Update: Coming Weeks

For the new couple of weeks, school will begin for me. I will hoepfully get my Dell P.C back today from my friend where I can get a lot more posts out. As well as show a lot more new music clips to the public. I have a little project I'm working on that hopefully will see some light before November.

Anyways, I'm seeing Hit The Lights tomorrow. I'll probably write a show review for it. After tomorrow, I'll be back in my "Indie" form. Fall is upon us again and pop-punk won't be working for me.

New reviews of The Years Gone By, Picture Atlantic, and The Morning Light soon. Please stick around.

-Kyle

No Matter The Weather (Kyle's Song)

A couple weeks ago, Max Bemis frontman of Say Anything; announced how he wasn't really making any profit with touring all the time. Say Anything was performing the full Warped Tour this year. Bemis introduced this song project where for $150 dollars, he would write a song about you. All you needed to do was write two paragraphs explaining your problem. After about two days, the project was closed due to the overwhelming response.



During the same week, Michigan natives The Swellers announced that they too would be making a "Personalized Song" album. Many, many messages were sent to their myspace where fans were telling about their problems. The best part about this.. it was all free. I like many hundreds sent in a two paragraph problem that I've been facing. Well, it looks like my song was selected by the boys of The Swellers. Here are the lyrics and download the album here.

Lyrics to "No Matter The Weather (Kyle's Song)

"

"Not everyone is a good person And you didn't know at first When true colors come out Change needs a quenching of its thirst The whole world seemed to fall on your shoulders As things go wrong, your son grows older It just takes love to hold things together No matter the weather A survivor The best mother A believer, and a dreamer and a lover. You've been through it all As summer turns to fall You've been through it all. You've seen highs and lows. When rain turns to snow You're still strong and it shows. A survivor The best mother A believer, and a dreamer and a lover. You've been through it all As summer turns to fall"

So what's up with I Am The Avalanche?

So whatever happened to the Brooklyn Dodgers? Whatever happened to me? Really.. what has happened to me? Who really knows/who cares. I've been one of the "impatient" fans of I Am The Avalanche. I've seen them about two times since releasing their debut self titled album. The album was not as good as The Movielife, but it's still something I play every week or so.

Anyways, last night I got to hear five new demos from these Merrick natives. I must say, be very very excited.

Track by Track breakdown:

1. Amsterdam- Mainly a hard song. Really interesting how the lyrics are arranged by Vinnie. It seems that the bands they have been playing with recently have had some spreading of their genres. But still, the slow downs by IATA are something to never be over looked.

2. Brooklyn Dodgers- I'm not sure if this is that leaked version due to I haven't heard the leaked version. But this is an awesome song in general. The lyrics are so well thought out and just the chorus in general. Being from Long Island, hometown bands always hit you.

3. Conan O Brian- My general thoughts of all these demos will keep me very happy until the new album. This song again is keeping the hard vibe. There isn't really much slow songs going on this demo. And I know these aren't the best description, but I don't know how to describe it without ruining the new album.

4. Is This Really Happening?- This song is my favorite demo. They have been performing it live as of late and I'm dying to do a pile on with the lyrics. Seems like Vinnie brings out how his hard work has payed out with the lyrics "Is this really happening? The sun's finally shining on me." One of the more heart-taker songs on this demo.

5. You've Got Spiders- Reminds me of a Daggermouth song. Pretty much sounds like Vinnie is dishing out his thoughts about a person comparing them to the "bottom of the plate". Seems like a very, thought out song by the Merrick natives.

Download the Purevolume Sessions
(and I wish Mrs. Green was in these demos)

Show: Socratic, Thieves and Villains, The Years Gone By

I went to go see Socratic, Thieves and Villains, and The Years Gone By. The show was a pretty good show. However, no one was there. I haven't seen any advertising of this tour anywhere and it was pretty lame how no one was there. Go see this tour if it comes to your city. The Years Gone By have a new record coming out entitled Forever Comes Too Soon. Mainly the tour is trying to promote all the new records including Socratic's Spread The Rumors and Thieves and Villains Movement.

Update

Reviews soon.

Show Review: RX Bandits/Portugul. The Man/ Maps & Atlases August 1

"We would just like to thank RX Bandits and Portugal. The Man for having us on tour." Words of Maps and Atlases vocalist Dave Davison. Friday was the first day of August. Pretty much meaning school is starting to creep up on us again. Nothing was better than taking the train to the best city in the world, and spending your night seeing RX Bandits, Portugal. The Man, and Maps and Atlases. All of this occurred under the roof of the Highline Ballroom.

Maps and Atlases were to open on this fine date. Looking around the venue, not many fans were there to see them; let alone pay attention to their act. However, I'm a pretty big fan of these guys. Watching both Dave Davison and guitarist Erin Elders finger tab each song... somewhat like the Dragonforce of Indie-rock. Such songs such as "The Most Trustworthy Tin Cans" highlighed the unique finger tapping/cow bell hits from the guys. Also, the band performed new songs from their new EP "You and Me and the Mountain" such as the self titled track and "Artichokes." From a spectators stance near me, you can tell their was some movement building around; which set the stage for Portugal. The Man.


When I first saw these lanky figures walk up on stage, I thought the vocalist was insane for wearing a jacket in 80 degree weather. Back in 2006, I got to see Portugal. The Man. I wasn't really impressed with them on record or live. But this time around, it was quite different. They opened the set with them asking that all the lights in the club were turned off... performing the 2006 hit "A.K.A. M80 the Wolf." The band themselves brought a whole different atmosphere to the venue and to the music to be heard after them. John Gourley announced that they would be performing a new song, "And I". I was pretty stoked being maybe this could show some light on the new release "Censored Colors"; which is slated to release in September. But probably the best moment of their set was during their performanc of "The Devil." A nice pit of fans pushing eachother broke out. What turned out to be stupiedy, turned out to set the tone for the rest of the night.


The venue became all bunched up. People were all over the balcony above and the floor was jam packed. I became separated during the show from my friends. The main event. Chants broke out "RX B, RX B, RX B" or "Bandits!! Bandits!!". Everyone finally got what has been proclaimed one of the best live bands around. Rx Bandits took the stage performing "In Her Drawer". Between the huge bangs on percussion from Tsagakis to the smooth trombone of Chris Sheets; the venue was really moving. One of the most interesting things about RX Bandits is how their last release (...And The Battle Begun) was recorded live. As heard in "Apparition" the soft vocals from Matt Embree as well as Steve Choi adding on guitar really deliever how talented this band is. Following that, the highly talked about "New Song" those damn Bandits have been playing. It's making me even more excited for their next release.


The setlist mainly contained a well balanced performance of older songs as well as new songs. From "1980" to "Dinna-Dawg", ever fan could have been pleased with the set. RX Bandits wound up concluding the set with an extended version of "Only For The Night". The song was really brought out by the little percussion duel between Tsagakis and Sheets. However, the fans wanted more. Matt Embree came out talking about how his mother was from New York before she moved out west. They opened up the encore with "Overcome (The Recapitulation)". Fans were piling onto eachother, drunk fans were on stage. The general mood of the crowd was very moving. Pits started to break out more and more. By the last song "Decresendo", a huge pit of both genders broke out. Not to hurt each other, just everyone enjoying the music and feeling the whole atmosphere of the venue.

This concert was probably one of the best I've been to. Every band was very polished and looked very dedicated to their sets. The crowd was awesome as well. Honestly, RX Bandits are probably the best live band I've ever seen. I don't think they'll ever be topped.

Michael Kay is Dumb

I don't know what to say. really.