Sara Scoggs' Blog

SXSW has come to an unfortunate end, but thankfully there were three new acts that left me completely impressed. All three of these bands are relatively new to my music queue and their live sets were my first real exposure to their music. Here are the three bands from SXSW that left me wanting more -- AKA CRAZY emerging talent!

Twenty One Pilots

On paper I should not like Twenty One Pilots. A band with reggae/hip hop influences is not normally what I’m attracted to and their album was an okay for me. I gave it a few listens and appreciate their fresh approach to music and could see their obvious talent. At the Warner Sound showcase with headliner Paramore I became a Twenty One Pilots fan. The duo from Ohio was charismatic, confidant and put on a fantastically entertaining live set. Front man Tyler Joseph delivered his vocals and rap verses’ effortlessly, played the piano and the ukulele, and climbed the stage’s scaffolding in the same fashion Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday has become known for. Drummer Josh Dun gave an impressive showing keeping the energy up with his furious drumming.  

If you want to take a look at what why offer live, check out this collaboartive durm solo.

The 1975

The 1975 was vaguely familiar to me before I saw them play. A friend recommend I check them out during the festival – and afterward I realized I had read about them here on the site. Go figure! Well the UK foursome were fantastic. Initially I was unsure by the look of the band about the kind of sound that was going to come from their Marshall speakers. I would have guessed a much grungier/punk sound, but their rock/pop/electronic/indie sound was a dancing delight. After the show I approached Matthew Healy, the singer/guitarist to tell him how impressed I was and he shyly thanked me for checking them out. Word on the 6th street is tons of labels have had their eyes on these guys.They are currently signed to Vagrant Records in the US and hopefully will make it to LA soon.

Take a look at their music video for the single, “Sex”.

Gold Fields

This band had great timing. They played an adjacent stage to Ghost Beach at Maggie Mae’s, they were right under my nose. I was with a friend who recently became a fan, so we stuck around to see their set. The Australian natives had an interesting indie/rock energy that at times tribal/rhythmic influence. The front man gave off a Jesse Lacey esq mystic that made them even more interesting.  Instrumentally they had bursts of energy that left you with a rush. Gold Fields is the perfect kind of band to see live as your first exposure, they didn’t disappoint. They had attracted a huge crowd by the end of their set, and it was well deserved

Here is their music video for the single, “Dark Again.”

So please give these bands some attention and let me know what you think. #musicrules

Who do you think is going to break out this year?

Let’s talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Although we all knew it, last night Fall Out Boy was the surprise guest for Crush Management’s showcase at SXSW. The line-up was pretty diverse if you look at how it began compared to how it ended. The showcase featured some charming country acts and then ended with one of the most recognizable “emo” bands of the last decade.

Aside from seeing FOB, a loved Butch Walker’s live show. Some of you may recognize Butch has he has worked with tons of artist and most recently lent his talented hands to Fall Out Boys’ forthcoming album Save Rock & Roll. I had never seen Butch live and he was incredible. He performed with tangible enthusiasm and sold the entire crowd with his charismatic presence and witty banter. He is a very talented musician; the kind of live performer that makes you believe he was born to be on the stage sharing his stories. I suggest seeing him live if you have the chance.

As the evening drew closer to 1 am (yep I had another late night) the 1K-ish capacity club was brimming with anxious fans. Thankfully New Politics went on right before FOB and kept the crowd psyched and warm as the night crept past midnight. Just like I experienced a month ago, FOB hit the tiny stage with tons of energy. Enough that I imagine would have been able to power all of 6th street.

While I felt the band’s energy was on par with the LA show, there were a few things that were noticeably different.  The set list was (understandably) much shorter; but  I would have exchanged the “Beat It” cover for “Grand Theft Autumn” any day. The crowd was older; SXSW attracts a much older audience, creating a noticeably different level of crowd participation.  There was plenty of singing along, but not nearly as much dancing, jumping and crowd surfing. Maybe we’re all just getting older, but the floor was not going off the way it was in LA. Interesting to see how a crowd’s involvement can be drastically different from city to city. I however, danced and sang my little heart out – don’t worry guys. Fall Out Boy makes it impossible for me to stand still. As I mentioned in my post about the LA show, as musicians they have evolved and bring a new level of excitement to their live show than didn’t see in them a few years back. They seem thrilled to be back at it.

I am psyched for FOB to play more shows so all of you can catch them live and then come back and tell ME about it. I can’t believe I saw FOB twice in two months in small clubs.

All photos courtesy of Matt Vogel.

So long live the car-crash hearts. #musicrules.

Let’s talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Anyone who follows The Ready Set on Twitter knows Jordan Witzigreuter has a clever and imaginative sense of humor. We were so intrigued by some of his tweets and had him explain a few to us while he was on tour in LA. Check out what Jordan told us about some pizza and his cell phone -- and what he likes about sheep! And don't miss our game of Would You Rather with Jordan.

Take a look at our exclusive interview backstage at The Roxy! #musicrules. 

Keep an eye out for more interviews with Jordan soon and see him live on tour now!

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.    

SXSW has been a whirlwind and yesterday was a bit overwhelming for my music loving heart. Austin, TX’s streets are currently overflowing with live music to discover -- aka emerging talent central. Yesterday I saw tons of bands I love, but I knew going into the day Paramore’s set at the Warner Sound showcase would be the highlight. I can tell you I waited almost five hours in the pit to be close to the stage. Sure I could have been up in the VIP section, but I wanted to be close -- just like you guys would have. Lucky for me the entire line up was jam packed with talent acts; Kitten, Skaters, The Rubens, Twenty One Pilots and Tegan and Sara – all offering different flavors to the congested crowd.

More photos of Paramore at SXSW Warner Sound.

When Paramore came out it was electrifying. I have never been THAT close for an entire Paramore set and seeing all the small details of their performance made for an intimate experience. Seeing the eye contact between Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Jeremy Davis made my five-year plus Paramore fan heart swell. There were huge smiles and small subtle nods of reassurance between the trio during the set that I had never noticed at past shows.  It was very sweet.

Also new songs like “Now” and “Still Into You” brought on tons of energy not only between the three we all know so well – but there was a distinct synergy between all six musicians on stage. The set was powerful and never lost momentum. I have never heard this band better live and got emotional standing in the crowd hearing Hayley sing. Embarrassing to admit, but I felt honored to be standing that close to such a powerful instrument.

I get a lot of messages from you guys about how you would love to have a job like mine one day, and the 16-year-old version of myself would be saying the same thing. By the end of yesterday I was overwhelmed with how blessed I am to be seeing one of my favorite bands during such a transitional phase of their careers. To be singing back the words that encompass their personal struggles and made all of us want to become more. Hayley might be my favorite person to sing along with and I will never forget last night seeing her in her element.

Paramore has evolved from “that band with a emo girl singer” to a full-fledged force to be reckoned with.  This new album will be a huge turning point for all of them and as a fan from many years, I am very proud of what they have accomplished. 

“After all this time, I’m still into you” #musicrules. 

The Ready Set is currently out on the road playing shows across the US and we caught up with Jordan while he was in LA. We have done a lot of interviews with this fine fella, so we decided to play a new game with the "Give Me Your Hand" singer called, Would You Rather. We gave Jordan two pretty awful situations to see how he would react. Take a look at our exclusive interview backstage at The Roxy! #musicrules. 

Keep an eye out for more interviews with Jordan soon and see him live on tour now!

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.    

Music notes, because let's face it, #musicrules.

For today's episode of Music Notes we will take a look at all of our favorite bands sharing the stories behind their tattoos. Take a look and let me know who has your favorite piece of body ink! 

Who has your favorite tattoo in music?

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Currently in a shared van on my way to LAX! I am so excited for this music festival. Can't wait to share my adventures with all of you on the site!

#musicrules

Today’s Artist Spotlight is on Trees Above Mandalay. 

Tress Above Mandalay is the 5-piece pop rock band from New Jersey that I think you will all LOVE.  To give you a quick idea of what you can expect, they have Coheed and Cambria’s guitar breakdowns with Fall Out Boys’ gripping tongue and cheek lyrics and distinct soulful vocal styling’s. They're the perfect fit for our Emerging Talent theme this month. Get on board now my friends, I hear endless potential here. 

Trees Above Mandalay just released a new EP this past February, Growing Pains and it’s fantastic. The 6-track EP is a wonderful introduction to what this band can do. My favorite track is, “I’m Leading, You’re Biting” – give it a listen. 

Take a look at our Q&A with the band below to get to them a bit better. I'm going to be SHOCKED if you don’t dig this band. #musicrules

Who are your main influences?  

My favorite part about this band is that there are 5 people that actively write and each has their own personal influences that come out in our songs.  When you have 5 different sets of ideas going into a song you’re going to hear a lot of different influences, however subtle they may be.  We all listen to a lot of different music, some tastes are shared some are not.  As a whole, I think our main influences are Beloved, Secret Lives of the Freemasons, Coheed and Cambria, Anberlin, Forgive Durden and Gatsby’s American Dream.  There’s so much that goes into each song and everyone would probably tell you something different.      

Tell us about the newest release and what's your favorite track we need to listen in for. 

We just released “Growing Pains” on February 19th and I can honestly say we’ve never been more proud of anything we’ve done before.  Both musically and lyrically, the songs are about everything we’ve gone through in the last couple of years, both as a band and people.  It’s very personal but still very relatable and that’s what I love about it.  I hope people can listen to the tracks and find some comfort in knowing there are other people going through the same struggle of growing up and trying to figure out life.  My favorite track on the EP is “I’m Leading, You’re Biting.”  It was the first single we released and besides being my favorite to play, it’s heartfelt and honest and that’s what I hope people will hear.    

Won battle of the bands last year for Warped, any future Warped tour plans for the summer?

We did and it was a great experience.  Unfortunately, it was only one day but I had a great time playing.  To be able to do that every day would be a dream come true.  At the moment, we don’t have any dates on Warped but hopefully that changes.  

Who would be your ideal touring mates for a national tour?

This is one of those questions where everyone would probably answer differently.  I’m going to be selfish on this one, mostly because I’d just want to see them play every night but I’d love to tour with Bad Rabbits.  They’re an absolutely amazing group of musicians and to have the chance to see them kill it day in and day out would be incredible. 

Seeing a lot of east coast dates on tour what about the West?

We’ve been neglecting the west haven’t we?  It’s something we’re building up toward and would be lucky to get the opportunity to get outside of the East Coast & Midwest.  There’s nothing booked yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if you see us out there real soon. 

What are your goals as a band for 2013?

I think for us, we just want to keep growing as musicians and people.  We hope “Growing Pains” does well and people enjoy what we’re doing but we’re not going to stop.  We’re going to play as much as possible but we’ve also got so many ideas for new songs already and we’re so excited to expand on what we’ve done so far.  One of the best things about music is you can always get better and keep moving forward trying different things.  I think we have a lot more room to grow into and this is just the beginning.  We’re going to be working hard to bring you something new and different on our end, we hope everyone is as excited as us. 

What do you think of Trees Above Mandalay?

Let’s talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

I need to get this off my chest. 

Last week New Kids On The Block premiered an incredibly charming music video for ultra catchy single, “Remix (I Like The).” Upon a first listen I loved, loved, loved the song. The anthemic chorus, the corky storyline paired with this epic music video – I was sold. I have listened to this song non-stop for the past few days. Really, I have. I am severely impressed by their new sound and look, great comeback. It’s important to note I was NOT a big NKOTB fan as a teen, so it wasn’t a guarantee I would love anything by default. 

           

I was however a HUGE NSYNC fan. I had posters, begged my mom to take me to their concerts and learned all of their choreography with my best friends at sleepovers. So when Justin Timberlake revealed he was coming back I was thrilled. I loved JT’s Future Sex/Love Sounds back in 2006 – but unfortunately, I was severely underwhelmed by his new single “Suit & Tie,” and still am. “Suit & Tie” is too hard to follow. I have been giving it a chance for a few weeks now and I still can’t get into it. There are plenty of elements of the song I like; the horns are great and the hook is classic JT – but I never had this song stuck in my head. I also really don’t like the actual content of the song. 

Stop, let me get a good look at it.

So thick, now I know why they call it a fatty

What? More of Justin Timberlake's 'Suit And Tie' lyrics. 

I don’t feel like JT really put his best foot forward for his first single -- and now in comparison to NKOTB, JT’s comeback is looking even more lackluster. His other single, “Mirrors” is closer to a JT I can get down with. Anxious to hear more songs like that. 

So I never thought I would say this but, I am currently a bigger NKOTB fan at the moment than JT. There I said it, feels good to get that off my chest. #musicrules. 

What do you think of 'Remix' vs. 'Suit And Tie'?

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

I remember the first time I heard an All Time Low song. It was the summer of 2007 and I was working at Hollister (yes I was one of those annoying kids who worked at Hollister), and at the time “Holly (Would You Turn Me On?)” was playing in the store. It was very catchy; the chorus was easy to sing along with and it had those great pop-punk power chords that felt comforting. Well that was five years ago – and ATL is still the most popular band we cover on Buzznet. 

This past week Amy (you guys know Amy) asked me how a band like All Time Low has managed to stand the test of pop-punk time. She recalled a time when bands like Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco and Blink-182 were constantly on MTV and even suddenly featured in popular entertainment magazines like People; but the era of 2006-2008 came to an end and “the scene” was no longer in the forefront of uber popular music. She begged the questions, “Sara, how has All Time Low managed to stay relevant beyond the reign of  ‘scene’ music? How are they still thriving?”

Amy had a good point. All Time Low has been at this for 10 years and they seem to currently be at the top of their game and show no signs of stopping regardless of any setbacks (their departure from major label Interscope Records in May of 2012.) All Time Low is constantly on tour, is writing solid records and continued to grow as individuals and as a band. So how the heck did they manage that? Well from an outsiders perspective they did three simple things. 

One: All Time Low has always been All Time Low. 

I mean really, the lineup hasn’t strayed from Alex Gaskarth, Jack Barakat, Rian Dawson and Zack Merrick. Heck their tour manager Matt Flyzik has been with them from day one and is credited as contributing backing vocals on their first EP, The Three Words to Remember in Dealing with the End. I think there is something to be said for a band that stays together for such a long time. Means they all still enjoy what they are doing and are invested in it. Interesting to note, the band that inspired All Time Low’s name, New Found Glory, have also had the same lineup since day one. 

Two: Alex Gaskarth writes what he knows. 

Sure there are a few All Time Low songs with a sense of humor, a la “I Feel Like Dancin’” – but I think the best part of ATL is Alex’s ability to package the gripes of growing up to a melody we can all sing and dance along with. Songs like “Weightless” speak to anyone who is coming to terms with growing pains and the anxiety that comes along with it, all wrapped in a memorable 3-minute-15-second song. On their latest LP “Outlines” continues to touch on coming to terms with growing up. The genuine sentiment keeps fans invested; buying albums, merch, and most importantly concert tickets.  

Three: Finally I would say All Time Low have made it to 2013 because of YOU. 

Yes you the fan reading this post. YOU have given these four boys from Baltimore the opportunity to keep this thing going for a decade. All Time Low keep an interactive relationship with fans via social networking, tour meet and greets and by allowing media outlets (ahem) access for interviews. Keeping fans engaged during an off period or while in a different county has been one of All Time Low’s strongest traits. They keep fans entertained beyond their music, and fans keep them happy with undying love, support and admiration. Without fans a band simply cannot exist, it’s really simple. All Time Low gives their fans plenty to love and plenty to keep them interested. 

So I would say the three reasons All Time Low have made it to 2003 are: having a strong sense of brotherhood, strong sense of who they are and the eternally devoted fan base they have cultivated. There are tons of other things about All Time Low that have gotten them here, but those are the three that stand out the most. #musicrules. 

What do you think helped All Time Low make it to 2013?

Let’s talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.