Links for Thursday

Struggling to get through Thursday? You aren't alone, promise. But I have a few things to make that afternoon lull go faster and get you to Friday all the quicker.

First up, A Loss For Words just released a new music video which is great. I am so excited about seeing them at Warped Tour. Can't even joke. A Boston band here in Atlanta!



Check it out and see why you should be excited too! They just released a few acoustic tracks which I still need to get my hands on but it's too good to ignore.

That's not enough? Check out the Young Statues Daytrotter session they recorded. Nothing these guys touch is bad and there's enough music to make that 4PM hour move a lot faster.

And just in case you do need more, The Endless Summer helped out on a cover of The Ready Set's song "Give Me Your Hand (The Best Song Ever)" to promote it. You can grab a couple of all seven covers, TES included here.

Hang in there kids. We'll get there together.

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Some Treats To Survive Friday

How's that Friday shaping up? I know it's still one of my favorite days of the week, but nothing is worse than the post-lunch Friday slump.

So I've got a few things to perk your day up, hopefully get you to 5pm (or 4pm or 3pm) sooner.



A friend sent me this video this week. I'm still trying to figure out who Landon Pigg is, but the story that came with the song is that he sent the video to a girl he's interested in. Watch the video, it's cute as hell and you'll go 'aww' over my friend. I'm also kind of sure I've heard this song before, but it's likely been in a million tv shows or whatever I've watched.

He's got a facebook page and I'll be cruising through that to find out more about him. (And possibly post about him again.)

(Speaking of 'songs on tv' did you know the new Boys Like Girls single - or so I'm assuming - is already on tv? It's in the new Biggest Loser commercials. Crazy right? Still deciding how I feel about that.)



This is the best thing ever. Members from The Early November, The Wonder Years, The Swellers, and, our favorite, Young Statues (look at Carmen!) recorded a cover of Semisonic's "Closing Time".

I'm beyond stoked that the whole little video is recorded by some school buses, because this song came out when I was in high school (junior or senior year...yes do that math and figure out how old I am) and I honestly felt like it would have been the best graduation song ever. Love it. Plus, come on, it's beautifully done. I'm bummed this tour isn't headed my way because it is likely a blast.

Speaking of The Early November, they have a new song out, "Frayed in Doubt", preview for their new album In Currents that's due out in July. And it's great. I'm so glad these guys are still doing what they do. And I officially need to listen to more of their stuff. Check it out:



Hopefully that helps a little, gets you through the afternoon and one step closer to the weekend!

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Video: Acoustic Goodies from Young Statues

BLARE. magazine caught up with Young Statues at the Toronto stop of their tour with A Great Big Pile of Leaves and Mansions and filmed a couple of gems!

Acoustic versions of two of their songs, which if you don't have the acoustic EP yet, you're missing out. PIck that up here and then enjoy these two treats.

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Concert: Young Statues 3/8/2012

I've had a short list of concerts so far this year and every one of them has been highly anticipated, but I don't know if any of them had the build up that the Young Statues show had. This one had been in the plan since they day they announced it. It got to the point where once I just tweeted that their music was stuck in my head and Carmen came back with "See you in Atlanta." This was the plan. Maybe it was a touch ridiculous, but this was my first 'found in Boston' band that was headed south. It had to be a big deal.

I've said before that The Masquerede is my favorite venue in Atlanta, and I'll say it again. The guys were playing Purgatory which is about twelve steps above the ground level and as big as the first floor of my townhouse. Even Champ commented on the size of it with a 'whoa this place is tiny.'

I spotted Carmen at his table as soon as I walked in and was greeted with him knowing who I was as soon as I walked up (that's a cool feeling, no matter where you are). We chatted for a bit then went to get spots for the show (with the twenty other people who got there early). This has to be said first, it was southern hipster heaven. Girls in straight up urban outfiters specials with preppy guys with boat shoes pretending to care. Seriously the oddest grouping of people, but that's sort of what I expect at concerts here. There's probably an entire anthropological study that could be done with the sort of concert going crowd in Atlanta.

The first opener, Wire Method, was a local Atlanta group and not bad, but not great. They had a good idea going on with sort of a Tegan and Sara sound, but the girls were a little pitchy which sort of threw off the whole vibe of the music. Unfortunate, but something that can likely be fixed.

I ducked off between sets to find the restroom and had told Champ to get us a good spot for Young Statues while I was gone and when I got back I was surprised to find him right up front and a little to the left of the 'stage' (it was like 12 inches off the ground. Does that count?). The girls in front of me seemed excited and I asked if they knew the band but they were very much 'uh no' which was fine when I admitted I was a fan they shoved me in front of them so I was right up close. Great for photos. Awkward for me because I was definitely singing along and I'm sure it was obvious.



(every photo I got of Matt was awful. He was tossed in this dark corner and just blah for photos.)

The set was actually really great, with a few choices that surprised me. I was hoping they'd play "Bumble Bee" and "Your Seasons Stay the Same" but didn't totally expect it, so I was more than pleasantly surprised when they did play them. Same with "Meet Me at the Hudson." Love that song.

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Young Statues Release Acoustic EP

As if I couldn't get excited enough to see Young Statues next week in Atlanta, they've released an Acoustic EP with some changes to the songs off their self titled album. Two songs in and I'm already drooling on myself. So perfect.

Grab it at their bandcamp page for a 'name your own price' download or just stream it.

After you fall in love? Catch them on tour with Mansions and A Great Big Pile of Leaves. I'll be at the Atlanta show!

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Music For Monday - Young Statues

I've talked about this one before, and I am more than excited for their show when they come through Atlanta in March. I'm stoked, more than stoked. I've seen these guys before, when they opened for The Tower and The Fool and was very pleased, more than pleased. (You can see how excited I am from the constant need to repeat myself for no good reason.)

Fall in love with Young Statues, fall fast in love with them. They have the perfect music for a rainy day, a long sunny drive (a long drive in general) and a lazy afternoon. Without much effort they've made their way up to my "go-to" list when I'm digging around the car for a CD that just gets me through the drive, or on the iPod when I need to be soothed.

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"Spacism" Video by "Young Statues"

It's too lovely for words, done by the immensely talented Mitchell Wojcik, this video really does give a feel for the song. Fall in love all over again.

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2012 Concert Schedule

It's a new year which means a new list of concerts I've got in mind to see. So far the list is sparse, but I'm hoping to add to it as the year goes.

1/14 - Evanescence
1/19 - The Cab and The Summer Set
3/8 - A Great Big Pile of Leaves, Mansions and Young Statues

That's all I have planned at the current moment, but I'm hoping for another EMB show and probably another Tower show as well.

Anyone else have anything fun on deck? or anything I shouldn't miss?

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Album Review: Self-Titled from Young Statues

The full length, self-titled release from Philadelphia based group, Young Statues has been out for a bit but I finally got my hands on it. I really enjoyed their set when I saw them live in October and really did want access to more of their music, but it wasn't until just recently that I was able to order it online.

The album has a great sound, sort of a mellow feel overall. I can't help but wonder if it would have been part of The O.C. soundtrack if that show was still on the air. It definitely has that feel to it. Maybe it's the similarity to Death Cab for Cutie in front man Carmen's voice. Or maybe it's that the songs seem to have a similar beat to the same indie rock back. Either way, I'm voting for this album to be the cornerstone for the show if it ever makes a come back (If they bring back Arrested Development they can bring back The O.C. right?).

Maybe though it's just the beachy feel from tunes ilk "Half Light' which seems to be more named for the feel it creates than the lyrics (despite the title being mentioned in the lyrics). It sounds like the beach in half light, somewhere towards the end of the day or just as dawn breaks.

The same goes for "Athens" which actually sounds like Athens, GA (where I've been a couple of times) more than anything else. Turns out it was the first song recorded there and is named for the same reason, because it just feels like the city. That's what it is about the album that really jumps out at me, more than the lyrics or the guitar lines or drum beats, the feel of it as a whole.

It's a great album to put in and just let play while getting work done or just relaxing. It has that mellowing feel like I said and has become one of my favorites for at work to alleviate the stress of the day.

You can pick up a copy here and follow Young Statues on twitter.

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Ghost Thrower Presale

As we've been reminded via every social media website I'm on, there's only 6 more days to pre-order your copy of the new Ghost Thrower album! I picked mine up a few days ago and can't wait to get it in the mail. Super excited.

You can check it out at their online store! Go support these guys, they are doing awesome work, really awesome work.

While your at it, grab the new release from The Tower and The Fool and Young Statues. Another collection of great guys doing great work.

I just need a record player. Someone have a suggestion? Or want to give me one?

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The Tower and The Fool

The Tower and the Fool

Bryan Donahue said it best as he was cleaning up after the show. "You're starting to make a thing of this aren't you? Coming up every couple months to Boston for a show." It really has become a thing. I hated that it had been almost two months since the last time I'd been to Boston to see my friends or see any of the local bands.

When Bryan informed us that he was going to be playing The Tower and the Fool, I was excited because I'd seen them before when I went to my first Early Morning Blues show and I really love their music. It's very different from Early Morning Blues, but with the wide array of music I like, it still strikes home. As Rana and i started talking about the show, she knew one of the openers, Daybreaker and Travis of Ghost Thrower told us about Born Without Bones, who also sounded great on their EP.

That was it, we were sold. Work managed to not get in the way and I spent my Wednesday in Boston, visiting a few of my favorite places, spending time with Rana and then getting to see the show that evening. It would be a long day, but hopefully one that was worth it.

The morning spent wandering around Newbury Street was great, including a visit to my current favorite clothing line, Johnny Cupcakes. The Newbury store is excellent, set up like an old bakery, complete with shirts in display cases. Not to mention the staff is completely awesome. They chatted me up about the trip into town and they were pretty excited to hear I was in town to see some local bands play. Can't help it, I love the Boston local music scene.

After that I wandered around some more until Rana was done with class and we had dinner. We made one more stop to Johnny Cupcakes so she could get an umbrella and got a fun "welcome back" when walked in the door. She had one more meeting before we headed out so I took care of getting whatever we needed from her place and then waited until she was done. Once it was time to head out we met up with her friend Colleen, whom I hadn't met yet and walked to Great Scott in Allston.

I was, as I've said pretty excited about the line up. I was more excited though to see Travis from Ghost Thrower walk through the door. Thankfully he seemed just as excited to see me and greeted me with a huge hug and asking if I'd seen Bryan yet. Bryan wasn't there yet, but Travis just shrugged and said he was late.

Born Without Bones was up first and they are just as good live as they are on the album. I was really, really please to hear their sound, and touched that their music seems to mean so much to them. They're definitely "one to watch" and I totally recommend picking up their music off their bandcamp page. I'm really looking forward to seeing them again, and I hope I get the chance. Right now they have a few shows around the New England area already scheduled for November.

Young Statues was up next and they aren't from Boston (out of Philadelphia) , but definitely won over the crowd after a song or two. I really enjoyed their sound, very similar to the other bands playing and I think they got a lot of positive attention. Good lyrics, great sound and wow, really great vocals. For someone who seems to hate all things from Philadelphia (okay just the Phillies and the Eagles) I think I might be converted. Well I still can't stand the Phillies or the Eagles, but I can start making some exceptions.

Daybreaker, like Born Without Bones was just as Rana and I guessed, really good. We were both really excited and I had to laugh when Colleen got two songs in and turned to us with a "you two were right they are good" face and nod. They rocked really solidly and have a great live sound. We really enjoyed the set, one of those ones that you can help moving along to.

It was getting late by the time The Tower and The Fool went on but that didn't stop us from being excited (or me at least). There was a moment late when Chris from the band asked how I enjoyed seeing Bryan play with a new band and I realized that this was the third group I've seen him play with live (though at the time I saw Boys Like Girls I was on the "Paul" side of the stage and hadn't been converted to the wonder that is their bass player yet). As always it never disappoints to see him on stage. They put on a great set, playing a lot of their new music as well as some older songs. They even played "Breach" which has always been my favorite song by them and I really loved it. The crowd knew that one and sang it with them, which was really cool to see with a small band.

I managed to score some more time after the show with Bryan, catching up as he made the comment about me coming up being a thing. We chatted Early Morning Blues a little and he says he's working on new music which I can't wait for. He dropped some lyrics on twitter a few weeks ago and it was good stuff, just like before and I'm excited to see what comes of it.

Another whirlwind trip that had me coming back to Atlanta the next morning, but it was completely worth it as always. I'm already looking to see if there's a chance to go back in early December (maybe to see The Maine on their tour or Anamanaguchi or maybe EMB?) and I can't doubt that I won't be there. Even if their is snow.

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