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.
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Heroes 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!
Read moreConcert Throwback: Phantogram
These past couple weeks I’ve been jamming almost non-stop to Phantogram. If you follow me anywhere on my socials, and even here, I’m sure you already know that I really like them a lot. They are one of the few bands I’ve seen in multiple states (on purpose), and they are truly amazing live (and recorded, obviously). My first opportunity to see them was in Pittsburgh, and I’ve also seen them in Cleveland, Columbus, and Las Vegas at the Life if Beautiful festival. Each time was fantastic, but at the Pittsburgh show my friend and I were able to snag the front row and it was fabulous! I was also introduced to another great band at that show called Jagwar Ma (check them out!!). The Columbus show was also really memorable because I snagged a setlist and was able to meet the band and gift them with a drawing! One of my favorite concert moments of all time hands down.
Read moreConcert Throwback: One Direction
Today marks the tenth year since pop boy band One Direction was formed, and even though they burned out after five years, and I was a freshman in college, I still loved them deeply and was lucky enough to catch them in concert once. My heart! A friend and I snagged tickets almost a year in advance, and then an hour before showtime I checked a resale site only to find ninth row floor seats for dirt cheap! Clearly, we snagged them up, and compared to the nosebleed seats we originally bought, it was like a dream come true. They sounded so good and had a delightfully long set. It was bliss! Even though I had a great seat, my camera phone was crap, so you’re just going to have to deal with what I’ve got. I hope that someday they all reunite and tour, because I’ll be all over that!
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