A New Year Resolution That Can Actually Be Kept

Welcome to 2018! Another year of promises to change things about ourselves. Promises that we may or may not keep. Promises that may be broken by mid-January. Every year I make some sort of New Year resolution that I try my best to stick to, but usually dissolves by March. Some years it’s to eat better or get physically fit. Other years it’s to stress less and dedicate myself to more writing and less work. And sometimes it’s to reign in my spending and put myself on a real budget that I will stick to.

This year I’ve decided to make concerts one of my New Year resolutions. Music is my lifeline, so why not resolve to enjoy it more? With that in mind, I made a resolution that there are some bands I will make myself see in 2018. If that means travelling to see them in concert, so be it. I rarely travel to see a band, but that needs to change this year. To make this resolution come to fruition I am going to have to take chances and make strides.

Throughout the month of January, I will be posting all my musical resolutions for 2018 starting with the concerts I resolve to see in 2018. And if you are of the same mindset, maybe I will see you at one of these shows.

The Revivalists

The Revivalists are a band that I just got into last year. I heard their song “Wish I Knew You” on one of the alternative stations through Amazon music and fell in love with them immediately. Suddenly I was playing their album Men Amongst Mountains a lot and it became my go to record for most of the summer. That then led me to listen to their other releases and before I knew it, The Revivalists had become one of my favorite new bands. Obviously, I have never seen them in concert, but 2018 will change that. Currently they only have one show listed, a music festival in Phoenix, AZ, but I will keep an eye on their website and as soon as shows are added, I will determine which one I am going to.

The Strumbellas

The Strumbellas are another band that I just got into last year because of listening to the alternative stations on Amazon music. I fell in love with them as well and purchased a copy of Hope days after hearing their music. From there I went on to enjoy all their material and I often find myself listening to them for hours on end. They are a young, up and coming band that has potential to be huge! Keep an eye on this band because I think they are going to take off and be one of the great ones for years to come. I almost got to see them live in 2017 but I had a commitment conflict the night they were performing in New York City. In 2018, I will make sure that does not happen. Currently, there are no tour dates listed on their website, but I am sure that will change as January marches forward. Once tour dates are up, I will lock in the show that I am going to attend.

Pearl Jam

I don’t even know if Pearl Jam perform in the United States in 2018, but if they do, I am going to have to be at one of their shows. Currently, Pearl Jam has European tour dates for 2018 but that’s it. That doesn’t mean they are going to tour America this year, but I know I’m not travelling to Europe, not even for Pearl Jam. So, I am going to hope that there will be a stateside show, or a Canadian one. I’ll travel to Canada to see this band. It has been over ten years since I last saw Pearl Jam in concert. That is far too long to go without seeing one of my favorite bands perform live. Pearl Jam is a top five band for me, so in 2018, they are going to be treated like a top five band. If they plan a show anywhere in the continental United States (or Canada), I will find a way to see them in concert!

Pop Evil

This one is easy and should be the first band I knock off the list. Pop Evil is going to be playing the Starland Ballroom in March, a local club that’s not too far from my home. I’ve seen them perform there a few times and every performance was exceptional! This time around they will be supporting a brand-new album (due out in February) and treating us to a Saturday night show. All signs point to awesomeness and I know this concert is going to be a memorable one.  A Pop Evil show always is. The last time around it was one of the best concerts of the year (possibly the best). Every time I see Pop Evil they are better than the last time. They continue to improve their skills and they continue to dominate the live scene. Pop Evil 2018 is going to be absolutely amazing.

Brian Fallon

Another one that should be relatively simple to complete. Brian Fallon is also going to perform at the Starland Ballroom on a Sunday night in April. He is also releasing a new album in February. The first two singles from his soon to be released record are some of the greatest songs of his entire career, which has me extremely excited for the new release. I’ve seen his former band The Gaslight Anthem perform live, but I’ve never seen Brian Fallon solo, so this will be interesting to me. I’ve heard that he does not play any Gaslight Anthem songs during his solo performances, but he will mix in a cover or two. Whatever he performs won’t matter too much to me. Brian Fallon is such a talent that he could perform just about anything and I’d like it. And that’s a fact that was proven by my love for his cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.” 

Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band took 2017 off from touring, and while Dave and Tim (Reynolds) went out on an acoustic tour, I did not attend the local show (mostly since it sold out before I could lock in someone to attend with). 2018 should see the entire band back out on the road all summer long and I am sure that my friend Snaz will be coming stateside and want to see the band. I will just have to find out which dates she is going to and then find a way to attend them with her. Perhaps we can hit some Midwest shows and I will be able to take in a ball game in Milwaukee during the same trip. That would be magnificent! Part of this resolution is to see DMB multiple times. This can be achieved by seeing them locally, perhaps driving to a semi local weekend show and seeing both nights, and then hitting the Midwest. 2018 could find my attending my 25^th DMB show before the year is over.

What's The Guru Listening To? - August Edition

Welcome to the August Edition of What’s the Guru Listening To? I get asked this question a lot. What am I currently enjoying and what would I recommend? And since time is severely limited these days, it gets harder and harder to post a full review of the outstanding music that I am discovering (or re-discovering). Therefore, every month I will fill you in on the latest song, album, and/or band that I am obsessed with.

Here's what The Guru is listening to this month:

Imagine Dragons – Evolve

The latest record from Imagine Dragons is as spectacular as their first two releases. This band continues to make exceptional music that is enjoyed by the masses. And while I like all the songs on the disc, my two favorite standouts are “Rise Up” and “Yesterday.” Both are wonderful and showcase what Imagine Dragons can do when crafting and recording. And while not all critics loved the record (Rolling Stone and The Guardian gave it two stars), they should have. Just because a band goes in a different direction critics are quick to write them off without listening to the new sounds thoroughly. A wise person would ignore the mainstream media and form their own opinion. However, if you’re on the fence about investing a lot of time in this record, I can tell you that it is time well spent. This is the third consecutive terrific album from Imagine Dragons.

KC & The Sunshine Band – Please Don’t Go

A classic song, “Please Don’t Go” by K.C. and The Sunshine Band is one of the all-time greatest ballads ever recorded. Every now and again I find myself going back to great songs that I’ve loved over the years. I’ll find an amazing one and listen to it several times through before I move on to some other song. This month the song happens to be “Please Don’t Go.” If you don’t know this song, or if you’ve just not heard it a long time, I recommend that you give it a whirl and bring it back into your life.

The Revivalists – Man Amongst Mountains

Admittedly, sometimes I’m late to the party with certain bands. Such is the case with The Revivalists a band that I should have recognized a heck of lot sooner than this summer. Their latest record, Man Amongst Mountains has been out for two years and I am only really appreciating it now. I first heard The Revivalists on an alternative station through Amazon Music. “Wish I Knew You” played through my speakers and I stopped immediately. I jotted down the artist and song and then sought out more of their music. That led me to their magnificent album “Man Amongst Mountains” which I’ve been playing ever since. If you like your music to be different but extremely entertaining, you will like The Revivalists. They are a talented 7-piece band complete with a horn section. You can see a lot of influences from bands like O.A.R. and Dave Matthews Band in their art. Their sound is well polished, well executed, and well worth your time.

Black Eyes Peas – Let’s Get It Started

I haven’t listened to this song in years. However, a recent viewing of the movie Hot Tub Time Machine reminded me how great a track “Let’s Get It Started” is and now I find myself playing it at least once a day. When this song first came out, I couldn’t get enough of it. The strength of this song was the reason I purchased the entire album and I was glad that I did. For a few months I listened to Elephunk nonstop. It was a terrific album full of fun songs that had great beats. It’s been nice to revisit a piece of this record and listen to “Let’s Get It Started” over and over and over again.

Rise Against – Wolves

I’ve been a fan of Rise Against for numerous years now and I was excited to hear their latest disc, Wolves. As expected, the record did not disappoint. Wolves delivers the sound and style of music that fans have grown accustom to with Rise Against. Pop punk rock and all the beauty that the music has to offer can be heard on every song throughout the record. And while the record was released earlier this summer (June) I haven’t had a chance to really kick back and dive into it until it recently. I’m certainly glad that I took the time to enjoy it, because Wolves is another fantastic album from this fantastic band.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

The Revivalists - Keep It Going

Mixing jazz, folk, and indie rock, The Revivalists are a fantastic band that I want to learn more about. Their latest track, “Keep Going,” is simply fantastic! This is the kind of music you can get hooked on after one listen. Check out the video for yourselves.

The Revivalists rock!