11:01 AM
kT
Found the video from the $2 VIP Holiday Show of Bryan and Small Talk performing "The Quiet Things that No One Ever Knows" by Brand New.
(fun fact: I think you can hear my audible gasp type noise around 2:41 because yeah, it's that great.)
Showing posts with label bryan donahue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bryan donahue. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A Treat for Hump Day
Found the video from the $2 VIP Holiday Show of Bryan and Small Talk performing "The Quiet Things that No One Ever Knows" by Brand New.
(fun fact: I think you can hear my audible gasp type noise around 2:41 because yeah, it's that great.)
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Concert: $2 VIP Platinum Holiday Show
Another trip to Boston (again, it's my thing) and another show. There was a joke that Bryan didn't have a show that weekend until about four days before it and then suddenly he was playing at the big show that weekend. I had to laugh just a little, but I did scrounge and manage to get my hands on a ticket at the last minute.
The show was call the $2 VIP Platinum Holiday Show, a play on a local band that was charging $40 to get VIP passes into a show in their hometown. Thinking it was a ridiculous idea, this one was much cheaper to get into and every ticket was VIP. A collection of local bands were each playing a cover set of a more well known band.
The afternoon started with One Step Away a local group out of Andover, MA covering Boys Like Girls. Just a little awkward yes with Bryan there, but he wasn't in the room for their set, rightfully so. They sounded fantastic though, taking on one a few of the harder songs in the BLG line up. I was impressed when they busted out "Heart Heart Heartbreak" even more so when they went with "Dance Hall Drug" as well. There was a mess up where the lead singer seemed to have forgotten the lyrics to the second verse of Dance Hall Drug, but luckily for him, the entirety of the crowd was able to power through, a good set of fan girls.
The local BLG girls were really pleased when the lead singer busted out Martin's line from the live shows for "Hero/Heroine" where he asks the crowd "What do I got?" then sings the second verse of the song. I know Rana next to me got all excited. It was a really good set overall and I was pleased to see the crowd support the guys despite the awkward feeing it left a lot of us with.
The location seemed to know and as Bryan and the guys from Small Talk finished setting up for the next set, the house music started playing "Chapter One" by Early Morning Blues. It was a ton of fun to start singing the lyrics as loud as Rana and I could. It was also fun to watch Small Talk's front man Jimmy Welsh ask Bryan if it was him and Bryan shake his head to say it was weird.
Decked in his Ghost Thrower t-shirt, Bryan took the stage with the two guys from Small Talk for an acoustic set of Brand New songs. They didn't do a full band show because I believe they are in a bit of a transition between band members, but there wasn't a need for the full band set.
Jimmy has an amazing voice that lent to the music well and Bryan provided perfect back up vocals. I lost my breath a little during "The Quiet Things That No Ever Knows"; it was that good. The set was solid, especially as Jimmy finished it up with two songs, just him, the guitar and the microphone.
I have to admit that it made me ache for an Early Morning Blues ballad. Bryan's obviously got the chops for it, but i do realize that their sound doesn't exactly lend to ballads. Or nothing more ballad-like than "Never Leave" at least. Still, a girl can hope that maybe one day.
During the Dear Zim set Rana and I took a break and snuck out the back for a chat with Bryan and Jimmy, then heading out in search of a snack. They were play an All Time Low set and neither she or I like ATL that much (or at all?). I am glad we got the few moments with Bryan as he left not long after, needing to be somewhere else that afternoon. He did seem pleased to see that I'd showed up and mentioned one of my tweets about my trip being worthwhile if he played a show.
We got back just in time for The Jealous Sea to play their Fall Out Boy set. Overall their sound was great and I thought that they did FOB justice. I really liked the song choices, ranging from older tracks off the first album to some of the more recent singles.
Their stage presence was fun, a little silly from time to time. There was a moment or two where it was a little uncomfortable for those of us who weren't huge fan girls, but the fan girls ate it up. There's something to be said about appealing to your target audience.
Last up was STAY, a local group that I was pretty sure wasn't going to fit on stage there were so many of them. They played a Blink-182 set with tons of energy from the get-go. Again I'm forced to admit that my old self loved the set and how old all the music they picked was (or maybe Blink is just that old..) It was like an instant transport back to the better moments of high school, which were few and far between, but they all had either a FOB or Good Charlotte soundtrack.
The show definitely left me interested in all of the bands, except maybe Small Talk, but more because I already have their music. The true highlight though was seeing all my friends once more before the winter (and I don't make the trek because of the snow). I had to go out of 2011 with a great show and I think I did just that. It's been a great year, but I'm already looking forward to what's coming in the next year.
The show was call the $2 VIP Platinum Holiday Show, a play on a local band that was charging $40 to get VIP passes into a show in their hometown. Thinking it was a ridiculous idea, this one was much cheaper to get into and every ticket was VIP. A collection of local bands were each playing a cover set of a more well known band.
The afternoon started with One Step Away a local group out of Andover, MA covering Boys Like Girls. Just a little awkward yes with Bryan there, but he wasn't in the room for their set, rightfully so. They sounded fantastic though, taking on one a few of the harder songs in the BLG line up. I was impressed when they busted out "Heart Heart Heartbreak" even more so when they went with "Dance Hall Drug" as well. There was a mess up where the lead singer seemed to have forgotten the lyrics to the second verse of Dance Hall Drug, but luckily for him, the entirety of the crowd was able to power through, a good set of fan girls.
The local BLG girls were really pleased when the lead singer busted out Martin's line from the live shows for "Hero/Heroine" where he asks the crowd "What do I got?" then sings the second verse of the song. I know Rana next to me got all excited. It was a really good set overall and I was pleased to see the crowd support the guys despite the awkward feeing it left a lot of us with.
The location seemed to know and as Bryan and the guys from Small Talk finished setting up for the next set, the house music started playing "Chapter One" by Early Morning Blues. It was a ton of fun to start singing the lyrics as loud as Rana and I could. It was also fun to watch Small Talk's front man Jimmy Welsh ask Bryan if it was him and Bryan shake his head to say it was weird.
Decked in his Ghost Thrower t-shirt, Bryan took the stage with the two guys from Small Talk for an acoustic set of Brand New songs. They didn't do a full band show because I believe they are in a bit of a transition between band members, but there wasn't a need for the full band set.
Jimmy has an amazing voice that lent to the music well and Bryan provided perfect back up vocals. I lost my breath a little during "The Quiet Things That No Ever Knows"; it was that good. The set was solid, especially as Jimmy finished it up with two songs, just him, the guitar and the microphone.
I have to admit that it made me ache for an Early Morning Blues ballad. Bryan's obviously got the chops for it, but i do realize that their sound doesn't exactly lend to ballads. Or nothing more ballad-like than "Never Leave" at least. Still, a girl can hope that maybe one day.
During the Dear Zim set Rana and I took a break and snuck out the back for a chat with Bryan and Jimmy, then heading out in search of a snack. They were play an All Time Low set and neither she or I like ATL that much (or at all?). I am glad we got the few moments with Bryan as he left not long after, needing to be somewhere else that afternoon. He did seem pleased to see that I'd showed up and mentioned one of my tweets about my trip being worthwhile if he played a show.
We got back just in time for The Jealous Sea to play their Fall Out Boy set. Overall their sound was great and I thought that they did FOB justice. I really liked the song choices, ranging from older tracks off the first album to some of the more recent singles.
Their stage presence was fun, a little silly from time to time. There was a moment or two where it was a little uncomfortable for those of us who weren't huge fan girls, but the fan girls ate it up. There's something to be said about appealing to your target audience.
Last up was STAY, a local group that I was pretty sure wasn't going to fit on stage there were so many of them. They played a Blink-182 set with tons of energy from the get-go. Again I'm forced to admit that my old self loved the set and how old all the music they picked was (or maybe Blink is just that old..) It was like an instant transport back to the better moments of high school, which were few and far between, but they all had either a FOB or Good Charlotte soundtrack.
The show definitely left me interested in all of the bands, except maybe Small Talk, but more because I already have their music. The true highlight though was seeing all my friends once more before the winter (and I don't make the trek because of the snow). I had to go out of 2011 with a great show and I think I did just that. It's been a great year, but I'm already looking forward to what's coming in the next year.
Friday, November 25, 2011
New Beginnings
I've been trying to post about this for a while, but it's been a little hard for me to do that.
When Boys Like Girls announced their return and posted their video update, they also announced they were short a bassist, one who seems to frequent my blog, Bryan Donahue.
Bryan took to twitter a few hours later and said that he'd been kicked out of the band and that it wasn't his decision to leave. (Yes. Whatever you are guessing in the way of my reaction is accurate.)
So the announcement of the new album from Boys Like Girls does come with mixed feelings, but Bryan's pointed out that he's still playing with The Tower and The Fool as well as Early Morning Blues. Early Morning Blues (Bryan) has also announced that their new EP is in work and that they'll tour as soon as they get booked and it's done. All good news.
It's a sad moment, but in a way it's good news. I've been a big Early Morning Blues fan (if the tattoo on my side is any indicator) and being able to go to small shows to see Bryan play was starting to get to be a thing. Losing that would make me sad (though there are plenty of small bands I go see now, but it wouldn't quite be the same).
Best of luck to Bryan in everything he does, and I'm guessing I'll be trailing along behind him no matter what it is.
When Boys Like Girls announced their return and posted their video update, they also announced they were short a bassist, one who seems to frequent my blog, Bryan Donahue.
Bryan took to twitter a few hours later and said that he'd been kicked out of the band and that it wasn't his decision to leave. (Yes. Whatever you are guessing in the way of my reaction is accurate.)
So the announcement of the new album from Boys Like Girls does come with mixed feelings, but Bryan's pointed out that he's still playing with The Tower and The Fool as well as Early Morning Blues. Early Morning Blues (Bryan) has also announced that their new EP is in work and that they'll tour as soon as they get booked and it's done. All good news.
It's a sad moment, but in a way it's good news. I've been a big Early Morning Blues fan (if the tattoo on my side is any indicator) and being able to go to small shows to see Bryan play was starting to get to be a thing. Losing that would make me sad (though there are plenty of small bands I go see now, but it wouldn't quite be the same).
Best of luck to Bryan in everything he does, and I'm guessing I'll be trailing along behind him no matter what it is.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
New Boys Like Girls album!
After much speculation from Bryan Donahue's hints at 'news' and 'announcements' everyone's favorite drummer let the cat out of the bag today.
Leave it to Beef to announce the return of Boys Like Girls to the studio with his own bit of flair.
There's chatter that his other band, Empire Kids, are also busy demoing (in the same place?) which means more music on the front for all of us.
The last puzzle piece is a missing blond bassist, but he's also got an EP in the works for Early Morning Blues. Here's hoping for good things all around. I'll take winter if it brings a spring and summer of new music.
Leave it to Beef to announce the return of Boys Like Girls to the studio with his own bit of flair.
There's chatter that his other band, Empire Kids, are also busy demoing (in the same place?) which means more music on the front for all of us.
The last puzzle piece is a missing blond bassist, but he's also got an EP in the works for Early Morning Blues. Here's hoping for good things all around. I'll take winter if it brings a spring and summer of new music.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Ringing in 28
For all my complaining it actually turned out to be a pretty decent birthday.
Champ, being the doll that he is, planned a gathering for friends for Saturday night prior to my birthday (since Monday night outings never really work). I was stoked to get to see my friends, and the big surprise being Jesse and Chris who made the trek up from Savannah. Jesse pointed out that she hadn't missed a birthday in five years so she wasn't about to start now.
We gathered at one place, but didn't want to wait two hours for a big table so wound up walking a few blocks (which is unheard of in Atlanta) to my favorite restaurant anyway, Taqueria Del Sol. I hadn't been to that location yet (but all the others at this rate) and as always it was excellent (even if the Howell Mill location is the best). We had a big crew there for food, lots of laughs and more. It's always great to be at a big table full of fun people and eat good food. Or maybe that's the Italian in me.
After dinner it was back to the original plan, Brick Store for drinks. We stayed there the rest of the night, chatting, telling stories and me watching all my friend groups converse. It was nice, really nice.
Monday was the big day and I drug work friends out to lunch with me which was also nice. It was fun to see them all in the same place since we're starting to scatter (either new buildings / different jobs / etc).
Since it was the big day, Champ and I made a plan to grab dinner on the way home from work, trying out another new sushi place (they closed our favorite!). This one might have moved to the top because, when I say A+ I mean A+. Excellent food, great service and by 7 we were walking into the house again. Of course that's where it got interesting.
As I'm letting myself into the house holding the mail in one hand and fighting with the door in the other, Champ comes up to me holding out his phone saying it's for me. "Who is it?" I ask, but he just says it's for me and goes to take the mail away. I don't want that because the new CD I ordered is in the stack to I'm half distracted with him taking the mail when I pick up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Happy birthday!"
"Well thanks, who's this?"
"It's Bryan."
"Who?"
"Bryan."
About then, the accent comes through and I realized I've got Bryan Donahue (lead singer of my favorite band and personal hero) on the line. I asked how he got the number and he explained that Champ emailed him and asked him to call on my birthday and for some reason Bryan actually agreed to that. I was a little flabbergasted but we managed to chat about his tattoo sketch, the last EMB show (which he swears wasn't that good but he's too hard on himself) and the big BLG anniversary. It was so weird and so chill and I need to talk on the phone more because I think I'm really awkward.
Champ followed that up with tickets to see Dralion, the Cirque Du Soliel show in town for a just a few days and a fun card. Not that he had to get me anything after the call, but yeah he did anyway.
I am a very, very lucky girl, with great friends, so many who wished me a happy day either in person or online via twitter and facebook. Sometimes I forget, but it was a good way to remember.
Champ, being the doll that he is, planned a gathering for friends for Saturday night prior to my birthday (since Monday night outings never really work). I was stoked to get to see my friends, and the big surprise being Jesse and Chris who made the trek up from Savannah. Jesse pointed out that she hadn't missed a birthday in five years so she wasn't about to start now.
We gathered at one place, but didn't want to wait two hours for a big table so wound up walking a few blocks (which is unheard of in Atlanta) to my favorite restaurant anyway, Taqueria Del Sol. I hadn't been to that location yet (but all the others at this rate) and as always it was excellent (even if the Howell Mill location is the best). We had a big crew there for food, lots of laughs and more. It's always great to be at a big table full of fun people and eat good food. Or maybe that's the Italian in me.
After dinner it was back to the original plan, Brick Store for drinks. We stayed there the rest of the night, chatting, telling stories and me watching all my friend groups converse. It was nice, really nice.
Monday was the big day and I drug work friends out to lunch with me which was also nice. It was fun to see them all in the same place since we're starting to scatter (either new buildings / different jobs / etc).
Since it was the big day, Champ and I made a plan to grab dinner on the way home from work, trying out another new sushi place (they closed our favorite!). This one might have moved to the top because, when I say A+ I mean A+. Excellent food, great service and by 7 we were walking into the house again. Of course that's where it got interesting.
As I'm letting myself into the house holding the mail in one hand and fighting with the door in the other, Champ comes up to me holding out his phone saying it's for me. "Who is it?" I ask, but he just says it's for me and goes to take the mail away. I don't want that because the new CD I ordered is in the stack to I'm half distracted with him taking the mail when I pick up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Happy birthday!"
"Well thanks, who's this?"
"It's Bryan."
"Who?"
"Bryan."
About then, the accent comes through and I realized I've got Bryan Donahue (lead singer of my favorite band and personal hero) on the line. I asked how he got the number and he explained that Champ emailed him and asked him to call on my birthday and for some reason Bryan actually agreed to that. I was a little flabbergasted but we managed to chat about his tattoo sketch, the last EMB show (which he swears wasn't that good but he's too hard on himself) and the big BLG anniversary. It was so weird and so chill and I need to talk on the phone more because I think I'm really awkward.
Champ followed that up with tickets to see Dralion, the Cirque Du Soliel show in town for a just a few days and a fun card. Not that he had to get me anything after the call, but yeah he did anyway.
I am a very, very lucky girl, with great friends, so many who wished me a happy day either in person or online via twitter and facebook. Sometimes I forget, but it was a good way to remember.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tattoo #6 - The Set Up
I've been in love with this giant phrase from Early Morning Blue's "Chapter One" since…well since Bryan posted it on the EMB twitter before the song was even out. That long.
Obviously that's an entire paragraph and there's no where on my body that it's going to fit, which is a bummer but at the same time I get it. I've spent the past few months trying to break it down to something smaller to take pieces of it without ruining it and I wound up just completely lifting from it to just two lines
I like the way it hints at the lyrics, where I'd have to explain the whole phrase and I like that it touches on how the feeling of the lyrics are. The person is beaten and in need of repair. Having it like that is stating the state that it leaves someone in. And honestly? It's a way I feel often these days.
I was chatting with Rana, my cohort in most things EMB fan girl related, and we were tossing the idea about of her tattoo, which would be her first. I was telling her she needs to get around to getting it even though she hasn't yet and I was trying to be supportive. We chatted about getting it down when I'm in Boston of the EMB show, because why the hell not? I had my birds tattoo in mind for the joint effort, but Rana's idea is lyrics from her favorite band, written out by the lead singer. We joked about getting Bryan to write mine out, but there's this tattoo picture floating around that he supposedly wrote and it's almost impossible to read. We made jokes that it would be ugly and we'd feel bad.
After a while though she wore me down and she was right, it would be pretty damn cool if Bryan wrote it out and even if it was unreadable and kinda ugly, I'd probably still love it. Of course I wasn't even sure he would do it and there was always the worry he'd think I was completely 100% nuts, just for asking. (If he hadn't already come to that conclusion about me). Eventually though I wound up tweeting the EMB account, asking if he'd do it for me. He came back pretty quickly with an "of course, send us an email."
(I should point out here that I had a laugh that he knew I would know where to find the email for the band. Either that or it was some sort of test, but yeah I knew right where to go to grab it.)
When I emailed him, he got back to me pretty quickly, telling me he was flattered that I wanted the lyrics and honored to write them out for me. He asked how I wanted it to look which left me a little shocked because I hadn't thought it out that far. His handwriting was about where it ended.
I started talking it over with Nat and she asked me the big question. "How do the lyrics make you feel?" I said messy and in need of being stitched back together. That was about when I started drawing the stitched heart in my mini art journal I carry around I told Bryan messy and bold but readable.
There was a painful week of waiting and after 7 days I wound up sending a follow up email reminding him gently that I wanted to get it done this week. He came back with an apology that it took so long but he just didn't like anything he'd written out. Still he scanned what he had and offered it to me, telling me to let him know if I didn't like it and if I needed something else.
Of course I immediately fell in love with it especially the one on the far right. The top one has that same bold feeling, but the far right just looks so natural, so much closer to his own handwriting. (At this point I feel the urge to point out that he actually does have really nice handwriting, and I'm starting to wonder if that written out tattoo was actually him or just a a bad tattoo in general).
I emailed him back this sort of blathering type email where I told him how amazing he was for writing it out for me and how amazing it looked. I mentioned pairing it with my own artwork and that I couldn't wait to show it to him on Friday after I got it.
What shocked me was my phone going off a few minutes later, with a response email from him. He wanted to know what kind of artwork was going with it. A little surprised I explained the heart and said that it was a result of how the lyrics made me feel, like being in need of being stitched back together.
I got another email back with him agreeing to how the lyrics felt and telling me how much he liked the heart idea and that there was an urge on his end too for another tattoo. At this point we went back a few times, me asking about his ideas for his next, which surprisingly enough might wind up being inspired by mine. I guess he was due up for an EMB tattoo anyway. (He has logos from both of the BLG albums on his arm as well as a few 'tour' themed tattoos from when their tours. An EMB tattoo seems like a must right?)
My other favorite part of the night of emailing was to get the twitter update coming from him:
The fan would be me and of course my timeline on both twitter and tumblr blew up a little in excitement.
Can I bring my black and blue, bruised, broken body back to you / to mend for me / 'cause I have seen the ugly truth of the world
Obviously that's an entire paragraph and there's no where on my body that it's going to fit, which is a bummer but at the same time I get it. I've spent the past few months trying to break it down to something smaller to take pieces of it without ruining it and I wound up just completely lifting from it to just two lines
black & blue
bruised & broken
I like the way it hints at the lyrics, where I'd have to explain the whole phrase and I like that it touches on how the feeling of the lyrics are. The person is beaten and in need of repair. Having it like that is stating the state that it leaves someone in. And honestly? It's a way I feel often these days.
I was chatting with Rana, my cohort in most things EMB fan girl related, and we were tossing the idea about of her tattoo, which would be her first. I was telling her she needs to get around to getting it even though she hasn't yet and I was trying to be supportive. We chatted about getting it down when I'm in Boston of the EMB show, because why the hell not? I had my birds tattoo in mind for the joint effort, but Rana's idea is lyrics from her favorite band, written out by the lead singer. We joked about getting Bryan to write mine out, but there's this tattoo picture floating around that he supposedly wrote and it's almost impossible to read. We made jokes that it would be ugly and we'd feel bad.
After a while though she wore me down and she was right, it would be pretty damn cool if Bryan wrote it out and even if it was unreadable and kinda ugly, I'd probably still love it. Of course I wasn't even sure he would do it and there was always the worry he'd think I was completely 100% nuts, just for asking. (If he hadn't already come to that conclusion about me). Eventually though I wound up tweeting the EMB account, asking if he'd do it for me. He came back pretty quickly with an "of course, send us an email."
(I should point out here that I had a laugh that he knew I would know where to find the email for the band. Either that or it was some sort of test, but yeah I knew right where to go to grab it.)
When I emailed him, he got back to me pretty quickly, telling me he was flattered that I wanted the lyrics and honored to write them out for me. He asked how I wanted it to look which left me a little shocked because I hadn't thought it out that far. His handwriting was about where it ended.
I started talking it over with Nat and she asked me the big question. "How do the lyrics make you feel?" I said messy and in need of being stitched back together. That was about when I started drawing the stitched heart in my mini art journal I carry around I told Bryan messy and bold but readable.
There was a painful week of waiting and after 7 days I wound up sending a follow up email reminding him gently that I wanted to get it done this week. He came back with an apology that it took so long but he just didn't like anything he'd written out. Still he scanned what he had and offered it to me, telling me to let him know if I didn't like it and if I needed something else.
Of course I immediately fell in love with it especially the one on the far right. The top one has that same bold feeling, but the far right just looks so natural, so much closer to his own handwriting. (At this point I feel the urge to point out that he actually does have really nice handwriting, and I'm starting to wonder if that written out tattoo was actually him or just a a bad tattoo in general).
I emailed him back this sort of blathering type email where I told him how amazing he was for writing it out for me and how amazing it looked. I mentioned pairing it with my own artwork and that I couldn't wait to show it to him on Friday after I got it.
What shocked me was my phone going off a few minutes later, with a response email from him. He wanted to know what kind of artwork was going with it. A little surprised I explained the heart and said that it was a result of how the lyrics made me feel, like being in need of being stitched back together.
I got another email back with him agreeing to how the lyrics felt and telling me how much he liked the heart idea and that there was an urge on his end too for another tattoo. At this point we went back a few times, me asking about his ideas for his next, which surprisingly enough might wind up being inspired by mine. I guess he was due up for an EMB tattoo anyway. (He has logos from both of the BLG albums on his arm as well as a few 'tour' themed tattoos from when their tours. An EMB tattoo seems like a must right?)
My other favorite part of the night of emailing was to get the twitter update coming from him:
The fan would be me and of course my timeline on both twitter and tumblr blew up a little in excitement.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Early Morning Blues Part Duex
The trip to Rhode Island via Hartford apparently wasn't enough and when Early Morning Blue announced their headlining show with The Rebels opening in Boston on a Saturday? I made a plan to make it work. I talked it over with Rana and Victoria whom I met at the RI show and then coaxed Heather into coming with me.
We've been planning, looking forward to and counting down to this trip for months now and finally it was here! We had a great day in Boston on Friday, but Saturday afternoon was the main attraction for sure. Saturday had a few complications including picking up my customized chucks and the Bruins parade to celebrate them winning the Stanley Cup earlier in the week, but we managed to arrive at the venue not ten minutes before they opened the doors.
Colleen was at the front of line and bounced out in our general direction as soon as she saw us. I handed over the extra Black Carbon Custom shirt I had (I bought it too big and had to re-buy it so I would actually wear it) and I think it left her speechless. She's been upset because she hasn't been able to get one herself and I thought it was best to give it to someone who would really truly appreciate it which meant Colleen. I loved watching her look all flabbergasted. Sometimes it's just nice to do something nice for someone else.
We got in and Heather directed us towards the merch table which I think is where it got real for her. I had my eyes out for a certain blond, but there was John Keefe (of Boys Like Girls and drummer for The Rebels) just chilling at the table. He's Heather's favorite and I sot of loved watching her eyes go wide. We got Rebel's shirts and Heather got an EMB shirt (I have 2 already). John chatted her up and gave us hugs for coming so far. He's a doll and completely precious in person.
After merch we drifted to the 21+ area because face it, there are a few perks of being old and after being faced with the sheer age difference between ourselves and the kids there we needed a drink. (In some cases I swear I was over 10 years older than these kids). Bryan was by the bar with some folks and I have to say I creeped a little, but eventually he spotted me and I waved, not thinking too much of it. I got a smile though and he left the others to come to me, gave me a big hug and asked how the trip up was. I think about there I freaked out a little, shocked that he knew who was just by looking at me.
I introduced him to Heather and he gushed again a little about us coming so far then told me about how the line up had changed a little due to the lead singer of the Rebels needing to be somewhere that late afternoon. I nodded and reassured him that we'd made it there before the opener an were good to go on seeing everyone. He nodded and then went back to his thing while we got settled.
As the openers started we (Rana, Heather and I) found a good spot to camp out at in the front of the 21+ area and we settled in. The first opener, The All Night Affair, was good. Nothing too earth shattering but they were cute and fun to listen too. It was a little bit poppier than EMB, but I wasn't going to fault them for that. Same with the second group that came on, Call Me Anything, poppier and local, but really cute and fun to listen to. I didn't hate their stuff and they did a great job considering how young they looked (and probably were). Solid performances from both groups.
There were a few moments to drift between bands and at one point we did spot Bry's brother whom I'd met in RI and I introduced myself again. It took a moment to clear up the 'swear we met before bro' bit but eventually he figured out Heather and I were the two from far away and we got hugs an the wound up just chatting. Bryan came over a little later and stood next to his brother all excited and grinning that I'd met him.
He asked his brother if I had told him my story yet which had us all staring at Bryan confused until he was like "She's come really far to see us twice now!" and then everyone laughed and nodded and said yes yes, that was me. Bryan wound up jetting off again and we chatted tattoos with the bro before we went back to Rana. She was definitely laughing at us but it was fun.
The Rebels were up next and I can't lie was a little nervous. No one had any idea what they were going to dish out and though we trusted John to only be part of something awesome, I was a little anxious. Halfway through the first song I was completely hooked. They had presence, they were awesome and of course they had great backing in John. It was a really, really solid sound for a first show ever and a really great set of tracks. We were actually freaking out just a little and I loved watching Heather get really excited. (The same way I do for EMB)
Then it was Ghost Ocean and they were pretty kick ass too. I can see why Bryan likes them so and I definitely grabbed their CD they were handing out because it was too good to pass up on. I really loved their sound and how they just weren't afraid to do their thing, which was loud and kinda in your face. Their keyboard was jacked so they couldn't do one of their covers but wound up doing it anyway and the keyboardist came out with the keyboard and 'air keyboarded' which was just hilarious.
After we had a break before another local band, Love Via Dance Machine, went on. We knew going in that Bryan wasn't stoked about them being in the line up and that the manager who set up the show pulled them in. I wasn't entirely sure why, just heard that they were pains and divas and that their sound wasn't right for the style of show. Not to mention they were only playing three songs. As the time went on in between sets, I'd gone to the bathroom and drifted to the merch table to try and chat up Bryan again but it was obvious that people were pissed. And by people I mean Bryan. Frustration and anger were sort of settled around him as they took thirty minutes (at least double all the others bands) to set up, and by they I mean their crew of kids from other local bands that weren't playing and not them. The break did give us a chance to chat with Luke and Russ from the Rebels (well Rana and Heather chatted with Russ, I only got Luke later). They were completely stoked we were there and I told Luke I follow him on twitter.
I didn't see Love Via Dance Machine much at all throughout the show so when they walked on stage I had no idea what to expect. I wouldn't have guessed and awkward looking kid with terrible hair, a guitarist who seemed to model everything about his style and playing after Jack from All Time Low. Actually that was the whole thing. They looked just like All Time Low. They sounded like All Time Low. And I don't mean that as a good thing. They were very musically talented, and they sounded okay, but it wasn't original. Not in any way. It was poppy and catchy but there wasn't any heart and I hate to break it to the world, that act didn't belong smushed between Ghost Ocean and Early Morning Blues.
There were in appropriate comments, tweets and possibly a hand gesture out of frustration but the three songs ended soon enough and EMB went through the fastest set up ever.
The house music went off and Heather turned her flip cam on me because she said I was freaking out and no lie I totally was. I couldn't help it. The tone of the entire room changed with four chords, darkening out the music and wiping all the poppy happy that was left. Early Morning Blues is not about catchy tunes that get played on repeat on a radio station and that's what I love about them. They opened with the new track "All About Tonight" and it really is awesome live (it's one of the ones I hadn't seen yet).
Bryan had an adorable moment trying to tune his bass and talk in between that and the next song and he commented that it was much harder than it looked. The rest of the set list was expected, "Never Leave", "Chapter One" and "Echoes". They were letting more of the crowd sing and I loved hearing the crowd singing "can I bring my black and blue, bruised broken body back to you," partially because it's part of my favorite lyrics ever and because it's just so cool to see the kids knowing the side project music.
During Never Leave Bryan's brother got the crowd jumping which was quite amusing to watch from where we were. Our little trio laughed because we knew who he was while the kids just sort of stared at him like he might have been nuts.
They closed with "War and Wisdom" and Bryan said "if you know any of the words sing along and if you don't know them….make them up." The crowd did their best to sing along and I know I was screaming as well. It was a really great bit of energy that they managed to build up in those final moments. Really great.
After Heather and I stopped by Bryan's brother and his friend to say goodbye and offer up a high five for their awesome pit antics. We wound up chatting a little more about accents (his is delightfully Bostonian) and he thanked us for supporting his bro again and gave us hugs. I told him we'd bug him when we came back.
Joining Rana and the others at the merch tables we got a chance to say hi to Jamel from The Rebels. Jamel was floored that we came so far that he grabbed up two Rebels key chain bottle openers and handed them over with hugs telling us that we were just awesome for showing up from that far away. It's always a little overwhelming to hear that sort of gratefulness in someone's voice, especially someone you respect so much. I know all about treating celebs like they are real people, which I try, but I'm so easily impressed and intimidated by what these musicians are capable of that it's hard for me not to be like "why would I not come forever to see you play?"
We went out back, following Colleen because they kicked us out of the venue and I felt bad leaving without saying goodbye to Bryan plus I had his bracelet in my bag still. Of course waiting resulted in a lot of waiting as the bands loaded their stuff into their cars (not Love Via but you guessed that right?) There were some things that had Bryan still frustrated, but he wound up finding time to chat up his fans. I enjoyed watching it and waving goodbye to John when he left. Eventually we made our way to Bry and the crowd thinned and I presented the bracelet, begging him not to laugh. Instead of laughter I got a wrist thrust at me and a "yes please." I think I just stared for a second before going "oh you want me to?" and then he nodded and said yes and I tried very hard not to focus on blushing and his hook tattoo (which hi, I love) while I tied it. He told me the last one he had had just fallen off and his wrist felt naked so he was glad to have the new one there, then pulled the knot tighter with his teeth.
I wound up in convos with Chris and Travis from EMB and got to be introduced to them and Bryan told them I came from far away and they got excited and we chatted a little. Bryan had a few things to take care of after a long moment and left us then came back again and I told him we had a bus to catch. I got a huge crushing hug and a promise that his plan was to make it to Atlanta by the end of the summer in some capacity. I promised that if he showed? I'd be there. I think he knew that though. Lots of thanks for coming again and I loved hearing him tell Heather it was a pleasure to meet her (that's what kind of guy he is).
Part of me wonders if this one was better than the other, but I can't decide. I loved both so much. He keeps getting better every time I see him. There's another show at the end of the month but that's probably not going to happen for me. Hopefully my Boston contingent will be there and send my love for me.
We've been planning, looking forward to and counting down to this trip for months now and finally it was here! We had a great day in Boston on Friday, but Saturday afternoon was the main attraction for sure. Saturday had a few complications including picking up my customized chucks and the Bruins parade to celebrate them winning the Stanley Cup earlier in the week, but we managed to arrive at the venue not ten minutes before they opened the doors.
Colleen was at the front of line and bounced out in our general direction as soon as she saw us. I handed over the extra Black Carbon Custom shirt I had (I bought it too big and had to re-buy it so I would actually wear it) and I think it left her speechless. She's been upset because she hasn't been able to get one herself and I thought it was best to give it to someone who would really truly appreciate it which meant Colleen. I loved watching her look all flabbergasted. Sometimes it's just nice to do something nice for someone else.
We got in and Heather directed us towards the merch table which I think is where it got real for her. I had my eyes out for a certain blond, but there was John Keefe (of Boys Like Girls and drummer for The Rebels) just chilling at the table. He's Heather's favorite and I sot of loved watching her eyes go wide. We got Rebel's shirts and Heather got an EMB shirt (I have 2 already). John chatted her up and gave us hugs for coming so far. He's a doll and completely precious in person.
After merch we drifted to the 21+ area because face it, there are a few perks of being old and after being faced with the sheer age difference between ourselves and the kids there we needed a drink. (In some cases I swear I was over 10 years older than these kids). Bryan was by the bar with some folks and I have to say I creeped a little, but eventually he spotted me and I waved, not thinking too much of it. I got a smile though and he left the others to come to me, gave me a big hug and asked how the trip up was. I think about there I freaked out a little, shocked that he knew who was just by looking at me.
I introduced him to Heather and he gushed again a little about us coming so far then told me about how the line up had changed a little due to the lead singer of the Rebels needing to be somewhere that late afternoon. I nodded and reassured him that we'd made it there before the opener an were good to go on seeing everyone. He nodded and then went back to his thing while we got settled.
As the openers started we (Rana, Heather and I) found a good spot to camp out at in the front of the 21+ area and we settled in. The first opener, The All Night Affair, was good. Nothing too earth shattering but they were cute and fun to listen too. It was a little bit poppier than EMB, but I wasn't going to fault them for that. Same with the second group that came on, Call Me Anything, poppier and local, but really cute and fun to listen to. I didn't hate their stuff and they did a great job considering how young they looked (and probably were). Solid performances from both groups.
There were a few moments to drift between bands and at one point we did spot Bry's brother whom I'd met in RI and I introduced myself again. It took a moment to clear up the 'swear we met before bro' bit but eventually he figured out Heather and I were the two from far away and we got hugs an the wound up just chatting. Bryan came over a little later and stood next to his brother all excited and grinning that I'd met him.
He asked his brother if I had told him my story yet which had us all staring at Bryan confused until he was like "She's come really far to see us twice now!" and then everyone laughed and nodded and said yes yes, that was me. Bryan wound up jetting off again and we chatted tattoos with the bro before we went back to Rana. She was definitely laughing at us but it was fun.
The Rebels were up next and I can't lie was a little nervous. No one had any idea what they were going to dish out and though we trusted John to only be part of something awesome, I was a little anxious. Halfway through the first song I was completely hooked. They had presence, they were awesome and of course they had great backing in John. It was a really, really solid sound for a first show ever and a really great set of tracks. We were actually freaking out just a little and I loved watching Heather get really excited. (The same way I do for EMB)
Then it was Ghost Ocean and they were pretty kick ass too. I can see why Bryan likes them so and I definitely grabbed their CD they were handing out because it was too good to pass up on. I really loved their sound and how they just weren't afraid to do their thing, which was loud and kinda in your face. Their keyboard was jacked so they couldn't do one of their covers but wound up doing it anyway and the keyboardist came out with the keyboard and 'air keyboarded' which was just hilarious.
After we had a break before another local band, Love Via Dance Machine, went on. We knew going in that Bryan wasn't stoked about them being in the line up and that the manager who set up the show pulled them in. I wasn't entirely sure why, just heard that they were pains and divas and that their sound wasn't right for the style of show. Not to mention they were only playing three songs. As the time went on in between sets, I'd gone to the bathroom and drifted to the merch table to try and chat up Bryan again but it was obvious that people were pissed. And by people I mean Bryan. Frustration and anger were sort of settled around him as they took thirty minutes (at least double all the others bands) to set up, and by they I mean their crew of kids from other local bands that weren't playing and not them. The break did give us a chance to chat with Luke and Russ from the Rebels (well Rana and Heather chatted with Russ, I only got Luke later). They were completely stoked we were there and I told Luke I follow him on twitter.
I didn't see Love Via Dance Machine much at all throughout the show so when they walked on stage I had no idea what to expect. I wouldn't have guessed and awkward looking kid with terrible hair, a guitarist who seemed to model everything about his style and playing after Jack from All Time Low. Actually that was the whole thing. They looked just like All Time Low. They sounded like All Time Low. And I don't mean that as a good thing. They were very musically talented, and they sounded okay, but it wasn't original. Not in any way. It was poppy and catchy but there wasn't any heart and I hate to break it to the world, that act didn't belong smushed between Ghost Ocean and Early Morning Blues.
There were in appropriate comments, tweets and possibly a hand gesture out of frustration but the three songs ended soon enough and EMB went through the fastest set up ever.
The house music went off and Heather turned her flip cam on me because she said I was freaking out and no lie I totally was. I couldn't help it. The tone of the entire room changed with four chords, darkening out the music and wiping all the poppy happy that was left. Early Morning Blues is not about catchy tunes that get played on repeat on a radio station and that's what I love about them. They opened with the new track "All About Tonight" and it really is awesome live (it's one of the ones I hadn't seen yet).
Bryan had an adorable moment trying to tune his bass and talk in between that and the next song and he commented that it was much harder than it looked. The rest of the set list was expected, "Never Leave", "Chapter One" and "Echoes". They were letting more of the crowd sing and I loved hearing the crowd singing "can I bring my black and blue, bruised broken body back to you," partially because it's part of my favorite lyrics ever and because it's just so cool to see the kids knowing the side project music.
During Never Leave Bryan's brother got the crowd jumping which was quite amusing to watch from where we were. Our little trio laughed because we knew who he was while the kids just sort of stared at him like he might have been nuts.
They closed with "War and Wisdom" and Bryan said "if you know any of the words sing along and if you don't know them….make them up." The crowd did their best to sing along and I know I was screaming as well. It was a really great bit of energy that they managed to build up in those final moments. Really great.
After Heather and I stopped by Bryan's brother and his friend to say goodbye and offer up a high five for their awesome pit antics. We wound up chatting a little more about accents (his is delightfully Bostonian) and he thanked us for supporting his bro again and gave us hugs. I told him we'd bug him when we came back.
Joining Rana and the others at the merch tables we got a chance to say hi to Jamel from The Rebels. Jamel was floored that we came so far that he grabbed up two Rebels key chain bottle openers and handed them over with hugs telling us that we were just awesome for showing up from that far away. It's always a little overwhelming to hear that sort of gratefulness in someone's voice, especially someone you respect so much. I know all about treating celebs like they are real people, which I try, but I'm so easily impressed and intimidated by what these musicians are capable of that it's hard for me not to be like "why would I not come forever to see you play?"
We went out back, following Colleen because they kicked us out of the venue and I felt bad leaving without saying goodbye to Bryan plus I had his bracelet in my bag still. Of course waiting resulted in a lot of waiting as the bands loaded their stuff into their cars (not Love Via but you guessed that right?) There were some things that had Bryan still frustrated, but he wound up finding time to chat up his fans. I enjoyed watching it and waving goodbye to John when he left. Eventually we made our way to Bry and the crowd thinned and I presented the bracelet, begging him not to laugh. Instead of laughter I got a wrist thrust at me and a "yes please." I think I just stared for a second before going "oh you want me to?" and then he nodded and said yes and I tried very hard not to focus on blushing and his hook tattoo (which hi, I love) while I tied it. He told me the last one he had had just fallen off and his wrist felt naked so he was glad to have the new one there, then pulled the knot tighter with his teeth.
I wound up in convos with Chris and Travis from EMB and got to be introduced to them and Bryan told them I came from far away and they got excited and we chatted a little. Bryan had a few things to take care of after a long moment and left us then came back again and I told him we had a bus to catch. I got a huge crushing hug and a promise that his plan was to make it to Atlanta by the end of the summer in some capacity. I promised that if he showed? I'd be there. I think he knew that though. Lots of thanks for coming again and I loved hearing him tell Heather it was a pleasure to meet her (that's what kind of guy he is).
Part of me wonders if this one was better than the other, but I can't decide. I loved both so much. He keeps getting better every time I see him. There's another show at the end of the month but that's probably not going to happen for me. Hopefully my Boston contingent will be there and send my love for me.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Chatting with Bryan
Early Morning Blues had an impromptu-ish acoustic show at Diesel in Boston. Needless to say I couldn't be there. Not with Cage the Elephant on Wednesday night and work on Friday. Random Thursday trips need at least a week of planning.
V, Rana and Colleen (V and Rana I met at EMB's show back in February, and Colleen is an online BLG fan buddy) were going which meant I had front row twitter/text updates. V kept me updated and even called me during "Never Leave" so I could hear it (died a little).
She texted me that if things went well after she'd have Bryan call. Right, well that'd be awesome, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Just tell him hi for me, tell him I'll see him in June and sure if he wants to talk to me then yeah, but why would he?
About an hour after being called to hear the song, the phone rings with V's name on it.
k: hey what’s up
Bry: hey Katy
k: oh! hey Bry
Bry: oh! you recognized my voice!
That's how it started. With him being surprised that I recognized his voice and him calling me by name. (He has a great speaking voice as well as singing voice. It's a shame he's not the chatty one in BLG). Really I've listened to the EMB EP about 50+ times. I think I was going to recognize it.
He said the show went well for a first acoustic show and said it’s okay that I wasn’t there, it happens. Which was sweet because it's not like I'm living down the street. We gushed about me being there in June. He asked if I was bringing Josh again. He hesitated on the relation ("your brother?") but remembered that I had brought him with me the first time. I thought that was just...really awesome.
My friends and I had talked a little about what he remembers, because he tweeted some girl who was asking if she should drive from Jersey in June to the show in Boston and told her that 'someone was coming from GA'. We (Rana and I) were surprised that he remembered, but he did and now...well he obviously remembers more than we thought. He remembers me not just some person.
He said he really appreciates me coming all that way to see him, that it means a lot. I babbled about it being worth it because they were cool and great and something else that was probably lame.
“You’ve got a lot of friends talking about you here. You’re really missed tonight.”
That made blurt that I felt special and I got a 'good' type assent in response. I had to wonder if he meant himself too, but that's pushing into fan girl territory that I don't need to be in right now. We talked about how it was just three weeks until the show, not long at all.
“I’ll see you soon.” See you soon too Bry.
V, Rana and Colleen (V and Rana I met at EMB's show back in February, and Colleen is an online BLG fan buddy) were going which meant I had front row twitter/text updates. V kept me updated and even called me during "Never Leave" so I could hear it (died a little).
She texted me that if things went well after she'd have Bryan call. Right, well that'd be awesome, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Just tell him hi for me, tell him I'll see him in June and sure if he wants to talk to me then yeah, but why would he?
About an hour after being called to hear the song, the phone rings with V's name on it.
k: hey what’s up
Bry: hey Katy
k: oh! hey Bry
Bry: oh! you recognized my voice!
That's how it started. With him being surprised that I recognized his voice and him calling me by name. (He has a great speaking voice as well as singing voice. It's a shame he's not the chatty one in BLG). Really I've listened to the EMB EP about 50+ times. I think I was going to recognize it.
He said the show went well for a first acoustic show and said it’s okay that I wasn’t there, it happens. Which was sweet because it's not like I'm living down the street. We gushed about me being there in June. He asked if I was bringing Josh again. He hesitated on the relation ("your brother?") but remembered that I had brought him with me the first time. I thought that was just...really awesome.
My friends and I had talked a little about what he remembers, because he tweeted some girl who was asking if she should drive from Jersey in June to the show in Boston and told her that 'someone was coming from GA'. We (Rana and I) were surprised that he remembered, but he did and now...well he obviously remembers more than we thought. He remembers me not just some person.
He said he really appreciates me coming all that way to see him, that it means a lot. I babbled about it being worth it because they were cool and great and something else that was probably lame.
“You’ve got a lot of friends talking about you here. You’re really missed tonight.”
That made blurt that I felt special and I got a 'good' type assent in response. I had to wonder if he meant himself too, but that's pushing into fan girl territory that I don't need to be in right now. We talked about how it was just three weeks until the show, not long at all.
“I’ll see you soon.” See you soon too Bry.
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