You know who me, my sister, and dad should have seen this summer? The Foo Fighters celebrating the 25 year anniversary of their Big Red Van tour. With this tour, they were going to be revisiting the very same cities they played originally, and lucky for us, Cleveland made the cut! Sadly, COVID is going nowhere and neither are we. So to reminisce on what could have been, I tell you about the three times I’ve got to see the band.
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Concert Review: Anberlin – Cities Livestream
In an effort to get back to something resembling a concert, and supporting artists as best I can, Friday evening I sidled up to my laptop to watch Anberlin perform their album Cities in its entirety. Was it my favorite thing? No. Was the music good? Absolutely. This was my first livestream concert, so keep reading to catch my thoughts on the experience!
Read moreConcert Throwback: Here Come the Mummies
Just like you, I too, had never heard of the funk band Here Comes the Mummies until 2015 at Cincinnati’s Bunbury Music Festival. They were given a premium slot in the lineup on a Saturday, which I was initially disappointed about because another band had cancelled and this band just seemed weird. Plus, I had never considered myself a fan of funk except for the flirtations Red Hot Chili Peppers did with it.
Read moreHeroes of the Shadow World Convention
Well, just like most other events in the world, this year’s first and only Shadowhunters convention got pushed until next year. In an effort to please the fans though, Jalmics, the organizer of the event, roped together an At Home convention for this past weekend! I will say, despite the event not taking place in person, this experience was pretty sweet! As an avid fan of the show, I was particularly pumped about it.
Read moreConcert Throwback: Declan McKenna
Since I just reviewed Declan McKenna’s newest musical release, Zeroes, I figured I’d throw it back to the time I got to see him live! And at an incredibly tiny, local venue for that matter! Bliss. This guy is a true talent for his youth and I enjoyed every second of the performance. Even my friend who I dragged along with me had a great time! Once we’re out of this quarantine hell, go catch him in concert!
Read moreConcert Throwback: Hawthorne Heights
On this concert throwback, I chose to feature Ohio’s very own Hawthorne Heights. I would consider this band the pinnacle of emo and they fully embrace it which I love so much. Couple that with the fact that I’ve seen them at least seven times in concert, if not more. I’ve seen them at small and large venues, as support and headliners, but either way they put on one hell of a show! And they love their fans. It’s always clear when I see them live or check in with them on social media that they just want to make music that people like and can connect with. If you’ve never listened to “Ohio is for Lovers,” then embrace your emo side and blast that song for all to hear! The pictures below celebrate the first time I saw them, and subsequently had ringing in my ears for a few days (my friend was actually sitting on the amp). Enjoy my youthful glow and the glitter guitars!
Read moreConcert Throwback: Arcade Fire
I have been listening to so much Arcade Fire this week and it brought me back to the two times I was able to see them live about four years apart. While I wasn’t a fan from the very start of their existence, I did become one well before they dominated at the Grammys and took home Album of the Year for The Suburbs, much to the chagrin of most of the world. Everything this band produces is so unique and deeply profound that I can’t help but to connect to all of it, even in some small way.
Read moreConcert Throwback: Foxy Shazam
Foxy Shazam, the Cincinnati based rock band from back in the day are BACK after a six year hiatus and I couldn’t be happier. Led by electric and strange front-man Eric Sean Nally, this band has always mixed loud beats and horns with soft vocals or screams. I also guarantee that the first time you listen to them, especially songs from The Church of Rock and Roll, you may confuse them for Queen. Seriously, if you wander through the Youtube comments on performances, this is the top comparison, and it’s accurate! Having seen them play live twice in completely different circumstances, their natural talent is unmatched. The first time I saw them was opening for fun. and Panic! at the Disco back in 2011 and I was immediately enthralled by their chaos onstage. Then I had the opportunity to see them headline at a smaller venue, but got the gift of a crazy long set, and they were incredible! Ever heard an electric kazoo? Well, I have and it’s cool as hell. Now it’s 2020, they’re back together, and there’s new merch and new music, and I can’t wait to see them again!
Read moreConcert Throwback: Bad Suns
I suppose this would be multiple concert throwbacks, because I’ve had the good fortune of being able to see Bad Suns in concert seven times! That puts them near the top of my most-frequent attendance list. It all started back in 2014 when I heard their first radio single, “Cardio Arrest,” play in my car. The rest is history!
Read moreConcert Throwback: Cute is What We Aim For
It’s a mouthful of a band name, but my middle school emo self loved Cute is What We Aim For so very much. Sadly, the first time I had the chance to see them in concert was about 13 years after I started listening to them. But it was such a great show, and lead singer Shaant Hacikyan was so genuinely happy to meet the fans! When he found out how long I’d been listening to them he squeezed me in a hug so tight that I thought my smile was going to split my face in two. Then approximately five years later I got to see them again! He was just as kind this time around. It wouldn’t be a Cute is What We Aim For show if they didn’t play hits like “There’s a Class for This” and “Moan,” but they also manage to mix it up and play some acoustically, which really adds a special elements to the shows. The band has undergone several lineup changes and they’ve released new music occasionally, but I really hope I get the chance to see them again sooner rather than later. Either way, a real talent, and so impressive live!
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