A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I loaded up our Toyota Corolla with our 11-month-old, a 12-year-old diabetic pug, and approximately 98 percent of the things we own, and made the short trek down to Folly Beach, S.C., for a week of sun, fun and diapers.
If youve never been to Folly Beach, its about 15 minutes outside of Charleston, and is the type of small beach town, where you park your car when you arrive and you dont get back in it until you leave. Everything
is that close. Folly Beach has an Asheville sort of vibe artsy, hippy, but great all the way around.
Where else can you play such fun games like; guess what that guys neck tattoo says, watch 3-year olds kick their mom in the throat, and then my personal favorite watch said 3-year old get its ass beat in public. Fun times!!
Anyway, while we were there I noticed there was live music literally everywhere; the pier, any restaurant in the area, the hotel, the hotel bar, the middle of the street wherever. And as the week progressed, I begin to ask myself the all important question Is bad live music better than no live music?
Ever wondered how a headlining band finds their opener? Apparently, its not as complicated of a process as one might think. Just ask Adam Siska, bass player of pop-punk bank The Academy Is ., Man, Im not
entirely sure how it all went down, but what Ive been told is that Gene Simmons was looking for a young band to open and his kids were listening to us one day and he must have liked what he heard. So his people called our manager and it took us about an eighth of a second to agree.
If youre thinking this is a big break for a small band, youd only be partially right. This is a great chance to get our music out to a whole new audience explains Siska. Weve been doing this for almost a decade, but we havent had the chance to reach an audience like this before. Thats a good thing.
People write to me and say, Im giving up, youre not talking to me. I just write them a simple message like, Never give up, you know? And it changes their life. Justin Bieber on responding to Twitter posts.
Beiber fever is rocking America! Now, the only question is what the hell is Bieber fever?
Usually, I think Im in tuned with music. Usually, I know whats going on I may not like it (see: Hannah Montana, Joe Bros, Lady Ga(g) Ga(g)), but I can honestly say Ive heard it, know it, and can give an educated guess on it. Not this Bieber kid. Im lost. No clue. Dont understand it. So I did what anyone in my position would do... I Googled the dude.
I think hip-hop artists respect me because Im real. I think they see where I came from, and they can relate. Justin Bieber on being accepted by other artists.
Here is what we know:
Real quick scroll down to the bottom of this post and check out the video. Dont worry, Ill wait. Ok, got it? Rocks right? You might even say that its a damn fine, hard rock song. And you might be a bit surprised that a Christian rock band has churned out such a bangin hit.
Meet Skillet. A Christian rock band like few others. With a rock opera sound, this group wont be confused with the Christian bands of old. They actually fit right in with the Shinedowns and Evanescences of the world. According to lead singer John Cooper, this is by design. We want to sing hard rock songs that actually lift somebody up. Just because a song has a hard rock sound, doesnt mean it cant be a positive influence on someone. And when Skillet brings their Awake and Alive tour to the "Bo-Round" on Sunday, youll get the chance to hear just that. Uplifting songs with rock your socks off music.
If youve never heard of Possum Kingdom, S.C., you arent alone. It sounds like most Southern small towns. Quiet, isolated, maybe one stop light... But for the group NeedtoBreathe, this is home. Which might explain why the group decided to title their newest album The Outsiders.
When we were recording the album, the theme developed over time," explains lead singer Bear Rinehart. "The title track became a perfect story of who we are. We are outsiders to the music industry, to music in general. There was no music scene where we grew up, and we felt a bit like we never fit in.
But with the tracks on The Outsiders album, the band may have found their niche great songwriting, power lyrics and perfectly sung by Bears grizzled Southern voice. If you havent heard them before, youre missing out.
When the band brings its act to Charlotte this Friday (April 16), youll have the opportunity to see the band in its natural element. Its a big deal to see the small crowds our show used to draw get bigger and bigger. Its really amazing, says Bear, Last year we played in front of 200 people in Chicago. This year, we sell out the House of Blues there and perform in front of 1,400. Absolutely amazing.
And for good reason. Ive written in this space many times that good albums are a thing of the past. Not with these guys. Each song sounds different, distinct, which provides for a great listening experience.
When you think of a guy who works for a printing company, the last image youd get would be of Andy Horst, drummer for the band This Providence. Why you ask? Because most people who work at printing companies dont rock like this guy and his Seattle-based band.
When This Providence hits the Casbah at Tremont Music Hall this Friday night (April 9), theyll bring a sound reminiscent to that of the Cure, the Killers, a little Third Eye Blind and some Jimmy Eat World - which makes for one hell of a good rock n roll show. This is also the bands first time headlining a tour (appropriately named The Bout Damn Time Tour), and Andy Horst thinks this is their best effort yet. With headlining we get the chance to really put on a show for OUR fans. The people who have supported and come to see us. And with their new album Who Are You Now?, theyve earned the right to showcase their talents.
This album was really about figuring out who we were as a band and individually says Horst, describing the new effort, with band member changes, trying to understand the business, and just ourselves, we really were going through an identity crisis. This explains why the band took most of the last year away from the road, working to really master the Who Are You Now? album. This record, we really let it flow and be as natural as possible. Just write music and see how it turns out.
Last fall, when Michael Jackson moonwalked to the great beyond, people far and wide immediately said Michael may be gone, but his music would live on forever. Little did they know just how true those words will turn out to be.
Just this week, it was announced that Michaels estate (read: Mama and Papa Jackson) had reached an agreement to publish previously un-released music. And I know what youre thinking Im sure MJs got a few tracks lying around the studio. Theyll put together and album and itll be a nice tribute. Not quite. This is more than just a few odd-and-end singles. Allegedly there is enough for at LEAST 10 albums. Thats not counting tributes, re-releases, box-sets, remixes, anniversary celebrations, and so-on.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Tupac of this decade!
I dont know about you, but I dont remember moving to Chicago. This is North Carolina, people. The South. Home of two seasons. Summer and late-summer. This cold stuff has got to go! Five snow storms in one year!?! Global warming, huh?
The good news is this whenever spring does decide to show up, people are going to go insane. Last weekend, we had a high just south of 60 degrees and people broke out the shorts and tank-tops. Everyone is practically willing warm weather to get here. When it gets warm, there will be lots of options for those looking to thaw out. So, sit back, zip up that ski jacket and just think about whats ahead. Imagine if you will:
* Big time concerts at Verizon Wireless Outside, outside, outside. Seeing big acts are ALWAYS better outdoors. Watchin Buffett in an arena just aint the same.
* The lawn at Verizon yes, it gets its own category. Thats right, the return of $10 beers and hoping a massive thunderstorm doesnt hit the night of your favorite show. Whats better than being outside, listening to some mega-act(s), spending half your paycheck to do so, and all the while hoping you dont get puked and/or peed on and trying not to get struck by lightning all at once? Hey, its better than be stuck inside when its 6 degrees out with nothing to do but watch Celebrity Rehab reruns.
* Live music on the patio any patio, any restaurant, anywhere. A cold beer, some chicken wings and somebody beltin out "Come Monday." Yes, itll be alright. Alright indeed.
* Gallery Crawls in NoDa no, these dont really stop in the winter time, but there is A LOT more people, you can stroll outside without shivering, and the music is ALWAYS kickin. No shortage of bands, styles and people.
* Merlefest more on this in a couple weeks, but if youve never made the short trip north to the campus of Wilkes Community College to check out this 4-day festival of Bluegrass and Americana, then you should. Some of the best singer/songwriters youll ever have the pleasure of listening to show up every year.
* Lake Norman for those who live north of the city, the Lake is its own little world. Between party boats with live music to actual concerts on the water its the closest youll have to a beach feel without driving 4 hours.
So, hurry up Spring and sprung already. My beer hands getting twitchy in anticipation.