Let Me Reintroduce Myself

"Why do they lie, why can't you see? Get up everybody stand up with me." Not any particular reason for posting this song other than it being one I've really enjoyed lately.

Some kind of poison to take

The good thing about having friends interested in the same music as you is they help you find the beautiful hidden little gems that are mostly unknown, even to big fans. 

Cardy #3 introduced me to this song When We're Old Men [by none other than Yellowcard] and I fell for it. 

It's the type of song that warms your heart, but not in the cozy-Christmas-fire way. It makes you feel something, which is exactly what music should do.

The only videos that youtube has to offer for this song are lyrical videos, and I don't want to make you watch one of those, but the link is up there anyway.

Enjoy.

All Time Low

This song makes me laugh. All Time Low wrote this song specifically to make fun of the music industry and the crap that happens to people in it. The acoustic version I like a bit more partially because they don't have people talking in the background, but they make it sound way happy and summer-y. The music video is funny, but it has bit-more-that-sketchy parts, so consider this a warning if you don't want to see that kind of stuff. I love songs that make me want to go outside in a t-shirt, shorts, and sunglasses. This song is perfect for that.

Everything's Gonna Be Alright

What's the deal with inspirational songs?

Rather, how do they possess such power and glory to make you almost feel like everything actually might be alright?

"Let It Be" has always been there for me, and numerous band and orchestral pieces can inspire and lift me up when I'm empty and lost. But recently, "Believe" by Yellowcard has buoyed me up during what has been is the hardest time of my life. It gave me hope as I sat dejected, singing with a friend on a disappointing bus ride through the darkness. It comforted me as Cardy #1 mouthed the words to me at the candlelight vigil for a student who committed suicide, making me feel alive just as the prospect of death was trying to pull me down. It was a prayer, coming from the lips of its author to tuck away for tonight. I hope his fiancé is okay. I hope he's okay. With that one song alone, he's already given me/us enough to deserve a miracle.

How does one write such a song? How does one truly believe in such a song? Can it save us? For now?

Be strong, believe.

The bands you don't hear: RadioDriveBy

I've come to appreciate the pain I feel in my left-hand finger tips as I type this. There is almost no greater pleasure in life than creating something. And in this case, music. I have been practicing my guitar like crazy and my fingers scream for calluses to form. I love it.
Like I've said before, music is an incredible thing.
And speaking of incredible things, time for the introduction of a new band that I have recently discovered and fallen for.

RadioDriveBy.
Born in Arizona back in 2009, this energetic alternative-rock-slightly-pop-punk band has already made a name for themselves in Arizona (of course), California, across the US, and even in the Phillipines. [I'm hoping they will be coming to Utah soon because I love them and I love concerts, so the two together would be something incredible.] These amazing musicians have recently [yesterday] released three new songs and their MMXIII album: Tied Up, Hold On To Me, and One You Want. Their other albums include: Nothing But Better and On Your Way, and they have a few singles out, such as For the Season and Hope You Know. And all their stuff is incredible.
But don't just take my word for it. Check them out. You will enjoy it. I think they're awesome. Trent has this incredible and unique voice, but not unique in a weird way. He has a voice that the mainstream radio stations don't showcase. It's refreshing to hear something new, and good. You won't hear anyone that sounds like them.
Now, not only do they have awesome music, but they are awesome guys that really care about their fans, which makes them just that much cooler. [They reply to my tweets]
I just love these guys and I think you will too. So check them out.

 David: guitar. Adam: guitar and vocals. Trent: vocals, Evan: bass. Austin: drums.

Look how cute they were on Valentine's Day.

MMXIII

From now until forever

It's hard to put into words. It's hard to describe music. And I don't mean the noise you hear; I mean the moments and emotions it can create. I can't think of anything else that is so universally appreciated and used as a form of self expression and celebration, and even in times of sorrow. Music is just an absolutely incredible thing.

I think [or rather hope] we've all had that moment that makes us feel infinite. I don't know if you have heard of, read, or seen Perks of Being A Wallflower, but there is a line that the main character says while writing about a moment he had with his friends while listening to music. 

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." 

we were infinite. 

Music is the only thing that can create infinity. It lasts forever. We still have songs and tunes from hundreds and hundreds of years ago. And I find that astounding.

An example of infinity: tonight we had a few single adults over at my house making Valentines. My guitar somehow ended up in the kitchen where it was then played by at least three different people. While in the hands of one of these musicians, it started creating eternity. Our guest guitarist started playing a song that the entire audience of ten or more knew and almost all ten or more started singing along. It was one of those beautiful moments where it's ok to not show emotion when you're feeling emotional. Even though there was noise, one was able to think deeply about how the event was playing out. Complete strangers were harmonizing and singing and laughing all because of one common interest: music.

But you don't want me to drone on about this. I bet all you really want to do is try to find a moment like that yourself. And when you do, I want you to leave a comment below and share your moment of infinity.

There's no place like home to make me feel alone

[sorry I took so long like a bum. also, sorry that it's written in the past.]

Tonight was spent fangirling over Yellowcard.

With Cardy #1 not present, we were free to scream and cry and squeal and sigh. We obsessed over Ryan Key and sang every harmony we could. We couldn't stop smiling.

I was supposed to text her when I got home and I didn't. Dang.

There's something about loving a band with someone else. Janelle and #1 and Yellowcard all go hand in hand. I can't listen to the music without thinking of them, and I can't talk to them without mentioning the music. Tonight, the music was both the main attraction and the backdrop to our conversation about life and boys and drawing in the dark. It was the constant in our formula of friendship. Sometimes, we go on adventures and sometimes we are the most boring people who thought eating microwave popcorn and sitting on facebook was exciting.

But the music is always there.

A toast to those here

I wanted to take this post to use two very important welcomes.

First of all, welcome to the very first follower, Esther Chang. Hopefully you are the first of many. Cardys #2 and #3 would like to thank you very much for finding us and going far enough to click the 'follow' button. We're really stoked that you're here and hope you stay long.

Secondly, I'd like to welcome the newest member of my musical family, my new acoustic guitar.

I am so incredibly freaking excited. It is so beautiful and I cannot wait to know how to play it. It has such a beautiful sound, and a beautiful, wooden body. I can't describe my excitement. This is a new, daring, exciting  journey for me, and all you fellow music lovers will be on this journey with me, every step of the way.

My goal for this week is to get it fine tuned and dusted off.

I cannot thank you enough Gretchen for letting me have this piece of art.

Concerts: Yellowcard (Sorta)

Janelle and I have gone to our first concert together. Surely, watching a recorded live concert on tv an hour late counts as a concert. Complete with Cardy #1, it was a full on Yellowcard party.

It really was a beautiful night. We sang along to every song, and they didn't care that I sang the harmonies like a nerd or that I didn't know all the words . Us girls commented on the attractiveness of the band members, gushing and giggling the whole time; the boy of our Disney trio played his guitar along with the screen, smiling so goofily at the idea of playing with Yellowcard themselves. There were cookies and tweets and an abundance of bleached tips and feedback.

It didn't matter that they were thousands of miles away and that we weren't there in the circle pit and that we might never have the chance to actually see them. We were full of dreams and smiles and songs. Our hearts were connected, the lyrics gluing us together. It was as if our collective friendship grew stronger as our three separate voices rose up and filled his living room. We were just a couple of teenagers, listening to our favorite band and not worrying about crowds or swearing or each other. Even after we left, Twitter was clogging up with our exclamations of love for the songs we sang and our gratitude for the band. We were on such a high, and there was no way we could come down.

It was the best concert I've ever been to.

Favorite romantic song: I Will Follow You Into The Dark

No, this song is not creepy. Don't judge a book by its cover and don't judge a song by its title. It's not about someone stalking you and waiting for you to go into a dark alley so he can kidnap you. It's really a beautiful love story about how long true love can last. If you really love someone, it can last past death. This boy loves this girl so incredibly much that he will follow her through every obstacle heaven and hell might throw out just so he can stay by her side.

No blinding lights,

or tunnels through gates of white,

Just our hands clasped so tight

waiting for the hint of a spark.

If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied,

illuminate the "no's" on their vacancy signs,

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks,

then I will follow you into the dark.

Now I suggest now that you go and listen to the song.

 It will only take approximately three minutes and ten seconds, and it will be worth your time. However, you need to first listen to the original by Death Cab for Cutie, and then you must listen to the beautiful cover done by Kurt Hugo Schneider. 

You need to watch the original first so you'll know what verse he leaves out.

Obsessions: Band of the Week(s)

I learn of new songs, new artists, beautiful pieces of music once unknown to me, on a weekly basis (at the very least.) This is not a novel concept and is only to be expected in our day and age that is practically drowning in radio stations and playlist sites and the infinite assortment of personal music players. To not be exposed to new music is practically as impossible as the Doctor dying or my mother agreeing with a Democrat.

Oftentimes, these shining new gems of music latch onto my heart, rushing into my hearts and filling every nook and cranny of my brain. A catchy pop song becomes a (slightly) begrudging earworm, or a hot guitarist's composition will occupy my thoughts/tumblr. They become a consuming part of my life-- for a couple days, a week tops. These bright flashes are merely that: a passing flash that comes and goes, an explosion of miniature proportions.

But every once in a while, a fireworks spectacular comes into town and grabs ahold of my very soul; I am introduced to a new band.

I don't know what's different about bands that makes them stick, but it's been empirically proven that they do. If you show me a band and I like them, then I will love them. I'll learn the words to every song, I'll pretend I can play them on my mandolin, I'll watch as many YouTube videos as I can and bother my family with my favorite songs and read their Wikipedia articles repeatedly. At school, I'll listen to the album of the day; as soon as I get home, I'll jump on my computer and put on any playlist of theirs I can find. I'll listen to their number one hit for two hours and then move on to their number two. There's an excellent chance they'll become the background on my phone. Nothing is offlimits and everything is possible when I fall in love with a new band.

This has happened a number of times with a large variety of bands. The first would probably have to be We Are Scientists. Cake briefly joined the ranks, followed by an extended stay by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Spotify made it easy to obsess over Bowling For Soup, Coldplay, The Rescues, and Simple Plan. McFly almost made the list.

But alas, nothing gold can stay, and slowly, these bands fade into the background. Some last for weeks, others months, but they all eventually finish their act, and the lights focus on a new band. (That's why The Beatles were never the Band of the Week and rather the Band of the Life.) I still love the bands dearly; I still hold their lyrics near to my heart and swoon whenever I see their attractive lead. They just step down, rather graciously, allowing the next band a shot to hold my attention.

Yellowcard is my current Band of the Week and has been for a couple of months. I'm sure both Janelle and I will have much to say on them, so I'll abstain here. Normally, I'd be off looking for the next big thing, but as I was dubbed Cardy #2 and just received my second through sixth albums of theirs, I think they'll be sticking around for quite a while.

The songs you don't hear: Grey Room

This is both an introduction to an unknown wonder, and a plea to listen to what's around you. You never know when you're going to find a new favorite.

Damien Rice. Irish born. Dark haired and sweetly voiced. He sings a new favorite of mine, Grey Room, which was featured on an episode of Criminal Minds from a couple years ago. It was the end of the episode, after the quote has been given, when the characters are shown cleaning their desks or on the phone or pondering their traumatized days when I heard just a portion of the song:

I'm all alone again

Crawling back home again

Stuck by the phone again

Well I've been here before

Sat on a floor in a grey, grey mood

Where I stay up all night

And all I write is a grey, grey tune

So pray for me child, just for a while

That I might break out

Its classified as 'contemporary folk' because of its smooth tune and easy beat. Its a nice slow song, with out a big range in notes.

I sound like I'm writing an essay.

Anyway, this is a recommended song. Not only because of the music, but the lyrics are impressive. By that, I mean they'll make an impression on you. At least they did on me.

After checking out Grey Room, you should check out other stuff by Rice. Some of it might sound familiar and you'll realize you've heard it before. Like this song 9 Crimes. I'm pretty sure I heard it long before I knew who he was.

And that is a pleasure of music; reconnecting with forgotten moments and feelings. It can give you the sense of deja-vu. And I know we all love that feeling.

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.