It's very well possible that I start every photo blog by talking about how much the lighting at El Corazon sucks for taking photos. It's also possible that I have never mentioned this before, but it's Sunday and I'm feeling a bit too lazy to go back and check. Anyway, should any member of a band who wants me to take photos of them at this venue actually read this, I have a message for you:

BRING LIGHTS. Even if it's just a damn work lamp from Home Depot, somehow set that thing on strobe mode for…

Screen cap is taken from Sigismund S. Pikul's video of "Theater"

The Seattle music scene has become an unrecognizable force over the last several years. Where emphasis used to be on original and creative music, is now is on haircuts and neon colored skinny jeans. In what once was a community of bands and fans [turned friends], now remains a game of who can be trendier, allowing for the quality of music to be placed on the back burner. Avid concert attenders have longed for a return to a scene where music is the priority but…

I have so many photos from Warped left to post that the thought of blogging anything is kind of frightening. I've also just realized that I have exactly one week left until I have to move out of my house, so I've been scrambling to find somewhere to live come September 1st. Tonight I am taking the night off to catch up on some RCA lovin'. Enjoy these pictures of Florida's VersaEmerge.

Also, Sierra was the most entertaining to photograph (and she was closer to the front of the 6-foot high stage), so I apologize for the…

Florida trio VersaEmerge (sheesh, I remember when there were five people in that band) have released their video for Fixed at Zero, and.. uhh.. does this song/video remind anyone else reminded of Evanescence? I'll leave it up to you to watch some old music videos on YouTube (there are a lot), because it's really not important enough to spend the time posting all the resemblances here... I mean COME ON, it's like 80 degrees outside! I'm just saying that I felt a sense of deja vu watching Fixed at Zero, and I have a feeling I'm not…

So, this might be "old" news to those who like to keep it current, but last week I heard "Airplanes" by B.O.B. featuring Eminem and Hayley Williams. Here are three reasons why this song is FREAKING epic.

1. B.O.B. has some flowing lyrics (Eminem too!)

2. It will catch your attention... and stick to you.

3. Hayley hasn't done anything like this... expanding career? CHEAHHH!!!

Go listen to Airplanes on Tumblr, now.

Or, go be old-school and buy it on iTunes... or not.

On February 17, 2009, Paramore released their video for "The Only Exception". Initially, I was quiet excited because it was supposed to be unlike any Paramore video. The first legit video I saw from them was for "Misery Business". The fire-haired, feisty Hayley commanded a video with such power, setting the stage for the Hayley Williams show. Since then, we've seen Hayley explode all over the mainstream radio. Scene kids all around started dying their hair with Hot Topic hair dyes, buying yellow or red skinny jeans, and wearing vans like no tomorrow. Hayley Williams not only has become a…

I posted about this on our Facebook fan page (become a fan if you haven't already!), but I thought it needed a little more local coverage.



This Providence have just released a video for their song Keeping On Without You, which can be seen on PureVolume. The video is great, so be sure to check it out.

The first in a series of three blogs, here's an in depth look at my entire setup.

I literally spent hours and hours in high school studying articles like this, and dreaming up the rig I would want to have if I could travel the country playing music. Here was the drill: The only supplies needed for this fantastical game are a Musicians Friend magazine, a calculator, and a steno pad. Simply list the gear you want and add up the prices; back in the hay day it was something like a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier, a Les Paul Custom…

THIS JUST IN.... the Postal Service of AMERICA hates Paramore!







Ok, I'm pretty sure I JUST LIED, but I'd like to inform the WORLD (you) that I JUST RECEIVED my copy of Paramore's new album Brand New Eyes today in the mail. When did I order it? September 17, 2009. I was so close to calling the Fueled By Ramen HC to find out where my beloved package went to. My little package went all the way to Albany, NY!!!! Sure, I'm only 20 minutes outside of New York City these days... and Albany isn't TOO FAR OFF... but WHAT…

Hello.
After the 24 hour trek from Seattle to Denver, a very large portion of Penang curry and chicken, and a couple 50 cent New Belgium 1554 Dark Ales, the band and I went down to the lobby to hang with our new label mates, The Swellers.

Having heard their music, I was expecting to meet some dudes that were about as relatable to us as their music is. This is not a bad thing, but they play punk music (and good punk music, at that). This Providence does not.

Nick, Ryan, Jonathan, and Anto are some of the coolest…

Fueled by Ramen had one of their minions post a walkthrough of Paramore's Brand New Eyes box set on YouTube, and holy crap this thing is loaded with awesome (it is my goal in life to misuse that word as much as possible).



Check out everything that the box set comes with:
- CD with 2 acoustic b-sides (Tracklist below)
- DVD with exclusive content (Tracklist below)
- Yellow 7” VINYL with 2 acoustic b-sides (Tracklist below)
- Double sided poster (One side album art / One side new bxw band photo)
- 40…

After driving about 13 straight hours from Modesto CA, TP is back home!
I haven't played a "home show" yet with the guys, so this should be cool. Seattle is like my second home. I've seen many shows at the (in)famous El Corazon, and am pretty stoked to finally play it!
This "Let's Make A Mess" tour has been amazing so far- great crowds with a lot of enthusiasm. It makes even mediocre nights of playing feel like a great show. So thanks to anyone who has come out so far, and I hope you Seatteleans can come this fine…

I've spent the last few days trying to figure out what I could say in my first blog since Kelly asked me to be involved with this project.

Verdict: I've got nothing.

But if Rain City Ambience is anything like all the college papers I wrote, then I can just BS my way to an A- or so. (In high school my English teacher called it "fluffing it up". I call it honest writing)

But the real reason for all of this is not to lecture you about how to go about your dissertations (if you have any. And if…