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