Lets re-cap

Sorry this has taken so long. I figure I've gotta do this before I try and start to write on another subject though... So lets do it. Warped Tour. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. No but really...my time on Warped Tour was cut short by controversy surrounding the label I was working for. Lets just say, some people aren't in it for the music and I was a victim of that circumstance. The label that I was working for was kicked off of the tour due to some inappropriate behavior by the owner. Once the label was kicked off, I remained working on the tour for about 2 weeks helping out the band I was with and then on my own, decided my time was up since there really was not much work for me to do anymore. Nevertheless, I had a ton of fun, learned a lot, met some of the greatest people I've ever met, and will never look back on it as a bad thing. And to my one loyal reader Lizzy...I have no idea who you are. Haha. But I read your comment on my last post and we have probably crossed paths. The show at Mansfield Comcast Center was my last day on the tour and I will remember it dearly. I was miserable. Haha. It rained the entire day and I was disgusting. But you know, I can't complain. Thanks to my good friend Jess I got to stay in Boston that night and hopped on a plane back home the next day.

Long enough for ya?

Last night was the finish of the “first leg” of Warped Tour. We’ve decided it has 6 legs. (10 days each) Like an insect. It was the first time all 17 of us sat down together, shared a meal, chatted, and had a good time together. We went over everything we’ve been doing, what else needs to be done, etc... Then our van proceeded to sleep in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Haha. When I went in at 2 in the morning to use the bathroom there were families with young children coming out from doing their shopping. I was a little confused. Then there were people in their cars watching me walk back to the van. That was fun. It was a completely dangerous and not so smart situation but for some reason I was okay with it. Mostly because there was an RV next to us but also because I’m with 5 other people who are in it with me. Woke us this morning just fine, had a pseudo shower in a bathroom stall consisting of baby wipes, got into some clean clothes and proceeded to our 14 hour drive from Dallas, Texas to Indianapolis, Indiana.  We stopped at a Truckstop just over the Arkansas border and I had never experienced anything like it in my life. It’s the first time I really heard the southern drawl. (side note, we’re currently driving through Hope, the birthplace of President Bill Clinton) Anyways, the things they had for sale at the truck stop were completely ridiculous. Everything having to do with hunting and the confederate flag. Picked up some postcards that some of you might be receiving if I can figure out a way to send them out. 

Tour’s been going well so far. Not gonna lie, there’s been points where I’ve wanted to come home but I’m pushing through. I can’t decide yet if the good times are equal to the not so good times but they’re making up for it so far. I really believe in the band that I’m traveling with and starting tomorrow I’m kind of taking over the position as their ass kicker on this tour so it should be interesting. I’m starting to get more responsibilites because I’m the only staff who’s here for the whole tour. So I’m taking over what everyone else is doing that needs to be done on a regular basis. I think having more responsibilities and being more organized will make everything a little easier actually. I’m starting to fit into a role and it’s getting better. The worst parts of the tour really are the heat, lack of sleep, lack of food, and just all around drama. But the best parts are waking up in a new place everyday, seeing different parts of the country, seeing the different kinds of people all over the country, and getting to see bands everyday that I love. And just being a part of this is amazing. Traveling in a van with these boys can be good and bad. haha. The other girl I’m traveling with is leaving tonight and that leaves me as the only girl in the van for now. Don’t worry mom, I’m a professional. Haha. All the guys I’m with are great. 

Currently I’m listening to the new All Time Low album. Doesn’t come out until tomorrow but I’m awesome. I’ve seen the Gallows everyday but one because they went on before I checked the schedule. But don’t worry, I learned from my mistake. I watch Thrice when I can and they’re having some awesome sets. Chiodos just joined the tour so I’m checking them out. I think they’re a band you need to see in a small setting though. I will have a conversation with Craig Owens by the end of this though. Haha. I hear Underoath almost every day. One of my favorite parts of all of this is seeing the different crowds for all the bands in each city. I’ve always wondered what the crowds were like for different bands in different places because I’ve only ever seen them in California. And now I get to see that. It really is cool. 

I can’t decide yet how to part out the tour so that it goes faster. Whether this whole 6 legs thing will work well, or if I should judge it by days off, etc... Not that I want it to end, but it is greuling. I’m excited for what’s to come. There’s gonna be good days and bad days but it’s gonna be fun. The worst parts of the country should be over...although we still have to go through Florida at the end of this month... Phoenix was nothing compared to the humidity we’ve been through so far. And Florida will be way worse. The band I’m with is from Florida though so it should be cool. 

Anyways... Long updates won’t happen often so enjoy. No time!

Hellooooo Las Cruces

Hello from Las Cruces, NM. We're leaving right now to head to San Antonio, Texas. Everything's been going well so far. I found the best spot in the van that the rest of the band happens to not like so sleep comes easily. Plus I'm so exhausted by the end of the day that I could pretty much pass out anywhere. I had my 2nd shower of the tour today and it was divine. Sunburns have been kept to a minimum as well. Just some minor burnage of the v-neck area and the back of the legs and the scalp. But I'm learning... In other news, we just drove by a cosmetology school with a bunch of fake heads stacked up on a table and it freaked me out. 

Seeing the country's pretty cool. I don't see much because I'm always asleep when we're driving and when we're awake all we see is the venue. I've seen The Gallows, the best live band alive, for 4 out of 5 of the dates so far and it's amazing. I'm gonna try and see them every day. I've also seen Thrice three times now. Coincidence? Their new songs sound amazing. Today especially they were spot on with their live show. I've also managed to catch Bad Religion, NOFx, Underoath, 3oh!3, etc...a few times.  Every time I'm not too stoked to be here I look at the band that happens to be on stage at that time and realize just what I'm doing. Or I get in the catering line next to some of my heroes and it's rad. 

We currently have 8 hours to drive 8 hours (about 600 miles) so we'll see how that goes. We generally go under speed limit and stop a ton for gas so it always takes us longer to get to where we're going.  Not much for now but no time. Gotta sleep!

Day 2

So day 2 of Warped Tour is done and done. Day one was Pomona. Today was San Francisco. Now we're heading to Ventura with a minor detour. Everyone needs a shower, so since home is on the way to Ventura, we're gonna stop by for a couple of hours to shower and maybe sleep on solid ground for a few. But we'll be out of there before 5am. Life in a van is a bit rough but I'm getting used to it. I slept in the front seat the entire drive last night. I didn't think I slept at all but apparently i did because I felt fine today. I've got a bench in the van now though and lack of sleep is finally starting to catch up to me so I'm gonna try and get a few hours of shut eye before we hit home. Day off after Ventura. I'm pretty sure we're all gonna sleep all day.

Not too interesting as of yet but I'll update as often as i can given I'm not too exhausted to get online. We're about to start the trek through the hottest parts of the country...

And we're off...

Hello!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted. But it's safe to say that my opinions on music are nothing out of the ordinary as of late. Unless you want to get me started on Auto-tune or pierced and tattooed white kids rapping about bitches and ho's...which you probably don't. But I've been thinking lately, to keep this blog exciting, that I would start writing about my adventures in the music business as well. The ups and downs and everything in between. I've got tons of ideas in my head just waiting to get out and it's about time that I start doing everything in my power to help out the bands in my local music scene because let me tell you, it's a good one. But those ideas are gonna have to wait a couple of months because... 

I got an internship on Warped Tour this year and will be working for Red Blue Records on the whole tour! At the request of many of my friends and family, I need one central blog to keep everyone updated on my life on the road so this is where I'll be doing it. I'm sure being on the tour with tons of different kinds of bands and people will stir up some interesting topics as well.

I'm not sure yet how often I'll even be able to use the internet but I'm hoping to put something up here at least once a week. So keep an eye out. And I promise once I'm off the road I'll keep this more up to date with the happenings of, and my adventures in the music business. 

For now I've got about two days to move my life into a storage unit and pack for tour so I'll be running around like crazy. But thanks for reading!

Obama: Great for the country, bad for punk music?

With the beginning of the new year comes the beginning of a new era. With the inauguration of President Obama less than a week old, the entire country is filled with high hopes of what's to come. Most believe he will save us from the hole that Bush dug us into. The country has gone downhill in the past eight years, there's no denying that, but there was one upside to the error that was Bush. Punk music. That's right, Bush gave punk bands something to sing about and fans something to be angry about. Over the past eight years punk has gotten progressively more political. Entire albums, tours, speeches between songs, etc. have been dedicated to the wrongdoings of Bush. So that brings me to ask this: if Obama lives up to his expectations, what will happen to punk music? Sure, there was other subject matter before Bush took office, but do we go right back to that? I mean, the government still isn't perfect, world affairs are still in the shitter, but do we start writing about world issues now? Are punk fans the new politicians? Educated on world issues through music? You have to admit, a big reason people ages 18-24 became even slightly political recently is because of the music they listen to, the band members they look up to. Really, where would we be without Fat Mike? (haha...) So think about it. Some of your favorite bands may have dedicated their time, effort, lyrics, to changing the ways of Bush. So now that we have change, what do we do? The change won't effect every band. But for the ones it does, will it be good or bad?

Welcome to "The Blog"

In my ever present struggle to keep my toes dipped into the music industry and thanks to the suggestion of a few friends, I've decided to start a music related blog. Because from which labels have absolute geniuses working for them, to which bands should just quit, i've got an opinion. Doesn't mean you have to listen to it. 

It's not all bad and it's not all good but as much as everyone likes to think the music industry is dying, they're just plain wrong. There are hundreds of geniuses working in this industry and making it better than ever. In a sense, the poor are stealing from the rich. The major labels are a dying breed and the indie labels are growing to heights we have never before seen. And DIY bands are well...doing it themselves and doing just fine. 

So what makes me qualified to write such a blog? Well, depending on how you look at it...everything or nothing. I've gone to school and earned a certificate in Music Business. I've interned at an indie record label. I've lived on the road and interned on a major tour. I browse the internet for sometimes hours a day scanning the latest news in the music industry. I interview bands and write reviews for a local website. Music is my life. I pay attention to what's going on. So pay attention to my blog or don't. Agree with me or disagree with me. If you've got an opinion, speak it. But for now...welcome to my blog.