A Night In Hollywood

The Vans Warped Tour draws immense crowds every summer, and the 2010 line-up foretells that this year will be no different. Headliners such as Dropkick Murphys, Motion City Soundtrack, and Sum 41 are set to perform and will surely be the cause of mosh-pit madness. In addition to the more famous bands, there will be many lesser-known (but nonetheless talented!) acts making appearances, like our old favorite Hot Chelle Rae, and our latest find, A Night in Hollywood.

A 5-man group on the rise, A Night in Hollywood is still new to the music scene. The members are Marty (vocals), Ben (guitar/vocals), Zach (guitar), Emilio (bass), and Nicky (drums), all natives of Danville, California. The name of the band goes perfectly with its sound; it is a rush of energy and excitement, just like one would feel if one were striding down the Star-strewn streets of SoCal's entertainment mecca. Some songs have an element of in-your-face "screamo", which the pop-fed public often interprets as unsettling, but there is real music and talent behind the attitude.

The band's debut EP "Darling, This is Just the Beginning" was released early last year, and since then, A Night In Hollywood has been steadily gaining stage time and a fan following. Next month, the band will be touring to promote the EP. They will also be participating in a Battle of the Bands for Warped Tour, hosted by one of their sponsors, Ernie Ball Music Man Company. And according to an inside source, the band will soon be releasing brand-new material!

With a fan following of over 20,000 people on MySpace, it is clear that A Night In Hollywood is going somewhere. I would highly recommend giving them a listen, especially if you are looking for fast-paced, energy-packed tunes.

You might enjoy A Night in Hollywood if you are a fan of: My Chemical Romance, AFI, Nine Inch Nails, Korn, Cobra Starship, Marilyn Manson

For more information on the band and to hear their latest releases, please visit their MySpace page!

Roxi G.'s Lyric Pick: "It seems to me you’ve had your doubts you’ve played them out and now you’ll see
You and me can never be unless we learn to set it free
I’ve been waiting this out for a long long time for you to be with me
So when you hear this song tonight I hope you think of me lovingly" - "Darling, This Is Just the Beginning" by A Night in Hollywood

For those of you that are reading this regularly, THANK YOU!!!! Please tell all of your friends, and have a great weekend!

Peace and pianos,
Roxi G.

The Return of Boomkat: "A Million Trillion Stars"

Thanks to a stroke of good fortune, I have several different artists and genres from which to choose for my next several reviews. Pop music has so far been absent from the page, so my topic tonight is Boomkat and their latest album, "A Million Trillion Stars".

Siblings Kellin and Taryn Manning began their work together as the dance-pop duo Boomkat in 2003, but have remained just outside of the spotlight for the greater part of their career. In addition to her musicianship, Taryn is a well-known actress, with roles in "Crazy Beautiful", "Crossroads", "White Oleander", and several other appearances on the big screen and in television. No doubt this additional work keeps her extra busy, so a music career might have taken the back seat for a time. Luckily, inspiration seems to have hit the brother-sister act again; "Million Trillion Stars" announces Boomkat's return to the arena of pop music.

I guess it's time for me to make a confession: The most heavily-played songs on my iPod are Balkan gypsy pieces and random bits of electronically-enhanced belly dance music that you will most likely never hear on the radio in the United States. However, even though my brain is in the Mediterranean 8 times out of 10, like any good Music Industry Studies major I know the current trends. Nowadays, pop is typically identified by catchy and memorable lyrics, danceable beats, and a bit of synthesized whatsits here and there (feel free to voice your opinion, if you disagree). When I look at these guidelines while listening to the CD, I find that "A Million Trillion Stars" has the makings of a great pop collection.

The Manning siblings wrote nearly all of the songs on their new album without additional assistance; kudos to them, I must say! And collaboration with several different producers prevents the tunes from sounding too similar and keeps the listener from drifting into boredom. Taryn's smoky voice is something that I have not heard in today's top pop artists, and it is pleasantly fresh to the ears. However, the one qualm that I have with the album is that the lyrics do not allow me to form a story in my mind, or to picture what Taryn is vocalizing. Perhaps it is just the poet in me, but I feel that in general, there should be more meaningful content in pop lyrics nowadays.

For all of you pop music fans out there that are looking for some new ear-candy, check out "A Million Trillion Stars" now! And even if you do not typically follow the genre, as in any situation, I would recommend breaking out of your shell and listening to something new. I listened to Boomkat for the first time less than a week ago, and I am very glad that I did; otherwise, I would probably be in a rut right now, with "Opa Cupa" by Brass Menažeri running on a broken phonograph in my brain.

To sum it all up, check out Boomkat, because unlike many pop artists that have had everything served to them on a silver platter, Taryn and Kellin have worked hard for what they have created!

You would most likely enjoy Boomkat if you are a fan of: Vitamin C, Kylie Minogue, Katy Rose, Imogen Heap

For more information on Boomkat:

Here is the band's MySpace!

Aaaaaaaaand Boomkat's Twitter feed:)

Roxi G.'s Lyric Pick: "Lately I've been afraid
Something's going right inside of my brain
And it's getting hard to explain
But I see everything

I've been fighting all of my life
Always seem to put my heart on the line
And it's a lonely road I climb
When I see everything" -"Runaway" by Boomkat

Good night everyone! I hope the rest of your week is pleasant and stress-free!

Peace and pianos,
Roxi G.

Roxi's First-Ever CD Review: Andrew Anderson - "As Long as This Thing's Flyin'"

Before starting this review, I searched "Andrew Anderson" on iTunes and was slightly upset by the fact that he is listed as "Unknown"! I mean, I know that this refers to the genre, but still, I'd find it vaguely insulting. But for iTunes' sake (and yours as well, I suppose), I shall clarify that Andrew Anderson is a Country & Western artist, with some rock leanings from time to time.

To be perfectly honest, I do not know much about country music. I know that there is a difference between Nashville sound and Honky-Tonk (a.k.a. "Bakersfield") sound...and that's about it. But I do understand what makes a good song and a good album, and Anderson's "As Long as This Thing's Flyin'" is a fantastic collection.

Other than a few technical glitches at the end of a few tracks, the sound quality of the album is untarnished by electronic production. Anderson is gifted with a vocal range and talent that most men would die for, and he plays a grand variety of instruments as well. The jacket credits him for piano, both electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin, and a brief stint on bass. He is accompanied by Luke Meade, Jeremy Harris and Ki Johnsen; the trio never overpower the frontman, but rather create the feel of a true down-home country band. I especially enjoyed Harris' work on the banjo, prominent in many tracks.

The topics addressed through Anderson's songs are easy to relate to, and quintessentially understood: Love, war, politics, and karma (listen to "Fists Up Chin Down" for this reference), to name a few. Due to a couple of words of profanity and some maturer topics, "As Long As This Thing's Flyin'" might be unsuitable for younger ears. On the other hand, the lyrics are genuine, not overly poetic and sung in Anderson's carefree twang.

To sum it all up, I highly recommend Andrew Anderson and his debut album "As Long as This Thing's Flyin'", whether you are a long-time fan of country, are exploring different genres, or even just looking for a genuinely talented artist.

You will probably enjoy the music of Andrew Anderson if you like: Zac Brown Band, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and Barenaked Ladies. I know these are not all country artists, but I think you will probably recognize snippets of these well-known musicians in Mr. Anderson.

For more information on Anderson and his work, please visit his website.

He also has a MySpace page for your listening pleasure:)

Roxi G.'s Lyric Pick: "I don't know why I ever left this place
and I don't know why I'd choose not to see your face
everyday, everyday everyday

and I don't know how I ever was so sure
cause I don't know what I believe in anymore
now all i know is that I'm lonelier than sin
so come on darlin' won't you kiss me again" - "A Year Tomorrow" by Andrew Anderson


There you have it! My first CD review, and I hope you all enjoy the music! :)

Peace and Pianos,
Roxi G.

Hot Chelle Rae: "Come closer...Wearing tight pants doesn't make us evil."

A couple of weeks ago, I had one hellishly busy night. I was on assignment for one of my internships, and the goal was to obtain interviews with three separate bands, each appearing at the Roxy on that particular night (Hahaha, Roxi interviewing at the Roxy!). All of the bands that performed - 4 in total - were very talented, but there was one group that made my jaw drop during their set.

Hot Chelle Rae is an all-male pop rock quartet hailing from Nashville, and though they are young, their talent indicates years of hard work and practice. The band features Ryan Follese ("R.K.") on lead vocals, Nash Overstreet on lead guitar and vocals, Ian Keaggy on bass guitar and vocals, and Jamie Follese (Ryan's younger brother) on the drum-set. In case you were curious about the origin of the band name, Ryan explained that it came from a fan that pursued them obsessively, back in the group's early days. She reportedly claimed to have industry connections and told the boys she could get them a record deal; "It turns out she was a fake, and we liked her name, so we used it."

Sadly, it seems that most popular music these days is overproduced and auto-tuned to within an inch of its existence, and it is a relief to hear the authenticity in Hot Chelle Rae's music. With the exception of a few amps and other tech gear, the band is largely self-powered. Each of the members supplies a spirited personality and presence both on and off-stage, and they are incredibly grateful to their supporters as well. Prior to their Roxy set, the boys sat down to dinner with lucky contest winners, and could be seen chatting amiably with their fans.

If you want to check out Hot Chelle Rae, their debut album "Lovesick Electric" is out and clamoring for your purchase. The CD might not be as heart-pounding as the live show, but the energy is still palpable through your stereo!


You will probably enjoy Hot Chelle Rae of you like: Fall Out Boy, Weezer, Green Day, All-American Rejects

If you want more information on Hot Chelle Rae and "Lovesick Electric" check out their website and MySpace page:

Here's Hot Chelle Rae's webpage.

And be sure to check out HCR's MySpace too!

Roxi's Lyric Pick: "I feel like I'm drowning in ice water
My lips have turned a shade of blue
I'm frozen with this fear that you may disappear
Before I've given you the truth

I bleed my heart out on these papers for you
So you can see what I can't say
I'm dying here (I'm dying here)
'Cause I can't way what I want to
I bleed my heart out just for you" - "Bleed", by Hot Chelle Rae

Hope you enjoy the rest of your week, and thank you for your support!

Peace and Pianos,
Roxi G.