Back in the late 1980s, my parents picked up tickets for my sister and I to see Tiffany with her opening act New Kids on the Block at the Westbury Music Fair. I'm not embarrassed to admit (although I should be) I was psyched to see the redheaded teen pop star, while my sister was pumped to see NKOTB since she was crushing on the falsetto wonder that was - um, is? - Jordan Knight. Something interesting happened on the way to the show on Long Island:
With their song "Please Don't Go Girl" burning up radio airwaves, the concert promoters flip-flopped the bill and had Tiffany open for the iconic boy band. It's the first and last time I recall this happening. In any event, I bring all of this up because it's only a matter of time Stars in Stereo get top-billing for a show. The SoCal bandhas opened for Blue October, just wrapped up a tour with Anberlin, and are currently on the road with Flyleaf and P.O.D. This fall, Bec, Jordan, Frogs, and Drew will open up for Bullet For My Valentine and Black Veil Brides on their Monster Energy Outbreak Tour. I'm not saying Bullet or Flyleaf should be nervous of a bill swap, but see this band live and/or test drive their recently-released self-titled debut album, and you'll understand what I'm throwing down.
Catch SIS on the road and check their A-Sides session, which they filmed at the Music Conservatory of Westchester last week. Watch "Dealing Secrets" and the interview below. For an exclusive performance of "Every Last Thing," check the A-Sides YouTube channel here.
"Dealing Secrets"
Interview
Tour dates:
7/29 - Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
7/30 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity Theatre
8/01 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues
8/02 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
8/03 - Ft. Bliss, TX @ Army Base - Bldg 11199 (4:30pm)
8/04 - Amarillo, TX @ Midnight Rodeo
8/06 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
8/08 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
8/09 - West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues
8/10 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
8/24 - Grand Junction, CO @ Rock Jam (2:15pm) **
9/13 - Fresno, CA @ The New Starline
9/15 - San Luis Obisbo @ SLO Brewing Company
9/22 - Tucson, AZ @ Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and listened to and liked (phew), posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and - most importantly - the songs 1 1/2 year-old son gravitates toward. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank):
12. "Sonsick" - San Fermin
11. "Afraid" - The Neighbourhood
10. "Live for the Night" - Krewella
9. "Don't Swallow the Cap" (LW-7) - The National
8. "If I Loved You" (LW-8) - Delta Rae
7. "Heavy Feet" - Local Natives
6. "Do I Wanna Know" (LW-4) - Arctic Monkeys
5. "Pompeii" - Bastille
4. "Gun" (LW-3) - CHVRCHES
3. "You & I" (LW-2) - Crystal Fighters (Watch them perform the song live on A-Sides here)
2. "Hurricane" (LW-1) - MS MR
1. "Torches & Pitchforks" - Mona
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing.