In the Lonely Hour Tour feat. Sam Smith and Gavin James

Yes, Louis Tomlinson is going to be a dad and that Cara Delevingne interview actually did happen but how is any of that possibly important when I saw Sam Smith last night? Fact: it's not. I went to the In the Lonely Hour Tour and it was definitely an experience for the books. This guy can sing...but I'm sure you knew that, right? Believe me, if you were considering dropping the money on tickets to this show, it's well spent. Here's what went down...

First off I was pretty much just expecting to listen to some laid back, soulful sounds while people around me cry over past relationships. This was half true. Yes it was laid back, yes it was soulful but man was it actually one of the most rocking shows I've been to. I know that sounds weird because, hey, it's Sam Smith. Trust me. This guy knows how to party.

Starting with an incredible opening act whom I'd never even heard of, Gavin James made me want to melt into a puddle right there in my seat. His indie/alt sound was something fresh and his voice was just enough to drive you wild, reminding me a bit of Rixton frontman, Jake Roche. I'll definitely be looking into Gavin for my next music obsession.

Now for the main act...SAM.SMITH. This guy sort of came out of nowhere (at least on my radar). Sometimes I forget his Disclosure collab because "Stay With Me" put the spotlight directly on the man himself and still makes me have all the feels a year after its release. All of the classics were included in this tour including "Lay Me Down,"I'm Not the Only One," and my personal fave "Money on My Mind." There was a little bit of sultry, a little bit of sexy, and a whole lot of actual exciting fun to be had for everyone. Smith's band along with backup singers who are stars in their own rights, contributing exclusively to a mashup of Marvin Gaye's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and Amy Winehouse's "Tears Dry on Their Own," blew me away from beginning to end. They actually had a sold out stadium doing choreography. Needless to say, it was amazing.

What I really couldn't get over though was how genuinely happy this man is. The only pictures I took the entire time were actually of his reaction to the applause and praise from the crowd immediately after each number. Nowadays it's hard to pinpoint the stars who actually realize what's important - THE FANS! These are the people who got you where you are today. Without them, you would just be another starving artist looking for any opportunity to make a buck. That's what I like about Sam Smith. You can tell just by looking at him that he is the most appreciative person you'd ever be lucky enough to meet. He's doing what he loves and he knows this doesn't just happen to anyone. It's always nice to see this in someone who actually deserves it. His talent speaks for itself.

I've never seen someone so passionate about life's journey, overcoming obstacles, and learning from mistakes. The ability to turn something negative into such a positive message for people of all ages to relate to is truly an amazing feat and I applaud Sam Smith for being able to do this with such maturity  and eloquence. It's hard to believe he's only twenty-three. Bravo, Sam.

The In the Lonely Hour Tour is still going strong. Click here to check out the rest of the tour dates. I recommend this concert highly. Merch is a bit pricey but a great experience overall. Stay tuned for more concert reviews and music news. Check out a few videos below:

Sam Smith's newest Disclosure collab - "Omen"

Sam Smith - "Like I Can"

Keep up with Sam Smith!
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IN THE LONELY HOUR TOUR REVIEW ~ AS TOLD BY MADS
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Zayn Malik's Exit from One Direction and Why It Needed to Happen PLUS New Solo with Naughty Boy

It's the day no Directioner dared to think about. The day a member of One Direction decided to leave. Luckily for heartbroken Directioners everywhere, the band is continuing as a 4-piece. Let's have a round up of Zayn Malik's painful decision...

Zayn Malik and Lauren Richardson
pictured on his trip to Thailand

Last week, Zayn Malik quit the biggest boyband in the world. To the normal person this seems like a terrible decision. Right? The fame, the fortune. Who would want to give that up? Zayn's statement came weeks after he was pictured with his arm around Lauren Richardson on a trip in Thailand. This was around the same time his fiancée, Little Mix's Perrie Edwards, was pictured sans engagement ring. Zayn later made a statement to his fans saying "I'm sorry for what it looks like" while Perrie Edwards was reported saying her engagement ring was just at the cleaners. Um....? Basically all of this seemed a bit suspect to fans of the band.

It wasn't too long after that Malik announced he was stepping away from the band's world tour due to stress to spend some time with family back in the UK. If that wasn't enough, Malik soon announced his departure from the band altogether. He stated: "My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologize to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart." For most fans this decision came out of nowhere and immediately caused social media backfire along with an enormous amount of vines of fans crying, yelling, or just being generally confused.

One Direction's first performance as
a quartet last Wednesday in Jakarta

He was cited saying he just wants to be a "normal 22-year old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight." Unfortunately for Zayn, once in the One Direction spotlight, always in the One Direction spotlight. The band announced their respect for Zayn's decision and assured fans they would continue on as a 4-piece for the rest of their world tour as well as into the recording of their fifth album. Some fans doubt this is possible but others are holding on to any glimmer of hope that One Direction will still go on strong.

Zayn Malik and fiancée
Perrie Edwards

As for Zayn's career, this is possibly the best thing he could have done considering the situation. It isn't that surprising for someone to become burnt out. Four tours and 5 albums in 5 years along with daily media appearances are a lot for one person to handle. Zayn has always been a ridiculously talented singer but among the stress and stigma that is generally associated with One Direction, separating his name from the band might have been a big step for his career. Before this, no one apart from 1D fans even knew Malik's name. He was generally viewed as the brooding one, the bad boy, or simply "not Harry Styles."

Let's face it, apart from the views of dazed fangirls, One Direction is NOT in their prime. I would argue they were in their prime around late 2011/early 2012 even before they became part of a US preteen pop franchise. After One Direction lost the X Factor, fans waited quite a long time for their first single. It was a slow start that took off with sudden explosive momentum. I predict that the new 4-piece 1D is going to have to make some major adjustments to their musical sound. Despite some opinions, Zayn Malik was a very integral part of One Direction and his departure is going to affect them in more ways than one.

A picture of Zayn Malik and
Naughty Boy that caused
outrage among One Direction fans

If Zayn's leaving wasn't causing enough controversy, he apparently has a new solo track. A week after Malik's departure from One Direction, songwriter and producer, Naughty Boy, tweeted out a soundcloud link to Zayn's new track. This sent some fans into a fit of anger as they felt Zayn was betraying One Direction and had already gotten over the separation. Discontent was also explicitly expressed towards Naughty Boy as most thought his releasing of the song was insensitive. It even sparked a bit of a Twitter feud between Naughty Boy and Louis Tomlinson, a remaining member of One Direction. The song has been recently removed.

Zayn and Perrie were spotted today boarding a jet along with Zayn's mother and sisters. Their relationship seems to be intact even though many fans have been blaming Perrie for Zayn's decision to leave.

What do you think of all of this Zayn Malik drama? Did he make the right decision? What about that new solo track? Comment!




ZAYN MALIK'S EXIT FROM ONE DIRECTION~AS TOLD BY MADS
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Summer Music Must-Haves

It seems like artists have been releasing new music left and right recently. There are a handful of songs that I've been really into this first month of summer so I thought I'd share them with you guys. I listen to all kinds of music so hopefully this little list will feature something all of you can get into. Here are my 5 current summer anthems…

1. Don't Stop - 5 Seconds of Summer

This band is blowing up worldwide and I was a bit worried that they might stray away from their original vibe as their fame increased but that was far from the truth. They are better than ever and this single has literally been stuck in my head for weeks. The music video's funny and charming and probably will make you like these guys even more. I especially like the song because it features vocal leads from Michael Clifford who doesn't normally sing too many solos *for some insane reason!*. They recently performed the single at Capital FM's Summertime Ball. Their debut album is set to be released July 22nd in the states so stay on the lookout for that. Preorder the album here.

Links..

Twitter: 5SOS, Calum, Michael,

 Ashton, Luke

Facebook

Website

Youtube

2. Well Now - Camm Hunter

This song is crazy good! Saying I'm a bit obsessed with it is probably an understatement. This Toronto native just oozes charisma and I can't get enough of his music. This song especially has a contagious beat that you can't seem to get out of your head. I'm looking forward to so much more from Camm because I honestly can see him going so far in this industry. He seems to be in the right mindset about what his sound is and raw talent like this is hard to found nowadays. Be sure to check out Camm's links below to download this single as well as his mixtape.

Links..

Twitter

Facebook

Website

Youtube

3. Sunshine - Zac Mann

I've seen some mixed reviews on this song so I thought I'd just throw my opinion in for good measure. I was really looking forward to this single and the first time I listened to it I was a bit ambivalent. However, the more I listened to it, the more I really got into it. It's pretty catchy overall but what I really like is the chill sort of summer vibe that goes along with the song. Zac's singing style reminds me a bit of Trey Songz mixed with that laid-back Cali vibe we all love *especially during summer*. Maybe sharing the same hometown makes me biased but I really believe this guy has talent. He's gained quite a loyal following and I feel like this single is definitely just a taste of what's to come from this artist. 

Links..

Twitter

Facebook

Youtube

4. Somebody To You - The Vamps feat. Demi Lovato

I absolutely love this song! The Vamps are one of my favorite up-and-coming artists in the US. I used to have a Youtube playlist of all of their covers and I felt like I was waiting forever for original songs to be released. When "Can We Dance" came out I literally fell in love with this band all over again. All of their singles have been different from one another but equally amazing. Also, this song features Demi Lovato which naturally means I have it on repeat ALL. THE. TIME. It's just a fun song from one of the most raw and talented bands I know which makes it perfect for summer.

Links..

Twitter: The Vamps, Tristan, Brad,

 Connor, James, Demi

Facebook: The Vamps, Demi

Youtube: The Vamps, Demi

5. Don't - Ed Sheeran

Pretty sure I speak for many when I say…it's about time. Is it just me or have we been waiting for Ed Sheeran's second album for about 93 years? Hmm. Might be exaggerating a bit. But it's finally here and there are a lot of reasons to be excited about it. This song is one of my favorites off the album *if it's possible to even like one song over another*. It's one of those songs that makes me so focused on anything I'm doing. I just get that weird head bob motion going on and I can basically take on the world. What else do you really need, honestly? You can purchase the album here. 

Links..

Twitter

Facebook

Youtube

Website

SUMMER MUSIC MUST-HAVES~AS TOLD BY MADS

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Let me know what songs YOU are loving this summer! 

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

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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Never Shout Never:

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Website

The Firebird

Check out the band! 

iTunes 

Xmas EP

The NSN track I'm LOVING at the moment:

And something to get you in the Christmas mood: