Concerts of 2009!

I'm rather pleased with this list! Hoping 2010 holds as many or more!

1/29 - Kings of Leon at MSG - I only knew Only by the Night at the time, my seat was essentially behind the stage so all I could see was their backs and I was by myself, but I still had a great time. I think seeing them at this point is what really got me loving them so much.

3/19 - Fleetwood Mac at MSG - Pretty much twelve years in the making, as it was my first time seeing Fleetwood Mac, even though I had seen Stevie and Lindsey solo. Very cool to finally do that!

4/20 - Tinted Windows at Mercury Lounge - Things went from "What, Taylor's in another band?" to being in the fourth row for said band's CD release very quickly! Lots of fun, loved seeing James Iha and watching Bun E. Carlos drum is a total joy. Good times.

4/26 - Matt Nathanson and Jack's Mannequin at Marist - Maybe the last Marist concert? I say that every year. Always fun to going up there for a show, always fun seeing Matt, enjoyed Jack's as well.

5/15 - Sister Hazel at Tulsa Mayfest - They played eight kickass and amazing songs and then an Oklahoma thunderstorm came and showed us all who's boss.

5/16 - Hanson at Tulsa Little Theatre - Member's only event, debuting eight songs from the upcoming new album and recording them live to become what we now know as the Stand Up Stand Up EP. Really awesome and intimate show, with four bonus songs from fan club membership kits.

5/24 - David Cook at Toad's Place in New Haven - David played close to home so I had to go! Loved Ryan Star's opening set, lots of fun seeing David again. He played "A Daily AntheM" too!

5/31 - Matt Caplan at a bar - Matt had a gig! He played "Sideways" and "Tempted" and laughed at us when we were excited. Such is.

6/11 - Fleetwood Mac at MSG - I bought a ticket in the front section and managed to snag a spot right at the stage, directly in front of Lindsey. Basically, my life was made and he sweat on me.

6/16 - Matt Nathanson at Summer Stage - My friends and I went and sat in the wood chips outside of the venue and listened to Matt's set, then went and ate barbecue.

6/17 - Locksley/Tinted Windows at Highline Ballroom - Locksley was awesome and it was fun seeing Tinted Windows again so soon. Taylor the front man and that Bun E., man.

7/19 - Jonas Brothers at Nassau Coliseum - And Honor Society and Jordin Sparks. I still love that this happened. They put on such a fun show!

8/15 - Matt Nathanson and O.A.R. at MSG - Matt in an arena! And my love of O.A.R. returns ten times stronger than ever.

8/20 - Marc Broussard at The Gap - Short acoustic set but still great to see him, especially since he played "Home"!

9/12 - Kings of Leon at Izod Center - This time, I knew every single song they played and it was that much more awesome. Love these guys.

9/21 - Green River Ordinance/Serena Ryder/NeedToBreathe at Highline Ballroom - Finally saw GRO, whom I love, and my love of NeedToBreathe was completely solidified by an absolutely awesome show.

10/15 - Steel Train/Hellogoodbye/Hanson at Nokia Theatre - First experience with Steel Train, realizing I might like them. Realized I really do love Hellogoodbye even though they can be a little obnox. Hanson put on a pretty great set, there was an Isaac solo and Taylor was kickass despite having the flu.

10/16 - Sherwood/Steel Train/Hellogoodbye/Hanson at Northern Lights in Clifton Park - Love of Steel Train and Hellogoodbye was officially confirmed. Hanson shows in general make me very happy and the amount of upbeat songs made me even more so.

10/18 - Hanson at Madison Hotel in DC - Member's only event. Some fun and random songs made an appearance. Most of all, Zac played "Devil's Nachos".

10/24 - Pat McGee/Sister Hazel at Irving Plaza - Yay, a full Sister Hazel show! Played all my faves, love seeing these guys. Still a little weirded out that Drew was missing though.

11/10 - Joe Perry at Irving Plaza - Won tickets, definitely cool to see him. We won't talk about what happened after I left a little bit before it was over.

12/30 - Steel Train at Maxwell's in Hoboken - These guys are so fun. Awesome mix of originals and covers, super energetic. Enough so that they will be my first show of 2010!

Band of Brothers: Jonas Brothers and NeedToBreathe

Jonas Brothers
Brothers: Kevin Jonas (guitar), Joe Jonas (lead vocals), Nick Jonas (lead vocals, guitar, piano, drums)
Other Members: None

Ohh, Jonas. What can I say about these three? Mostly, I love them. And they have some really great songs that get overlooked because of who they are and how popular they are and their fanbase. I love me some catchy pop and that's not even all they offer. "A Little Bit Longer" anyone?

While I love Kevin and Joe, I am always quick to admit that Nick is the talent. Not to say that the older two aren't good at what they do. Joe is an amazing and energetic frontman and Kevin has so much heart, but so much lies in Nick. He plays three instruments, he writes a lot of their songs (though sometimes with his brothers, also sometimes alone) and he sings about half of the leads. Their group started because of Nick, who was signed as a solo act and then ultimately, the idea of the group of three brothers came along. I'm curious what is going to happen with these three as their fame starts to dwindle, as it inevitably will. I really, honestly hope they end up like Hanson, still making music and having a close following even when they aren't so much in the limelight because I do think they have a lot more talent than people give them credit for.

I still adore this song:


NeedToBreathe
Brothers: Bear Rinehart (lead vocals, guitar), Bo Rinehart (guitar)
Other Members: Seth Bolt (bass), Joe Stillwell (drums)

I'm still pretty new to NeedToBreathe but it's safe to say that they'll be sticking around on my list of favorites. Their music is more faith-based than any other I listen to, based mainly on Bear and Bo's father being a preacher and their upbringing. What I love about them is that while they do have those songs that are very obviously about their faith and they're clearly very in tune with each other through that, it doesn't define them or their music. Some of my favorite songs of theirs are those, especially since Bear tends to sound just a little bit more awesome (see below) but their regular old rock tunes are flat out amazing as well, and catchy to boot. I mean, "Girl Named Tennesse"? Love it.

Bear has such a soulful rock voice and Bo's is so smooth and they blend together so ridiculously well, in that way that only brother's voices can. Listen to these two:

Top 100!

I'm re-setting my play count tonight. My iPod, Jackson Braddock, is almost a year old. Considering how I feel about play counts, this is a fairly big step for me to take. However, it is time. But, because I am me, my Top 100 Listened To tracks, from late October 2008 to late October 2009:

100. "Everybody Finds Out", Fleetwood Mac, Say You Will
99. "Must Be the Water", Marc Broussard, Must Be the Water
98. "The Beauty of Letting Go", Green River Ordinance, Way Back Home
97. "To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts", Matt Nathanson, Some Mad Hope
96. "Save Me", Marc Broussard, Carencro
95. "Mandolin Moon", Sister Hazel, Absolutely
94. "Will You Be There", Michael Jackson, The Essential Michael Jackson
93. "17", Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
92. "Got Me Going Crazy", Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer
91. "I Have You to Thank", Gavin DeGraw, Gavin DeGraw
90. "Oh Well", Fleetwood Mac, Live
89. "The Stuff You Gotta Watch", The Band, Jericho
88. "One Man Show", Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer
87. "In the City", Hanson, This Time Around
86. "Thirteen", Stephen Kellogg, Bulletproof Heart
85. "Something Coming Over", O.A.R., Live from Madison Square Garden
84. "Dying to be Alive", Hanson, This Time Around
83. "Eyes of the World", Fleetwood Mac, Live in Boston
82. "Black or White", Adam Lambert, American Idol
81. "What Christmas Means to Me", Hanson, Snowed In
80. "I'm On a Boat (featuring T-{Pain)", The Lonely Island, Incredibad
79. "BB Good", Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer
78. "Where's the Love", Hanson, The Middle of Nowhere
77. "A Daily Anthem/Kiss on the Neck", David Cook, David Cook
76. "Mission Responsible", Michael Tolcher, I Am
75. "Great Divide", Hanson, The Walk
74. "Where You Are", Marc Broussard, Carencro
73. "Arizona", Kings of Leon, Because of the Times
72. "Change in My Life", Hanson, Take the Walk
71. "Faker", Everybody Else, 1 1/2
70. "Silver Springs", Fleetwood Mac, The Dance
69. "It's About Time", The Beach Boys, Sunflower
68. "Ophelia", The Band, Northern Lights - Southern Cross
67. "Georgia", Hanson, The Walk
66. "Madeline", Hanson, Middle of Nowhere
65. "Charmer", Kings of Leon, Because of the Times
64. "Wait Here For You", Hanson, Hanson.net 2009
63. "Never Going Back Again", Fleetwood Mac, Rumours
62. "Rock 'n' Roll Band", Boston, Boston
61. "You Are the Best Thing", Ray LaMontagne, Gossip in the Grain
60. "Something Going Round", Hanson, The Walk Tour Live
59. "Summertime", New Kids on the Block, The Block
58. "Kiss and Run", Fleetwood Mac, Tusk [Bonus Tracks]
57. "The Shape I'm In", The Band, Stage Fright
56. "Change Your Mind", Sister Hazel, Before the Amplifiers
55. "All For You", Sister Hazel, Before the Amplifiers
54. "Someday I Suppose", The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Don't Know How to Party
53. "Golden Slumbers", The Beatles, Abbey Road
52. "Starfish", Sister Hazel, Before the Amplifiers
51. "Bold as Love", John Mayer, Continuum
50. "The Longest Hour of My Life", Everybody Else, Everybody Else
49. "Hungry Heart", Bruce Springsteen, The River
48. "Glory Days", Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A.
47. "Stumbling Through the Dark", Trevor Jackson, Kyle Riabko and Boots Factor Are...
46. "Say Goodbye", Everybody Else, Everybody Else
45. "Oh! Darling", Dana Fuchs, Across the Universe
44. "Crazy Beautiful", Hanson, Underneath
43. "Meat Market", Everybody Else, Everybody Else
42. "Oh! Darling", The Beatles, Abbey Road
41. "Bus Song", Trevor Jackson, Kyle Riabko and Boots Factor Are...
40. "Love Me", Taylor Hanson, Live in Poughkeepsie NY 10/25/08
39. "The Wanderer", Marc Broussard, Carencro
38. "Milk", Kings of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbreak
37. "Love Bug", Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer
36. "China Grove", The Doobie Brothers, Best of The Doobie Brothers
35. "River Song", Dennis Wilson, Pacific Ocean Blue
34. "Be Somebody", Kings of Leon, Only By the Night
33. "Camaro", Kings of Leon, Because of the Times
32. "Second Hand News", Fleetwood Mac, Rumours
31. "Not Down With That", Trevor Jackson, Kyle Riabko and Boots Factor Are...
30. "Dreaming with a Broken Heart", John Mayer, Continuum
29. "Rock 'n' Roll Razorblade", Hanson, The Best of Hanson Live and Electric
28. "Sweetest Goodbye", Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, Glassjaw Boxer
27. "Rich Girls, Poor Girls", Everybody Else, Everybody Else
26. "I Am", Hanson, The Walk
25. "One Man Band (of Brothers)", Trevor Jackson, Kyle Riabko and Boots Factor Are...
24. "Ragoo", Kings of Leon, Because of the Times
23. "Been There Before", Hanson, The Walk
22. "Swan Dive", Sister Hazel, Chasing Daylight
21. "Long Train Runnin'", The Doobie Brothers, Best of The Doobie Brothers
20. "Love Runs Deeper", Lindsey Buckingham, Gift of Screws
19. "Every Word I Say", Hanson, The Best of Hanson Live and Electric
18. "Get Up and Go", Hanson, Underneath
17. "Sweet Sophia", Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, Glassjaw Boxer
16. "Lost Without Each Other", Hanson, Underneath
15. "What Did I Get Myself Into", Kyle Riabko, Before I Speak
14. "Sex on Fire", Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
13. "Gift of Screws", Lindsey Buckingham, Gift of Screws
12. "Down", Hanson, 2.0 Membership Kit
11. "Faker", Everybody Else, Everybody Else
10. "Makeup", Everybody Else, Everbody Else
9. "Watch Over Me", Hanson, The Walk
8. "Running Man", Hanson, The Walk
7. "Bleed to Love Her", Fleetwood Mac, The Dance
6. "Manhattan", Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
5. "Notion", Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
4. "Something Going Round", Hanson, The Walk
3. "Use Somebody", Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
2. "Fans", Kings of Leon, Because of the Times
1. "Fire on the Mountain", Hanson, The Walk

music's in my soul, I can feel it every day, every night, it's the one thing on my mind

I am not going to pretend that my first impression of the Jonas Brothers wasn’t less than stellar. I distinctly recall saying something like “Is this them? I am not impressed.” This was a little more than a year ago. Since then, I have obtained all of their albums. I own Camp Rock, starring Joe Jonas and featuring Nick and Kevin. I saw The Jonas Brothers 3D Experience in the theater. Twice. I willingly admit my apprehension to liking them was because I thought that I shouldn’t. Clearly, once I let myself, I realized that I kind of loved them. I masked it as a bit of a joke at first. Then I just embraced it. I love them. A lot.

So last night, we ventured out to Nassau Coliseum to see them in concert! We got there pretty early and hung around outside amidst many homemade Jonas t-shirts, shorts, socks and every other type of attire. I love seeing this kind of dedication, not even joking. Not to the point of participating to that level (though, ok, I did put on the shirt I purchased) but just the effort and how much fun everyone must have planning their outfits and making everything so that everyone knows how much they love the Jonas Brothers. I don’t know if it’s because there’s a little part of me that’s like that without the clothing or if it’s because I never really acted that way when I was that age or if just because I have that kind of appreciation for fan communities, even when they’re crazy, but I love it. I find it fascinating and fabulous! While waiting to get in, the guys of one of the opening acts, Honor Society, wandered by. People were not caring nearly as much as I thought they should, so I enthusiastically said “Hi!” as they passed and got an equally enthusiastic smile and greeting in return from one of them! Awww.

The opening acts were all pretty fun. Honor Society had a few catchy tunes, this weird girl group came out and sang a song that had about three words and then Jordin Sparks! Who kicks ass and takes names! Really loved getting to see her, all sassy and strutting around in heels and a glittering outfit. That girl can sing!

Then the lights went down and the glowsticks started waving and the screaming persisted for a very long time as "We Will Rock You" played and then there they were! Highlights:
- I love when Kevin spins and spins and spins like a top!
- Joe was on our edge of the catwalk, started sprinting up the ramp, over the stairs and leapt onto the piano. Amazing.
- Since Joe doesn't play any instruments, he spends a lot of time dancing with the other band members. Pretty hilariously, too. Sometimes, they act out skits.
- A bit into the set, Nick was left alone at a white grand piano. He started playing “Black Keys” for a bit, then went into “A Little Bit Longer”. After a verse or so, he stops playing and starts talking about how a few years ago, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, ending with something that I found dramatic, amusing, inspirational and amazing all at the same time. He started listing all of his accomplishments since being diagnosed. He then just started screaming, “Did I let it slow me down?” The crowd cheers and he screams “Did I LET it SLOW me DOWN?!” It was so amazing and I may or may not have reenacted various versions of it along the ride home. While Nick’s preacher voice makes me laugh, I truly think it’s wonderful that kids with diabetes have someone like Nick to look up to. It can’t be easy having to adjust your life around a disease like that at such a young age and knowing that Nick went through it and is still dealing with it but is living the crazy and exciting life he leads must really be a great thig for these kids to see. He is the new Stacey McGill, only far cooler. And an actual person.
- Kevin played piano! Such pure genuine joy this brought me!
- They sang the song from Camp Rock while rising into the air on a pedestal that eventually stopped about 30 feet in the air? I was afraid they'd fall off, especially since they had some extra band members up there! "I gotta fiiiind you!"
- They sang "Sweet Caroline" so that the parents could show they are into it too. Unfortunately, there were children that were young enough to be my kids, so I took that as a sign to go to town with this one as well. Even if it's the Red Sox song.
- We were dancing around in our seats and occasionally the 8 year old next to us with her own sidekick would stare like we had two heads. Old people like Jonas too, okay?!
- Live to party, bust your move!
- Kevin and Joe hosed down the entire right side of the audience with a massive fire hose. While Nick nonchalantly sat on stage playing drums.
- During "Love Bug", it started "raining" on our side of the stage. Eventually, I noticed that there were somehow shapes in the rain. Little hearts, the words "love bug", and then the silouettes of the Jonas Brothers! How? I do not know. Magic.
- Jordin came back out at the end of their set and sang her new hit single "Battlefield" with Joe, Kevin and Nick and it was ridiculously awesome. "Better go get your armor! GET YOUR ARMOR! Get your armor!" Also, she lovingly caressed Joe's face.
- I won't lie, I got a little sad at the end when they were bowing to the instrumental from "When You Look Me in the Eyes".

It really was a great set! I was kind of surprised at how mixed it was, I was expecting primarily stuff from the new album with just a few others thrown in, but they got a lot of the faves from the past two albums in there too! There was "Paranoid" and "Poison Ivy" and "Much Better" and "World War III", but there was also "BB Good" and "Tonight" and "S.O.S." and "Burnin' Up" and "Hold On" and "That's Just the Way We Roll". They are so energetic and put on such a great show. I got tired just watching them! And while it might be a little odd to love a group who's primary audience is young girls, they really do have some legit good music and they're super fun and what the hell, I'm a teenybopper at heart. I'm so glad we went!

what you've got to realize, what we're doin' is not a trend

Lately, I have really been embracing the fact that pop music makes me happy. Those who know me know that I really love the separate entities of music. Good lyrics, impressive guitar work, solid bass and drum lines. Basically, I love the parts as much as I love the whole. With pop though, it's all about the catchiness, the simplicity, being able to get away from overthinking and just giving yourself over to the fun of it. I am a firm believer that a song doesn't need to be all that well-crafted to be fun, in fact, sometimes it's more fun when it's NOT that good. Sometimes all it needs is a hook and some not-too-deep lyrics, but, of course, I also appreciate the fun, catchy songs that do have a little more than meets the eye as well. Basically, if it makes me want to roll down the windows and blare it and sing along, it's good.

My friend and I went to see Jonas Brothers 3D on Friday. I think when I first heard this was happening, I wanted to go to laugh at it. My place with the Jonas Brothers is a little weird, mostly because I think I am too old to like them as much as I do. I actually put off listening to them because I was afraid I would like them and then would have to figure out what to do with that like. I finally did it anyway and from the first day I was familiar with them, I could not begrudge them. Say what you want about their voices, their image, their corporate Disneyfication, they are three guys who write their own songs, play some of their own instruments and put on a damn good show. I started to love certain songs of theirs because listening to them made me happy. I spent so much of the actual age of boybands listening to Fleetwood Mac and REM, but I also spent an awful lot of time listening to Middle of Nowhere and N'Sync and it would be a lie if I said that I didn't buy Millenium the day it came out and even have a Backstreet Boys poster up in my room for a short time. That little bit of pop fan that lived in me when I actually was 15 is still a part of that 15 year old that refuses to exit my system and can't deny the Jonas Brothers.

And yet I still went to this movie with the mindset that I was only going because I was curious. Like, oh my God, this movie exists and I can go and pretend I love them and dance around to all the songs that I happen to know because I only like them ironically. It only took a few minutes for me to realize that I may actually legitimately love them. I think it was around the third laugh at Kevin Jonas. The first two were closer to the camp of ""OMG KEVIN JONAAAAS!" because he was being hardcore dork and I was like, seriously, what are you doing? Then they just started to be closer to "OMG KEVIN JONAAAAAS" because he was being hardcore dork and I was like, omg, I love you, the pop world needs more of you, marry me. Then Joe and Nick started doing back flips and when they pounded drums, water came flying up into our 3D glasses-wearing faces and then I almost got hit in the head with Nick's drum stick and I reached out to touch Joe's hand and Kevin spun around four times fast while still playing guitar chords and I kept realizing what a freaking frontman Joe is (and how he can sing better than I thought) and then they all stood around in Central Park and Nick played a white piano and Joe wore a red bowtie and pigeons flew at me and I think that's when I declared that I was having the most amazing experience I'd ever had in a movie theater. Totally cheesy, I'm going to act like I'm twelve years younger than I am, fun.

What's really great about a movie that takes place at a concert is that because you kind of want it to be an actual concert, it starts to become one a little bit. We'd clap along when Kevin told us to, sing when they pointed the mic in our faces, cheer when the best songs started up and cheer some more when they ended. By the end, there were even a few people who would stand up and dance for a few seconds before sitting back down. I can see this thing becoming a little out of hand as far as the participation goes, yet if it does, I'd want to be there for it! My favorite was when one little girl in the front stood up to touch Joe, as if he was really right there, prompting all these people to yell "sit. DOWN!" Amazing.

And I mean, there is a reason why these guys have the devotion of the amount of people that they do. People put down pop acts because of a lack of depth or musicianship but that's not what it is about. These are performers. If you're lucky, they happen to write their own music or play an instrument and be more than just a pretty face. Sometimes they dance and harmonize, sometimes they play their own guitar parts, sometimes they really do just run around the stage looking good and getting people psyched up, but they put on massive, entertaining shows. It's funny too because I've seen fans of classic rock acting like this concept of people who have limited writing/playing experience and mostly just sing and perform is purely generational and this wave of it is so baffling. This genre of music has existed for a long time, maybe not as corporately pushed as it is now, but the quality and style of music is nothing new. Leif Garrett, the Bay City Rollers, David Cassidy and the like all existed at the same time what we now consider classic rock was being created. Tiger Beat was launched in the 60s and it's main purpose was to give teenage girls/fans more info on their idols. So the concept has been kicking around for awhile. And really, if the worst thing a 12 year old girl is doing is finding singing/songwriting/purity-ring wearing Nick Jonas to be the best thing since sliced bread, well, that's better than a LOT of other things.

If only my weekend of pop music ended there, but no. I went to a friend's for the weekend and we ended up watching N'Sync's PopOdyssey in its entirety, which just furthered my love for the genre and proved even more so how powerful it can be. I mean, these guys knew how to put on a SHOW. By this point in their career, it was bordering on ridiculous, with the set changes and the costumes and props (and mechanical bulls?), but even aside from all of that, they do not stop the entire time. Just running around, full out dancing, singing and sounding great. That moment where Justin falls to his knees during "Gone" is one of my favorite moments in entertainment history. It's just a world of its own. A world that I am happy to visit from time to time.

While I'm on the topic, if you like insanely catchy pop songs, check out Tinted Windows' "Kind of a Girl". It took me a few listens to decide how I felt about this song but I have settled in with "Holy crap, this is a catchy song!" and I've even started my usual deconstruction ("this guitar solo is so crunchy!") But at the end of the day, a catchy, fun pop song and I'm digging it!