Every day there is a choice

I know that lately I've been discussing a bit more than the playlists, but tonight was my 22nd show and last show of the semester. There's a mass of emotions going through my heart and mind right now and I would like to share them with all of my lovely friends and listeners.

In high school I was never very active in any clubs, I never felt like I fit in anywhere and had very few friends at my school. My freshman year in college I had a few friends, but didn't really feel like I was in the right place. But from the moment I came to Purchase in the Spring of 2011, everything began to come together. I transferred as an Arts Management major, after taking a year off trying to figure out what I wanted with life I finally found it here. Just walking around this campus with all the musicians and artists, I never feel like I have to hid who I am. I can paint my face to look like a cat, play music out loud, wear a bright pink neon shirt, completely mismatch my clothes, or walk around wearing a feather boa and nobody will look at me twice. There are two, three, four, sometimes even five concerts going on each week as well as an array of other events on campus any given week.

Last spring when I was commuting, I enjoyed my classes and loved being on campus, but there is only so much you can do when you don't live here and only so many ways to feel comfortable getting involved. In the fall I moved onto campus into an apartment in The Olde. Don't let anybody ever say that living on campus is a waste of money when you live 10 minutes away, because it's not. I was finally able to get out of class and go back to my apartment to relax for a few hours and then walk right out my door and make new friends. At the end of the summer I decided that this was the year I would finally become involved and known at school. I formulated an idea for a radio show, applied for the show, got it and well here I am! I actually had the first playlist for Discover the Undiscovered before I was even approved. I began to make friends by just walking around campus and chatting it up. I found refuge at the Food Co-op and at the end of the semester I ran and was elected as Events Coordinator. Doing that (unpaid) job has been a lot of work, but extremely rewarding. Since then people I don't even know began coming up to me already knowing my name and saying hello as well as asking about booking shows and having their music played on my show. I've even gone up to artists after shows, introduced myself and to my surprise, they already knew who I am. I finally feel like I am heading in the right direction with my life. 

Every day is a new adventure, and I never know what is going to happen next, who I will meet, what music I will hear, where I'll end up. Of course there are always stressful moments that get me frustrated and angry, but I work through it because at the end of the tunnel there is always light. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you to every single one of you who has ever taken the time to listen to the show, read any of my posts, take my music suggestions, and to all of the wonderful artists who I have met and seen play live this semester. I love you all. 

Every day there is a choice

And through the joy, through the pain I will rejoice

I love you's not enough

Last night I was lucky enough to be able to see one of my new favorite bands, Jukebox the Ghost play their entire new album live for the first first time with 140 people. This was also my first time seeing them (and surely not the last!). I will be be posting a review of that show soon, but for now I have the need to discuss somebody else. This is a band that does not need to be discovered. They are a band that everybody in the world knows. If you were to tell me that you have never heard of this band, I would play you all 9 of their albums and all 32 of their singles until you recognized a song, because everybody. And I mean everybody under the age of 50 has heard at least one song by Green Day. In fact, their live shows don't have an average age. I have seen this band 14 times, and every single show (except for the Secret Show at The Studio which was 19+) I have seen people from the ages of 3-65. No exaggeration. I've also met people from an array of different states and countries, as well as traveled to 5 different states including California to see them myself.

I have seen probably every interview on the internet of this band. I have heard every song they have ever publicly released or played live, and seen approximately 61 out of 110 their original songs played live. I have laughed, cried, screamed, ran around in circles, made the best friends in the world, worst enemies, because of this band. I have spent hours just counting down the days until I see them next, celebrated anniversaries of album releases, and concert anniversaries. In fact, the three year anniversary of my very first show is in just a few days. Yes, that is right, I saw Green Day for the very first time on May 18th, 2009, just three days after 21st Century Breakdown, the follow up to American Idiot was released. Did I mention it was at the Bowery Ballroom? I have done it all: seen them with 800 other people, 200 others, at 6 in the morning on Good Morning America, at their hometown show in the Bay Area in California, two nights in a row sold out at Madison Square Garden, on my best friend's 18th birthday with her onstage singing with them, in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. Okay so I guess I technically haven't done it ALL, but I've done a lot and I never ever plan on stopping.

In the past year I have discovered so many other new, upcoming bands that I can now proudly say hold a spot as one of my favorite bands. Because of this, I listen to Green Day less than I did a year or two ago and some days when I'm listening to Jukebox the Ghost, Coyote Campus, Frank Turner, or even The Killers on repeat I wonder if I have lost my love for Green Day. But then I will find myself watching TV at 3am thinking that there is nothing good on, and suddenly "Green Day Behind the Music: Remastered" appears on the screen. Now I know Green Day's entire history and I could write a book about it, in fact I wrote a ten page biography on them for class in 11th grade (yes, I got an A+ on it). I have also seen this program at least ten times, but watching it again is just a reminder of every reason that I fell in love with this band. It isn't even just their music that I love- it's the fact that they have been together for 23 years and still love each other to death. They love each other enough to keep making albums and touring the world and inviting hundreds of their fans to sing, dance and play on stage with them. While I haven't met them personally, I know many people who have and there has not been a single negative word said about any of them. 

For anybody who says that Green Day sold out, you have been extremely misinformed. This band has and continues to do everything for the people who love and support them. They may have however many dollars to their name, but it is not about the fame. It's about doing what they love which is what makes me love them so much. I can't say that they saved my life, because I would still be alive without them, but I can proudly say that my life would not be even close to the way it is today without them. The people I have met through this band, the places I have been, the experiences and knowledge I have gained, and the emotions I've felt are indescribable. I could write on this blog about them forever, but nothing describes the feeling of listening to, feeling, and seeing this band. Green Day will always hold a special place in my heart until the very moment I die and even beyond that.

My first Green Day show dream.

Bowery Ballroom

May 18th, 2009

Dancin' on stage with a MASSIVE crowd on stage next to Mike Dirnt.

Mountain View, California

September 4th, 2010

Dancing with a smaller crowd on stage.

Mansfield, Mass

August 16th, 2010

Dancing on stage with Mike Dirnt wearing my devil horns. 

No sleep for 2 days, traveled 14 hours each way all in two days just to 

see the Foxboro Hot Tubs play their first (and so far only 1 of 2) shows on the east coast.

New York, New York

April 23rd, 2010

My best friends, Ashley and Melissa. We met on a Green Day livejournal community 

in 2006 and have been the best of friends since then. I don't even want to think about what 

my life would be without these girls, and I would have never met them if it wasn't for Green Day.

Brewster, NY..... on the way to Hartford, CT.

July 24th, 2009

Show #20

Greetings readers! I'd like to apologize for the blog being a bit slow lately, but you know how it is at the end of the semester. I've got a lot that I'd like to discuss on my thoughts on the music industry, and detailed love letters reviews of some great bands that I've recently fell in love with, specifically Jukebox the Ghost who I WON TICKETS TO SEE LIVE, FOR FREE, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, TOMORROW AT ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL! So much love to spread, but for now I leave you with the playlist from Show #20:

The importance of marketing

I know that you are all looking forward to reading about the last playlist on DTU, but tonight I would like to take a moment to discuss something that is extremely important to the music business: promotion and marketing.  In fact, they directly relate to the show in the sense that the radio is a great form of promotion and marketing for musicians. One would think that it is an obvious fact that these are important aspects of being a musician. In fact, it is just as important as creating quality music.

You can be the most talented musician in the world, but you will not go anywhere without your fans. If somebody does not plan on making music their career and is creating it for their own entertainment and pleasure, I can guarantee that at one point or another they will want to play their music for other people to hear. Even it is just their family and friends listening, they are still an audience, and through them it is very likely that they will gain even more fans. While social media has become vital for musicians to grow, word of mouth will never be dead.

Recently I have come across a band that has great talent and potential to make it in this business, but have a massive void of marketing and promotion. This is frustrating to me, because as a fan I want to know when and where they are playing in advanced, and not 15 minutes before the show starts. It is understandable that musicians, especially in college are busy, but part of being a musician is being able to market yourself or at least find somebody trustworthy to do it for you. I recently read an interview with Sarah Weiss, Head of Marketing at Bowery Presents that sparked my thoughts on this topic. In the interview she was asked the question of what bands should do when they are at the point in their careers that they have little to no radio and promotional support. This is what Weiss has to say--

"I think the easiest and simplest thing is to have a website and at least one social networking page. People are still going to Myspace for music, and it’s good to have information up there – or wherever you choose to house our information – including some tracks and some concert dates. And also, make sure whatever you have is as current as possible.

The other thing that’s really key is that if you have photos and bios you’ve put together for yourself, make sure you send them over to whoever put the show together for you, so the information for the show is current with what’s going on with your band. It’s only a few pieces, but the more correct and up-to-date the information is, the better it serves you, and the more you will attract the attention of someone who is really familiar with the venue and used to seeing good bands there. So they will go to the venue to see a band, even if they don’t know the band, because they know the venue typically has good shows. They’ll also look at the Myspace page and say, “I like the headlining band, but maybe I’ll get to that show early.”"

 Let this be a reminder to all of you musicians out there, you cannot just solely work on your music, say "Hey we are done! Here is our album." and expect thousands of people to listen to it. You must have marketing skills and promote yourselves, or at least create the right contacts to do these things for you.

And that is what people like me are here for.

Show #19

Greetings! Tonight's show was quite entertaining. Back by popular demand was guest star, Richard Price. He was on the show a few weeks ago and we had a great time introducing and discussing songs together. As much as I love to be in control of things, I definitely have more fun with another person in the studio with me. Here's a breakdown of tonight's playlist!

Somebody by Jukebox the Ghost is the first song to be released off of their upcoming album, Safe Travels, out on June 12th. I am seeing them at Bowery Ballroom June 22nd for the first time and cannot wait. This song is currently on repeat.

Fuck Was I by Jenny Owen Youngs, a graduate of Purchase who played here just a few weeks ago. She's another one of those artists I had heard the name of but didn't listen to until recently. It's really amazing how many musicians have come out of Purchase, become quite well known and still come back to play at Purchase. Never forget your roots.

My Love by The Bird and the Bee is a song that I could have sworn that I played a few months ago, but I don't see it on any of my older playlists. I forgot where I found it.

Nancy From Now On by Father John Misty is Joshua Tillman, ex drummer of Fleet Foxes' solo project. I don't think the full album has come out yet, as I had much trouble finding just one song (and remember, I actually do buy much of my music).

Someday's Gone by The All American Rejects is off of their new album, Kids in the Street that came out last month. I've loved this band since I was 12 and have somehow only seen them once, headlining at Warped Tour but I think I'll be going up to Western Massachusetts to see them in two weeks.

End of the World by The Bright Silence, to be quite honest I totally forgot how I found this band. I think it was just looking at my friend's music online.

Melissa by The Daydreamers I found through another band that I like, The Paper Planets. Eli, one of the members of The Paper Planets was previously in The Daydreamers. Pretty sure this song is actually about one of my best friends, Melissa. They just don't know it yet.

Eyes Wide Open by Goyte is a song that my best friend (mentioned above) sent me. Apparently he is on the radio all the time. I was in Las Vegas all week, forced to listen to the radio with all the hits in the casinos all week and I didn't even realize that I heard Goyte until I was sent this song and researched the rest of his music. Richard and I had a long debate about how to pronounce his name and received much feedback on it. Thanks everybody!

Camera Talk by Local Natives I just found the other day but already forgot where I found it. But I was attracted to this song because well... I love cameras. And this song made me happy.

Love of my Night by Radial starts the series of Purchase artists on this playlist. Radial is a project by Joe Endozo, also a member of the Rotten Jazz Quartet (you know, that band that played in my apartment). This song has a more electronic sound, quite different from Rotten Jazz. That is something that I love about the musicians at this school- that so many of them are in multiple bands.

Youre Just Like Miranda Cosgrove, But Not Even As Pretty! So Fuck You! I Dont Need Your Love Anyway! by Scott Interrante and The Tiny Elephants, I'm lucky that I was able to say the title on air. It's quite a mouthful. This song, as you can imagine by the title is quite funny, but at the same time the music is well done as the rest of Scott's songs are. It is possible to create quality music and still make it funny.

As Tall As The Sun by Elijah Wolf already has 20 plays on my itunes. Eli is another musician in multiple bands (The Paper Planets and Wolfman and the Pack) as well as writing music as a solo artist. This song is quite reminiscent of Mumford and Sons, in fact when it came on shuffle I actually thought that is who it was.

Music is everything

Late night instant message conversations with people that you are just getting to know are amazing things. It's those conversations where you are so wrapped up into it you don't even want to open another window and miss out on an im. Bonding over music is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Even if it's not a mutual love for a specific artist, it's that feeling that you get when you listen to or create music that you love. Music that changes people's lives. Sharing feelings over that is a beautiful thing and I cannot imagine my life without it. I've met so many amazing people over music and I will continue to do so for every waking moment of the rest of my life.

Best Apartment Show Ever (featuring Coyote Campus + Rotten Jazz Quartet)

March 28th was my 21st birthday. I take my birthdays very seriously (or shall I say excitedly and not-seriously because I like to have fun)! This year I knew that I had to do something great. In the end, I went to a bar at midnight and didn't do much the day of my actual date of birth besides take a midterm and go to class. But I am completely satisfied because I had the best birthday party celebration I could ever ask for 4 days before on Saturday night. For the longest time I have wanted to have a show in my living room and at the beginning of the semester I made the decision that I was going to make it happen. Fortunately enough for me there are some amazing bands at this school, in fact one of them is in my top 5 favorite bands. And I was lucky enough to get them to play in my living room for my early birthday party.

So a few years down the road when you're asking me "hey have you heard of those amazing new bands that just got big, Rotten Jazz Quartet and Coyote Campus", my answer will be "yes, they played in my living room for my 21st birthday".

To everybody that came out and danced, sang, moshed, drank and made my floor almost cave in, I LOVE YOU ALL. Let's do it again soon!