P-Roach Set to Rock Iowa With Two Big Shows

As we head into the end of fall, Papa Roach makes a long waited appearance back in Iowa for two great shows. A smaller show on the 28th of October in Dubuque along with Killing Hannah and Jet, and then again on the 4th of November at the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines as they headline with Jet, Saving Abel, and Red as the lead-in bands. Papa Roach fresh off their new album, Metamorphisis, which hit stores last spring have been on tour with Jet for the last couple of months, and will continue on into the winter with other big shows mainly on the East and West coasts. Their album includes hit singles such as "Lifeline," "Hollywood Whore," and "I Almost Told You That I Loved You." The band, now one of the more veteran groups in the business have been going strong since 1997 and are 6 albums deep into their career with no end in sight. After seeing one of their high energy shows back in 2007. The venue was an all-star line-up including headliner Hinder, and support by Buckcherry, Saliva, Bullet For My Valentine, Fuel, and Operator, I found it hard to make any arguement that any of those bands were better than the show P-Roach put on, even though they were the 3rd to last band to play. This band likes to get after it, get the crowd involved, and in all reality just rock the fuck out. Definately a must see.



Pictures provided by paparoach.com

The Next Step on Google’s World Domination Tour?

Maybe.

I remember when I was a freshman in high school and people in my art class started talking about “Google.” Many of the students (and our teacher) had not heard of it. That was back when the curious Internet user had his or her choice of search engines—Yahoo, AltaVista, AskJeeves, and so forth, and Google was just a newcomer to the crowded party. Slowly but surely, for better or for worse, Google started taking over. The word Google has even expanded its reign in our vocabulary, moving beyond mere proper noun and taking also the role of verb. Skilled searchers even speak of their mastery of “Googlefu.”

And Google, somehow—the details are still unclear to me—made money. Lots and lots of money. And they have expanded their reign over all things internet: Google Maps edged out MapQuest and the like; Gmail is one of the most popular web-based email services. There’s also Google News, Google Finance, Google Scholar, Google Books…

Even in the current economy, Google has enough capital to risk a few bucks here and there on more risky ventures. This week they’ll be announcing their step into the world of music. But there are a lot of skeptics out there predicting this will not be a successful scheme.

Richard Metzger at Brand X, in his unambiguously titled article “Will Google’s new music app really be all that?” predicts the fall of Google’s new music app, as it will be utilizing the “underwhelming” music service LaLa, when crazily popular European streaming service Spotify is slated to come to the US later this year. Google will allow users to search for a song and pull up information on the performers, lyrics, etc., and Lala will allow the user to stream the song—once. After that, it’s time to buy if you happen to want to listen again.

As Business Week reports, Lala is thrilled with Google’s choice to use their service—and not just Google, but Facebook as well (just as you can buy little illustrated “gifts,” for your Facebook friends, you will soon be able to pay to send them a song—ten cents for them to listen online whenever they wish, about a dollar for them to download it onto their computers and mp3 players).

Within the next few months, new ways of searching, streaming, and purchasing music will be coming to America. The winner, as usual, is to be decided by the consumer. Will Google dominate the music scene, as it has taken over so many other facets of our lives? Or will this venture count among their losses? Either way, it’s probably safe to assume that Google will be okay.

Keeping the Cold and Catching the Butterflies

How do you stop yourself from being desensitized by a song that really strikes a chord with you?
Is it inevitable? Or are there certain separation tricks you can use so the song and its lyrics stay just as effective when you hear it for the 5th, 203rd, or 1,000th time?
One of the main things people tell me to do when I bring up this topic is to just not listen to it as often as I would like. But where is the fun in that? Obviously I like the song enough to where I want to listen to it a couple of times a day or week, why should I have to “punish” myself in a way and stagger listening to it?
But on the other hand, they have a point. If getting a chill on the back of my neck when I listen to “Taking Chances” from Glee, or butterflies in my stomach every time I listen to “Chicago is so 2 years ago” by Fall Out Boy means that much to me and I never want to lose it, taking a break from listening to those songs constantly might be my only hope.
It’s not that I get sick of these songs, I just lose that instantaneous feeling of excitement and joy from listening to something that I relate to, enjoy and wish I could replicate (Lea Michelle’s voice is amazing). But even if I have lost the “butterflies in my stomach” feeling I’ve gotten from these songs before, I know that it will only take a day or two of me not listening to them for the feelings to come back. Which I know doesn’t seem that long, but, sometimes it is, for me at least.
But luckily I have an i-pod full of other songs that make me just as happy, and possibly as touched as the 2 songs I’ve mentioned, so I think in the end I’ll make it. I just wish there was an easier way.

i <3 ♪ ♫

Lately I’ve heard a lot of people complaining about how younger people abbreviate words way too much. I’m not talking about little things like “would’ve, it’s”, I mean, “omg, g2g, lol” kind of things. More computer abbreviation talk than what people would actually say in a conversation. Teachers are having problem getting through papers without seeing a word missing a few vowels, or sometimes it’s even taken to the extreme and there are pictures instead of the actual word. I will even admit that it isn’t just the younger generations doing this, but there are times where I will bite the abbreviation bullet and add a few shortened words in my texts, only because I was running out of room. I have friends who still use the number “2” constantly instead of saying “to”. My uncle being the main offender of that, but I’ll let it slide since he just learned how to text last week.
But as much as I have heard people make fun of others who abbreviate words when they are holding conversations, or through text messages and emails, I haven’t heard anyone even bring up or complain about band’s abbreviations. Maybe they go more unnoticed? Or maybe people see it as their own expression and are therefore considered art? I think either are good points, and I’m sure there are many other ideas people could say too.
As long as I can remember when it was possible I was abbreviating band names, it seemed to me that it was almost encouraged more than saying the entire band name. NKOTB, STP, BSB, FOB. I loved saying those when I had the chance, I felt like it was a secret code that got you into a special band group fan club. Only fans who really liked the band were allowed to say it kind of thing. But now bands skip actually making up a longer name and just jump to an already abbreviated one. Case in point, there is a new band that is starting to become popular, LMFAO. Which I still find the fact that their grandma chose that name for them hilarious, and just another point to show that abbreviations are spreading not just to the younger generation, but to all of them. So as long as the band is in on the joke, is it ok to abbreviate? Or does it just not matter so much in music as it does in everyday life?

Chester Bennington Opens a New Chapter

After the infinite success that Linkin Park has brought to themselves, main vocalist Chester Bennington decided to start a new chapter in his rock career by starting up his new band, Dead By Sunrise. The band's new album entitled "Out of Ashes," hit stores last Wednesday, and features a more laid back type of rock that we wouldn't see from Bennington and Linkin Park. His voice hasn't changed, and is still completely unmistakable on the new album, but the vocals are much melodic, and although there is a lot of his more higher pitched singing, it doesn't carry over into the heart-pumping screams that he's accustomed too in the majority of Linkin Park's songs. Although Linkin Park's sound had begun to move towards this style of song, with lighter songs in their latest album, "Minutes to Midnight" with songs such as "Shadow of the Day" and "What I've Done," there's still that sound and attitude that is accustomed to Linkin Park. And although there is the same singer in the two bands, there is definitely a new tone and attitude that Dead by Sunrise brings to the table. So for anyone who likes Chester Bennington's voice, which is a very large amount of people, but want to hear it in a new creative way, Dead by Sunrise may definitely be the way to go.


(pictures found on google images)

Rap, Hip-Hop, and CNN

Thirty-some years after it first emerged in New York, hip-hop is going strong into the twenty-first century, communicating the discontent of young people, opening eyes and ears to social problems across the globe. For each country the music comes in unique flavors and words; not only do the languages differ, but so do the struggles being faced. There are different messages to be shared.

In Japan, for example, hip-hop artists such as King Giddra have complained of an education system that zaps youth of their vitality, and of a media oversaturated with sex and violence—listen and see lyrics to the song “Bullet of Truth” here, at researcher Ian Condry’s Japanese hip-hop site). There’s a bit more on Japanese hip-hop (music as well as fashion) in this article.

In France a few years ago, the BBC reported rap artists were blamed for fueling suburban riots. Artist Monsieur R fielded criticism over his song “FranSSe,” in which he called France a prostitute—though he said he was referring to certain politicians who were neglecting ethnic minorities, and not to France as a whole. “Hip hop is a crude art, so we use crude words. It is not a call to violence,” he said in defense of his work.

And in an article entitled “Life on planet hip-hop” today, Alexis Akwagyiram reports on hip-hop’s role in Africa and the Middle East. Akwagyiram interviewed Ben Herson, the founder of Nomadic Wax, a fair-trade label getting out the messages of African rappers with albums, films, and live events. Herson is interested in the idea that rap serves as “CNN for black people,” as Public Enemy rapper Chuck D famously said. Herson believes that, since most cultures have a history of some sort of oral poetic tradition, they can relate to rap and its political messages.

Hip-hop also has a presence in the Middle East, such as the Palestinian group DAM. DAM raps in English, Arabic, and Hebrew, and uses their songs to explore issues like the situation in Palestine and women’s rights in Arab countries. The chorus of their song “I Don’t Have Freedom,” which you can listen to at their website, goes as follows:

Everywhere I go I see borders, imprisoning humanity
Why can’t I be free like other children in this world?
Everywhere I go I see borders, imprisoning humanity
Why can’t I be free like other children in this world?

In Senegal, West Africa it is believed that the results of the 2000 election, in which the party in power was deposed, were affected by politically-charged rap songs that got a lot of airtime on popular radio stations. Award-winning Dekar rapper Baay Bia (pictured) said,

"In 2000, rappers spoke about how we could change the nation. People understood and we changed the government. Until we spoke people didn't believe this could happen."

Images from al-awdacal.org, Ian Condry, and the BBC, respectively.

Act Like You Don't Care?

So 2 years ago I was lucky enough to get the best birthday present ever. Months in advance I had gotten tickets for a Fall Out Boy concert. Just having tickets was great, but about an hour before we were going to leave for the concert (which was still at least 2 or so hours before the show started because I was excited and wanted to get there A.S.A.P) I got a phone call from a number I had never seen before. Hesitating a little I decided to answer, it was a man from Live Nation letting me know that I had 4 meet and greet passes under my name to meet FOB. Thanking him I hung up the phone and immediately started to cry (only a little) and jump up and down. It was my dream to see them in person and up close, and if I was lucky enough, ask them a few questions I’ve been dying to ask about some of their songs.
I called my friends and told them our plans changed, be ready in 10 minutes, I was on my way. There was no chance in hell I was going to miss this opportunity because they wanted 40 more minutes to nap before we were really supposed to leave. The whole ride to the arena is a blur to me. I remember driving faster than I probably ever have before to get there, and I’m pretty sure I heard my friend yell at me to chill out because I almost jumped out of the car before I put it in park. I went to the booth and got our meet and greet wristbands and we went into the next building to wait in line to meet them. It worked out so well that we were the last in line; I was elated, thinking I would have more time to ask them questions.
That wasn’t the case at all. It was a quick process; quicker than I thought was possible. Security guards moved up and down the line reminded people to have whatever they wanted signed by the band out and ready (being in such a rush I didn’t even think to bring something for them to sign, so they signed the envelope our wristbands came in). The band said quick hellos and we were whisked off to the end of the line again to then take our picture with them. I couldn’t stop smiling, my cheeks started to hurt. That’s when my friends started to give me a hard time. “Quit looking so excited”,” it’s not that big of a deal”, I wanted to smack them. Maybe for you it isn’t, but for me it is. Where is there an unwritten rule that you have to act un-interested when meeting someone you’ve admired for years? I guess I missed that memo. I don’t care if I looked silly, I was happy, who wouldn’t be?

Lone Rocker

Things that are ok to do by yourself:
Ride a bike
Weed a garden
Make Jell-o

Things that are ok to do by yourself, but not many people do:

Go to a concert

I learned this the hard way last spring. The Academy Is… was playing at the Picador and I did not want to miss it. However, all of my friends did. I knew the show was going to sell out so I had to make the hard decision a few weeks before the concert about whether I should just get 1 ticket, or wish and cross my fingers someone would have a change of heart and I should buy 2.
Well, I ended up buying 1. I kind of knew my second option wasn’t an option at all with my friends. But I didn’t think it would be so bad. It’s not like it was a super social gathering, a band was going to be playing 85% of the time I was there. But I knew the second I got to the Picador and the line went a block down the sidewalk that my night was going to be filled with a whole lot of awkwardness on my part. The doors to the show didn’t start for an hour, everyone was chatting away with their group of friends. There I stood, alone, like a creeper, listening into others conversations while trying to make myself look popular by playing around with my phone.
When it came time to get into the Picador I was at ease with my alone-ness, although I’m sure other people still felt bad. But one of the pros of being alone was that I was able to squeeze right to the front of the stage. I was elated. The show ended up being amazing and a very rare show (because it ended up being an acoustic set, and only with the lead singer). Every once in a while between songs I wanted to look next to me and see my friends smiling as much as I was because the show was great.
It wasn’t until the very last song that I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. As William Beckett walked off the stage at the end of the show I looked to see that my friend texted me telling me he was in town. He had been for hours. And wanted to know if I wanted to go to the Academy Is… show. He didn’t buy tickets because he didn’t want to go alone, if only he called me sooner.

A few days later I was talking about how weird it was going to a show alone because I had nobody to really talk to, or share my excitement with. But the comments my roommate had about how she hates standing and being sweaty, etc, I realized that there are just as many cons as there are pros going with someone. Since that concert I’ve gone to 2 other shows around town alone, and had an equally fun time as I did at the first, and I’ve even met some cool people along the way. Now my friends don't give me quite as hard of a time when I tell them I’m going/went to a show alone.

Now if only I could get them to stop making fun of me for going to movies alone
sometimes.


(picture found on google images)

“More Rock. Less Plastic.”

The eighth annual Austin City Limits Music Festival wraps up tonight. The festival, inspired by the thirty-odd-years-and-running PBS special Austin City Limits, has grown in size and scope, expanding its initially regional focus and drawing musicians and crowds not just from Texas but from across the country and the globe. Nicknamed ACL, this weekend of rock is beginning to rival established music festivals such as Lollapalooza (in fact run by the same company, C3 Presents).

While fans were entranced by the likes of Pearl Jam, The Decembrists, Dave Matthews Band—just to name a few—they were also being encouraged to go green. According to the New York Times, C3 donated $2.5 million to physically green up Zilker Park, where the festival is held. Beyond that, ACL has sought to go green on a different level.

As ACL itself touts on the ‘Greening’ section of their website, “The Festival is once again 100% carbon neutral event.” So, even thousands upon thousands of fans stampeded their way to the concerts this weekend, ACL left no carbon footprint on Mother Earth. This was achieved by purchasing carbon offsets from Green Mountain Energy. You may have noticed, for example, when purchasing plane tickets online, that you’re given the opportunity to pay for a carbon offset. Shelling out even more money for your trip may not be the most appealing idea you’ve ever heard, but that burning jet fuel is just spewing out more C02 into the air we all breathe. Offsets aren’t just for plane trips, either—they can be bought to cancel out the negative effects of our daily lives—driving our cars, heating our homes, using electricity. The money goes to alternative sources of energy and pays to plant trees, which naturally convert carbon dioxide back into oxygen. Environmentally conscious companies can buy offsets too, for big events like the ACL. ACL also offered event-goers the chance to pay an extra $3 to offset the toll they would take on the environment by traveling to and attending the festival.

Mother Nature Network reported that in addition to the carbon offsets, ACL has created an environmentally conscious festival. For example, no styrofoam or plastic bags were allowed into the event. Attendees were encouraged to take part in the festival’s “Rock and Recycle” program, which offered a chance at prizes such as the hybrid Honda Insight for people who participated in “eco-mindful activities” like recycling, riding a bike, using a refillable water bottle, et cetera.

Austin has been known as a hippie town, where all sorts of music and creativity have flourished. Luckily, environmentalism is not just for hippies anymore; it’s for all of us. We can still throw wild parties and enjoy music, travel, food, and life—and we can do so guiltlessly, with fresh air to breathe.

image from Wikipedia.