Vans Warped Tour ’13 By the Numbers

With 2014 only days away, it also means approaching the 20th anniversary of the Vans Warped Tour. Next summer, will mark two decades for the “punk rock summer camp.” If you’ve ever visited the tour, you already pretty know what to expect including hot weather, lots of stages and even more bands. Not to forget, music is what brings all of the fans to this long-lasting event. VWT is not only an outlet for fans of all ages to find new music and interactive with the bands they love most; charity is another big part of the tour. From collecting canned food to picking up recycling around the venue, VWT encourages volunteers to get involved within the music community they love so much. For the last few years, a VWT crew member has been tallying up data of the donations, ticket sales, number of stages and more. The information is typically posted on social media sites such as Instagram or screen printed on t-shirts and soon spreads like wildfire to music websites such as AltPress and PropertyOfZack. If you’re interested in checking out the 2013 stats, as posted on AltPress in August earlier this year, check it out here. This bar chart represents the number of pounds collected in terms of canned food, recycling as well as ice given out to beat the heat. For those not familiar with the tour, canned food is typically collected in exchange for front of the line passes. Recycling is also collected throughout the day during each stop of the tour. As bands are already being announced for the 2014 trek, don’t miss out on anything that this eclectic tour has to offer. VWT is a place that has it all: charities, music, friends and most of all, summer memories.

Meet Nicole: Art Isn’t the Only One With Creativity

When creativity comes to mind, one usually thinks of art, music or really any type of expressive form. But, have you ever considered food as a creative outlet? Nicole Brunner is an aspiring chef and baker who thinks outside of the box to make her recipes uniquely her own. From full course meals to a sweet dessert, Brunner does it all and has high hopes for her future in the culinary industry.

With strong family roots and a passion for all things food, Brunner wants to make her stress relieving hobby into a money making venture one day. Brunner takes pride in her cooking and the people she makes smile, so I wouldn’t be shocked if you would be tasting her food at an event in the coming years. Find out her story from family inspiration to  an innovative kitchen in this video interview:

2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show: Bras, Underwear and Bands

The 2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show took place last night in New York City. For fans of the VS brand, the show is an annual event that many look forward to each fall. Every year, there are three things you can always expect from the VS Fashion Show: good music, beautiful models and an over the top bra. The performers for this year’s show included: Fall Out Boy, Taylor Swift, Neon Jungle and A Great Big World. Performers from the 2012 show included appearances from Bruno Mars, Rhianna and Justin Bieber. This year’s lineup has a lot of newcomers to the music scene with Neon Jungle and A Great Big World. It’s nice to have it mixed up a bit with bigger names such as Fall Out Boy and Taylor Swift. FOB is definitely a surprise to the show because they focus more on alternative and pop rock music, which is moving away from the usual hip hop or pop vibe in previous years.

From the buzz on the Internet this morning, some major themes to look forward to during the show are “British Invasion,” “Shipwrecked,” “Snow Angels” and much more! Another stand out part of the show is the coveted Royal Fantasy Bra that is worth $10 million dollars! The glimmering bra features a variety of rubies, diamonds and sapphires — because who wouldn’t want to have bling just like a VS angel? Model Candice Swanepoel modeled the Royal Fantasy Bra, which is sure to be the finale of the show. For those who weren’t lucky enough to make it to the New York filming, you can turn in on Dec. 10 at 10/9c on CBS.

Defining a Fall Out Boy Fandom

What’s the real story behind the idea of a super fan or a fandom? If you’re not quite sure of what a super fan is, examples that can come to mind include fandoms for One Direction, Twilight, Harry Potter and Marvel Comics.  Fall Out Boy is one band that has had a growing fandom ever since their first album, Take This To Your Grave, was released in 2003. Since returning from their four-year hiatus recently, fandom has been booming more than ever. From endless pages of fan fiction to sold out shows across the country, FOB fans have been diving into all post-hiatus activities with full force.

In order to truly become part of a fandom you first have to start off as a fan. Whether you’re a newcomer or veteran FOB follower, learn how Sarah Acosta became a super fan of the band as she chronicles some of her favorite memories from the West Coast to the Windy City.

Halloween Tracks that Will Make Your Playlist Scream

Happy Halloween to all the ghouls, ghosts and monsters out there! Whether you’re going out or staying in, one thing is certain — you need an awesome and spooky playlist. Determining the perfect playlist for any event can be a tedious process. You want a good mix of tracks including slow to upbeat, but also ones that are relevant to the occasion. When it comes to Halloween, scary movie themes, cover songs and the classics are always a good way to go. There are some tracks you can always guarantee once Oct. 31 hits. Billboard recently rounded up 10 of the best Halloween tracks and a few highlights included:

Michael Jackson – “Thriller”Ray Parker Jr. – “Ghostbusters”Warren Zevon – “Werewolves of London”D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – “Nightmare on My Street”Bobby Boris Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers – “Monster Mash”

These are definitely songs worth adding to your spine chilling playlist tonight because you can never go wrong with a classic track. Cover songs are also a hot item during Halloween. Some of my favorite renditions are the following:

Fall Out Boy – “What’s This”

Fall Out Boy covered the classic tune in 2006 from the film, Nightmare Before Christmas. The cover was part of a special edition of the film’s soundtrack. Many other bands such as She Wants Revenge, Panic! At The Disco, Fiona Apple and more offered their musical stylings to bring a new version of these unforgettable Nightmare Before Christmas songs.

Glee cast – “Thriller/Heads Will Roll”

In this mash-up, the Glee cast made an outstanding remix of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Heads Will Roll” and Jackson’s iconic hit, “Thriller.” The tracks were covered in 2011 as part the show’s Superbowl special. It may have not been during Halloween, but this terrifyingly great mash-up couldn’t fit any better.

Don’t forget to consider a few of these original Halloween-themed songs such as:

The Black Keys – “Howlin’ For You”

Panic! At The Disco – “It’s Almost Halloween”

Sparks The Rescue – “We Love Like Vampires”

Thirty Seconds To Mars – “The Kill (Bury Me)”

The Doors – “People Are Strange”

No matter if you’re passing out candy or hitting the town in your Halloween best, don’t forget to turn up your playlist. It’s a surefire way to get into the spirit and fully enjoy tonight to the fullest.

What are your favorite Halloween songs?

Must-Have Music Video Halloween Costumes

Halloween is right around the corner and you know that entails a whole lot of candy corn, scary movies, and dressing up in costume. Who says only kids can dress up on Halloween? It’s really a day where you can go all out and be anything you want to be. From your favorite movie character to a classic zombie, Halloween costume ideas can be endless. When it comes down to actually deciding on what costume to wear, where do you begin? Questions that often loom are should I create my own look or just go with the pre-packaged version? If you prefer to avoid store-bought duds and want to add a dash of your own personality into the costume, why not try brewing up a creation yourself? Music videos are a great resource for finding costume inspiration because all the needed aspects are featured such as shoes, hair, makeup, and clothing. You don’t need to limit yourself to pulling inspiration from one video because you take your favorite aspect from each. What you’ll have in the end is an original costume and something that truly screams you.

This week, I’ve broken down some music videos into a categories including zombies, The Great Gatsby and vampires. From spooky to pop culture, get ready to celebrate Halloween with the best style yet.

Zombies

To get the look:

• Take old clothing (t-shirt, pants, shorts, etc.) and cut/tear it up to look worn.
• Face paint (black, white, brown, etc.)
• Fake blood.

Tip: Perfect your look by utilizing the zombie walk/crawl.

The Great Gatsby

To get the look:

• For men: top hats, suits, tuxes, bowties, black blazer and white gloves.
• For women: headbands, play jewelry (pearls, diamonds, etc.), flapper dress, short wavy hair, feathers and heels.

Vampires

To get the look:

• Fake blood.
• Vampire fangs/teeth.
• White and black face paint.
• Dark clothing.
• Cape.

What will you be this Halloween?

Panic! At The Disco Bares All in New Homage Video for “Girls/Girls/Boys”

Panic! At The Disco celebrated the release of their fourth full-length album, Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!, by dropping a risque video for “Girls/Girls/Boys” this past week. Frontman Brendon Urie left nothing to imagination in the video that pays homage to D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does It Feel).” As a longtime fan of the band, I think it’s safe to say that that everyone’s inner fangirl emerged after this video hit the airwaves. Not to mention the Web exploded with reviews of the video from sites such as Rolling Stone, MTV Buzzworthy and a whole lot of gifs to go with it. The track itself has catchy lyrics and the rest of the album is no different. If you’re hoping for a record that lives up to the band’s debut release, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, it’s obvious they have progressed but P!ATD’s ability to write a catchy tune hasn’t ceased.

Next year, P!ATD will be hitting the Fox Theatre in Oakland with The Colourist to support the new album. If your significant other is even the slightest P!ATD fan, this could be your go-to Valentine’s Day outing. The Oakland stop is also the close of the tour and P!ATD is never one to disappoint in their live performances (trust me).

The dates are as follows:
1/14/14 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
1/15/14 – Vancouver @ Commodore
1/17/14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In the Venue*
1/18/14 – Denver, CO @ Ogden
1/19/14 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown*
1/21/14 – Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre*
1/22/14 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant*
1/24/14 – Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion*
1/25/14 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s*
1/26/14 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues*
1/28/14 – Washington, DC @ The Fillmore*
1/29/14 – Wallingford, CT @ The Dome*
1/30/14 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues*
1/31/14 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis*
2/1/14 – Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy
2/4/14 – New York, NY @ Roseland*
2/5/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory*
2/7/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle*
2/8/14 – Miami, FL @ Fillmore*
2/9/14 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues*
2/11/14 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues*
2/14/14 – Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee*
2/15/14 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre

* w/ The Colourist

What do you think of “Girls/Girls/Boys?”

Art and History: SF Style

Art and history are two words that can strongly go with music. I recently shot a few Instagram videos (disclaimer: these are some of my first) about some cool sites on the San Francisco State University campus. Music, art and history can all merge as one since they are each influential to each other one way or another.

There’s a cool historical bench on campus that reminded me of the how music can get imprinted on the ground, such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The cement bench dates back to 1956 and had been a gift from the senior class of that year to benefit all future students of the university. Engraving something makes the name, person, or event forever live on in history. Whether it’s a bench or a golden star in Hollywood, these places are ways for people to learn about the past and remember. Check out a video on how to the bench and touring a few of the empty halls in SFSU buildings next to the bench.

Another cool aspect of the SFSU campus is the diversity on art. Anywhere you walk whether it’s by the dorms or through the walkways, art is present. From colorful murals to magnificent sculptures, art can come in a million different ways. Much like the endless genres of music, art is not confined to a single medium. Not to mention, art is pretty important when it comes to pop culture because it shows how people are choosing to define themselves and our live during a certain time. SFSU is even home to some truly unique Post-it note art. For those who are not familiar, it’s the different sayings or catchphrases that are created with colorful Post-its and hang in the window for all to see. Check out another video on some of the coolest art sites on campus that speak for themselves.

Top Three Things to Expect at the Save Rock & Roll Tour (San Francisco Edition)

With only a handful of days left for Fall Out Boy’s headlining trek, it’s almost time for the Save Rock & Roll Tour to come to a close. This past weekend, the tour hit San Francisco to set off an electrifying evening full of music and lights amidst the chilly weather. Cloudy and rainy skies were in full force leading up to Saturday night’s festivities. As they say in show business, “the show must go on” and the bands were more than prepared to take on the chilly downpour. Luckily, the weather improved and the sun came out just in time as the early afternoon hours rolled around.

The Save Rock & Roll Tour was a highly anticipated event for any Fueled By Ramen fan because it was the resurgence of both Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco; as well as the introduction of Twenty One Pilots to the music scene. It was a long time coming if you ask me, and fans are jumping for joy for all the new music in their ears. If you haven’t had a chance to attend the Save Rock & Roll Tour over the last month, there are some key points that make this event stand out amongst all the others this fall. Hurry and grab your tickets now before the tour ends on Sept. 29! These are the things you will want to keep an eye out for:

1. Gymnastics anyone?

If anyone has ever seen Panic! At The Disco live before, you’re familiar with the unforgettable stage antics of frontman, Brendon Urie. One word comes to mind when thinking of the San Francisco show: backflip. Urie launched himself into a perfect backflip and definitely got the crowd riled up for the night! The set included performances of classic hits such as “Time To Dance” and “I Write Sins Not Tragedies.” There were also a few new jams such as “This Is Gospel” and “Miss Jackson” to prepare fans for the release of the new album, Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!, due out on Oct. 8.

2. Custom Shirts for the City

If there’s one thing that Fall Out Boy always goes above and beyond with is the merchandise they have on tour. For fans who have dropped by the merch stand at recent dates, you may notice the custom shirts that have been on sale in cities such as Denver, Cleveland and Houston. San Francisco was no exception and featured a black sweatshirt donning the FOB logo and San Francisco splashed underneath for $50. (The cut-off tank version from San Diego can be seen in the video above). It’s a definite must-have keepsake for any hardcore FOB fan’s collection. Believers never die, right?

3. A Highly Anticipated Performance + A “20 Dollar Nose Bleed”

FOB’s 2008 album, Folie à Deux, features a track that called “20 Dollar Nose Bleed” where P!ATD’s Urie lends his vocal stylings. For all of the FOB shows I’ve been to over the years, this is the first time I’ve seen “20 Dollar Nose Bleed” performed live, yet alone with all the needed vocalists. After multiple YouTube videos, Vines and Internet chatter about the impending performance, I was excited to see the song in San Francisco. When Patrick Stump hit the center of the stage with his piano, audiences enjoyed a cover of Drake, “What A Catch, Donnie,” and of course, “20 Dollar Nose Bleed.” The audience roared with excitement when the sound of the piano keys filled the air with the intro of the track. Not far after, Urie graced the stage and screams ensued. It’s pretty safe to say, audiences loved this performance (as seen in the YouTube video above).

What was your favorite moment at the Save Rock & Roll Tour?

Weekend Concert Preview: House Party Tour + Save Rock & Roll Tour

With the summer season heading to a close, it calls for the return of fall concert madness. This weekend marks two events that will be rolling through the Bay Area.

9/20| Event Center at SJSU | A Day To Remember, Pierce The Veil, All Time Low, The Wonder Years

On Friday, Sept. 20 the House Party Tour featuring A Day To Remember, Pierce The Veil, All Time Low and The Wonder Years will be rocking the Event Center as San Jose State University. ADTR have been teasing their upcoming album, Common Courtesy, over the last few months which follows-up their 2010 release, What Separates Me From You. Hopefully fans will be in for a treat with a few new tracks this weekend. ATL and PTV are also set to make appearances at the Friday night show. Could a possible live performance of ATL’s latest single, “A Love Like War,” be in the cards? PTV’s frontman, Vic Fuentes, is featured on the track so it’s definitely something that could happen. Only fans who attend will be able to see, unless you wait for the YouTube videos to surface of course.

If the incredible lineup isn’t enough for you, check out this teaser to be officially invited to the House Party Tour:

Tickets are on sale now. The remaining dates are as follows:

9/20/13 San Jose, CA – The Event Center at SJSU
9/23/13 Henderson, NV – Henderson Pavilion
9/25/13 Tulsa, OK – Cox Business Center
9/26/13 Cedar Park, TX – Cedar Park Center
9/28/13 Grand Prairie, TX – QuikTrip Park
9/30/13 Lincoln, NE – Pershing Center
10/1/13 St. Paul, MN – Roy Wilkins Auditorium
10/3/13 Bloomington, IL – U.S. Cellular Coliseum
10/5/13 Columbus, OH – LC Pavilion
10/6/13 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
10/8/13 Lowell, MA – Tsongas Center
10/9/13 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
10/11/13 Trenton, NJ – Sun National Bank Center
10/12/13 Bethlehem, PA – Sands Bethlehem Event Center
10/13/13 Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum Complex
10/14/13 Norfolk, VA – Constant Convocation Center
10/16/13 Atlanta, GA – Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood
10/17/13 Simpsonville, SC – Charter Amphitheatre
10/19/13 Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheater
10/20/13 Houston, TX – Reliant Arena
10/23/13 Boca Raton, FL – Sunset Cove Ampitheater
10/24/13 Orlando, FL – UCF Arena

9/21 | America’s Cup Pavilion (San Francisco) | Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Twenty One Pilots

Fall concerts are just at the beginning of a long road ahead and another big name tour will be hitting San Francisco this weekend. If you’ve made it out to the America’s Cup recently, you may have noticed the amphitheater located on piers 27 and 29. The Save Rock & Roll Tour is slated to make its way to the America’s Cup Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 21. If you’re a Fueled By Ramen music junkie, this is the tour for you. Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco and Twenty One Pilots are on the bill and it is sure to be an electrifying evening. A majority of the dates have sold out prior to the San Francisco show, so it’s a good sign that audiences will not leave disappointed.

FOB released a teaser for the tour earlier this month. They are currently supporting their new album, Save Rock & Roll, which dropped on April 16.

Tickets are on sale now. The remaining dates are as follows:

9/20 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center – SOLD OUT
9/21 – San Francisco, CA @ America’s Cup Pavilion
9/22 – San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center
9/25 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
9/26 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theatre at Grand Prarie
9/27 – Memphis, TN @ Mud Island Amphitheater
9/28 – Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore – SOLD OUT
9/29 – Tampa, FL @ USF Sun Dome – SOLD OUT

Who is coming out to the show?