The Musical Misfit

I recently attended The Official Stand Up Tour and did a “follow me around” type vlog on the day of the concert! Here is the end result! I hope you guys enjoy! See you soon!

xoxo,

I’M BACK! I am so sorry for my lack of posts. I thought since it’s summer, I would have more free time to update this blog. Unfortunately, that is not the case! However, I’m back with a new post about my experience at Hoodie Allen’s headlining Minnesota show at The Cabooze! Enjoy!

I apologize for being over a week late with this post, but although high school is almost over, I still want to graduate and have to keep up with my school work. Better late than never though, right? 

I know I said I was going to post this over the weekend but better late than never, right? I decided to switch things up and record a video of me explaining my concert experience rather than writing it out. You can watch that video here! See you guys soon and thanks for being so patient!

xoxo,

Hi friends!

I went to Shawn Mendes’ spring on Tuesday (the 15th), but I think I am going to do a video review for this show because I have so much to say! I am hoping to film/post that video this weekend so bear with me. I’m sorry again for my lack of posts. My only excuse is school. Thank you so much for you patience!

xoxo,

Hi friends! I made a new YouTube video ranting about music...again. I was inspired by all the One Direction drama happening right now. I would really appreciate it if you chekced it out. 

xoxo,

Wow, I finally have a new concert review for you all! I had not been to a show in two months which explains my lack of posts. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading about experience at Echosmith’s winter tour! 

I apologize for my neglect towards this blog, but I recently posted a YouTube video about my first time going to a psychic. I would really appreciate it if you checked it out! I promise I have a ton of music related ideas for this blog in the upcoming future so stay tuned! 

xoxo,

Hello friends! I posted a YouTube video sharing my opinions about this year's Warped Tour lineup. Be a gem and check it out here please? Thanks so much!

xoxo,

Bri

I do not know why I did not post this earlier but better late than never, right? For one of my college essays, I wrote about a place that is meaningful to me. Naturally, I wanted to write about music so I described one of my favorite concert venues in Minneapolis. Enjoy! :)

XOXO,

Bri

Dear future me,

I am not writing this letter to say "I hope you have a super hot musician boyfriend with tattoos" or "you better be a millionaire". Although those things would not be terrible, I am instead writing this letter with the intent to give you an update on my life and to give you direction if you're lost. I know I am still naive and learning, but I don't think people give teenagers enough credit. You and I both know we've been to hell and back and that's taught us so much and only made us stronger. With that being said, let's begin…

Right now you're a senior in high school and life has never seemed more stressful. Between college application, surviving high school, and trying to find time to be a normal teenager, life can get pretty crazy. It's easy to get overwhelmed, I get it. I've always been this way. Biting off more than I can chew only to have it lead to some sort of mental breakdown. But here's what I love, my hard work pays off. I hope to God you have not lost your sense of drive. I just wanted to remind you that your many sleepless nights led not only to one or two but THREE college acceptance. As you know, you even got an acceptance from your dream school in Nashville. As much as I would LOVE to attend Nashville, I just hope you pick somewhere that will benefit both of us. I also hope you're able to break out of your shell. I 've always found comfort in our little bubble, but I really hope you've learned how to not give a shit about what people think of you. It's easy to change the way you live as a way to please others. You and I both now I've done this on multiple occasions. But what does that lead to? Not happiness, that's for sure. This leads me to my next point. I hope you're happy. I hope you've achieved your dreams and you're satisfied with yourself. I couldn't care less about what you're doing to be honest. I just hope that whatever you're doing, you are doing it because you love it and it makes you genuinely happy. I don't want to lose that spark of passion. I have been told so many times about how my eyes light up when I talk about my passions, especially music. 

Where do I even start with music? It's shaped me into the person I am now, and I can guarantee it's shaped YOU into the person YOU are. I hope you still listen to kick ass music because that's something I have always loved about myself. I may not be the skinniest or prettiest girl, but I am in no way ashamed to admit I have phenomenal music taste. Most importantly, I hope you're still involved in the world of music in some kind of way. I hope you still try and go to at least one concert a month because some of best memories have taken place at concerts. Do you remember that time you waited like six hours outside of the Varsity in the dead of winter just to get a good spot to see Action Item? Most importantly, I hope you've found out how to do good in the world through your love of music. I have struggled a lot with this idea for the longest time. Like yeah, I like music but so what? What can I actually DO with that love? How can I better other people's lives? I don't know. I really don't know.

I also hope you're still close to your mom and dad. I hope time away at school or whatever you may be doing, has caused you guys to grow even closer. Maybe you even miss dad's obnoxious singing in the morning? Probably not… With that being said, I hope you haven't taken them for granted. I hope you still realize how blessed you are to have supportive parents. When no one else is there for you, who are ALWAYS the last two people by your side? That's right, mom and dad. I hope you still make time for them because they're coolest and only parents you'll ever have. On the subject of family, I hope you've fixed your relationship with your brother. It's tough right now because he's made decisions I don't agree with, but he's my brother and I care about him. I hope I am able to learn how to see things his way and he is able to see things from my way. Just please keep talking to him because I don't ever want to live in a world without my brother by my side. 

Another thing, I hope you've learned how to let go of your insecurities. Whether it is worrying whether your friends find you annoying or if they actually care about you, or if it's your abnormally large nose, I hope you've found the beauty within you. This is my biggest issue right now. I constantly worry about how I see myself or how others look at me. Like I said earlier, I hope you've learned how to do your own thing without worrying about what other people think. I know it's easier said than done, but I'll continue to try and find my beauty if you do too. Deal?

I think I've wasted enough of your time, but I hope you get my point. I hope you're happy and doing well. As for me, I'll continue to do my best so I can make the both of us proud and successful. Stay rad, future self.

Love, 2015 Brianna

“It does not have to perfect” is a phrase I have heard from the people around me my entire life; however, I never found these words easy to believe. I never understood why I cared about making every task I did perfect. My constant worrying and desire for perfection has affected my academic life in many different ways. It has led to my realization that asking for help is perfectly okay; however, I learned my lesson the hard way. After many tears and panic attacks, I have learned how to better handle my anxiety. 

I have considered myself to be a perfectionist my entire life; however, I was always able to control myself until I entered high school, which is when everything began to spin out of control. I no longer knew how to handle my anxiety. I was spending four hours on homework that should have taken thirty minutes. I was running on less than five hours of sleep every day because I was up late the night before putting last-minute touches on a project that did not need fixing. I never thought anything of these habits until I realized how emotionally drained I felt my junior year of high school. I was no longer making time for friends or family because my life revolved around school work. This caused me to become someone I was not. I felt sad and lonely all the time. Although I have been considered an “above average” student most of my life, I have had a difficult time accepting that. I always made myself believe I needed to spend several hours studying for a test about a topic I was more than familiar with. No matter how confident I felt about a test or project, there was always a voice inside my mind saying my work was not good enough and I needed to spend more time perfecting it. Like most challenges, I was led to a breaking point where I realized I needed to change. I needed to be okay with tasks not being “perfect”. 

Next up was another opening band, Against The Current. One thing I really admired about this band is the female lead singer. She had a really good stage presence and seemed really comfortable on stage. During Against The Current's performance, however, it was very difficult to hear the lead singer. I felt as if the band was overpowering her or it was possible her microphone was not loud enogh. I am not quite sure what the issue was, but the singing seemed very muffled and hard to hear. However, like I said, they put on an overall good show. When the band was talking between songs, they were cracking jokes and able to get the crowd involved. I just wish I was able to get a better taste of what their music sounds like.

Finally, one of the moments I had been waiting for all night (besides The Ready Set of course), Metro Station. I use to listen to Metro Station's music all the time back in middle school, so I was super excited to finally see them live for the first time. I would like to start off by saying, they definitely took home the award for "Most Energetic". They acted as if they were performing in front of thousands of people, which is not a bad thing. Trace Cyrus was constantly on a platform, yelling at the crowd to sing/jump along. However, one thing that kind of rubbed me the wrong way about Metro Station were their attitudes. At one point, Trace's microphone stopped working and he seemed to be super frustrated/annoyed about it. I think as a musician, you should be prepared for technical difficulties and things going wrong. It seemed as if the microphone not working affected the rest of their performance. Overall, Metro Station put on an amzing show and although they ran into a few roadblocks, they were able to pull through and put on a high energy show.

Lastly, The Ready Set took the stage. I was super excited to see them because I have seen them before and they never disappoint. One of the most memorable parts of the show was the amount of bass. I felt like I was at an EDM concert, so it was definitely a new experience for me. The Ready Set definitely differs from the music I typically listen to because I consider them more "electronic". I was a bit skeptical going to the show because I thought I was going to look/feel out of place. However, the show had a very unique feel to it becaue nobody really cared. Everyone was focused on the music being played and having a good time. Although I stood in the crowd alone, I was still able to have an amazing experience. I got so involved with the music, dancing and singing throughout the enitre show. No to mention there were always people jumping around and there was never a dull moment. This may sound weird, but another thing I loved about The Ready Set's performance was the fact that Jordan was sweating. A lot. I know that sounds gross, but it shows just how involved in the music he was. I have gone to many shows where the artist just stands in one place and sings. However, Jordan was jumping all around the stage and it was easy to see he was truly having a good time playing music.

My experience at The Outsiders Tours was memorable and unique. It was a good change from the concerts I usually go to. The Outsiders Tour was definitely one of the most high energy shows I have been to this year. Definitely a concert for the books. Thanks for reading!

Xoxo,

As far as I know, the first opener, Grayson Dewolfe, only played the MN show. He is from Minnesota so I naturally took an interest in his music. He and his band all came out dressed very nicely which definitely captured my attention (and because they were all super attractive). For the most part, they played upbeat "alternative pop" songs so it was definitely nothing out of the ordinary for me. However, they had a unique sound so their music was still able to grab my attention. 

Next up was William Beckett. Before the show, I had heard of William Beckett but was not very familiar with his songs. However, after seeing him perform, I am definitely kicking myself for not listening to more of his music. He has such a unique stage presence to him. He was constantly talking to the crowd and it was like he was talking to a group of friends. It all felt very natural. William Beckett was also able to catch my attention musically. His music is very acoustic based and has a lot of good vibes. My favorite part of William's set, however, was when he sang "Just You Wait". If you have not heard it, please give it a listen. The song is about his sister who went through a lot of bullying/self harm issues when she was younger. It sounds sad or depressing, but he was able to take a sad topic and give it some positivity, which I admire. Also during William Beckett's performance, Paradise Fears pulled their first prank. William left the stage for awhile to do his "dramatic" entrance that he did not get the chance to do earlier. While he was gone, some of the guys from Paradise Fears came out and taped a jar of peanut butter to the microphone (????). William explained it was an inside joke so I am not quite sure what the significance of the prank was.

After William Beckett, Hollywood Ending took the stage. I am going to be honest and say before the show, I was somewhat quick to judge Hollywood Ending's music. All I knew about them is they got started through Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" so I associated them with all the other typical "Radio Disney bands" who I do not care for. However, I left the show with a new respect for Hollywood Ending. They played an amazing set and were able to keep my attention the entire time. One thing I especially liked about Hollywood Ending was their sense of humor they had on stage. They not only joked with one another but the crowd as well. Not to mention their music is very upbeat and has a "pop" feel to it. I went home later that night and bought some of their songs on iTunes, which is something I don't do very often after shows. Also during Hollywood Ending's set, Paradise Fears decided to pull some more pranks. They first came on stage and played some gambling game I did not quite understand. Next, they came out and saran wrapped Hollywood Ending during one of their songs. Here are a few pictures of those pranks being pulled:

Paradise Fears gambling during Hollywood Ending's set.

Paradise Fear saran wrapping Hollywood Ending during their set.  

After Hollywood Ending, Paradise Fears finally performed. I want to start of by saying this was my first "full out" Paradise Fears show. Before the Live Forever Tour, I had only ever seen them perform acoustically. Nevertheless, I was completely blown away. They have an AMAZING stage presence. They were all constantly running back and forth on the stage and kept their energy throughout the show. One thing I love about Paradise Fears is their passion for what they do. It was easy to tell every member was loving every second they were performing. My favorite part of their set, however, was when they did a timeline of their band's music. They started off by playing one of their newer songs, "Color", and the songs progressively got older as time went one. Next came another prank. William Beckett and Hollywood Ending came out and played a drinking game with Paradise Fears. In the background of the game, a song was being played. Every time the song said "thunder", a new person had to drink a beer until thunder was said again. It was super fun to watch because they were all kind of bad at it (except Marcus, he killed everyone). Here is a picture of that prank:

Another one of my favorite parts of Paradise Fear's set was when Sam played a new song called "Reunion". It is a fantastic song about growing up and finding yourself drifting away from people you were once close to. I'll link it here because it is an amazing song and deserves to be heard. Next, Paradise Fears did a cover of R. Kelly's song "Ignition". This was when my personal favorite prank took place. William Beckett and Hollywood Ending came out on stage dressed in crop tops and began to grind on each other. I think there was even some twerking going on? It was so much fun to watch because everyone was laughing hysterically and having a good time. Here is a picture of that prank taking place:

At the end of the show, Lucas, the band's previous drummer, came out for the encore. He played with the band during "Battle Scars", which I felt was only fitting. It was the perfect way to end the show.

My experience at the Live Forever Tour was phenomenal. I had very high expectations going to the Live Forever Tour and it definitely lived up to my standards.

Below I have attached a few more pictures from the concert. Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Bri

These are five of my favorite songs at the moment. Enjoy! :)

Up first was the opening band, Bad Suns. Prior to the show I was only familiar with their song "Cardiac Arrest". I unfortunately only watched their first couple songs because I wanted to buy merch and the line was super long, but from what I saw, they have a unique sound to them. Their sound definitely surprised me and it was somewhat different from the "punkish rock" sound of Fall Out Boy and Paramore, but I am not saying that is a bad thing. In fact, I love when artists have openers that may not play the same kind of music as them. It gives the audience a chance to hear music they may not always get a chance to listen to. 

Next to the stage was Paramore. I am going to be honest and say I am definitely less familiar with Paramore than I am with Fall Out Boy. However, after last night, I have been kicking myself all day for not checking out more of their music before the concert. They have such an amazing stage presence. Hayley Williams definitely gets the crowd involved with their set, and I absolutely love when artists do that. It's one thing to perform, but it is a whole other thing to connect with the audience. Hayley was constantly encoruaging the crowd to sing or clap their hands. I also loved Paramore's stage. Behind the band was a wall made up entirely of lights that were constantly flashing to the beat of the music. Not to mention, there was confetti and balloons in the crowd for almost the whole set. However, my favorite part of Paramore's set was when they called a girl up on stage to sing "Misery Business" with them. I got goosebumps when this girl was on stage. She didn't give a (for lack of a better word) fuck about anything and it was easy to see she was on cloud 9. Overall, all the craziness of Paramore's set definitely made my first time seeing them live very memorable.

Last to perform was Fall Out Boy and I was going crazy because like Paramore, this was my first time seeing them live. I have loved Fall Out Boy ever since I can remember. In fact, I have so many memories of hearing their music because my brother and cousin would blast their music all the time. When they announced their hiatus, I was heartbroken but then "Save Rock & Roll" came out and I felt like I was in middle school again. They definitely have songs that bring back so many good memories and hearing those songs live meant the world to me. Their stage presence is beyond amazing, and they definitely know how to put on a rock show. A few parts in particular that stood out to me were the times Pete Wentz would talk to the crowd. He would tell stories and talk about the importance of music. I can't remember his exact words but one phrase in particular really stood out to me. He said something along the lines of, "Sometimes you have to break through pavement in order to blossom." This really struck me because it is really important advice. It reminded me that in order to experience the good parts of life, we also have to go through the bad parts. There was something about this show that made me feel at home. People were constantly screaming the lyrics to songs and everyone was just having a good time. That, my friend, is when you know you are at a good rock show. However, I was nervous going to this show because I was worried Fall Out Boy would not love up to all the amazing stories I had heard about them, but they definitely exceeded my expectations.

The Monumentour was one of the most crowd involved concerts I have ever been to and that made it an all around fun show. Bad Suns, Paramore, and Fall Out Boy all know how to put on an amazing concert and make people feel at home. It is easy to see that these bands truly love music and performing for hundreds of people. If you have never seen Paramore or Fall Out Boy live, put that on your bucket list right now. 

xoxo,

Bri

Below are some photos I took at the show. Thanks for reading!

This is my first "rant" type video so please bear with me. Of course I mean no disrespect to anyone through this video. It was all in good fun and I just wan...