Exciting Things Happening!

I haven't had much time to write on here lately, been stuck doing adult things like job hunting!

I wanted to do a quick update for everyone. The end of October and November are going to be really exciting and I am hoping to try out some new things for this blog, including concert vlogs.

Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis October 30th

 3OH3! and the Summer Set are playing at Wooly's in Des Moines November 1st

Pink! November 8th

For the Foxes ,Downtown Fiction , Tonight Alive November 9th

Jake Miller and Action Item November 30th- side note on this, I am hosting a pre party with Action Item while they are in Des Moines the cost is $60 and is going to be from 12-2pm. Come hang out! Let me know if you are interested in coming. 


There are so many exciting things coming up I can barley hold my excitement!

Experience LifeLight 2013

LifeLight 2013, a set on Flickr.

Lifelight 2013 may have come and gone, but the memories still live on. Check out my pictures from the weekend! Click on the link to view more!

Did you go to Lifelight this year? Share your experience with me in the comments!

Nothing Compares: Building 429 concert review.

There's nothing I love more than free concerts and the Iowa State Fair. What's even better are the two together.

Last night Christian rock band Building 429 preformed a free show on the Ann and Bill Riley stage and fans showed up by the hundreds. Even by 6:30 the seated area was more than halfway full for the show that started at 8:00. One woman mentioned to me that she had been sitting at the stage since 4:00 just to make sure that she was able to get a great view of the performance.

This had been the first time I have seen Building 429 perform live, and has made me very excited to see them preform again in a few weeks at Lifelight SD. From beginning to end the crowd was on their feet singing along to every word, and dancing like no one was watching. I think the most powerful moment of the night was when lead signer Jason Roy spoke about a benefit show the band played for the families of the young children who's lives were taken all too soon during the Sandy Hook shooting. He spoke of the hope that everyone in the room during that benefit was standing on and waiting for. The band then went into playing one of their newest songs "We Won't Be Shaken", which if you have not listened to I encourage you to click the video below, as it is a strong reminder to us all that even though we might not be having the best day, week, month or even year, that we must keep on going because we have such greater hope in Him who gives us life.

To see more pictures of the night you can go to my Flickr profile: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98565101@N05/ and also make sure you check out Building 429 on Facebook , Twitter and YouTube .

Did any of my fellow Iowan's go to the show? What was your favorite moment of the night? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter.

It's Always a Good Time

 First off I have to thank Veridian Credit Union for hooking me up with free VIP tickets to the Owl City show down town Des Moines, for the Night Fall on the River Concert. It was a great night, that was enhanced by your generosity!

The night was kicked off by a young band, EchoSmith, who just recently got off spending the summer on the Vans Warped Tour. What was most impressive of this band is that it is made up of four siblings ranging in age from 14 to 20. This has been the second time I have had the honor of listing to this band live, and each time I am taking back by their stage presence and mature sound. Formally known as Ready, Set, Go! the four piece band is set to release their fist album, Talking Dreams, this up coming October. I have no doubt that this band is going to go a long way in the coming months and years!

Owl City headlined the night, an electronica band from Owatonna Minnesota. However, we Iowan's like to claim Adam Yong as one of our own as he was born and lived in the state during his early childhood. One of the things I love most about watching Adam and the rest of the band that makes up Owl City, is that from the first note played to the last it is evident that each person on the stage loves what they are doing. Crowd favorites where played including, Good Time and Fireflies. Along with a full range of old and new songs.

One of my favorite things of the night was talking to two 14 year old girls who where telling me all about how much Adam and Owl City has changed their life forever, one mentioned that she does not know if she would still be around if it wasn't for his music.She talked about being in 4th grade listing to his music after a long day of school and because of this she knew that it was going to be okay to face the next day. This is why I love music so much! It can impact people in both small and big ways, and give hope to those whom seem to have none.

After watching Adam preform twice now, I completely understand why Taylor Swift wrote Enchanted about  him. He has this presence about him that makes you want to instantly become best friends with him! It was a magical night for all, and while I can't speak for everyone I can say for myself that I walked away wonderstrucked!


If you are interested in finding out more about Echosmith or Owl City you can find both on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/owlcity and https://www.facebook.com/Echosmith .

Best Day Ever (Warped Tour)

Warped Tour 2013 is officially over, and what a year it was. This years tour theme was best day ever, and it was, so much that I just had to go to two different dates. The line up this year was broad, form more hard core punk rock to pop there was something for everyone. One of the things I love and hate most about Warped Tour is you have to show up early to make sure you don't miss your favorite band. Set times are released each morning and are different each day. It's great because it in away forces you to show up early and if your favorites aren't playing until late afternoon you have plenty of time to check out new ones.

My personal new favorite that I discovered this year  is New Jersey Indie/Pop band For the Foxes. Other favorites of this years tour included GOLDHOUSE, find a past interview with Grant here , Action Item, The Summer Set, Allstar Weekend, The Used and so many more.

Did you go to Warped Tour this year? Who did you see? What was your favorite moment of the day? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter!

Belieber's Unite

Sunday July 7th, 2013. This date will forever be a young 12-16 year old girls favorite day. Justin Bieber made a stop in Des Moines, Iowa on his Believe tour last night at Wells Fargo Arena. Fans flocked the area early in the day to try to get a glimpse at their favorite pop star. One group of fans who were with out tickets, held up a home made sign asking Justin to give them tickets. Luck would have it he did, and also brought out the girls food as a thanks for taking the time to wait around all day for him.

As the day went on more and more fans showed up at the arena. Local radio station Kiss 107.5 had a booth  set up for fans to enter to win the chance to meet Bieber, but that's not all the station had for fans who were waiting around. Around 5:00 Mike Posner, who is most well know for his song "Cooler than Me" came out to greet the hundreds of fans who were waiting around.

It's 6:00 and the doors finally open! Fans rush into the arena, 7:00 hits and Mike Posner opens up the night. Posner played all the crowd favorites, and a few new songs in the mix as well. Posner address the audience and gave them a reminder to never give up on their dreams, saying: " Work hard, smile and believe. Your dreams are not as far away as they seem! I'm in the middle of one right now!"

Second opening act, and my personal favorite,
Hot Chelle Rae, best known for their songs "Tonight Tonight" and " I Like It Like That" took the stage, Lead signer Ryan Follese had every person in the dancing through the whole set. It was amazing to see this band from Nashville, playing such a large arena when just two years ago they were opening for native Florida pop punk band We The Kings, in Iowa City at the Blue Moose Tap House.

Hot Chelle Rae finished and Belieber's were getting louder and louder in anticipation for Justin to take the stage.  Disappointment filled the arena when Justin took over an hour and a half to finally start his show. This is not unusual behavior for the 19 year old signer, in the spring he was more than 2 hours late to start a show in the U.K. At moments fans where Booing the pop star for making them wait so long.

Once the lights finally fell, young fans forgot about the long wait and the arena went up in a roar. Even though I am not a huge fan of Justin's I have to admit that he put on a great show, and if I was 14 again I would have thought the night was the best night of my life. However, I am grateful that I only paid $30 for my ticket.





Find more Pictures of the night at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98565101@N05/

Top 5 Things To Do at Music Festivals!

Summer is fast approaching, which means festival season will be among us soon! Arguably, one of the best times of the year. For many it is a time to find new music, finally get to see that one favorite band, and lastly have a ton of fun! Over the past few years I have gone to many music festivals and have recently been seeing tweets asking about what to expect at Vans Warped Tour for example, and how to prepare for it. So in response here is my top 5 must do things at music festivals:

1. Do listen to the band member trying to promote his music to you...they may be your next favorite band. 

It is becoming the norm for new/ up and coming bands to follow more established, more well known bands tours. If you haven't experienced it yet, it will more likely than not happen to you at a festival this summer. A guy in a v-neck shirt , cropped jeans and convers will come up to you and ask you to take a listen to his bands music. While it can be uncomfortable and no doubt gets annoying after awhile, don't brush them off. They are trying to work hard at promoting their music which they have slaved over for months maybe years. Take a listen, no one said you had to buy their music on the spot. Who knows the band you take a chance on listen to their music while you are standing in line might just be your next favorite band. I know this has happened to me many of times.

2. Represent your fan base well.

Nothing is worse than going to see your favorite band live for the first time and the crowd is just rude! Everyone is at the bands set for the same reason. To listen to good music, and have fun. The fun is often ruined when someone in the crowed gets upset and angry that they have no room to stand, they aren't close enough to the stage (etc). This one person, let's hope its not you, makes the set unbearable and gives a bad representation of the bands fans and the overall reputation of the band playing. Which in return  can have a negative impact on the number of new fans that could have been reached, but will not based one bad experience.

3. Do make friends with the people around you.

As I mentioned in my last post, some of my closest friends have been people whom I have meet at concerts. Nothing brings people together faster than standing almost on top of each other   in the heat for hours on end. All the new people you meet can teach you something different, and they may just introduce you to a new band that will widen you music horizon.




4. Do try to meet as many bands as possible.

One of the great things about festivals is that many bands have meet-n-greets, formal, but mainly informal. You always want to keep an eye out as well, as you never know when the lead singer of your favorite band might happen to walk past you. Festivals in that way are compared to nothing
else. You have the opportunity to meet many talented musicians, that you have have to otherwise spend $30 or more to meet. Don't let the chance to meet your music idol slip past you this summer.

5. HAVE FUN! 

It goes with out saying, the most important thing to do at a music festival is to have fun! Go with your best friend, or meet new ones there. You are sure to have a great time with thousands of other music fans, if you choose to make the most out of the day or weekend. Only you can decided what type of experience you are going to/want to  have.





What are your top 5 things to do/ experience at music festivals? Which ones are you going to this summer? Let me know in the comments!