Concert Review: Young the Giant

You may remember I reviewed the new Young the Giant album, Mind Over Matter, upon its release just about one month ago. I said it was a decent album, but nothing in comparison to their first, self-titled debut. After seeing the band live Tuesday night in St. Pete, I was left with very much the same feeling.

Young the Giant put on a “good” show to a sold out crowd at Jannus live. Front man Sameer Gahdia, despite admitting to having a cold, still sounded great as he sang and interpretively danced on stage. If it was my first time seeing them, I would have been much more satisfied. However, I know that this indie rock band is capable of much more than they displayed at this concert.

It became clear very early that the group was going to center on their new album. Just like Mind Over Matter opens, the guys came out to the long synth crescendo of “Slow Dive,” before opening with “Anagram.” This flew right into rock heavy “It’s About Time,” showing off Sameer’s full vocal capabilities.   

For me, my favorite moments of the concert were when the band returned to play songs off their debut album. You can easily tell which songs came off the debut by the background sound of these tunes, as well as the crowd’s reaction to them. The fans at Jannus definitely were louder for songs like “Apartment,” “Strings,” “Guns Out,” and “I Got.”

As I mentioned in my album review, the new album is pleasant background music, but it’s nothing too exciting live. The concert began to feel long from songs 7-12. I felt as though the group almost lost the crowd before playing their best song, “Cough Syrup,” to spark some energy. They ended on a high note with “Crystallized,” the strongest song off the new album to finish the set.

So for the show I saw back in 2012, the best part was arguably the encore. Young the Giant brought opening act Grouplove on stage for a cover of R Kelly’s “Remix to Ignition.” It was easily one of the most unexpected and best covers I’ve ever seen a band perform live. Sameer then dismissed his band to play a chilling acapella version of “Islands,” before brining the guys back for the ultimate closer, “My Body.” Gahdia crowd surfed while singing, providing the show with its proper ending.

Two years later, Young the Giant failed to live up to that caliber of a performance with their encore. They made a surprising choice by coming back on stage with “Camera.” This was too slow though, and the crowd didn’t get much more into it with self-titled track “Mind Over Matter.” “My Body” once again ended it, which was great to see the crowd jumping and singing as one to close the show.

In total, the 90 minute set from Young the Giant included just 6 songs from their debut album, and 11 (out of 13) from Mind Over Matter. 

Young the Giant are still towards the beginning of their US spring tour. They’re also on the bill for Firefly and Bunbury Festivals this summer. Maybe even a stop at Lolla?

CONCERT RATING: 3 Stars

SETLIST:
1. Slow Dive

2. Anagram

3. It’s About Time

4. Apartment

5. Strings

6. Guns Out

7. Waves

8. Teachers

9. Firelight

10. I Got

11. Eros

12. Paralysis

13. Cough Syrup

14. Crystallized

ENCORE:

15. Camera

16. Mind Over Matter

17. My Body

Introducing - Mercy McCoy

Rootsy rock group Bronze Radio Return will be performing tonight at Crowbar in Ybor City, FL. The 6 piece band that formed in Hartford, Connecticut are on tour promoting their third studio album, Up, On & Over. It should be a great show in a small venue, but I must admit that I am equally excited for their opening band, a local group by the name of Mercy McCoy.

Following the roots-rock genre set by Bronze Radio, Mercy McCoy combines folk, blues and pop, finding a very pleasant combination. They are led by front man Stefan Scheuermann, who provides the appropriate easy-going vocals. I've had the pleasure of seeing Mercy McCoy a few times, and for me, they remind me most of a younger Dawes. (One of my favorites)

Appropriately timed, the group released their first EP this very morning. It contains four tracks, and I’m a fan on first listen! My early favorite is “Just in Time.” This EP joins an acoustic version of “Brighter in the Dark,” as the band’s first material available on their website.  I recommend everyone take a listen: http://www.mercymccoy.com/category/music/

Mercy McCoy should take the stage around 8:30pm tonight. Bronze Radio Return is also accompanied by Red Wanting Blue. Tickets are available at the door for $12

Concert Review - The Airborne Toxic Event

First of all, I apologize for the delay in posting this review. I've been traveling for work in Panama the past week, and dealt with some very spotty wifi. Prior to leaving, I took in a show at the State Theater in St. Pete - The Airborne Toxic Event. 

I wasn't too familiar with this 5 piece group from Los Angeles, outside of hearing their more well known tunes on the radio. But the opportunity to check out a small venue show persuading me, and I'm sure glad I attended. The alt rockers treated the crowd to a very pleasant and enjoyable concert. 

This was actually the first show on The Airborne Toxic Events mini spring tour. Frontman Mikel Jollett and his crew came out playing fan favorite "Wishing Well," one of their first hits off their self titled debut album in 2008. It set the tone, and really gave off the impression that the band was happy to be performing again.

What separates this band from so many other alt rock groups, is there use of string instruments and their timely orchestral inserts. Violinist Ana Bulbrook was very enjoyable to watch, mixing it up from the standard rock sound and also adding backing vocals. This was especially noticeable during the first half of the concert, which I believe was the strongest section. 

Playing material off all three of their albums, the group got the crowd going. My favorite tune was "Gasoline," a feel good head bobbing song that sounds like it belongs on an OAR album. They followed this up with "Changing," the lead single off sophomore album All at Once. 

Other stand outs included "Hell and Back," and a great sing a long version of "Missy." After a brief moment where it seemed like the band lost some momentum, they played their most popular song, "Sometime Around Midnight." The beginning of this alternative anthem was epic, as Bulbrook took center stage with her violin to play the opening cords. It only got better from there, as the entire song is a crescendo with Jollett giving it his all. This tune deservingly won iTunes Alt-Rock Song of the Year in 2009 and is worthy of a placement on Arcade Fire's Funeral. 

After finishing off the 15-song set, Airborne Toxic Event had three encores, highlighted by "Timeless," off their most recent album, Such Hot Blood. In total, the group played for just over 90 minutes. 

This was a very surprisingly pleasant concert for me. I knew I would enjoy the hit songs, but Airborne Toxic Event made me a fan with their musical talents and ability to not lose the crowd. I'll be sure to catch them next time they're in the Tampa Bay Area, and I encourage you to do the same. 

CONCERT RATING: 3 Stars

*Due to lack of videos from the show I attended, the above clip was taken from their 2013 performance at Coachella.

SETLIST:

1. Wishing Well
2. Numb
3. Half of Something Else
4. Gasoline
5. Changing
6. Does This Mean You're Moving On?
7. Hell and Back
8. Something New
9. Missy
10. Bride and Groom
11. Happiness Is Overrated
12. Safe
13. Welcome to Your Wedding Day
14. Sometime Around Midnight
15. All I Ever Wanted

Encore:
16. Timeless
17. The Graveyard Near the House
18. All at Once

*I'm posting this at the beginning of a big concert week. One of my favorites and recipient of my 2012 concert of the year, Young the Giant, will be at Jannus tonight! Very anxious for that. Also, Bronze Radio Return will be in Ybor Thursday playing at Crowbar, with local favorite Mercy McCoy opening up for them. Should be a great week! 

Arctic Monkeys "AM" Tour Rolls into Orlando

You know a band is in high demand when every date listed on their website has “SOLD OUT” written next to it. Arctic Monkeys are that band right now. It took five albums before they broke big into America, but the group from the United Kingdom is currently killing it. I was lucky enough to see them Friday night at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando.

This new found success is mostly due to AM, the bands 5^th studio album released this past September. It is being critically acclaimed as the guy’s best album since their 2006 debut - Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. As a reference point, their debut album was the fastest-selling debut album in British music history and remains the fastest-selling debut album by a group in the UK today. (Sorry One Direction fans)

So what does a band with 3,500 screaming fans that paid top dollar amounts to see them come out playing? How about your most popular song at the moment? And that is exactly what the Arctic Monkeys did. Drummer Matt Helders stomped on the bass drum and the guys strutted out on stage giving the audience exactly what they wanted – an epic version of “Do I Wanna Know?” to start off the night.

I've wondered before why more bands don’t come out with a stronger opening. Too often I feel as though I go to shows that have slow beginnings, taking the band 4-5 songs before they get into it. Now I’m not suggesting Capital Cities should come out playing “Safe and Sound,” getting their hit out of the way. But I believe it is allowed for an established band with multiple albums, and Arctic Monkeys fit that mold. As the crowd cheered and danced, you knew that the guys had set the tone, and that it was going to be a special night.

The boys from Sheffield, England kept it high energy through the first 45 minutes, playing tunes off all five of their albums. The mass of people on the floor seemed to be moving as one during “Dancing Shoes,” and then grooved together during the bouncy “Snap Out of It.”

I think the strongest section of the concert came from songs 10-16. Back to back tracks off AM – “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” and “Arabella” erupted the crowd. I believe these songs compare the most to better-known American rockers The Black Keys. Arctic Monkeys opened up for the duo on their last summer tour, and the certain kind of blues-rock sound has rubbed off on them.

Lead singer Alex Turner remembered his past albums as well, and the crowd didn’t forget about them either. The loudest cheer of the night may have been for the fan favorite “Fluorescent Adolescent,” off sophomore album Favourite Worst Nightmare. And the best performance was arguably during “Pretty Visitors” from Humbug. This was the perfect concert song, as Turner had the entire band and crowd singing - “All the pretty visitors came and waved their arms and cast the shadow of a snake pit on the wall.” The front man sang so smoothly, just painting a picture with his lyrics.

The band took a quick break after “505,” before encoring with fan friendly “Cornerstone” and another tune off AM – “One for the Road.” Throughout the night Alex barely spoke. He finally let the crowd hear his heavily accented talking voice before the final song, saying that the crowd was his, and simply asking – “R U Mine?” This blistering finale sent the Arctic Monkeys off just as strong as they came on stage.

The 90 minute set was definitely AM heavy, featuring 8 songs out of 12 that appear on the album. (Which is nothing to complain about. It’s a 4.5 Star album in my opinion) The rest of the setlist contained 3 a piece from Favourite Worst Nightmare, Humbug, and Suck It and See; 2 off their debut; and 1 from an earlier EP.

Overall, it’s tough to distinguish what genre Arctic Monkeys fall in. They definitely have some punk in them, some blues, have the ability to be straight up rockers, but can also sing ballads and do everything in between. One thing for sure though, is that Alex Turner is a front man! The 28 year old was excellent throughout his entire performance. The guy can sing and he showed off some confident dance moves.

The demand is high for these indie rockers right now. They have the ability to play much larger venues than those they’re visiting this tour. The guys will be back in the US this summer for some festivals. Who knows, they may just be a headliner at Lollapalooza.

CONCERT RATING: 4 Stars

Setlist:

1. Do I Wanna Know?

2. Brianstorm

3. Dancing Shoes

4. Evil Twin

5. Snap Out of It

6. Crying Lightning

7. Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair

8. Fireside

9. Reckless Serenade

10. Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?

11. Arabella

12. Pretty Visitors

13. I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

14. Suck It and See

15. Knee Socks

16. Fluorescent Adolescent

 17. 505

Encore:

18. Cornerstone

19. One for the Road

20. R U Mine?

Young the Giant "Mind Over Matter" Album Review

Let me begin by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Young the Giant. Their 2010 self-titled debut is one of my favorite albums of this decade. It’s just one of those cd’s that has it all. Rock anthems, acoustic jams, radio hits, slow songs… all highlighted by front man Sameer Gadhia’s gorgeous voice. It was so good in fact (4.5 stars out of 5 for my rating) that it made finding a ticket to their Tampa show in spring 2012 nearly impossible. But even though the cost was high, the guys from Irvine, California delivered. I ranked their concert at the Ritz that spring as THE BEST live performance of 2012. So it’s tough for me to say anything negative about the band.

All that being said though, their new album, Mind Over Matter, released on Tuesday, is NOT part 2 to their outstanding debut. Please do not get the wrong idea, it is not a BAD album, it is just very different. Gone are the powerful vocals, well placed hooks and mid song jams. They’re replaced by a much more electronic sound, heavy on synth.

The album opens up with “Slow Dive,” a 48 second synth crescendo that flows right into “Anagram.” This opening sets the tone for the album, sort of enticing the listener into this musical domain that Young the Giant have created. You then have “It’s About Time,” a rock heavy single that is reminiscent of 2011 hit “My Body,” but not quite on the same level as an arena rock hit.

The rest of the 1^st half of the album is single heavy and more comparable with their debut. “Crystalized” is very memorable and should receive some solid radio play, “Mind Over Matter” has a similar easy listening pace, and “Daydreamer” has a catchy drumbeat. I believe this is the strongest portion of the album.

The second half of the album makes a 180. I think the best way to summarize it, is that it’s an interesting listen. At times the rhythm section is great. Many songs seem synth, key and string driven, which works in places. I think “Camera” is a standout and “In My Home” will be great live. The synth seems to take over though in “Teachers” and comes off as distracting in “Eros,” almost as if the songs were overproduced. Even the final song on the album, “Paralysis,” doesn’t seem to do much except extend the album. It’s nothing like the feel good “Guns Out,” which closes the first album.

I think Mind Over Matter can be interpreted different ways. It might show that the band is becoming more mature. This could be a major creative leap, displaying that these indie rockers are more than just a few radio hits, but I think it’s missing one simple thing – Sameer’s voice. There were some electric sounds on the first album, but they were masked by Sameer’s powerful vocals. Now his voice seems hidden behind the sound. For me, it is truly missed.

In conclusion, I believe most fans will be caught off guard with this new album. It will break some hearts, but fans should recognize that the band is treading new ground and “growing.” It is different, but decent. I predict it will not have the commercial success of their debut, (The peak numbers for their new singles compared to “My Body” and “Cough Syrup” are an early indication) but I would not characterize this in the dreadful “sophomore slump” category.

So even though this was not the greatest review, I still encourage everyone in the Tampa Bay area to see Young the Giant live. Many of these songs have the framework to sound better in person than sitting through on an album. Plus, setlist reviews of their first shows since the Mind Over Matter release display that the guys are still playing tunes off their debut album. Throw in the fact that you get to hear Sameer’s voice live, and a $33 ticket is well worth it. They roll into Tampa Bay with a show at Jannus Live on Tuesday, February 18^th.  

ALBUM RATING – 3 Stars

Ticket Link: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0D004B68CEBB9C55?c=LNSM_CT_National_YoungTheGiant_bit_rsvpevent_111813&REFERRAL_ID=tmfeedbuyat97249&wt.mc_id=aff_BUYAT_97249&camefrom=CFC_BUYAT_97249

Jake Bugg Very Impressive in 2014 Opener

It’s no easy task being the first act of concert season 2014. Luckily, 19 year old Jake Bugg was up for the challenge Saturday night at The Riviera Theater in Chicago. Bugg performed for a sold out crowd of close to 2,500 and left few unsatisfied.

I arrived at the Riviera about an hour before the young rookie from England was slated to take the stage, and I could not believe the crowd that was already there. I must have been one of the last 500 fans into the venue, as the stands and floor was already packed! I was able to work my way into a respectable position on the floor about 15 people deep. The crowd demographic was very mixed (a good thing for Jake) There were older people, those in their 20’s, about an equal ratio of guys to girls, and even high schoolers. It seems like this young stud attracts a wide audience.

Bugg is still an unknown name in most households, but he’s gaining popularity fast. He already has the impressive credentials. Bugg’s self-titled debut album, which was released in October 2012, was named the #12 album of the year by Rolling Stone Magazine. His follow up album, Shangri Li, is being praised just as highly. Possibly Jake’s most impressive feat was performing at Glastonbury Festival in 2012 and 2013, and becoming the first person ever to go from the BBC Introducing Stage to the Main Pyramid Stage in successive years.

Jake looked very comfortable taking center stage as a Jake Bugg backdrop was lowered from the ceiling and his drummer and bass player took their respective positions in the back corners of the stage. Jake made quick work throughout his entire performance and barely addressed the crowd outside of stating which album the song was featured on.

The 19 year old came out firing with fast beat tunes “There’s a Beast and We all Feed it,” “Trouble Town,” and “Seen It All” to open. It only took about 20 minutes until he broke into “Two Fingers,” his arguably number one crowd pleaser. I’ll admit it was probably my favorite to hear live.

Even though Bugg was clearly in the spotlight all night, he dismissed his drummer and bassist in the middle of the set to perform “Pine Trees” and “Broken” acoustically. The emotional version of “Broken” was definitely the best sing-a-long of the night. The rest of his set was high energy, highlighted by “Taste It” and a rowdy “Slumville Sunrise.”

One of my favorite moments was when Jake returned to the stage to encore his new single, “A Song About Love.” This is one of his most impressive tunes in my opinion. When Bugg talks, his voice is very low and unemotional. This new ballad though completely contradicts that, showing off his range and displaying that Bugg is not an artist limited to up tempo numbers.

After a Neil Young cover, Bugg closed the night with his best known tune, “Lightning Bolt.” (Most would recognize this from the 2012 Olympics promo for Usain Bolt) This sent everyone home happy as Jake spent a solid minute strolling the stage clapping along with the audience.

In total, the 19 song set by Bugg included 8 selections of his debut album, 9 off of Shangri Li, 1 cover and 1 off an earlier EP. With Jake’s songs averaging only 3 minutes in length, his performance was complete in just about 75 minutes.

After seeing Bugg perform live, I can see how critics already compare him to Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Oasis. In fact, he even looks like a Gallagher brother, confidently working the stage but also comfortable just standing there and letting the crowd soak him in. Bugg opened for Noel Gallagher last spring for his England tour and Noel is a big fan of him.

 It’s been a huge year for this solo artist, but the vibe I received is that he’s only going to get bigger. Bugg will continue his world tour throughout the spring. His summer is open as of right now, but has plans to return to the US in June for Firefly.

CONCERT RATING – 3.5 stars

Setlist:

1.       There’s a Beast and We All Feed It

2.       Trouble Town

3.       Seen It All

4.       Simple as This

5.       Storm Passes Away

6.       Two Fingers

7.       Messed Up Kids

8.       Ballad of Mr. Jones

9.       Pine Trees (Solo Acoustic)

10.   Broken (Solo Acoustic)

11.   Simple Pleasures

12.   Green Man

13.   Kingpin

14.   Taste It

15.   Slumville Sunrise

16.   What Doesn’t Kill You

ENCORE:

17.   A Song About Love

18.   My My, Hey Hey (Neil Young Cover)

19.  Lightning Bolt

Let's Begin at the Beginning

Hello to all my readers and welcome to “The Only Music Blog.” This is my first entry in what I hope will become a regular thing. I hope you guys enjoy reading and please feel free to share your thoughts below at any time!

About Me:

My name is Mike and I am a young professional living in Tampa, Florida. I attended the University of Tampa and was fortunate enough to be hired by a great company upon graduating. I work for an event management organization that puts on world-class triathlon races. Some hobbies of mine include running, watching sports, and most importantly, being an avid music listener and concert attendee.

How this came about:

Simply put, I go to A LOT of concerts. I do not have exact numbers, but to put things in somewhat perspective, I attended close to 60 concerts in 2013, including some major festivals. I always enjoy talking about the shows I’ve seen, and voicing my opinion and encouraging others to attend those bands that really impressed me. Typically this was done in person or through brief reviews on twitter. (really more like one liners praising those that put on a great show) But 2014 is about raising the bar, so I hope this blog can expand my audience and educate my readers on new bands and must see acts.

Why now?

2 reasons. The first is that it is now 2014 and I’m about to see my first show of the year. (I’m writing this as I’m on route to Chicago for the weekend)…so this was the best place to start. I hope to continue my concert reviews throughout all of 2014. I have some great concert plans and am excited to share with you. I’m very lucky to live in a great destination like Tampa, as many bands elect to stop on tour here. Additionally, I should have 2-4 major festivals on the calendar for 2014 that should be absolutely epic!

Reason #2: This was a huge week for the music industry. Often called “Festival Revealing Week,” the third week of the year is when some major music festivals announce their lineup. It starts with Coachella, which put out a pretty strong lineup, and is followed by the revealing of festivals such as Hangout, Firefly, New Orleans Jazz Fest, and Shaky Knees. (I’ll have more info on these in my “Festival Power Rankings” in an edition to come) Now that these lineups are out, and those for Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza are within the 2-month outlook, the music industry is buzzing. With all the excitement this week, I thought it’d be the perfect time to debut.    

What you can expect?

First and foremost, I will use this to review all the concerts I see. I will make recommendations and tell you who is really worth paying to see. Additionally though, you may see any of the following – updates on what bands I’m liking, album reviews, concert outlooks, set list reviews and introductions of new bands. 

My Taste:

Tough to summarize, but I would say alternative rock fan that tends to stray to the indie / folk side. A few of my favorites include: Arcade Fire, Mumford and Sons, Third Eye Blind, Twenty One Pilots, Young the Giant, Dawes, Frank Turner, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Imagine Dragons upon many many others.

First Up:

A young rookie from England by the name of Jake Bugg. This is my first time seeing Jake live, and I’m quite glad it will be in a great music town like Chicago.  Taking place tomorrow night from the Riviera Theater. Next entry should be his review.