Gig-ness: Hell Is For Heroes

So, Monday night, i went to the Soul Tree in Cambridge to go see HIFH's with Han. Now despite owning both their albums, i still haven't got into them properly, but do like quite a lot of their stuff. This emant i went with a bit of trepidation, unsure of how much i'd enjoy the gig to be honest, but i still usually enjoy local gigs where i dont know much, but, it's just not the same as singing alnog the whole way through is it =P
Anyway, we'll start with the support. First up were Orko, a rather cool band from Glasgow. I thought the lead singer was rather cute, haha, and the bassist looked like he was having a lot of fun, although spending most the set facing the drummer did seem somewhat odd. They were pretty good though, and had a nice friendly kinda presence thing going on, which i liked.
Next up were the equally "pretty damn good" Keiko, and their bassist was mcuh more entertaining. He did, weird, leg, dancing, type....stuff.... Yea, i spose you had to be there. But Han and I really liked him! The lead wasn't so great though in my opinion, both in presence and attractiveness :/ He tried a little too hard for my liking. It was towards to end (i assume) of their set, that, well. I, fainted... Opps? It wasn't the alcohol (i was only 5 bottles down and i think pretty much everyone i know has seen me capably walking after more than double that most weeks at Zest =P) but the packed-in-ness and heat just made me totally go. I dont really remember it well, but i remember feeling more and more...well, sleepy i guess is the ebst description. Next thing i know i'm outside with Han and a couple of really nice people who were just random gig-going-lovelies. The woman was a Canadian nurse person, and her bloke a Cambridge student, and, yea, they were really nice, and she got me water *nods* I'd also like to point out Han was willing to go home at this point, instead of seeing HIFH's. She rocks. But obviosuly i couldnt do that too her, so we went back in. Didnt feel that great in there, so just stood at the back to watch HIFH while Han wwedged her way forwards again.
So, moving on from my little adventure, the main band themselves! As noted, i wasnt feeling that great, so i couldnt pay heavy focus on their set, but i *did* really enjoy I Can Climb Mountains and Boys Don't Cry. It wasnt a life-changing set (sorry Han!) but would definately be up for seeing them again. They played a load of pretty decent songs which i couldnt help but jig/tap/generally be weird to. Muchly good stuff.
Thanks to my state though, besides the two aforementioned songs, i didn't recognise anything else played. Bad Jon-man. Add to this that i think i've already posted I Can Climb Mountains, and don't *have* their cover of Boys Don't Cry, this leaves the mp3 side of this post a little weak. You'll just have to make do with the three bands MySpace pages. Sorry!

Sunday, the day of the Zebra (head). Yea...

Pffft, i shouldn't need reason to have a random Zebrahead post. I just want one. Bitch. Sadly, still waiting on Broadcast To The World, they never used to be so bad with updates i'm sure =( It makes me sad. But oh well. It is a fantastic album, even if i've only got it on here, and i spose it's time to share a couple more tracks from it for those poor few who have yet to hear it properly! It's not as good as MFZB, but it's a damn close second. Damn damn damn close! Hehe. Damn. What a word. Oh, right, songs...


# Back To Normal - Zebrahead

So a pretty punk-pop kinda vibe here, with Zebraheads rockin lyrics and punch, and it's my second best track after the wonderful Anthem. I like the way Zebrahead manage to make songs with such *depressing* topics so wonderful and upbeat. It's similar to Reel Big Fish's Cheer Up album stylee in some ways, but, y'know, with more rockin' guitars and rapping =P


# Your New Boyfriend Wears Girl Pants - Zebrahead

Really can't remember if i've already posted this track, but, to be honest, so what if i have. It's fantastic. It's actually the last track on the album (ignoring Japanese bonus tracks, boo hiss! =P) and is a really nice melodic number. As with Back To Normal, it's a much more, shall we say *emo*/pop-punk style song. The new album is far from entirely this, but it does seem a drastic change from their proper rap-metal origins.


# Into You (live acoustic) - Zebrahead

From the same radio session as last posts Surrender, here's the fantastic MFZB track in all it's acoustic glory =D The only annoying thing is the opening! The way he says "into you" just, ARGH. So iritating, hehe. I think this song does really work quite qwell as an acoustic song. It's obviously much less agressive, but it plays on the strength of the lyrics, which can only be good!


# Fuck, Fuck, Fuck (live) - Zebrahead

This track comes from the lovely little live MFZB Fanclub cd, which i might add is rather great! Must get that back off Eddie soon. It's just a random little number, but i rather like it as a short little break between other songs. And with a title like that, it can't be bad =D

Even more?!

Pffft, i like my rambles, so, screw you. Coherent themes are for....coherent people. And don't spell check me on that, you know what i mean. Oh, and, the first two tracks have been swipped from A Disillusioned Japanophile Deals Death to the Neocons with a Samurai Sword! It's a rather cool mp3 blog i stumbled across the other day and fell in love with already. Yay!


# The Adventure - Angels & Airwaves

I got annoyed about the hype over this band to start with, not because i didn't think they'd be good, but because it was all started before anything was actually released. But finally proper stuff has appeared, which has now actually gone into full blown album leak-ness, and i really am impressed with everything i've heard. This song is the lead single for the album, and has already had airplay on Radio 1. Oh, and, yea, for the few who don't know, this is of course Tom DeLonge's new band. Wooo.... Haha.


# MakeDamnSure - Taking Back Sunday

I admit to still not having properly listened to this band, but, as i was washing up the other day, Miss Whiley put this great new track from their forthcoming album (well, forthcoming being MONDAY people) on and i was hooked straight away. So i'll be purchasing that asap (adding ever more to my list of cool new albums coming out in the insanely near future) and see how that goes. =)


# Turn Me On "Mr Deadman" - The Union Underground

I have to confess, Mike was the one who originally put this album on my computer a *long* time ago, back in the days of "let's piss of Jon's family by getting here earlier and earlier on Tuesday mornings before school" hehe. Good old Mike :D But yea, he recomended following my love of Disturbed, and this track always stood out. The thing is until a couple of months ago i'd forgotten i had it on here. Upon getting back into it i *had* to buy the album, and it is pretty good, but this is the real standout track for me. The title does sound a little unerving, but, y'know. It's better than "Violent Love" right? No? Damn...
It's a nice heavy-ish track, and quite fun to just lose yourself in. I miss the angst-filled days of Disturbed now =(


# Surrender (live acoustic) - Zebrahead

In honor of Broadcast To The World FINALLY being geared up for website-release-ness, i went on somehwat of a Zebrahead download spree, getting hold of a load new live/acoustic/random tracks, and this is one of my favourites from it. For those who don't know, Surrender was one of the bonus tracks on the Japanese version of MFZB, and this is a live acoustic version from Japanese radio [lucky bastards :'(] a few years back. It's a really cool song, and the more i lsiten to it the more i want to start getting Japanese imports. Even though i have the tracks on here. Damn my thirst for cd's! Wait no, i take that back...
Expect more Zebrahead SOON! =D

More random stuff

So once again, let me try and show you some of the great bands i've more recently got in to, and you can see for yourselves why they're so great =)


# Portions For Foxes - Rilo Kiley

I got this track off one of the many mp3 blogs i read, qutie a while ago now. The thing is, most of them specialise in pretty basic "awesome new" indie bands, so, it often takes me a while to get into any of them properly. But the more times this song popped up on shuffle, the more i loved it. On that alone, when i saw the album in hmv the other day, i had to buy it, and so far i've really liked everything i've heard from it. It also came highly recomended by the guy in there who looks like the geek from the IT crowd (i really like him :/) so yea, that's a further good opinion, hehe.


# Yr Still Not Awesome - Ley Royal Scam

I can't *quite* put a finger on why i fell in love with this band in the first place, but they are a really nice breath of fresh air. It's like, bouncy American imature rocky pop, which, in theory should be terrible, but, for some reason i love it. I got their cd last month and the first five tracks especially are really good. Just try this out and see what you think. You can download all their songs for free from PureVolume.

"Take me off your buddy list, cause i'm gonna block you anyway"


# Talk Hard - Miss Black America

I went to the Steamboat just over a week ago to go see Charlie Brown/Making Eyes At Elvis, and they were playing down to the headlining Miss Black America. Now as those of you who went know, it went a little different because MBA were playing an acoustic set and they didnt feel it was right to end a gig night like that, so played after CB/MEAE (that looks sucky!). Anyway, the point is they were really amazing. The girl he was playing with also did some of her solo stuff as well (unless i was just too drunk to notice Seymour still singing, haha) which was good too. I assume she's a more recent addition to the band, if only on some dates/songs, but the duo really worked well that night, on and off the stage!
[Note: Cheese sandwiches should be given to me at all gigs]
I definately intend to make a point of seeing them again, and of course get hold of an album or two in the very near future. Until then, share my love with this great track!


# The House Wins - OK Go

This track has been my favourite OK Go track for quite a long time, and their second album where it comes from, has finally been released over here. Don't expect anything Get Over It about this song. It's a much more laid back relaxed track that finishes the album on, well, a rather depressing note actually, but a very good one.

"You don't have to have lost to be lost"

It's been a while...

So with various stuff going on, i seem to be spending considerably less time on here, or at least on here aimlessly :P
Sadly this has meant i've not really been able to do my blog for one reason or another. The plus side to this is the large number of rockin songs i have to share with you, so, without further ramblings, "let's get going"...


# Broken Wings - Bleed The Dream

This is the song i bought the album which arrived this morning for (i think that makes sense?!). Now, it turns out the version i knew was the acoustic from an earlier EP deely, however, the plus side is, the full band track is AMAZING! I love the lyrics to this song, and, yea. This is a very rockin song and i can't stop playing it already! Listen. Love.


# About Trains - Making Eyes At Elvis

Time to update your mp3's everyone. Charlie Brown have finally changed their name! Meet Making Eyes At Elvis! I'm not so keen on the new name, but this great new song that they were giving away on cd at the Steamboat friday is great! You can also download it from their MySpace page, but, y'know. My bandwidth is better. Bitch.


# Violent Love - The Matches & Zebrahead

I picked this up online from somewhere, and, at first, i was like "hmmmm". Hehe. It's very bouncy, but, yknow, covering a song who's main lyrics are "i want to make violent love to you" sounds a little odd. But as the days passed it got more stuck into my head. I've also discovered it's a great anthem for general horny-ness =P Doesn't *have* to mean actual 'violent love' (you hear that Mike?!) hehe. Plus, y'know, Zebrahead.


# Overcome - Live

This song was how The Shield series 2 ended. Perfectly suited. I love it. With a fucking PASSION! Very beautiful song. Need i say more? Well, yes... I don't actually knowing anything else about the band/person what so ever, which is terrible of me i know, but, this song is great. And on a related note so is the shield. Instead of just downloading this actually, you should go buy The Shield. Or just come round mine and watch it. I'm gonna make Han watch it now, haha. I miss it!


So there's four songs to get things started. I will now try and get back into regular posting, i've bought quite a few new albums lately, so, yea. Hope you like these =)