popwreckoning

Gearing up for a summer tour in support of their new album Hell Is What You Make It on July 12, Breathe Carolina is ready to showcase some fun dance-floor anthems.

The Rockstar Presents The Scream It Like You Mean It Tour will kick off on July 15 in Seattle, WA at El Corazon, heading across North America and finishing with a homecoming show for the band in Denver, CO. Direct support comes from Chiodos, as well as I See Stars, The Color Morale, Tek-One, and The Air I Breathe.

The band’s new album was recorded with producers Ian Kirkpatrick (Plain White T’s, Neon Trees) and Matt Squire (Panic At The Disco, 3OH!3, All Time Low) and is featured as one of Alternative Press’ 100 Most Anticipated Albums of 2011.

Visit their site here to listen to a clip of “Wooly” from the new album.

And check out their official website www.HellIsWhatYouMakeIt.com for a complete list of tour dates that trek all across the U.S.

Innerpartysystem
Reading, PA
innerpartysystem.com

With the recent release of their second EP Never Be Content, Innerpartysystem is starting to set some serious standards for themselves. With the new EP came a new sound, a little more mixed, a little more DJ then their previous releases, and they finally nailed down a unique sound of their own. Now they are hitting SXSW in Austin next week to spread their infectious dance music to even bigger crowds.

I’ve been keeping an eye on them since their first EP (The Download) back in 2007, after seeing them tour with Kill Hannah, and they just keep getting better and better. Ever since then, their live shows have become more expansive and more technical, developing into full dance parties during their most recent tour opening for Pendulum. They released a self-titled full length, in September 2008, that hinted at the new directions the band was taking, but they have exceeded expectations with both the new release and their live shows.

IPS has remixed everyone from Katy Perry to The Killers, 3OH!3 to Lady Hawke. Not only do they have live shows that are borderline sensory overload, but they also do live DJ sets, spinning everything from 80’s pop to 90’s rap, new Skrillex releases and some seriously filthy new trance tracks, with a little bit of their own style thrown in. Soon they will be challenging longstanding techno masters like Deadmau5 and Skrillex or even possibly hitting up the UK scene a la Gatecrasher.

The trio will be playing three days in Austin. That’s three chances to dance to some of the most innovative and groundbreaking dance music around right now. I plan on catching them at least twice. Catch them now and again either in their upcoming European or US tour dates and be amazed at the amount of new creative ingenuity they can work into their shows in a short amount of time. I promise- you’ll have danced, clapped, and been to one of the best parties you’ve ever been to, and you won’t regret it.

15 Mar, 2011 @ Texas Media Temple Party @ Stubbs – SxSW
16 Mar, 2011 @ Prague – SxSW
19 Mar, 2011 @ Dirty Dog Bar – SxSW

Like Florence and the Machine, Marina and the Diamonds is the eponymously named band of half-Greek, half-Welsh beauty Marina Diamandis. The mention the ‘beauty’ part because let’s face it, us mortals girls don’t have a chance when compared to the gorgeous brunette singer/songwriter. She’s already won the hearts of many a girl and boy across Britain with her brand of idiosyncratic yet incredibly catchy pop. The crowd that lined up prior to doors opening at the 9:30 Club Monday night weren’t shy about showing off their love for the singer: they dutifully put on what I considered pretty tacky “Oh No!” glasses and were taking photos of each other with them on. Kind of weird. It was, however, nice to see an even mix of the sexes at the show, since most gigs I attend are 70% male or more and it can feel intimidating.

The opening act for Marina’s tour is Young the Giant, a very young (all members around 21 or younger) rock five-piece from sunny Newport Beach, California. They also have some serious cred already: in 2009 when they were still called the Jakes, they won an online vote to open for Kings of Leon in Chicago and reportedly “crushed the competition.” I guess there was a lot of equipment set-up on the 9:30 stage for Marina and her band, because sometimes I felt bad that the members of Young the Giant were cramped for space, especially since their guitarists like to run around the stage, run into each other and singer Sameer Gadhia, and occasionally, into drummer Francois Comtois‘s drum kit. At times, I was worried one of them was going to wipe out and fall ala Steven Tyler onto the 9:30 Club floor.

Thankfully, nothing of the sort happened, and they delivered a respectable and energetic set of songs to the rabid Marina and the Diamonds fans. “Cough Syrup” was a highlight, with guitarists Payam Doostzadeh, Jacob Tilley, and Eric Cannata looking so overtaken by the music, they forgot where they were spatially and started running into each other. Afterward, one audience member, obviously pleased with the song, yelled out, “I love you man!” With a smile, Gadhia shouted back to him, “I love you too!” Another standout, “Streetwalker,” featured slide guitar that was I not expecting from a couple upstarts from Orange County. Their last song was “My Body,” which you can download from their website here.

We had to wait over 45 minutes before the Marina and the Diamonds part of show would begin, but the crowd was content to yell “Marina!” every time a roadie would come onstage to test equipment or put down set lists, water bottles, and towels. When 9:30 rolled around (supposedly Marina’s set time), people started chanting “Marina! Marina! Marina!” Her band came out first, already 10 minutes late and then suitably fashionably late, Diamandis appeared, looking a bit Elvira with a black velvet dress and dark purple, almost black lipstick, her dark hair flowing onto her shoulders.

She jumped right into “The Outsider,” and over the course of the night, she played all but one song from her debut album The Family Jewels released here in America in May on Chop Shop Records. Being up front with a friend of mine who is a huge, huge fan of Marina, I was surrounded by girls and guys who sang along to every word uttered by their biggest heroine. For “Numb” and “Obsessions,” she showed her piano-playing chops and also sweating profusely and complaining, “this black velvet is a bitch. It’s so hot, I want to peel my face off.” She then added, smiling widely at her fans, “but it’s worth it!” Never a truer word said by a slave to fashion.

I’m not a huge fan of Diamandis (her voice varies from deep alto territory to over the top operatic), but I have to admit “I Am Not a Robot” is an earworm of the highest caliber. Even days after seeing Diamandis and her band, I’m still hearing the chorus, “guess what! / I’m not a robot / a robot,” in my head. Two more highlights came after Diamandis had a quick costume change. For “Hollywood,” a song she wrote about the perceived excesses and chaos of America, she re-emerged from backstage wearing a long slip, a purple and yellow letterman jacket, and dollar sign sunglasses and holding two exaggeratingly big fake hamburgers. The applause and cheering was deafening.

This was quickly followed by the purposely misspelled “Shampain,” during which Diamandis encouraged everyone in the club to jump up and down and they happily complied. She was so happy with the response that she thanked the crowd with “a bit gin and tonic for all of you!” The encore was an unexpected, soft and reflective cover of 3Oh!3‘s “Starstrukk,” followed by the odd-sounding “Mowgli’s Road,” complete with Diamandis’s cuckoo noises. I’ll say this: a Marina and the Diamonds show is certainly a spectacle.

Marina and the Diamonds Set List
The Outsider
Girls
Seventeen
I Am Not a Robot
Oh No!
Numb
Obsessions
Rootless
// (costume change)
Hollywood
Shampain
Are You Satisfied?
Guilty
//
Starstrukk (3Oh!3 Cover)
Mowgli’s Road

Tour Dates
Sept 13 – Crocodile / Seattle:
Sept 14 – Doug Fir / Portland
Sept 15 – Independent / San Francisco
Sept 17 – El Rey / Los Angeles

Marina and the Diamonds: website | myspace | Marina and the Diamonds Announces September North American Tour
Young the Giant: website | myspace

Wolves with lasers coming out of their eyes! Ferocious fangs everywhere! Men running around with swords! No, this is not the plot to some new action/horror movie. This was premise of the Too Fast for Love tour featuring Cobra Starship, 3oh!3, Travie McCoy and the Lazarus Project and I Fight Dragon. And yes, that photo above does brilliantly combine the 3oh!3 hands with the Cobra fangs. HOLLA!!!

Chicago’s I Fight Dragons had the most to prove opening for acts that had been part of the same music family for quite some time and playing for a crowd that hadn’t heard too much about them. Before the group even came out, video screens flashed old school gaming images. The band triumphantly emerged to music that even Zelda would have been jealous of and they jumped into a set filled with rock infused with NES sounds. The product was a set that matched the sound and energy of bands such as Motion City Soundtrack (although, MCS is untouchable when it comes to lyrical quality). I Fight Dragons’ drummer was celebrating his 21st at the show, so they took some time to call him out and give him a solo on the foot gaming-pad. To prove that they weren’t just playing games and really had jerry-rigged a Rockband guitar to play like a cross between a real guitar and a synthesizer, they free styled a fun jam before entering their final number.

I Fight Dragons:

Then the dynamic Travie McCoy and the Lazarus Project took to the stage. And no, ‘Travie’ is not a typo for those who know him better for his time fronting Gym Class Heroes as ‘Travis.’ I guess the ‘Travie’ moniker fits the style of his new act a little better. Think Gym Class, but more soulful and jazzy. Then, picture Travie in suspenders and bowties, but still with all the tattoos and piercings and you have the vibe of this new act. To be honest, Travie could be yodelling and he’d still be enjoyable to watch — he has some of the most spectacular facial expressions you could ever see on a performer. Plus, he’s witty: “Who likes to be supabad? Like Michael Cera Superbad? This one’s for you.”

When the debut Lazarus album drops, I doubt GCH fans will have anything negative to say.

Travie McCoy and the Lazarus Project Set List:
Intro
Dr. Feelgood
Critical
Bad by Myself
We’ll Be Alright
Supabad
Money/Billionaire
Can The Drummer Get Some?
Need You

As much as the misogynistic lyrics (I’m sure we’re all familiar with the “Shush girl, shut your lips; do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips,” by now.) and the overly cock-y attitudes might make you want to hate Colorado’s 3oh!3, they’re actually quite lovable. Seriously. I’m not joking. The come skipping out, throwing their own hand signs up and immediately get audiences jumping along with them. Whether you heard their songs or not, they’re easy to singalong with and so catchy, you’d find yourself doing that even if you didn’t want to sing. 3oh!3 are bringing out some of their new songs off their upcoming summer release, and since you don’t have suffer through Ke$sha, even those songs are fun, although, not quite as catchy as their older material. Plus, remember when I mentioned wolves with laser beams at the beginning? 3oh!3 has mother-fucking wolves with laser beams and if for some reason you don’t immediately spot them, they’ll point the critters out and sing plenty of tunes about them.

3oh!3:

3oh!3 Set list:
Beaumont
Starstrukk
Punkbitch
My First Kiss
I’m Not Your Boyfriend
Richman
House Party
Touchin on My
I Can’t Do It Alone
Colorado Sunshine
Chokechain
Don’t Dance
Don’t Trust Me

Cobra Starship admits that they’re ‘guilty pleasures,’ and if you were a fan of Midtown, you probably aren’t going to be too thrilled by Gabe Saporta‘s current project. However, if you love keytar, heavy dance beats and anything related to Samuel L. Jackson, then you might enjoy Cobra Starship. This is a group you do want to approach fresh with a relaxed attitude because as I said and will repeat: this is not Midtown. Why am I repeating? I think a lot of people kind of forget that and take it out on the band. Now, while I can see why the goofy lyrics or Gabe’s intense personality might be a turn off for some people; and stunts like this sour reaction in the video below to a kid flipping the band off might either make a person love or hate Cobra Starship, just remember. They came here to make you dance tonight. So seriously. Relax, enjoy the light show, toss your fangs up and just dance…or get off the dancefloor.

Cobra Starship (“Snakes on a Plane” preceded by Gabe reacting to a kid giving him the finger):

Cobra Starship Set List:
Intro/City
Smash It Up
Kiss My Sass
Kinda Guy
Summertime
Snakes
Paparazzi
Dancing
Hot Mess
Guilty Pleasure
//
Good Girls Go Bad

For many, braving the frigid temperatures that were only abetted by a breeze off of lake Michigan was worth reliving a band essential to so many musical palettes. Something Corporate was headlining the third Bamboozle festival, which not only marked the band’s third reunion show since their 2005 hiatus, but also the debut of the Bamboozle festival in Chicago. It was only fitting that Something Corporate ring in the festival for Chicago.

As Andrew McMahon pointed out early in the Something Corporate set, Chicago has a special place in the band’s heart and history. McMahon moved out from under his parent’s wings and spent some time living in the basement of New Found Glory’s Jordan Pundik. There, McMahon wrote several early SoCo songs, several of which they played that night.

It was a night for nostalgia for both the band and fans. It was a night for rediscovery and reliving the love of SoCo music, but it was also a day of discovery. Many of the scene’s rising acts from the last few years as well as a few veterans joined the festival. To the side of the main stage, the festival had a line up from the heart of Chicago. Allister and the harder Treaty of Paris rocked the later evening slots. Hip hop acts like Spose and the Jump Smokers (complete with their own ass-shaking, scantily clad dancers) got the crowd dancing. Earlier acts like I Fight Dragons and The Lifelines really impressed. I Fight Dragons fits in well with the Bamboozle scene, and the Lifelines, while edgier had a nice  mix of harder vocals with violin.

The side stage set times fit in between with the bigger name acts over on the main stage. All the Day Holiday played a catchy set to the early arrivers. Though some of their songs started to blend, the guys were energetic and fun. A good way to start off the mainstage. Chicago’s Kill Hannah played a rock set that was easy to dance to if you could take your eyes off the band in their neon make-up and feathers long enough to watch your footing. The band plays an edgy rock, but unlike some of the screamier bands you might have found amongst the other Chicago acts, this band’s music is very accesible as proven by radio singles “Lips Like Morphine” and “Boys N Girls.”

Kill Hannah Set List:
Boys N Girls
New York City Speed
Love You to Death
The Chase
Strobelights
Kennedy
Lips Like Morphine

The next three acts on the main stage are out on tour together, so if you missed Bamboozle, there is still a chance to catch Travie McCoy and the Lazarus Project with 3oh!3 and Cobra Starship. As enjoyable as McCoy’s other project, Gym Class Heroes, is, I kind of enjoyed this current act more. It fit in better with the other music at the fest and they guy is such a strong performer personality wise that I he could have been performing with only a cricket to back him and made that show enjoyable. He would coyly wrap his arms around his lit up mic stand, trot out on to amps and make these really animated facial expressions that almost said more than half his lyrics. Suffice it to say, he is a must-see-live act. Denver’s 3oh!3 followed up Travie and based on the amount of gold-donned girls in the crowd, there was a quite a large turn out to see these guys. Hands spelling out the 3oh!3 sign flew into the air as the guys started out with the whistling-filled single “Starstrukk.” The tunes are easy to sing along to – even a couple of new songs off their upcoming summer release got a good singalong in the crowd. For as much as you want to hate these guys for their womanizing lyrics, they’re pretty darn enjoyable live. We’ll chalk this one up to a guilty pleasure.

Speaking of guilty pleasures, the crowd was ready to get their fangs up with Chicago-darling Gabe Saporta and his current band: Cobra Starship. Flashing lights, confetti and balloons accessorized their set…if you didn’t know any better, it would have been easy to mistake them as the headliners. When it came time for them to play the infamous movie theme song “Snakes on a Plane,” they were all set to invite Travie McCoy back out to perform his part. However, Travie took a backseat to a girl who brought a sign saying she knew all the words to the rap. She was invited up on stage and McCoy filmed her doing the part. There are some who aren’t a fan of Saporta’s current act, aka those who won’t let go of Midtown, but if you let loose and accept the act for a silly, fun-loving dance, pop rock group than it really is a blast to hop around to “Guilty Pleasure” and “Good Girls Go Bad.”

After them, it was time for Something Corporate. Finally seeing Something Corporate was like a dream come true. The band broke up (or went on hiatus or whatever you’d prefer to call it) just when my parents finally gave me permission to go to shows. I’ve been fortunate to see Jack’s Mannequin several times and while the two piano-based rock groups share several similarities, there is a different energy in SoCo shows. A lot of that has to do with how different the lyrics are: the songs of Jack’s are more relationship-based lovelorn songs, while SoCo covers everything from relationships to growing up to simply not liking people. While I’m sure many would say the encore performance of “Konstantine,” beginning with just Andrew at the piano at first would be the evenings highlight, I have to say I thought the show hit its high with “If U C Jordan.” Andrew was stomping (yes, literally stomping on the keys) and sure, we were all throwing up the bird screaming, “FU Jordan,” which probably made anyone in Chicago by that name that could hear us super uncomfortable, but the song was surreal. To be that connected with that many people knowing the song and knowing how great this band was…it was magical. We were like some strange family and it didn’t matter how old we all were or where we were from. What mattered was that we loved this band and we were all having a great time.

I’m still kind of overwhelmed by how great it was…I can’t wait until the fall!

Something Corporate Set List:
Punk Rock Princess
The Astronaut
21 & Invincible
Down
I Want to Save You
She Paints Me Blue
Space
Cavanaugh Park
Watch the Sky
Me and the Moon
Fall
Ruthless
I Woke Up in a Car
If You C Jordan
//
Konstantine
Hurricane

The Line Up:

Main Stage:
4 – 4:35 – All the Day Holiday (pop rock)
5:05 – 5:35 – Kill Hannah (alt rock)
6:06 – 6:35 – Travie McCoy and the Lazarus Project (hip hop/jazz/rock fusion)
7:05 – 7: 45 – 3oh!3 (hip hop/rock)
8:15 – 8:45 – Cobra Starship (pop rock)
9:25 – 10:45 – Something Corporate (alt rock)
Side Stage:
3:35 – 4:05 – I Fight Dragons (pop rock)
4:35 – 5:05 – The Lifelines (hard rock)
5:35 – 6:05 – Jump Smokers (hip hop)
6:35 – 7:05 – Spose (hip hop)
7:45 – 8:15 – Treaty of Paris (rock)
8:55 – 9:25 – Allister (pop punk)

After taking the nation by storm during Warped Tour last year, old and new fans alike have been waiting for an announcement of the next installment of Innerpartysystem’s unique brand of musical sound. After a ground-breaking EP (The Download EP) and a full length self-titled album, fans are more than ready for new material after an 18 month hiatus from the Industrial Rock/Electronica trio.

Between leaving their label, Island Records, in June 2009 and the recent loss of Jesse Cronan (backup vocals, synthesizer, lighting design), those last 18 months have been nothing but boring, according to the band’s blog. They have posted new remixes of both Cobra Starship‘s “Hot Mess” and 3Oh!3’s “Don’t Trust Me” on their MySpace, as well as remixes of old material of their own, such as “Last Night in Brooklyn” and “Obsession.” While these mixes kept fans satiated long enough for the band to get their bearings and start recording the album, the 2010 teaser was born.

Posted on February 22, the teaser, shows the band’s monetary-esque logo and the simple words “Get Hype,” along with a simple download button. Sparse, almost utilitarian, but plain and simple, and exactly what the fans want- a taste of the new Innerpartysystem sound.

Along with the teaser mix track that is making everyone’s skin crawl with anticipation, comes a video of Patrick and fellow band mates working on the new album, recording new mixes, playing around with new sounds for their live stage sets, tracking vocals, and… well… breaking things.

Although it is not a finite date for the release of their newest chapter, it will at least keep us on the edge of our seats until that information is revealed. For both old fans and new, Innerpartysystem will hold something new, exciting, different, and most of importantly, dance worthy. Check it out on the band’s YouTube page or on their blog, and well- Get Hyped. I know I sure did.

Written by Annastasia Gallaher

I love Bonnaroo, but it is lucky that it is only four days. I don’t think my body could have moved if it had been a fifth day. Part of the reason for my extra soreness might have been due to sleeping in the car instead of the tent. My camp partner kept moving the tent despite it being five in the morning and in frustration, I just crashed in the car. Seat belts in the back are not much more comfortable than sleeping in the ground. Feeling extra gross, I actually paid the five dollars for a cold shower before I was ready to take on Sunday.

Joshua caught the first act of the day, Cage the Elephant, which he describes as “This generation’s Nirvana.”

Following Cage the Elephant in energy and in craziness was Dillinger Escape Plan. The screaming is not really my cup of tea, but as they climbed over amps, the guys continued to keep their musicianship tight.

We calmed down a bit with the songwriter stylings of Jessica Lea Mayfield. Though really a solo project, her drummer came very close to outshining her.

Another lady rocked our hearts after Mayfield. The buzzed about YouTube queen, Julia Nunes delivered hits and covers on her sharpie-decorated guitar and ukulele. Nunes and her friends whipped out sunglasses to look like true “douches” when covering a “douche” song before playing a cover of 3OH!3‘s “Don’t Trust Me”. After witnessing her humor in person, it is easy to see why she became such a YouTube sensation.

Josh and I again parted ways after Nunes. He had yet to witness the masterful sounds of Andrew Bird‘s whistling and violin playing, so he went to the Which Stage.

Meanwhile, I ventured over to the Other Tent for my first time in the entire festival. The atmosphere there was warm and I don’t mean the muggy Tennessee weather. The people and workers there felt more like a family than the other tent. It probably had a lot to do with the line up there, too. As the bare footed, Brett Dennen, jammed and danced away on stage, it was hard to not feel like you were at a party with your closest friends.

Brett Dennen’s Set List:
Someday
When You Feel It
So Far From Me
San Fran
Darlin
Who Do You Think
She’s Mine
I’m Strong
Heaven
Crazy
Blessed

After Dennen, Okkervil River was next up. Will Sheff really is an amazing songwriter, but I had never really given him credit for his stage presence until this performance. As he passionately gripped the microphone, he danced around the stage.

Josh and I briefly crossed paths as he worked his way over to catch Arizona rockers Dear and the Headlights at the Troo Music Lounge. They’ve been busy on the festival circuit and have their performance down to a science.

I worked my way over to What Stage to catch none other than Snoop Dogg. He was sporting some bling, but his set lacked the usual paraphernalia I had seen with it. Erykah Badu joined him for some numbers, but while everyone else buzzed about that, I could not help getting excited over Snoop’s drummer. With a flick of the wrist the guy was artfully drumming and tossing sticks everywhere. I guess I didn’t give rap and hip hop drummers enough credit, but this guy was better than all the rock drummers I had seen the entire festival.

Band of Horses‘ gentle tunes were warming up the Which Stage as I walked over to see Neko Case. She showed she had a sense of humor by doing a duet with Triumph the Insult Dog.

Josh watched one of the best sets of the festival by Coheed and Cambria. Big hair and tongues wagging, these guys embodied what it meant to be a rock star. I had never seen them with a girl before, but as she picked up some of the higher notes, I soon learned her purpose. Claudio Sanchez has enough on his plate without having to keep up the breath support to do his signature falsetto the entire time. For example, he was busy teaching the audience that it was in fact possible to play an instrument using your hair.

Ending the festival, just as they began it by headlining, was Phish. Phish fans celebrated before their set with a tortilla fight. Then as Phish jammed, one final festival surprise awaited. Bruce Springsteen had stuck around to do a final guest appearance. Since he’s The Boss, Phish played a few Springsteen songs with him before bidding him goodnight and jamming some more. Fireworks heralded the end of the festival and people flocked back to their tents and back to their homes.

Bonnaroo 2009 was a huge success filled with classic and new talent thanks to Big Hassle. While I think I might settle on hotel instead of a camp, I’m excited already thinking about the next year. Here’s to Bonnaroo 2010!

Bonnaroo: website | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Of Montreal @ This Tent | Spotted: Drew Barrymore | Quick News 1 | Quick News 2

Photos by: Bethany Smith and Joshua Hammond

Before hitting the road to trek back to KC and work on getting tons of photo and written coverage of the fest, here are a few more updates from the Bonnaroo fest:

Bruce Springsteen took his time leaving Bonnaroo and was spotted watching acts like Band of Horses and Neko Case. He even surprised the crowd by joining Phish for a few of his tunes.

Julia Nunes proved she could play anything on ukelele and covered 3OH!3.

After delaying her performance for nearly 30 minutes, Erykah Badu made it up to the crowd by joining Snoop on stage.

Neko Case sang a duet of “Sweet Chariot” with Triumph the Insult Dog.

Coheed and Cambria perfected the art of playing an instrument by use of hair.