Music.Entertainment.Made For You.As Told By Me.

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..

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..

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..

SUMMER MUSIC MUST-HAVES~AS TOLD BY MADS

Thanks for reading!

Let me know what songs YOU are loving this summer!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Hanging With Hoodie Tour Review feat. Hoodie Allen and Down With Webster

Aaaaaaand the summer has begun. Finally. I fortunately got to kick off this summer on quite a high note when I went to St. Louis to see Hoodie Allen this past week. Now since I've been home for the summer I had to drive a few hours back to St. Louis to go to the show but it was completely worth it! This was my second time seeing Hoodie in St. Louis so I knew that it would be fantastic. This time the show was at the Ready Room which is a recently opened venue in St. Louis. This venue was great! It had quite a bit of space while still managing to maintain an intimate vibe. It didn't necessarily matter where you stood because you were able to feel close to the artist. If you want to relive this awesome sold out tour with me then keep on reading…

DOWN WITH WEBSTER:

This opening act is probably one I will never forget. I was completely ready to just be standing there tapping my foot waiting for the main act to take the stage but that was definitely not the case. Down With Webster is a six-piece group that is possibly the most surprising act I've ever seen. When they all came out onstage I had to question if all six of them were actually together in one group. I had no idea how this group managed to pull it off but aside from having crazy good and catchy songs, they seem to have taken influence from all sorts of music genres from hip hop to rock to alternative…the list goes on. I literally felt like I was at a party instead of an actual concert. I wouldn't doubt that Down With Webster was having just as much fun as us either. These guys are incredible! I literally CANNOT get enough of their music. If you don't check out this group sometime in your life then you are definitely missing out on something huge. I can't wait to see them in the future because you can bet I'll be front and center at their next STL show.

Down With Webster-"Chills":

And check out MY current favorite DWW song:

Stay updated on everything Down With Webster:

Twitter: DWW, Tyler, Camm, Andrew, Bucky Buck, Pat, Diggy

Youtube, Vevo

HOODIE ALLEN:

I. LOVE. THIS. GUY. I could literally watch Hoodie Allen perform forever. His shows are some of the most fun I've ever had. He delivers his own dose of "Hoodie-Hop" with every verse and there's a bit of something for everyone to love. Whether you're trying to get over an ex, wanting to hang out with friends, or just looking to party, you HAVE to see Hoodie Allen. First of all, the guy is not only crazy talented, he's so down to earth. He literally wants to be friends with anyone and everyone who comes to his shows. He's so chill and down for just about anything. Something he did during the show that really stuck with me was when he asked people in the audience what some of their favorite songs were off of his old mix tapes that he came out with way back when and then he performed those songs right there on the spot. Talk about audience participation. We were literally creating a setlist ourselves. I mean who doesn't want to go see your favorite artist perform and get to tell them exactly which songs really connect with you…? He purposely wanted the shows on this tour to be more intimate so only around 500 tickets were sold for each date. The thing is Hoodie is the kind of artist who is genuinely thankful for everything that has been given to him throughout the years *not without a lot of hard work though*. He just gets it. Fans are the reason why he is able to do what he does and without all of those people buying his music and lining up to see him at shows, he would not be able to do a fraction of what he has been doing. Part of the Hanging With Hoodie Tour was automatic VIP. If you bought a ticket, you were VIP. He personally met every single person that walked into each venue just to show his appreciation. Lots of artists don't really take the time to even give their fans a second look. They become caught up in the success of it all and forget the very reason why they're able to do what they do. Artists like Hoodie Allen are hard to find these days but he really sets an example for up-and-coming performers. Know your skills. Know your roots. Keep the goal in mind. As long as he keeps doing his thing there's really no stopping him. Keep your eye out for his debut album set to drop this August!

Hoodie Allen--"Show Me What You're Made Of":

Check out Hoodie's latest track "Nolan Ryan":

Keep up with Hoodie!:

HANGING WITH HOODIE TOUR~AS TOLD BY MADS

Thanks for reading!

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Word of Mouth Tour Review Part Two feat. The Wanted

*Before you read this, if you would like to read part one of this review all about the opening acts, Midnight Red and Cassio Monroe, click here.*

If you didn't already know, this Word of Mouth Tour served as The Wanted's farewell for awhile as they have decided to take a break from being a band and pursue personal endeavors. I feel like this tour became so much more once it was revealed that it would be their farewell tour. Emotions were definitely running high when The Wanted closed out their final show in Shawnee, Oklahoma last weekend. There was basically a craze among TW fans trying to be as involved as possible in the band's goodbye. People attending the show were livestreaming it for people at home as Twitter basically blew up with all of the outpour from emotional fans.

The Wanted: (from left) Jay McGuiness, Max George, Tom Parker,
Siva Kaneswaran, Nathan Sykes

The Wanted is a band that I have a lot of personal respect for. They've been together for about four years and I've seen them do some of the unthinkable when it comes to success in the music industry. They started from nothing but talent and a bit of ambition (thrown in with great management) and were able to gain popularity relatively quickly in the UK with their debut single "All Time Low" hitting number one in the charts in 2010. Their success continued even further with their second single "Heart Vacancy" landing in the top ten later that year. Things seemed to be going great for The Wanted when they were able to break America *quite quickly and successfully might I add* with their single "Glad You Came." The band landed some TV appearances and performed many shows stateside before landing their own TV show on E! called The Wanted Life. The show documented the band's life while living in Los Angeles and recording their third album, Word of Mouth.

When The Wanted announced their break in January of this year, it was, to say the least, unexpected. There seemed to be no sign of animosity among the members. There have been many theories as to why this break has happened. Some sources have said that being apart of The Wanted Life brought up old issues and created tension among some of the members. Other sources have said the break was due to The Wanted being signed over to Scooter Braun when in the process of breaking America. Many fans blame the management for things such as poor album sales, lack of promotion, etc. There has not been an exact reason as to why the break is happening but The Wanted have made it clear on many occasions that they plan on getting back together in the future and putting out more music.

This has definitely given fans a bit of hope The Wanted aren't completely disappearing. The band has always had a really great relationship with their fans and have managed to stay quite personable and grounded throughout the years. I can personally say that they are some of the nicest people I have ever met and I am really looking forward to seeing them again in the future. This farewell tour was definitely bitter sweet and a great way for the band to go out with a bang. They performed several of their biggest hits like "Glad You Came," "Heart Vacancy," and "All Time Low" as well as a medley of songs from their 2010 self-titled debut album. They also kept things lively and fun with classic TW onstage banter and interaction with the crowd. If you weren't able to catch The Wanted on tour, there are plenty of videos online that fans have posted to keep the TW spirit alive while the band takes a break.

This show was easily one of the best I've been to and I'm looking forward to seeing what's up next for the band. Each member seems to be working towards something during this break. Siva Kaneswaran has even mentioned that he will be appearing in movies and coming out with an album of his own in the coming year. Of course there are rumors of how long this break will last but it has not been confirmed. I can only hope that we will be hearing from The Wanted very soon. I've really enjoyed watching this band evolve over the last four years and I will keep all of you updated on their break as well as their individual projects.

Some days stay gold forever.

The Wanted's latest single Glow In The Dark:

Stay updated on The Wanted!:

Twitter: The Wanted, Siva, Nathan, Max, Tom, Jay

*Click here to check out the World Music Awards and vote for The Wanted in categories like World's Best Song, World's Best Album, and World's Best Group!*

WORD OF MOUTH TOUR REVIEW~AS TOLD BY MADS

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Word Of Mouth Tour Review Part One feat. Cassio Monroe and Midnight Red

So. Finals are done. School is out. I'm free to blog, blog, blog. I was planning on writing this post last week but I was way too caught up in this show to focus on basically anything else. Last Thursday I traveled to Indianapolis to see The Wanted's Word of Mouth Tour. I haven't been to a good old-fashioned pop boyband show in a long while so it was actually a bit of a treat and completely exceeded my expectations. In fact it was so good that I'm splitting the review up into two parts. This first part will be all about the opening acts so enjoy!

MIDNIGHT RED:

Midnight Red: (clockwise from left) Colton
Rudloff, Thomas Augusto, Anthony Ladao,
Eric Secharia, Joey Diggs Jr.

Midnight Red was my Pick of the Week way back when. Still love them. Still amazing. If you want to check out that post and learn more about who the heck Midnight Red is then click here. Now, I knew what Midnight Red was all about and I had a pretty good idea of what I could expect to see from them at the show. But let me just say this, you think you know Midnight Red…until you see them live. Sure they're crazy talented and hilarious guys through a computer screen or television but when you see them onstage or even face to face, it's surreal. It's so hard to understand how so much talent and charisma can go into one group of guys. They performed in front of tons of screaming girls and I would feel safe betting that they were having an even more fun time than the crowd. They clearly love what they do and they are so passionate and hard working. I mean, you don't get that good just by sitting around and saying you're in a band. Their vocals were some of the best I've heard and they didn't miss a beat when it came to choreography. They kept the crowd going with some of their fan favorites like "Body Talk" and "Hell Yeah." They also gave the crowd a chance to check out their impeccable vocals through performances of "Nothing Lasts Forever" as well as their covers of "Diamonds" and "Hold On, We're Going Home." I'm constantly amazed by these guys and hope to meet them again sometime soon. Midnight Red will be performing at Digifest July 7 in New York and July 14 in Toronto. Also, don't forget to check them out on Good Morning America on June 5th!

Midnight Red have recently teamed up with Sweety High to film a 5-part video series documenting their recent projects like the MTV Artist To Watch Tour and the Word of Mouth Tour. You can check out the most recent episode below:

Midnight Red's latest cover:

Keep up with Midnight Red!

Twitter: Midnight Red, Eric, Anthony, Colton, Thomas, Joey

CASSIO MONROE:

Cassio Monroe: (from left) Tripp Weir, Jeff Garrison

I'll be honest and say that I had no clue who these guys were before the show. They had a handful of dedicated fans ready to tell everyone what made this duo so amazing and I know that after seeing them perform I'm not the only one who's jumped on the Cassio Monroe train. This pop/rap duo made up of Tripp Weir and Jeff Garrison are Nashville natives signed to HitShop Records/Warner Music
Nashville. I was so impressed by the dynamic between these two. They seem at first glance to be on two completely opposite ends of the spectrum but their unique styles somehow mesh together perfectly. I don't know how it happens. I don't understand it but I love it. At first I thought Tripp's vocals were decent but something was missing. It turns out he's a pretty insane rapper. He didn't look much like a rapper but it is definitely clear to see that he was born to do just that. Paired with Jeff's indie/pop/folk (if that's a thing) sound, Cassio Monroe are a breath of fresh air. They remind me a bit of old school hip-hop meets modern feel-good singer/songwriter. Along with MKTO, Cassio Monroe might just be leading the way for a whole slew of up and coming rap/pop groups. This style of music seems to be picking up steam and I can definitely see these guys at the top of the game.

*You can vote for Cassio Monroe in Macy's iHeartRadio Rising Star Talent Search here.*

Cassio Monroe-"Under The Lights":

Check out Cassio Monroe!

Twitter: Cassio Monroe, Jeff, Tripp

*Click here to read the second part of my Word of Mouth Tour review all about the main act: The Wanted!*

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Pick of the Week--Artist You Should Know About: Ella Henderson

If you've stumbled upon this blog post for some random reason, whether you're taking a break from studying for exams or you're looking for something a bit new to add to your Youtube playlist, you are in store for a treat. I have a Pick of the Week that I am excited to post about. There's so much to expect from this up and coming artist and I can't wait to share it with you all…

Ella Henderson is an 18-year old singer/songwriter who has basically already accomplished more than I probably will in a lifetime. You may recognize Ella from the ninth season of the X Factor UK. After she was shockingly eliminated in sixth place, Ella didn't disappear from our radar at all. Currently she is signed to Syco Music (Simon Cowell's record label) and is working on her debut album, Chapter One, due to be released Fall of this year.

Let me tell you a bit about why I love this girl! Not only is her voice and performance style matured far beyond her years, she puts so much soul and emotion into every performance you can't help but feel connected to her in some way. I immediately saw something in Ella when I watched her on X Factor. Her passion for music and her insane songwriting ability is something to rival the masters. She somehow manages to maintain a perfect balance of talent, originality, maturity, and youthful spunk with every note she sings. Ella is a contender for the ages, exhibiting vocal qualities similar to that of Adele.

Fans have been patiently waiting for new Ella tunes and she has kept most of them at bay by posting covers of songs like Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home" and John Newman's "Love Me Again." She has never failed to remind us of her crazy songwriting skills either. Since X Factor, she has debuted four original songs: "Evaporate," "Waiting," "Five Tattoos" (which you can check out here), and "The First Time." Despite these amazing teasers for Ella's first album, possibly the most exciting thing has been her debut single, "Ghost." The music video for the single premiered last Wednesday while the single will be released on June 8.

Ella is one of my absolute favorite young artists and I cannot wait until her album is released and I can listen to it nonstop. Being so young, Ella has so much ahead of her. There is nothing that could possibly deter her from this insane journey she is on. There is much to expect from her new music and I am positive that her natural ability and original, heartfelt lyrics will make the album just that much better. Make sure you keep an eye on Ella in the next coming months because she is bound to make a big splash in the music world.

Ella's debut single: "Ghost"

Ella's amazing Drake/John Newman mashup!

Keep up with Ella!

ARTIST YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: ELLA HENDERSON~AS TOLD BY MADS

Thanks for reading!

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Bangerz Tour Update!

Looks like Miley is still cooped up in the "hospy" but one thing we can get pumped about is rescheduled tour dates! Yes, that's right, the remaining shows on the Bangerz Tour (including the Charlotte, Kansas City, and St. Louis dates) have been rescheduled. The European leg of the tour will continue as planned. As far as I am aware, all tickets purchased previously will be honored on the new tour dates. Check with your tour venue just to be sure! Happy Easter!

Rescheduled Bangerz Tour Dates:

August 1 -- Uniondale

August 2 -- Philadelphia

August 4 -- Pittsburgh

August 6 -- Charlotte

August 7 -- Nashville

August 9 -- Louisville

August 10 -- St. Louis

August 12 -- Kansas City

August 14 -- Chicago

Friday, April 18, 2014

My Almost Bangerz Tour Review...

So as most of you have probably heard, Miley Cyrus has recently been hospitalized due to a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic that was originally treating her for a sinus infection she had earlier this month. Because of this, the Bangerz Tour has taken a hard hit. After canceling her show in Charlotte on the 7th, Miley seemed to be doing just fine. This was right up until the Kansas City show which was scheduled for last Tuesday. Her hospitalization led her to cancel the show and, yes, my St. Louis show was cancelled the next day.

I'm not going to lie and say that I'm not bothered and I only want her to get better because I was DEVASTATED. It seems that Miley's case may be more serious than was previously thought. At this point, fans are rallying for Miley to get out of the hospital as soon as possible. The remaining tour dates on the Bangerz Tour will hopefully continue as planned but as of now, there is no word on when Miley will be well enough to perform.

Along with being in the hospital, Miley has had to deal with all sorts of insane accusations that she has fallen ill due to too much partying, being pregnant, or even the recent death of her dog, Floyd. Miley has taken to Twitter to express her feelings about these rumors. She seems most annoyed that she has still not been released from the hospital to continue her tour. Lots of fans have been putting up a fight to get the cancelled shows rescheduled. The main problem that has been presented with this, however, is the fact that venues are usually booked months in advance so it is difficult to reschedule shows. This defense has naturally made many fans even more upset. For them, receiving a refund on their tickets is not going to make them forget about the whole situation and move one.

For me, I was absolutely upset that the St. Louis show was cancelled. I knew that Miley had been hospitalized but I was hoping as much as I could that she would be better by Wednesday. Unfortunately this wasn't the case. It even looks like the St. Louis show will not be rescheduled. I was really looking forward to going to probably the most insane and entertaining show I had ever been to and being able to tell you guys all about it. I have been in touch with Scottrade Center and am staying completely updated on Miley's condition and will make sure to post any further developments about the Bangerz Tour.

As of now, the Nashville show has been rescheduled for August 7th and the Louisville show will take place on August 9th. All tickets purchased will be honored on the new show dates. Stay tuned for more details on the Bangerz Tour and if there will ever be a Bangerz Tour Review coming from me! *crosses fingers* Get well soon, Miley!

Miley's latest single: Adore You

Stay updated on how Miley's really doing:

In the mean time, let me know your thoughts on the Bangerz Tour and all of this Miley drama!

MILEY CYRUS HOSPITALIZATION~AS TOLD BY MADS

Thanks for reading!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Pick of the Week--THE NEXT BIG THING: 5 Seconds of Summer

This Pick of the Week is a bit different from others because instead of telling you about an artist you should know about, I'm going to tell you about an artist that EVERYONE knows about. After coming across them back in 2012, I've been so excited to see how far they have come in just a few short years. If you haven't heard of these guys, you definitely will in 2014. This band has been slowly conquering the music world and are on the fast track to becoming the next big thing, that is, if they aren't already…

5 Seconds of Summer: (from left) Michael Clifford,
Calum Hood, Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin

5 Seconds of Summer is a Sydney based pop/rock band composed of Ashton Irwin, Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, and Calum Hood. 5SOS was officially formed back in 2011 with the addition of Irwin as the band's drummer. Before Ashton's entrance, Michael, Calum, and Luke posted covers of songs on Youtube such as "I Miss You" by Blink-182 and "Next To You" by Justin Bieber and Chris Brown. The covers continued as the three-piece band became a four-piece and posted their own renditions of artists like Wheatus and All Time Low.

In May of 2012, 5SOS posted an acoustic video for their original song, "Gotta Get Out." This song was later featured on their first EP: Unplugged. The release of their EP followed shortly after their first headlining tour hitting Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The band was then quickly back on the road touring Australia on their Twenty Twelve Tour. In December 2012, 5 Seconds of Summer released their debut studio EP, Somewhere New. The EP featured fan favorites like "Gotta Get Out" and "Out Of My Limit" as well as two additional tracks: "Unpredictable" and "Beside You."

2013 was a HUGE year for 5 Seconds of Summer with the release of their single, "Heartbreak Girl." This song was a quick hit among their rapidly growing fanbase. One Direction caught wind of this sudden 5SOS craze and reached out to the band offering them a spot as the opening act of their Take Me Home World Tour. This helped launch 5SOS even further into the professional music world and gained them even more fans who were beyond thrilled when the music video for their song "Try Hard" was released. Since last year, 5 Seconds of Summer has released their latest worldwide single, "She Looks So Perfect," as well as their brand new She Looks So Perfect EP. They've even launched their own independent record label, Hi Or Hey Records, in partnership with Capitol Records. With their latest single hitting #2 in the US charts, 5SOS are gearing up to be the next big thing especially with their announcement that they will once again be opening for One Direction later this year in the UK, Europe, and the US on 1D's Where We Are Tour.

5SOS has been hard at work touring all over the world and writing new songs that are bound to be hits. The band will be returning home to go on an Australian tour in May but will soon be back in the states on their first US headlining tour. You can check out the dates for these two tours here. There is so much in store for 5 Seconds of Summer in the coming months and I strongly encourage you to go see them if they come to a city near you. They are fantastic, naturally-talented performers who have nothing but a great time onstage. Check out their music on iTunes and see for yourself why they are the next big thing!

5SOS' latest single "She Looks So Perfect"!

Check out the band's video for their 2013 hit

"Heartbreak Girl":

Keep up with everything 5SOS!:

Twitter: 5 Seconds of Summer, Luke, Calum, Michael, Ashton

THE NEXT BIG THING: 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER~AS TOLD BY MADS

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Pick of the Week--Artist You Should Know About: Rixton

There's just something about bands who play their own instruments that makes me want to drop everything and live on their Youtube channel for days. It just makes them that much more REAL. It gives them that extra je ne sais quoi in the talent department. I've been really into a particular group of musicians the past few weeks and they are definitely an artist you should know about…

Rixton (formerly known as Relics) is a four-piece Pop/Rock/R&B band made up of Jake Roche, Charley Bagnall, Lewi Morgan, and Danny Wilkin. These Manchester natives have developed quite the following on Youtube with their remastered covers of artists from Taylor Swift and Usher to Sisqo's "The Thong Song." Yes, it's true. They covered "The Thong Song" and it wasn't horrific. It was actually quite amazing. If I hadn't believed that these guys had something special before listening to that cover, I definitely do now. Check out their cover of "The Thong Song" here. It's absolutely worth a listen.

Rixton: (from left) Lewi Morgan, Danny Wilkin,
Jake Roche, Charley Bagnall

Rixton just recently released their US debut EP: Me And My Broken Heart EP. The foursome went on a bit of a road trip across the US radioverse promoting their first single, "Me And My Broken Heart." They have already gained a dedicated following in the states evident by their single entering in the top 50 on iTunes and reaching #1 on 102.7 KIIS-FM's top 9 at 9. Their popularity seems to be rising like crazy especially with the anticipation of their debut album due out this year. With their abundance of originality and lead singer Jake's out-of-this-world vocals which are literally unlike anything I think I have ever heard, Rixton are bound to catch the attention of big-name talent managers. And they've already done just that with one Scooter Braun.

Now I'm naturally a bit skeptical about this Scooter Braun business because of everything that has gone down with The Wanted recently. The Wanted announcing their "break" hit a lot of fans really hard and have lead to numerous rumors about Rixton being a sort of "replacement." Now whether this is true or not, I'm not going to attempt to dissect the mind of Scooter Braun. What I have mainly picked up on is that people are hesitant to jump on the Rixton train because of this assumption that Scooter Braun ditched The Wanted and needed to fill the empty boyband slot. People are drawing all sorts of conclusions about this whole ordeal but, in reality, Rixton are a crazy talented band that can pull off a sort of Maroon 5 vibe perfectly while still being able to sound original and ooze potential to be the next big thing. I can't get enough of Rixton right now and I have no doubt in my mind that I will be wearing out the replay button once their album is released.

The Rixton guys are set to perform at 103.5 KISS' Fantabulo 2014 show in May along with Timeflies, Austin Mahone, and Jason Derulo. They are doing a few shows here and there over the next few months in the UK and US. You can find all of these dates on their website. Also, make sure you don't miss their "Rixton Roundup" videos where you can see what the band is up to basically 24/7. I can't wait to see how far Rixton will go this year with new music releases and hopefully announcing a tour…or two…or three…? Challenge accepted.

"Me And My Broken Heart" by Rixton:

Rixton's latest single: "Make Out":

Rixton's cover of "Ignition" by R.Kelly!

Keep up with all things Rixton!:

Twitter: Rixton, Lewi, Jake, Danny, Charley

Vevo

Website

ARTIST YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: RIXTON~AS TOLD BY MADS
Thanks for reading!

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Pick of the Week--Artist You Should Know About: The Big Time

I know this Pick of the Week is a day late and I really have no excuse except for pure laziness. Eh, what are you gonna do? I thought a lot about who was going to be this week's Pick of the Week and it came to me during a time of immense physical pain. I'm talking about the gym. What did you think…? Basically I have a Youtube playlist literally titled "Don't Listen to the Pain." It has a bunch of my favorite music videos and acoustic vids that help me get through that whole ugly, sweaty mess. Long story short, I've been obsessing over a cover this past week and I figured the only people who make sense to be the Pick of the Week are the guys of The Big Time! Check them out…

The Big Time: (from left) Derek Mrdjenovich,
Brandon Porta, Dylan Auerbeck, Aaron Porta

If you happened to read my Freaks & Geeks Tour review, you'll remember that I mentioned a couple guys involved in 7 Minutes in Heaven's set. Derek Mrdjenovich and Aaron Porta are only 2/4 of The Big Time. Along with Dylan Auerbeck and Brandon Porta, The Big Time is a pop rock/alternative band from Altoona, Pennsylvania. These guys are crazy talented and strangely addicting might I add. A couple weeks ago, MKTO was my Pick of the Week and since I already can't get enough of "Classic," I was ecstatic when The Big Time covered the song….and they did a hell of a job. Derek's pop/rock voice was perfect for their version of the song and literally brought it back to life.

One thing I absolutely love about these guys is how real they are. They aren't trying to fool anyone into thinking they're above all of the other homegrown bands trying to make it big. They've even just recently started an Indiegogo campaign to fund the making of their new album. Their current goal is $5,000 *which is only about half of the cost it will take to actually make this album* but it's already clear to see that The Big Time without a doubt has a big time fanbase. They're already over halfway to reaching their goal. If you do decide to listen to anything I'm saying and check out this band, I highly encourage you to contribute to their campaign because the new album is bound to be amazing.

Speaking of albums, The Big Time has already released three albums since 2009 including their latest, Dreamers and Believers, released spring of last year. The band has been featured on The Gunz Show and the Pup Fresh Tour. They've also rocked the stage with artists like Breathe Carolina, Mayday Parade, and We Are The In Crowd *just to name a few*. Even as I'm typing this they are playing a show with none other than All Time Low! These guys have a big future ahead of them and I can't wait to see them in full hopefully later in the year promoting their new album. If you have the chance, check out The Big Time and head out to see them if there's a show near you. They are the greatest group of guys and I promise it will be a great time.

The Big Time's amazing cover of "Classic" feat. Timmy
Rasmussen of 7MIH:

Check out the band talking about their Indiegogo
campaign and how you can help out!

*Click here to check out The Big Time's campaign and contribute to the new album! You may get an awesome perk…just saying*

Don't miss out on anything The Big Time!:
Twitter: The Big Time, Aaron, Derek, Dylan, Brandon
Facebook
Youtube

ARTIST YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: THE BIG TIME~AS TOLD BY MADS
Thanks for reading!

Friday, March 21, 2014

CONCERT REVIEW: Demi Lovato--Neon Lights Tour feat. Cher Lloyd, and Fifth Harmony

Arena tours…arena tours…arena tours! I forgot how much I've missed going to an arena tour. It's insane! I've gotten so used to the hectic and crowded vibe of general admission that I've rediscovered my love for arena tours. Having a seat, no pressure, no stress. Fantastic. If you want to hear about an absolutely incredible show that is probably the girliest concert I've been to in my life then keep on reading…

FIFTH HARMONY:

Fifth Harmony on the Neon Lights Tour: (from left) Lauren
Jauregui, Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Normani
Hamilton, and Dinah Jane Hansen

Alright so I'm going to be COMPLETELY honest when I say I've never been a big fan of Fifth Harmony. It's not that I had anything against them it's mainly just the fact that I wasn't sure initially how a new girl group was going to go over in the US. I assumed that they would be fine considering they had enough of a fanbase to exit in third place on the X Factor US back in 2012. Although, over the past couple years I've gotten to see their insanely dedicated fanbase grow every single day. I guess I hadn't ever really given them much of a chance after X Factor *I'd only ever heard about 90 seconds of "Miss Movin' On"* and I was quite skeptical of some competition for my girls Little Mix. Fifth Harmony was the first act to perform on the Neon Lights Tour and I was……pleasantly surprised. I mean, they've got it going on. They are very different from what I had seen on X Factor and I was really pleased by their stage presence and natural talent. It was great to see a group of gorgeous ladies sing Destiny's Child and preach about hanging out with the girls. What a breath of fresh air! Got to admit, I'm a 5H believer now. Well done, Cowell.

Fifth Harmony's music video for "Miss Movin' On":

Twitter: 5H, Dinah, Normani, Ally, Camila, Lauren

CHER LLOYD:

Cher! She's talented. She's BEAUTIFUL. She's basically everything you could ever want and if you can't be her then you want to be her best friend. I saw Cher last summer so I knew she would be able to give a flawless and fun performance. She is the sweetest person I think I have ever seen in my life. You basically can't look at her without wanting to hug her. She performed her latest single, "Sirens," as well as some of her previous hits, "I Wish," "Oath," and of course, "Want U Back." She delivered a fantastic set as to be expected with the usual Cher sass and spark. She is the kind of artist that seems to go through phases. She was sort of an edgy/hip style singer back on X Factor. Then she went through the whole rocker/shave half your head stage. And basically through a bunch of different phases she's landed on quite a nice, reflective sort of heartfelt stage. Her newest single, "Sirens," is a bit slower than her other singles but really gives fans a chance to see what this girl is all about: unique and flawless vocals.

Cher Lloyd "I Wish" music video!

DEMI LOVATO:

The woman of the hour. Little Miss Demi Lovato is…INCREDIBLE. Let me say that again…IN-CRE-DI-BLE. The thing with me is that I really have to get to know an artist before I become a fan of them. One of my biggest pet peeves is someone who is fake or puts on a mask when interacting with fans that doesn't really reflect who they really are. I personally need to know that this person is 100% real and doesn't need all the fancy stage production and autotune that lots of singers use today. This is one of the reasons why I am absolutely in love with Demi. She gets on stage and is nothing but real. She wears her heart on her sleeve when performing and, I'm not gonna lie, I almost teared up a bit listening to her talk about her past and how she overcame so many obstacles.

Demi got a lot of flack from the public and the media when she went into rehab and when all of the stories were released talking about her mental and health disorders. It is absolutely true that it's not about how far you fall but how you are able to pick yourself back up again. And Demi did that and more. She has focused lots of her attention on helping and inspiring people who struggle with any sort of self-esteem issues, substance abuse, mental illnesses, etc, etc, the list goes on. The lyrics she writes not only reflect how she feels inside but they are extremely relatable for all of the young people struggling with different issues. I not only respect her as a singer *because she is absolutely amazing* but also as a person. I can't believe everything she has done for other people and how she has pulled herself out of an almost hellish situation and come back stronger than ever. Each performance she gives has so much visible emotion behind it that it makes you feel as though you can achieve something in this hum drum world and not worry about the little things and belt those songs out at the top of your lungs. If you ever have the chance to see Demi live I encourage you to not miss out on it. She is one of my all-time favorite vocalists and I can't wait to see her again hopefully some time in the future.

*Also, if you find yourself struggling with any of the issues I have mentioned or you're just looking for a bit of inspiration here and there, I HIGHLY urge you to check out her bestselling book: Staying Strong: 365 Days A Year. I love this book so much. There are quotes and stories for each day of the year to inspire you and maybe give you that little pick-me-up you've been needing. Get it on Amazon here.*

Demi's latest video for "Neon Lights":