Green Day Cover Rolling Stones On Jimmy Fallon

Hey Everyone!

In case you missed it, Green Day did a pretty sweet cover of The Rolling Stones Classic "Rip This Joint". The performance was part of a week long celebration of the Rolling Stones album Exile On Main Street. The cover is really upbeat, and even if it is a cover, it sounds a lot like classic Green Day meets Foxboro Hot Tubs. The celebration of the band's 10th studio album is the result of its re-release. Check out Green Day's take on "Rip This Joint" below!

What did you think? I would love to see them play this live, they look like they're having a blast with it!

Rock On,

- Girl At The Rock Show

Hayley Williams Covers Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"

Hey Everyone!

I stumbled on this while attempting to distract myself from my latest essay. I thought it was pretty sweet so I decided to post it here and see what you think! The video is of Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams doing a brief piano cover of Lady Gaga's smash hit Bad Romance. I love it, she sounds fantastic. I wish she played the whole song though. Check out the video below!

PS. All you Paramore fans out there, dont forget to check them out as they headline this year's Honda Civic Tour with Tegan and Sara! More information about that tour can be found HERE.

What do you think of the cover? Will you be going to see The Honda Civic Tour this year?

I usually do check it out, but they apparently dont like Canada this year so I'm out haha

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show

Ruby SoHo Gets A Makeover From Vampire Weekend

Hey Everyone!

So unless you've been living in a cave somewhere, you've heard of up and coming indie kings, Vampire Weekend. Their recent album Contra is selling in great numbers, and is the subject of a lot of critical praise. If you havent heard it, go check it out! Anyways, in another wicked career move, the boys have released a cover of Rancid's 1995 hit "Ruby Soho"... and its BRILLIANT!

The song (which can be heard HERE) is a whole new take on the classic punk tune, but its makeover is anything but disappointing. Fans of both bands can appreciate the way these guys reconstructed it to make it their own. The cover is also available for download, in case you happen to really love it like I do haha.

Here's the original for those of you who havent heard it, its probably familiar regardless!

So what do you think of Vampire Weekend's cover? I'm a big fan.

Well, time for me to go write an exam so I'll check in later.

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show

Christmas Mix Tape: My Recommendations For The Holiday Season

Hey Everyone!

To quote my favorite Christmas movie... "The sights! The sounds! They're everywhere and all around" Thats right folks, with the snowfall last night, its pretty obvious that christmas is just around the corner. I love Christmas... mainly because it means I get two weeks or more off of class. But ALSO because I get to indulge my inner child with things like cartoon movies & hot chocolate (marshmallows included of course!), snowball fights and tobogganing. So as much as the LTC strike makes getting to and from school cold and frustrating, there is always a silver lining. However, the best part of Christmas? CHRISTMAS MUSIC. But no offense, I work at a seniors restaurant and if I hear Celine Dion belt out one more traditional carol, I'm gonna lose it. No, Christmas playlists require some research so that 25 days of it wont make you want to lose your Christmas cheer!

Ever since I was a kid, my mom has had a rule... December 1st - 25th, only Christmas music may be played in the house/car/etc. Thats a lot of Christmas carols. It was also a strategic move on her behalf, thinking she could escape the rock music I subjected to her over the years. So I got creative... I found some traditional carols by more alternative artists. Needless to say, Christmas has never quite been the same for my mom. Here are some of the tracks that I recommend to accompany your holiday festivities this year... some happy, some sad, some... loud? haha enjoy!

SONGS! 

(ALL LINKS, GO AHEAD AND CLICK ONE :D )

January by Tyler Read

I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Clause by StandStill

Forget December by Something Corporate

Winter Wonderland by Hellogoodbye

I Wont Be Home For Christmas by Blink-182

Yule Shoot Your Eye Out by Fall Out Boy

Winter Passing by The Academy Is...

The Christmas Song by Owl City

Santa Stole My Girlfriend by The Maine

Last Christmas by Jimmy Eat World (This version is a remix, only one I could get on youtube, sorry!)

12 Days of Christmas by Relient K

Making Christmas by Rise Against (Cover from Nightmare Before Christmas)

Oi! To The World by The Vandals

All I Want For Christmas Is You by My Chemical Romance

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) by Street Drum Corps ft. Berk McCraken

Alone This Holiday by The Used

Baby Please Come Home by Anberlin

Yule Be Sorry by The Almost

Christmas Vacation by +44

Santa Clause Is Coming To Town by CKY

Maybe The Christmas by Ron Sexsmith

So those are a handful of my Christmas favs. How about you, any recommendations? I tried to avoid a lot of my friend Jess' choices on her blog Bigger Than Sound, so if there are some you think I should have caught, you may find them there. Anyways, hope you enjoy creating your holiday playlist, and I hope your holidays are off to a lovely start :)

Merry december! Let the countdown begin!

Rock On,

- Girl At The Rock Show

Life On Repeat Cover Miley Cyrus' Party In The USA!

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to share this with you... not bad in my opinion. Life On Repeat, a five piece pop rock group from Salisbury, MD, have posted a cover of Miley Cyrus' "Party In The USA". The song is obviously already a massive success based on Miley's version... but I actually think this is well done. It doesn't vary much from the original, using similar riffs and hooks and all around structure/performance. The band are apparently fans as the video intro explains that they covered it for her 17th birthday. Well, hopefully Miley enjoyed her gift. They posted it to their youtube account earlier today (Miley's 17th Birthday is apparently today) so here we go... what do you think?

Rock On,

-Girl At The Rock Show

Butch Walker Covers... Taylor Swift?

Hey Everyone!

Yup, its true. Producer/Songwriter/Artist Extrordinaire Butch Walker has posted a rather creative and interesting video to his blog. The purpose? A cover of pop/country sensation Taylor Swift's song You Belong With Me. His video follows his recording journey after he returns to the studio from dinner. He records each instrument and the vocals, compiling it all into this male take on the song (ex He's team captain and I'm on the bleachers). The video is taking off, seems people enjoy this version just as much as the original. Take a listen, see what you think! (Start around the 2:40 mark if you just wanna hear the song!)

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.