Noah and the Whale: Concert Review

Band: Noah And The Whale and Nikki Lane
Date: November 22, 2011
Location: House Of Blues Anaheim, CA

Preconceived Thoughts of the Band: I got introduced to Noah and the Whale from a mix CD I got a year ago. I enjoyed their music. The singer sounds like a mix of Mumford and Son and Frightened Rabbit. Their music is acoustic based driven by finger picking guitar and soothing violin playing. My favorite tracks would have to be the fast paced song Rocks And Daggers to the powerful anthem song First Day Of Spring

Paramore, New Found Glory, Tegan and Sara: Nostalgia Concert Review

Band: Paramore Openers: New Found Glory, Tegan and Sara
Date: September 23, 2010
Location: HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA

Preconvcied Thoughts of the Band: Paramore was too "hard" for me to get into. The guitars were too "loud" and "distorted". Well, what I'm trying to say is that they didn't have that punk rock sound that was I was used to and listening to. The hardcore scene was becoming prominent when I was in middle school and I didn't want to go all "emo". Also I wasn't all into their image as well. Skinny jeans, tight shirts, and raging red hair. Nope. Not for me.


I was excited to find out that New Found Glory was opening for Paramore. I've been a fan of theirs since middle school. They were also as pop punk as blink 182, but they were had more of an edgy hardcore sound. My history teacher got me into that band. Understatement, My Friends Over You, and Sonny were instant sellers for me.


I heard about Tegan and Sara my freshman year in college, but I didn't listen to them religiously. I knew that "Sainthood" was released months before the tour, so I listened to it beforehand and I enjoyed it. A true Tegan and Sara fan told me that their new album didn't do justice for their old stuff, but I was willing to listen what they had to offer.


Relic was suppose to go, but she couldn't make it. So she gave me a discount...SWEET!!

Vampire Weekend: Nostalgia Concert Review

Band: Vampire Weekend Opener: Pocahaunted
Date: Novemeber 9, 2010
Location: The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA

Preconceived Thoughts of The Band: When I first heard about Vampire Weekend's, A-Punk, I thought they were insanely catchy, but honestly, that single didn't do justice. They are insanely unorthodox in their music. They combined African drums beats, indie rock, and western classical music. It completely blew my mind. They were also on repeat all throughout my freshman year. When my friend surprised me with a ticket to the show. I went ballistic. M79 and Mansard Roof are amazing.


Pocahaunted on the other hand....well I never heard them. I'm never in the know of the openers.

Ghost Playlist

I thought I might have a little fun with this post. It's Halloween weekend. In trying to find a good theme for this post, I tried searching something Halloween related on my iTunes and ghost was most prominent thing on my search. ENJOY!

Band of Horse -
Is There A Ghost?

blink-182
Ghost On The Dancefloor

Deadmau5
Ghosts n Stuff

Explosions In The Sky
Welcome Ghosts



Wolf Parade
Ghost Pressure

White Lies
Holy Ghost

We All Have Hooks For Hands
Ghosts and Strangers

Umbrellas
Ghost

Voxtrot
Ghost

Tegan And Sara
Walking With A Ghost

Taking Back Sunday
What It Feels Like To Be A Ghost?

Spoon
The Ghost Of You Lingers

Enjoy!

Nostalgia Concert Review: Passion Pit

Band: Passion Pit Openers: Mayer Hawthorne and the County and The Middle East
Date: April 14, 2010
Location: UC Davis Campus


Sorry once again for not going to any current concerts. I am broke. as always

Preconceived Thoughts of the Band: Passion Pit was all over my playlist the end of my freshman year of college. Their EP Chunk of Change was constantly on repeat especially the song Cuddle Fuddle. After Manners came out, the exploded with Sleepy Head and The Reeling as their singles. Their music is just so catchy. Heavy synths and drums with high vocals; Almost sounds like a dance version of Sigur Ros. Weeks before their concert, I was hearing some live stuff on youtube, and oh man. I couldn't get a feel for the singer's voice. It sounded to forced and annoying. I was freaking out, but I didn't want to base off my idea of them off a youtube clip.


I got introduced to The Middle East by a friend of mine. Blood is so beautifully crafted with almost every acoustic instrument available. That song is structured perfectly, quiet and then climatic.


I never heard of Mayer and I wished I never did....

Nostalgia Concert Review: blink-182 Reunion Concert

Band: blink-182 with Chester French, Taking Back Sunday, and Weezer
Date: September 13, 2009
Location: Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA

Sidenote: Sorry! this is not going to be a current concert review. There wasn't any concert worth going to this week. I could have gone and seen this acoustic/spoken word artist but I'm always too skeptical on the artists the school brings. 

Concert Review: The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit

Band: The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit
Date: October 8, 2011
Location: Sausage Fest, Farmers Market, Santa Cruz, CA


Preconceived Thoughts of the Band: A friend of mine manages the band for a class. All she said was they are middle aged men that sound like Mumford and Sons. hmmm..


What Actually Happened (BITCH SPOILER ALERT) - 
So a group of us (20 girls) all do a field trip to the farmer's market to see my friend's band perform. We get there pretty late because we didn't want to hear the opening bands. So we get there, and we tried to get in. This lady dress in some weird era of German clothes, tells us that the market is at full capacity and she couldn't get let anyone in. We were all pissed off!! More people were leaving then coming in. So we awkwardly stand in front of the gate, figuring out what we should do. My friend never called them and asked them to save us a couple of spots. A couple of minutes in they got on stage and start performing. 


They are nothing like Mumford and Sons. There were just another country band. I just can't stand country. Good thing we didn't listen to them.


Verdict - I don't like country music, therefore I don't like them.


Bitch Rate - 4/5

Concert Review: Blink 182, My Chemical Romance, Matt and Kim

Band: blink 182, My Chemical Romance Opener: Matt and Kim
Date: October 2, 2011
Location: Sleep Train Amphitheater, Sacramento, CA

Preconcieved Thoughts of the Band: blink 182 is my favorite band...EVER! I saw them, two years ago at their reunion tour and I was blown away (and in physical pain) from their performance. They are known for playing loud punk rock and as fast as they can. I knew what they were going to be playing in their set list, even their new songs off the album Neighborhoods. I was so prepared for them. My Chemical Romance on the other hand, is a different story. I haven't heard from the since middle school. Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge was pretty much it for me. I strayed away from the emo scene to more indie rock afterward. I knew a couple of singles form their Black Parade album but that was pretty much it. They did change their image to a more colorful one, but I was pretty DGAF about them. Finally Matt and Kim was another band I was crazy to see at the tour. They were on my playlist all of freshman year in college. I missed their performance at the Fillmore a year ago, but I wasn't going to miss them this time. 

Concert Review: Beirut

Band: Beirut
Date: October 1, 2011
Location: The Fox Theater, Oakland, Ca

Preconceived Thoughts of the Band - My current roommate introduced me to them about 2 years ago with the track "Elephant Gun", and I became an instant fan. I loved the use of trumpets, french horns, trombones, and tubas. They have very unusual sounds which is made by their unusual use of instruments. My music management professor mentioned the band a couple of times during his lectures. I wouldn't consider their sound to be a platform for every band to copy, but it is a unique sound that makes them stand out.

Album Review: Blink 182 - Neighborhoods

Band: Blink 182
Album: Neighborhoods
Release: September 27, 2011

History: It has been about 8 years since new music has been out for this pop punk trio, but there has been a lot of things in-between, the biggest being their "indefinite" hiatus. Tom ventured off to a space, ambient, progressive rock known as Angels and Airwaves. Three album in, there is a mature state that Tom is in. On the other hand Mark and Travis made +44, named after the international code for England when they were talking about the project. When Your Heart Stops Beating  is a straight forward rock album with electronic influences. Being apart for 4 years, they gained knowledge in song structure, using experimental sounds and growing up in general. Having said that, saying that Neighborhoods would be the next Enema of the State or Take off your Pants and Jacket, is complete nonsense.

To understand Neighborhoods, look at the history. The first couple of years after the break up there was bitter tension from Mark and Tom. Mark made a clear statement on Tom in "No It Isn't" :"Please understand, This isn't just goodbye, this is I can't stand you". Tom responded in "Rite Of Spring": The summers gone, the years have passed, my friends have changed, a few did last". Tom started experimenting with sounds and effects that would give AVA their signature sound. Aside from +44, Mark became a producer, so he learned about sounds and music from the producer stand point. Travis was featured in rap music, so he started venturing off in different genres. 


Their happy reunion started off with a horrible tragedy. The first was the death of their long time producer Jerry Finn. After that,Travis and DJ AM were involved in a plane crash in late September that kill their close friends. During his rehabilitation, Tom decided to speak to everyone. 5 months later, after months of a rumored reunion they announced their reunion almost at their 4 year break up anniversary.    


Fast forward to when the album was released after 2 years of making their album they were almost true to their word. It is a continuation of their last album. It did venture off into experimental elements. It would include influences from their side projects. BUT it is not a progressive album as Tom stated. It is just a rock album, with the pop punk foundation in which they are based of. 

Concert Review: French Cassettes

Band: French Cassettes. Opener: Tibetan Method and Travis Vick
Date: September 23, 2011
Location:  Fox and Goose, Sacramento, CA

Preconceived Thoughts of the Band -  I met one of their band members weeks ago to discuss a project, in which we would have to coordinate. I am somewhat their manager/consultant. The band member was generous in giving me their EP. I gave a listen to and instantly was hooked. They have a poppy/catchy guitars, soothing vocals and groovy bass. For a baby band, they had their signature sound already figured out. I showed them to my friend and they also became instant fans. I wanted to hear more, so I found out they were playing a show in sac and we drove the venue.

Concert Review: Maroon 5 and Train

Band: Maroon 5 and Train
Date: September 15, 2011
Location: Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, California

Preconceived Thoughts of the Band - 
     This is my first (and hopefully last) "mainstream" concert that I've been too. I've heard of maroon 5 through their singles such as "She Will be Loved" when I was like 12 but I never got into that band. Why? It sounded to adult contemporary rock and I couldn't deal with Adam's singing. It sounded like he had something caught in his throat. I was also in a pop punk phase where blink-182 and New Found Glory were on repeat.
     As for train, they passed my generation. I can remember "Drops of Jupiter" being a huge hit on Top 40 radio, but I was too young too appreciate it. It was also out of my genre. 
     Either way, they both have solid careers and an establish fan base. Being a "mainstream" concert I expect the best from them, from the sounds, music and visuals. 

Concert Review: Fleet Foxes, and The Walkmen.

Band- Fleet Foxes and The Walkmen
Date - September 10, 2011
Location - The Greek Theater, Berkeley, California

Preconceived Thought of the Bands-
     I can't say anything mean about Fleet Foxes. I love their first album and their second is better produced and composed. They experimented with their sounds and instrumentation which gives them a unique signature sound that a lot of bands don't have now. My friends saw them two years ago with Blitzen Trapper at the Fox Theater, and with confidence they stated that it was the best concert they have ever been to. So my expectations were extremely high. I also thought for their style of music it would be a very intimate setting with little or no stage presence. 
     I did not know that The Walkmen opened for them, and for a moment I was quite confused at this tour package. From what I heard, they sound more edgy, more punk rock than the acoustic atmosphere of Fleet Foxes. Their music is more upbeat and has more electric guitar. I only have their newest one, so I was looking forward to listen to their old catalog. 

Upcoming Concerts!

Salutations! Wolf James Here.


I just want to inform you about some upcoming shows that I will or might attend. Hope to see you all there! =D

• September 23rd French Cassettes @ Fox and Glove, Sacramento
• French Cassettes is an upcoming band that I'm managing/consulting from San Francisco. Their EP is catchy. I can't wait to here them soon!
• September 23rd Two Door Cinema Club @ The Warfield, San Francisco
• The trio are from Ireland. Dance influenced with catchy guitar riffs. Their first album is  critically acclaimed.
• October 1st – Beirut @ Fox Theater, Oakland
• Santa Fe, New Mexico band, known for their unique sounds and instrumentation. Newest album released in August. 
• October 2nd – Toro y Moi @ Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
• Also known as Chazwick Bundick. Transitioned from chillwave/experimental to lo-fi/indie rock. Newest album released in February.
• October 2nd – Blink 182 @ Sleep Train Amphitheater, Sacramento
• Returning after a 4 year hiatus, they are now headlining on the Honda Civic Tour with My Chemical Romance and Matt and Kim. Their newest album Neighborhoods will be released September 27th. This is the concert I'm most excited about!!
• October 30th - Anamanaguchi @ Slim's, San Francisco
• Known for their chiptune with a punk rock edge. They are also featured and scored the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World soundtrack. Their newest album is Dawn Metropolis.

That's all for now. Subject to change of course! Next week I will do a concert review for Fleet Foxes and Maroon 5.


Onward!
-Wolf James-


PS. I might do an album review for blink-182's album Neighborhoods. keep an eye out!

Concert Lovers Unite!

Hello Music Lovers!
My name is Noely Gonzalez also known as Wolf James. I am a music management major. I am fascinated in concert production, the planning of it, the experience, the music and the fans. I've been through countless of concerts over the years, some memorable, some traumatic. I want to express my experiences to benefit the new coming artists or give the fan an incentive to watch them live or to completely disregard them.

I take concerts very seriously. I believe in following the unwritten concert etiquette in order to have an unforgettable experience. There will be times when these rules will not be enforced, in that case, things can go horribly wrong. I've dealt with experiences like that, got through it, but managed to have a good time. Either way, I will say what I feel.

-Wolf James-

Royal BITCH

Hello Critics of the Internet World,

This is Lauretta, but on the interwebz I am better known as Relic. I have come to blogger to blog about my one true love, concerts. More precisely, my Brainy Intelligent Thoughts on Concert Habits (BITCH). So, maybe you've never been to a concert, maybe one or two, or like me, 100's over the past years. You found yourself here to see what I have to say about bands in the indie, alternative rock and rock genres of music. Over the next months I plan on attending a large number of concerts of the aforementioned genres and blogging about my experience at these shows. If you have been to a show before, you know that not all experiences at shows are pleasant; whether that is due to the all too plenty concert assholes pushing you around or a shitty show by the band you were super excited to see.

Throughout the years I have been to tons of great, kick ass shows, but there are still things that are easy for me to bitch about. It could be because I am naturally just a bitter bitch in general, but most of my thoughts and ideas are still legitimate concerns. Here you will read my thoughts, both good and bad, of the shows I will be attending in the upcoming months, as well as a few noteworthy ones from my past. I love getting to know all the readers, so feel free to bitch back if you agree or disagree with me :)

--Relic

Relic & Wolf James