So far this year, I've been to a handful of shows, but not nearly as many as I would have liked. I saw Shakey Graves for what, the third time now, in Boston at Royale. Check out the YouTube channel for some videos from that show. It was great, but unfortunately I'm not a huge fan of his new stuff. Based on audience reaction to "Late July" and "Roll The Bones", I'd have to say that most people feel the same way. But good news is that everyone keeps on coming back for him because he's a great performer and unique musician. I also really like going to that venue - Royale is in a random spot in Boston, near Tufts Medical Center and Chinatown and is actually part night club, but I love when there are multiple spots to view the stage, and for us short people, it really comes in handy to grab a spot at the railing on the 2nd floor. 

More recently, I saw a show at the good ol' (and I mean old) Webster Theater in Hartford. This venue is a complete dive, and I'm somewhat surprised that it's still operating due to the fact that it has to be a complete fire hazard! But nonetheless, I've actually seen some pretty good acts at this place - Jason Mraz at the Underground back when MySpace was a thing (ha), and Jon McLaughlin, and New Politics. The show I went to in June was Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness ft Allen Stone, Bob Oxblood, and Zac Clark. [if you want a mouthful, the actual full title was "An Acoustic Evening with Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness & Friends, as part of The Pen and The Piano Tour.]

So if you don't know who Andrew McMahon is, and you were born sometime between 1985-1989, you probably remember the band Something Corporate. Andrew was the lead singer of Something Corporate, and then the follow-up band Jack's Mannequin. Classic early 2000 pop/piano rock bands that have a surprisingly strong following, even today. I actually bought a ticket to the show to see Allen Stone (who is AMAZING), figuring that he was going to be an opener. But the venue was actually PACKED, which is unusual for Hartford CT, and then the show was actually an entire night of all four guys playing together, which was pretty cool. So Allen played piano and guitar, Andrew obviously played piano, and Bob Oxblood, who actually used to be in both bands with Andrew, played guitar. Zac also played guitar and lent some vocals here and there. 

The show was pretty great, the crowd was reallly into it (definitely more of an older group), and while Allen only played a few songs on his own (check the YouTube channel), it was still cool to finally hear him live. Unfortunately, there was a snafu with my camera being stopped at the door (booo) so I couldn't get any good photos or videos, but it was cool that Allen and Andrew came out into the audience - and both times, happened to go right where I was standing! 

That kind of does it for shows so far, sadly. Work has been crazy and all over the place, and I haven't done as much travelling as usual. But I'm stoked about some of the upcoming shows on my list - Jason Mraz in Boston on Aug. 2, Lollapalooza on Aug. 3 (BRUNO MARS), Tash Sultana in Boston on Nov. 16, and Allen Stone in Chicago on Dec. 1!! Hopefully we can throw in a few more in Sept. and Oct. - so if you hear of any good ones, give us a shoutout @freeurmusicsoul. 

That's all I got for now. Hope ya'll are finding good music that reaches your soul and staying happy! 

-FYMS-

Walk The Moon is one of those bands that might not be a household name just yet - but I can guarantee that you've heard their songs on the radio, in the background of sports highlights, or in commercials. "Shut Up and Dance" was their huge summer hit of 2015, hitting its peak at #4 on the Billboard Charts and staying on the charts for an amazing 53 weeks! Their latest album, What If Nothing (2017), has been off to a great start, with their dance-anthem single "One Foot" playing across the airwaves for the last few weeks. 

After having to cancel the summer leg of their Work This Body tour in 2016 (due to a family situation), the quartet took a bit of a hiatus - presumably resting and writing the  new album. However, I was lucky enough to catch them at a random corporate event (Tableau conference) in Austin in November 2017 - where they played a crazy fun set to just the folks at the conference (it was awesome). 

The band released a highly anticipated third studio album in November called What If Nothing. It is a well-rounded mix of pop rock and dance/anthem pop - and there's even an interesting spoken word track called "Sound of Awakening". They continued to play with an 80s-esque vibe in "Tiger Teeth" (which has actually been around since 2013!)- akin to "Aquaman" of Talking Is Hard (2012). Other stand-out tracks are "Surrender" and "Kamikaze". 

Long story short - Walk The Moon is back and better than ever, and keeping with their WTM positivity and energy. One thing that I appreciate as a WTM fan is that they continue to write songs that still hold true to their alternative-rock origins. Songs like "Tightrope" and "Lisa Baby" transition into "Up 2 U" and continue into "Headphones". Sometimes it is frustrating when artists who you know are so incredible only turn out sugary pop songs from the singles factory. But Walk The Moon has both the radio-friendly hits and some more "edgy" alt stuff.

Oh, and just one more thing - this band sounds exactly like the album in a live concert. It is truly amazing, especially when so many musicians these days rely on heavy production to sound good. I've never not heard them sound perfect, in the three times that I've heard them perform live. And it's even more impressive if you consider the amount of energy and dancing that Nick does on stage! 

But I digress..

So there is kind of a funny back story to this show - I bought tickets back in October through some kind of pre-sale code. With this show being at Mohegan Sun, I was expecting slightly higher prices than my usual $30-50 range, and so I decided to shell out a bit more for closer seats, given the size of the arena. I landed in Section 1, maybe 20 or so rows back, and was pretty pumped. Cut to one week before the show, and I got an email with some information about where to go for the VIP Experience, and a Q&A session, and some other pre-show things. I basically ignored that - as I figured it was sent to everyone via Ticketmaster. But a day or two before the show and I took a closer look at my tickets. Turns out I had bought a VIP Experience package deal, which included the ticket, a Q&A session with the band, pre-show access to a lounge with cash bar, crowd-free merch buying, and some other merch like a signed poster! Talk about an unexpected but pleasant surprise, right?

Well I've never had "VIP" tickets, but the Q&A session was pretty cool. About 50 of us headed into the arena where Nicholas, Kevin, Sean, and Eli were standing ready to answer questions. There were questions like, "How many songs did you write for the album before choosing which ones were on the tracklist?", "How long have you been friends for?", "What's your most embarrassing tattoo?", "How did you decide to bring Company of Thieves along as the opener?", "When was your "we made it" moment?", and "Can you talk about the album art?". I'll paraphrase of course: they wrote at least a hundred songs before narrowing it down to just 13 for What If Nothing, reusing old songs and saving others for another time; Nicholas and Kevin knew each other growing up because their moms were friends, and Eli played in bands with Kevin all throughout high school; they recently all got band tattoos on this tour (something about a cloud man? ha); they used to play alt clubs/venues out in the Midwest with Company of Thieves, who is based out of Chicago; they still don't think they've "made it" because they're always striving to be better; and Felipe Posada is the man behind the album art (@the_invisible_realm). Phew!

On to the show. 

The arena wasn't packed on Saturday night (which was both surprising, and not surprising - I mean, it is Connecticut) - I could still see a ton of open seats in the upper decks and there were even some empty chairs near us on the floor. As expected, the crowd was younger (even saw a few kids under 10), and I spotted a few of the loyal WTM fans with their face paint. There was a group of four adults in front of us, who clearly did not know the band prior to the concert. Two of the men ended up really enjoying themselves, taking videos and pictures like crazy, but one of the men sat in his seat and read a book or something on his phone the entire night - what a shame! But for the most part, everyone was dancing along and having a great time. Normally, I would have taken my Sony A6300 to take photos and record, but Mohegan has a really strict photo/press pass requirement, and being the small blog that we are, FYMS wouldn't have gotten approval. So all of the videos/photos are from my phone. On the other hand, it is nice to leave behind the camera and just enjoy the show. C'est la vie.

I was not a fan of Company of Thieves. An alternative/indie band from Chicago, they were founded by vocalist Genevieve Schatz and Marc Walloch (guitar), though they toured with 4 or 5 total in the band. I just couldn't figure them out. Genevieve had one of those affected singing voices, where she sings with some sort of accent / puts different emphasis on words and vowels (sort of like Lorde, except Lorde actually has an accent); yet, she's from LA. That always bothers me..I think because it's usually a mask for lackluster vocals. Their sound was indie I guess, but one of their songs had more of a bluesy-rock feel which I didn't completely hate, but overall, I wasn't convinced of their originality or talent. Just felt kind of forced, and she was trying to be too much like Florence + The Machine during her performance. Not my cup of tea.

Finally Walk The Moon came on (to the Lion King, per usual), and opened with "Press Restart", followed by "Portugal" (which you can't help but dance to!), "Lisa Baby", and "Kamikaze". The rest of the set-list went like this:
- All That I Want
- Shiver, Shiver
- Avalanche
- Aquaman
- Surrender
- Tightrope
- Different Colors
- Shut Up and Dance
- Lost in the Wild
- Tiger Teeth
- One Foot
- Next In Line
- Headphones

Their encore included "Up 2 U" and their first big hit, "Anna Sun". I think the set-list was a really good mix of all their best songs. All danceable, all high-energy - their new tracks fit in seamlessly with their older songs too. For "Aquaman", which is one of my favorites, just Nick and Eli played a stripped-down version which was a nice change of pace. For those who don't know, Nick is actually a really, really talented pianist (check out this solo version of "Surrender" if you don't believe me), but during shows he plays synth while singing. He also does the single drum thing too while he's singing, which can be cliche, but it works for them (or maybe I'm just biased, hehe). I was sad they didn't sing "Lift a Car", as that's a fun one, but they had to cut something out, right? Great set-list!

[Quick side note: I've had a hard time filming videos during WTM concerts because all I do is sing-along, and it's super obnoxious / can be heard in the video. haha so I apologize for the lack of videos, but I literally can't help myself.]

Walk The Moon continues westward on the Press Restart tour - hitting Chicago at The Aragon Ballroom (where I first saw them 4 years ago!) and then some more Midwest spots, before heading to Texas and the West coast (and ultimately overseas). They are pretty much touring straight through until April! I strongly strongly suggest you go see them on tour - bring friends, comfortable shoes, and get ready for a night of positive energy, amazing vocals, and lots of dancing! You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to catch their next show. 

Company of Thieves

Think: Florence + The Machine, Lorde

Listen: Company of Thieves on Spotify

Like: https://www.facebook.com/companyofthieves/

Visit: http://www.companyofthievesmusic.com/

---

Walk The Moon

Think: Hippo Campus, The Mowgli's, The Griswolds

Listen: "Anna Sun" ; "Surrender"

Like: https://www.facebook.com/walkthemoon/

Tweet: @WALKTHEMOONband

Visit: http://www.walkthemoonband.com

Made it back to New Haven's popular music venue, College Street Music Hall, to see one of our favorite bands (for the third time) - The Front Bottoms. The first time I caught this band - originally a duo from NJ made up of Brian Sella and Mat Uychich - was in 2014 in Chicago at Concord Music Hall when they played with a pretty stellar lineup including the So So Glos, You Blew It!, and Say Anything. Let me say, this band has come so far in the last 3 years. In 2015, I saw them play at Toad's Place - and if you know anything about these two New Haven venues, you'll know that there has been a very obvious step up. The guys had a huge tour bus out front and they used these projection screens during the show to play video clips and funky images. The Front Bottoms have come a long way from playing shows with inflatable "TFB" letters behind them.

Since signing with the well-known label Fueled By Ramen in 2015 (famous for having other emo/pop punk bands like Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco), TFB have released two albums and toured with bands like Blink 182 and Frank Turner. For fans pre-2015, there is a markedly different sound in the studio, but their live shows are still full of "oldie-but-goodies" for those faithfuls. This was night #2 of the tour, in promotion of their latest album which just dropped on 10/13 called Going Grey. At first listen, this album is again, different from the early TFB days. The most common gripe is that it's "too polished". And I'll admit - we are also guilty of being just hipster enough to complain about the good ol' early days of any underground band. BUT this might be one example where the new sound isn't that far away from the original. Yes, it's more polished. Yes, Sella's voice is cleaner. But there same song-writing qualities that we fell in love with are there - lyrics are insightful; the acoustic guitar/piano/violin/trumpet sound is still there; and most importantly, the defining vocals of Sella are still the focal point. After a few listens of the new album, there are definitely stand out songs that are just as catchy and emo-anthem-y as those from their debut album. 

This show was yet another all-ages show, so I was left feeling like the old creeper in a room full of teenagers and college students. But at least I can still blend in well! Again - beer at this venue is on point. I grabbed one of the last Two Roads Too Juicy (yum.) and tried to find a good vantage point. Unfortunately, I got there a bit later than everyone else so there weren't too many openings. I missed the first band - Bad Bad Hats(sorry) - but did catch Basement's set. This band is good! Ended up buying their latest album Promise Everything [2016], which is fun to blast in the car with the windows rolled down. The comparisons that I drew to Basement are the Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Hoobastank, and a little bit of Blink182/Incubus/ Yellowcard - definitely a 90s type of alt-rock, pop-punk band. The guys seemed to have a bit of identity confusion though. They played some power chord anthems, a few well-written melodic slow tunes, and then some pop punk song. Vocalist Andrew Fisher wore a plaid button-up, which wasn't your typical punk/emo/rock band attire, but I suppose that doesn't really matter! Basement is from the UK and have actually been around since 2009; they went on hiatus from 2012 - 2014, and then released this album in 2016. They have since signed to Fueled By Ramen, which seems to be a kind of catalyst label, so we'll see if they grow in popularity. I definitely think they're a worthy band for you guys to check out.

I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but it's rare to find a band who can sound so freaking good live, if not better than the studio recordings. For TFB, this has held true time and time again. I don't think it's a particularly easy feat either, because Brian Sella does this thing that I like to call "talk-singing". He can definitely belt out a note or two, don't get me wrong, but his talk-singing is just so good and so in pitch, that it's easy to forget just how difficult it is to actually do that and sound so good. The touring band included trumpeter/violinist Jen (sad to see Ciaran wasn't there), guitarist (and double-necked guitarist) Tommy, and pianist Roshain (sp?). The group came out to a rowdy, excited crowd and played the first song off of Going Grey called "You Used To Say (Holy Fuck)". They followed up with "Skeleton", "Far Drive", "Funny You Should Ask", and "West Virginia". The guys (and girl!) sounded like they were having a great night #2 - Brian even joked that he was feeling "extra loose", and then he mentioned that he had to go to his cousin's wedding the next day, and that his other cousin was at the show. They played "Vacation Town" - which is one of my favorites off of the new album - and a few classics like "Help", "Maps",  "The Plan (F**K Jobs)", and "2YL", which featured a sick trumpet solo by Jen. Sidenote: I did try to record some tunes for all of ya'll who missed out, BUT I screwed up my camera settings so my recordings of "Maps" and "The Plan" are not good. Sorryy! [But here's a previous recording of "Maps" to satisfy your need for this awesome song.] TFB played one of the best songs to sing along with, "Au Revoir". They also jammed on "Flashlight" and then "Everyone But You" - only their second time playing that song live. Another great anthem that evokes audience participation is "Peace Sign". Lyrics go something like this: 

I'll let you guess what the audience participation was. Brian joked that it was funny to play because he closes his eyes, and then when he opens them he sees an entire crowd of people flipping him the bird. He also said that they forgot to play that song the night before in Boston, oops! They continued with "Cough It Out", "Grand Finale", "The Beers", "Don't Fill Up On Chips", and "Twin Size Mattress". Of course, there was an encore - which included a couch for some of the band to sit on while they weren't playing - and the songs "Jim Bogart", "Father" (which someone from the front row had been requesting all night), and ended the night with "Living By The Ocean". 

I am so glad to see that TFB have 1. retained their identity, 2. can still play their hearts out and sound amazing (props to the guys in the audio booth for mixing the vocals properly), and 3. seem to be gaining in popularity and uh, funding? I will always love them for being that underground emo-revival band that I fell in love with four years ago. Brian still jams out on his acoustic guitar, which mellows out their sound in just the perfect way; there's still a trumpet player (although instead of Ciaran, it's Jen), and their songs still have the same witty lyrics that sound even better when the entire audience is yelling them together at the top of their lungs. I strongly recommend that you check them out on the rest of their tour (Metro and House of Blues in Chicago, we're looking at you!)- and you can bet that we'll be back to see them again! #TFB

Basement:
Think: Foo Fighters; Hoobastank; Yellowcard

Listen: "Aquasun"; "Promise Everything" at AudiotreeTV

Like: https://www.facebook.com/Basementuk/

Visit: http://www.basementuk.com/

---

The Front Bottoms:
Think: You Blew It!, Kevin Devine, Say Anything

Listen: "Vacation Town"; "Peace Sign"; "Don't Fill Up On Chips" - live set filmed at Paste studio; "Au Revoir"

Like: https://www.facebook.com/thefrontbottoms/

Visit: http://www.thefrontbottoms.com/

I've been in love with Pinegrove since I first saw them open for Kevin Devine at the Outer Space in 2016. Needless to say, I was beyond excited to check them out as the headliner - and even better, catch their show in NYC at the legendary Bowery Ballroom. This was actually the first of two shows that they ended up playing that weekend - due to popular demand, they played another show in Brooklyn the next day. 

The band proudly hails from Montclair, NJ and was founded by frontman vocalist and guitarist Evan Stephens Hall and drummer Zack Levine - and often includes these guys on tour: Nick Levine, Sam Skinner, Nandi Rose Plunkett, David Mitchell, Josh Marre, and Adan Carlo. Their sound is unique - full of passion, thoughtful lyrics, and interesting melodies. It has morphed over the years, from slightly subdued acoustic country/folk sounds to energetic, guitar-heavy layered anthems. In fact, the best part about PInegrove is that they are just SO much fun to see live. Their fan base is incredible - everyone knows all of the lyrics and no one feels shy about jumping around all night. Makes for super fun shows. Besides oozing talent, Evan is endearing and just a genuinely nice guy during shows too - for example, he passed around a snack of carrots and celery to the audience because he was feeling hungry and wanted to share! Pretty funny. You can tell that the entire band loves what they do. 

The Bowery Ballroom is located in the Bowery section of Manhattan (at Bowery and Delancey). The company The Bowery Presents does bookings/concert promotion for some of the most notable middle-sized venues, like The Bowery Ballroom, the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Mercury Lounge, Terminal 5, Brooklyn Steel, and Rough Trade NYC. The Ballroom venue was built in 1929 and used to be a high-end retail store, before being converted into a music venue in 1998. It stands right in front of the Bowery subway station, in case you're worried about getting lost trying to find it ;-). The venue has a cool vibe - you walk down stairs when you enter, then walk through a downstairs bar space, and then you walk upstairs to the main floor where there is another bar and the stage. There is also a wrap-around balcony which is nice if you get there early enough! Everything is GA Admission, so I do suggest that you get there early if you want a good view of the band. 

The two opening bands of the night were Lomelda and Hovvdy. Lomelda is a solo artist from Texas - think Julien Baker but way more low-key, though her voice is stronger. Had some nice guitar lines too. The overall vibe is like a nerd-mom from the 80s, with high-waisted jeans and large hipster glasses. I wasn't a big fan of her, I think she just seemed too aloof. But maybe it was just her live performance / stage presence. I just took a listen to her new album "Thx" and it's not too bad; what do you guys think? She also played with Hovvdy during their set. Hovvdy is from Austin, TX and made up of Charlie Martin and Will Taylor (though for this show, they were a 4-piece band - adding Andrew and Hannah). I wasn't too impressed with them either unfortunately. Their style is described as "pillow core" on their Facebook page, which actually makes sense. They have a very chill, indie rock sound but nothing is distinctive to me about their songs (which you know is a pet peeve of mine) - everything just sounded the same to me, and also seemed to end right as the song was building. But if you enjoy "pillow core", then this is the band for you!

Pinegrove played an awesome set, as expected. I had a great spot and was able to take some good pictures and videos with my new Sony (check them out on the Media page). They opened with "Problems", followed by "Cadmium", my favorite "Size of the Moon", and the slower tune "&". Then came some newer songs like "Old Friends", "Aphasia", and "Visiting" - which has a really cool shoutout to Montclair in the lyrics, and was met with equal enthusiasm from the crowd. 

They played a new song called "Paterson + Leo" that I really liked, and Evan told a cool story about writing that song, as well as Cardinal [2016] while walking around at night in Brookdale Park. Not to gush too much, but this song is a perfect example of the masterful songwriting that Evan and the band comes up with. It starts off slow but with engaging riffs; then the lyrics build with genius phrasing; and then the whole song just builds to the main point of the story; and then just as suddenly as it reached the peak, it's over. Short and sweet. Another cool thing that Pinegrove does, that makes their songwriting style more akin to poetry - they aren't afraid to craft songs that are short but tell a meaningful story, just like a poem. No repetitive, space-filling lyrics from this band.

Their set continued with "Over My Shoulder", "Waveform", "Angelina", another one of my favorites "The Metronome", "Need 2", "Easy Enough" (possibly another new track?), and then ended with the crowd-pleasing sing-along-anthem "New Friends". Their encore was "Recycling". 

Long story short - this show was amazing, Pinegrove's popularity continues to grow, and I cannot WAIT for their new album to drop. They released a single called "Intrepid" on Nov. 2 (check it out here on Spotify) and their song Paterson + Leo is short but sweet. If you get the chance to catch this band live, do it! They usually sell out their shows well in advance. Right on!

Don't forget to check out the Gallery page and the FYMS Channel on YouTube for more media and content. 

Think: ...I'm at a loss for any comparisons..

Listen: "The Metronome"; Live at AudiotreeTV ; "Size of the Moon"

Like: https://www.facebook.com/Pinegroveband/

Visit: www.pinegroveband.com

Sometimes the best decisions are super last minute decisions. After missing out on their fall tour in Boston last year, I was kind of upset with myself. I had heard that it was a great show, so when they came back around to the CT area as part of the Cleopatra World Tour, I was torn between catching a great show and driving about an hour away to Mohegan Sun on a Thursday night. Got home from work, checked StubHub, and decided to buy my ticket with about 45 minutes before show start time. Made it just in time!

This was another first for me - going to see a show at Mohegan Sun. One of two major casinos in CT (the other being Foxwoods), it usually brings in the typical big arena touring artists - read: Ed Sheeran, Biebs, Lady Gaga, etc. It is a 10,000 seat arena, after all. Surprisingly, my seat had a good view of the stage, despite being about a mile away. But at least I wasn't blocked by anything, and the stadium seating was a nice change of pace.  I have also seen The Lumineers before, way back when, at Lollapalooza 2013 - and I remembered that they do this move where they come out into the middle of the audience to play a few songs - so I had a tingling feeling that they might venture closer to my seat at some point in the night. 

After settling in with a Goose IPA in hand, I got to see Kaleo open the night. This band is an interesting one. Hailing from Austin by way of Iceland, this quartet is a blues/rock band - who would've guessed that! You might not recognize their name, but I can guarantee that you've heard their big single, "Way Down We Go". It has been in a ton of commercials, TV shows, and movie trailers. Lead singer Jökull Júlíusson has a deep voice, very similar to Hosier, and has an impressive range - just take a listen to his Bon-Iver-esque falsetto on "All The Pretty Girls". Kaleo's set-list included "I Can't Go On Without You", "All The Pretty Girls", "Broken Bones", "No Good", "Way Down We Go", and "Rock 'n' Roller". If you like blues-influenced rock bands like The Black Keys, The White Stripes, or even that band Jet, you'd probably like Kaleo. Sadly, the acoustics in the arena aren't great - or else I'm just too used to smaller shows with a speaker and an amp right in your face - but it sounded like Kaleo's speakers weren't properly balanced. But they still played a solid set - I definitely recommend checking them out!

The Lumineers are a folk rock/Americana band from Denver made up of(founding members) Wesley Schultz (vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (drums), along with Neyla Pekarek (cello). They add on two additional touring musicians - Stelth Ulvang (piano, accordion) and Byron Isaacs (bass, guitar). Wesley and Jeremiah have been writing and playing together for 11 years You have definitely heard their big hit, "Ho Hey", from their self-titled debut album [2012]. Surprisingly, they just released their second studio album, Cleopatra [2016], after a four year wait. I really like this album - you can tell that a lot of care and precision went into creating an album with songs that are unique and distinguishable from each other, yet are still similar enough to work together as one whole piece. I also give this band a ton of credit for 1. playing instruments 2. writing their own music and 3. creating beautiful harmonies. Cleopatra captures the bend's essence and signature sound that we all fell in love with, yet also shows growth from their first album. The guitar lines mix perfectly with the piano melodies, making you want to pick up a guitar or sit down at a piano and teach yourself how to play. It is actually refreshing to hear a real piano throughout this whole album. 

This show did not disappoint! Set-list included "Submarines", "Flowers In Your Hair", "Ho Hey", "Cleopatra", "Gun Song", and "Dead Sea". Then three of them moved onto the middle stage (yay!) and performed "Classy Girls", "Where The Skies Are Blue" and "Charlie Boy", and then just two of them, Wesley and Jeremiah, on tambourine and vocals, sang "Slow It Down". Their performance on the stage in the middle was awesome because the full stage was just so darn far away for probably half of the audience. 

They continued to play "Sleep On The Floor", "Angela", "Ophelia", and "Big Parade" - an upbeat acoustic song with just vocals and keys, And then there was confetti! Which always makes everything better. As a tribute to some of their influences, The Lumineers covered a few Tom Petty songs - "Walls" and "My Eyes", I believe. Their encore included a solo performance by Wesley of "Patience" and "Long Way From Home", who shared a touching story about his father who passed away from cancer, and how his grandmother passed away from the same type of cancer. His upper register is so perfectly raspy that you can't help but get the feels. [Fun fact: the song is written in 5/4 time signature, which is the same as the Mission Impossible theme song. Very tricky to play in and write.] The band also played "Subterranean Homesick Blues", a cover of the Bob Dylan song. They ended the night with "Stubborn Love", which is a great sing-a-long anthem - the audience was extremely into it and everyone sang the chorus at the top of their lungs! 

Definitely was a night full of great musicianship, meaningful songs, and incredible vocals. The band was conversational but not over the top, engaging but still humble. The Lumineers are a very special band who stay true to themselves as musicians, and continue to write songs that make people feel both heart-wrenching pain and over-the-top happiness. This show turned into one of my favorite last minute decisions! Hoorah!

Kaleo
Think: Hosier, The Black Keys, White Stripes, Royal Blood

Listen: "Way Down We Go" ; full set on KEXP

Like: https://www.facebook.com/officialkaleo/

Visit: http://www.officialkaleo.com/

The Lumineers
Think: The Avett Brothers, Shovels and Rope, Mumford & Sons

Listen: "Angela" ; full set on KEXP

Like: https://www.facebook.com/TheLumineers/

Visit: http://thelumineers.com/

I can't believe it took me so long to get to College Street Music Hall in New Haven, but I finally made it. The venue itself, formerly the Roger Sherman Theatre, was built in 1926 and operated from 1984 - 2002 under the name the Palace Theatre. It underwent renovations and re-opened in the spring of 2015 as College Street Music Hall. They did a great job, and the interior configuration is my favorite kind: plenty of different levels. It's perfect for GA seating because there are different "platforms" with railings (three on the left, five on the right), so if you're vertically challenged, there are plenty of spaces for you to be "up front". There is also upper reserved seating (loge, front balcony, and back balcony) if you'd prefer not to stand the entire show. There is a large bar behind the GA seating that offers really great craft beer, if you're into that (ahem, Sip Of Sunshine anyone?). Capacity is about 2,000 and because of its key partnership with Manic Presents (a Connecticut booking and promotional company), the venue has sort of stolen my idea of bringing solid artists to this state that exists perfectly between NYC and Boston. Honestly, my only complaint is that this venue exists about an hour away from centrally-located Hartford! Nonetheless, it definitely attracts a younger crowd due to the nearby colleges (Yale, Quinnipiac, and SCSU are all very close). 

A long, long time ago (aka 2014), I sat on a hill during a downpour at Lollapalooza and listened to Young The Giant's set. Two years later, the band released its third studio album, Amerika [2016]. My earliest awareness of Young The Giant actually was in 2011 when they had their big single, "My Body"; their second single off of Young The Giant [2011] - "Cough Syrup" - was also a big hit. I wouldn't say that their latest two albums have been quite as good as the first (you know my theory), but they are still entertaining to see live and even more importantly, sound pretty darn great! Not every alt/rock band has great live vocals to keep up.

The opener was Lewis Del Mar, an experimental rock duo from NYC - singer/songwriter Danny Miller and drummer/producer Max Harwood. They were pretty good actually, got the crowd hyped up, and drums were heavy. They reminded me of KONGOS or 21 Pilots, at times. Check out "Tap Water Drinking" - that one is my favorite.

Vocalist Sameer has the perfect alt-rock voice - it's smooth, yet edgy, and oozes with control and confidence. [And can we just add that he has some great hair? haha] Setlist ran through both new and old songs: "Jungle Youth", "Something To Believe In", "I Got", "Paralysis", "Titus Was Born", "Cough Syrup", "Firelight", "Repeat", "Mr. Know-It-All", "Mind Over Matter", "Art Exhibit", "Apartment", "Nothing's Over", and "Home of the Strange". Their encore included "Amerika", "Silvertongue", and then finally their big hit (which got everyone jumping) "My Body". Young The Giant is a solid blend of California rock with a tiny hint of Eastern influences, probably attributed to Sameer's family's background in Indian Classical music. 

All in all, this show was a fun one! Definitely helped if you knew a few of their songs, but that's always the case. The band put on a high-energy, true alternative rock show. As always, I was obsessed with the lights at this venue. Just another reason for me to come back soon for another show...see ya there, musicsouls!

Young The Giant
Think: Cold War Kids, Bear Hands

Listen: "God Made Man"; "My Body" ; "Cough Syrup"

Like: https://www.facebook.com/youngthegiant/

Visit: http://www.youngthegiant.com/

This show was the first of 2017 and the first up in Boston in quite a while! Japandroids are actually not a band that I was too familiar with before the show, but the invite came to me from a friend probably a good four months in advance so I had plenty of time to do some listening before driving up to Boston. At first listen, they are a fast-paced, angsty rock/punk band (actually, duo), somewhat reminiscent of an early 2000s punk band, like Taking Back Sunday. The band is actually only two guys - Brian King (guitar, vocals) and David Prowse (drums, vocals) - hailing from Vancouver, and have been dropping albums every couple of years since 2009 [Post-Nothing (2009), Celebration Rock (2012), Near to the Wild Heart of Life (2017)]. This show was pretty big news for die-hard fans, since it had been a 5 year drought. 

The venue Royale is huge! It has 2 levels with a wrap-around second balcony that has a lot of couches and tables - which means there are also a lot of viewing points. The venue doubles as a club on non-concert days. We got a good spot on the floor; however, quickly realized that we were standing right in front of one of the speakers - so after a song and a half of being blasted by pure vocals, we ended up moving back. 

Unfortunately, I can't re-create the set-list because Japandroids are one of those bands that don't really enunciate their words. [Check out setlist.fm if you're just dying to know!] But if you're into heavy, distorted guitar lines and drums (after all, it's just the two of them), then this is the band for you! I can tell you that they played the title track "Near To The Wild Heart of Life", "North East South West", and "No Known Drink or Drug", which is a high-energy, angsty anthem. The crowd was definitely into the set - there was some stage diving and circle moshing going on! 

All in all, this show was a fun one. The band was definitely high energy and probably more fun if you were a dedicated long-time fan, but still fun for a casual Monday night show! Would definitely like to go see another show at this Boston venue as well.

Japandroids
Think:  Cymbals Eat Guitars, Yellowcard-ish; any other mid-90s alt rock band

Listen: "No Known Drink or Drug" ; "North East South West" 

Like: https://www.facebook.com/japandroids/

Visit: http://japandroids.com/

For the sake of keeping things short and sweet, here are the lost shows of 2016. Enjoy!

Julien Baker at The Sinclair, Boston MA - 04.24.16

Julien Baker runs in the same vein as Courtney Barnett, Petal, and other solo electric-guitar-focused female artists. She performed on a Sunday at The Sinclair (AWESOME venue, btw) and I was not expecting 1. the large crowd that showed or 2. how well behaved everyone was! Maybe it's because it was a Sunday. But it was a pretty cool experience to have a silent audience, especially because Baker is such a soft-spoken, delicate singer. Not to say that she isn't without passion - if anything, her reticence in unleashing her vocal prowess contributes to the build-up. I only wished that she would have let go more often, because the audience loved it! Since this show, she played at Austin City Limits Festival and supported Kevin Devine on his late fall tour. Would love to see her with a full band! 

Jackson Browne at The Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT - 06.11.16

If you're a fan of the Eagles, you're probably also a fan of Jackson Browne. For those who haven't seen the documentary on The Eagles (Netflix), he was pretty much the 5th member of the band - he lived in an apartment right above Glenn Frey and the two became close friends, co-writing the popular Eagles' hit "Take It Easy". I give full credit to my mom for introducing me to this smooth singing musician (who still sounds as good as he did in the 70s)! Browne sang a full set to a full audience at The Oakdale Theatre - including "Doctor My Eyes" and "Take It Easy", among many others! And I was so happy to have gone with my mom - this one was a special show, one I'll never forget.

Ray Lamontagne at The Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT - 06.24.16

This show left me on the fence about Ray LaMontagne. Known for his sultry, scratchy-vocals in songs like "Jolene", "Trouble", and "Let It Be Me", LaMontagne's latest album Ouroboros takes a sharp pivot, with songs that are more psychadelic and jam-band-esque. I had a great seat for this show, about 6 or 7 rows back, which gave me an awesome view of the set backdrop - which gradually changed from moon to planet to funky rainbow colored water. To begin the show, Ray came out solo and played his most popular records; then, he played full band and ran through his new material - which sadly, all sounded the same and lacked any distinct melody and rambled on and on. While I applaud the effort to sound new and different, I fear this is one instance where reinventing one's signature sound was not successful. 

John Paul White at The Outer Space, Hamden, CT - 06.29.16

I forget how I ran across John Paul White, but he is probably better known for his role in the popular country/folk duo The Civil Wars. He also wrote the song "If I Didn't Know Better" which was featured on the TV show Nashville. A true Southern gentleman, John Paul White was polite, well-dressed, and extremely humble. He played a number of songs from his first solo album Beulah (2016), a few duets with the opening band The Secret Sisters, and of course, played some acoustic solo songs. His voice is unassuming yet amazing - please check out this video of "No One Will Ever Love You" - it's ridiculous. This show was also my first trip to The Outer Space in Hamden, CT - I felt immediately at home in this divey little joint. Great beer on tap with a small intimate room in the back - not unlike my Chicago-musicsoul's home, Schubas. The acoustics were great for this type of show and I'd definitely recommend this guy if you can catch a show!

Gary Clark Jr. at The Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT - 09.07.16

For those who are into amazing guitarists or the blues-rock scene, you probably know that Gary Clark Jr. is a modern-day legend. Born and raised in the home of blues rock, Austin, TX, Gary grew up working with the likes of Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan and more recently, has been associated with acts like Alicia Keys, Dave Grohl/ the Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews Band, and Eric Clapton. Gary Clark Jr. is one of those musicians who isn't topping the Billboard Charts every other week, but still popular enough to headline at festivals like the Crossroads Guitar Festival (2010), Bonnaroo (2011), and Lollapalooza (2015). His live album Gary Clark Jr. Live (2014) is amazing - check out "Catfish Blues" and "Bright Lights". He is truly an amazing musician and vocalist, making a great name for himself in the blues rock and soul family. 

Walk The Moon at The Palmer Events Center, Austin, TX - 11.09.16

Walk The Moon is one of my favorite bands - their upbeat, positive songs just make me want to dance around the room! While their new new stuff makes me a little nervous, the sound of their first album is really what I love - it's got enough alt-rock guitar licks to complement the sugary lyrics. I was supposed to see them play in NYC (part of their Work This Body tour) earlier in the year, but sadly the band cancelled the remainder of their tour due to an illness in Nick's family (lead singer). But in a serendipitous manner, I ended up going to the Tableau Conference in Austin this fall for work, and guess who was booked to play during the conference's main event...Walk The Moon! It was pretty much our own private show - about 13,000 in attendance at the whole conference, but probably only a few 1,000 were at this stage that night. I made my way as close to the stage as possible (per usu), and danced the night away! Not ashamed to say that I know all of the words to all of their songs, which really makes any concert that much more fun. The guys put on a great performance and I was SO happy to be able to see them in 2016. Looking forward to new music from them - hopefully in 2017.

Gogol Bordello at Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin, TX - 11.11.16

While in Austin on the same trip, I knew I had to catch a concert at one of the legendary venues - and what better venue than Stubb's?! This outdoor place is famous - not only for its barbeque, but also for its knack to book some great live performing bands. I happened across this band via the server at a local coffee shop - I asked what good venues/shows were happening that night, and he said he was going to see Gogol Bordello that night at Stubb's. I had never heard of this band before, but took a listen and figured it'd be something new and different! I mean, have you ever heard of gypsy punk? While they sound like they're straight from the Ukraine, Gogol Bordello is actually from Manhattan and have been playing shows around the world since 1999. The members however, are from everywhere - Ukraine, Russia, Ethiopia, Ecuador, the US, and Belarus. Their biggest hit is "Start Wearing Purple" - and my personal favorite is "My Companjera". This show was wild and full of energy, and this band is truly unique. 

Well, that about does it for my 2016 shows - I did get to catch quite a few, given my situation of being stuck in suburbia. Again, apologies for the late post and the lack of reviews, but check out the Media page for more photos from the shows, and visit the FYMS YouTube channel. I'm in need of some 2017 shows so please send suggestions this way! Always up for something new to listen to. Cheers and rock on!

- FYMS -

If you're lucky, one of the best parts of a live show is the opening band. Now, sometimes they just don't compare to the headliner, in which case, the first 30 to 75 minutes of a show are torturous (and easily skip-able). But everyone has to start somewhere, right? 

I can name a few opening bands that have become my favorites - Jon McLaughlin once opened/co-headlined with Stephen Kellogg; Shakey Graves opened for Shovels & Rope; Cardinal Harbor for The 92s. And now I'm happy to report that Pinegrove is the newest addition to this list. 

It's rare that I will listen to an album on repeat and not get sick of the songs. I've been waking up in the morning, tabula rasa, and find the first notes that run through my head are a clever verse from "Cadmium" or "Size of the Moon".

But let's start from the beginning. 

The Ballroom at The Outer Space (slash The Space) is a small bar+venue in Hamden, CT - which is closer to New Haven than anything else, so about 45 minutes from Hartford. I first went there earlier this year to see John Paul White and immediately fell in love with the craft beers on tap (yes, there are two bars) and the small woodsy feel to the whole place. Reminds me of Schubas, which you know is like my home away from home in Chicago. So I knew that a Kevin Devine show would be pretty great at this intimate venue. He even threw it out there that The Outer Space is one of his most frequented spots, which is pretty cool for CT! The stage is small (but raised) but the floor is flat so if you're height-challenged like me, I suggest getting there early enough (or at least be prepared to squeeze your way to the front in between sets). All in all, this is one of my favorite places to catch a show in Connecticut - highly recommend!

Petal was the first opener of the night. A four-piece indie-rock-emo band from Scranton, PA, lead singer Kiley Lotz took the audience through a thirty minute set that included a Talking Heads cover, a surprise band-switcheroo by Kevin Devine and a Pinegrove guitarist, and some emotional banter from Lotz. The other band members include Ben Walsh (drums/guitar), Brianna Collins (bass), and another mystery man on guitar who's name I cannot find. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the vocals, but could hear some potential in the songwriting. I drew similarity to Julien Baker, but less experienced. Crowd seemed into it, but most seemed to be waiting for something else. 

And rightly so. Pinegrove is an alternative slash rock slash indie slash country(yep) band from Montclair, NJ whose members on this particular tour were Evan Stephens Hall (vocals/guitar), Zack Levine (drums), Nandi Rose Plunkett (keys/vocals), Adan Feliciano (bass), Sam Skinner (banjo/guitar), and Josh Marre (guitar).  Hall stood up there on stage, extremely unassuming, with a yellow t-shirt tucked into his belted jeans and belted out song after song to a crowd who had gotten noticeably younger, louder, and more excited. It was very clear that the majority had shown up for Pinegrove - people were singing along and shouting out song requests all night.

Pinegrove played through most, if not all, of their latest 8-track album Cardinal (2016). They also threw some short ones in there, like "Angelina", from their earlier stuff - found in the compilation album called Everything So Far (2010-2014, released in 2015). Everything So Far has a number of shorter records from various EPs and their self-released album Meridian (2012), like "Need", "Need 2", and "Angelina", which you don't see too much of these days. Going into the show, I knew I recognized the band's name, but couldn't remember if I had seen them before - but when I checked my Spotify playlist a few days later, I found that I had in fact added them to my playlists back in January 2016. Which means...I liked them enough to want to hear them again, BUT clearly wasn't as inspired by Everything So Far as I am by Cardinal. And I'll credit that difference to the live performance.

Everything So Far has a pretty different sound. It is less mature, more gentle, features more banjo and harmonizing, and melodies are less complex. I don't mind Nandi's voice, but I think Evan's voice needs to be the standout. I actually really enjoy the country twist that Hall's voice has - you can hear it in his inflections and at the ends of drawn out notes - just a touch of twang that adds something extra to the normal indie rock sound. Reminds me of The Districts' sound, in a way. 

The thing about Cardinal is the unpredictable nature of the melodies and rhythms. Take "Waveform". A slower song, but the dips and up-turns at the end of drawn out notes keep you interested and wanting more. You really get the feel for this in a live performance. Not to mention, the vocals are killer. Another example is in "Cadmium". The lyrics hit on the off-beat and feel weird, but the chorus takes a cool twist as the song gets into a grove. Also a great example of Hall's fascination with words, inflection, and their natural rhythms. [Check out "Recycling" too for an even better example.] My absolute favorite is "Size of the Moon". Did I mention the songs are incredibly well-written? It probably helps that Evan is an avid reader. When's the last time that you heard the word "caravaggio" used in a song? It's pure emotion when Hall sings it, and I love it. 

Pinegrove's set was great. High energy, people singing along and dancing. There was just enough witty conversation from Hall to show band personality (which I like), and a few exchanges of nail polish gifts from a fan in the front row. Their songs have a catchy sense of rhythm (shoutout to Zack), and as the set progressed, I knew I was a fan. You can tell immediately when a band has passion - and when that mixes with raw talent, what you get is what I like to call the musicsoul high. Everyone sang along to "Old Friends", which is a talky-sing-a-long reminiscent of The Front Bottoms, and with their closer, "New Friends". 

i don't know what i'm afraid of / but i'm afraid one day it'll all fall away //
maybe i read that, but still let's see / if nothing else it's an idle curiosity

I have to say - one of my favorite things is finding an up and coming band that just oozes passion. And Pinegrove is just that. They just wrapped this fall 2016 tour, and will be in Europe from February through March - but I suspect they'll be around plenty in 2017. I can't stress enough how important it is to see this band live!

----

Kevin Devine has been one of my staple indie rock musicians. I saw him play while on tour for his double album release of Bubblegum and Bulldozer (2013) in Chicago at Bottom Lounge - check out that review for all of the details on KD! This tour was to promote his latest, and probably most political album to date, Instigator (2016). He is very hipster, lives in Brooklyn, and is distinguishable for his voice - with a naturally shaky yet confident vibrato, he naturally fits into the emo vibe but also can knock out the acoustic tune. 

The Goddamn Band has a varied lineup but I believe on this night he played with Andy Prince (guitar) and Mike Prince (drums). Somehow they got on a tangent about Jim Carrey on SNL and 80s music (Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer" kept popping up throughout the night), but it was entertaining and kept the mood light. The actual set-list included (missed some) "Brooklyn Boy", "Just Stay", "She Can See Me", "Bloodhound", "Instigator", "Magic Magnet", "No Why", "No Time Flat", "Not Over You Yet", "Freddie Gray Blues", "Bulldozer", "Bubblegum", "Daydrunk", "No History", "Redbird", "Cotton Crush", and closed with "Splitting Up Christmas". 

I was glad to see another album from KD - and I think this one has a more refined sound. The vocals have more depth but the songs are still rooted in distorted guitars and loud kickdrums. 
"No History" is one of my favorites from this album - it has a nice guitar riff and stays true to Kevin Devine the lyricist. What is great about a KD show is that its clear he has made a name for himself in the underground "DIY" community - every opening band thanks him relentlessly for his help and support on their tour. Devine really takes these young bands under his wing when they gig with him. He has good friendships with other successful emo-revival/indie alt rock bands like The Front Bottoms, Julien Baker, and Into It. Over It. As an independent artist (ie - sans major label deal), he is a living example of hard-work and what never giving up on the dream looks like. Even though his radio air time is little to none, Kevin Devine will always have his cult-like following of spirited indie rock admirers to keep him going. Like us!

Rock on,
FYMS

Click to view Photo Gallery

Kevin Devine
Think:  Elliot Smith; Manchester Orchestra; Into It. Over It.

Listen: "No History" ; "Cotton Crush"

Tweet: @KevinDevineTwit

Like: https://www.facebook.com/KevinDevineMusic

Visit: http://www.kevindevine.net/

Pinegrove
Think: The Districts; The Front Bottoms; Beach Slang

Listen: Pinegrove on Audiotree TV (Full Session)

Tweet: @PinegroveBand

Like: https://www.facebook.com/Pinegroveband/

Visit: http://www.pinegroveband.com/ 

It was a year of mostly personal downs (cue: tiny violins), but luckily a few ups have been occurring as of late, enough to keep me sane. That being said, I do apologize for the lack of activity and show attendance. Experiencing live shows, writing reviews, and organizing the blog are a source of happiness for me, so here's hoping that there will be more opportunity in 2016 to start covering shows in Boston & NYC.

All of that being said, there is a handful of shows that I never reviewed - so bad, I know!! I had every intention of doing so, but things just never came together. So in order to close out the year and start fresh in January, here is a recap post of all of the "lost shows", with as much detail as I can remember. :-) Enjoy, and hope to see you in 2016!

George Ezra at Metro - 3.30.15

This crooning 22-year old from the UK peaked on the Billboard charts in May, but toured in early 2015 with fellow Brit, Sam Smith, on the In The Lonely Hour tour. Almost immediately after those curtains closed, Ezra headed out on his own North American tour, and I caught the first show in Chicago at Metro. The venue was packed, and I hadn't gotten there quite as early as I should have, so I didn't have a great view. But George was as charming as anyone, and with his bass-baritone vocals, he quickly won over the crowd (probably 95% girls). He captivated the audience by making real eye contact with his fans - I swear he looked directly at me a few times! - and obviously, by sounding great. Ezra opened with "Cassy O'", and continued to woo everyone with "Listen To The Man" (music video features Sir Ian McKellan!), "Blame It On Me", and one of my favorites, "Barcelona". He sang a few song solo as well, like "Benjamin Twine" and "Over The Creek", and then came back with the whole band to sing "Song 6", "Spectacular Revival", and of course, "Budapest". Ezra's performance oozed charisma impressive for such a young guy and definitely wasn't limited by one album's worth of discography, playing for well over an hour. The encore included a fun little song called "Blind Man in Amsterdam" and "Did You Hear The Rain?". I read/heard somewhere during an interview that Ezra wrote these songs while on holiday in Europe, travelling via train with his guitar - don't you wish Americans did that gap year after graduating high school? He must have written some great travelling songs while on tour this past year and we can't wait to hear more from this rising star. George Ezra is a talented young guy and his unique voice combined with song writing skills will be sure to take him far.  (And did I mention he's super charming?)

Milky Chance at The Vic - 4.25.15

This show straight-up exceeded my expectations by a mile. From the openers, to the venue, to the set, to the insane light show - everything about it made my musicsoul happy. If you're looking to catch a show at a classic Chicago venue, The Vic is basically The Chicago Theatre, but on a smaller scale. Located steps from the Belmont brown line stop in the heart of Lakeview, The Vic (formerly known as the Victoria Theatre) opened in 1912 after three years of construction. When it's not a 1400 person venue for some pretty major bands like Pearl Jam and Wilco, the Vic moonlights as a Brew and View movie theater. The interior is still beautifully ornate, with vaudeville-style architecture - it's GA seating on the floor and first come, first serve for the balcony seats that have an awesome view. I was pretty stoked to find out that the balcony was also GA, and after doing a lap, decided to relax and watch the show without having to deal with taller heads obstructing my view. My somewhat older neighbors to the front that night were particularly interesting to eavesdrop on..and they weren't shy about blazing up either. But anyway, one of the opening bands called Mighty Oaks was really great - the four guys have a Mumford & Sons/Lumineers kind of feel, with raspy vocals and nimble licks. This indie rock group uniquely represents four countries - with a drummer from Berlin, vocals from the US, keys from Italy, and bass from England. Their full-length album Howl (2015) is a nice mixture of indie, folk, and alternative, and their three-part harmonies greatly enhance  the songs - "Back To You" and "You Saved My Soul" are my favorite tracks.  These guys put on a great live performance so I'd highly recommend checking out a Mighty Oaks show.

Milky Chance has had some notoriety in the US thanks to Starbucks playlists, but the duo probably has more fame in Europe, as they hail from Germany. Vocalist Clemens Rehbein teamed up with DJ Philipp Dausch in 2012 and released their first full-length album, Sadnecessary, in 2013. Their sound is unique, to say the least - an upbeat combination of reggae, electronica, and folk, they are fully talented in every genre. Unfortunately, their current discography has one shade (ie, the tracks all sound really similar), a fact that I was wary about going into the show - but they performed each song with such energy and subtle differences that the whole show was really just incredible. They added a third man to the show - who's name I can't seem to find - but each was able to showcase his raw talent. Setlist included (but not limited to) "Stunner", "Fairytale", "Flashed Junk Mind", "Sadnecessary", "Feathery", and closed with "Stolen Dance"; encore closer was "The River". Aside from captivating vocals, acoustic guitar, mallets, even harmonica, my favorite part was probably the light show. It's amazing how a really solid light show can elevate yet not overpower a performance - and obviously, leave it to the Europeans to design a mesmerizing lighting and stage design concept. [Strobe lights were definitely involved.] All I wanted to do was take pictures! Overall, this show exceeded my expectations and was just a straight-up fun performance by Milky Chance.

--Click here to view the photo gallery!--

Catfish & The Bottlemen at Schubas - 2.24.15

I barely got into this show..Actually, I believe I called in a "music blogger" favor - to get into the gig at my favorite venue. For a Tuesday night sold-out show, the back room was packed! But deservedly so. The four-piece Brit band from Wales played their catchy, alt-rock songs loudly and messily, in true rock & roll fashion. Vocalist Van McCann actually started out the show by apologizing to the room for his shot voice. He even offered to buy everyone a round at the bar! [Which his manager reluctantly agreed to -.I only hope no one took advantage of the open tab.] Even though I had a photo pass for the night (cue: nice DSLR), I wasn't able to get up-front and unfortunately couldn't get any good shots standing behind many taller people. Oh well...The guys were truly humble, and engaged the crowd with both songs and funny anecdotes. Setlist included songs from their 2014 album, The Balcony, like "Pacifier", "26", "Homesick", and an acoustic version of "Hourglass". They obviously had to play "Cocoon" and their biggest hit, "Kathleen", and closed with "Tyrants". Sadly, there was no encore, but I'm pretty sure it was due to their vocal fatigue, not their lack of heart or enthusiasm. I'd definitely go see these guys again and hoping for a new album in 2016.

The Front Bottoms at Toad's Place, CT - 10.16.15

The first show since my move out East, I was stoked to see one of my favorite bands playing a show in CT! [Saw them open for Say Anything in July 2014] Toad's Place is a pretty notable venue in New Haven, right next to the Yale campus, and books mostly rock/alt-rock bands. To some, it might be just another dive bar venue (which it is), but to me, I felt right at home! It reminded me of a few Chicago venues, so I was loving it and feeling pretty nostalgic. Weird, right? TFB signed with Fueled By Ramen record label earlier in the year, and accordingly so, the guys have upped their game a little (new website, larger touring reach). Their latest release, Back on Top (2015), has a noticeably different sound. More refined in sound and song structure, it's definitely a new direction for the historically underground band who reached more of the emo/alternative angsty-teen fan-base. But the guys still know how to rock - and how can you not love the original duo, Brian Sella (vocals, acoustic) and Mathew Uychich (drums/trumpet).  This band is a rare gem,  not only for their talent in original song writing, but also for the ability to deliver a loud, rock show based on just acoustic guitar, drums, bass, and horns. Sella's signature sing-talk style pairs perfectly with fans who want to sing along at the top of their lungs. This was my second time seeing TFB, but the first time at a headlining show, and I loved it - so did the crowd (who got a bit rowdy at times)! The night's setlist included both new and old songs like "Au Revoir", "Help", "Skeletons", "Flashlight", "Cough It Out", "Backflip", "West Virginia", "Motorcycle", "The Beers", "Ginger", "Father", "Historic Cemetery", "The Feud", "Maps", "Laugh Till I Cry", and "Twin Size Mattress" - complete with a bubble machine! And if that wasn't enough for ya, the encore featured solo performances by Brian of "Twelve Feet Deep", "The Plan (Fuck Jobs)", and ended with "Victims Families". WOW.

Panic At The Disco/Radio 104.1 Fest at the CT Convention Center - 11.13.15

Local CT radio station, Radio 104.1, hosted a return of its Radio 104 Fest in November and the "lineup" included Local H, Atlas Genius, and headliner Panic! At The Disco. I've only been mildly obsessed with P!atD lately (sorry, but Brendon Urie's Periscope sessions where he sings at his piano will blow your mind. He's so freaking talented!), so I had to go see them for the first time. Although this band namesake (only real original member left is Brendon Urie) has been around ever since my own middle school/angsty emo days (yes, I know, it's been 11 years since A Fever You Can't Sweat Out was released), the band still continues to grab a teen fan-base. Probably related to their pop-rock anthem songs of late, which are disappointing, but also somehow satisfying. It's easy to see the influence of their label on their upcoming album (released 1.15.16) Death of a Bachelor...but I won't get into that right now. So the openers weren't great. Local H was not my cup of tea. And Atlas Genius is good (I saw them in Boston at EarthFest by Radio 92.9) but not my favorite. At least there was beer to drink. Even though this wasn't a typical P!atD show, they still played almost all of the tracks on Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! (2014). I'm not as familiar with their in-between albums (real P!atD nerds know what I mean..), but they did play "Nine in the Afternoon" and "Ballad of Mona Lisa", I believe. There were a few throwbacks to A Fever too - "Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" and "I Write Sins Not Tragedies", for sure. They even did their famous cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody", which everyone loved (although I did question how many people knew the cover version and not the real Queen version...). It's those high notes...  I probably looked like a huge idiot dancing around, but I loved it. And will definitely go see them again. <3 Beebo forever.

Jon McLaughlin at Fairfield Theatre Company's StageOne, CT - 11.15.15

I've lost count how many times I've seen Jon McLaughlin - it's up to 5 or 6 - but this incredibly talented Indiana-native released his 5th album, Like Us, earlier this year and is appropriately touring to promote it. This show was a part of the first half of the tour and I was again excited to see one of my faves coming to CT (yes, it's that rare to get a good show here that's not an arena-sized concert). I bought these tickets well in advance which paid off because our seats were LITERALLY 5 inches from his piano seat. It was almost uncomfortable how close we were. But it was incredible! Definitely the closest that I've ever sat to a musician, and while I was tempted to take photos galore, I tried to restrain myself and just enjoy it. But we had a bird's eye view of his "piano" and it was glorious. His new album is solid, but fairly predictable. With the recent birth of his second daughter, the tracks are easy on the ears and you can tell the amount of personal meaning that went into each one. Setlist included new songs like "I Want You Anyway", "Don't Mess With My Girl", and "I Am Always Gonna Love You", and oldies like "Without You Now", "Summer Is Over", and of course, "Industry". He even threw in some classical piano riffs, which were incredible, a Christmas song performed with opener Tess Henley, and a really cool cover of The Wknd's "I Can't Feel My Face". Encore included "Already In", "Indiana", "Jingle Bells", and "Human". The crowd was a mixture of adults and younger folk, which was awesome to see - and I even spotted a celebrity in the audience - fellow CT-native, Stephen Kellogg! The two toured together a few years ago and have remained friends, which is great to see because they're two quality human beings. A truly talented artist - if you appreciate the piano and want to enjoy yourself, go check out a Jon McL show!

Photos to be uploaded soon to the gallery page. Apologies again for holding back on these shows, but I've got a decent schedule set up for myself so far in 2016 - across a few state lines too! Should be fun, hoping to start a new project for FYMS so keep your eyes open on Twitterland and the blog for that!

Cheers,
FYMS

So if you've really been missing FYMS and wondering why content basically dropped off since April, that's the deal. One of these days, I'll finally publish my unfinished posts on George Ezra and Milky Chance (whoops!). Anyway, if you hear of any good shows in the new territory, drop us a message!

On the upside, fall is going to be an awesome couple of months, as far as new music drops go. Starting with - well, Sept 18 - the third full-length album from NJ-band The Front Bottoms, called Back On Top, dropped. Since signing with notorious pop-punk/alt-rock label Fueled By Ramen earlier this year, TFB have a fairly noticeable change in sound, but this album still maintains the original idea. The guys released a shorter EP called Rose, but their last real full-album release was back in 2013 - Talcon Of The Hawk. FYMS will be going to see them on their "Back On Top" tour [running 10/15-11/30, featuring The Smith Street Band and Elvis Depressedly] when they hit New Haven, CT on 10/16! Pumped.

The Front Bottoms - September 18 - Back on Top
       "HELP" 
       "Laugh Till I Cry"

Second exciting album drop is a totally different genre (pop/piano ballads) but Jon McLaughlin's 4th album is coming in early October. An artist who does everything pretty much by himself (writing, recording, mixing), McLaughlin is a rare talent and shines during live performances - he is an amazing pianist. He and wife Amy also recently had their second child, so I'm expecting this album to be mellow and ballad-y. Jon's last album, Holding My Breath (2013) didn't have too many stand-outs for me, but I'll always go to a Jon McL show. The tour begins 10/15 (FYMS will also be attending the Fairfield, CT show!) and ends early Dec. Check out the dates here!

Jon McLaughlin - October 9 - Like Us
      "I Want You Anyway"
       "Before You"

Ellie Goulding has produced hit after hit over the last few years, and is pretty much a house-hold name now, thanks to her contribution to the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack, "Love Me Like You Do". Her third full release, Delirium, will be released November 6 and features notable producers/artists like Max Martin, Ryan Tedder (One Republic), and Guy Lawrence (Disclosure). Her latest single, "On My Mind" has a similar sound to tracks from Halcyon (2013), staying in the electronic/dance/pop genre. Some might be upset with her overall sound progression, and I'll admit that I do prefer her early acoustic work that really highlight her unique vocals, but Ellie puts on a great live-show with electronic songs as well ("Powerful" is a nice compromise though!). Although she's released some one-off tracks and been featured on a few others ("Outside" w/ Calvin Harris, "Powerful" w/ Major Lazer), Goulding has taken a good two years to release another album, so we're expecting this one to be just as great as the others!

Ellie Goulding - November 6 - Delirium
      "On My Mind"
      "Powerful" by Major Lazer ft. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley

Still a relative unknown in the US, Newton Faulkner (#britlist) is releasing his fifth studio album, Human Love, in late November. An acoustic-loving, dreadlock-wearing singer/songwriter from Surrey, Faulkner has had numerous hits and is a skilled guitarist with a captivating voice. The music video for his latest single "Get Free" captures the cutting of his signature dreadlocks, which is intriguing to watch in itself. I don't think he's ever made it to this side of the pond, but he's touring in November to accompany the album release. While I wasn't too impressed with his last album, Studio Zoo (2013), the shedding of the dreads is hopefully an indicator of change in this next album.

Newton Faulkner - November 20 - Human Love
        "Get Free"
        "Indecisive" (Studio Zoo album)

Last but not least, Panic! At The Disco is hopefully releasing their fifth album sometime this year! They teased the new stuff way back in April with "Hallelujah", which runs in the same vein as anything from Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!  (2013). A month or so ago, another song called "Death Of A Bachelor" was premiered via Beats-1. A really cool nod to Frank Sinatra, I'm hoping the album will have more of this vocal showcasing. I've also been mildly obsessed with Brendon Urie's Periscoping sessions, and I highly suggest tuning into those if you enjoy piano-backed crooning covers, cute dogs, and/or peeks into his studio - they're extremely entertaining and when he takes song requests, it really gets awesome. Anyway - cannot wait for this album. P!atD just released another single, "Victorious", on 9/29 to celebrate the 10-year (WHAT?) anniversary of their debut album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005). It's a bit too poppy-anthem for me, but there are some really cool sounding vocal runs (per usu) by Beebo. Hoping to find out the release date soon! 

Panic! At The Disco - TBD - TBD
             "Death Of A Bachelor"
             "Victorious"

Oddly enough, all of these highly-anticipated albums are coming off of a two-year hiatus - so the bar is set pretty high! FYMS hasn't been too inspired by much new music lately (maybe because summer music seems more superficial?), so I'm hoping the cooler weather will bring some amazing music with it! Who is on your radar for new music releases? Tweet, tag, comment below at FYMS and share the music love.

-FYMS-

TFB's last full-length album release was in 2013 with Talon of the Hawk - so it's no real surprise that their track "Cough It Out" has a different, more subdued sound. The song features a lot more layering of electronic sounds and backup vocals; and even though, Brian Sella still goes about in his signature singing/talking style, it's much more mellow than its fellow release "West Virginia", which plays more akin to TFB oldies. 

Needless to say, Brian Sella and Matthew Uychich (along with the other now and then members) are going to deliver another great album, and it will be exciting to see their fan-base grow with this new label deal. For all you fellow New Englanders, The Front Bottoms are playing a show in Cooperstown, NY at Ommegang Brewery on August 15 and the lineup is pretty epic - Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band and Brand New - beer + live music...can it get any better, really?

Take a listen to these new tracks!

cover photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/thefrontbottoms/timeline

OK wow, so this is a really late review. Sorry! The real world has been getting in the way for quite a bit. But here's a quick snippet on this awesome, awesome band - The Districts. 

If you missed the Try This for 1.26.15 week, I wrote a bit of background about the guys - check it out here. The Districts give me hope for the Indie Rock genre - though they're young and still making a name for themselves, these four guys from small town, PA are incredibly talented, and I was not at all disappointed in their live performance. In addition to sounding great live, the songwriting quality and lyrical depth are key pieces that shouldn't be taken for granted. 

..I'm young but I can't shake this feeling all my days are dwindling // That deep beneath facades and smiles is nothing much to hold // And when we used to run my eyes would fill with all that's glittering // But deep beneath this shimmer I feel nothing may be gold.. 
"Peaches"

..Love is patient and wise, but it's not always kind when you learn how it leaves // So nimble and lithe, through your fingers like sand, it never lingers..
"Young Blood"

..Well I've felt the cold of a friendship unfold // Where once were pleats, comfort recedes into a violet glare, I'll try not to care // I will not be bold if you stay..
"Bold"

This show at Lincoln Hall was packed - I think the Red Eye did a fair amount of promoting both the band and the show, and I'm sure fans who saw The Districts in 2014 at Lolla were stoked to see them back in Chi town. [Rumor even has it that Aaron Carter may have been in the audience as well? ha!] Pine Barons were the opening band - a four member group from NJ - and they were pretty solid as well. Check out the Gallery page for some up close photos of the guys. 

Unfortunately, I had to relocate to the back of the room for the start of The Districts set, but it made for some cool photos of the whole room and I got some quality audio for a few videos (visit the Media page for more fun stuff). 

Like I said, The Districts do not disappoint [Rob's voice sounds just as amazing in person as it does on vinyl]. And they all seem like quality, down to earth guys. Rob Grote, Connor Jacobus, Pat Cassidy (most recent addition), and Braden Lawrence (and all under 21, what?!) perform songs that are angsty and buzzing, and their showmanship is also on point (you never know..some guys just stand around on stage). But this night included Rob climbing the amps, some interesting stage props for the lighting, and enough fog for a 10,000 person audience. Lincoln Hall was just the perfect size for a pretty rowdy crowd as the night wore on, and they usually do a good job with their lights. 

The set included most of their new songs, like "Hounds", "Heavy Begs", "Chlorine", "Lyla", "4th & Roebling", "Sing The Song", and "Bold". Older songs like "Rocking Chair" and "Funeral Bed" also surfaced. Rob came out solo and sang an acoustic version of "Peaches", and a tension-anger-filled "Suburban Smell" - you could really tell he meant every word. He came out solo again for the first song of the encore, "6am", another emotional tune, on the verge of screaming. The last song of the night was their long 8+ minute song, "Young Blood", which contrasts moments of quiet with pure loud noise. The Districts ended the night in good rock and roll form, climbing amps, stumbling around on stage, and head-banging as if nothing else mattered. Needless to say, the audience loved it. And deservedly so.

These young guys took a chance, passed on college, and instead are throwing themselves into touring and releasing amazing music. They're playing a crazy number of festivals this year (SXSW, Governor's Ball, Bonnaroo, and a ton overseas), after a pretty full schedule last year too -- Check them out if you can! I would recommend taking a listen to "4th & Roebling", "Peaches", or "Funeral Beds", the first two being on their album A Flourish and a Spoil (2015 - Fat Possum Records). And don't forget to swing by the Gallery page for some cool photos - definitely one of my favorites for 2015! 

Keep on keepin' on,

-FYMS-

RIYL ::  Manchester Orchestra, Shakey Graves, The Strokes

Listen :: check out this sweet acoustic video of "Suburban Smell/4th & Roebling", "Peaches"

Tweet :: @TheDistrictsPA

Like :: https://www.facebook.com/thedistrictsband?fref=ts

Visit ::  http://thedistrictsband.com/

FYMS can throw it back too - take a listen to this week's Try This track ::  

He just finished a US tour with another favorite #BritList artist of mine, George Ezra - but Hozier still has plenty of dates lined up in the states, including sets at Coachella, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Beale Street Music Festival, and Firefly. [He's also playing in Chicago at Millennium Park on June 10, for all you Chicagoans.] I saw him at Lolla last year and his set was really great!

The Irish lad (full name: Andrew Hozier-Byrne) is best known for his deep, seductive voice that cites influences from gospel, blues, and soul genres. Following up a hit as big as "Take Me To Church" might not be so difficult with songs like this - take a listen below :: 

February was a busy concert month, and I did see two shows towards the end of the month that were amazing - The Districts and Catfish and The Bottlemen - and I'm kicking myself for not getting out reviews on time. But I still have the memories in my brain, so at some point, you'll see the reviews and pictures/videos come out. Hopefully sooner rather than later! But in the meantime, just know that those two bands are crazy talented and the shows were just as good as I had hoped. 

Anywho. Timing. Such an interesting thing, right? Lately, I've been worried about it constantly...not enough time to find a new job, to make money, to find a new apartment, to figure out a relationship, to study, to keep in touch with family...I find myself wishing I could rewind time and re-do all of these choices that I've made in my adult life so far. Which is probably the worst form of self-torture. It's something that I try not to dwell on, but with things being so unstable for me at the moment, I can't help but lie awake at night thinking about how differently I would have made past decisions. Hindsight is 20/20, right? 

Hopefully for you, the timing of major events in your life have aligned pretty well. And if you're struggling like me, try and remain forward-facing. It does nothing to dwell on regrets. The only thing that you can control is the present and the future. So while I desperately try to keep my finances and relationships out of the red, I hope you can appreciate the life lesson of making the best of what you've got, and always strive for happiness in the future. 

And duh, music can always heal the soul. So keep on keeping on with some of these songs that always bring me out of the darkness >> What are your favorite Feel Good songs? Leave some comments below!

-FYMS-

(PS. My all-time favorite song is of course included in the playlist - can you guess which one it is??)

Walk The Moon - Aquaman

Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up

Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses

Matchbox 20 - 3AM

John Mayer - My Stupid Mouth

Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You

Paramore - Misery Business

You Me & Apollo - Oh, My Molly

The Calling - Adrienne

James Wolpert - A Case Of You (cover)

Maroon 5 - Sunday Morning

Panic! At The Disco - This Is Gospel

New Politics - Berlin

Nsync - It's Gonna Be Me

Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me

Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life

Glee Cast - Somebody To Love (cover)

Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse - Valerie

Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You

Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up

Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses

Matchbox 20 - 3AM

John Mayer - Why Georgia

Paramore - Misery Business

You Me & Apollo - Oh, My Molly

The Calling - Adrienne

James Wolpert - A Case Of You (cover)

Maroon 5 - Sunday Morning

Panic! At The Disco - This Is Gospel

New Politics - Berlin

Nsync - It's Gonna Be Me

Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me

Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life

Glee Cast - Somebody To Love (cover)

Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse - Valerie

Young The Giant - Cough Syrup

Jason Mraz - Plane

I want to say that AATW is Indie Rock/Alternative, but the second half of the band's debut album Haste (2014) definitely has a lighter, more acoustic feel. Is Indie-Acoustic even a thing? I am tempted to say that they might be Indie-Pop, but there's a darker undertone mixed in there that you don't necessarily find in pop music nowadays. I sat listening to the duo's album, and vocally, my mind went to Teddy Geiger or Parachute during acoustic songs like "Child's Play" and "Familiar Dark". But throughout songs like "Dwellers", "Glass Bottom Boat", and "Haste", a grittier sound comes out of Matt Buenger (vocals, guitar, keys), more akin to Mike Golden & Friends or even David Ford. 

I'll settle for now on saying that Aviation and the War is simply just "indie", but there's a lot more depth to this Chicago band, made up of Matt Buenger and Joe Christopoulos  (drums). They certainly have the vocals to captivate listeners during slower songs like "Above The Earth", but don't pigeonhole them into only being strong acoustic balladeers. Aviation and the War has a well-polished alternative sound as well, and a ridiculous amount of potential for a band that's just beginning - I'd be surprised if their talent goes unnoticed. 

These two are self-produced and self-managed, and hopefully will be playing more shows around Chicago - I'd love to check them out, that's for sure. For now, their Facebook page says March 19 at Abbey Pub is their next gig. Check them out on SoundCloud or Spotify. Enjoy!

Cover photo courtesy of Aviation and the War's Facebook page. 

What better way is there to spend Valentine's Day than in a room full of sweaty, angsty, crowd-surfing dudes?

All jokes aside, I was actually pretty excited about seeing You Blew It! on Saturday. I saw them once before - last summer, they opened for Say Anything at Concord Music Hall (along with another favorite, The Front Bottoms) - and although there was no official review of that show (oops!), it was pretty sick.

Anyway, I have been a fan of You Blew It! for a few years now. A four-man band from Orlando, FL that formed in 2009, they're firmly in the "emo-revival" category, so it should be no surprise when you get a 90s/00s flashback to your high school days during a YBI! show. The band is led by Tanner Jones (vocals, guitar), whose signature style is a satisfying balance of sing+scream. And when paired with the skills of Timothy Flynn (drums), Andy Anaya (guitar), and Trevor O'Hare (guitar), the result is an uninhibited, unapologetic live performance that tempts the front-row-viewers to climb up onstage and surf out into the audience.

This tour is in celebration of YBI's second full-length album, Keep Doing What You're Doing (Topshelf Records, 2014), engineered by Matt Jordan and produced by notable Chicago musician and fellow emo-revivalist/labelmate, Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It, Their/They're/There), who also filled in on bass for the album. Keep Doing What You're Doing definitely highlights the band's evolution since their first album, with tunes that are a bit more structured and melodic, and lyrics that are a bit more personal and meaningful. Tanner even cites the Jimmy Eats World's Futures album as an influence while writing this one, while keeping in mind the end-goal of making a solid rock album. 

This show also marked my first time going to Beat Kitchen, which is located in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago. This venue is known for hosting good rock shows, while still keeping that small, intimate vibe - it felt like the angst-ier, grunge-ier cousin of Schubas, actually (though slightly larger, I think). It's got a good-sized bar/restaurant seating area in front, and the back room has a small stage with exposed air ducts on the ceiling and a couple rows of lighting rigs. Ignoring the smell, I actually really enjoyed Beat Kitchen and will definitely go back. 

I missed Rozwell Kid (apologies), but caught most of Tiny Moving Parts' set - the audience was really into them, and seemed to be full of very dedicated fans! A band from Minnesota, Rozwell Kid was part screamo, part emo, and definitely got the crowd hyped up - and encouraged a lot of crowd surfing, which was kind of funny to see in such a small venue (cue: feet hitting lighting rigs). Check out their song "Always Focused", which has an opening riff reminiscent of Matthew Frank (Their/They're/There).

You Blew It! played a great set - super energetic, loud, and headbang-worthy. The guys played a mix of old and new songs, like "Award of the Year Award", "Hope It's Not A Deposit Bottle", "Regional Dialect", "Terry Vs. Tori", "House Address", and "Better to Best". They did a real throwback with a Fall Out Boy reference to "Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy Tonight" before going into "Medal of Honor". Another rare treat was Tanner singing "The Fifties", just himself and his guitar. So good. You Blew It! also got to play their first (allegedly) encore, which was "I'm Bill Paxton", another great one off of their first album, Grow Up, Dude (2012).

All in all, it was a fun night to get caught up in the emo-revival spirit, and watch everyone stage dive. Apologies for the lack of pictures, but I didn't get a great spot for the night. But I've included some of those from the Say Anything show last summer! 

You Blew It! is still on tour (East coast, I'm looking at you!), so catch them if you can! And they have also released a three-song EP called Pioneer of Nothing (Jade Tree) - hopefully a sign of more great music to come! This band is a talented group of a real, down-to-earth guys, who just want to remind you that emo-rock is never going out of style. 

-FYMS- 

RIYL :: American Football, Into It. Over It, The Front Bottoms

Listen :: "Terry Vs. Tori", "The Fifties", "Award of The Year Award"

Tweet :: @youblewit

Like :: https://www.facebook.com/youblewitfl

Visit ::  http://www.youblewitfl.com/

Let me first say that Saturday was a great night for trying a new genre combination = jazz + soul + hip-hop + funk. Let me also say that it was a great night for female vocalists. And it was yet another great night for Chicago musicians. 

Also, this show was special because I got to go with a collaborator and new friend from Radio One Chicago, Hex Hernandez, who has been helping FYMS get into shows and establish connections with local musicians and venues. He took some amazing pictures of all the bands and I can't wait to go to more shows with him! Check them out here on the Radio One blog or visit the Media page >> http://radioonechicago.com/sidewalk-chalk-at-metro-2-7-15/

>>Radiant Devices<< opened the night with a bang. This four-member band is best described by the words "experimental", "poetry", and "rock".  Definitely unafraid to go beyond traditional instruments and song structures, the Chicago group is led by female vocalist Mojdeh, who shifted between singing punk-angry-loud verses and yelling lines of poetry into a megaphone throughout the set. The band also includes Fyodor Sakhnovski (guitar, bass, percussion) and Mason Payne (drums), and for this show, Mike Bibby (electronics, synths). >>Radiant Devices<< definitely has the experimental vibe going for them - Mojdeh put on an almost theatrical performance while banging away on various items posing as pieces of percussion, like metal pipes, a propane tank, and a metal chain/garbage can lid combo. I was slightly afraid at one point that a drum stick or metal chain link might fly off into the audience's faces, but thankfully, that didn't happen! While this band wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, I find it difficult to negatively judge such an out-there band because they're just doing something so completely different. I give them a lot of credit for that - so props to >>Radiant Devices<< for doing what they love and standing out from the crowd.

Woo Park came on next - a five member band made up of Emily Nichols (vocals), Parker Grogan (bass), Christian Zwit (keys/synth), Luke Sangerman (drums), and  Brian Sanborn (guitar), I was pleasantly surprised by this group of talented musicians. I admit, when I first did some YouTube research earlier that day, I wasn't impressed. [Also, if you search for "Woo Park" on YT, a lot of Asian videos show up...ha ha! But this is actually the band, in case you were wondering.] Anyway, I can admit when I'm wrong - and boy, was I wrong here! Emily Nichols took the stage singing smooth, soulful lyrics with impressive control, while the band grooved away behind her. There's definitely a bit of a grungy feel to Woo Park, which I think is what threw me off at first (Christian's outfit was definitely something), but after a few songs, I really came to appreciate the band's chemistry and how well they all jammed together. Brian Sanborn was incredible on guitar, playing with an almost tangible passion that could make anyone in the audience nod in appreciation, and when he really got going with Christian Zwit on keys, the two were just something else entirely. They call themselves "psychedelic soul", which you don't hear too much of these days, but they are well-grounded with some amazing musicians and are worth taking a listen >> check out their debut EP called Smokes (2014) and get to a live show if you can!

The final opener was Lili K - a 23-year-old graduate of Columbia College Chicago who is steadily making her way as a jazz vocalist. Lili K has an incredible voice - it's just enough old-school jazz but with a sass that, for some reason, reminds me of Lily Allen (maybe it's the name resemblance too..). But anyway, it was hard to not be immediately drawn in by Lili K's voice, which has that signature jazzy vibrato - but it isn't overdone. Her backing band includes Erik Hunter (bass), Cullen Bogan (guitar), Myron Cherry (drums), William Kurk (keys), and Drew Fridge (keys) - though there were only five there that night. Some of the setlist included "Pour Some Sugar", "One Mo' Time", a solid cover of T. Pain's "Buy U A Drank", and her most recent single, "Tommy". Lili K also invited Harold Green out on stage who performed a piece of slam poetry/rap with the band. She has released a number of EPs in the past (with Peter Cottontale), but her debut (and self-produced) album called Ruby is scheduled for release on April 21, 2015. This young artist has such a mature voice with impeccable control, and it was really refreshing to see and hear someone with that amount of talent from an often over-looked genre. 

I'm not quite sure how I first came across Sidewalk Chalk, but I do know that the first song of theirs that I heard was "Grocery List" - and I was immediately hooked. Seriously - the horns riff on that song is ridiculous, and it'll get stuck in your brain for the rest of the day. 

Sidewalk Chalk is an 8-person band - and yes, that is a really large number for a band these days. But everyone has an integral part in a sound that plays off of influences from hip-hop, jazz, soul, and funk. [If you've heard of Native Tongues, then you're getting closer.] The group is  made up of Rico Sisney (MC), Maggie Vagle (vocals), Charlie Coffeen (keys), Garrett McGinn (bass), Tyler Berg (drums), Jumaane Taylor (taps), Sam Trump (trumpet), and David Ben-Porat (trombone) - and these guys are just about as diverse a group as you can get. Sidewalk Chalk met during their time at Columbia College and came together organically, eventually ending up with the sound that they have now. 

Aside from the fact that they have a rockin' horns section, Sidewalk Chalk also has a double edged sword in Maggie with her sultry jazzy vocals and Rico with his steady flow of rap lyrics, that really sound more like the stuff of poetry. The two styles balance each other out, with Maggie belting out hooks and choruses while Rico delivers the rhythmic rap patterns of the verses. And just to further confirm how talented Rico is (in case you doubt me), he invited the audience to bring random items up to the stage, for a game he called "I Spy", and then proceeded to freestyle rap about each item - from a baseball hat to a jacket to a concert ticket to a cowboy boot to a passport. Check the video proof. Seriously. So impressed.

Oh, and by the way, were you wondering what taps is? Yup, you heard me. This group has its own tap dancer - Jumaane Taylor - who lends additional beats to the tracks and gets his own little wooden platform mic'd up for live shows. I've never known a band to incorporate that sound before, but it definitely adds extra showmanship to the performance. Not to imply that there was a shortage of energy onstage at all! The horns section had some pretty awesome dance moves, and you could feel the passion and genuine enthusiasm from every single person on stage - always a great thing to witness as an audience member! 

Sidewalk Chalk's setlist included songs from their first and second albums, Corner Store (2012) and Leaves (2014) - like "Birds of a Feather", "There She Goes", and "C.B.R" (which borrows lyrics from the Serenity Prayer); and their encore was "Grocery List". Of course, the show was an album release show for their latest, Shoulder Season (2015), so they played a lot of new material, like "Don't Cry", "So Close", "Get It Right", "FiveTWELVE", and my favorite, "Them, Us".

The band recently released a music video for "Them, Us", which features footage from demonstrations held on the CTA Red Line stops (Chicago's public transportation train system). According to this article in the Chicago Sun Times, the demonstration was meant to highlight the racial tension that has been especially prevalent since the Ferguson protests and Michael Brown case. The group is not only diverse in its sound and musical styles, but also in its members' racial backgrounds, religions, and genders. "Them, Us" is an incredibly powerful song that makes some very important points about race and diversity and the way that we still treat each other today. 

This third album is mature in sound and concept, and also unique in that it's a compilation of live performances, recorded during shows in 7 (mostly) Midwestern cities - Fort Wayne, Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, St. Louis, Louisville, and of course, Chicago. For a band that really shines its brightest during a live performance, it was extremely smart for Sidewalk Chalk to make this one a live album - there are some musicians out there for whom studio recordings just don't do proper justice. For the rest of February and through the first week of March, Sidewalk Chalk will be taking their incredible talent and live performance magic towards the East coast, then up to Canada for a few days, and then back to the Midwest. If you're open to trying something new, definitely go see a show. The hiphop+jazz+soul combination will keep you grooving, and the energy and joy of everyone up on stage is infectious - you're guaranteed to leave with a happy musicsoul!
 

-FYMS- 

Also big thanks to Sidewalk Chalk and Charlie Coffeen for getting us comp'd into the show!

Sidewalk Chalk ::
Try :: "Grocery List" ; "Them, Us"
Visit :: www.sidewalk-chalk.com
Like :: https://www.facebook.com/sidewalkchalkmusic
Tweet :: @sidewalkchalk8

Lili K :: www.lilikmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/lilikmusic
@LiliKjazz

Woo Park :: http://wooparkgrooves.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wooparkgrooves
@wooparkgrooves

Radiant Devices :: http://www.radiantdevices.com/
https://www.facebook.com/radiantdevices
@radiantdevices

Cover photo courtesy of Ropeadope Press. All other photos by Hex Hernandez. 

1. The 57th Grammy Awards considers releases between October 1, 2013 - Sept 30, 2014. 

This explains why T. Swift's album 1989 (Oct. 27, 2014) isn't nominated for Album Of The Year (but "Shake It Off" (Aug. 18, 2014) sneaked it's way in there a few times). And why "Say Something" by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera is nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (Nov.4, 2013) . Doesn't that song feel like a lifetime ago?

This type of back-dating is also confusing because the year of the award (ie, 2013 Album of the Year) corresponds to the year in which the award was presented (but for works released in the previous year). So all of the winners on Sunday night are winning the "2015 XYZ Grammy Award", but really, it's for their work done in 2014. Clear as mud?

2. But what's the difference between Record of the Year and Song of the Year?

According to the Grammys FAQ, Record of the Year "recognizes the artist's performancera as well as the overall contributions of the producer(s), recording engineer(s), and/or mixer(s)", while Song of the Year "recognizes the songwriter(s)". 

And in general, a "record" is what you'd otherwise call a "song" - not an actual record/vinyl. So don't confuse Record of the Year (single) with Album of the Year (entire album) either!

3. There's a category called "Best Spoken Word Album".

This includes poetry, audiobooks, and storytelling albums. Nominees include James Franco, Jimmy Carter, Joan Rivers, Gloria Gaynor, John Waters, and Elizabeth Warren. In case you were wondering what that's all about.

4. The Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media category has some pretty serious contenders.

Frozen - Christopher Beck. Gone Girl - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. The Grand Budapest Hotel - Alexandre Desplat. Gravity - Steven Price. Saving Mr. Banks - Thomas Newman. 

Note: The Reznor/Ross team won this category in 2013  for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Their work on The Social Network (2010) was also incredible, in my opinion (but didn't get nominated).

Again - I wish the score by Hans Zimmer for Interstellar would have made the cutoff. Also amazing. Hopefully it will still be remembered for next year!

5. "And the Grammy for Best Surround Sound Album goes to..."

Yes, this is a category. It's been around since 2005 and is awarded not to the artist (obviously) but to the surround mix and mastering engineers and/or surround producers. Beyonce's album Beyonce is nominated. And even more surprising, Queen Bey herself is credited as the surround producer. Interesting.

6. There is a Best Music Video Grammy award.

Nominees include "Turn Down For What" and "Happy". But I'm pretty sure we're all in agreement that Sia's video for "Chandelier" will win. 

#TBT: the 2000 Grammy Award winner was Korn's video for "Freak On A Leash". That video will forever be ingrained in my mind, as it battled Nsync for #1 on TRL for like, 20 weeks at least. (Don't you miss TRL? Me too.)

7. Pop music had a great year - and the nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album reflect it well.

Coldplay - Ghost Stories. Miley Cyrus - Bangerz. Ariana Grande - My Everything. Katy Perry - Prism. Ed Sheeran - X. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour.

Pretty much sums up every U.S. radio station's 10-song, repeating playlist for 2014. And actually, I don't see much of a variation for 2015 either. Except there's more Taylor Swift in 2015.

8. Best Rap Performance and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - two tough categories this year.

Best Rap Performance nominees include Childish Gambino, Drake, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Lecrae. I actually really like Lecrae - he's a drug-dealer-turned-Christian rapper who writes meaningful and powerful lyrics. 

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration song nominees include "Blak Majik",  "The Monster", "Tuesday", "Studio", and "Bound 2". But I'm partial to "Tuesday" by I Love Makonnen ft Drake :-)

9. Enough about the awards. WHO WILL BE PERFORMING?

Announced today, Katy Perry was the last artist added to the performance line-up. Sadly, she's ditching those dancing sharks and beach balls, and robotic lion/tiger for a more intimate performance of her song "By The Grace of God". 

There's a massive list of other performers, but some of the notables include Beck, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Juanes, Madonna, Beyonce, Eric Church, Ariana Grande, Hozier, Adam Levine, Paul McCartney, Common, Rihanna, Sia, Sam Smith, Kanye West....shall I go on? Read them here. 

[LL Cool J is hosting, by the way.]

10. Sam Smith and the "Big Four"

Not to be confused with public accounting's "Big Four" (ha), this is the Grammy nickname for the four General Field categories which are not restricted by genre or other criterion :: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.

Sam Smith is only the 10th artist to receive nominations in all four categories - and he's only 22! Mariah Carey was 20 when she had her "Big Four" moment, and Amy Winehouse is the only other foreign-born artist to be similarly nominated. Christopher Cross is the only musician to have actually won all four awards. 

Some others in "Big Four" company include Cyndi Lauper, Tracy Chapman, Paula Cole, India.Arie, and Fun.

11. The Lifetime Achievement Award

There are a number of deserving musicians receiving this award this year. Buddy Guy had a widespread influence on a variety of genres and artists, from Hendrix to Clapton to Page, but he is most loved for his contributions to the Chicago Blues scene in the 1960s (alongside Muddy Waters and Chess Records). Jeff Beck will be performing in tribute to the legendary guitarist. 

George Harrison is also receiving the award - and if you don't know who he is, shame on you. Fun fact about Harrison that I just learned is that he was later in a supergroup called The Travelling Wilburys, which included Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. Not too shabby. 

The Bee Gees are also on the list. The three brothers, Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb, started as a rock act but became key parts of the disco era in the 1970s, with their hits "Jive Talkin'" (1975), "Stayin' Alive" (1977), and "Night Fever" (1978). And let's not forget "How Deep Is Your Love" (1977). Sadly, two of the three brothers have passed away, with Barry being the sole survivor. 

12. Who are these Best New Artist nominees?

Iggy Azalea - 24-year-old Australian rapper. Biggest hits include "Fancy" ft Charli XCX, "Black Widow" ft Rita Ora, and "Problem" ft Ariana Grande. 

Bastille - four-piece English rock band. Biggest hits include "Pompeii", "Of The Night", and "Oblivion". 

Brandy Clark - 38-year-old country music songwriter who has recently turned singer. Biggest hits include "Stripes", "Get High", and "Hungover". 

Haim - four-piece indie rock girl band from LA. Biggest hits include "The Wire", "Falling", and "If I Could Change Your Mind". [Just announced that they'll be touring with T.Swift, which is gonna be huge for them.]

Sam Smith - 22-year-old British singer-songwriter. Biggest hits include "Lay Me Down", "I'm Not The Only One", "Stay With Me", and "Latch" ft Disclosure. 

>> I wouldn't exactly call these artists "new" anymore (pretty sure they have no problem selling out arenas on their world tours), but I suppose they were breaking their way onto the charts back in 2014. Who do you think will (or should) win?

So there you have it - 12 things about the Grammys that will prevent you from saying, "Wait, what? Who is that?" out loud to your TV. Of course, most people only care about who's wearing what and how elaborate the live performances are. But now that you're such a Grammy expert, you will hopefully take interest in some of the actual Award categories as well. Here's the full list of categories and nominees >> Who do you think deserves to win??

-FYMS-