The Final Countdown!

There are now two months and eight days until Warped Tour Illinois.

There are bands I will be looking forward to see: Simple Plan, Go Radio, I Set My Friends On Fire, Every Avenue, The Expendables, A Day To Remember, Against Me! and Attack Attack!

Artists I wish were coming to Chicago: Tess Dunn

People I am upset are even on the Warped band list: Big B, Paramore, 3OH!3 and Enter Shikari

Based on experiences at past shows, I have a general idea of what to expect from artists like Go Radio, Every Avenue and A Day To Remember. By general idea I mean that I know what their set list might consist of and how much energy I can expect them to bring to the stage.

I am not expecting to see skate ramps nor will I be paying an arm and a leg for my ticket. I do expect it to be the most interesting day of 2011.

Although I am only going to see a select few of the bands, the day will still be exhausting. Trying to figure out where the stages are, what times the bands are playing and deciding which artists I could go without seeing will be a challenge enough. In addition to that, I will be physically exhausted from running around, trying to stay standing in a crowd and crowd surfing.

Warped Tour holds a special place in my heart. Music is very important to me and Warped Tour happens to be where all my favorite music is played. I look forward to attending concerts, especially Warped, more than some people will ever understand.

In fact, I have the word Music tattooed on my right wrist.

One day a co-worker saw my tattoo and asked me, “Do you play any instruments?”
I answered, “No.” (Although I did play the oboe for three years in junior high and can vaguely remember how to read notes, I don’t really count that.)
He responded, “Do you sing?”
I said, “No.”
Somewhat frustrated he asked, “Then why do you have a Music tattoo?”
Before I could respond another co-worker chimed in, “She’s an enthusiast.”

I could not have said it better myself.

-AngAllOver

Warped = Most reasonable summer concert

Last summer I started listening to country music. When I wanted to stop listening to my CDs or iPod I would get frustrated with the overplayed musicians, who use their sex appeal and dance moves for self promotion instead of their talent, on the popular radio stations. So, I switched over to country stations to broaden my musical horizon.

To my surprise, I started enjoying country music immensely. Now that summer is approaching, country artists are making their way to Illinois, and I just cannot resist seeing them.

The picture on the left is of my best friend, Megan, and I sitting in the lawn of Brad Paisley's H2O Tour 2010.

What separates Warped from other concerts, specifically country, is that with Warped tour, you get the most out of your money. For $45.75 Warped tickets are available for purchase. Last year crowd surfed my way to the front at multiple shows. While security was pulling me down, at my favorite band, Mayday Parade, the lead singer saw me reach for him and touched my hand. To say this was the highlight of Warped Tour is an understatement.

Last week tickets went on sale for Rascal Flatts along with Sara Evans, Justin Moore, and Easton Corbin. As a first weekend offer, lawn tickets went on sale for $26.50. Lawn tickets. My best friend, husband and I, purchased our tickets anyway. We will be ridiculously far and probably only vaguely hear the opening artists, but we’re going.

It’s incredible that for only twenty more dollars, I will be able to see a larger number of artists, as close as I want to see them. Also, Warped starts at around 11 a.m. while Rascal Flatts does not start until 7 p.m. There are more artists, more time and no seating at Warped.

In order to get close to the Flatts, you have to be willing to pay. Right now, the pricing for tickets closest to the stage is $90.65. This doesn’t even guarantee a chance to get as close to the stage as possible.

Loving music is expensive and I’m only willing to pay the minimum price.

I must admit that the medium through which I obtain the music in my library is not exactly conventional. I do not believe that people should have to pay for music. Artists like Angels & Airwaves join me in this belief. When they released their album, LOVE, they had it available on their website to download for free.

The reason I do not feel guilty about how I get my music is because I attend more concerts in one year than some people do in their entire lives. For example, last year I attended Mayday Parade in January, Angels & Airwaves in April, two Warped tours over summer, Brad Paisley in July and then Mayday again in October.

It may not sit well with me that I have to pay unreasonable prices for country concerts, but I will. Music makes life important and I will give back to the artists by supporting their concerts. I’m just glad the artists of Warped recognize the value of a dollar. This only supports what I said in my first blog: nothing compares to Warped.

-AngAllOver

Joke's on me.

On Wednesday March 23 I said this in my blog post:

“Side note: I usually despise female singers. Do not ask me why but I cannot stand when girls try to sing rock music or anything resembling it. It makes me angry because it sounds horrible.

For example: I think the band Paramore is a joke. Her voice annoys me. In fact, it annoys me so much that for the longest time I could not figure out why I hated that song “Airplanes” by B.O.B. I later realized it was because the lead singer of Paramore, Hayley Williams, is the female vocalist.

This is why me taking interest in a female singer is a big deal because it is normally something I would be completely against.”

And at the end of the blog I said:

“It actually makes me want to give other female singers, who do not sing awful radio pop music, a chance. Maybe Haley Williams has her own story too.”

I should not have said this.

The other day I was browsing the Warped Tour website for information and a new band has just been added on select dates: Paramore.

The picture is taken from the Warped Tour website. 

Ah! I wish I could retract everything I said in that blog; then, maybe, Hayley Williams and Paramore would not be invading Warped Tour. But there is one good thing: Paramore will NOT be playing at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. At least that is one thing to be happy about.

Now, I will be ranting and tearing apart Paramore’s band bio, as provided by the Warped Tour website. I will then try to validate my argument with what I belief is support.

I ventured to the Paramore website and realized that Warped took the bio straight from there, so I won’t even bother with it.

First off, I just wanted to say that before I started writing this I thought maybe I should look into her bio and give her chance, it just made me angrier.

What I did find out is that her band consisted of two other male accompanists: Josh and Zac Farro. This was up until December of last year when they split from the band. Now, she performs with Taylor York and Jeremy Davis.

I found articles from MTV and the Rolling Stone all about the split. Both articles include a quote from Josh and Zac’s exit statement:

"This band became all about Hayley. She had a manager at the time that controlled her every move along with her parents. They didn't like the idea of Hayley being in a rock band so they forced her to leave wanting her to pursue a solo career. Hayley went off to write and record her solo demos while the four of us continued on without her."

It amazes me that she would want to leave the band that made her famous to be a solo act. If she’s trying to be like Gwen Stefani, she should have ditched the red hair for red lipstick. And if she’s trying to be a break out rock singer or try some female empowerment, she should probably change her lyrics.

Paramore’s most famous song has to be Misery Business. Here are some of the lyrics, starting with the chorus:

“Whoa, I never meant to brag
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
Just steal it all away from you now.
But God does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him now.
And if you could then you know you would.
Cause God it just feels so,
It just feels so good.

Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change.
once a whore you're nothing more, I'm sorry, that'll never change.
And about forgiveness, we're both supposed to have exchanged.
I'm sorry honey, but I'm passin' up, now look this way.
Well there's a million other girls who do it just like you.
Looking as innocent as possible to get to who,
They want and what they like. 
It's easy if you do it right.
Well I refuse, I refuse, I refuse!”

The fact that “God” and “whore” are in the same song is just appalling. But I have to admit that they way she sings “Whoa” is pretty.

But the fact that her voice is decent does not detour from the image she has given herself. Last May Hayley decided to Tweet naked pictures of herself. Not only is she calling other women derogatory terms, but she is also treating her body as a piece of meat, just like the media tells her to. She definitely belongs with the other pop sex symbol sell-outs.

What bothers me the most is that rock music is supposed to be about rebellion and going against the norm. Hayley does not embrace that, in fact she conforms entirely too much.  

Hayley Williams, you should stick to selling out and singing bad pop/radio music with B.o.B. and taking naked pictures of yourself cause clearly, that’s all you can do well. 

Sincerely,

AngAllOver

A Day To Remember

In my previous blog I gave a list of the bands that are to play the main stage. The band that is clearly highlighted on the website is A Day To Remember.

According to the biography provided by Warped Tour’s website, the band signed with Victory records in 2006 and have released three albums since then. The most popular album is probably Homesick, that was released in 2009 with the hit single “The Downfall Of Us All.” (My favorite song off that album happens to be “Have Faith In Me.”)

They also played at Warped Tour in 2008 and 2009. I know for a fact that I attended their entire performance in 2009, but at the time I was not familiar with their music. Now that I know them I will be able to appreciate their performance. What I do remember is standing in the back of the crowd and shoes were being thrown. The gentleman standing next to us used his quick reflexes to catch a shoe flying throw the air and protect the people behind him from getting it. I don’t know I so vividly remember this, but I found it hysterical. Hopefully this time around, the actual performance will be the highlight.

A Day To Remember visited Chicago at the Congress Theater on March 24 along with Pierce the Veil, Bring Me the Horizon and We Came As Romans. My brother Alex Mateo, attended this show. ADTR and We Came As Romans will be at Warped Tour this year, giving Al a preview of what their performances will be like. Having never heard We Came As Romans before, he was highly impressed by them. Since they were the first band who played, the crowd was not as wild, but that did not take away from how well they played.

ADTR closed the show and started off with smoke engulfing the stage. The crowd went crazy. The band started the show by singing songs off their newest album, What Separates Me From You. Although my brother did not stay for the rest of the show, he heard that lead singer, Jeremy McKinnon, entered the crowd in a clear blow up ball while singing a song.

If this is any indication of how their performance will be at Warped Tour then I have another thing to look forward to!

-AngAllOver

Changes/Additions!

The Warped Tour website seems to have undergone some construction cause it looks slightly different. It kinda gives off a red, white, and blue theme.

But just to let everyone know, the Warped Tour pre-sale has begun!

Also, the Teggart main stage bands have been announced:

A Day To Remember

The Devil Wears Prada

Asking Alexandria

3OH!3

Gym Class Heroes

Against Me!

August Burns Red

Attack Attack! 

Tess Dunn, this one's for you.

Recently Added:

Less Than Jake

We’re Doomed

Ionia

So Long Arletta

Planet Smashers

Electric Touch

Motionless In White

Tess Dunn

Black Veil Brides

Madina Lake

Continental

Jack’s Mannquin

Permanent Bastards

Rapid Decline

Street Dogs

Steel Wells

The name that struck me out of this list was Tess Dunn. (Mostly because in her picture she is wearing an enormous fuzzy hat with ears that looks adorable!) I clicked on her name and found out that she is only playing at one set and that will be July 2 at Mountain View California.

Side note: I usually despise female singers. Do not ask me why but I cannot stand when girls try to sing rock music or anything resembling it. It makes me angry because it sounds horrible.

For example: I think the band Paramore is a joke. Her voice annoys me. In fact, it annoys me so much that for the longest time I could not figure out why I hated that song “Airplanes” by B.O.B. I later realized it was because the lead singer of Paramore, Haley Williams, is the female vocalist.

This is why me taking interest in a female singer is a big deal because it is normally something I would be completely against.

Now, back to Tess Dunn. I immediately went to her band links and found her Youtube page. The first song I listened to was a cover of the song “Make You Smile” by +44.

Her voice blew me away. Already being familiar with the song, I had something to compare it to and it was beautiful.

As I listened to her song I went to her bio as provided by Warped Tour. Dunn is only sixteen-years-old and has already played at Warped Tour last year.

I watched the videos from last year’s performance and saw that she played at the Kevin Says sponsored by Kia Motors. It does not appear that she had an enormous turn out, but at her age, that is not expected. As she plays keyboard in front of her band, I could not help but fall in love with her singing. Even though the film quality also contains noise from the crowd and surrounding bands, Dunn’s voice over powers it all.

The song that impressed me the most was, “Wishful Thinkings,” but I also enjoyed others like “Marionette of Me” and “Paper Cuts.”

I continued to read her bio and could not believe the words I saw:

“Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF), an incurable life-threatening disease which causes progressive lung damage, Tess faces issues of mortality that infuse her music and lyrics with radiant richness and haunting depth.”

Reading this just made me sad. Here is this girl with an incredible voice dealing with a disease she has no control over.

Before her performance of the song, “Your Words Could Bite Ears Off” she explains that the reason for her raspy voice is because of the cystic fibrosis and that she hopes to help rise money for finding a cure and inform the public of this disease.

Having this knowledge, I wish Tess Dunn would come to Chicago so I could see her in person and tell her how inspiring she is. Despite her disease, she pursues her dream and uses that as a way to educate her fans.

It actually makes me want to give other female singers, who do not sing awful radio pop music, a chance. Maybe Haley Williams has her own story too.

But this blog is dedicated to Tess Dunn. I hope she succeeds in every aspect of her life. Good luck at Warped this year!

-AngAllOver

Tour Explained!

As of today, there are 78 bands on the Warped playlist. The most recent additions to the list include the following nine bands:

D.R.U.G.S

Demerit

Good Guys In Black

Cold Forty Three

The Sheds

Veara

Vonnegutt

Marchee

Gatsby’s American Dream

(As I was browsing through the list I saw that The Expendables are going to be there which makes me happy because I got into their music last year and love it)

Anyway, moving on, it had never occurred to me that others did not understand how Warped Tour works. I will try and give a brief overview of how the tour travels.

Warped starts June 24 at the Gexa Energy Pavilion in Dallas, Texas and ends August 14 at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Hillsbro Oregon. There are 43 venues that they will appear at total.

Of course, not all 78 bands play at each venue. That would be impossible.

For example, I Set My Friends On Fire plays at each 43 venues. The new band added, D.R.U.G.S., plays from July 7 through the end of the tour.

When you get to the venue, there are stands and stages set up all over the place.

At a normal concert, the main band plays on the huge stage. Well, the main stage at Tinley Park’s First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre is split in two so immediately following the bands performance on one side, the next band on the other side can play.

Also, I would recommend buying a map/time sheet after immediately entering the venue. These generally cost two dollars and are vital to knowing what will be going on during the rest of the day.

On one side of this two dollar treasure is a map of where each stage is and what they are called. On the other side is a list of the stages and underneath shows which bands are playing there and what times.

I’m not exactly sure how many stages there are, but I’m guessing about eight. Bands are playing simultaneously throughout the day and if two bands you like are playing at the same time, you have to chose which one you would rather see.

The shows begin as early as eleven and ends around nine.

Hopefully this helps in explaining how there can be so many bands playing throughout the tour and been seen at so many venues.