Side Stage Media

New Cover: Want U Back - Just Kait (originally by Cher Lloyd)

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:44:00 -0500

New Cover: Want U Back - Just Kait (originally by Cher Lloyd)

Review: Reel Big Fish 'Candy Coated Fury'

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:19:30 -0500

When you pick up a Reel Big Fish album, you are picking it up knowing what to expect. Good ol’ fashioned Ska Punk that will make you want to dance around and wish you could play a brass instrument. Well, maybe that last bit is just me, but you can’t deny the danceability of their music. That being said, I didn’t go into the band’s latest effort, ‘Candy Coated Fury,’ expecting much more than some fun songs to toss onto my iPod for a day when I needed a pick me up. And it certainly doesn’t disappoint in that aspect.

Now, depending on how you look at it, that can be both a good and bad thing.

Let’s tackle the good first, shall we?

From start to finish, CCF never loses its fast paced tempo. Pairing its quick guitar, banging drums and shiny brass with the contrastingly angry lyrics– “You’re evil, and vicious, and cruel, and cold. That’s you, that’s you. You’re a wicked witch I wasted my time with. P.S. I hate you–” Reel Big Fish has created an album that will allow fans to vent while simultaneously putting them in a happy mood. It’s a rather interesting experience really, as the lyrics recall all the times I’ve ever wanted to punch someone in the face, and yet the instrumentation has me dancing in my chair.

Now, the bad.

The album gets quite stagnant about halfway through, all the songs starting to sound the same and I found myself yearning to get some sort of change. Whether it have been in the form of a ballad or a song that pushed the tempo even further, it wouldn’t have mattered, anything to break up the monotony that the album falls into. It isn’t necessarily a bad monotony, as every song still has me bobbing my head, but it starts to feel too safe and, honestly, there’s only so long you can feel like dancing before needing to take a break.

Lead vocalist Aaron Barrett stated that while writing this album, he tried to stay aware of just how danceable the songs were, wanting to create songs that would make listeners move. He succeeded in that and then some, serving up some sweetly candy coated fury in the form of ska dance tracks.

The only problem is that there is SO much candy coating that listeners will find themselves experiencing one helluva crash from the sugar high that this album supplies.

3/5

Tracks to check out: “Hiding In My Headphones” and their cover of When In Rome’s “The Promise.”

- Victoria Patneaude (Twitter/Tumblr)

Candy Coated Fury is out July 31st on Rock Ridge Music.

Needin’ some more Marianas Trench in your life? Here’s some of...

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:08:43 -0500

Needin’ some more Marianas Trench in your life? Here’s some of the pictures I got from the Journey’s Backyard BBQ Tour stop in Nashville, TN.

If you haven’t yet, you can also check out our interview with Matt and Ian (feat. Mike lurking in the background) here!

Also, make sure to catch their performance on the MMVA’s tomorrow night! You can watch it on Fuse in the States!

New Cover: Plug In Stereo - “Glad You Came”

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:01:17 -0500

New Cover: Plug In Stereo - “Glad You Came”

New Music:Paradise Fears has released an album on Amazon that...

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:05:00 -0500

New Music:Paradise Fears has released an album on Amazon that features some of their most viewed YouTube covers. You can buy it here. Track listing available below.

Track Listing:
Payphone (originally by Maroon5)
Call Me Maybe (originally by Carly Rae Jepsen)
Iris (originally by the Goo Goo Dolls)
Both of Us (originally by B.o.B feat. Taylor Swift)

Review: I Call Fives

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:00:00 -0500

This morning I was watching Warped Wednesday on Fuse, and they played the music video to Senses Fail’s “Buried A Lie.” It made me nostalgic and I couldn’t help but miss the days of sitting by my CD player, changing out CDs and just bobbing my head along to the fast paced guitars. Now I know what you’re thinking. What does this have anything to do with the new I Call Fives album?

Well, it has a lot to do with it, actually. As soon as I hit play on the self titled debut full length album from the quintet, I immediately fell back into the same nostalgia I had experienced earlier. So much so that it’s almost hard to focus on writing this instead of whipping out all the mixed CDs I made back in the day. (Wow, do I sound old yet?) This is the type of album that I wanted in my life in high school for those days when I drove around with my friends with the windows down, just enjoying each others company. This was the album I wanted when I lost touch with some of those friends. This was the album that should have been the soundtrack of my summers. I guess it’s better late than never, yeah?

My only complaint about this effort really is that it never once slows down. Every song boasts the rocking guitars and smashing, in your face drums that just lead me to believe that I Call Fives would be brilliant to see live. However, I would have liked to hear just one slower song, if only to get my one ballad fix. It’s like I’m on a ride that just drops without the upward climb to allow me to catch my breath. That, of course, is only a minor complaint though because while it never once slowed down, it was a ride I much enjoyed taking.

(Also, a little fun fact, Buddy Nielsen, lead singer of Senses Fail, is their general manager. What a crazy, random happenstance, no?)

3.5/5

- Victoria Patneaude (Twitter/Tumblr)

New Jersey pop punk contenders I Call Fives will kick off The Late Nights Tour on August 6 in Chico, CA, following their stint on the Vans Warped Tour from July 19 to August 5.

New Music Video: Keep Calm - Carson

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:25:00 -0500

New Music Video: Keep Calm - Carson

New Music Video: Exits and Entrances - We Are The In Crowd

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:20:00 -0500

New Music Video: Exits and Entrances - We Are The In Crowd

New Music: Runaways - The Killers / New album Battle Born will...

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:15:00 -0500

New Music: Runaways - The Killers / New album Battle Born will be released this fall.

New Music: You’re Gonna Love This - 3OH!3

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:10:00 -0500

New Music: You’re Gonna Love This - 3OH!3

What do you think of the artwork for Green Day’s new single “Oh...

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:05:00 -0500

What do you think of the artwork for Green Day’s new single “Oh Love” (out July 16th)?

Spotlight: Kids In Glass Houses

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:00:00 -0500

Kids In Glass Houses. It’s an interesting name, that’s for sure, and any band with an interesting name must have an interesting sound, right? Okay, maybe that isn’t always the case, but with KIGH, it most certainly is. I first went in search of this band after seeing Twitter conversations between You Me At Six’s lead singer Josh Franceschi and a guy named Aled Phillips and honestly, curiosity got the better of me. It was then that I stumbled across the addictive sound of Kids In Glass Houses, and that is why they are the Spotlight Band of the Month.

Though the Welsh band which is currently made up of Aled Phillips (Vocals), Iain Mahanty (Guitar), Joel Fisher (Guitar), Shay Sheehy (Bass) and Philip Jenkins (Drums)has been around since 2003, they didn’t find themselves gathering much attention until late 2006. That year they landed supporting roles to bands such as Lostprophets, 30 Seconds to Mars and The Goo Goo Dolls. This kickstarted a successful 2007, which saw them nominated for Kerrang’s Best British Newcomer, have a 16 date headlining tour and performing alongside Fightstar, Enter Shikari and Funeral For A Friend. Needless to say, they had a lot to live up to by the time of the release of their debut album, ‘Smart Casual,’ in 2008. The album, which is a solid debut boasting new songs as well as songs from their EP, was met with favorable reviews that just proved that these boys were on to something.

Just two years later, they released ‘Dirt,’ their second studio album which showed impressive growth that so many expect from a second release but hardly ever receive. Biting lyrics—Lilli Rose, eat your heart out, dirty jeans, dirtier mouth—coupled with catchy hooks drive the effort. Critics took notice, rewarding the album with relatively favorable reviews noting that “there is a real possibility of the new album blowing a hole in the wall if enough people catch on” and that ‘Dirt’ would take them from opening slots to “headline performances at the nation’s larger venues.” The latter premonition wasn’t far off as the band took to touring continuously.

Though a two year gap stood between ‘Smart Casual’ and ‘Dirt,’ KIGH went to straight work on their latest release, ‘In Gold Blood,’ which made its way to shelves the following year. Not too many bands can successfully pull off a Mad Max style concept album, but it is arguably KIGH’s best effort. Aside from the obvious maturity and growth the album takes listeners on a journey alongside two characters trying to make it out of this post-apocalyptic, revolutionary world alive. It too did favorably amongst critics garnering high praise and high star ratings.

All that being said, KIGH is a breath of fresh rock air, paving their own way through the typical rock we are faced with today. This fact only makes it all the more sad that the US iTunes isn’t graced with their albums, nor are they going to be touring the US anytime soon as they are touring the UK through September. But that tiny little insignificant detail shouldn’t stop you from loving them. Afterall, it just makes it that much more special when they do come to the US.

-Victoria Patneaude (Twitter/Tumblr)

New Music Video: Desperate Measures - Marianas Trench Original...

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 19:00:00 -0500

New Music Video: Desperate Measures - Marianas Trench

Original Article

New Studio Update: The Downtown Fiction - Episode 5 Original...

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:00:00 -0500

New Studio Update: The Downtown Fiction - Episode 5

Original Article

New Music: “Love Actually” - Cady Groves Original Article

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:00:00 -0500

New Music: “Love Actually” - Cady Groves

Original Article

New Lyric Video: “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” - Set It...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:00:00 -0500

New Lyric Video: “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” - Set It Off

Original Article

New Music Video: “Home” - Paradise Fears

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:00:00 -0500

New Music Video: “Home” - Paradise Fears

Behind The Scenes: Some Nights - Fun.

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:05:00 -0500

Behind The Scenes: Some Nights - Fun.

Have you heard the new Owl City track featuring Carly Rae...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:00:00 -0500

Have you heard the new Owl City track featuring Carly Rae Jepsen? If so, what do you think? Let’s hear it!

Original Article

Meet Vicci!

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 18:00:00 -0500

Alright, rascals, listen up. I’ve got a deep love for Nashville, Tennessee. I hit up Music City this past weekend for a few days of miscellaneous shenanigans and site coverage. If you haven’t read our Spotlight or seen our interview with Marianas Trench yet, I suggest you change that. Now, I’d like to tell you a story that was not featured in that article. Just before Marianas Trench was set to hit the stage, I was waiting out the minutes with a few others in the photo pit. That’s where I met Vicci. We got to talking, and I mentioned to her that I was looking for a reviewer for my website. As it turns out, she’s a third year Journalism student. I asked if she’d be interested, she said she was, I wrote down my contact information in her phone, and she emailed me her resume a few days later. The rest, my friends, is history. I’m very excited to have her as part of the team, and look forward to working more with her.

Here’s Vicci in her own words:

Hello! My name’s Vicci! Well, not really. It’s actually Victoria but I’ve always thought it sounded old. I’m 20 years old, but I honestly don’t feel like it. The Live Music Capitol of the World is where I call home, and for those of you who don’t know, that’s Austin. I’m headed into my final semester at the University of Texas and hopefully by December I’ll be able to classify myself as a journalist. (At least, that little piece of paper will give me some credit.)

You see, I’m that kid that never grew out of her dreams of wanting to become a rockstar. Ever since my first ever small venue concert— The All-American Rejects— I have been fascinated by the ability live music has to move people. Sure, an album can be put on repeat and keep you company even in your loneliest of moments, or create the perfect soundtrack to some of the best moments, but there is nothing quite like seeing it performed live. The way artists get lost in their own performance, bringing together people who otherwise wouldn’t meet and creating a moment that is ephemeral but will ultimately last a lifetime has just always stunned me. Why would anyone want to do anything else with their life? Unfortunately enough for me, I wasn’t gifted with the talent to sing, play an instrument (unless you count flute and tambourine) or write music, so I had to shoot for the next best thing. Luckily, my second favorite thing in the world is writing. So I thought to myself as I was deciding what to do with my life, “Hey! Why don’t I combine music and writing!” And here I am now working ever so hard to become a music journalist. Not that that’s a bad thing. Quite the opposite, I’d like to think that I can help convey what music means to me to others using the words that I do have the talent to use.

That being said, music is what brought me here, quite literally as I met Ally in a photo pit at a show. A show that, oddly enough, The All-American Rejects were playing at. (Funny how things work out like that, huh?) And I can honestly say I’m excited and honored to have the chance to write for Side Stage Media. Not to sound like a fortune cookie, but I see great things happening in its future.

Now that I’ve typed up more than I’m sure I should have, feel free to hit me up on any social media, because I quite literally have them all.

——

Follow Vicci on Tumblr and Twitter!

Original Article