundtrack of this summer:

The Top 40 Dominatrix:
Yeah, it's that song that you'll hear again and again on the radio, at the mall, in your friend's car, until you hate it. Then love it. Then hate it even more. This summer's airwaves are expected to be a battleground between defending champ Lady Gaga, the resurgent Kelly Clarkson, and the new staple Katy Perry, but my choice for Top 40's song of the summer is
"I Do Not Hook Up" by Kelly Clarkson (video)

The Song to Dance to All Night Long:
I know, I know, bloggers flock to Black Kids' alt dance tunes like mosquitoes are drawn to bug zappers... Wait, no, Black Kids are way more effective than bug zappers. Even if this boldly named multiracial indie band has been the blogosphere's sweethearts since long before summer 2009, their so-retro-it's-cutting-edge synth jams are the perfect fit for parties this summer. Fun, funky, hip, and undeniably danceable. Make sure no DJ is without
"I've Underestimated My Charm Again" by Black Kids
(Bonus! Check out this crazy video of the song set to scenes from Mystery Science Theater's classic Manos: The Hands of Fate. Though it lags at times, overall, this fan-made's as much fun as anything the band could cook up.)

The Song with "Summer" in the Title:
It may seem a bit tacky, but you know you're a sucker for cheesy songs that scream "IT'S SUMMER!!!!" at the tops of their lungs. There must be at least one on every playlist. And while the radio stations are aching to ride discosticks, try a lesser-known song by today's queen of Top 40:
"Summerboy" by Lady Gaga

The Other Song With "Summer" in the Title:
Yeah, two songs dropping the s-bomb (summer, that is) verges on totally tacky, but this summer's playlist could not be complete without something by The Academy Is... Their last album's late August release date prevented us from dancing to it at the beach for most of last summer. You may have heard it at Warped Tour last year, but this year, make up for lost time by rocking out to the album's toe-tapping jam,
"Summer Hair = Forever Young" by The Academy Is...

Your New Summer Loves:
A lot of great albums have come out in the past year, but you can't spend all summer listening to the same songs you've been hearing all school year. The perfect addition to your pop collection? Take It to the Floor by Cash Cash. While you were busy studying, the most adorable Jersey boys since the JoBros were touring with the likes of Kevin Rudolph and Cobra Starship. Their lead single "Party in Your Bedroom" is just now hitting the airwaves in most places, along with its much buzzed-about video. The boys' sunny dance-pop songs will get you more sugar-high than a visit to the ice cream man, so taste the candy-coated track
"Sugar Rush" by Cash Cash

The Song You'll Have Stuck in Your Head for Days - and Love Every Minute of It:
In the winter, people worry about catching the flu. In the summer, they worry about the plethora of catchy songs churned out by Disney Channel and it affiliates. You either love 'em or you love to hate 'em. This year, you can still hear plenty of catchy new tunes on JONAS and the upcoming Hannah Montana 3 CD, but I think this summer is already saturated with JoBros tunes. So if you're looking for a pop song that'll have you bouncing off the walls, turn off the TV for a sec and get your sugar rush from an unaffiliated singer like Owl City. The lead single from his upcoming album Ocean Eyes is just as catchy and whimsical as the songs on any kids' show.
"Hot Air Balloon" by Owl City

The Song to Have a Picnic to:
I know everyone loves a sweet love song, but put the Jason Mraz album down and step away from the boombox. I for one have heard "I'm Yours" enough times in the past few months to last ten summers. Summer's a great time to branch out and listen to some new sweeties, like my personal fave NeverShoutNever. If the songs he's leaked so far are any indication, his upcoming release The Summer EP should be the quintessential soundtrack to the season. This track will make your heart melt more quickly than a popsicle dropped on the hot pavement:
"Hummingbird" by NeverShoutNever!

The Song to Chill by the Pool with:
The founders of Bishop Allen may be Harvard grads, but their music is a fun escape from academic tedium. A little string-filled eccentric, a little coffee-sipping hipster, and a lot of fun, you gotta check out
"Dimmer" by Bishop Allen

The Song to Blast in the Car:
What, no new release by Rooney this year? Since their next album is still in the works, I guess we can't rely on blasting any of their retro powerpop tunes from our stereos this summer... They're my fun car trip staples, but since I've listened to "When Did Your Heart Go Missing?" more times than any sane person should, I think it's time to take a break. Digging back into the pile of CD's under the dashboard, I suggest you try some of Relient K's older tunes. All the retro fun of Rooney with more eccentric lyrics. (Remember "Marilyn Manson ate my girlfriend"? It's kind of unforgettable...) I don't need a magazine to tell me I'm still in love with
"17 Magazine" by Relient K

The Slightly Guilty Pleasure:
It's summer. Blast that song you can't believe you love from your stereo and live a little... You saw Glee, right? No? Then you'd best hop over to its website and check out the pilot. It's like if they remade High School Musical with good writing, interesting adult characters, and better music, including a fantastic rendition of the Journey classic
"Don't Stop Believing" by the cast of Glee

The Crazy Rocker:
You know you downloaded it illegally. Or you're going to in about 5 seconds. I'll make it even easier by linking to a video with the download link. With a title like this, you gotta expect great things from
"Pete Wentz is the Only Reason We're Famous" by Cobra Starship

The Sneak Attack:
You know how earlier, I advised everyone to pass up the Jonas Brothers' pop fluff this summer? That would be because the JoBros have so many better songs to offer. With horns and some pretty rockin' guitars, I think these Disney boys are actually able to pull off a song titled "World War III." Really. I love 'em, but I never thought they'd have it in 'em. Based on the 30-second preview alone, I think this song could fight its way to the top of any respectable playlist:
"World War III" by the Jonas Brothers

Well, that should at least give you a good headstart on your summer playlist. I guess we'll just have to wait and see which songs zoom up to the top of your Most Played list and which fail to launch...

and enjoy the summer :)

April Showers & a Fount of New Info

While homework and studying have been eating my life for the past couple weeks, a few random things have happened. Here's a post to get you all up to speed...

A few weeks ago, I fell totally completely hopelessly madly in love with Owl City's album Maybe I'm Dreaming. I actually listened to it in its entirety every day for about two weeks. Seriously. If listening to "On the Wing" and "The Saltwater Room" doesn't add a little beauty to your world, no electronic music will.

I've been planning to do a longer post about Owl City and several other similar bands, but there are these silly little things called AP tests I should be studying for over the next few weeks, so look for some updates after his show at Jammin' Java on Saturday, May 9th... I won't be going to the show, but I will spend the whole night obsessing over how someone so amazing is less than 20 miles away from me. But you should go to this show and experience the magic for yourself.

But if you're looking for a good concert, you really have no excuse not to see one soon. Fall Out Boy, Cobra Starship, Hey Monday, Metro Station, AND 50 Cent will all be coming to the Merriwether Post Pavilion this Saturday, April 25th. It actually looks like it will be the biggest assembly of talented pop-rock-punk-rap-techno artists to hit Merriwether Post this year, eclipsing Warped Tour, whose headliners are just kind of lame. General Admission tickets are still available, and because this tour has a funky ticket policy, it means you could be buying $36 lawn seats. But really, even 50 Cent will be there. This assembly of talent is certainly worth enduring a nosebleed.

Truly hardcore patyhoppers could try to attend Towson U's big TigerFest-ish thing before the FOB concert. The All-American Rejects, along with Ace Enders, Shiny Toy Guns, and that other band they're touring with will all be playing, probably throughout the afternoon. And I've heard there will be a mechanical bull.

The All-American Rejects themselves probably won't play until the evening, long after the FOB concert extravaganza has begun, so AAR fans might be better off skipping the beer garden (oh, and the rest of Towson U's party) and heading over to AAR's in-store appearance at Wet Seal in Towson Town Center. Give the store a ring at (410) 825-3736 for more info.

And if you want to spend every minute of your weekend listening to live music, be sure to stop by the Change for China benefit concert at Montgomery Blair High School on Friday night. They're boasting four professional bands, which has nothing on Fall Out Boy of course, but is quite impressive for a student-run benefit concert. And they're giving out an electric guitar as a door prize. They can't promise you a mechanical bull, but it's totally the next-best thing. More info on their Facebook page.

Oh, and don't forget that Cash Cash will coming to Sonar on Friday, May 8th, along with Kevin Rudolf, who is actually more of a big deal. But Cash Cash is ditching the northeastern leg of Warped Tour this summer, so you'll want to see them while you can. I still maintain that they're going to hit it fairly big one of these days...

[*EDIT* Uhmmm jaykayy... The Kevin Rudolf tour has been canceled. So Cash Cash will now be in Baltimore supporting Sing It Loud at Fletcher's on April 29th. A Wednesday... Guess I'll see them someday...

But if you're interested in the Sing It Loud tour, Virginia band The Friday Night Boys will also be opening. At least one of their members went to Sandy Spring Friends School, which is a pretty cool place, fyi. So I'd really like to see them in concert sometime. Darn you, school nights...]

And in case you haven't noticed, Sonar is hosting concerts by tons of awesome artists in the near future. Everyone from The Ting Tings to Lady Sovereign to Kate Voegele will be stopping by, so you should stop by their website to check it out.

That covers just about everything on my concert radar. As for other events, you probably don't need me to keep you up-to-date on all the latest Jonas Brothers news, what with their zillions of fans dedicated enough to create crazy fansites, but in case you forgot, their news series JONAS premieres Saturday, May 2nd, and their new album Lines, Vines, and Trying Times drops June 15th. Check out their hilarious attempts at sexy facial expressions on the album cover! Well, Kevin and Joe are trying to be sexy anyways. I think Nick just has the sun in his eyes.

Also, if you thought those JB updates were silly or trivial, you'll be glad to know Joe wore the same outfit to the airport and the 17 Again premiere. Isn't the Internet a fabulous educational resource? There is just so much useful information out there...

Anyways, with prom season fast approaching, girls might feel the desire to deny that they are still single or convince everyone that the random guy who asked them really is cool! And what's more impressive than dating an Internet music sensation? Act fast if you want to be able to tell the world that you are dating a member of Oh, Hush! Pink tank tops proclaiming that MY BOYFRIEND IS IN OH, HUSH! don't go on sale every day, you know. But they do go on sale tomorrow at 8:00 EST. And if you think everyone who sees your shirt will be able to call you on the fact that your boyfriend is not in Oh, Hush!, you clearly aren't in on the secret behind Oh, Hush!'s unique success. (Okay, maybe their awesome dance-rock tunes are their secret to success, which isn't really the best-kept secret...) Either way, stop by their MySpace or Facebook pages to check out their music and shirts. The sale ends on Monday, so you might want to hurry!

And finally, Meg & Dia's new album came out today! I would love to review it for you, but homework calls, so you'll have to listen to it and decide for yourself.

So that's about everything that's happened in the past month. Oh, and I've been told that Hottub's album sounds better than their live performances. I don't know how any music could top their angelic voices, but if you say so...

Upcoming Concerts to Spring for

Wow, was that title lame or what? It's so hard to come up with good puns using the word "spring"... Anyways...

Having just been to a concert (Ting Tings & Hottub, craziest night of my life; all the dirty details coming soon to a computer screen near you), it's time for a quick look to the future because lots of bands have announced their late-spring tours since my last big concert posts.

First up, you might have to act quickly if you want to snag tickets to the biggest indie dance show to hit the 9:30 Club since tonight's sold-out Cut Copy concert. Mates of State and Black Kids will be playing, along with Sunbears. Black Kids are one of my favorite new bands, and I've been meaning to write a post about their musical awesomeness and hot lead singer. For now, I'd advise you to check out their video for "Look at Me (When I Rock Wichoo);" it's pretty much the bomb. I haven't heard too many Mates of State songs, but several reliable sources tell me they're great.

They're coming to the 9:30 Club on Saturday, April 4th, so if you're looking for a great way to kick off your spring break, I'd suggest you pick up a ticket here.

And what better way to end your spring break than with a free concert by swing rocker Derek James at the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC on Friday, April 10th or Sunday, April 12th? I actually can't remember why I'm friends with him on MySpace, but his music is quite possibly the best rockabilly I've ever listened to, and you can't beat the price or the view at the Cherry Blossom Festival.

James will also be playing at pretty much every other venue within 50 miles of us between now and April 12th, so you can also catch his free show at Teavolve in Baltimore on April 11th, and shows in Baltimore and DC this week. But, uh, his music can get obnoxiosly twangy, so you might not want to see all 5 shows. FYI.

And did I mention that The All-America Rejects and Ace Enders will be coming to Towson University on Saturday, April 25th and to the 9:30 Club on Tuesday, April 28th? I did? All right then. No use beating a dead horse, no matter how excited you are for it...

May is a pretty big month for my favorite lil Baltimore club, Sonar. On Saturday, May 2nd, Sum 41 will be playing there with Inward Eye and American Taxi. Never heard of either of those bands, but I've been dying for a good pop-punk show to attend, and since Blink-182 hasn't announced their reunion tour yet and Bowling for Soup still seems to be on house arrest, only playing shows in their home state of Texas, Sum 41 just may be your best bet. Check their flier here, then pick up tickets here.

Then the next weekend, the real party gets started with The Let It Rock Tour. Kevin Rudolf is headlining, and if you're wondering who he is, we're on the same page. But I'm pumped for his opening acts, the addictively adorable Metro Station/Jonas Brothers wannabes of Cash Cash, and the... unique... electropop band Hyper Crush. Hyper Crush's logo may be cooler than their repetitve music, but Cash Cash is the real popstar deal. Also supporting them as The Audition and Go Crash Audio. I would check them out, but this concert had me at "Cash Cash."

They'll all be partying at Sonar on Friday, May 8th. Check the snazzy flier here then grab your tickets here.

Finally, Kate Voegele finishes up Sonar's month of magnificence on Sunday, May 17th, with Angel Taylor and a soon-to-be-announced special guest. Well, that's really only half of the month, but none of the other bands playing at Sonar really jumped out and said "buy tickets to see me!!!!"

Anyways, I saw Kate open for Natasha Bedingfield and The Veronicas last summer in Baltimore, and she gave a really solid performance. I also got to meet her before the show, and she was suuuper nice, so I'd advise you to check her out at Sonar if you get the chance. You can get your tickets here, and sadly, the link to her show's flier is not working.

Speaking of that dynamic popstar duo The Veronicas, they're coming back to the States (from their native Australia, source of their adorable accents) for another tour this Spring. The closest they'll come to the DC area is Pittsburgh, which is not very close to the DC area at all, but the girls are really sweet and definitely worth seeing sometime. Their show in Baltimore was plagued by mic problems that made them sound like they were performing a duet the Alvin and The Chipmunks, so it'd be nice to hear them with decent audio. And I'm sure their show at PA Diesel Club Lounge will go spectacularly. You can find more info on the show here.

And then, of course, you can pre-order Warped Tour tickets starting April 1st, but we'll save that annual conglomeration of coolness for a summer concert post...

Bringing Back Love

Need a new cute musician to fall in love with? (When don't we?) Now is the perfect time to check out the ah-dorable Ace Enders, who totally stole my heart and Facebook profile picture when I saw him open for Hellogoodbye last November.

I was pretty excited that Ace would be playing at another sketchy Baltimore club this April, opening for Craig Owens, but alas, that show has been canceled. But, when a door closes, a window of beautiful sunlight opens: that date was canceled because it conflicted with Ace's tour with The All-American Rejects (<3333)!!!!! style="font-style: italic;">two shows, one at Towson University in, duh, Towson, on Saturday, April 25th, and another at the 9:30 Club in DC on Tuesday, April 28th. Of course, April 25th is also when Fall Out Boy and the rest of the Fueled by Ramen gang comes to the Merriwether Post Pavilion, so you might have to make some tough decisions about who your fave pop-punks are... But even if you don't get to see Ace in concert, you can still snag his autograph if you pre-order his new album When I Hit the Ground, which is going to hit stores this Tuesday 3/17. But that still gives you 29 hours to pre-order it from Newbury Comics and receive a free autographed CD booklet! I pre-ordered Cash Cash's fabulous album from them a few months ago, and they ship really quickly but might have led to a slight increase in the spam levels of my inbox.

Or, for an additional $3, you can pre-order it from Vagrant Records and get a t-shirt. I personally am quite conflicted. I already bought a "Bring Back Love" tee when I saw him in concert and got my picture taken with him, but I didn't get an autograph or this specific shirt... Decisions, decisions...

Oh, and as for the album itself, I can't find the free stream of it that he claims is on his MySpace page, but then again, I just can't really work MySpace's new music players. Why do social networking sites feel the constant need to change themselves?

Anyways, I can figure out how to listen to "The Only Thing I Have (The Sign)," "When I Hit the Ground," and a new rock version of "Bring Back Love," and I am loving all of them. They're more guitar-driven than Ace's last album, The Secret Wars, which you can still download for free at Fuse.tv. These tracks are a lot closer to the rock sound he had on the Hellogoobye BBQ tour. I am super-psyched for the rock version of "Bring Back Love." I'm still crazy about the piano version on The Secret Wars, but I fell in love with it as a rock song, and I've been wishing Ace would record a live version from one of his concerts.

But old fans, don't worry about this talk of rock n roll - Ace's voice is still as smooth and sweet as maple syrup. If these tracks are representative of the album as a whole, When I Hit the Ground will definitely be playing tug-of-war with your heartstrings.

The Album Project has a review of the full album here, and they "can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t fall in love with this music." So get ready - Ace is going to back back love again.

What Could Be Better than a Magical Bin of Free CDs?

Last Thursday, my friend and I ditched school for the afternoon to partake in a unique, exclusive educational opportunity to learn inside info about radio production and the music industry ( and yes, using this line will make Shindel let you out of class). We won tickets to "chill out" with Secondhand Serenade, and while this experience was more interesting (and educational!) than we ever expected, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you the story of my experience listening to the free CDs I picked up at the radio station.

LAME! you say. I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SECONDHAND SERENADE! To which I say, no, you really don't. But also, this story is not that lame. It is filled with fear, love, disappointment, and betrayal. Yeah, I could like make an action movie about me listening to CDs.

When my friend and I first arrived at the radio station (Hot 99.5), the receptionist waved us over to a group of couches where I learned why I am in love with radio stations: their reception areas have magical postal bins filled to the brims with FREE CDs!!!! *o*

Upon discovering that the CDs in the bins were free for the taking, I let out an exalted exclamation of "Sweet!" and dug through them like a pirate with a treasure chest.

It soon became clear that most of the discs weren't as gold as the signed singles decorating the walls of the reception area, but I soon found about 10 pieces of musical treasure buried in the chest.

The disc that stood out the most to me was one of the only ones not in a plastic jewel case. It was just an inauspicious 700 MB CD-RW from Staples with End State Let's Get Living! written on it in Sharpie, but what warmed my heart about it was an adorable picture of a castle and three clouds drawn on the disc. I absolutely loved the disc because it was hand-decorated. I mean, what if these End State guys hit it big soon and I'm one of the few people with a first edition, homemade, hand-decorated version of their first single??!

Sadly, I think End State (local band from Stafford, Virginia, fyi) has a long way to go before hitting it big... Their pop-punk instrumentals were great, but their lead singer left a bit to be desired. I'm totally cool with bands with poor vocalists (see Hellogoodbye and Millionaires), so I was okay with the vocals until he started screaming. I am not a huge screamo fan (except for the screams on "Admit It!!!" by Say Anything - gotta love it), so this was a bit of a turn-off. When he started creepily rasping something that sounded like "Lindsay, what are you doing?", I started wondering if there were any axe murderers in the area... Okay, it probably wasn't scary enough to freak a normal person out, but I just picked up this CD for free from a radio station; who knows what could be on it...

All in all, I can see why Hot 99.5 was giving it away for free. I would love to give it away for free. If I ever go back to Hot 99.5 headquarters, I may return it to its rightful place in the Magical Free Bin. Or maybe its rightful place is the trash...

So, after End State was a dead end, I decided to save my other spur-of-the-moment picks for sometime when the sun was shining and listen to something more on the safe side. And who's safer than acclaimed indie band Tokyo Police Club? "Tessellate" and "Your English is Good" aren't exactly anything you haven't heard before, but it was cool knowing that the CDs I got them from might actually have been popular enough to played on Hot 99.5... And I've never been a big enough fan of Tokyo Police Club to buy any of their music, but their nasaly Canadian voices sounded like heaven after creepy-raspy-screaming-off-key-NoVa guy. I actually listened to their songs three times in a row I was so glad they weren't some punk/screamo band. Then I realized that "Your English is Good" is not just good; it is amazing, and I totally should have bought it before this. But, I have it for free now, so it's all good ^^

Next two singles I checked out were "Graduation Day" and "Beating Heart Baby" by Head Automatica. Though repetitive, "Graduation Day" was pretty fun to listen to. "Beating Heart Baby" wasn't so fun, but my patience was wearing pretty thin by this point. I barely registered the next single I picked up, "Strange Times" by The Black Keys, except to note that their sound is a lot more hard rock and less cutesy indie than I previously thought.

After listening to "Your English is Good" again for the fifth time, I decided to call it a night and check out the rest of the CDs later, preferably when the sun was out so I would be sure no crappy NoVa punk bands would lead the axe murderers to me. The next day brought no sunlight (just a few weak snow flurries), but I felt safe enough to check out the CD with the best cover art, one whose title was simply "LIGHTS" but whose covers were decorated with colorful pictures of a girl and a gun... Yeah, the gun freaked me out a bit, but she was a really cool-looking girl...

When I opened the case, I realized there was no disc inside! Great cover art, some contact info, and a list of who wrote each song, but no disc! Feeling a bit dumb, I decided to go to the MySpace listed inside the cover to see what I was missing.

In contrast to End State's adorable album art and creepadelic songs, Lights had slightly creepy art and beautiful pop music. Her MySpace's tagline "To err is human; to forgive is interplanetary" clued me in to the fact that the guns were meant more for shooting fictitious aliens than like, actual people... Oh.

Turns out, Lights is the work of a Canadian chick (full bio in comic form here) who strongly reminds me of Skye Sweetnam (like, freakishly, like, wow) and will be performing at my fave sketchy Baltimore club Sonar next Tuesday (another unfortunately scheduled concert, but I recommend you go & tell her your supercool blogger friend adores her! ;) ) Her pleasant pop music isn't as bold as her album art, but its production is certainly as pretty as the EP's pink & purple cover. So now I am quite bummed because I will actually have to pay money for these songs. But I have no reason to be bummed; I discovered a supercool new Canadian chick & have a pretty decent story to tell about it!

Also, I may buy the album on pink vinyl, which will make it soooo much cooler...

Another single I picked up was +44's "155". The pleasant pop-punk song with its chorus of "Let's go down to the water" totally blows End State out of the water but is not quite good enough to keep the song afloat when compared to blink-182's stuff. Mark Hoppus, I expect better.

Having gone through all the CDs by bands I've actually heard of, I had to check out another pick based solely on cover art: The Becoming by After Midnight Project. Their album looked almost as dark as their name, but their first track, "Take Me Home," was still ten times more fun than any song by End State. Gee, I love having my standards lowered. These bands all sound so professional compared to End State... Sorry for the constant End State abuse. I still think the picture of the castle they drew was adorable... and... okay, that's the nicest thing I have to say about them...

AMP (love the abbrev) got a bit screamy on "The Real Thing." More metalheads should visit Hot 99.5; they'd get some great deals.

Third track "Digital Crush" reminded me of "Party in Your Bedroom" by Cash Cash in that both seem to be about guys who are enamored with girls who do dirty things to their webcams without explicitly saying that the girls do dirty things to their webcams. Sonically, of course, the songs are totally different - AMP is not exactly an electro-pop-punk boy band in highlighter yellow skinny jeans. But I wonder if their songs about love online are just a coincidence (especially since neither of them are exactly a big deal) or if they're an indication that we'll be hearing about more musicians' crushes on girls who make their own softcore porn... Then again, "I.M. Me" by Nikki/Brittney Cleary didn't exactly spawn a bunch of hits about AOL...

I think I'm going to listen to that song now. It was kind of hilarious when it was released; I can't wait to hear what it sounds like now that AIM has ttly been replaced by G-chat... Besides, "Words" and "The Becoming" are nothing special either.

TTYL
No time to spell
Oops, there goes that little bell
Bye, bye for now
BBFN

Ahahaha, that song was even more unbelievable than a magical bin of free CDs...

[In case you are not familiar with this glorious example of early-2000's pop songwriting, read these free scrolling lyrics:]

I.M. Me Lyrics

[Note: OMG I was lyk so ttly sad I could not find "I.M. Me" on Rhapsody or YouTube or ANYTHING, but after 3 pages of Google results, I found this crappy lil mp3 of it. Maybe it's just my computer, but I've only been able to hear about 30 seconds of music form it. Either way, I wanted you to have the link and the knowledge that it was not worth 10 minutes of searching for this obsolete little pop song. Crappy early-2000's pop is crappy early-2000's pop, no matter how innovatively tacky it seemed at the time.]

[Edit: JK! I managed to get about 2 more minutes of audio out of that crappy lil mp3, and "I.M. Me" is so horrible, it's fabulous. I recommend you listen to it for as long as your ears can stand. It is more hilarious than half the skits on SNL these days...]

Your Dream Spring 2009 Concert Schedule

Well boys and girls, it's that magical time of year again. That time in the dead of winter when people start opening their hearts and their wallets, when kids get down on their knees and beg their parents to give them what they want, when parents start freaking out about what exactly it is their kids want... Yes, it's the time when bands announce their spring tours.

This weekend is a great time to buy tickets (Quick! Fall Out Boy tickets have been on sale for over 5 hours!!!!), so I've decided to try to give you the best possible list of acts coming to the DC area over the next 4 months (sorry, rest of the world, I can't do everything...)

Now, coaches always say it's important to stay in shape during the off-season, so I think everyone should take their advice and practice their best moves at the Millionaires concert at Rock n Roll Hotel on Thursday, February 5th. My newest favorite pop act Cash Cash will be opening for the girls, along with I Set My Friends on Fire and Watchout! There's Ghosts. I think this show might actually be considered a comedy performance rather than music; those Millionaires girls are always laughable. And with a name like the Just Got Paid, Let's Get's Laid Tour, you KNOW it's gonna be a party.

[I will spend the night listening to my Cash Cash CD and crying my eyes out because my parents won't let me out on school nights (plus it's called the Just Got Paid, Let's Get's Laid Tour), so if you attend, please try your hardest to meet the guys from Cash Cash and tell them Meredith thinks they're the coolest kids ever and would like to ask for all of their hands in marriage; they can play rock-paper-scissors or whatever to decide who gets her.]

And for those of us who need a winter pick-me-up that's not on a weeknight, Ludo will be at Rock n Roll Hotel on Friday, February 20th. I've never actually bothered to listen to any of their music, but I've heard good things about their set when they toured with Relient K last year.

Another Friday night option is Ben Folds, performing at George Washington University on Friday the 13th of February (a good alternative for those of us who don't think we can stomach Valentine's Day weekend's gooey rom-coms/crazy gory Friday-the-13th slasher flicks). I'm having trouble finding specific ticket info - the show isn't listed on his official site - but I saw it on Eventful...

Ben will also be playing at Ram's Head Live! in Baltimore on the 12th, if there are any hardcore piano rock fans who want to see him twice.

All you hipsters had better mark your calendars for The Ting Tings' show at the 9:30 Club on Friday, March 20th. Or maybe you hipsters will sneer about how you already caught them there in July when they were, like, still cool in an unknown kinda way.
But my friend and I will still be in attendance, hoping to squash the stereotype that no one dances at cool DC indie shows. Because kids who are too cool to dance aren't cool at all.

The real hipsters might be holding out for Cut Copy, coming to the 9:30 Club just 3 days after the Ting Tings (that's Monday, March 23rd, for you non-math whizzes). Matt and Kim will be performing that night as well. Never heard of them before, but their name brings to mind a certain NBC Thursday night sitcom...

After all these indie shows, I'd advise you to take a dip in the mainstream, just to make sure you can remember what Top 40 sounds like. And where better to find mainstream Top 40 pop than at a Britney Spears or Pussycat Dolls concert? You Britney fans are in luck because The Circus Starring Britney Spears 2009 North American Tour is hitting the Verizon Center on Tuesday, March 24th. [I guess the Pussycat Dolls are just a sideshow act?] iLike sent me an email saying tix are still available! (I was tempted to reply with a little WTF??!)

If Britney tix are a bit out of your price range, you could always see new Top 40 dance darling Lady Gaga at 9:30 Club on Thursday, April 2nd. No, wait, actually, you couldn't. Her show's already sold out.

Similarly, if you're going to see Katy Perry at the 9:30 Club on Friday, April 10th, you probably already knew she was coming. Hopefully you did, since all the tickets for that show sold out about 5 seconds after they went on sale. Or at least in the same weekend. 5 seconds, 48 hours, same diff for us soft-core Katy fans.

For those of you hoping for a bit more of a rock show (just a bit), I've said it before and I'll say it again: Craig Owens of Chiodos, Ace Enders, The Color Fred, and VersaEmerge will be at Ottobar in Baltimore on Thursday, April 9th. It's not quite as hot as the Katy tickets, but it's been pretty buzzed-about.

I've also already mentioned NeverShoutNever!'s two upcoming shows, one in West Springfield, VA, the other in Towson. I'd check it out in my previous posts if I were you. [Then I'd wonder if I just used "my" correctly since I said I'd do it if I were you, and they're not your posts...]

I think this Dream Concert Schedule is getting nightmare-ishly long, so I'll close it (for now) with what may be the hottest concert here: the Believers Never Die Part Deux tour, featuring Fall Out Boy, Cobra Starship, Metro Station, and Hey Monday! It'll be taking the Merriweather Post Pavilion by storm on Saturday, April 25th. Since I'm not too fond of FOB, I'm cringing at the $36 ticket price (no cheap-o lawn seats? really?) but it may be worth it to see my fave Gossip Girl fan, Gabe Saporta... or I could just sit in the parking lot hoping he makes good on his kick-it-in-the-parking lot promises in his blog.

Oh, and if you're one of those kids who isn't allowed to go to concerts, don't despair too much... The Jonas Brothers 3D movie (coming at ya February 27th) will give you way better seats than I had when I was on the lawn for their show at the Nissan Pavilion last year :)

Off the Charts: Music in Fashion Spring 2009

I don't want to diminish my integrity as a music blogger, but I would just like to say that I am madly in love with our crappy U.S. (and global) economy. Why? Because it means people bought less for Christmas, meaning stores have more merchandise to move, meaning everything in the world is 70% off.

In honor of the hardcore bargain-hunting I've been doing this weekend ($3 shorts at Pac Sun! $9 cardigans at Ann Taylor Loft!), I thought I'd give you kids a few music-related fashion tips on what to spend your Christmas money on.

[P.S. Please actually click on a few of the links since I spent some hard-earned time finding those pictures/sites!]

Plaid seems to be a hot new trend for spring, as demonstrated by everyone from the Jonas Brothers to Demi Lovato to the guys from Hey Monday.



Okay, not the world's greatest examples (not too keen on Demi's outfit in particular), but I'm not much of a fashion blogger. The mall seems to be filled with colorful gingham shirts - dELiAs has the basic gingham down, while Forever 21 adds some pizazz with ruffles. Some more traditional plaids are also around, such as at dELiAs, which are more what the guys in the pictures are wearing.

But really kids, you gotta trust that once the Jonas Brothers start wearing something, it's gonna be in style. Joe totally called the Ray Bans wayfarers and colored skinny jeans, and Kevin's scarves were big this fall. (They say they love reading Teen Vogue - call them what you will, but you can't deny they've got style.)

Next up: possibly the biggest fashion debate of 2008 was how stupid you have to be to wear a romper. They were in, people laughed, they were out, Katy Perry wore one on MTV, people laughed harder, critics said they were soooo totally the next big thing...

I'm on the team saying that, although they look absolutely adorable, you have to either be missing a brain or possessing astounding bladder control if you want to rock a one-piece. I think that an equally adorable alternative, however, is the also-Katy-Perry-endorsed shirtdress. I believe Katy rocked one recently in at least a few scenes in her "Thinking of You" video. Camilla Bell also wore one in the Jonas Brothers' video for "Lovebug," and if Joe Jonas's new girfriend wears it, you know it's in style.

Another note about both of those videos; they're both set in the 1940's. I could speculate about how Americans are more optimistic about war and foreign policy (cuz who didn't love WWII?), but I'd rather just note that retro 40's styles seem to be coming in, with Katy Perry leading the way, then move on to talk about the next trend I've noticed...

Crazy neon clothes, because who doesn't want to dress like a highlighter? Aspiring pop bands Cash Cash and Varsity Fan Club certainly do.



VFC doesn't mind rocking some gingham either. Not saying these guys are the height of cool, but Capitol seems to think VFC are the next Nsync, and I think they are dressing them in whatever will drive teenage girls crazy.

Cobra Starship, of course, pioneered the recent trend toward crazy colors, and they don't seem to be toning it down anytime soon.



And I think Gabe's checkerboard pants up there will continue to be a pretty hot seller at Hot Topic. Hot Topic and Pac Sun are some good stops to find pants and tees brighter than your Sharpie highlighters.

Those are the top three trends I've noticed on musicians these days. Oh, and as I'm sure you've realized, yellow is the hot color for spring. It didn't become 100% inevitable until Michelle Obama donned that yellow jacket/dress combo for Inauguration, but one of my fave bands, Oh, Hush! totally predicted it a few months earlier in their blog. (Real article about mimosa yellow here.)

There are even price cuts at some bands' merch stores. Danger Radio is having a huge sale at their store, and I for one want to snatch up that $10 sleeveless hoodie.

That's all the fashion advice I've got for now! Now back to the tunes I'm actually supposed to be reviewing...

[edit: I accidentally referred to rompers as jumpers a couple times there; sorry about that! It's all fixed now!]