I becoming a huge nerd in which I get really excited to check out my recommended YouTube videos based on crap that I’ve watched.  This video up there came up today and I saw right away that it was from Skate and Surf Festival and I had a bit of an inside party.

Skate and Surf Festival was held in Asbury Park, NJ in mid April.  For three years my friends and I trekked down from Long Island to see our favorite bands for a weekend of absolute crazyness!  I can say without a doubt the weekends I spent at Skate and Surf Festival were probably the best of my life so far.

It was before the “scene” got all crappy and to it’s current state (please refer to this years Bamboozle lineup).  You made a million friends whereever you went in the venue and outside and in the hotels and at rest stops.  It was too fun. The poor Berkeley Hotel during those weekends (HA I was just reminded you can watch Brand New’s Jude Law and Semester Abroad video to get a hint of a taste of the things that went on there.  That video was taped at the 2002 S&S).  They must have dreaded that all year.  Creepiest nice hotel in the entire world.

I can’t even begin to go into all the random inside jokes and bonds and epic singalongs (or the not safe for interwebz) from these trips or even sit down and make a list of all the bands I was exposed to and the like.  I would like to someday.

I went from 2002-2004 to what was known as Skate and Surf Festival.  In 2005 they stopped it and all of a sudden Bamboozle was the new Skate and Surf - but it wasn’t.  They kept it at Asbury Park Convention Center for 2005 but in 2006 and on they moved it to Giants Stadium.

I actually was talked in to going last year and it was painful.  Absolutely painful.  Bands that used auto-tune, backing tracks and relyed on their style and hair product rather than actually making half decent music (I’m talking to you 3OH3).  It wasn’t a total waste however.  My partner in crime and I had a classy White Castle like adventure around East Rutherford looking for good eats, I got to meet some cool people (Jessica!) and I did get to see my favorite band ever - No Doubt.

Anywhosit.  If you’ve made it through my blah blahing you are awesome.  The video up there is from 2003 and Brand New played last on the second (first?) night.  I can almost feel how epic the vibe was in there that night just watching it.  What a venue to see a show in (I keep hearing conflicting stories about how it’s not there anymore?  True/false?).  It was this MASSIVE room but you always felt like you had the best spot.  This was one of those shows where you really feel apart of something.  Oh god yeah that’s nerdy - but true.

There’s also a video of BN playing from that show “Ok I Believe You…” and when he sings “The kind of song that makes people glad to be where they are with whoever they’re there with..” I remember looking at Lauren, Robyn and Liz and being like “Yeppp.”

1. Brand New - Daisy

Big surprise huh.  Daisy was without a doubt my favorite album of 2009 and my most anticipated of the year.  I’ve read a handful of reviews of this album and all of them say old Brand New fans may fall by the wayside with this album but I think the exact opposite.  I’ve been a Brand New fan for about eight years and with each album they keep surprising me and getting better and better.  Something about this album is super spontaneous and different to me.  The band says in interviews how this album was so random and they would record tracks and be like wait how did we get here?  For so long Your Favorite Weaponwas my favorite BN record but this one is definitely fighting it for first place (YFW, Daisy, Deja, TDAG - for the record, though ask me tomorrow and it will be a different order).  Ugh it’s just so good.  Every week I have a new favorite track off the record.  Songs that I skipped initially became my favorites when I saw them performed live.  Suggested tracks: Vices, Gasoline, Sink, You Stole, Noro, In a Jar, Bought a Bride (I posted a gorgeous acoustic of that song a few weeks back)

The rest:

Paramore - brand new eyes.  I’ve never been a huge Paramore fan but I picked up this album because I really liked the lead single Ignorance and I’ve been totally obsessed with it.  Love Hayley’s voice to death on this record.  Best tracks: Careful, Playing God, Brick by Boring Brick, Looking Up, Where the lines overlap.

Taking Back Sunday - New Again.  As I stated in a previous post, I will forever be sad that John and Shaun aren’t in the band anymore but it’s hard to hate TBS when they keep putting out good records.  I actually started to like Fred too.  I found out a little bit before this album came out that Fred had left and a new gentlemen had come in to do back up vox and guitar.  I gave him the benefit of the doubt.  Truth is he sounds (and looks) like a Jonas Brother.  Not a fan but there are so many favorites on this album I try to forget about it. Best tracks: Swing, Summer Man, Cut Me Up Jenny, Carpathia, Everything Must Go (the last one is my favorite).

Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted. I know I know.  Forgive me that I will sound like a teeny bopper when I say this but so many of the songs on this record are super relatable.  I’m excited Kelly has finally put out a really good album. Best tracks: Don’t Let Me Stop You, I Do Not Hook Up, Long Shot, Already Gone.

New Found Glory - Not Without a Fight.  NOW this album should have been the follow-up to Sticks and Stones.  I am an NFG fan tride and true so I won’t talk shit about those two full-lengths in between - I’m just glad they’ve turned back to their roots with this album.  Looking forward to seeing them with STD in February. Best tracks: RIght Where We Left Off, Don’t Let Her Pull You Down, 47, Tangled Up.

Destry - It Goes On. As soon as I heard Michelle Nolan (Michelle DaRosa!) was starting a new band I knew I would love it.  And surprise surprise I do!  Shaun Cooper (ex TBS current Straylight Run) also joins her in the band and Sam Means from the Format.  This album is unbelievable.  Very reminiscent of Rilo Kiley.  Find them on tour if you can! Best tracks: Big Mouths, Home Isn’t Home, So Far Away, Trouble.

Them Crooked Vultures - Self Titled.  I got tickets to see them after hearing a 30-second teaser they released via the internet (and my love for Dave Grohl).  They are that good and this album is no exception.  Nobody Loves Me and Neither do I is by far my favorite song of the year.  Of the decade maybe.  Ok that’s a little much but seriously it’s that addicting. Best tracks: Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I, New Fang, Mind Eraser No Chaser, Warsaw.

Spinnerette - Self Titled. This album kills.  I listened to it so much this summer (my iTunes play count can attest) and never got sick of it  I love Brody’s voice in Spinnerette light years more than I did in the Distillers.  They need to tour like yesterday. Best tracks: All Babes Are Wolves, Ghetto Love, Baptized by Fire, Rebellious Palpitations

Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing.  This album is a recent discovery of mine.  I have a friend who is absolutely their number one fan so it was just a matter of days before I caught on :).  This album is beautiful and emotional and makes you want to listen to the next line.  It’s insane.  Andy Hull has a gorgeous, haunting voice.  So yeah this is heavy in my musical rotation right now. Best Tracks: Shake it Out (I’ve been playing it on repeat for days),  I’ve Got Friends, The River, Mean Everything to Nothing, 100 Dollars.

(500) Days of Summer soundtrack - Ok so it’s not persay a new album with new songs but it’s still amazing.  I literally raced to Best Buy after I saw the movie to buy this incredible soundtrack.  There is a bonus track of Joseph Gordon Levitt singing “Here Comes Your Man” kareoke style from the movie and let me tell you that alone is worth picking this record up.  Also my favorite movie of 2009.  Best tracks: Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition, Regina Spektor - Us, Hall and Oates - You Make My Dreams, She and Him - Please Please please.. (Smiths Cover) Mumm-Ra - She’s Got You High

Least favorite albums and dissapointments coming soon!

Seriously.  How crappy is my luck this year..

My poor car.  Yesterday I was on the way home from the gym and I had a lovely little day planned.  But some tool had to plow his car right into mine.  I was driving on the road and he was pulling out of the parking lot at this auto place in Quincy.  His excuse “Oh I didn’t even see your car coming.  It’s so small.”  Really?  I wasn’t going very fast but he still ripped off the whole front bumper of my car.  Little sad seeing as that bumper is only just about 6 months old from the last time someone decided to crash into me.

Just one more thing to pile on me right now.  I went on one interview a few weeks ago.  Two actually for the same job but they had "decided to go with someone else."  Which is fine but they kept me hanging forever.  I just feel like I'm getting nowhere on the job front.  I have so much great experience but it means nothing.

I'm really debating moving after my lease runs out in May.  I just feel like there are no jobs in Boston for what I really want to do.  I don't want to settle.  But then I feel like I shouldn't be so picky.  It's a double edged sword this  career thing I swear.  

I've been trying to check out new music and take chances on random bands and it's definitely making me nostalgic of my college days.  I just recently downloaded a good bulk of music by Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine and also giving Straylight Run a second chance.  I adored Straylight when they first came out with their demos.  Being a fan of John Nolan I was overly excited about them.  His vocals, I think made Taking Back Sunday (circa Tell All Your Friends - that's the only album he's on).  I could barely stomach TBS with Fred or the new guy (who sounds and looks like a JoBro).  

Anywho - I saw Straylight at their first show at the Downtown (RIP) and before their album came out a few times and they were amazing.  Then when their album came out and they went on tour it was totally different.  The music became so downer-like and the album was so overproduced.  But I've gotten a hold of their albums after that and even the most recent without Michelle and it's surprisingly good and reminiscent of their demos.  

So yeah.  Music has literally been my best friend these days.  I just feel out of touch with a lot of things lately, but thats the one thing that's made me super happy.

Only good news next time I promise.

xok

Also on my Tumblr.

Brand New’s Homecoming Show was incredible Saturday night.  Kevin Devine was on first and he was really good.  I’ve only seen him acoustic playing with Jesse so it was so exciting seeing him with a full band.

Got the low-down on the acoustic stage (which was a large part of why I really wanted to go to this show - shh) and headed down to catch Vinnie Caruana’s set and Andy Jackson’s set.  After years and years of enjoying Vinnie's music in The Movielife and I Am The Avalanche I finally got to meet him after his set.  He was a super nice guy as I expected.  Apparently I started dancing a little while we were talking *nervous tick*  and totally made an ass of myself (Robyn and Heather said I played it cool - I have my doubts).

We found the super secret VIP bar and camped out there until it was Glassjaw time.  We didn’t get to see Manchester Orchestra or Thrice unfortunately because we were downstairs but we heard they were awesome.

Glassjaw KILLED it last night.  Even more than in Boston.  Seriously.  They lit that place up.  Besides people in the pit and a few people in our section no one was really getting into it.  People were like OMG how can you hear what he’s saying??  Why is he yelling? Ugh. Again, Daryl is the coolest guy I’ve ever known and continues to blow my mind. This was their set list.

Tip Your Bartender
Mu Empire
New Song
Ape Dos Mil
The Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
(You Think You’re) John Fucking Lennon
Pink Roses
Siberian Kiss

Epic.  I could watch them all night.  Brand New time.

Those above pictures are not mine obvi but I love them.  Credit goes to the lovely Aviram/Lerner Photography.

BN came on at around 9:10

• Welcome to Bangkok
• Sink
• Degausser
• You Won’t Know
• Ok I Believe you, but my Tommy Gun Don’t
• Sic Transit Gloria
• Limousine
• Vices
• Gasoline
• Sowing Season
• You Stole
• Luca
• Archers
• Jesus Christ
• Bought a Bride
• At the Bottom
• Play Crack the Sky
• 70x7

People are bitching hardcore about their setlist and how there is only one from Your Favorite Weapon.  But honestly if you don’t know Brand New by now you never will.  Sometimes they even change the setlist as they are up there (Jude Law and Quiet Things were on the original setlist - sorry!).  I don’t know if it’s just because I have such a connection with BN but every time I see them live it’s 100% different than the last time.  I’m always so excited to hear a song even if I’ve seen it played live 60 times.  Jesse mixes shit up to catch people off guard and that’s one thing I’ve always appreciated about BN.

I had such anxiety about seeing them perform in such a big arena but I really don’t think they have ever sounded better.  Every time I see them on this tour I start to love this new album more and more.

The rest of the night was epic.  I have no idea why I’m not sleeping right now

Also posted this to my Tumblr. Sorry if anyones seeing doubles ;)

So I saw Brand New last night. Incredible show. The best BN has sounded in years. I wish I got some better pictures as I was on the side of the stage but they still turned out shitty. Thanks BBerry.

I know right..

This set-list couldn’t have been any better:

Welcome to Bangkok
Sink
Degausser
You Won’t Know
Tommy Gun
Sic Transit
Jude Law
Seventy Times 7
Limousine
Vices
Gasoline
Sowing Season
You Stole
Luca
Archers
Jesus
Bride
At the Bottom
Play Crack the Sky

Ok that’s a lie. I would have died for Logan, Millstone and Not The Sun - but I’ll take it. Oh and Soco. I’ve already submitted my requests for the Long Island show. Which I have finally been convinced to going to. Can’t wait. Already making a list of places I want to visit while back at my old stomping grounds.

GlassJAw opened and they were also incredible as always Haven’t seen GlassJAw since Aug 2003 but I’ve gotten the pleasure to see Daryl’s side band Head Automatica quite a bit - so it was great to see at the GJ guys together again.

Here was their incredible set list.

John Lennon
Tip Your Bartender
Mu Empire
Ape Dos Mil
Cavalcade
Pink Roses
Jesus
Glue
Two Tabs of Mescaline
Siberian Kiss
Babe

They had a super random stage set up and had almost no lights so again with the no pictures thing. There was a guy in the very front who kept professing his love for Daryl and every time he did Daryl would just stop and laugh. He was super in love. And the best part was that he looked like a total “dude” guy.

Again. Can’t wait till November 28 to see them again in Long Island. Along with CIS, GlassJAw and BN - Thrice, Manchester Orchestra, Andy Jackson solo and Vinnie Caruana solo will be performing too. Hello 2002-2003