Routines in the Lions Cage
Songs 4/9 to 4/16
Just songs I've been into this week.
1) A Day to Remember - The Plot to Bomb the Panhandle
2) The Forecast - (May You One Day) Carry Me Home
3) Socratic - Tear a Gash (Additionally, check them out tomorrow night at the Eagle's Club)
4) Punchline - A Beautiful Green
5) Moros Eros - I Saw the Devil Last Night
6) Spitalfield - Curtain Call
7) Nevertheless - The Real
8) Mayday Parade - When I Get Home, You're So Dead
9) Lucky Boys Confusion - Ordinary
10) Flight of the Conchords - If You're Into It
ENJOY!
Posted at 09:25PM Apr 09, 2008 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
Top 10 from 3/30 to 4/5
I'm going to try to do this weekly. Just post 10 songs I've been listening to a lot in the hopes that you check them out and find some good tunes. This will be in Artist - Song Title format.
1) Blackpool Lights - Empty Tank
2) Metro Station - Control
3) Sherwood - Middle of the Night
4) Ludo - Love Me Dead
5) The Audition - Edinboro
6) Socratic - I am the Doctor
7) Rooney - I Should Have Been After You
8) Houston Calls - Exit, Emergency
9) Jefferson Airplaine - White Rabbit
10) Nightmare of You - The Days Go By So Slow
Posted at 01:42PM Mar 30, 2008 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
Top 10 albums of the year
So I sat down to make this list, granted there are a few more releases yet this year, but I just wrote down all the albums that I liked that came out in 2007. I had about 25 on my post-it note. So I started narrowing it down and I figure nothing coming out the rest of the year can make this list any different. So, in order from best to least best, here is my top 10 albums of 2007.
1) Melee - Devils & Angels
They're my favorite band and I've been looking forward to a new CD from them for about three years. I got to see them two and a half times this summer. They don't often tour this part of the Midwest. So, needless to say, I was very excited. I like "Frequently Baby" and "Biggest Mistake."
2) The Graduate - Anhedonia
Best new band I've seen this year. I never get sick of this CD. I've been listening to it on repeat for the past two weeks. I had never heard of them until I saw them. They started playing and I immediately got out of my seat and went to go stand up front. I have a total crush on this band and their music. I recommend "Sit & Sink," "Stay the Same," "Better Company," and "Anhedonia." Although, this entire CD really is amazing.
3) Sherwood - A Different Light
I really like these guys. Their music is so poppy, light, and refreshing. Check out "Song in My Head."
4) Self Against City - Telling Secrets to Strangers
These guys offer a great CD. Each song is very solid. They played in Vermillion in February. Nice kids. I particularly enjoy track 1, "Becoming a Monster" and track 6, "Tequila Moonlight."
5) Young Love - Too Young to Fight It
I saw these guys open for Good Charlotte last year. I fell in LOVE. They have a kind of synthy edge to them. "Too Young to Fight It" and "Discotech" are two of my favorites.
6) The Fold - Secrets Keep You Sick
This disc is a bit harder than their last, but still has some good pop hooks. "Medicine" regularly gets stuck in my head. Rarely have I met a band so nice as these guys.
7) The Secret Handshake - One Full Year
"Summer of 98" and "Make You Mine" are two of my favorite tracks from this album. I saw this guy in October and he has the energy of ten men. See him live if you get a chance. I saw him open for Jonezetta and I went home really glad I saw him. It's basically one guy, a computer, and live drummer.
8) The High Court - Puppet Strings
It's almost pop punk, but harder. Also, "Whisper to the Clouds" is one of the most profound songs I've ever heard. I saw these guys a couple times in April and again in October. To know that their lead singer wrote this song is incredible. It's about school shootings. And it's really quite catchy.
9) Paulson - All At Once
I didn't think I was going to like these guys. I was wrong. Key tracks are "Calling on You" and "Ultra-High." They're amazing live. Their songs are long, but don't feel like they're long. They still keep my attention.
10) The Rocket Summer - Do You Feel
I had heard of this band prior to seeing them, but I hadn't heard them. Bryce is The Rocket Summer. He has a touring band, but plays all the instruments himself on the record. If you like piano-fueled pop rock, this band is for you. "So Much Love" and "Break it Out" are two of my favorites.
Honorable Mentions:
As I stated earlier I liked a lot of records that came out this year. So here are a few Honorable Mentions (in no order).
Mayday Parade - A Lesson in Romantics
Bayside - The Walking Wounded
Daphne Loves Derby - Goodnight Witness Light
Moros Eros - Jealous Me Was Killed by Curiosity
Anchors for Arms - Listen.React
June - Make it Blur
Feel free to critique my choices and list your own. :)
Posted at 01:49PM Dec 03, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[1]
Vermillion wants a local music scene? You don't act like it.
Vermillion, you never cease to amaze me.
First, some backstory. I've been with Student Musicians Council for about two and a half years. I did my first show April 10, 2005. Back when we still had the CSC, I did about two shows a month. We never broke even. The most kids we ever had at a show were 50.
I've also been doing Ninjafest. This year was my third year. We lost $200 on the event and only 120 kids showed up. Not to say I don't appreciate the ones that did.
But I was reading an article in the Volante the other day that kind of got me going. It was about some SGA funded programming. The thing that really got me was that they interviewed three people. All three said something about bands. One of the kids, "suggested the board organize weekend bowling nights or sponsor multiple band concerts a few times a month." Well kid, to you I ask, WHERE WERE YOU FOR NINJAFEST!?
Another girl mentioned, "She would appreciate having local bands come for the weekend or taking "random trips to the zoo." WHERE WERE YOU FOR NINJAFEST?
One of the board members said, "I really encourage students to participate in activities put on, even if they don't think they'll like the bands. They should come and support (it). Maybe they'll like it." Well, WHERE WERE YOU FOR NINJAFEST?
I have a low tolerance for people like this. There is NO WAY that nobody had heard about Ninjafest. Ever since I've been in this town people have talked about the fact that Vermillion has a sad looking local music scene. Well assholes, how about instead of bitching about it you come and support stuff when it happens? The reason there isn't much of a scene is because it's damn discouraging when you plan something for six months so nobody comes and you lose money.
So Vermillion, if you want a local music scene, act like it. Don't pussyfoot around saying you want something but not supporting it at all when it happens.
Hypocritical jack offs.
Posted at 01:52PM Oct 19, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[3]
The Sleeping - Dew Circuit Breakout Top 12
So I see that I have a little over 100 hits today. I was wondering if you guys & gals could help a sister out.
My friends in The Sleeping are in the top 12 for the Dew Circuit Breakout. For those of you unfamiliar with this, I'll explain.
Mountain Dew Amp sends out these CDs to radio stations with about 12 tracks from 12 different bands. They include a couple songs and the bands talking about their songs & themselves. The Sleeping was on the latest one. If they at least hit the top 6 they will get a lot of media coverage and have a special on MTV. The past two winners have been Hellogoodbye and Halifax.
I'm sure most of you don't know The Sleeping. But they're really cool dudes. They played in Vermillion in the Summer of 2006. They stayed the night at my house. We've been lucky enough to see them about every four months since then. Once in Des Moines, the rest of the times in Omaha. They are seriously some of the nicest, most respectful people I've ever met.
So, if you could help get them to the Top 6 I'd really appreciate it. Out of all the bands up for it, they deserve it the most.
http://dewcircuitbreakout.mtv2.com/artist/default.aspx?artist=1383
Posted at 09:05PM Oct 11, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
Are YOU a music nerd?
Because I am. Check it out!
71.98068% - Extreme Music Nerd
http://www.couplandesque.net/culture/musicnerd.htm
Posted at 10:04PM Sep 27, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
Ninjafest 3 is going down a bumpy road
So, Ninjafest 3 is about eight days away. This weekend is really going to be my last big push of promo. I'm going to a couple shows next week and I have a lot of papers and stuff due.
However, the guy that ran Open Mike's is also planning a music thing the same day as Ninjafest. It seems very 21+ oriented. I don't quite know why he decided to do this. Ninjafest has been booked for six months. He actually asked some of the same bands that are playing Ninjafest to play and mentioned that he knew Ninjafest was going down. He's also including a wet t-shirt contest into the mix.
EDIT: Apparently, after an email I'd recieved, this Bash in Bluffs BS has been planned for a year. According to Mike. I don't know. He said he just started advertising more now. This actually makes me look like the bastard. But how am I supposed to know unless you tell me? I can't. Also, maybe he should have started looking for bands more than two weeks ago. Either way. Looks like we're both here to stay. So, may the best man (or woman, in my case) win.
So come, bring a friend. I really need some solid support right now. Check out the line up at www.myspace.com/ninjafest3
Posted at 11:43AM Sep 14, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
The Academy Is...better than I thought they would be
I had a SUPER FUN time at the show I went to last night. Sherwood, The Rocket Summer, Armor for Sleep, and The Academy Is...all played. The show itself was great. It wasn't sold out so there was room to move which is always good. Especially because I'm getting too old for this squished & pushed around business.
I've liked Sherwood since the first time I saw them. Which was in Verm by the way, they opened for Motion City. The Rocket Summer was a good time. I saw him with Hellogoodbye in May. His name is Bryce and he's about the most adorable guy ever. Armor for Sleep also did a good job. They had to leave right after they were done playing to catch a plane to do a video shoot. So I didn't get to converse with them. I saw them walk out right in front of me though.
I really like The Academy Is... musically. I have for a really really long time. So I was excited to see them, but I didn't really expect much because I thought they'd play more new stuff and that they'd go straight to their bus afterwards. Boy was I wrong. They played nine songs off their old album, including my favorite, "The Phrase that Pays." Also, they were all hanging around outside afterwards signing autographs & taking pictures. I was stoked because I got to meet William Beckett. I did better than I thought I would. Sometimes I tend to get a little star struck. We stood around talking to their camera man Jack for about 45 minutes. He was a cool dude. He also introduced us to a few other guys in The Academy Is... It really helps to have an "in" like that. It makes people think you aren't a douche bag. Needless to say, I'd definately go see them again.
Odd story of the night:
So during AFS I saw some really dumb looking drunk girl slutty dancing. She was really dumb & distracting. Between bands we noticed her getting exponetially drunker. We managed to make fun of her pretty much all night. After the show we were out in the parking lot meeting the bands, getting pictures, talking to people. We're social like that. So I was waiting to say hi to Mikey from Sherwood. He's a cool dude and I hung out a lot with Sherwood when they played in Verm, so they kinda remember me & stuff. And this dumb broad was taking a bunch of pictures with him and yelling and screaming and being a total douche bag. We were all just laughing at her because she looked like she was trying to rape Mikey. I'm a really nice person, but I hate drunk slutty d-bags. So I kinda started hassling her. I told her that she had been annoying me all night and that I didn't like her. Well, apparently she was drunk enough that she really wanted me to like her. She came over and started explaining herself to me. She had some guy there trying to get her to leave. He told me that she didn't know who Mikey was or the band he was in. I said, "Yeah, I can tell by the way she's dressed." She gave me a hug and I just kind shrugged her off & told her to leave. Then she grabbed my boobs and said, "Whoa, you're big" and kissed me on the lips. Her guy friend grabbed her and took her to their waiting taxi and I just stood there in shock. Everybody in the parking lot including Mikey and a group of three random dudes that I'd been taking pictures for were just laughing their asses off. I later heard Mikey talking to his people, "This girl tried to rape me, then she kissed that girl." I'm not a lesbian so this was not enjoyable for me. However, it is an amazingly hilarious story.
Random things happen to me far too often. Sometimes it's bad random (like this) sometimes it's good random (like the time I stayed at a friend's house in Mankato with Socratic then went to see the Hush Sound & Ok Go for free the next day). It really makes me love my life though. It's better than being bound to Vermillion. I have almost no real friends here. So...if you wanna hang out sometime, give me a call or something. I'm the easiest person to get ahold of.
Posted at 02:46PM Sep 09, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[2]
Upcoming Shows
So I like music a lot. I also like going to see bands play. I call these shows. Not concerts. Just because, to me, a concert is like some huge band playing an arena. If I were to see Fall Out Boy at the Mid-America Center it'd be a concert. When I saw Fall Out Boy at the Sokol Auditorium that was a show. Smaller venue, smaller crowd, better atmosphere. See the difference?
This is a list of shows I'm going to in the not so distant future.
September 8 - The Academy Is... / The Rocket Summer / Armor for Sleep / Sherwood @ Sokol Auditorium, Omaha
Sept 14 - Quietdrive / Treaty of Paris / Eyes Catch Fire @ The Rock, Papillion
Sept 16 - Avery / Camera Can’t Lie / Asking Abby / Declare This an Emergency @ Nutty’s North, Sioux Falls
Sept 17 - Cartel / The Honorary Title / Weatherbox @ The Rock
Sept 19 - Valencia / Just Surrender @ The Rock
Sept 21 - Jonezetta / Alesana / Mayday Parade / @ Sokol Underground
Sept 22 - NINJAFEST 3 @ Pro's, Vermillion
Sept 25 - Chiodos / Devil Wears Prada / Alesana @ Sokol Underground
October 3 - Jonezetta / Family Force 5 @ The Rock
Oct 4 - Daphne Loves Derby / The Spill Canvas / PlayRadioPlay @ The Rock
Oct 5 - Monty Are I / Amber Pacific @ The Rock
Oct 12 - The Forecast @ Duffy’s, Lincoln
Oct 13 - Bradley Hathaway @ Sokol Underground
Oct 27 - The Forecast @ Maintenance Shop, Ames
November 1 - Anchors For Arms @ Shea Riley’s
Nov 3 - Moros Eros / Dameria / The Stiletto Formal @ The Rock
Nov 12 - The Audition / All Time Low / Boys Like Girls / Valencia @ Sokol Auditorium
Nov 20 - The Forecast / The Graduate / Spitalfield @ The Rock
Nov 26 - The Sleeping / Bayside / June / A Day To Remember / Driver Side Impact @ The Rock
I've seen a good most of these bands already. But I'm really excited to see them again. It's like seeing old friends.
Posted at 05:31PM Sep 06, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
Ripping CDs into my computer
This takes a RRRREEEEAALLLLLLYYYYY long time. I only have like 20 though. :|
I'll be here a while...
Also. I was buying CDs yesterday when I was in Target in Papillion NE. I picked up three that I wanted and then I decided to put two back. I had "Direction" by The Starting Line, Boys Like Girls' Selftitled, and Chiodos "Alls Well That Ends Well." I thought I'd be able to decided which one I was going to buy by if I had seen them before. Then I thought, "wait a minute, I've seen ALL of these bands before." I ended up getting the new Starting Line disc.
I wish I'd have gotten Chiodos because I found "Direction" at CD Tradepost later for $5. Bummer on a bad decision. CD Tradepost makes me oh-so-happy. If you're in Omaha check 'em out. Used CDs and DVDs for CHEAP.
Posted at 09:34PM Sep 05, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
Lifelight...
As I'm sure many of you know, Lifelight was this weekend. If you are unfamiliar with Lifelight, let me do my best to explain. It's a 3 day Christian music festival. Now, I'm a Christian. So there's really no fundamental flaw with attending. This was my second year at the festival. Last year, I managed to walk into a prayer tent. I was mildly frightened by this and did not make the same mistake this year.
Now let me tell you, I have no problem with super Christians. I'm just not one. I AM Christian, but not like a lot of the people at Lifelight. I think a lot of people go because it's CHRISTIAN music. I go because it's free music, a lot of which I enjoy, that just happens to be Christian. This year I managed to catch Project 86, Family Force 5, The Switch, Stellar Kart, Anberlin, The Skies Revolt, Through a Glass, The Fold, Spoken, Bradley Hathaway, and Showbread. I'm friends with The Switch and The Fold so it was good to see them too.
Anyway, if you didn't go to Lifelight you kind of missed out. I know that when I thought of "Christian Music" I thought of old dudes singing worship songs about Jesus and a bunch of people with their hands in the air. However, if you listen to ANY of the artists I mentioned, you'll see that's not the case. It just happens to be punk, pop punk, rock, pop rock, and a poet that just happen to be talking about or mentioning Jesus in some of their songs. The lead singer of Project 86 once said in an interview, "You don't have to talk about God or Jesus in every song to praise God with your music." And with many of the songs you'd never know the bands were Christian unless you knew them or knew that they were on a traditionally Christian label.
I recommend checking out The Fold, The Switch, Anberlin, Through a Glass, and Bradley Hathaway specifically. They have all gained the Val Pancakes seal of approval.
Posted at 08:00AM Sep 03, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
The Forecast is Amazing
I haven't written anything in a while. Before, I was cranking out something at least once a day. Now...nothing.
Last night I saw the Forecast. I love them. I have for over two years. They played USD and there were like four people there to see them. There's something really good about seeing them. It just makes my heart smile.
It ended up being a real adventure. It was in O'Leavers in Omaha. I'd never been there before, so I used Mapquest to get directions. Mapquest had me turn the wrong direction. Thanks Mapquest. So after spending a half hour driving around lost we finally figured out that Mapquest lied, and eventually found the place. I was really stoked just to get there at this point. I hate being lost. More than anything.
Then the next phase of panic set in. There were no vans & trailers and the place was very run down looking. I would have been PISSED had we drove all that way for nothing. We did a perimeter check and then we just went inside. Just so you know, the place is about as big as a matchbox. That was the first thing I noticed. Then some older (like middle aged) dude came up and started talking to us. He was nice but almost TOO nice. While chatting he told me he was from Parkston and I was a little bit more relieved. I used to hang out there all the time in high school. Throughout the night he proceeded to tell some of the staff we drove down from South Dakota and introduced us to a few people.
The set up was really weird because I had to sit through the Forecast. It's hard for me when I want to get up and move around. Not only was I sitting, I was practically sitting in Dustin's (their guitarist and main male vocalist)lap. They played pretty much every song I really wanted to hear.
It's nice because they remember me everytime I see them. At least enough that I look familiar. I usually see them twice within a month and a half then I don't see them again for almost a year. It was kind of a bummer last night because we didn't really get to talk that much. It was too loud to really converse. Plus they were supposed to play at 8. Which, in Omaha, apparently means 10. Who knew? So the second band didn't get done until 12:30 and bars close at 1 in Omaha. Plus, there were some Saddle Creek kids there. One broad looked at me & my roommate like we were total douche bags. Most of them were pretty chill. There were a lot of alright looking guys there. Not HOT, just better than what Vermillion has to offer.
Which is also weird, I feel more comfortable at a bar in Omaha than I do in Vermillion. I think it's because I'm not in a sort or a frat. Anyway, I'll stop my pondering now. This is already FAR too long.
Check out the Forecast: http://www.myspace.com/theforecast
Posted at 01:16PM Aug 31, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
Positive Feedback
I've been getting some positive feedback on Ninjafest 3. I really hope a lot of kids show up. It's going to be so much fun. I'm really excited about all the bands this year. Besides, where else can you get 12 hours of entertainment for $5 or less?
Posted at 10:18AM Aug 27, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
Just my luck
So I was really sad about Down to Earth Approach breaking up. But I was excited because they had a date at the Rock that was going to go to on the 25th. I posted a comment on absolutepunk, as did many people, expressing my sadness about the breakup. I also mentioned that I was glad I could see them before that happened.
Then last night, I saw I had an email from one Jonathan Lullo. He is the lead singer of Down to Earth Approach. He told me that their van is effed up and that they won't be playing the show in Papillion. He said he wanted to let me know before I drove three hours to not see them there. I thought it was really cool that he found my hotmail email address on absolutepunk and emailed me. Although it was very disappointing news.
This brings my total to FOUR. Total for what you ask? Total for bands I was going to see in August that cancelled.
In cronological order:
Moros Eros - August 1
The Graduate - August 18
Rookie of the Year - August 23
Down to Earth Approach - August 25
This kind of stuff really gets me down.
Posted at 03:32PM Aug 23, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]
The Sleeping...on My Super Sweet Sixteen
So. I hate this damn show. However, I now have to try to catch the rerun from last night. My friends' band The Sleeping is on it.
It's weird to think about. A band that I'd say I'm fairly good friends with has been on a terrible MTV reality show.
EDIT: I've learned that it was the one where My Chemical Romance played. However, the girl has/had cancer, so it's alright and actually really nice.
What a feel good moment.
Posted at 09:41AM Aug 21, 2007 by Valerie Bartlett in Music | Comments[0]