Warped Wednesday- The A.K.A.s

It wasn't until last year on Warped Tour that I discovered the A.K.A.s, but I'm so glad I did. Not only are they an amazing punk band, but they are some of the nicest people I have ever met on tour. Originally signed on the Fueled By Ramen label, (Panic at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, Cobra Starship, etc.,) they decided to part ways after FBR began to move towards other styles of music. In 2008, the A.K.A.s released Everybody Make Some Noise after signing with Metropolis Records.

I personally think that this split from FBR was the best thing that ever happened to the band, because I like Everybody Make Some Noise infinitely more than White Doves and Smoking Guns, their album released under FBR. Now don't misinterpret me, because I enjoy both albums, but there is just something so much more unique about their sophomore release.


Now unfortunately, without the Fueled By Ramen PR machine backing the band, they are far less appreciated than they should be. But trust me, any lack of fame is not due to lack of talent, or even lack of effort. The A.K.A.s run such an amazing grassroots effort that I'm surprised they haven't yet been recruited by a politician or two.

In fact, the only reason I even came to know about the A.K.A.s was because of their omnipresence in the crowd at Warped Tour 2008. Everywhere I looked that day, I saw hot pink stickers with their name and set time on them. When I walked through the merch booths, the A.K.A.s stood out because they were one of the only bands who spent the entire day at their tent. I'm not sure who took over while they were performing, but every other minute of the day had at least part of the band at their tent, drawing in passersby to have conversations, enter a contest, sign an eco-pledge, and buy some one-of-a-kind merch, printed on recycled clothing from thrift stores.

And I was already hooked, before I even saw their show. A show which only further convinced me that the A.K.A.s are awesome. I had, up to that point, never seen such an energetic and entertaining live show. Ironically, Cobra Starship, whose concert I missed to see the A.K.A.s at Warped, is the only band I know of who can compete with the A.K.A.s' live shows.

I'm so glad that Kevin Lyman took notice of the A.K.A.s this year, and I can't wait to see them out on tour this summer.


Photos of the A.K.A.s taken by Sarah Maloy at Warped Tour 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Jeffree Star deserves at least a chance, right?

This year at Warped Tour, I'm going to give Jeffree Star a chance. Shocking, right? But I just feel like I need to step out of my comfort zone. Yes, he's fun to mock and yes, it's bizarre that he's on Warped Tour, but Kevin Lyman booked him for a reason. Last year, everyone questioned the decision to put Katy Perry on the tour, but Warped is where I discovered her. And I really like One of The Boys-- regardless of how overplayed "I Kissed a Girl" is. Plus, between Warped Tour YouTube videos and TheMadeUp, I really feel like Katy brought something positive to the tour.

But I digress. Back to Jeffree...

He's a little weird and sort of creepy and it's not always clear whether he is a man or a woman, but maybe his music is good. Or maybe it's at least fun. Either way, he has to have some redeeming qualities, right? So I will give him a chance. I've judged him without ever listening to one of his songs, and that's not fair. "Miss Boombox," here I come... I'll let you know what happens.

While you're here, take a poll. What do you think of Jeffree Star?

What do you think of Jefree Star?
Love him. Hate him. He is okay. What a creeper. Who cares?
	Results

Dear Readers,

Dear Readers,

I apologize profusely for my lack of updates.
Two new blogs are on their way!

Thanks,
Sarah Maloy

Can I still call title this blog "Warped Wednesday" even though it's 2:45 a.m. on Thursday?

Warped Wednesday- 3oh!3

Of all the bands I'm looking forward to seeing on this year's Warped Tour, the band I'm most excited for is probably 3oh!3. Although I'm not really sure that former male models with an iPod and microphones can qualify as a band, I know that 3oh!3 is a show that should not be missed.

I'm a lyrics and beat person. I know I should care more about the musicality of a song, but I just don't. I'm perfectly capable of appreciating musical talent, but if the lyrics mean nothing and if the song doesn't draw me in, musical talent is irrelevant. And if a song is entertaining and makes me want to dance, but the band doesn't even play instruments-- I just put it in the "guilty pleasure" category.

And so I am a 3oh!3 fan. Call it a guilty pleasure if you will, but they're worth listening to. Especially because they're touring the AP tour with a live band, and rumor has it that they will be playing this way on Warped.

Last year I missed out on 3oh!3 because it wasn't until I got home from Warped and popped in my newly-purchased compilation CD that I discovered the beauty that is "Punk Bitch." Soon after, I listened to "Don't Trust Me" and, like many before me, I fell in love. Not only does the song have the line, "do the Helen Keller, and talk with your hips," but it sticks in your head for weeks at a time... in a good way.

3oh!3- Don't Trust Me

3oh3 - New Music - More Music Videos

Once again the WMG/YouTube battle has forced me to embed an edited MTV music video rather than a complete version... Sorry!

PS: I'm now Tweeting for the Warped Tour Documentary, so check it out and follow me!

Coachella Ticket Contest

Warped Wednesday... Fail.

I already missed Warped Wednesday... I know. I suck. The really sad part is that I wrote the blog on Monday, but I haven't had time to type it into Blogspot!

I want to grow a chiapet like they're doing at Epitaph.

No Grammy for you...

I can't believe that Neil Young never won a Grammy.

Damn you, Rolling Stone.

I hate the new cover of Rolling Stone. Yes, I know I'm behind the times, seeing as they changed the cover back in November, but a small part of me still believed that they would change it back. I've finally given up on that belief, and it's time for me to rant.


The most recent issue is #1072. That means that more than one thousand issues of Rolling Stone have been published with the larger-than-normal, staples, tabloid-style, traditional Rolling Stone cover, and all of a sudden this tradition means nothing? It was unique. It stood out. Rolling Stone was recognizable. And now it just looks like every other magazine on the shelves.


This is probably the single most pointless blog ever written... but I just want my old Rolling Stone back!

Free ScullCandy Headphones.

Enter here to win a free pair of SkullCandy headphones.

The Cab: My New Obsession.

Normally I don't become obsessed with a band until I see them live. So far there have been only two exceptions to that rule, not including the days when I was a little teeny-bopper who wasn't allowed to go to concerts. The two exceptions to my live-show-obsession rule were Fall Out Boy and the Sex Pistols. Until recently, that is, when I popped Whisper War into my computer and instantly fell in love with The Cab.

The first thing I thought when "Bounce" began to play out of my speakers was that I had found some sort of wonderful N*sync reincarnate. But as I listened, I began to realize that The Cab has all the goodness of N*sync, but with enough musical talent that they aren't a pop "boy band."
19-year-old
Alex DeLeon's lyrics aren't quite as cheeky and me-against-the-world as I like songs to be, but it's only their first album. And I have to consider that not everyone is as witty as Pete Wentz or Gabe Saporta and not everyone writes music because they hate the world.

Essentially The Cab is a wondrous hybrid of N*sync and The Academy Is..., Fast Times at Barrington High-style, of course.

The Cab's music video for "Bounce"

The Cab - New Music - More Music Videos

Warped Wednesdays

From now until summer, I'm going to steal an idea from the recently-canceled Steven's Untitled Rock Show on FuseTV and begin Warped Wednesdays. As you've probably realized by now, Warped Tour is basically the highlight of my year. So I might as well spend a blog a week writing about it! Since Wednesday is by far my busiest day of the week, some posts might be postponed, but let's be honest-- Warped Thursdays just doesn't sound as cool.

Some days I will profile a band, some days I will report on recent news, and some days I will just write about whatever I find interesting. Whatever I write, it will be Warped. See you Wednesday!

PS: Just a note... I've started blogging for www.eastscene.com, so go check it out!

They came here to make me dance tonight.

It surprises me that everyone says Fall Out Boy are horrible live, considering that the other Fueled By Ramen bands are some of the best live performers I have ever seen. While Panic at the Disco tops them all in terms of live quality, no band can beat the show put on by Cobra Starship.

Gabe Saporta is one of the most entertaining vocalists in this industry, and when combined with Cobra's tongue-in-cheek lyrics, the songs are just as laughable as they are danceable. Most people know Cobra Starship for their movie theme song, "Snakes On a Plane (Bring It)". While I love that song, it's really not a representation of who Cobra is today, considering that all but one of the vocalists and instrumentalists on "Snakes On a Plane" are not actually in the band today. To be perfectly honest, "Snakes On a Plane" is probably better quality the the band's new songs, but it just isn't as funny. Some people also know about Cobra, or at least about Gabe, because he used to be the lead singer for the band Midtown.

One of my personal favorite songs is "Damn You Look Good and I'm Drunk (Scandalous)". Cobra was accompanied in the studio by the V.I.P Party Boys for this song, and it is beyond outrageous. Go listen to it... unless you're easily offended. But so long as you can take a little vulgarity, I promise you will enjoy it, and "S-C-A-N-D-to the A- to the L-O-U-S" will forever be stuck in your head.

I highly suggest that everyone listen to Cobra Starship. Especially to "Guilty Pleasure" (video posted below), "City Is At War," "Prostitution is the World's Oldest Profession (And I Dear Madame am a Professional)," and "Kiss My Sass."


Cobra Starship's "Guilty Pleasure" Home Video, produced and recorded by the band.

If any of the links don't work, I apologize. YouTube is currently in a legal battle with Warner Music Group and that has caused all Fueled By Ramen (and many other) videos to be removed.

Photo of Gabriel Saporta by Sarah Maloy at Bogarts Music Hall in Cincinnati, November 22, 2008.

Twitter... I miss you!

Twitter hasn't been working since last night... what happened? I miss it. Yes, I know how pathetic I sound.

I can't believe you take it so serious... seriously.

I'm tired of everyone trying to document everything. I hate Facebook and I hate everyone's desperate need to take a million pictures to put on Facebook.

I wish we could just live in the moment.

Not that I'm not guilty of doing all these things, but I wish I didn't.

Earlier this week, we had a few inches of snow and a lot of ice, so classes were canceled. Now if there is one thing that can motivate college kids to go outside and celebrate, it's a snow day. Everyone slept in until past noon, something which was particularly noticeable when girls were lining up for the shower around one-o-clock, and then got ready to go out in the snow.

And what did everyone have to grab before heading out? Their camera. So we proceeded outside; ten friends, ten cameras, and very little fun. We quickly realized that there was no point in taking pictures... since everyone was taking pictures. The majority of us returned our cameras either to our rooms or our pockets, and the day was fantastic after that.

But the point I'm trying to make in this very random and likely to be deleted blog is that there is no point in trying to record everything... if you aren't even going to be there to experience it in the first place.

One of my favorite bands, Cobra Starship, set up a camera to film them while they wrote their new album in a cabin in Pennsylvania. One night, after hours of work, a few bottles of wine, and a bottle of vodka, they began calling fans. My friend came into my room to inform me of this development and I pulled up the website at once. The first person whom they called after I began watching spent the first five minutes of her conversation telling Gabriel Saporta, the lead singer, to "hold on a sec" while she tried to find her camera and begin recording the conversation.

As I watched, I thought how pathetic she was to be blowing an opportunity to talk to him, but then I realized that I would probably do the same thing. Because otherwise, what would I put online for everyone to see? How would I prove to anyone that he had actually called to talk to me? Our society has become one in which the experiences we have are not as important as the stories and the proof that we had them.

Gabe told the girl on the phone, "Stop trying to record this. You're wasting the whole conversation; just live in the moment," and after she kept ignoring him in favor of a camera, he hung up on her.

Since that night I've been thinking about my life and about all the things I've missed while trying to capture proof of the moment-- while looking for a story to tell. I'm determined to stop wasting my life taking pictures and trying to have something to brag about. I'm just going to enjoy my experiences and live in the moment. Next time I go to a concert or some sort of event, I may take my camera, but it will stay in my pocket for everything except a meet-and-greet. Anyone with me?