Justin Bieber: Retiring?? The Real Scoop.

     So I've waited a bit to post something about this particular subject because I wanted to see if it was some sort of joke/hoax/misunderstanding. Justin Bieber has pretty much covered every big-name tabloid and entertainment media spot since his big break in 2008. His rise to the top came spontaneously and above all unexpectedly. Of course with every popular artist nowadays, with a sudden spark in popularity comes an outburst of naysayers to match. People can call Bieber gay, untalented, egotistical, and the lot but when it comes down to it, he was at the top of his game longer than any critic would care to admit.

     As many of you I'm sure have heard, especially if you are a hardcore Belieber or even if you just happen to browse the title of any entertainment article, Justin Bieber is "retiring." Now, I put the word "retiring" in quotes because, for me, I don't think he means that he is completely quitting and is no longer going to work. I'm sure he's made enough money and has anything a teenager could ever want but for me I can never really see him stopping performing. On Christmas Eve he tweeted "My beloved beliebers I'm officially retiring" followed by two more tweets that read "The media talks a lot about me.They make a up a lot of lies and want me to fail but I'm never leaving you, being a belieber is a lifestyle" and "Be kind loving to each other, forgive each other as god forgave us through Christ Merry Christmas  IM HERE FOREVER." These tweets came the day before the release of Bieber's new movie Believe.

     Now take this as you will but judging from all of the fast paced fame and tours (he just recently finished his Believe Tour-a 162 date world tour that started back in September of 2012), it would make sense that the young star would want to take a break. I mean he's only 19…

     Bieber has told USA Today that he wants to "find [his] sound as an adult" so I expect that his version of "retirement" will consist more of getting back to basics: being with friends and family, working on new and different styles of music, and just stepping away from the limelight and taking a break from his adult expectations to be a teenager for a little while longer. I'm not sure what the future will hold for Bieber but if you're worried you'll never hear a new album again or you still haven't been able to get to that concert, don't worry. I don't see Justin Bieber backing down for quite some time.

JUSTIN BIEBER RETIREMENT TWEETS~AS TOLD BY MADS

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Latest release: Includes 5 new tracks, a new music video, and a trailer for Believe

Journals

Vans Warped Tour 2014: More Bands Announced!

Week 3 bands have been announced for Warped Tour 2014! A Skylit Drive, Beartooth, I the Mighty, Saves The Day, and The Ghost Inside will perform on the massive 42-date tour next summer. As of last night, 15 bands have been announced including some fan favorites returning to the tour like Attila and Mixtapes as well as some newbies like The Protomen and Plague Vendor. Warped Tour 2014 will feature a mix of Punk, Rock, Hardcore, Metal, Indie, Alternative, and even a bit of Opera (for good measure, right?). We're only 3 weeks into bands being announced but there's already so much to look forward to!
     If you're a Warped Tour veteran, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about 2014. I'm personally looking forward to the classic craziness, great music, and mosh action that Warped Tour always has in store. The best part is that only 15 bands have been announced and there's already reasons to be super pumped for the summer. I'm hoping to see a bit of August Burns Red, Sleeping With Sirens, The Devil Wears Prada, or maybe Bring Me the Horizon being announced sometime soon. We'll keep our fingers crossed and hopefully next week will bring even more great band news. Let me know down in the comments which bands you're hoping will make an appearance :)


Bands announced so far:

A Skylit Drive
Air Dubai
Attila
Beartooth
For Today
I the Mighty
Mayday Parade
Mixtapes
Plague Vendor
Saves The Day
Stray From The Path
Tear Out The Heart
Teenage Bottlerocket
The Ghost Inside
The Protomen


Dates:
June 14: Salt Lake City, UT
June 15: Denver, CO
June 17: Albuquerque, NM
June 18: Mesa, AZ
June 19: Las Vegas, NV
June 20: Pomona, CA
June 21: Mountain View, CA
June 22: Ventura, CA
June 25: Chula Vista, CA
June 26: Wheatland, CA
June 28: Southeast Auburn, WA
June 29: Portland, OR
July 2: Maryland Heights, MO
July 3: Noblesville, IN
July 4: Toronto, ON
July 5: Montreal, QC
July 6: Holmdel, NJ
July 8: Darien Center, NY
July 9: Scranton, PA
July 10: Mansfield, MA
July 11: Camden, NJ
July 12: Wantagh, NY
July 13: Hartford, CT
July 15: Burgettstown, PA
July 16: Cincinnati, OH
July 17: Cuyahoga Falls, OH
July 18: Auburn Hills, MI
July 19: Tinley Park, IL
July 20: Shakopee, MN
July 22: Columbia, MD
July 23: Virginia Beach, VA
July 24: Atlanta, GA
July 25: St. Petersburg, FL
July 26: West Palm Beach, FL
July 27: Orlando, FL
July 28: Charlotte, NC
July 29: Nashville, TN
July 30: Milwaukee, WI
July 31: Bonner Springs, KS
August 1: Dallas, TX
August 2: San Antonio, TX
August 3: Houston, TX


Check the official Vans Warped Tour website for more details on bands, dates, and ticket prices!

BANDS ANNOUNCED: WARPED TOUR 2014~AS TOLD BY MADS

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CONCERT REVIEW: Never Shout Never w/ Nick Santino and Front Porch Step

     This past week I attended a Never Shout Never show in St. Louis at The Firebird. Let me just start off by saying NSN is incredible!…..I mean of course if you're into that whole "let's chill under the sun and talk about the little things" meditation. I was looking forward to this show in particular because I knew NSN was very easy going and that can be said for their music as well. There's sometimes nothing better than having that one artist who can just help you calm the hell down. *Perfect for students working through busy homework schedules especially might I add.* 

     The band had two opening acts: Front Porch Step and Nick Santino. Front Porch Step while not hiding his amazement at the opportunity to be able to perform in front of an actual crowd, was in all honesty quite surprising. He was personable in that he wanted his audience to understand the true meaning behind the songs he was singing. The songs themselves were full of emotion and well-written. He may have mentioned his mother just a bit too much (c'mon, man, you're not supposed to want your mom to be your only fan) but I enjoyed his energy and wouldn't mind seeing him open another show. 

     Nick Santino, a member of the former rock band A Rocket to the Moon, was definitely the better of the opening acts. Apart from his seemingly down-south charm and quirky yet attractive sense of style, his songs certainly found their way into the hearts of many of the audience members. He is extremely relatable and isn't afraid to crack a joke at his own expense. I can honestly say that his unique blend of country and rock complemented by a smooth, raspy tone is enough to make anyone weak at the knees. Beautiful!

      Moving on to the main event, Never Shout Never did not disappoint with their Holiday Tour. There's nothing better than a bit of head bobbing and basic guitar picking to go along with the giant blow-up snowman prop in the background. The props related to previous projects by the band that true fans would surely understand which would make the experience even better. I must say that having a band that is comfortable enough to drink onstage and be a bit on the "off" side if you know what I mean ;) makes for one interesting night. Never Shout Never, particularly front man, Christofer Drew, has always had that special place in our hearts. Everyone has been a NSN fan at one point in their lives. For most of us near twenty-somethings, our NSN stage hit us hard at about age 16 with Chris' innocent, punkish charm (and oh man that ukelele!) and most of us fell off the bandwagon soon after that. Little did we know the NSN crew had so much more in store. 

      For those of us who stuck around, the sound of NSN has changed over the years but never disappointed. The Holiday Tour featured songs from nearly every album and a few festive tunes to get us in the Christmas spirit. The guys' charm and hilarious comments throughout the show meant that there was never a dull moment. Some of the songs were tweaked and remastered for the tour making everything a little more personal and fun. Not to mention that The Firebird was the PERFECT venue for this type of show. It was small enough so that everyone could feel some sort of closeness in proximity to the stage (some were even sitting on the edge of it). I highly recommend this venue for any show because it is the perfect way to feel personally connected to your favorite artists. 

     If you have ever thought about going to see Never Shout Never, all I can say is….DO IT! Whether it be on one of their smaller tours or maybe even Warped Tour 2014(hopefully!), NSN will not disappoint and will certainly put you in a great mood. 

NEVER SHOUT NEVER HOLIDAY TOUR~AS TOLD BY MADS

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Xmas EP

The NSN track I'm LOVING at the moment:

And something to get you in the Christmas mood: