February Featured Band - Tonight Alive

Hailing from Australia, Tonight Alive have crossed the Pacific Ocean and trekked American soil. With their catchy songs that contain personal statements that are easy to relate to,  you will definitely catch yourself singing along unexpectedly or humming the notes in the shower. With a shout out in AP Magazine about their new CD What Are You So Scared Of? (will be released Feb 14 with Fearless Records) the band is catching the attention of music lovers all over the world. Tonight Alive currently has an EP out called Consider This, a single available on iTunes called “Breaking and Entering” and three music videos on Vevo.
The band consists of lead singer Jenna McDougall, guitarist Jake Hardy, guitarist/vocalist Whakaio, bassist Cam Adler and drummer Matt Best.  While it may be easy to compare Tonight Alive to other female fronted bands, Jenna holds her own spot with her personality and music.  The pop punk band has great chemistry that can be seen in their songs, which are all unique and personable with a smooth flow.  
Check them out on Warped Tour this summer at a city near you.
Songs we suggest you listen to: Wasting Away and Breaking And Entering



Websites to check out
http://www.tonightaliveofficial.com
http://www.facebook.com/tonightalive
http://www.twitter.com/tonightalive
http://www.myspace.com/tonightalive

The Maine Pioneer Review

The Maine are truly “Pioneers” with the release of their fourth studio album Pioneer. The band consists of John O Callaghan , Pat Kirch, Kennedy Brock, Garrett Nickelson and Jared Monaco. The band hit it big with their song “ Girls Do What They Want” from their first full length album Can’t Stop , Won’t Stop. These boys have come a long way from their days driving around Tempe Arizona in a white rental van playing small clubs. The Maine’s album has come a long way since the band first started, Pioneer  is pleasantly different. When listening to Pioneer you would not think its an album from 2011, it has the feel of an 1970s rock vibe to it, almost rock with an hint of country. Some songs that really stand out on this fourteen track album are Identify, My Heroine, When I’m At Home, Thinking Of You & Waiting For My Sun To Shine. With the release of Pioneer, the band recently took a trip to Brazil as part of The Pioneer Tour. The Maine played several shows to sold out crowds and will be heading across the pond to the U.K. this January as well. With the release of Pioneer, it has taken The Maine on a journey and they are taking their fans along for the ride. If there is one album you purchase this year make it Pioneer. 

Rating 10/10 

Purchase the album 

Visit The Maine Website 

Review: Panic! at the Disco’s Vices & Virtues

Panic! at the Disco’s Vices & Virtues is a refreshing, brilliant journey through a world only Brendon Urie seems to exhibit the ability to create. The album, which dropped on March 22th, is a melodic masterpiece, a pleasant surprise following the bands split. The split left many Panic! fans curious for the outcome, Vices and Virtues left no disappointment. 

Many of the tracks are reminiscent of “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out” & “Pretty.Odd”, never leaving their old identity behind while continuing to forge forward and develop a new one. Lyrics touch on times gone by and even in their recent music videos they have left clues to a world they have yet to leave behind. “Ready to Go (Get Me Out My Mind)” even shows “9:00” on a clock-tower with a wide eyed moon looking on. Brendon and Spencer have managed to stick to their roots all while developing a new, exciting sound that not only showcases their theatricality; but the intriguing, quotable lyrics and delightful music as well. Lyrics and sound that twist and turn every emotion, urging the listener to dance, sing, feel and develop a closeness with the songs. 

The album opens with “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” - a catchy, almost vaudeville depiction of a curious woman, full of secrets, it tales her twisted tale, along with her gentleman callers.  “Let’s Kill Tonight” & “Hurricane” both pull in electronic aspects with traditional instruments, as well as Spencer’s rhythm, echoed through his drumming. Hurricane reminds us to throw our anchors in the storm and is followed by Memories, a haunting song of loves and lives lost, and hanging on to the fading thoughts of our mind. Other songs include “Trade Mistakes”, previous mentioned “Ready to Go” and “Always”, a soft, gentle introduction to the album, similar in style to their previous song “When The Day Met The Night”, ties the album to their roots from the start as if to prove they have not lost touch with their signature sound. Soft like a lullaby, it lures the listener in with it’s gentle melody and Brendon’s signature crooning. The final three songs, “The Calendar”, “Sarah Smiles” and “Nearly Witches” finish off the album nicely, tying it all together, the varied sounds and emotions that drives the tracks all tie together in a package of sheer perfection.

All in all, Vices and Virtues is a must-have album for all Panic! at the Disco fans, and for fans of music, period. It’s wild ride of sound is the perfect partner to any pair of ears and one of the albums not to miss of 2011.

STEEL TRAIN

Who they are:  Jack Antonoff (vocals, guitar, piano, drums),  Evan Winiker (bass), Dan Silbert (guitar), Jon Shiffman (drums/percussion) and Justin Huey (vocals, piano, wurlitzer) - or as they have dubbed themselves - “the nicest Jewish guys in New Jersey”

With three full-length albums and three EPs under their belt, Steel Train’s sound is one of a kind, quirky and imaginative indie rock.  They’ve made a name for themselves on the festival circuit - most notably - Bonnaroo, Warped Tour and Coachella.  They’ve toured with The Hush Sound, Tegan and Sara, Ben Folds, Fun, OAR and the Get Up Kids among many others.  Their television “big break” came in 2008 when they appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.  Since then, they’ve appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and are a frequent musical guest on Conan O’Brien’s new show, Conan.

Their current album “Steel Train” was released in June 2010 and debuted at #8 on Billboard’s Heatseeker’s Chart and #4 on the New Artists Chart within the top 50 of the indie album chart.  Also released was a companion cover album, “Terrible Thrills, Vol 1”, which featured female artists such as Scarlett Johansson, Tegan and Sara, Amanda Palmer, Alia Shawkat, The Go Go’s, and many others performing their music.

Recommended songs: Bullet, Kill Monsters in the Rain, You and I Undercover, Turnpike Ghost

Where to find them:  Official Site,  Twitter,  YouTube,  Myspace,  Facebook & Dan Silbert’s tumblr (for photos of life on the road)

STARKID PRODUCTIONS

Team Starkid, or more formally, Starkid Productions; an internet phenomenon that has just begun and seems to be taking the world by storm. This group of college kids from The University of Michigan started off as any other theater troupe would, but when personalities melded as almost one super being, it seemed Team Starkid was born. With a common interest in comic books and fantasy literature, the group soon put together what would be known as A Very Potter Musical and a Very Potter Sequel. Most common behind the curtain is Nick Lang and his Brother Matt, the writing masterminds to most of Starkid’s most genius work, often called the unsung heroes of the group. At the forefront is the most common of the Starkid’s Darren Criss, Joey Richter, Bonnie Gruesen, Joe Walker, Joe Moses and Lauren Lopez. These six have branded their mark in the minds of many, taking on such infamous roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Lord Voldemort, Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy. Then there are those in the middle that seem to be the most hidden gems in Starkid Productions; such masked talent could be found in Dylan Saunders, Brian Holden and Jaime Lyn Beatty; all who have had, or have relatively small roles in productions, yet seem to shine brighter than anyone could ever imagine. This group of friends have evolved into a power house that is a force to be reckoned with, and it’s only the beginning. With sold out shows for their first official production, Starship, it is now obvious that there is nothing this group of talented adults can’t do. Be sure to check out their productions on youtube, if you haven’t already, and purchase their albums on iTunes.

Recommended: A Very Potter Sequel, Me and my Dick and Starship (soon to be released).
Follow them on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TeamStarKid
Subscribe to them on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/StarKidPotter
And be sure to look out for updates for upcoming events: http://www.facebook.com/StarKidPotter

IWAN RHEON

Iwan Rheon, a welsh native, is no stranger to the stage. At least not theatrically. He began acting in school in his late teens and was discovered at a Welsh festival known as an Eisteddfod. He briefly appeared on a welsh soap opera before leaving the show to train at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He appeared on stage then in Eight Miles High, in Liverpool, and later he took on the dramatic role of Moritz in the London cast of the award winning musical Spring Awakening. He’s currently garnering fame on the british television show, Misfits, which has also gathered a large fan base in the United States. On Misfits, he plays Simon, a socially awkward young man serving a community service sentence. Struck by lightning, he and the rest of the crew serving their time develop strange abilities. Iwan’s character has the ability to become invisible.

Beyond his talents as an actor, Iwan is also a gifted singer-songwriter, currently the lead singer of the band, The Convictions. In 2010 he released a solo EP, Tongue Tied. His soul grabbing voice is a treat to say the least and we wouldn’t complain if he further continued his musical pursuits. 

Recommended Songs: Follow Me, Tongue Tied.

Follow him: Twitter

HE IS WE

He is We is an indie pop band hailing from Tacoma, Washington. The lead duo, Rachel Taylor and Trevor Kelly, worked together at a music store and soon bonded over jam sessions in the back room. Rachel pens the lyrics, and Trevor writes the music and together they provide a unique sound that’s sure to please your ear drums. Though the backing band has switched up, the duo still manage to produce their soothing sounds with a new lineup and are currently crossing the country on tour. The bands name “He is We” established a connection with the listener as they have previously explained, “Its all about relationships with you guys; were all equal and our name helps us to remember that.” Check out this talented group on their current tour with Barcelona & Lady Danville, and their new album, My Forever, available on iTunes. 

Recommended Songs: Forever and Ever, And Run & Blame It On The Rain

Where to Find them: Official site, Myspace, PureVolume, Twitter

An Interview With Ashley Lendzion;

We kindly interrupt the 11 to watch in 2011 to bring you this exclusive interview with Ashley Lendzion. Ashley happens to be one of the 11 in 2011, and a face you’ll be seeing a lot of in the future. Thanks again to Ashley for taking time out to answer these and for more about Ashley, visit her website - ashleylendzion.com.

1) What is your writing process and where do you get your inspiration to write?

 My writing process is always different.  I randomly will get inspired by something around me and my brain will just start putting a story together.  For example with our new short “Andy Made A Friend”, I was sitting on my couch and I think Kristen Wiig came on TV and I started thinking about all the hilarious characters that she plays and how she takes something so outrageous and makes it perfectly normal.  All of a sudden I thought of the idea of a character who is a grown woman who pees her pants and its pretty normal.  I wrote the script right then and there. 

 2) If you were to cast someone as you in a film about your life, who would you choose?

Uhh, probably Meryl Streep…haha joking.  I wish.  No I think I would choose Maggie Gyllenhaal. She has s simplicity about her yet she can surprise you with the funny.  I get told that I look like Rashida Jones all the time so maybe her too…  

3) How do you feel about your growing fan base on tumblr?

I have a fan base???  Thats awesome. 

4) Since Nothin’ But a Glee Thang has gone viral - if you were to write a character for yourself on Glee what do you think she’d be like?

Umm, I think that I would be the random girl thats overly enthusiastic and wants to be in Glee club so bad because she is the only one in school that actually thinks they are cool.  Like the person who sees the world through rose colored glasses.  The problem is that she has no singing or dancing abilities so she’s constantly trying to prove that she can do it, but her performances just make everyone feel bad.   

5) How did you first decide to go into the entertainment industry?

It kinda just happened one day.  I wasn’t one of those kids who grew up thinking that this was what I was going to do with my life.  I’m from Seattle so theatre was something I was involved in since I was 5, but film and TV were a foreign thing to me.  It wasn’t til I was in college when I had to make somewhat of a decision about my life that I really considered moving to LA.  Then everything started to fall into place and I knew it was what I was gonna do.

6) What’s the deal with the bran muffins?

Haha!  When Heather and I were writing “The Elevator” we would meet at this coffee shop and discovered that we both had a love for bran muffins.  Every meeting we would order one and we realized that its such a random thing to have in common that we had to incorporate it into the script. 

7) If you could pick your production dream team for a film, who would you choose? 

You know, I don’t have tons of experience in that department but I will say that the production team that Heather and I worked with on “The Elevator” and the one we are using again for “Andy Made A Friend” are some of the most amazing people I have ever worked with.  This crew is hardworking, brilliant at what they do, and so much frickin’ fun.  And I feel like it says something when all of them already have a job that pays well yet they are down to work with us for free to do what they love.  Those are the people I want on my team.   

8) How did you and Heather become friends and how did you two decide to start working on films together?

Heather and I met at acting school in North Hollywood and hit it off straight away.  One night, we went and saw the movie “Paperheart” by Charlyne Yi and we left thinking how cool it was that she made such a great film out of what seemed like such a simple concept.  The next day I texted Heather “Wanna make a movie?” and she answered “Yes!”  Game over after that.

9) What advice can you give to anyone who wants to make their own short films?

DO IT.  You don’t have to have this huge budget or amazing equipment to make a film. One thing that I have learned in making my own projects is to just ask.  The worst that is gonna happen is someone is going to say “no” but you would be surprised how many times people say “yes”.  This goes for all areas of filmmaking, don’t be scared to ask. 

10) What do you like to do in your free time?

This question is hard because I feel like I should say something to make me look really fun and interesting like “Oh I just restore muscle cars and race them in the middle of the night while running from the cops.”  But in my free time I love to watch movies.  Especially old movies, I grew up watching them and love ‘em! 

11) If you were a cookie, which type of cookie would you be?

A Chocolate Decadence cookie from Deluscious Cookies in Hollywood.  Not only would I be the best tasting cookie ever but I would have a serious name to go with it. 

12) If you could hire one band or artist to write the soundtrack of your life, who would you choose?

The Cure

ASHLEY LENDZION

[photo credit to:  jkoephoto]

Ashley Lendzion is a young actress who will not go quietly into the night. Her comedic timing, quirky personality and creative flair will get her far as not only an actress but a writer, filmmaker and comedienne. Her one of a kind talent makes her a true diamond in the rough in the polished world of Hollywood, but once the world takes notice, no one will soon forget her.

Her recent appearance in “Ain’t Nothin’ But a Glee Thang” [Link] alongside friend and co-writer Heather Morris [Glee] is giving her much deserved recognition, but it’s her work in short films like The Elevator and A Sense of Humor that really show her talent and ability as a multi-talented actress and creative mind.

An alum of the University of Washington’s Drama department, and after toying with the idea while in school, Ashley moved to Los Angeles after graduation where she started taking improv and technique classes where she met Morris and began collaborating with her.

You can catch Ashley around LA performing improv or on your computer onFunnyOrDie.com and with a future on the rise, maybe even on a TV or movie screen near you soon!

MAE WHITMAN

You may not know her by name, but odds are you’ve seen her in a handful of movies and not realized it.  Mae Whitman began her entertainment career as a child actor, acting alongside Hollywood hotshots and appearing in many popular films in the 90s…  Such as Independence Day (with Bill Pullman), When a Man Loves a Woman (with Meg Ryan), One Fine Day (with George Clooney & Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hope Floats (with Sandra Bullock) among many others.

As she grew older her career continued to blossom.  She’s tackled television - you’ve seen her in State of Grace, Arrested Development and numerous guest appearances from Grey’s Anatomy to CSI, Friends, Law & Order: SVU and ER.  She’s also done voiceovers for many commercials, cartoons and video games.  She is perhaps most notably known in the voiceover realm as Katara in Avatar: The Last Airbender.  In 2008 she became the first to give a voice to Disney’s sassy & fiery pixie, Tinker Bell, in the recent movie productions. 

Now 22 years old Mae Whitman has the world at her fingertips.  She  can be seen every week in NBC’s hit TV series Parenthood as Amber Holt.  She has recently showcased her musical talent by way of singing, songwriting and playing the guitar on the show for a song written by her character titled “Graveyard Song”.  Mae also has done back up vocals for the indie-punk band Fake Problems on their new CD “Real Ghosts Caught on Tape”.  (http://fakeproblems.com/)

Starting small and aiming high - Mae Whitman has evolved into a well rounded artist who seems to appreciate art in whatever form it comes in and makes it uniquely her own.  Keeping her feet on the ground, she’s been quoted as saying: “People should recognize who you are and how you can act rather than how famous you are.”  That is one of many things that make her fascinating to keep an eye on as her star rises.

GOODNIGHT SUNRISE

Fans of bands ranging from Cash Cash to We The Kings will enjoy the melodic powerpop sound of Montana based Goodnight Sunrise. The band, who have been playing together for almost five years, have released two studio EPs (Stop, Drop & Roll and Close and Countng) as well as a special Acoustic Sessons EP that just came out in January. However, you may know their music from a handful of MTV shows like the Real World/Road Rules Challenge, 16 & Pregnant, Bad Girls Club and Keeping up with the Kardashians or from catching them on tour with bands like MAE and The Plain White Tees among others—including an acoustic spot on Warped ‘08. Their intelligent lyrics and witty song titles (Queso, I Have an Idea) draw you in while the catchy beat and solid pop/punk riffs hook you in and lets you have a good time with the music and maybe even dance a little. This little unsigned band that could has endorsements from AMP and AP magazines and a solid following of fans from all over—including us! So check these guys out and if you’re in Southern California, check them at the Chain Reaction in Anaheim on the 19th (or their Purevolume and MySpace pages if you’re not!)

Recommended Songs: Queso, I have an Idea, Trophy Girls, Wouldn’t Change a Thing.

Where To Find Them: myspace, purevolume, facebook, twitter.