Neon Trees Lit Up the Night

Something told me I should go see Neon Trees at the Cannery Ballroom....but I wasn't sure why.

Their radio hits had intrigued me enough to look them up on Spotify, where I overplayed the record again and again. But was I sold? Sure, as a recorded artist.

But anyone who sounds that phenomenal on a record....usually leaves me disappointed in person. And I'm an idealistic person, so I don't appreciate the let-down. I prefer for my musical gods to stay gods. Ignorance is bliss. 

Needless to say, I gambled my love for the band as I headed down to the Cannery on a buzzing night.

I apparently headed a little bit late, missing the opening JJamz, with rock stars like James Valentine and Rilo Kiley leading the line up on the group. I hear they were great, though, if that's any consolation.

Penguin Prison was the second act with a techno-meets-club sound matched with interesting albeit excellent vocals. The lead singer owned the crowd like he himself was the headliner. Nashville on a Saturday night is kind of hard to impress, as this is Music City after all, and half the crowd were musicians themselves. Nevertheless, Mr. Penguin had the whole audience bouncing and dancing to his beats. It was a rare sight, indeed, to watch everyone eat up the opener in this town like they did.

Penguin Prison Lead Singer with their Album

 It goes without saying that the crowd was properly amped for the main entree by the time the rock stars hit the stage. I have been to thousands of shows, especially working in the music industry and traveling to catch different concerts across the country.

And I never been this impressed.

I always have loved those final few moments before the headliner hits the stage, and the crowd’s electricity overcomes the room. The anticipation is thick, and the energy helps feed the band as they enter the stage. This was no exception. In fact, I hadn’t seen a crowd this excited in a long time. Not knowing what to expect, I could tell that there was something great about to happen musically.
Tyler Glenn, the lead singer of Neon Trees, is an undiscovered legend. He owned that stage in a way that I could only imagine up-and-coming superstars did in their infancy. It felt like an arena show but in the intimate setting of the Cannery. He interacted with the crowd, walking with his sultry strut across the stage and talking of love, fame, and sex. In his leather pants and yellow shirt, he mesmerized the nearly sold-out crowd.

Highlights for me were “Your Surrender” and hard-rocking “Sins of My Youth.” I couldn’t get over the vocals in his piano-only stripped down version of “Your Surrender.”

The crowd danced and screamed their way through the set. NT finished the set with their first smash, “Animal.” You almost couldn’t hear Tyler over the roaring crowd. When they left the stage, the audience yelled and cheered their way into an encore.

NT came out to do two more songs, ending the entire night with their newest hit, “Everybody Talks.”
It was a religious kind of music experience, where you leave changed and hopeful about where music is going. If this real and very talented band out of Provo, Utah, can make it, music still has a future.
Everybody should talk….about this band.

Colbie Caillat & Andy Grammer

So if Jason Mraz and John Mayer had a musical love child, it would indeed be Mr. Andy Grammer.

When the Los Angeles-bred musician hit the stage, I wasn't expecting much. Maybe it was the overwhelming amount of people smushed into a tiny area in front of an outdoor stage.....maybe it was the pain my feet were feeling from standing for three hours before he came on....or maybe it was the tall guy in front of me who was like a brick wall. You know, the kind you can't see through.

This was one of the few times I was happy to be wrong.

Andy isn't your typical performer. With a fresh-faced optimism in his face, songs, and moves, you can't help but smile. This isn't your momma's inspirational junk. This is a city boy with big dreams and apparently an even bigger voice.

Andy Grammer at Tin Roof Backstage Concert Series

And he comes Taylor Swift-approved too. After darting off the stage from an A+ performance, he dueted with the princess of pop country at Bridgestone Area. Check out the video here:

Who can follow up an opening act that rocks that hard? Colbie Caillat, of course.

She has such a cool energy and aura on stage, radiating a peace that even Bob Marley would have been jealous of. Stunning, tall as a giant, and with vocals that soothe the soul, she actually brought me to misty eyes during a couple of her heart-wrenching slow songs.

I'm pretty convinced she's the link we've been missing when pursuing world peace. How can anyone feel anything but bubbly after hearing her sing "Bubbly?"

Colbie Caillat at Tin Roof Backstage Concert Series

Studio produced, she is not. The real deal can be found here. Perfect concert pairing. Amazing evening with two very talented and bright stars.

"Keep Your Head Up" for Andy Grammer. He's going to be the next big thing.

The Fray in Nashville

The Fray at Whiskey Jam

What's there to do in Nashville on a Monday night? See the Fray at Winner's Bar on Division Street, that's what. The Fray dropped into local's favorite Monday night activity, Whiskey Jam, to play four of their songs.

And man....they blew me away.

For a Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum huge artist like this to step onto a small bar's stage and sing their hearts out for a crowd that was eating up every moment was so humbling. This is a group that's in it for the music. 

They weren't getting paid. There was zero publicity behind it. There was a microphone, a guitar, and a packed bar of music lovers that relished the entire set. Watch a clip here:

Yet the Fray played as though they were playing for one of their sold-out crowds of thousands. Lead singer Isaac Slade's energy radiated through the place as he delivered some of the best vocals I've ever heard live. He actually sounded better than the album.

Ben Wysocki of the Fray and Me

I already had tickets to see the boys at the Ryman the next night....and it was also spectacular. They really are something to see live. Musically, they are so tight. Lyrically, they are a dream. And vocally, it's mesmerizing.

Isaac of the Fray at the Ryman Auditorium

In conclusion, go see these guys if you ever get the chance. They perform like legends and act like humble sweethearts. A+ in every category.

Femme Fetale - Britney Spears & Nicki Minaj Show Review

 The Femme Fetale tour hit Nashville on July 18, just this past Monday night.

Britney Spears - Bridgestone Arena - July 18, 2011

Jessie and the Toy Boys opened the show. What could be the love child of Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, she puts on a pretty great show. Fantastic dancer, catchy songs, and a great little show overall. 

Nicki Minaj took the stage like only a star could. The arena suddenly turned into a live club as everyone danced to the beat and hands were up all over the huge venue. I wasn't particularly into the "plot line" of the show, as I found it unnecessary and a little cheesy.

Nicki Minaj - Bridgestone Arena - July 18, 2011

Nicki owned the stage. She shined on her hits like "Moment for Life" (even if she was missing Drake) and "Superbass." Next year, I wouldn't be surprised if Nicki wasn't headlining her own arena tour. My only complaint? Her set seemed really short, which may have just been a sign of how great it was.

With a 45 minute delay between Nicki and Britney, my friend and I took the time to walk around the arena for a few to observe the crowd. Lots of "Baby...One More Time" school girl outfits, tons of pink hair wigs, and lots of street corner outfits that perhaps were an interpretation of the sexiness Britney conveys. They all represented one thing-- Britney was still the princess of pop.

She promptly took the stage at 9:15, and I was shocked to see how...well...great she looked. It was almost like rewinding in time to see the Britney where the lights were all on and she could dance again. It was almost as though the crazy shaved head girl never existed. And the crowd seemed to agree.

The production was incredible. There was a plot line (yet again, kind of hard to follow and pointless), acrobats, dancing everywhere, boats, cars, motorcycles, Egyptian pyramids, Britney with angel wings flying....the whole nine yards.

Britney Spears with Kenny Britt

She pulled up Tennessee Titan Kenny Britt (who's in a bit of his own trouble these days) and gave him the lap dance of a lifetime. That was kind of comical.

Brit Brit's still got it, whatever that "it" is. She embodies a seasoned entertainer who the crowd still loves.

Long live the queen.

Check out more pictures from the show here:

Femme Fatale Tour - Nashville - July 18, 2011

Spotify: Changing the Music Industry One Song at a Time

Spotify.

This music service is set to change everything here in the US. It's like Limewire or Napster (in the olden days) but....legal.

And free.

Wait, free? Yep.

Unlimited streaming of a music catalogue that appears to have only left out the usuals: the Beatles, AC/DC, etc. It's available by invite only currently in the US for the free streaming but they are offering their $4.99 subscription/per month for unlimited music openly. The premiere subscription leaves out the ads, which you get about once every 25 minutes (think 5-6 songs) when streaming with the free edition. It's barely noticeable, and certainly doesn't bother me enough to make me pay to leave out a few harmless seconds of advertising.

It's revolutionary. It's like having everything available on iTunes....but for free. All the time.

What's the catch? There isn't one. All the major record labels have signed on. They're getting paid. The artists are getting paid. Everyone leaves happy at the end of the day. (Well, maybe not happy, but that's the nature of the beast.)

Get your free invite here (Coca-Cola has started a brilliant partnership with them): http://bit.ly/GetYaSpotifyGrooveOn

Taylor Swift Help Now, Speak Now Dress Rehearsal

When Taylor Swift announced her Speak Now, Help Now dress rehearsal open to the public to benefit the tornado victims in Alabama, I knew I had to go. All the profits from the tickets were benefiting those affected by the storms, so it was a great cause. And getting to see my beloved Miss Swift was most certainly an added bonus.

Say what you will-- and many of you will-- I believe Taylor Swift to be one of the greater entertainers of this generation. Note I didn't say vocalist or powerhouse. Entertainer.


Each great female entertainer from Madonna to Lady Gaga has brought something different to the table. But in those differences from the rest of the musical crowd at that time brought similarities between each of the greats. Mostly rooted in sexual prowess and pushing the limits in such categories, these superstars were born out of talent, edginess, and groundbreaking stances on taboo subjects from sexuality to homosexuality.

This is where Miss Swift distinguishes herself. She has reached the pinnacle of success only seen by a few before her, but she hasn't had to sell anything but songwriting and a dream of princes, princesses, and fairytales to a group of eager young women's ears.

I attended the show in wristband VIP section where I was, to quote "Sparks Fly," "close enough to touch" the country princess. I watched in amazement as fireworks burst during "Dear John," acrobats swung from the ceiling, breezing across the stage in ease, dancers popped out of the stage into the air, and finally, Taylor ascended upon her flock of admirers in a flying thing-a-madooie.

I felt like an 8 year old at the circus as I watched wide-eyed at all the amazing attractions going on. The show is extensive with so much careful planning gone into it, and yet it goes so seamlessly, with Miss Swift leading her army to victory each night of the tour.

My only complaint? You can barely hear Swift over the overzealous crowd singing each and every word to her songs. Perhaps it was a faulty sound situation on this particular night, but at times I struggled to hear her over the many voices that filled Bridgestone Arena.

I'm not usually overly impressed by arena shows, as they just feel too large to be intimate with the artist. I prefer smaller venues to see my favorite artists. But in this case, Bridgestone almost seemed too small to house the show that was bigger than its body. She made everyone feel welcome and appreciated and yet somehow managed to keep that star power lit brightly that sets her so far apart from the audience. It's a balance Swift has learned to perfect, and that balance has proven to be a big selling point for her fans.

Taylor Swift at Bridgestone Arena on May 21, 2011

 

 

 

This show was one of the highlights of the summer, and I highly recommend seeing it if you have any interest in Swift at all. Great show. Excellent performance. Visually a dream.

Katy Isn't the Only Talented Perry

The Band Perry have been rising in their acclaim here in Music City over the past year, but I hadn't really had the chance to hear them live until CMA Fest at the nightly LP Field show. They played the same night as heavyweights Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, and Taylor Swift. You would think amidst all that star power, the freshman band would get lost in the shuffle.

Not even close.

Kimberly Perry, the rambunctious and beautiful blonde that steers this Perry ship to stardom, owned the stage as though she and her band of brothers were the main attraction. 

"As I Die Young," proved to be a crowd favorite over the evening, as the football stadium of people sang it sweetly with the young crooner. An eruption of excitement took over as they broke into their latest hit, "You Lie."

Not a believer before this night, I was impressed. I thought they were some gimmick band that Big Machine had thrown on the roster to be a cookie cutter act. But here they were, with a totally different sound from anything I had ever heard with her vocals piercing through the night.

So I did what any potential convert would do. I decided to investigate further before crossing over to the dark side. I bought the album to paint the bigger picture the very next day.

And that's when my like shifted to love.

The Band Perry's debut album brings a freshness to the genre I personally haven't encountered in a long time. Their sound is completely unique, just as every great star before them has been. Miss Perry floats through the songs with a country voice that has just the right warmth to it. The lyrics are distinctly stylistic of someone who hasn't been told what to write or what general pattern works. They sound genuine and moving.

"Postcard from Paris" is an absolute album gem, comparing her pining over a man and anything other than him being "a postcard from Paris when I've seen the real thing." Other stand outs (besides the obvious first 3 hit singles) on the album include "Double Heart," "Walk Me Down the Middle," and "Miss You Being Gone."

And moving 52K copies the first week of release, I'm guessing I'm not alone in my love for this new band. Within four months of the release, it was certified gold and was the best selling debut album from a new country act last year.

If you like country music or just good music in general....check out these new kids on the block.