New Young Veins Track Featuring Jon Walker On Vocals

Hey Everyone!
New songs by Ex-Panic! At The Disco members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker have been hitting the net by storm lately. With the anticipation of the upcoming album on the rise, the guys have been posting new songs fairly often. The most recent of which is a little different. Its called 'Everyone But You' and features bassist Jon Walker on lead vocals. Its kind of cool... a darker tone than the other tracks we've heard. More minor chords... its sad, but I like it. If we go back to the 60s imagery that seems to relate so heavily to this album/this sound, I would relate this back to tracks like Elanor Rigby. Not nearly the classic that song is, but its a pretty similar composition I think. So check out the song HERE and see what you think. Not bad, I'm curious to check out this album when it comes out.

How about you? Do you like this new direction or would you prefer to see Panic make a comeback?
Rock On,
- Girl At The Rock Show

Butch Walker Releases New Video

Hey Everyone!

My favorite musician/producer/genius and yours has released a new video. Yes, Butch Walker is back and as great as ever! The song is called "Pretty Melody" and is featured on his latest album I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart. The five and a half minute Kung Fu epic features cameos from Panic At The Disco members Spencer Smith and Brendon Urie. The video is pretty clever and well produced, the song is very reminiscent of early hippy rock... simplistic, minimalist, but still packing some classic raw Butch Walker talent. I'm a fan, how about you? Check out the video below, see what you think!

Butch Walker is currently on tour in support of the album with his band, the Black Widows

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show

Panic At The Disco Imposters On Facebook

Hey Everyone!

Man, what is it with people pulling these stunts? Is it fun to pretend to be a famous person and look like a total creep when you get caught? I dont understand...

Panic At The Disco took to the web today to dispel rumors of facebook accounts and bogus music video shoots. According to the brief but VERY important release, the guys were notified of several fake internet social networking profiles which advertised that the band would be shooting a new video in New Hampshire and were looking for some girls to give them tours of the city. They are pleading with fans to ignore these fake requests for their own safety as they have no intentions of being in the New Hampshire area in the near future.

Again, all I have to say is MAN THAT IS SO CREEPY! I mean come on, how many bands advertise that they could use some female tour guides while in town? Their fan base is generally young, so no way would I believe they'd ask that... Girls, a note of caution: any band that suggests something like that is either being hacked, or they are Motley Crue back in the day haha. Either way, not a good plan! I can only imagine what kind of place these creeps are telling the 13yr old fans to meet them...Please, be careful. Do not agree to these kinds of requests even if its posted on an official looking site. I mean, facebook isn't exactly safer than Myspace... You can pretend to be whoever you want, keep that in mind.

Play safe everyone, and kudos to Panic for the press release to fans!

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show

Butch Walker's 25K Package "Purchased"

Hey Everyone!

A few days ago, Butch Walker mentioned on his blog that someone had purchased that 25k preorder package... the one where someone gets to spend the weekend at his house writing a song for his next album and perform it on tour with him? Well, he said the details would be released soon and he wasnt kidding... except he was. Check out the HILARIOUS video here featuring the 25K purchaser... he might be familiar to you... let me give you a hint...

"Give me envy, Give me malice, Give me your attention! Give me envy, Give me malice, Baby-Give me a break! When I say 'shotgun', You say 'wedding', Shotgun wedding!"

And if you didnt get it from that, well watch the video below and the petite vocal powerhouse with the signature thick rimmed glasses and skin tight jeans should be pretty easy to identify :P

Gotta love Butch & Brendon... different generations of talent, and still good friends with a very simple, juvenile sense of humor... anyone else feel the American Psycho parody as much as I did?

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show

Young Veins Announce Tour Dates!

Hey Everyone!

While many 13 year olds are still mourning the "break up" of Panic! At The Disco (and by breakup I mean that 2 members left but Brendon and Spencer are still playing under the same banner), some may be cheered up by this news. Jon Walker and Ryan Ross will be hitting the road this spring with their new act- The Young Veins.

 

If you like the flowery 60s inspired direction of their last release Pretty Odd, then maybe this is worth looking into. It takes a few GIANT steps in that same direction. Its very much "hippy" rock in a modern form. Think Mad As Rabbits from their last album... great song, but imagine an entire album of strange, upbeat pop songs with odd messages haha. If that sounds appealing to you, then check it out... they're not bad at all, I just dont know that they'll ever be on my list of favorites ahaha. I think I'd definitely check out the album if it ever gets released.

Ross and Walker are talented musicians with a lot of industry experience for their respective ages. I cant imagine that they would go through with this unless they thought it would benefit them... but maybe you need more than a couple songs before you go on an all out tour? I mean, this thing has a pretty extensive run! Check out the dates below!

Mar 15- Exit/In- Nashville, Tennessee
Mar 18- House of Blues Houston- Houston, Texas
Mar 21- White Rabbit- San Antonio, Texas
Mar 23- Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom- Little Rock, Arkansas
Mar 24 The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
Mar 26- Orpheum- Ybor City, Florida
Mar 27- Jack Rabbits- Jacksonville, Florida
Mar 28- Cananl Club Downstairs Lounge- Richmond, Virginia
Mar 29- The Studio At Webster Hall- New York, New York
Mar 30- Great Scott- Allston, Massachusetts
Mar 31- Knitting Factory- Brooklyn, New York
Apr 1- Webster Underground- Webster, Connecticut
Apr 3- Petit Campus- Montreal, Quebec
Apr 5- Sneaky Dee’s- Toronto, Ontario
Apr 6- Mowhawk Place- Buffalo, New York
Apr 7- The Basement- Columbus, Ohio
Apr 8- The Eagle Theatre- Pontiac, Michigan
Apr 9- The Mad Hatter- Covington, Kentucky
Apr 10- Beat Kitchen- Chicago, Illinois
Apr 11- The Vault- Buffalo, Minnesota
Apr 13- Marquis Theatre- Denver, Colorado
Apr 15- El Corazon- Seattle, Washington
Apr 16- Venue- Vancouver, British Columbia
Apr 17- Satyricon- Portland, Oregon
Apr 18- Bottom of the Hill- San Francisco, California
Apr 19- The Boardwalk- Orangevale, California
Apr 21- Troubadour- West Hollywood, California
Apr 23- Martini Ranch- Scottsdale, Arizona
Apr 24- Launchpad- Albuquerque, New Mexico
Apr 26- Jackpot Saloon & Music Hall- Lawrence, Kansas
Apr 27- Off Broadway Nightclub St. Louis, Missouri

So what do you think? Will you be attending this tour?

Tickets seem to be pretty cheap- $10 US on average so who knows, maybe you can witness them when they're still at their roots?

Rock on!

- Girl At The Rock Show

A Shopping List For My Grandpa: The Results

Hey Everyone!

So if you have been keeping up, my Grandfather and I recently recently ran a small experiment. After reading my blog, he suggested that I come up with a list of 3 recommendations for him. He would buy the three albums, listen to them, and let me know what he thought. Well, we have our answer as to how well this little experiment worked.

First off, he mentioned that he had a very bad impression of what "rock" music is. He said it brought to mind loud, mosh pits, wailing guitars and high pitched vocals. I kind of figured this, and one goal I had in these suggestions was to show another end of the spectrum. Sure, rock music does typically envelope these ideas... but there are other forms of the genre that are softer, more mellow. Thats why I chose these albums, to show that. Below, I will list the three albums and tell you what my Grandpa had to say about each one!

1) Something Corporate's "North"

"A bit too much of a downer for my taste" said my Grandpa haha. But he admits that he did enjoy the prominence of the piano which overpowers the traditional lead guitar. The album is a bit angsty, I admit. However, I still love it. I think I chose it more for the songs as pieces, not the album as a whole. I did recommend Andrew's side project- Jacks Mannequin for some more upbeat music. Sure, Glass Passenger is about the struggles of Cancer... but its so hopeful! Thats the album that gets me up in the morning haha

2) Butch Walker's "Letters"

This was his favorite, as I suspected haha. My Grandpa is a big fan of musicals, and he actually ended up suggesting that Butch write his own musical! I think thats a fantastic idea, he should really think that over. He said, "His style and the genres of rock he plays seem to me to be perfectly suited to Broadway. He tells stories with simplicity and feeling. The music, soft and hard rock, seem to fit the lyrics like a glove". Couldnt have said it better myself! I'd LOVE to see a Butch Walker musical... I'm sure it would be beautiful.

3) Panic At The Disco's "Pretty. Odd."

He called this one "very pleasant". He mentioned how Folkin Around plays on the traditional concepts of country music. Oddly enough, I have to admit its one of my favorites on the album and yet, I am not a country fan in the least bit. Its just something I often cannot relate to. But this song, so simple in its construction, is just beautiful and full of emotion. Lines like "You've never been so divine in accepting your defeat, And I've never been more scared to be alone. If love is not enough to put my enemies to sleep, Then I'm putting out the lantern, Find your own way back home" are just stunning. Side Note: Grandpa emailed me again to let me know that he enjoyed this album so much that the volume control slipped away for a bit... he almost missed the repairman at the door who mentioned that he was "really rocking out" haha. I love it!

So thats that! Those are the results. I have to say, I think I did an alright job... I did what I set out to do, broaden the idea of rock music for my Grandpa, make him realize that its not all about mosh pits, anger and violence. Rock is a very broad, encompassing genre. There is a home for everything, and thats perhaps what sparked my love affair with it. Its a place I feel I belong, and I want others to see through my passion, that they too can belong. Be it indie, techno, classic, metal, goth, punk... there is always a style for you with a rock edge. I think I learned a lot about my Grandpa through this experiment, as much as it was originally intended to be the reverse. We learned from each other and thats perhaps the best result of this. Thanks for checking it out, maybe I'll do this again sometime with a new subject! It's kind of fun to help other people find new music :)

If you had the chance to pick music for someone in your life, who would it be and why?

What would you hope to take away from the experience?

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show

A Shopping List For My Grandpa: The Albums

Hey Everyone!

Ok so, yesterday I posted a blog about my little experiment/deal with my Grandfather. To reiterate, I'm going to suggest three albums that I like and think he may like. He's going to go out and purchase these three albums and listen to them. Hopefully, he will then tell me what he thinks and I will be sure to share his thoughts with you! So here we go, here are my three choices!

1) North by Something Corporate

"If you're missing I will run away, Cause I find myself in you."

From the first breath of Andrew's soft voice to the last guitar chord fading out, this album is absolutely stunning. Seriously, I cant even put it into words. There is so much talent, passion and brilliance wrapped up into this 12 track album. You cant help but really feel involved with this album... the emotion becomes personal, it transcends the airwaves into your room in a very real way. You feel the album as you listen. Each track takes Something Corporate's signature piano pop/punk blend and mixes it with a variety of heavy emotion and poetic lyrics and lullaby-esque vocals. On this CD I highly recommend the tracks: Down, Me & The Moon, Ruthless, I Wont Make You

2) Letters by Butch Walker

"I cant live if you're not happy, I cant live if you cry... but I can live without you if it makes you smile"

One of my favorite albums ever I think... its that good. Most of it is really simple soft rock, but its beautiful in its simplicity... a little deceiving as well. Butch has this ability to make music sound easy. There is a flow to his records that suggests an ease... but that comes with a lot of hard work. Its the result of a long and difficult career. He is such a talented musician in every sense of the way and this album is a perfect representation of that. He writes the most stunning love songs I've ever heard. Seriously, if a guy wrote this for me, I'd be in love haha. Its like a walk through the duration a relationship... you feel and hear it as it happens. There's love, there's lust, there's loneliness... its the whole range. His voice is flawless- the way he is able to express passion in every note... its like he's singing your life back to you in the most beautiful way possible. Its mature rock... can I call it that? It hits you on a level that a lot of music just cant even reach. For that reason and SO MANY more... I think everyone should own this amazing album.

Listen to: Mixtape, Dont Move, Maybe Its Just Me, Promise

3) Pretty Odd by Panic At The Disco

"If all our life was but a dream, Fantastic posing greed, Then we should feed our jewelry to the sea. For diamonds do appear to be, Just like broken glass to me."

I know, I know... its NOT A Fever You Cant Sweat Out. That was a brilliant piece for what it was... but I find that this album is always passed off as "not that album" or "not Panic". Granted it sounds absolutely nothing like their first work, but I mean, cut them some slack, they were 16 when they started that recording process. People grow up! Its not all bad, especially if it results in albums like this gem. I really love it... its creative, its fun, its different. Brendon Urie's vocals on this album... just wow. Gorgeous and so pure. The overall sound? Very reminiscent of The Beatles. This album is just all over the board... you can hear influences of all kinds in the first 15mins of putting it on. There is 50s crooning, there is a heavy classic rock influence, there are even bits and pieces of country weaved in. This fabric is intricate and there to be appreciated by those who are willing to listen without a preconceived bias. 

Songs to check out: Mad As Rabbits, Northern Downpour, She Had The World, Folkin' Around

BONUS> if by chance you cannot find one of my other choices, then my alternative selection is 

Almost Here by The Academy Is...

"Always up or down, Never down and out. Dream of demons while you sleep, That make you stutter while you speak."

Again, one of my all time favorite albums. I've never forgotten the first time I heard this play... I was on the computer looking for some new music and the second I heard one simple song, I was hooked. Never looked back. William Beckett's eerily perfect vocals combined with the band's signature  brand of light hearted pop punk is a recipe that demands success. This album cannot be ignored, its a work of art. 

Check it out: Skeptics & True Believers, Down & Out, Almost Here, Classifieds

So Grandpa, now it is your move! You have my suggestions, and when you listen and tell me in all honesty what you think, we'll have a conclusion :) ... I also have to say, you will probably look like the coolest Grandpa ever (which you are, obviously!) to the people in the store!

HAPPY LISTENING!

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show

On The Radar: The Young Veins

Hey Everyone!

Hope the week treated you well, I know I'm glad its the weekend! Between essays and studying for exams, this has been the longest week of my life haha. I've spent my day so far making up for it... horror movies, junk food, video games, basically undoing the stress on my brain by numbing it! if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it! Anyways, on with today's blog!

Today I'd like to talk about a band I'm curious about. Now, I say I'm "curious" because they haven't released much, but I see a lot of potential and am interested in seeing how the final product turns out. The band is called The Young Veins and contains members that some of you may be familiar with... Ryan Ross and Jon Walker (ex Panic At The Disco members). It also features guest work from Eric Ronick and Than Luu (Black Gold), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), and  Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley and Conor Oberst). With a line up like that how could you go wrong? 

Now, I know a lot of you are probably thinking "ew, Panic At The Disco, so high school!"... but I say, lets give them a shot. These guys signed a deal when they were young (about sixteen), subjecting them to a lot of criticism as they experimented with their sound. Now having disbanded (to an extent anyways), the members have gone in their own solid directions. For guys in their early twenties, I think they've done a great job so far. 

The Young Veins play slightly off the Pretty Odd sound, combining a more 60s hippy-rock vibe with a raw indie vibe. The sound (thus far) pushes away from the complex, overly polished music of their old band. I think I like it because it reminds me of an old vinyl record, actually. While Ross' voice doesn't quite stand out the way young, former band mate Brendon Urie's did with nearly perfect tone and exemplary range, he still brings his own style to the performance and does a good job.

Anyways, I think this group has a lot of potential to do well and make great, catchy music. Its simple, but timeless- reminds me of lazy summer afternoons. They are seasoned musicians with a lot of ambition left, so give it a listen and try to forget that they were once responsible for this haha. Happy listening!

Any bands you're keeping an eye on lately? Let me know! Enjoy the weekend!

Rock On!

- Girl At The Rock Show