Videos with... Music..

San Francisco acoustic guitarist, Matt Nathanson has released a music video for his latest single, "Come On Get Higher," off of his most recent album, Some Mad Hope. This one definitely supersedes his premiere video for "Car Crash," which ended up being filmed with two different versions.

Check it out below and vote for it on Yahoo.com!

FOB covers Michael Jackson

photo by Amy Willard

Available Today on iTunes, Fueled By Ramen's Fall Out Boy has released a cover of Michael Jackson's hit, "Beat It." The track also features a solo from John Mayer. An unusual pairing if you ask us, but something definitely worth checking out.

There are also rumors of a full length DVD/CD in the works from the band... so expect a release soon... we're curious if it'll feature tapings from their shows in DC. We'll just have to wait and see.

Unplugged...

Here's a list of some quality acoustic artists:

+ Jonathan Clay

+ Jason Reeves

+ Todd Carey

+ Matt White

+ Timothy Daniel

+ Aston Teague

+ Matt Wertz

Music For a Cause

So... this is something we really want to emphasize here at Barricade Buzz.

We definitely want to get the word out about organizations that involve music for a good cause. What we think they do is absolutely wonderful, and we should support them, so we're going to continually mention new charities and events we come across.

Here are a few of our favorites:

+ To Write Love on Her Arms - is an organization dedicated to bringing hope to, and restoring love in those who have found themselves lost, and in despair. This group was founded after a spontaneous intervention that resulted in metaphorically writing love on one girl's arms.
We encourage you to visit their website and learn more about this organization and attend their events.

+ Shirts for a Cure - is an organization launched by the Syrenthia J. Savio Endowment (SSE) which was started by photographer, Mark Beemer in 2002. SFAC helps raise money and awareness for SSE which provides financial assistance to underprivileged women who cannot afford expensive breast cancer medicine and therapy. This organization raises the money by selling shirts designed by many punk bands. For $12 dollars you can get a shirt created by your favorite band and donate to a great cause.

+ Save a Life Campaign - After losing their son in a car accident in 2006, and discovering his last song listened to was "How to Save a Life" by The Fray, the Fahrenkamps have made it their mission to raise awareness in communities about bad decisions and how people can encourage those around them to have the moral courage to do the right thing.

+ The Dispatch Foundation - The former funk/reggae group, Dispatch, have organized their own foundation to help provide humanitarian resources and rebuild communities in Zimbabwe. The "Dispatch: Zimbabwe" concert last year at Madison Square Garden helped raise thousands of dollars for the effort.

get ready to Panic! again!

Panic! At the Disco's new album, Pretty. Odd, is in stores today. Once we can get a hold of a copy of the CD, we'll hit you back with a review. If it's anything like their previous album, it should be a good record to pick up.

Today's Shuffle

Today's shuffle... fresh off the iTunes:


1. "I feel Fine" Riddlin Kids
2. "Attractive Today" Motion City Soundtrack
3. "Someone Else Before" Hawk Nelson
4. "A Mess to Be Made" The Format
5. "Dreaming" One Repubic
6. "Thunder (acoustic)" Boys Like Girls
7. "Brighter" Paramore
8. "Move Along" All American Rejects
9. "Everything's Right" Matt Wertz
10. "California's Burning" Augustana

On the Go

Here's my current "On The Go" playlist straight from the iPhone:

shuffle mode:

+ "After All" Jonathan Clay

+ "Broken Road" Rascal Flatts

+ "Wonderful" Cheyenne Kimball featuring Josh Hoge

+ "Still" Matt Nathanson

+ "Helpless When She Smiles" Backstreet Boys

+ "Se Vuoi Andare Vai" Vanilla Sky

+ "Hero Heroine" Boys Like Girls

+ "Best of Me (acoustic)" Starting Line

+ "Out Loud" Dispatch

+ "Easier to Be" Lifehouse

+ "Umbrella (cover)" Vanilla Sky

+ "The Future Freaks Me Out" Motion City Soundtrack

+ "Autumn in Amherst" Standard of Living

+ "Fango" Jovanotti

Today's Find: Standard of Living

photo from http://www.myspace.com/standardofliving

So when Ben Folds Five disassembled in 2000, my heart broke just a little, and sadly I could never really get into The Bens, despite my undying love for Ben Folds.

Last night... I stumbled across a great replacement, Standard of Living. They're a group of guys from Buffalo, NY and they've got a great piano rock sound. I can't really get enough of "Autumn in Amherst." The whole Ben Folds Five meets Something Corporate meets The Get Up Kids sound makes for some great listening.

I've listened to several piano rock bands, and what I think seems to be the biggest challenge for artists is incorporating the piano without a. drowning it over guitar rifts or b. making it too predominant. Finding that balance among the instruments, especially with the piano is rather difficult, but Standard of Living has definitely found the median.

Patience is their self produced and recorded 2006 EP which can be sampled on their MySpace. They will also be touring this April, on the East Coast with Ben Jelen.


Catch em on tour or at least check out their MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/standardofliving

but I really do want it that way...

As some people may or may not know, the Backstreet Boys will be performing in Rome on April 30th...

I'm not kidding when I say I want to go photograph and write a review.

Here's my evidence. And if anyone can help me get into this show, it would be greatly appreciated.

=)

MySpace

I've decided to great a MySpace and take full advantage of free webspace =)

please add us to your friends list! http://www.myspace.com/barricadebuzz

ALSO!

My new favorite band out of Rome Italy is Vanilla Sky. I guess you can classify them as the "Fall Out Boy" of Italy... I say that because they're all over MTV Italia... but they're really fun to listen to... and their cover of Rihanna's Umbrella is amusing. Definitely give them a listen on their MySpace. [They sing in English and Italian]

I'm really hoping to catch them live before I head back to the United States.

photos from the past...

a few shots from last years Friends or Enemies Tour featuring Fall Out Boy, Permanent ME, The Early November, and New Found Glory.

Location: Washington DC - 9:30 Club - January 2007

photos by Amy Willard



Permanent ME


The Early November


New Found Glory




Fall Out Boy


please visit the galleries of photographer Amy Willard:
http://www.myspace.com/awphotographs
Flickr.com

New Findings...

photo from http://www.myspace.com/jonathanclay

So, having been devoid of any American radio or music publications, I've spent the last two months playing the same 5 star songs on my iTunes. Last night, after cycling through the iPhone playlists about 10 times before giving up, I decided it was time to fine someone new to listen to.

The best way to find new music, I've discovered, is to play, what I like to call, "musical top friends." This of course refers to MySpace. Pretty much I hit up the pages of my favorite artists, click one of their top friends, give their tracks a listen, if I like them, I add them, if not, I click their top friends, and just keep going.

Today's discovery: Jonathan Clay.

He's an acoustic guitarist with a touch of soul from Texas, and has a sound similar to that of Matt Wertz and a hint of Ryan Cabrera. This isn't to call him cheesy by any means. His songs are easy to listen to and the lyrics are something to which everyone can relate. Ok... I'll admit that he is one of those MTV reality/teen/drama/whatever background feature artist, but I actually enjoy listening to his tracks... and I can't stop listening to "After All." He has two albums available, Whole New Me, and most recently released, Back to Good. Both of these are available on his website.

I'm kind of bummed I won't be able to catch him in concert soon, but he is on tour now in the US. So if he's in the area, give him a chance, I'm thinking he might actually have talent.

4.4.08 - University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, WI
4.8.08 - UCLA De Neve Plaza - Los Angeles, CA
4.10.08 - Cafe Caffeine - Austin, TX
4.21.08 - Work Play Theatre - Birmingham, AL
4.22.08 - Third and Lindsley - Nashville, TN
4.23.08 - Eddie's Attic - Atlanta, GA
4.24.08 - Sirens Lounge - Durham, NC
4.30.08 - Mojo 13 - Wilmington, DE
5.1.08 - Canal Room - New York, NY
5.6.08 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, IN
5.7.08 - Canopy Club - Urbana, IL
5.8.08 - Schubas - Chicago, IL
5.10.08 - Cafe Montmarte - Madison, WI
6.7.08 - Whitewater Live Music Amphitheater - New Braunfels, TX
6.20.08 - The Belmont - Austin, TX
7.21.08 - Magnolia, TX

for more information visit:
http://www.myspace.com/jonathanclay
http://www.jonathanclay.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I'm a little bummed I won't be celebrating St. Patrick's Day this year at DC 101's Shamrock Fest in Washington DC.

Here are a few photos from last year's festival

photos by Amy Willard

Headliner: Flogging Molly

Carbon Leaf

Street Dogs

update

so... I've spent the last two months here in Italy and I have another two before I return to the States.

I'm trying to hit up some concerts while I am abroad... but things have been rather busy. I hope to fully resume this blog in May.

Please be patient.

Thank you.

Barricade Buzz.