New Music You Should Hear!

Recently a man by the name of Will Champlin opened for my Chris Nathan. Chris has had some great openers, and others that are well...not so great. When I heard Champlin, however, it was more than great music...I had an eargasm! He writes, performs, and produces catchy pop tunes that get stuck in your head, but you don't hear them on the radio every other hour. In fact, you don't ever hear them on the radio! Champlin grew up touring with Santanna (how cool is that?), and resides in Southern California. He's currently recording and writing in Nashville, TN, and I'm eagerly awaiting his solo debut independently released album. If you enjoy catchy pop music without all the hype, check out Will Champlin. My favorite song is "Now That We're Fallin".

This morning while working on various writing projects, I asked Chris for suggestions on music to listen to while I work. He said, "Matt York." I instantly fell in love. Not only is York "the real deal", he also seems to be a nice, down-to-earth guy (unlike many other singer/songwriters). York's music is raw talent at it's finest. I can't say enough about him, other than check him out for yourself and you'll know what I mean. He's similar to Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz, Marc Broussard, and John Mayer, but without all the hype and diva-like attitude. His song, "Lucky Man" has been on repeat in my CD player all day.

**Christina - PV's Nashville girl of music and gossip news.

The Legacy of Jerry Finn

In heartbreaking news, record producer Jerry Finn passed away on August 21 at the age of 38. He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in July and was eventually taken off life support Aug. 9. Sadly, he never regained consciousness.

Finn contributed his many talents to the landscape of Pop/Punk's sonic playground over the years and helped lead the genres to what they are today.

His final work, Morrisey's Years of Refusal , is slated for a Feb. 09 release.

Mark Hoppus (Blink 182/ +44) posted this:

“Today the world became a lot less musical. One of my best friends passed away today. Jerry Finn was one of the most talented, funniest, coolest, smartest and honest people I have ever known.

“He worked on many of my favorite albums of all time, and helped shape the sound and direction of Blink-182 from Enema of the State all the way through to the end and into +44. He was into Family Guy, South Park and Mr. Show before anyone else had even heard of those shows. And when my son was born, while everyone else was sending us baby blankets and teddy bears, Jerry and his girlfriend gave him a tiny extra small black leather jacket covered in metal studs and Ramones pins."


Not only did he produce one of my favorite albums of all time-- Marvelous 3's Ready, Sex, Go-you'll also recognize his name on these albums:

Green Day - Dookie (1994) (mixed)
The Muffs - Blonder and Blonder (1995) (engineered and mixed)
Pennywise - About Time (1995)
Rancid - ...And Out Come the Wolves (1995)
Jawbreaker - Dear You (1995) (mixed)
Green Day - Insomniac (1995) (mixed)
Fastball - Make Your Mama Proud (1996)
The Daredevils - Hate You (1996)
Smoking Popes - Destination Failure (1997)
Coward - Self-Titled (1997)
Superdrag - Head Trip in Every Key (1998)
Rancid - Life Won't Wait (1998) (mixed)
The Vandals - Hitler Bad, Vandals Good (1998) (mixed)
The Living End - The Living End (1998) (mixed)
blink-182 - Enema of the State (1999)
Madness - Universal Madness (1999) (mixed)
Fenix*TX - Fenix*TX (1999)
blink-182 - The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!) (2000)
MxPx - The Ever Passing Moment (2000)
The Marvelous 3 - ReadySexGo! (2000)
Fenix*TX - Lechuza (2001)
Sum 41 - All Killer No Filler (2001)
Alkaline Trio - From Here to Infirmary (2001) (mixed)
blink-182 - Take Off Your Pants And Jacket (2001)
Green Day - International Superhits! (2001) (co-produced)
Bad Religion - The Process of Belief (2002) (mixed)
Box Car Racer - Box Car Racer (2002)
MxPx - Ten Years and Running (2002)
Sparta - Wiretap Scars (2002)
Vendetta Red - Between the Never and the Now (2003)
AFI - Sing the Sorrow (2003) (co-produced and mixed)
Alkaline Trio - Good Mourning (2003) (co-produced and mixed)
blink-182 - untitled (2003)
Morrissey - You Are the Quarry (2004)
Marjorie Fair - Self Help Serenade (2004)
The Vandals - Hollywood Potato Chip (2004) (mixed)
Eisley - Room Noises (2005) (mixed)
The Offspring - Greatest Hits (2005)
Alkaline Trio - Crimson (2005)
blink-182 - Greatest Hits (2005)
AFI - Decemberunderground (2006)
+44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating (2006) (co-produced and mixed)
Tiger Army - Music from Regions Beyond (2007)
Morrissey - Greatest Hits (2008)
Morrissey - Years of Refusal (set for February 2009)



* By Joelle, who thinks you should all go listen to one of these records in honor of Finn.

New Jersey's The Gaslight Anthem release new album!

New Brunswick, New Jersey natives The Gaslight Anthem dropped their sophomore album entitled The ’59 Sound’ on Tuesday. This is also their debut album for SideOneDummy Records.

'The '59 Sound' is definitely a serious step forward for these guys and shows a great maturity in their songwriting as well. This album really helps showcase exactly what you get from the band when you see them live. Flooded with fantastic imagery, the lyrics really stand out more so on this album than their last. Catchy chorus after catchy chorus, The Gaslight Anthem have managed to finally find a perfect meld of punk rock, blues, and soul. (Check out “Miles Davis & The Cool”)

This is the type of music filled with obvious passion and genuine sincerity. In other words, it feels real. Every song screams for attention and is perfect for summer afternoon driving. Top down. Volume all the way up.

Some standout tracks for me are "Film Noir", "The Patient Ferris Wheel", "Casanova, Baby!", "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues", and "The Backseat". It's a tough choice with such a solid set of songs, however singer/guitarist Brian Fallon seems to have finally perfected his brand of blue collar New Jersey-style punk rock, mixed with a folk influenced style of songwriting and soulful vocals. He did have help in achieving so with fellow bandmates, guitarist Alex Rosamilia, bassist Alex Levine, and drummer Benny Horowitz.

Other highlights from the record come by way of guests Dicky Barrett (Mighty Mighty Bosstones) and Chris Wollard (Hot Water Music). It's great to see such stand out names appear on this release.

I sincerely hope this album gets the recognition that it deserves and doesn't go unnoticed. It's an amazing album by a great band that will no doubt escape the dreaded "sophomore slump".

Check them out at Loony Tunes in Long Island today, August 20th for an in store signing. You can also catch them on tour this fall with American Steel in September and Rise Against in October. All tour dates can be found at their Myspace.


I was able to catch up with singer/guitarist Brian Fallon from Gaslight the day before the release and asked him a few questions concerning the new album:

Michael: What is "The '59 Sound" in reference to exactly?

Brian Fallon: The '59 Sound is a reference to all the classic rock and roll, all the drive-in movie dates, the good old days so to speak. It's also a reference to the Fender Bassman of 1959. [This] was the amplifier used by most guitarists of that era, which I also used on the record.

M: What were your feelings while writing for the album? I notice some recurring themes and words used, most notably "summer" and also the theme of "death" in the title track.

BF: It was strange during the writing of this album. Everyone around me [and] in my age group is stepping out of their adolescence and into adulthood. Some are getting married, some got divorced, had babies, and some passed away, all while I was on tour in a state of "permanent summer vacation" so to speak. It made me start to face the fact that I too am becoming an adult and I had to define my own life too. Plus I love the summer; I was born on the Jersey Shore, in Red Bank, it's in [my] blood. I'm not sure I'll really know how to define all this until I can look back on it later in life.

M: How was it working with producer Ted Hutt? He's worked with bands such as The Bouncing Souls and Flogging Molly; were you afraid before heading into the studio that his previous work may pose any problems?

BF: Ted Hutt and I had one conversation and I knew he was the one. I always knew he was going to be able to get the "soul" sound we were looking for, and I knew he'd be able to mix it with punk. Ted's the Mixer, like the musical bartender, he can mix anything.

M: Did his musical background playing with Flogging Molly help out in recordings at all?

BF: I think Ted's being in Flogging Molly helped him to see the storytelling aspect of the songs. [But] more importantly, I think he understood traditional music colliding with punk. Where Flogging Molly mixed Irish music and punk, we mixed Motown and punk.

M: How excited are you and the band to be touring in the fall with the likes of American Steel, Rise Against and Alkaline Trio?

BF: It's pretty great. We're very fortunate that these bands would be interested in playing with us. These are the bands we grew up on, especially American Steel and Alkaline Trio, amazing!

M: What is your favorite song from your new album, "The '59 Sound"?

BF: My baby is “Miles Davis and the Cool”. That's the one I worked the hardest on. I wrote and rewrote that song about four times. I knew I had personal stock in that one [song] more so than anything before. It fought me a lot, that song did, but I loved it too much to let it go.

M: Are there any new bands/artists you're listening to right now that we should check out?

BF: There's a lot of bands from other countries I love right now, The Constantines from Canada are the best band out there right now. I also love We're All Broken from Jersey, There's A Death In The Family from Melbourne, Australia, and Grim Fandango from Perth, Australia. There's also an English band call Beat Union on Science Records,they're great. The best thing about all this is I can mention these bands from all over the world who some people might never hear of but with the Internet and MySpace, everybody can hear them right now. I think this is great, now if I can just get the labels to listen to me and put out only vinyl with a free download card inside I think that everything would be all right. I learned that from Jordan Kleeman (Against Me! Manager), amongst other things.

(Note: You can check out all the bands mentioned above on Myspace. It's there, use it!)


Here is the video for their first single off the album ‘The ’59 Sound’:

"The '59 Sound"


If you like what you hear, check out the SideOneDummy webstore and buy the album!


**Michael left The Gaslight Anthem to continue his college education. Ain’t that the way it always goes?

Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, The All American Rejects, Ben Harper Playing at The Nike+ Human Race on August 31st!

I know it's been awhile since you've heard from me, but for good reason... I've been busy helping Nike put together the largest one day running event in history - The Nike+ Human Race 10K.

The gist: run in one of 26 cities globally or wherever you are with Nike+ (sensor in shoe that syncs up to your iPod or SportBand). In the US you can run in one of 5 race cities: New York, LA, Chicago, Austin and Portland, OR. The cool thing about running in one of the cities is that for the race fee of $35, you get entry to the race, a one-of-a-kind dri-fit Human Race tee and entry into a concert at the finish line!

That's where my job came in... I've been traveling across the country and filming with our finish line bands:

All American Rejects will play New York City

Fall Out Boy will play Chicago

Nada Surf will play Portland

Kanye West & Common will play Los Angeles

Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals will play Austin

Check out some of the videos I've produced below and for more go to our YouTube Channel and subscribe cause there's more to come!

You can also start running now with Nike+ and register for the race here. Start now and every step you take will go toward one of three charities: WWF, Ninemillion.org and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

What are you waiting for? It's only 6 miles :)








**By Jordana, who plans to run 4 miles and walk 2.2 unless she can get some more training time in before 8.31.2008

WARPED TOUR 2008

For music loving kids across the country the summer is more than just an opportunity to sleep late, it’s a season jam packed with tours and festivals showcasing the year’s greatest musical acts. One of the summer’s hottest tickets and a tour that certainly stands out among the rest is Van’s Warped Tour (which happens to be truckin’ through its 14th summer). Those that have attended this particular tour in the past know that it’s a day filled with tightly packed crowds, excessive merchandise purchases, being covered in sweat (your sweat and the sweat of about a thousand other individuals), minimal cell service, but mainly it’s a day you get the heart pounding experience of watching some of your favorite bands take the stage.


This year Warped Tour is decked out with appearances by bands such as The Bouncing Souls, Cobra Starship, We The Kings, Gym Class Heroes, Sky Eats Airplane, and Katy Perry to name a few. With such a diverse line up, this year’s tour gave bands the opportunity to play to more than just their target audience. Warped Tour always does a tremendous job of opening ears to new bands and genres.


After attending multiple dates and mingling with the masses I found that the quality of bands were of the upper crust of listening entertainment, but like every festival there were a few that REALLY stood out and left me with that “post show glow.” (Side Bar- By “post show glow” I mean that feeling you have after watching something truly spectacular happen on the stage before you- it’s that happiness emanating from your person and that fluttery feeling in your stomach.) Here’s a glimpse at what makes Warped Tour the summer fest to be reckoned with-

Warped Tour "Band of the Year"- THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA


In the past few months one has become hard pressed to walk through a mall or down the street without spotting at least one person sporting this bands eye catching merch. Since the release of their latest album titled Plagues the band has been launched into a whirlwind of success which shows no signs of letting up. In the past year The Devil Wears Prada has completed tours with bands such as Scary Kids Scaring Kids and Chiodos; for this summer’s Warped Tour the band has been contracted to the Hurley stage where they have been performing in and amongst All Time Low, We the Kings, The Color Fred, and several more.




While their CD speaks novels about the talent and potential this band possesses, it is their epic live performance that will catch the attention and captivate the ears of any music lover. Each member brings a unique energy and vibe to the stage that enhances the overall performance. The instrumentals featured on the album are intricate and full, they are just as powerful and impressive in a live setting. Vocally this band is a powerhouse; Mike has a “gravely” vocal range that rivals the most talented in the industry and produces shockwaves that add more depth and personality to the mainly heavy sounding songs the band is notorious for. Guitarist Jeremy, contributes the more melodic vocal parts, providing catchy interludes and choruses. Jeremy’s voice is certainly unique, and can send chills down your spine; his voice stands out brilliantly against the harsh growls of screamer Mike. The tonal departure from Mike’s growls creates an impermeable hold on your attention and allows for the transition to more melodic riffs and breakdowns in the instrumentals.



Before the band even took the stage kids were gathering in front of the Hurley stage, packing themselves in tightly with hopes to push their way to the front. They opened up with what seemed to be a crowd favorite, “Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over” and played other crowd pleasers such as their Punk Goes Crunk cover, “Still Fly”, and their two hit singles “HTML Rulez Dood” and “Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?” as their set came to a close I could see that they delivered everything the crowd came for. Day after day this band takes the stage and leaves kids with that feeling of confidence and joy, this band seems to be doing with ease what some bands work a lifetime to achieve; they are leaving a musical impression and inspiring youth with their words and music. The band is talented enough to leave this impression on their listeners and onlookers, yet they are humble enough to acknowledge they still want to take their music to new levels; they still want to climb musical mountains. I say with confidence that The Devil Wears Prada is my pick for Warped Tour’s Band of the Year.






COMING SOON!
-Warped Tour's Random Surprise
-Tour Clowns
-Breakin' Out!
-Oldie But Goodie
-Rookie? No Way?!


**By Amanda who had more fun at this year's Warped Tour than any other year she attended...

Hot New Video

I had a chance to catch up with the lovely Sofia Toufa yesterday at Tom's River Fest. Before Sofi hit the stage dancing with Avril Lavigne during her set, she told me all about a video she just directed for her friends back in Germany.

It's really entertaining, even if you can't understand what they're singing!

Here's the Sofia Toufa directed video from DIE MUSCHIKATZENPUPPEN !!!

The Kooks in Olympic Drama

With just a week to go before the opening ceremonies for the Bejing Olympics, an innocent little song by The Kooks has somehow led to an international controversy. It seems that two members of Britain's Olympic sailing squad have been forced to change the name of their boat after Olympic officials deemed it inappropriate.

Ben Rhodes and Stevie Morrison were informed that their boat, which they dubbed "Jackie Big Tits" (after a song from the Kooks' first record 'Inside In/Inside Out'), was unsuitable for the games. The boys have a long tradition of naming their vessel after various musical inspirations, with past names including "a boat called Britney and another named Sally Cinnamon."

According to Morrison, "It's not the same if your boat just has a number, is it?"


THE KOOKS ARE PLAYING THE STONE PONY IN ASBURY PARK, NJ ON SEPT 12. DON'T MISS IT!
www.myspace.com/thekooks

Love love, kiss kiss, blah blah blah

Some Planet Verge gals are luckier in love than others. Joelle snagged herself a good one (and so did he!), and they're getting married, which is awesome.

Me, I'm one of the less fortunate ones. But dude, pimpin' ain't easy, right?

It inspired me to compile a list of my favorite angry breakup songs. I figure, life is too short--especially for someone as accident prone as I am--to sit around weeping to Coldplay. I'd rather kickbox or fly planes.

(These are alphabetical by artist because I'm taking this directly from my iTunes playlist, and I'm probably forgetting about a million more.)

Alkaline Trio: Even though I don't drink, their lyrics are pretty universally relatable.
Burned is the House: "You were the first real choice I would make, but we all make mistakes."
Stupid Kid: "Remember when I said I love you? Well forget it, I take it back. I was just a stupid kid back then; I take back every word that I said."
Radio: "I've got a big fat fuckin' bone to pick with you my darling / In case you haven't heard I'm sick and tired of trying / I wish you would take my radio to bathe with you, plugged in and ready to fall"
Jaked on Green Beers: "The only thing that you ever really did for me / Was make me oh so miserable / And the hope that I never see your face again / Is anything but questionable. / I hope this is goodbye."

Ben Folds Five: Maaaaad angsty.
Song for the Dumped: "Give me money back, you bitch." Great if you dated a scrub.

Beyonce: She can't act, and her voice isn't nearly as glorious as Aretha's, but she's got sass. I love sass.
Ring the Alarm: "You ain't never seen a fire like the one I'ma cause."

Blink-182: I don't know why they got so much shit for their final album, because it was the most sophisticated thing they've ever done.
Asthenia: "Should I go back? Should I go back? Should I? This time, I don't want to."

Blu Cantrell: The best way to get even is to get everything.
Hit 'Em Up Style: "When you go then everything goes / From the crib to the ride and the clothes."

Bouncing Souls: The title alone says it all.
Wish Me Well (You Can Go to Hell): "Say goodbye / Kiss my ass / I hope you die / Wish me well / You can go to hell."

Brand New: For when you're so mad, you don't even want them to die by your hands, but their own.
Seventy Times 7: "So don't apologize / I hope you choke and die / Search yourself for something which to hang yourself."

Britney Spears: I know, I know, there goes my rock cred. But I really love the military metaphors here.
Toy Soldier: "I'm tired of privates drivin' / Need a general that ain't weak."

Cher: Shut up. If you don't love her, there is something wrong with you. Pretty much this entire song, but I really like this line.
Strong Enough: "'Cause I've been losing sleep / and you've been going cheap / She ain't worth half of me, it's true."

The Clash: If it gets to this point? I say the latter option is best.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go: "One day it's fine, the next it's black."

Cobra Starship: Because it feels good to dance.
Guilty Pleasure: "And I don't even know what kind of fool you're taking me for."

Count the Stars: Remember these guys? They're off doing other things and have been for a while--Clarke and Adam are in Action Action--but they had a great album back when Victory didn't suck.
Better Off Alone: "I still regret all the time / that has walked right past me."
Taking It All Back: "This world can swallow you whole, but I'll never be taken alive."

DMX: I like any song that makes me wanna punch someone in the teeth.
Party Up: "Listen, your ass is about to me missin' / You know who gon' find you? / Some old man fishin'."


Everclear: This isn't actually a breakup song, but the threats in it are off the chain.
Like a California King: "I will find you in the crowded room / I will knock you off your feet / I will burn you just like teenage love / I will eat you just like meat / I will break you into pieces / Hold you up for all the world to see / What makes you think you're better than me?"

Everyday's Monday: My pal Larry's old band had a great one.
Happy Now: "Now I am bouncing back / Higher than I've ever been."

The Films: Love these guys. This song makes me want to get into a bar fight.
Black Shoes: "I'm gonna put him in his place / With charm and grace / Elegance and style."

Fiona Apple: Angst city.
Limp: "You want the badge of honour when you save my hide / But youre the one in the way / Of the day of doom, baby / If you need my shame to reclaim your pride."

Frank Sinatra: Ah, the Chairman of the Board.
Why Should I Cry Over You?: "Although you have left me / alone to pine / And all of my love was / a big fat waste of time / Someday your heart will be broken like mine / So why should I cry over you?"

Gloria Gaynor: If I need to explain this to you, you're probably a troglodyte. Or one of my exes. Tomayto, tomahto.
I Will Survive: "Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die? Oh no, not I!"

Harry Nilsson: The opening line of this song says it best.
"You're breakin' my heart / You're tearin' it apart / So fuck you."

Head Automatica: Because, again, dancing feels good. Especially dancing away memories of a [man]skank.
Lying Through Your Teeth: "Girl, your love's so cheap / They've been passing you around / There's cheating on your lips / And you've been the talk of my town."

Hit the Lights: They're gonna have a really, really hard time filling Colin's void. That boy could sing, and he could sing distinctively.
Save Your Breath: "I've wasted all this time on you / It's all the same / We all make mistakes, and if you didn't notice, I'm taking this for all it's worth / If it's a game and these are the stakes / I know I got the best shot for taking you out of the race."
Three Oh Nine: "Cry all you like, kid / It's no secret you faked it."
Bodybag: "You're gonna need a bodybag / I'll break bones you didn't know you had / When I'm done there will be nothing left of you / For your friends to hold on to / When they find you cold and blue tonight / Face down in a parking lot."
These Backs Are Made for Stabbing: "You are so obvious / Predictable / And someday, your games will catch up to you."

Houston Calls: Even though they played our zine out a bunch of times and threatened to sue us, I still do like their music.
Exit, Emergency: "I'll put the fire out / Extinguish everything / Might even forget your name."
A Pen and a Piece of Mind: "Can't you see we're done, we're through, I'm well enough and I'm quite over you / So end the calls, goodbye / I'll see you on the other side."

Jay-Z: Just about anything of his either gets me excited or heated. And those are two very good things for me to be. Bonus points for any remixes of the following.
Threat: A tie between "And I don't need two lips / To blow this like a trumpet, you dumb shit" and "I'm especially Joe Pesci wit' it, friend / I will kill you, commit suicide / And kill you again."
99 Problems: Duh. "I got 99 problems and a bitch ain't one."
Public Service Announcement: "Only God can judge me, so I'm gone / Either love me or leave me alone."
Izzo (H.O.V.A.): "He who does not feel me / Is not real to me / Therefore he doesn't exist / So poof / Vamoose, sonuvabitch!"
Dirt Off Your Shoulders: "Ladies is pimps too."
Ignorant Shit: "I'm so bossy / Bitch, get off me."
Success (feat. Nas): "I used to give a fuck, now I give a fuck less."

Jet Lag Gemini: Again, not a breakup song, but it's an angry one. And on the off chance that Misha is reading this--stop touring and come back to HIP Video! We miss you!
Run This City: "When I come in / You start to sin / Don't worry, don't worry / I got it."

Jimmy Eat World: Most of their breakup songs are heartbreaking, not rage inducing. This one may not even be a real breakup song, but it captures the feeling of being disgusted with everyone around you nicely.
Blister: "And how long will it take me / To walk across the United States / All alone?"

John Lee Hooker: The title of this song says more than I can.
It Serves You Right to Suffer: Because really, your ex does.

John Mayer: Ah, my husband.
Good Love Is On the Way: "I'm done with broken people / This is me I'm workin' on."
I'm Gonna Find Another You: "You might have your reasons, but you will never have my rhyme." Especially effective if you proofread your ex's papers. Ahem.

June: I'm more upset about their breakup than my own. Is that bad?
A Taste: "You're such a shameless accident."
I've Got the Time If You've Got the Argument: "It's worse than you think when you feel nothing."

Justin Timberlake: I know. I know.
Cry Me a River: I like to say, personally, "Cry me a river and inhale it." But I'm also really, really mean.
What Goes Around...: Because it does.

Kelis: God, I love this woman. I really, really love this woman.
Caught Out There: "Look, I found her red coat / And your bitch / Caught out there / I HATE YOU SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!"

Lily Allen: Say what you want about her personal life, but the girl can write one helluva rueful, bratty song.
Smile: "But you were fucking the girl next door / What'd you do that for?"

Little Jackie: I love, love, love them. They're on VH1 a lot, so you may recognize their song "The World Should Revolve Around Me" from New York Goes to Hollywood commercials.
The World Should Revolve Around Me: "So keep screwing that bitch from down the block / I don't need you around, I know I rock."
Cryin' for the Queen: This one's not really a breakup song, but this line is fabulous: "Think I’m being territorial? / I’ma get patriotic on ya ass / Stars and stripes / Acting all sassy and crass."
I Liked You Better Before: "I thought I caught a nice guy who caught my eye
You didn’t have a care, you didn’t have a clue / But seems I brought the worst out in you."
LOL: Obviously, this one works on multiple levels for me. "Toss you in the trash / Then reduce you to an acronym / WTF? You reply / I laugh so hard I almost cry / Beat you to the punch line / Broke your heart before you broke mine."
Guys Like when Girls Kiss: "There probably ain’t one woman on Earth who hasn’t considered this / Men are from another planet, how can we possibly co-exist? / They came from Mars, women came from Venus / We think with our brains, men think with their penis."

Love Automatic: Friends of the PV staff as well as composers of some catchy dance rock. Nice.
One Foot Short: "Revenge was on my mind / Since the day my blood first finished clotting."

The Maine: Another good one to dance to when you're pissed off.
The Way We Talk (Remix): "You're as fake as the moans you make / And you're as weak as the hearts you break."

Mariah Carey: Say what you want about Mimi, but the broad can sing her ass off.
Did I Do That?: "Now it's all in the past / When I think of you I just laugh / My friends must have thought I was high / To have given so much to someone not worth my time."
Shake it Off: "Just ask your momma, she knows / You're gonna miss me baby, hate to say I told you so."
Someday: "Someday the one you gave away / Will be the only one you're wishing for."

Maroon 5: They're pervy, sure, and borderline adult contemporary, but Adam Levine? He gets mad. I like that.
Makes Me Wonder: Duhr. "And it really makes me wonder / If I ever gave a fuck about you."
Harder to Breathe: "I have a tendency of getting very physical / So watch your step 'cause if I do / You'll need a miracle."

Mika: I. Love. This. Man.
My Interpretation: "It's really not such a sacrifice / If I never talk to you again, / This is not about emotion, / I don't need a reason not to care what you say, / Or what happened in the end. / This is my interpretation, / And it don't, don't make sense."
Grace Kelly: "Why don't you like me? / Why don't you like me? / Why don't you like yourself? / Should I bend over / Should I look older / Just to be put on your shelf?"

New Found Glory: Classic pogo-ers. Their newer material is more melacholy than snotty. While their last album of original work was fantastic, it was also sad. At this point, we are doing away with sad and rewinding back to pissy.
Understatement: "I'm done with everything / That had to do with you / Don't worry, your pictures are already burned / I'm done with new friends / Don't sell yourself short / You'll lose it in the end."

Plain White T's: Fuck Delilah (by the way, that song came out in '05, so I don't know why people only just picked up on it relatively recently).
Hate (I Really Don't Like You): "Hate is a strong word / But I really, really, really don't like you / Now that it's over / I don't even know what I liked about you."

The Ramones: Because jumping feels good.
I'm Against It: This whole song.

Rihanna: I find both her music and her voice to be generally overrated and annoying, and I hated all the singles (including "Umbrella") from her latest release. This song, however? Love. It. I also love her style if that counts for anything.
Breakin' Dishes: "Is he cheating? / Man, I don't know / I'm lookin' around for something else to throw."

Say Anything: Usually too verbose for my adrenaline rages, but this song kills it... And inspires me to exfoliate regularly.
It's a Metaphor Fool: "All you are to me is dead skin / Flaking off my hands onto the pavement."

Spitalfield: Would a reunion show for my birthday in November be too much to ask? Maybe. In the meantime, go see Mark Rose's solo show at Maxwell's next Friday!
What Were You Thinking: "Let's make the other bed she'd sleep in / Recount the plastic stars taped to his ceiling / May they all fall down."
So I Heard You Joined a Convent: "Do you feel scandalous / Running fingers through my hair / Knowing inside if I was not there / You'd be somewhere else / With somebody else / Your fell for less / Just like I fell for you."

The Starting Line: Hey, since they broke up, there's always their audio dopplegangers in The Maine, right?
Surprise, Surprise: "I'll be your friend in hell, until then I despise you / And I probably always will."
Cut! Print It: "So I guess I'll just get going, I've got better topics now / And I'm off to find some blank pages to write all of them down / Because these ones have been dirtied with the mentioning of you / And you know I wouldn't say I hate you if it wasn't true."

Straylight Run: The classic "Ay yo Adam Lazzara, quit whining like a bitch" songs. (Michelle--you were way too gorgeous for him anyway. Get it, girl.)
Take It to Manhattan: "I've had it up to here with all these songs of self-imposed unhappiness."
Still Alone: "I could write a list / of people I dont miss / I'm sorry but / I'm so much better off without you."

Taylor Swift: Dude, I hate country. But I absolutely love love love her.
Picture to Burn: "So go and tell your friends that I'm obsessive / And crazy that's fine / I'll tell mine / That you're gay."

Ted Nugent: I disagree with most of his politics, but come on. How can you listen to this song and not at least chuckle?
Kiss My Ass: "Hey Courtney Love..." I won't go into the rest. It's crass, but damn, it's hilarious.

Twisted Sister: Come on, you knew this was coming.
We're Not Gonna Take It: "Oh, you're so condescending / Your gall is neverending / We don't want nothin' / Not a thing from you."


*By Jess, who's happy to be able to once more "flirt like it's her job."

Concert Junkie Reviews BRUCE!

Fairy tale magic was in the air on July 27. A long time ago, while Debbie Gibson taught me how to have "love only in my dreams" and Bon Jovi gave me lessons on how to "live on a prayer," Bruce Springsteen unleashed the fact I do not always have to be proud of my country through "Born in the U.S.A." Granted I was only six when I first listened to this protest song, but the lyrics still hold true and shape some of my writings. So when my brother asked me if I wanted to see the Boss at Giant Stadium, I felt my childhood reflect back to the day I first listened to the Born in the U.S.A. album on my cassette player. How could I say no.

Of course I admit, I did go through my non-Boss liking phase. He wasn't always in the
forefront of my mind as my favorite Jersey boy. The Jov was more of my cup of tea for a while, until he metamorphed himself into a new image. BRUCE never did that and never had to. While ABBA, the Bee Gees and other grotesque disco polluted the airwaves, Springsteen, Tom Petty and Bob Seger were rescuing rock with their songs that told stories of love and struggle. Springsteen's songs particularly struck the chord of understanding with the Blue collar workers, the salts of the Earth. His honest words and common values have kept him in a league higher than any other performer.

We tailgated before going into the Stadium. The parking lot was filled with local and out of town Jerseyians, young and old. People even from overseas were in our lot area. A generational family was next to us. Grandparents, parents, children and grand-children. It was a beautiful site. Everyone bonding over the same purpose. I can hear various live versions of "Jersey Girl," as I sizzled the meat on the grill. I don't remember feeling like a giddy girl for seeing a band such as this since maybe my one and only Phish concert (2/24/03).

After eating our grizzled grub, we ventured past the porto-potties to make our way into the Stadium. BRUCE excitement was everywhere not to mention lots of drunk people. I felt like I was at a huge family reunion. Everyone is waiting for the big important relative to tell us something important. While waiting for that moment, the Yankee game was on. We heard constant cheers of LET'S GO YANKEES, which were then followed by LET'S GO BOSTON, which of course were followed by BOSTON SUCKS. But before the lights went down, the NY fans retaliated even more with LET'S GO GIANTS (although the season doesn't start until Sept. 4).

After an hour delay, we all assumed was due to the rain not the Yankee game, BRUCE and the E-Street Band went right into "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," "Radio Nowhere," "Lonesome Day," "No Surrender," "Adam Raised a Cain" and "Spirit in the Night." I was enthralled by his energy and ability to go into song after song after song after song.

During "Lonesome Day," BRUCE collected poster-board sized requests from the people in the front rows. While singing "Spirit in the Night," BRUCE allowed a lucky little lady to kiss him on his cheek. Every time the camera went on Steven Van Zandt, I screamed, "Silvio!"

They shredded into "Summertime Blues." The Boss introduced his wife Patti Scialfa, before they harmonized "Brilliant Disguise" together and "Atlantic City" soon followed. Now it was time for BRUCE to finally get to the requests. A ten-year old girl by the name of Rosie requested "Growin' Up." The Boss commented to Rosie how he wrote that song, "A quarter of a century before you were born. When your daddy was a wink in your mommy's eye."

Other requests of the night were "Janey don't You Lose Your Heart," "I'll Work for Your Love," "Working on the Highway" and "Bobby Jean"(one of the encores). Before going into "The Rising," BRUCE dedicated the song to Obama. Besides doing his hits, he did recent songs from his new album Magic.

His encores lead him well beyond the 11 o'clock mark. During "Born to Run," the lights went on, but the band continued into "Dancing in the Dark." The Stadium and I were all dancing like Courtney Cox. The lights went back down before "American Land." I guess the Stadium techies realized, the Boss is in charge for the night, and he will tell them when the night is over.

After a three and a half hour set with no intermission, BRUCE and the E Street Band ended the night on a fairy tale note, since it started with one, by doing "Rosalita." Thus, also ending my fairy tale, of now living happily ever after seeing one of the greatest shows ever at Giant Stadium before the wrecking ball commences.

Other songs in the set were: "Youngstown," "Murder Incorporated," "The Promised Land," "Livin' in the Future," "Mary's Place," "Tunnel of Love," "Last to Die," "Long Walk Home," "Badlands." Encores: "Girls in their Summer Clothes," "Jungleland," "Born to Run," "Bobby Jean," "Dancing in the Dark," "American Land," "Rosalita."

By Lori who urges everyone, whether a fan or not, to see BRUCE and see why his shows are such a phenomenon. It is an experience like no other and this is coming from someone who has seen more shows than you can imagine from various genres and cultures. Concert Junkie forever.