Count To Four

Meet the band:
Mike Hayden: Vocals/Guitar
Jay Miller: Guitar/Backing vocals
Neale DiMento: Bass/Backing Vocals
Pete Adams: Drums

"Pop punk is all about growing up, and we try to capture all the emotions, positive and negative, that go along with it.  I think that's what makes it relatable...in the end, it's music, it's expression. We do this because we love it, and none of us would want to be doing anything else."

Count To Four is an aggressive pop punk band hailing from south New Jersey with a talent for catchy yet mature lyrics, banging guitar riffs and an apparent love of Pokemon and mustaches.  The band formed in early 2010 but some of the guys (Mike and Pete) have been writing music together since high school.  After spending some time perusing their Facebook page, watching random videos- my favorite would have to be the Warped 2011 video, for some reason or another I thoroughly enjoy watching band guys mess with each other on long van rides- I have a couple of observations; is there some kind of unwritten rule that guys in bands must constantly be half naked?  Not that I really mind that none of you ever wear shirts but still, and Jay what did you do to deserve being dubbed 'the one that every hates on'?  I really liked your pink sunglasses and the fact that your goal for the next 10 years is to create a real life, living Pokemon, and that awesome sunburn- wow, you've got some serious sex appeal (that is only half way sarcastic, just saying). 

One thing is for sure when it comes to Count To Four, they all have drastically different musical taste and influences but their styles meld in the most perfect way, creating a unique sound the goes above and beyond that of many bands that conform the the craziness that is the pop punk genre.  Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World are 2 bands that I constantly find on the list of musical influences, but the guys in Count To Four also mentioned bands like Pierce The Veil, Fall Out Boy, August Burns Red, As I Lay Dying (one of my favorite Pandora stations), Thrice, Bruce Springsteen, and Meatloaf.  Although they dream about sharing the stage with their favorite bands, realistically they'd love to tour with their friends Close To Home, "just awesome people, in an awesome band."

Count To Four is releasing their first full length album this May called Between Two Cities, recorded with the help of Matt Dalton (I See Stars, Craig Owens (my soulmate), For The Fallen Dreams, These Hearts etc), and will be touring April-August in support of it- guys if you book a show in the sunshine state, I'm so down, and if you send me one of those AWESOME purple mustache stickers I will proudly display it on my little white S.U.V. and spam the shit out of it on my Twitter. :-)

To Like Count To Four on Facebook click here

To Follow @CountToFour on Twitter click here

Uh Huh Baby Yeah!

Meet the band:
Kevin Fletcher: Vocals
Sean Smith: Drums
John Braboy: Guitar
Joe Brock: Guitar
Ryan Matthews: Bass

Can I just start by saying that this band has maybe the best name ever?!  I really can't explain why I love it so much, aside from the fact that it has punctuation and it just makes me smile.  As per my usual routine, after they started following me on Twitter, I scurried over to youtube to catch a few videos and see what they were all about.  I knew I was in love when I watched Kevin rant and rave (laced with profanities) about the lack of alcohol in central Pennsylvania (a man after my own heart, ha).  Not to mention, the name of their debut album Till Death Do Us Party is basically my motto for life, I'm not sure what all of that says about me but who cares?

Uh Huh Baby Yeah! is a dance/rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.  Their "catchy, soulful, party music," laden with fun hooks, rock and roll lyrics, and guitar riffs that make me wish I knew how to play-gave me the same awesome feeling I get when I listen to Anarbor.  It's rock and roll for the sake of rock and roll, its get off your ass and dance, its quite literally Till Death Do Us Party, and its absolute perfection. 

When asked how long they have been playing and writing music Kevin told me, "we've all been playing music since the womb, we came out doing what we do."  Easy to imagine when you hear the raw passion and talent  showcased in each and every song off their album- the self titled track and New Squeeze are my favorites.  They named bands like The Cab, Head Automatica (obsessed), The Audition, The Used, and Micheal Jackson as some of their main musical influences.  The guys find inspiration and motivation in their friends, families, and fans; and boast "Booze, Bros, and Broads" as their band mission and interest.  I'm in love with the attitude on these guys, the carefree yet passionate lifestyle is so much like my own that I just can't get over it. 

Uh Huh Baby Yeah! not only won the Hard Rock Battle of the Bands contest for their region last year, with the help of a "gnarly" cover of Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer," but also boasts a double win in the Ernie Ball Warped Tour Battle of the Bands.  They have played with acts such as Senses Fail, Hawthorne Heights, From Autumn to Ashes, and Armor for sleep; but when asked who they would most like to share the stage with they answered "Micheal Jackson, hands down."  So guys, can any of you moonwalk?! ha.

The guys of Uh Huh Baby Yeah! released their debut album Till Death Do Us Party with the help of their label Little Heart Records and have been touring in support of it, all the while writing some new "angsty and a hell of a lot more aggresive" jams for an EP they hope to release this year.

To check out a demo of their new song "Whores Will Be Whores" click here

To like them on Facebook click here

To follow @uhhuhbabyyeah on Twitter click here

To VOTE for Uh Huh Baby Yeah! in the Ernie Ball Warped Tour Battle of the Bands click here, and don't forget once you register you can vote ONCE A DAY.  They've had my vote more than a couple of times :-)

Kids These Days

Meet the band:
Eric Goldhahn- Lead Vocals/Guitar (and apparently never turns his headlights on)
Dave Pritsky-Guitar/Vocals (doesn't eat bacon)
Korey Ottmuller-Bass/Vocals (never wears a shirt)
Dan Morgan- Drums (never covers his calves)

I enjoyed this bands Facebook page way too much, hence the inclusion of those random facts in parenthesis, they made me giggle as I was typing this. 

So here's the story: One morning a few weeks ago, my little sister Lindsay (when I say it like that she seems like she's actually little when in fact she's 20 and at least 5 inches taller than me) was staying with me for the weekend to go to a concert (Anarbor, The Downtown Fiction, Mayday Parade).  As with most mornings, I woke up and immediately checked Twitter to see that Kids These Days tweeted something about a free t-shirt in exchange for people writing reviews of their new EP "Manifest Destiny."  I jumped at the chance for 2 reasons: 1. I enjoy writing about bands and I genuinely enjoy their music. 2. Free t-shirt is always the best motivation (I no longer care about this fact at all, but the recent college graduate in me jumps at the chance for anything free.)

Kids These Days is a pop-punk/easycore band from South New Jersey whose music brought me right back to my early college years when I use to JAM OUT in the car to Punchline and Say Anything.  The guys have been into music ever since they can remember.  Dan began taking drum lessons at a young age, stuck with it all throughout middle and high school, and started playing in rock bands at the age of 15.  When Dave was 13 he received a hand me down electric guitar from his dad and taught himself how to play. 

I'm dying to learn how to play guitar, but I highly doubt that I could EVER teach myself how, even though it seems that so many people get started this way!  Frankly I find it unfair, ha.

The guys of Kids These Days named bands from The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, to Green Day and Weezer, to Bayside and Say Anything as their musical influences.  Dave says "Their lyrical writing abilities alone are stellar and they make great use of metaphors and writing techniques that aren't exactly the cookie cutter cliches that most songwriters use in their songs," of Max Bemis (Say Anything) and Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day).  They find inspiration in things like friends and family, nights out, and success- they say they write the best when they are having the most fun.  This is perfection:

"My personal motivation is that I just want to do something not to many people get to do.  I don't necessarily want fame, but I at least want to hit the road and know that I made some people happy with music.  Everyone has a chance to grow up and have a career and a family, but while we're still young I want to try to do something exciting and different."

As with every email I send, I asked the guys what their favorite band was, their answers warmed my heart.  The bands they named were Bayside, New Found Glory, Green Day, and Thrice.  Dave chose Green Day and said "I've always respected the fact that with every album they grew a little more than the last.  Some people call it selling out but I think that's bullshit, you have to grow or else you're obviously not learning anything."  Dan chose Thrice as his favorite because "they're incredible musicians and cross so many genres at once, they play in different keys and times, but still write great lyrics, catchy and heavy stuff all at once." 

 I loved EVERY SINGLE track on Manifest Destiny, my 2 favorites being On My Way and Fools Like Me.  Each song is made up of awesomely relatable lyrics set to melodies that make you want to turn the volume all the way up, jump on your bed, and play your best air guitar (at least that was my reaction).

"We're just 4 dudes who try to write music with no gimmicks; just 2 guitars, bass, and drums; making music that we like and hope other people will too!"  Guys, you're on the right track, I haven't stopped listening to your EP since I picked it up.

To like Kids These Days on Facebook click here

To follow @KidsthesedaysNJ on Twitter click here

To pick up their EP Manifest Destiny click here
     seriously, do it, it's worth the $5.94 many times over.

Big Cartel: www.ktdpoppunk.com

Band Camp: www.ktdpoppunk.bandcamp.com
 

Assemble The Skyline

Meet the band:
Austin Hayman: Lead Guitar/Vocals
Max Waller: Vocals/Bass
Luke Boor: Vocals/Guitar
Nick Jordan: Drums

Okay, are guys in bands 100 times sexier purely because they make music?  I think the answer might be yes, although my musical obsession probably makes me biased but who knows; either way I find a member of Assemble The Skyline pretty damn sexy, (I'm sorry but sometimes things just need to be said).

Assemble The Skyline is a band from Los Angeles, California that plays their rock/pop music to the vein of Jimmy Eat World, Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard, John Mayer, and Blink 182- their musical influences.  The guys started playing music together in early 2009; From all over the United States (California, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma) they met at Musicians Institute, a music school in LA and clicked from the start.  "We haven't had any other members since we started this band, partially because besides bandmates, we're all best friends."

The guys of Assemble The Skyline find inspiration in the ups and downs they have faced in relationships and experiences they've been through as a band.  When asked who they would most like the share the stage with, their answer "Blink 182, they are kind of the father figure band of our generations pop/rock/punk scene.  They are as big as it gets in the scene and have successfully gone from a goofy pop/punk band aimed at teenagers to a mature rock band that is relatable to all ages."  I couldn't have said it better myself.

Austin talked about the Goo Goo Dolls and John Mayer as two of his favorites because of their raw, basic, and genuine writing.  There is nothing flashy needed to make perfect music and if you listen to their song "We're Not Going Down Without A War," you might just get that same feeling.

To spend some time browsing their music videos, "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" is a must, Click here.

To Follow @WeAreATS on twitter Click here

To Like Assemble The Skyline on Facebook Click here

To Vote for Assemble The Skyline to play the Ernie Ball Stage at Vans Warped Tour this summer in Pomona, California, click here: Battle of the Bands.  And don't forget that you once you register you can vote ONCE A DAY.  I've already voted for them numerous times :-)

Also lookout of the release of their new album Assemble on May 11, 2012!

p.s. Austin if you like Ashley by Escape The Fate check out the song Situations, it's old but its so fantastic.

Dear You

Meet the band:
Chris Roach: Vocals/Guitar
Mason McDonald: Vocals/Bass
Danny Davis: Guitar
Louis Moore: Drums

"I don't want to be content with my present, I want to be in love with my future."

I don't find it difficult to identify with song lyrics, but that line from the song "The Way The You Left Me," is just perfect.  Dear You, based out of Beaumont, Texas is a band that plays their pop rock music to the tune of bands like Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, and The Starting Line- three bands that they agreed on as influences depsite their musical taste being vastly different.

Chris and Louis began playing music something like 7 years ago. After a few years and a couple member changes Danny and Mason joined and something magical happened.  The previously mentioned song, "The Way You Left Me" (I'm listening to it right now, it's perfect) is the first they released with the current line up.  The guys of Dear You talked about being brought up on very different genres of music; Chris and Mason on classic rock, Louis on pop punk, and Danny on metal- giving their music a tone that is all their own.  They find inspiration in life and try to write their music based on what they feel at a specific point in time and how that feeling affects them- ultimately making their songs relatable in a way that makes you want to listen to them over and over. 

Like most bands, they had a hard time definitively answering a couple of questions, but their perfectly worded responses told me something very important; they LOVE music, respect all types of artists, and appreciate any opportunity they are given to further their passion for what they do.  I loved that they gave a shout out to the music scene in Texas, which we all know is fantastic (Hellllllo, SXSW is happening right now) and loved even more that they didn't pinpoint one big band they'd love to share the stage with, "there are so many awesome bands out there, most of which we haven't even come across yet!  We would love the opportunity to play with them all."  Do these guys love what they are doing or what?  Just from that one quote, it's easy to tell that Dear You is truly in this for the love of music. 


To spend some not so wasted time (literally the past hour of my life) browsing their Youtube account watching videos of the songs they have covered, including tracks by Pink, Fall Out Boy, Four Year Strong, and The Format (this one tugged at my heart strings because I LOVE THAT SONG SO DAMN MUCH) click here.

To Follow @Dearyoutx on Twitter click here

To Like them on Facebook click here

"I think we can all agree that the best concert we've ever played was at Vans Warped Tour in Houston.  That was just a great experience, being able to play for so many new faces and then to meet them afterwards- it's what we love to do.  We hope we can continue to do that for years to come."  To VOTE for them to play on the Ernie Ball Stage at Warped this year click here: Battle of the Bands.  And don't forget that once you register you can vote ONCE A DAY!

"Music is what you hear, and not what you see"

....except when you're at a show, duh.

Sharing my love of music is just about the most important thing to me (but I probably don't need to tell you that since obviously that's what this whole thing is about).  I tweet, facebook, email, and write about bands almost everyday; and for the most part I ask everybody the same questions.  To me, the beauty of music is that it goes deeper than just the way it sounds, it's the way it makes you feel when you listen to the words, it's the way you can learn so much about yourself and what you're feeling in the 3 minute span of one song.  I want to know what inspires an artist to put pen to paper and compose a series of simple words that in the end mean so much. 

It occurred to me today, while I was driving home from a show in Pensacola that I ask you guys some pretty hard (some of you have even said "impossible") questions without even attempting to answer them myself; so here's a quick post about what I'm into (this week at least).

I have not been shy about the simple fact that I have no musical talent whatsoever, my talent lies in writing (hence the blog) and like I always say, I have a strong opinion and a way with words (or so I've been told).  My favorite answer to read in an interview is to the question "what inspires you?"  I'm not one to deal with my feelings or even attempt to decipher them and I find inspiration in the music itself- in those songs that I hear and I just have to play it over and over and over again, in the songs have me in tears every time I hear the words, or in the songs I just have to dance to (locale does not matter in this instance, I will break it down anywhere.)

The hardest question for every band to answer is one that seemed the most simple to me.  I never thought about how difficult it is to name your favorite band, until I tried to name mine.  I do think however, despite my diverse and intense love of all music, I have a clear favorite: Mayday Parade.  I have honestly loved Mayday since their first EP Tales Told By Dead Friends came out, I have stuck with them through line up changes, 2 years in between albums, and I've seen them live somewhere around 20 times.  Derek Sanders is an angel and Mayday Parade can do no wrong.  The song Three Cheers For Five Years happens to be the first song they ever wrote and the one song that WITHOUT fail makes me tear up every SINGLE time I hear it (I won't even discuss what it does to me to watch them play it live).  That song is lyrical perfection and composed of pure, raw feeling.  I'll stop gushing now.  Other favorite bands of mine include: Sparks The Rescue, D.R.U.G.S. (the fact that I've gone this entire post and not referred to Craig Owens as my soulmate is a shock, I'm honestly in love with him), A Day To Remember, All Time Low, and Sleeping With Sirens.

The best concert I ever went to, shit that's a hard one.  Warped Tour never disappoints, and I once went to Taste of Chaos with my older brother (Chiodos (<3 Craig <3), The Used, Saosin, 30 Seconds to Mars, Aiden) which was amazing.  The show I went to last night, the last stop on the End Of The World Tour (Anarbor, The Downtown Fiction, Mayday Parade) was beyond words.  It was the first time I've ever seen Anarbor (shout out to their sexy guitarist, literally couldn't take my eyes off of him) and The Downtown Fiction absolutely killed it.  Perfection.  I shed a tear when it was over. 


Filling the walls of my little apartment as I write this post is the song Vanities by Sparks The Rescue.  I can't get enough of their music lately because I missed their Jacksonville stop on the S.I.N Tour with my soul mate Craig Owens and D.R.U.G.S. and frankly I just haven't gotten over it yet. 

This is me and my sister before the show.

The one picture I took during the show, what can I say?  I was distracted, I'm a girl in love.

Beaten To The Punch

Meet the Band:
Cody Berhens: Vocals
Thomas Garcia: Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals
Jeremy Almagur: Lead Guitar
Weston Sudell: Bass
Daniel Garza: Drums

Before I begin a post on any band in particular I do three things: follow them on Twitter (duh, that's how I find them in the first place), like their Facebook page, and listen to their music.  Beaten To The Punch has one very clear interest aside from music, and that appears to be pizza (it's my favorite food, I can't hate).  Based out of Houston, Texas, Beaten To The Punch plays that perfect combination of pop punk and hardcore music we all love so much.  The kind that makes you want to turn the volume all way the up, roll down the windows, and jam out while you carelessly flip the bird to everybody who pisses you off that day (who cares?  The music is all that matters). 

As a band, the guys have been playing together since early 2010 but their love of music started much earlier for each of them.  Their musical influences range from Pantera and Katy Perry all the way to classic rock and today's death metal.  It's clear that aside from life experiences gained from hanging out with friends, playing shows, and heartbreakthey find inspiration in music itself.  "Our music is  inspired by all genres such as metal, punk, deathcore, metalcore, rock and some indie rock; we try not to define ourselves under one in particular."

As a band they would love to someday share the stage with hardcore and pop punk bands like The Wonder Years, Title Fight, A Loss For Words, Transit, Fight Fair, Terror, and Dead End Path.  They say the best concert they ever went to was FREEzerFest 2 where they got to play alongside national touring acts and some other great local bands.  Cody, is the literally the only member of any band I've spoken to that could answer the "favorite band" question definitively, Pantera.  Cheers Cody, I know it's a hard question but if somebody were to ask me I could answer it as well. 

Beaten To The Punch is about to start recording their debut EP entitled "Keeping It Reckless" which is slated for an early to mid April release, Can't wait!

To like Beaten To The Punch on Facebook Click Here

To follow @bttpbandtx on Twitter Click Here

Earth House

Meet the band:
Caleb Eberle: Vocals/Guitar
Sam Oden: Guitar/Vocals
John Oden: Drums
Donte Taylor: Bass

Earth House began about two years ago when one of the members, Caleb, began recording acoustic songs on cassette.  Over the past year they have blossomed into a flawless combination of indie rock, southern folk, post gospel, and "a lot of noise."  Fun fact: I actually met Caleb while creeping around St. Augustine with my little sister one night in November, just saying.

Originally from Enterprise, Alabama, Earth House is currently located in St. Augustine, Florida and working on Esto Records.  Caleb finds inspiration in religion, which he studies at Flagler College and talks about bands like Neutral Milk Hotel (who doesn't agree that Jeff Mangum is a writing genius?), and post rock bands like Explosions in the Sky as his biggest influences.

"I read a lot of really strange books and they just make me want to write about how strange religion and even the idea of religion is."

Of all the bands I've exchanged emails with, Earth House mentioned so many bands that I have NEVER HEARD OF (not to toot my own horn but this is a rarity, but thanks for all the new tunes).  Caleb mentioned Sufjan Stevens right after Age of Adz came out or Bon Iver (woohoo, best new artist) as some of the best concerts he's ever been to and I'll Get By by Become the Teeth as his favorite song right now.  "The entire story of the album is just amazing and it all comes together with this last song."

The guys in Earth House are hoping to do a cover of "I'll Make Love To You" by Boyz II men (after they figure out how) and when asked who they would most like to share the stage with chose Kanye....as in West?  I still haven't figured out if I read that correctly, but if so, I love it!

Earth House is going to be playing a few shows this month at SXSW in Austin, Texas, which they are stoked on.  "We've never played a festival before so this is a big step for us and we're all excited to sleep in a van six days."  They are also beginning work on recording their first full length album at the beginning of the summer, look for it's release this fall!

To LIKE Earth House on Facebook Click Here

To FOLLOW @earthhousemusic on Twitter Click Here

To visit their web page earthhousemusic.com

For more information on SXSW Click Here

This Wild Life

Meet The Band:
Kevin Jordan: Vocals/Guitar
Mikey Hoefnagel: Guitar
Anthony Del Grosso: Drums
Alex Bemis: Bass

"Just be yourself and you'll learn to see that I'm always free in a way you'll never be."  The guys in This Wild Life are based out of the "sketchy city" of Long Beach, California and play their pop punk music to the vein of New Found Glory, Yellowcard, and Blink 182.  Looking at the email they sent me, while their song "Lost Boys" plays (LOUDLY) out of my little iPad speaker, I have a very clear sense of the love and passion these guys have not only for their own music, but for music in general.  Sometimes it astounds me how much I can get out of a person, and a band, from reading one short email while I let their music fill my little apartment.  

 Kevin (vocals/guitar) began playing music at a young age when he would sneak in and practice on the equipment left in his garage by his older brother's band.  He was eventually caught, but instead of being dubbed an annoying, pesky little brother he was given his first electric guitar and began writing his own music soon after. 

I'm obsessed with that story, what a great start.

The guys in This Wild Life are inspired by the words and melodies of fellow musicians and use that to create songs that are special to them and their fans.  I literally just played the songs "Trash Talk" and "Lost Boys" at least 6 times.  When asked who they would chose if they could share the stage with anyone, Kevin, chose Paramore (I have such respect for Hayley Williams; she has such great hair, and as far as I'm concerned the song "Misery Business" is pure lyrical perfection).  "She's so talented and energetic, and I would do terrible, unforgivable things to open up for them."  Well Said.

Of all the bands I've spoken to, This Wild Life mentioned more bands in their email than any other- it was perfect.  "Music is so attainable through the internet, television, and radio that I think it's impossible to be narrow minded when it comes to musical taste." Couldn't have said it better myself.  Music is such a universal art, Kevin talked about an As Cities Burn show he attended in high school and how the band was so amazing and intense playing live and the connections he made with his friends through their songs is something that can never be broken.  He also loves the band Copeland, four amazing, different, and emotionally captivating records.  "They say the most tortured souls can create the best art, and I think they are a perfect example.  His records deal with love, death, and rebirth, and I have never heard more sincere, heartfelt songwriting in my life."  (I think Kevin might be better with words than I am, maybe he should be writing this? haha.)

"We are not here to reinvent the wheel, we just love playing fast, energetic, and heartfelt music for people who dig those kind of jams."

To like This Wild Life on Facebook Click Here

To Follow @ThisWildLife on Twitter Click Here

Merch: www.thiswildlife.bigcartel.com

To listen to an AMAZING cover of "If it means a lot to you" by A Day To Remember Click here
...goosebumps....