Bands to Watch – Before You Exit

I haven’t done one of these in a while, and it’s mainly because I haven’t found a band to blog about for quite some time! However, through the magic of Twitter, I stumbled upon a pretty cool up and coming band from Orlando called Before You Exit, or as their faithful fans refer to them, BYE.

They’re totally adorbz and their sound is poppy mixed with a little electro punk in the vein of Hot Chelle Rae and early Jonas Brothers. The band is made up of three brothers (similar to my fave band in the universe, Hanson) consisting of: Connor McDonough, 19, (Vocals/Guitar), Riley McDonough, 17, (Vocals), and Toby McDonough, 15, (Vocals/Synth/Guitar).

They are currently on tour with Cody Simpson and you can find more info on their website here: http://beforeyouexit.com/ 

Check out their video for the single I Like It Like That and let me know what you think!

 

And, if you’re a music lover and like to read, make sure to check out my Young Adult novel, Merch Girl, available on amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CN0HNQO

Album Review – Hanson – Anthem

So, since this is my blog, I am going to post about my favorite band in the universe – Hanson – who came out with a brand new album today! It’s called “Anthem” and if you haven’t listened to Hanson since Mmmbop, or were too young to know about them when they first came out, I beg you to give their new music a shot. It’s seriously amazing, and I’m not just saying that because I’ve been a fan for the past 16 years. It’s got rock, pop, soul, and everything in between. These boys work so hard on their music and they produce it independently, that’s right, they have their own record label and do things their way! They write all their songs and play their own music and are basically just the real deal all around.

If you give it a shot, please let me know what you think!

 

Here’s the link to purchase on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/anthem/id634589738

 

Here’s the official Hanson website: http://www.hanson.net

 

And here’s a YouTube video of one of their new songs, Get The Girl Back, which features the amazing Nikki Reed and Kat Dennings!

P.S. If you enjoy music and like reading books, check out my YA novel, Merch Girl! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CN0HNQO/

Bands to Watch – The Royal Knockout

If you’ve been wondering why there hasn’t been a “bands to watch” post in a while, it’s because out of the hundreds of bands who follow me each week on Twitter, it’s been pretty slim pickings on the ones that I would recommend for you to “watch!” But then these guys came along and broke the streak! Thank goodness because I was starting to get a little worried…

Introducing…The Royal Knockout!

Three guys who play, write and sing. (Sounds just like my fictional band in my upcoming book, Merch Girl!) Anyway…if I were to describe what they sound like, I’d say a combination of The Fray and Something Corporate, if that makes any sense. The sound is still very original though, and the lead singer has the ability to convey a lot of emotion in his voice, which is not something every singer in a band can do. I’m also a sucker for guys who play keyboard 🙂

Check them out for yourself and tell me what you think!

Website: http://www.theroyalknockout.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRoyalKnockout
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoyalKnockout

Bands to Watch – Late Nite Reading

Ok, so I’m going down my list of bands who follow me on Twitter, checking out band after band, passing over some so-so ones or bands that aren’t really my taste, but these cuties definitely make the cut! 

First of all, their name, Late Nite Reading, is amazing because obviously, I am a writer/aspiring author and love to read late at night! 🙂 Also, the first video that popped up on Youtube was a cover of One Direction’s “One Thing” and it totally reminded me of when I would buy those “Pop Goes Punk” CDs in college, with like Yellowcard covering Michelle Branch. Loved it! Then I listened to some original tunes and they were just as good, if not better than the cover songs.

I’m also digging their “Tour Stories” vids on Youtube…I think that my fictional band, Lansdowne, from my upcoming book Merch Girl, would do the same stuff during their tour down time! It says they are touring in Pembroke Pines, FL, which is near me….but I’ve never heard of that venue before so I’ll have to investigate that one some more.

If you like pop punk, please give these guys a listen! The One Direction cover is below, but check out their original music too, and follow them on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/latenitereading

Let me know what you think!

Bands to Watch – I Killed the Symphony

Ok, Twitter is the best because all these amazing bands are following me and I would have never heard of any of them if not for this platform! Case in point, the band I Killed the Symphony.

First I saw their press photo, and my first impression was that they might sound too goth for me, but I was wrong, they are a great female-fronted rock band. If I were to make any comparisons, I’d say they’re similar to Paramore. The lead singer has a great vocal prowess, and she’s smokin’ hot! Yes, I’m a straight, confident female, calling another girl hot!

Anyway, give them a listen and catch them on tour if they come to your city! Check out their Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/ikilledthesymphony

Bands to Watch – Once Upon a Time

So Nate Ray, the drummer from the band Once Upon a Time, followed me on Twitter a week or so ago. Glad he did, because I just checked them out and they’re really good. They kind of remind me of Something Corporate – similar voice and melodies, which is great because I love Something Corporate! Anyway, they hail from Phoenix, AZ, which I’ve never been to, but assume it’s nice because one of my fave singers, Michelle Branch, is from around there too. They’re all young and cute; what’s not to love? Anyway, check out one of their songs on YouTube below and their website is http://www.iamonceuponatime.com

Character Photos – Ryan

In my upcoming young adult novel, Merch Girls, the quiet drummer is named Ryan. He’s a secondary character, but very integral to the main story. When I browsed through photos, this one stood out to me as the guy I could see being Ryan.

Whatcha think? He seems shy, mysterious and angsty to me 🙂

Bands to Watch – Savannah Van Band

When Savannah Van Band followed me on Twitter last week, I knew I had to immediately check them out. One – I love girl-fronted rock bands, Two – They have a great website, Three – Come on, they look pretty damn cool! So, when I hit play on their “Never Know” music video I was so happy when the song kicked a$$. I highly recommend checking them out and if you live in Cali, then you’ll probably be lucky enough to see them in concert sometime!

Follow them on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SavannahVanBand

And check out the Never Know Video below:

New Music Feature! Bands to Watch

So…since I joined Twitter a few weeks ago, and professed my love of books, writing and music around the world, I’ve started being “followed” by lots of bands and musicians, including many indie/local ones. I love both indie and major label bands – in college I was  even a merch girl for some local bands and I always support the “little guys!” I mean, hello…I wrote a freakin book about an indie band and their merch girls on tour!

Anyway, I’ve decided to feature some of these new/not-so-new/about-to-be-famous bands and musicians on my blog in a brand spankin new “Band to Watch” feature. I’ll try and go in the order of bands that follow me, and I’m only going to post those that I actually like. Music is subjective, so if I don’t like it, it doesn’t mean you suck, it just means that you’re not for my ears 🙂

First up: An Honest Year

Matt McKay, the vocalist for An Honest Year followed me on Twitter a few days ago. I just clicked the YouTube link on his profile and really enjoyed their song, You and All Your Friends. Check it out below!

It looks like they are also on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/anhonestyear

Also doesn’t hurt that they are from Florida, which is where I reside too! 🙂

What do you guys think?

 

Character Photos – Trina

The other Merch Girl in my upcoming novel Merch Girls is named Trina. She’s pretty much a free spirit, doesn’t have a care in the world, is super hot but doesn’t act like it, has more confidence than anyone should and loves to rock out with her bff Lacey. When I saw this photo, the outfit screamed “Trina” to me. I could definitely see her wearing this to one of the band’s shows.