Axl Rose Back To His Old Tricks

Hey Everybody!

Well, I guess Axl never really left the jungle behind, eh? The front man is back to his old routine of disappointing his fans with diva stage antics. At a performance in Dublin a couple of days ago, he showed up late to the performance, prompting the crowd to throw drinks and other objects at the stage. And of course, in his true fashion, Axl stormed off the stage before the second song of the set was finished.

Sources say that the band was scheduled to hit the stage around 9:45pm, but didnt actually manage to do so until nearly 10:30pm. Personally, I dont blame fans for getting a bit rowdy! I'd be kind of pissed off having to wait that long too. I was mad enough waiting 20mins for the Stone Temple Pilots!

What do you think? Would you be mad? What about Axl's behaviour?

Rock On,

-Girl At The Rock Show

Reading And Leeds Festival Announce Bands

Hey Everyone!

The annual UK Reading/Leeds Festival have announced their first round of bands! Yes, very exciting... its times like this that I wish I had the money to travel to the UK. I've always wanted to see this show. Year after year they have amazing line ups and massive crowds. UK festivals are so much different than the Warped Tour and Coachella style festivals we have here!

Reading Festival began back in the 1960s as a Jazz festival, and has continued almost annually in some way shape or form since then. For the past few years, it has drawn a primarily rock oriented crowd with names like Green Day, Radiohead, Muse, Metallica, and a very memorable set by Nirvana. The three day festival takes place over the August bank holiday in the UK and involves the use of several stages and multiple locations.

Bands confirmed to play this year's bill include: Blink-182, Guns N Roses, Arcade Fire, NOFX, All Time Low, Weezer, Modest Mouse, Queens Of The Stone Age, Mumford And Sons, Thrice, and more!

What do you think of the line up? Anyone wanna take a trip to the UK with me???

Rock On,

- Girl At The Rock Show

Top Ten Tunes For Making An Escape

Hey Everyone!

To all the students out there, I hope you had a good (and maybe even school productive- HA!) slack week. I know I did just that, slacked off. It was nice not having a paper due or a class to run to. Got a few shifts in at work, managed to save up a few bucks which is never a bad thing. Though I have to say, maybe I would have been better off spending that cash and hitting a beach somewhere... Its been far too long since I felt the sun shine on my back, the cool ocean waves against my skin, and the warm sand between my toes! But alas, I digress. Sadly, the beach will likely evade me for a while longer I suspect.

On the topic of vacations- have you ever felt the urge to just escape? To just run as far as your feet can take you, as long as that adrenaline keeps pumping- To just keep going until your lungs give out? Sometimes we all need to get away, to just pick up and start fresh somewhere new. Thats how I'm feeling right now.

I wish I werent in class til April... and I wish I didnt have to immediately start working to pay my rent. If I had the chance, I'd pick up and head to Quebec for a week or two with nothing but a backpack... stay in hostels, walk through the old city, sip coffee in little cafes to stay warm. I just need to get out of here and have some time to think, you know?

I know that was a long rant, but its just the best way to explain this top ten list. Sometimes we cant take those vacations, and there is something that stops us from running. As much as we dream about it, real life has a tendency to get in the way. So when you cant make a physical escape, sometimes a mental escape can be just as good for the mind, body, and soul. If your brain needs a vacation like mine, I suggest the following. These ten tracks, a hot cup of tea and your favorite book. If you're really into it, put on a slideshow of beach pictures and crank up the heat!

In no specific order...

10) The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls

9) All At Sea by Jamie Cullum

8) Island In The Sun by Weezer

7) Holiday From Real by Jacks Mannequin

6) Gone (Going) by Jack Johnson

5) One Love by Bob Marley

4) Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz

3) Paradise City by Guns N Roses

2) Half Way Around The World by Oasis

1) Somewhere Only We Know by Keane

I think that I might take my own advice later tonight, after class. Grab some hot coffee, plug this list into my ipod and get these essays off my back. Its sounding like the perfect plan for me tonight.

How about you? Need an escape? Tell me about it! I'd love to hear from you

Rock On,

- Girl At The Rock Show

Exam Dance Break Day 12

Hey Everyone!

Alright, well my essay is in and I'm finally feeling the welcome relief of Christmas break getting closer. YAYNESS... thats my all time favorite word by the way (even though it doesn't exist). Anyways, its my roommate's birthday and I'm getting ready to have some fun! That being said, I dont have much time to write, this will be a quick post. Today I'm going to cave in entirely and give you something pretty straight forward.

Today, we have a classic... Guns N Roses "Welcome to the Jungle". Now I dont feel that I really need to tell you much about this song, do I? Its amazing, its timeless, it makes a great ringtone, and it is essential to my party prep playlist. So check it out here and rock out!

You're in the jungle, baby!

Rock On,

- Girl At The Rock Show

Cover Songs: Yay or Nay?

Hello Everyone!

So after what could possibly be considered the LONGEST day of my life (computer virus meant an hour and a half in ITS, exam tomorrow meant 2hrs in the library with reserved course material, etc) I'm finally home with my books and a cup of tea. I also decided to overrule the TV for a while in favor of my ipod dock. I have to say, I was kind of surprised at the overwhelming number of covers that came on in the short hour long period I had it playing. It got me thinking about the whole concept of cover songs in general... are they good or bad?

Maybe the answer isn't quite so clear cut, but you get my drift... what do you think makes or breaks a cover song? I mean, its really an art form in itself to make a known song sound unknown. For me, its a bit complicated. I'm usually a fan of making the song your own, but at the same time I've always been a fan of originals. Sometimes a cover just goes too far in the wrong direction... it ends up being a butchered piece of art that music fans mourn. 

I've usually enjoyed cover songs. I have to say, I love them in a live environment. I think its fun going to a club to hear a band you dont know when they play a cover. Suddenly, everyone is involved in the show, singing along and cheering. Its a great way to break the awkwardness is a setlist that no one is familiar with. I'm a big Green Day fan, and I know that they've always been big on playing a series of rather odd covers at their shows. When they released American Idiot in 2004, I think this quirk really helped to make their new fans feel like they were a part of the show. Who doesn't know the songs 'Shout' and 'We Are The Champions'? Clearly everyone is going to belt it out and have a great time!

Something that is often said is that a great cover makes you forget there was another version before it. What do you think? What is your opinion of the cover song? What are some of your favorite cover songs and why? 

A Few Covers:

Green Day: I Fought The Law (The Clash), We Are The Champions (Queen)

Guns N Roses: Knocking On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan)

Johnny Cash: Hurt (Nine Inch Nails)

Me First And The Gimmie Gimmies: I Believe I Can Fly (R. Kelly)

Joan Jett: Love Me Two Times (The Doors)

Sinead O'Connor: Nothing Compares To You (Prince)

ALSO: If you're interested, there are compilation albums out called "Punk Goes _____" and I highly recommend them. Its a bunch of modern punk/pop punk artists adding their own twist to other genres of music. Really interesting takes, check it out. This youtube playlist has quite a few covers from various versions of these compilations!

Thanks for reading, I'll check back in tomorrow after my exam!

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show

Song of the Day: Love Song (Sara Bareilles Cover) by Four Years Strong ... I think its a great way of taking a song and tweaking it just enough that its yours but not unrecognizable. Its found on the Punk Goes Pop Volume 2 CD.