Wild Belle @ the Metro 10/26/13

I've been looking forward to writing this post even before I attended this concert due to my extreme anticipation! Wild Belle is a relatively new band that has gained tons of exposure in the past year due to their unique sound. The band consists of siblings Natalie and Elliot Bergman (their Aunt is actress Anne Heche by the way, no big deal.) They are from Barrington, IL, which is awesome because they're local and successful! Natalie is only 23 years old, which is mind-blowing. She does vocals for the band and also plays the keyboard and guitar. Elliot also sings, but mainly plays the saxophone (it's a bass saxophone so it's MASSIVE!) and various other instruments. Since their debut album Isles came out in March 2013 on Columbia Records, the band has played Coachella, Lollapalooza, featured on Conan and many other places. They have been to Chicago numerous times and every time they were here I was couldn't go which was why I came home from school to see them this past weekend. I had never been to the Metro prior to seeing them so it was a weekend of firsts. The venue is very similar to Lincoln Hall (which Wild Belle has played before) in terms of layout. The main floor easily occupies 100 or more people and the balcony holds about 100 as well. I really enjoyed the venue and would definitely like to see more bands there in the future!

The opening act for Wild Belle was a band out of New Jersey called Saint Rich. I didn't look them up before the show so I had no idea what to expect so when I saw four very young looking guys take the stage I was pretty surprised! They literally looked like they were still in high school. It turns out after further research that they may or may not be in high school because their bio wasn't very detailed. Anyways, the lead singer's mic was turned down the entire time so no one could understand what he was saying! I felt really bad for him and it was a shame that happened because the band itself was good, just sucked not being able to hear the singer! They played for about 30 minutes before Wild Belle took the stage. Since this was their last show on their tour, a lot of their family and friends were there and they actually had most of the balcony sectioned off for that reason. When they took the stage the entire crowd went crazy! I could tell that a lot of people were fans and had seen them before because I hear a few people talking in line about how good they were at Lolla this past August. Natalie wore these really cool skinny jeans that were shimmery, I want a pair! She also wore an interesting belt that had a knife attached to it (I should invest in getting myself one!). Elliot also wore a cool outfit! The entire band is just awesome and they really looked like they get along great. It was really sweet to see Natalie and her brother talk and smile at each other during their set. She looked extremely happy to be there, which makes sense since they're from Chicago and it was their last show of a long tour.
I took pictures on my phone this time because my camera is bulky and I didn't want to carry it around with me since I was really close to the stage. I took lots of pictures and snippets of most of the songs. The reason I didn't record entire songs is because that distracts me from being in the present and I didn't want to watch the show through a screen. I will be seeing them the next time they tour, so maybe I'll take longer videos then but since it was the first time seeing them I wanted to really experience it. They started off with It's Too Late with Natalie on guitar. They then went on to play all of the songs off the album and 2 that were not on the album. One of them is a song Natalie wrote when she wasn't in Wild Belle and it's called Mrs. Franklin. Such a good song. I literally love every song on their album which is something I can't say for anybody that I listen to!  Keep You is their song that most people would know but others have been used in various movies. I am so grateful that I finally got to see them live, it was one of the best live shows I have ever seen. Nothing fancy, just pure, raw talent which is rare these days in music. CHECK THEM OUT and see them if they come to your area on their next tour! If anyone has seen them before, leave me a comment at the bottom of this post! :)

   

 

     

 

The one and only critical music post I'll ever write.

So for the first time since starting this blog, I'm going to post negatively about music. Not all music, but today's music. I have attended many fantastic concerts and am very thankful for the opportunity to see some of those artists. This will be the only negative post I'll write about music because with the exception of today's current music, it is a positive aspect of my life and I'm sure most people's lives.

The event that compelled me to even think about writing this was the VMA's. Normally, I could care less about these awards due to the fact that 1.) I don't really keep up with the current music trends and could never tell you who has the number one song on the charts. 2.) I frankly think they don't focus on what they're supposed to, which is music VIDEOS. Yes, I understand that to keep the show exciting they need live performances, but what happens when the performance is nothing like the videos? Exhibit A (the only exhibit of last night): Miley Cyrus. Okay, can I just seriously ask a question that I'm sure everyone is asking...WHERE ARE HER PARENTS?! Oh, and another one...who in their right (wrong!) mind would even allow her to perform like that when they know young kids will be watching? It's no wonder kids grow up wanting to be "famous", they think that acting completely insane and trashy will get people to like them. The video itself was over the top, but her performance was even worse. It would've been so much more interesting to see her just sing the song without acting like a psycho. It also upset me that they paired her with Robin Thicke to sing his song Blurred Lines. That's one of my favorite songs and I was so looking forward to seeing HIM perform it, sans Miley. Seeing Miley's "performance" made me highly question our society and the way we see music today. Personally, I don't call that music, I call it shock value. When artists really want to shock people, they put out music videos that they know people will talk about to accompany less than mediocre songs. If Lady GaGa's performance was boring compared to Miley Cyrus's, there is a problem. That's all I have to say about her considering I still am in disbelief at what I saw less than 24 hours ago, which says a lot considering nothing ever really shocks me anymore. Music today really makes me want to start a rockin' band that actually makes songs that mean something. I've been playing my guitar more, so I just might!

A positive aspect of last night: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE. I could write for days on how fabulously amazing this guy is! Seriously. I have been a fan since N'SYNC and will never stop being a fan. He is constantly professional in a world of unprofessional talent. He single-handedly turned an entire show around in less than 20 minutes, just by performing like a normal person. Just seeing how many great songs he has put out and still maintained relevance in the ever-changing music scene shows how his immense talent level. I don't care if he was on for 20 minutes, it was a well-deserved showcase of his abilities as an artist and a breath of fresh air compared to the other performers. Everyone loves him and honestly find it hard for someone not to like him! He's humble, classy, and never fails to re-invent himself. He was so deserving of the awards he won and I know he will continue to change up the music industry in a brilliant manner. The main highlight for me, and I'm sure most of the viewers, was when N'SYNC came out on stage. I never got the chance to see them perform live in their hay-day so seeing them re-united made my 3rd grade self extremely sentimental and happy. I also enjoyed seeing Jimmy Fallon talk about Justin and making him blush, so precious! Well, like I said I could literally dedicate an entire post to JT but that will probably come at a later date so I'll spare you now...for now haha.

If anyone has any comments or wants to share what their favorite parts of the show were, leave me a comment!

~Ava

Divine Fits at Taste of Randolph 6/14 + 21st birthday!

Since I first heard Spoon front-man Britt Daniel's new band Divine Fits, seeing them live was on the top of my concert list.The members are Britt, Dan Boeckner (from Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs), Sam Brown (from New Bomb Turks) and Alex Fischel. When I found out they were playing Taste of Randolph it was a given that I was going, especially since I had missed them twice due to being at school. My Mom's friend Cathy's son Sam is the drummer (He's unbelievable! Seriously the best drummer I've ever seen.) so that made seeing them even more important! Since Cathy had never been to Chicago, she came for the concert and brought her daughter Candace (Sam's sister). We had so much fun! Before the show, we got to hang out with the band for awhile. They were so easy to talk to and extremely nice! We talked about cities they'd been to so far and their upcoming shows. They were leaving for Bonnaroo the next day and then I found out they played at Third Man Records 2 days later. Being a massive Jack White fan, I was so excited for them and can only imagine how cool that must've been! We also got to go backstage during the show, which was awesome because I'd never gone backstage before except when I worked the concert at school. My 21st birthday was on the 16th, so I told them that and Dan said Happy Birthday to me on stage later in the show! It was also Candace's birthday the next day, so he said Happy Birthday to her too, which was really cool. They played all of the songs from their debut album, A Thing Called Divine Fits, as well as two covers including You got Lucky by Tom Petty and Lost by Frank Ocean. After the show, we hung out with Dan and Sam more and they said that this was one of their best shows in awhile. It was clear that all of them connected well and they seem to get along with each other.  I got pictures with the band and also some from their set. The entire weekend was great because it was my 21st birthday weekend and it was filled with good music! On Sunday (my actual birthday) I saw the Heavy at the Double Door, which was cool since it's a 21+ venue and I could get in. I had never been there so I didn't know what to expect besides what other people had said about it. It was a bit grungy and old, but it was still fun to experience it on my birthday! I'd definitely go back and see other bands there because it was a nice sized place and there's a small balcony where you can sit down and still see. Anyways, both concerts were great and if you have the chance to see Divine Fits, DO IT. They're incredible and it's cool to see members of other successful bands get together and have a great time playing incredible music!

 

 Dan and I.

 Sam aka the best drummer on the planet.

 Britt!

 View from backstage

 

Rodriguez @ The Arie Crown Theater 5/17/13

This past Friday I got the chance to see Rodriguez, aka Sugarman. This man is a LEGEND and always will be.  I first heard about him when my Mom told me she saw him on 60 Minutes about a year ago. I immediately looked him up and his story absolutely blew me away. If you watch the documentary made about him, called Searching for Sugarman, you will understand. He has been around for many years and gained success in South Africa and Australia but not in his own country, the US. Check out the documentary to find out more about his life, but his story is extremely inspiring and I am SO glad that he is finally getting the success he deserves. This concert was at the Arie Crown Theater and it was my first time seeing a show there. The theater is pretty big so there really wasn't a bad seat. I sat in the 3rd row of the first balcony and it was actually a great spot! I met a guy and his parents that were sitting in the row in front of me and they were really cool. The guy was literally a boy version of me. He knew about all my favorite bands and he was only a Freshman in high school! Plus, he was at a Rodriguez concert so he obviously has good music taste. The opening act was Jenny O. and they were awesome! I love California bands so it was a given that I would enjoy them. I actually downloaded a few of her songs and I encourage you do to the same if you like their vibe. I can't even imagine how it would be to be the opening act for someone like Rodriguez. I would be so honored and stoked! Anyways, Rodriguez played for what literally felt like hours haha but it was really about an hour and a half (which is still pretty long!). He played songs of the album Cold Fact, which was a big hit and a lot of people sang along. He also played a few covers which he also did fantastically. I actually felt sad when it was over because I had been looking forward to it for so long and then it was done. I usually don't feel like that unless it's someone I reaaally wanted to see and he was one of those artists! Word is he's currently working on a third album so when that comes out you can bet I'll be purchasing it and seeing him on his next tour. (P.S I only took 2 pictures because I was in the balcony and couldn't really zoom soooo here ya go!)

~Ava

Today is the day!

I'm seeing Rodriguez AKA Sugarman today! Words cannot describe how excited I am to see this amazingly talented man. He is an inspiration and his story is incredible. ALSO, in other concert news, I'm seeing The Heavy at the Double Door on June 16th (which also happens to be my 21st birthday! Awesome, right?!) Even though my birthday lands on Father's Day AND a Sunday this year, I'm still gonna have some fun! This will be the first concert I've attended on my actual birthday so this is a treat. I will also be attending the Taste of Randolph fest on Friday, June 14th to see the Divine Fits. (My Mom's friend's son is the drummer so it will be awesome to meet them!) Such a jam-packed weekend but it'll definitely be a birthday to remember. Feel free to leave me a comment if you're going to any of these shows or are seeing any other good bands!

~Ava

Concert Update!

I'm seeing Rodriguez a.k.a Sugarman in a few weeks! (May 17th) Stoked is an understatement. My Mom told me about him after seeing a special on 60 Minutes last year and his story is incredible. Please look it up and watch the documentary that actually shows how he got re-discovered, it's called Searching for Sugarman. This man is a legend and I am SO happy that he's getting the recognition he deserves. By the time the concert rolls around I plan on memorizing the entire album so I can sing along like a fool to my favorite song Sugarman. Another favorite of mine is Crucify your Mind but all of his songs are fabulous and I wish I could come up with lyrics as meaningful as his. All of his songs are autobiographical which is somewhat of a novelty these days! I like being able to feel as if I went through what the artist went through and really being moved by songs. Needless to say I'm beyond excited and can't wait to share my experience with everyone! AND if he is coming to a city anywhere near you, GO SEE HIM! He's 70 years old and I'm not sure how many more tours he will do after this so I (Yes, me!) actually bought balcony seats just so I can see him in person before he's not touring anymore. I NEVER buy seats other than main floor so that should tell you how important it is to me that I see him. In other concert news, Portugal. The Man is coming to House of Blues June 20th and I'm thinking about going. Also, Jane's Addiction is coming with Alice in Chains in August but I'll be in school then (TYPICAL.) I can't wait to graduate next May so I can just go to concerts whenever I want. So if anyone is looking for any good shows coming up, there ya have it!


P.S Comment if you're going to any shows this summer, I'm always on the look-out but sometimes I find out when it's too late! 

~Ava

This is the song Sugarman, hope you like it as much as I do! (Credit to YouTube)

Summer is coming...

And I FINALLY have a concert lined up! I'm going to the Taste of Randolph fest for the first time which is June 14th-16th. This also happens to be my birthday weekend, I'll be turning 21! The Divine Fits are playing and my Mom's friend's son is the drummer (Go Sam!) so it's a must that I see them.  Also, the Joy Formidable and JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound are playing so that's also a plus. The Joy Formidable is a band that I saw at Lolla the last year I attended and they were so cool, they had a giant cat head on the stage! JC Brooks and Uptown Sound are just awesome so I'm excited to see them. He sings the song "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart". SO GOOD, listen to it! Other than this fest, I've got no other shows lined up yet since I'm not attending Lolla this year (by choice). Tickets have already sold out....seriously?! There's definitely something weird going on because when I went there would be tickets up until the weekend of. Oh well, I had a great 6 years and I'm really lucky that I got to see the people that I did. (End rant) Anyways, if anyone is going to any good shows or knows of any, leave me a comment because I need to make up for the year of no concerts! 

~Ava

Mayor Hawthorne @ Park West 5/17/12

This is a bit late due to the fact that I totally forgot about this concert and have been in MAJOR need of attending one! So this is from last May and it was the last concert I went to, which is the longest time I've ever gone without seeing one (not okay!). Anyways, Mayor Hawthorne is great and Park West is an awesome venue. It has this old school lounge type vibe and the inside reminds me of something that would be in New York! The entire venue has tables, chairs, booths, an upstairs section, a full bar and a smaller floor for concerts. The stage wasn't too big, but it was a good size for the venue. I found a picture of it because I'm sure my description is lacking! (Credit to whoever took this, I just found it on Google!)

As you can see, there are plenty of places to sit which was nice because sometimes I like sitting during shows. Now, back to the actual concert. I only knew one song by Mayor Hawthorne but it was fine because it was apparent that the other people only knew that song too! P.S The song is called The Walk and it's great, cheeeeck it out. I have no idea who the opening band was, couldn't even tell ya their name so they obviously didn't have a huge musical impact on me but the crowd seemed to enjoy them! They were kinda psychedelic and I was more entertained by the choice of background patterns that were displayed constantly behind them. Me and my friend explored the rest of the venue, mainly the upstairs because it was really cool and a perfect view of the stage. Mayor Hawthorne finally came on and the crowd instantly went crazy. His band was so cool and they were all dressed to the nine in suits and ties. He has a very old-school vibe, kind of like Bruno Mars. I wish more artists were like that! The concert was great and he was very interactive with the crowd, which was refreshing to see. I really liked how he actually engaged with us and made us a part of the show. Of course, he played the beginning of The Walk when I was in the bathroom. (Typical!) I didn't miss much though and I got to hear most of the song. This concert wasn't on the top of my list, mainly because I knew a small amount of his music but I would still encourage you to see him at some point!

You know what time it is.....picture time!

                                             

See what I mean by the backgrounds? Super distracting.

 ^This was really cool.

 That hair!

 Mayor! So precious.

 This was my FAVORITE thing that happened during the show, they posed for a good 5 minutes during the song haha.

 This one is also great.

Me and my friend Callie! We went to Denny's after, diner food is the best after-concert food. :)

~Ava

Coachella Lineup

So the lineup for Coachella came out last week and I honestly have mixed feelings about it. I haven't been to it yet but every year the schedule is a good indication of some of the bands that will be at Lolla (which I will be attending this year!).  Here's a link to the lineup: http://www.coachella.com/lineup

Coachella is a bit different than the other fests because it's 2 weekends instead of 1 and the same artists play both weekends, which I just found out.  It's also earlier in the year, usually in mid-April.
The headliners didn't blow me away, considering most of them have played at Lolla previous years. I've honestly gotta admit that I have no clue who the Stone Roses or Blur are so that kind of scares me a little considering they're well known enough to be headlining. (BLUR. SONG 2. It suddenly hit me that I actually do know them!) I still have no idea about the other band, but I just listened to their song called I Wanna be Adored and they sound like a typical 80's band from England. Sorry to anyone that is a fan! Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Phoenix, Lou Reed, Vampire Weekend, RHCP, and a lot of the other bands have played at Lolla numerous times. I wouldn't say that I was surprised that RHCP was playing, considering they're from California. I wasn't that impressed with the headliners, but  I WAS impressed with the non-headliners. ( I would refer to them as "smaller bands" but most of them aren't so small anymore!)

 I really like some of the non-headlining bands like Portugal. The Man, Of Monsters and Men, Two Door Cinema Club, Passion Pit, Band of Horses and many others. The coolest thing EVER is that my Mom's friend's son is the new drummer for the Divine Fits, who are playing Coachella for the first time this year! The Divine Fits is a group formed by the lead singer of Spoon, who is also the lead singer in this band. Go check them out, you won't be disappointed! I'm hoping they play Lolla so I can meet them, which would be AWESOME. I've never met anyone at Lolla without having to wait in line forever/pay for their CDs that I already own but forgot to bring. I'm just looking forward to see who is playing at Lolla this summer!   

Sooooooo...are you happy about the lineup? Anyone you would/wouldn't have picked? Has anyone reading this ever been to Coachella? Let me know in the comment box! :)

-Ava

Palladia

This is my first non-concert related post in awhile! Unfortunately school has been putting a damper on my concert-going, but I've been keeping up with tours anyways! I would LOVE to see Atlas Genius with Imagine Dragons at the House of Blues March 4th & 5th but I have a feeling they'll be at Lolla this summer (I hope!). I've also been watching a lot of Palladia, which is the coolest channel! If you have Comcast, it's on channel 209. This channel plays TONS of programs, including Storytellers and Unplugged. It's a great way to discover new bands because they often play full-length concerts and festivals. It's also cool because there's something different every night, whether it's Daryl's House ( Daryl Hall from Hall and Oats has artists come into his house and play music + cook!) or a music awards show. Palladia really has something for everyone and anyone that loves music should definitely check it out! It's kind of a best kept secret because not many people know about it. I love when they feature an entire week of music festivals because they play the ones from Europe, which look AWESOME! Watching them seriously makes me want to jump on a plane for a weekend and experience it. Other programs I enjoy are Storytellers and Unplugged. Both programs feature an artists/band, but Storytellers is a little different because they artists tell the stories behind their songs. I always think it's interesting to hear what one of my favorite songs is really about, especially when the meaning is totally different than I thought. Unplugged is also awesome because the songs get stripped down and you can hear the songs acoustically. My favorite Unplugged sessions are Nirvana and Young the Giant, among others. Nirvana's Unplugged felt special and unlike the other sessions. I liked it so much that I even own it on DVD! Young the Giant's songs sound great acoustic or standard and they have such a cool vibe going. If this post doesn't convince you to watch Palladia then I don't know what will haha but from a fellow music lover, it's the next best thing to a concert! :)