atlszine

[atlszine]

All Time Low 3/11/18 - Show Review

On Wednesday, April 11th, I got the pleasure of seeing All Time Low in concert with openers DREAMERS and Gnash. The concert was in Columbia, South Carolina, at the Music Farm. By the time we arrived at 5:30, thirty minutes prior to doors opening, there was a fairly solid line of people - around 200 in front of us. We got into the venue around 6:15. The stage was on one side with the march table and bar on the other, and they were selling a variety of shirts, but only one tour shirt with all of the Last Young Renegade Tour Part II dates. 

DREAMERS was the first opener. I had not heard their music before, but I was pleasantly surprised. Their songs were a mix of pop, rock, and a bit of a country twang. They played songs off of their first album, such as their popular songs DRUGS and Wolves (You Got Me), but also performed a new cover of Zombie by The Cranberries. They had an interesting aesthetic, keeping up the theme of “dreaming” with transitions involving sleep and dreaming in between each of their songs, which made the performance more engaging and interesting.

The next opener, Gnash, I had heard on the radio with his popular singles I Hate U, I Love U (featuring Olivia O’Brien) and Lights Down Low, primarily by Max Schneider, but Gnash is featured. He is mostly a rapper, but also sung some non-rap songs. He engaged a lot with the crowd, asking questions and teaching them parts of his less popular singles to sing along to. My personal favorite part was his cover of “I Miss You”, originally by blink-182, which the crowd definitely also enjoyed, judging by the singing around me. He closed out with his song Broken Hearts Club, for which he recently released a music video!

Finally, All Time Low took the stage. They started out with a fan favorite, Somewhere in Neverland, and the crowd went wild. Jack Barakat, lead guitarist, claimed that Columbia was the loudest crowd so far. The next song that they played, The Irony of Choking on a Lifesaver, was recently added to the setlist, and it was a great choice. All Time Low’s performance of the song was energetic, fun, and engaging. The crowd jumped and screamed along.

Highlights of the show included Missing You, a slow song that the crowd swayed and waved hands to, and Dear Maria, Count Me In, in which Jack Barakat went into the crowd. Before another slow and meaningful song, Therapy, lead singer Alex Gaskarth took the stage alone and gave a sweet speech about how things will get better, leading into an emotional performance with just a guitar and Gaskarth’s vocals.

All Time Low performed a few songs from their newest album, Last Young Renegade, including Last Young Renegade, Drugs & Candy, Dirty Laundry, Dark Side of Your Room, Good Times, Afterglow, and Life of the Party, but there were a good number of songs from old albums, such as Weightless and Damned If I Do Ya from Nothing Personal mixed in. Overall, the setlist was solid, including newer songs and as well as older fan favorites, and of course their most popular songs were performed.

As far as fan engagement goes, All Time Low was very engaging. Both Barakat and Gaskarth would point out fans in the crowd to talk specifically to, Gaskarth would make eye contact with and smile at fans during songs, and at one point, after a fight broke out near the section we were standing in, Gaskarth paused to take a second to ask the fans to calm down and ask everyone in the section if we were all right. They also let fans attempt to crowd surf, though the crowd wasn’t especially great at handling crowdsurfers, so it was more of a ‘floating around in the crowd’.

Overall, if you are a fan of All Time Low, I would encourage going to see them, either on this tour or if they do another similar headlining tour soon! The small atmosphere of this show was fantastic and really felt personal and warm. Their sound live was similar enough to how it sounds on the album to prove their genuine talent. There weren’t a lot of special effects or video transitions, so that could be something that would improve the show, but this could have been harder to pull off in a small venue compared to an arena show .For me, it was a great first real “General Admission” concert, and I would absolutely go again.

** No images used are mine! All Time Low photos courtesy of Ashley Osborn from this album, Gnash photo from his facebook, Dreamers photo by CJ Moy taken from here!

[atlszine]

MILKK and the Rise of Social Media in Music

Three piece self described “emo boy-band” MILKK are a small, up and coming pop group from Nashville, Tennessee, who have managed to make a big impact online. Throughout the course of a year, the group has managed to grow a large, loyal fanbase through lighthearted interactions and conversations on social media platforms. By creating group chats with fans and chatting with them frequently, MILKK has managed to bridge the often tremendous gap between fan and artist. Because of this, many would describe MILKK’s following as more of a family than a fanbase.

Following the 2017 release of singles “Pacific Kiss,” “IDWK,” “Less Than 3,” and “Ice & Sugar,” MILKK had some pretty big shoes to fill this year. However, with the recent release of their debut EP Sad Girls and announcement of their first ever live show (Thursday, April 12th in Nashville), it seems as if this band is on fire, and have no plans of stopping anytime soon. We were given the chance to speak with frontman Pat Kiloran in an exclusive interview below.

First off, which member am I speaking with? This is Pat.

What was your favorite part about creating Sad Girls? Honestly, just the looseness of it. We made these songs mostly in my spare bedroom. It was just a laid back, go-with-the-flow process. The new stuff we have been working on has been a lot more intensive to create, but with "Sad Girls," we just went with the vibe and put together a group of songs that felt good together.

What is your favorite lyric from the EP, or which lyric holds the most personal meaning? I have a few for different reasons. I love the general message of "Sad Girls." The point of that song in general is to remind people that they have intrinsic value outside of being in a relationship with someone. You don't need another person to give you inherent worth as a human being. On the flip side, I sort of love the simple cheesiness of the chorus of "Less Than 3" ("me plus you, yeah, we're less than three, it's true"). It's such a dumb line, but it just feels perfect. I also really like the lyrical flow in "IDWK." I really like the imagery of "your dress is still hanging up to dry" and "the bedroom clock's still broken from the first and last never-ending fight." I don't know why. I just felt really good about those lines.

Who in your lives were the biggest inspirations for getting into music? Did anyone in your lives influence which direction your music would take? I don't know really. We've all been involved in music for a long, long time. I think when you're young and in your teens, you take a lot of influence from all over the place as you try to figure out what you like, artistically. I think we've all gotten to the point where we just do what we ourselves think is cool.

Aside from music, what do you like to do in your spare time? I spend a lot of time at home. I don't go out a ton. But when I do, it's with my good friends. I love to watch films or see what's new in contemporary art. John is really into fashion and design. Jack...I honestly don't know. He's an enigma even after knowing him for 12 years.

What is your favorite part of interacting with fans online? I just love joking around and chatting. It's special to me that we've created not only such a strong fanbase but also friendships with people who care about what we're doing. We try to be really accessible to everyone and anyone.

How has the experience of being a band spread largely via social media been, specifically in comparison to bands who don’t place such an emphasis on social media and fan interactions? It's certainly interesting. It's important to me to create that closeness with our fans. I don't think I would enjoy doing the band thing as much if there wasn't that connective level to it. I love watching people react to what we release and talking with them about what's coming next or whatever. It makes it more rewarding to me.

If you had to choose, what three albums would you take to a desert island with you? Tough question. I'm just gonna go with the first things that come to me and say: The 1975's first album, Ryan Adam's self-titled album, and an album called "Hymns" by a band called Ascend The Hill.

Which big band would you wish to tour with, together or not, if you could? Right now, I just wanna work with Tyler, The Creator super bad, so I'm gonna say that even though that doesn't blend at all.

You have your first live show coming up very soon, which is awesome. What are you most excited about in relation to this experience? I'm just excited to show people what these songs feel like live. We've played them together, and it's sort of a different experience. I'm excited to bring that energy to the stage and to see if people actually know the words.

If there was one album you wish you had written, which is it and why? I just really wanna write the first MILKK album. And now for some fan questions.

Lindsay, twitter user @PRAYFRTHWICKED, asks “are there any plans in the works for an upcoming tour?” Yes, we are working on something right now. It's not completely confirmed yet, but hopefully we will know more very soon.

They also ask “Is Jack real?” Honestly, I don't even know. I think so.

Antonia, twitter user @antoniamaljevac, asks “what was the inspiration behind “Sad Girls”? "Sad Girls" was meant to be an important message over a really catchy track. Like I said, it's about not finding your value in someone else's attention or opinion.

Vi, twitter user @thcfallaway asks “what can be expected from your upcoming music?” It's honestly gonna be a shift. It sounds different and bigger than what we've released so far. It has a lot of personality. It's very "MILKK."

They also ask “What was your reaction when you began to see that many people actually care about your band and their music?” It was humbling and also exciting. It made me feel like, "Why do people care about ME?" but also like, "Cool. I'm doing something cool. I'm gonna work even harder."

Ellie, twitter user @mrigraine, asks “could you describe your fanbase in one word?” "h."

They also ask “what cities are you looking forward to playing eventually?" I'm looking forward to LA and San Fran. Seems like we have a lot of fans out west. I'm also looking forward to Minneapolis, MN because it's our second hometown. And it's where Jack lives. I'm also really excited to play cities outside of the US once we've grown more.

To close out the interview, the most important question of all: what's your favorite fruit? Pineapple but only when it's on pizza.

If you want to learn more about the band or join the MILKK family yourself, you can follow the band on twitter and instagram @wearemilkk. You can also stream their EP on Spotify, and subscribe to the band’s YouTube channel.

[atlszine]

Welcome to 20 Gay Teen

Hayley Kiyoko. An example of a Disney star who escaped from the cycle and burst onto the music scene with her song, “Girls Like Girls,” later releasing her EP, “This Side of Paradise” in 2015. With her bright, honest and vibrant sound, she was what music desperately needed. Hayley continued to release EPs, but never a full album, much to her fans dismay. When it was announced that her debut album, Expectations, would be released March 30th, 2018, fans all around rejoiced. Not only is Hayley a female artist paving her way in this world, she’s also setting a strong and steady road for other LGBT artists to thrive like herself. Fans brand her “Lesbian Jesus” and it is a title that she has accepted without shame. Her songs sing of her feelings for other girls and she isn’t afraid to let anyone know.”Expectations” is the album that welcomed the world to 20GayTeen, as dubbed by Hayley and other members of the LGBT community.

Most Notable Track

Mercy/ Gatekeeper- What makes it notable?

After suffering a fall on her 25th birthday and being diagnosed with Post-concussion syndrome, Hayley sings of her healing and all other feelings on this track. The first verse finds Hayley unable to do what she loves most, create art for others, so it leaves her depressed and trapped inside her own mind. Verse two finds a more confident beat but unable to interact with others, the confidence fades to sadness. The chorus fades into part two of the song, Gatekeeper, which really makes the song worth hearing. The interlude of the song hits all the feelings in the right places, “If I keep what’s mine, I can have the purest soul and live with content, free from fear, I choose my actions, I am the gatekeeper.” She won’t let PCS get in the way of what she’s most passionate about.

Overall- This album is a solid 5 stars. Hayley Kiyoko has made quite the name for herself and will continue to do so. Catch her on tour with Panic! At The Disco this summer.

- Aneissa

[atlszine]

The Used

Description: Formed all the way back in 2001, The Used started out as just “Used”, as friends claimed they felt when band members ignored them to focus on the band. In the nearly 17 years since, they’ve released 7 albums: The Used, In Love and Death, Lies for the Liars, Shallow Believer, Artwork, Vulnerable, Imaginary Enemy, and The Canyon. Their track, “The Taste of Ink”, off their self-titled album, is their most streamed, but they also have many other popular tracks.

Why They’re Like My Chemical Romance: Especially in their earlier albums, The Used has a similar punk rock influence and a similar semi-heavy style to My Chemical Romance. The two have often been associated, having toured together and even collaborated on a cover of Queen’s “Under Pressure”. Though the two bands parted with bad blood, the association remains, and if you like MCR’s earlier works, you’ll certainly enjoy The Used as well.

Track Recommendations: The Taste of Ink, Kissing You Goodbye, I Caught Fire, All That I’ve Got, Pretty Handsome Awkward

Palaye Royale

Description: Formed in 2008 as Kropp Circle but changing in 2011 to the often-misspelled Palaye Royale, Palaye is a band made up of three brothers. They were the first unsigned band to win MTV’s Music March Madness Awards. They have released one EP, The Ends Beginning, and one album, Boom Boom Room (Side A). They are hoping to release another album, Boom Boom Room (Side B), in 2018. Their most popular track is “Mr. Doctor Man.” Catch them at Vans Warped Tour this summer!

Why They’re Like My Chemical Romance: Though Palaye has their own special 80s inspired-glam rock style, they have drawn numerous comparisons to MCR, including Classic Rock describing them as “crashing from My Chemical Romance-influenced rock to New York  Dolls-ish punk via dashes of Stones-y blues.” They also have received attention through their cover of My Chemical Romance’s “Teenagers.”

Track Recommendations: Mr. Doctor Man, Don’t Feel Quite Right, Ma Chérie, Warhol, Get Higher

Creeper

Description: Creeper was formed only four years ago in Southhampton, England. So far, they have released three EPs as well as an album, Eternity, in Your Arms, that debuted at number 18 on the UK charts. They have been often described as a “horror punk band.” Their song “Hiding With Boys” is their most streamed Spotify track, followed by their single “Misery.”

Why They’re Like My Chemical Romance: The lead singer Will Gould has a distinctive voice that reminds me a lot of MCR somehow, and the horror punk aesthetic they tend to go for is reminiscent of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and The Black Parade. They’ve got a similar style, drawing inspiration from similar influences. They also participated in Rock Sound’s covers of The Black Parade, covering “This Is How I Disappear”.

Track Recommendations: Misery, Hiding With Boys, Black Rain, Honeymoon Suite, Winona Forever

PUP

Description: The band’s name stands for “Pathetic Use of Potential”, but the band was originally called Topanga. Though they formed recently in 2013, they have released two albums, PUP and The Dream Is Over. They have played a number of bigger festivals in the past few years. Their top track on Spotify is “DVP”, off their 2016 album The Dream Is Over.

Why They’re Like My Chemical Romance: They have a similar punk-inspired feel to their music that’s reminiscent of older MCR albums. Vocalist Stefan Babcock also has an emotive vocal style, similar to Gerard Way’s. PUP has also toured with former MCR member Frank Iero, suggesting that they have similar styles.

Track Recommendations: Pine Point, DVP, Reservoir, Guilt Trip, Doubts

Envy on the Coast

Description: Formed in 2003 in Long Island, New York, Envy on the Coast were active from 2003-2010, broke up, and then reformed in 2016. They are still active to this day. Over the course of their career, they released two albums: Lucy Gray in 2007 and Lowcountry in 2009. Their top Spotify track is “Like I Do”, off their 2009 album, Lowcountry.

Why They’re Like My Chemical Romance: Their genre has been described using a variety of words similar to those used for My Chemical Romance, such as emo, post-hardcore, and alternative rock. They’ve also got the emotive vocal style. In addition, they’ve been associated with a variety of acts that are similar to My Chemical Romance, including Taking Back Sunday, who they toured with often.

Track Recommendations: Clean of You, Sugar Skulls, Like I Do, Head First in the River, Virginia Girls

Bands Formed By Former Members of MCR: 

Frank Iero & the Patience/frnkiero and the cellabration

After the breakup of MCR, Frank Iero, former rhythm guitarist, set out on his own and created some great solo music. It’s more reminiscent of MCR’s early work and draws more inspiration from punk and hardcore, but it’s definitely worth checking out. 

Track Recommendations: Oceans, Blood Infections, Joyriding, Tragician, Weighted

LeATHERMØUTH 

During 2007-2010, Frank Iero took on hardcore/post-hardcore band LeATHERMØUTH as his side project. The music is a little harder than MCR’s, but if that’s your thing, definitely give it a listen!

Track Recommendations: Leviathan, Bodysnatchers 4 Ever, 5th Period Massacre, I Am Going to Kill the President, Sunsets Are for Mugging

Death Spells

Another side project of Frank Iero’s (as well as James Dewees’, a former that was originally started in 2012 while MCR was still recording, Death Spells is an interesting electronic punk band that has been described by many as music that could be played at a gothic rave. If this sounds like your thing, give em a listen. 

Track Recommendations: where are my fucking pills?, hell all-american, fantastic bastards, end of life, diluted

Electric Century

Formed by former bassist Mikey Way and David Debiak after MCR disbanded, Electric Century is a rock/indie group that releases genuinely enjoyable music - a little more poppy than MCR, but still great.

Track Recommendations: I Lied, Let You Get Away, Hey Lacey, Right There, Hail the Saints

In addition, Ray Toro and Gerard Way have released great solo music that you should definitely give a listen! Frank Iero also has more bands, including pre-MCR Pencey Prep. 

[atlszine]

In honor of Panic! at the Disco’s new music being released over the past week as well as the announcement of an album and a summer tour, I decided to focus this post on bands that you might like if you’re a big Panic! at the Disco fan. This encompasses all of the eras of Panic! at the Disco, so there are a lot of bands with a lot of different sounds. I did not count bands that included former Panic! members, but a short description of those are given at the end!

THE HUSH SOUND

Description: Starting out as “The Hush” in Chicago in 2004, The Hush Sound changed their name to avoid conflicts with a rapper. In the years since, they have released three albums: So Sudden, Like Vines, and Goodbye Blues, as well as an EP in 2013. They played together from 2003-2008, taking a hiatus from 2008-2012, and then started making music again in 2012. Although they have not put out anything new recently, they have played shows together as recently as in December.

Why They’re Like Panic! at the Disco: This band reminds me so much of Pretty. Odd. by Panic!. Honestly, if I wasn’t a big Panic! fan, I might even think some of their tracks were from Pretty. Odd. They bring their own unique flair to it, though, having multiple singers, including frontwoman Greta Salpeter. They were also signed to the same labels as Panic! at the Disco, Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen, and Ryan Ross of Panic! at the Disco was the one to suggest to Pete Wentz that he sign The Hush Sound.

Track Recommendations: We Intertwined, Hurricane, Medicine Man, Weeping Willow, Sweet Tangerine

JACK’S MANNEQUIN

Description: Originally a solo career for frontman Andrew McMahon (formerly of Something Corporate), Jack’s Mannequin became a fairly popular band, releasing three albums during their time together: Everything in Transit, The Glass Passenger, and People and Things. The band disbanded in 2012, but performed a reunion tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Everything in Transit in 2016.

Why They’re Like Panic! at the Disco: Jack’s Mannequin has a very emotional quality to their music, but at the same time the music is often upbeat and fun, much like Vices & Virtues or A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out. The two bands have also toured together, most likely due to their similar music style. (If you like Jack’s Mannequin, I’d also suggest giving Something Corporate and Andrew’s solo stuff a shot!)

Track Recommendations: Dark Blue, The Mixed Tape, Hey Hey Hey [We’re All Gonna Die], Spinning, Bloodshot

NIGHT RIOTS

Description: A newer band formed in 2010 in San Luis Obispo, California, Night Riots has released two albums, Into The Roaring and Love Gloom, as well as four EPs. They have charted twice on the alternative radio and were featured on the 2015 Vans Warped Tour, as well as opening for acts like the aforementioned Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and All Time Low. Their top track on Spotify is “Contagious” off of Howl, their 2015 EP.

Why They’re Like Panic! at the Disco: The lead singer Travis Hawley has a voice that’s similar to Brendon Urie’s in its dramatic, high range quality. In addition, their style of music is similar to later Panic! at the Disco, especially parts of Too Weird and Death of a Bachelor. Their style has been described similar to Panic! at the Disco’s, as a mix of pop rock, alternative rock, and power pop.

Track Recommendations: Nothing Personal, Contagious, Because The Night, All for You, Breaking Free

NEW POLITICS

Description: An international rock band hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, New Politics formed in 2009. They have released four albums since their formation: New Politics, A Bad Girl In Harlem, Vikings, and, last year, Lost in Translation. You may have heard their song “Yeah Yeah Yeah” or their most popular Spotify single, “Harlem”, on the radio. They’ve toured with numerous big bands such as Fall Out Boy.

Why They’re Like Panic! at the Disco: New Politics have opened for Panic! at the Disco on their Europe tour in 2013. They’re also signed to Decaydance with Panic!, and have a similar dance rock/alternative/pop punk style that definitely gives me Panic! vibes, specifically in Panic!’s later albums. They’ve got great music that makes me want to dance with fun lyrics.

Track Recommendations: Harlem, Yeah Yeah Yeah, Color Green, Tonight You’re Perfect, Everywhere I Go (Kings And Queens)

THE MAINE

Description: Formed in 2007 in Tempe, Arizona, The Maine is a pop-punk/alternative rock band. They have released six albums so far, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, Black & White, Pioneer, Forever Halloween, American Candy, and Lovely Little Lonely, released just last year. Their top single on Spotify is “Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu” from their recent album Lovely Little Lonely .

Why They’re Like Panic! at the Disco: They have a similar pop punk/‘emo pop’ sound to them that reminds me of Panic! at the Disco’s tamer songs, although, since they’ve been in the scene for a while, they also have had sound changes over the years. Lead singer John O’Callagan has a strong voice that conveys emotion and drama, especially in the band’s slower songs.

Track Recommendations: How Do You Feel?, Misery, You Left Me, Right Girl, Another Night on Mars

BANDS WITH FORMER MEMBERS OF PANIC AT THE DISCO

I Don’t Know How But They Found Me

Former Bassist Dallon Weekes officially left Panic! at the Disco a few months ago to focus full time on this project of his. Though they only have three tracks out right now (“Modern Day Cain”, “Choke”, and “Nobody Likes the Opening Band”), they have a very unique style electronic rock, and vocalist Weekes has a lot of raw vocal talent. I’m excited to see more from this band.

Track Recommendations: Modern Day Cain, Choke, Nobody Likes the Opening Band

The Brobecks

The band that former bassist Dallon Weekes was a part of before Panic! at the Disco, The Brobecks have a very haunting, indie rock style that I’ll be discussing more in-depth in a future If You Like… post! Again, in the albums Dallon sung on, he has a lot of raw emotion and power in his voice.

Track Recommendations: all of Violent Things, but especially The Nerve, Small Cuts, Le Velo Pour Deux, Better Than Me, Bike Ride

The Young Veins

Former songwriter and lead guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker formed The Young Veins after departing Panic! at the Disco. If you’re a fan of The Beatles or of Pretty. Odd., you’ll enjoy The Young Veins. They only had one album (Take a Vacation!), but vocalist Ross has that unique Beatles-esque vocal style that leaves a good impression.

Track Recommendations: Everyone But You, Cape Town, The Other Girl, Lie to the Truth, Take a Vacation!

(In addition, former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker have released fantastic solo work.)

[atlszine]

Minority Mondays #2 - March For Our Lives

Not necessarily an issue that only affects minorities, but one that does target them at a higher rate, the March for Our Lives national rallies against gun violence took place on March 24th, 2018. Many musicians turned up to show their support and we wanted to give them a platform in thanks of standing up for the cause! 

Musical legend Sir Paul McCartney of the Beatles was one of the biggest names to show up, explaining in an interview that gun violence had touched his life by losing one of his best friends to it, a clear reference to the 1980 assassination of John Lennon. 

Unsurprisingly to any fans of the bands, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day as well as the boys from SWMRS were out in support of their local marches as well. Armstrong updated the famous “No Trump, No KKK, No fascist USA” line to “No Trump, No NRA, No fascist USA” on instagram as a sign of his support. 

Max Becker, from SWMRS, also used this opportunity to encourage people to register and show up to vote in the midterm elections, one of the only ways to cause real change. 

Hayley Williams from Paramore attended a rally in her hometown of Nashville, as well as posting tweets and videos of support throughout the day. Dashboard Confessional also showed their support by posting a video of a local rally on their instagram, despite the band currently being on tour. Musician Harry Styles, although currently on tour in Europe, shared a photo of him and his band in rally shirts in support for the cause on his Instagram. 

Mark Hoppus, from Blink-182, also attended the march at Washington DC, sharing photos of support on Instagram.

Several other major musicians such as Rita Ora, Ariana Grande, Kanye West, Miley and Noah Cyrus, and Demi Lovato also attended rallies to show their support and some (such as Miley and Ariana) offered performances. 

[atlszine]

Hey, it’s Aneissa! As you probably saw in our last post, we compiled a “Meet the Staff” playlist. Of course, we had to include our overall inspiration for the zine in the playlist. “After The Last Midtown Show” by TAI each holds special meaning to each staff member, one that they could all delve into and talk about endlessly if given the chance.

As for my two personal choices, I picked “Champagne for my Real Friends, Real Pain for my Sham Friends” by Fall Out Boy and “Almost Here” by The Academy Is...

First and foremost, FOB has been an inspirational band for me for as long as I could remember. I was always exposed to them inadvertently, whether it be from my older cousins, the radio, or my neighbors in the back who were into that kind of music. Champagne is my comfort song whenever anything goes bad. It soothes me but also can turn into a bop whenever I feel like it. I remember when I was in a GC with my school friends and the one exclaimed, “Fall Out Boy ruined one of my favorite toasts- Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends.” I quickly changed the subject in an attempt to avoid getting into an argument over my favorite song, but I never forgot it. I know- sounds dramatic but I guess that’s the kind of person I am. I plan on getting it tattooed on me in some way these next few months.

My next song is “Almost Here” by The Academy Is. For so many years, I’ve searched for a song that describes my journey through life. I’ve been around a short 16 years but I’ve always been looking forward to what awaits me after high school, when I become an adult and am able to live life unapologetically and freely. It’s a “you’re almost there” moment. And sometimes, I feel like I won’t ever reach my goals, like it was all for nothing. But then, I step back and breathe, remembering that I’ve made it this far and I’m “almost here.”

This took a really serious turn but I promise I’m never not this serious. I love making people laugh and joking around so if you ever need a good laugh, you can message me on @lastmidtown ❤️

Aneissa

[atlszine]

you can just say they remind you of paramore because the lead singer is a woman

Hi there!

I wrote the post in question and only included female-fronted bands because I feel like, at recent festivals and in the alt music scene in general, they’re underrepresented. I tried to clarify that in the post. I listened to a good amount of female bands for this post, both those I listen to regularly and those I’d never heard before, and only put in the ones I thought sounded like an era of Paramore, so it was entirely based on musical style.

If you want to discuss this more or you have bands you think sound more like Paramore than the ones I put in, feel free to message me at my personal, @twentyonechem! I’d love to talk more about it. 

- Madeline

[atlszine]

Your Time To Confess Has Come S!nners

At long last, our prayers have finally been answered by Panic! At The Disco, not only have we been given one song, but we’ve been blessed with a plethora of gifts from the band. Earlier today, Brendon posted a black and white video of him crossing out the dates on the fliers for the show in Asbury Park that had been handed at in Cleveland on Monday. Crossing out the 3/21 with 3/22, rescheduling the show for Thursday due to the inclement weather in New Jersey.

Earlier than 2pm, many fans noticed that the tour page on Panic!’s website had listed dates for an upcoming summer tour, including openers Arizona and Hayley Kiyoko,  spanning from the beginning of July to the mid of August, just in time for the band to go across the sea for Reading and Leeds.

At exactly 2pm, Panic! dropped not one, but two singles off of their 6th studio album, “Pray For The Wicked,” set to be released June 22nd. One of the singles, Say Amen (Saturday Night), had a music video to accompany it, while (Fuck A) Silver Lining hung around next to it. Both of the songs are strong starts to the new era of Panic. 

The official Panic twitter account then started a long thread, including a list of things that Brendon prays for. 

The thread then continues to talk about tour presale and VIP packages, both presale and general going on sale next Friday, March 30th. Merch bundles, much like when Fall Out Boy announced “MANIA” went onto the Panic! website. Those who preorder a bundle get a presale code for tickets. 

All of the bundles come with a CD and/or vinyl record. The top bundle, “Super Wicked” includes a CD, Vinyl, Patches, Incense, Incense Holder, Lighter, Embroidered Tee, Candle, Book Stash Box, Cherry Bomber Jacket. Viewing the CD also gives the tracklist for the upcoming album.

The album and its accompanying era seems to be very religion-heavy, which isn’t surprising coming from a band like Panic who has had several religious-based songs in the past like Hallelujah, This Is Gospel, I Have Friends In Holy Spaces, Build God, Then We’ll Talk and finally their most famous song, I Write Sins Not Tragedies. Put an X on June 22nd and let the countdown to service begin. - Aneissa 

[atlszine]

The second show of the mini “Pray For The Wicked” tour scheduled for March 21st in Asbury Park, NJ has been rescheduled to March 22nd due to inclement weather -Aneissa

[atlszine]

In celebration of the new female bassist for Panic! at the Disco and in response to the significant lack of female-fronted bands on Warped Tour, I wanted to do an If You Like… post that features some great female-fronted bands! So here are some bands you might like if you enjoy Paramore. Keep in mind this isn’t implying that all female-fronted bands sound like Paramore, just that these few do.

CHVRCHΞS

Description: A band from Glasgow, Scotland, CHVRCHΞS (pronounced as “Churches”) brings a unique synth-pop sound to the genre. They formed only 7 years ago and have released two albums, The Bones of What You Believe in 2013 and Every Open Eye in 2015. Their third album, Love Is Dead, is set to release later this year. Two songs from the album, “Get Out” and “My Enemy”, have already been released. Their hottest Spotify track is “The Mother We Share” from their debut The Bones of What You Believe.

Why They’re Like Paramore: CHVRCHΞS’ bright, happy synthpop sound definitely reminds me, in a way, of After Laughter by Paramore. Although vocalist Lauren Mayberry’s voice is remarkably different than Hayley Williams’, both have an amazing vocal range and utilize it in their songs. In addition, Hayley Williams is featured on a track from Every Open Eye, “Bury It”, and highly recommends CHVRCHΞS as a band, saying “Anytime I've worked on music outside of Paramore, it's always been something I really truly connect with and this time is no different. I'm super honoured to work with Chvrches, to know them, and to be a part of the life of this song.”

Track Recommendations: Bury It, Leave a Trace, Get Out, The Mother We Share, Recover

Tonight Alive

Description: Hailing from the land down under (more specifically, Sydney, Australia), Tonight Alive started out in 2008 by recording and self-releasing their first two EPs. They signed to Hopeless Records in 2010, and in 2011 released their debut album What Are You So Scared Of?. In 2013, they released their second album, The Other Side, and the third album, Limitless, came out in 2016. Their latest album, Underworld, dropped in January. Their most streamed single is “Lonely Girl” off of their second album, The Other Side. Catch them on the final Warped Tour this summer!

Why They’re Like Paramore: Honestly, sometimes I listen to Tonight Alive and think that I’m listening to Paramore. Not to say that the two bands are exactly the same, but I definitely get Paramore vibes from them, especially for Paramore’s older works! They’ve definitely got that Paramore pop-rock quality. If you’re a fan of Brand New Eyes, definitely give them a listen. The lead singer Jenna McDougall has a beautiful, strong voice.

Track Recommendations: Lonely Girl, The Other Side, Disappear, You Don’t Owe Me Anything, Amelia

PVRIS

Description: Starting out in Massachusetts as “Operation Guillotine” and then “Paris”, but finally settling on PVRIS (pronounced “Paris”), PVRIS started out as a metalcore band, but ended up with more of a synth-pop/pop rock sound. So far they have released two albums, White Noise in 2014 and All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell last November. Last year, they won Rock Sound’s “Artist of the Year” award. Their most popular single on Spotify is “You and I” from White Noise.

Why They’re Like Paramore: PVRIS has a slightly darker pop rock sound that reminds me of older Paramore albums, specifically older Paramore songs like “Playing God”. Vocalist Lynn Gunn is also great at expressing emotion through her voice, which is something I definitely admire about Williams as well. Gunn herself has also said that she’s a huge Paramore fan. Williams expresses the same about Gunn, tweeting Gunn to say, “You’re an absolute badass and your band sounds better than ever.”

Track Recommendations: My House, You and I, Heaven, White Noise, What’s Wrong

MisterWives

Description: Formed in 2012 in New York City, MisterWives is an indie pop/alternative dance group. They started out as a cover group, but ended up sticking together to make their own music. They have released two albums so far, Our Own House in 2015 and Connect the Dots in 2017. They’ve opened for a number of notable bands, including Panic! at the Disco and Twenty One Pilots. Their most popular single is “Reflections” off of Our Own House.

Why They’re Like Paramore: MisterWives has that upbeat kind of dance music that reminds me of Paramore’s records like After Laughter and Paramore. Their music is the type that makes you want to smile even when the topics are darker. They definitely bring an indie flair to their music, though. In addition, they have stated that they are fans of Paramore and even opened for them for a few shows.

Track Recommendations: Reflections, Drummer Boy, Oceans, Machines, Coloring Outside the Lines

Envoi

Description: Established in 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio, Envoi is a pop-rock band that is starting to gain popularity in the Cleveland area as well as worldwide. They only released eight songs before their breakup in 2015, including one album, Changes, but their music is still being listened to, with nearly 70,000 Spotify listens a month. Their most popular song is “From a Cage”, which was released as a single.

Why They’re Like Paramore: Vocalist Maddie Finn’s voice is definitely similar to Williams’, and their music has that rock quality that reminds me so much of Paramore’s older albums. They also incorporate fantastic guitar work that is so similar to the guitar work in Riot!. If you are a fan of Paramore’s old music and are looking to find more songs in that somewhat angry style with incredible female vocalists, you will certainly enjoy Envoi.

Track Recommendations: From a Cage, Ghost, Changes, Raising the Bar, Paper Tigers

[atlszine]

Hi, I’m Madeline, I’m 21, and I’m a senior in college studying psychology! If you follow me on social media you’ve probably seen me obsessively talking about The Academy Is… and After The Last Midtown Show. I think that sums me up pretty well. I’m fairly new to the bandom scene, but I’m slowly getting into a lot of different bands and trying to go to as many shows as I can afford on a poor college student’s budget. You can find me on Tumblr and Twitter!

The first song I chose is Disenchanted by My Chemical Romance. Even though Disenchanted isn’t my favorite MCR song (it’s up there, though!) it was the first one I really listened to and it has a sentimental meaning to me that’s stuck with me. The way it describes standing up to society and to toxic people has really resonated with me through the years, since I’ve moved a ton and had to leave behind a lot of people as I’ve grown and developed. It’s also a beautiful song by one of my favorite bands.

The second song that I chose is Therapy by All Time Low. It’s the second song to make me cry almost every time I hear it (the first being After the Last Midtown Show) simply because of how accurately it’s described my experiences with mental illness, especially the obsessive thoughts that plagued my mind. I’m in a much better place now, but it always serves to remind me why I chose my major and why I want to become a psychologist: to help people who felt the way that I did. It also reminds me of how much I love music; music can voice my thoughts more accurately than I ever could or distract me from my thoughts.

I’d love to discuss music or exchange music recommendations, so hit me up any time!

[atlszine]

Pray For The Wicked Panic! At The Disco Fans

After a series of cryptic hints leading up to an eventual announcement, Panic! At The Disco has just wrapped up their first show of the year. Announced only the day before, dedicated fans traveled from all across the United States to support their favorite band. They were rewarded with an extremely intimate and special experience in a venue with a capacity of merely 400 people. 

Although the advertising stated that nobody was to line up before three PM, diehard fans arrived much earlier to ensure their entry. The line was very lengthy and very wild.

After a long day of waiting outside, fans who arrived in time were granted guarenteed entry to the show in the form of a wristband. The wristbands featured the band’s now iconic triangle logo. 

When doors opened and fans rushed inside, they were greeted with even more surprises. 

New merchandise appeared in the form of a tee shirt with one tour date appearing on the back, and the rest seemingly scratched out. Many speculate that this is Brendon’s subtle way of announcing a tour.

Additionally, fans recieved leaflets after the show announcing a show in Asbury Park, New Jersey on Wednesday, March 21st. The leaflet also hinted at a possible new release, saying only “Worship Wednesday” and listing a time: 2:00 PM EST. 

These were passed out by people dressed as nuns.

This show also was monumental in that it marked the first performance featuring new bassist Nicole Row. Nicole is the band’s first ever female member, and is already emerging as a fan favorite. 

The setlist for the Cleveland, Ohio show was as follows:

Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time

Ready To Go

The Ballad Of Mona Lisa

LA Devotee

Hallelujah

Golden Days

Vegas Lights

This Is Gospel

Let’s Kill Tonight

Death of a Bachelor 

Nicotine 

Crazy=Genius

Girls/Girls/Boys

Emperor’s New Clothes

I Write Sins Not Tradgedies 

Victorious 

-Ava

[atlszine]

just want to say i really like this blog and its such a cool thing you guys have pulled together!!!!

Thank you so much, we’re so happy you enjoy our blog ❤️- Aneissa

[atlszine]

hey everyone! my name is lex, short for lexi or alexandra whichever you prefer (although i might side eye you a bit if you call me alexandra). i’m twenty-two years old and an english student in university. i grew up in a small town in the midwest and because of that i didn’t go to my first real show until i was eighteen, but i’ve been in love with and invested in music for as long as i can remember. here’s some quick links if you want to find out more about me because i’m bad at talking: my blog, my twitter, my about me, my concert page!

my two songs are a bit out there. the first song i chose was 21+ by butch walker. this is because this song is everything that terrified me when i was growing up. like i said earlier, i’m from a small town and the life that 21+ is describing is a life i’ve seen a lot of my former classmates fall into and i never wanted that for myself. so i turned eighteen and i got out. now i’m twenty-two, or 21+, and look back at my old town and have a small sense of pride that i escaped that, as elitist as it sounds. 

the second song is story of my life by social distortion. this is another song that i think exemplifies my ideals growing up. i’m going home for spring break tomorrow and the line “and i went down my old neighborhood, the faces have all changed, there’s no one left to talk to” really hits home and is something that i’ve had a lot of late nights thinking about. 

anyway, i took this a bit more meta than i needed to, but hey, i’m an english major. that’s what i do! i hope you enjoy the songs i chose and if you ever wanna chat about anything, i’m almost always around! ✌🏼💕

[atlszine]

Minority Mondays #1 - Medicine by Harry Styles

Harry Styles, formerly of the band One Direction, has started out his worldwide almost-sold out tour for his debut solo album, Harry Styles. This may not sound interesting to many of you who aren’t One Direction or Harry fans, but it’s been amazing to watch and see him come into himself outside of the One Direction bubble. 

This is actually Styles’ second tour, the first one running throughout 2017. Styles has been vocal about wanting to create safe spaces in his concerts and has used his platform to give others a voice, most often by waving pride flags on stage. 

The former boy bander has been under media scrutiny for his sexuality quite often, but has always shut them down with grace. Most recently he told The Sun tabloid gossiper Dan Wootton in 2017, “I don’t feel like it’s something I’ve ever felt like I have to explain about myself.” (x)

However, on his current tour he debuted a new song that was scrapped from his album named “Medicine.” Although the lyrics aren’t finalized as the only versions currently available are live versions, it looks like Styles is being more open in talking about sexuality. The lyrics that are being widely shared on social media are, “The boys and the girls are in/I mess around with them/And I’m okay with it.” 

Styles fans aren’t the only ones to have noticed the lyrics, however, as openly gay olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and musician Troye Sivan have also commented on and praised the song on their Twitter accounts. 

Although this doesn’t confirm Styles’ own sexuality, seeing as all we know about his sexuality is that he’s currently in a relationship with model Camille Rowe, it’s nice to see a celebrity seemingly willing to share a safe space with their fans and feel comfortable addressing bisexuality in his music! Feel free to listen to the song yourself and see what you pick up! 

[atlszine]

(Photo- granddad_ak on Instagram)

Indie pop group Kississippi is slated to start their support tour for Dashboard Confessional, this Tuesday, March 20th. While many know emo legends Dashboard Confessional, Kississippi is a new wave of indie that has yet to be surfed. They bring raw, emotional songs that music today lacks severely. The LGBTQ+ friendly band lineup consists of founding member Zoe Allaire Reynolds, lead vocals, guitar (she/her), and road members Adam DaSilva, bass, (They/Them), Jeremy Probst, drums, (They/Him), Allegra Eidinger, guitar, (They/Them), Kaylen Alan Krebsbach,synth, (She/Her.)

Currently Kississippi have a 2015 EP titled “We Have No Future, We’re All Doomed,” which is available on Spotify and their Bandcamp. Also available on the Spotify are the Audiotree sessions that were recorded March of last year. Kississippi released a single in December, “Cut Yr Teeth” that can be listened to as well. They are truly well worth the listen if you ever get a chance. Go out and support this wonderful band on the Dashboard Confessional tour.

03/20 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues

03/21 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues

03/23 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre

03/24 – St. Petersburg, FL @ House of Blues

03/25 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues

03/26 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz

03/27 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte

03/29 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

03/30 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues

03/31 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring

04/02 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony

04/03 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues

04/04 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s

04/05 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall

04/06 – Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live

04/07 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom

04/08 – Lawrence, KS @ The Granada Theatre

04/09 – Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall

04/13 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre

04/14 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox

04/16 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades

04/17 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore

04/18 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

04/20 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues

04/21 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Palladium

-Aneissa