I’ll be honest I think this recent trend of pop punk/hardcore crossover music that has taken over in the past year or so is pretty terrible. I mean I loved New Found Glory as much as the next guy, but for every rare, good band within the genre like Fireworks or Set Your Goals, there are a thousand crappy bands whose creativity is highlighted by the fact their names are simply Saves The Day song titles. So, it is refreshing to get a band like The Wonder Years every now and then that breaks the mold a bit in a genre that is so water-downed by the lowest common denominators.
He sings, drums, and plays the keyboard. He writes and records all his own music and he’s only 19. Jordan Witzigreuter spent several years in various bands before deciding at age 16 that he wanted to do something all his own and started recording music under the name The Ready Set. Now, three years later, he has been signed to Pete Wentz’s independent label Decaydance Records (also home to such acts as Gym Class Heroes, Panic! at the Disco, and Cobra Starship) and is slated to release his first full length album soon. I’m hoping we can expect more of the same dance beats and energetic synth melodies Witzigreuter delivered on his early EP.
With his touring band, composed of bassist Andy Snyder, drummer Travis Rountree, and of course a computer that supplies all the fun extra sounds that a live band of just 3 can’t always create, The Ready Set put on a powerful performance that begs you to dance along. They just got off a tour opening for the Friday Night Boys during which they stopped at Chicago’s Beat Kitchen, and are set to perform a showcase with label mates Hey Monday at SXSW. Catch them at Cedar Door in Austin, TX on March 18 or on the upcoming Bamboozle Roadshow which stops in Chicago on June 12. In their own words: “The music – it’s all for you. So turn it up and dance your heart out.”
Check out The Ready Set’s newest song, “Drain Notes”, below:
We’ve already covered a few soloartists on here that used to front punk bands, and this post is no different as it is about ex-Million Dead singer Frank Turner. Like Kensure and Ragan, Turner is releasing folk albums these days, but he separates himself from the pack as he still retains the rock in his music that his peers left behind when they switched genres. Since he began releasing solo material in 2006, Turner has been likened to folk/punk legend and fellow Englander Billy Bragg for his ability to craft deeply passionate love songs as well as working man anthems.
Not too long ago I had never even heard of Scranton, PA, and now it is the home of two of my favorite things, The Office and The Menzingers. Tucked away in the northeastern part of the Keystone State, Scranton seems to be producing more than just coal these days, as yet another great thing has emerged from the hub of Lackawanna County, Tigers Jaw.
I guess I’m a little behind the Tigers Jaw bandwagon, as the internet hype-machine has been building the young five-piece up since since their ’08 self-titled full length and last year’s Spirit Desire 7,” Tigers Jaw has been drawing high praise amongst the DIY punk scene for their ’90s alt-rock meets early emo sound. Labeled as “a poppier Archers Of Loaf or a more punk version of Pavement… except with keyboards and a blatant disregard for apostrophes” (yeah, it’s Tigers, not Tiger’s), I can’t help but also hear some definite Pinkerton-era Weezer influences as well as some glimpses of Saves the Day.
The other night I found myself bored and turned on the tube. The only thing one was “Gossip Girl” and my coworkers raved about it, so I thought I’d check it out.
Gossip Girl is the second worst [only second to Jersey Shore] show in the history of television.
Besides losing massive amounts of brain cells from watching, I did gain something. I really liked one of the songs playing in the background and looked up who it was. PASSION PIT is a band from the east coast composed of members with intense last names. Get this, the band group consists of Michael Angelakos (lead vocals/keyboards), Ian Hultquist (keyboards/guitar), Ayad Al Adhamy (synth/samples), Jeff Apruzzese (bass/synth bass) and Nate Donmoyer (drums). Maybe it’s an east coast thing.
The band’s name, “Passion Pit” is actually a slang term for a drive-in theatre; “The pic is playing at two passion pits in Miami,” [Thanks, www.variety.com]. Think about it – teenagers go to movies, have raging hormones, away from the parental units …you get the picture. Hah. Read more…
If you have any interest in punk music, you should have heard of Dear Landlord by now. The band has been one of the most talked about acts within the scene this year, and it will be no surprised when their debut full length Dream Homes tops many of this year’s “best of” lists.
Comprised of members of the Copyrights and Rivethead, Dear Landlord perfectly blends the sounds of those two bands. It’s equal parts classic Minneapolis rough, raspy punk and quick, hyper-melodic pop punk from the Land of Lincoln. With two solid 7” releases under their belt, Dear Landlord released their first full length Dream Homes earlier this year, and, to put it plainly, it is one of the best pop punk albums I’ve heard in awhile. Read more…
Here is my short introduction. This blog’s creation is not so I can write my personal thoughts, feelings, breakups, shitty classes, or anything people normally write about in their online blogs. I wanted to create something worthwhile for music fans and blog readers, as well as something that has content worth checking out.
I’m planning on filling this blog with album reviews, live performance reviews, updates on summer festivals, and anything else I feel is worthwhile to stimulate your mind.
A little background on myself – I’m going into my senior year at Columbia College Chicago. I’ve managed to get through the past three years of college at Columbia, and have been pretty successful getting involved on campus. I’m transitioning into the role of President of our Student Programming Board, and just started working as assistant program coordinator on campus. I’m also involved in our student-run record label on campus called AEMMP Records. Overall you could say that I’m an overachiever and never happy with “good-enough,” I’m always looking for that next big project.
Now that summer is now in full-swing, Chicago is the place to be! With music festivals every weekend, and many roadtrips ahead there shouldn’t be a lack of interesting things to write about.
So jump on board, and get ready to familiarize yourself.
