The Used - Artwork Review

Media buzz has labeled Artwork as one of the best albums you'll hear in '09, and it's certainly living up to its hype as The Used have delivered what many are calling the definitive record of their career. So here's the skinny.

Artwork stands in typical Used fashion. It's rough around the edges, it's got feedback pouring in from all sides and a lyrical base that poetically dances with the ideas of life, love, God and death. 

Entering into the studio, the band hoped to create something completely different. As the bonus DVD will show you, each member felt this record needed to be a re-birth of themselves musically. They wanted something harder and darker, and from their one-on-one testimonials it seems as though they feel they've created that.

Though with a quick listen of Artwork it becomes apparent that what The Used have created is not necessarily something new, but rather just a finely tuned version of their earlier works. Vocalist Bert McCracken has found a seemingly perfect balance of screaming and melody in his singing. The catchy guitar hooks and driving bass lines give Artwork a smooth feel throughout, and the drumming lends a more punk-rock feel, rather than that distinct metal sound usually associated with the "harder" record. 

We are graced, however, with a slower song or two on this album. Kissing You Goodbye stands as the Blue and Yellow of Artwork. A lone piano with a slight feedback in the background provides the calm to this storm. Though this song comes a little too soon in the line-up, leaving us with another seven brutal songs to get through.

In that whirlwind of distortion The Used have given us a loosely based story on the death of actor Heath Ledger in Meant To Die. The lyrics read: So maybe I took a little too much/Maybe life didn't want this part of me/If it helps to know/I never let you go/I'm sorry that I lost my mind.

Sifting through this record is a pleasure for any fan of The Used. Yes, it's punishing. But in the same it's melodic and catchy, much like any other Used record. Be sure to check this one out. You won't be disappointed.

Songs to download: Empty Without You, Sold My Soul, Come Undone

Blink-182 Concert Reviews - Boston/Hartford

If you've ever seen a band perform twice on the same tour you know what you're getting is usually an act. The same set list, the recycled stage banter in between songs and probably the same opening acts. But if you were lucky enough to make it to both blink-182 concerts in the Northeast this summer (Boston & Hartford) you know that you saw two entirely different shows.

The Boston show, back in early August, was as pop-punk as pop-punk gets. Emo stars Panic! At The Disco and Fall Out Boy opened to a young crowd hungry for the flavor of the week. Though virtually unnoticed, even the boys from Motion City Soundtrack could be seen perusing the venue before and during the show. In a classic fashion, blink owned the stage with their 22 song set. 

They hit everything from Josie to Stockholm Syndrome and everything in between. The deafening crowd of 20,000 erupted, drowning out the band during such hits as All The Small Things and What's My Age Again?. Guitarist Tom Delonge was in usual form making fun of his band mates and pledging his love to young boys while bassist Mark Hoppus had a steady line-up of jokes about Boston to deliver.

It was the perfect setting to see blink again. They were dead on with their music. Their comedic performance was stellar, even taking the time to pose for a spirited picture together for the crowd. 

Hartford, however, had a much different feel. If the Boston show was Enema Of The State, then Hartford had to be the Self-Titled record. It was much darker and more refined, yet still fun. This had to be due in part to the tragic loss of the band's close friend, Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, the night before the show.

Though speculations that drummer Travis Barker was not going to play on Saturday flew across the venue, he showed up with the rest of the band to yet another sold-out crowd. After the first few songs Hoppus took the time to vent about the loss. Fighting back tears, he led the amphitheater in a moment of silent in remembrance of Goldstein. 

Later on in the set, Delonge spoke from the heart. He explained that the reason everyone was there that night was to use music as an escape, much as he and blink had done when they started the band some 15 years ago, and rounded that out by saying the Hartford show was going to be their escape from their sudden grief. Being up close, you could truly see the admiration in Hoppus' eyes. A great show of friendship and emotion for a group of friends picking up the pieces.

The show itself had a more grown-up feeling. Veteran opening acts Taking Back Sunday and Weezer added to the mix, and blink cut their set list down by four songs. The crowd even seemed older, as if most had been fans of blink since their inception. 

The show was still a delight though, one of the best I've personally ever seen. They've been canceling some upcoming dates on tour because of AM's untimely death, so just be thankful our dates didn't get canned. Here are the set lists from both shows. Songs marked with a * denote songs not played in Hartford. All pictures and video courtesy of Backstage Press.

1. Dumpweed
2. Feelin' This
3. The Rock Show
4. Easy Target *
5. What's My Age Again?
6. Obvious *
7. I Miss You
8. Stay Together For The Kids
9. Down
10. Always
11. Stockholm Syndrome
12. First Date
13. Man Overboard
14. Going Away To College *
15. Not Now
16. Adam's Song *
17. All The Small Things
18. Reckless Abandon
19. Josie
20. Anthem Pt. II

ENCORE

1. DRUM SOLO *
2. Carousel
3. Dammit

Late Nite Wars, Grammar Not Included

Can you remember a time when bands were just out to make music for the sake of making music? A time when fashion and overnight internet success meant nothing to those who called themselves punk. It's tough, right? 

In a scene that seems to have lost all sense of itself one band stands apart, hoping to bring punk back to punk. Late Nite Wars. They're a group of five friends doing what they love, playing music for people, and astronauts, who appreciate it.

"We try to stay true to our roots," said LNW lead singer Kevin Quinn. "We play what we love to play, and grew up listening to. All of us have different styles, but where we overlap is what makes us unique."

LNW are certainly different in their style of pop-punk infused hardcore. It's easy to hear their influences, The Movielife, Piebald and even blink-182, when listening to anything off their EP. Coming from the Massachusetts hardcore scene, could we really expect anything else? Gang vocals, melodic buildups and a live show that makes you want to mosh like it's 1999. This is what punk is supposed to be.

Currently, the boys are on a month long tour across the US with local friends Furnace. All this coming in the wake of LNW guitarist Joey Rozmus' short stint on the hit MTV show, The Real World Cancun. Needless to say, the publicity 

from the corporate giant has helped fuel the band's popularity.

"We have had many people come out to shows that wouldn't normally come to a hardcore show," said Rozmus. "We also have gotten exposure to people across the country that would not have known about LNW, and that has been a huge help for us."

Less than a week into the tour and the band are finding their groove. It seems that their only setback so far has been their close call with not having a van. Luckily, mere days before leaving LNW were able to find a ride and get moving. 

They've got their futures in mind, too. LNW will be releasing a 7" vinyl comprising of three new songs sometime in the

coming months. "It will be cool to have something on vinyl," said Quinn. "I think it shows a little bit more of us and it's a good release to lead up to the full length [album].

As for where all this work is going to take them, LNW have high hopes. "I want this band to take us to Space," said bassist Aaron Bernard. "We want to be the first band on the moon." (Get the astronaut reference now?)

Be sure to check out Late Nite Wars on tour this summer/fall.

Thanks for the interview guys, and best of luck on the rest of tour!

One Night Only!

The dust is just starting to settle from the 2009 Vans Warped Tour. The two month long traveling punk-rock circus called it a summer this past Sunday in San Diego, California. The culmination of the tour has once again marked the end of summer and outdoor music festivals in general, leaving many of us crawling back to the dimly lit club scene to catch a show.

This scenario has played out every year for the past 15 years, except this year the fun doesn't end just quite yet. In honor of Warped's unexpected longevity the tour's founder, Kevin Lyman, is bringing us a one night only event that will cap off a decade and a half of well spent, punk infused summers.

On September 17 the Vans Warped Tour 15th Anniversary Celebration will take place across the country. Movie theaters in over 400 cities will broadcast a two hour compilation of exclusive Warped footage for fans. The documentary will include performances from bands like Bad Religion, NOFX, blink-182, Underoath, Rise Against, The All-American Rejects, 3OH!3 and more.

 

Tickets are already on sale through NCM Fathom Events. There are only a handful of theaters in the Northeast doing this, so you might be driving a little way to catch this one. Check out the full list of participating theaters here.

I'd like to urge all of you to go check this out, and pick up tickets as soon as possible. I'll be missing it due to my graduate school obligations. Yes, I know... Lame. But seriously, if you've got a free night, GO!

Whether you've been to Warped Tour or not, you know the validity and influence that this tour has on our whole scene. That should be reason enough to hit this up. So grab your popcorn and soda, and don't forget to fill me in on what I missed.

Tips To Look Hip

It seems that every show I go to I end up having the same conversation with the person I'm with. Well, that is if you can consider us criticizing everyone else's fashion choices as a conversation. Nevertheless, I've decided to give you all some tips on what to wear, and more importantly, what not to wear, to your next show.

We've all been to a concert that's overrun with teenage kids, thus seeing the horrors of the "fashion" world in first person. I can distinctly remember going to a Hawthorne Heights show a few summers ago where one girl decided she'd wear giant angel wings on her back, combat boots on her feet and more make-up on her face than Jacko had on when he "faded to blacko."

All these years later and I still remember exactly what she looked like that night. It got me wondering, why? 

Why would you wear $600 worth of Hot Topic threads at any point in time? Or why would you dress like a complete whore at an Escape The Fate concert? Maybe you can explain why zebra striped jeans and a bright purple shirt look good on anyone. No? Well I can't

either.

Believe it or not, it gets worse. Every now and then, mostly while attending a pop-punk show, you'll run into a one tool

wearing Ed Hardy clothing. Now, the actual Ed Hardy was a tattoo artist, yes. And yes, traditional Americana and Japanese tattoos are an excepted part of the scene, but under no circumstances should you be allowed to wear one of those overpriced pieces of filth on your body. Especially to a punk show!

But perhaps the most common fashion faux pas has got to be the kids wearing the t-shirt of the band they are going to see that night. I never quite understood this. Are you exclaiming that you are their fan? Because I thought by showing up to the concert was enough. Guess I was wrong.

Have you or someone you know fallen into this horrifying group? If so, no worries. I've got your rehab covered. Read on my friends, it will all be okay.

First rule for scene cred. Do dress like your favorite band... unless your favorite band is Cobra Starship. 

In that case, kill yourself. But seriously, there's nothing a double breasted button-up western shirt or plain colored v-neck can't fix. Trust me.

Also, skinny jeans work so long as they fit. Please don't make yourself look uncomfortable in them. There is such thing as too tight. No one wants to end up like Ross in that episode of "Friends" where he couldn't get those leather pants back up. Yikes!

If you're feeling like taking a bit of a risk, break out an old tee of some band that either doesn't exist anymore or no one has ever heard of. Major points! Examples: Try wearing an Influents shirt to a Green Day show, or sport a Goodnight Caulfield shirt to Warped Tour. People will automatically view you as legit.

Keep the accessories to a minimum. This means instead of angel wings, try an anchor necklace. Instead of that belt of machine gun bullets, just rock a old school white belt. And no combat boots. Any color of Vans Slip-Ons will work wonders.

So there you have it. A minimalist and simplistic approach to the indie scene. Maybe if we pass the word along, we can put an end to the crimes against fashion once and for all.

Thoughts?