Bands list | 2013

Hey guys! So, with the end of 2013 quickly approaching, I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect back on this year. My last post, which you can read here, looks back on this year as a whole. However, for this post, I'm going to look back at the music I've seen and discovered this year, through gigs, recommendations etc..

Me being me, I absolutely love music. To be honest, it's what gets me through most days. I would listen to it all day given the chance. Music keeps you sane and can easily help your mood. Well, that's how I see it..Music has really helped me this year and being able to see certain bands live has made it just that little bit extra special. Admittedly, I didn't see many bands this year, but I saw the ones that mattered to me.

To begin with, I went to Slamdunk Festival in Wolverhampton. Big step for me, never thought I'd be able to survive a festival, not ever! However, with a group of friends, turns out I can surprise myself. My main aim for Slamdunk was to go and see All Time Low as they were headlining the main stage, but this festival was a great opportunity to listen to new bands and, over time, I have grown a great interest in these bands. 

To start, we saw The Summer Set. For those who have never listened to these guys, I would definitely recommend you give them a listen. Their music is just so upbeat and you can't help but just smile to their music, or that might just be me.. Probably something to do with the very attractive lead singer - sounds about right! Other bands we saw included: Sleeping With Sirens, We Are The Ocean and Kids In Glass Houses. Now, I had never heard KIGH's music before Slamdunk but, after seeing them live, I am in love with their music. I find myself getting so lost in their music. Definitely another one to listen to!

So that was Slamdunk.. My first festival, but not my last..

Next, I went to the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff to go and see You Me At Six and  30 Seconds To Mars. Two incredible bands which were insane live. Even though I'd already seen You Me At Six a couple of years ago (my first ever gig - scary!), it was amazing to see them live again. So full of energy and their music was simply perfect. Then we had 30 Seconds To Mars. Oh my god, these guys completely threw me with how amazing they are live. This was my first time seeing these guys and it definitely won't be my last! I just fell in love with their performance the moment they came on the stage, such energy and it shows they truly love their fans when they engage with them so much. Perfection. To see my review of the gig, you can read that here.  

Finally, I recently went to a gig in Bristol with a friend from college as she wanted someone to go with her and, apart from the lack of hearing the next day, I do not regret it one bit! We went to The Fleece to go and see Mindless Self Indulgence, a band I had only ever heard of before seeing them. Never listened to their music, so this was a new experience for me. They were supported by a couple of bands, including one called The Red Paintings which, if you like strange music, you should really consider checking out. Let's just say this gig completely shocked me in many ways. I've never been to such a crazy gig would I could never in any world imagine. Such an amazing atmosphere and such insane music - not one for delicate ears! We decided to hang around after and managed to meet 3/4 of the band which was awesome - only managed to miss the drummer, but the other three were so great to talk to. It only came to my attention after the gig that the bassist, Lynz, is married or whatever to Gerard Way.. THE GERARD WAY, I HUGGED SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN NEAR GERARD WAY!! *fangirl moment*

So yeah, that was it really for 2013. Not much, but I saw the bands which matter to me. Next year has even more instore for me which should be incredible..

2014 consists of: 

 Fall Out Boy, The Pretty Reckless and Reading Festival so far, with hopefully many more to add!

Happy new year, guys! ♥

Cardiff '13 - 30 Seconds To Mars and You Me At Six

Hey guys! So, I went to see two very amazing bands this week as they entered back into the UK on their European tour. 30 Seconds To Mars recently returned back to the UK after travelling all over Europe for the Love Lust Faith + Dreams tour, which was supported by You Me At Six. With both bands recently releasing new material, it was a great opportunity for them to share this with their fans. We waited outside the Cardiff Motorpoint for 2 hours, only to be second row to the left of the stage right next to the barrier - result!

 To begin with, we had You Me At Six perform. Now, the last time I saw these guys was back in 2011 when they were performing their recent material from 'Sinners Never Sleep' - a pretty decent album to be fair! We heard the likes of 'Loverboy' and 'Bite My Tongue' which really get the crowd going. We also heard some songs off their older albums, such as 'Liquid Confidence' and 'Stay With Me', as well as their latest song 'Lived A Lied' which you can listen to here. From where we were standing, we couldn't see any mosh pits but apparently there were quite a few throughout the performances! Compared to the last time I saw YMAS, I found this gig a lot less violent (considering the last time I saw them was in Brixton) and just generally an all round better experience.  

For 30 Seconds To Mars, this was their chance to perform some of the new songs off of their recent album 'Love Lust Faith + Dreams'. We heard a mixture of their new and old material which was simply amazing. I've never seen these guys live so it was a real experience to see them actually playing live. I mean, you watch their music videos of them performing at gigs and I was just in shock and awe when watching them, so it was an amazing surprise to actually see them and experience that kind of atmosphere - and they didn't disappoint! Their setlist was beyond incredible too. With their new stuff, they played 'Do Or Die', 'City of Angels' and a couple of others. Then, they played a few songs off of their album 'This is War', such as 'Closer To The Edge' (of course!!) and 'Kings And Queens', and a few songs off their older albums. Even better, Jared did a few acoustic songs which literally killed me. My heart practically melted as he played 'From Yesterday' as an acoustic, perfection. To top off their performance, they had some acts in between which really got the crowd going! From acrobats and people from the crowd to confetti and balloons, they had us engaged throughout the entire performance - they know how to put on a show! Let's just saw I felt incredibly sorry for the guys who had to clean up the arena..

 

I've never been so mind blown by a gig, let alone sing my heart out along to all the acts that performed.. Let's just say I would recommend anyone to go and see these bands play live together, especially with You Me At Six releasing their new album and headlining their own tour next year - definitely one to consider!

'Remember when you were my boat, And I was your sea..'

Hey guys! Seeing as it's officially bonfire night (remember remember the 5th of November etc etc), I figured I'd write a firework-related post. For all those You Me At Six fans, you could probably guess by the title of my post - taken from their song 'Fireworks', of course!

Now, who doesn't love fireworks right? I love them. Let's be honest, they are pretty awesome. Admittedly, as a child, they scared the hell out of me. Most children are! They're loud and big and scary. But, over the past couple of years in particular, I've grown to love them more and more. This year and last year have been the only years I have actually gone out and enjoyed them.

Last year, I did a couple of things for the firework period. Firstly, a group of us went to a firework display at the primary school I was doing my childcare placement in. Was so fun to watch, just all the colours lighting up the sky. Insane. Then, a couple of us spent an evening setting out own fireworks off in a field just outside of Wootton Bassett. We all finished work around half 9, bought some fireworks and headed out. I let the others be the ones to set off the fireworks while I sat freezing my backside off playing with sparklers - I was too much of a wuss to do them myself! Far too risky for me haha. Still, we had a fun night all the same.

  

  
This year, I spent bonfire night with my best friend. As we're such cheapskates, we decided we'd watch the local primary school's fireworks from her back garden - probably had a better view if I'm honest! Anyway, we got some marshmallows and a Starbucks hot chocolate and waited for it to begin. Now, when it's as cold as it is, you can't have cold marshmallow.. Enter the candle! Roasted marshmallows, hot chocolate and fireworks on a crisp autumn evening - the definition of a perfect evening! We sat and watched the school display, which we constantly thought had ended with the long intervals every 15 minutes or so, then sat and watched the other fireworks going on around the housing estate. All was perfect! Then we heard something come down with a thud and a smash, kind of killed the atmosphere a bit but remained perfect all the same.

Hope you guys had an amazing fireworks night too! ♥