Leto the Let Down

Here's a little secret we've never revealed. About a year ago, my friend Eryn, went to go shoot 30 Seconds to Mars and Aiden (barf, gag, ew). Planet Verge was the only publication graced with a photo pass that night, therefore, Eryn was the only photographer in the photo pit. During 30 Seconds to Mars' performance, there were some uncalled for actions by vocalist, Jared Leto. He not only spilled a bottle of water over Eryn's head and camera, but the tough gal that she is, Eryn continued her job and then Leto kicked her shoulder. On purpose. A few minutes later, he walked off stage for a second and then a security guard came over and asked Eryn to leave.


Now, if they didn't want photographers there, they shouldn't have allowed photo passes. And if Leto was going to kick her out, why didn't he do that BEFORE he basically harrassed her? Totally unnecessary roughness. He sucks. He broke our hearts. And when we told his publicist about this, she said she would look into it and doubted it was all on purpose.

But alas, read the New York Post today (pg. 11) and the headline "Leto looney at Sundance." Seems this pretty boy really doesn't like getting his picture taken. But dude, don't take it out on the people (this time a photographer from WireImage) who are just doing their job!

I can't say Jared is a total jerk, though. When I met him at another show after that, he was very nice and asked a lot of questions about Planet Verge. He even hugged my boyfriend. And a few months ago, Eryn was introduced to him backstage at a concert and he was quite cordial. Would've been funny if she told him what he did to her, though.

I wonder if he beats up camera men when he is filming movies? lol

*Love,
Joelle, who was a fan of 30 Seconds to Mars since Day ONE, thankyouverymuch

You should go here tonight.

You'll get to meet the other PV girls and I'll be able to live vicariously through you as I drift in and out of consciousness watching reruns of The White Rapper Show and subsequently searching for things with which to hang myself.


*By Jess, who magically only gets sick when there's fun stuff to do over the weekend

21 minutes late is better than never!

For some reason, this wouldn't let me log in on January 17th at anytime, and now that it's been the 18th for twenty-one whole minutes:

Happy Birthday to Tim Pagnotta of Sugarcult!

Not only can the man write a killer hook, but he's really good at color coordination:

Those eyes and that shirt? Flawless.
I look a bit deranged here, but see how my bra straps perfectly complement my tank?
Match made in heaven, dude.

Oh, and he called me "Momma." Twice. I wouldn't mind being his [baby] momma. Just throwing that out there, folks.

And no, I'm not REALLY obsessed with him--I just think he can sing his patootie off and that he happens to be rather goodlooking. And I don't really wanna be his baby momma, either. I'm way too anti-stretch marks for that.



*By Jess, who thinks she has SARS.

Kill Hannah- Kennedy

enjoy

Kill Hannah- Lips Like Morphine

listen. love

oy vey

i just did a search for lostprophets on google and photos i took come up, which is cool. BUT they are from the early days of planet verge, when i did not put photo credit on the pictures. so therefore, all our pictures are all over the place, and we get no credit. and that makes me sad cause we work soooo hard on everything. that's a big reason why i took down the photo gallery on planetverge.com. now all our pictures are small and have photo credit on them. which is both good and bad. oh well. here's to our popular pictures. cheers!

*joelle

my beef with the stone pony

The Stone Pony is probably the most famous little rock club on the Jersey shore. So much in fact, that major label bands make stops on their tour there. And with that comes press. Photographers. IE--- professional (or some who think they are) picture takers who are getting paid (if they're lucky) for their work. People who are not the slutty fans in the front row with cameras and stalking the band outside afterwords asking them to sign their tits.

Usually, venues have a designated photo area in front of the stage set aside for the photo pass privileged so they can work and not have to battle fans getting in the way. Not the Stone Pony. Not only do they never seem to set up barriers, they never even have physical photo passes to give press.

This caused a problem for me when I went to shoot Eighteen Visions and Lostprophets a few months ago there. But luckily, 18 V's crew totally accomidated me and both bands pretty much let me shoot as much as I wanted (not the standard three songs and you're out rule). We have a mutual love. haha

I wasn't as fortunate when I went to go see Kill Hannah at the Pony this week. The band hit the stage the second I walked in, so I didn't even have time to go to the merch table to track down a tour manager to get escorted to stage. But I shouldn't have to do that anyway and it's a major annoyance. So with no real photo pass, or fuel to argue with security to get let up on the stage, I settled for not being able to take pictures. I did manage to shoot some video footage, though.

This was my first time seeing Kill Hannah and I can't wait to see them again. They had a great stage presence, which was even brought up a notch once the guitars started shooting out green lazer light. It really helped accentuate the atmosphere and accent the music.

Vocalist, Mat Devine, called Asbury Park the most beatiful and depressing city. He then thanked fans for putting on their bullet-proof jackets to come out. At least he made a joke of it. Word is that the Pink Spiders totally dissed NJ, but I was not present at the time of their set to confirm.

So I left the show wanting more Kill Hannah, another chance to take pictures, and their debut CD. Looks like I'll get the first two when they play Starland Ballroom in March, but as for that CD, I'm still on the hunt!


pixy stix and sweedish fish kisses,
Joelle

To the nice gentleman who let me park my car where I wasn't supposed to:

You rocked my socks (hypothetically, since I wasn't wearing any today), my shoes, my leggings, my dress, my hairtie, my nailpolish, and my plastic ring today.

Thank you very much.

And girls? Pouting always works.

Love,
Jess

How to Avoid Being A Huge Tool

Be literate. Literacy is sexy. Not like this goon, who, despite my page being private, stumbled upon me on myspace and won't leave me be. Check this crap out:


----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: ?
Date: Jan 12 2007 12:33 AM
Sugar CAndy mountain? Thats freaking awesome!!

So I was amused, because most people don't understand the reference. To verify (and wind up disappointed):

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Jessicalmost cares
Date: Jan 11 2007 6:35 PM
Do you know what it refers to?

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: ?
Date: Jan 12 2007 1:38 AM
Not really. I just liked the phrase. I googled it and there's a web site by that name. What does it mean to you?

What the Hell? "What does it mean to you?" I don't do Dr. Phil shit. I hate it when people ask me what I'm feeling for significant things (do I even have feelings? There's a better question), let alone stupid junk like this. In any case:

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Jessicalmost cares
Date: Jan 11 2007 7:47 PM
It's the name of the hypothetical utopia in Orwell's Animal Farm.

And then he tries to sound smart by using the word "allegorical." Unfortunately, in missing the entire point of my one-sentence reply, he does the opposite.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: ?
Date: Jan 12 2007 5:47 AM
OH, I missed high school and never got around to reading it. I'm not much into politics even if it is fiction. Don't really go in for books with the allegorical overtones either. Sounds like a really nice place though. In the book, is it a nice place?

Um, how do you miss all of high school? Unless you're like most of the people who went to mine, it should only take four years (please note that the stabbing that occurred in my high school was the work of an eighteen year old sophomore, and no, I can't even write this stuff). What were you busy doing, sir? Just wondering. Anyway, it was at this point that I began banging my head against my purple and green walls and wishing I had an iron curtain to drop on stupid almost-30-year-olds who try to spit game at me like this.


*By Jess, who, despite doubting a draft reinstatement happening anytime soon, still claims to have flat feet until we're out of Iraq.

Conquer, nah. Dominate, ehh, no. Takeover, bring it.

Early in the year, a friend told me to check out a band he was working with. Usually I don't think to much of a "CHECK OUT THIS BAND!!!" comment that a friend might throw around...but I knew that he has similar music taste, and wouldn't steer me towards something completely crappy. Well, needless to say, what I found, KICKED ASS. Meet the Takeover. (NOTE- This video is not to be shared, its for Planet Verge ONLY...)




Here's a little sneak peak at my article/interview with the guys...

THE TAKEOVER…Are YOU Ready? ‘Cause, this one will take you by surprise.
For Planet Verge
By Amanda Tumulty

“Stop being plain and like everybody else, try and do something different, do something else. Go against the fucking flow.”


It’s a rarity that you find a talented, charismatic yet reserved, fun group of guys that can plain and simply…ROCK. Meet the Takeover from Philadelphia, PA, and made up of 5 of the most talented, driven guys the local music scene has seen in years. There’s Patrick (vocals), Eric (guitars), Jared (beatin’ the drums), Kris (analogs), and Jesse (digitals). It’s not everyday that you find a band that is able to make you move and you don’t even know it, with their hypnotizing sound, you can’t help but dance. I had a chance to talk to the guys after their Club Deep performance in late December, I got a look at what they need to have in the van, what makes them rock, and the struggles that make them rock as hard as they do today.

“Let it go, Dance it up.”

Between the sick synth beats and wailing guitar, the Takeover is a welcome change from the typical and usual “pop-punk” sound. The Takeover’s before show rituals may be somewhat strange, but as it was explained to me, “healthy bathroom habits are essential.” The band makes claim that they are inspired from all kinds of genres and artists, when asked the “stranded on an island with a cd, which one would it be?” question, I heard everything from Bruce Springsteen’s Greatest Hits to any box sets, to good ol’ mixed cd’s, and guitarist Eric manages to slide in that he would have to take Radiohead....



check out www.planetverge.com for the FULL article coming soon...



* Amanda (thanks steve)

the most important piece of advice ever

"I think you always have to do what you set out in life to do, regardless of how successful you are at it. You are successful when you're doing what you want to do. You're not successful if you give up and do something you don't want to do. It's not about how much you make, as much as it is that you actually went for it." -BUTCH WALKER TO PLANET VERGE.

I've been reading this quote a lot lately. I have the issue of Planet Verge we did the Butch Walker tribute in signed by the man himself and hanging above my desk. So it's always there, as if screaming at me. Or it's me screaming at myself.....

The other day I was going through the Planet Verge filing cabinets getting rid of old stuff. I found a whole bunch of letters from our fans, ranging from a girl in Puerto Rico begging me to help make her a star, to people who read about us in Teen People and want to be a part of our team. It feels really good to know that people look up to you. But the ironic thing is, I constantly wonder if I made the right decisions with my life.

I graduated college and instead of getting a real corporate job in a magazine or PR field, dedicated my life to making a movement. Trying to start your own company is not something I reccomend. I get asked advice on how to start a magazine all the time. The first thing I say? Don't do it! Get a real fan base online before even thinking about moving into the print world, spending your life savings and risking financial security in your life because you work a crappy part time job in order to have time to follow your dream.

So here I am. Three years after college. And only now am I finally feeling like "Hey, i'm getting somewhere." But it's not fast enough. And how much longer can I spend living the dream before I need to actually grow up, face the 9-5 world and say "At least I tried?"

It took me those three years after college to come to the conclusion that I DON'T WANT to even do music journalism anymore! It bores me. Bands bore me. Radio bores me. I don't want to be writing about the same thing over and over again. I want to be the one bringing new exciting things to people. Changing the boring way of the world.

As much as I can be a great editor and running things, I thrive being the one behind the scenes. Being part of the band's team, doing PR. Finding the band and bringing them to attention to labels. Making a difference in their careers, while making a name for myself. But once again, this business is all about proving yourself. And I have come so far, yet feel so far away... Maybe this is lack of sleep and not enough Vitamin C in me doing all the talking. But I just go back to that Butch Walker quote and know everything will be ok. I went for it. I had amazing life experiences, met extraordinary people (like Butch), and took chances other people only dream about. So what if I'm broke now? Eventually I'll be able to afford myself and pay off all those credit card bills. lol

So here I am deciding what to do with my life. Go back to school and be a teacher like all the boring, easy way out people? Figure that will give me summer's off and free time to still run a PR company. But really hate it cause I would be wasting so much talent. Or find another, higher paying crappy part-time job with benefits so I can keep striving for my dream and hope my boyfriend hits it rich so I can count on him for support? (DON'T EVER COUNT ON A MAN, Ladies! My momma taught me right with that one. You gotta be strong and independent).

Right now, I think I'm gonna go with the flow. Take one day at a time. Live life today and try not to worry too much about all the tomorrows. Good things come to those who wait, right?

Here's to the dreamers. The ones who start something, support something and don't give in.

*Joelle

The Good, the Bad, and the Over Played...

Something has been digging at me. I understand the whole radio airplay concept and how there's playlists, and music is licensed to said stations to be played a certain number of times on a certain number of playlists, blah, blah blah. I have been hearing tons of great new music on the radio, and I have been hearing some tragic attempts at talent...but, Whatever happened to the whole concept of "leave wanting more" more? Wouldn't that create more buzz for the artist? It certainly has the potential to make the artist and the label more money. Wouldnt that make listeners tune into the radio staion more frequently in hopes of hearing said song???

The other day i was driving to the beach to check out the waves and maybe head out for a surf, I mean, it was 73 degrees in January, and going against my usual mix CD playlist I went for the radio. Flipping around I finally settled on the ghetto, wanna-be-punk, sugar coated pop station of Z100. On my way there I heard Hinder's latest release success "Lips of an Angel" or whatever its called. THEN, after I finished my glorious hour long walk on the beach (the waves sucked) I got back in my car and within 3 minutes, Hinders song was on again. I'm not saying that its a bad song, or that its horrifically overplayed, its just frustrating to me. I would have been more curious about the song, and maybe would have checked it out on itunes or something if i HADN'T heard it 2 times within an hour and a half.

I just want success for those whom are TRULY talented. The music world knows how to destroy dreams, and it knows how to cradle and help develope those few careers that are truly worth venturing into. Radio airplay is ruining some songs for me. Some talented artists are licensing their songs out WAY to much. WAY to much.

Ahh. I feel better now that I got that out.

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful day. The week is making it's way to Friday!


*Amanda (who is totally and completely digging the Colour Revolt EP.)

What I've been pondering this week:

1. Why in God's (or Allah's, or Brahman's, or whichever tickles your fancy) name is Route 18 still under construction?
Seriously. What is the objective and when will it be reached? Getting to South Jersey is absolutely horrifying, and while Joelle will probably say that it's like that with my driving regardless (I really am not that bad), when lanes are barely wider than my hips (okay, bad example), let alone my fucking car, it's really, really, nervewracking. My knuckles looked like fat little snowflakes on my steering wheel last night when I went to see two bands you should check out--Dear Ulysses and The Peasantry (they even share members, isn't that precious?). They have the hardest working manager in the biz, too. I was glad to say that they were well worth the trek to Long Branch. The show was definitely more killer than the drive there, and well, that's a lot of killing. That's like Jack the Ripper (hi Spitalfield reference!) meets the Zodiac meets Catherine of friggin' Bathory, dude.

2. How cool would it be if it actually rained men?
This actually crossed my mind as I was driving and singing along to the sequel to this song (because everything on radio around here sucks more than a hundred Hoovers and Kirby's--except this guy, who owns your face), which features a cameo by RuPaul--amazing. But really--I would turn my umbrella upside down for sure. And I already jump in puddles, so this would be even more enjoyable. But how would they fall? Would they start out as little droplets and then grow upon hitting ground or what? Because if one is clumsy, this could be really dangerous and messy, too. A chance I'm willing to take, mind you. I'll pray for rises in humidity and drops in barometric pressure for as long as it takes... And invest in a really big bucket to keep outside, one which wouldn't attract West Nile and mosquitoes when left out overnight.

3. Why does the Court Tavern staff insist on keeping that hundred year old dirtbag at the door?
What a douche, seriously. I've encountered plenty of rude, bitter people in my life, but none that get paid to be as such (Elizabeth Hasselbeck not withstanding). Luckily, being a youngin', I didn't have to deal with him much when I went to see the Love Trilogy for drummer Ahmed's birthday. They had cool lighting effects and do one mean "Voodoo Chile" cover--and they're in Brunswick all the time, so check them out when you can. Also fun was getting a Big Bird cupcake shoved in my face that subsequently fell a bit further South. I was still picking yellow sprinkles out of my cleavage the next morning. All in a day's work.

4. How long is it going to take you to realize that this is my way of band product placement?
Wink wink, nudge nudge.


*By Jess, who reads propaganda like it's pulp fiction.

Somebody Call 911!!!

Former Baywatch star, Jeremy Jackson must have suffered brain damage while filming scenes in the ocean for all those years. It has apparently effected his ability to create good music.

Back in the day, I'll admit, I had a major crush on his character, Hobie. The episode with the music video, oh he was so dreamy.

Now, all that fake tanning really did something to him--he thinks he's black! Listen to the new song on his MySpace page. He raps about getting drunk and coked up. I think he should take his own advice and "pack it up."


Dude, the guy is so California gudio it's gross. But I did enjoy the expose Vanity Fair did on him a while back.
And he is still hot, but I like laughing at him better than looking at him.

*Joelle, who has seen every episode of Baywatch from DAY ONE!