Serena in Stereo

Lifestyle and Music blog

[serenainstereo]

Black Veil Brides

I almost forgot to write this! Go me! Black Veil Brides actually falls into the category of bands that I had heard before this year but wanted to develop a firm stance on. I actually already own one of their albums.( I think it's the latest but don't quote me) I really like them, a lot. Generally, I am into more pop punk and indie pop type sort of stuff. But metal is classical music with electricity and who doesn't like classical music? Plus Andy's voice is amazing.

[serenainstereo]

Andy Black

So, when I set out on this challenged I don't know as I was fully aware of the fact that some of the acts on the list have,um, limited discographies. Case in point Andy Black. Water parks and Against the Current. Which makes things, unique in those situations. So, Andy Black's album Shadow Side has been on my radar since around the time it came out if not before. My opinions on Black Veil Brides will be posted on the internet tomorrow, for your reference. I really like the album. I feel like Andy's vocals are heard in a different light than they are in Black Veil Brides. I really like the sound of voice mixed with the 80's synth pop-rock instrumentals. I really like the album and am excited to see whee he goes in his solo career

[serenainstereo]

Story Untold

I am going to be knocking out some posts for the 43 bands challenge, I gave myself. But I am going to ease back into it.

So, Story Untold. I feel like in year or two they’re going to be a big deal in the scene. So, admittedly I am hoping I can do a the whole hair flip,”I’ve been listening to them since their EP” thing. In the meantime, I get to do the “I like this French-Canadian Pop Punk band, you’ve probably never herd of them. They haven’t put out an album out, yet”hair flip thing.

Their current sound clearly pulls influences from the likes of All Time Low. their first album is coming out, I am assuming, some point later this year. I am really excited to see where they go. I just felt like I needed to talk about them on here!

[serenainstereo]

Hey! Hi! I am not dead!

Sorry I haven’t posted in like fifty billion years, this thing called life came along and ate up all my time and motivation. But I am back new posts through the week! Since I am out of school for the next few months, there should be (in theory) more posts. Plus expect a concert diary coming to you before the summer is through!

[serenainstereo]

2017 Warped Tour line up

So I really debated writing this as I am not going. ( I had a choice between All Time Low and Warped Tour, figure it out) But I thought why the heck not.

Personally I don’t think its anything to write home about. If the concert ticket faries were to grant me tickets I would probably want to see Neck Deep and Bowling for Soup. But isn’t that the fun of Warped Tour? Checking out new bands that you have never heard of before?

That is the biggest regrets from Warped Tour last year. Not checking out new bands, and bands that I have never heard of before. But to each their own. What are your thoughts on Warped Tour line up this year?

[princesspete2028]

My Fall Out Boy Concert Experince

So this happened like a month ago and I am just now posting about it. Good job me! 🤗But there’s not really a due date on stuff like this right? Okay any way story time!

So I got tickets to see Fall Out Boy in Phoenix on March 25. Which was during the Wintour is coming tour. I got the tickets for my birthday in January. Which cool story. My mom could have easily just put them inside of an envelope but instead stuck them inside a vinyl copy of American Beauty/ American Psycho.

So I sadly don’t really live close to Phoenix. So they day before the concert we drove down. We got checked into our hotel, went and made dinner reservations at Hard Rock Cafe. Than we were walking around down town a bit. We were walking out of an Urban Outfitters to a Starbucks. I have a bit of problem of trying to walk into people. All of a sudden I realize that I have moving out of none other than Joe Throman’s way. It honestly took me a minute. He had sunglasses on, and my mind really wasn’t on look out for anyone. As we are waking by my mother starts elbowing me like isn’t that. And I am just like what the literal… As he is walking by, mind you this is all like a maybe three minute thing. He is taking to security about how he was at the Grove in LA with his daughter and there was this guy who came up to him, who was rude. Time to stop him and ask for a photo or something? Not than. Yeah not interrupting that conversation.

So that happened. The day of the concert was the next day. So being there was assigned seating we went and did stuff that morning. We were coming back from a mall in a different part of Phoenix and we came back a weird and different way from how we left. Suddenly my mother exclaims I see tour buses. I kid you not as we drove past these said tour buses, we saw none other than Pete Wentz getting on. He sorta like looked at our car too. Um, we proceeded to keep driving until we got to the next stoplight and than my mother and I both proceeded to scream.

So all of this and I haven’t gotten to the concert yet. The concert way amazing. Tip though if you see a huge line outside of a concert ask what it’s for. There was one merch table set up outside the venue and people were standing in it not realizing it wasn’t to get in. The whole concert was amazing. It was my first so I feel like your first is better than any others solely because it’s your first. Plus Fall Out Boy is basically my favorite of all time ever. Pvris was the first opening act. I only a little bit of their music I want to check out more sense seeing them live. They were great. Lynn Gunn said thank you after almost every song. At one point a bunch of people had there cell phone flash lights on. After that she fan girled a bit and was like no one has ever done that for us before thank you. It was also really fun because before their last song she was like who’s excited for Awolnation , than she whispers who’s excited for this little band you’ve probably never heard of called Fall Out Boy? Than she’s was said Fall Out Boy again even quieter. Both times everyone screamed the second time she was like there is no way any of you heard me. Than Awolnation came on. I had never heard them before. I thought that live would be a great way to get a taste of their music for the first time. Don’t do that. They had really crazy lights and honestly it was hard to hear them. I didn’t really like them. I my main problem was the lights.

Than finally was Fall Out Boy. Gah umm where do I begin. It was amazing. It’s one of things were I still can’t believe it happens it was so amazing. Like one of those things that’s so amazing you only really rennet the little things. So basically don’t expect play by play. I loved Save Rock and Roll live. I think Save Rock and Roll and the Phoenix both almost made me cry. Actually the whole thing almost made me cry. I am surprised I didn’t cry actually. But save Rock and Roll was amazing. I just remover the end when every one is just shouting. I fell in love Fall Out Boy because the music made feel like I wasn’t alone but in those moments it felt like the only people who mattered were me and them. The speeches that Pete Wentz made have really stuck with me. Before the Kids Aren’t Alright the speech started with hums asking how many people it was their first concert, how many their first Fall Out Boy concert. He talked about how cool it was to see a room full of so many kids because through out history the youth has the won. I think there was three speeches their might have been more but I remember three in detail. There was before Uma Thurman were Pete said for a lot of people it’s about Pulp fiction for me it was always about kill Bill. Patrick thinks we should name a song off the next album I don’t care what you think Ban Affelck makes a really fucking badass bat man. To which Patrick replied I don’t know about you but I haven’t seen that movie yet so how would I know. Pete than said this song for all the badasses out there. The final speech was is the one that has stuck with me the most. It’s the speech before Centuries. Pete stood center stage and said before someone built the first bicycle it was impossible to build a bicycle before Fall Out Boy existed it was impossible for Fall Out Boy to exist. We have created this culture that tells kids divergent thinking is wrong and if you try and you fail that’s it. I have I wanted to dunk a basket ball I could work at every day and eventually I will jump an inch higher. Your probably sitting there saying well that’s flawed logic because I am really short well fuck you I am the playing the sold out arena. Than centuries was played. At the end of the entire concert I remover Patrick tipped his hat. Gah.

So there my Fall Out Boy concert story. Sorry again it’s so late but life. The speech before centuries is my favorite and has really stuck with. I think I have thought about the whole experience in some way every day since. But in particular the Centuries speech. I want to eventually be a music journalist. I want to write for Alternative press. There are people who doubt me. That speech so sorta told me that I can do it. Just because something seems impossible doesn’t mean it is. Don’t let people tell what you can do. The whole experience and trip reassured me I was on the right track. The odds aligned perfectly for that so odds that I am perfectly in control in can align even better.

If you read all this you are amazing and deserve a cookie. Rock on you!🤘

[serenainstereo]

Throwback to that time a year ago when I saw Fall Out Boy!

[serenainstereo]

PVRIS

Something  didn’t quite realize about this 43 band challenge is that some of the bands on the list only have like one album. Like PVRIS.

It’s odd how even though my first concert was Fall Out Boy, the first band I saw live was PVRIS. As they were the opening act for Wintour. They were great live. I would see them live again in heart beat.

I think they talked about putting out a new album out this year. There’s no release date or singles yet but I already plan on pre-ordering it.

Te y have a great 80′s synth pop kind of sound, that I love. I love Lynn’s voice. I love the song Mirrors. I also kind just want to hang out with Lynn but that’s a different post...

9/10

For Fans of; 80′s inspired indie pop/rock

[serenainstereo]

Kill the Boy Band

by Goldy Moldavsky (a review)

I read a book this week! That was’t for school! And it was really good!

Kill the Boy Band popped up on my radar via my Tumblr dash about a year ago. I finally just got around to reading it... 

Seriously thought this book is so good I read it in a day.

It is a really great young adult book. I love how it explores the worlds of fandoms, internet friends, internet culture in general, fan girls, boy bands and idol worship. Along with Tumblr and fan fiction.

This book also has killer plot twists. And a possible jab at/ allusion to Fall Out Boy. Just, probably don’t read this book if you are a major One Direction stan, as the book clearly parodies them.

It is an amazing debut novel! It quite killer honestly!

[serenainstereo]

A Week with All time Low

 I really wish that this was a post about how I spent a week with All Time Low….. but it’s not. I only feel like I have spent a week with All Time Low.

So, last Friday Rian Dawson and Cassadee Pope announced their engagement! So, congratulations are in order for them!

Then, Sunday came around. Which looked a lot like me liking photos that looked like blank pieces of paper. Which lead to Monday, with video clips and more photos. Tuesday, more videos and the announcement that Jack and Alex will NOT be hosting the 2017 APMAS. Which makes me happy because at this point they have literally hosted half of them. Wednesday, more videos. Thursday, more videos and the announcement of a new song on Friday.

So, Friday the world made sense again. Dirty Laundry, was released with an accompanying video. The song is a bit more pop for All Time Low. But, while it is exploring a new sound for the band, it still fits within their discography. It still feels like an All Time Low song.

I am intrigued what the rest of the album will sound like. This is one song of a full length album. I am also excited that the band is now on the Fueled By Ramen label that has some other big names within the scene such as Twenty One Pilots. 

So what are your thoughts about this new direction for All Time Low? I would love to ear your thoughts!

[serenainstereo]

The 2017 Grammy's

I don't even know where to start. I don't watch a lot of mainstream music award shows. I listen to rock, and within that, alternative rock and even more specific Warped Tour stuff. I watch mainstream music stuff and just kinda sit there and go "This is what the kids are into?". The best part about the entire show for me is when they showed none other than John Feldman for 2.5 seconds at the end. (There's being a music nerd and then there's having a favorite music producer level of being a music nerd) The thing that really bugs me with award shows is the fact the present so many awards a head of time and of screen. The one award I was watching was whatever cat agony it was that Panic! at the Disco, Weezer and Blink-182 were all up against each other in(Rock something or other) I believe I have read that Cage the Elephant won. ( Elephant nerd here, like maybe don't cage the elephant?) What's the point of valuing it as an award show if it's just a concert? Cut half the performances and present more awards! I saw pictures. Brendan Urie wins the award for best dressed. And Cassadee Pope and Rian Dawson have single handily ruined my expectations of my possible future Grammy weekends (Dear future guy, hi if we have been dating from anywhere from two years to let's say scene like the aforementioned couple and I am nominated for a Grammy and you don't proposed to me the Friday of Grammy weekend, be warned I might be ticked. Also be warned the my mother will probably be my Grammy date so just be a ware dude) I love James Corden. Him and his parents are the best. How much would it cost to have him host every important event in my life? It really nice to know that my ambitious goal in life boils to wearing a really fancy dress whilst sitting in a folding chair. I could write entire essays on my confusion over Twenty One Pilots. They took their pants off. Which just is confusing. Not only that Josh and Tyler's wife (I know enough to know they are married but not enough to know her name but I am sure it's a great name) coordinated his hair and her dress. Is Tyler Joseph that guy with five million high liters when the teacher says to annotate something? Like seriously! I don't understand why Beyonce is such a if deal. I am just not a fan of her work. It was a bit of a Beyonce fest. Enough said. Adele seems so nice. She honestly just seems happy to be included. And I loved it when she started over her George Michael tribute, and apologized profusely swearing. There were a lot of tributes this year. And I have to agree with the person I was watching with if you weren't alive when someone was popular, never worked or haven't spoken in great lengths on how you are a huge fan of someone, you don't get to the tribute. The one memorial thing is different but not the tributes. But that's just my thoughts! I would love to know what you thought!

[serenainstereo]

The Maine

Sometimes, I will admit, that I start listening to bands for stupid reasons, and the same goes for not listening to them. In The Maine’s case, when I found out that they weren’t actually from the state of Maine I was quite pissed. Seriously, to the point of everything they did low key irritated me.

It was one of those things where I must of heard Girls Do What They Want somewhere and liked it. Than scoffed it off, as one off those one off good songs from a not so great bands. 

But than I discovered the YouTube channel that is PaigeBackstage. I love Paige. I want to be Paige. I want to be friends with Paige. And Paige likes The Maine. (She was also in the state right next door to mine for 8123 fest. ) So I gave I deiced to give it a try after watching her The Maine Tag video. 

And well, I liked it.... a lot more than I thought I might. It’s something about John’s voice. That just feels like I have been listening to them forever. Honestly I kinda just want to be a girl in a The Main song at this point.

9/10 would recommend ( Clarification here, how many people I would recommend this too. I will probably only include this for bands that I like)

For Fans of; Panic! at the Disco (for similar 70′s inspired sounds)

[serenainstereo]

The Summer Set

I am finally getting around to actually posting about my progress with the 43 band challenge! Some progress has been made! Whoa! Whoa!

The Summer! I saw on them last summer at Warped Tour and wasn’t blown away with the stage antics. I have recently seen video of them on stage at their own shows ad it seemed better. So I am still really open to seeing them live again.

Of the bands in the challenge they are probably the one I came into this knowing the best. There was one whole day the only thing I listened to was The Summer Set. It was great. There’s tons of pop-rock bands out there. Goods ones, can be hard to come by.

The Summer Set has great lyrically content and a unique and evolving sound. 

8/10 would recommend

For Fans of; 5 Seconds of Summer

[serenainstereo]

Broadside

So in my last post I said I was going to be listening to those 43 bands, forming opinions and posting about it. Right now you may or may not be questioning the title of this because Broadside was not on the list. Summary of the story. I had the lyrics to the chorus of Coffee Talk stuck in my head. The scary thing is I don't know how it got there. All I can figure is Broadside was at Warped Tour last year, I was at Warped Tour last year maybe I picked it up then. But even that may not be true. Only me would have a list of bands to listen to and than find another random one to listen to. Any way, back to Broadside. For some reason I thought they would be heavier, maybe it was the name. I would same they fill into pop-punk. Maybe leaning a bit more to the punk side than the pop side. Their lyrics are inspiration and narrative. They are relatable but in a way that is confronting and yet not a downer. Their vocalist's voice is unique, but yet would be appealing to a variety of audiences. Their music videos are also packed with personality. I haven't seen any interviews yet, but if I find any you can bet the lady pizza slice that I will be watching. Their last album is also their debut. Old Bones was released in 2015. So it is entirely possible we could be seeing new music from them this year. Overall, I am excited to see where this band goes. At this point I don't feel the need to rush out and but the album, watch every interview and buy every tee shirt. But I defiantly want to see where they go. And you can bet that if they are on Warped Tour this year I may just have to check out their set.

[serenainstereo]

New Year's Resolutions

Everyone makes them. No one keeps them. Except I am going to call this a challenge for the year so it’s not a resolution so I think I will accomplish it.

Behold the 43 Bands in 2017 challenge.

Let me explain. I assume if you game that you have a list of games that you are dying to play but haven’t gotten to yet. If you read I know you have to a list of books. I am a music nerd (duh, it’s just kind of obvious). I have a list of bands and artists that I have been meaning to give the old college try.

It all started really when I signed up for Spotify. I thought it would help this epidemic, but no it has taken an epidemic and turned into horrible tragedy. Thus the 43 bands and artists on my Spotify that I have never really listened to.

Who are they you might ask? (I also hope to learn how to spell all of these at some point) Blink-182, A Day To Remember, Andy Black, As It Is, Against the Current, Avril Lavigne, Black Veil Brides, Bring Me the Horizon, Cassadee Pope, Fleetwood Mac, Green Screen Kids, Halsey, Kacey Musgraves, Man Overboard, Mayday Parade, Moose Blood, Motionless in White, NeckDeep, New Politics, New Years Day, State Champs, Foo Fighters, Good Charlotte, Pierce the Veil, Sleeping with Sirens, Stevie Nicks, The 1975, The Maine, The Wonder Years, Weezer, The Summer Set, PVRIS, Tonight Alive, The Pretty Reckless, Nirvana, Waterparks, We are the in Crowd, Yellowcard, With Confidence, You Me at Six, Frank Ireo and SWMRS.

Some these I have listened and may want and or own albums but I just feel like I need to listen to them more before get that new album.

You probably thinking, “Well that’s nice have fun”. But no.*laughs evilly* I am going to listen to all this over the next fifty some odd weeks and post about it.

This knocks two things off of the resolution list, these bands and posting regularly on here! ( May not help with clearing off the iTunes wish list, especially when I have favorite bands putting out albums….. Sigh)

[serenainstereo]

Revolution Radio by Green Day

Pop quiz name that band that was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 by Fall Out Boy and just put out their 12th studio album?

Well if you couldn’t guess by the title than you’re an idiot. And not in a good way.

Dookie and American Idiot are both often thought of as being genre and generation defining. And Revolution Radio could be as well.

Revolution Radio is supposed to be like the mind of a mass shooter. In some ways I get it because it’s slow and than fast. It’s kind of all over the bored. But at the same time I don’t see it. The first three or so song it’s really stand through for me. But after that I don’t see it.

And can someone tell I am not crazy and that the solo in Still Breathing sounds extremely similar to the part in Homecoming where the lyrics “nobody like you they’re all out without you having fun” are heard?

I really like this album. I could easily listen to it on repeat. And I pretty much have.

[serenainstereo]

In response to Alternative Press,

Me and AP have recently gained a complicated note to our relationship. And let’s just say this helping.

Today Alternative Press published an article about why bands shouldn’t skip small towns. Cleverly entitled “Dear bands, don’t skip small towns” or something along those lines.

I was kinda stopped in my tacks just reading the title. As I read further I learned that the author is from Fargo, North Dakota. I have heard of Fargo, North Dakota and I assume most people have. And while it is not top in my list of vacation destinations it’s not exactly small.

Mind this is how small my town is. I have been getting my hair cut by the same women for like five years now. Her mom was my elementary school librarian. They go to church with my orthodontist and my dental hygienist ( they do not work in the same office). I went to school with my orthodontist’s daughter. I could go on. It just gets worse from there.

I hate it when people say “ I am from the middle of nowhere ” only to find out by nowhere they mean a suburban area of a major city, or a city that most people have heard of. I live in the middle nowhere you live a little to right of somewhere.

Bands, your where ever you feel like. Because this small town girl will travel for good music.

I drove eight hours for my first concert. I drove three hours for Warped Tour. Yeah would I love to not have to do that? Yes. But it’s also part of those stories and experiences. If the bands I loved or even Warped tour where I lived I would get nervous. I was beyond confused when I read that Escape the Fate was going to be I my town.

I don’t like Escape the Fate. I am not going to see them. I am more than willing to travel for what I love. Instant gratification doesn’t mean it’s better.

Yes, not everyone can afford to travel. But concerts should be treated like Disneyland, a special experience in my opinion. And in both cases being there all time makes it lose the charm.

At time my favorites bands haven’t even toured to my state. I have been forced to skip or travel. I have skipped so many concerts it’s not funny. But they where in my country. At least I don’t live in Europe where I could complain about a band not coming to my country.

Dear bands, Tour where lever you please whenever you please and just keep being you. I love you and am willing to travel

[serenainstereo]

If you have been on the music portion of the Internet anytime in the past week, than you will know, even if it’s just vaguely, that last Thursday Niall Horan released a song. I know the horror. The universe is scheduled to end promptly tomorrow at 4.

Okay, I like One Direction’s music. At this point not enough to buy an album, but I like it. I have however never understood their fans, I fact they kinda scare me.

I could go on a rant about that if asked. But I have not been asked so I will not go on a rant. So I will instead speak only about This Town.

First of all the title sounds like a pop punk song, it in no way is a pop punk song. It is however as beautiful as an acoustic version of an All Time Low song. And I love acoustic versions of All Time Low songs more than certain family members.

The song is about unrequited lost love. Which to begin with is a beautiful string of words. It is clear Niall is taking to a girl about he used to be with but is no longer. She has moved on but he is still left with an unrequited infatuation for her.

I love Niall’s voice. It is able to shine on its on in a way it was never able to in One Direction. I love how simple the song is. It’s just him and a guitar. I want to buy whatever album this will be on. I want to buy it on vinyl. And I want to buy it now.