Each week I will chat about a cool band or artist.
Favorite Songs | Albums | Concert Recaps | Upcoming Shows | Tours | New Releases | Pix | Vids | Mosh Levels | Music Fashion | Festival Dates | etc.
Choosing an opening act seems to be an art of sorts. There have been way too many instances where I go to an awesome band's gig and they have underwhelming openers. However, this was entirely not the case on the eve of October 6th in the year of 2006 at The Paramount for the Muse show. On the "Black Holes and Revelations" tour, Muse brought along this week's BOTW: THE LIKE! The Like is a three piece indie-garage all-girl band that formed back in 2001, and all y'all know I'm all about that girl power!
The Like, circa 2005. [Photo from: eastdisease.livejournal.com]
As soon as The Like started their set, I instantly became a fan! Lead singer, Z Berg, offers a sweet but raspy tone. Their catchy hooks, driving bass lines, surf-y guitars, and classic rock n' roll pulse allows for sing-alongs and constant headbanging (whether this be at a live show or in the shower). The Like's first full length record, "Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?", is totally a gem. It's one of those albums that can be listened through without skipping a single song. If I booked The Like circa 2005, they could have toured with bands like Eisley and Best Coast.
The Like, circa 2010. [Album Cover Art]
The Like's sophomore album didn't come along until 2010, and it was a pleasant surprise to find that they revamped their entire image and sound. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED (and still do) The Like's indie/classic rock/girl band fusion, but their new mod-60s/Brit-pop revival effort was definitely just as awesome. Think The Pipettes + The Noisettes + Amy Winehouse + Lily Allen, and you'll get the idea of how the new The Like fits into your music library. Collaborating with modern day 60s revival pros, like Mark Ronson (genius Brit producer who worked a lot with Amy and Lily!), The Like replaced their surf-y garage guitars with more organs and handclaps. On "Release Me", you will hear the same spunk and attitude that The Like showed listeners in their first LP, but you'll get some new instrumentation and retro-vibes on their 2nd album.
Here are just a couple of my faves from each album! CHECK EM OUT!
The Like circa 2005, For Listeners of:
1. Eisley
2. Best Coast
3. The Pretenders
4. Rooney
5. The Kooks
June Gloom
Bridge to Nowhere
The Like circa 2010, For Listeners of:
1. Lily Allen
2. The Pipettes
3. The Noisettes
4. Amy Winehouse
5. Kate Nash
This week's BOTW is: ACCEPTANCE. Being one of Seattle's own alternative rock outfits, the band only lasted from 1998 til about 05/06. Acceptance put out a few EPs here and there and a full LP, "Phantoms". Before they could finish their next full length, the band decided to part ways. If the band ever reunited, my level of excitement would be even greater than when I found out The Postal Service got back together!
Acceptance's "Phantoms" is one of those albums that you can listen to without skipping a single song. Every time I listen to the record, it takes me back to high school and I can't help but sing along to the undeniably catchy songs. Each track provides a combo of strong melodic lyrics, Seattle vibes (those of Ben Gibbard and flannels), and All Time Low's punk-rock pulse.
Even after 6+ years of their last album, I will never get tired of listening to "Phantoms". Low and behold the day Acceptance reunites and puts out a follow up album... too many feels! I will continue to tweet them everyday in hopes that they still see that there are still Acceptance fans listening to their awesome music!
@acceptanceband
Acceptance = All Time Low + The Postal Service + Jimmy Eat World + Death Cab For Cutie + The Spill Canvas + Weezer
Although I LOVE the entire album, here are a few favorites from "Phantoms"...
So Contagious
Different
Take Cover
Hope you enjoy Acceptance as much as I do, until next time!
Peace, Love, & Rock n' Roll,
A-Tran.
>>> Below is the best Tweet reply, ever! (: [2/23/13]
Street cred for this week's BOTW goes to my good friend Marissa Ho-ho-ho! (: Every now and then the music loving hipster will be caught off guard when they do not know a band. In the event that this happens, one would most likely reply with a nervous "yeah, I think I've heard of them before..." and would then be encouraged to up their band-knowing game. This was definitely the case for Marina and The Diamonds! Ever since I started listening to her music a few months ago I was instantly hooked on her super sassy pop tracks.
Marina's first LP, "The Family Jewels", gives off the indie/alternative vibes of Tegan & Sara and Florence + The Machine, while also embodying Gwen Stefani's edgy pop stylizations. On her sophomore release, "Electra Heart", she retains her signature in-your-face lyrics and catchy melodies, but adds a more poppy feel comparable to Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. With fierce vocals, lazer synth lines and a few 80s-inspired beats, Marina will keep you singing and dancing all night long! (Also, I love the puns in her song titles!)
Despite her millions of YouTube views and online fan communities, I have yet to hear Marina and The Diamonds on pop radio and this needs to change! Marina's pop concoctions have substance and her lyrics are a breath of fresh air from the meaningless top40 dance songs we are hearing nowadays. On that note, go check her out!
This week's BOTW, NEW POLITICS, will surely cure your mid-week blues with their upbeat, rock-along songs.
Thanks to my local alternative radio station, 107.7 The End, I became acquainted with "Harlem", their extremely catchy new single. If Hot Hot Heat and The Strokes came together to write a song, I am positive it would sound like "Harlem". With the megaphone vocal filters, contagious dance-rock melodies, and air-drummable beats, headbanging and singing ruthlessly in your car is inevitable.
New Politics' self-titled debut album was released in 2010. You can expect to find 10 quality songs that are danceable alt-rock infused with some Beastie Boy-esque raps and happier-Nirvana-esque quitar riffs (i.e. "Yeah Yeah Yeah", "Love is a Drug", "Dignity").
These Danish rockers have definitely made a mark in the American alt/indie rock scene and I am stoked to get my hands on their second LP/see them live!
The British Invasion is back and thriving! With acts such as Adele, Ellie Goulding, One Direction, and The Wanted tearing up the US pop music charts, it shouldn't take this week's BOTW: MOYA, too long to follow up!
Moya is a solo singer/songwriter with a soft and soulful tone that caught my attention a few months ago back in September '12 when her single, "Making Me Fall", was featured on YouTube. The main reason I clicked on the obscure video was because Moya was wearing a rad studded denim shirt in the video still, and anyone who knows me can confirm my love for studs and denim. I'm also sucker for piano-pop, so this song was bound to be on replay for quite some time (it's still in my top played songs in iTunes!).
Moya's first LP, "Lost and Found", is filled with heartfelt and quality pop tunes (I've always thought that British music in general was more sophisticated, and Moya proves this!).
Moya's music is too legit to quit and definitely deserves the radio airtime. Hope you check out her tunes and enjoy them as much as I do!
Churchill is: Tim, Mike, Bethany, Tyler, and Joe.
Photo from: clubzone.com
In an unlikely era of mainstream success for indie-folk-alt-rock bands like Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, and Arcade Fire, there is a new kid in town: CHURCHILL. These Colorado natives have strategically weaved themselves into this genre that seems to be gaining fans by the second.
On the ride home from school earlier this month, I was jamming to Seattle's Alternative station, 107.7 The End, and Churchill's single "Change" came on and I immediately fell in love with its contagious chorus! Nowadays radio stations barely ever announce song titles or artists so I always get heated when I don't know who the great song is by... but then I remember it's 2K13 and there are things like apps and the internet, so I calm down.
While investigating Churchill via the interweb, I was delighted to find that they have released an EP and are currently working on and LP. Needless to say, all five tracks on the "Change EP" are solid and leave you wanting more. I truly believe it will only be a matter of time before this band reaches a level of recognition that is comparable to The Lumineers' mainstream hit, "Ho Hey".
With the band's ability to write memorable melodies and their awesome vocal-trading between Tim and Bethany, I am sure they will win you over soon enough!
Time to update your music library with this week's band of the week: STATES! Forming as a myriad of members from fan-favorite indie-altrock bands, "Copeland" and "Lydia", States brings fresh songs with a dash of Eisley's enchanting melodies and Paramore's headbanging-ness.
If you know me, I'm all about the rockin' bands with a fearless front-woman on the vocals. Mindy White is just this. Her sweet, yet powerful voice is the perfect fit for the pop-rock outfit comprised of driving basslines, catchy guitar riffs, and a subtle keyboard synth foundation.
The band currently has a self-produced album and EP ("Room to Run" and "Line Em Up", respectively), and they were quickly scooped up by Tooth & Nail Records. The label is also home to veteran rockers like mewithoutYou and MxPx, and I would not be surprised if States reaches their level of fan-following because their music is definitely worthy!
Favorite Songs:
1. "As Good As it Gets" [The Rollerskate Remix will make you want to have a dance party]
2. "Everlasting" [Has a chorus you will want to belt in the shower in preparation for your American Idol audition]
3. "Captivating Me" [Don't be surprised if you catch yourself jammin' the air drumset]
4. "Generation" [Worthy of throwin' up the 'rock-on' sign and headbanging]
If I created an internet radio station for STATES, related artists would include:
1. Eisley
2. Paramore
3. Young the Giant
4. Metric
5. Meg & Dia
6. Neon Trees
7. VersaEmerge
Shows?..
Waiting impatiently for them to go on tour!
That's all for now, I hope you guys check out STATES! Don't forget you heard about them through me before they got big (: ...I wouldn't be surprised if it were to happen soon!
