Pasadena

This group comes out of Pasadena, Maryland. Joey Harkum (guitar & vocals) and Ben Cowdery (drums) formed the group. Soon after, band members Will Finley (guitar) and Aaron Hooper (bass) joined. Other temporary members include Matt (rhymes) and Geoff (trumpet). People can check out their website at www.myspace.com/pasadenamusic. 

On their website it says, "Pasadena sounds like the music you want to listen to on a long drive home from work. The music you want to listen to on a hot summer night near the fire... Pasadena is music for everyone...". I personally have to agree. I was first introduced to Pasadena by my friend on our trip back from the Pittsburgh International Airport one weekend. It was exactly the music I wanted to listen to. Pasadena has a laid back tune and beat. It's very relaxing.

Perhaps my favorite song by them is "Sick and Tired". This song sings about how "this life is hard, but this life is ours" and life is what you make of it. It talks about how this man is "sick and tired of being sick and tired" or in other words, he is sick and tired of the same old routine. He goes on to say, "I wish you the best, but I cannot help you anymore" meaning that he is leaving his past behind. He's looking to get over this difficult time. Lately, this song has really come close to heart. 

They usually play around Maryland, but this year they are going all around the east coast from New Jersey and Pennsylvania to Florida and Georgia. People can find their tour schedule at their webpage I mentioned before. 

Pasadena is perfect for any situation. If you are angry, sad, happy, excited, or any other emotion you could ever think of. Check out this band soon!

Ice Nine Kills

Ice Nine Kills, formerly Ice Nine, has been around since 2003. Their punk rock music has been a hit ever since their original single "BFG". My best friend first introduced me to this band right after they produced their first C.D. in 2004. The drummer, Grant Newsted, is a native of Petoskey, Michigan, which is also my hometown. He graduated from Petoskey High School in 2003 before heading off to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. 

The band members all attended Berklee College of Music. Members of the band are Spencer (vocals, guitar), Jeremy (vocals, guitar), Dave (bass), Grant (drums), and Mike (manager). They are currently on tour heading around the nation, starting in Toledo, Ohio and making a loop around the country to end up in Cleveland, Ohio. Their greatest influences are Thrice, Third Eye Blind, and Les Miserables. Ice Nine Kills is currently under the record label Red Blue Records (www.redbluerecords.com). Red Blue Records also sponsors Phone Calls From Home, another popular underground band.

Ice Nine Kills sings songs that talk about becoming stars, troubled pasts, and other daily issues for band members who tend to be on the rebellious side. One of my favorite songs by Ice Nine Kills is "Sign Here" off their very first album (which can no longer be purchased). It talks about being a part of the band life and trying to be perfect saying, "I don't want to have to try and try, have to be perfect, because I know it's something that I'll never be." The singer is singing about how he will never be perfect, so he should enjoy the life he's living now instead of worrying about being the symbol of perfection. With this attitude he is destined to be a star, according to the song. The singer sings about how the band has come so far and they are now popular, they "broke through the underground" as the song says.

You can find this band on Myspace.com or through their own website IceNineKills.com. Fans can purchase music and merchandise at either site. Ice Nine Kills' most recent great achievement was being recognized on iTunes. Obviously they have broken through the underground. Listeners can buy their latest C.D. "The Burning EP" at Myspace, the official band website, or on iTunes. 

The picture above was copied and pasted from www.google.com.