Really Project Runway?

Anyone else think that the McKell chick shouldn't have been thrown off? I thought her dress was cute - I don't see a photo up on the website yet of it - but there were like three other people who should have gone home before her. So a little letter to why I feel this girl was sent home: Dear Heidi Klum, You are Heidi Klum, super model & Victoria Secret model. You were, are and always will be that and gorgeous. But unfortunately you feel the need to eliminate every remotely pretty girl from your show. I still am not over how you threw off Alison from season something beause her outfit made her model look like a 'fat minnie mouse' when obviously it should have been the older guy thrown off. It only just goes to show no matter how beautiful and successful you are, people can still be insecure to hate on pretty girls. Plus, just because you've been a model for your whole life, doesn't mean you undertand design. Thanks. Alison Being a model does not mean you understand fashion design just as being a designer you are automatically a stylist. Now it's on to watching the replay of Jersey Shore. I'm laughing my ass off! It's sad to see people act are retarded as you know they do, but I watch and thus, it will live on. I'm a real Jersey girl - I still don't get how people who don't even live in New Jersey (I think one or two of them do) are like my state's representatives. And the Anglina chick...why would MTV resign her? I mean she walked out on the first season and her punishment should be her regret of not sticking with it - sad she wants back AFTER the success of the first season. And did she bang Pauly D? Is that what he said? I need my own reality show or something.

Show Review: Bouncing Souls with The Loved Ones

The Crazy Donkey, Long Island, NY

umm...I've never been to the Crazy Donkey, but have wanted to go b/c a lot of cool shows have passed through here.

NEVER AGAIN! Almost as bad as Toad's Place in New Haven.

Toad's Place was fine venue wise, but the people & townies - HORRID!

Crazy Donkey had a 'meh' crowd, but the internal layout was awkward and made the designer for Irving Plaza seem like a genius.

It was hard to work your way into the place for starters - everyone was hanging around outside,smoking & drinking and it felt like we were at a house party - perfectly fine if there wasn't two AMAZING bands getting ready to play.

We came in just in time for THE LOVED ONES and they were great. Played mainly older songs. And then a cover by the dude from Bright Eyes - so my friends informed me.

I got like body checked by this horrid drunken idiot, I think I have a bruise on my lower back. Everyone else did not like him and he got beat up in the pit, haha.

Just wonderful and worth the trip out there.

THE BOUNCING SOULS are always so fun even though I'm not 100% familiar with their catalog. But...something was lacking.

Last night they played in Asbury Park - it's like basically home and I'm still surprised it was not the last show of the tour.

So tonight, it was like something was off. It was their singer, Greg. Now. He's not like the crazy frontman or one that makes a lot of small talk, but you could tell something was off and I felt bad for him.

Maybe I'm wrong, but seriously - he was either really tired, something heavy was on his mind or he was on something.

Vocally, he was fine. It was cool to see how little effort he has to do besides open his mouth and pretty damn perfect vocals come out. But even his smiles felt forced. Didn't help that the people in Long Island SUCK.

Oh wells. They played "True Believers," "Here We Go" and "Lean on Sheena" - that made me happy.

BAMBOOZLE - The Final Day

What a LONG day for me Sunday was!

Got ready to go...huffed and puffed about the rain...and when I got to my door - UGH! Pouring rain. Luckily, it did taper off a little making the day totally barable, but sucky.

Ok! So yet again - $20 to park - screw you Giant's Stadium's people. Tickets were free, so I guess I should shut my mouth...

Saw THE SOUNDS. They are AWESOME! Can't wait for the new album. Their singer (isn't her name Mia?) had on the coolest Blondie/old punk chick outfit - leather jacket, ripped hosiery, short shorts and a tucked in bigger blouse.

We headed over for ULTRAVIOLET SOUND and they were fun as hell and just amazing. I really need to see them perform at a club environment and dance my ass off. They're working on a new album. yay!

3OH!3 was retarded, but not in a bad way. A lot of people crowded the stage for them and most of them came running back when the dance pits started. Whatever.

Saw like three songs by HASTE THE DAY. Again, decent set is all I can say as I don't know their music.

I did hang around the 'hardcore' stages for the most of the day and witnessed some of the most rediculous bahavior ever. Kids are silly. It did make each of these 'on the verge of being huge' bands seem bigger than they were b/c the pits opened up in front of BOTH stages (the two were right next to each other).

Case in point - A DAY TO REMEMBER. They ARE amazing and great - go listen to them! I think they deserved to be on a main stage. Just great music, mainly from the new album HOMESICK but one or two oldies.

Ok, the end of the night - I had lost my original group, but caught up with my lovely sister and her friend. They wanted to see this one song by a horrid band Brokencyde. I usually do not mention acts I do not support, but I just want to say that I can see the draw in one or two songs, but really this band is nonsense.

While they danced all crunk-like, I went to see TAKING BACK SUNDAY. I walked over for one song and left. The main stages were TOO TOO TOO PACKED I coudln't deal. The same with NO DOUBT. One song, but the acoustics were lost from so far away and it just felt fake. You need to be by the stage to enjoy.

Example: MOTIONLESS IN WHITE. I caught their set and yea, new pick for favorite post-hardcore/goth/emo band of the moment. Maybe it's the look and mood they present on stage that keeps my attention, but there's a few songs that stand out and are great. Let's see what direction they go in for the next album.

I was standing around, waiting for my people to come from No Doubt, so I saw this band set up - thought maybe they were an Anti-Flag type deal. Turned out to be teens from California who take a stab at punk. Name: DRIVE A. Cute and the crowd was mainly teen girls taking photos...

All in all one of the best times I've had in awhile. I like that you can go into the Stadium and sit, use the bathrooms, stare at the field. I don't like being FORCED to throw out water bottles if you thought you could bring one in HOWEVER...weed is allowed in and not snuffed when smoked.

So if they can sell it - you can't bring it in. I need to find a music event that's there to support the bands AND pay grounds workers/the venue's facilities WITHOUT raping the fans' wallets.

Homeless for the Holidays with The Bouncing Souls

Holy cow, you don't need to know a damn song by The Bouncing Souls to enjoy a show of theirs. Not that you shouldn't know their catalog, but I'm just saying.

My friend and I went to the first date of their holidays shows b/c of the openers. The Casualties were going to be there. But....as we got closer to the door, there was a sign saying they would not be playing. Turns out one of them is in the hospital - how horrible! Such a bummer, but everyone's thoughts are with them.

So, we arrived just as LES Stitches were starting their set. Really good. They just have that traditional punk rock n' roll sound and are definately worth checking out for a good time if they're playing your area.

Spansih Bombs filled The Casualties' spot and I guess it was a good choice if you wanted a harder sound. They set felt so short compared to LES Stitches and I think it was a good 15 mins shorter. Most of the crowd was lost on them and I couldn't get into them either.

But it wasn't long before The Souls took the stage, all adorned in their red snowflake sweaters that they're wearing in their myspace default picture. They started with "Here We Go," one of the five songs that I know.

Already we were in business. Everyone around me were having a blast, singing along and dancing whether in the pit or with each other.

They played "Lean on Sheena" towards the end and I couldn't be happier. Call me a dork, but I have my stereotypical favorites.

It was a fun night and I'm sure many of those there were coming back for the remaining two days - the last having Gaslight Anthem open for them.

It was also kind of weird. Asbury Park is undergoing renovation and it's retarded. There's shops opening and things are getting cleaned up and while many would say - isn't that a good thing? - it takes away from everything down there.

Inside the Convention Hall, where they played, they opened these small stupid gift shops and a concession stand and pub. Just last year it was gritty and falling apart and awesome. But it added to the Christmas cheesiness of it all, with the huge tree off to the side.

Next year - 20 years of being together for The Bouncing Souls and they're releasing a new track every month to celebrate. They played new of them at the show and trust me, it'll be like Christmas every month.

Senses Fail....my love returns

Did I ever mention I went to the Senses Fail show at Starland Ballroom back in November?

No? Well...It was amazing.

First off, Foxy Shazam is friggin' insane! I was torn whether or not to consider their show smart and genius or just plain retardness. The lead singer was crazy and I love it. He was all over the place, talking non-sense to a crowd that half of 'em loved him, but the other booed and hated him.

He began singing the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song and it was boring, but funny. Some of the crowd standing by me wanted them gone - but they were the same dumbasses who would late 'mosh' to Sky Eats Airplane.

Anyways, later on, the singer threw the microphone over one of the beams above and proceeded to climb up the cord to the ceiling, swing around and then fall back to the stage. Quite impressive. The keyboardist also wanted attention by standing on his keyboard. They are fun.

Sky Eats Airplane is a Chiodos/screamo hardcore outfit that I wasn't too impressed with. Of course, the lead singer on stage looked hot, but that's about it. I had more fun watching the ceiling fans in the stage lighting that this band had set up.

I was so stoked to see Dance Gavin Dance, but they failed to really give me my fill. I'm most familiar with their older album, but since they have a new singer...nothing from that album, just new stuff. Which isn't a problem, but they fell a little flat.

The last song morphed into a jam, progressive kind of thing and was really nice.

Ok, so I had complained about Senses Fail's new album, mainly b/c it felt like the heart was missing. I remember reading in a blog by their old bassist, who left before this record, something along the lines that he doesn't want to pretend he wants to make music like some others.

So I kind of felt like he was right.

Wrong! My goodness, their lead singer was totally on the ball this show. He didn't seem completely intoxicated (like last time I saw them) and his vocals were so on point and the energy was flowing like crazy. He divided his time during the set between jumping into the crowd and rolling out the stage like a madman.

The music just radiated through me. Maybe with now the talent of Jason Black (originally of Hot Water Music) they can really get into that full-bodied, ambient thing or maybe it's all just clicking.

I loved the fact that they played every hit, not sticking solely to the new record and I was completely satisfied with this set.

They're headed out on the Saints and Sinners Tour in '09 (yea, there's no Saints and Sinners Fest, but that's okay b/c if you saw what they did to the inside of the Convention Hall in Asbury, you wouldn't want it there either).

With them is like hardcore screamo cats and Hollywood Undead. If I get in free, you know I'm going.