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.

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!

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.

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!