Read And Rock: Albums

If you haven't read my previous post explaining what "Read and Rock" is then i'll give you a little info. My Read And Rock posts will be a list of favorites. So for this post i'll be giving you a list of albums that i'm currently loving and are in my cd player right now. Enjoy!

"Venus In Overdrive" by Rick Springfield (2008)
"Brand New Eyes" by Paramore (2009)
"Only By The Night" by Kings of Leon (2008)
"Fearless" by Taylor Swift (2008)
"The Very Best Of Elvis Costello" by Elvis Costello (2001)

Introducing "Read And Rock"

So I was sitting here listening to one of my favorite albums of all time and I thought that it might be fun to start a series called "Read and Rock" What is Read and Rock you ask? Well it will be a list of favorites. Some posts will be for albums, some will be for songs, and so on. I've already done a couple posts of my favorite songs of the moment and I really enjoy doing them so I think that this will be a lot of fun. The point of this is to share with you some of my favorites and hopefully get you to listen to them. Some of the people/albums/songs that I mention you'll know and some you might not but that's the fun part. I know that one of my favorite things in the world is finding a new band or song so I hope that I can help you all out by giving you these lists.

Concerts

This blog entry is going to be about concerts. I've been asked many times by people who i've seen in concert and which ones were my favorites and least favorites. I thought it might be fun to tell you all on here. I'm not going to tell you where I saw these bands/singers and what day I saw them only because this is the internet and you have to be careful with what you say. So without further ado here we go...

(2001) Kelly Clarkson: I was 11 when my mom took me to see Kelly, it was an outdoor concert. I was so excited when she came out that I cried. :P She was amazing live and I would definatly go see her again. She really connects with the audience and that was 9 years ago. I'm sure she's gotten even better throughout the years.

Grand Funk Railroad: This was another outdoor concert and I went with my mom and my friend Heather. I don't remember what year it was but I think that I was about 12 or 13. That concert was a lot of fun because Heather and I went up to the stage so we were in the middle of all the action. I also got the drummers drumstick and I thought that it was the coolest thing that could ever happen to me.

(2007) Trans-Siberian Orchestra: One word comes to my mind when I think of this concert: Amazing. I have never been to a concert like this in my life. If you have not seen Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert yet then I suggest you get yourself some tickets. The band is incredible and the light show is simply amazing. After the concert my mom and I met the band and every one of them acted like we were best friends. They are great people and they put on a great show.

(2008) Bret Michaels: This concert started a tradition that my mom and I have. Every year on or around my birthday we go to a concert. That's my present. And let me just tell you what having Bret Michaels as your birthday present is one of the greatest things you could get. My mom took my friend Heather and I to see him for my 18th birthday and it was so much fun. He puts on a great show and he sounds just as good live as he does on an album! I want to see him again.

(2008) Finger Eleven: This was yet another outdoor concert and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. These guys are seriously sick. They played a cover of Pink Floyds "Another Brick In The Wall" and it was terrific. That is one of my favorite memories from any concert i've been to.

(2009) Skid Row/Firehouse: My mom and friend Dan took me to see these two bands for my 19th birthday. Firehouse was really cool live and they are a band that i've wanted to see for a long time. The only thing that I have to say though is that a lot of their songs are ballads so you don't really get to jump around and stuff. So if jumping is what you're into then I wouldn't suggest seeing them. But they are great live. We also met them afterwards and they are great guys. Skid Row played after Firehouse and they kicked ass. It was fine that I didn't jump around during Firehouse because I needed to save that energy for Skid Row. They are so into there show and they make you feel like you are right up on stage with them.

(2009) Hinder/Theory Of A Deadman/Black Stone Cherry/Veer Union: The Veer Union opened the show and I must say that right before they came on my mom, Dan and I were like "The who?" But when they came on we were more like "WOOOO" They are a great rock band and they did a great job during their set. Next was Black Stone Cherry. The best thing that I can say about them is that they played a song called "Peace Is Free" and it's one of the most beautiful songs that i've ever heard. They also seem like great guys and the singer, Chris. really does include the audience. Here comes the bad news...I was bored out of my mind when they came on. I only enjoyed the one song because to me the rest sounded the same. It was just one big never ending song. If you are a fan of them that's great, this is just my opinion. Theory of A Deadman came on after BSC and they did a pretty good job. They sounded just like they do on the cd and they did pretty good at getting the audience into it. Last but certainly not least was Hinder. Oh man they were good. Wait no..good doesn't do them justice. They were brilliant! Austin Winkler seriously makes you feel like he's singing and talking to you. They sounded great, looked great, did everything great. Loved seeing them and would definatly go again.

(2009) Saving Abel/Monty Are I: I am a huge fan of Monty Are I so when they came on I freaked out. They put on an incredible show. You feel like a part of the band with them and believe me it's a great band to be a part of. I cannot begin to describe how wicked their show was but I can say that I will see them again. My mom, Dan and I also met them after the show and they were the nicest guys ever. They really take the time to talk to you and it makes you feel really connected. I had hoped we'd get to meet them so I brought my cd with me and when I gave it to Stephen he freaked out and said "where'd you get that? we aren't selling that here." I told him I brought it with me and he said "you have to stay and meet the rest of the guys and show them you have the cd" I felt so cool it was great. :P Up next came Saving Abel and they did alright. There were a few complications with the speakers and things so it didn't sound so great. I didn't enjoy them as Monty Are I and I wouldn't see them again unless they came with some other band I really liked.

(2009) Michael Bolton: Ever since I was born my mom has made me listen to Michael Bolton so when he came here we had to go. It was kind of like Firehouse because you didn't really stand up and jump around but he was great. He has one of the most beautiful voices in the world and it didn't falter once. Towards the end of the concert my mom and I went up to the stage which was really cool because I could have touched him if I had wanted to. After the concert we met the piano player and bongo player and they are both great guys.

(2010) Third Eye Blind/Joshua James: I've already written a blog post about this band and Joshua James so all i'm going to say is that they are amazing. If you want to know more about them read my other post. :)

(2010) Rick Springfield: I wrote about Rick Springfield in the same post as Third Eye Blind and Joshua James so if you'd like to know details please read that post. But for now I'll just say that he's spectaculor.

My least favorite bands that I saw (so far) have been Black Stone Cherry and Saving Abel. I really can't say a favorite because that would be most of them.
*I had a lot of fun writing about Third Eye Blind, Joshua James, and Rick Springfield after I saw them so I think that when I go to future concerts i'm going to do a post about them.

Top Favorite Songs Of The Moment

*Two songs have carried over from last months favorites to this months because I can't get sick of them. :) Hope you enjoy the list!

10) Bye Bye Symphony by Foxy Shazam
9) Whataya Want From Me by Adam Lambert
8) Apologize by The Last Vegas
7) Love Left To Lose by Sons Of Sylvia
6) The Only Exception by Paramore
5) Cherry Bomb by Dakota Fanning Feat. Kristen Stewart*
4) Mean by P!nk
3) Bonfire by Third Eye Blind*
2) A Little Piece Of Heaven by Avenged Sevenfold
1) Dance So Good by Wakey! Wakey!

I would just like to give a quick tid bit of info about my current number one. The lead singer of Wakey! Wakey! is Michael Grubbs who has also been playing the bartender/singer Grubbs on the CW's One Tree Hill. Now if you are obsessed with OTH like I am then you know who i'm talking about. This song was featured on this past Mondays (May 3) episode. I'm a huge fan of Michael Grubbs and I definatly recommend getting Wakey! Wakey!'s new album "Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You" Also watch OTH Monday nights at 8:00 on the CW!

(I am not being paid to talk about any of these songs, bands or television shows. What i've said is my own opinion. In no way was I asked to talk about any of this.)

Album Releases: May 2010

Tuesday May 4th, 2010
Michael Bolton: One World, One Love
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: Uni5: The Worlds Enemy
Toni Braxton: Pulse
Broken Social Scene: Forgiveness Rock Record
Justin Currie: Great War
Deftones: Diamon Eyes
Godsmack: The Oracle
Papa Roach: To Be Loved
Josh Ritter: Runs The World
Tonic: Tonic
Trina: Amazin'

Tuesday May 10th, 2010
Foals: Total Life Forever
Keane: Night Train (EP)
Male Bonding: Nothing Hurts

Tuesday May 11th, 2010
Crash Test Dummies: Oooh La La!
Everest: On Approach
Jessica Harp: A Woman Needs
Keane: Night Train
Meat Loaf: Hang Loose Teddy Bear
The Morning Pages: Rising Rain
The National: High Violet
Stereophonics: Keep Calm and Carry On
Tokyo Police Club: Champ

Tuesday May 18th, 2010
Band Of Horses: Infinite Arms
The Black Keys: Brothers
Macy Gray: The Sellout
The Poison Control Center: Sad Sour Future
Club 8: The People's Record
Audio Bullys: Higher Than The Eiffel
Miggs: Wide Awake

Tuesday May 25th, 2010
All Time Low: Straight To DVD (Live CD/DVD)
Beach Fossils: Beach Fossils
Far: At Night We Live
Stone Temple Pilots: Stone Temple Pilots
Keller Williams: Thief
Widespread Panic: Dirty Side Down
Transient Songs: Cave Syndrome
Tomorrows Bad Seeds: Sacred For Sale