AS IT IS 'I WENT TO HELL AND BACK' - Album Review

 

British pop-punk band As It Is has been through many trials and tribulations since their last album, from being a band of five to now being a band of three, and like many other bands in the scene, the current COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to everything. But the boys are back and better than ever with their newest and 4th studio album appropriately titled 'I WENT TO HELL AND BACK'. As It Is are never afraid of changing up their sound and this album proves once again that bands can succeed when they give the fans something new! 

No strangers to also having a specific theme or concept behind each album and after the theming of their last album titled 'The Great Depression' which was basically the band trying to bring 'emo' back with vocalist Patty Walters long black hair and dark eyeliner and black and red outfits similar to Gerard Way back in My Chemical Romance's prime, nobody knew what to expect next from them. With the release of their first single titled 'IDGAF' back in May of last year, it was apparent of the direction the band planned to go with on I WENT TO HELL AND BACK. It's almost the perfect mixture of the band's early pop-punk days with the upbeat instrumentals and the darker instrumentals that The Great Depression had. 

This is the first As It Is album that has guitarist Ronnie Ish taking over for beloved former member Benjamin Langford-Biss who parted ways with the band shortly after their last tour to focus on solo work. Ronnie was touring with As It Is on that last tour as an extra guitarist so fans were ecstatic when it was announced he would be a permanent member! With Ronnie being the only guitarist now, he gets to show his talent and he definitely fits in perfectly, almost like he was destined to be a part of this band and album creation! 

Overall, I WENT TO HELL AND BACK is nostalgic, energetic, and for the people who just want Warped Tour to come back! If you have never listened to As It Is but enjoy bands such as Neck Deep or Trash Boat, this is definitely a band for you! Every single album this band puts out gets better and better. Arguably, this might be the best album of their career! No matter the situation, As It Is are amazing at coming back with new and different experiences for all of their albums and I WENT TO HELL AND BACK is no exception. What makes it such a significance is how different it is when compared to the generic pop-punk feel of their debut album 'Never Happy, Ever After', the happy 50's inspired 'Okay', and of course the dark heavy topics of 'The Great Depression'. I WENT TO HELL AND BACK is it is own. It's different but not so different that it deters long-time listeners. It combines a little of everything from the band's past work and puts it into an album that is truly a masterpiece! 

Rating: 4/5

★★★★☆

  

Never Loved 'Over It' - Album Review

 

     Florida alternative rock band Never Loved has finally dropped their long-awaited debut album 'Over It'. Since the release of the band's first EP titled simply, 'Never Loved', and a tour with bands such as Like Pacific, Homesafe, Assuming We Survive and We Were Sharks in 2019, Never Loved began to accumulate a bigger fan following. With that following, came fans eager to see what was next. Over the course of the following year, the band would hint at a song called 'Autumn' which kept fans on their toes as to when they would end up releasing it. With the announcement of their debut album, also came the release of 'Autumn' and we finally got to hear everything the guys have worked so hard on. 

     The first taste fans got of the album was with the release of three singles which included 'Over It', 'Sunshine' and 'On and On It Goes', as well as 'Autumn which was the last single released before the album's debut. All the singles that were released were so different from one another, it was a nice variety of styles that there was something for everyone. 'Over It' is the first single, first track and the title of the album makes it the most important one out of the three as it is the kicker for the rest of the album. As a first single, it was the best choice. If you are an older listener of Never Loved, 'Over It' is exactly what you'd expect, it doesn't stray far from what old fans know and love, but for new fans who have never listened to Never Loved before this album, this first single will definitely catch your attention. The catchy chorus will have you humming "La de da da da da da" to yourself non stop and any song that gets stuck in your head must be a good one! The following singles included 'Sunshine' and 'On and On It Goes'. 'Sunshine' is heavier than the band's past work and it fits them so well! The pre-chorus reminds me of early 2000's rock/alternative music. Once the chorus hits, all you can imagine is screaming and jumping to this song in a pit, and then the bridge hits, and the instruments cut out and then come back into a sick guitar riff. The third single 'On and On It Goes' is a perfect mixture of both previous singles. It starts off with a kind of acoustic vibe and by the time the chorus hits, all the instruments come in, and once again you can scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs. Last but not least, we have 'Autumn'. This song is much different than anything the band has previously released as it's a mainly acoustic song with simple guitar, tambourines, and drums. It's the perfect pace and on the album itself, it comes after a beautiful interlude that transitions perfectly into it. For fans who waited almost 2 years for this song, the wait was definitely worth it. It really helps show how Never Loved can really do any type of song, from a rock song to a heavier song, to an acoustic ballad. There's isn't much this band can't do! 

     The rest of 'Over It' is also outstanding. Not one song is weaker than the others, all the songs flow so seamlessly together, its an album you need to listen to from front to back rather than on shuffle for the full experience. 'Over It' really shows the band's progression as a band and for a band who are newer to the scene, you will be blown away by their talent. The album has such a unique sound to it that it can not really be compared to anything, which says a lot! Never Loved have made an album that is the true definition of alternative rock and they are about to change the game! For a debut album, the time and attention to detail that went into creating 'Over It' shows with every single song. Definitely give this album and band a listen if you are into this genre of music because you will for sure find a song that resonates with you and wouldn't you want to follow a band that is this talented and will just continue to make better and better music as they continue to grow?! 'Over It' by Never Loved gets a 10/10!   

        

Ashton Irwin 'Superbloom' - Album Review

With 2020 being the way it is, it has allowed bands and band members to step out of their comfort zones and release different projects. This includes Ashton Irwin (drummer of 5 Seconds of Summer), who just released his debut solo album titled 'Superbloom.' Ashton explained in an Instagram post; "The album title SUPERBLOOM lasted the WHOLE process. I came up with the title alongside the first song we made. It sounded to me like my favourite 90's record that never existed." 'Superbloom' shows a more vulnerable Ashton side that fans of 5SOS have not been exposed to before. With themes of eating disorders, mental health and love, it shows that everyone deals with similar situations in their lives, and you are not alone. There is something on this album for everyone.

The album begins with 'SCAR,' which was the third and final promo single to be released. The song focuses on Ashton's struggles with depression. In the second verse, he references his mother, with who Ashton has a close relationship, significantly since she raised Ashton as a single parent, and he was the one to help her take care of his younger siblings. The third and fifth verses also mention his siblings. The first sibling he references is his sister Lauren. Ashton has stated she has helped him through tough times and has supported him since the beginning, and loves her. The next verse is for his brother Harry in which Ashton says he speaks to every day and hopes that he can help him grow into a better man. 'SCAR' is an excellent example of the 90's rock that inspired the whole album! (It even has a bit of harp in it!) 

The album continues with its 90's rock-inspired sound for the next songs. 'Have You Found What You're Looking For' and 'Skinny Skinny' contain that grungy guitar that was popular back in the late '90s? Ashton does what he does best with the drums on 'Have You Found What You're Looking For' and harmonizes with himself, showing off his vocal range that fans have waited so long to hear, especially during the bridge where Ashton holds the notes for a lengthy duration of time. 

'Skinny Skinny' is more on the grungier side with an intro consisting of palm muting on an acoustic guitar, which sounds similar to the Nirvana classic 'All Apologies.'  The first single released, 'Skinny Skinny,' focuses on eating disorders and the struggle of not feeling like you belong in your body. Ashton explains how he did not feel comfortable in his body, which caused him to suffer from an eating disorder (probably bulimia).  Indicated in the post-chorus with the lyrics "I wanna eat, I wanna stay thin," as well as the lyrics "My fingers stretching into my larynx" in the second verse. This song is an excellent example of how even men can suffer from body image issues, and this was Ashton's way of educating others on a sometimes taboo topic. 

The cruel treatment inspired the next track titled 'Greyhound.' Ashton witnessed what greyhound racing dogs would endure before their races and if they did not place in the top three when he worked at a racing business.  A heavier song musically and lyrically, when you know the origins of the track, you can begin to imagine the lyrics coming from the dog's point of view. 'Greyhound' is the song you think of when someone mentions rock. From the bass to the guitar solo after the bridge, to the vocals, rock is the genre that Ashton's voice was made for. 

Halfway through the record, we reach an interlude appropriately titled 'Matter of Time.' Featuring cellos and other string instruments, this two minute almost ballad is a reminder to the listeners that even though you might be struggling with something at a point in your life, there is still time for things to get better, and they will. So do not give up because you won't always feel this way, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

'Sunshine' is a song that seems appropriate to how the world is at the current moment. In this song, Ashton describes how he is upset at society's way but should always look for the sunshine to distract yourself from all the negativity. Also featuring cellos, but with just a faster tempo, 'Sunshine' is the perfect transition from the previous interlude. Using a 3/4 timing, same as the Waltz, the music sounds just like what you would think of when you think about sunshine, and you can even picture yourself sitting on a sunny mountain top admiring the view!

Bringing back the synthesizers and powerful drum beats, we reach probably the loudest and darkest song on the entire album. 'The Sweetness' is referencing the happy thoughts in Ashton's head that are overpowering the demons that also live inside him. The lyrics are very repetitive, which in this case works well with the theme of the song. When you go through depression, your emotions kind of go in waves. One second you are having all these evil thoughts (the darkness), and then the next thing you know, you start to feel like yourself again (the sweetness), and the cycle continues non stop. As the song concludes, you are greeted with a creepy sounding voice. The voice is likely representing the darkness and how it is still there and always waiting to creep back into your head again.

Not your typical breakup song, 'I'm To Blame', doesn't focus on the relationship's negatives. Still, more of Ashton admitting that he blames himself for the relationship ending but then explains that it isn't a negative thing that the relationship ended, as it helped both of them find their right paths in life. Once again, Ashton shows off his vocal range and unique drumming abilities that we all love him for.

Possibly one of the more personal songs on Superbloom, 'Drive,' is a song Ashton wrote for his girlfriend who's dad passed away, and Ashton was with here while she was experiencing this terrible loss in her life. The song's main idea is learning how to process your grief and have someone help you through it rather than letting it become this thing that completely blinds you. The way Ashton thought of helping his girlfriend with her grief was to take her for a drive around California since there are plenty of lookouts and places to drive away from the city and help you clear your thoughts where they can sit in private and talk about anything you need to get off your chest. Just taking a drive and being there for someone while dealing with something is sometimes all that person needs to feel better. 

Finally, we reach the final song titled 'Perfect Lie.' Opening with a synth and an electronic voice effect creating a futuristic tone to the music. In an Instagram live, Ashton explained that this song's idea stemmed from old songs he and the boys in 5sos wrote when starting as a band. The whole piece is Ashton saying how he loved the songs he wrote with the band at the time, but as they all got older, he began to fall out of love with certain songs even if these songs brought them to where they are now. The lyric "I'll try to love without hating you" is a nod to those older songs with Ashton saying that he wants to stop hating on the type of music he released at a different time in his life. He also mentions how some of their most popular songs are breakup songs, and now that those are the band's most famous songs, they are forced in a sense to play them every night, bringing them back to the mindset they had when they originally released the songs rather than moving on from once was. 

In the end, 'Superbloom' is a fantastic album for a first-time solo artist! You can tell with each song that Ashton put his entire heart and soul into them. This album is a great way to see a more vulnerable side of him that many fans may not have known before. 'Superbloom' is not the album you think of when someone says 5sos, but Ashton has successfully made an album that shows a different music style that would not necessarily work for his band. Ashton is an inspiration for other artists that want to make a side project who may be too scared to do so, but without 'Superbloom,' nobody may have ever known what Ashton was capable of creating! You can listen to 'Superbloom' for yourself on any streaming service, and be sure to follow Ashton on his social media to be kept up to date with him and his music!

 

Wallows 'Remote' - EP Review

 

       As we know, 2020 has not been the year for music lovers. With Covid-19 ruining everyone's concert plans and bands having so much more time on their hands, there is lots of time for them to record more music! That is what Wallows have done. Written and recorded during the quarantine period, the Wallows boys have released their newest EP titled 'Remote.' The entire writing and recording process was done remotely, with the band sharing voice memos they recorded off their phones during the creation of the EP. Consisting of 6 songs and a run time of about 15 minutes, you get transported into what can only be an '80s/90's coming of age film. With nostalgic synthesizers and the band's classic Indie sounding vocals, you feel like you are in a different time where everything is good in the world while listening. The transitions between each song are just another reason you need to listen to the songs to experience the full effect! 

    

    Track number two, titled 'Dig What You Dug' is a personal favourite mainly because of the guitar, and I can picture my friends and I at a party dancing our hearts out! Each song focuses on being in love, and honestly, who doesn't love a good love song? Especially when it makes you so happy to listen to it! With so many funky sounds going on throughout the EP, you have reached the end before you know it, but as stated earlier, everything transitions so smoothly you can't even tell when the previous song ends, and the new one begins. 

    

    'Remote' is a prime example of how even though bands can't be together physically right now, they can still create notable works of art. They are also learning different ways to be creative out of the studio by merely being experimental with how they write and even record their songs. Wallows have once again created an EP you need to check out if you want a collection of songs that make you want to dance around your room and live out the scenarios in your head of being the main character in your own storyline! 

Alec Benjamin 'These Two Windows' - Album Review

    Alec Benjamin, known for songs such as 'Water Fountain' and 'Let Me Down Slowly' just released his debut album! Titled "These Two Windows," the album which was set to release April 3rd, but was pushed back to May 29th, as it needed a few touchups is finally ready to be shared with the world. This album features Alec writing about his struggle with relationships both romantically and personally, his fights with his inner demons, and even demonstrates how he always wants to make people feel good. 

     The album begins with a series of songs on how Alec is dealing with the thoughts in his head and his emotional state. More on the topic of how Alec just overthinks and hopes one day to overcome it, these songs are sure to be relatable to anybody. Young, old, everyone deals with something at some point and these few songs help the listener understand that they really are not alone and that they are not the only ones dealing with these thoughts or thinking people assume they're crazy. He also focuses on how he realizes there are people who will be there for you and then when you think you don't need them anymore you slowly drift away from them even though they'll continue to be there for you. 

     Alec is a very compassionate person with a huge heart, and that shows in the song 'Must Have Been The Wind.' The song tells the story of a girl Alec knew who was in an abusive relationship. When the girl doesn't want to talk about the situation with Alec, he reminds her that he will always be willing to listen whenever she's ready and that he cares. It is such a beautiful song with an even more beautiful message! 

     One of Alec Benjamin's biggest influences is Eminem. The song 'Alamo' is a great representation of that when the bridge kicks in with Alec doing a spoken word esque rap for the verse which details more of Alec's battle with his inner demons. The bridge describes how on the outside he may appear like he's fine but on the inside he can't sleep, barely eats and how he feels trapped inside his head. It's very similar to a few of Eminem's verses in his songs 'Mockingbird' and 'Relapse' which feature a imilar theme of sadness and struggling in your personal life. 

     'These Two Windows' concludes with a song that is dedicated to Alec's dad. Alec is no stranger to writing about his family. On his first mixtape 'Narrated For You' his song 'If We Have Eachother' is dediated to his sister, each verse of that song concludes with the subjects being strengthened by the love from their loved ones. On this album, 'Just Like You' focuses on Alec's relationship with his dad. Alec admits that he would get in arguments with his dad that caused him to even block his number which he now regrets. The chorus and remaining verses is Alec saying that now that he's much older he realizes that his father had his own issues but still did everythig he could to support his family. Alec is telling his dad that when he eventually becomes a father he hopes to be just as good as him. I feel as though this song in particular will resonate with audiences a lot. 

     Overall, 'These Two Windows' is absolutely amazing for a debut release! Not once did I feeel like a song didn't fit or that there was a song that didn't fit into the tracklist. Fans and even people who have nevr listened to Alec's music before will love this album and will find a favourite songor just a song they can relate to! Be sure to stream 'These Two Windows' on whatever streaming platform you prefer and follow Alec on Twitter and Instagram for updates on his life, music and his upcoming tour!  

      

5 Seconds Of Summer 'CALM' - Track by Track Album Review

     Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds Of Summer have just released their 4th studio album titled 'CALM' which was purposefully done as the first names of each member spell it out. Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, Luke Hemmings, and Michael Clifford. This is an album the fans have been waiting for, coming off of 2018's album 'Youngblood", a headline tour, and a co-headlining tour with The Chainsmokers, we were due for some new music. As always, the band demonstrates their growth as musicians. Luke's vocals getting more and more powerful with each record. This album follows the band through love and heartbreak. The emotion in the songs are perfectly represented, you really get an understanding of how the boys were feeling at the time the songs were written. Let's break down each song one by one and really dive into the minds of 5SOS.

Red Desert 
     First played at the Australia Firefight benefit show, this was the first taste we had of the album (not including the 2 previously released singles at the time). The group harmonies opening up the song gives the album a perfect introduction. The drums being the most prominent part of the song, fans of the song "Meet You There" will thoroughly enjoy this one. This is one of the many songs I can already imagine being played live and when you can imagine how a song will look production-wise, then I'd say it's a good one!

No Shame
     Here we have the third single the band released before the album release. With a very catchy chorus that always will make you want to dance and just an overall really fun vibe, this is one song that will probably be stuck in your head for weeks. I know it was for me! With a more rocky influence, No Shame is different from the boys' other stuff, but not so different where you still know it's a 5SOS song.

Old Me
     The 4th single from the album, the song gives you a nostalgic feeling. Dwelling on how they made mistakes in the past both in life and relationship-wise, they learn to accept the mistakes they made and how they've grown from them. This is another song I can imagine live. One of the more emotional songs on the album, this is a song that I can see being used at the end of the year recaps to show people how the person has changed. The chorus starts with a drumbeat that will get you pumped up, it's a song you can listen to on repeat and not get bored of it!

Easier
     This was the first single the band released before we had an album release date or title. Released during the break between the Meet You There tour and The Chainsmokers tour, this was our first taste at what the new 5SOS era was going to entail. A catchy bassline and even catchier pre-chorus, this was 5SOS demonstrating they can make "heavier" music that isn't their normal poppy sound! Luke's vocals really help show the range he has and how his voice can fit a more rock style.

Teeth
     This was the second single the band released. With a bass intro that you can recognize within the first 30 seconds and a chorus that really tells the listener that this isn't the same 5SOS from before. This is their first heaviest song. This song live absolutely goes hard. This is a song for the people who never really were into 5SOS could listen to and enjoy it! This is one of my personal favorites on the album as its just so fun whether you are dancing alone in your room, blasting it through your car radio or seeing it live! This song will never not be fun and will always be something to get you hyped up.

Wildflower
     Here we have the fifth and final single released just two days before the album drop. Fans will take a liking to this song as the entire thing is sung by bassist Calum Hood. Wildflower is CALM's version of Youngblood's "Babylon." This is a song perfect for a summer drive or just a perfect summertime song. This was the song fans were most excited about, and I can proudly say they won't be disappointed!

Best Years
     Here we have the song which made me fall to my bedroom floor and cry when I first heard it. This song is so cute! Luke promising that he will give the subject of the song (more than likely his girlfriend, Sierra Deaton) the best years they've had and promises an amazing relationship. You can hear the emotion in Luke's voice for the entire duration of the song and any song that can make me cry will always get a top spot on my list.

Not In The Same Way
     A song about a toxic/unhealthy relationship. This song is basically the story of a relationship turned sour. The boys telling this person that they love them and the other person reciprocating but doesn't love them in the way same way. As they struggle throughout the relationship the song mentions all the problems they had and how they tried to fix them but to no avail. Definitely going to be a relatable song for lots of people, I can imagine how good shouting 'Not in the same way' during a show with thousands of other people in unison will feel like an out of body experience.

Lover Of Mine
     My personal favorite on the album. Written by Luke and his girlfriend on their living room couch. This is my favorite because you can really hear the emotion in Luke's voice and you can hear how in love he is with Sierra. Once the drums kick in and the song gets more intense, it sounds like a song you would hear in a movie, which is the kind of song I live for. If I can imagine a movie or a single scene in my head when listening to a song then I know the artist has done an amazing job telling a story.

Thin White Lines
     I don't think this song gets the recognition it deserves if I'm being honest. It's very good and the intro with the guitar reminds me of the overall vibe of the band's previous album and driving down by the beach in the summer. Just like other songs on this album, shouting out 'thin white lines' during a show will be such a fun experience! I think everyone needs to give this song a chance because it's not bad, it might not be everyone's vibe, but nonetheless, I think it has the potential to be one of those songs where people don't like it at first but then it grows on them.

Lonely Heart
     There is without a doubt in my mind that this is the BEST song on CALM. I was in so much shock when I first listened to it because it starts out so slow and acoustic and then the chorus picks up and its a total surprise! Definitely a song you'll be able to dance to and the harmonies between all 4 of the boys are going to sound beautiful live. This is exactly the style of music I hope 5SOS continue to make. Also, Ashton's drums during this song add so much more to it I can't even put it into words.

High
     If you thought we were going to get an entire album and not have one sad song then you were mistaken. Ending the album with a sad acoustic song is the perfect closer for this album. I would call this the second part of Not In The Same Way. Where that song was about a toxic relationship, High is more like the regret of not being in a relationship anymore and its another song that the fans will probably relate to.

     Overall, this is 5 Seconds of Summer's best album to date. It's so different compared to their other albums and there wasn't one song where I needed to skip because I wasn't feeling it. If you showed this album to someone who doesn't know 5SOS or doesn't like them, they will even like it! 5 Seconds of Summer are one the best bands around right now, and CALM proves how much hard work they put into this album. So please, go give CALM a listen. I promise you won't regret it and you will find a song you like as it has something for everyone!

Wallows 'Nothing Happens' Tour | Montreal, Quebec Concert Review

   

  I got to attend Wallows 'Nothing Happens' tour on February 29th in Montreal and to put it short what a better way to spend the Leap Day than with the Wallows boys! The Montreal show was the only show on this tour where they played the regular show as well as a matinee show earlier in the day because of the shows selling out the fastest out of all the other dates. My day started around 9:45am and getting to the venue for noon as the first of two shows began at 2:30pm. It was an extremely cold day as my feet lost all feeling in them after only being in the queue for thirty minutes. You'd think living in Canada I would know how to prepare for cold weather, but when you are standing in one place for hours on end, no matter how much you prepare you will more than likely freeze. After about an hour in the queue, which felt like an eternity after freezing for so long, we were let inside!

     Since this was the matinee show, there was no VIP or opening bands. Which meant we got a full hour of just Wallows! 2:30pm hit and the lights go out. We were told that the setlist for the matinee show was going to be slightly different over the main setlist which was really fun as none of us in the crowd knew what to expect. Braeden Lemasters (guitar/vocals) was the first to walk out on stage. He was all by himself. He told us that since this was the earliest they have played we were going to start with a slower song. He opened with '1980's Horror Film' which was a great surprise considering that is one of the songs not on the normal setlist! The crowd was one of the better crowds I ever experienced. Nobody was pushing, no one was being aggressive, and everyone was being very respectful towards everyone around them! The matinee show was exactly an hour long. I was having so much fun that the hour flew by to me and before I knew it the first of my two Wallows shows was over and I had to go back out into the cold. As we exited the venue the VIPs for the 8pm show already began to line up.

     Throughout this tour, Wallows have been partnering with different non-profit organizations at every tour stop. They would encourage fans to bring in donations to help these non-profits and in exchange for helping out your community, you would receive a free "I Donated At A Wallows Show" pin! As soon as the matinee show ended I headed over to the drug store and picked up a few items to donate. If any of you plan on going to a Wallows show on this run, I encourage you all to donate something because you really do feel good knowing you helped someone in your community! Every day the band posts on their Instagram story what donations the non-profit of the day would like. It's normally as simple as some canned food or even some travel-sized hygiene products. After purchasing the items I planned on donating, I headed back to the venue to queue once again in the freezing cold. As soon as the doors opened, I dropped off my bag of donations, grabbed my pin and headed back inside for round 2.

     The opening band for the tour is Penelope Isles, the UK based 4-piece band. I had no knowledge of this band before going into the show, but I sure did have a fun time watching them! It's hard to put an official label on what genre they would be classified under but the alternative music scene needs to keep up with them because they deserve so much success! Their set was very chill and vibey and not once did I look at the time to see how much longer until it was over. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire thing. Definitely check out Penelope Isles on Spotify if you have not already.

     Now it was time to see Wallows again! They ended up switching up the order of songs and opened up with 'Do Not Wait' over 'Treacherous Doctor.' You would assume that the second Wallows show of the day would be similar to the first one just with a few extra songs? Well, you would be very wrong! The second time around was like a whole different experience! Once again the crowd was phenomenal and so much better than what I expected which I think made everything better. For how tired I was that entire day, I didn't stop jumping or dancing ONCE. It was such fun and the energy all night was through the roof. At one point, Braeden told the crowd to open a pit and then realized what he said because the look of  'What have I just done' that appeared on his face was priceless!

     Once the show ended and the adrenaline started to slow down I was in so much pain, and I was so exhausted as I've never done two concerts on the same day before but it was so worth it and it will always be something I'll remember. There is not one thing I would have changed about Leap Day besides maybe the weather. If you are a fan of Wallows and want to see them on tour I would 100% recommend it! If you are not a fan of Wallows but want to experience a really fun night, then I also would recommend you going to see them play it definitely has made it into my top 3 concerts for overall experience! To learn more about Wallows and see what they are up to, you can follow them on everything @wallowsmusic.

  

     
   

The Maine 'The Mirror' Tour | Toronto, Ontario Concert Review

It's a cold Saturday morning. Waiting in line since 12pm, I watched as fans of Arizona rock band 'The Maine" showed up one by one decked out in golden yellow (per the band's request). As the evening grew colder, the doors finally opened for the sold-out show and one by one everyone piled into the venue trying to avoid the cold. Upon entering the venue a voice can be overheard over the speakers. "Welcome to The Mirror tour!" The pre-show playlist that was played while we waited for the nights opening band "Twin XL" to play, included the classic pop-punk hits with songs from Sum 41, The 1975 and other songs for the crowd to get excited for. 8pm rolls around and Twin XL takes the stage. They were nothing short of entertaining. Fans whipping out neon sunglasses during the band's song 'Sunglasses' and then waving around glowsticks to 'Neon Summer'. Everyone around me, including myself, had such a fun time during Twin XL's set. I was actually sad when it was over!

As everyone is waiting for the night's main event (no pun intended!), the preshow playlist from before begins to play once more. Suddenly, the music stops, orchestral music begins to play, as well as a countdown appearing on the screen center stage. 45 seconds to go. Then 30. Then 20. 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. A video introduction plays and The Maine comes onto the stage. A few people already throwing their yellow flowers they brought with them onto the stage. Nonstop dancing and fun were being had, as lead vocalist John O'Callaghan instructs everyone to sing, even if they did not know the words, he wanted them to sing and have fun! About halfway through the night began the part where I became quite emotional. As soon as the song "Lonely" began to play I had tears streaming down my face. Going from such an emotional song into "How Do You Feel?" where jumping was encouraged, my tears quickly turned into smiles once more. After all that, John made his way to the B-Stage for an acoustic rendition of "(Un)Lost". Bringing up an audience member to sing the chorus with him turned out to be a surprise engagement for a beautiful couple named William and Riley. (She said yes by the way!) John then returned to the main stage to finish the remainder of the band's set. The Maine's final song was 'Flowers On The Grave', which is a beautiful 9-minute song and one of my personal favorites off their newest album. Once again I had tears running down my face and we all began to throw our yellow roses onto the stage. After the show, I turned to my best friend who was in attendance with me and we both just cried into each other's arms. Quite the comforting moment if you ask me. The band ended the night by hanging around inside the venue meeting fans as they have been doing for years.

Overall, The Maine put so much effort into their shows and you can tell that they love all of their fans so much and want nothing more than for them to feel good! I would definitely recommend going to catch them on tour if you ever get the chance because you will NOT be disappointed! The Maine continue their tour all the way until November 30th so please try and catch a show if you want to have a really fun night with friends old and new!

Montreal's Newest Upcoming Band: An Interview With Second Harbour

   

Photo courtesy of Constance Delisle

     Forming just last year in 2018, Second Harbour released their debut EP 'Transparent.' back in March of 2019. Consisting of brothers Xavier Morency (vocals/guitar) and Vincent Morency (bass), the duo are preparing to release some new music, as well as their first-ever music video. I got a chance to sit down with the boys before their show in Montreal on October 3rd. I got the details on how the band wants to grow going forward, how to handle a career in the music industry, and much more!  You can keep up with Second Harbour and their upcoming projects @secondharbourband on Instagram and @secondharbour on Twitter!

    Bailey: What are your top 3 goals related to the band? Any dream venues you want to play and/or bands to play with?

    Xavier: Starting venue wise, I really want to play Chain Reaction, Warped Tour is pretty much out of the question unless they do reunion show or something similar, but Chain Reaction for sure just because so many bands that I've listened to growing up played there and cite it as one of the major places to play so that would be really cool! It doesn't even matter if it brings a lot of people in, its just the fact of playing in a place where so many bands have played. As far as the 3 goals for us, just growing an audience as much as we can, would be pretty great, I think to establish a really pure connection with people, so not just trying to attract the most 'pop' fans but really just trying to get on a one to one basis with as many people as we can. Also, writing songs that not only are people content with not just now but in the future. We don't want to write a song that we were unhappy with 2 years from now, we want to try and write stuff that for ourselves is timeless.

     Vince: For the 3 bands we want to play with, Neck Deep is a really big one for us, as well as The Story So Far, Green Day, The Interrupters...I mean I could go on all day!

     Bailey: That's awesome! So, out of the two of you, is there a main songwriter in the group or are you both involved? And, what are the main themes discussed in your music?

     Xavier: So, we both have different roles when it comes to writing. I write the majority of the songs and piece everything together, I'm kind of  like the 'puzzle maker' and Vince is the one where when I bring a bunch of ideas to the table, he handles cutting down the things that are not that good or things that wouldn't be good for the songs, he decides where the songs go direction wise. Its a dynamic that works, it's a bizarre dynamic, but it works for us. For the main themes, it's a lot of self-doubts, that's like the MAIN theme, so like, being scared of what other people think while also trying to not be scared of what other people think, just like contradictory stuff. Self-doubt for sure and we try to just blend in a bunch of metaphors and nautical terms.

     Bailey: I know you guys are brand new to the scene, so what has been your biggest challenge so far as a band? 

     Xavier: I think inter-personal relationships are tough, especially since Vince and I live together and we have grown up together, we get along really well but it can be challenging just because if we have an argument we can't take a few days off and then regroup a week later...

     Vince: Yeah! I still have to see his face!

     Xavier: Yeah, and then the next day we are making stuff or we are together. That for me would probably be the most challenging thing, but we make it work! As long as we don't end up like Oasis we are going to be fine I think.

     Vince: I mean, if we end up as big as Oasis, then I'm fine with that!

     Bailey: What are your rehearsals like? Do you have a set time each week where you need to practice or is it more spontaneous where you just decide when and where you will rehearse? 

     Xavier: It depends on schedules. Vince goes to school, so apart from that our live drummer and myself both have jobs that are morning and day jobs so we can all have the nights to practice. We usually practice 5 times a week on any given day.

     Bailey: Pretty generic question, but if you guys were not in a band, what else would you be doing? Would you still be involved in the music industry somehow?

     Vince: I don't actually know if I'd be involved in the industry, I like to surf and rock climb so I'd probably try to find a job somewhere in that field, we live in Canada so I can't do that here but hey, it's fine!

     Xavier: I think I'd definitely be in the music industry still because I  grew up playing drums, I've been playing the drums for about 15 years now, I still play and record the drums in our band so it's not something that I would ever plan on giving up ever. I think I'd also be a drummer for another band because there is actually a really high demand for drummers. Music aside, I think, I just recently got into comics and art so if I got a side job it would probably have something to do with art!

     Bailey: If there was one thing that you wanted people who listened to your music to remember about you, what would it be?

     Xavier: For me personally, I would love it for people to dive into the lyrics and see all the connections that we made and that I really like to play with them. If anything, I prefer playing with the words and making complicated little messages instead of writing meaningful lyrics, I do enjoy doing that but my priority is stringing together all sorts of weird rhyming words and stuff related to that. I'd really like people to remember me for the lyrics and to look into all the little bits and pieces and the crazy things I try and add in that I take hours to do.

     Vince: I'm not the main lyric writer so the way I can answer that is, I'd like for people to retain whatever good emotion they get when they listen to our music.

     Bailey: In your own opinion, what is your best song you have released so far and why?

     Vince: Tough Luck, simply because I wrote the bass intro lines!

     Xavier: My favorite song we've released is Aim Below The Head which is the closer of our EP because we took a different approach to it, it has lots of parts and pieces that come together in cool ways, especially at the end, and it is a really nice way to close the EP. We had to limit our selves time-wise, which we usually try to, and it was cool for me. I'm not sure if people will latch onto it like the other songs since it is a bit longer but for me personally, I just wanted to put that song out there.

     Bailey: Who was the first person or people you showed your music to and what was their reaction?

     Xavier: I wrote music alone for a long time, so I showed Vince and my music must have been pretty bad when I started out, but he ended up joining the band, so maybe he enjoyed it?!

     Vince: I mean I'm in the band so it worked!

     Xavier: Realistically when we had our real recordings of our EP, I showed a few close friends and our dad. It's hard to get real reactions off people you are close to but, they all seemed proud of us so that was the cool thing.

     Bailey: What is your advice for anyone else who wants a career in the music industry?

     Vince: Don't do it! No, I'm kidding! Just be prepared. A lot of people are going to tell you that you can't do it. Have a backup plan and be ready cause you never know what is going to happen. If you are going to want to do this for real you have to go 110% and go all in. Practice as much as you can.

     Xavier: Definitely give yourself wholeheartedly, give all of yourself to the craft and practice day in and day out. Try and write songs that please you as well as other people.

     The boys are currently in the process of working on their new EP which they hope is even better than their first and are looking forward to continuing to grow as musicians. Make sure to check out Second Harbour and to follow them on social media to know everything about their upcoming music, first-ever music video, and more! 

Photo courtesy of Constance Delisle

Photo courtesy of Constance Delisle

   

    

Yungblud | Montreal, Quebec Concert Review

     It's a beautiful sunny day in downtown Montreal. The past couple weeks of the International Jazz Festival are beginning to wrap up, but not before Yungblud closes out the festival at Club Soda. Opening the show was Glasgow based band Saint PHNX, a rock alternative band with the best stage presence I have witnessed. Continuously hyping up the crowd and the drummer even jumping into the crowd at one point! 10pm rolls around and Yungblud takes the stage.

     Walking onto the stage in pitch black, throwing water onto the crowd to announce his arrival (which was very appreciated!), donning a black dress, black creeper shoes, and his iconic pink socks. Opening the show with '21st Century Liability' the crowd was jumping and screaming the entire hour and a half set. A fan-project during the song 'Kill Somebody' and everyone screaming the lyrics back to Dom at his first-ever Montreal show was one of the many times he became emotional on stage, stepping back from the mic, tears in eyes, smiling, thanking the crowd. After the little emotional moments, we were right back into jumping around and having the time of our lives. At Dom's command, two moshpits opened up during the show. I personally have never moshed before but it was way more fun than I thought! I even managed to squeeze my way to barricade and grab Dom's hand during 'Machine Gun'.

     As the show ended, Dom announced he would be heading to the back of the venue outside near his bus to sign autographs. The people in the line were very respectful, not yelling and remaining calm. Dom made it halfway down the line before needing to leave as he had a show the next day and needed to make bus call. Unfortunately, due to this, I did not get to meet him (which is totally okay) but he made sure to go down the rest of the line and tell everyone he loved them and that its time that he left. He was very sweet to everyone and truly cares about his fans. All in all, the show was one of the best I've been to all year quickly making my top 5. I'll definitely attend another Yungblud show and encourage all of you to do the same! I have never sweated more in my life than I did at this show from all the jumping, dancing and just having fun. Be sure to catch a Yungblud show if you get the chance cause you will NOT regret it!

 

Twenty One Pilots 'Bandito' Tour | Ottawa, Ontario Concert Review

     On May 21st, 2019, I finally got to see the band that I have loved since 2015. That band was Twenty One Pilots. After missing their last show in Ottawa in 2016 I knew that the Bandito tour was a show I HAD to attend! It was a night filled with laughter, dancing, and lots of tears. Doors for the show opened at 6pm, but because of traffic I knew my friends and I were not going to arrive until 6:30pm. Surprisingly, for being later than what we wanted we still managed to get extremely close to the stage! (Even closer once the show started and everyone pushed together). Once 8pm hit, it was time to experience the best show of my entire life thus far.

     Twenty One Pilots opened their set with 'Jumpsuit' which included pyro, smoke, a car engulfed in flames as Tyler stood on it and sang and an explosion of yellow confetti that poured over the entire crowd. During 'Fairly Local' towards the final chorus Tyler fell through the stage through a trapdoor only to reappear in the upper section of the arena! 'Lane Boy' is the song that personally got me even more hyped than before. Tyler would remind the crowd that this is our show and that everyone is watching us in the pit. With that said, he told us all to get down as low as we could and on the count of three we all jumped up and went absolutely crazy with people in gasmasks sprayed the crowd with thick white smoke. After their B-stage songs, Tyler and Josh took the bridge they have set up at the shows and walked over the crowd, with Josh taking his shirt off and Tyler sitting down directly above me to sing a verse of 'Pet Cheetah'. My favorite song off of 'Trench' is 'Morph' and when I found out they were playing the album in full on the tour that was the one song I waited all night for. As expected it was the best song on the setlist. (Not to be biased or anything). Josh put his drum kit on the crowd and he came and performed the best drum solo I've ever heard! It started off with a short cover of 'Seven Nation Army' which abruptly stopped with the narration in the back chanting "Not Done. Not Done. Not Done. Josh Dun." to which Josh belted out his solo. Twenty One Pilots have so much trust in their fans, especially since they are so confident they won't be dropped, which has not happened yet, fortunately! It was all fun and games until we reached 'Leave The City'. Once that song began playing, I'm still not sure what came over me, but I just sobbed non stop. I had to lean on my friend where we cried on each other's shoulders just because we were both so overcome with emotion. The crying fest lasted all the way through to 'Trees". Despite all the tears I was able to pull myself together for one last moment when Tyler told us to jump once more and then both Tyler and Josh stood on the crowd with their drum platforms. As the show came to a close yellow and green confetti shoots out and rains all over the crowd once more, signaling the end of the Twenty One Pilots show.

     Overall, the show was a 10/10. I would recommend you see a Twenty One Pilots show at least once in your life because they really do put on such an amazing performance and the hard work that went into the production and layout of everything was extravagant!! After spending a year listening to 'Blurryface' on repeat, finally seeing the band that impacted your life in so many ways really is a surreal experience.

Broadside Releases Two New Singles 'King Of Nothing' and 'Empty' - Review

     2 years after dropping their sophomore album 'Paradise', Broadside is back with 2 new singles!  After much teasing, on May 15th,2019, Virginia based pop-punk band Broadside released 'King Of Nothing' and 'Empty' which are the first two songs to kick off the new era for the band and to give fans a taste of what to expect from what we can only assume is a new album.

     'King Of Nothing' opens with a distorted guitar which reminds me slightly of the bands' other song 'Laps Around a Picture Frame' which was my previous favorite Broadside song, so I knew I was going to absolutely fall in love with this song just from the first few chords. 'King Of Nothing' has that classic Broadside sound that we all love which fits perfectly for a song like this. From a soft tempo pre-chorus that bursts into a loud, powerful chorus and a bridge that has hints of Baxxter in it (lead singer Oliver Baxxter's solo side project), this will definitely be a fan favorite for sure. The lyric "paradise of bones" a clear call back to the bands previous two records, 'Old Bones' and 'Paradise'. 'King Of Nothing' will without a doubt become one of the bands biggest songs! Mark my words. A very upbeat/jumpy song with deep meaningful lyrics, I wouldn't expect anything less from Broadside.

     'Empty' is the second of the two singles. With an intro that makes you happy just by hearing those first few notes, 'Empty' is definitely a summer song. If you want a song that you can blast with your windows down on a cool summer's night, this is the song for you! I can already envision the crowd jumping along to the chorus during live performances. 'Empty' in my opinion is actually way different from past work Broadside has released but it still fits with the band's overall tone. Oliver Baxxter's distinct vocals are what make Broadside stand out from other bands in the scene. I could see 'Empty' as a part of a movie montage, the little instrumental right after the final chorus gives off the classic "main character falls in love in the summertime, they spend time together, and then share a kiss with the sun setting behind them." For me, I LOVE songs where I can imagine what a music video may look like and hearing other fan's opinions on how they picture it because I love seeing how others interpret music. Because as we all know, music can have multiple meanings depending on whos listening.

     Overall, Broadside surprised us all with these new singles and I have no doubt in my mind that these songs are going to be a part of many summer playlists! To hear more from Broadside or to stream 'King Of Nothing' and 'Empty' for yourself, you can stream them from where ever you like to stream your music from. Also, be sure to catch Broadside on tour this summer with Emarosa and Lizzy Farrall supporting Set It Off!

Marianas Trench 'Suspending Gravity' Tour | Ottawa, Ontario Concert Review

 

      Marianas Trench is a Canadian band from Vancouver, British Columbia. The band consists of Josh Ramsay (guitar/lead vocals), Matt Webb (guitarist/vocals), Mike Ayley (bass/vocals) and Ian Casselman (drums/vocals). The band is currently on tour to promote their newest album 'Phantoms' which was released March 2019. 'Phantoms' is their biggest album debut thus far. I was lucky enough to attend the Suspending Gravity tour on March 16th after being a fan of Marianas Trench for about 10 years now.

     The doors opened right at 6pm where our tickets were scanned and a lot of fans heading to the merch stand as it was situated right by the entrance. The venue was just a small one which made it very easy to find your seats and navigate your way around the venue. At 7pm a DJ appeared on stage in order to get the crowd excited for the show. The first and only opening act took the stage around 7:45.

    Elijah Woods X Jamie Fine, a pop duo who are native to Ottawa and were contestants on the Canadian music show 'The Launch' opened the show with their own original songs and 2 covers; Gold Digger and Dream On. The duo performed an exciting performance that definitely got the crowd in the mood. A free meet and greet from Elijah and Jamie at the merch stand after their set followed their performance where they took the time to meet as many people as they could before Marianas Trench began their set.

Finally, at 9pm, the main event began, Marianas Trench! The set consisted of songs of the 'Phantoms' album and lots of other fan-favorite songs such as; 'Pop 101', 'Celebrity Status', 'Desperate Measures', and a plethora of others. Josh Ramsay's stage presence is nothing short of remarkable. From killer high notes to multiple guitar changes and crowd interaction, a Marianas Trench show really is something else. Towards the end of the bands song 'Pop 101' which led nicely into 'Haven't Had Enough', Josh Ramsay pulled a Brendon Urie death walk and proceeded to walk through the crowd, all the way to the upper sections and then back down again taking selfies with people as he went and taking sips of peoples drinks. He always wanted to make sure he was including everyone there and making sure everyone was having a good time. Marianas Trench has such good songs to dance to that you never stop moving and having fun while they are on stage. Before we knew it the show came to a close. It was a truly wonderful experience and I'm still shocked as to how Marianas Trench is still not as big worldwide as they are here in Canada because they honestly deserve so much more recognition! If you ever get the opportunity to attend one of their shows I highly recommend it as you are in for a night full of fun!

     Make sure to check out the band's
new album 'Phantoms' now! Available on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play and anywhere music is sold!

As It Is 'The Great Depression' Tour | Toronto, Ontario Concert Review

     It's a frigid day in Toronto. I just got to the venue after 5 hours of traveling that day. I arrive at Velvet Underground around 2pm, just in time for my 4pm VIP check-in. Benjamin Langford-Biss, guitarist of As It Is has just brought out coffee for the fans waiting outside in the cold. Surprisingly, not many people are waiting and don't show up until the check-in time. Once inside the venue, As It Is begin their soundcheck/Q and A session. Followed by the meet and greet, which was not rushed at all as you were allowed to take as long as you wanted to talk to the band. 6:30pm. The show begins. Point North, the newest pop-punk band in the scene take the stage. With such good stage presence and interacting with the fans in the crowd, even if you were like me and didn't listen to Point North before the show you couldn't help but not jump around and have a good time during their set. I can gladly say that I am a huge Point North fan after seeing them and will definitely attend another one of their shows in the future. Next was the more chill, but still entertaining Hold Close. With lead vocalist Braxton Smiley taking over the keyboard during a few songs. I also would recommend checking them out as they too are another amazing band I wish I listened to prior to this show. The final opener was the more loud, "scary", definitely not pop punk band Sharptooth. With lead singer Lauren telling her story and struggles she went through in life, to providing resources for audience members to look into if they needed help, to overall just wanting to make a safe place for everyone. Sharptooth wasn't my type of music, but the message they convey is so important in today's world. If you are into more heavier music, definitely give Sharptooth a listen. Finally, it was time for the moment I waited months for. As It Is, my favorite band since before they were a band and my first time seeing them headline (I've only seen them on Warped and as openers in the past). As their song 'The Reaper' begins to play, the crowd gets more and more hyped up until, "I'm staring death in his eyes!" The entire time As It Is are on stage it's as if you are in a trance, you can't take your eyes off of them. From Patty's extreme microphone swings to Ronnie getting right in your face, to Ben ripping at his guitar, As It Is really are a band that has so much fun while on stage. Taking a more serious tone before 'The Question, The Answer', Patty reminds the audience of the importance of talking about mental health and how we need to break the stigma surrounding it. He also tells all of us that he wants to make this show a place where you can escape all the troubles that you suffer outside of the venue whether it is your personal life, friendship/relationship issues, anything. At an As It Is show you are welcomed, safe, and will have the time of your life. Once the show came to a close it wasn't long before Ronnie was out meeting fans, jumping the barricade just so he could get closer to us. Everyone who works on this tour, including all the bands, crew, tour managers, everyone was so nice and made the whole experience 10 times better. I recommend going to an As It Is show at least once in your life because they really do put on a show like no other. You will more than likely catch me at the next As It Is tour because I owe my life to this band and I'm so thankful for them. I can not wait for them to come back so I can have the time of my life once again!! 

Panic! At The Disco - Pray For The Wicked Tour | Laval, Quebec Concert Review

Leg 2 of Panic! At The Disco's Pray for the Wicked tour began on January 10, 2019, in Buffalo, New York. I was fortunate enough to attend the second date of the tour on January 12th in Laval, Quebec. As a fan of P!ATD for many years, I was in disbelief for the entire day knowing I would be just a few feet away from Brendon Urie himself. The show began with Betty Who, an Australian singer who is most well known for being associated with singer Troye Sivan. Who put on an energetic performance which hyped the crowd up with her catchy songs and fun, slightly risque choreography. Next up was Two Feet, who I can only describe as house music mixed with TONS of bass and even some guitar. The crowd seemed to thoroughly enjoy their performance. Personally, I thought the bass was a little too much, but other than that, they were great! After about a 30-minute wait, the countdown for Panic! appeared on the screen. 10 minutes turned to 3 minutes and before we knew it the time has come. The crowd jumped to their feet. 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Brendon jumped out from beneath the stage and going right into '(Fuck a) Silver Lining', with confetti pouring down on the crowd. With Brendon's past Broadway experience in "Kinky Boots," he sure did know how to work that stage. The production of the show was like no other. Confetti, lasers, pyro, animations! I felt as if I was in a whole other world. With crowd favorites such as "The Ballad of Mona Lisa," "This is Gospel," "I Write Sins Not Tragedies," "Nine In The Afternoon," and many others, you could hear the cheers of joy from the crowd as they got to sing along to their favorite songs. Brendon's famous 'Death Walk' happened in which he walks through the crowd during "Death of a Bachelor" to get to his B-Stage/Flying Piano. As he made the walk through the crowd, everyone was being very respectful. Brendon hugged some lucky fans and I was actually on the side he did the Death Walk which if you ever get a chance to go to a Panic! show, try to get an aisle seat as you have an easier chance of getting close to him. After the walk, Urie gets on his flying piano where he performs "Dying In LA" which was one of the most beautiful vocal performances I think I've ever heard. As the piano flies over the crowd Brendon peers over the edge looking out into the crowd. He even became a bit emotional and teared up a bit. After the little emotional moment everybody including the band experienced, we got back into a fast-paced, happier tone. As the show came to a close, one more shot of confetti was poured down over us. I have never been to a show where I have danced and screamed so much in my life. A Panic! At The Disco show really is like no other and I encourage you to attend one at least once in your life. You won't regret it. This will be a night I will remember forever.

Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco performing in Laval, Quebec January 12, 2019
photos courtesy of  Mihaela Petrescu