My current music favs

I have not written lately about what I am currently listening to so thought I would take a week off from my concert stories and highlight a few of my favorite songs right now.

"River" by Bishop

I am straight up obsessed with this song right now.There is a bit of savage darkness to Bishop's voice that draws me in tight.  I would also recommend her other single "Wild Horses".  Bishop is probably the most exciting artist I have heard since Florence + The Machine, I really can not wait to hear what she comes out with next.

"Way Down We Go" by Kaleo

This is the first song I have heard from Kaleo and it reminds me of something I would hear from The Black Keys.  It has a bluesy rock vibe that starts off slow and then just grows and opens up.

 

"Dangerous Woman" by Ariana Grande

This song is off of Ariana Grande's upcoming album and if the other songs off of her new album out in May are like this the album is going to be straight up amazing.  "Dangerous Woman" showcases Grande's strong vocals and a more mature side to her.  It has a sultry swagger to it that I love.  I also suggest looking up her flawless acappella version of the song.

 

"Shadows" by Ryan Adams

This song is two years old off of Ryan Adams self titled album Ryan Adams.  It was just featured on ABC's Quantico this past week and listening to it the first time I thought it was U2.  Adams sounds so much like Bono in it to me and the song has a very 90s quality to it.

"Lost Boy" by Ruth B.

Ruth B. is a 20 year old Canadian singer who just released her first ep late last year.  I just heard "Lost Boy" from it this week and was intrigued.  The song does reflect her youth but also a sweet musicality that is really pleasant to listen to.

Concert Stories #38: Bon Jovi with Soraia

Bon Jovi (3^rd time)

Opener: Soraia

Summerfest

Marcus Amphitheater

July 25, 2009

Age 26

I feel like Bon Jovi has been talked about too many times already on this blog, but there are still shows to discuss!  In 2009 Bon Jovi played the opening night of Summerfest, which I attended with my friends Shannon, Jodie, and Claudia.  Bon Jovi had done a massive tour the previous year for their album Lost Highway and while playing Summerfest was not officially part of that tour it seemed like a bonus date added to the end.  This was also still when the great Richie Sambora was still part of the band as well (please reunite Jon and Richie!)  While Jon Bon Jovi still sounds amazing live, it is not a secret that his long career has taken a toll on his voice.  Sambora provided heavy vocals in backing up Jon's voice and they sounded great together.  Sambora is basically the lead for "I'll Be There For You" and was amazing to hear.  Overall the show was just as excellent as the two previous times I had seen Bon Jovi.  They played just over two hours and included their long list of hits.  My favorite songs, "Keep the Faith" and "Wanted Dead or Alive", were of course played and as excellent as ever.  What's funny for me is that I pretty much know Jon's dance moves for certain songs and I love them every time they happen.  

A great addition to the night was the fireworks.  Summerfest's opening night typically has an amazing set of fireworks and because we were in the bleachers of the Marcus Amphitheater, we were able to see the show while watching Bon Jovi played as well!

Opening the night was Soraia and I am sure they were great but I have zero memory of seeing them sadly.

What I do remember specifically was the end of the night.  It was so incredibly hot and I had been dancing so much that I was grossly sweaty. When giving hugs good-bye I said not to hug me because I was so gross and Claudia didn't care and hugged me anyways.  When she felt the back of my tank top I remember her pulling away and exclaiming "Wow, you weren't kidding!".  Nope, I go hard when a great band is playing.

Warning: terrible pictures below!

Concert Stories #37: No Doubt with Paramore

No Doubt (3^rd Time)
Opener: Paramore
Marcus Amphitheater
July 2, 2009
Age 26

No Doubt is such a timeless band in my mind.  Twelve years after seeing them for the first time, I was back to see my third show from them.  My sister is a huge Gwen Stefani/No Doubt fan and is a member of their fan club.  As a fan club member she got early access to the tickets and we ended up with 10th row center!  No Doubt was not touring for any new album, at the time I believe they toured to help inspire them to write a new songs.  As a result the concert was a greatest hits setlist, so pretty much every song was a hit and I was thrilled when my favorite "Bathwater" was played.  No Doubt had non-stop energy throughout the show, I could not believe how much jumping the rest of the band did while playing!  I also really enjoy Gabrial McNair and Stephen Bradley, who add backing instruments (usually horns).  McNair and Bradley really add such depth to No Doubt's sound and are fun to watch.  When the show ended both my sister and I were thoroughly exhausted, sweat drenched from dancing, and horse from singing to every song.  And to emphasize how much fun this concert was, I learned as a child how to project my voice, so for it to ever get hoarse is beyond rare, that's how much singing and yelling I was doing!

Opening for No Doubt was Paramore which was a perfect match to go with them.  I believe at that time all four original members were still in the band (I think they are down to just Haley Williams now?).  Paramore was great though.  "Decode" from the Twilight soundtrack had just come out the year before and was an amazing song.  Another one of my favorites is "Brick By Boring Brick".  At one point the bassist Jeremy Davis did an aerial...while still playing the bass! 

Paramore would join No Doubt at the end of the night to sing along with one of No Doubt's songs.  It was the perfect cap to a great concert!  

No Doubt starting off the show!

I mean seriously, those abs?

This picture of Adrian Young is one of my favorites.  Even though it's cropped weird it just fits the feel perfectly!

Concert Stories #36: Carrie Underwood with Little Big Town

Carrie Underwood

Opener: Little Big Town

The Carnival Ride Tour

BMO Harris Bradley Center

September 25, 2008

Age 25

Carrie Underwood is one of my favorite country artists.  I really enjoy her style of country music, her voice, and  the way she performs now.  I say "now" because even as a fan I must admit, this show was a little rough around the edges.  

Underwood's show at the Bradley Center was her second tour in support of her second album Carnival Ride and my first time seeing her live.  Underwood's voice sounded amazing live, her voice never disappoints (this is my first of 3 concerts from her) and I enjoyed the setlist.  You always hope your favorite song gets played and my favorite song "Wasted" was right near the beginning!  There was no exact problem with this concert and I, along with my friend Shannon, both thoroughly enjoyed the show, but you could tell Underwood was still getting used to being a performer.  The set (dang it I took no pictures!), also seemed a bit dated to me.  It reminded me of some 'N Sync stages I had seen before.  Underwood also seemed very shy but happy.  If I take anything away from this show it has been amazing seeing her over the years perform and grow exponentially.  I saw her less than a year ago and that show is ranked pretty high on favorites list.  

Opening for Underwood was Little Big Town.  I learned a lesson that night that I already knew but shoved to the side...don't drink beer before a concert!  LBT was playing and I ran out to use the restroom and from the stall I could hear them start "Boondocks". 

 This is a theme for me, whenever I run out of a show they always play my favorite song! 

Concert Stories #35: Kid Rock and Sugarland

Kid Rock

Opener: Sugarland

105th Harley Davidson Anniversary

Miller Park

August 28, 2008

Age 25

Bikes, booze, and music,what can go wrong?  That was my fear back in 2008 when I saw Kid Rock.  Rock headlined the first night of Harley-Davidson's 105th Anniversary celebration at Miller Park Stadium.  Admission was free for H.O.G. members and they could bring one guest.  Naturally, I bugged my father, a H.O.G. member, to take me down to the concert as I genuinely like some of Rock's music.  When we arrived I could not believe the amount of motorcycles in the parking lot!  Thousands of them lined up and they were so beautiful looking!  What I did not realize though was that Rock was playing on a stage set up outside in the stadium parking lot.  It was a large stage with a lot of seating available but the crowd was enormous.  We arrived just as Sugarland finished their set and could not find a seat at all.  We could barely even make it into the viewing area!  Rock came out and we stayed for just a few songs because the crowd was so overwhelming that I became scared and asked my dad if it was okay to leave.  I was concerned that if a fight broke out there was no where to go because of the crowd and I also realized (which I should have known going there) that if we leave when the concert lets out, it would mean that we were on the road on our bike, along with many other bikes, which given the state of the crowd, would mean a lot of drunk drivers.  So we left.  This was the first concert I believe I ever bailed out on early because I was scared for my safety and the safety of others, which is kind of a bummer but better safe than sorry.  Plus, I would see Kid Rock again.

Here is the one terrible picture I got of Sugarland and some of the bikes lined up outside the stadium.

This is not my dad's bike, but he has the same exact model - the Screaming Eagle