Linkin Park 1/23/10

No, I have NOT forgotten about my blog. I just haven't had much going on in my music world since the move (well, there's something, but that will be for another day). But finally, my first concert of the year!! I highly doubt that I will be able to go to even half as many as I made it to last year given my new location and lack of funding, but hopefully, this at least won't be the only one I get to...

First off, as usual, I was solo at this one. Once the music starts, I don't care. But when no one's on the stage, and you're just sitting there waiting for the next band...really boring by yourself. And the ride home? With no one to jabber on about the concert with? Lame... Plus, do you have ANY IDEA how good Waffle Houses look that late when you've just spent all your energy rocking out?

My seat was okay. One row up from the bottom of the arena, pretty far back. The arena wasn't all that big though, so there really wasn't a bad seat there. I felt that I could see just fine. Granted, I would have loved to have been front row in the pit (dammit, I'm spoiled now), but that just wasn't in the cards this time.

I'll start with the opening bands. Before I drove down, I honestly had no idea who all would be opening up for LP. The first band was Does It Offend You, Yeah? I had heard of them, but never actually listened to them. I really liked them! The little tiny female bass player? Totally adorable! Their genre is sort of a techno-rock thing (as I've said before, genre can be a pretty slippery subject these days). THIS is the kind of stuff I would rather here in clubs, personally.

Second opening band was even better. Pendulum is also a techno-rock band, but I felt that their sound was a little more polished, with each song being a little more unique. I really, really, really want an album by these guys. If I had had some moolah to spend at the concert, I definitely would have picked it up, but alas, it'll have to wait. These guys were awesome in my book.

Now for Linkin Park...

Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. I really liked the stage setup (see pic below). They played songs from all four albums, which I thought was great because I love all four albums. They even included several of the interludes from their latest, A Thousand Suns. I feel those interludes really unify the album, so it was nice to see them incorporated into the setlist. There were some songs that I wasn't fully convinced would work live, but I was definitely won over. The slower songs like "Shadow of the Day" and "Irridescent" actually had a lot of power live. I was very impressed.

I tried to grab a video of "Wretches and Kings," but my camera ran out of juice as soon as I started filming. It was incredible to see hands waving all around the arena (especially the sea of hands in the pit) during "front to the back, and the side to side, if you're feeling what I'm feeling, put'em up real high."

"When They Come for Me" was friggin' awesome. I had never truly paid attention to this little fact while listening to it (which I must admit, it's a little odd for me to not notice something like this), but there's absolutely no guitar in that song. Tom toms were brought out for Brad and Chester while the rest of the band did their thing. On a side note, I really wish I could have snapped a picture of "MOTHER FUCKER" emblazoned on the screens behind the band. Just seems like it would have made a nice picture.

They played many of the old favorites of course. Man oh man, I wish I had been in the pit for "One Step Closer!" It was the closer for the main setlist, and you could see the entire arena going nuts. I was pretty sure my head was going to snap off and go flying the air. Needless to say, my neck was a little sore the next day from all my head-slinging.

My voice was utterly wrecked after the show. With it being so loud and so many other people trying to do the same thing, I screamed along with Chester. Haha. Even after "Faint," which was pretty early in the setlist, I thought was voice was going to give out. But come on? Who hasn't wanted to scream out lines like, "YOU'RE GONNA LISTEN TO ME, LIKE IT OR NOT, RIGHT NOOOOOOOOWWWWW!!! Don't deny it...

I was pleasantly surprised with how long the encore was. When they left the stage after the main setlist, I thought to myself "Ok, they still haven't played 'In the End,' 'What I've Done,' or 'The Catalyst.'" Those are the biggest songs, so I knew that they wouldn't omit those. So imagine my surprise when, in addition to those three, they also played "The Messenger" (which is a gorgeous acoustic song, if you don't know it) and a special extended version of "Bleed It Out."

I was surprised they chose "Bleed It Out" for the show closer. I've always really liked it, but I just didn't think it was strong enough to be a closer. BUT, they threw some surprises in there. After they played through the song, they kept the guitar part going, and Mike began singing the chorus to "Burning Through the Skies." I was like, "Whoa! Friggin' awesome!" And then he started rapping (the "Bleed It Out chords still going, mind you). The rap was really familiar, but my mind wasn't quite able to place it until Chester starts sayind, "You try to take the best of me. Go away..." and at that point, my mind was blown. "OHHHH SNAP!!" So we had "Bleed It Out" with the chorus of "Burning Through the Skies" followed by a verse and the screaming bridge of "A Place for My Head." DAMN I WANT A BOOTLEG OF THAT!! It would have been great enough as a standard medley, but the way they melded it all into "Bleed It Out" (which they closed out with after "APfMH") was just....fucking awesome. No other way to put it.

So that was the concert! On a side note, I would like to mention that after seeing them live and hearing all of those opposing sounds from their albums come together, I really appreciated more than ever just how versatile LP really is. Before I go, here a the only decent pics I got before my camera pooped out.

EDIT: Correction, the pictures are going to be the first thing you see at the top of the blog (obviously). I really don't understand why half the time blogger will let me move my pictures and half the time it won't. Is it really that inconsistent or am I just clicking something wrong half the time?? *angry face*

Kim's Best of 2010!

After much thought and debate, the results are in! Mind you, these are heavily biased. Hence why they're KIM's Best of 2010. If I didn't listen to it or didn't like it, then it won't be found here. This is purely a compilation of my favorites in 2010. Also, only those released between November 2009 and October 2010 are eligible, my reason being that songs/albums released at the end of the year don't really get the chance to make an impact in that couple of months.

Kim's Top 20 Singles of 2010
20. "Here We Are Juggernaut" - Coheed and Cambria
19. "The Good Life" - Three Days Grace
18. "Sing" - My Chemical Romance
17. "Familiar Taste of Poison" - Halestorm
16. "Give Me a Sign" - Breaking Benjamin
15. "Tighten Up" - The Black Keys
14. "This Is War" - 30 Seconds to Mars
13. "Shoot It Out" - 10 Years
12. "Impossible" - Anberlin
11. "My Best Theory" - Jimmy Eat World
10. "Shameful Metaphors" - Chevelle
9. "White Flag Warriors" - Flobots
8. "WTF" - OK Go
7. "I'm Alive" - Story of the Year
6. "Odd One" - Sick Puppies
5. "Alone With Nothing" - Smile Empty Soul
4. "Brick by Boring Brick" - Paramore
3. "Fader" - The Temper Trap
2. "Undisclosed Desires" - Muse
1. "Waiting for the End" - Linkin Park

I bet you thought I would make Muse #1, eh? Almost, but not quite. I prefer Muse over Linkin Park easily, but I'm having an affair with "Waiting for the End." Also, MCR's "Sing" breaks my cut-off rule of October 2010 by about a week. But it's my list, my rules. And already, I've spent the past month or so listening to that song a great deal. So I would say it has left its mark on me already.

Kim's Top 3 Albums of 2010

3. Feeding the Wolves - 10 Years
2. This Is War - 30 Seconds to Mars
1. A Thousand Suns - Linkin Park

Of course, as time wears on, I'm sure I'll be getting around to more albums that we released in that time frame, but for now, those are the 3 that made the year for me.

Favorite Music Video

The Black Keys - "Tighten Up"

If you watch it, you'll understand. Great song with a great video.

Favorite New Band

The Few/Oh No Fiasco!

Not a tie. Those bands are one and the same. Due to trademarking issues, The Few very recently had to change their name, and they chose Oh No Fiasco!. Haven't heard of them? Not surprised. They are a local band, homegrown in Knoxville. I've seen them live, downloaded their music from iTunes, and I'm definitely into them. I hope they have a successful future ahead of them!

Favorite Concert

Muse in Raleigh, NC 10/26

I really hope you didn't expect me to give that award to anyone else. ;)

And that's that! Kim's 2010 favorites!!

Not dead yet

Just a quick little blurb to let you know that Musical Musings is still on my mind. Apparently, even my music-listening habits have been affected by this stupid move.

With the year's end approaching, I'm thinking my own personal "Best of 2010" list is in order. This is something that will take quite a bit of thought, so I should probably get started on that...

'Tis the Season...

Mainly, I just wanted to step in here and say that I am alive and kicking...long story short, my DOG is causing all of my computer sessions to be short...

I was thinking, with it being Christmas and all, and with this being a music blog...let's talk Christmas music shall we?

Due to some...frustrating...circumstances, I haven't had access to most of my Christmas music, but I do have a mix laying around that I made last year with some of my favorite recordings on it, and I just thought I would share a couple of those with you.

(Oh, and seeing as the CD is in my truck, and I'm too lazy to go get it, this isn't all of the songs, and they certainly aren't in order)

1) "Santa, Baby" recorded by Cynthia Bassinet (sp?). This recording is often mistaken as being by Marilyn Monroe, so if you see one with that stamp, it's actually this chick singing.

2) "Baby, It's Cold Outside" recorded by Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone (from the Elf soundtrack!)

3) "Mary, Did You Know?" recorded by Clay Aiken (guilty pleasure, here)

4) "I Wonder as I Wander" recorded by Jewel and some other chick

5) "Sleigh Ride" recorded by the Brian Setzer Orchestra

6) "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" recorded by Rascall Flatts (I assure you, probably the only thing they've ever recorded that I like...)

7) "O Come All Ye Faithful" recorded by Weezer

8) "Do You Hear What I Hear" recorded by Flyleaf

9) "Merry Fucking Christmas" recorded by Mr. Garrison (hahaha)

10) "Chinese Food on Christmas" written/recorded by Bryan Walker (I think that's his name anyway...)

11) "Grown-Up Christmas List" recorded by Kelly Clarkson

12) "Silent Night" recorded by Boyz II Men

13) "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" recorded by the guy from the cartoon haha

14) "Christmas, Don't Be Late" recorded by Alvin and the Chipmunks

15) "Carol of the Bells" recorded by Destiny's Child (a very interesting a capella)

16) "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" recorded by The Temptations (LOVE THIS ONE!)

There are 24 songs on that mix, plus one that my friend made me that has some great stuff on it too, but I'm having trouble remembering everything. Well those are some of my faves. What are yours?

Ep. 18: Kim Loves 10 Years

Before I dust off my series, I'm gonna get sidetracked with a couple of topics.

1) According to my homepage, this is my 100th post? But if I count my actual number of blogs, it looks like this is only #95. What counted for the other 5?

2) I bought a ticket to see Linkin Park in January. I paid high $76 for the ticket (in the seats even. GA would have been about $90), and I'll be driving a ridiculously long time for this one, too. With my upcoming move, there were no dates nearby. Atlanta was the closest, and that's a 7-hour drive, straight-shot. I've decided to make it a little more worthwhile by staying in Knoxville and making a weekend of it. That way I can see some friends, then just drive down to the show (hence the seats, and not GA. If I had GA, I'd have to be there pretty early to queue).

Now to the point.

10 YEARS

Stats

Formed: 1999

Albums: 3

Breakout Single: "Wasteland," 2005

Seen live? Twice!

They're one of the heavier bands in my library. Despite the heavy guitars though, they have great melodies and memorable riffs. Their lyrics on the first album, The Autumn Effect, were a little hard to decipher, but lately they've taken to more straightforward lyrics.

Since I've become aware of the concert scene in Knoxville, 10 Years have been through here 4 times. I was able to catch them twice, and both times were amazing. A band should be better live, and they lived up to that expectation.

Here's a song from their new album. Love it!

The Rules for a Rock Show

Someone recently made a very interesting post in the gigs section of the Muse messageboards. They posted the rules for attending rock concerts. And what a crock of shit it is! Here are some highlights:

1) Don't sing if you aren't one of the dudes on stage getting paid to do it. Nobody paid their hard-earned money to hear your dorky, untalented ass sing. We came to hear the dudes on stage sing. Paying 40 bucks to go see Tool, but instead of hearing Maynard, you get the dorkus malorkus with mad zits standing next to you singing "Sober" really loudly and out of key in your ear is enough to murder mother fuckers for.

Umm....really? I mean, it is kinda annoying when someone next to you is crazy off-key, but really? I sing every word as loud as I possibly can. Also, I've never been to a show where the crowd drowned out the band over the soundsystem. What shows do these people attend, anyway?

3) This is possibly the oldest rule in the book… yeah, you know what we're talking about… don't be THAT guy. We KNOW you like the band, that's why you're here, you don't need to wear their SHIRT to their show as well.

WHOA. Probably about 3/4 of the people at a concert are wearing merch of the band that's playing. Why the hell is this an issue? I've always thought it was pretty natural to wear a band's shirt to their shows.

6) Dancing is ok, as long as you don't get all fruity. Air-instruments are NOT ok. That includes: air-guitar, air-drums, air-microphone, air-keyboards, and yes even the air-bass. Don't get me started on air-saxophone.

Yeah. Because we all go to concerts to stand against the wall with our hands in our pockets. Why would someone want to move at a concert? The nerve!

8) Don't be the buff steakhead dudes in the Jeep blasting Radiohead as you leave (or enter) the parking lot of the Radiohead show. WE KNOW YOU LIKE THE BAND! THAT'S WHY YOU ARE AT THE @#%$ SHOW CHAMP! HOW MUCH OF ONE BAND DO YOU REALLY NEED?! Actually just don't be the four buff guys in the Jeep at the show… period. This rule applies to everybody. You don't need to listen to the band you're going to see on the way to seeing them.

Ok, when I am going to a concert, I listen to that band for at least the week leading up to it, I blast it from my speakers on my way to the gig, I blast it as I leave the gig, then I usually listen to that band for at least a week after the gig. You're going to the damn show because you like the band. This one is just stupid. Plus, if I wanna wear them out, that's my business.

13) Don't be that fat lame bitch that gets crushed at the front of the stage at the barrier. Every time there's a real big show, some grotesquely fat chick thinks it would be swell to get as close to the singer of Blink182 as possible, and that nobody else there has the same idea. 3 songs into the set, the bouncers have to pull her obese fainting ass over the barricade. Don't be this pathetic piece of pasty lard.

Do I really need to say anything about this one? What an asshole.

19) No crying.

When something unbelievably wonderful and beautiful happens at a show, dammit, I'm gonna cry, and I don't give a rat's ass if you don't like. Muse played an amazing and beautiful rarity when I saw them a couple of weeks ago. Did I cry? Yes. And I wasn't the only one.

20) When there's a brand new band that a lot of people seem real excited about that features ex members of other cool bands or something, and they don't have any releases out yet, just a demo, or a couple mp3's on their website or something, don't be the jackass at the front of the stage singing all the words. Yeah, yeah, we know you're the geeky super fan who likes these guys way more than everybody else. Just stop it cos you're making everybody want to vomit with your over apparent super fan enthusiasm.

HOW DARE YOU BE A FAN! STOP IT!! THAT'S NOT ALLOWED! STOP HAVING A GOOD TIME!! THERE IS NO FUN IN THE NO FUN ZONE!!

There were many other rules on this list, but those were the ones that really got under my skin. I bet this guy is the best concert buddy ever.

I've seen all I'll ever need...

It's been one week already. You have no idea how badly I want to go back in time and relive last Tuesday over and over. Oh, and tell myself to suffer through the headache and hang out after the show (I'm so jealous of everyone who was able to meet the boys!). I'm still in the midst of a Muse phase. They're all I've been able to listen to for the past week.

On the bright side, I have a couple of Musey projects ahead of me to help me stave off the PMS (Post Muse Syndrome). Just a couple of time-consuming things to cure some boredom. I'll be sure to post here as they're coming along.

So here I leave you with a vid from last Tuesday. This was during one of the most amazing songs of the night, and the filmer was just a few feet down the barrier to my left.