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

Ra Ra Riot: Concert Review

Band: Ra Ra Riot Openers: Yellow Ostrich and Delicate Steve

Date: November 11, 2011

Location: The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA

Yeah! I finally saw a concert last night! on 11/11/11. Such a lucky day! =D

Preconceived Thoughts of the Band: I got introduced to Ra Ra Riot by a friend of mine back freshman year in college (same band that introduced me to Fleet Foxes and countless others.) I totally fell in love with their album. It had warm, full string sound in all their songs which is definitely a plus for me. Can You Tell? and Too Too Too Fast are the big winners in the album. Their sophomore album "The Orchard" didn't do too much for me. It was a lot slower than their first and it wasn't as catchy as their first. The only song that I can get off from that album is  Too Dramatic for inside jokes only. 

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.

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....

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.

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: 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-