Journal

Wed 21 Oct – Weezer, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head

Weezer took over The Grand Ballroom @ The Regency Center tonight in San Francisco for a Myspace secret show.

The show was free and they fit in as many people as they could into the place.

Natalie Portman's Shaved Head took the stage at 7:45 and went through their usual fun set of songs about sideways ponytails, facial hair & slow motion tag teams. Always a fun live band and tonight was no exception.

After a half hour wait, Weezer took the stage.
Now, after their hit-filled, crowd pleasing set from the Blink tour I thought we might either be in for more of the same, or they would go the same route as Green Day had for their secret shows earlier this year and just play the new album in it's entirety before a 2nd set of hits.
Emerging with all the guys donning white sweat suits, they jumped straight into the hits.

Set List (In Order):
Hash Pipe
Undone - The Sweater Song
Troublemaker
Surf Wax America
Perfect Situation
(If You Are Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
Say It Ain't So
Why Bother
My Name Is Jonas
Island In The Sun
Can't Stop Partyin'
Photograph
Song 2 (Blur Cover)
I'm Your Daddy
Pork N Beans
Beverly Hills
---------------
War Pigs (Black Sabbath)
Kids (MGMT)/Poker Face (Lady Gaga)
Buddy Holly

Overall, damn good, high-energy, hit-filled show. I don't think anyone there could have been disappointed in that set list.
Lacked some "El Scorcho" & "Dope Nose" among others, but for an hour & 15 minutes and a free show, I couldn't have asked for much more.
Rivers saying "This is a secret show, so don't go tweeting or Facebooking about it" was a bit ironic, considering it was a MYSPACE secret show...he also danced around with a friend of mine's large pink bra that she threw on stage (she got it at a Tom Jones show).

Go catch these guys on the upcoming tour. They're on their game and they are definitely crowd pleasers, and maybe even the most die hard Pinkerton & Blue Album elitists can bob their heads to some of their old school favorites and the rockin' new ones.

This morning's show was the 1st official Dallas Osborn (DJ Zip-lock) Radio experience, The 'Oven Fresh' music show. Streams every Monday morning 10 AM - Noon @ http://www.ksfsradio.org

RIYL = Recommended If You Like

Playlist:
Brand New - "Welcome To Bangkok"
Anberlin - "True Faith" (New Order Cover)
The Limousines - "Very Busy people" RIYL: Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Sonny, Innerpartysystem
Switchfoot - "Mess of Me"
The Constellations - "Love is a Murder" (Feat. Cee-Lo) - RIYL: Gnarls Barkley, MGMT
Blink 182 - "Aliens Exist"
The Music - "Drugs"
Neon Trees - "Drop Your Weapon" - RIYL: The Killers
Radford - "Dead Heart" - RIYL: Our Lady Peace,
Shirock - "New Solution" - RIYL: The Lovemakers, Shiny Toy Guns
UME - "The Conductor" - RIYL: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sonic Youth
Closure In Moscow - "We Want Guarantees" - RIYL: Saosin, The Mars Volta
Silversun Pickups - "The Royal We"
The Temper Trap - "Science of Fear"
Armchair Cynics - "Ablaze" - RIYL: The Exies, Theory of a Deadman
One Second 2 Late - "Fear of a Nation" - RIYL: Rise Against, Chronic Future
AFI - "Fainting Spells"
Nural - "The Hits Keep Coming" - RIYL: Story of the Year, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Brave Citizens - "How Much Longer?" - RIYL: Anberlin, dredg
The Dangerous Summer - "The Permanent Rain"
Marianas Trench - "Perfect" - RIYL: All-American Rejects, Hedley
Mute Math - "Electrify"
I Am Empire - "You're a Fake!" - RIYL: Story of the Year, Madina Lake
Paramore - "Brick By Boring Brick"
MrNorth - "Speak No Evil" - RIYL: Oar, U2
Early States - "Back To The Start" - RIYL: Augustana, The Fray, Sleeping at Last
Muse - "The Resistance"
Inward Eye - "Day After Day" - RIYL: Sum 41, The Flatliners, The Explosion
The Classic Crime - "Just a Man"

Woo!

This morning, 8/31/09 the "Oven Fresh" radio show began the semester on San Francisco State's KSFS radio
http://ksfsradio.org/

My show is one that will feature mostly new music from unsigned/independent artist/and new tunes about to dominate your radio.
I will make "Border Patrol" a battle between 2 imports from different countries a mid-show staple.
O, and the occasional co-host will join me.

My first show was a training/test things out/learn the ropes kinda deal...and here's the playlist:
Anberlin - "True Faith" (New Order Cover)
There For Tomorrow - "A Little Faster"
Silversun Pickups - "The Royal We"
Neon Trees - "Drop Your Weapon"
The Constellations - "Love Is a Murder" (Feat. Cee-Lo)
Middle Class Rut - "Busy Bein' Born"
The Music - "Drugs"
Hockey - "Too Fake"
The Used - "Sold My Soul"
Monty Are I - "One In a Million"
Halos - "Amalgam"
Weezer - "(If You Are Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To"
Thrice - "In Exile"
Stray Palace - "Changed" (Black Lab side project)
Mute Math - "Electrify"
run the red light - "Side"
The Dangerous Summer - "The Permanent Rain"
The Dead Weather - "Treat Me Like Your Mother"
The Temper Trap - "Science of Fear"
Closure In Moscow - "We Want Guarantees"
Vogue In The Movement - "Fire on the Dance Floor"
Audrye Sessions - "Nothing Pure Can Stay"
Dizzy Balloon - "Raise a Glass"
Spitalfield - "On The Floor"
Innerpartysystem - "The Way We Move"
Nural - "The Hits Keep Coming"
The Limousines - "Very Busy People" (Remix)

Ya, I had my share of screw up, pressing the wrong CD player, not turning the mic on, NOT TURNING IT OFF, but it was a good time.

Expect the Oven Fresh show to return (debut) in it's full, freshly baked, glory on 9/14 @ 10 AM.
and every monday after that from 10-noon.

Tonight I got to produce Live 105 (San Francisco, alternative KITS 105.3) new music show Soundcheck w/ Music director Aaron Axelsen, here's what was played:

7PM ARTIST TRACK
White Lies - To Lose My Life
Settle - Murder
Audrye Sessions (Local) Relentless
Freeland - Under Control
Julian Plenti - Games For Days (Interpol side project)
This Providence - Letdown (soundcheck premiere)
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - 40 Days
Band Of Skulls - I Know What I Am
The Freshmen (Local) - Hello There
Silversun Pickups - The Royal We
The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
The Matches (local) Wake The Sun
Dragonette - I get around (for fans of Metric)
Rancid - Up To No Good
Hockey - Too Fake

8PM ARTIST TRACK
Nico Vega - Gravity
Anberlin True Faith (New Order cover)
Division Day - Chalk Lines
Set Your Goals (local) - This Will Be The Death Of Us
Spoon -Got Nuffin
Blaqk Audio - No New Tale To Tell (Love and Rockets Cover)
Manchester Orchestra - Shake It Out
Rebelution - Lazy Afternoon
NOFX - Creeping Out Sara
Arctic Monkeys - Crying Lightning
The Gossip -Love Long Distance
sleepnoise (local) Penance
Muse -Plug In Baby
War Tapes - Dreaming Of You
Hey Champ - Cold Dust Girl (for fans of: The Faint, electro, Paper Route
I Am Empire (locaal) - You're A Fake! - emo/rock

9PM ARTIST TRACK
The Magic Wands - Black Magic
After Midnight Project - Take me Home
The Action Design (local) - Chamber Of Hellos (Wire Train Cover)
Passion Pit - To Kingdom Come
All Time Low -Weightless (soundcheck premiere)
Sonic Youth - Anti-Orgasm
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll
MC Lars Feat. K.Flay (local) - Single and Famous
Sea Wolf - Wicked Blood
Owl City - Fireflies
Beastie Boys Feat. Nas - Too Many Rappers
The Hundred Days (local) - So What
Leather feather (local) The Future - for fans of Scars on Broadway

Another solid mix of new, local, unsigned, imports, independent and all around awesome music.
here's the show's official page: http://www.live105.com/pages/74867.php

If anyone would like more (recommended if you like) from this show, I can hook that up as best I can.

Tune in every sunday night from 7-10 PM (PST) @ www.live105.com

This wasn't one of my better years, but musically, it felt just fine.

I still work for San Francisco's alternative/rock station Live 105 on the Action Team which is a great great job that allowed for me to see many of the shows I did see in 2008.
I also began writing for A&R blog www.crazedhits.com in March until July when I began writing exclusively for www.kingsofar.com

My weekly column is called "Soundcheck" and I'll post those on here too in 2009. I'll start here with a little recap of '08 and then move onto what I see happening on 2009 as well as what I've been anticipating.

Now, for what happened in 2008:
Albums - Last year bands like The Arcade Fire and The National topped a ton of best of lists, while this year we saw TV on the Radio & Vampire Weekend represent that genre on the same lists...As for me, I still haven't grown to appreciate such critically indie rock & roll.

Excluding my favorite album of the year, which was also my #1 album of 2006, from bay area piano rock band Thriving Ivory due to it being a re-release, I can compile this list of Top albums:

In no particular order, because in 2008 we had many solid albums, but nothing that blew me away.

Anberlin - New Surrender
The Classic Crime - The Silver Cord
Butch Walker - Sycamore Meadows
Innerpartysystem - S/T
Children 18:3 - S/T
The Script - S/T
People in Planes - Beyond The Horizon
My Favorite Highway - How To Call A Bluff
The Getaway Plan - [i]Other Voices, Other Rooms[/i]

It feels like I listened to hundreds of albums in 2008, and this small list can represent what I listened to the most as a whole. Don't get me wrong, a lot of what I heard this past year was fantastic, but nothing that will really stick with me for years to come; in fact many of these may see re-releases in the next year and make their fair share of 'Best of '09' lists.

Bands I saw Live in 2009: (#) How many times this year
Against Me!
Aiden Hawken
Alkaline Trio
All Time Low
The Almost
American Steel
Anberlin (3)
Angels & Airwaves (2)
Apocalyptica
Army of Me
ASHES dIVIDE
Audrye Sessions
Augustana (Acoustic)
Automatic Loveletter

[b]B[/b]
Bloc Party
Brand New
Brave Citizens
The Bravery

[b]C[/b]
Carolina Liar
The Chain Gang of 1974
Circa Survive
The Classic Crime
Cut Copy
Cypress Hill (2)

[b]D[/b]
Datarock
De Novo Dahl (2)
Death Cab for Cutie
Deerhunter
Dizzy Balloon

[b]E[/b]
Elliot Randall
Emery
Envy on the Coast
Eric Hutchinson
The Expendables

[b]F[/b]
Family Force 5 (2)
Flobots
Foo Fighters
Forever the Sickest Kids (3)
Franz Ferdinand
From First to Last

[b]I[/b]
Innerpartysystem (2)

[b]J[/b]
Jack's Mannequin (2)
Jimmy Eat World
John Vanderslice

[b]K[/b]
Katy Perry
Kill Hannah
The Killers (2)

[b]L[/b]
Linkin Park
Low Vs Diamond (2)
Ludo (2)

[b]M[/b]
The Matches (2)
Matt Nathanson
Mayday Parade
The Medic Droid
Moby (DJ Set)
Motion City Soundtrack
Mute Math

[b]N[/b]
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
Neon Trees
Nine Inch Nails

[b]O[/b]
Okkervil River
Oslo

[b]P[/b]
P.O.S.
Panic at the Disco
Paramore
The Parlor Mob
Picture Atlantic
The Pirate Signal The Presidents of the United States of America

[b]R[/b]
The Raconteurs
Relient K
Rise Against
The Rocket Summer

[b]S[/b]
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Sonny
Story of the Year
Straylight Run

[b]T[/b]
Tally Hall
Tegan and Sara
There For Tomorrow
Thrice
Thriving Ivory (3)
Tokyo Police Club
Treaty of Paris
The Trophy Fire

[b]V[/b]
Vampire Weekend
Vedera
Velvet Revolver

[b]W[/b]
We The Kings
Weezer
The Whigs
The White Tie Affair
The Wombats

[b]Y[/b]
Yeasayer

[b]Z[/b]
Ziggy Marley

And That's the list - Best performances: [b]Foo Fighters[/b] @ Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA 2/2/08
[b]Nine Inch nails[/b] - Oracle Arena - 9/5/08
[b]Thriving Ivory[/b] - Great American Music Hall - 4/18/08
[b]Matt Nathanson[/b] is a great showman
[b]Innerpartysystem[/b] has a hell of a light show
[b]Cypress Hill[/b] was work-related, they had an 8 foot bong on stage for their show on 4/20.
[b]All Time Low[/b] loves penis jokes
Warped Tour can still be fun, Outside Lands is an adventure & Treasure Island Music Festival really is cool.
I have many other thoughts, but too many to tell, lotsa shows, lotsa good stuff, lots of fun. Best day: Warped Tour @ Shoreline, Mountain View, CA 8/15/08

Now for the 2009 Crystal ball - Who Will Break out in 2009:

While we all contemplate on ways the industry can reinvent itself to survive in 2009 we can also look to see which bands will help in the survival of record labels and the industry itself.

Fresh Signings: 2008 saw the signings of some less than stellar talent (Hyper Crush), but it also saw plenty of quality artists receive deals from majors, some of which may have a big impact in the coming months.
Tamar is an Interscope signing with a song that could be 2009’s “Love Song” with her track “New Day”


Universal was also busy this past year and snatched up another talented female singer/songwriter in Erin McCarley who’s single “Pony (It’s Ok)” has already been featured in a Rhapsody commercial and as the year’s first iTunes free single of the week.

Atlantic should see the release of Ryan Star’s long awaited major label debut “11:59”. A great singer who can write some great hooks; I expect a single strong enough to make a splash on the Hot AC and Top 40 charts, try “Right Now”. for fans of: Graham Colton, Tonic, NEEDTOBREATHE

Virgin will see releases from power ballad rockers Adelitas Way (for fans of: Hinder, David Cook) and solid Virginia pop/punk band My Favorite Highway (for fans of: The Rocket Summer, The Maine. Both are potential big time bands that bring a familiar sound to radio.

Trying some things that are a bit less formulaic is what I hear as a meshing of the sounds MGMT and Mickey Avalon in another Universal act (stateside) – Iglu & Hartly hoping to establish themselves with a polarizing single called “In This City” that did well in the UK and looks to do the same at Alternative here in the early part of 2009.

Some other notable signings to watch:
CAVO – WB signed these St. Louis rockers and sent them into the studio with David Bendeth to record their full length. Check “Champagne”.

Barcelona & Paper Route([url=http://www.myspace.com/paperroute nofollow=yes]http://www.myspace.com/paperroute[/url]) are two more Universal signings that will see releases in 2009. Check Barcelona’s first single, “It’s About Time” & Paper Route’s “Are We All Forgotten”.

Notables from Across The Pond:
Perhaps the band most likely to make a big name for themselves in the states this year is a band that has already experienced international success: The Script Check singles like “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” & “Breakeven” as well as former iTunes free single of the week, “Before the Worst”. (for fans of: OneRepublic, Maroon 5

Glasvegas – one of the bigger UK buzz bands these days is Glasvegas. Their first single “Geraldine” will help get them noticed stateside in the new year.

Alphabeat – “Fascination” – innocent pop hasn’t sounded this sweet for a long time. Hopefully a North American run opening for Katy Perry can help make a name for this Danish group. for fans of: The B-52s, Wham!, innocent pop

Closure In Moscow ([url=http://www.myspace.com/closureinmoscow nofollow=yes]www.myspace.com/closureinmoscow[/url]) - Equal Vision could see their next Chiodos/Circa Survive type with these Australians.

What To Watch For, Who May See Deals in the New Year:

Neon Trees - Utah indie rockers with lots of potential.

runner runner ([url=http://www.myspace.com/runnerunnermusic nofollow=yes]www.myspace.com/runnerunnermusic[/url]) – A band with radio friendly, surefire hits can’t stay unsigned for too much longer – check “So Obvious” & “Believe”.

Settings - one of the most talked about unsigned bands of 2008 may get their chance at emo/synth rock glory in 2009.

Middle Class Rut - Sacramento 2-piece who may make a name for themselves in the UK before they do so here.

You, Me & Everyone We Know - a Warped Tour spot away from being well known.

Dizzy Balloon - Young, bay area pop/rockers with a knack for head-bobbin’ melodies. Won Live 105’s Not So Silent Night local band competition in December and opened the big winter concert at Oracle Arena, check “Raise a Glass”.

Also See: Holiday Parade , TV/TV & Interscope signing LMFAO's "Yes".

2009 will certainly see its share of hits and misses from the majors and indies alike, and everyone’s crystal ball will see a different set of breakout artists. Here’s to hoping we see great talent emerge and some revitalization in this suffering industry.

Most anticipated:
Ryan Star
Lostprophets
Madina Lake
Our Lady Peace
Audrye Sessions
AFI
Sugarcult
The Fray
The Graduate
Social Code
Neon Trees
runner runner
Adelitas Way
Far
Saosin
Silversun Pickups
Skillet
Taking Back Sunday
30 Seconds to Mars (please?)
J.R. Richards (of Dishwalla)
Eve 6
Army of Me
Brand New
dredg
Tyler Read

So, there ya have it, now I'll keep this thing updated more regularly with my Soundcheck articles from [url=http://www.kingsofar.com nofollow=yes]www.kingsofar.com[/url] - have a good year. MORE TUNES!

Best songs:
People in Planes - Pretty Buildings
Carolina Liar - I'm Not Over
Innerpartysystem - Don't Stop
Anberlin - The Resistance
Alkaline Trio - Calling All Skeletons
Children 18:3 - LCM
City & Colour - Sleeping Sickness
Brave Citizens - how much longer
The Script - Before The Worst
Rise Against - From Heads Unworthy
Blind - Today I Break Loose
The Classic Crime - "Medisin"
To name just a few...

Um...Wow.

Musically, 2008, so far, like, uh, ya.

I write for two very cool music blogs now:
www.crazedhits.com
&
www.kingsofar.com

about new bands usually.
Lemme look back on some of my predictions in January...
Katy Perry is doing real well, and i still expect Innerpartysystem, Low Vs Diamond, and Ryan Star to do the same.

Also, thanks to working at Live 105 I've been able to see A LOT of concerts so far this year. Plus, a lot on my own time.

Did I mention I that I don't mind when bands begin to sound more radio friendly, I also seem to be the least critical person I know when it comes to older band's current stuff. Really growing to like this new Weezer, I also think the bonus track King is their "Hotel California". This track is one I feel is just as epic with a similar vibe. Definitely one I feel will go overlooked seeing as it didn't make the actual album.
The new one from The Offspring ain't half bad either...You're Gonna Go Far, Kid should be a great follow-up single to "Hammerhead", which still hasn't clicked with me.

Alkaline Trio who I've caught live twice so far this year, once at an intimate show at San Francisco's tiny Cafe Du Nord, also have some new tracks I love, on an album that needs to grow on me.

Enough about those...let's get on with it.

Highlights as far as shows go this year:
Foo Fighters - I worked out in the pouring rain and wind for 4 hours before I got into that show in Oakland, CA. Dave Grohl just got over a flu, and Led Zeppelin didn't show up, but that show was still great, even though I had to go BACK OUT into rain to pass out stickers when Everlong started. I'm still bitter.

Santa Barbara, CA's stoner reggae/rock band The Expendables were my first show of '08, and were actually a lot of fun. so what if every song is about Weed?

along those same lines - Cypress Hill at the Fillmore on 4/20 - I was working, didn't matter, I was so second hand high at that one, maybe it was their eight foot bong "Excalibur"?

The Bravery surprised me, I heard they weren't so great live, but I dug their set in March.

Augustana acoustic for free in a random hotel in santa rosa, CA. Also fun, and sounded real good even with just the two members there.

Meeting Andrew from Ludo and catching their set w/ The Presidents of the United States of America was a fine time.

Apocalyptica wow'd me with cellos and one of the oddest crowds I'd seen, they all love "Enter Sandman" though.

Best set of the year was Thriving Ivory's album release show in San Francisco on 4/18. Played the whole album and a few others...Sounded flawless and Clayton (lead singer) can beatbox. If they aren't at least as popular as Augustana by the end of the year, something is wrong with your radio.

a few other good sets i've seen so far this year:
Oslo
Brave Citizens
Low Vs Diamond
Jimmy Eat World
Thrice
Envy on the Coast
just to name a few...

Let's talk about Velvet Revolver who I caught the week Scott Weiland went to rehab. Now that, was an interesting show.
Slash was great.
Scott couldn't stand up
and said he couldn't sing for shit.
I mean, great to see 'em, but eh, hopefully STP impresses people this summer w/ a drug free weiland - oxymoron?

Best songs of 2008, you haven't heard yet:

for fans of: Augustana, acoustic singer/songwriters
I Don't Wanna Love Her - http://www.myspace.com/brinck

For fans of: Air Traffic, Coldplay:
Dust - http://www.myspace.com/royworldtheband

For fans of: Nine Days, The Rocket Summer, catchy pop:
Hey! - http://www.myspace.com/gillmormusic

For fans of: Anberlin & Dredg[/artist[
How Much Longer? - Brave Citizens

For fans of: Coldplay - "Violet Hill" & piano rock:
Pretty Buildings- People in Planes

for fans of: The Weakerthans, Carolina Liar:
Sultan - What Made Milwaukee Famous

Did you enjoy 90's Alternative rock like Tonic or Oleander - check out, "Red Eyes" by The [New] Shining

OK, enough of that.

Children 18:3's album is surprising and amazing - try "LCM" and "You Know We're All So Fond of Dying" if you're into fast paced punk rock/dual vocals stuff.


If you came in here and you love generic modern rock like Saving Abel and Hinder then go check out "Champagne" by CAVO -

somethings I'm excited for:
Innerpartysystem - live on 7/21
New Anberlin album on 9/30
Butch Walker - "One Man Band Tour" on 7/10 and new album "Sycamore Meadows" soon.
Nine Inch Nails - 9/5
The Classic Crime - live on 8/15 and album 7/22
Madina Lake - working with David Bendeth on next album, o ya.

will Charlotte Sometimes, Justin Nozuka, State of Shock, Middle Class Rut (if you miss Jane's Addiction, vocally, with the aggressiveness of Refused), Carlotta - not the girl in the picture, or Audrye Sessions get huge?

time will tell.
O, and I got a lot to keep me busy with the rest of my 2008.
That's not even the half of it people.

Thank you music for letting me get away from whatever else is going on.

Let's do it.

O, and try and tell me this girl won't be huge, not my usual thing, but come on if Sara Bareilles can do it...:



and some favorites of 2008 video wise:
People in Planes - "Pretty Buildings"


Thriving Ivory - "angels on the moon"

I say that because it seems like everyone's favorite album of 2007 was either Arcade Fire's "Neon Bible" or Kanye West's new one.
I can also understand the love Spoon & bands like The National and Radiohead received this year, but here's the thing.

I'm Not an indie kid, not saying you have to be, but that just seems to be what the vast majority of last.fm users and album reviewers seem to be today. Nearly all of my shared iTunes libraries at college consist of bands like I just mentioned plus some M.I.A. & of Montreal. Well, that's just not my style.
So I have reason to believe that whatever list I put together is somewhat unique and worthy of at least some attention.

2007 began with me co-hosting the "Soundcheck Crystal Special" on San Francisco's alternative station Live 105 w/ Music director Aaron Axelsen, that was pretty awesome. My picks for breakout bands of 2007 ended up doing alright too; OneRepublic & Madina Lake. In the fall I got a job at the station a few weeks after starting college at San Francisco State and thanks to that I've been able to see a lot of bands that I could not have seen otherwise (and get paid to do it).

I'll begin with the list of bands I saw live this year...I'll give ratings and possibly say a little about the ones I enjoyed the most.

Band/How many times I saw them in '07, if multiple/Rating
30 Seconds to Mars - 8/10
The Actual - 6/10
Against Me! - 9/10
Aiden (2) - 6/10
The Almost - 7/10
Anberlin (2) - 9/10
Apside - 6/10
Arctic Monkeys - 7/10
Army of Me - 8/10
Audrye Sessions - 9/10
Big City Rock - 8/10
Blue October - 9/10
Bowling for Soup - 7/10
Brand New - 9/10
Breaking Benjamin - 10/10
Butch Walker - 10/10 * (Best show of 2007)
Charlotte Sometimes - 7/10
Chiodos (3) - 6/10
Circa Survive - 9/10
Daphne Loves Derby - 7/10 (more Third-Eye Blind covers please
Element 94 - 7/10
Elliot Randall - 6/10 (talented, but I can't stand country)
Emerson Hart - 9/10
Evaline (3) - 7/10 @ ToC 9/10 @ Warped
Everybody Else - 8/10
Family Force 5 (2) - 10/10 (one word: Xanadu)
From Autumn to Ashes - 5/10 (earplugs in, not my thing)
Funeral for a Friend - 8/10 - it was in the A.M. & I love their accents
HIM - 5/10 (Yawn)
Hymns - 6.5/10
Idiot Pilot - 6.5/10
Jimmy Eat World - 10/10
Jonezetta - 7.5/10
Killswitch Engage - 7.5/10
Liam and Me - 7.5/10
Linkin Park - 10/10 (2nd Favorite set of the year)
Lovedrug - 8/10
The Lovemakers - 6.5/10
Lorene Drive - 7/10
Madina Lake - 10/10
Mae - 5.5/10 (I'm a fan, but I forgot they were even on the stage)
Maldroid - 8.5/10
Metro Station 6/10 (the mix was terrible)
Modest Mouse - 6/10 (did he sing any actual words?)
Motion City Soundtrack - 9.5/10
Mud - 5.5/10
My Chemical Romance - 7.5/10 (seriously, how could you not play "The Ghost of You"?)
My Former Self - 7.5/10
Paramore (2) - 9/10 - Hayley said "I Love You" back
Placebo - 6.5/10
PlayRadioPlay! - 5/10 (That's really a man singing up there?)
Red - 8/10
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - 7/10
Rooney - 9/10
Ryan Auffenberg - 5.5/10
Saosin (3) - 8/10 @ ToC 6/10 @ Pro. Rev.
The Secret Handshake - 7.5/10
Senses Fail (2) - 6/10 (still ok, even when standing on the side of the stage)
Serj Tankian - 8/10 - nice guy
Shiny Toy Guns - 9/10 (More Tunes!)
Sick Puppies - 9/10
Silverstein - 8/10
Silversun Pickups - 10/10 (surprise of the year)
The Sounds - 6/10 (I got bored)
The Spill Canvas - 10/10
Spoon - 6.5/10
Taking Back Sunday - 9/10
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists - 5/10 (apparently, I don't get it)
Three Days Grace - 10/10 (2nd to SSP as far as surprising)
Thrice - 9/10
Thriving Ivory - 10/10
Tool -10/10 (you know when they say, "It's not a concert, it's an experience." That's what this was.)
Under the Influence of Giants - 9/10
The Used (2) - 8.5/10
Yellowcard (2) - 8/10

Best Sets:
1. Butch Walker
2. Linkin Park
3. Jimmy Eat World
4. Thriving Ivory
5. Silversun Pickups

Most surprising:
1. Silversun Pickups - I worked at this show for Live 105, i work for the Action Team who promotes the station at shows by handing out stickers, and other stuff along with setting up meet & greets and interacting with the crowd. They sold this show out at the Fillmore in San Francisco in minutes and it only took a few songs into their set to realize why. They sounded great, always energetic and they sounded more intense than on the record which made every song even better. SF loves SSP, 'nuff said.
2. Three Days Grace - ya, um...wow. Beautiful backdrop and summer night at Konocti Harbor & resort in Northern, CA. I'm a very casual fan, but their live show took the guilty pleasure tag off this band for me. Sounded great and even performed covers of "Rooster" and "Hey Man, Nice Shot" (which was incorporated into the bridge of "Home") very well. Surprised the hell out of me.

I did not see any band this year really that I can say I "Hated live", but HIM really bored me to death live at Projekt Revolution in the 95 degree heat in Marysville, CA. They just seemed to go through the motions and there just didn't seem to be much energy on stage. Plus, the crowd just didn't seem into it.

Bands I must see in 2008:
Foo Fighters - Seeing them on 2/2
Muse
Innerpartysystem
Madina Lake
Audrye Sessions
Melee
Butch Walker
National Product
Graham Colton
NEEDTOBREATHE
The Panic Division
Josephine Collective
Sixx:A.M.

Ok, now for the albums I loved in 2007 w/ only the top 5 being in order:
1. Audrye Sessions - Braille Maybe it's a trend for me to have local unsigned piano/rock acts earn #1 album spots for me, last year
Thriving Ivory earned the honor. This album is not flawless, but it's amount of just straight incredible songs makes it #1 for me. Similar to Lovedrug, Augustana, & City and Colour "The Paper Face" is a track that must be heard that basically summarizes everything this band is about - incredible voice, solid musicianship
www.myspace.com/audryesessions
2. Graham Colton - Here Right Now
3. Madina Lake - From Them, Through Us, To You
4. Anberlin - Cities
5. The Spill Canvas - No Really, I'm Fine
in no particular order, other favorites:
NEEDTOBREATHE - The Heat
Black Lab - Passion Leaves a Trace
Stroke 9 - The Last of the International Playboys
Lovedrug - Everything Starts Where It Ends
Firekills - Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt
Sullivan - Cover Your Eyes
National Product - Luna
After Edmund - Hello
Faber Drive - Seven Second Surgery
The Rocket Summer - Do You Feel
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light
Melee - Devils & Angels
Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago
Sixx:A.M. - The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack

EPs:
1. Innerpartysystem - The Download EP
Automatic Loveletter - Recover
The Myriad - Prelude To Arrows


Songs:
Jimmy Eat World - "Let it Happen"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - "Weapon of Choice"
The Almost - "Say This Sooner"
The Appearance - "Lost in Aurora"
Audrye Sessions - "The Paper Face" & "Nothing Pure Can Stay"
Yellowcard - "Fighting"
Flight 409 - "The Street, The Sound"
The Panic Division - "Big Day"
Anberlin - "Dismantle.Repair"
Army of Me - "Going Through Changes"
innerpartysystem - "Don't Stop"
Graham Colton - "On Your Side
Ryan Star - "Last Train Home"
The Spill Canvas - "All Over You"
Sixx:A.M. - "Van Nuys" & "Life is Beautiful"
Josephine Collective - "Lye"
State of Shock - "Money Honey"
and there really are plenty more where that came from.

My favorite part of this - Big in 2008:
innerpartysysem
All Time Low
Katy Perry
Josephine Collective
32 Leaves
We The Kings
Ryan Star
Egypt Central
Low Vs Diamond

Releases I can't wait for:
Butch Walker
Innerpartysystem
Thriving Ivory (re-release)
Ryan Star
Anberlin
dredg
The Offspring
Lostprophets
Augustana
Thrice
1969 (made this list last year too)
This World Fair
The Myriad
Family Force 5
Eve 6
Third-Eye Blind
Under the Influence of Giants

Guess that wasn't brief. & 2008 should be an even bigger year for me at san Francisco State, Live 105 & AlternativeAddiction.com

Thanks for checkin' it out. Have a good year.

Aside from hanging out with friends and the summer partying I've spent much of my time during this summer between my high school graduation and the start of my freshman year at San Francisco State University by seeing a good deal of concerts in my area, and during my time at home, listening to tons of new albums.

I'll start with the concerts I've been to this summer.

The First concert I'd seen since Sick Puppies back in April was
6-20-07
Bowling for Soup
@ Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Petaluma, CA
Best thing about this show was that it was free.
Entertaining group of guys who could easiy be considered half-comedy act/half pop/punk band, they played to a good sized county fair crowd and got the drunk kid yelling, "PLAY SOME METAL!" kicked out within the first 5 minutes of their set.
They sounded alright and played a lengthy set which included much of their recent album, The Great Burrito Extortion Case which I only recognized about 3 tracks from. They concluded their set w/ "Girl all the Bad Guys Want" & "1985" which seemed to be all most of the crowd was interested in hearing.
Overall I'd give 'em a 7/10 for being funny, although talking WAY too much, and performing their songs well.

I rate live shows based on how well a band performs there songs as opposed to whether or not I think they suck or rock prior to the show.

Next concert was a rock show, and a damn fine one at that.
6-25-07
Three Days Grace w/ Breaking Benjamin & Red
@ Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa in Kelseyville, CA
after camping in Calistoga, CA for a day and a half, 6 of my friends and myself headed an hour & a half north to Clear Lake to catch a very cool rock show. Konocti's stadium is apparently the "#1 small concert venue in North America" and it sure as hell is worthy of that distinction as it's stage set in front of a stadium where everyone from the front row to the back of the bleachers has a good seat, and the backdrop of mountains and Clear Lake makes for a damn cool looking show.

It was also a beautiful evening so we had ourselves quite the setting.
Christian rockers Red opened, a band I've been familiar with since Spring of '06 when I got their "End of Silence" album, and now their single "Breathe Into Me" has run it's course at mainstream rock radio and can be considered a hit. They played a 7 song set and the crowd seemed to like them, sounded good and had some great energy, I'd give 'em an 8/10. 2 of my friends bought their album after their set as well.
Breaking Benjamin was next and opened with the lone track they played off their major label debut "Saturate", and my favorite off of it, "Polyamorous". I was prepared for them to be awesome and they didn't disappoint, they played much of their recent album, "Phobia", but did not play my favorite off of it, "Unknown Soldier". Their frontman Ben also played a cool, nearly solo cover of Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt", made famous by Johnny Cash. They closed with "So Cold" as expected and played an overall very entertaining hour long set that included some water bottle throwing into the audience, Red's bassist came out and threw one bottle nearly out of the stadium on his only toss, he's a big man.
Now, the biggest surprise of the night was Three Days Grace, I'd call myself a casual fan having liked their 2 albums. I wasn't expecting much from their live show, but they were much better than their records suggested and they threw in some small change-ups that made them even more worth the money and the headlining slot. From the opener "Animal I Have become", to "Riot" which really got the crowd going, to the frontman's solo acoustic cover of Alice in Chains classic "Rooster" (which he did really well, also surprising to me), to the dual vocals with Ben from breaking benjamin on "Take me Under", as well as a nice incorporation of Filter's hit "Hey Man, Nice Shot" into their hit "Home", and to the closer "I hate Everything About You", 3DG put on one hell of a rock show for all the Lake County rednecks and Northern CA rockers. Loved it, 10/10.

Toning the radio rock down a lot for my next show...my first Warped Tour
7-1-07
Warped Tour
@ The Shoreline, Mountain View, CA
FINALLY! after wanting to go to a Warped tour date for the past 5 years I made it to one and was stoked because I'd get my first live taste of some of my favorite bands including Anberlin & Family Force 5.
Acts I caught:
Funeral for a Friend
Circa Survive - great set, anthony Green is crazy.
the end of Killswitch Engage
Yellowcard - better than expected, was nice to hear "Fighting"
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Half of their set, and then left for
The Almost
as my sunburn began to show and my thirst began to get the best of me my 2 friends I was stickin' with and I decided to get some shade until
Family Force 5's set. Now that's entertainment. Those guys are fucking nuts on stage, break dancing, Incredible Hulk gloves, and a crazy long-haired red-headed professional dancer/tambourine player/guitar tech named Xanadu made their 30 minute set the most exciting of the day, in my opinion at least. After that we caught some of
Lorene Drive
and then a nice 30 minute set for Anberlin, who Ive been trying to catch for a while, they were good, no "The Feel Good Drag", but I still love everything to do, so it was tough for them to do any wrong. I'll be catching 'em with Motion City Soundtrack, Mae & Metro Station on Nov. 30th.

With my Warped sunburn gone my next show was 19 days later.
7-20-07
Emerson Hart (Formerly of Tonic)
@ The Flamingo Resort, Santa Rosa, CA
Free show on another wonderful summer Northern CA day poolside at the Flamingo Resort. Emerson played a short 5 song set that included 4 songs off his new solo album ("When She Loves You", "I wish the best for you", "Flyin'" & "If You're Gonna Leave") & One Tonic song - "If You Could Only See". He sounded good and proved to be worth the short drive up to SR.

Next up, a pop/rock show in San Francisco for 3 bands I'm all casually into.
7-26-07
Rooney w/ Big City Rock & Everybody Else
@ Slim's, San Francisco, CA
one of my favorite venues, the small, intimate, Slim's in San Francisco. I went with a few girls to this one because my friend Kelsey wanted people to go with her and I was down for a nice little pop/rock show. The place was jam packed, I underestimated the popularity of Rooney.
After watching a few old Looney Tunes cartoons on the screen they have down in front of the stage, Everybody Else took the stage. They're an intriguing southern california trio who are worth checking out if you are fan of the aforementioned 70s inspired pop/rockers Rooney. I knew 2 of their songs going into the show and I'd recommend In Memoriam as a good introduction to this band. They got the crowd going and I enjoyed their 8 song set, 7.5/10
after a prolonged wait between sets and a full episode of a Speed Racer cartoon, a band I've known about for some time now, Big City Rock took the stage. They were alright, playing songs from their debut album. They finally gathered some energy for their cover of "Black Betty" and kept it going through their 2nd to last song, "Shelter", I don't know where the stage antics went for the closer "All of the above" ad their frontman leaned against a pole as he sang. They played 12 or 13 songs and I enjoyed their set overall. 7/10.
As it got hotter inside (and colder outside) Rooney finally took the stage and opened with the title track to the new album, "Calling The World" which the crowd already knew all the words to. They kept the show going with "Blueside" & one of my favorites, "Believe in Me", they played a good 14 song set which included 10 new songs & 4 songs off the old album closing their encore with my favorite song frm them, "Paralyzed" i was left impressed with their show. 9/10.

The next day was the show I've been waiting for for months.
7-27-07
PROJEKT: REVOLUTION
@ The Sleep Train Pavillion, Marsyville, CA
I was incredibly excited for this because I have been wanting to see the first band on the bill Madina Lake for years now as well as Linkin Park & Taking Back Sunday to name a few others. AFter a 2 hour + drive up to Marysville and waiting in line in the already 85+ degree heat we made it to the Revolution stage where
Madina Lake opened their short, yet awesome 20 minute set with "Adalia" and continued on with "One Last Kiss" where frontman Nathan Leone wanted the crowd to give him a high five and some moshes broke out, resulting in one of my friends getting a bloody nose. They finished with "House of Cards", "Here I Stand" & "True Love" and Nathan staged dived a few times, only singer of the day to do so. Great set and I can't wait to see 'em play again with a longer set.
skipped The Bled's set to get some food and came back to catch Saosin, my 3rd time seeing them this year, they opened with "Follow & Feel" which was cool, Cove wanst on his game as much this time around, alright set, they were better at Taste of Chaos.
Now for the downtime between Saosin & Placebo, 3 hours of staying out of the sun. My 3 friends and I found some shade and stuck to it from 3-5:30 PM, catching a little of Placebo's set and then all of HIM which I grew bored with after about 10 minutes, they sounded fine though.
next we missed the first few songs of Taking Back Sunday, but caught the last 25 minutes or so of their set which I dug. Next up was
My Chemical Romance, they opened with the best track off of "The Black Parade", "This is How I Disappear" which got things going quickly. I forgot to mention, we had Pit tickets so we were close. Gerard Way is one odd dude, I think that's easy to see. They had some cool pyrotechnics and other boom's and sounds. I really just wanted to hear "The Ghost of you" which they still hadn't played up unti their last song, so I was expecting it, but no, they played "Cancer". Lame. MCR was alright but I wouldn't go see them headline a show.
The sun had now set and there was one band left, Linkin Park
after a half hour set change "wake" started playing through the speakers and the curtain dropped to "Given Up", AWESOME! I'm not big on their recent album, but "In Pieces" & "No More Sorrow" were cool live. After the first 5 songs or so the entire crowd was loving it, they slowed things down for a piano version of "Pushes me away" & "Brekaing the Habit" (the entire band finished that one) "The Little Things You Gave away" & "Shadow of the day" were the last slow points before jumping into the shows conclusion of "What I've Done" & "Faint" before the Great encore of "One Step Closer", "In The End" & "Bleed It Out" , I was hit in the head by a crowd surfer in the head during "Bleed it Out" and my crowd-surfing friend was dropped during it to, hitting his head on the floor, hardly low points as LP was so damn awesome, I'll now defend them when elitists bash them. 11/10. Amazing set.

That was it for shows this summer, I've got one hell of an Autumn coming up, just check out my upcoming events as I get to see some of my favorites like Butch Walker, Thriving Ivory, Audrye Sessions, Family Force 5, & Brand New w/ Thrice down in LA when I visit a friend down there.

Now for some albums:
Audrye Sessions - Braille
For Fans of: Augustana, Death Cab for Cutie, & Lovedrug
You may not have heard of these San Francisco piano rockers yet, but this album will easily be in my Top 2 as far as albums of the year. Nearly flawless, with great vocals and a few tracks ready for a slot on Grey's Anatomy, I highly recommend checkin' out tracks like "The Paper Face" & "Relentless" over @ www.myspace.com/audryesessions
9.5/10

NEEDTOBREATHE - The Heat -
For Fans of: Collective Soul, Lifehouse
Great modern melodic rock.
www.myspace.com/needtobreathe
9/10

Fuel - Angels & Devils
new singer, good songs
8/10

The Rocket Summer - Do You Feel
For Fans of: Wakefield, Cartel, Relient K
Great summer pop in the vein of all the pop/punk stuff you like (or hate).
9/10

Powerspace - The Kicks Of Passion
For Fans of: Hellogoodbye, Men Women & Children
5.5/10

Mae - Singularity
Better than the reviewers think
7.5/10

12 Stones - Anthems for the Underdog
5/10

Rooney - Calling The World
I'm more convinced after a live show
7/10


Ross Copperman - Welcome To Reality
For Fans of: Matt Nathanson, Matt Wertz
why is this guy not getting the press he deserves? solid singer/songwriter album.
8/10
www.myspace.com/rosscopperman
Matt Nathanson - "Some Mad Hope"
Some Mad Hope
Best singer/songwriter album you will hear in 2007.


Sixx:A.M. - Heroin Diaries Soundtrack.
Never saw this coming from Nikki Sixx, some epic tracks here, check out "Life is Beautiful" *& "Van Nuys" if you're into some of todays modern rock.
www.mysapce.com/heroindiaries
8.5/10

Yellowcard - Paper Walls
"Fighting" is their best song yet, a big rebound from "Lights & Sounds"
8/10

The Starting Line - Direction
7/10

Sum 41 - Underclass Hero
7.5/10

After Edmund - Hello
For Fans of: Switchfoot, Graham Colton Band
worth checking out if you enjoy radio ready modern rock, they have some christian stuff too:
www.myspace.com/afteredmund
8.5/10

Evans Blue - The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal Of Life Ends
8/10

The Panic Division - Songs From The Glasshouse
For Fans of: 30 Seconds to Mars, Shiny Toy Guns, Anberlin
Bringing back the 80s with some awesome synth/rock
www.myspace.com/thepanicdivision
8/10

National Product - Luna
For Fans of: Saosin, The Classic Crime, Sugarcult
www.purevolume.com/nationalproduct
8/10

Stroke 9 - "The Last of The International Playboys"
a surprise awesome release from a band I grew up on, for fans of 90s alt/rock.
9/10

That was extensive.

In 3 weeks I start school @ San Francisco State University as a Radio & Television Broadcast major, can't wait & there's tons more left to do this year. I'm looking forward to Fall's shows & albums.

Have a great rest of your summer, & I'll do the same.