Best and Worst concerts

When you go to a lot of concerts, you reach a point where you're not in complete and udder amazement that you're in the same room as your favorite band anymore. This is when you start getting critical and begin ranking your concert experiences. I tend to start basing mine on how they try to amuse me.

(May I point out that this is not based on the CROWD.. I could make whole new set of lists for that.. this is based on the performances)

This is mine thus far in my life:
(and I tried to use my own photos, but my camera got stolen, so I'm doing the best I can!)

The Best

4. The Academy Is...



These guys have some kickass energy on stage. William runs about acting like he's Mick Jagger (seriously, find some old video of Mick Jagger and you'll see what I mean). He loves getting the crowd involved in songs. I was kind of at the side of the stage so I had a good view of the crowd, they all know his hand actions. It's great! They sound good, they look good, it just all fits.


3. Hanson



Yes. I'm serious. Hanson. I just saw them the other weekend. (That's my picture) They get a *slight* advantage because it was the last tour on the show. Anyone who knows anything about tours, knows that the last show of a tour involves practical jokes. Every song something new and completely random happened. At one point, they were singing a very serious song (about suicide.. it's called "Yearbook"). Suddenly, grown men in full on elf costumes (with tights) appeared on stage. Hanson had no idea this was going to happen. Needless to say, the band struggled to make it through the song while trying not to crack up. Plus, what other band would be fully willing to come outside in the FREEZING ASS COLD to do a charity mile long walk with their rabid fans? (Fansons are of another breed, I'm telling ya.)


2. Ok Go



These guys are crazy. And nooo.. They don't do the tredmill dance. But! They do the Million Ways dance! These guys are so friggen energentic. Damien, in particular. At one point, he ran off stage and to a staircase kind of off on the side of the floor.. he started hanging off the staircase over the crowd. He did this in a middle of the song.. without a mic. And started screaming at the crowd that we were too quiet. At another point of the crowd, they did a couple acoustic songs on just a random spot of the floor. The crowd parted for them, they whipped out some mics and guitars.. and away they went. They also were throwing out toy tamborines during the show for people to play with. Great, great band.



1. Aiden



Love 'em or hate 'em. They are incredible live. The actual playing is a little sketchy. But the crowd doesn't notice is because they're all going spastic. I have seen this band more times than any other band. Every time I go it's just mass chaos. (Notice on the picture I took, no guard rail.. creates for interesting events..) wiL constantly is up in the crowds face, jumping all about and standing on people. Same with other members of the bands.. I think it's Nick who will randomly jump into the crowd (while playing). Then.. comes wiL's version of crowd participation.. the wall of death. Any Aiden fan knows this is a staple of every show they do. No matter how small or large the crowd is. At this place, there are friggen pipes running from the ground to the ceiling.. in the middle of the crowd. There was still a wall of death. This is also your best shot of getting snot on you from the lead singer. lol. Yeah, it's gross. But it's funny. (wiL caught me saying "ew" and picked on me.)



The Worst:

4. Panic! at the Disco



Ooo, did I hit a nerve? Ok I like Panic. I do. But live? Not so much. Yeah, they have a big, fantastical show with dancers and lights and fire, etc. The show I saw had a drumline.. which was cool. You want to know the last time I saw a show with THAT much production into it? It was Nsync. I hate HATE when bands get on the stage.. play.. then they're done. There's no playing with the audience, or screwing around. or anything fun. The only reason they aren't higher on my list, is because they had a drumline and a cool stage. Oh that, and seriously.. Panic! at the Disco fans ANNOY ME. I know, it's about the performance, not the crowd. But seriously, restrain yourselves. The most pathetic thing I've ever seen, was this 14 year old girl standing outside a bus window holding up a sign that said "I love Brendon".. it was the wrong bus. And she didn't believe me when I tried to tell her.


3. HIM




Again, disclaimer. I love love love HIM. One of my favorite bands, but one of my greatest disappointments. The last concert I went to was the 27th of October. I waited in line for 12 hours.. I was so pumped cos I got front row center, literally feet away from Ville.. I was bored. Ok... I wasn't like.. waiting in line at the DMV bored. And I KNOW they're a slow ballady band, so energy is not going to be a major componant. But just.. eh. It was like.. play song.. ville mutters something.. next song.. another song.. ville mutters.. song again.. and end. This was when I realized I've gotten REALLY jaded. In their defense, it was really good sounding. Unlike Aiden lol..


2. Teddy Geiger




I had a phase where I was in love with him. This concert killed it. Seriously. It sucked. He was boring, it was classic concert format (song song, say something, song song, say something, cover, song end encore). Boring as crap. BUT THEN.. and ok, this isn't technically part of the concert, but this is why I hate him. You go outside, and a lot of people kind of hang around like "oo picture autograph" whatever. There were about.. oh.. 20 girls hanging around waiting for him to come out. He sneaks out into an SUV. Ok, this is nothing new. But what does Teddy do, he DRIVES AROUND THE BLOCK and waits for everyone to leave. I'm not even joking. It was just.. inane. I could understand if there were 100 screaming fans roaming about and trying to lick the bus (like how it was for The Academy Is.. but they still came out). But no, 20 some girls. And he was too good to come and hang out. ASS. It was hot, I had just driven for 7 hours (not for Teddy, I was out of town), and I was cranky.


1. Hokey

Ok. I don't have a picture for this one. They don't deserve it. And it's kind of cheating because they're nobody anyone has heard of. I go to school for music business, and one of our class projects is to set up a show at a local bar with a few acts. Well, we got this band booked and a few others. They sounded good on myspace and the talent buyer at the bar liked the music as well. They're the last band of the night.. they get on stage and the FIRST THING out of their mouths is "we're playing all new songs tonight." Ok.. this would have been cool. If they had been like the songs they advertised on their myspace. But no. They decided to be a jam band that night. And they SUCKED. So bad.. to the point where the club owner actually kicked them off stage. He started with saying "play one more and you're done." The band didn't like that.. so they did a 10 minute repeating loop while the lead singer got on the mic and bitched about the other bands and the bar.. and he started rolling around the stage. Eventually, they cut the sound and the lights on them. WORST.. BAND.. EVER.


Anyways, sorry this turned kind of a rant. It happens. :)

-Meg-

The New Yoko Ono

~~According to the NY Times, the rest of Fall Out Boy is pissed about their Grammy snub too. But unlike Pete, they're being less rational about it. They're blaming Ashlee Simpson. They say that the Grammy voters hate her and her lip syncing. Obviously, Pete's "50 year old white men' keep up with who's dating who in the music business because Ashlee is tainting Pete and the rest of the band's reputation. Come on guys, we said in another post.. It's not the world. Yeah, it IS a Grammy, but still. Look at all the great bands who never won Grammys. Google it, you'll find plenty.

(FYI: I have a feeling this just a rumor that FOB is pissed at Ashlee... So believe it if you want).

Update: Joe from FOB has stated on his blog that this is complete bullshit. They adore Ashlee ;)


In more important news...

~~Ike Turner, abusive husband and rock pioneer, died earlier this week. For those born less than 20 years ago, click here



~~Speaking of morbid, here's a new way to win an Ipod Touch! http://www.whenwillamywinehousedie.com/


~~Madonna will be immortalized in the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in March. For those who don't know, this is an annual ceremony where a handful of artists are deemed worthy. This years batch also includes Leonard Cohen, John Mellencamp, The Dave Clark Five, and The Ventures. How exciting..


~~Ever been front row to a concert and assumed that the artist on stage doesn't know or care what you're doing? Think again As you can see on the video if you click the link, Tori Amos stops midshow to kick two girls out of the audience. Apparently, they were screwing around the whole show, taking a bunch of pictures of themselves, getting up to get drinks every few minutes, etc.


~~Panic! at the Disco's website has been updated yet again. This time with a secret message.. oooo. Scroll down to find the missing letters. 5 seconds of amusement. Also the new single has a name! "Nine in the Afternoon". A casting call is floating around online for the video in Los Angeles.


And finally...

Perez Hilton (love!) gave out his Perezzie Award on Vh1.. here's some of the nominees, "winners", and generally silly comments:


--Who Got Hit With a Fug Stick:--
(they used to be hot, but weren't in 2007)

-Rumer Willis "Demon spawn of Bruce Willis and a potato"
-Kid Rock
-Clay Aiken "his transformation from cute lesbian to ugly lesbian was complete"
-Heath Ledger (winner)


--Biggest Douche of 2007--

-Justin Timberlake
-Jessical Biel
-Rosanne
-Larry Birkhead (winner)


The Jonas Brothers got a special Perezzie award for the "Hottest Teen Senastion"

Harmonica & Slide guitar?!

Oh yes. That's right. Panic! at the Disco guitarist, Ryan Ross, learned some new instruments. Are you as scared as I am? Bright side: the strings are still there! The TBA titled sophmore album is due out March 25th.

We need a calender on here. It also looks like they're updating their main webpage http://www.panicatthedisco.com/ :)


In other news:

~~~Also due in March, the new Ashlee Simpson album! Rejoice! (or not). She's already stealing her boyfriend's friends as well. Travis from Gym Class Heroes (good buddies of Fall Out Boy), is featured on one of the songs. This is the next song she'll be lip syncing.


~~~Mr. Ashlee Simpson is pissed. Fall Out Boy got snubbed for a Grammy nomination.. this is after they played for People Magazine's Grammy Nomination party. Poor Petey. Dude, seriously.. I know it's a major award, but look at who's nominated. Do you think any of those people have anywhere close to the insane and rabid fan base your band has? Come on... Screw Daughtry and his Grammy nominations. On a side note, he maybe joining the Simpsons at home for Christmas.. Awkward..


~~~I hope you saw the White Stripes in concert when you had the chance! According to the Y chromosome of the band, it's up to Meg White whether or not they ever tour again. (If you follow the band, you'll know that they cancelled their tour because of the drummer's health issues) Jack says he doesn't care either way. Both of us had been planning to go to a show in Fargo, ND in October, but it got cancelled :( PLEASE COME BACK OUT ON TOUR!!



And finally...



Is it just me, or does Britney REALLY want that cake...

This is from her B-day party on the 1st of December. Creepy..