At first listen, I didn’t pay attention to the lyrics very much as I was getting a feel for the music as whole. The song really seemed to be calming yet spirited at the same time. It starts out with a soft acoustic guitar paired with the vocals of lead singer Nathaniel Moon. As it reaches the first chorus a backing of haunting vocals joins in to accent his already soothing voice. As the second chorus rolls around there is a burst of sound as the full band joins in. Drums, bass and piano all weave their way through the piece and create a powerful backing to the already emotionally powered chorus.

After I already had a taste for the music, I listened to the song again to get a taste for the message behind the lyrics. The song is the woeful story of a girl who lost her boyfriend and can’t seem to cope with it yet. Everyone tries to tell her she’ll be fine and life will go on, but she can’t get him out of her head. The chorus is a plea from Moon for the boy to come back down and be with her again so she won’t hurt anymore. The song is very personal as it was written about one of his friend’s sisters whose boyfriend had passed.

For me, the music matches the message of the song perfectly making it one of the most genuine and heartfelt songs I think I’ve ever heard. Even though the song‘s meaning is a sad one, it is still one that one is compelled to listen to on repeat. I don’t know whether it’s the music or the lyrics that keep you listening…or it might just be the fact this song made you feel something. And isn’t that what music is all about?

Artistry is a very key component when writing and recording music. For my Song Of The Day, I chose a song which is very heavy on both artistry and story. “Up There” from female fronted band VersaEmerge is their greatest musical masterpiece to date in my opinion.

Now you may be thinking “What makes this song so great?” and I will answer that for you. Let’s first delve deeper into the story which is present in the lyrics. Lead singer Sierra Kusterbeck stated in a chat sponsored by their label (Fueled By Ramen) the real story behind the song. She said:

“The song is about a ghost I had in my room. It was another time when I felt like I was going crazy, except my mother thought I was crazy, too. I couldn’t sleep in my room for almost two weeks. I was out on the couch. I came home from tour, and I think I brought home some bad energy because this feeling just sunk into my room. It was draining, and terrifying. I laid in bed wide awake, just staring at one specific corner until I sprinted out of my room with no intention of going back until morning. My mom blamed it on the ghost shows I watch on TV and my curiosity in the paranormal. We hung a crystal in the corner of my room and burned some sage. It’s better now.”

If the overall message of the song doesn’t send chills down your spine after reading it, this next bit will. As I previously said, artistry is very important when writing and recording a song. Now with that in mind, when one listens closely there is a section where a voice seems to be speaking in reverse. As many people were curious to if this was actually significant, someone finally took the time to make a video where the song is played backwards. The voice that was previously heard backwards can now be clearly heard as Sierra’s voice calling out to her ‘ghost’. If one continues to listen to the song backwards there is a slew of hidden messages hidden within the version that only reinforces the creepy, haunting feeling that the original version instills in the listener.

With hidden subliminal messages, haunting melodies and an interesting storyline to boot, I  think that “Up There” is definitely one of the best songs to come off of VersaEmerge’s new full length LP Fixed At Zero.

Lupe Fiasco has been around for a couple of years now with singles such as “Shining Down”, “I Gotcha”, “Superstar” and he was even featured on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack with his song “Solar Midnite”. His songs are known for having extremely catchy and mind invading choruses which is no exception in “Daydreamin’”. With the assistance of soul and R&B singer Jill Scott, Lupe masters the blend of modern day rap and soul making the two genres sound like they actually belong together. The backing chorus  that accents Jill Scott’s performance give the song a real smooth, classic sound as well.

One thing that I really enjoy about Fiasco is that he is able to rap and he raps intelligently. Even though he mentions some of the things in this song that you might find present in a song by let’s say…Lil’ Wayne (you know what I’m talking about) he doesn’t do it for entertainment purposes. He uses the scenarios he is mentioning to explain the story he is trying to tell and the point he is trying to get across. This song isn’t about taking drugs or getting women, more as it is showing how the world nowadays is changing how people grow up and how different  the mindsets are (at least that is the way I interpret it due to the lyrics “Now cue the smoke machines and the simulated rain/But not too loud ’cause the baby’s sleepin/I wonder if it knows what the world is keepin/Up both sleeves while he lay there dreamin”).

If you like this song you may want to check out more of Lupe Fiasco’s work. He is performing at the North Coast Music Festival, so if you are going make sure to check him out!

Known widely for his cover of the 1994 hit, I Wish, by Skee-Lo, Dubuc was a pioneer in the techno music scene. With his somewhat overly auto-tuned vocals and computer generated jingles, he took the scene by storm and didn’t slow down. So what prompted this drastic 180 degree transformation? Dubuc still sings of the brighter sides of love and the dark sides of heartbreak in “Night & Day”, but he has adopted a more organic feel in both the music and it’s execution for this album. Instead of being comparable to the music of artists such as Hellogoodbye, the music is more reminiscent of artists similar to The Jackson 5. It hits an era that young present listeners may have been introduced to briefly, as well as one their parents know quiet well.

Songs off the album like Magic, Domino and Used To Be Sweet (featuring the vocals of Valerie Anne Poxleitner a.k.a.LIGHTS) seem to represent the album’s overall Motown feel the best. Scant backing vocals (and wisely so) accompany Dubuc as he tries his luck at soulful singing devoid of editing.  Jazzy brass instruments bring the Motown vibe alive as they act as an accent in each song. As one listens to Dubuc’s stripped vocals, it becomes apparent that he is obviously an untrained vocalist. I think it is a very brave and bold mood to change the sound and production of one’s music so abruptly and I applaud him for it.  But I don’t think he was considering how much of a difference it would make in his vocal quality to not depend on tuning.

For previous fans, I think this record is either a hit or miss. Either you appreciate the fact that his sound has made a complete transformation or you might as well stick to listening to previous work that you have grown to love from Dubuc.

For me, as a frequent listener, this album is so-so. I had to admit when I first heard it I wasn’t sure what I was listening to due to the fact I had become so accustomed to lumping The Secret Handshake into that electronic scene. Night & Day is a long shot from being even somewhat similar to any of his previous records.  It took me a couple of listens to the album as a whole to really appreciate the direction he was trying to take.  I then heard that Duboc was releasing two different versions of this album. The “Day” version consisting of the Soul/Motown songs and the “Night” version consisting of electronic remixes to each of the tracks.

So if you enjoy music that makes an effort to step back a few generations (and only partially succeeds) giving Night & Day a chance might benefit you. If you are looking more for an older TSH sound you might just want to skip listening to this and go buy his other album, My Name Up In Lights, that he released just last year or purchase the “Night” version separately on iTunes. If you want both, purchase the Deluxe edition!

By Becca White

Last fall I had the chance to see DJ Skeet Skeet perform live in a small venue called The Basement in Columbus, OH. He was a supporting act for Cobra Starship on their Hot Mess Across The US tour and took the stage before anyone else. At the beginning of his set everyone was standing still but by the end, everyone was dancing like they were at a night club, not a concert.

Out of all of his work, I chose the remix of “Buzzin’” because he took the song to a whole new level. Normally a relaxed song with a stress-free, beach feel, “Buzzin’” is a song one wouldn’t exactly…dance to. But after Skeet Skeet got his hands on it, the song transformed into a song people would be getting down to on their nights out. Keeping the dulcet chords from the guitar, Skeet Skeet added infectious beats and breakdowns. This makes the song more suitable to dance to rather than to listen to while relaxing in a hammock, and isn’t that a DJ’s job?

DJ Skeet Skeet will be performing at the North Coast Music Festival in Chicago along with acts such as The Chemical Brothers, Lupe Fiasco and more. So be sure to check him out if you are going!

I found out about Austin Gibbs because he was the opening act for The Maine at a concert that I recently went too. I was surprised he was there since he doesn’t really fit into the same genre as The Maine and their other opening act, This Century. The only thing they really had in common was the fact they all hailed from Arizona and were under the same management. As skeptical as I was, he soon pushed my worries aside. Armed with only his guitar and harmonica, he soon swept us all off our feet in a whirlwind of acoustic chords and soulful rhythms.

The reason that I chose “I Like The Ones” is because it is one of his more upbeat songs and it has a fun, flirty message behind it.  Instead of taking time to lead into the high-spirited chords, he comes at you full force from the very beginning. The fast pace tempo mixed with the amusing lyrics provides the perfect mix to create a live audience sing-along. In no time the catchy chorus caught on and everyone in the venue was singing their hearts out along side of Gibbs.  As soon as I returned home, I got onto my iTunes and downloaded this song. It had over 30 plays before I decided to get some shut eye because I could not get enough of the infectious rhythm.

Gibbs is an entertainer in every sense of the word. He may not wear crazy costumes or put on outrageous shows like Lady Gaga, but he really knows how to get an audience up and moving along with him. He loves the interaction and makes it a main goal of his to have you enjoy what you’re hearing and to want more by the end of his time on stage. If you are a person who enjoys real blatant talent, then Gibbs is your man.

(Top left: Travis Clark. Top right: Christofer Drew. Bottom left: Stephen Gomez. Bottom right: Matt Barnes and Chris Miller) Making the 'O' and 'V' for OurVinyl.

Hey guys! I had a chance to check out the annual Vans Warped Tour as it came through Cincinnati, Ohio and  got to catch up with some bands about their experiences and thoughts of the tour! I was able to sit down with Travis Clark of We The Kings, Christofer Drew of NeverShoutNever, Stephen Gomez of The Summer Set, as well as Matt  Barnes and Chris Miller of UK band You Me At Six.

First thoughts when you were told your band was on Warped Tour?

Travis (WTK): It was actually a couple years ago, because this is our third year of Warped Tour. I remember telling the rest of the band that I thought they were lying! It was cool because we had gone to Warped Tour as kids and we never really had money growing up so we had to sneak in and make fake tour passes just to get in to watch our favorite bands. So when we got the call and they were like “Hey, you guys don’t have to do that anymore. You’re playing,” it was kind of a surreal moment. We got really excited and started looking at all the other bands we were going to be playing  with and started kind of getting all school girlish, like happy.

Christofer (NSN): OH YEAH.

Stephen (TSS): I was excited because I went to it growing up and always looked forward to it. I was excited to be a part of it and play the tour.

Matt (YMAS): Oh God. No, I’m joking, we were really excited to be on this year’s Warped Tour. It’s one of the best to be on in the whole of the state so we are really privileged to be on it.

Chris (YMAS): Having friends on the tour is also a plus, cause it’s great to be able to hang out with them every day.

Many people refer to Warped Tour as a “summer camp”. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Travis (WTK): Yeah, it’s definitely the punk rock summer camp that everyone talks about! It’s like a ton of your friends doing crazy things like having barbeques, playing music and Frisbee. It’s like all the things that happen at a summer camp but put the music element into it and that’s exactly what it is. There’s no zip line or blob or anything into a lake, but I love it. The camaraderie between all the bands is what makes this tour different from anything else.

Christofer (NSN): Yeah! I mean, it’s like a traveling summer camp. You wake up every day, you go to catering, you go and get showers down in the shower bin and it’s a lot like summer camp. I went to a lot of summer camps as a kid and it definitely reminds me of it. It’s cool.

Stephen (TSS): Yeah definitely. It kind of feels like you’re at camp. You’re dirty all of the time and you never get to shower. You get thrown into situations of meeting new people constantly. It’s kind of like summer camp meets high school. There’s cliques and stuff. It’s interesting.

Chris (YMAS): I agree with it, yeah. Because everyone is on the tour so long you gain a little family type of thing. It’s this big whole family environment and it seems like you’ve been dropped off by your parents at some crazy summer camp. It just involves way more beer and partying.

What has been your best experience so far on this tour?

Travis (WTK): I don’t know…hmm. Well, we got to actually film a music video during the tour which is something we’ve never done before. Usually we film videos before or after tours when we have time to sit down and think. So we filmed the video on Warped Tour and we used settings in the Warped Tour and stuff like that. I think that was kind of like a unique experience for us to complete. We saw it back and it’s like really good. We’re stoked.

Christofer (NSN): Right now. This interview!

Stephen (TSS): The shows. I mean, that’s why we’re here. To play. There is nothing better than playing a show.

Matt (YMAS): Being fully clothed. You have a coat and shoes on some nights and that’s definitely an experience.

Chris (YMAS): We have a song in our set that random people come out every day and sing. It’s pretty funny having twenty five different people coming out and doing that during the tour.

Matt (YMAS): Yeah, and even if they can’t sing they’ll still come out and do it and we’ll all just laugh while everyone else is like “What’s so funny?”

What has been your worst experience?

Travis (WTK): Worst experience? Probably the porta-potties. They get really, really hot inside and I feel like the sun is just like cooking the poop, you know? So even when you go in just to like wash your hands you try and be as quick as you possibly can because I feel like it’s toxic… That’s the worst part.

Christofer (NSN): I think when I hurt my foot. I hurt my foot about two and a half weeks back. That sucked and I had to go to the hospital. I was on crutches for a couple days.

Stephen (TSS): The heat, I guess? Not showering for like…eight days. Yeah, that sucks. And the heat.

Matt (YMAS): Worst experience? Hmm… playing in places like Arizona where it’s extremely hot. And getting out of bed in the morning and being told you’re playing in an hour.

Chris (YMAS): Not being able to shower all the time and feeling dirty twenty four seven.

What do you think the biggest difference is between Warped Tour and a regular tour?

Travis (WTK): The biggest difference is obviously, this is an outside festival so the heat is something the bands will touch on in every single interview really. But I’m a Florida boy so I guess for me the biggest difference would be that on a club tour you play inside venues and even if you play during the day, the sun can’t get to you. Since I’m a red head, on these outdoor festivals I have to be very weary of where the sun is at all times because it likes to sun burn me. The sun and I don’t have a good relationship on Warped Tour because it’s always really hot and I look like a lobster.

Christofer (NSN): Warped Tour is a lot more work. It’s a lot more intense and a lot more pushing of gear. So many different types of music too so you get a lot of haters. There are a lot of hardcore kids and a lot of pop kids so the kind of clash sometimes.

Stephen (TSS): The one thing I’ve noticed is different is that you wake up every single day and it seems like you’re in the same place. You wake up in a big parking lot somewhere and they all just kind of look the  same which I don’t really like very much. When you do club tours and tours in the van you get to actually see stuff. Like you get to see cities and you get to see the country. This tour I haven’t seen anything except for parking lots. And dust. And a sea of buses. I don’t really like that.

Chris (YMAS): The amount of bands. There’s like a randomness of it like you never know when you’re going to play until you wake up that morning. In a normal tour you play the same time every single day, you know where everyone else is going to be playing. Warped Tour, you just wake up and it’s a gamble every day.

Your favorite thing about Warped Tour?

Travis (WTK): Favorite thing about Warped Tour…probably the catering. You know, when you’re on a normal tour you kind of just eat whatever is there and it’s usually unhealthy. The catering at Warped Tour is insane. It’s like good, good for you and it tastes amazing. It’s something different every single day with the exception of Sunday. Sunday is “Sunday Brunch” so when it’s lunch time and you go to catering it’s always breakfast food which is amazing. I love food a lot.

Christofer (NSN): I think the food. Probably.

Stephen (TSS): Catering is pretty good. Playing shows, again, that’s why we do this.

Matt (YMAS): The hangouts, the barbeques and stuff, the nighttime. It’s a lot of fun because a lot of our friends are on it. We get to just hang out.

How do you think you’re going to feel once the tour is over?

Travis (WTK): Probably how I do now. We don’t get to do the entire tour; we hop off August 2^nd, so definitely really bummed because you aren’t going to be able to hang out for the rest of summer camp with your friends. I don’t know. You’re excited to have spent those days out on Warped Tour but as soon as you get home you’re like “Man, I really wish I was out on Warped Tour.” Then you start seeing everybody’s twitter posts and like facebook and all this stuff like “Oh, loving the last few days of Warped!” and you’re like “Oh, I wish I was there…”

Christofer (NSN): Really stoked as fuck. I’m ready to go home. I miss my home, I miss my mama.

Stephen (TSS): Really happy. I want to go home. I’m just at the point where we have a couple weeks left and I always get to that six week mark whenever we get on tour and I’m just like “Ugh.” I really want to sleep in my bed and just hang out with my friends. And take a shower. If you would have talked to me like two weeks ago, I probably would have had a different answer, but right now I just want to go home.

Matt (YMAS): I think we’re going to feel…slightly relieved.

Chris (YMAS): It drains you because it’s such a long tour. You kind of go in and out of phases of loving it and being like so tired and so dirty that you just want to go home. I know it flies by and when you get the last week you’re actually quite sad to leave. You’ve just made so many friends so it’s just like a giant goodbye. So… we’re sad to go. You get home and you don’t know what to do with yourself.

Check out the rest of the tour on the remaining dates.

Thu	07/29/10	Marcus Amphitheater	Milwaukee, WI	284
	Fri	07/30/10	Comerica Park	Detroit, MI	420	Buy Tickets
	Sat	07/31/10	First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre	Tinley Park, IL	535	Buy Tickets
	Sun	08/01/10	Canterbury Park	Shakopee, MN	353	Buy Tickets
	Mon	08/02/10	Sandstone Amphitheatre	Bonner Springs, KS	227	Buy Tickets
	Thu	08/05/10	Northlands Grounds	Edmonton, AB	179	Buy Tickets
	Sat	08/07/10	Utah State Fairgrounds	Salt Lake City, UT	147	Buy Tickets
	Sun	08/08/10	Invesco Field	Denver, CO	305	Buy Tickets
	Tue	08/10/10	Cricket Amphitheatre	San Diego, CA	363	Buy Tickets
	Wed	08/11/10	Pomona Fairplex	Pomona, CA	305	Buy Tickets
	Thu	08/12/10	Sleep Train Amphitheatre	Marysville, CA	207	Buy Tickets
	Fri	08/13/10	Idaho Center Amphitheatre	Nampa, ID	91	Buy Tickets
	Sat	08/14/10	Gorge Amphitheater	George, WA	283	Buy Tickets
	Sun	08/15/10	Washington County Fairgrounds	Hillsboro, OR

Hey guys, Becca here, kicking off the “Song Of The Day” portion of the website! My pick for today’s song is The Maine’s song “Inside Of You” off their most recent album Black & White that dropped on July 13.

“Inside Of You” is the first single off the album and for good reason. This song was the first stepping stone in showing music critics and fans alike that Black & White was going to be a side of The Maine never seen before. Evidence that the band has matured in their sound is all present in this one song. The poppy guitar riffs once seen in Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop are substituted by more 80’s-inspired ones, but remain catchy nonetheless. Lead singer John O’Callaghan’s voice takes an edgier tone in the song which wholly contrasts to the sweet melodic vocals that he was previously known for. One final example is the lack of blatant sexual, tongue-in-cheek references in their lyrics. Instead of singing about getting the girl, or a girl that had done them or others wrong in some way (ex. The Way We Talk from their 2007 EP. The girl in said song is a portrayed as a tramp) they have evolved to writing about a new level of relationships.

While the line “I’m never going to be inside of you,” may sound like a sexual reference, I think it actually portrays more of the understanding that the guy will never truly discern what the girl is thinking and never be able to fully understand her. Then when he says “I’m never going to see inside of you,” it means that he’s trying his best to know the girl for who she really is but she’s not letting him. Instead of focusing on the hormonally driven parts of love, The Maine has decided to spotlight on the more complicated aspects of being in a relationship with someone which I believe unquestionably shows a growth in not only their music, but the guys themselves.

On a personal note, I just really enjoy this song. It is frequently playing on my iPod when I am driving around or in my room when I am just relaxing in solitude. The catchy music and lyrics  stick in my head for hours on end after only a few listens – not that I am complaining! So trust me and give it a listen. Hopefully you will not be disappointed.

Kenny Greeley – vocals
Andy Bell – guitar
Brandon Stewart – bass
Alan Bell – drums

What was the reasoning behind naming your band The After Party?

We wanted something that was fun and easy to remember, and who doesn’t love after parties?

How would you guys sum up your experience as a band thus far?

It’s been amazing! We have met some really awesome people, and have had the opportunity to experience things that most people will never experience in their lives!

You guys are going to be touring with Rookie of the Year and School Boy Humor on The Most Beautiful Summer Tour. What are your expectations?

We expect to have the best summer of our lives, and to get a nice tan on the beach! This is the first time that we will be on the road for more than a month, so we will get to learn what life on the road is all about! We can’t wait to go out and meet every single one of our fans.

What are some short term and long term goals for The After Party?

Short term goals are to continue touring as much as possible, and to continue writing great new songs! Our long term goals are to hopefully get signed to a major label, have our album distributed internationally, and to make a comfortable living solely from making music!

How important is keeping in touch with your fans?

It’s very important! Without your fans you’re nobody. Sometimes we get behind, but we try our best to stay in touch with everyone!

Where do you guys usually write your music? Do you find it easier at home or out on the road?

A majority of our music is written when we are at home. We do work on ideas on the road, but we get distracted too easily when we’re traveling.

What would you say The After Party’s message is that you are trying to convey through your music?

We try to write fun, catchy music that everyone can relate to on one level or another, and allows all the ladies to shake their money makers all night long.

Final words?

To everyone who has ever listened to our music and supported us in any way, we love you! To everyone who has not, it’s about time you jumped on the band wagon to see what all the fuss is about.

Be sure to check out their Myspace and see if they are stopping at a city city near you on their summer tour with Rookie of the Year and School Boy Humor. A check out their music video for their song Come On, Come On below!

The concert took place at the Newport and when I arrived there were hardly any people there…and I arrived an hour or so late. I went into the pit to watch Sing It Loud and there was an abundance of empty space between me and the other people around me. This was the first time I had ever seen Sing It Loud but not the first time I’ve heard of them. While some members of the band didn’t radiate an excited aura, their bassist and lead guitarist really stepped it up and showed the crowd that they were there to have fun and do what they love. They were a pleasure to watch and I wish more people would have been there to experience it.

When A Rocket To The Moon took the stage, the crowd became slightly larger but there was still free room for me to sway around without hitting someone if I so pleased. I had seen A Rocket To The Moon in concert two times previous and loved every second of their sets. Tonight, though, there was something off. I don’t think they played with as much energy or enthusiasm as I was used to. The music was impeccable but they were not attention-grabbing and I feel as though they could have been more personable. Everyone has their bad days though, right?

I then left the pit after their performance and walked out to the main area as Fun. was setting up their equipment. When I walked back in they had started their first song and the crowd had now tripled in size. Lead singer Nate Ruess and guitarist Mike Schey were previously in The Format before they announced hiatus in February 2008. Many people were greatly anticipating their set and for good reason. I can honestly tell you after watching them play live they are one of my top favorite bands. They had such an energy and quirkiness to them that you couldn’t help but be completely enthralled into the music.

Finally, it was time for the headlining band to make their way to the stage. The crowd had nearly doubled from the size that it was for Fun. and the pit was packed so there was absolutely no elbow room. I opted to move to the railing beside the pit so I had a good view of the stage. Lead singer Justin Pierre came out followed by the rest of his band and you could tell by the look on his face that they were ready to give the audience the best show of their lives. Without any introductions they went straight into their first song. By the end of it the room was hot and steamy from the masses of people completely letting go to the music. At the end of the night I was sure of one thing. Motion City Soundtrack had the most flawless set list that I have ever heard. Some songs they played included L.G. Fuad, The Future Freaks Me Out, Pulp Fiction, Even If It Kills Me and for the encore, Everything Is Alright.

Since I was in middle school I had always wondered what going to a rock show would be like. In the fall of 2009 I started going to concerts and started experiencing for myself what I had been anticipating for so many years. I thought I had a good idea of what a successful show was but I was proven wrong. Motion City Soundtrack’s performance was something that I could have never anticipated or have prepared myself for.

All in all, the show was something that I never expected it would be. My expectations were blown through the roof as I stood and witnessed one of the most spectacular performances that I have ever seen. Even as time has passed, Motion City Soundtrack has been able to retain their talents and personality that has gotten them to where they are today.

Written by:
Becca White