Kerrang Tour 2007

Current mood: giddy

It's 3am, and I can't sleep. Still buzzing from what was an amazing night!

Yesterday evening, I made the trek to Belfast with Ethan and Ewen to see the Kerrang 2007 Tour. After a reasonable short wait in the cold, we were in!

No sooner had we entered the venue, than the night's first act began: I Am Ghost. Good opening act, but got very little response from the crowd (it seems Ethan was one of about four people who knew lyrics to any of the songs)

Highlight: A rather embarrassing moment being the singer asking the crowd how they were doing, to no response. Ouch.

Next up, we had The Audition. To be honest, i didn't really listen to them. Though 2 observations: the singer is a giant, and the guitarist with the 'fro echoed Screech of Saved by the Bell.

Highlight: The singer stage diving, onto what was possibly a bunch of 13 year old girls, and going straight to the ground.

Now, the moment I had been eagerly awaiting all night. The mother f*****g Bronx!

Opening with Small Stone, the mood was set right away. After only the first song, Matt was already down, leaning into the crowd. Seconds later, he was crowd surfing, screaming every word perfectly.

After returning to the stage, and spouting the usual "we're glad to be here/always wanted to come to [insert place name here]" that every band repeats night after night at every show, you can't help but believe he means every word.

Immediately after, Matt has jumped over the railings, and is singing away, whilst being pushed and pulled in every direction by the crowd. He announces that The Bronx is not just the band, but the crowd is part of it. "We're normal guys just like you". Matt is the most down to earth front man I have yet to see perform. It feels like watching a good mate.

Back on stage, and lurching about like a crazed gorilla, the energy coming from this band is intense. It's evident from the reaction they receive from the crowd (whom I am pretty certain hadn't heard too much about them before tonight: most people seem to be there for Biffy Clyro) that The Bronx are going to last. With all due respect to I Am Ghost and The Audition, they're music is very flash in the pan. The Bronx display that rock will never die.

For History's Stranglers, Matt is back down in front of the crowd. During the last chorus we are forehead to forehead, screaming the words at each other.

They close with a "song they don't play very often" Around the Horn. I let out a loud shout. It's my favourite track of the new album. As they leave Ethan catches Jorma's drumstick, and a nab the setlist.

After the madness, we head to the merch stand and pick up a couple of t-shirts, then upstairs for a drink. We are all grinning like Chesire Cats from the "audio and visual overload" we have just witnessed.

Heading back downstairs to catch some of the Biffy set, we meet Matt, and get some photos taken.

It's now 4.16am, and i am past tired. Tonight was the best gig I have attended in all my years of gigging. I hope to catch The Bronx again on their support tour with Rise Against this May, and will definitely catch them next time they headline.

The Bronx - Around the Horn

Currently listening : The Bronx By The Bronx Release date: By 18 July, 2006

Beautiful Songs Volume 1

Download here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0C051B2F

Halfway There

So, now that we are officially halfway through the year, here are the best 5 albums that 2006 has had to offer so far:

5. Feeder - The Singles


Yes, this may seem a bit of a cop out as its a collection rather than new material. But, I hadn'y realised just how good they are until I got this.

4. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I am, thats what i'm not

Well, it had a lot of hype surrounding it...and it lived up to it. By no means a perfect recrod, but a fantastic debut.

3. Lostprophets - Liberation Transmission

When i first listened to it i hated it....true story. But, my word is it a grower. Full of infectious, anthemy songs. Though I fear they may never reach the peak of Start Something.

2. Tool - 10000 Days

The long awaited follow up to 2001's Lateralus. I hadn't honestly listened to them much before this album, but now, I HAVE to hear more.

1. Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now

The years best, and their careers best! Flawless, and evey song could be a single. (and they are amazing live)

"woe to you oh earth and sea"

Well, we’re nearly halfway through the year, so, just a quick recap of whats been good so far:


Prison Break

Not since the first series of 24 have I watched a show so suspenseful.Eagerly await the final 2 episodes tonight.

Taking Back Sunday – Louder Now

Album of the year? Quite Possibly. Not a bad track on it, and easily their best album so far. Highlights include Spin, Divine Intervention and 20 20 Surgery.

X-men 3

Well, its not X-2, but that would be impossible. A great “end” to the trilogy (though don’t leave till after the credits!)

Negative Creep

(listening to: The Clash - London Calling)

As soon as the opening chords come in, you can't help but tap your feet. As soon as the drums come in, I dare you to stay seated. You may try to deny it's greatness (I have), you may say, it's not their best song, that’s it's overplayed, but at the end of the day, Smells Like Teen Spirit is a damn good track.

I first was introduced to Nirvana in P7 (when I was a bout 10). I'd heard about them through some pen pal thing that the school tried to organize with a school somewhere in Europe (know idea where exactly, but it's not important). A lot of the kids mentioned this band called Nirvana.

During a phone call to my aunt, I mentioned this band, and she told me a little about them (again, memory hazy, it was about 8 years ago). Soon after, in the post, arrived a copy of Nevermind on cassette.

I put it in the hi fi, and never made it past the brilliant opening track. I just played it over and over, it blew me away! But for a while, that was it.

A few years later, I gave away the cassette (which, in retrospect, I REALLY shouldn’t have done.)

When I got to secondary school, for the first couple of years, everyone seemed to be all into Nirvana. Ever since P7, I’ve always liked the band, but hated the hype surrounding them. I would be one of those people that would say “he’s dead, get over it” in regards to people’s praise of Kurt Cobain. The fans ruined it for me. The band was talented, but I think overrated (in comparison to other bands of the time: Alice in Chains? Pearl Jam? SMASHING PUMPKINS????)

Also, The Kurt Cobain Journal. I haven’t read it, and I don’t intend to. The Kurt Cobain action figure? I bet he’s spinning in his grave.

Fans seem to ruin bands for me. I like My Chemical Romance, but hate the fanbase. They think that using the red and black outfit/make up image is cool and new. Newsflash: check out Machina-era Billy Corgan.

(Gerard Way has said that The Smashing Pumpkins is one of his favorite bands: go figure)

Green Day: Always been a fan, but when American Idiot was released, then came the new batch of fans: “I can’t wait for their second album!”. “They’re totally punk!”

……………………………………………………..

“They’re totally punk!”

*sigh*

I personally thought American Idiot was a great album, though severely overplayed. And Green Day, are not punk. Maybe once punk rock, but not anymore.

And its looking like once again, I am going to hate a new band, though talented, because of the hype that surrounds them:

Fall Out Boy

Dance Dance, Sugar, we’re Going Down: awesome pop songs.

Punk? Hell no. This is punk:

Once again, I’ve digressed so much I’ve forgotten the point of this post (or have I?)

insertnamehear

I'm Going Crazy

(listening to: A7X - Bat Country)

2 forwards in a week that I don't hate? Must be something in the water.....

choose a band / artist & answer ONLY in titles of their songs…Smashing Pumpkins

are you male or female spaceboy

describe yourself bullet with butterfly wings

how do people feel about you? rock on

how do you feel about yourself? i am one

ex boyfriends / girlfriend ? my mistake

current boyfriend / girlfriend / crush? beautiful

describe where you want to be? in the arms of sleep

describe how you live by starlight

what would you ask for if you had just one wish? my one and only

share a few words of Wisdom Jesus is the sun

any general advice speed kills

share a favourite pickup line let me give the world to you

and if that one doesn't work hello kitty kat

what secondary school do / did you attend untitled

pepsi / coke cherry

any pets Bugg Superstar

favourite food Jellybelly

do you drink zero

how are you feeling right now frail and bedazzled

say goodbye farewell and goodnight

insertnamehear

easy as 1-2-3

(listening to: Nine Inch Nails - Every Day is Exactly the same)

Another forward (which we all know i detest) but, i'm bored (well, procrastinating, really) so, i'll fill it in.

A - AVAILABLE?: yes

B - BEST FRIENDS: Chazz, Amy, Ethan

C - CRUSH: You know who

D- DADS NAME: Mark

E - EASIEST PERSON TO TALK TO: Ethan

F - FAVORITE BAND? Smashing Pumpkins

G - GUMMY BEARS OR WORMS: Worms

H-HOME: Articlave

I - INSTRUMENT: Trumpet

J - JOB: Slavers

K - KIDS:- not yet, thankfully

L - LONGEST CAR RIDE: From the Ferry to Bath

M - MILK FLAVOR? Normal

N - NUMBER OF SIBLINGS: 2: Ethan and Meredith

O - ONE WISH: To have a bit more fun

P - PHOBIA: Heights

Q - FAVORITE QUOTE: Which came first, the music or the misery?

R - REASON TO SMILE: Friends

S - SONG YOU LAST HEARD: Arctic Monkeys - I bet you look good on the dancefloor

T - TIME YOU WOKE UP: 6.55am

U - UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: shall remain unknown

V - VEGETABLE YOU HATE: most of em

W- WORST HABITS: speaking

X - X-RAYS YOU'VE HAD: teeth, head, hand, cant remember what else

Y - YUMMY FOOD: Pizza, Baked Alaska

Z- ZODIAC SIGN: Aquarias

Dublin February 2006

(listening to: Rancid Fall Back Down)

Heylo there. Was in Dublin for the weekend, with my family. Brief synopsis:

• Hotel was called the Deer Park
• Beds were hard as stone, as were the pillows
• Swimming pool was good, nice and warm
• Yes, I nicked the mini bottles of shampoo and body wash

So, getting back the photos. The above, and directly below are of Captain America's Cookhouse and Bar. The reason I took the photos, should be obvious.

Was in a music shop with Ethan, and saw this on the wall. I saw it and thought Cameron!

A comic shop just down form the music shop, which we discovered just by accident.

Not wanting to wait for the parents and Meredith to finish shopping, Ethan and i decided to get the Dart back to the hotel. This was a very big building beside the platform. Pretty cool pic, had it not been for the wires.

Holy Dutch Angle Batman!

"you've got wires....coming out"

This would have been a great photo had I taken it a second earlier.

I was watching this couple (weird, I know), and they just seemed to be so in love, which was really cool to see. A good photo, but they look like they are unhappy. A second later they kissed.

A view from the afternoon

I am convinced this could win the Turner Art Prize.

Immaturity never leaves

insertnamehear

Say cheese!

(listening to: Brand New - Quiet things that no one knows)

So, today started just like any other (well that's a lie: parents are in Barcelona), so I'm "in charge" (another lie: Ryan is keeping an eye on us). Slept in, wasn't meeting Katie as planned, missed first bus, remembered I had to make own lunch, missed 2nd bus etc.

So, I was in a less than happy mood. And I had orthodontist. Wasn't looking forward to this as I had broken a bit of my braces (which usually incurs the wrath of Mr Tan)

So, when I got there, I showed him the broken bit of my braces, and he began inspecting my teeth (which, at first I thought was a search for traces of sweets: the archenemy of braces).

"how do you feel about your teeth?"

"they've come on a long way"

"Good: I'm removing your braces"

XD

And that he did.

But

He had to give me a set of gum-shield type things which I have to wear so my teeth don't relapse. (as shown above)

How hard can it be?


insertnamehear

Reasons 2006 will rock

Films

X-men 3

Superman Returns
Mirrormask
V for Vendetta
Mission Impossible 3
Pirates of the Carribean 2
Cars
Southland Tales

Music

New Albums from:

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Taking Back Sunday (title: Louder now)
Lostprophets
AFI
Plus 44
Anti Flag
Snow Patrol
Velvet Revolver
Pearl Jam


Comics

Pride of Baghdad (by Brian K. Vaughan)



Civil War (by Mark Millar)

You probably think this song is about you.......

(listening to: Paul Westerberg - Dyslexic Heart)

Let me start of by saying, I am in no way vain. (hard to believe when I have a photo of myself as the first thing in the blog). I have been known to take some photos of myself, but this is not out of vanity, but mainly because I don't think I am that good looking, thus I'm looking for the best photograph of me (ok, maybe a little bit vain then)

So, anyway, I got a digital camera for Christmas and thought, hey, why not use myself as the test subject for the first picture? So, having just got back from grandparents house, I decided to take the photo. The result, is what you can see above.

Satisfied with it, I decided to use it as my bebo and msn display picture. Suddenly, to my surprise, a lot more people start adding/chatting to me. Coincidence? Probably not. They just want me for my good looks! (sarcasm kids)

insertnamehear

Boxing Day

(Listening to: Sigur Ros - Olsen Olsen)
Today is boxing day, and thus, a walk is needed to work off all the crap that was consumed yesterday. My Brother, my mother and I went to Mussenden Temple for a walk. I took the digital camera I received the yesterday along with me. The results are shown here.

insertnamehear

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas. Have a good one. Remember the reason for the season

insertnamehear

Music

Music. I love it. Probably a little too much.

You know what annoys me? With all the many different styles of music out there, that some people tend to claim a genre, and refuse to listen to anything but it, labelling all other genres crap.
Case in point: My brother recently left Man OverBored. On the message board, he’s received some less than civil comments. He has been accused of being “Emo”, and several posters have been saying that emo is crap. Here is my statement:

It is in your opinion that emo sucks, but that doesn't necessarily make it true. Why the hell are so many of you so narrow minded?

"ug... if it's not punk, it's crap!"

Grow up.

And Ethan (who can speak for himself, though i'll say this for him) has not "turned emo" (in fact, he's been listening to it since before he joined MOB). Just because he likes emo music, does not make him "emo". He listens to metal, punk, rock, emo, even a little bit of techno. Does this make him a metalhead? A Punk? a Rocker? no. So why does listening to emo make him "emo"?

Look at the Clash for example. One of the original punk bands. Their sound changed greatly over the years, Joe Strummers solo stuff even a little folky sounding.

And Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong! He's written songs with Head Automatica (who have a kind of disco sound). His side project Transplants involves some hip hop and rap. He even wrote songs for Pink. the pop star!

Now i'm not saying Ethan is on the same level as Strummer or Armstrong, but this people, who for some are idols, did not stick with one kind of music, and its ok. Yet, some people can't get past the fact that Ethan likes emo? Grow up!

Or can u not handle music with more than three chords?

Now personally, I can listen to just about anything. I do have my preferred genres, but i'm not going to rain napalm on any other genre! I listen to punk, and know that it is more than just three chords. That is the point that I am trying to make: people tend to judge a genre just on one band or artist, or the stereotypes associated with the genre.

I also like pop music. Thats right, pop music! Hell, even some manufactured stuff! (Girls Aloud, for example, I think are a great pop band) Busted are another guilty pleasure (Thunderbirds are go has to be one of the best pop songs ever written.)

And the emo thing. I have liked emo bands like Taking Back Sunday and The Used since before emo became "cool" (or socially unacceptable, however you see it). I have no problem with emo music, or people who listen to it. Yes, I like taking the mic out of it, but thats mainly because I see the absurdity of the fashion that it has become.

One thing that annoys me more than narrow minded people, is those that conform to fit in.

Case in point: I went to a concert recently ( I won't say who, to protect the innocent). A week before it, some one claimed to hate the band. Which is fair enough. But, they went to the concert. And now claimed that they always liked them.

Whats the point in that? If you like a band, like them! Don't give a damn what anyone thinks!

Case in point 2: simirlarly, A friend and I spoke of a band that we liked, but others did not. The same person said they hated them. When the others wern't around, the person admitted that they did in fact like the band.

*sigh*

...One minute, a friend, a road without end....

Some of my favourite Lyrics

"I want something good to die for, to make it beautiful to live" QoTSA - Go With the Flow

"You're a coffee cup, i'm a simple mug"

"If love is a labor I'll slave till the end" Rise against - Swing Life Away

" people say i'm strange, does that make me a stranger, my best friend was born in a manger" DC Talk - Jesus Freak

"Our lives are slowly fading, Receiving horrid ratings" He Is Legend - Suave

"it's a pleasure to meet ya, you look like one incredible creature" The Cat Empire - Sly

"when heaven is remembered but never seen, through hearts shaped like kaleidoscopes" Funeral for A Friend - 10.45 Amsterdam Conversations

"I don't mind stealing bread from the mouths of decadence" Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike

"Admire me, admire my home, Admire my son, he's my clone" Pearl Jam - Do the Evolution

"Lover lover let's pretend, We're born as innocents, Cast into the world With apple eyes. To wish wish dangerous, My dear delirious, To try and leave the rest of us behind" Smashing Pumpkins - Geek USA

"hung from a wrecking ball, to see a fashion show" He Is Legend - The Seduction

"Got me a raygun, Got me an altitude, Can't help feelin' something's wrong, With everyone of you" Smashing Pumpkins - Pissant

"Is it bright where you are? Have the people changed? Does it make you happy you're so strange?" Smashing Pumpkins - The End is the beginning is the end

"Empty promises they sold, Will reach their best before dates soon" Hell Is For Heroes - Night Vision

"Simply because you can breathe, doesn't mean you're alive, or that you really live." Rise Against - Black Masks and Gasoline

All That Jazz

(listening to: The Cat Empire - Miserere)

Jazz: I loves it!

Its true, though not a lot of people know it. Where did this love come from? I honestly have no idea. (maybe from my days of playing the trumpet)

I listen to many different genres of music, but nothing comes close to how great jazz is. Theres happy jazz, sad jazz, spiritual jazz, mournfull jazz, dancing jazz, chilling jazz, party jazz, relaxing jazz: it's all great!

Now for the confession: I own no jazz CD's!

I know this seems strange (And believe me, it is) I mean, I have a LOT f CD's (i do, not trying to sound big or anything, its just a fact, i like music, i buy cd's) but I own no Jazz. And the reason is, I just don't know what to buy! I like Jazz in every form! For a while, i'd forgotten about jazz (pretty much coming out of a punk phase. like I said, I listen to all sorts of music)

There aren't really many modern Jazz groups. BUT, there is an awesome one: The Cat Empire.

A friend at work (Lorraine, awesome individual) lent me their album, and I fell in love straight away(with the CD, not her!). Great happy jazz mixed with a little bit of reggae. Pure brilliance. You can dance, you can chill. You'll laugh, you'll cry! This album has made me want to go out searching jazz again (at long last, I may build up a collection)

So, check them out, and dance!

insertnamehear