popwreckoning

The Grammy-nominated rock group Paramore have unveiled details of their Spring headlining run.

The tour kicks off with a home state show in Tennessee’s Knoxville Civic Coliseum on April 26. Relient K and Fun will support the tour.

Fan Club members can buy presale tickets on Monday, February 1 at www.paramorefanclub.com. General public sale begins Friday, February 5 and Saturday February 6.

Tour Dates:
April 26 – Knoxville Civic Coliseum / Knoxville, TN
April 28 – John Paul Jones Arena / Charlottesville, VA
April 30 – Trump Taj Mahal – Mark G Etess Arena / Atlantic City, NJ
May 1 – The Bamboozle New Jersey – Meadowlands Sports Complex / East Rutherford, NJ
May 3 – The LC Amphitheatre / Columbus, OH
May 4 – DeltaPlex / Grand Rapids, MI
May 6 – Rockford MetroCentre / Rockford, IL
May 7 – i Wireless Center / Moline, IL
May 8 - WestFair Amphitheatre / Council Bluffs, IA
May 10 – E Center / Salt Lake City, UT
May 12 -  WaMu Theater / Seattle, WA
May 15 – Rabobank Arena / Bakersfield, CA
May 16 – The Joint / Las Vegas, NV 

Merry Christmas or Happy Festivus or Happy whatever spelling of Channakuh you choose. No matter what you celebrate this holiday season, we hope everyone can find a free free (and legal) music downloads an agreeable gift.

• Fitz and the Tantrums are giving away Songs for a Break Up Volume I until the end of the year. Go here to download.

• Relient K are giving away their holiday tune “I Celebrate the Day” on Amazon. The song is off their 2008 release, Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer. The album is also onsale at Amazon for $5.

• Peter Bradley Adams is giving away a special EP with songs from each of his three albums here.
• The Cribs – the group so good they got Johnny Marr to defect away from Modest Mouse and join them are offering up single “Cheat on Me” via Twitter. Check out how to do the tweet here.
• Anni Rossi has an entire Christmas EP available here. You just need to sign up for the mailing list.
• Sam Phillips is offering “It Doesn’t Feel Like Christmas”for download here.
• Bear Ceuse is giving away “Mad As a Lion” at the top of his blog.
• On Amazon.com, there is a free download from Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas. Go here to get “Christmas with a Monkey.”
• Download Middle Distance Runner‘s new song, “Holiday (Be Good To Me).”  By right-clicking and saving here. The guys explain, “It’s a happy little ditty about all of the things we hope don’t go wrong this time of year.”

Hailing from Russellville, AR—Deas Vail inks a deal with Mono vs Stereo, with one full length and two EP’s already under their belt, the band gets set to release their sophomore full length album Birds & Cages at all digital outlets and available for purchase at all tour dates on October 27 with non-stop touring well into 2010. Currently you can find the band on the road with Mae and look for the band to kick into 2010 in high gear as they hit the road with Owl City on January 21.

“I have been all about Deas Vail for years, so when we came across the opportunity to sign them, it just made sense. I know this band has so many great songs still to come, and I am so excited about being able work with them. I believe they will really set a precedent for the kind of music that we will put out at Mono Vs Stereo, and I couldn’t think of a better first release for our new label. I am convinced that anyone who takes time to listen will agree that this band is special”– Matt Hoopes, Mono vs Stereo Head of A&R and Relient K guitarist.

The band formed a few years ago while its members were students at Arkansas Tech in the Midwestern hamlet of Russellville, AR. While at school, Wes Blaylock began writing songs he initially envisioned as solo works but as his affinity for the indie-rock scene grew, Deas Vail was born.

Mixing a unique blend of indie-rock with Wes Blaylock’s distinctive upper register range and falsetto joined by the unfailingly sharp and frenetic guitar work of Andy Moore, then add in the hauntingly melodic sounds from keyboardist Laura Blaylock and the driving and cunning rhythm section of drummer Kelsey Harelson and bassist Justin Froning you get the original sound that only Deas Vail creates.

“When we started, it was something we wanted to do because we enjoy music,” Blaylock said. “We write songs because we love songs. They make us happy or explain an experience. That’s why I grab hold of these songs and love them. It’s something we really care about.”

Deas Vail’s Birds & Cages is the second release from the newly revived record label, Mono vs. Stereo, a partnership between Gotee Records and Relient K.

Tour Dates:
With Mae
Oct. 23 – The Record Bar / Kansas City, MO
Oct. 24 – Triple Rock Social Club / Minneapolis, MN
Oct. 26 – Aquarium / Fargo, ND
Oct. 27 – Off Broadway / St. Louis, MO
Oct. 28 – Reggie’s /  Chicago, IL
Oct. 29 – Southgate House / Newport, KY
Oct. 30 – Musica / Akron, OH
Oct. 31 – Mixtape / Grand Rapids, MI
Nov. 1 – Skully’s / Columbus, OH
Nov. 3 North Star Bar / Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 4 North Star Bar / Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 5 Middle East / Boston, MA
Nov. 6 The Fillmore / New York, NY
Nov. 7 School of Rock / S. Hackensack, NJ
Nov. 8 Black Cat / Washington, DC

With Owl City
Jan. 21 – Beaumont Club / Kansas City, MO
Jan. 22 – Diamond Ballroom / Oklahoma City, OK
Jan. 23 – The Pageant / St Louis, MO
Jan. 24 – Egyptian Room / Minneapolis, MN
Jan. 26 – Majestic Theater / Madison, WI
Jan. 27 – 20th Century Theater / Cincinnati, OH
Jan.  28 – Newport Music Hall / Columbus, OH
Feb. 29 – Rector / Towson, MD
Feb. 30 – Norva / Norfolk, VA
Feb. 1 – Music Farm / Charleston, SC
Feb. 2 – Freebird Live / Jacksonville, FL
Feb. 3 – State Theater / St Petersburg, FL
Feb. 4 – Culture Room / Ft Lauderdale, FL
Feb. 5 – House Of Blues / Orlando, FL
Feb. 6 – The Melting Pot / Athens, GA
Feb. 8 – WorkPlay Theater / Birmingham, AL
Feb. 9 – Varsity Theater / Baton Rouge, LA
Feb. 10 – Revolution Music Room / Little Rock, AR

Deas Vail: website | myspace

The band’s on the evening’s bill may not be ridiculously large rock bands that fill amphitheatres or obscure lo-fi basement rockers that hipsters buy ironic tees from. But none of that stuff mattered to the bands nor their fans packed into the Beaumont Club. The people there weren’t there because the radio or Urban Outfitters told them they had to be there. Everyone was there because they genuinely loved these bands and that feeling made this one of the best concerts I’ve been to in a long time.

Three-piece Barcelona started things off with a set that dropped several jaws. Beautiful harmonies laced with rolling piano riffs and a great drum beat made this band the surprise ace in the hole. They had a sound that was in between Coldplay and Keane, but without the huffy lack of vocal control that Chris Martin sometimes experiences and without the cheesiness that Keane is prone too (remember that song about a crystal ball? ugh). I recall seeing Barcelona awhile back at an acoustic set and finding them decent, but unmemorable. However, since then they have really solidified and after their fantastic final number, “Come Back When You Can,” I think they did a good job making sure that everyone would still remember them long after that performance.

Copeland was next and the Florida group continued the piano-based rock awesomeness. Singer Aaron Marsh opened the set on guitar, but seemed much more at ease when he moved to the piano and it made a great difference in the quality of the performance. The tension in his shoulders disappeared as he wrapped his legs around the piano bench and rocked back and forth for a few numbers. This helped loosen him up enough that when he came back to guitar. In fact, when he returned to guitar for a few numbers, on a song ironically called “Careful Now,” he had thrown caution to the wind so much so that he broke a string.

This turned out to be a really good thing because while tuning a new guitar, Marsh did something special to fill the silence.

“Questions, concerns, comments? Let’s do birthdays. Who has a birthday now? You? This will be a special birthday song,” said Marsh and then he began a beautiful acapella birthday song, “Light the candles. It is the special light inside you everywhere you go.”

It was a great set with a good mix of songs (yes, they did play “Brightest”). There were some impatient people in the crowd that I don’t think connected to the moodier sound of Copeland, while waiting for the bubbly headliners. I, on the otherhand, only regretted that the set was over so quickly.

Finally it came time for headliners Relient K. They must have some of the most loyal fans that I’ve encountered and I am proud to say I am one of them. Heck, they were my first concert ever.

Tonight’s performance could not have come at a better time for me. I had a rough week, but Relient K never fails to make me smile and I’m sure everybody at the show would agree. I mean, how can you not smile when a band pays tribute to “The Office” or covers songs like “Under the Sea” or “The Subway Commercial“? And while, they have their goofy moments, Relient K counters with some very heavy moments, too such as encore song “Curl Up and Die”

Lead singer Matt Thiessen did say he wasn’t feeling well, so he did cut out a few times on the vocals, but the other band members and the audience singing every single word did a fine job filling in the gaps.

Relient K had many special treats in their set aside from the many covers. The arrangement was shaken up for “Must Have Done Something Right” and my favorite surprise was when Copeland’s Aaron Marsh returned to sing “Let It All Out,” one the most beautiful and passionate numbers of the night.

The band just released a new album about a week prior to this show, but they still played a lot of their old songs. After already playing 18 songs, the band returned for a three song encore: “Curl Up and Die,” “There Was No Thief” and “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been.”

They didn’t play some staples such as “Sadie Hawkins Dance,” but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t have asked for a better set of songs…although, I was in my khaki pants.

Band info:
Barcelona: myspace
Copeland: website | myspace | You Are My Sunshine review | interview with: Aaron Marsh | @ slowdown
Relient K: website | myspace | interview with: Matt Thiessen | @ granada

Relient K: website | myspace | interview with: Matt Thiessen

My parents had strange rules about concerts. Due to their fears that I would fall prey to drugs, sex and alcohol or die in a mosh pit, I was not allowed to go to a music concert until I was 18. Even once I turned 18, I was nervous they would not let me go to a show until I was out of the house. A month after my 18th birthday they finally found a show they approved of for my first concert. It was a band called Relient K. They approved because of the band’s positive songs and Christian influences. I approved because I simply liked the music. The day of the show rolled around: February 14, 2005.

When I awoke that morning, I sat up in bed only to immediately fall back down as a wave of blackness crept into my vision. My head was warm. The day of my first concert and it looked like I would be too sick to attend. Young and naïve, I worried that if I didn’t go to this show, I would never get to go to another show. I took lots of medicine and reassured my parents that despite my looking like a zombie and barely being able to stand, I was perfectly fine to go to the concert. Sick and delirious, I went to my first Relient K show and first concert ever. Hopped up on medicine, I don’t remember much except being really happy. That was four years ago. I now attend concerts on a weekly basis. And amid my many concerts, I kind of forgot about Relient K. They weren’t regularly on the radio and thus they weren’t regularly on my radar. I also think that like so many, I kind of brushed off the Christian rock genre, and in doing that, brused them off as well. I now regret that.

Four years later, I again found myself at a Relient K concert. Though I had aged and the band had as well, the majority of the audience had not. The crowd was still comprised of high schoolers like the last time I had seen them. Those of their over 21 fans that were not afraid to admit they still loved this band just as much as when they were young, stood toward the back. Greatly outnumbered by screaming teens, I think these “old” people, myself included, felt a bit awkward.

As the first band, a local KC group called the Queen’s Club played their set, the young girls up front gushed. And it did seem a bit silly and I did feel out of place as the teensters fell for every strange gesture of the band. I, on the otherhand, thought their constant “Oh oh ohs,” long hair, mustaches, and partly open mouths combined with constant hip thrusts against their guitars made them look like porn stars. As they played into the extreme hormone levels of the pubescent kids up front and the only people confused enough to actually enjoy them, I think anybody older knew that actual sex would have been a better use of time than actually watching this band. Perhaps, I’m being too harsh, because this band does have a large following in KC, but I was not impressed.

The next group, Owl City, was a bit more my speed. These Minnesotans were almost too fluffy as they played in front of a screen with clouds and other images projected on it, but I still really loved them. As the three musicians played their synths and drums, the audience danced around to their electronica pop. I think with this singer’s voice and the music style, it was like if Early November’s Ace married Lights and their child was Owl City. Relient K’s Matt Thiessen joined the band for “Firefly” and I think all that was missing was Zac Efron before you had every young girl’s dream on stage.

As the typical championship music blasted over the speakers, Relient K finally took to the stage. Matt Thiessen’s curly blonde hair bounced back as he jumped on the drum stand and back down causing young girls to screame But Relient K is so much more than a band with an adorable frontman. They are really skilled and clever musicians, who don’t get enough credit for their craft. Perhaps, this is why the 21 and over crowd had to feel awkward that they were so outnumbered. At some point, the music scene starts to put pressure on music lovers and if you are expected to love darker, experimental bands that nobody has heard of to be cool as you get older. You can’t like “cute.” And yes, Relient K is “cute” in both the physical and musical sense. And as they sing songs about high school dances and sunny days, I can see why a person might feel like they have to “grow up” and “grow out” of Relient K.

Yet, as a I watched them perform after I had “grown up,” I realized that reasoning was stupid. Relient K is really talented and deserves more credit and more proud support from their older fans. Matt Thiessen juggled vocal duties with gorgeous piano melodies, guitar, and the occasional trumpet addition. The band backed him up with powerful chords, harmonies and lots of energy. Though Thiessen really is the star of this band. He has a distinct voice with great control. One moment he was intensely shouting during “Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet” and the next he was singing in a near whispher as he crooned “Let It All” in a cathartic moment. The songs off the next album (Thiessen suggested Oct. 6 as a release date), also showed a more mature sound like the piano heavy title track “Forget and Not Slow Down.” Then, of course, you have a song like Relient K’s brilliant story of a man in his final moment in the nearly ten minute “Deathbed” that they played for an encore. They run the whole gambit of emotions and styles in this song and the lyrical construction is an astounding presentation of a man’s life story and acceptance of his death. If you haven’t heard this song, I suggest you check it out immediately and then try to deny loving Relient K.

Of course, it is nice to let loose and just enjoy how silly Relient K can be sometimes. That’s part of their charm and what makes them so fun.
They played up the goofiness of “Sadie Hawkins” and when it got to the final line,“Do you like my sweater,” Thiessen gave it new meaning by shaking his head in the middle and sending perspiration flying as he broke it down to, “Do you like my sweat…er?”

“You guys watch that show The Office?” said Thiessen at another point in the show. “It’s good. It’s about paper. We wrote a love song about it.” Then the band busted out a hilarious ditty that included lines like, “Angela, you are too cute to hang out with somebody like Dwight Schrute.” The song concluded with the actual theme song from The Office.

Then of course you had their great covers. They announced a cover of Cake’s “The Distance,” which was fun and different to hear them rap and play so much trumpet, but the best cover of the evening was a complete surprise. They started off with a nice instrumental jam that had audience members nodding a long and thinking, “Ok. This is nice, but what is this?” The answer: “Five. Five dollar foot loooooong.” That’s right, Relient K was covering the Subway commercial.

It made me sad when I realized the show was almost over. They ended with another new song, “This Is the End,” which Thiessen pointed out was “strategically placed.” It was an absolutely beautiful song that had Thiessen alone on the piano. As I watched his hands fly over the keys and listened to his voice, I can’t blame any of those girls in attendance from crushing on him.

It was impossible to not smile and be happy watching this band. I regret that it took me four years to see Relient K again and this show reminded me why I loved them so much in the first place. I think the band knows they have a young following, but I really would like to see the age range of their audience grow. I think what makes them so great is they have something for the teenies to enjoy and the parents. But I think the middle age range, those in their 20s and 30s, is really lacking in attendance and those people could do well to listen to this band more. They need music like this in their lives. I’m proud to say they were my first concert and that I’m still going to their shows.

So if you have brushed this band off in the past, de-hipster or do whatever you need to do to get Relient K in your life. Relient K is like Campbell’s Soup. They’re good for everyone’s soul.

Set List:
Chap Stick
Who I Am, Hates Who I’ve Been
High of 75
Forget and Not Slow Down
The Office
Mood Rings
$5 Foot Long
Sadie Hawkins
Lining Is Silver
The Thief
Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet
Let It All Out
I Don’t Need a Soul
I Need You
The Distance
Be My Escape
This Is the End
//
Deathbed

Relient K: website | myspace | interview with: Matt Thiessen

Ah, Warped Tour… every teenage scenester’s festival of choice. A sensory overload in the oft-blistering heat, as well as a bit of a surreal experience as it is sometimes difficult to believe one is seeing so many exceptional bands in one day.

Shwayze

I began by checking out MTV darling Shwayze, accompanied by the ever-greasy Cisco Adler at the Hurley.com stage. The two work well together, psyching up the crowd with their cheesy, yet fun summer-friendly tunes. The hip-hoppers had an obvious backing track for their sung vocals, but the audience didn’t seem to mind. They cheered and sang along with every song despite the juvenile subject matter. Every song they performed was about, as the boys put it themselves “drinkin’, fuckin’ and weed!” I couldn’t bring myself to stay for the rest of their set, as truly stupid lyrics annoy me

Anberlin

At the MySpace tent, I managed to catch a couple songs in Anberlin’s acoustic set. For a Christian band, they show no preachy messages in their music and lead singer Stephen Christian has a truly beautiful voice. I’m torn on the idea of having acoustic sets in the MySpace tent as being a good one or a bad one. While the small, intimate, and toned-down setting is a nice change, the tent itself is much to small for most concertgoers to catch much more than a small earful of these sets.

Katy Perry

America’s beloved new sex-kitten (and Gym Class Heroes’s Travis McCoy’s girlfriend) Katy Perry emerged onstage to the intro of Heart’s “Barracuda,” and did not disappoint. Her energetic and entertaining stage demeanor was kept up throughout her entire set, including the bit where she insisted that it was so hot, that everyone should take off an article of clothing, Perry herself humorously shedding a shoe. On her recordings, Perry’s vocals tend to have a lot of production behind them, making me fear that her vocals could not deliver. I was very glad to hear the strong, pretty voice she had to offer us, with no backing track to be heard. The crowd for her set was fairly calm, but still clearly enjoying her performance, as she pranced her way through her songs, including “One of the Boys,” “You Can’t Afford Me,” and “Ur So Gay,” even strapping on a guitar for a few of the songs.

Schlepping back to the Route 66 stage, I caught ska legends Reel Big Fish. Being one of the oldest bands on the Warped Tour ticked, I was surprised to see that they had an even bigger crowd than the recently radio-friendly Gym Class Heroes and Katy Perry. They prove that they’re seasoned pros, tackling some wonderful harmonies. Spanning their catalog from “Everything Sucks” to “Suburban Rhythm,” their set is fantastically entertaining, peppering their onstage banter with quotes such as “I’m so rich! I was on MTV one time!” RBF is definitely a band that’s showing these youngsters how it’s done.

Reel Big Fish

Now, I know you had already gotten a review of Chicago rockers The Academy Is… from our Kansas City Warped Tour coverage, but I decided I needed to see them for myself. TAI does not need to take lessons from RBF. They know how to play a show and work a crowd, playing as much for the audience as they do for themselves. Opening the set with “Neighbors” and going into this Popwrecker’s personal favorite “Slow Down” frontman William Beckett is all over the stage, wielding his microphone stand like a weapon.

The Academy Is...

His vocals are impressive and clear as a bell, sounding better than they do on the band’s studio albums. Going into “Big Bang” and “Black Mamba” the whole audience is singing along as guitarist Michael Guy Chislett demonstrates his formidable guitar chops. Bassist Adam Siska, or as Beckett refers to him “Sisky Business” is almost a match for the svelte singer’s onstage manner. I was grateful that the band was awarded an extra 10 minutes for their set and cheered with the rest as they closed the set with “Almost Home.”

Staying at the Route 66 stage and pushing my way forward, I snagged a front and center position for one of my most highly anticipated bands, Motion City Soundtrack. Being a Warped Tour virgin, and not using my head, I realized this was a bad idea. The crowd rushed the stage the moment the band began to play their opening number “Attractive Today” and I was continuously assaulted by crowd surfers for the entirety of their set. Although, I wasn’t exactly able to see them most of the time, the band did not disappoint, playing songs spanning all three of their studio albums. From “The Future Freaks Me Out” and “My Favorite Accident,” to “Everything Is Alright” and “Broken Heart,” every song was completely en pointe.

Motion City Soundtrack

Finally, I caught the up and coming Ludo closing the show at the Hurley.com stage. Earlier in the day the band and I sat down for some witty banter. As a matter of fact, attempting to interview these St. Louis boys gives you nothing but an exchange of witty banter. This year is their first time being on Warped Tour for longer than a week and they are absolutely loving it.

Frontman Andrew Volpe is the mouthpiece for the most part, saying, “This is the best tour ever. We get food, shows, a bus—it’s a better experience than we’ve ever had before.” The band, named for the loveable yeti-like character from ‘80s cult classic Labyrinth want their music to be “a home for runaway teens.” Volpe says, “We have this whole idea of our music entertaining people without making them stupider. But I think we’re failing. I watch people walk away after our shows just looking dumb.” He’s kidding of course… I think.

Ludo

Although, keyboardist Tim Convy and bassist Marshall Fanciullo seem to be nodding in agreement. Volpe continues, “We get to be on the road with all these great bands: Reel Big Fish; Say Anything,” the rest of the band begins adding their favorites, including Oreskaband, Relient K, Story of the Year, Dr. Manhattan and The Aggrolytes. Convy picks up where he leaves off, “but we tend to listen to as little rock as possible in our down-time — a lot of old, acoustic stuff, trying t balance everything out.” When queried about their greatest moment as a band together, the band answers jokingly, “This right here. In this room. Doing this interview. With you.” As I laugh Convy adds in, “getting to do this…cool tours, with touring getting easier. We couldn’t ask for more.”

But Fanciullo seems to somewhat disagree. “I think you should recycle: glass; plastic; aluminum.”
“What about paper?” Volpe interjects.
“Nah. Fuck paper.”

Ludo’s set is just as entertaining as the one-on-five time I got to spend with them. The relatively young band has the stage presence of a group that has been around for much longer. Volpe’s vocals are fantastic, dripping with wit. Convy uses the entire stage when he’s not anchored to his keys, which seems to be as often as he can get away with. Their creative song-writing is comparable to Blue Album-era Weezer combined with Harvey Danger, including delectable lyrics such as, “You taste good tonight.”

If you combine 4-part harmonies with a sense of humor, you’re good to go in my book, and Ludo does just that. The 5 piece closes the show with a cover of Faith No More’s “Epic,” and while it was flawless, I wonder if it was the right choice for the crowd at Warped Tour. Although there were a few people here and there rocking the hell out, most of the younger, emo-concious listeners seemed confused, clearly not recognizing the tune.

I can’t lie. I was glad to leave when Warped Tour wrapped up for the day. I was hot, sweaty, tired, hungry, and overloaded with everything I had just seen, heard, and experienced. While festivals are a great idea, giving music fans the opportunity to catch so many of their favorite bands in one day, it’s definitely not something I, personally, would go for on a regular basis. I prefer evening breezes and longer sets to the sweltering mid-day sun and 30 minute previews that Warped Tour gives us.

Written by: Sara Bellum

As a journalist, there is a little thing that I firmly believe in called accuracy. Now as a journalist, I not only believe in holding myself to this accuracy standard, but I expect it of my competitors as well. Recently, one of our primary competitors in Kansas City, The Pitch, majorly let us down by printing a series of errors in regard to Warped Tour.

One of the first things they teach you in j-school is to double, even triple check names. That is to say you should know who or what you are covering. This is simple enough and makes sense. Now I can excuse the occasional typo. Sometimes your finger slips and you stick an extra t or s where it doesn’t belong, but as I was browsing The Pitch’s photo slides, I was dismayed at the repeated error in the spelling of Relient K’s name.

Not only was the name misspelled underneath the photos, but the tags that appeared when the mouse hovered were also wrong: Reliant K. I know what you’re thinking, Relient with an e is less common, this mistake is understandable. Plus, we all know how much energy it takes to google things these days when you’re updating a website. I mean you might have to open a new window to look something up–terribly difficult and a sure way to clutter your screen. However, I know you’ll agree with me that it is unforgiveable to misspell the name when it is clearly spelled accurately in the photograph you are describing as can be seen here:

The background looks to be fairly in focus to me, so it seems like it would have been pretty easy to see the accurate band name for labeling the pictures. The mislabeling continues if you notice that the headline reads, “Warped Tour at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.” The venue is actually called Sandstone Amphitheater at Cap Fed Park. I’m amazed the date is at least right.

As if the repeated error in poor Relient K’s name wasn’t enough, the writer made up information for The Pitch’s Wayward Blog that gave a rundown of the day’s events. Even though author Danny Alexander admitted that he didn’t attend for the duration of the event, he still tried to give an account as though he remained until the last band got rained out.

The most problematic of his paragraphs was when he wrote, “This year, perhaps because of expected headliners like Katy Perry and Gym Class Heroes, (both of which hit the stage after my daughter and her friends fled the event in the midst of a hail storm), the crowd seemed comprised of many more young women as well as more of a mix of a races.” First, Katy Perry wasn’t technically a headliner. They usually don’t have headliners play around 5:45 on one of the smaller stages. Second, the storm didn’t start until midway through Gym Class Heroes. There would have been no reason to miss Perry or a majority of Gym Class Heroes. Maybe if Alexander had mentioned the actual headliner, Angels and Airwaves, whom actually did get rained out, I could have forgiven his statement. Granted, how was he supposed to know that he was inaccurate in this statement since he already admitted he left early, despite his continued attempt to report on this event?

I apologize if this post comes off as rude or mean. I do respect The Pitch more than other publications in Kansas City. It’s just a problem that a publication that has staff to catch errors like this would allow something like this to get published.

However, it does make me feel really proud that in one day, Josh and I did more than The Pitch’s reporters and did it better. As PopWreckoning readers, you should also feel proud that you are choosing to read the accurate coverage. An article where we know the bands we are covering and aren’t just taking some kid’s opinion. We were there for the whole time. We risked our cameras and recorders in the rain to bring you the most accurate Warped report we could.

If anybody from The Pitch reads this, please step it up a notch. As our competitors, I want you to actually give us some competition.

The Pitch: Warped Article | main
Relient K: website | myspace
Katy Perry: website | myspace
Gym Class Heroes: website | myspace
Angels and Airwaves: website | myspace

Written by Bethany

Bethany recently got the chance to talk with Relient K‘s Matt Thiessen about their headlining gig on this summer’s Warped Tour and the new The Bird and Beesides EP due out July 1st. Check it out:

Bethany, PopWreckoning: Hello.
Matt Thiessen: How are you doing?
PW: I’m doing alright. How are you Matt?
MT: I’m doing well. Trying to fit everything I could possibly need for the next two months into to a suitcase right now.
PW: You’re getting ready for Warped Tour?
MT: Yeah I’m leaving this afternoon.
PW: So you guys have played Warped tour before right?
MT: Yeah, three years ago we did it with about half of it, a little more maybe.
PW: And you’re on for the whole time this year?
MT: Yep, we play every single show.
PW: So how’s Warped Tour different than other tours?
MT: Well, Warped Tour is really different than a lot of tours. It only happens during the summer so there are a whole bunch of weather factors involved like it’s usually pretty hot on stage. . .You’re usually pretty much sweating the whole time and It is hard to shower and you kind of operate like you’re at summer camp, which also makes it really enjoyable.
PW: Are you guys going to be playing some of the new songs on Warped?
MT: Yeah, I think so. We haven’t decided what songs we’re going to play yet, so I’ll find out that more as we start practicing and stuff.
PW: Yeah, you guys have what? Two weeks to start prepping before June 20th?
MT: I think the first show is a week from this Friday or Saturday, this Friday? Very exciting.
PW: That is very exciting. So on this new EP, how did you guys decide on doing two EPs kind of merged on to one record?

MT: We had a bunch of songs that we had released on EPs and stuff through the past seven years or whatever. And we didn’t know what to do with these songs and the kids couldn’t really get a hold of them but they would all make it online for download illegally or the few copies that sold out- you had to buy them on eBay.
We just had all these songs and we’re like we’ll put them all together and make a b-side record. But whatever we put out, I don’t know, I’m not into greatest hits or b-sides or any of that stuff, but my favorite type of record is when in the past bands I’ve liked have put out a b-side record. They put originals on it or newer songs, then I usually get more into it. We just wanted to put some new original songs on our b-side record and it turned out to be like 13 songs. So we just ended up putting a bunch of songs on it.
PW: So on the first part of it, the Nashville EP, those are all new songs, right?
MT: Correct.
PW: But one of them, “Catch a Thief” is kind of a new version of an old song?
MT: Yeah, we have a song on an EP called the Apathetic EP and the song is called “The Thief.” And we just started reworking it this year, we wrote a new intro and we played it a full band. It used to be just piano and vocals pretty much. So we sort of changed it around a little bit.
PW: Why just one song that you kind of changed around and the rest all original?
MT: I don’t know. That’s kind of the way it happened, I guess so, I liked that song “The Thief” and we never really did anything with it and I we couldn’t really play it live the way it was so we went back and changed it and we decided to rework it and tried to make the song have a little more substance to it. The guys liked it enough so when we finished tracking the new songs we decided to try the new version.
PW: Okay. There’s some other styles on this EP that I’ve haven’t been hearing before like I’ve being hearing a lot more ska on it?
MT: Yeah, there’s a little bit of that on there, yeah. Well, our new drummer, Ethan, he used to be in a ska band. So on his new song that he wrote, there’s a little bit more of that. You know on “The Lining is Silver” it’s a little bit more of a reggae, steel drum feel to it. I like that stuff. I’ve been listening to a lot of Goldfinger right now and band’s like that.
PW: I also noticed on a lot of the tracks on the Nashville EP, you weren’t necessarily singing lead vocals. You guys switched it around a bit more than I’ve heard in the past.
MT: Well, I think every single person in the band sings lead on at least one song, other than me. And then I sing the rest of them. So, you know, we did it like this because I think it is fun to do that.
PW: Do you have a favorite song that you guys are really, really proud of? A potential single off this b-side?
MT: I wouldn’t say single, but my favorite song off this b-side record is called “Curl Up and Die.”
PW: Oh, that’s my favorite, too.
MT: Yeah, that’s my favorite song-genre.
PW: You say “genre?”
MT: Yeah, that “Curl Up and Die” song is a whole different feel to it than that faster rock stuff. That slower stuff is more fun for me to write because I haven’t really for the last ten years of writing whereas if you’re writing a punk rock influenced fast song, well we’ve kind of gone through that before so it’s more fun to write like that.
PW: And the second half of the EP, the actual b-sides and demos, how did you decide what made the cut for that?
MT: Whatever was performed, a lot of our older songs, or songs even written poorly at times, just you know, I know that I can sing a lot of the songs better than the way they were recorded, so just a lot of that prideful sort of thing. You look back at your old stuff and you say, “Oh man I wish I would have done that better.” You just have to pick the best b-sides: the ones that would be easy to listen to and make you not want to skip tracks a lot. The rest of the b-sides were just to make them available to everybody.
PW: I also saw that you guys were considering doing a digital album as well as those?
MT: Yeah, we were sort of looking at the album from a table scraps perspective and well we could only fit 26 songs on to the actual physical copy of the record, but we still got more and we wanted to up the value of the record. If you buy the record, we’re going to work it out where you get a code to get some more free songs out of it. That way we’re kind of getting rid of everything that we’ve got and for someone who is a real fan of our band they get a lot of extra songs to have.
PW: Yeah, that’s really cool. I’ve noticed that you guys have a really good interaction with your fan base. You guys blog and do podcasts and lots of picture updates for your fans.
MT: There are certain people that we’ve noticed sort of stick with us who have know us for ten years or eight years, there are people who have been with us the whole time and we try to acknowledge their loyalty, the longevity of their interest by giving them whatever we can.
PW: I heard a rumor that you guys might be doing like an online Easter egg hunt sort of thing?
MT: Yeah, we were working on an idea, I liked the idea, but someone said, “Hey let’s try to do some sort of scavenger hunt.”
We’ll give you clues. We’ll try to give you songs on the website or my blog: maybe go here, you’ll get another clue to go here and then you’ll end up on somebody’s website where you get a free song for your effort from just paying attention and following the clues or something like that. So yeah there’s an extra five songs that will go out on that.
THIS SCAVENGER HUNT HAS ALREADY STARTED. START LOOKING FOR CLUES NOW!
PW: Another song I thought was really interesting on your b-side was the “Bee Your Man” song where you guys just kind of breakdown and have some fun and do the buzz sound.
MT: Yeah, that’s the song that John Schneck, our guitar player, wrote and he sings the leads on the beginning of that.
PW: Was any of that freestyle, too?
MT: He just kind of wrote the song, he wanted to write like a country song. He’s been practicing country songs. So, he played all the guitar on that song. It was kind of a showcase for him. Because I think he was online studying country guitar licks and stuff, so he did pretty good. And it’s funny to hear him play all that stuff. And we liked the way it wrapped together the whole theme of the record. I mean there’s a couple of moments on the Nashville EP where it sounds like Nashville. It sounds like a little country and so for the last song to be country like that, it kind of ties the whole thing together. It’s fun.
PW: So you mentioned Ethan was writing some of the new songs. Is Ethan fitting in well with the band and contributing?
MT: Yeah, that’s the thing. When we decided that we were doing an EP along with the b-sides, I called up the other guys and I asked if they would be interested in writing a song for it just so we would have a few more songs. So they all wrote songs, and I ended up writing more than I thought I would, but that’s why we ended up with 13 songs.
But yeah, Ethan’s great. He was the first one done with his. He has been a friend of ours for a really long time, about eight years, and he was our guitar tech, he’s been my guitar tech for about the last year and a half. So it is not like there’s any trouble with him fitting in to the situation because he’s been a part of it for a long time.
PW: Has it been difficult for you guys to put this together since you’re all kind of dispersed now-some of you are in Nashville, some are in Ohio?
MT: We just try to have a plan. Right now I’m leaving to go to Nashville so we can rehearse and practice. Our bass player is flying in, so we’ll practice on Sunday/Monday before we go out to Warped Tour. You know. We got to have a plan, we can’t just jump on the road for a couple of shows. You got to practice and get together. But I like Nashville, so it’s fun to go there.
PW: I think that’s a majority of my questions, I have one last random question that a friend really wanted me to ask.
MT: Cool.
PW: Have you ever seen the show “Pants Off, Dance Off” on Fuse?
MT: Yeah, is the girl from “Full House” still hosting it?
PW: Jodie Sweetin? I think on occasion. My friend wanted me to ask, if you were on that show, what music video would you dance to?
MT: Okay, if I could take off my clothes to a song? Huh. I guess “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” by The Feeling. Have you heard this song?
PW: By who?
MT: The Feeling. They’re a really cool band. Check it out-their song “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing.” Oh wait, no, no, no. Never mind–a Scissor Sisters song. I picked the wrong band. It’s a Scissor Sisters’ song. That would be the one. You’ll have to look it up, it’s a really cool song.
PW: Oh, okay, I’ve heard Scissor Sisters. Would Jodie Sweetin have to be the host?
MT: Yeah.
PW: I think that’s everything. I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. I enjoyed the EP, make sure you check out our website—popwreckoning.com. And I’ll see you on Warped Tour.
MT: What show?
PW: I’ll be at the KC show in Bonner Springs, KS.
MT: Oh, cool. That will be fun. Make sure you come say “hi.”
PW: Will do. Thank you so much, Matt.
MT: Ok. Take it easy.
PW: You too, bye.

Relient K: website | myspace | The Bird and BeeSides review

Photo Credit: Jared Scott

I recently had the opportunity to interview Matt Thiessen, lead singer of Relient K, to discuss the band’s new EP, The Bird and The Beesides, the summer tour plans and a few other things.

The first half of the new EP is the Nashville EP, 13 original songs that showcases the bands wide array of influences and interests. The band’s silly and pop-culture loving side is still present in full force on tracks like “Beaming,” which references “Star Trek” and “Bee Your Man,” has the band buzzing. New on this EP is the presence of different genres like ska and this can be heard on songs like “No Reaction.” Another surprise is hearing Thiessen hand the vocal reigns over to his band mates as each guy gets a turn leading their own song.

The band’s softer side is present on my favorite song, “Curl Up and Die,” a beautiful piece filled with angelic vocals, piano and strings. The arrangement of this is one of the band’s best to date.

The second half of the EP consists of actual b-sides and remastered tracks. A digital album is expected to accompany. As far as b-side albums go, this is worth it. You get a lot of songs for your money and the Nashville EP is interesting and different enough to want to buy this just for the 13 original songs.

Look for The Bird and the Beesides out July 1, 2008 from Gotee Records and catch the band on this summer’s Warped Tour.

Tracklisting:
01. Where Do I Go From Here
02. The Scene and the Herd
03. At Least We Made It This Far
04. The Last, The Lost, The Least
05. The Lining Is Silver
06. There Was No Thief
07. No Reaction
08. Curl Up and Die
09. You’ll Always Be My Best Friend
10. There Was Another Time in My Life
11. Beaming
12. I Just Want You to Know
13. Bee Your Man
——————–
14. Up and Up (Acoustic)
15. Wit’s All Been Done Before
16. The Vinyl Countdown
17. For the Band
18. Nothing Without You
19. A Penny Loafer Saved Is a Penny Loafer Earned
20. Five Iron Frenzy Is Either Dead Or Dying
21. Five Iron Frenzy Is Either Dead Or Dying (Ska Version)
22. Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been (Acoustic)
23. Here I Go (Demo)
24. The Stenographer (Demo)
25. Jefferson Aeroplane (Demo)
26. Hope For Every Fallen Man (Acoustic)

Relient K: website | myspace