Back in March, Tonight Alive graced NC with their presence during their co-headlining Fight For Something Tour alongside Set It Off. The Ready Set and SayWeCanFly were on the bill as well, hitting the stage first to deliver some sweet, pop punk goodness to kick off the night. Hearing Love Like Woe live was a Myspace lover’s dream come true.

Tonight Alive were also celebrating the release of their latest album Limitless. For their third release, Tonight Alive decided to set fire to their older sound and take their music to the next level. Limitless features a more melodic sound and electric feel, with remnants of 90’s pop thrown in to create an entirely new listening experience for TA fans. One thing that the songs on their album do best is showcase just how big of a powerhouse front-woman Jenna McDougall is. The emotion and power behind her vocals are evident in every single song and getting to witness that in person is an experience in itself. But, even with a new sound, the album still delivers the same Tonight Alive we’ve all come to know and love.

Favorites of the night were definitely How Does it Feel, Drive, Wasting Away, and Human Interaction. During their set the band decided to change it up and do a short acoustic set, stripping down older favorites for a more intimate feel. Breaking & Entering, one of the band’s heavier songs from their album What Are You So Scared Of?, is a song that packs a punch in its own way and it’s just as strong, if not more so, when done acoustic. Amelia, another from the same album was also featured in their acoustic set. This song was written in remembrance of one of Jenna’s childhood friends that passed, something that myself and many others can relate to. It’s even more beautiful performed live, especially when stripped down. Finally, the band closed with Lonely Girl, and the place went ballistic.

Here are few pictures from the night:

Limitless is available now in stores and on iTunes. See Tonight Alive during Vans Warped Tour this summer!

“I'm a bit too pop for the punk kids, but I'm too punk for the pop kids.”

The Summer Set recently released their newest album “Stories For Monday”. The album features 11 tracks, all of which are composed of infectious melodies and creative lyrics that deliver “nostalgia-ridden goodness.” These songs are honest and relatable. They remind you of nights out with your friends, reckless loves, and the joys that life can bring. You can listen to the album stream here.

For me, one song that stood out on the album was the opening track, “Figure Me Out.” The song talks about finding your place in life, which is something everyone has dealt with or is still dealing with. It touches on the struggle of finding where you fit in and your purpose in life.

“I'm a bit too pop for the punk kids, but I'm too punk for the pop kids

I don't know just where I fit in cause when I open my mouth I know nobody's listenin'

To the words of a prophet who still can't turn a profit.

Cause I don't fit in with the in crowd, but I'm too Hollywood to go back to my hometown.”

Those lyrics in particular touch on something that I’ve always dealt with. The feeling that you’re too much of one thing and not enough of the other to really find where you fit. When you’re into a little bit of everything it can be tricky to find those that share your interests. It’s disheartening when you’re with people that you feel you can’t truly be yourself around because they’re either not going to understand – or not care enough to listen. Everything I love and everything I am, it all clashes. Picture Elle Woods, if she was into punk, horror and comics.

Part of figuring yourself out is learning not to hide any aspect of what makes you who you are. Especially, if you’re hiding who you are in order to fit in. This is something I had to figure out as I got older and learned to accept myself. If you love something, you should talk about it. Find people that listen to you and accept every part of you, not just the parts that are the most convenient to them.  On the contrary, if someone shares a part of themselves with you, be open to listen to them even if it’s not something you’re into. No one is completely one dimensional. If all of the people in my life were exactly the same, it would be incredibly dull. Once you figure out the things that make you who you are, never let anyone make you feel bad about it. Find ways to express yourself when you feel like you’re not being heard. Don’t let others keep you from using your voice because someone out there will listen.

“Let's get back to the basics and take it back to the basement

Where I heard Born To Run for the first time and I stared at my dad in amazement

He said, "Son don't stop chasing great and keep pounding the pavement."

So I'd much rather die tryin' to make something sacred than live as another YouTube sensation.”

Another part of figuring yourself is finding your purpose in life. As you grow, you’ll change your mind about the things you want in life. And that’s totally okay. If you’re going to spend every day dedicating your life to something, it needs to be something that you’re passionate about. Don’t limit yourself; you owe it to yourself to do the things that make you happy. Allow yourself be inspired and go out and inspire others. This is connected to figuring out who you are and finding your voice. If you feel that you’re not being heard, find a way to use your voice and it could lead you to your purpose. Get loud, be bold, and discover new ways to express yourself. Whether it’s through writing, music, art – it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re doing what you want. When I felt that I wasn’t being heard, I turned to writing. If the people around me weren’t going to listen to me, I knew someone else out there would.

“But I believe there's more to life than all my problems maybe there's still hope for me to start again.”

A huge part of life is spent figuring yourself out. Figure out what makes you who you are and surround yourself with people that encourage you to be just that. Go out and find the things that make you passionate and do those things. It you thought you had it all figured out and you’re starting over, it’s okay. Things happen, setbacks occur, and life gets in the way. No matter what the case may be, there’s always a chance for you. A chance to start over, to continue to progress and go for the things you want. Never stop going after the things you want. But most importantly, never stop being unapologetically yourself. Never apologize for the things that you love or make you happy. 

March was a busy month full of new products, music and lots and a whole lot more. I have a ton of new favorites that I’ve been loving so far. Everything from: beauty, skincare, music, movies and more.

Let’s get started.

Beauty:

Colour Pop Ultra Matte Lip in Trap, Teeny Tiny, Kapow- I am absolutely OBSESSED with these liquid lipsticks. I finally understand the craze and at $6 a pop, I can shamelessly fuel my obsession without breaking the bank. These are highly pigmented, go on smooth, and they last forever. Make sure you have a great makeup remover because you’ll need to scrub these things off at the end of the day, which I don’t mind. Plus, the color selection is on point. I have quite a few but these three colors are the ones I’ve been reaching for the most.

Trap- Probably my all-time fave. It’s a grey-beige (greige), similar to Cashmere by Lime Crime. It goes with pretty much every look. I was a little hesitant to try it at first but I’m so glad I did.

Teeny Tiny- It’s a few shades darker that Trap so if you’re not into a full on greige, this is perfect for you. It’s a bit warmer and brown based. Flattering on every skin tone.

Kapow- This was another that I just had to take the plunge and go for. It’s a muted grey taupe shade and the grey definitely stands out. If you want something a little out of the box, this is the shade for you.

Colour Pop MatteLippie Stix in Grunge- Damn Mikayla, back at it again with the Colour Pop. These lippie stix are great for those that want the pigmentation of the liquid lipsticks but without the drying feeling. They come in different finishes from: glossy, pearl and satin. The color Grunge is pretty much me in a lipstick. It’s a cool-toned plum brown and it’s everything I want in a lipstick. It’s matte but it doesn’t dry your lips out and doesn’t wear off.


L-R: Trap, Teeny Tiny, Kapow, Grunge.

Nivea Lip Butter- Between all of these matte lipsticks and the spring weather, my lips have been going crazy. This lip balm is a life saver. It’s thick and keeps my lips hydrated. Plus, the smell is amazing.

Elf Blush Pallet- This blush pallet features four different shades. They’re highly pigmented and they blend out nicely. It’s very easy to go in heavy handed so use a lighter hand or a stippling brush. Since I go bare faced a lot I rarely wear them as blushes, but I do wear them as eye shadows a lot - especially the darker berry shade.

Garnier GelMoisturizer- This has been another life saver after I ran out of my Clean and Clear Gel Moisturizer. With my combination skin, I find that gel moisturizers work the best for my face so while searching for a new product, I lucked up on this. It’s in the dry skin formula but it doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily or greasy. It sink into the skin, keeping it hydrated without the shine.

Entertainment:

The Divergent Series: Allegiant- Y’all, this movie was everything. They redeemed themselves after Insurgent (which I wasn’t too big on). It kept you wanting more from start to finish. Shailene Woodley is phenomenal. Bring on Ascendant!

Fifth Harmony- Work From Home (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign) - If you play this song there’s a 110% chance you’ll find me dancing.

Tonight Alive- Amelia- I saw Tonight Alive during their Fight For Something tour (post on this to come soon) and it was amazing. During the show they performed an acoustic version of Amelia from their first album and I’ve been listening to it on repeat ever since. It’s so heartfelt and seeing it live is something everyone needs to experience. 

Until next time,

On March 13^th I had the pleasure of attending The Word Alive’s NC show during their Dark Matter Tour.

Alongside The Word Alive were: HerEcho, A Boy Named Sue, Out Came the Wolves, and Fit For a King. One of my favorite things about these shows is how headlining bands will reach out to local talent to come out and be a part of the show. I’ve discovered so many amazing local bands through shows like this.

The show itself was incredible. Seeing The Word Alive perform old favorites like Life Cycles is an experience in itself, the crowd thrashing around and screaming the lyrics back at the band and feeding off of one another’s energy is amazing. The real treat was getting to experience the songs off TWA’s newest album Dark Matter days before it released.

Dark Matter is out now on iTunes and in stores. The album is bigger and bolder than those that came before it. TWA did an amazing job at re-vamping their sound to create something that was unique and different, but still had the charm that fans already knew and loved. Matt Good (of From First to Last) produced the album which is one of my favorite aspects of the album as someone who has loved Matt’s work for years. There’s something on album for everyone, from the heavy hitters to the soft spoken tracks.

A personal favorite of mine from the album is Grunge- this is one of the songs I got to preview during their show.

For those that missed out on The Word Alive during their Dark Matter tour, you’ll get the chance to see them all summer during the Vans Warped Tour! In the meantime, treat yourself to Dark Matter on iTunes.

Here’s a few shots from the show: 

Oh you know, just casually hanging with Tyler Smith *hair flip*

I recently got to try out the Fit Me Foundation from Maybelline thanks to Influenster and it’s quickly become a new favorite of mine.

Maybelline re-vamped their original Fit Me formula to create one that’s matte and poreless, which is awesome for those with oily/combination skin, like me. It comes in 40 different shades so you can find your perfect match- my shade is Classic Tan. You can find your fit by taking a quick quiz and letting Maybelline find your perfect pick. At first, I was afraid it would be too dark but it ended up working out.

I’ve been a fan of the Fit Me line for a while now, I’ve mentioned their Fit Me concealer on here before. Typically, I don’t wear foundation at all, unless it’s needed for a performance, but I wanted to give this a chance.

The formula was lightweight so it’s comfortable to wear. It has light to medium coverage but it’s buildable if you need more coverage in certain areas. It’s not a full matte finish, it leans more towards semi-matte- which is great because it gives a more natural finish.

Here’s a before and after look at the Fit Me foundation:

What I’m wearing on my face:

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation- Classic Tan

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer- Medium

Brows- Revlon Brow Pencil/Tinted Gel

Cheeks- Elf Blush Pallet

Elf Contour Kit

Maybelline Hi-Lite blush-Nude

Lips- Maybelline Color Whisper-Pin Up Peach

Overall, the foundation is fantastic. If you’re in the market for a drugstore foundation that will last and help diminish the look of pores, definitely give this a try.  

I’ve wanted to write about my experience at the FrnkIero and the Cellabration show in November for a while now but I just couldn’t find the right words. Even now as I type this, I’m wracking my brain trying to properly express just what I felt and it still doesn’t seem like I can perfectly explain it, but that’s okay.

“Happiness” is the first word that comes to mind when I think of that night- just pure, unadulterated happiness. Before that night I don’t think I had truly experienced happiness, at least not on that level. As I stood in the audience looking up at one of my heroes, singing along to my favorite song, I felt the tears that I had been holding back since he stepped foot on the stage finally fall. It was like after all these years, I was finally living. I had never felt more alive than I did in that moment.

As I’ve mentioned on here before, I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression my entire life. Some days are better than others but when it gets dark it’s hard to imagine finding the light again. Those dark moments just become a part of your daily life. No matter how big or small the issue might seem mental illness has a way of making everything seem like a life or death situation. A simple task like having to go to the administration building on campus made me feel like I was walking to the guillotine. Moments of having so much built up anxiety that you can’t feel parts of your body, breaking down in the middle of your room and clutching your chest, trying to pull yourself out of an anxiety attack because you’re in public and people will ask questions all become part of who you are. Then there are the moments the darkness consumes you and you feel numb, and that’s when it gets scary.

After feeling hopeless for so long it’s hard to imagine feeling anything else. It was like, “this is just how it is. This is my life and I just have to cope.” One of my proudest moments was when I finally found the strength to kick my addiction to self harm, but even after being clean for six years I still wasn’t living- just existing.

This brings us back to that faithful night in November when I saw Frank Iero, who’s been one of my biggest influences for years. Iero’s music has played a huge part in my life, inspiring me whenever I needed that extra spark when things got dark. After feeling hopeless for long, I never imagined something so amazing happening to me. The level of happiness I felt at that show, and even afterwards when I was able to look into his eyes and shake his hand, was unlike anything I had ever felt before. I just remember thinking, “wow, I’m so glad I kept myself alive to experience this.” That’s when it hit me.

I knew there was a reason I was keeping myself alive, I just hadn’t found it yet. It wasn’t until I was face to face with my hero that I realized it was happiness. I never imagined that I could feel so happy, and more importantly- happy to be alive. Afterwards, I was so inspired; I wanted more moments like that. For the first time in a while I was excited for the future, to see what more life has in store for me. I’m so glad I didn’t end things when I wanted to because then I would have never been able to experience what was one of the happiest days of my life. Even now, months after the show I’m still inspired to keep myself alive to create more moments like that.

There’s a collection of moments that I hold near and dear to my heart that give me hope to keep on living, this show is at the top of the list. Even when mental illness rears its ugly head, I’m reminded of happy times and the happiness that’s yet to come. Moments like seeing my heroes perform, down to small victories like pulling myself out of bed in the morning. I knew that finally seeing Frank Iero would be special but I had no idea just how it would change my life. The phrase “think happy thoughts” that I have inked onto my wrist has new meaning. It reinforced just how important it is to keep yourself alive, because even when it feels like all hope is lost there’s so much more beauty in the world and you should be alive to experience it.

This doesn’t even begin to describe just how grateful I am for Frank and how he continuously inspires me. So I’ll end with these two-

Thank You. 

I recently attended the Ice Nine Kills show in NC and it was amazing.

Ice Nine Kills just wrapped up their The Chapter and Curse tour. The tour featured More to Monroe, Come to Rest, and Affiance. North Carolina natives, Headfirst for Halos joined them during their NC show.

INK’s set features songs from their newest album Every Chapter in the Book, which features songs inspired by various novels like: Carrie, Go Ask Alice, The Diary of Anne Frank, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and more.

Check out their video for Communion of the Cursed:

You can catch Ice Nine Kills on these dates on their next upcoming tour:

 

Mar 10- New Albany Production House -New Albany, IN

Mar 11-Subterranean -Chicago, IL

Mar 12-Amsterdam Bar & Hall -St Paul, MN

Mar 14- Fubar -Saint Louis, MO

Mar 17-Walter's -Houston, TX

Mar 18-The Rail Club -Fort Worth, TX

Mar 21 -BackBooth -Orlando, FL

Mar 22-Jack Rabbits -Jacksonville, FL

Mar 24-Shakas Live -Virginia Beach, VA

Mar 25-Ottobar -Baltimore, MD

Mar 26-Upstairs  Palladium -Worcester, MA

Mar 28-The Studio at Webster Hall -New York, NY

Mar 29-Voltage Lounge -Philadelphia, PA

Mar 30-Montage Music Hall -Rochester, NY           

Mar 31-Altar Bar -Pittsburgh, PA

Apr 01-Park Street Saloon -Columbus, OH

Apr 23-Chameleon Club -Lancaster, PA

While you’re at it, pick up Every Trick in the Book to get yourself ready.

Now enjoy these pictures from the show:

Oh, and I met Spencer after the show. #Blessed.